OF THE TURKISH MONARCHY. 



11 



once flourished near them are now seen. The incursions of robbers, 

 the calamities of war and pestilence, have compelled the inhabitants 

 to remove to other districts.* The countries between the Tigris 

 and Euphrates, once distinguished for their populousness, are con- 

 signed to ruin and neglect ; and the inhabitants retire to villages on 

 the banks of the rivers, where they are less harassed by the preda- 

 tory attacks of the Arabs. 



From the present rude and uncultivated condition of some of the 

 provinces, we might be led to suppose that they were either barren, 

 or incapable of affording any great produce. But nothing is wanted, 

 except a greater number of inhabitants to draw forth by their skill and 

 industry the productions of the soil. " If Natolia," says Hasselquist, 

 " was well peopled, active husbandmen would certainly make the 

 hills turn to some account; here might be planted good vineyards 

 of the fine vines that grow around Smyrna; here numbers of sheep 

 might feed on places that agree well with them, where the sheep's 

 fescue grass (festuca ovina ) grows sufficiently. Goats might feed 

 here to a much greater number than are now found, there being 

 plenty of food for them ; and if all other places, which here lie un- 

 cultivated, were turned into corn land, a careful husbandman might 

 raise the finest crops on these hills." p. 35. From the testimonies of 

 sacred Scripture and the writings of antiquity, we learn that great 

 multitudes were provided with subsistence in places which now sup- 

 port a very small population. Two millions and a half of persons 

 followed the Jewish legislator into Palestine, f The enumeration 



* " As long as insulation exposes men to personal danger, we can hope for the esta- 

 blishment of no equilibrium between the population of towns and that of the country." 

 Humboldt, ii. 313. 



f Michaelis on the Laws of Moses, vol. i. p. 99. Smith's translation. " The men 

 " able to bear arms somewhat exceeded 600,000, and including the Levites amounted to 

 " nearly 620,000. If, according to the usual principle of calculation, we admit the whole 

 " people, women and children included, to have been four times as many, we shall then 

 " have nearly 2,500,000 souls for the amount of the population." Michaelis proceeds to 

 shew, that within the limits of Palestine hereditary possessions and support were found 

 for these very great numbers. 



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