CHINA. 175-z. '£& 



tson, and mention fuch difadvantageous cir- 

 cumflances. But be this as it will, yet we 

 cannot attribute this vice to the climate, as we 

 might have been rafhly led to do: for the 

 whole argument falls to nothing, when it is 

 feen that the Perfees, which are patterns of 

 chaftity at Suratte, are in the fame climate 

 with the Moors, and have a warmer air than 

 the Italians, 



They are courageous only when they are 

 fet on ftealing ; for then they venture their 

 backs, and even their lives. They are, how- 

 ever, revengeful and malicious, like all narrow 

 minded people. You look in vain among the 

 greateft part of them for difinterefted grati- 

 tude, pity, placability, and a generous- man- 

 ner of thinking. Had Rochefoucault been bora 

 and bred among theChinefe, he would probably 

 have denied the exiflence of virtue : yet with 

 all thefe faults they are very civil, and are ob- 

 liged to be fo, becaufe private ceremonies are 

 the object and bufinefs of one of the mod con- 

 fiderable colleges of the empire. The fol- 

 lowing is the manner of faluting among them* 

 They clench their left nTt, put the right hand 

 on it, drop it down, bow, and lift it up again. 

 Thofe who have accuflomed themfelves to 



th-5 



