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CHAP. VII. 



Of the Checks to Population among modern Pastoral 



Nations. 



The pastoral tribes of Asia, by living in tents 

 and moveable huts, instead of fixed habitations, 

 are still less connected with their territory than 

 the shepherds of the North of Europe. The camp, 

 and not the soil, is the native country of the ge- 

 nuine Tartar. When the forage of a certain dis- 

 trict is consumed the tribe makes a regular march 

 to fresh pastures. In the summer it advances 

 towards the north, in the winter returns again to 

 the south; and thus in a time of most profound 

 peace acquires the practical and familiar know- 

 ledge of one of the most difficult operations of 

 war. Such habits would strongly tend to diffuse 

 among these wandering tribes the spirit of emi- 

 gration and conquest. The thirst of rapine, the 

 fear of a too-powerful neighbour, or the inconve- 

 nience of scanty pastures, have in all ages been 

 sufficient causes to urge the hordes of Scythia 

 boldly to advance into unknown countries, where 

 they might hope to find a more plentiful subsistence 

 or a less formidable enemy.* 



In all their invasions, but more particularly 

 when directed against the civilized empires ©f the 



* Ginfcon, vol. iv. c. xxvi. p. 348. 



