410 
CHAP. 
XIV. 
' * ‘ 
VOYAGE DOWN THE DON, 
Pursuing our delightful voyage with very 
favourable weather, we advanced towards Azof; 
and as we continued sailing, with Europe on 
our right hand, and Asia on our left 1 , reflections 
were excited which contrasted the refinement, 
the science, the commerce, the power, and the 
influence of the one, with the sloth, the super- 
' stition, the effeminacy, the barbarism, and the 
ignorance of the other. One fact, at least, 
may be derived from a general survey of Eu- 
rope ; namely, that there exists in no part of it 
a savage people, as fixed inhabitants. Every 
part of Europe is civilized. If the Nagay Tahtar, 
the wandering Calmuck, or the nomade Lap- 
lander, be considered as belonging to a savage 
race, which is nevertheless humane, it should 
be observed, that these tribes are peculiar to 
no particular territory, but that they lead, like 
the more ferocious gipsy, a vagrant life. It is 
common to hear nations, which are situate 
remote from our observation, branded with an 
imputation of barbarism : yet it ought to be 
confessed, that the peasant of Ireland, the smuggler 
of England, or the poissarde of France, is alto- 
gether as unenlightened, more inhuman, and 
possesses more of savage ferocity, than either 
(I) “ Quique iluas terras Asiam Cadmique sororem 
Separat, et cursus inter utramque facit.” 
