114* HISTORY OF 



pagated, or under what regulations they live, is a 

 subject that remains for future investigation. It 

 should appeal', however, that they are a wander- 

 ing nation, changing their abode with the course 

 of the sun, and shifting their situation for the 

 convenience of food, climate, or pasture.* 



This race of giants are described as possessed 

 of great strength ; and no doubt they must be 

 very different from those accidental giants that 

 are to be seen in different parts of Europe. Sta- 

 ture with these seems rather their infirmity than 

 their pride ; and adds to their burden, without 

 increasing their strength. Of those I have seen, 

 the generality were ill-formed and unhealthful ; 

 weak in their persons, or incapable of exerting 

 what strength they were possessed of. The same 

 defects of understanding that attended those of 

 suppressed stature, were found in those who were 

 thus overgrown ; they were heavy, phlegmatic, 

 stupid, and inclined to sadness. Their numbers, 

 however, are but few ; and it is thus kindly or- 

 dered by Providence, that as the middle state is 

 the best fitted for happiness, so the middle ranks 

 of mankind are produced in the greatest variety. 



However, mankind seems naturally to have a 

 respect for men of extraordinary stature ; and it 

 has been a supposition of long standing, that our 

 ancestors were much taller, as well as much more 

 beautiful than we. This has been, indeed, a theme 

 of poetical declamation from the beginning j and 

 man was scarcely formed when he began to de- 

 plore an imaginary decay. Nothing is more na- 



* Later voyagers have not confirmed this account in some particulars. 



