ORDER BIMANA. 95 



state of mutual warfare. The hunting tribes dispute 

 for their tracts of forest, and the wandering shep- 

 herds for their range of pasture. Both again make 

 perpetual inroads upon the cultivators of the soil, 

 to possess themselves of the fruits of agricultural 

 labour without the trouble of industry. Even civi- 

 lized nations, far from being satisfied with the bless- 

 ings they enjoy, engage in warfare for the prero- 

 gatives of pride, or the monopoly of commerce. From 

 this propensity to combat, results the necessity of 

 governments for the direction of national wars, and 

 the repression or regulation of private quarrels. 



Circumstances, more or less favourable, have either 

 retarded the progress of civilization, or accelerated 

 its advancement in the different races of mankind. 



Thus in both continents the frozen climates of the 

 north, and the impenetrable forests of America are, 

 as yet, inhabited only by wandering hordes of sa- 

 vages who subsist by fishing or the chase. 



The immense sandy deserts, or vast tracts of 

 morass that extend over central Asia, and great part 

 of Africa, are covered with tribes of shepherds and 

 innumerable herds and flocks. These semi-barbarous 

 hordes have assembled, from time to time, at the call 

 of some enthusiastic chief, and poured, like an inun- 

 dation upon the civilized countries which surrounded 

 them, and whose inhabitants the baneful influence 

 of luxury had rendered less capable of resistance. 

 Having established themselves there, and become 

 effeminate in their turn, they remained in possession 

 until some other warlike hordes arrived to subjugate 



