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€oS 



REMARKS 



O N 



THE 



TviANNETis iflc to ifle ; it is almoft beyond a doubt, that they are very nearly 



COMPARED 



-related to one another s and that from thefe Caroline-iflanders, the 

 ' inhabitants of the Eaflern South Sea iflands were defcended at fome 



dillant period. 



This confideration leads us to another, 'uiz. that 



thefe illanders having no other than vague traditional reports in lieu 

 of hiilorical records, it is impoffible to knov7 any thing of their 

 origin or migrations ; and that no diftant guefs or conjedure could 

 ever have been formed unlefs by paying a particular attention to 



/ 



•* 



their peculiar cuftoms and manners, and likewife to their language j 



^ 



of the firil we have given as good an account as our hiilorical 



r 



proofs would admit ; the latter fome future navigators muft invefti- 

 gate more carefully. A ftronger proof of the advantages of civiliza- 

 tion, cannot be given, than refults from this total uncertainty, re- 

 fpeding the origin of thefe nations : if we have been able to produce 

 any arguments that lay claim to probability, it is becaufe our minds 

 are improved by civilization, and our talents, natural and acquired, 

 have enabled us to form a judgment as nearly approaching to truth 

 as thefe fubjedls will allow*: Our minds therefore fhould be im- 

 prefTed with the moft unfeigned feelings and adls of gratitude to 



* 



Providence for the bleffings of a more exalted civilization and edu- 



F 



cation, which give us in every refpecft fo great a fuperiority over thefe 



r 



nations, and affign to us fo high a rank in the fcale of rational be- 

 ings ; 



■ t 



