ORDER BIMANA. 93 



man, are very distinct and numerous. The early- 

 hordes obliged to live by hunting or fishing, or on 

 wild fruits, occupied altogether in the search of 

 subsistence, could multiply but slowly and make 

 but little progress towards civilization. Their arts 

 were confined to the construction of huts and canoes, 

 to covering themselves with the skins of beasts, and 

 to the fabrication of arrows, and of nets. They 

 observed such stars only as guided them in their 

 wanderings, and examined those natural objects 

 alone, whose properties were serviceable to them- 

 selves. They domesticated no animal but the dog, 

 for this obvious reason, that nature had given him 

 a tendency to that peculiar mode of life which they 

 themselves pursued. When they had succeeded in 

 taming the herbivorous animals, they found a more 

 secure subsistence in the possession of numerous 

 herds and flocks, and the consequent enjoyment of 

 more leisure to extend the range of their acquisi- 

 tions; more industry was then employed in the 

 fabrication of clothes and dwellings, the ideas of 

 property and barter became general, the unequal 

 distribution of rank gave rise to virtuous or criminal 

 emulation ; but the necessity of seeking fresh pas- 

 tures still condemned them to a wandering life, 

 rendered them subservient to the course of the sea- 

 sons, and as yet confined within narrow limits the 

 circle of their improvement. 



The multiplication of the human species, and the 

 advancement of art and science have been carried 

 to any great length only since the invention of agri- 



