J54 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



it in the fame cloth upon her back, and gives it fuck with 

 the bread, which ihe throws over her moulder, this part be- 

 ing of fuch a length as, in fome, to reach almofl to their 

 knees. 



The Shangalla have but one language, and of a very 

 guttural pronunciation. They worftiip various trees, fer- 

 pents, the moon, planets, and liars in certain pofitions, : 

 which I never could fo perfectly underfland as to give any 

 account of them. A liar palling near the horns of the moon 

 denotes the coming of an enemy. They have priefls, or ra- 

 ther diviners ; but it ffiould feem that thefe were looked 

 upon as fervants of the evil- being, rather than of the good. 

 They prophecy bad events, and think they can afflict their 

 enemies with licknefs, even at a diflance. They generally 

 wear copper bracelets upon their wrifls and arms. 



I have faid the Shangalla have each feverat wives. This* 

 however, is not owing to any inordinate propenfity of the 

 men to this gratification, but to a much nobler caufe, which 

 ihould make European writers, who object this to them, a- 

 fhamed at the injuflice they do the favage, who all his life,, 

 quite the reverfe of what is fuppofed, Ihews an example of 

 continence and chaftity, which the pureft and moil refined 

 European, with all the advantages of education, cannot 

 pretend to imitate. 



It is not the men that feek to avail themfelves of the 

 liberty they have by their ufages of marrying as often and 

 as many wives as they pleafe. Hemmed in on every fide 

 by active and powerful enemies, who' confider them as a 

 fpecies of wild beaits, and hunt them precifely as they do 



the 



