2 NATURAL HISTORY. 



ten vessels, one within another ; and yet it hath not 

 lost its saltness, as to become potable : but the same 

 man saith, that, by the relation of another, salt-water 

 drained through twenty vessels hath become fresh. 

 This experiment seemeth to cross that other of pits 

 made by the sea-side ; and yet but in part, if it be 

 true that twenty repetitions do the effect. But it is 

 worth the note, how poor the imitations of nature 

 are in common course of experiments, except they 

 be led by great judgment, and some good light of 

 axioms. For first, there is no small difference 

 between a passage of water through twenty small 

 vessels, and through such a distance, as between the 

 low-water and high-water mark. Secondly, there is 

 a great difference between earth and sand ; for all 

 earth hath in it a kind of nitrous salt, from which 

 sand is more free ; and besides, earth doth not strain 

 the water so finely as sand doth. But there is a 

 third point, that I suspect as much or more than the 

 other two ; and that is, that in the experiment of 

 transmission of the sea-water into the pits, the water 

 riseth ; but in the experiment of transmission of the 

 water through the vessels, it falleth. Now certain it 

 is that the salter part of water, once salted through 

 out, goeth to the bottom. And therefore no marvel, 

 if the draining of water by descent doth not make 

 it fresh : besides, I do somewhat doubt, that the 

 very dashing of the water, that cometh from the sea, 

 is more proper to strike off the salt part, than where 

 the water slideth of her own motion. 



3. It seemeth percolation, or transmission, which 



