2677 fathoms, March 3, ISiS, Lat. 33-21 S., Long. 9-1 E. 



CHAPTER II. 



THE WORLD OP WATERS. 



THE , " World of Waters " is a hackneyed expression, 

 often used in no more comprehensive sense than as sig- 

 nifying the Ocean, in contradistinction to the dry land. 

 The waters of the ocean do, indeed, spread over the 

 greater part of the globe, the proportion of sea com- 

 pared to land being nearly as three to one ; but the 

 " World of Waters " embraces much more than the 

 oceanic basins. A moment's consideration will show 

 that we may include under this name perhaps every 

 portion of the surface of the globe, and certainly every 

 portion which is the abode of living things, whether 

 plants or animals. The "World of Waters" thus be- 



