Let me now return to the permit. The earlier part of the document was
printed, and ran as follows:-
"Extracts from the Act for the afforesting of certain lands lying
between the town of Sunchildston, formerly called Coldharbour, and the
mountains which bound the kingdom of Erewhon, passed in the year
Three, being the eighth year of the reign of his Most Gracious Majesty
King Well-beloved the Twenty-Second.
"Whereas it is expedient to prevent any of his Majesty's subjects from
trying to cross over into unknown lands beyond the mountains, and in
like manner to protect his Majesty's kingdom from intrusion on the
part of foreign devils, it is hereby enacted that certain lands, more
particularly described hereafter, shall be afforested and set apart as
a hunting-ground for his Majesty's private use.
"It is also enacted that the Rangers and Under-rangers shall be
required to immediately kill without parley any foreign devil whom
they may encounter coming from the other side of the mountains. They
are to weight the body, and throw it into the Blue Pool under the
waterfall shown on the plan hereto annexed; but on pain of
imprisonment for life they shall not reserve to their own use any
article belonging to the deceased. Neither shall they divulge what
they have done to any one save the Head Ranger, who shall report the
circumstances of the case fully and minutely to his Majesty.
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