s36

THE ORIGIN

placed in circumflances which favor population,and render its condition profperous and flourifliing,it becomes proportionably extenfive, and is fub-divided into a greater multiplicity of branches.

From the fituation of this early community, itis natural to fuppofe that an uncommon degree ofattachment will fubfift between all the differentperfons of which it is compofed. As the ordinarylife of a favage renders him hardy and rebuff , fohe is a ftranger to all thofe conffderations of utility,by which, in a poliflied nation, men are commonlyinduced to reffrain their appetites, and to abftainfrom violating the poffeflions of each other. Differentclans or tribes of barbarians are therefore difpofedto rob and plunder one another, as often as theyhave an opportunity of doing it with fuccefs; andthe reciprocal inroads and hoffilities in whichthey are engaged become the fource of continualanimoffties and quarrels, which are profecutedwith a degree of fury and rancor fuited to thetemper and difpofitions of the people. Thus themembers of every ffngle clan are frequently atvariance with all their neighbours around them.This makes it neceffary that they fhould be con-ffantly upon their guard, in order to repel thenumerous attacks to which they are expofed,and to avoid that barbarous treatment, whichthey have reafon to expert, were they ever tofall under the power of their enemies. As theyare divided from the reff of the world, fo theyare linked together by a fenfe of their commondanger, and by a regard to their common intereft.