Q What stands out to you the most about the document’s description of the people
ID: 3499982 • Letter: Q
Question
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What stands out to you the most about the document’s description of the people on the islands? Explain why
What stands out to you the most about the document’s description of the people on the islands? Explain why
The people of this island and of all the other islands which I have found and of which l have information, all go naked, men and women, as their mothers bore them, although some of the women cover a single place with the leaf of a plant or with a net of cotton which they make for the purpose. They have no iron or steel or weapons, nor are they fitted to use them... They have no other arms than spears made of canes, cut in seeding time, to the ends of which they fix a small sharpened stick. Of these they do not dare to make use, for many times it has happened that I have sent ashore two or three men to some town to have speech with them, and countless people have come out to them, and as soon as they have seen my men approaching, they have fled, a father not evein waiting for his son. This is not because ill has been done to any one of them; on the contrary, at every place where I have been and have been able to have speech with them, I have given to them of that which I had, such as cloth and many other things, receiving nothing in exchange...They refuse nothing that they possess, if it be asked of them; on the contrary, they invite any one to share it and display as much love as if they would give their hearts. They are content with whatever trifle of whatever kind that may be given to them, whether it be of value or valueless. They do not hold any creed nor are they idolaters, but they all believe that power and good are in the heavens and were very firmly convinced that I, with these ships and men, came from the heavens, and in this belief they everywhere received me after they had mastered their fear. This belief is not the result of ignorance, for they are, on the contrary, of a very acute intelligence and they are men who navigate all those seas, so that it is amazing how good an account they give of everything. It is because they have never seen people clothed or ships of such a kindExplanation / Answer
What stands out to you the most about the document’s description of the people on the islands? Explain why.
What stands out to me are two things - The way the people responded to these people and the way they are selfless in the true sense.
Explanation:
Human perception - the fear of the unknown is evident here. When the writer sends two or three of the Islanders to some town to talk, people respond by fleeing the scene. Just because the Islanders are not clothed i.e., are different from the natives of the town, human perception is to see them as a threat. The writer goes on to say that one father even left his son and ran for it. They, in fact, do not carry any weapons and just carry a sharpened cane which is nothing compared to the weapons that the developed man holds.
Selflessness - The way that these islanders treasure the simple things given to them whether it be of value or not shows the importance and respect that they treat people with. The fact that they are ready to part with whatever they possess upon asking, without displaying ownership is a great quality. The fact that they share any food that is available among all is another thing to emulate from these islanders. They also seem to be very knowledgeable with respect to the islands they live in.
Some of the other things that stand out are the way they treat women, the land they hold and the seas they've traveled. How they marvel at the unknown and how the unknown fear them are just amusing.
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