of presentation to the parties. After these ceremonies, the cloth spread upon the morai was taken up and sent as a present to the chief. The clothes put on by the couple at the morai are considered as sacred, and not to be worn in common. There are also various forms that succeed marriage. If the woman be a virgin, the father and mother perform an amooa, or offering, of a hog or fowl, and a plantain tree to their son-in-law, before they may eat of his provisions; but not if she be a widow, or have been repudiated. The bride's relations make presents of cloth, hogs, &c. to the new-married pair.

In Otaheite, it is common when a woman does not agree with her husband, to cohabit with one of his servants, which is taken no notice of, nor is she looked upon as less his wife on that accounted; but the children of this commerce are most frequently put to death, for which, any more than adultery, there is not any punishment.

At EASTER ISLAND, Peyrouse was not able to ascertain whether the women were common property, or were attached to individuals; but they were very liberal in their offers of the wonen to strangers,

Polygamy is not practised at PORTLOCK HARBOUR, Prince William's Island, Montague Island, N.E. Coast of America. Captain Portlock, in his Voyage, observes, that no man had more than one woman, whom he seemed to consider as his wife," to whom they pay very strict attention, and treat with a great deal of affection and kindness. You cannot affront them more than by attempting to make advances to their wives. They likewise are very fond of, and remarkably affectionate to their children. The women are the keepers of their treasures, or riches, which they generally have in a box or basket, and always take the lead in fashions, which they show by the placing of their ornaments, or fixing such a curiosity to be the favourite of the day. Men and women here, contrary to the custom in the South Sea Islands, eat together, which consists chiefly of fish of different kinds. The women here, were it not for the filth and nastiness which continually cover them, would be by no means disagreeable; their features in general are pleasing, and their carriage modest. They frequently gave us opportunity to observe their wish to please, particularly when the wooding party were on shore.

At these times they would place themselves in a line, and begin singing and making motions all the time the men were at work; and if their drollery happened to please the people and make them laugh, they all immediately joined in a loud burst of laughter. One time, not having the opportunity of sending the boat on shore at the usual time to fetch the wooding party on board, the women gave them an invitation to their habitations near the shore, and upon this occasion treated them with every thing their wretched habitations afforded, and behaved very kindly to them."

334

LOVE AND MARRIAGE.

AN ALLEGORY.

MANKIND were not, in their original state, divided into male and female, as at present; but each individual person was a compound of both sexes, and was, in himself, both husband and wife, melted down into one living creature. This union, no doubt, was very entire; and the parts well adjusted together, since there resulted a perfect harmony betwixt the male and female, although they were obliged to be inseparable companions. And so great was the harmony and happiness flowing from it, that these androgynes, or men-women, became insolent upon their prosperity, and rebelled against the gods. To pumish them for this temerity, Jupiter could conrive no better expedient than divorcing the male from the female, and making two imperfect beings of the compound, which was before so perfect. Hence the origin of men and women as distinct creatures. Yet, notwithstanding this

division, so lively is our remembrance of the happiness which was enjoyed in our primæval state, that we are never at rest in our present situation, but each of the halves is continually searching to find out the other half from which it was broken; and, when they meet, join again with the greatest fondness and sympathy. But it often happens that they mistake in this particular, and take for their half what no ways corresponds to them; by which mischance the parts will neither join nor agree, as is usual with fractures. In this case, the union is soon dissolved, and each part wishes to get loose again to hunt for its lost half, joining itself to every one it meets by way of trial, and enjoying no rest till its perfect sympathy with its partner shows that it has been successful in its endeavours.

When Jupiter had separated the male from the female, and had quelled their pride by so severe an operation, he could not but repent of the cruelty of his vengeance, and take compassion of poor mortals, who now could enjoy neither repose nor tranquillity. Such anxieties, such› cravings arose, as to make them curse their creation, and think existence itself a punishment.