554 
FALSEHOOD. — BREACH OF PROMISE SELFISHNESS. 
stands high above the rest. Inferior only to this, is their want of 
honorable adherence to their promise. The consequence of this 
habitual practice of falsehood, is the absence of shame, even on being 
detected. 
But the foulest blot on their character, is the indifference with 
which murder is viewed among them. It excites little sensation, ex- 
cepting in the family of the person who has been murdered ; and 
brings, it is said, no disgrace upon him who has committed it ; nor 
uneasiness excepting the fear of their revenge. Shall we not hesitate 
to assert that human nature is superior to the brute creation, when 
we find among this people instances of the fact, that the shedding of 
human blood, without the pretext of provocation or offence, and 
even by the basest treachery, has fixed no infamy upon the perpe- 
trator of so awful a crime ; and rarely drawn upon him any punish- 
ment from the chief authority ; an authority which the Giver of power 
entrusts to mortal hands, only for the protection of the weak and 
for the common good ? Such, at least, are the sentiments which they 
express, and such were their replies to my questions on this subject. 
But I will be more careful of the character of this tribe, than they 
themselves appear to be : I will not add my own testimony against 
them ; as I cannot give it from my own knowledge of any fact of 
this nature. And although I have heard tales, and have read similar 
accusations, yet I hope and believe there may be some foundation 
for a better opinion of this people, and that, with respect to murder, 
the Bachapins are not actually so depraved a race. 
Selfishness and deceit are vices which thrive luxuriantly in this 
soil ; and, like rank weeds, smother and destroy other qualities 
deserving of cultivation. Avarice has here also taken root, and 
grovels along the ground ; but ambition of twofold nature, a virtue 
or a vice, a tree of lofty growth, is here unknown. In company with 
such characteristics, it cannot be expected that hospitality should 
exist, even in sentiment ; for, some color of an excuse for neglecting it 
in practice, might occasionally be drawn from poverty or the want 
of means ; but here the richest individuals use the same language to 
exonerate themselves from this duty, as the poorest ; they all alike 
