III

OF THE ANTIQUITY OF NATIONS

ALMOST EVERY people, but particularly those of Asia, reckon a succession of ages, which terrifies us. This conformity among them should at least excite us to enquire, whether their ideas of antiquity were destitute of all probability.

It certainly requires a prodigious length of time for a nation to unite as one body of people, to become powerful, warlike, and learned. Look to America; there were but two kingdoms in that quarter of the globe when it was discovered; and the art of writing was not yet invented in either of those kingdoms. All the other parts of this vast continent were divided, and still are, into small societies to whom arts are unknown. All the colonies live in huts; they cover themselves with the skins of animals in the cold climates, and go almost naked in those that are temperate. The first live by hunting, the others upon kneaded roots. They have not fought after any other kind of life, because we never desire what we are unacquainted with. Their industry cannot extend beyond their pressing wants. The Samoiedes, the Laplanders, the inhabitants north of Siberia, and those of Kamchatka, have made still less progress than the people of America. The greatest part of the negroes and all the Caffres, are plunged in one same stupidity.

A concurrence of favorable circumstances for ages, are necessary to form a great society of men, united under the same laws. The like is necessary to form a language. Men would not articulate sounds, if they were not taught to pronounce words; they would utter nothing but a confused noise, and could not be understood but by signs. A child speaks after some time, only by imitation; and he would deliver himself with great difficulty, if he remained tongue-tied in his early years.

More time was perhaps necessary for men endowed with particular talents, to teach others the first rudiments of an imperfect and barbarous language, than was afterwards needful to compass the establishment of some society. There are some whole nations who have never been able to form a regular language and a distinct pronunciation. Such were even the Troglodites, according to Pliny. Such are still those who inhabit toward the Cape of Good Hope. But what a space still remains between this barbarous jargon, and the art of painting one’s ideas! the distance is immense.

That state of brutes, in which human-kind remained a long time, must needs have rendered the species infinitely scarce in all climates. Men could hardly supply their wants, and not understanding each other, they could communicate no mutual assistance. Carnivorous beasts having a stronger instinct than they, must have covered the earth, and devoured part of the human species.

Man could not defend himself against ferocious animals, but by throwing stones, and arming himself with thick branches of trees; and from thence, perhaps, arose that confused notion of antiquity, that the first heroes combated lions and wild boars with clubs.

The most populous countries were doubtless in hot climates, where man easily found a plentiful subsistence in cocoa, dates, pineapples and rice, which grows spontaneously. It is very probable that India, China, the banks of the Euphrates, and the Tigris, were very populous, when the other regions were almost desolate. On the other hand, in our northern climates, it was more easy to meet with a herd of wolves than a society of men.