THE EARTH, 311 



the sand across a little arm of the sea, into the 

 town of Roscoff, and covered the streets of that 

 place two feet deep ; so that they have been 

 obliged to carry it off in carts. It may also be 

 observed, that there are several particles of iron 

 mixed with the sand, which are readily affected 

 by the loadstone. The part of the coast that 

 furnishes these sands, is a tract of about four 

 leagues in length, and is upon a level with the 

 sea at high water. The shore lies in such a man- 

 ner as to leave its sands subject only to the north 

 and east winds, that bear them farther up the 

 shore. It is easy to conceive how the same sand 

 that has at one time been borne a short way in- 

 land, may, by some succeeding arid stronger 

 blast, be carried up much higher ; and thus the 

 whole may continue advancing forward, delug- 

 ing the. plain, and totally destroying its fertility. 

 At the same time, the sea, from whence this de- 

 luge of sand proceeds, may furnish it in inex- 

 haustible quantities. This unhappy country, thus 

 overwhelmed in so singular a manner, may well 

 justify what the ancients and the moderns have 

 reported concerning those tempests of sand in 

 Africa, that are said to destroy villages, and even 

 armies, in their bosom." 



