HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



345 



makes men induflrious (p). It is neceffary that they pro- 

 cure to themfelves that which the earth does not yield 

 them. The fertility of a country from the facility with 

 which he is fupported, begets indolence in man. " Ne- 

 " ceflity," fays Robertfon, " is the fpur and guide of the 

 " human race to inventions." The Chinefe certainly 

 would never have been fo induftrious, if the excelTive 

 populoufnefs of their country had not rendered their 

 fupport difficult ; nor would Europe have made fuch pro- 

 gress in the arts, if artifts had not been encouraged by 

 rewards and the hopes of acquiring fortune. Neverthe- 

 lefs, the Mexicans could boaft of many inventions worthy 

 of immortalizing their name, fuch as, befides thofe of 

 carting metals and mofaic works of feathers and fliells, 

 the art of making paper (q) ; thofe of dying with inde- 

 lible colours, fpinning and weaving the fineft hair of the 

 rabbits and hares ; making razors of Itzli (r) ; breeding 

 fo induftrioufly the cochineal to make ufe of its colours j 

 making cement for the pavements of their houfes, and 

 many others not lefs valuable, as may be known from 

 the works of the hiftorians of Mexico. But where is the 

 wonder that fuch inventions were found among thofe 

 civilized nations, while, amongft other people of Ame- 

 rica, lefs poli flied, arts of the moft fingular nature have 

 been difcovered ? What art more wonderful, for exam- 

 ple, than that of taming fea-Mi, and employing them to 

 chafe other large fifh, as the inhabitants of the Antilles 

 Vol. III. Y y ufed 



(/>) Efprit des Loix, liv. xviii. chap. 4. 



(g) The invention of paper is certainly more ancient in America than in 

 Egypt, from whence it was communicated to Europe ; it is true, that the pa- 

 per of the Mexicans was not comparable to the paper of the Europeans ; but 

 it ought to be obferved that the former did not make theirs for writing but 

 painting. 



(?) See Book VII. feci:. 56. of this hiftory, refpe&ing that art. 



