ABSTRACT
Classification of the subject.—Bodily endowments.—Indian islanders athletic, but never active.—Defective in personal cleanliness.—Temperate in their diet.—Their indolence occasioned by moral agency, and not constitutional.—Their fortitude—Intellectual faculties.—Comparison between those of the Indian islanders and the people of Europe and the continent of Asia.—Are of slow comprehension and narrow judgment.—All their intellectual faculties in general feeble —Are good imitators, and have remarkably delicate ears for musical sounds.—Their faculties weak from want of exercise, but not perverted by false impressions.—Moral and social qualities.—Their virtues.—Distinguished from the more polished nations of Asia by their freedom from mendacity.— Their probity and candour.—Are capable of attachment and gratitudes—Free from the spirit of litigation.— Not naturally cruel—Not irascible.—Seldom use opprobrious language.—Hospitality-Politeness-Freedom from bigotry.—Weaknesses of the Indian islanders.—Extraordinary credulity and superstition—Examples—Revenge the most prominent vice in the character of the Indian islanders. —Running of mucks.—Disregard of human life.—Indian islanders accused of perfidy and faithlessness.—Insecurity of property.—Domestic relations.—State of women muck more favourable than among the more civilized nations of continental Asia.—Not usually secluded.—Female chastity.— Jealousy.—Anecdotes.—Relation between parent and child. —Fraternal affection.—Friendship a tie unknown to them. 38—Attachment between chiefs and retainers.*—Attachment to their tribe or society.—Attachment to their place of birth.
