The Hottentots are continually at work, and have been for ages, to darken their complexion; but that operation has no effect on their children. From the action of the fun is it poffible to explain, why a negro, like a European, is born with a ruddy fkin, which turns jet-black the eighth or ninth day *?

any

Different tribes are diftinguishable, no lefs by internal difpofition than by external figure. Nations are for the most part fo blended by war, by commerce, or by other means, that vain would be the attempt to trace out an original character in cultivated nation. But there are favage tribes, which, as far as can be difcovered, continue to this day pure without mixture, which act by inftin&t not art, which have not learned to disguise their paffions to fuch I confine the inquiry. There is no propenfity in human nature more general than averfion from ftrangers, as will be made evident after

* Different flowers derive their colour from nature, and preferve the fame colour in every climate. What reafon is there to believe, that climate fhould have greater influence upon the colour of men than of flowers ?

ward,

ward (a). And yet fome nations must be excepted, not indeed many in number, who are remarkably kind to ftrangers; by which circumstance they appear to be of a fingular race. In order to fet the exceptions in a clear light, a few inftances fhall be premised of the general propensity. The nations that may be the most relied on for an original character, are iflanders at a distance from the continent and from each other. Among fuch, great variety of character is found. Some iflands adjacent to New Guinea, are inhabited by negroes, a bold, mischievous, untractable race; always ready to attack approach the fhore.

ftrangers when they

The people of New

Zealand are of a large fize and of a hoarse voice. They appeared fhy according to Tafman's account. Some of them however ventured on board in order to trade; but finding opportunity, they furprised feven of his men in a fhallop, and without the flightest provocation killed three of them, the rest having escaped by swimming. The island called Recreation, 16th degree fouthern latitude and 148th of longitude weft from London, was difcovered

(a) Book 2. fketch 1.

án

in Roggewein's voyage. Upon fight of the fhips, the natives flocked to the shore with long pikes. The crew made good their landing, having by fire-arms beat back the natives; who, returning after a fhort interval, accepted prefents of beads, fmall looking-glaffes, and other trinkets, without fhewing the leaft fear: they even affifted the crew in gathering herbs for those who were afflicted with the fcurvy. Some of the crew traverfing the island in great fecurity, and trusting to fome natives who led the way, were carried into a deep valley furrounded with rocks; where they were inftantly attacked on every fide with large ftones: with difficulty they made their escape, but not without leaving feveral dead upon the field. Commodore Byron's voyage to the South fea, an island was difcovered, which he named Disappointment. The fhore was covered with natives in arms to prevent landing. They were black; and without cloathing except what covered the parts that nature teaches to hide. But a fpecimen is fufficient here, as the fubject will be fully illuftrated in the fketch referred to

In

The

The kindness of fome tribes to ftrangers deferves more attention, being not a little fingular. Gonneville, commander of a French fhip in a voyage to the East Indies. in the year 1503, was driven by a tempeft into an unknown country, and continued there fix months while his veffel was refitting. The manners he defcribes were in all appearance original. The natives had not made a greater progrefs in the arts of life, than the favage Canadians have done; ill clothed; and worfe lodged, having no light in their cabins but what came in through a hole in the roof. They were divided into fmall tribes, governed each by a king; who, tho' neither better clothed nor lodged than others, had power of life and death over his fubjects. They were a fimple and peaceable people; and in a manner worshipped the French, providing them with neceffaries, and in return thankfully receiving knives, hatchets, fmall looking-glaffes, and other fuch baubles. In a part of California the men go naked; and are fond of feathers and fhells. They are governed by a king, with great mildness; and of all favages are the most humane, even to ftrangers. An iLand

VOL. I.

E

fland discovered in the South sea by Tafman, 21ft degree of fouthern latitude and 177th of longitude weft from London, was called by him Amfterdam. The natives, who had no arms offenfive or defenfive, treated the Dutch with great civility, except in being given to pilfering. At no great distance another island was discovered, named Annamocha by the natives, and Rotterdam by Tafman; poffeffed by a people resembling thofe laft mentioned, particularly in having no arms. The Dutch, failing round the island, faw abundance of cocoa-trees planted in rows, with many other fruit-bearing trees, kept in excellent order. Commodore Roggewein, commander of a Dutch fleet, difcovered, anno 1721, a new island in the South fea ; inhabited by a people lively, active, and fwift of foot; of a fweet and modeft deportment: but timorous and faint-hearted; for having on their knees presented fome refreshments to the Dutch, they retired with precipitation. Numbers of idols cut in ftone were placed along the coast, in the figure of men with large ears, and the head covered with a crown; the whole nicely proportioned and highly finifhed.