268 A VOYAGE TO Book V. 



either males or females any indications of the age of 

 puberty. 



The youths of family are here instructed in philo- 

 sophy and divinity, and some proceed to the study 

 of the civil law, but follow that profession with re- 

 luctance. In these sciences they demonstrate n great 

 dea! of judgment and vivncity, but afe vcry deficient 

 in historical and political knowledge, as well as ether 

 sciences, which improve the human understanding, 

 and carry it co a certain degree of perfecrJon not other- 

 wise attainable. This is, hov/ever, theJr misfortune, 

 not their fault,- being owing to the want of proper 

 persons to instru^ t them ; for with regard to those 

 who visit this country on commercial affairs, their 

 minds have ^s^enerally another turn, and their whole 

 time is devoted to acquire riches. Thus after seven or 

 eight years of scholastic instruction, their knowledge 

 is very limited j though endowed with geniuses capa- 

 ble of making the greatest progress in the sciences. 



In the women of rank here, their beauty is blended 

 with a graceful carriage and an amiable temper j 

 qualities indeed common to the whole sex in this part 

 of America. Their children are always educated un- 

 der their own eyes, though little to their advantage, 

 their extreme fondness preventing them from seeing 

 those vices which so ofcen bring youth to ruin and in- 

 famy ; nor is it uncommon for them to endeavour to 

 hide the vices of the son from the knowledge of the 

 father; andin caseof detection, to interposepassionate- 

 ly in defence of their favourite, in order to prevent his 

 being properly corrected. 



This country is observed to abound more in women 

 than men; a circumstance the more remarkable, as 

 those causes which in Europe induce mentoleave their 

 country, namely, travelling, commerce, and war, can 

 hardly be said to subsist here. Numbers of families 

 may be tound in this country, that have a great va- 

 riety 



