PHILOLOGICAL INQUIRIES. 503 



Sv:eii(h. LeraJJiu, to appoint, order, is ufed only in foleinn 

 public ads, as Viel beravud Riksdag, well ordered diet ; 

 yet it fpiings from ram, fang of a bear or lion, and is a 

 relative of rama to catch, clutch, and of the Poliih ramie, 

 arm. 



Art. II. O/i the "Early Condition of the Earth, Animals, 

 and Vegetables. 



Many ancient words contain important records on thefe 

 objeds : I fhall (ketch a few, and hrli fuch as will clear up the 

 problem, whether the water has formerly covered a greater 

 part of the earth ? for this purpofe we muft examine the 

 names of land which are derived from water, and alfo the 

 names of water, which imply a former greater depth or 

 extent. Mountains, hills, woods, plains, and habitations, 

 as villages, manors, &c. were frequently named from ad- 

 jacent parts of the fea, lakes, and rivers; has the water 

 retired from many of thefe, and how tar? extenfive low 

 lands may ftill retain the names of morafles ? Wide trads 

 which aie but a few feet under water may fignify priftine 

 depth? creeks, ponds, and brooks may tell that they have 

 been bays, lakes, rivers. Theie inquiries demand a com- 

 parifon of modern, obfolete, and local words of water, and 

 of its various colledions in the languages of feveral coun- 

 tries : confiderable light is alfo attainable from the appel- 

 lations of aquatic animals, and vegetables ; and from the 

 proper names of lakes, rivers, iflands, &c. many of which 

 denote water. 



That part of Europe which continues a miry wafte, 

 would if cultivated fupport millions, while millions have 

 been deftroyed for conquefts in icy wilderneffes, in the 

 burning climes of the EafI: and Weft Indies, and for a lit- 

 tle more elbow room on the Rhine, whofe pure fhream 



has 



