190 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



Without the aid of flax, this island might 

 have remained unknown and unpeopled. Its 

 assistance enabled the European sailor to 

 discover a new world, and people to whom 

 we must have remained strangers but for the 

 fibres of this herb, and from whose territories 

 we have since enriched our isle with the 

 most useful roots, the most luxurious fruits, 

 and ornamental plants. It was with flax that 

 we first made wings to our vessels, with 

 which we travelled with the swiftness of the 

 eagle, and extended our commerce to the 

 most distant parts of the globe. 



Daedalus is said to have been the inventor 

 of sails for ships, by which he fled from Crete, 

 to escape from the revenge of the incensed 

 Minos, who had condemned him to be con- 

 fined in the labyrinth which he had con- 

 structed. Daedalus arrived safe in Sicily, 

 where he was hospitably received by Cocalus, 

 king of that island. From this circumstance 

 the ancient allegory states, that he made 

 himself wings. This was at least 1350 years 

 before Christ ; and we find that sails were 

 certainly used before Homers time, who says 



the winds aloud 



one wmus aiuuu 



Howl o'er the niasts, and sing through every shroud.' 



