-Pr o g r e s s the improvements, which they had in their former fituatlonp.
vages are negleCted and loft ; the tree, from which, they formerly-made
their garments, grows not in this new climate •; their retreat-was fo-
precipitate, that they had not time to take fome plants or lhaots1
with them, norany o f the domefticated animals; whole lkins. afforded
them garments in their former country : they however, find-
themfelves under the neceflity o f procuring iome covering to fcreerr
their bodies againft the rigours o f the climate, and the inclemencies
o f wind and rain; to- which they muff now be more e x -
poled than in their former fituationy their mode o f living being
quite altered. Th e y find fome grail, or the filaments o f fome
other plant,"or the ikins o f birds and feals, to anlwer this pur-
pofe, and they ufe them accordingly; their rambling way o f life,'
in quell: o f food, obtained" by the chaee or fifhing, obliges them-
to change their abode as often as the game becomes fcarc-e, or- the
filh lefs numerous ; they think it therefore not worth their while
to build neat, large, and convenient houfes ;, a temporary hut,
juft fufficient to fcreen them from the keen winds* and the frequent
Ihowers o f rain, fnow, and hail, is ereCted by them, in eVery
new place to which they remove. T h e , fathers retain perhaps-
the names and ideas of things, which they- enjoyed in their former
fituation; their children lofe the idea, and the third or fourth generation,
forget even the names by which they are called; thenew.
H U M A N S P E C I E S ,
new objeCts, which they find and begin to ufe, oblige them to invent
new names for them, and for the manner in which they are
employed; and thus even the language becomes altered; nay, then-
way of fubfifting, by the chace or fiihing, obliges them to live in
fmall tribes, diftant from others, in order to facilitate their fub-
fiftgnce. Formerly, when moderate hulbandry and the fponta-
neous growth o f fine fruits in a happy climate, enabled numerous
tribes to live clofe together, they then enjoyed more leifure for
focial life, they had the advantage o f being mutually and powerfully
affifted, and they communicated their improvements to each
PROGRES S,
OP S A V
other: now they are deprived of the charms and choice o f fociety,
which is confined to the few individuals of a family, or a fmall
tribe; they are deftitute o f any afli'ftance or protection from iheir
friends; expofed to the fiercenefs o f rapacious animals, perhaps to
the barbarity o f fome other tribe o f favages,; incapable of under-,
taking any work which requires the united efforts -of a multitude;
they make no other improvements, but thofe which their narrow un-
derftanding comprehends, and is. capable o f; there being lefs chanc.eof
meeting with a man o f genius, in a fmall, than in a greater numher
of human beings. Conftantly intent upon the means o f procuring
the neceffaries-of life, especially food, every other purfuit, every
other knowledge is negleCted, and the - ideas therefore, which are
not connected with the chace or fifhery, are abfolutely loft to this
Q_jq 2 race
A G E S .