T H E P A C I F I C O C E A N. 149 



willing to conceal any of their defects, lias often faid, that ^^^J^^^^^^ 

 they are fometimes cruel in punifhing their enemies. Ac- 

 cording to his reprefentation, they torment them very deli- 

 berately i at one time, tearing out fmall pieces of flefli from 

 different parts ; at another, taking out the eyes; then cut- 

 ting off the nofe; and laftly, killing them by opening the 

 belly. But this only happens on particular occafions. If 

 cheerfulnefs argues a confcious innocence, one would fup- 

 pofe that their life is fcldom fullied by crimes. This, how- 

 ever, I rather impute to their feelings, which, though lively^ 

 feem in no cafe permanent ; for I never faw them, in any 

 misfortune, labour under the appearance of anxiety, after 

 the critical moment was palt. Neither does care ever feem 

 to wrinkle their brow. On the contrary, even the approach 

 of death di?es not appear to alter their ufual vivacity. I 

 have feen them, when brought to the brink of the grave by 

 difeafe, and when preparing to go to battle ; but, in neither 

 cafe, ever obferved their countenances overclouded with 

 melancholy, or ferious reflcclion. 



Such a difpofition, leads them to direcb all their aims only 

 to what can give them plcafure and eale. Their amufe- 

 mcnts all tend to excite and continue their amorous paffions ; 

 and their fongs, of which they are immoderately fond, an- 

 swer the fame purpofe. But as a conllant fuccefllon of fen^ 

 fual enjoyments mull cloy, wc found, that they frequently 

 varied tliem to more refined fubjccts, and had much plea- 

 fure in chanting their triumphs in v/ar, and their occupa- 

 i-ions in peace ; their travels to other iilands, and adventures 

 there; and the peculiar beauties, and fuperior advantages 

 of their own ifland over the reft, or of different parts of it 

 over other lefs favourite diilri^. This marks, that they re- 

 ceive great delight from mudc ; and though they rather ex- 

 5 preffed 



