The Htflory of Book II. 



greateft of all deformities to have fmall eyes, and yet there are 

 few among them but have them fuch. As for the Tortoife, 

 the reafon of their abftinence from that is no lefs ridiculous 3 

 they will not feed on that, fay they, out of a fear left if they 

 did, they fhould participate of the lazinefsand ftupidity of that 

 Creature. 



Moft of thofe people who are known by the name of Savages 

 arealfofullof ftrange and fantaftical imaginations concerning 

 p. Junius in the matter and manner of eating : For example , the Canadi- 

 an Relations ans abftain from Mufcles, only out of a pure fancy $ but they 

 of New-Fra. are fa c fo B ea ft s t h at t h ev cannot give any reafon for that 

 abftinence : They will not caft the Beavers bones to the Dogs, 

 left the foul of that Bead (hould go and tell the other Beavers, 

 and fo oblige them to leave the Country : It is reported alfo, 

 That they do not eat the marrow of the back-bone of any 

 Creature, for fear of having any pain in the back. The Brafi- 

 De L,ery } ct i Hans eat no hens egges,out of an opinion they are poifon They 

 abftain alio from the flefh of Ducks, and that of every Crea- 

 ture that goes flowly, as alfo from Fifties that do not fwim 

 fwiftly, for fear of participating of theflownefs of thofe Crea- 

 firard of the tures. The Maldivefes forbear the meat of Tortoifes , as the 

 Animals of Carihbians do , but it is becaufe of the conformity there is, in 

 the £a(l-Tn- their judgment , between -them and Man. The Calecutians^ 

 VinhBlanc anc * *° me ot ^ iers * lve more towar ds the Eaft, never tafte 

 GarJlap, ' °^ t ' ie ^ em °f w ^ Oxen, Cows, and Bulls, out of a perfwa- 

 /,8. cj, ' fi° n tnat mens Souls, when they depart out of their Bodies, 

 go and animate thofe of the faid Beafts. In fine, certain Pe- 

 ruvians of the Province of Paffu abftain from all kinds of flefh 

 whatfoever $ and if they are intreated to tafte thereof, their, 

 anfwer is, Thaftheji are not Dogs. All thefe Inftances are brought 

 upon the Stage < to fhew that the averfion of the Carihbians 

 to eat Salt, Swines-flefh, and Tortoiies, fhould not caufe them 

 to be accounted the moft felf-will'd and moft extravagant of all 

 the Savages. 



Befides the difcoveries we have already made of their fbt- 

 tifhnefs and fimplicity, there is this yet to be added. That they 

 are fo ftupid, that they cannot count a number exceeding that 

 of the Fingers of their Hands and the Toes of their Feet,which 

 they fhew toexprefs the faid number, what exceeds it furpa£ 

 fing with them all Arithmetick 5 fo that they would be very 

 unfit for Bankiers 5 an humour contrary to that of the Chine- 

 Voyage u ttbe j es ^ w j 1Q ^ f uc ^ excellent Accomptants, that in a moment they 

 Eaft Indies, ca ft up fuch Sums as it would trouble us much to do, and that 

 J with greater certainty. 



But the Carihbians have the priviledge not to be the only 

 Nation in the World which may be reproach'd with this igno- 

 rance , for it is as great among the people of Madagafcar and 

 Gmnn^x.0 cite no more j nay, fome ancient Hiftorians affirm, 



That 



