4 AN HISTORICAL DISQUISITION

SECT. journies of such extent and duration, as appearsI, astonishing to nations not accustomed to this modeof carrying on commerce.

But notwithstanding 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; alwaysexpensive, and tedious, and fatiguing. A methodof communication more easy and expeditious wassought, and the ingenuity of man gradually dis-covered, that the rivers, the arms of the sea, andeven the ocean itself, were destined to open andfacilitate intercourse with the various regions ofthe earth, between which they appear, at firstview, to be placed as insuperable barriers. Navi-gation, however, and fhip-building, (as I haveobserved in another worst -) are arts so nice andcomplicated, that they require the talents, as wellas experience of many successive ages, to bringthem to any degree of perfection. From the raftor canoe, which first served to carry a savageover the river that obstructed him in the chase,to the construction of a vessel capable of convey-ing a numerous crew, or a considerable cargo ofgoods, to a distant coast, the progress of improve-ment is immense. 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 beaccomplished.

4 Hist. of America vol. i. p. z.