Ch. iv. among the American Indians. 51 



The missionaries speak of several nations, 

 which appeared to use human flesh whenever 

 they could obtain it, as they would the flesh of 

 any of the rarer animals.* These accounts may 

 perhaps be exaggerated, though they seem to be 

 confirmed in a great degree by the late voyages 

 to the north-west coast of America, and by Capt. 

 Cook's description of the state of society in the 

 southern island of New Zealand. \ The people of 

 Nootka Sound appear to be cannibals \\ and the 

 chief of the district, Maquinna, is said to be so 

 addicted to this horrid banquet, that, in cold 

 blood, he kills a slave every moon to gratify his 

 unnatural appetite.^ 



The predominant principle of self-preservation, 

 connected most intimately in the breast of the 

 savage, with the safety and power of the com- 

 munity to which he belongs, prevents the admis- 

 sion of any of those ideas of honour and gallantry 

 in war, which prevail among more civilized na- 

 tions. To fly from an adversary that is on his 

 guard, and to avoid a contest where he cannot 

 contend without risk to his own person, and 

 consequently to his community, is the point of 



* Lettres Edif. torn. viii. p. 105, 271. torn. vi. p. 266. 



f Cautious as Captain Cook always is, he says of the New 

 Zealanders, " it was but too evident that they have a great liking 

 " for this kind of food." Second Voyage, vol. i. p. 246. And in 

 the last Voyage, speaking of their perpetual hostilities, he says, 

 " and perhaps the desire of a good meal may be no small incite- 

 " ment." Vol. i. p. 137. 



% Cook's Third Voyage, vol. ii. p. 271. 



§ Meares's Voyage, ch. xxiv. p. 255. 



E 2 



