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BOOK II： OF THE TRAVELLING OF THE UTOPIANS
IF any man has a mind to visit his friends that live in some other
town； or desires to travel and see the rest of the country； he
obtains leave very easily from the syphogrant and tranibors when
there is no particular occasion for him at home： such as travel；
carry with them a passport from the Prince； which both certifies
the license that is granted for travelling； and limits the time of
their return。 They are furnished with a wagon； and a slave who
drives the oxen and looks after them； but unless there are women
in the company； the wagon is sent back at the end of the journey
as a needless encumbrance。 While they are on the road； they carry
no provisions with them； yet they want nothing； but are everywhere
treated as if they were at home。 If they stay in any place longer
than a night； everyone follows his proper occupation； and is very
well used by those of his own trade； but if any man goes out of
the city to which he belongs； without leave； and is found rambling
without a passport； he is severely treated； he is punished as a
fugitive； and sent home disgracefully； and if he falls again into
the like fault； is condemned to slavery。 If any man has a mind to
travel only over the precinct of his own city； he may freely do
it； with his father's permission and his wife's consent； but when
he comes into any of the country houses； if he expects to be
entertained by them； he must labor with them and conform to their
rules： and if he does this； he may freely go over the whole
precinct； being thus as useful to the city to which he belongs； as
if he were still within it。 Thus you see that there are no idle
persons among them； nor pretences of excusing any from labor。
There are no taverns； no alehouses nor stews among them； nor any
other occasions of corrupting each other； of getting into corners；
or forming themselves into parties： all men live in full view； so
that all are obliged； both to perform their ordinary tasks； and to
employ themselves well in their spare hours。 And it is certain
that a people thus ordered must live in great abundance of all
things； and these being equally distributed among them； no man can
want； or be obliged to beg。
In their great Council at Amaurot； to which there are three sent
from every town once a year； they examine what towns abound in
provisions and what are under any scarcity； that so the one may be
furnished from the other； and this is done freely； without any
sort of exchange； for according to their plenty or scarcity they
supply or are supplied from one another； so that indeed the whole
island is； as it were； one family。 When they have thus taken care
of their whole country； and laid up stores for two years； which
they do to prevent the ill…consequences of an unfavorable season；
they order an exportation of the overplus； of corn； honey； wool；
flax； wood； wax； tallow； leather； and cattle； which they send out
commonly in great quantities to other nations。 They order a
seventh part of all these goods to be freely given to the poor of
the countries to which they send them； and sell the rest at
moderate rates。 And by this exchange； they not only bring back
those few things that they need at home （for indeed they scarce
need anything but iron）； but likewise a great deal of gold and
silver； and by their driving this trade so long； it is not to be
imagined how vast a treasure they have got among them： so that now
they do not much care whether they sell off their merchandise for
money in hand； or upon trust。
A great part of their treasure is now in bonds； but in all their
contracts no private man stands bound； but the writing runs in the
name of the town； and the towns that owe them money raise it from
those private hands that owe it to them； lay it Up in their public
chamber； or enjoy the profit of it till the Utopians call for it；
and they choose rather to let the greatest part of it lie in their
hands who make advantage by it； than to call for it themselves：
but if they see that any of their other neighbors stand more in
need of it； then they call it in and lend it to them： whenever
they are engaged in war； which is the only occasion in which their
treasure can be usefully employed； they make use of it themselves。
In great extremities or sudden accidents they employ it in hiring
foreign troops； whom they more willingly expose to danger than
their own people： they give them great pay； knowing well that this
will work even on their enemies； that it will engage them either
to betray their own side； or at least to desert it； and that it is
the best means of raising mutual jealousies among them： for this
end they have an incredible treasure； but they do not keep it as a
treasure； but in such a manner as I am almost afraid to tell； lest
you think it so extravagant； as to be hardly credible。 This I have
the more reason to apprehend； because if I had not seen it myself；
I could not have been easily persuaded to have believed it upon
any man's report。
It is certain that all things appear incredible to us； in
proportion as they differ from our own customs。 But one who can
judge aright will not wonder to find that； since their
constitution differs so much from ours； their value of gold and
silver should be measured by a very different standard； for since
they have no use for money among themselves； but keep it as a
provision against events which seldom happen； and between which
there are generally long intervening intervals； they value it no
farther than it deserves； that is； in proportion to its use。 So
that it is plain they must prefer iron either to gold or silver；
for men can no more live without iron than without fire or water；
but nature has marked out no use for the other metals； so
essential as not easily to be dispensed with。 The folly of men has
enhanced the value of gold and silver； because of their scarcity。
Whereas； on the contrary； it is their opinion that nature； as an
indulgent parent； has freely given us all the best things in great
abundance； such as water and earth； but has laid up and hid from