]84 On the religion and 



" cording to the particular taste of each person, ap- 

 '• pear on the leaves and branches of the Fadeza- 

 ^' dai/n. This food is of such a nature, substance, 

 '' and nourishment, that M-hat is prepared for one 

 ^' person, would abundantly serve many : and after 

 *' being eat, it takes away all sensation of hunger for 

 ^' seven days. When the repast is finished, the re- 

 *• mains of their own accord disappear. From such 

 " a diet the natives of Unchegrii never suffer any 

 *' sickness ; nor have they any inconvenience from 

 ^' old age, but live for a thousand years happy and 

 *' tranqtiii in continual vigour, always in their per- 

 *' sons resembling youths of eighteen years. 



" The manner in which these islanders contract 

 '•'marriage, is remarkable. Women there are not 

 '^ subject to the common sexual infirmities, and bear 

 '' their children without any pain. When their time 

 *' comes, the}' bringforth their children in the streets, 

 ^' and there lea\'e them. The children, though thus 

 *' forsaken by their parents, do ^^^ die: for the 

 *' passengers put the extremities of their fingers into 

 *' the mouths of the infants, who from thence suck 

 ^' a most exquisite nectareous liquor, by which they 

 *' are refreshed and nourished, for seven days, in 

 " which time they become full grown. No one 

 " then knows his own relations; not only for the 

 *' above-mentioned reason ; but also because all the 

 *' inhabitants of the northern island are of the same 

 ^' form and colour. Whenever therefore a man and 

 ** woman struck with mutual love wish to contract 

 " marriage, they retire under the shade of a certain 

 *' most agreeable kind of a tree. If they be not 

 ** nearly related, this tree bends down its branches 

 ' ' and leaves, covering them with a delightful bower, 

 ** where they consummate their marriage: but if 

 " they be very nearly related, the tree neither bends 

 "down its branches nor leaves: and they then 

 *' knowing their consanguinity immediately abstain 

 *' from any" farther connection. These islanders 

 " are not amorous : for they never perform the con- 

 "jiigal rites more than ten times: many abstain 



" from 



