The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-10-30

ged on shore by help of small harpoons fastened
TO cords This very singular plan of obtaining
the electrick eel, is in ailusion to the mode of
catching fish by means of The infusion of narcot-
'ck plants, termed eni6dybascar con ca6G!los, or
Poisoning with horses.
w. The observations Of Humboldt throw n
steady light on the constitution and habits Of the
native Indians. but this article !as already ex
tended to so great length, that we must restrict
ourselves to q few incidental remarks The same
copper coloured race appears scattered over the
greater part of the continent of America II is
not, however, OF that UNMARRIED hue which authors
have described nor do the shades of complex.
on even follow what has been deemed the1aw of
climate.
The natives of the temperate tract Of New
Spain, are in general of deeper cast than the in
ha bitants of the hottest parts of south America
This dastardly, lnanimate race, and especially the
Mexicans, borne down by long oppression, seem
to be inferior in all the qualities, whether moral
or intellectual. to the Africans themselves. The
same apathy OF character wouil apps a. - = :!
its influence to the other breeds in those torrid
regions, where the wants of man are so few and
so easily satisfied Though caprice may some
times act, no, prospect of gainewill for moment
tempt the naked wretch I'd Shske off his habitu
al sioth. When our travellers visited Havannah
IN the month of January, they were struck with
the beauty of the male flowers that projected
white as snow, from the tops of the royal palm
and being DESTROYS to have an opportunity of in
speeding the horation they offered the negro chill
dren, whom they met with in the neighborng viii
lsge, two piasters, or near eight shings, for each
Dough loaded with blossoms that should he bro't
down to them but the listlcs3 urchins could not
be prevailed on to stir a foot. Other struggling
tribes, of very different character and aspect, are
found dispersed through the wide reBions of A
merica, living in state of brutal dcgrada.ion
or of sullen and ferocious Independence, On the
ban S of the Meta and the Oronocco, dwell the
OttomsQues, an ugly race inclined to corpulency,
and having the coarse, broad features ofthe Tar
tar During the greater part of the year they
live on the fish which They'll on the surface Of
the water with their arrows But in the rainy
season, when the rivers inundate the plains, those
disgusting savages feed on fat, Inctuous earth,
OF species of pipe. clay tinged with little cxyd
OF iron They collect this clay very carefully,
distinguishing itby the taste (; they knead it in
to balls of or inches in diameter, which they
bake slightly before slow fire Whole stacks
of such provisions are seen piled up in their huts
Those clods are soaked in water when about TO
be used and each individual eats nearly pound
of the material every day. The only addition
which they occasionally make to this unnatural
fare, consists in small fish, lizards, or fern roots
The quantity of clay the Ottomaques consume,
and the greediness with which they devour it,
would seem to prove, however incredible this
may appear, that it does more than merely dis.
tend their hungry stomachs, and that the powers
OF digestion Can, to a certain degree, assmilate
the finer portions of it into animal substance.
As the summer advances, the low plains on
the coast OF America become parched with ex.
cessive heat. The grass withers to the roots, and
the soil turns hard and baked. The cattle enve-
ioped during the day in clouds of dust, run pant.
ing with oppressive thirst. The more sagscious
mule, with his hoof cautiously thrustng aside the
prickles of the watermelon, sucks refreshing
beverage But the cries and frightful shrieks Of
the lager apes, at last announce the approaching
rains Incessant torrents descend. The croco-
die and the boa, long concealed in torpid state
under the hardened mud, now, raising their hor-
rid fronts, burst with sudden and tremendous
noise, from their tombs. The rivers soon over
flow their banks, and sweep the surface with
wide inundation. One sheet of water covers the
whole delta of the Orenocco. In the midst of this
aquatic scene, lives in peace the unconquered ma
ton OF the Guaranis, who nestle among the tops
ut the Mauritids, or fan -leavcd palms, in exten
ded hammocks, which they construct with net
ting, made from the ibres of the leaves, and line
partly with mud. On such humid and pensile
hoors, the women light their fires and cook their
vegetable diet. The tree to which each family
is attached, furnishes Its sole subsistence. The
pitl of the ,,saRritia, resembling sage, is formed
into thin cakes and IFS scaly fruits in the differ.
ent stages of their progress, afford some variety
of wholesome food Palm wine supplies an a.
greeable, refreshing drink, and may even procure
SlaeS VI WHICH tue ely5iuIn OF
the savage.
BH though the members of this srial repub
lick, living on the spontaneous products of the
soil, enjoy undisurbed repose it is very different
with the other native tribes. Actuated by all the
yengefui passions, they are constantly prepared
for deeds of blood and carnage. The proving
wretch exufs in rapine and insidious murder -
When weaker tribe fearfuly ventures 10 cross
the parched plains, the individuals take the pre-
caution of effacing their footsteps to prevent be
ing surpr.zed and massacred. Nature seems TO
have aided the dark spirit ofthe savages, by con-
cocting, in those torrid regions, the most enve
nomed Juices. Their poisoned darts and AFRO ws
carry inevitable death. But where such weap
ons are wanting, the genius of evil fertile in re-
sources, still prevails. The odious Ottom cues
are accustomed to dip the nail of their thumb in
the curaye, strong poison which is extracted
from species of the tilyilanthus, and the slight
eat liberation then inflicted by them, infallibly
proves mortal,
1t is thus that the visions of primeval innocence
melt away before the touch of enquiry. The true
savage is q cold, cruel, sulIen, suspicious, and de
signing animal. Man grows generous exactly in
proportion as he becomes civilized We may Ia.
meht the selfshness of our nature, which, in ar.
tificial society, engenders corruption, and yields
the Internal machinery of war. But the tempest
rolls our heads the mild virtues flourish in
the shade of security the finer feelings are che
rshed by the enjoyment of ease and plenty and
whatever contributes 10 soften or adorn life, is
called forth into action.
Az ILL BE SOLD, at Auction, at Lancas-
w ter court house, on the Goth of Novem
Der next, for cash, nine likely Virginia born
SLAVES. consisting of men, women and bovs