They are
fond of strong liquors, and especially of brandy: that is their greatest
vice. They are also very uncurious of paying the debts they contract,
not from natural dishonesty, but from their having no notion of
property, or of meum or tuum. They will sooner part with all they have,
in the shape of a gift, than with any thing in that of payment. Honors
and goods being all in common amongst them, all the numerous vices,
which are founded upon those two motives, are not to be found in them.
Yet it is true, that they have chiefs to whom they give the title of
_Sagamo_; but all of them almost, at some time or other, assume to
themselves this quality, which is never granted by universal consent,
but to the personal consideration of distinguished merit in councils, or
in arms. Their troops have this particularity, that they are, for the
most part, composed of nothing but officers; insomuch that it is rare to
find a savage in the service that will own himself a private man. This
want of subordination does not, however, hinder them from concurring
together in action, when their native ferocity and emulation stand them,
in some sort, instead of discipline.
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