As the condition of man in the favage ftate is unfavourable to the progrefs of the understand ing, it has a tendency likewife, in fome refpects, to check the exercise of affection, and to render the heart contracted. The ftrongeft feeling in the mind of a favage is a fense of his own independence. He has facrificed fo fmall a portion of his natural liberty by becoming a member of fociety, that he remains, in a great degree, the fole mafter of his own actions. He often takes his refolutions alone, without confulting, or feeling any connection with the perfons around him. In many of his operations, he ftands as much detached from the reft of his fpecies, as if he had formed no union with them. Confcious how little he depends upon other men, he is apt to view them with a careless indifference. Even the force of his mind contributes to increase this unconcern, and as he looks not beyond himself in deliberating with refpect to the part which he fhould act, his folicitude about the confe quences of it feldom extends farther. He pur fues his own career, and indulges his own fancy, without inquiring or regarding whether what he does be agreeable or offenfive to others, whether 'they may derive benefit or receive hurt from it. Hence the ungovernable caprice of favages, their impatience under any fpecies of restraint, their inability to fupprefs or moderate any inclination, the fcorn or neglect with which they receive advice, their high eftimation of themselves, and their contempt of other men. Among them, the pride of independence produces almoft the fame effects with interestedness in a Fernandez, Miffion. de los Chiquit. 33. more advanced state of society; it refers every thing to a man himself, it leads him to be indif ferent about the manner in which his actions may affect other men, and renders the gratification of his own wifhes the measure and end of conduct. To the fame caufe may be imputed the hardaefs of heart, and infenfibility, remarkable in all favage nations. Their minds, roused only by frong emotions, are little fufceptible of gentle, delicate, or tender affections". Their union is fo incomplete, that each individual acts as if he retained all his natural rights entire and undiminifhed. If a favour is conferred upon him, or any beneficial fervice is performed on his account, he receives it with much fatisfaction, because it contributes to his enjoyment; but this fentiment extends not beyond himself, it excites no fenfe of obligation, he neither feels gratitude nor thinks of making any return ". Even among perfons the moft clofely connected, the exchange of thofe good offices which ftrengthen attachment, mollify the heart, and fweeten the intercourfe of life, is not frequent. The high ideas. of independence among the Americans nourish a fullen referve, which keeps them at a distance from each other. The neareft relations are mutually afraid to make any demand, or to folicit any fervice, left it fhould be confidered by the other as impofing a burden or laying a restraint upon his will. I have already remarked the influence of this hard unfeeling temper upon domestic life, with m Charlev. N. Fr. iii. 309. xvi. c. 2. See NOTE XCIV. VOL. II. K n Ovied. Hift. lib. • De la Potherie, iii. 28. refpect refpect to the connection between husband and wife, as well as that between parents and children. Its effects are no lefs confpicuous, in the performance of those mutual offices of tenderness which the infirmities of our nature frequently exact. Among fome tribes, when any of their number are seized with any violent disease, they are generally abandoned by all around them, who, careless of their recovery, fly in the ut most confternation from the fuppofed danger of infection P. But even where they are not thus deferted, the cold indifference with which they are attended can afford them little confolation No look of fympathy, no foothing expreffions, no officious fervices, contribute to alleviate the diftrefs of the fufferers, or to make them forget what they endure 9. Their nearest relations will often refufe to fubmit to the smallest inconveniency, or to part with the least trifle, however much it may tend to their accommodation or relief". So little is the breaft of a favage susceptible of thofe fentiments which prompt men to that feeling attention which mitigates the calamities of human life, that, in fome provinces of America, the Spaniards have found it neceffary. to inforce the common duties of humanity by pofitive laws, and to oblige hufbands and wives, parents and children, under fevere penalties, to take care of each other during their fickness. Lettre de P. Catanco ap. Muratori Chriftian, i. 309. Tertre, ii. 410. Lozano, 100. Herrera, dec. 4. lib. viii. c. 5. dec. 5. lib. iv. c. 2. Faulkner's Defcript. of Patagonia, 98. 9 Gumilla, i. 329. Lozano, 100. Garcia, Origen, &c. 90. Herrera, dec. 4. lib. viii. c. 5. Cogulludo, Hift. de Yucathan, p. 300. The The fame harshness of temper is ftill more confpicuous in their treatment of the animal creation. Prior to their intercourse with the people of Europe, the North Americans had fome tame dogs, which accompanied them in their hunting excurfions, and ferved them with all the ardour and fidelity peculiar to the fpecies. But, instead of that fond attachment which the hunter naturally feels towards thofe useful companions of his toils, they requite their fervices with neglect, feldom feed, and never caress them. In other provinces, the Americans have become acquainted with the domeftic animals of Europe, and avail themselves of their service; but it is univerfally obferved that they always treat them harshly", and never employ any method, either for breaking or managing them, but force and cruelty. In every part of the deportment of man in his favage ftate, whether towards his equals of the human fpecies, or towards the animals below him, we recognize the fame character, and trace the operations of a mind intent on its own gratifications, and regulated by its own caprice, with little attention or fenfibility to the fentiments and feelings of the beings around him. After explaining how unfavourable the favage ftate is to the cultivation of the understanding, and to the improvement of the heart, I should not have thought it neceffary to mention what may be deemed its leffer defects, if the character of nations, as well as of individuals, were not often more diftinctly marked by circumstances apparently trivial than by those of greater mo t Charlev. N. Fr. iii. 119. 337. ment, ment. A favage, frequently placed in fituations of danger and diftrefs, depending on himself alone, and wrapt up in his own thoughts and fchemes, is a ferious melancholy animal. His attention to others is fmall. The range of his own ideas is narrow, Hence that taciturnity which is fo disgusting to men accustomed to the open intercourfe of focial conversation, When they are not engaged in action, the Americans often fit whole days in one pofture, without opening their lips. When they go forth to war, or to the chase, they usually march in a line at fome distance from one another, and without exchanging a word. The fame profound filence is obferved when they row together in a canoe y. It is only when they are animated by intoxicating liquors, or roufed by the jollity of the festival and dance, that they become gay and converfible. To the fame causes may be imputed the refined cunning with which they form and execute their schemes. Men, who are not habituated to a liberal communication of their own fentiments and wishes, are apt to be fo distrustful, as to place little confidence in others, and to have recourfe to an infidious craft in accomplishing their own purposes. In civilized life, thofe perfons, who, by their fituation, have but a few objects of pursuit on which their minds inceffantly dwell, are moft remarkable for low artifice in carrying on their little projects. Among favages, whole views are equally confined, and their attention no lefs perfevering, thofe circumftances muft ope rate ftill more powerfully, and gradually ac* Voyage de Bouguer, 102. y Charlev, iii. 340. custom |