Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-08-27


world,
That have such people int;
SHAXsPEAaE.
In the exultation of our hearts while
reading this delightful account, we cou'a
not help several times pouring TORN an
ejaculation Of thanksgiving to Providence
for having exempted one race OF people |
at least, from two of the greatest curses
which the obstinacy OF mans hayward,
distorted nature, has so fastened upon
his habits, that il would seem as II theT
were as inseparably linked to his nature as
respiration or the circulation OF blood 10 MS
liie--we mean gar and political business
With respect 10 the former, the evidence Is
sufficiently complete that they are utter
strangers TO it-bat it is by no means so
clear that they are altogether exempt from
the other. and in our opinion, the greater
evil. The only evidence we have on that
head is purely negative, which, logically
speaking, is no proof at all. That their
political system, whatever ii may be, IS
not of that happy species which, like some
| in the world, arms man against man with
stubborn malignily, turning every heart into
fountain of poison, is pretty certain
Tha, their government is monarchical, is no
less clear-but tire probability is, that II IS
not despotic-that il is patriarchal---and
that the sovereign, defended merely 10y the
reverence of his people, has nothing TO fear
from them, and is therefore exempted from
the exercise of cruelty or tyranny, those
associates of fear and danger. Capt. Max
well cndeavored to procure an interview
with their sovereign; but this was not
only rejected with the greatest appearance
OF distress, but every inquiry inio his con-
dition OF place of residence seemed to pro-
duce equal suffering and embarrassment.
GA grave and digniied person, said 10
be the heir apparent, paid visit TO the
ship and was infinitely relieved, when
captain Maxwell, with his usual mildness
and good sense, assured him, that how
ever DESTROYS he had originally been to pay
his respects to his majesty, he had ceased
TO think OF il from the moment he had
learned that it was contrary 20 The customs
of the country The chiefs fell on their
knees to the captain on hearing this gra-
c;Ous communication. All the natives knec'-
= esrsdssa sfsrasns, swhd non iie s dress
and occupations. were evidently servants.
sat down along with the chiefs 10 the table
which their master had left"
OF thair religion, the account given, or
at least the account of their observance OF
1t, is rather singular.-An excessive .devo-
ton TO their religion or to the superstition
they embrace as such, even 10 the most
gross bigotry, is generally the characters-
tic OF people in circumstances similar 10
those Of the l.oo-Choo islandcrs-For cold
ness and disregard of their religion we may
look IN vain hat in the circles of extreme
refinement: in fact, those are the vices of
what is called the fashionable world. Yet
capt"'n Hall informs US, that the religion of
this people IS that OF Buddh or Fo, tone of
The Chinese surestitions,) but that 1T
seems to occupy carcely any shore of their
regard and that the priests are univer-
| sally recorded as the lowest and least res
/ pected class in the COMMUNICATIVE the
priests OF the Catholic, they are condemned
to celIbacy and seemed to have no occu-
patton but 10 sweep the temple, and keep
the walks in the garden in order" They
have timorous and subdued expression of
countenance-and when our officers show
ed item any mark of respect, the chiefs re-
presented it as quite ridiculous, and told
them 10 show them no sort of attention.
They never talk or seem to think on reii-
glon-nor did the visitcrs o. serve any thing |
in the nature of religious ceremony, ex-
cept the killing OF hog, and burning some
spirits over The grave Of the Englisi sailor;
proceeding in which, however, the priests
were not allowed TO take any share, but
was entirely conducted by the CHIEFS
They bury their dead and after some
years gather up their bones, which they
preserve in jars OF a handsome shape. 1t is
not improbable that this instance of peo-
pie so estimable and moral in their con-
duct, being so entirely neglectful of reli-
gion, and contemptuous to their priest, will
be wrested TO the purpose of an argument
in favor of their impiety by the sticklers tor
infdelity, and the opposers of the necessity
of public worship.
The seclusion of their women remains