But free to follow Nature was the mode.”
In her features was displayed that beautiful simplicity, that native unsuspecting innocence, which cannot be put on where there is the slightest consciousness of guilt. Nor is the olive-colour incompatible with beauty, it is certainly the standard complexion of the human race, while the black and white are supposed to be only gradations, produced probably by the extremes of heat and cold. As this Indian girl was perfectly handsome, so she seemed to be perfectly happy.—“Happiness,” as the Abbe Reynal wisely observes, “is more frequently found in a pure state of nature, than in that of the most refined civilization.” To be sure an European woman would blush to her fingers ends at the very idea of appearing publicly stark naked; but education and prejudice are every thing, since it is an axiom, that where there is no feeling of self-reproach, there can assuredly be no shame.
Benedetti Sculpt.
Indian Female of the Arrowauka Nation.
London, Published Decr. 1st, 1792, by J. Johnson, St. Paul’s Church Yard.
I remember to have seen an Indian youth, whose name was Weekee, at Bergen-op-Zoom, where he was brought over from the colony Berbicè with General Desalve, who cloathed and partly civilized him: amongst other things, [[191]]he learned cookery, and to be something of a taylor, at his own request, that he might be enabled to provide both for his back and his belly. After some time however, expressing a desire to return to the colony, he no sooner touched American ground, than stripping himself of his lumber, he launched naked into his native woods, where he ended his days as he had begun them, amongst his beloved countrymen and companions; like the Hottentot mentioned by Rousseau, in his celebrated Discours sur l’Inegalité & Conditions, &c.——But to return to the girl:—She had with her a live parrot, which she had stunned with a blunt arrow from her bow, and for which I gave her a double-bladed knife[4]. So wonderfully expert are the Arrowouka Indians at this exercise, that they frequently bring down a macaw in full flight, or even a pigeon.
I cannot conclude these remarks without adding a few words concerning the unspotted moral character of these people, who not only live in peace with most of the other Indian nations, but are peculiarly attached to the Europeans, while these in return profess for them the strongest esteem. [[192]]
As a proof of their gratitude, I will only relate one instance:—Some years ago an Indian woman being at Paramaribo, and far advanced in a state of pregnancy, a Mr. Van der Mey humanely ordered his servants to conduct her and her husband into his house, where, giving them a private apartment, and every other conveniency, he wished them good-night. Before the next morning the woman was delivered; but when the servants went in to renew their offers of friendship, neither man, wife, nor child were to be found, as they had before day-break quietly marched into the forest[5]. Various were at this time the conjectures concerning the boasted integrity of the Arrowouka Indians, until, no less than eighteen months after, the same Indian returned to Mr. Van der Mey, with a charming captive boy of the Accawau nation, that he had taken in battle[6]; and whom presenting to his benefactor, he only said, “That’s yours,” and without waiting for any answer disappeared.—For this slave the above gentleman was offered £. 200, which he refused, and treated him as well as if he had been free.
The education these people receive in their infancy being according to the dictates only of simple nature, their minds or their bodies are very seldom deformed, while a too nice attention to either is possibly as detrimental as a total neglect. The ingenious Dr. Bancroft is [[193]]of the same opinion, which he supports (I think needlessly) by a quotation from Quintilian.