64 TRAVELSIN 
looked upon as a formal declaration that the 
Tifitor confiders him as his enemy. It is not 
the fame with the females in the company. 
They are cill embraced one after another, and 
to make an exception would be a fignal affront. 
Old or young, all muft be kifTed. It is a be* 
Refice with the duties attached to it. 
At whatever time of the day you enter the 
houfe of a planter, you are fure to find the 
kettle and tea-things upon the table* This 
pradice is univerfal. The inhabitants never 
drink pure water. If a ftranger prefents him- 
felf, it is tea they offer him for refrefhment. 
This is their common liquor in the interval of 
meals, and in one feafon of the year, when it 
often happens that they have neither beer nor 
wine, is their only beverage. 
If a ftranger arrives ac dinner time, before 
the cloth is taken away, he ihakes hands, em- 
braces, and immediately feats himfelf at the 
table. If he wifhes to pafs the night, he flays 
without ceremony, fmokes, drinks tea, afks the 
news, gives them all he knows in his turn ; and 
the next day, the kifTing and ihaking hands 
being repeated, he goes on his way, to per- 
form elfewhere the fame ceremony. To 
offer 
