34^ STUDIES OF NATURE. 



and the change of the monfoon, which totally de- 

 stroys the caufe of the commotion at the end of 

 fix months. Thus, there is not a fingle Current, 

 be it «aflerly or northerly, which pervades fo much 

 as a quarter of the Globe, in the fame diredion. 

 Befides, the divifion of the parts of the Globe into 

 two, is fo necefTary to it's general harmony, that 

 if the channel of the Atlantic Ocean, which fepa- 

 rates them, had no exiftence, or were in part filled 

 up, according to a fuppolition once entertained, by 

 the great ifland Atlantis *, all the oriental rivers 

 of America, and all the occidental of Europe 

 would be dried up ; for thofe rivers owe their fup- 

 plies only to the clouds which emanate from the 

 Sea. Befides, the Sun enlightening, on our fide, 

 only one terreftrial Hemifphere, the mediterra- 

 neans of which would difappear, muft burn it up 

 with his rays; and at the fame time, as he warmed, 

 on the other fide, a Hemifphere of water only, 

 moil of the illands of which would fink of courfe, 

 becaufe the quantity of that Sea muft be increafed 

 by the fubtradtion of ours, an immenfity of va- 

 pour would arife, and go merely to wafte. 



It would appear that, from thefe confiderations. 

 Nature has not placed in the Torrid Zone the 



* A fabulous ifland imagined by Plato, as has been demon^ 

 ftrated by many learned men, allegorically to reprefent the 

 Athenian Government. 



greatefl 



