43^ 



REMARKS ON THE 



MAj^NERs than by perfuading thefe nations to return to monogamy the 



primitive method ordained 



providence for the propagation of 



mankind ; and every encouragement ought to be given to fo laudable 



a purpofe. 



The niations of the South Sea living all in monogamy, though 



defcended from the 



the Ind 



who almoii 



all are polygamous, prove indifputably, that perhaps neither 

 wifdom nor virtue prompted them to adopt this meafure, ^ 



:t that 



in all probability the firft fettlers in thefe iiles brought an equal 

 proportion of men and women with them, and that accident 



■ 



Blade it necellary to continue the meafure, and to lay afide polygamy, 

 the pracftice of which they had been accuftomed to in the mother 



The moderate fize of thefe ifles made it likewife necef- 



s method ; becaufe if in a fmall ille, one man 



country 



of feveral men, by taking thofe 



fary to continue this 



ihould encroach upon the rights 



females to himfelf, which originally were defigned to be the wives 



of feveral, he could not remain unnoticed, and the injury 



done 



could not b 



be felt very grievouily, and at length be in feme 



lal, what fliould have 



meafure repaired by reftoring to every individual^ 



ten his allotted fhare,. 



The young females of O-Taheitee and its neighbourhood, are 



is in admitting fome lovers to their embraces 

 In other countries this would be a fuflicient 



not 



fcrupulo 



b,efor,e marriage 



re 



afon 



