in Ancient and Modern Times, 89 



In taking a rapid glance oVer the three great divisions of 

 the ancient world, it is natural to begin with Asia, as that 

 quarter of the globe has, in all ages, sustained the great bulk 

 of the human species. Concerning the northern and eastern 

 regions of ancient Asia, as we are absolutely without any in- 

 formation, it is useless to enter into any inquiry ; it is only 

 necessary to observe that, in the Chinese empire, every thing 

 bears the aspect of the most remote antiquity, and the most 

 invariable prosperity. Those articles of food, which, beyond all 

 others, have been found capable of nourishing the greatest 

 mass of inhabitants, — rice and maize, constituted in every age, 

 as far as tradition can reach, the ordinary food of the people ; 

 we may take it for granted, therefore, that the population of 

 the Chinese empire has been, at all periods, nearly stationary. 

 The same remark may be applied to those immense tracts of 

 land, now called Tartary, Siberia, &c. ; and known to the 

 ancients by the general appellation of Scythia. From the short 

 notices left us by Justin, Herodotus, &c. there is no reason to 

 believe that the condition of these countries has undergone 

 any material change. The same general calculation may be 

 applied to all the southern and middle districts of Africa. — 

 Thus far, therefore, no preponderance can be assumed on 

 either side, and the inquiry becomes narrowed within the 

 bounds of Europe, some of the southern nations of Asia, and 

 the countries round the Mediterranean. 



Returning to the consideration of Asia, we may remark that 

 something of a similar equality may be assumed with respect 

 to ancient India. According to the description left us by 

 Arrian, and the slight notices of Quintus Curtius, and others, we 

 are warranted in concluding, from the excellence of its govern- 

 ment and police, the mildness of its laws, and the high state of 

 its agriculture and manufiictures, that its population has not 

 experienced, in later times, any considerable increase. 



Proceeding westward, we arrive at the once flourishing and 

 populous countries, known to the ancients by the names of 

 Persia, Armenia, Parthia, &c. ; and here the balance begins 

 to incline to the side of antiquity with a vast preponderance. 

 The scanty information left us by the writers of that period 

 begins here to assume something of a more distinct and positive 



