THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 3-73 



In cloathing, Providence had not been lefs kind to India. 

 The lilk worm, with little fatigue and trouble to man, al- 

 moft without his interference, provided for him a fluff, at 

 once the fofteft, the mofl light and brilliant, and confe- 

 quently the beft adapted to warm countries ; and cotton, 

 a vegetable production, growing every where in great abun- 

 dance, without care, which may be conlidered as almofl e- 

 qual to filk, in many of its qualities,, and fuperior to it in. 

 fome, afforded a variety Hill cheaper for more general ufe. 

 Every tree without culture produced them fruit of the moll 

 excellent kind ; every tree afforded them ihade, under 

 which, with a very light and portable loom of cane, they 

 could pals their lives delightfully in a calm and rational en- 

 joyment, by the gentle exercife of weaving, at once provid- 

 ing for the health of their bodies, the neceffities of their fa- 

 milies, and the riches of their country. 



But however plentifully their fpices grew, in whatever 

 quantity the Indians confumed them, and however gene- 

 rally they wore their own manufactures, the fuperabun- 

 dance of both was fuch, as naturally led them to look out 

 for articles againfl which they might barter their fuperflui- 

 ties. This became noceffary to fupply the wants of thofc 

 things that had been with-held from them, for wife ends, 

 or which, from wantonnefs, luxury, or flcnder neccffity, 

 they had created in their own imaginations, 



Ear to the wefewardof them, but part of the fame con- 

 tinent, connected by a long delert, and dangerous coafr, 

 was the peninfula of Arabia, which produced no fpices, tho' 

 the necefiities of its climate fubjected its inhabitants to the 

 fame difcafes as thofe in India, In fact, the country and. 



climate 



