Cap. XI. The Caribby4flands. %6$ 



fentiment by a demonftration which is natural and pleafant 

 enough : Thus, when they would reprefent what they think 

 of the European Nations which they are acquainted withall, 

 they fay of the Spaniards and the Englifh, that they are not 

 good at all 3 of the Dutch, that they have as much goodnefs as 

 a mans hand, or as far as the elbow 5 and of the French, that 

 they are as both the arms, which they ftretch out to ftiew the 

 greatnefs thereof: This laft Nation they have a greater affe- 

 ction for than for any other, efpecially thofe of it who have 

 gone along with them to their wars 3 for they give thofe part 

 of their booty : And as often as they return from their wars, 

 though the French had not gone alongwith them, yet do they 

 fend them part of the fpoih 



CHAP. XL 



Of the DifyofttiotJf of the Caribbians, and their 

 Manners. 



TH E Caribbians are naturally of a penftve and melancho- 

 ly temperament, timing, floth, and the temperature of 

 the air contributing much to the continuance of that humour .• 

 but having found by experience, that that uncomfortable con> 

 ftitution was prejudicial to their health, and that the mind 

 ore-prcfs'd dries up the bones, they for the mbft part do fo 

 great violence to their natural inclination, that they appear 

 chearful, pleafant, and divertive in their converfation, efpeci- 

 ally when tjiey have got a little wine in their heads : Nay they 

 have brought themfelves to fuch a pafs, that, as the Brafiliam^ VeLery citi 

 they can hardly endure the company of fuch as are melancho- , 

 ly : and thofe who have converfed much with them have al- 

 waies found them very facetious, and loth to let flip any occa- 

 fion of laughing, without making their advantage of it : nay 

 fometimes they have burftout into laughter, at what the moft 

 inclin'd thereto among us would hardly have finil'd. 



Their difcourfes among themfelves are commonly concern- 

 ing their hunting, their fifhing, their gardening, or fome other 

 innocent fubje&s 3 and When they are in ftrange company ^they 

 are never troubled if any body laugh in their prefence, fo far 

 are they from thinking it done as any affront to them t And 

 yet, they are fo far from the Simplicity of a certain Nation of 

 New- France, who acknowledge themfelves to be Savages, not 

 knowing what that denomination fignifies,' that they think 

 themfelves highly injut'd when anyone gives them that name : 



M m for 



