with many regulations for lecuring their focieties againft the power
and oppreffion of their neighbours; to the Hill more happy ftate of
the natives of New-Caledonia and the New-Hebrides, where they
depend ftill more on cultivation, and feem to be lefs ferocious ; to
that of the inhabitants of the Friendly-ifles, where cultivation
flourilhes in the moft perfedt -manner, but under the difadvantage of
defpotifm, from their chiefs and their king, or L a to o -n ip o o r o o ; to
the more increafed felicity in the Marquefa-iflands, where cultivation
is well underflood, but not in fo high a degree as at the
Friendly-ifles, though their government is upon a more liberal
plan; and at laft to the degree of happinefs which undoubtedly is
higheft among all theifles of the South-Sea, at Taheitee, where the
mildnefs of the climate, and of government, concur with the
greater extent and fertility of the illand, the gentle temper of the
inhabitants, and their courteous manners and improved minds, to
increafe their happinefs, and make it moft confpicuous and
lafting-
The firft view will convince the unprejudiced obferver, of the great
happinefs which reigns at O-Taheitee and the Society-ifles. All
the inhabitants are of an agreeable temper, and lovers of mirth and
joy; I never faw anyone, of amorofe, peevifh, difcorttented difpofition
in the whole nation; they all join to their chearful temper, a polite-
nefs and elegance which is happily blended with the moft innocent
Simplicity
simplicity of manners. Their youth Ihews indeed a great deal of manners
c o m p a r e d levity, which with a maturer age, ripens into a more placid countenance
and behaviour; and experience, together with their good natural
parts endow them with true prudence and folidity for their
conduct in life.
They are pofleffed either of land as their own property, or enjoy
a fufficient lhare-of fruits and roots in lieu of the cultivation of th e
lands belonging to their chiefs, to whom they give 1 ikcwiie a iharc
of thefe productions.. The great fertility and mildnefs' of the climate,
reduce the number of their wants, and at thé fame time afford
them after a very moderate labour, a great affluence of food and raiment,
and. very neat habitations, well adapted to the climate. The
pampered epicure in Europe knows hardly the multifarious ingre- -
dients of his dilguifed ragouts, and his palled appetite remains indifferent
to the aliiioft infinite variety carried to his table from every
quarter of the.globe; nor has he -thè lafisfaCtion to know how or-
where thefe things'are produced, or manufactured,'while thé more
happy inhabitant of Taheitee plants his own breadfruit tree, and
plucks the fruit for hisown ufe; the banana tree raifes by his in--
duftry and care, its elegant Rem, its piéturefque leaves, and the delicious
fruit all in one year ; the yam, theeddo, thé tacca and many
other roots are the produce of the foil cultivated by his own hands
he catches the filh for his dinner, Jiis wife'rears and feeds the.dog,-
the
If