184 NATURAL AND CiViL 



of gums. These were often mixed with differ^ 

 ent colours, and formed a very durable paint, 

 or kind of varnish. This may properly be esti- 

 mated as a part of the Indian dress. And it 

 was well adapted to defend the body, against 

 tlie extreme moisture and cold of the forest and 

 lake, to protect them against the numerous 

 tribes of insects to which they were exposed, 

 and to check the profuse perspiration to which 

 they were subject, at different times and places. 



Idleness. When engaged in hunting and 

 war, the savage appears active, enterprising, and 

 indefatigable. But when these favorite occu- 

 pations are ended, an universal inactivity, and 

 indolence, take place. The time of the Indian 

 is speftt in eating, sleeping, and sitting still. 

 When he applies to any kind of labour^ it ib 

 with little activit}', and with a great aversion. 

 They will spend whole years in making a pipe, 

 forming a canoe, or building a hut. The la- 

 bours of agriculture, are wholly assigned to the 

 women : Inactive and slothful, the man cannot 

 be roused up to any kind of labour and fatigue. 

 His time is of no value to him : Every thing 

 but hunting and war, is esteemed below his 

 dignity and attention. And of all employments, 

 the lowest and most base, in his view, is dig- 

 ging-, toiling, and labouring in the earth. The 

 most indolent, slothful, and contemptible, • in 

 civilized nations, have the Scime idea of honor 

 and industry ; that labour, especially agriculture, 

 is beneath their dignity and honor. 



Dirtiness. Cleanliness seems to be insep- 

 crably connected with industry, and some de- 

 gree of refinement. Destitute of both, the say- 



