THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 37 



-. 



In cloathing, Providence had not been lefs kind to India. 

 The filk worm, with little fatigue and trouble to man, al- 

 moft without his interference, provided for him a ftuft, at 

 once the fofteft, the moft light and brilliant, and confe- 

 quently the belt adapted to warm countries ; and cotton, 

 a vegetable production, growing every where in great abun- 

 dance, without care, which may be confidered as almoft e- 

 qual to filk, in many of its qualities, and fuperior to it in 

 fome, afforded a variety Hill cheaper for more general ufe. 

 Every tree without culture produced them fruit of the moil 

 excellent kind; every tree afforded them made, under 

 which, with a very light and portable loom of cane, they 

 could pafs their lives delightfully in a calm and rational en- 

 joyment, by the gentle exercife of weaving, at once provid- 

 ing for the health of their bodies, the neceflities of their fa- 

 milies, and the riches of their country. 



But however plentifully their fpices grew, in whatever 

 quantity the Indians confumed them, and however gene- 

 rally they wore their own manufactures, the fuperabun- 

 dance of both was fuch, as naturally led them to look out 

 for articles againil which they might barter their fuperflui- 

 tics. This became ncceflary to fupply the wants of thofc 

 things that had been with-held from them, for wife ends, 

 or which, from wantonnefs, luxury, or ilcnder necemty, 

 they had created in their own imaginations. 



Far to the weilward of them, but part of the fame con- 

 tinent, connected by a long defert, and dangerous coaft, 

 was the peninfula of Arabia, which produced no fpices, tho' 

 the neceflities of its climate fubjected its inhabitants to the 

 fame difcafcs as thofc in India. In fact, the country and 



climate 



