MIGRATIONS OF TIE WATERS. 7A 
rain amounts to 274:2 French inches, and to 283°3 at Maha- 
buleshwar, on the western declivity of the Ghauts, which, as far 
as has hitherto been ascertained, is the place where most rain 
descends; only from 35 to 40 inches fall on the western coast 
of England, where the skies are chronically weeping. 
It is a remarkable circumstance that the annual quantity of 
rain which falls in the same place remains about the same from 
year to year; so that by an admirable balancing of conflicting 
influences, nature seems to have provided for stability in a pro- 
vince which of all others might be stpposed most open to the 
caprices of chance. 
Having thus followed the exhalations of ocean to the end of 
what may be called the first stage of their journey, and seen 
them descend ina condensed form upon the surface of the dry 
land, I will now accompany them in their ulterior progress to 
the bosom of the seas. A great part of them have many trans- 
formations and changes to undergo ere they can accomplish 
their return ; repeatedly rising in vapours from the solid earth, 
and falling in showers upon its surface; or circulating through 
the tissues of organic life: but after all these intermediate stages 
and delays, they ultimately find their way into rivulets or 
streams, which after many a meander restore them to the vast 
reservoir from which they arose. 
The waters that descend upon solid rocks, or fall in large 
quantities upon abrupt declivities, immediately flow into the 
brooks or rivers; but when they gently and gradually alight 
upon a porous soil, they are absorbed by the earth, and, dis- 
placing in virtue of capillary attraction, and of their superior 
weight, the air which fills the interstices between its solid 
particles, sink deeper and deeper until they meet with a solid 
and impenetrable stratum. If this forms a hollow basin, they 
naturally settle in the cavity; whence they are slowly displaced 
by fresh accessions and evaporation; but if its deepest declivity 
lies somewhere near the surface, they gradually gush forth 
under the form of sources or springs, having unequal distances 
to perform before they can reach the orifice. If no fresh supply 
of water falls, ere the most distant particles have reached their 
journey’s end, the source dries up: but if new atmospheric 
precipitations continually take place, the source is perennial, 
although naturaily of unequal strength at different times. 
