THE OCEAN AS THE RESERVOIR OF HEALTH 37 



Canada, and their eager taking up of the wonderful 

 wheat-growing lands of this splendid domain under 

 the British flag. 



Yet it would, indeed, be hard to find a land more 

 perfectly fitted for the occupation of the white race 

 than the Washington and Oregon territories which 

 border the Pacific. Their gigantic rivers abound with 

 salmon, their vast land areas are perfectly suited to 

 the growth of cereals when the mighty forests of pine 

 have been felled and sold, never to grow again ; while 

 as for health, except for their undoubted humidity, it 

 would be difficult to find a better country to live in, 

 except the next state south, the marvellous land of 

 California. Here, indeed, are to be found in a super- 

 lative degree all the climatic conditions of which I 

 wrote so glowingly when considering South Africa. It 

 would be impossible to find a more perfect climate than 

 that of California, except perhaps that of Tasmania, 

 although some parts of Australia and South Africa 

 run it very closely. And all these wonderful lands 

 owe their delights to the sea, whose healthful breezes 

 are ever flowing over them, and bringing in a never- 

 ending stream those aerial blessings which they so 

 richly enjoy and seemingly prize so lightly. 



Coming still farther south we reach Mexico, which 

 is, I believe, destined to become one of the great 

 Powers of the world, if only its present wise govern- 

 mental rule may be maintained ; for when all has been 

 said that can be about the bounties of Nature, it 

 remains true that much depends upon the character 

 of the inhabitants whether a land, whatever its natural 

 advantages, becomes prosperous or remains in a state 

 of nature, like a neglected garden, where the weeds 



