THE EARTH. 107 



of flames, and the hissing of waters, are heard at 

 the bottom. The water sometimes spouts up 

 eight or ten feet high. The most noisome fumes, 

 fetid water, and sulphureous vapours, offend the 

 smell. A stone thrown into any of the caverns, 

 is ejected again with considerable violence* These 

 appearances generally prevail when the sea is any 

 way disturbed ; and the whole seems to exhibit 

 the appearance of an earthquake in miniature. 

 However, in this smaller scene of wonders, as 

 well as in the greater, there are many appearances 

 for which perhaps we shall never account ; and 

 many questions may be asked, which no conjec- 

 tures can thoroughly resolve. It was the fault of 

 the philosophers of the last age, to be more in- 

 quisitive after the causes of things, than after the 

 things themselves. They seemed to think that 

 a confession of ignorance cancelled their claims 

 to wisdom: they, therefore, had a solution for 

 every demand. But the present age has grown, 

 if not more inquisitive, at least more modest; 

 and none are now ashamed of that ignorance 

 which labour can neither remedy nor remove. 



CHAPTER XL 



OF THE APPEARANCE OP NEW ISLANDS AND TRACTS J 

 AND OF THE DISAPPEARING OF OTHERS. 



HITHERTO we have taken a survey only of the 

 evils which are produced by subterranean fires, 



