<fQ THE HISTORY OF 



and lemons are desirable fruits, and useful enough in many cases, yet, when 

 the want of them is supplied by others more useful, we have no cause to com- 

 plain. There is no climate that produces every thing, since the deluge 

 ■wrenched the poles of the world out of their place, nor is it fit it should be so, 

 because it is- the mutual supply one country receives from another, which 

 creates a mutual traffic and intercourse amongst men. And in truth, were 

 it not for the correspondence, in order to make up each other's wants, the 

 wars betwixt bordering nations, like those of the Indians and other barba- 

 rous people, would be perpetual and irreconcileable. As to olive trees, I 

 know by experience they will never stand the sharpness of our winters, 

 but their place may be supplied by the plant called sessamun, which yields an 

 infinite quantity of large seed, from whence a sweet oil is pressed, that is very 

 wholesome and in use amongst the people of Lesser Asia. Likewise it is used 

 in Egypt, preferably to oil olive, being not so apt to make those that eat it 

 constantly break out into scabs, as they do in many parts of Italy. This would 

 grow very kindly here, and has already been planted with good success in 

 North Carolina, by way of experiment. 



7th. After crossing the Dan, we made a march of eight miles, over hills 

 and dales as far as the next ford of that river. And now we were by prac- 

 tice become such very able footmen, that we easily outwalked our horses, 

 and could have marched much farther, had it not been in pity to their weak- 

 ness. Besides here was plenty of canes, which was reason enough to make 

 us shorten our journey. Our gunners did great execution as they went 

 along, killing no less than two brace of deer, and as many wild turkeys. 

 Though practice will soon make a man of tolerable vigour an able footman, 

 yet, as a help to bear fatigue I used to chew a root of ginseng as I walked 

 along. This kept up my spirits, and made me trip away as nimbly in my half 

 jack-boots as younger men could do in their shoes. This plant is in high es- 

 teem in China, where it sells for its weight in silver. Indeed it does not grow 

 there, but in the mountains of Tartary, to which place the emperor of China 

 sends ten thousand men every year on purpose to gather it. But it grows so 

 scattering there, that even so many hands can bring home no great quantity. 

 Indeed it is a vegetable of so many virtues, that Providence has planted it very 

 thin in every country that has the happiness to produce it. Nor indeed is man- 

 kind worthy of so great a blessing, since health and long life are commonly 

 abused to ill purposes. This noble plant grows likewise at the cape of Good 

 Hope, where it is called kanna, and is in wonderful esteem among the Hotten- 

 tots. It grows also on the northern continent of America, near the mountains, 

 but as sparingly as truth and public spirit. It answers exactly both to the figure 

 and virtues of that which grows in Tartary, so that there can be no doubt of its 

 being the same. Its virtues are, that it gives an uncommon warmth and 

 vigour to the blood, and frisks the spirits, beyond any other cordial. It cheers 

 the heart even of a man that has a bad wife, and makes him look down with 

 great composure on the crosses of the world. It promotes insensible per- 

 spiration, dissolves all phlegmatic and viscous humours, that are apt to obstruct 

 .the narrow channels of the nerves. It helps the memory, and would quick- 

 en even Helvetian dulness. It is friendly to the lungs, much more than scold- 

 ing itself. It comforts the stomach, and strengthens the bowels, preventing 

 all colics and fluxes. In one word, it will make a man live a great while, 

 and very well while he does live. And what is more, it will even make old 

 age amiable, by rendering it lively, cheerful, and good-humoured. However 

 it is of little vise in the feats of love, as a great prince once found, who hear- 

 ing of its invigorating quality, sent as far as China for some of it, though his 

 ladies could not boast of any advantage thereby. 



We gave the Indian the skins of all the deer that he shot himself, and the 



