5^ 



tenances open and expressive, which reflect every emotiou 

 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 5 

 but the latter, although possessing intelligent and open 

 countenances, fine eyes and teeth, and much acuteness and 

 vivacity, are far from being as handsotne 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 Wadly shaped foot, occasioned 

 by going without shoes, take greatly from their charms* 

 They possess much cunning, much coquetry, and no fide- 

 lity : the first proves a mind filled with intelligence, and 

 susceptible of improvement ; the second is said to be 

 natural to their sex in every part of the world ; and the 

 third they do not consider as necessary ; it is not expected 

 of them by their husbands. Go into their houses, you 

 might there see instances of the strongest atFection 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 ov/n disposal, and every thing pertaining to 

 her person was considered as her own exclusive propertyo 

 Virtue among them, in the light which we view it, was 

 onknov^n, and they attached no shame to a proceeding 

 which they not only considered as natural, but'as an inno- 

 cent and harmless amusement, by Y/hich no one was injured : 

 many parents considered themselves as honoured by the 

 preference given to their daughters, and testified their 

 pleasure by large presents of hogs and fruit, which to thena 

 must have appeared munificent. With the young and 

 timid virgins, no coercive measures were used by their 

 parents to compel them to make any sacrifices, but endear- 

 ing and soothing persuasions, enforced by rewards, were 

 frequently adopted to overcome their fears. With the 

 common sailors and their girls, all was belter skelter, and 

 promiscuous intercourse, every girl the wife of every man 

 in the mess, and frequently of every man in the ship ; each 

 one from time to time took such as suited his fancy and 

 convenience, and no one among them formed a cannexio?^ 



