40. NATURAL HISTORY 



that, like his kindred bears and wolves, he 

 gorges himself with flesh alone, and is 

 driven to what hunger has never been 

 known to compel the very beasts, to prey- 

 on his own species.* 



The productions of vegetation have had 

 a vast influence on the commerce of na- 

 tions, and have been the great promoters 

 of navigation, as may be seen in the articles 

 of sugar, tea, tobacco, opium, ginseng, 

 betel, paper, &c. As every climate has its 

 peculiar produce, our natural wants bring 

 on a mutual intercourse ; so that by means 

 of trade each distant part is supplied with 

 the growth of every latitude. But, without 

 the knowledge of plants and their culture, 

 we must have been content with our hips 

 and haws, without enjoying the delicate 

 fruits of India and the salutiferous drugs 

 of Peru, 



Instead of examining the minute distinc- 

 tions of every various species of each ob- 

 scure genus, the botanist should endea- 



* See the late voyages to the South Seas. 



