FL661429

natural propensities, their indolence,
want of fo thought, their various kinds
of foods, their few acquirements as to
netting spearing sewing [word crossed out]
[word crossed out] their better art of making weapons
and other implements their fishing
hunting [word crossed out] ornaments & c
I [word crossed out] concluded by describing
their form of government, the elderly
men and more or less all who had
attained to the full age of manhood
ruling the rest not by any fixed
laws but by traditional custom,
no one being properly speaking
a chief among them by right, though
some by superior attributes or
exploits in war might obtain a
preponderating influence.
And here I would add in continuance
of my subject that this peculiar form
of government admitting of no distinc-
tion in rank, but allowingeach man
a share in their circustances &
decisions as to any questions arising
among them stamps a feeling of