A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, Volume 16 by Robert Kerr
page 62 of 683 (09%)
page 62 of 683 (09%)
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within him, could ever have made the discovery of the remedy. A sense
of his need of it, would undoubtedly set him on various efforts to relieve himself, but this, it is probable, would be as blind a principle as the appetite of hunger, and as much would require aid from an external power. Among the devices to which it might have recourse, very possibly, the notion of giving up a darling object, ought to be included; so it would appear, thought a king of Moab, spoken of by Micah the prophet, chap. 6th, "Shall I give my first-born for my transgression," &c. But even admitting this, we still see the primary difficulty remaining, viz. what reason is there for imagining that the gift in any shape, and more especially when slaughtered, will be accepted? We are driven then to contemplate the revelation of the divine will as the only adequate explanation; and this, it is evident, we must consider as having been handed down by a corrupt process of tradition, among the various nations of the earth. It would be easy to urge arguments in behalf of this opinion. But already the matter has gone beyond common bounds, and the writer dare not hazard another remark. All he shall do then, is to commend this interesting topic to the reader's attention, and to request, that due allowances be made for the omission of certain qualifications which are requisite for some of the remarks now made, but which the limits of the note could not allow to be inserted.--E.] SECTION III. _Conference with Towha.--Heevas described.--Omai and Oedidee give Dinners.--Fireworks exhibited.--A remarkable Present of Cloth.--Manner of preserving the Body of a dead Chief.--Another human Sacrifice.--Riding on Horseback.--Otoo's Attention to supply |
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