354 Memoir upon the Causes of the long Duration 
protection which they granted to learning and science, raised 
the Arabs of the East to the rank of the greatest nations; other 
Arabs developed, in the climate of Spain so favourable to genius, 
an imagination still more brilliant, more taste in the arts, and 
more ardour for the seiences. The glory of the Moors is at- 
tested to the world by more durable monuments, and by results 
more general. But these aberrations from the sloth and ig- 
norance inculcated by Mahometism were but ephemeral. Sooner 
or later it recovers its fatal empire over the human mind. 
It is possible that Asia may have been inhabited before every 
part of the globe. But I am very far from considering it as the 
only cradle of the human race. This opinion would imply that 
certain great questions had been resolved, which not only are 
not, but which probably never will be. For, if the human race 
is composed of races essentially different (au opinion more phi- 
losophical and more generally adopted of Jate years), must not 
each of these races have had its first man* ? 
What can never be contested is, that nature has heaped fa- 
vours upon Asia: its climate excludes. numerous evils which 
every where else beset the paths of men. 
Shall I venture to say that happiness is there more constant 
and more easy of attainment, because human knowledge is there 
confined to a limited sphere, because Providence has refused to 
Asia in general the passions which are allied to the splendid 
gift of talents, and even genius itself? This is not the place to 
inquire wherefore this sublime faculty of the human understand- 
img is mdigenous in the temperate zones. It is sufficient for our 
purpose to know that nature does most for man where he is able 
to do least for himself. Admirable solicitude, which extends over 
every organised being! Harmonious benevolence, which more 
than the harmony ef worlds upon worlds reveals to our feeble 
reason a supreme Intelligence ! 
Let us acknowledge, I say, that in Asia. the enjoyments of 
life are placed nearer human wants, and as it were within the 
reach of every man’s hand; that, besides, man is condemned to 
ereate and to conquer every thing; that under different skies 
he is the slave of the climate, or he becomes its master; that 
Europe is a theatre with constantly varying scenes ; that the hu- 
man mind as well as empires there undergoes astonishing revo- 
lutions ; that it descends to extreme degradation as in the tenth 
century, and ascends to the summit of science as in the 18th; 
that every thing is in motion; and that it experiences without 
interruption the alternations of strength and weakness, enthu- 
siasm and stupor, alternatives which depend on the use which is 
made of the powers of the human mind. . That in Asia, on the 
* None but pscudo-philosophers will ever adopt this method of account- 
ing for the apparent varieties of the human race.—EDIT, 
contrary, 
