B O O K III. C II A P. VI. 539 



that ail excefs of Ilcep, iiiftead of nourifhing and refrefning, ener- 

 vates nnd emafculatcs, the human frame, but the body g.sins not 

 a moment's lelpite from heat, or relaxation ; it is heated during 

 the day, it is heated again by fitting up late; and, after retiring to 

 bed, it is plunged into a kind of hot bath ; and lies flewing in its 

 own vapours : while, as the imi draws nearer the meridian, the air 

 grows more fervid every moment. So beneficial indeed is 

 the cuftom of early rifing in this chmate, that it fortifies the or- 

 gans againft the invafion of ficknefs, and is of more importance 

 than any other branch of regimen; more efpecially, if joined to 

 moderate exercife. 



It is difficult to (Iiy, what degree of exercife a man may ufe here 

 witliout danger J it muft perhaps be confidered relatively to mens 

 different conftitutions, and flrength. The vveakeft are flrengthened 

 by it, and the ftrongefl: become weak without it. In general, I 

 believe, the inhabitants, efpecially Europeans, ufe it to a greater 

 degree every day, than men in general do in England, and with 

 feemingly lefs fatigue. I have myfelf traveled frequently fifty miles 

 in a day on horfeback, without fuffering any laffitude, and always 

 found fuch journies mofl: fupportable, the earlier 1 fet out in the 

 morning [r]. But, confidering the expence of perfpiration and 

 fpirits, which the body undergoes here daily, efpecially in the 

 Southern diftrifts, we ought to infer, that a lefs degree is requifite 

 here for health, than in colder climates ; for it feems reafonable 

 to fuppofe, that we fliould endeavour here, rather to reftrain, than 

 promote, all violent motions of the blood and humours, and pre- 

 ferve them calm and temperate, at the iame time not fullering ab- 

 folute inadion and floth to poflefs us fo far, as to caufe a ftagna- 

 tion ; extraordinary exercife is lefs hurtful than fuch an indolent, 

 motionleis habit of life. The befl exercife in this climate is gefta- 

 tion, cither in a wheel-carriage, or on horfeback ; but the latter 

 is to be preferred, except in long journies. But walking is too 

 laborious, and attended with too great a wafte of fubftance and 

 fpirits. The common pra£tice of many in the towns, who are con- 

 tinually in agitation, and take the fame liberty of bnilling about 

 on foot, at all hours of the day, as if they were iu London, is evi- 



[r] Sixty miles are ufually reckoned here a day's journey; on horfeback. :, %-*' 



Z z z 2 dentlv 



