THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 



375 



few centuries in the eaft ; when the Venetians carried on 

 the India trade by Alexandria, this Balfam then fold for its 

 weight in gold ; it grows in the fame place, and,, I believe, 

 nearly in the fame quantity as ever, but, for very obvious 

 reafons*, it is now of little value.. 



The bails of trade, or a. connection between thefe two 

 countries, was laid, then, from the beginning, by the hand 

 of Providence. The wants and neceffities of the one found 

 a fupply, or balance from the other. Heaven had placed 

 diem not fardiftant, could the pafTage be made by fea ; but 

 violent, Heady, and unconquerable winds prefented them- 

 felves to make that paiTage of the ocean impomble, and we 

 are not to doubt, but, for a very confiderable time, this was 

 the reafon why the commerce of India was diffufed through 

 the continent, by land only, and from this arofe the riches 

 of Semiramis. 



But, however precious the merchandife of Arabia was, it 

 was neither in quantity, nor quality, capable of balancing 

 the imports from India. Perhaps they might have paid for 

 as much as was ufed in the peninfula of Arabia itfelf, but, 

 beyond this there was a vail continent called Africa, capa- 

 ble of confuming many hundred fold more than Arabia ; 

 which lying under the fame parallel with India, part of it 

 flill farther fouth, the difeafes of the climate, and the wants 

 of its numerous inhabitants, were, in many parts of it, the 

 fame as thofe of Arabia and India ; befides which there was 



the 



* The quantity of furular drugs brought from the New World. 



