P R I N C I P
L E S OF
S O C I E T
I E S .
pied land, or have opportunities to live by the cliace;. or b y filhing,
they conftantly ■ refufe to provide for their fubfiRen.ee by a laborious,
toilfome cultivation. However, in fmall iflands, where the
numbers o f people, are too inconfiderable for affording, mutual
fecurity and affiftance, or for forming a powerful fociety,. and where
there is no chance either for. cultivation varied, according to. the
difference o f foil and expofures, or for extenlive plantations, there
likewife, it is in vain to expeCt ’ fo- well regulated focieties,, as. in
.ifles o f a tolerable fize, and o f various expofures and. foils. It. is'-
therefore in my opinion evident, that the largeft o f the tropical,
ifles, when all the other circumflances. concur,, mult be the hap-
pieft and moft civilized, as none of them is of too great extent.
Otaheitee and the neighbouring Society ifles, are in this point
nearer to happinefs than any other nations we met with. T h e y
have a greater variety o f food and in greater abundance, than any
o f the other nations. Their drefs is likewife more varied,, a
kind of refinement this, which-moft o f the other nations either
entirely want, or at leaft in a very imperfect manner poffefs. Their
habitations are clean and roomy, and thofe of the better fort o f
people are even neat and elegant, as far as thefe advantages may he
carried in its firft rude beginning.
T h e y have ideas of many things, which never occurred to other
nations o f the South Sea, their intellectual faculties, enlarged by
j inftrudtiou
InftruCtion and exercife, are capable o f comprehending, retaining,
reproducing, and combining ideas, and though extremely quick
o f perception, and lively in their tempers, they are however,
equally jealous o f their liberty and free agency; and what is ftill
more happy, the Ample but ration'al education, the happieft t
organization and the mildnefs o f their climate concur in forming
their minds for benevolence, and in filling their hearts with
foft and tender feelings, and a charitable difpofition. Any
foreigner endeavouring to ingratiate himfelf with thefe generous
friendly people, will foon fucceed, though they can reap no benefit
or advantage from a connection with him ; and i f he Ihould happen
to be fick, indifpofed, diftrelfed, or only tired, or wanting: fome
refreftiment; they will all vie one w ith another to afift, to nurfe and
to refrefh him. Their hearts are capable of the warmeft attachment,
o f the moft generous friendihip, and o f the moft tender connexions,
c>f which, in our mixed and degenerating fodeties, we have very
few inftances-j perhaps noneat all, where fuch a difmterefted,
generous love, Or fuch an enthufiafm of pafiion forms' the bafts .of
the tender connexion. Having myfelf felt all the tender emotions
of a parent, during the foft moments o f filial endearment, I-flatter
myfelf" that I was in this cafe no incompetent -judge; however I
muft confefs that feveral of their children, and even of their more
grown youths, had fuch winning, and captivating means o f ingra-
Y y 2 . dating
P R I N C I P
L E S OF
SO C IE T
I E S , I