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the enjoyment of them is communicated to the BOOK most distant regions.

In proportion as the knowledge of the advantages derived from navigation and commerce continued to fpread, the intercourse among nations extended. The ambition of conqueft, or the neceffity of procuring new settlements, were no longer the fole motives of vifiting diftant lands. The defire of gain became, a new incentive to activity, roused adventurers, and fent them forth upon long voyages, in search of countries, whose products or wants might increase that circulation, which nourishes and gives vigour to commerce, Trade proved a great fource of discovery, it opened unknown feas, it penetrated into new regions, and contributed more than any other cause, to bring men acquainted with the fituation, the nature, and commodities of the different parts of the globe. But even after a regular commerce was established in the world, after nations were confiderably civilized, and the fciences and arts were cultivated with ardour and fuccefs, navigation continued to be fo im perfect, that it can hardly be faid to have advanced beyond the infancy of its improvement in the ancient world.

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I.

BOOK 1.

tion of na

vigation among the ancients.

fective.

AMONG all the nations of antiquity, the ftructure of their veffels was extremely rude, Imperfec- and their method of working them very deThey were unacquainted with feveral principles and operations in navigation, which are now confidered as the firft elements on which that fcience is founded. Though that property of the magnet, by which it attracts iron, was well known to the ancients, its more important and amazing virtue of pointing to the poles had entirely escaped their obfervation. Deftitute of this faithful guide, which now conducts the pilot with fo much certainty in the unbounded ocean, during the darkness of night, or when the heavens are covered with clouds, the ancients had no other method of regulating their courfe than by obferving the fun and ftars. Their navigation was of confequence uncertain and timid. They durft feldom quit fight of land, but crept along the coaft, expofed to all the dangers, and retarded by all the obftructions, unavoidable in holding fuch an aukward course. An incredible length of time was requifite for performing voyages, which are now finifhed in a fhort fpace. Even in the mildest climates, and in feas the leaft tempeftuous, it was only during the fummer months that the ancients ventured out of their harbours. The remainder of the

year

I.

year was loft in inactivity. It would have been в OOK deemed most inconfiderate rafhnefs to have braved the fury of the winds and waves during winter 2.

and com

tians.

WHILE both the fcience and practice of navigation continued to be so defective, it was an undertaking of no fmall difficulty and danger to vifit any remote region of the earth. Under every difadvantage, however, the active spirit of commerce exerted itself. The Egyptians, Navigation foon after the establishment of their monarchy, merce of are faid to have opened a trade between the the Egyp Arabian Gulph or Red Sea, and the western coaft of the great Indian continent. The commodities which they imported from the east, were carried by land from the Arabian Gulph to the banks of the Nile, and conveyed down that river to the Mediterranean. But if the Egyptians in early times applied themselves to commerce, their attention to it was of fhort duration. The fertile foil and mild climate of Egypt produced the neceffaries and comforts of life with fuch profufion, as rendered its inhabitants fo independent of other countries, that it became an established maxim among that people, whofe ideas and inftitutions differed in

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I.

BOOK almost every point from thofe of other nations, to renounce all intercourfe with foreigners. In confequence of this, they never went out of their own country; they held all fea-faring perfons in deteftation, as impious and profane; and fortifying their own harbours, they denied ftrangers admittance into them ". It was, in the decline of their power, and when their veneration for ancient maxims had greatly abated, that they again opened their ports, and refumed any communication with foreigners.

Of the

THE character and fituation of the Phenici, Phenicians. ans were as favourable to the spirit of commerce and discovery as thofe of the Egyptians were adverse to it. They had no diftinguishing pe culiarity in their manners and inftitutions; they were not addicted to any fingular and unfocial form of fuperftition; they could mingle with other nations without fcruple or reluctance. The territory which they poffeffed was neither large nor fertile. Commerce was the only fource from which they could derive opulence. or power. Accordingly, the trade carried on by the Phenicians of Sidon and Tyre, was more extensive and enterprifing than that of any state in the ancient world. The genius of the Phe

Diod. Sicul. lib. i. p. 78. ed. Weffelingi. Amft. 1756. Strabo, lib. xvii. p. 1142. ed. Amft. 1707. 6

nicians,

1.

nicians, as well as the object of their policy and BOOK the fpirit of their laws, were entirely commercial. They were a people of merchants who aimed at the empire of the sea, and actually poffeffed it. Their fhips not only frequented all the ports in the Mediterranean, but they were the first who ventured beyond the ancient boundaries of navigation, and passing the Streights of Gades, vifited the western coafts of Spain and Africa. In many of the places to which they resorted, they planted colonies, and communicated to the rude inhabitants fome knowledge of their arts and improvements. While they extended their discoveries towards. the north and the west, they did not, neglect to penetrate into the more opulent and fertile regions of the fouth and east. Having rendered themselves masters of feveral commodious harbours towards the bottom of the Arabian Gulph, they, after the example of the Egyptians, established a regular intercourse with Arabia and the continent of India on the one hand, and with the eastern coaft of Africa on the other. From these countries they imported many valuable commodities, unknown to the reft of the world, and, during a long period, engroffed that lucrative branch of commerce without a rival.

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See NOTE I. at the end of the volume.

THE

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