IN VARIOUS PARTS Of THE GLOBE. 235 



vegetable mould, and the plants themselves, act continuallj'^ upon 

 the hardest rock. Such circumstances taken together, in some 

 measure account for the constant change which takes place of 

 rocki into soil. They are, however, not sufficient to explain all 

 the phenomena. This, at least, is certain, that the disintegra- 

 tion of rocks does take place, and is an everlasting source of 

 fertility. 



The fertility of soils in the neighbourhood of volcanos has 

 been long known, but perhaps nowhere shows itself in such 

 profusion as in the Indian islands. This arises from the intrinsic 

 nature of the soil, which is a very peculiar substance, and not to 

 be compared to any of the soils of our fields. All the ingre- 

 dients are so intimately incorporated that they cannot be divided 

 by mechanical means, like other soils, nor is it possible to pro- 

 duce them by any artificial method. Many excellent pecu- 

 liarities, which we should in vain desire our native soil to 

 possess, distinguish that of the Indian Archipelago from all 

 others. The size and coherence of its particles are in such pro- 

 portions that they neither fly away like sand nor become baked 

 like bricks by the influence of a strong heat, nor does it split or 

 crack, by which often the tender roots are destroyed. It re- 

 mains always open and loose to receive the influence of the 

 atmosphere ; it sucks up water readily, retains it sufficiently, and 

 is not dried up quickly ; moreover, it has these two capital 

 properties, which are the chief causes of its fertility : in the first 

 place, its particles are in a state of constant change, and are 

 highly susceptible of external influences, by which the alternate 

 action between itself and otiier matters is constantly maintained. 

 In the second place, it has the power of retaining vegetable 

 matter, and all other substances from which the plants derive 

 theii' nourishment, so that there is no exhausting its fertility. 

 It requires no manure ; the elevated forests supply it always with 

 sufficient nutritious matter. An Indian hardly knows what 

 manure means ; the plough and irrigation are sufficient to main- 

 tain that beneficial intermixture of the atmosphere and the soil 

 which supplies the latter with renewed power. In this manner 

 he has maintained for centuries in the same natural soil his rich 

 rice-fields; the soil alone gives the husbandman all the returns 

 he can desire. In addition to all these circumstances, we must 

 take into account the other favourable conditions of a tropical 

 climate. How much must the power of the soil be increased by 

 the constant warmth of an atmosphere which penetrates it, dis- 

 solving and rarefying all its nutritive qualities, and rendering it 

 sensible to every influence ; where it is moistened by the vapours 

 from a surrounding ocean, and is always supplied with fresh soil 

 and fertile substances from the copious rains in the mountain 



