nces or kings. To this they
replied, that they do not know what governments are, and that they
live under themselves, distinguished into clans, families, and
households. They were questioned whether they were thus in security.
They said they were secure, since one family never envies another, nor
desires to deprive another of anything. They were indignant at being
asked such questions, as if they had been charged with being at
enmity, or with needing protection against robbers. What, said they,
does anyone need but food and raiment, and thus to live content and
quiet under one's own management?

144. Being further questioned concerning their earth, they said that
they have meadows, flower-gardens, orchards full of fruit-trees, and
also lakes containing fish; and that they have birds of a blue
colour, with golden feathers; and large and small animals. Amongst the
smaller, they mentioned one sort which had the back raised like the
camels on our Earth; nevertheless, they do not feed on their flesh,
but only on the flesh of fishes, and besides on the fruits of trees,
and on the leguminous plants of the earth. They said, moreover, that
they do not live in artificial houses, but in groves, amongst the
leafy boughs of which they make roofs to shelter them from rain and
the heat of the sun.

145. Being questioned respecting their sun, which appears as a star
from our Earth, they said that it has a fiery appearance, and that it
is not larger to the sight than a man's head. I was told by the angels
that the star which is their sun is one of the smaller stars, not far
distant from the equator.

146. There were seen some spirits who were like what they had been
during their abode as men on their earth. They had faces not unlike
the faces of the men of our Earth, except that their eyes and nose
were small. As this appeared to me something of a deformity, they said
that with them small eyes and a small nose are considered a beauty.
A female was seen, clothed in a gown ornamented with roses of various
colours. I asked whence they procured for themselves materials for
clothing on that earth. They answered that they gather from certain
plants substances which they spin into thread; and that they then at
once lay the threads in double and triple rows, moistening them with
a glutinous water to give them consistence. Afterwards they colour
the cloth, thus prepared, with the juices of herbaceous plants. It
was also shown me how they pre