3IS STUDIES OF NATURE. 



by every unknown fubftance which forms a made 

 on the furface of the water. By employing an in- 

 duftry equally fimple, and nearly fimilar, the inha- 

 bitants of the Maldivia lflands carry on fifheries 

 to a prodigious extent, employing no other means 

 to decoy the flm into their receptacles, except a 

 cord floating on the water, with the help of flicks. 



Human, or elementary Harmonies of Plants, 



There is not a fingle plant on the face of the 

 Earth, but what has certain relations to the necef- 

 fities of Man, and which does not ferve, fome- 

 where or another, for clothing to him, for a fhel- 

 ter, for pleafure, for medicine, or, at leaft, for 

 fuel. Some, which with us are entirely ufelefs, are 

 in high eftimation in other parts of the World. 

 The Egyptians put up frequent and fervent prayers 

 for a plentiful crop of nettles, from the feeds of 

 which they extract an oil, while the ftem furnifhes 

 them with a thread, which they weave into excel- 

 lent cloth. But thofe general relations, being in- 

 numerable, I fhall confine myfelf to a few particu- 

 lar obfervations, refpecting the plants which mi- 

 nifter to the firft of human wants, I mean the food 

 of Man. 



We 



