584 



H E M A R K S 



ON 



T ft E 



I 



MANNERS 



COMPARED 



.the hag, and the fowl, which on great occafions ferve for his meal ; 

 in fhort, there is not a fingle article of his food, which owes not 

 its exiftence to his or his fathers induftry or care; who planted the 



> 



trees, which furniih cocoas, apples, and other nuts and fruits. In 

 -regard to clothes, the Taheitean is moft certainly happier than the 

 European, whofe drefs .requires more time,, labour, and devices ; 

 and to whom folly and failiion have made many articles feem to be 

 iiecelTary, which are really frivolous and abfolutely ufelefs ; the Ta- 

 heitean drefs is eafier obtained and made ; elegant, fimple, and an- 

 fwering every purpofe in their fituation. 

 and well fuited to the climate, and the manners of the nation -, I 

 pretend not here to fay that thefe three great articles, food, raiment, 

 and habitation, are in every refped at Taheitee, fuperior to our 

 food, our dreffes, our materials, and houfe 

 thefe articles are among us, more ingenioufly contrived and varied. 



Their houfes are neat 



muft be allowed 



and better adapted 



feafons, climates, and 



but 



hich is more 



be denied that thefe people enjoy a happinefs v 

 tainable by every individual, for there cannot be an inflance among 

 jthem, that ever a perfon died for want of fhelter, cloth, or food ; 

 even the meaneft obtain their fliare with great eafe and in 

 :affluence ; none is doomed by a hard mailer to perpetual toils and 

 ainremitted labour^ which requires a continual exertion of all his 



natives work gently, and more for the fake of 



ilrength 4 



for the 



exercife 



