IN THE EAST AND WEST INDIES.
55
were poffeffed of all the delicacy of our point of ho- boo k
nour, but without its fufpicious minutiae.    As induftry , _   ^  ' ,
had not transformed them into mere machines, and as
the nature of their foil and climate did not require the
labours of the fields for more than two feafons in the
year, they had a great deal of leifure time, which they
employed in war, in hunting, in dancing, or in con-
verfations animated by pidurefque  expreffions, and
original ideas.   Moft of them were muficians.   Schools
were every where opened for the inftrudion of youth.
Under every roof was found one hiftorian, to recal to
their minds great events, and a poet to celebrate them.
The lakes, the forefts, the caves, the catarads, the ma-
jeftic grandeur of all the objeds that furrounded them,
infpired them with an elevation of mind, caft a fhade
of melancholy over their charaders, and kept up in
their hearts a facred enthufiafm.  Thefe people efteem-
ed themfelves, without defpifing other nations.   Their
afped ftruck the civilized man with awe, in whom
they only beheld one of their equals, whatever title
he might be decorated with.    They received all fo-
reigners who came to them with a fimple and cordial
affedion.    They kept a long time in their memory a
refentment for any injury offered to any of them;
which was rendered common to them all by the ties
of blood.    After an engagement they dreffed their
enemies wounds before their own.    As they were al-
ways armed, the habitual ufe of deftrudive weapons
prevented them from having any fear of them.   They
believed in fpirits ; and if the lightning fhone during
the night, if thunder rolled over their heads, if the
ftorm rooted up the trees  around their houfes,  or
ftiook their roofs, they imagined that it was fome for-
gotten hero reproaching them for rheir filence : they
then took up their inftruments, and fang a hymn to
his honour ; they affured him that his memory would
never be forgotten among the children of men.   They
believed in prefages and in divination.    They all fub-            ,
mined to the eftablifhed form of worfhip ; fuperftition
D iiij