STUDY IV. 



239 



caufes of fuch phenomena, but from their being 

 placed in the focufes of the revokitions of the 

 Ocean, and even of the Atmofphere, for the pur- 

 pofe of weakening their effedts. They are in po- 

 fitions nearly fimilar to thofe of Capes, which are 

 all celebrated for the violent tempefts which beat 

 upon them : as Cape Finiflerre, at the extremity 

 of Europe ; the Cape of Good-Hope, at that of 

 Africa ; and Cape Horn, at that of America. 

 Hence comes the fea proverb to double the Cape, 

 to exprefs the furmounting of fome great difficulty. 

 The Ocean, accordingly, inflead of bearing upon 

 the retiring parts of the Continent, fets in upon 

 thofe which are moft prominent ; and it mud fpee- 

 dily have deftroyed thefe, had not Nature forti- 

 fied them in a moft wonderful manner. 



The weftern coaft of Africa is defended by a 

 long bank of fand, on which the billows of the 

 Atlantic Ocean are continually breaking. Brafil, 

 in the whole extent of it's fhores, oppofes to the 

 winds, which blow continually from the Eaft, and 

 to the Currents of the Sea, a prodigious rampart of 

 rocks, more than a thoufand leagues long, twenty 

 paces broad at the fummit, and of an unknown 

 thicknefs at the bafe. It is a mulket-fhot diftant 

 from the beach. It is entirely covered at high- 

 water, and on the retreating of the tide, it exhibits 

 the elevation of a peak. This enormous dike is 



compofed 



