38 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



life of more than a million of men. They have 

 for their focus the rice plantations, which are arti- 

 ficial morafles, formed along the Ganges, for the 

 culture of that grain. After the crop is reaped, 

 the roots and ftalks of the plant left on the ground, 

 rot, and are transformed into infectious puddles, 

 from which pefliiential vapours are exhaled. It 

 is in the view of preventing thefe pernicious confe- 

 quences, that the culture of this plant has been 

 exprefsl}'- prohibited in many parts of Europe, 

 efpecially in Ruffia, round Otzchakof, where it 

 was formerly produced in great quantities. 



In Africa, the air of the ifland of Madagafcar is 

 corrupted, and from the fame caufe, during fix 

 months of the year, and will everprefent an invin- 

 cible obftacle to any European fettlement upon it. 

 All the French colonies which have been planted 

 there, perifhed one after another, from the putri- 

 dity of the air; and I myfelf mufb, with the reft, 

 have fallen a vid:im to it, had not Divine Provi- 

 dence, by means of which I could have no fore- 

 fight, prevented my intended expedition, and re- 

 fidence in that part of the world. 



It is from the ancient miry canals of Egypt, 

 that the leprofy and the pefiilence are perpetually 

 iffuing forth. In Europe, the ancient falt-marflies 

 of Brouage, which the water of the Sea no longer 



reaches. 



