196 ¥OYAGE TO MADAGASCAR* 



affumed its manners, and adopted its cuf- 

 toms. In fertile and rich regions, abound- 

 ing in every thing neceOary for lubfiftence, 

 it is almoft impoffible to find any advantage 

 by attacking the property of another ; fmce 

 the only riches of the inhabitants are thofe 

 of the foil, and the foil belongs in common 

 to all. It is not aftoniibing, therefore, that 

 pirates returning continually to this place of 

 ilielter, to repair and re-vid:uai their ftiipe, 

 fhould be fiivourably received by the Male- 

 gaches, fmce they fhared in their opulence, 

 without knowing how they acquired it. 

 They compared the condud of thefe 

 wretches with that of the crews of feveral 

 European vefTels, and the comparifon was 

 by no means favourable to the latter, who 

 had more than once procured refrefbnients 

 by force, and who had exercifed the moft 

 barbarous cruelties againfl the natives, burn- 

 ing their villages, or deftroying them with 



their 



