I 791* ACCOUNT OF THE ISLAND SAMAR. I33 



<Tan forefl, but which, enlivened by the bloflbms of 

 fpring, or loaded with their antumnal fruits, yield bal- 

 fam for the wounds, and odours for the refrefliment of 

 the natives. The wild bee-hive hanging from the 

 branches ; the air highly perfumed with a very fra- 

 grant fpecies of wild jefTamy, and the fweet rofes of 

 China ; every thing, in fine, prefents Nature in adolel- 

 cence, fuch as Ihe exifts before the folly and caprice of 

 man have learned to disfigure or efface her native 

 charms. 



Here I was often at a lofs to determine which had 

 the moil claim to my admiration, the beauty of the 

 country, or the gentle and innocent manners of the na- 

 tives. Having continued my travels half round the 

 globe, I had become Icfs additfed to local and illiberal 

 partialities, and, in fome meafure, fenfible how little 

 the narrow prejudices of education accord with the 

 fentiments of an open and candid mind. Hence, if I 

 envied tlie Biflayan's country, I was ftill more covet- 

 ous of his fociety, of that fincerity vifiblc in the whole 

 tenor of his conduct, and, above all, of that calm fere- 

 nity of mind but little exhibited by the more polifiied 

 circles in modern Europe. I furveycd, with fatisfac- 

 tion, the fmalleft of Nature's works, which the levity 

 of a refined imagination has in no inftance taught the 

 Biflayan either to impair or deitroy. My heart was. 

 enchanted in my attendance on their religious worfiiip, 

 which is acconrpanied with a very fimple, but intereft- 

 ing and cxpreffive fpecies of mulic. Under thefe and 

 Cmilar imprefTions, I became particularly difpofed to 

 acknowledge the goodnefs of divine Providence, which 

 had led me, as it were, by the hand through my wan- 

 derings ; and my thoughts being turned towards reli- 

 gion in general, I gave mere attention than ufual td 

 the confiJeration of my own. 



