SPRINGS. [Lesson xxx. 



winds against the sides of mountains (some of 

 which surpass the usual height to which the va- 

 pours would of themselves ascend) are compelled 

 by the stream of air to mount up with it to their 

 tops; and, being presently precipitated, enter the 

 crannies of the mountains, and glide down, as 

 described in the former hypothesis. 



Jn the third hypothesis it is imagined, that the 

 water is conveyed from the sea to the places where 

 there are Fountains, by some subterranean passage; 

 either by ascending in very small portions in capil- 

 lary tubes, or by being conveyed in larger portions 

 by means of Charyldes. Charybdis is a name 

 given to an opening which is supposed to be in the 

 bottom of the sea. The Fluxus moschonicus or 

 MaalstromCf on the coast of Norway, is supposed 

 to be owing to some such subterranean indraught; 

 and it is asserted also, by several, that the Mediter- 

 ranean Sea could not be emptied of the vast quan- 

 tities of water which it receives, but would over- 

 flow its boundaries, unless part were taken off by 

 such a charybdis, which is either in some part of 

 the bason of that sea, or near the mouth of it. 

 In support of this supposition may be mentioned 

 that strong under-current, described by all those 

 who have treated of this sea. A large charybdis, 

 placed near the strait's mouth, may be hid under 

 the immensity of waters therej and as it would con- 

 tinually draw in the lower waters in large quantities, 

 it would necessarily cause such an under-current. 

 If it be admitted, that there are such orifices 

 as these eharybdes at the bottoms of some seas, 



it 



