nished. They fled for refuge to these idols and they could do no better; for they had no weapons either offenfive or defenfive. Neither was there any appearance of government or fubordination; for they all spoke and acted with equal freedom. This island, fituated 28 degrees 30 minutes fouthern latitude, and about 115 degrees of longitude weft from London, is by the Dutch called Eafter or Pafch Iland *. The Commodore directing his course north-weft, difcovered in the fouthern latitude of 12 degrees, and in the longitude of 190, a cluster of islands, planted with variety of fruit-trees, and bearing herbs, corn, and roots, in plenty. When the fhips approached the fhore, the inhabitants came in their capoes with fish, cocoa-nuts, Indian figs, and other refreshments; for which they received fmall looking-glaffes, ftrings of beads, and other toys. These islands were well peopled: many thousands thronged to the fhore to see the ships, the men being armed with bows and arrows, and appearing

* The women were very loving, enticing the Dutchmen by every female art to the most intimate familiarity.

to be governed by a chieftain: they had the complexion of Europeans, only a little more fun-burnt. They were brifk and lively, treating one another with civility; and in their behaviour expreffing nothing wild nor favage. Their bodies were not painted; but handfomely clothed, from the middle downward, with filk fringes in neat folds. Large hats fcreened the face from the fun, and collars of odoriferous flowers furrounded the neck. The view of the country is charming, finely diverfified with hills and vallies.

Some

of the islands are ten miles in circumference, fome fifteen, fome twenty. The hiftorian adds, that these iflanders are in all refpects the moft civilized and the beft tempered people he difcovered in the South fea. Far from being afraid, they treated the Dutch with great kindnefs; and expreffed much regret at their departure. Thefe iflands got the name of Bowman's iflands, from the captain of the Tienhoven, who difcovered them. In Commodore Byron's voyage to the South fea, while he was paffing through the ftreights of Magellan, fome natives approached in their canoes; and upon invitation came

on

on board, without fear, or even fhynefs.. They at the fame time appeared grofsly ftupid; and particularly could not comprehend the use of knives, offered to them in a prefent. In another part of the ftreights, the natives were highly delighted with the presents made them. M. Bougainville, in his voyage round the world, defcribes a people in the ftreights of Magellan, probably those last mentioned, as of finall ftature, tame and peaceable, having fcarce any cloathing in a climate bitterly cold. Commodore Byron difcovered another ifland in the South fea covered with trees, which was named Byron ifland. The inhabitants were neither favage nor fhy, trafficking freely with the crew, tho' they seemed addicted to thieving. One of them ventured into the fhip. After leaving Otaheite, Mr Banks and Dr Solander, failing weftward, difcovered a cluster of islands, termed by them Society islands the natives were extremely civil, and appeared to have no averfion to ftrangers. The island of Oahena, north-west from that of Otaheite, is a delightful spot; the foil fertile, and the fhores adorned with fruit-trees of various kinds. The inhabitants

1

habitants are well proportioned, with regular engaging features; the women uncommonly beautiful and delicate. The inhabitants behaved with great hospitality and probity to the crew of the ship in which these gentlemen lately made a voyage round the world.

To find the inhabitants of thefe remote islands differing fo widely from the rest of the world, as to have no averfion to ftrangers, but on the contrary fhowing great kindness to the firft they probably ever faw, is a fingular phenomenon. It is vain here to talk of climate; because in all climates we find an averfion to strangers. From the inftances given above, let us felect two islands, or two clusters of islands, fuppofe for example Bowman's islands inhabited by Whites, and thofe adjacent to New Guinea inhabited by Blacks. Kindness to strangers is the national character of the former, and hatred to ftrangers is the national character of the latter. Virtues and vices of individuals, depend on caufes fo various, and fo variable, as to give an impreffion of chance more than of defign. We are not always certain of uniformity in the conduct even of the fame

perfon;

perfon; far lefs of different perfons however intimately related: how small is the chance, that fons will inherit their father's virtues or vices? In most countries, a favage who has no averfion to ftrangers, nor to neighbouring clans, would be noted as fingular: to find the fame quality in every one of his children, would be surprising: and would be still more fo, were it diffused widely through a multitude of his defcendents. Yet a family is as nothing compared with a whole nation; and when we find kindness to strangers a national character in certain tribes, we reject with difdain the notion of chance, and perceive intuitively that effects fo regular and permanent must be owing to a constant and invariable caufe. Such effects cannot be accidental, more than the uniformity of male and female births in all countries and at all times. They cannot be accounted for from education nor from example; which indeed may contribute to spread a certain fashion or certain manners, but cannot be their fundamental caufe. Where the greater part of a nation is of one character, education and example may extend it over the whole; but the character of that