havoc was made. In Barbadoes, which was 

 once covered with wood, fcarce a fmgle tree 

 can be found. All the other Weft-India 

 iflands, are, more or lefs, in the fame con- 

 dition. To prepare the ground for fugar- 

 canes, the axe has continued to rage in 

 them, ever fmce the time of their dif- 

 covery. 



In the Eaft-Indies, we fee the fame fcenes 

 of defolation. Wherever fettlements have been 

 made, the woods have been cut down ; and 

 indeed often unnecefiarily. In the ifland of 

 Sumatra, Mr. Marfden tells us*, the inhabi- 

 tants have no fettled land for their tillage ; 

 but cut down, every year, a part of the ancient 

 forefts of the country ; and meliorate the foil 

 by the afhes of the trees, which they burn 

 upon it. " I could never, fays he, behold 

 this devaluation without a ftrong fentiment of 

 regret. Perhaps the prejudices of a clafTical 

 education taught me to refpect thofe aged trees, 

 as the habitations of an order of fylvan deities, 

 who were now deprived of exiftence. But 

 without having recourfe to fuperftition, it is 

 not difficult to account for fuch feelings, at the 



* See Marfdcn's hift. Sumatra. 



fight 



