300 



PHYSICAL HISTORY OF MAN. 



in profusion ; and in the absence of all rankness of habit, they are 

 precisely such as meet the general taste of florists. The most abun- 

 dant of these showy plants, may be enumerated in the order of colours : 

 and here again, instances will be observed, contravening our usual 

 associations. Scarlet, shines forth in Salvias, Scutellaria, Mutisias, 

 and Indigo/era; interspersed and tempered amid the blue of other 

 Salvias, of Lupifies, Plumbago, and Polygalece; orange, too, is present, 

 in the frequent Tropasoliims, Lobelia, and Loasas ; and likewise purple, 

 in Bacasia, and in large-flowered Boerhaavias ; but over all, yellow 

 predominates, from the profusion of Calceola?-ias, and of Senecios and 

 other rayed Composita. 



While travelling in the midst of what I could only compare to an 

 artificial flower-garden, outspread over hill and dale, the thought 

 arose: In a region like this, producing also esculent and tuberous 

 roots, how natural would be the origin of agriculture ; how little 

 seems here wanting, to disclose to man in searching for his daily 

 food, the secret of multiplying his means of subsistence. 



In a forest, supposing a useful plant to be discovered, its cultivation 

 would require a clearing ; which seems too complex an idea, for a 

 first suggestion. On the other hand, the aridity of most open coun- 

 tries, precludes cultivation ; unless with the aid of irrigation ; and 

 this requires even further advancement. Of countries not altogether 

 barren, we have an instance in Oregon : where, notwithstanding that 

 the natives annually seek subsistence from bulbous and other roots 

 (none however tuberous), the idea of assisting nature by art, has not 

 been developed. Again, on the Sacramento River, of California; 

 where, by a singular approximation to the use of grain, minute seeds 

 of grasses and other plants, constitute an article of food; the natives 

 nevertheless, have not advanced beyond gathering the spontaneous 

 crop. 



In considering the topographical resemblance between Mexico and 

 Peru, and the aboriginal condition of these countries when compared 

 with that of the rest of America, the conclusion seems hardly avoida- 

 ble : That table-lands, are the natural birthplaces of civilization. A 

 further inference, would seem to follow : That on entering a woody 

 country, man will naturally relapse into a ruder state; and he must 

 either conquer and destroy the forest, or he will himself yield before 

 its influence. 



The remote and widely isolated geographical position of Peru, 

 favours the supposition of a spontaneous developement of civiliza- 



