4

AN HISTORICAL DISQUISITION

SECT, journies of fuch extent and duration, as appearsj. aftonilhing to nations not accuftomed to this modeof carrying on commerce.

But notwithftanding every improvement thatcould be made in the manner of conveying the pro-ductions of one country to another by land , theinconveniences which attended it were obviousand unavoidable. It was often dangerous; alwaysexpenfive, and tedious, and fatiguing. A methodof communication more eafy and expeditious wasfought, and the ingenuity of man gradually dif-, covered, that the rivers, the arms of the fea, andeven the ocean itfelf, were deftined to open andfacilitate intercourfe with the various regions ofthe earth, between which they appear, at firftview, to be placed as infuperable barriers. Navi-gation, however, and fhip-building, (as 1 haveobferved in another work 4 ) are arts fo nice andcomplicated, that they require the talents, as wellas experience of many fucceftive ages, to bringthem to any degree of perfection. From the raftor canoe, which firft ferved to carry a favageover the river that obftrudted him in the chafe,to the conftruction of a veffel capable of convey-ing a numerous crew, or a confiderable cargo ofgoods, to a diftant coaft, the progrefs of improve-ment is immenfe. Many efforts would be made ,many experiments would be tried, and much laboras well as ingenuity would be employed, beforethis arduous and important undertaking could beaccornplilhed..

4 Hift. of America voi. i. p. z.