the South-Sea, 



z 



Thefe agreeable Accomplifhnients, which Spamjh Wo- 

 men have from their Education, are the more moving, be- 

 caufe they are generally attended with a graceful Air : They 

 are for the moft part fprightly enough their Complexion is 

 good, but not lafting 5 by reafon of their ufingfo much Subli- 

 mate, which is contrary to what Oexmeli an fays in his Hi- 

 ftory of the Buccaniers ; Sublimate, fays he, is alf'o formed, 

 or metamorphosed, tho" not ufed in America, becaufe the Wo- 

 men there do not paint : They have fparkling Eyes, their 

 Difcourfe pleafant, approving of a free Gallantry, to which 

 they anfwer wittily, and often with fuch a Turn as has a 

 Tafte of Libertinifm, according to our Cuftoms. Thofe 

 Propofals, which a Lover would not dare to make in 

 France, without incurring the Indignation of a modeft 

 Woman, are fo far from fcandalizing, that they are pleas'd 

 with them, tho' they be, at the fame time, far from con- 

 fenting ; being perfuaded that it is the greateft Tcfken of 

 Love that can be (hewn them, they return Thanks as for 

 an Honour done them, inftead of taking Offence as of an 

 ill Opinion conceiv'd of their Vertue. By thefe fimple and 

 natural Ways we perceive the fecret Pleafure and Satisfa- 

 ction we receive when we find ourfelves courted. This 

 Effect of Self-love, which is the Source of reciprocal Affe- 

 ction, is afterwards the Occafion of Diforder, when De- 

 cency and Religion do not put a Stop to it ; but, without 

 regarding effential Duties, humane Prudence alone ought 

 to fuffice to hinder a Man of Senfe from being taken in the 

 Snares of the Coquets of that Country ; for their obliging 

 Behaviour is generally the Effe& of their Avarice, rather 

 than a Token of their Inclination. They are perfectly 

 skilPd in the Art of impofmg on the Frailty a Man fliews 

 for them, and engaging him in continual Expences, with- 

 out Difcretion ; they feem to take a Pride in ruining many 

 Lovers/ as a Warrior does in having vanquidi'd many 

 Enemies. And I found more bitter than Death, the Wo- 

 man whofe Heart is Snares and Nets, and her Hands 

 as Bands ; whofo plcafeth God, faall efcape from her, but 



L 1 the 



