48 NATURAL HISTORY. 



whether the former will cool sooner. And it were 

 also good to inquire, what other means there may 

 be to draw forth the exile heat which is in the air 5 

 for that may be a secret of great power to produce 

 cold weather. 



Experiments in consort, touching the version and trans 

 mutation of air into water. 



We have formerly set down the means of turning 

 air into water, in the experiment 27. But because 

 it is &quot; magnale natura?,&quot; and tendeth to the subduing 

 of a very great effect, and is also of manifold use, 

 we will add some instances in consort that give light 

 thereunto. 



76. It is reported by some of the ancients, that 

 sailors have used, every night, to hang fleeces of 

 wool on the sides of their ships, the wool towards 

 the water ; and that they have crushed fresh water 

 out of them, in the morning, for their use. And thus 

 much we have tried, that a quantity of wool tied 

 loose together, being let down into a deep well, and 

 hanging in the middle, some three fathom from the 

 water, for a night, in the winter time ; increased in 

 weight, as I now remember, to a fifth part. 



77. It is reported by one of the ancients, that in 

 Lydia, near Pergamus, there were certain work 

 men in time of wars fled into caves ; and the mouth 

 of the caves being stopped by the enemies, they 

 were famished. But long time after the dead bones 

 were found ; and some vessels which they had car 

 ried with them ; and the vessels full of water ; and 

 that water thicker, and more towards ice, than com- 



