Only by reducing this element of free will to the infinitesimal, that is, by regarding it as an infinitely
small quantity, can we convince ourselves of the absolute inaccessibility of the causes, and then instead of seeking causes, history will take the discovery of laws as its problem.
As I approached it I saw that it was the dead and mummified remains of a little old woman with long black hair, and the thing it leaned over was a small charcoal burner upon which rested a round copper vessel containing a
small quantity of greenish powder.
She then betook herself to the business of packing, for which a
small quantity of brown paper sufficed, and, having received her small pittance of wages, she returned home.
Humboldt extends this view to the case of earthquakes unaccompanied by eruptions; but I can hardly conceive it possible, that the
small quantity of aeriform fluids which then escape from the fissured ground, can produce such remarkable effects.
As far as could be learned from a casual inspection, Jacinto and his deserting Indians had taken back with them only a
small quantity of food.
There was but a
small quantity of powder and ball, few tools to build intrenchments with, and a great deficiency of provisions and clothes for the soldiers.
These Indians were extremely kind and honest, and furnished them with a
small quantity of meat; but none of them could be induced to act as guides.
I therefore gave him quite as much as his father was accustomed to allow him; as much, indeed, as he desired to have - but into every glass I surreptitiously introduced a
small quantity of tartar-emetic, just enough to produce inevitable nausea and depression without positive sickness.
Finding my first seed did not grow, which I easily imagined was by the drought, I sought for a moister piece of ground to make another trial in, and I dug up a piece of ground near my new bower, and sowed the rest of my seed in February, a little before the vernal equinox; and this having the rainy months of March and April to water it, sprung up very pleasantly, and yielded a very good crop; but having part of the seed left only, and not daring to sow all that I had, I had but a
small quantity at last, my whole crop not amounting to above half a peck of each kind.
They found by my eating, that a
small quantity would not suffice me; and being a most ingenious people, they slung up with great dexterity one of their largest hogsheads, then rolled it towards my hand, and beat out the top; I drank it off at a draught, which I might well do, for it did not hold half a pint, and tasted like a small wine of Burgundy, but much more delicious.
On arriving at the place where it had been left, they dug a grave in the sand, in which they deposited the corpse, with a biscuit under one of the arms, some lard under the chin, and a
small quantity of tobacco, as provisions for its journey in the land of spirits.
In each bladder was a
small quantity of dried peas, or little pebbles, as I was afterwards informed.