314 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



fea-coafts, until the lafl: years of their monarchy they had 

 no occalion nor convenience for contriving any fuch 

 ftru&ures. The other nations, who occupied the mores 

 of both feas before the Mexicans gained dominion over 

 them, were fatisfied with the boats which were in ufe 

 among them, for fifhing, and commerce with the neigh- 

 bouring provinces ; becaufe, being free from ambition 

 and avarice, which have been the firft incentives to long 

 navigations, they did not think of ufurping the ftates 

 lawfully polTefTed by other nations, nor defired to trans- 

 port from diftant countries thofe precious metals for 

 which they had no demand. The Romans, although 

 they had founded their metropolis near to the fea, re- 

 mained five hundred years without conftru&ing large 

 veffels (<?), until the ambition of enlarging their domini- 

 ons, and making themfelves mailers of Sicily, prompted 

 them to build mips to pafs the (trait which divided them 

 from if. What wonder is it then if thofe nations of 

 America, who felt no fuch impulfes to abandon their na- 

 tive country, did not invent veffels to tranfport them- 

 felves to diftant lands ? It is certain, that the not having 

 con (trusted mips does not argue any want of induftry in 

 them who had no intered in the invention. 



Thus it is with regard to the invention of bridges. M. 

 de Paw affirms, that there was not a fingle ftone bridge 

 in America at the time it was difcovered, becaufe the 

 Americans did not know how to form arches ; and that 

 the fecret of making lime was altogether unknown in 



America. 



(e) Appius ufed every poffible diligence to come to the aid of the Mamer- 

 tines. In order to accomplifti this he thought of pafiing the ftrait of Meflina> 

 but the enterprife was*rafh, even dangerous, and according to all prudent ap- 

 pearances impoffible. The Romans had no naval armament, but mere barges, 

 or veffels coarfely conftructed, which might be compared with the canoes, of 

 the Indians. Rollin. Rom, Hill. lib. ii. 



