SUMATRA, 
fliould yet be common to nations^ the moft remote in fituation, climate, 
language^ compleKion, character, and every thing that can difluigLufl^ one 
race of people from another. Formed of like materialg, and furnifhed 
with like original fentiments, the uncivilized tribes of Europe and of 
India, trembled from the fame apprehenfions, excited by fimibr ideas, 
at a time when they were ignoiantj or even denied the polTibility of each 
others exiftencc. Mutual wrong, and animofity» attended with difputes 
and accufations, are not by nature confined to either defcriptlon of 
people. Eflofej in doubtful liti^atluui*, inighi.fcek: to prove their inno- 
cence, by braving, on the juflice of their caufe, rhofe objects which in- 
fpired amongfV their countrymen, the greateft terror. The Sumatran 
impreffed with an idea of invifible powers, but not of his own Immor* 
tality, regards with awe the fuppofed inftruments of their agency, and 
fwears on creefcs^ bullets and gun barrels ; weapons of perfonal. deftruc- 
tion. The German Chriftian of the feventh century, more indifferent 
to the perils of this life, but not leCs fuperflitlous, fwore on bits of rot- 
ten wood, and rufty nails, which he was taught to revere^ as pofleffing 
efficacy to fecure him from eternal perdition. 
When a man dies, his eiFedis, in common COUrlc, %lv^£L<:n<] to Hie male Inheiitaaee* 
children in equal lhares ; but if one among them is remarkable for his 
abilites above the reft, though not the eldeft, he ufually obtains the 
largeft porportion, and becomes the head of the toongocan oi houfe; the 
others voluntarily yielding him the fupcriority-J A pangsmn of M^nna 
left feveral children : none of them fucceeded to the title, but a name 
of diftindion was given to one of the younger, who was looked upon as 
chief of the family, after the father*s deceafe* Upon afktng the eldeft, 
how it happened that the name of diftindion paffed over him, and was 
conferred on his younger brother, he anfwercd with great naivete, be- 
caufe I am accounted weak and iilly." If no male childern are left, and 
a daughter only remains, they contrive to get her married by the mode 
of mnhei ana^ and thus the icv/igoom of the father continues. An equal 
diftribution of property among children is more natural, and conform- 
aUe to juflice^ than veiling the whole in the eldeft fon, as prevails 
throughout 
