jJH'. garments. In their tufted groves they neither feel the
fcorching beams of a vertical fun, nor ever know the uncomfortable
fenfation of cold. Briars and fhrubberies oblige
them to take fome precaution, and the impulfes of nature
towards the encreafe of the fpecies, have fuggefted the molt
fimple 'means of preferving the faculties and guarding
againft the dangers of mutilation, (fee pag. 206.) We are
too apt to look upon the principles which are early inftilled
into our mind by education as innate, and have frequently
miftaken a moral fentiment for a phyfical inllincl. From
the contemplation of unpolilhed people, we find that mo-
defly and chaftity, which have long been fuppofed inherent
in the human mind, are local ideas, unknown in the ftate
of nature, and modified according to the various degrees of
civilization. It is not likely that the Mallicollefe have ever
thought of banifhing unfeafonable ideas from the mind, by
a contrivance which feems much more apt to provoke their
defires. Nay, it is uncertain whether the fcanty drefs of their
women owes its origin to a fenfe of fhame, or to an artful
endeavour to pleafe.
The ideas of beauty feem to be more obvious, though
Angular and different among divers nations. The Mallicollefe
are not fatisfied with the charms of their own per-
fon, but think that a flone hung in the nofe, a bracelet, a
necklace of fhells, and a fhining black paint, fet them off
to greater advantage. Their women, as far as we could
obferv.e,
obferve, have no trinkets, but paint themfelves with the
yellow colour of turmerick, which has a peculiar aromatic
fmell. The natives of the Friendly Ifl.es powder their hair
and the women of Eafter Mand like wife paint their face
and garments with it.. It may therefore be employed,
on account of its fuppofed virtues, rather than for ornament.
The Mallicollefe differ very remarkably from the lighter-
coloured nation of the South Sea, by keeping their body
entirely “from punftures, which characterize all the various
tribes of that race. .
Their food feems to be principally vegetable, fince they
apply themfelves to agriculture. At times they may like-,
wife feaft on pork or fowls ; and though we had no time
to obferve any implements of fifhing, yet, as they have
canoes, it may be fuppofed that they have not entirely
neglected the produce of the ocean. Ourfhort ftaydid not
give us an opportunity of feeing any of their tools; but
from the workmanfhip of their boats, and thecconftrudtion'
of their houfes, we have no great reafon to admire their
fkill in the arts. Their ifland being wholly covered with
forefts, it muft require a great deal of labour, to cultivate a
fpot of ground fufficient for their fupport. The country
itfelf appears very fertile; but the luxuriant growth of
wild vegetables, eafily conquers and deftroys the more tender
flioots of thofe which are planted. This being the cafe, it
may ferve to account for. the cuftom of confining their limbs
1774.
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