17() remarKm akd opinions. 



establish its prosperity, conduct it peaceably and 

 liberally to a better situation, and soon induce it to 

 renounce a law revolting to nature, which was 

 founded only in necessity ! 



We must confess that our friend stands alone 

 exposed to the envy of his equals, the avidity and 

 power of his princes, and the treasures which our 

 love has heaped upon him, may gather the tempest 

 over his head. But our apprehension can go still 

 farther : the real treasure in iron, which we lavished 

 with pleasure upon Radack, may kindle a destruc- 

 tive war between the south and the north of this 

 chain, between it and Ralick, and blood be the fruit 

 of our liberality. 



The poor and dangerous reefs of Radack have 

 nothing to attract the Europeans, and we congra- 

 tulate our simple friends on remaining in their 

 obscurity. The amiableness of their manners, the 

 charming modesty which adorns them, are blossoms 

 of nature, which are not derived from any abstract 

 idea of virtue. They v/ould show themselves equally 

 docile to our vices ; and, as the victims of our pas- 

 sions, would draw down upon them our contempt. 



Ralick, near to Radack, in the west, is a similar 

 chain of low groups of islands, with the geography 

 of which even the women in Radack are familiar. 

 Ralick is more fertile and populous than Radack. 

 The people, the language, the tattooing are the 

 same. No children are murdered ; the women do 

 not accompany them into war. The people are 



