Page:An account of a voyage to establish a colony at Port Philip in Bass's Strait.djvu/90

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.

( 65 )

jealous restraints give way to delicate attentions towards the females: men begin to place confidence in women; and the latter feeling their own importance, soon acquire that proper pride which is the great support of female virtue; and enjoying the liberty of doing as they choose, they think only of doing as they ought. Thus secret assignations become less necessary, as jealousy and scandal cease to fetter the social intercourse of the sexes; for experience proves the truth of the remark, that virtue will ever be displeasing, when she exhibits herself only in the disguise of harshness, caprice, or some other repulsive quality.

In music and singing the Brasilians of both sexes may be said to excel. These are arts peculiarly congenial to luxurious

climates,