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more precarious in an ifle, which only yields, fpontaneoufly, the
neceffaries for a certain determined number o f inhabitants ; they
therefore feon found themfelves under the-neceffity o f devifing feme
method-of fupplying the neceflary food, principally by cultivating
thofe plants, upon the wild produce o f which they formerly
lived. T h e y began regularly to plant coco-nut-palms, bananas,
South-Sea apples, yamboes, and bread-fruit trees, together with
the yam, thefweet potatoe, the two kinds o f eddoes, the tacca and
the fugar-cane. Thefe plantations being the work o f the induftry
and forefight o f fome individuals, gave them a right to reap their
productions 3 and as their example was foon followed by people
equally folicitous for their prefervation, this method o f railing a
fufficiency o f food by induftry and labour, became more univerfal;
and when they found that -the right o f reaping the fruit o f their
own induftry, was fometimes invaded by the indolent, the powerful,
and the delperate, they began to form aflociations for the defence
o f their plantations, on which their very exiftence depended
; they confequently ftipulated, firft among themfelves, not
tp deftroy one anothers plantations, to defend them jointly againft
the violence o f others, and to give one another mutual affiftance;
in this manner the plantations were increafed, extended, and in a
maimer furrounded by thofe o f others 5 then every one began to
look upon the land occupied by his trees or roots, as having a
more
more immediate-connexion with his .perfon, or with the family or
: fociety to which he belonged'; and hence arofe the firft ideas of
■ property. Thus were gradually introduced - certain regulations,
-agreed upon by mutual confent, and thus were foon formed thofe
cuftomary laws, which more or lefs take place among the nations
that have property. Th e experience o f feverai years foon taught
-them to diftinguiffi the -foil and leafon, moft proper for each of
,t‘he plants and roots ; the moft eafy and ufeful method of preparing
the foil for the reception and propagation o f them, together
with the means o f averting danger from “thofe -vegetables,
which are of To great confequence to them: the prefervation o f
thefe eatables, b yw a y of ftore, again required new efforts o f genius
and feverai experiments; and laftly, “the preparation o f them
Into various diffies, in order to avoid famenefs and uniformity,
f lill enriched their knowledge, and increafed the ftock o f their
ufeful ideas, and practical operations. Ides are, on account o f
their circumfcribed fize, more apt to promote and to accelerate
■ civilization, than large continents; for in thefe, the inhabitants
• having to o . much room to roam over the country, and to difperfe,
in cafe-of a difguft, or offence, they are prevented from entering
! into aflociations, and from making ufeful regulations relative to
mutual affiftance and mutual defence; and as they meet either with
. a fufficiency o f fpontafleous. fruits, on a large trad of unoccu-
Y j f - pied
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