15 



^ith the elements. When we take a general 

 survey of countries inhabited by agricultural na- 

 tions, we observe, that cultivated lands are either 

 separated by forests, or immediately touch each 

 other ; not only according to the growth of the 

 population, but the choice of alimentary plants, 

 In Europe we judge of the number of the inha- 

 bitants by the extent of the cultivation : under 

 the tropics, on the contrary, in the warmest 

 and most humid parts of South America, very 

 populous provinces appear almost deserted ; 

 because man, in order to find nourishment, 

 cultivates but a small number of acres. . These 

 circumstances, highly worthy of attention, mo- 

 dify at the same time the physical appearance 

 of the country, and the character of it's inhabi- 

 tants, giving a peculiar physiognomy to both ; 

 something wild and uncultivated, which belongs 

 to nature, the primitive type of which has not 

 yet been altered by art. Without neighbours, 

 almost unconnected with the rest of mankind, 

 each family of settlers . forms a separate tribe. 

 This insulated state arrests or retards the pro- 

 gress toward civilization, which advances only 

 in proportion as society becomes more nume- 

 rous, and it's connexions more intimate and 

 multiplied : but on the other hand, it is solitude 

 that developes and strengthens in man the sen- 

 timent of liberty and independence ; and gives 

 birth to that noble pride of character, whiek 



