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say) to take stones out of the earth than to put them in. 

 The senators build their dwellings of an extreme height, 

 that they may be nearer to the sun, and therefore wanner. 

 " Whilst I was there, (says the author) the senators were 

 " engaged in a solemn debate as to the means by which 

 '' they could best promote the dignity, the comfort, and the 

 " security of the city." Various were the measures that 

 were proposed. The first speaker, after remarking that other 

 cities flourished greatly by reason of their maritime position, 

 was for bringing the sea across the mountains, for many 

 miles, to their capital. But he was answered by another, 

 who declared that there was no trusting to an element so 

 fierce and treacherous, by whose waves many fine cities had 

 been engulphed. Another recommended the construction 

 of great aqueducts or pipes, to carry water from the lowest 

 part of the valley, which (said he) might easily be effected, 

 seeing that water was found to ascend of its own accord up 

 the deepest wells, One senator proposed that the citizens 

 should raise another mountain round their town, still higher 

 than the present one, which would prevent them from being 

 overlooked, serving at the same time as a fortification and 

 a defence from the cold. Other measures equally sensible and 

 ingenious were brought forward. One vile custom greatly 

 annoyed our traveller, namely, that "very many of the na- 

 " tives appeared to subsist, not on bread or meat — but on 

 " the smoke of a stinking and noxious herb, inhaled at their 

 " mouths and puffed out through their nostrils, which thus 

 " resemble two chimnies. Whether (continues the author) 

 " the Moronians borrowed this custom from the Indians, or 

 "the Indians from the Moronians, I cannot say. But there 

 " is a report that a certain enterprising chief (do not ima- 

 " gine that I mean Topia Warallador*) obtained it from an 

 " Indian demon, while others maintain that some Indians 

 <f of the Torrid Zone were the inventors of this celebrated 



* Sir Waller Raleigh. 



