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If； moreover； it should seem right to the person thus asserting；
he must say why the accused ones are deserving of less punish…
ment than he。 And if by his arguments he gains the victory he
is sent into exile； and appeases the State by means of prayers
and sacrifices and good life ensuing。 They do not torture those
named by the accused person； but they warn them。 Sins of
frailty and ignorance are punished only with blaming； and with
compulsory continuation as learners under the law and disci…
pline of those sciences or arts against which they have sinned。
And all these things they have mutually among themselves；
since they seem to be in very truth members of the same body；
and one of another。
This further I would have you know； that if a transgressor；
without waiting to be accused； goes of his own accord before
a magistrate； accusing himself and seeking to make amends；
that one is liberated from the punishment of a secret crime； and
since he has not been accused of such a crime； his punishment
is changed into another。 They take special care that no one
should invent slander； and if this should happen they meet the
offence with the punishment of retaliation。 Since they always
walk about and work in crowds； five witnesses are required for
the conviction of a transgressor。 If the case is otherwise； after
having threatened him； he is released after he has sworn an oath
as the warrant of good conduct。 Or if he is accused a second
or third time； his increased punishment rests on the testimony
of three or two witnesses。 They have but few laws； and these
short and plain； and written upon a flat table and hanging to
the doors of the temple； that is between the columns。 And on
single columns can be seen the essences of things described in
the very terse style of Metaphysic viz。； the essences of God； of
the angels； of the world； of the stars； of man； of fate； of virtue； all
done with great wisdom。 The definitions of all the virtues are
also delineated here； and here is the tribunal； where the judges
of all the virtues have their seat。 The definition of a certain
virtue is written under that column where the judges for the
aforesaid virtue sit； and when a judge gives judgment he sits
and speaks thus： O son； thou hast sinned against this sacred
definition of beneficence； or of magnanimity； or of another vir…
tue； as the case may be。 And after discussion the judge legally
condemns him to the punishment for the crime of which he is
accused viz。； for injury； for despondency； for pride； for in…
gratitude； for sloth； etc。 But the sentences are certain and true
correctives； savoring more of clemency than of actual punish…
ment。
G。M。 Now you ought to tell me about their priests； their
sacrifices； their religion； and their belief。
Capt。 The chief priest is Hoh； and it is the duty of all the
superior magistrates to pardon sins。 Therefore the whole
State by secret confession； which we also use； tell their sins to
the magistrates； who at once purge their souls and teach those
that are inimical to the people。 Then the sacred magistrates
themselves confess their own sinfulness to the three supreme
chiefs； and together they confess the faults of one another；
though no special one is named； and they confess especially the
heavier faults and those harmful to the State。 At length the
triumvirs confess their sinfulness to Hoh himself； who forth…
with recognizes the kinds of sins that are harmful to the State；
and succors with timely remedies。 Then he offers sacrifices
and prayers to God。 And before this he confesses the sins of
the whole people； in the presence of God； and publicly in the
temple； above the altar； as often as it had been necessary that
the fault should be corrected。 Nevertheless； no transgressor
is spoken of by his name。 In this manner he absolves the peo…
ple by advising them that they should beware of sins of the
aforesaid kind。 Afterward he offers sacrifice to God； that he
should pardon the State and absolve it of its sins； and to teach
and defend it。 Once in every year the chief priests of each
separate subordinate State confess their sins in the presence
of Hoh。 Thus he is not ignorant of the wrongdoings of the
provinces； and forthwith he removes them with all human and
heavenly remedies。
Sacrifice is conducted after the following manner： Hoh
asks the people which one among them wishes to give himself
as a sacrifice to God for the sake of his fellows。 He is then
placed upon the fourth table； with ceremonies and the offering
up of prayers： the table is hung up in a wonderful manner by
means of four ropes passing through four cords attached to
firm pulley…blocks in the small dome of the temple。 This done
they cry to the God of mercy； that he may accept the offering；
not of a beast as among the heathen； but of a human being。
Then Hoh orders the ropes to be drawn and the sacrifice is
pulled up above to the centre of the small dome； and there it
dedicates itself with the most fervent supplications。 Food is
given to it through a window by the priests； who live around
the dome； but it is allowed a very little to eat； until it has atoned
for the sins of the State。 There with prayer and fasting he
cries to the God of heaven that he might accept its willing offer…
ing。 And after twenty or thirty days； the anger of God being
appeased； the sacrifice becomes a priest； or sometimes； though
rarely； returns below by means of the outer way for the priests。
Ever after； this man is treated with great benevolence and much
honor； for the reason that he offered himself unto death for the
sake of his country。 But God does not require death。
The priests above twenty…four years of age offer praises from
their places in the top of the temple。 This they do in the mid…
dle of the night； at noon； in the morning and in the evening； to
wit； four times a day they sing their chants in the presence of
God。 It is also their work to observe the stars and to note with
the astrolabe their motions and influences upon human things；
and to find out their powers。 Thus they know in what part of
the earth any change has been or will be； and at what time it has
taken place； and they send to find whether the matter be as they
have it。 They make a note of predictions； true and false； so
that they may be able from experience to predict most correctly。
The priests； moreover； determine the hours for breeding and
the days for sowing； reaping； and gathering the vintage； and
are； as it were； the ambassadors and intercessors and connection
between God and man。 And it is from among them mostly that
Hoh is elected。 They write very learned treatises and search
into the sciences。 Below they never descend； unless for their
dinner and supper； so that the essence of their heads do not
descend to the stomachs and liver。 Only very seldom； and that
as a cure for the ills of solitude； do they have converse with
women。 On certain days Hoh goes up to them and deliberates
with them concerning the matters which he has lately investi…
gated for the benefit of the State and all the nations of the
world。
In the temple beneath；