208 OP FOOD AND HUNGER. 



337. Man is by far the most omnivorous of all ani- 

 mals, capable not only of feasting on luxurious com- 

 binations derived from each kingdom, but of subsisting 

 with health and vigour on nearly one kind of the most 

 simple food. 



Thus, to mention a very few instances, many at pre- 

 sent live on vegetables only, as the tubera of solanum 

 (potatoes), chesnuts, dates, &c. The first families of 

 mankind most probably subsisted for a long period 

 merely on fruits, roots, corn, and pulses.* 



The nomadic Moors have scarcely any other food 

 than gum senega.f (G) 



The inhabitants of Kamtschatka and many other 

 shores scarcely any other than fish. 



The shepherds in the province of Caracas in South 

 America on the banks of the Oronoko, and even the 

 Morlachi in Europe, live almost entirely on flesh. 



Some barbarous nations devour raw animals. This 

 cannot be denied to have been formerly the case with 

 the Samojedes, || the Esquimaux,** and some tribes of 



South America.-j j 



Other nations are no less remarkable in their drink. 



The inhabitants of many intcrtropical islands, espe- 

 cially in the Pacific Ocean, can procure no sweet water, 

 and instead of it drink the juice of cocoa-nuts. 



* Consult my very dear friend Heync, Opnscnla Acadcm. vol. i. p. 3G6 sq. 

 f Adanson, Mem. dr V stead. dcsSc. de Paris. 1778. p. 26. 

 J Fil. Salv. Gily, Sag-f>io di sturia Americana, vol. iv. p. 120. 

 Gius. Ant. Pujati, Re/lemoni sul vitto Pitagorico. Feltri. 1751. 

 || (De Klingstacdt) Mem. sirr I.cs Samojedes ct Ics Lappons. 17(52. 8vo. 

 ** Curtis, P/iilox. Trainee. Vol. Ixiv. P. ii. p. 381, 383. 

 ft T. Winter in Hakluyt's Principal Navigations r>/ the English Nation, 

 Vol. iu. p. 7ol. 



