Symzonia: Voyage of DiscoverySeaborn, Adam, Captain
Science
Symzonia: Voyage of Discovery
Seaborn, Adam, Captain
Science fiction; Voyages, Imaginary
During this season, the planets and stars of the southern hemisphere
are visible, some directly, and others by reflection. This occasions
great mistakes in their astronomical calculations, which they ascribe
to the aberrations of the heavenly bodies. It never occurred to them
that their field of vision was a limited internal concave sphere,
and a great part of their firmament nothing but a reflection of the
external heavens.
When the sun is in north declination, it is not seen at all to
the south; but as it then shines into the north polar opening, its
influence is felt at Symzonia by a repeated reflection, and being
aided both by the powerful light of the moon, (which always fulls
in high south declination, when the sun is near the northern tropic,
and shines directly into the southern opening,) and by the direct and
reflected light of the planets and stars of the southern hemisphere,
gives light enough for all necessary purposes.
The women of Symzonia are not regarded as inferior in intellectual
capacity, or moral worth, to the other sex. The female character is
there respected, for the qualities of the female mind are developed and
employed. Their personal beauty exceeds my powers of description. I
can liken their complexion to nothing but alabaster slightly tinged
with rose. Compared with them the fairest of our fair are dingy. This
may not be readily credited by some of our beauties; but they have
only to place themselves near the alabaster ornaments in their drawing
rooms to realize the fact.
The domestic duties of the Symzonian women are very simple,
pleasing, and easily performed. To prepare the frugal family meal
requires no roasting heat, nor black array of pots, kettles, spits,
and gridirons. The little culinary preparation which vegetables and
fruits require, is neatly and conveniently done in silver vessels;
for silver is abundant, and well adapted for utensils for household
use. To arrange their basins of milk and honey, and set out their
baskets of fruit for a family united in esteem and love, is a
pleasurable exercise.
The preparation of clothing for a people of such simple habits
requires comparatively little labour. The garden occupies a portion
of their time, but the greater part is devoted to the instruction
of their children, the improvement of their own minds, religion,
and social intercourse.
Their parterres are not designed for the idle gratification of the
eye, but to support innumerable swarms of honey making insects; the
Symzonians being as fond of the sweet which nature has provided as the
Externals are of that which is wrung from the bloody sweat of slavery.
Symmetry in form, and elegance in arrangement, are much attended to
by this people; they do not attempt to surpass nature in the creation
of beauties, but endeavour to heighten the enjoyment of what is placed
before them, and make a right use of whatever they possess.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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