Ch. v. in Switzerland. 345 



most pure and salubrious air ; and the employ- 

 ments of the people, being all pastoral, were con- 

 sequently of the most healthy nature. From the 

 calculations of M. Muret, the accuracy of which 

 there is no reason to doubt, the probability of life 

 in this parish appeared to be so extraordinarily 

 high as 61 years.* And the average number of 

 the births being for a period of 30 years almost 

 accurately equal to the number of deaths, t clearly 

 proved that the habits of the people had not led 

 them to emigrate, and that the resources of the 

 parish for the support of population had remained 

 nearly stationary. We are warranted therefore 

 in concluding, that the pastures were limited, and 

 could not easily be increased either in quantity or 

 quality. The number of cattle, which could be 

 kept upon them, would of course be limited; and 

 in the same manner the number of persons re- 

 quired for the care of these cattle. 



Under such circumstances, how would it be 

 possible for the young men who had reached the 

 age of puberty, to leave their fathers' houses and 

 marry, till an employment of herdsman, dairy- 

 man, or something of the kind, became vacant by 

 death ? And as, from the extreme healthiness of 

 the people, this must happen very slowly, it is 

 evident that the majority of them must wait 

 during a great part of their youth in their bachelor 

 state, or run the most obvious risk of starving 



* Menioires, &c. par la Societe Econ. de Berne. Annee 1766, 

 table v. p. 64. 



t Id. tabic i. p. 15, 



