THE EARTH. 249 



probably find the inequalities of its bed resem- 

 bling those that are found at land. Here exten- 

 sive plains ; there valleys ; and, in many places, 

 mountains of amazing height. M. Buache has 

 actually given us a map of that part of its bottom, 

 which lies between Africa and America, taken 

 from the several soundings of mariners : in it we 

 find the same uneven surface that we do upon 

 land, the same eminences, and the same depres- 

 sions. In such an imaginary prospect, however, 

 there would be this difference, that as the tops of 

 land mountains appear the most barren and rocky, 

 the tops of sea mountains would be found the 

 most verdant and fruitful. 



The plummet, which thus gives us some idea 

 of the inequalities of the bottom, leaves us totally 

 in the dark as to every other particular j recourse, 

 therefore, has been had to divers : these, either 

 being bred up in this dangerous way of life, 

 and accustomed to remain some time under water 

 without breathing, or assisted by means of a 

 diving-bell, have been able to return some confus- 

 ed and uncertain accounts of the places below. 

 In the great diving-bell improved by Dr Halley, 

 which was large enough to contain five men, and 

 was supplied with fresh air by buckets, that alter- 

 nately rose and fell, they descended fifty fathoms. 

 In this huge machine, which was let down from 

 the mast of the ship, the Doctor himself went 

 down to the bottom, where, when the sea was 

 clear, and especially when the sun shone, he 

 could see perfectly well to write or read, and much 

 more to take up any thing that was underneath : 



