AGRICULTURE. 27J 



triade life of, and on their fparing and tempe- 

 rate way of life, it is a convincing proof thai; 

 a country can never be too full of fuch inhabi- 

 tants, fo as to want the neceffaries of life* 

 Rather, it is the number of induitrious men,' 

 that contributes to the riches of the country j 

 and to the comfortable fubfiftence of its inha- 

 bitants ; for every induitrious labourer, efpe- 

 daily a hufbandman, always produces more 

 from the grateful foil than he wants for him- 

 felf. 



The pitch to which agriculture, and efpe- 

 cially the culture of rice, has been carried iri 

 China, is the principal foundation of the hap- 

 pinefs of this country. Husbandry is much 

 refpefted here, and has the greateft: encou- 

 ragements. The emperor himfelf, to (hew 

 the value he fets upon it, and to exhibit ari 

 example to his fubjects which deferves to be 

 followed, goes annually, on a certain folemn 

 day, into the field, attended by the noblemen 

 of the court, takes up the plough, prepares 

 and fows a piece of ground, and afterwards 

 reaps the corn with his own hands. But I 

 ftiuft confine ray felf only to the environs of 

 Canton, 



T % EARTHS,- 



