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banks of the sea or of some rivers； so as to be floated to them；
for it is a harder work to carry wood at any distance over land；
than corn。 The people are industrious； apt to learn； as well as
cheerful and pleasant； and none can endure more labor； when it is
necessary； but except in that case they love their ease。 They are
unwearied pursuers of knowledge； for when we had given them some
hints of the learning and discipline of the Greeks； concerning
whom we only instructed them （for we know that there was nothing
among the Romans； except their historians and their poets； that
they would value much）； it was strange to see how eagerly they
were set on learning that language。 We began to read a little of
it to them； rather in compliance with their importunity； than out
of any hopes of their reaping from it any great advantage。 But
after a very short trial； we found they made such progress； that
we saw our labor was like to be more successful than we could have
expected。 They learned to write their characters and to pronounce
their language so exactly； had so quick an apprehension； they
remembered it so faithfully； and became so ready and correct in
the use of it； that it would have looked like a miracle if the
greater part of those whom we taught had not been men both of
extraordinary capacity and of a fit age for instruction。 They were
for the greatest part chosen from among their learned men； by
their chief Council； though some studied it of their own accord。
In three years' time they became masters of the whole language； so
that they read the best of the Greek authors very exactly。 I am
indeed apt to think that they learned that language the more
easily； from its having some relation to their own。 I believe that
they were a colony of the Greeks； for though their language comes
nearer the Persian； yet they retain many names； both for their
towns and magistrates； that are of Greek derivation。
I happened to carry a great many books with me； instead of
merchandise； when I sailed my fourth voyage； for I was so far from
thinking of soon coming back； that I rather thought never to have
returned at all； and I gave them all my books； among which were
many of Plato's and some of Aristotle's works。 I had also
Theophrastus 〃On Plants；〃 which； to my great regret； was
imperfect； for having laid it carelessly by； while we were at sea；
a monkey had seized upon it； and in many places torn out the
leaves。 They have no books of grammar but Lascares； for I did not
carry Theodorus with me； nor have they any dictionaries but
Hesichius and Dioscorides。 They esteem Plutarch highly； and were
much taken with Lucian's wit and with his pleasant way of writing。
As for the poets； they have Aristophanes； Homer； Euripides； and
Sophocles of Aldus's edition； and for historians Thucydides；
Herodotus； and Herodian。 One of my companions； Thricius Apinatus；
happened to carry with him some of Hippocrates's works； and
Galen's 〃Microtechne；〃 which they hold in great estimation； for
though there is no nation in the world that needs physic so little
as they do； yet there is not any that honors it so much： they
reckon the knowledge of it one of the pleasantest and most
profitable parts of philosophy； by which； as they search into the
secrets of nature； so they not only find this study highly
agreeable； but think that such inquiries are very acceptable to
the Author of nature； and imagine that as He； like the inventors
of curious engines among mankind； has exposed this great machine
of the universe to the view of the only creatures capable of
contemplating it； so an exact and curious observer； who admires
His workmanship； is much more acceptable to Him than one of the
herd； who； like a beast incapable of reason； looks on this
glorious scene with the eyes of a dull and unconcerned spectator。
The minds of the Utopians； when fenced with a love for learning；
are very ingenious in discovering all such arts as are necessary
to carry it to perfection。 Two things they owe to us； the
manufacture of paper and the art of printing： yet they are not so
entirely indebted to us for these discoveries but that a great
part of the invention was their own。 We showed them some books
printed by Aldus； we explained to them the way of making paper；
and the mystery of printing； but as we had never practised these
arts； we described them in a crude and superficial manner。 They
seized the hints we gave them； and though at first they could not
arrive at perfection； yet by making many essays they at last found
out and corrected all their errors； and conquered every
difficulty。 Before this they only wrote on parchment； on reeds； or
on the bark of trees； but now they have established the
manufacture of paper； and set up printing…presses； so that if they
had but a good number of Greek authors they would be quickly
supplied with many copies of them： at present； though they have no
more than those I have mentioned； yet by several impressions they
have multiplied them into many thousands 。
If any man was to go among them that had some extraordinary
talent； or that by much travelling had observed the customs of
many nations （which made us to be so well received）； he would
receive a hearty welcome； for they are very desirous to know the
state of the whole world。 Very few go among them on the account of
traffic； for what can a man carry to them but iron or gold or
silver； which merchants desire rather to export than import to a
strange country： and as for their exportation； they think it
better to manage that themselves than to leave it to foreigners；
for by this means； as they understand the state of the neighboring
countries better； so they keep up the art of navigation； which
cannot be maintained but by much practice。
