Cynthia

I recently wondered whether the Cynthians had discovered the hyperdrive independently. Of course not. Since Chee Lan is introduced in "The Trouble Twisters," this is where the introductory data about Cynthia are presented:

when discovered, an Alexandrine technological level on one continent;
scientific method;
no cities;
trade routes instead of nations;
well adapted to fit into the League;
white Angora fur on the dominant species.

We learn elsewhere that:

the trade routes are in the treetops;
Cynthians become independent spacefarers;
they build a forest village on Daedalus;
the trade routes that join the League do not help other Cynthians to develop economically;
some underdeveloped trade routes join Supermetals.