Remarks on the History of Inveyitions. 247 



already formed a part of these purposes. Horsemen, chariots, and waggons, 

 are mentioned familiarly in the history of the sojourn of Joseph : ploughs 

 were worked by oxen in the time of Moses, and we know that the Grecians 

 and Romans employed asses to turn the wheels of their mills ; but all these 

 applications of animal power will require to be spoken of more in detail, 

 when we come to consider the several arts in which they are employed. 



Man, in the plenitude of the authority conceded to him over terrestrial 

 nature, has even received power to exact service from the elements them- 

 selves. Of these fire is of the first necessity to him, and we may safely 

 assert that its use is universal. There is indeed an absurd story, that 

 when the Marian islands were first discovered by Magellan, the inhabitants 

 were absolutely ignorant of fire; and when they first belield its action in 

 consuming wood, fancied it to be an animal preying on the vegetable mat- 

 ter : when, on approaching, their hands got burnt, they supposed, it is said, 

 that this animal bit their fingers. Make Brun however justly discredits this 

 tale ; the inhabitants belong to the great Malayan oceanic family, which is 

 almost civilised, if compared with the semi-negro aborigines of New Hol- 

 land, by far the most ignorant savages with whom we are acquainted, and 

 yet even these are well acquainted with the nse of fire. The Marions are 

 remarkable for skill in tlie construction of the prows, with which they na- 

 vigate the Pacific. These vessels were considered by Sir Sydney Smith to 

 afford models, which he wished to introduce into European use; and as 

 their islands abound in active volcanoes, it is quite impossible that they 

 should have remained in the ignorance of an element constantly before 

 their eyes, which this silly fiction ascribes to them. I think, however, that 

 we must conceive the uses of fire to have been taught to the first parents 

 of our race, by direct inspiration ; for had man been left to learn for him- 

 self the uses of an element, which naturally presents itself to him only in 

 the fearful ravages of volcanoes, or in the conflagration of whole forests 

 struck by the terrible lightnings, he would surely have shrunk from it as a 

 destructive tyrant, and been far from entertaining any idea of employing it 

 as a friendly servant. 



Fire is not only essential for warmth, light, and the preparation of food, 

 but must greatly assist the rude tools of the savage, in excavating the trees 

 designed for his canoes. When De Foe introduces Friday as recommending 

 this process to his hero, he as usual adheres closely to nature and truth. 



As the arts advance, it is fire which bestows on man the use of the me- 

 tals, and is his great agent in chemical operations. 



The employment of air as a moving power for vessels, must, from the ear- 

 liest period, have suggested itself to every maritime people. The savage who 

 had once launched his canoe would soon learn to spread his sail, and spare 

 himself the fatigue of the oar : but the application of the same moving 

 power to machinery in wind-mills, does not appear to have originated till 

 as late as the twelfth century. 



