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held his office nominally for life； but he could seldom be induced to retain
it after the first approach of old age。 There was indeed in this society
nothing to induce any of its members to covet the cares of office。 No
honours； no insignia of higher rank； were assigned to it。 The supreme
magistrate was not distinguished from the rest by superior habitation or
revenue。 On the other hand； the duties awarded to him were
marvellously light and easy； requiring no preponderant degree of energy or
intelligence。 There being no apprehensions of war； there were no armies
to maintain； there being no government of force； there was no police to
appoint and direct。 What we call crime was utterly unknown to the Vril…
ya； and there were no courts of criminal justice。 The rare instances of
civil disputes were referred for arbitration to friends chosen by either party；
or decided by the Council of Sages； which will be described later。 There
were no professional lawyers； and indeed their laws were but amicable
conventions； for there was no power to enforce laws against an offender
who carried in his staff the power to destroy his judges。 There were
customs and regulations to compliance with which； for several ages； the
people had tacitly habituated themselves； or if in any instance an
individual felt such compliance hard； he quitted the community and went
elsewhere。 There was； in fact； quietly established amid this state； much
the same compact that is found in our private families； in which we
virtually say to any independent grown…up member of the family whom
we receive to entertain； 〃Stay or go； according as our habits and
regulations suit or displease you。〃 But though there were no laws such as
we call laws； no race above ground is so 37law…observing。 Obedience to
the rule adopted by the community has become as much an instinct as if it
were implanted by nature。 Even in every household the head of it makes
a regulation for its guidance； which is never resisted nor even cavilled at
by those who belong to the family。 They have a proverb； the pithiness of
which is much lost in this paraphrase； 〃No happiness without order； no
order without authority； no authority without unity。〃 The mildness of all
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The Coming Race
government among them； civil or domestic； may be signalised by their
idiomatic expressions for such terms as illegal or forbidden… viz。； 〃It is
requested not to do so and so。〃 Poverty among the Ana is as unknown as
crime； not that property is held in common； or that all are equals in the
extent of their possessions or the size and luxury of their habitations： but
there being no difference of rank or position between the grades of wealth
or the choice of occupations； each pursues his own inclinations without
creating envy or vying； some like a modest； some a more splendid kind of
life； each makes himself happy in his own way。 Owing to this absence of
competition； and the limit placed on the population； it is difficult for a
family to fall into distress； there are no hazardous speculations； no
emulators striving for superior wealth and rank。 No doubt； in each
settlement all originally had the same proportions of land dealt out to them；
but some； more adventurous than others； had extended their possessions
farther into the bordering wilds； or had improved into richer fertility the
produce of their fields； or entered into commerce or trade。 Thus；
necessarily； some had grown richer than others； but none had become
absolutely poor； or wanting anything which their tastes desired。 If they
did so； it was always in their power to migrate； or at the worst to apply；
without shame and with certainty of aid； to the rich； for all the members of
the community considered themselves as brothers of one affectionate and
united family。 More upon this head will be treated of incidentally as my
narrative proceeds。 38 The chief care of the supreme magistrate was to
communicate with certain active departments charged with the
administration of special details。 The most important and essential of
such details was that connected with the due provision of light。 Of this
department my host； Aph…Lin； was the chief。 Another department； which
might be called the foreign； communicated with the neighbouring kindred
states； principally for the purpose of ascertaining all new inventions； and
to a third department all such inventions and improvements in machinery
were committed for trial。 Connected with this department was the
College of Sages… a college especially favoured by such of the Ana as
were widowed and childless； and by the young unmarried females；
amongst whom Zee was the most active； and； if what we call renown or
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The Coming Race
distinction was a thing acknowledged by this people （which I shall later
show it is not）； among the more renowned or distinguished。 It is by the
female Professors of this College that those studies which are deemed of
least use in practical life… as purely speculative philosophy； the history of
remote periods； and such sciences as entomology； conchology； &c。… are the
more diligently cultivated。 Zee； whose mind； active as Aristotle's；
equally embraced the largest domains and the minutest details of thought；
had written two volumes on the parasite insect that dwells amid the hairs
of a tiger's* paw； which work was considered the best authority on that
interesting subject。
* The animal here referred to has many points of difference from the
tiger of the upper world。 It is larger； and with a broader paw； and still
more receding frontal。 It haunts the side of lakes and pools； and feeds
principally on fishes； though it does not object to any terrestrial ani