CENTURY IX. 477 



evaporation. But it is too gross to rise into a vapour, 

 and so is a bitter taste likewise ; for simple distilled 

 waters, of wormwood, and the like, are not bitter. 



Experiment solitary touching the return of saltness 

 in pits upon the sea-shore. 



882. It hath been set down before, that pits upon 

 the sea-shore turn into fresh water, by percolation of 

 the salt through the sand : but it is further noted, by 

 some of the ancients, that in some places of Africa, 

 after a time, the water in such pits will become 

 brackish again. The cause is, for that after a time, 

 the very sands through which the salt water passeth, 

 become salt, and so the strainer itself is tinctured 

 with salt. The remedy therefore is, to dig still new 

 pits, when the old wax brackish ; as if you would 

 change your strainer. 



Experiment solitary touching attraction by similitude 

 of substance. 



883. It hath been observed by the ancients, that 

 salt water will dissolve salt put into it, in less time 

 than fresh water will dissolve it. The cause may be, 

 for that the salt in the precedent water doth, by simi 

 litude of substance, draw the salt new put in unto 

 it ; whereby it diffuseth in the liquor more speedily. 

 This is a noble experiment, if it be true, for it sheweth 

 means of more quick and easy infusions, and it is 

 likewise a good instance of attraction by similitude 

 of substance. Try it with sugar put into water for- 

 merly sugared, and into other water unsugared. 



VOL. iv. F F 



