18.20. 20. Of the Law of Nations as practised by the Tartars.
The Tartars appear to be mild and humane among themselves; and yet they are most
cruel conquerors: when they take cities they put the inhabitants to the
sword, and imagine that they act humanely if they only sell the people,
or distribute them among their soldiers.
They have destroyed Asia, from India even to the Mediterranean; and
all the country which forms the east of Persia they have rendered a
desert.
The law of nations is owing, I think, to the following cause. These
people having no towns, all their wars are carried on with eagerness and
impetuosity. They fight whenever they hope to conquer; and when they
have no such hope, they join the stronger army. With such customs, it is
contrary to the law of nations that a city incapable of repelling their
attack should stop their progress. They regard not cities as an
association of inhabitants, but as places made to bid defiance to their
power. They besiege them without military skill, and expose themselves
greatly in the attack; and therefore revenge themselves on all those who
have spilled their blood.
