128 THE CAMEL 



more dreadful than that of the deeped forefts ; 

 for to man, trees are, at lead, vifible obje&s : 

 more folitary and naked, more loft in an unli- 

 mited void, he every where beholds fpace fur- 

 rounding him as a tomb : The light of the day, 

 more diimal than the darknefs of night, ferves 

 only to give him a clearer view of his own 

 wretchednefs and impotence, and to conceal from 

 his view the barriers of the void, by extending 

 around him that immenfe abyfs which feparates 

 him from the habitable parts of the earth ; an 

 abyfs, which, in vain, he fhould attempt to tra- 

 verfe ; for hunger, thirft, and fcorching heat, 

 haunt every moment that remains to him be- 

 tween defpair and death. 



The Arab, however, by the afliftance of his 

 camel, has learned to furmount, and even to ap- 

 propriate, thefe frightful intervals of Nature. 

 They ferve him for an afylum, they fecure his 

 repofe, and maintain his independence. But 

 man never ufes any thing without abufe ! This 

 fame free, independent, tranquil, and even rich 

 Arab, inftead of regarding hisdeferts as the ram- 

 parts of his liberty, pollutes them with his crimes. 

 He traverfes them to carry off flaves and gold 

 from the adjacent nations. He employs them 

 for perpetrating his robberies, which unluckily 

 he enjoys more than his liberty; for his enter- 

 prifes are almoft always fuccefsful. Notwith- 

 standing the vigilance of his neighbours, and the 

 fuperiority of their ftrength, he efcapes their pur- 



fuit, 



