68 HISTORY OF THE [BOOK i. 



of Europe, not only in bodily strength, but likewise 

 in genius and mental endowments. This assertion 

 has I think been advanced with more confidence than 

 proof. That the mind, like the body, acquires strength 

 by employment, is indeed a truth which we all ac- 

 knowledge, because we all experience it; and it re- 

 quires no great sagacity co discover, that ingenuity is 

 seldom very powerfully exerted to gratify appetites 

 which do not exist, or to guard against inconvenien- 

 cies which are not felt. If our islanders therefore 

 in some respects to a degree of refinement not 

 often observable in savage life, it may justly be pre- 

 ned, fc m a state of society productive of new 

 desires and artificial necessities, their capacities would 

 been susceptible of still further improvement, 

 i heir situation alone, without recurring to the vari- 

 ous other causes assigned by philosophers, sufficiently 

 accounts for the paucity of their ideas. Men, with- 

 out anxiety for the future, have little reflection on 

 the past. What they w r anted in excited energy of 

 mind, was how r ever abundantly supplied by the softer 

 affections ; by sweetness of temper, and native good- 

 ness of disposition. AIL writers who have treated of 

 their character agree, that they \vere unquestionably 

 the most gentle and benevolent of the human race. 

 Though not blessed with the light of Revelation, they 

 practised one of the noblest precepts of Christianity, 

 forgiveness of their enemies: laying all that they pos- 

 sessed at the feet of their oppressors; courting their 

 notice, and preventing their wishes, with such fond- 

 ness and assiduity, as one would have thought might 



