8 SKETCH OF THE BOOTHIANS. 



paradox ; and to him whose temper may have been soured by 

 such collision, or who may have commenced with a prejudice 

 distorting all that he saw. But the passions of our nature will 

 strive to break forth, under all the restraints that society and 

 religion can impose; and how should they not actually reign, 

 where there is neither to check their operation, where there is 

 nothing to say. This is wrong ; still more, where there is no 

 inconvenience contemplated, to balance that which is gratifying, 

 and may also be convenient ? 



But if there is no vice where there are no religion and no 

 moral law to say. This is disobedience to God, and where custom 

 and admission say that no injury is committed against our fellow- 

 creatures, then is there also no vice in that want of chastity which 

 is as remarkable here as it has been found among all the scat- 

 tered tribes of the Esquimaux on the American shores. Who is 

 there among the moralists to settle this question ? Be it deter- 

 mined as it may, that " moral sense" on this subject, which is so 

 generally diffused, is here deficient; since it is grossly unjust to 

 attribute to selfishness alone, the respect entertained for chastity 

 in the female sex; in whatever manner the value of this in the 

 other is judged of The Esquimaux of Igloolik, at least, are 

 proved to be in the last degree selfish : yet the virtue in question 

 is held, by them, in no repute. 



We at least nuist speak as we, under civilization, feel. The 

 conduct of the present people, as of all the rest of this race, is not 

 more pure than that of the brute beasts : it is far less so than that 

 of the pairing animals. But I need not dwell on a disgusting 



