BOOK III PART II
erty; according to that maxim,that even a whole
continent belongs to the nation, which first discov-
ered it. It is howeverremarkable that both in the
case of discovery and that of possession, the
first discoverer and possessor must join to the
relation an intention of rendering himself pro-
prietor, otherwise the relation will not have Its
effect; and that because the connexion in our
fancy betwixt the property and the relation is
not so great, but that it requires to be helped by
such an intention.
From all these circumstances, it is easy to see
how perplexed many questions may become
concerning the acquisition of property by oc-
cupation; and the least effort of thought may
present us with instances, which are not sus-
ceptible of any reasonable decision. If we pre-
fer examples, which are real, to such as are