Pagina 480 van 2651

Whatever increases the fertility of land in producing food,

increases not only the value of the lands upon which the

improvement is bestowed, but contributes likewise to increase

that of many other lands, by creating a new demand for their

produce. That abundance of food, of which, in consequence of the

improvement of land, many people have the disposal beyond what

they themselves can consume, is the great cause of the demand,

both for the precious metals and the precious stones, as well as

for every other conveniency and ornament of dress, lodging,

household furniture, and equipage. Food not only constitutes the

principal part of the riches of the world, but it is the

abundance of food which gives the principal part of their value

to many other sorts of riches. The poor inhabitants of Cuba and

St. Domingo, when they were first discovered by the Spaniards,

used to wear little bits of gold as ornaments in their hair and

other parts of their dress.