Thofe vaft pine-forefts, which had rooted 

 themfelves, from the beginning of time, on 

 the ridges of the Appennines, are now in moft 

 parts of that chain of mountains, recorded only 

 by a few fcattered clumps. 



Even the bleak clime of Iceland is fuppofed 

 to have been once covered with large forefts ; 

 tho it is now almoft totally bare of wood. It 

 is probable however that other caufes, befides 

 that of making room for tillage, of which 

 there is but little in that ifland, have contri- 

 buted to this event*. 



From thefe varied fcenes of devaftation, the 

 Turkim dominions, I believe, are the moft 

 exempted. The Turks venerate trees ; and 

 cherim them in all places, where the foil is not 

 abfolutely required. They may almoft be faid 

 to live under them; for they are continually 

 reclining beneath their made. In Turkey it 

 is common to fee inferior buildings raifed 

 around the bole of a large plantain ; which 

 rifing through the roof, covers the whole with 

 it's expanded boughs. We may fuppofe there- 



* See Troll's letters on Iceland, p. 41, kc. 



fore, 



