[ 335 T 



grain is accommodated to fuch a number of cli- 

 mates ? and, above all, what grain is fo generally 

 known and made ufe of amongfl: fo great a variety 

 of nations ? It is found in all Europe, in Egypt, 

 and throughout Barbary, (that is to fay, in all the 

 mofl: populous parts of Africa) in Mexico, in the 

 mod floui-ilhing provinces of Peru, and in thofe of 

 North America; it is the principal food of the 

 Englifh colonies; and for fome years pad, Ame- 

 rica has been enabled to export quantities of flour 

 to fluropc. Wheat is alfo the food in many pro- 

 vinces of Perfia, Mogol, and Indoftan ; and it is 

 found in all China, where there are three provinces 

 that have no rice. Thus, you fee, it is cultivated 

 by all civilized and induflrious nations. 



That wheat is not ufed among favages, or the 

 Arabs, is no argument againft it ; for even fome of 

 thefe have cultivated it in all ages, as Tacitus 

 affirms, in thofe countries where the foil will only 

 admit of particular cultures; and, cfpecially in that 

 fort of land which is only favourable to the manioc, 

 the inhabitants are obliged to feek for means to 

 take away the poifonous quality of this plant, in 

 order to make it their food; but notwithftanding 

 feveral perfons are poifoned by it every year: wheat 

 therefore is^ no doubt^ ihc general food of all civi- 

 lized 



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