How to Survive in the Roanoke Colony-Chapter 60: Gift Economy (2)

"In that sense, your European kings are strange. How can a leader who receives gifts from those they lead be respected? Shouldn't the one who gives be respected, and shouldn't the one who gives lead?"

"But offering gifts means submission, doesn't it?"

"Why is that submission, Mrs. Dare? It's generosity and an expression of power."

Conversely, Manteo couldn't understand our way of life.

To Manteo, a leader is the wealthiest person.

And the wealthiest person is the one who gives the most.

Because they give the most, they receive the most respect and gain leadership.

To us, a leader is the strongest person.

Because they are strong, they dominate and protect all others around them.

And in return for protection, they receive numerous treasures from their subjects and gain ruling power.

Somehow... it's completely different.

What am I?

I suddenly look at the rest of the apostles and Manteo, who have now started arguing. I see them glancing at me.

Ah.

I am both.

I am the strongest.

Therefore, I protected them from poverty and disease and gained their loyalty in return.

I am simultaneously the wealthiest.

Because I gave them so many things, I gained their loyalty in return.

...The tax issue was the same.

It's a natural thing for Europeans.

No sane person in this world says "So what are you going to give back?" when gangsters collect protection money.

Therefore, it's natural for them that the government takes taxes, and kings or nobles take taxes.

But not for the natives.

A leader is naturally someone who gives something.

Since it's natural to return what you've received as a gift, they would 'gift' labor and resources back to him, but taking something one-sidedly is an absurd act of robbery.

Like the sun.

The sun continues to shine light and warmth on them, but doesn't expect anything greater in return.

"...So, are you saying natives can't accept an organized government?"

Hewet said with a sigh.

"That's nonsense, Manteo. We must somehow teach them about taxes and obedience to the government, and make them part of this settlement."

That's correct. I nodded, and then Manteo spoke again.

"Then what about the other natives? Would they look favorably upon an entity that unilaterally extorts something from its subjects?"

"..."

"Don't they all have to accept it someday? Will you be satisfied with just over 10,000 people?"

Manteo's words were also right. I had no choice but to nod again.

Someone once said that pre-modern states and gangsters are no different.

Just as armed gangsters collect protection money and claim they maintain order in the area, ordinary states do the same.

To the natives, the Europeans' so-called 'state' would look like gangsters.

...As it did in actual history.

They suddenly appeared, demanded offerings and loyalty, and when people didn't listen, they drove them all out and killed them.

That was the conclusion drawn by the so-called 'state.'

"..."

As Hewet and Manteo continued to argue, I rolled some peas on my plate with a spoon a few times... and reached a conclusion.

"Manteo's words are correct. Even to incorporate other natives, we shouldn't do that."

"...What?"

"Our government will decide not to collect taxes."

Hewet's eyes widen. Others also look at me with wide eyes.

"However."

I nodded.

"The government can receive 'gifts' equal to what it has given.

That will substitute for taxes."

At first glance, it seemed like just wordplay.

But it was the wordplay needed at this moment.

With my words, the argument among the 'apostles' was settled.

And once the argument among the 'apostles' was settled, the argument in the meeting that continued the next day was also settled.

There are no taxes. The government does not extort. It only receives gifts in return.

Nothing would change immediately. Because I will continue to plow their fields and distribute land to them.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from fгeewebnovёl.co𝙢.

In return, they will offer me taxes in the name of gifts.

There wasn't much difference. But the natives quickly understood and all agreed to the matter.

So we moved on to the next issue.

We all felt something strange.

A country without taxes, it sounds like wordplay, but isn't it strange?

Well... nothing will change right away.

==

A child arrived at Chesapeake Bay, starving.

His tribe's people scattered due to famine. Since the child had no parents, he followed others around until he lost his way.

The child became a person alone in this world.

Wandering for days and nights with nothing, the child walked east without direction. Because he had heard rumors before.

There is a tribe with a very wealthy great chief there, so one wouldn't starve. If only one could get there, there would be no worries about food.

Believing only those words, the boy walked to Chesapeake Bay. Moving with his emaciated body, he had no strength.

The boy... staggered... and collapsed.

"H-hey, there's a boy here!"

"Q-quickly bring water and porridge first!"

The boy was, so to speak, a vagrant.

In Spain, the boy would have wandered as a despised beggar for his entire life, sustaining himself through begging. Vagrants are not the state's concern, but they are worthy of pity.

In England, the boy would have been caught by soldiers and then locked up in some workshop, living a life of backbreaking labor. Because an idle vagrant who can work is a loss to the state.

"What's your name?"

"Uh... uh..."

"Slowly, don't strain yourself, just tell me your age, name, and hometown."

"Ugh..."

But this was the Virginia settlement.

A place where a giving government exists, not an extorting one.

The child soon received food and a place to sleep as a 'gift.'

And soon after regaining consciousness, the child hurriedly picked tree fruits and 'gifted' them back to Eleanor, who had 'gifted' him with food and shelter.

Then Eleanor smiled, ate those tree fruits expressing gratitude, and 'gifted' the boy land and seeds.

The boy diligently plowed the land and planted the seeds. Finally, after a few months, when fruits formed, the boy 'gifted' the fruits to Eleanor, and Eleanor stroked the boy's head and said:

"Wait. 'He' will come to you soon."

The boy, puzzled, returned home. And a few days later, hearing a strange roar, he went outside to see a bizarre sight.

A beast made of iron was plowing the fields of the boys and neighbors anew. It seemed there would be no need for additional work.

And in front of the boy's hut was a basket. Opening the basket, it was filled with cheese, various foods, and household items.

"Uh..."

"Are you awake?"

The boy suddenly looked up at the man who was driving the iron beast in front of his house.

The sun shone behind him.

"I am Nemo. Welcome to Virginia."

The boy realized he had received a gift from this man that would be insufficient even if he gave everything in his life in return, and soon followed others with grown hair to help cut down trees.

Now the boy was a Virginian.

Nothing seemed to have changed immediately.

Slowly, everything changed.

People didn't follow Virginia's government because there was a terrifying boss.

They were by its side because Virginia's government, like the sun, endlessly gave.

They did not fear their government.

Without knowing it themselves, they loved their government.

Just as they loved their angel.