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hammocks, in which they not only 

 fleep, but eat, converfe, play, blow a 

 kind of rough clumfy flutes, eradicate 

 their beards, or view themfelves in glaf- 

 fes, and admire their features, for they 

 are not untinitured with vanity. 



Their indolence feems to be conftitu- 

 tional, produced by the warmth and hu- 

 midity of the atmofphere, which conlpire 

 to relax and debilitate the inhabitants, 

 and render them lefs vigorous and adlive 

 than thofe of colder climates. But if 

 they have lefs ability or difpofition for 

 labour, they alfo find it lefs neceiTary 

 than in other climates ; as the fame heat 

 and moifture which thus enervates the 

 body, generates an exuberant fertility of 

 foil, a fpeedy luxuriant vegetation, and 

 a multiplicity of fpontaneous animal and 

 vegetable produ&ionsj which, with the 

 abfence of winter, and other peculiar ad- 

 vantages, amply compenfate for this de- 

 bility. 



