78 T%e S^fturaUtnd Morall 



which feetnes to race the mcanes whereby L they came, 

 and not that they prepared any arrnie to goe thither of 

 purpofe: ncyther that they have been caried thither 

 by any fhip-wracke or tempeft,a! though (brae of theft 

 ihings may chance in forne part of the Indies^ for thefe 

 Regions* beeing fo great, as they containe Nations 

 without number , we may beleeve, that fome came to 

 inhabite after one fort , and fome after an other. But 

 in the ende 1 refolvc vpon this point, that the true and 

 principal! caiife to people the Indies, was, that the 

 lands and limits thereof areioyned and continued in 

 fome extremities of the world , or at the leaft, were 

 very neere. And I beleeve , it is not many thoufand 

 yeerespaft,fincemen fiift inhabited this new world 

 and* Weft Indies 5 and that the firft men that entred, 

 were rather favage men and hunters , then bredde vp 

 in civill and well governed Common- weales : and 

 that they came to this new world, having loft their 

 ownc land, or being in too great numbers, they were 

 forced of neceffitie to feeke fome other habitation*- 

 the which having found , they beganne by little and 

 little to plant, having no other law , but fbme inftinft 

 of nature,and that very darke, and'fome cuftomes re- 

 mayning of their firft Countries. And although they 

 came from Countries well governed , yet is it not in 

 credible to thinke > that they had'forgotten all through 

 die trad of time and want of vfe^feeing that in S faint 

 and Italic we find companies of men , which have no 

 thing but thefhape and countenance onely, whereby 

 we may coniedure in what fort this new world grew 

 fo barbarous and vncivill. 



What 



