l68 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



evident from a funple infpection of their ancient 

 bed, which is much broader and deeper than the 

 mafs of water at this day tranfmitted by them to 

 the Ocean. Nay, I am perfuaded, that to this 

 caufe we rauft afcribe the dry nefs of the more ele- 

 vated provinces of Afia, thofe of Perfia, in parti- 

 cular, the mountains of w hich have, no doubt, 

 been injudiciously dripped of their trees, by the 

 firfl tribes who inhabited them. I am decidedly 

 of opinion, that were we to plant in France moun- 

 tain-loving trees, on the high grounds, and at the 

 fources of our rivers, their ancient volume of wa- 

 ter might be reftored, and many rivulets might be 

 made to re-affume their current through our plains, 

 though they have long fince ceafed to flow. It is 

 neither among the reeds, nor in the depth of the 

 valley, that the Naiads conceal their exhauftlefs 

 urns, as Painters reprefent them, but at the fum- 

 mit of rocks crowned with wood, and towering to 

 the Heavens. 



There is not a fingle vegetable, the leaf of which 

 is difpofed to receive the rain-water on the moun- 

 tains, whofe feed is not formed in a manner the 

 bed adapted to raife itfelf thither. The feeds of 

 all mountain-plants are volatile. By infpecting 

 their leaves, it is poflîble to afcertain the character 

 of their grains, and by infpecting the grains, that 

 of their leaves, and thence to infer the elementary 



character 



