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CHAP. XII.

Containing an Account of the People. The Author's and Tckbrff's Banishment. The Author alone prepares to return to the Earth: The Manner of his coming. His Arrival at the Land of Parrots: Their Kindness to him. He destroys some of their Enemies. In return, they lend their Assistance to set him on the Coast of Guinea; whence he sail'd to London.

 

The Generality of them were kind and affectionate to each other, which produc'd in them an Openness of living, whereby they held all Things almost in common. When they went abroad, they left their Houses open, and knew not what a Lock was. It was usual with them to assist each other in their private Concerns, without the Expectation of any Reward, other than the like Kindness, if requisite. In their Marriages they never us'd any tedious Courtships; but when a Woman was marriagable, her nearest Friend advertis'd it, with her good and bad Qualities, if she had any, and invited Persons to come and treat with them about her, that so if their Inclinations were the same, they might speedily be join'd. Upon the Decease of an Husband, the Wife, if inclin'd to Marriage, hung out a plain Black Flag, to signify her Resolution to have a second Husband. Sometimes a Widow wou'd hang out a Black Flag, with a Death's Head in the Middle of it, thereby declaring her Aversion to Marriage; asby