220 On ihe peopling of America. 



years, in the greater part of the world. The fact, however, ts 

 not to be disputed. The nati\ es of Labrador, from their want of 

 letters, can give us no account of the change that has taken 

 place in that country ; but tlie ca>e is verv diti^'erent in Iceland. 

 The inhabitants of that island have preserved their historv for 

 nine or ten centuries, and the change of climate there has been 

 fully established. I do not sav that the numerous population of 

 Iceland, near one thousand years ago, or the fl(mrishing state 

 of arts and sciences among tliosc people, at so distant a period, 

 is to be taken for a proof that the climate was formerly more 

 temperate, and the soil more productive than at present, al- 

 though they add great probability to this opinion ; but we find 

 an argument in the natural historv of the island, that seems to 

 be absolutely conclusive. It is not to be disputed, that in former 

 ages Iceland produced tip.iber in abundance ''■^. Large trees are 

 occasionally found there, in the marshes or valleys, that have 

 been covered to a considerable depth in the ground. Segments 

 of those fossil trecj have latelv been exported from the island, iu 

 proof of the fact alleged. But we are cquallv certain, that iu 

 the present age timber does not thrive in the island. Its growth 

 \i prevented, or the plants are destroyed by the intensity of the 

 winter's cold, as in the northern extreu)ities of Asia and America, - 

 where nothing but shrubs is to be found. The same pejoration 

 of climate, and a similar degeneracy in the productions of the soil, 

 have certainly taken place oji the Labrador coast that have been 

 observed in Itelmd. 



This remarkable increase of cold in high northern latitudes 

 may be accounted for by reference to a general deluge, the fiood 

 of Noah. I am aware that allegations, in natural or civil his- 

 tor)', are not to be supported by referring to a book whose au- 

 thoritv is disputed ; but in the present case I must be ))ermit- 

 ted to allege the certainty of a general deluge, provided it will 

 account for the several phajnomena, and provided those pheno- 

 mena cannot otherwise be accounted for. 



Upon the supposition of a general deluge, it will be admitted 

 that immediately after the flood there could be no ice in any part 

 of the ocean. The waters in the northern regions were exactly 

 of the same temperature as the waters in other parts of the ocean, 

 for they had the same origin. The fountains of the great deoj) 



* It is asserted in tiie ancient Icelandic records, tluit when Ingulf, the 

 Noi'wejiiun, first lander! in Jcehinfl, !inno87P, he found sn thick a tjrowth 

 of hlrch-treos, that lie peiietraie<l them vvith rlitiicidty. Si)ine niodi-rn his- 

 toriaiiS, knowinsi tiiat no t:ees of any kind ^vow at present in that island, 

 have expressed their fears lest the veracity of tfie ,-iiicitiit annalists should 

 be suspected. If ihcy hnd known that Hunks of trees have ialcly hi rn 

 frjund in tliut islanfl, buried several t'ectdeep in the earth, their fears would 

 hitvt been obviated. 



were 



