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The* facility of procuring the necellaries of life, and even thofe ar- princi- 



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tides which are here reckoned to be luxuries ; together with the 



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humane and benevolent temper of thefe nations have hitherto hap- 

 pily prevented the oppreflion of the Toutous ; and if the 



PLES OF 

 SOCIE- 

 TIES* 



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of thefe people are not influenced and corrupted by the commerce 



and intercourfe with European profligates, and by the introduction 

 of new luxuries, which can be procured only by hard labour and 

 drudgery, the happinefs of the lowefl clafs of people, will, proba- 



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bly be of long continuance ; and forbid it humanity and bene- 



4 



volence, that any one of us fliould be wicked enough to form a 



4 



wifli or a plan to entail mifery and wretchednefs, on a happy and 

 harmlefs race of men ! 



They have undoubtedly cuftomary laws and regulations relative 



\ 



to the good order of their focieties, for the fecurity both of their 

 property and of the lives of individuals, and punifhments which 



^ 



are inflided on thofe who tranfgrefs thefe laws, and diflurb the 

 public peace. At the time when one of the natives had ftolen 



F 



a mufket from a centry at the tents on Point Venus in O-Taheitee, 

 the centry was carried on board under confinement, and previous 

 to the punifhment inflided on him for the negle<5l of his duty, 

 the articles of war were read before the whole {hip's company 

 allembled on deck 5 during this ceremony, it is cuilomary for every 



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body to be uncovered. • The natives, among whom were fome 



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of 



