HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



229 



which, if they were true, would not be fufficient to prove 

 fo univerfal a pofition : becaufe of what importance is 

 it that the flefti of oxen is fo fibrous in the ifland of Hif- 

 paniola, if in all the other parts of America it is good, 

 and in many, particularly in all thofe of Mexico which 

 are fituated on the coaft of the Pacific Ocean, equal to 

 the beft in Europe, and poflibly better ? What fignifies 

 it that fheep have undergone fome change in Burba- 

 does, and other hot countries, if, in the temperate coun- 

 tries of Mexico and South America they continue the 

 fame as they came there from Spain ? What does it 

 avail that, hogs have become disfigured in Cubagua, a 

 miferable little ifland, deprived of water and every thing 

 neceflfary for life, if in other parts of America they have 

 acquired, as Mr. de Paw fays himfelf, an extraordinary 

 corpulence and their flefh has become fo improved, that 

 the phyficians there prefcribe it to the fick in preference 

 to all other meat. If the hogs, having grown disfigur- 

 ed in Cubagua, it does not prove that the clime of Ame- 

 rica is not the moft fuitable to them, why fliould the 

 flieep having fufFered fome change in Barbadoes, the 

 flefh of oxen having become more fibrous in Hifpaniola, 

 and fome quadrupeds having grown lefs in Canada, ferve 

 to prove that the clime of America in general is unfa- 

 vourable to the generation of animals, to their corpu- 

 lence and inftincl: ? 



If fuch logic was to be tolerated, we could adduce 

 much flronger arguments againit the climate of the old 

 continent without making ufe of any other materials than 

 thofe that are furnifhed to us by count de BnfFon in his 

 Natural Hiftory. Camels have never multiplied, as he 

 fays 5 in Spain, although that clime of all the climes of 

 Europe is the lead contrary to their nature. Oxen have 



degenerated 



