Studies of nature (Volume 1).

  • Saint-Pierre, Bernardin de, 1737-1814.
Date:
1797
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Studies of nature (Volume 1). Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    canoe; penetrating, through the current of the Petzora, to the extremities of the North, and difplaying, on the frozen fhores of the Icy Sea, the riches oi the Ganges. We fhould fee the coppcr-coioured Indian of America, in his .hollowed log, traverfing the extended chain of the Antilles, conveying from ifle to ille, from fiiore to fhore, perhaps to our very Continent, his gold and emeralds. Numerous caravans of Arabs, mount- ed on camels and oxen, would arrive, following the courfe of the Sun, from pafture to pafture, recalling the memory of of the innocent and happy life of the ancient Patriarchs. Winter itfelf would be no interruption to the communica- tion of mankind. The Laplander, covered with warm fur, would arrive, under favour of the fnow, in his fledge drawn by the rein-deer, and expofe for fale, in our markets, the fable fkins of Siberia. Did men live in peace, every Sea would be na- vigated, every region would be explored, all their producti- ons would be collected. What a gratification of curiofity would it be to liflen to the adventures oi thefe foreign travellers, attracted to us by the gentlenefs of our manners! They would not be flow in communicating, to our hofpitality, the fecrets of their plants, of their induitry, and of their traditions, which they will for ever conceal from our ambitious commerce.. It isamongthe members of the vaft family of Mankind that the fragments of their Hiftory are fcattered. How interefting would it be learn that of our ancient feparation, the motives which determined each tribe to choofe a feparate habitation, on an unknown Globe ; and to traverfe as Chance directed, mountains which prefented no path ; and rivers which had not yet received a name ? What pictures would be prefented to us in the defcriptions of thofe countries, decorated with a pompous magnificence, as. they proceeded from the hands of Nature, but wild, and un- adapted to the necefhties of Man deflitute of experience! They would paint to us the aftomfhment of their forefathers, at fight of the new plants which every new Climate exhibited to their view, and the trials which they made of them, as the means of fubuftence ; how they were aided, no doubt, intfaea