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BOOK II： OF THEIR SLAVES； AND OF THEIR MARRIAGES
THEY do not make slaves of prisoners of war； except those that are
taken in battle； nor of the sons of their slaves； nor of those of
other nations： the slaves among them are only such as are
condemned to that state of life for the commission of some crime；
or； which is more common； such as their merchants find condemned
to die in those parts to which they trade； whom they sometimes
redeem at low rates； and in other places have them for nothing。
They are kept at perpetual labor； and are always chained； but with
this difference； that their own natives are treated much worse
than others； they are considered as more profligate than the rest；
and since they could not be restrained by the advantages of so
excellent an education； are judged worthy of harder usage。 Another
sort of slaves are the poor of the neighboring countries； who
offer of their own accord to come and serve them； they treat these
better； and use them in all other respects as well as their own
countrymen； except their imposing more labor upon them； which is
no hard task to those that have been accustomed to it； and if any
of these have a mind to go back to their own country； which indeed
falls out but seldom； as they do not force them to stay； so they
do not send them away empty…handed。
I have already told you with what care they look after their sick；
so that nothing is left undone that can contribute either to their
ease or health： and for those who are taken with fixed and
incurable diseases； they use all possible ways to cherish them；
and to make their lives as comfortable as possible。 They visit
them often； and take great pains to make their time pass off
easily： but when any is taken with a torturing and lingering pain；
so that there is no hope； either of recovery or ease； the priests
and magistrates come and exhort them； that since they are now
unable to go on with the business of life； are become a burden to
themselves and to all about them； and they have really outlived
themselves； they should no longer nourish such a rooted distemper；
but choose rather to die； since they cannot live but in much
misery： being assured； that if they thus deliver themselves from
torture； or are willing that others should do it； they shall be
happy after death。 Since by their acting thus； they lose none of
the pleasures but only the troubles of life； they think they
behave not only reasonably； but in a manner consistent with
religion and piety； because they follow the advice given them by
their priests； who are the expounders of the will of God。 Such as
are wrought on by these persuasions； either starve themselves of
their own accord； or take opium； and by that means die without
pain。 But no man is forced on this way of ending his life； and if
they cannot be persuaded to it； this does not induce them to fail
in their attendance and care of them； but as they believe that a
voluntary death； when it is chosen upon such an authority； is very
honorable； so if any man takes away his own life without the
approbation of the priests and the Senate； they give him none of
the honors of a decent funeral； but throw his body into a ditch。
Their women are not married before eighteen； nor their men before
two…and…twenty； and if any of them run into forbidden embraces
before marriage they are severely punished； and the privilege of
marriage is denied them； unless they can obtain a special warrant
from the Prince。 Such disorders cast a great reproach upon the
master and mistress of the family in which they happen； for it is
supposed that they have failed in their duty。 The reason of
punishing this so severely is； because they think that if they
were not strictly restrained from all vagrant appetites； very few
would engage in a state in which they venture the quiet of their
whole lives； by being confined to one person； and are obliged to
endure all the inconveniences with which it is accompanied。
In choosing their wives they use a method that would appear to us
very absurd and ridiculous； but it is constantly observed among
them； and is accounted perfectly consistent with wisdom。 Before
marriage some grave matron presents the bride naked； whether she
is a virgin or a widow； to the bridegroom； and after that some
grave man presents the bridegroom naked to the bride。 We indeed
both laughed at this； and condemned it as very indecent。 But they；
on the other hand； wondered at the folly of the men of all other
nations； who； if they are but to buy a horse of a small value； are
so cautious that they will see every part of him； and take off
both his saddle and all his other tackle； that there may be no
secret ulcer hid under any of them； and that yet in the choice of
a wife； on which depends the happiness or unhappiness of the rest
of his life； a man should venture upon trust； and only see about a
hand's…breadth of the face； all the rest of the body being
covered； under which there may lie hid what may be contagious as
well as loathsome。 All men are not so wise as to choose a woman
only for her good qualities； and even wise men consider the body
as that which adds not a little to the mind： and it is certain
there may be some such deformity covered with the clothes as may
totally alienate a man from his wife when it is too late to part
from her。 If such a thing is discovered after marriage； a man has
no remedy but patience。 They therefore think it is reasonable that
there should be good provision made against such mischievous
frauds。
There was so much the more reason for them to make a regulation in
this matter； because they are the only people of those parts that
neither allow of polygamy nor of divorces； except in the case of
adultery or insufferable perverseness； for in these cases the
Senate dissolves the marriage； and grants the injured person leave
to marry again； but the guilty are made infamous； and are never
allowed the privilege of a second marriage。 None are suffered to
put away their wives against their wills； from any great calamity
that may have fallen on their persons； for they look on it as the
height of cruelty and treachery to abandon either of the married
persons when they need most the tender care of their comfort； and
that chiefly in the case of old age； which as it carries many
diseases along with it； so it is a disease of itself。 But it
frequently falls out that when a married couple do not well agree；
they by mutual consent separate； and find out other persons with
whom they hope they may live more happily。 Yet this is not done
without obtaining leave of the Senate； which never admits of a
divorce but upon a strict inquiry made； both by the Senators and
their wives； into the grounds upon which it is desired； and even
when they are satisfied concerning the reasons of it； they go on
but slowly； for they imagine that too great easiness in granting
leave for new marriages would very much shake the kindness of
married people。 They punish severely those that defile the
marriage…bed。 If both parties are married they are divorced； and
the injured persons may marry one another； or whom they please；
but the adulterer and the adulteress are condemned to slavery。 Yet
if either of the injured persons cannot shake off the love of the
married person； they may live with them still in that state； but
they must follow them to that labor to which the slaves are
condemned； and sometimes the repentance of the condemned； together
with the unshaken kindness of the innocent and injured person； has
prevailed so far with the Prince that he has taken off the
sentence； but those that relapse after they are once pardoned are
punished with death。
Their law does not determine the punishment for other crimes； but
that is left to the Senate； to temper it according to the
circumstances of the fact。 Husbands have power to correct their
wives； and parents to chastise their children； unless the fault is
so great that a public punishment is thought necessary for
striking terror into others。 For the most part； slave
