*^^ HISTORY OF 



with us have Jong hair, when carried to Guinea or Angola, in a 

 fcbort time cast their thick covering, and assume a lighter dress, 

 and one more adapted to the warmth of the country. The bea- 

 ver, and the ermine, which are found in the greatest plenty in 

 the cold regions, are remarkable for the warmth and delicacy of 

 their furs ; while the elephant and the rhinoceros, that are natives 

 of the line, have scarcely any hair. Not but that human indus- 

 try can, ip some measure, co-operate with, or repress, the effegts 

 of climate in this pai'ticular. It is well known what alterations 

 are produced, by proper care, in the sheep's tleece, in different 

 parts of our country ; and the same industry is pursued with a 

 like success in Syria, where many of their animals are clothed 

 with a long and beautiful hair, which they take care to improve, 

 as they work it into that stuff called camblet, so well known in 

 different parts of Europe. 



The disposition of the animal seems also not less marked by 

 the climate than the figure. The same causes that seem to have 

 rendered the human inhabitants of the rigorous climates savage 

 and ignorant, have also operated upon their animals. Both at 

 the line and the pole, the wild quadrupeds are fierce and un- 

 tameable. In these latitudes, their savage dispositions having 

 not been quelled by any efforts from man, and being still farther 

 stimulated by the severity of the weather, they continue fierce 

 and uiitractable. J\Iost of the attempts which have hitherto 

 been made to tame the wild beasts brought home from the pole 

 or the equator, have prove;l ineffectual. They are gentle and 

 harmless enough while young ; but as they grow up, they acquire 

 their natural ferocity, ai*<i snap at the hand that feeds them. It 

 may indeed, in general, be asserted, that in all countries \\here 

 the men are most barbarous, the beasts are most fierce and cruel ; 

 and this is but a natural consequence of the stru2:gle between 

 man and the more savage animals of the forest; for in propor- 

 tion as he is weak and timid, they must be bold and intrusive ; 

 in proportion as his dominion is but feebly .supported, their ra- 

 j)acity must be more obnoxious. In the extensive countries, 

 therefore, lying round the pole, or beneath the line, the quadru- 

 peds are fierce and formidable. Africa has ever been remarked 

 for the brutality of its men, and the fierceness of its animals : its 

 lions and its loojjards are not less terrible than its crocodiles and its 

 Kcrpents ; their dispositions seem entirely marked with tlie 



