It would be trespassing on the reader's indulgence were I to impose
on him an account of any civil regulations, or ordinances, which may
possibly exist among this people. I declare to him, that I know not of
any, and that excepting a little tributary respect which the younger
part appear to pay those more advanced in years, I never could observe
any degrees of subordination among them. To their religious rites and
opinions I am equally a stranger. Had an opportunity offered of seeing
the ceremonies observed at disposing of the dead, perhaps, some insight
might have been gained; but all that we at present know with certainty
is, that they burn the corpse, and afterwards heap up the earth around
it, somewhat in the manner of the small tumuli, found in many counties
of England.
I have already hinted, that the country is more populous than it was
generally believed to be in Europe at the time of our sailing. But
this remark is not meant to be extended to the interior parts of the
continent, which there is every reason to conclude from our researches,
as well as from the manner of living practised by the natives, to be
uninhabited.
Pages:
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86