THE PELEW ISLANDS. 
333 
tills .—Their manners were courteous, though they were 
far from being of loofe or vicious difpofitions ;—they in ge¬ 
neral rejected connections with our people, and refented 
any indelicate or unbecoming freedom with a proper fenfe 
of modefty. 
In fuch fcenes of patient indultry, the years of fleeting 
life pafled on; and the cheerful difpolition of the natives 
fully authorized our people to fuppofe, that there were few 
hours of it either irkfome or oppreflive. They were ftrangers 
to thofe paflions which ambition excites—to thofe cares 
which affluence awakens.—Their exiftence appeared to glide 
along like a fmooth undifturbed ftream ; and when the na¬ 
tural occurrences of life ruffled the furface, they poflefled a 
fufficient portion of fortitude to recover foon its wonted 
calm.—Their happinefs feemed to be fecured to them on 
the firmed: bafis ; for the little which Nature and Provi¬ 
dence fpread before them, they enjoyed with a contented 
cheerfulnefs; nor were their bofoms habituated to cheriffi 
wifhes which they had not the power of gratifying. And 
it will not furely be denied, that in civilized nations the 
error of a contrary conduCt exhibits, among the inactive, 
many melancholy repining countenances; whilft it prompts 
more daring and uncontrouled fpirits to aim at compafling 
their views by injuftice, or rapine, and to break down the 
facred barrier of fociety. 
From the general character of thefe people, the reader, I 
Ihould 
