192 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



band was formed of the whole plant, it would 

 easily be discovered that the fibres were the 

 part that afforded the strength. 



When New Holland was first discovered, 

 it was observed that the natives, who sub- 

 sisted principally on fish, had invented a 

 kind of net made of the fibres of flax, by in- 

 serting the loops into each other without a 

 knot ; yet these people had not the least idea 

 of forming a covering, even to protect them- 

 selves from the inclemency of the weather, 

 and were so barbarously ignorant as not to 

 have the least knowledge of the art of culti- 

 vating plants or fruits of any description. 



The making and use of linen cloth ap- 

 pears to have been invented previously to 

 the Deluge, as we read that Noah slept in 

 a tent.* 



Egypt, which appears to be the country 

 that Ham, the second son of Noah, resorted 

 to, from its being called in Scripture, the 

 Land of Ham, soon became the garden of 

 the East, and the seat of arts. 



" Israel also came into Egypt, and Jacob 

 sojourned in the Land of Ham."-f* 



Ham is supposed to have led a pastoral 

 life, but his son Misraim, who is mentioned 



# Gen. c. ix. v. 21 f Psalm cv. v. 23. 



