Title
A Voyage to the East Indies: Page 113
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actions of their fellow Islanders with an attentive eye, in order to preserve a quite different path. Yet those Men are neglected, and perhaps obnoxious to the Generality for their Virtues, on which and on their own Industry they alone have Dependance. . I suppose that on the Face of the Globe there is not an Island, Kingdom or province so distracted by perpetual contentions, and animosities. They whose good Fortune, or the Industry of their Forefathers have plac’d them above the common people, seem to fix their summum bonum in devising new Oppressions for their Inferiors, whilst they on the other Hand, use every artifice, to procure the power of oppressing likewise. Cozenage, Deceit, lying, Stealing, in short Murder, and every other Crime how atrocious soever, pass unnotic’d. When by themselves they study to deceive each other, but the Moment a ship arrives, a cessation takes place, and all turn their attention to pick the pockets of the unwary strangers. . . . . The mean, low, dirty Methods practis’d on this Island to get Money are astonishing. The Idea of one Counsellor’s letting Lodgings, & another’s keeping a Billiard Table, are so irreconcilable with our European Notions of Decorum and Prosperity, that one cannot expect any better Behaviour from them than what I have just mention’d. Had I not been an Eye Witness to it, I should scarcely have believ’d, that the sons of Englishmen would have so degenerated. [end page 113]
