208 CHARACTER OF NATIVES. 



all endeavours at subjugation with constancy and 

 firmness ; but of this, we whose intentions and rela- 

 tions were avowedly and undeviatingly pacific, had 

 no active proof. My experiences lead me to 

 characterise them as phlegmatic, deliberate in speech 

 and action ; natui*ally indolent, perhaps, but obliged 

 by the scanty resources of their land to bestir them- 

 selves in providing subsistence and the very few 

 comforts they possess ; worthy of confidence, although 

 shrewd at a bargain, and in occasional instances 

 displaying a pilfering tendency ; (which, however, I 

 believe was exercised only upon the property of the 

 stranger) and even this some I am sure scorned to 

 participate in ; hospitable in the extreme, and 

 exceedingly fond of company. Of the structure of 

 their religion I know very little. Magic and evil 

 spirits are certainly constituents ; how far the former 

 is extended I am ignorant, as also whether they 

 worship or simply deprecate the displeasure of 

 the latter in their ceremonies. I have no means of 

 judging of then' belief in a benign spirit, but incline 

 to the view that the sun is importantly connected 

 with their notions, and that they assign to each of 

 the elements, and even perhaps the different winds 

 and other natural objects, a controlling and dispensing 

 spirit. 



