32 Nx\TURAL AND CIVIL 



pating the water from both. If this ascent of 

 the waters be obstructed by any strata of clay, 

 rocks, or any other substance, through which 

 they cannot pa§s, they will collect in such quan- 

 tities, as to form or find for themselves a clian- 

 nel, through which they may be discharged. 

 The place of this discharge can only be on the 

 side of a hill, or in some ground below the lev- 

 el of that place, where they are thus collected : 

 And at such a place the waters would continue 

 to issue out, as long as they continued to as- 

 cend, whatever might be the severity or dura- 

 tion of a drought. In some such way, it ap- 

 pears probable to me, that some of the springs 

 are formed in the mountains, by waters which 

 are ascending towards the surface of the earth ; 

 but which, instead of going off at the top, have 

 their discharge in small quantities, at the sides 

 of the mountains. Any strata of clay, rocks, 

 or of any other matter, which would retain the 

 water ■v\'hen it descends in rain or dew, and 

 produce a spring from tlieir descent, would also 

 prevent the ascending water from passing tliro' 

 them, and might produce a spring from their 

 ascent. This ascent of the waters from the 

 bowels to the surface of the earth, is a constant, 

 po^verful, and unceasing operation of nature : 

 And seems to be the only cause, which is ade- 

 quate to the formation of those springs, which 

 arc perennial. Such springs could scarcely be 

 formed, or preserved, by the watei's which d.t- 

 scend in rain, because they are so little affected 

 in the severest droughts : In these seasons, in- 

 stead of being replenished by rain, the earth to 

 jthe depth of many feet, is much exhausted of 



