160 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



CHAPTER VII. 



Original Inhabitants. The Employments, 

 Civil Government^ System of IVar^ Education, 

 Manners^ and Custoins of the Indians ; the 

 Advantages, and Disadvantages of the Savage 

 State. 



IN the formation of the mountains, riv- 

 ers, vegetables, and animals, the powers of na- 

 ture appear to rise in a steady and beautiful 

 progress. This progress seems to be comple- 

 ted in the production of a rational, moral, and 

 accountable animal. This animal is Ma n : 

 And he evidently appears in every part of the 

 globe, to be at the head of all the productions of 

 nature : But the men of different countries and 

 nations, appear to be very different from one 

 another. 



The original inhabitants of this country were 

 ihe Indians : These w^re the only species or 

 kind of men, that had spread over America. It 

 .vili be more difficult to give a just account of 

 the man of America, than to describe its veget- 

 ables, and animals. The latter are subject to 

 stated, and invariable laws ; they pass through 

 but few changes and variations, and are always 

 to be found in that state, in which nature placed 

 them. Man is subject to a great variety of al- 

 teration, and improvement. In his rudest and 

 most simple state, he appears but little superior 

 to the brute ; in his highest improvement and 

 polish of manners, he appears at an infinite re- 

 KiQve from the bare animal j and in all the 



