North of Tabor, Teletus is administered by members of the Merchants My four commercial voyages had been among the exchange islands, or free
islands, in Thassa, administered as free ports by members of the Merchants.
There were several such islands. Three, which I encountereed frequently
in my voyages, were Teletus, and, south of it, Tabor, named for the drum,
which it resembles, and to the north, among the northern islands, Scagnar.
Raiders
The population of Teletus, as an exchange island, is somewhat more transient
than that of an established city
This seemed possible, for the population of an exchange island, like Teletus,
tends to be somewhat more transient than that of an established city, with a
tradition of perhaps a thousand or more years.
"But," I had pressed, "perhaps you could find your way back somehow, and
perhaps, your foster parents still reside on Teletus."
Captive
Amenities of Civilization on the island of Teletus
Teletus as an exchange island, has some of the amenities of civilization
If I were to go with Ute, I would surely prefer to go to an exchange island,
with some of the amenities of civilization, rather than to a rude village
south of the Vosk.
Captive
Trade and governance of Teletus are strictly controlled by the caste of Merchants
The governance of Lydius, under the merchants, incidentally, is identical
to that of the exchange islands, or free islands, in Thassa. Three with which
I was familiar, from various voyages, were Tabor, Teletus and, to the north,
offshore from Torvaldsland, Scagnar. Of these, to be honest, and to give the
merchants their due, I will admit that Tabor and Teletus are rather
strictly controlled. It is said, however, by some of the merchants there,
that this manner of caution and restriction, has to some extent diminished
their position in the spheres of trade.
Teletus
Taverns on the island of Teletus The free man and I fed. "What is your name?" I asked. I threw a hit of
meat to Constance, which she snatched up and ate.
"Ram," said he, "once of Teletus, but friendless now in that island, one
banished."
"Your crime?" I asked.
"In a tavern," he said, "I slew two men in a brawl."
"They are strict in Teletus," I said.
"One of them stood high in the administration of the island," he said.
"I see," I said.
Beasts
Metal workers on the island of Teletus (Note, for a disguise to be successful, it can be
assumed with relative confidence that the caste of metal workers did exist upon the
island)
“It says,” I said, “‘I am the girl of Tarl of Teletus.”’
“Yes, Master,” she said.
I then collared her. I had thought that some wench, probably one to be
purchased in Schendi, would have been a useful addition to my disguise,
as an aid in establishing and confirming my pretended identity as a metal
worker from the island of Teletus. This little wench though, now locked
in my collar, I thought would serve the purpose well.
Explorers
Caste of Leather Workers on Teletus, living in hut
Legal adoption of children on Teletus
Caste training At the age of twelve, Ute had been purchased by a leather worker, who
dwelt on the exchange island, administered by the Merchants, of Teletus.
He, and his companion, had cared for her, and had freed her. They had
adopted her as their daughter, and had seen that she was trained well in
the work of the leather workers, that caste, which, under any circumstances,
had been hers by right of birth.
On her nineteenth birthday, members of the Caste of Initiates had appeared
at the door of the leather worker’s hut.
Captive
Caste of Initiates on Teletus, keep rolls of the young and arrange for
their obligated trip to the Sardar On her nineteenth birthday, members of the Caste of Initiates had appeared
at the door of the leather worker’s hut.
It had been decided that she should now undertake the journey to the Sardar,
which, according to the teachings of the Caste of Initiates, is enjoined on
every Gorean by the Priest-Kings, an obligation which is to be fulfilled
prior to their attaining their twenty-fifth year.
If a city does not see that her youth undertake this journey then,
according to the teachings of the Initiates, misfortunes may befall
the city.
It is one of the tasks of the Initiates to keep rolls, and determine that
each youth, if capable, discharge this putative obligation to the
mysterious Priest-Kings.
"I will go," had said Ute.
"Do you wish the piece of gold?" asked the chief of the delegation of
Initiates, of the Leather Worker and his Companion.
"No," they had said.
"Yes," said Ute. "We will take it."
It is a custom of the Initiates of Teletus, and of certain other islands
and cities, it the youth agrees to go to the Sardar when they request it,
then his, or her, family or guardians, if they wish it, will receive one
tarn disk of gold.
Captive
"Ambassador from Teletus", seeking trade agreements with jungle Ubar “Bila Huruma, this very morning,” said he, “holds court. You, in the guise
of an ambassador of Teletus, will bring forward gifts for his viewing. I will
do the speaking. You need do little or nothing. Almost no one present will
be able to understand Gorean. I will explain that the details of your proposal
for a commercial treaty will be discussed with the appropriate wazir, and
presented later for approval.”
“In short,” I said, “it will appear little more than an official greetings
exchanged between governments.”
“That would be appropriate at this stage of negotiation,” said Msaliti.
Explorers
“Greetings, Great Ubar,” said I, “and noble gentlemen, all.” I smiled at
Shaba. “I bring you greetings from the merchant council of Teletus, that
council sovereign in that free island. Aware of the wealth and mighty
projects of the ubarate we desire to arrange the apparatus for commercial
interaction with your state. Should the great canal be completed we are well
aware that this ubarate will become a crucial link between the equatorial
east and west. We now wish, as doubtless will other merchant holdings, such
as our sisters, Schendi and Bazi, to accord you our best wishes and to
sue for your favor, that our shipping and merchants may be permitted to
prove themselves of service in your future ventures.”
Explorers
Editorial
Based on what we DO know of Teletus, the society falls into what can be called
"mainstream gor" - castes and such. There is no reason to believe that
life on Teletus was vastly different than other such places in regard to
such things as :
The island of Teletus, on Gor
