248 HISTORY OF 



in the Persian Gulf, along the coasts of Africa, 

 and those of Provence and Catalonia. 



The bottom of many parts of the sea near 

 America presents a very different, though a very 

 beautiful appearance. This is covered with vege- 

 tables, which make it look as green as a meadow, 

 and beneath are seen thousands of turtles, and 

 other sea animals, feeding thereon. 



In order to extend our knowledge of thje sea 

 to greater depths, recourse has been had to the 

 plummet ; which is generally made of a lump of 

 lead of about forty pounds weight, fastened to a 

 cord.* This, however, only answers in moderate 

 depths ; for when a deep sea is to be sounded, the 

 matter of which the cord is composed, being 

 lighter than the water, floats upon it, and when 

 let down to a considerable depth, its length so 

 increases its surface, that it is often sufficient to 

 prevent the lead from sinking ; so that this may 

 be the reason that some parts of the sea are said 

 to have no bottom. 



In general, we learn from the plummet, that 

 the bottom of the sea is tolerably even where it 

 has been examined ; and that the farther from the 

 shore, the sea is in general the deeper. Notwith- 

 standing, in the midst of a great and unfathom- 

 able ocean, we often find an island raising its head, 

 and singly braving its fury. Such islands may 

 be considered as the mountains of the deep; 

 and, could we for a moment imagine the waters 

 of the ocean removed, or dried away, we should 



* Buffon, vol. ii. p. 5. 



