2. The grossest Idolatries are not a proper Subject of Laughter: It is a case all Mankind seem bewilder’d in, some more grossly than others indeed, and bespeaks the Pity of greater Light and Knowledge.
3. The Negroes Ignorance of Good and Evil was equal, before their Acquaintance with us; and as they are acknowledged to advance with greater pace in the latter, discerned between the trading and the country People brought down for Slaves; the question might be ask’d, Whether ours or their own Religion contributes most to it?
4. The essential Point in all, is to mend Men’s Morals, to make them good and virtuous to their Neighbours, obedient to Superiours, and where it fails, the true Politician will account it bad by whatever Name denominated. The Faiths that cannot produce good Works, are certainly faulty, and may be spiritualiz’d into Vapour and Shadow, as well as materializ’d into Dross and Chaff.
Lastly, The Fear of the Fetish keeps them from injuring one another a little, that is, one another in the same Combination; but has little or no Influence in respect to us; whom they rob, cheat, or murder, as best answers their Conveniencies. They are like the Articles of Pyrates, which keep up a sort of Honesty among themselves, tho’ they despoil every body else. John Conny is very upright and just himself in all Bargains; but then he does not want what the others are thieving; it is below his Game: rigorous also in exacting his Dues, or inflicting Punishments. There was a Murderer a few Weeks since, (we understood) whom John had condemned, altho’ there were some Circumstances of excuse, (a se defendendo, which John did not understand) and made the Criminal’s own Brother, one of his trustiest Servants to be the Executioner before his Face, by tying a vast great Stone like a Mill-Stone about his Neck and throwing him into the Sea from a Canoo.
He has engrossed by his Riches and Power, the Trade of the Place; and by that means has reduced the Traders Profits to 20 per Cent. a Disadvantage they themselves have contributed to in some measure, by underselling one another. His People allow less, for in the little Traffick they had with us, they paid all in Crackra Gold, not a quarter the value it was taken at. They are all marked with a Cross in their Cheek, unless John Conny himself (who told me it was only Ornament) and none are circumcised.
The Women fetish with a coarse Paint of Earth on their Faces, Shoulders and Breasts, each the Colour they like best. In Marriage the Husbands spend four Ounces of Gold more or less, according to their Ability, on her Friends and Acquaintance; who by this are brought together as Witnesses, that he may have redress in case of Adultery; a Crime for which the Transgressor becomes the injured Person’s Slave. A Man likewise forfeits his Liberty for thievery among themselves; and Trade has so infected them with Covetousness and Fraud, that the Chiefs will put Snares both for the one and the other, driving at the Profit, and not the Punishment of a Crime.
