282 A VOYAGE TO Book V. 



part of the known world : the equability of its air ex- 

 empts it from any sensible changes, whereby the plants, 

 corn, and trees, are stripped of their verdure and or- 

 naments, their vegetative powers checked, and them- 

 selves reduced to a torpid inactivity. The fertility of 

 this country, if fully described, would appear to many 

 incredible, did net the consideration of the equality 

 and benignity of the climate inforce its probability. 

 For both the degrees of cold and heat are here so hap- 

 pily determined, that the moisture continues, and the 

 earth seldom fails of being cherished by the fertiliz- 

 ing beams of the sun, some part of every day ; and 

 therefore it is no wonder that this country should 

 «njoy a greater degree of fertility than those where the 

 same causes do not concur ; especially if we consider, 

 that there is no sensible difl'erence throughout the 

 year; so that the fruits and beauties of the several 

 «easons are here seen at the same time. The curious 

 European observes, with a pleasing admiration, that 

 whilst some herbs of the field are fading, others of 

 the same kind are springing upj and whilst some 

 flowers are losing their beauty, others are blov/ing, to 

 continue the enameled prospect. When the fruits 

 have obtained their maturity, and the leaves begin 

 to change their colour, fresh leaves, blossoms, and 

 fruits, are seen in their proper gradations on the same 

 tree. 



The same incessant fertility is conspicuous in the 

 corn, both reaping and sowing being carried on at the 

 same time. That corn which has been recently sown 

 is coming up; that which has been longer sown is in 

 its blade, and the tiKJie advanced begins to blos- 

 som. So that the declivities of the neighbouring hills 

 exhibit all the beauties of the four seasons at one sin- 

 gle view. 



Though all this isgenerally seen, yet: fhereisa settled 

 time for the grand harvest. But sometimes the most 

 favourable season for sowing in one place, is a month 



or 



..-r'- 



