44 TRAVELS THROUGH 



to conceive how in their courfc, fo deeply cut 

 into the Alps, they could have rolled and depo- 

 fired the before-mentioned ftones at fo fuperior 

 and high elevations. But this, and fimilar obfer- 

 vationsy force us to conclude, that their channels 

 and beds have been, in former times, at the fame 

 elevations which are marked at prefent with what 

 they depoiited. No water can have carried, rolled, 

 and forced them up into their actual petition, 

 whatever allowance be made for its impulfe, and 

 whatever violent inundations we fhould pleafe to 

 iuppofe. This Hands a fair evidence for the 

 great ruptures of the Alps, and for' the prodi- 

 gious effects of the unwearied and never-ceafing 

 courfe of rivers ; and anfwers pretty well for ftill 

 greater ones, which may have been occafioned by 

 violent ruptures and inundations in fuch places, 

 where earthquakes firft flopt, and afterwards en- 

 tirely changed, the courfe of rivers. 



There is in the calcareous Alps a great number 

 of natural caverns, incruftated with ftalaclites ; and 

 befides them fome metallic veins, which I cannot 

 pafs over in filence. They are neither large, nor 

 do they run far into the field; but are fmaller 

 metallic fifiures, crofting the compact limeftone in 

 the largefl and undermoft ftratum. They are 

 lodged in its cracks, conflantly next to the 

 fole and to the neighbouring inferior (late and 



its 



