2i6 ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. Book 11. 



hofpitality and kindnefs to ftrangers, which are common to all the 

 barbarous nations, but, in private friendfliip, they exceed, if poffible, 

 even the Indians of North America ; for people there are joined in 

 the bands of friendfhip, as we are here in the bands of matrimony ; 

 And not only men with men, but women with women. And this is 

 done in the moft folemn manner before the parfon, (for they are 

 Chriftians), with a certain ritual, or form of words. And our author 

 adds, that there has hardly been known, except in fome inftances of 

 late years, any violation of thofe marriages of friendfhip. 



To make a contraft of the manners of thofe nations with the pre- 

 fent fafhionable manners in Europe, would be an invidious, as well 

 as an unnecefTary tafk, as it muft be obvious to every reader ; and, 

 befides, it does not belong to this part of my work, but to that in 

 which I am to treat of men in a degenerate ftate of fociety. 



CHAP. 



