STUDY IV. 249 



It's highefl mountains look over the broadeft ex- 

 panfion of America, and are fituated in the Lati- 

 tude of Cape Saint Auguftin. 



The fituation, and the elevation, of this chain 

 were equally neceflary to the fertility of this grand 

 divifion of the New World. For, if this chain, 

 inftead of extending lengthwife, by the coaft of 

 the South Sea, had extended along the coafts of 

 Brafil, it would have intercepted all the vapours 

 conveyed over the Continent by the Eaft wind ; 

 and if it were not elevated to a region of the At- 

 mofphere, to which no vapour could afcend, be- 

 caufe of the fubtility of the air, and of the intenfe- 

 nefs of the cold, all the clouds borne by the Eaft 

 wind would be carried beyond it, into the South 

 Sea. On either of thefe two fuppofitions, moft 

 of the rivers of South America would remain dry. 



The fame reafoning maybe applied to the chain 

 of Taurus. It prefents to the Northern and Indian 

 Oceans a double ridge, with oppofite afpeds, from 

 which flow moft of the rivers of the ancient Con- 

 tinent, fome to the North, and others to the South. 

 It's branches are difpofed in like manner : they 

 do not coaft along the peninfulas of India, by 

 their ftiores; but crofs them through the middle 

 at their full length; for the winds of thefe Seas 

 do not blow always from one and the fame quarter, 



as 



