1791- ACCOUNT OF THE ISLAND SAIvIAR. I 2p 



ACCOUNT OF THE ISLAND SAMAR. 



( Conthiiedfrom p. $^.) 



1. HE deportment of the men is eafy, open, and af- 

 fable ; the women are gay and lively, and poflefs in 

 forne degree the flippancy of the coquette, without, 

 however, being inclined to the vice of proftitution. 

 The Indian has little propenfity to labour, but he can- 

 not be accufed of avoiding it when any emergency ren- 

 ders it expedie:it. Vanity, and lying are the only im- 

 moralities I could difcover among them ; and though I 

 have not found them prone, either to jealoufy or theft, 

 they feemed, however, confiderably keen in their deal- 

 ings with the Europeans. I am difpofed to believe that 

 fenfibility of mind in the Indian is particularly nice and 

 delicate, having obferved in the exercife of his friend- 

 fliips a warmth and opennefs of heart which I have not 

 difcoversd, in an equal degree, in any other people. 

 A falute, the common token of love between the fexes, 

 and of aifeftion among relations, is here preceded by 

 a gentle afpiration of incenfe on that part of the face 

 to which the lips are meant to be applied. 



The Bilfayan Indians in general difcover a natural 

 tafte for mulic, and a propenfity to the mechanic arts ; 

 and I am convinced nothing but want of experience 

 prevents their attaining a very high degree of eminence 

 in thefe purfuits. The flexibility of their nerves and 

 mufcles may, perhaps, fcarcely be credited ; but the 

 fail is, that they handle fmall objects with their feet 

 with equal eafe and dexterity as we do with our 

 hand*, and can exert a force in pinching with 

 their toes, not lefs than that of a European when 

 he pinches with his fingers. With the aflfiftance of 

 his camplian alone, the Indian makes his fiddle, or 

 guitar, cuts down tlie largeft tree In the forefl:, and 

 fliapes, and excavates it into th? form of a canoe. At 

 Vol. V. t Q., 



