96 Porter'' s Voyage 



had been played on them. The clothing of the officers apj meiiy 

 which was washed at a stream, much frequented bv the natives of 

 both sexes, at the distance of about half a mile from the camp, 

 was frequently exposed, and might easily have been carried off 

 unperceived. But none of it wa& ever lost, and I am inclined to 

 beheve that a more honest, or friendly and better disposed peo- 

 ple does not exist under the sun. 



They have been stigmatized by the name of savages ; it is a 

 term wrongly applied; they rank high in the scale of human 

 beings, whether we consider them morally, or physically. We 

 find them brave, generous, honest, and benevolent, acute, ingeni- 

 ous, and intelligent, and the beauty, and regular proportions of 

 their bodies, correspond with the perfections of their minds. 

 They are far above the common stature of the human race, sel- 

 dom less than five feet eleven inches, but most commonly six 

 feet two or three inches, and every way proportioned. Their 

 faces are remarkably handsome, with keen, piercing eyes ; teeth 

 white, and more beautiful than ivory ; countenances open and ex- 

 pressive, which reflect every emotion of their souls ; limbs which 

 might serve as models for a statuary, and strength and activity 

 proportioned to their appearance. The skin of the men is of a 

 dark copper colour, but that of the youths and girls is of a light 

 brown. The first are as beautiful as those of any part of the world ; 

 but the latter, although possessing open and intelhgent counte- 

 nances, fine eyes and teeth, and much acuteness and vivacity, are 

 far from being as handsome as the men. Their limbs and hands, 

 (particularly the latter) are more beautifully proportioned than 

 those of any other women; but a graceless walk, and a badly 

 shaped foot, occasioned by going without shoes, take greatly 

 from their charms. They possess much cunning, much coquetry, 

 and no fidehty : the first proves a mind filled with intelligence, 

 and susceptible of improvement ; the second is said to be natural 

 to the sex in every part of the v\^orld ; and the third they do not 

 consider as necessary ; it is not expected of them by their hus- 

 bands. Go into their houses, you might there see instances of 

 the strongest affection of wives for their husbands, and husbands 

 for their wives, parents for their daughters, and daughters for 

 their parents ; but at the camp they met as perfect strangers. 

 Every woman was left at her own disposal, and every thing- 

 pertaining to her person was considered as her own exclusive 

 property. 



The dress of the women is handsome, and far from being im- 

 modest ; it has already been in part described, but a more minute 

 description may not be unsatisfactory. It consists of three parts 

 only : the head-dress, the robe, and the part worn as the petti- 

 coat : the first is called paiiJieey the second cahu^ and the third 



