72 plint's natural HISTOET. [Book II. 



things, "wandering, as it were, up and down in lier womb, or 

 whether the air be scourged by the irregular strokes of the 

 wandering stars \ or the various j-irojections of their rays, or 

 whether they, each of them, proceed from their own stars, 

 among which are those that are nearest to us, or whether 

 they descend from those that are fixed in the heavens, it is 

 manifest that they are all governed by a law of nature, which 

 is not altogether unknown, although it be not completely 

 ascertained. 



(46.) More than twenty old Grreek writers have published 

 their observations upon this subject. And this is the more re- 

 markable, seeing that there is so much discord in the world, 

 and that it is divided into difterent kingdoms, that is into 

 separate members, that there should have been so many who 

 have paid attention to these subjects, which are so difficult 

 to investigate. Especially when we consider the wars and 

 the treachery which everywhere prevail ; while pirates, the 

 enemies of the human race, have possession of all the modes 

 of communication, so that, at this time, a person may acquire 

 more correct information about a country from the writings 

 of those who have never been there, than from the inha- 

 bitants themselves. "Whereas, at this day, in the blessed 

 peace which we enjoy, under a prince who so greatly en- 

 courages the advancement of the arts, no new inquiries are 

 set on foot, nor do we even make ourselves thoroughly masters 

 of the discoveries of the ancients. Not that there were 

 greater rewards held out, from the advantages being distri- 

 buted to a greater number of persons, but that there were 

 more individuals who diligently scrutinized these matters, 

 with no other prospect but that of benefiting posterity. It 

 is that the manners of men are degenerated, not that the 

 advantages are diminished. All the seas, as many as there 

 are, being laid open, and a hospitable reception being given 

 us at every shore, an immense number of people undertake 

 voyages ; but it is for the sake of gain, not of science. Nor 

 does their understanding, which is blinded and bent only on 

 avarice, perceive that this very thing might be more safely 

 done by means of science. Seeing, therefore, that there are 

 80 many thousands of persons on the seas, I will treat of the 



* ** Sep tern nimirum errantibus." Hardouin, in Lemaire, i. 306. 



