OF MANHOOD. 465 



hands weapons more defl:ru6live than the claws 

 of the lion. 



But there is a jufter method of inftltuting a 

 comparifon between the ftrength of a man and 

 that of the other animals, namely, by the weight 

 they are able to carry. It is affirmed, that the 

 porters of Conftaniinople can carry burdens of 

 nine hundred pounds weight ; and Defaguliers 

 tells us, that, by means of a certain harnefs, by 

 which every part of a man's body was propor- 

 tionably loaded, the perfon he employed in this 

 experiment was able to fupport, in an erect po- 

 fture, a weight not lefs than 2000 pounds. A 

 horfe, which is about fix times the fize of an 

 ordinary man, ought, therefore, when managed 

 in the fame manner, to bear 12,000 or 14,000 

 pounds ; an enormous weight, in comparifon of 

 what that animal can fupport, even when it is 

 diftributed with every pofTible advantage. 



The ftrength of animals may likewife be efti- 

 mated by agility and perfeverance in labour. Men, 

 when accuftomed to running, outftrip horfes, or 

 at leaft continue their fpeed much longer ; and 

 a man will accomplifh a long journey foonei', 

 and be lefs fatigued, than even the beft road 

 horfes. The royal meffengers of Ifpahan, who 

 are trained to running, go 36 leagues in 14 or 

 15 hours. We are aifured by travellers, that 

 the Hottentots outrun lions in the chace ; and 

 that thofe favages who live upon hunting, pur- 

 fue and even catch deer, and other animals of 



Vol. ir. G^ equal 



