c h a p . v.
■ O R G A N I C B O D I E S .
'O mNIS. NATURA.VUL.T ESSE CONSERVATRIX SUI, "ITT & IN 'GENERE CONSERVETUR-SW©.«
.3 1 . JIuliius Cicero de Fin. Bon. & Mai. 1. 4.
o r g a n i c f | 'H E next article which demands our attention in the lands of
b o d i e s . I
■ .the South Sea, is .the hiftory o f the organic 'bodies,- -which
partly form, and partly dwell on their .immediate exterior furface.
Th e y conftitute the vegetable and animal kingdoms in the fyftem
o f nature, _the latter being diftinguiflied from the firft, by the
powers o f perception, or the fenfes, the peculiar attributes o f
animal being.
S E C T I O N L
V E G E T A B L E K I N G D O M .
T H E vegetation which cloaths our earth, v a r i e s . oonfiderably
in every country we met with during our circum-navigation,
even as the appearances o f the lands themfelves, are new and Angular
in almoft every one o f them. Between the tropics, we met
with the Low Iflands, confiding o f mere coral rocks, fcarce covered
with fand. T h e Society Hies o f vail height, furrounded by rich
5 plains,
plains, and included in coral reefs: and many other clutters o f
mountainous iflands, deftitute both o f reefs: and plains. We have
obferved how much the leaft attractive of thefe tropical countries,
furpafles the ruder fcenery o f New Zeeland: how much more
difcouraging than this* are the extremities o f America; and laftly,
how dreadful the fouthern coafts appear, which we dittovered. In
the fame manner, the plants that inhabit thefe lands, will be found
to differ in number, ftature, beauty, and ufe.
L O W I S L E S .
The Low Iflands which ars difperfed in the Pacific Ocean between
the tropics, are of an inconfiderable fize, and confequently
produce few forts o f plants: however, the great abundance of
coco-nut palms on them, gives them a pleafing afpedt at a diftance;
fome trees and flirubs that flouriih on the Ihores, a few antittor-
butic fimples, and fome plants which have the quality o f intoxicating
fiih, compofe their whole Flora.
S O C I E T Y I S L E S.
But nature and .art have united their efforts in the Society Ifles,
to ftrike the beholder with the magnificence o f profpedts, and to
awaken every idea of beauty, by the variety o f harmonious forms
arid colours. They confift o f plains, hills, and a high range of
Y mountains
V E G E T
A B L E
K I N G D O M