make their nets of fea-weed ; and dry a kind of 

 llimymud, for fuel. Rain-water is their only 

 drink, which they preferve in ditches, dug 

 before their cabins*." 



Such is Pliny's pi6lure of this bleak, and 

 defolate countiy. From the very feelings of 

 nature, we fhudder at it. Whereas the idea 

 of the foreft is pleating to every one. The 

 cafe is, tho there may be as much real mifery 

 amidft beautiful fcenery j yet beautiful fcenery 

 covers it. Wretchednefs is often felt under 

 fplendid apparel ; but it does not ftrike us in 

 fuch attire, as it does in rags. 



That man was originally a foreft-animal 

 appears from every page of his early hiflory. 

 Trace the firft accounts of any people, and 

 you will find them the inhabitants of woods j 

 if woods were to be found in the countries in 

 which they lived. Caves, thickets, and 

 trunks of trees, were there retreats : and acorns 

 their food : with fuch beafts, as they took in 

 hunting ; which afforded them only a preca- 

 rious fupply. 



* See Pliny's Nat. hift. book xvi. cap. I. 



H*c 



