On the Declivities of Mount ami. 3$ 



i6° The mountains of Kamfkatka are fteep on the eaftera 

 fides. Pallas, i AQ.. Petropol. 1777, P- 43- 



17 The Ghauts in the Indian peninfula are fteep on the 

 weftern fides. 



18 ' The mountains of Syria, which run from north to 

 fouth, fkirting the Mediterranean, are laid to be fteeper on 

 the weftern fide feeing the Mediterranean. 4 La Metherie, 

 p. 380. 



/;/ America. 



The Cordeliercs run from north to fouth; their weftern 

 flanks towards the Pacific are fteep, their eaftern defcend 

 gradually. 



In Guiana there is a chain of mountains that run from 

 eaft to weft; their fouthcrn flanks arc fteep, their northern 

 gentle. Voyages de Condamine, p. 140. 



To affign the caufes of this almoft univerfal allotment of 

 unequal declivities to oppofite points, and why the greateft 

 are directed to the weft and fouth, and the gentleft, on the 

 contrary, to the eaft and north, it is neceflary to confider, 



l« That all mountains were formed while covered with 

 water. 



2° That the earth was univerfally covered with water at 

 two different aeras, that of the Creation, raid that of the 

 Noachian deluge. 



3 That in the firft aera we muft diftinguifh two different 

 periods, that which preceded the appearance of dry land, 

 and that which fucceeded the creation of fifli, but before the 

 fea had been reduced nearly to its prefent level : during the 

 former, the primeval mountains were formed, and during 

 the laft, moft of the fecondary mountains and ftrata we« 

 formed. 



4 That all mountains extend either from eaft to weft, oy 

 from north to fouth, or in fome intermediate direction be- 

 tween thefe cardinal points, which need not be particularly 

 mentioned here, as the fame fpeeies of reafoning muft be 

 applied to them, as to thofe to wbofe afpee.t they approach 

 moft. 



Thefe preliminary circumftanccs being noticed, we are 



fjest to obferve that, during the firft ;tra, this vail mals of 



V 1 \ water 



