OF NATURAL HISTORY. 2^i5 



Since that period, the culture and ufe of the potatce, of many 

 fpecics of colewortSj and of fruits, have been introduced, 

 and univerfally diffufed through the nation. 



Whether man was originally intended by Nature to live 

 folely upon animal or vegetable food ? is a quefrion which 

 has been much agitated both by the ancients and the mod- 

 erns. Many fadts and circumflances concur in eftablifliing 

 the opinion, that man was defigned to be nourifhed neither 

 by animals nor vegetables folely, but by a mixture of both. 

 Agriculture is an art, the invention of which muft depend on 

 a number of fortuitous circumftances. It requires a long fuc- 

 ceffion of ages before favage nations learn this art. They de- 

 pend entirely for their fubfiftence upon hunting wild animals, 

 fiihing, and fuch fruits as their country happens fpontane- 

 oufly to produce. This has uniformly been the manner of 

 living among allthe favage nations of which we have any prop- 

 er knowledge •, and feems to be a clear proof, that animal 

 food is by no means repugnant to the nature of man. Be- 

 fides, the furface of the earth, even in the moll: luxuriant 

 climates, and though affifted by culture, is not capable of pro- 

 ducing vegetable food in fufHcient quantity to fupport the 

 human race, after any region of it has become fo populous as 

 Britain, France, and many other nations. The general prac- 

 tice of mankind, when net retrained by prejudice or fuper- 

 ftition, of feeding promircuoufly on animal and vegetable lub- 

 ftances, is a flrong indication that man is, partly at lead, a 

 carnivorous animal. The Gentoos, though their chief diet 

 be vegetables, afford no proper argument againft thisreafon- 

 ing. They are obliged, by their religion, to abitain froni 

 the flefli of animals ; and they are allowed to ufe milk, which 

 is a very nourifhing animal food. Notwithftanding this in- 

 dulgence the Gentoos, in general, are a meagre, fickly, and 

 feeble race. In hot climates, however, a very great pro- 

 portion of vegetable diet may be ufed v/ithout any bad con- 

 fequences. 



