Letters 114 - 124 Summary

In Letter 114, Usbek writes about the reasons why Africa has become less populated. Usbek blames this depopulation on the slave trade to America. In Letter 115, Usbek writes about the Jewish population, which has been able to repopulate itself several times through the years. Usbek believes the reason the Jews have been able to regrow their population is because they believe a king will be born to their people. Usbek believes the Muslim population has not grown because they see themselves only as being on the way to their heavenly homeland. In Letter 116, Usbek writes that those countries populated by undomesticated people are sparsely populated because the people do not like to farm. Large families could not be supported only on the food provided by fishing and hunting. Usbek writes these women also often have abortions because they believe their husbands will...