58 THE CRUISE OF TEE 'CUBAQOA.' 



they are inoffensive, naturally indolent, hating work 

 in general, but setting a very high price on the least trifles 

 they produce. The Missionary, who, by the way, is as much 

 liked as any white man could be in this country, recom- 

 mended me to pay a dollar for the slight service rendered 

 me by a native for acting as my guide in one of my rambles. 

 Silver is highly valued among them, as is the case among all 

 the tribes in these seas. Next comes tobacco, which is in 

 great request. Theft is the prevaiUng vice, and is 

 unfortunately on the increase. In the course of twenty 

 years there has been but one case of assassination, and the 

 criminal suffered death. Prostitution seems to be unknown ; 

 but, on the other hand, sexual intercourse between the 

 unmarried, and adultery, are common enough, if the white 

 residents are to be believed ; yet the men, it is said, are 

 extremely jealous, and keep a sharp look-out upon their 

 wives, especially when there are any ships in port ; a state 

 of marital vigilance which makes it somewhat difficult to 

 understand how adultery can be a common practice.^ 

 Marriages take place by elopement, or according to native 

 usages, or through the agency of the Missionary. Marriage 

 according to local custom is distinguished by a singular, 

 and, as measured by our ideas, grossly indelicate 

 ceremony, which requires a woman to establish the fact of 

 her virginity in public ; when the proof is not satisfactory, 

 they are brutal enough to kill the woman.- It appears from 



' See infra, p. 80, ■what Captain Erskine reports as to their manners. 

 2 See Deuteronomy xxii. 20, 21, where the same penalty is imposed 

 a similar want of j)roof. 



