STUDY X. 3^1 



the Globe. For my own part, I believe thefe prin- 

 ciples of order to be fo certain, that I am per- 

 fuaded it might be poffible, on feeing the plan of 

 an ifland, with the elevation and the diredion of 

 it's mountains, to afcertain it's longitude, it's la- 

 titude, and what are the winds which mofl regu- 

 larly blow there. Nay, I farther believe, that with 

 thefe laft given, we might, vice verjâ^ trace the 

 plan and fliape of an ifland, fitiiated in whatever 

 part of the Ocean. From this, however, I except 

 fluvialic iflands, and fuch as, being too fmall of 

 themfelves, are colleéted into archipelagos, as the 

 Maldivias j becaufe fuch iflands have not the centre 

 of all their adaptations in themfelves, but are fub- 

 ordinated to the adjoining rivers, archipelagos, and 

 continents. 



It is indubitably certain that I advance no para- 

 dox, when I compare, between the Tropics, the 

 general form of the iflands which are expofed to 

 the two Monfoons, and that of the iflands which 

 are under the regular Eaft wind. We have juft 

 obferved, that Nature had given, in a certain fenfe, 

 two Hemifpheres to the firft, in dividing them 

 through the middle by a chain of mountains run- 

 ning North and South, in order that they might 

 receive the alternate influences of the Eaft and 

 Weft winds, which blow there, by turns, fix 



months 



