178 



THE USE OF WOODS 



forests, where a lower teiaperature prevails. This naturally 

 condenses the vapor, and showers of rain are thus distilled 

 from the cloud-masses, which float in the ■atmosphere, by 

 the woods beneath them. The grateful moisture descends 

 on the thirsty landscape, replenishing its numerous springs. 

 The little streamlets which issue from them continue to 

 flow, and a confluence of their waters forms brooks and 

 rivers, the natural arteries of a country, and the first natural 

 means of intercourse and commerce possessed by a people 

 in an early stage of civilization. 



The Turks, although only a semi-civilized people, seem 

 to be aware of the cooling influences which forests exercise 

 on the spot whei-e they are located. There is, to day, in 

 the neighborhood of Constantinople, a splendid woods of 

 the finest beech and oak, which is protected by law, because 

 it feeds a spring, the water of which supplies the whole 

 city. It is conducted there by ah aqueduct. 



The history of any nation traced back to its origin, will 

 attest that springs and rivers have ever been an inducement 

 for man to forsake his roving habits and commence a regu- 

 lar life. Examine the map of any part of the earth where 

 man is settled and civilized, and you will find that its most 

 important cities and towns are located near its rivers. 

 Springs and rivers will ever be to man a source of wealth 

 and power. His condition, centuries ago., when he was 

 without the experience and knowledge of I^ature which he 

 has now acquired, was such as to make him gladly avail 

 himself of these great natural aids. Their waters supplied 

 him with fish, and their banks with herbage for his ani- 

 mals ; they facilitated commercial transactions, to which he 

 appears to have a natural tendency, and they furnished 

 him with a natural mechanical power for driving his earlier 

 efforts at machinery. Science has now given him the 

 steam-engine ; how great an advance on his rude water- 

 mills ! 'So wonder that springs and rivers were adored, 

 and that they Avere supposed to be frequented by Nymphs, 

 who protected and presided over them. These beautiful 

 myths show how their value was appreciated. 



