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On this outer wall are painted the figures of legislators and

philosophers, and on each of the interior walls the symbols or

forms of some one of the sciences are delineated. The women are,

for the most part, trained, like the men, in warlike and other

exercises; but they have two special occupations of their own.

After a battle, they and the boys soothe and relieve the wounded

warriors; also they encourage them with embraces and pleasant

words. Some elements of the Christian or Catholic religion are

preserved among them. The life of the Apostles is greatly admired

by this people because they had all things in common; and the

short prayer which Jesus Christ taught men is used in their

worship. It is a duty of the chief magistrates to pardon sins,

and therefore the whole people make secret confession of them to

the magistrates, and they to their chief, who is a sort of Rector

Metaphysicus; and by this means he is well informed of all that

is going on in the minds of men.