第451页 / 共2651页

Countries are populous, not in proportion to the number of people

whom their produce can clothe and lodge, but in proportion to

that of those whom it can feed. When food is provided, it is easy

to find the necessary clothing and lodging. But though these are

at hand, it may often be difficult to find food. In some parts of

the British dominions, what is called a house may be built by one

day's labour of one man. The simplest species of clothing, the

skins of animals, require somewhat more labour to dress and

prepare them for use. They do not, however, require a great deal.

Among savage or barbarous nations, a hundredth, or little more

than a hundredth part of the labour of the whole year, will be

sufficient to provide them with such clothing and lodging as

satisfy the greater part of the people. All the other ninety-nine

parts are frequently no more than enough to provide them with

food.