OF NATURAL HISTORY. 215 



labyrinths of infinity ; and, inftead of throwing light upon the fub- 

 jedt, we fliall involve it in tenfold darknefs. All we know concern- 

 ing the nature of growth and nutrition is extremely limited. We 

 know that, in the animal kingdom, nutrition is performed by means 

 of the blood, which is forcibly propelled through every part of the 

 body by the adlion of the heart and arteries; and that vegetables, in 

 a fimilar manner, are nourilhed by the afcenfion and diftribution of 

 the fap. Bur, how the nutritive particles are applied to the various 

 parts of organized bodies, and how they expand the organs, or re- 

 pair their continual wafte and lofs of fubftance, we mud content 

 ourfelves with remaining in perpetual ignorance.. 



In general, the food of animals, and particularly of the human 

 fpecies, confifts of animal and vegetable fubftances, combined with 

 water or other fluids. The Gentoo, and fome other ibuthern na- 

 tions, live entirely upon vegetable diet. From the accounts we have 

 of the different regions of the earth, it appears, that the natives of 

 warm climates, where the cultivation of plants is pradtifed, employ 

 agreater proportion of vegetable food than in the more northern 

 countries. The inhabitants of Lapland have little or no dependence 

 on the fruits of the earth. They neither fow nor reap. They ftill 

 remain, and, from the nature of their climate, muft forever remain, 

 in the fhepherd ftate. Their comparative riches confift entirely of 

 the number of rein- deer pofleffed by individuals. Their principal 

 nourifhment is derived from the flefh and milk of thefe animals. 

 In autumn, however, they catch great multitudes of fowls, moft of 

 them of the game kind. With thefe, while frefli, they not only fup- 

 ply their prefent wants, but dry and. preferve them through the win- 

 ter. They likewife kill hares, and other animals, which abound in : 

 the woods and mountains ; but the flefh of the bear is their greateft . 

 delicacy. la their lakes and rivers, they have inexhauftible ftores . 



of: 



