WAVES SALT SEAWEEDS 365 



off, dragged along the ground, sometimes thrown 

 over jetties, where they roll like mere pebbles. 



"It is to the continual action of waves that cliffs 

 are due, that is to say the vertical escarpments serv- 

 ing in some places as shore for the sea. Such es- 

 carpments are seen on the coasts of the English 

 Channel, both in France and in England. Unceas- 

 ingly the ocean undermines them, causes pieces to 

 fall down which it triturates into pebbles, and makes 

 its way so much farther inland. History has pre- 

 served the memory of towers, dwellings, even vil- 

 lages, that have had to be abandoned little by little 

 on account of similar landslides, and that to-day have 

 cut i rely disappeared beneath the waves." 



"Stirred up like that, the waters of the sea are not 

 likely to become putrid," remarked Jules. 



* ' The movement of the waves alone would not suf- 

 fice to insure the incorruptibility of sea-water. An- 

 other cause of salubrity comes in here. The waters 

 of the sea hold in solution numerous substances that 

 irivr it an extremely disagreeable taste, but prevent 

 its corruption." 



"Then you cannot drink sea-water?" Emile asked. 



"No, not even if \ on were pressed with the great- 

 est thirst." 



"And what taste has sea-water?" 



"A taste at once bitter and salt, offensive to the 

 palate and eauHii.n- nausea. That taste comes from 

 the dissolved substances. The most abundant is or- 

 dinary salt, the salt we use for seasoning our food." 



"Salt, however," objected Jules, "has no dis- 



