FL661553

various the obstacles are among them
^the habits & condition
wild savages to improve ^ {words crossed out]
{words crossed out]
[word crossed out]
I now shall advert to another law
a custom that obtains amongst them
which often proves very discouraging to
[word crossed out] do much good even for the rising generation
to [indecipherable] one is inclined to look with hope.
I mean the custom of making boys
young men, although I will admit
that this custom or law is based
on some good intention & may be said
to have a moral tendency, if such abound.
At a certain age say ^[word crossed out] at about 14 or 15
^ say from 13 to 15
it is thought desirable to place some restriction
on the youth up to that time he is treated
as an innocent child may [words crossed out]
do almost as he pleases & mingle freely
with the society of women. But a solemn
ceremony as it may be called puts suddenly
a stop to this. When 2 or 3 or more boys
of that age are found among tribe or among
[Margin}
It may remind us of the Romans, who laid aside at the age of 17 the toga accoutrement to
wear as innocent boys; but then assumed the toga virilis.

various the obstacles are among them
^the habits & condition
wild savages to improve ^ {words crossed out]
{words crossed out]
[word crossed out]
I now shall advert to another law
a custom that obtains amongst them
which often proves very discouraging to
[word crossed out] do much good even for the rising generation
to [indecipherable] one is inclined to look with hope.
I mean the custom of making boys
young men, although I will admit
that this custom or law is based
on some good intention & may be said
to have a moral tendency, if such abound.
At a certain age say ^[word crossed out] at about 14 or 15
^ say from 13 to 15
it is thought desirable to place some restriction
on the youth up to that time he is treated
as an innocent child may [words crossed out]
do almost as he pleases & mingle freely
with the society of women. But a solemn
ceremony as it may be called puts suddenly
a stop to this. When 2 or 3 or more boys
of that age are found among tribe or among
[Margin}
It may remind us of the Romans, who laid aside at the age of 17 the toga accoutrement to
wear as innocent boys; but then assumed the toga virilis.