IN THE EAST AND WEST INDIES.
at'
We have firft defcribed the ftate of Europe before book
the difcovery of the Eaft and Weft Indies.                    ,  X1X' f
After this we have purfued the uncertain, tyranni-
cal, and fanguinary progrefs of the fettlements formed
in thefe diftant regions.
It now remains to unfold the influence which the   •
intercourfe eftablifhed with the New World has had
upon the opinions, government, induftry, arts, man-
ners, and happinefs of the Old.    Let us begin by reli-
gion.
Had man uninterruptedly enjoyed complete felici- Religion,
ty, had the earth fatisfied of itfelf all the variety of his
wants, it may be prefumed that much time would have
elapfed before the fentiment of admiration and grati-
tude would have turned towards the Gods, the atten-
tion of that being naturally ungrateful. But a barren
foil did not anfwer to his labours. The torrents rava-
ged the fields which he had cultivated. A burning
iky deftroyed his liarvefts. He experienced famine ;
he became acquainted with difeafe ; and he endeavour-
ed to find out the caufe of his mifery.
To explain the myftery of his exiftence, of his hap-
pinefs, and of his misfortune, he invented different
fyftems equally abfurd. He peopled the univerfe with
good and evil fpirits ; and fuch was the origin of Po-
lytheifm, the moft ancient and the moft univerfal of
all religions. From Polytheifm arofe Manicheifm, the
veftiges of which will laft perpetually, whatever may
be the progrefs of reafon. Manicheifm Amplified, en-
gendered Deifm ; and in the midft of this diverfity of
opinions there arofe a clafs of men mediators between
Heaven and earth.
Then the regions of the earth were covered with al-
tars; in one place the hymn of joy refounded, while
in another were heard the complaints of pain ; then
recourfe was had to prayer and to facrifice, the two
natural modes of obtaining favour, and of deprecating
anger. The harveft was offered up; the lamb, the
goat, and the bull, were flain ; and the holy fod was
even flamed with the blood of man.
O iiij