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BOOK II. OF THE NATURE, ACCUMULATION, AND EMPLOYMENT OF STOCK.

INTRODUCTION.

In that rude state of society, in which there is no division of

labour, in which exchanges are seldom made, and in which every

man provides every thing for himself, it is not necessary that

any stock should be accumulated, or stored up before-hand, in

order to carry on the business of the society. Every man

endeavours to supply, by his own industry, his own occasional

wants, as they occur. When he is hungry, he goes to the forest to

hunt; when his coat is worn out, he clothes himself with the skin

of the first large animal he kills: and when his hut begins to go

to ruin, he repairs it, as well as he can, with the trees and the

turf that are nearest it.