4 INTRODUCTION. 



was prevented, either by a long continuance of ftormy 

 weather, or the fifli forfaklng the coafl:, from procuring what 

 was neceflary, muft have fufFered uncommon diftrefs, and 

 been reduced to the necelnty either of removing to a differ- 

 ent part of the coaft, or attempting to procure fubfiflence 

 in fome other way. The unfucccfsful hunter, and he who 

 depended upon the produce of his flocks, from a fcarcity of 

 pallure, or difeafes attacking the animal, would be in no 

 jjetter a fituation. 



The failure of any, or all of thefe refources, muft not only 

 have occafioned uncommon diftrefs upon many occafions, but 

 coft many lives, and operated to the almoft entire extindlion 

 of the human race. It is obvious, that fuch a ftate muft 

 not only have been extremely unfavourable to population, 

 but highly inimical to the introduftion of any of the arts 

 conneifled with the Immediate and indifpenfable comforts of 

 focietv. As a proof of this, we find, at this day, the nations 

 who live in the manner above defcribed, without arts, and 

 very thinly inhabited ; indeed, the population ef many of 

 the Indian nations of North America has decreafed confider- 

 ably within the laft thirty years. 



Frequent calamities, of the kind we have mentioned, 

 would naturally lead men to feek after articles of food that 

 could be procured with more eafe, and, at the fame time, 

 afford a permanent fupply throughout the whole year. Per- 

 haps, the difcovery of curing fifli and the flefh of animals 

 with fait, or otherwife, was the firft ftep towards fecuring 

 a ftock of Winter food in thefe rude ages * ; and, certainly, 

 to people foimerly unacquainted with the art of preferving 

 thefe articles, it was no inconfiderable advance towards the 

 improvement of their condition. 



Amongft 



• The Efquimaux, and many of the tribes who inhabit the fta coafl:, even 

 to the fouthward of them, have no other food in Summer but fmall filh, aii,"^ 

 the flefh of whales, fcals, &c. ; a part of which they cure during that feafon, 

 and tat it with train oil through the Winter. 



