24^ STUDIES OF NATURE. 



of feme bay, or under the (helter of fome ifland 

 fituated near the coaft. All the illands of that vaft 

 Ocean, fo peaceful as to have obtained the diftinc- 

 tive appellation of Pacific, are unapproachable on 

 the fide which is expofed to the Currents occa- 

 lioned by the Trade-winds only, unlefs where 

 fhelves or rocks break the impetuofity of the bil- 

 lows. In that cafe, it is a fpedlacle at once magni- 

 ficent and tremendous, to behold the vaft fleeces 

 of foam, which inceffantly rife from the bofom of 

 their dark and rugged windings ; and to hear their 

 hoarfe roaring noife, efpecially in the night-time, 

 carried by the winds to feveral leagues diftance. 



Iflands, then, are not fragments feparated by 

 violence from the Continents. Their pofition in 

 the Ocean, the manner in which they are there de- 

 fended, and the length of their duration, conftitute 

 a complete demonftration of this. Confidering 

 how long the Sea has been battering them with it*s 

 utmoft fury, they muft have been, by this time, 

 reduced to a ftate of total ruin. Scylla and Ca- 

 rybdis, neverihelefs, emit to this day their ancient 

 roarings, fo as to be heard at the extremities of 

 Sicily. 



This is not the proper place to indicate the 

 means which Nature employs to preferve the 

 iflands, and to repair them ; nor the other proofs 



from 



