OF THE HUMAN RACE. 



em 



most likely to have been followed by the earliest wanderers. 

 Of overland routes I say nothing, because where land extends, 

 in the vicinity of water, there is no obstacle sufficient to pre- 

 vent the migration of animals, as well as men ; neither need I 

 notice intervals of sea which can easily be crossed. 



Wandering eastward, from Asia Minor, roving tribes 

 may have begun to people Eastern Asia and the Indian Archi- 

 pelago, while other parties were exploring Africa ; and while 

 the sons of Japhet were advancing northward, and towards 

 the west. A slight acquaintance with ancient history informs 

 us at how early a period extensive commerce was carried 

 on by ships, — to Britain in the west, and to the Indian Archi- 

 pelago in the east ; before which time it is obvious that those 

 extreme regions must have been tolerably well peopled : but 

 it is not possible that they could have been so without the 

 employment of ships, boats, canoes, or rafts. The earliest 

 explorers of unknown lands must have been naturally enter- 

 prising, and habitually disposed to wander. Children brought 

 up under such instructors as their migratory parents, always 

 eager to seek for new countries, would increase their roving 

 inclinations ; and as long as another region could be found, 

 doubtless they would try to explore it, partly from a ruling 

 passion and habit, partly for the sake of procuring food 

 with greater ease, and partly in consequence of feuds among 

 themselves, which, in such a state of society, must end in 

 the defeat and expulsion, if not subjugation or destruction 

 of the weaker party. Add to these motives, those which I 

 mentioned in a previous page, consequent upon intermarriage 

 between various castes or colours, the desire of independence, 

 or the love of wealth,* and more than enough reasons appear 

 to account for the early dispersion of the human race, provided 

 they possessed the means of migration. 



That in the early ages large trees were more abundant near 

 the water side in many countries than they now are, appears 

 indisputable; but even as we see them in many uncivilized 

 though inhabited countries, how numerous are huge trunks, out 

 * Real wealth — not money, its symbol and equivalent now. 



