Series 03: Joseph Banks - Endeavour journal, 25 August 1768 - 12 July 1771 (vol. 2) - No. 0396
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[Page 396]
292.
Some account of New Holland
& the poor. From them appear how small are the real wants of human nature which we Europeans have increasd to an excess which would certainly appear incredible to these people could they be told it nor shall we cease to increase them as long as Luxuries can be invented & riches found for the purchase of them & how soon these Luxuries degenerate into necessaries may be sufficiently evincd by the universal practice use of strong liquors, Tobacco, spices, Tea &c. &c. in this instance again providence seems to act the part of a Leveler doing much towards putting all ranks into an equal state of wants & consequently of real poverty the Great & Magnificent want as much & may be more than the midling they again in proportion more than the inferior each rank still looking higher than his station but confining him itself to a certain point above which it knows not how to wish not knowing at least perfectly what is there enjoyd
[Margin note] Tools
Tools among them we saw almost none indeed having no arts which require any it is not to be expected that they should have many