lander. The same observationhas been made of the natives of
Otaheite, and other islands of the South Sea. Hence the attempts
atimimiCryj for which the native of New Holland is re*-
markable, may be accounted for. This talent he is allowed to
possess in a very eminent1 degree; the gait, the gesture, the
minutest particular which discriminates one individual from
another, the New Hollander hits off instantly. The females
Idee wise possess the same talent, confined to their own sex .
and I have had all the ladies of my acquaintance exhibited before
me, in a most striking manner, by a female native of New
Holland 1 though, at the same &m<^ I found a difficulty in prevailing
upon her to display this talent. Probably she might
have discovered that it gave offence to die ladies thus played
off in public.
It is said in the Book of Ecclesiasticus, tha t “ the Lord hath
created the physician,” and likewise, that <4 he hath created
medicines out of the earth.” This text must now, perhaps, be
only applied' to man in a state of nature, who relies on his own
Skill for relief in the few disorders to which he is subject, and
has his antidote every where at hand.
In cases of wounds Or contusions, the New Hollander seeks
. his Cure in rCsPI* But the subtle poison of the serpent is extracted
By the following m e t h o d H e makes a ligature above
the Wound, and pressing on the part, extracts the poison with
the blood by^ sucking the wound with his mouth. I t is common
With them, after extraordinary fatigue, to chafe the limbs with
their hands, covering them profusely with saliva; and this operation
seldom fails to relieve in such cases. Amputation is
always performed, as has been already observed, by .means of
a ligature. In common with other savage nations, they have
amongst them those who pretend to skill in the art of divination
and working spells and charms.
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