16 THE WOULD . , 



pears, then the sails;" and at last the flag, presenting the appearance 

 shown in this engraving. 



This then is the second step towards obtaining an accurate 

 knowledge of our earth, and we learn that the surface of our 

 lakes, and seas, is not an extended plain, but curved. If we were 

 on a vessel at sea, we would perceive the horizon encompassing us 

 like a vast circle, of which, we would be the centre. And in 

 whatever direction we made an observation, we would find the 

 surface of the water curving or bending from us in that direction. 

 The same phenomenon is observed on land. If we ascend some 

 high elevation, such as a mountain, or lofty monument, the horizon 

 appears in every direction equally distant, or, in other words, a 

 large circle, of which we are the centre. From this we rightly 

 . infer that the surface of the earth is convex, like the surface of an 

 apple, or an orange. It becomes an interesting question, after 

 the convexity of the earth is thus established, to determine its actual 

 shape, whether it is a true sphere, or spheroide, i. c., having the di- 

 ameter through one direction longer than another, or, whether the 

 curvature is of such a nature as to return into itself, for it is well 

 known that there are curves, such are the parabola, and hyper- 

 bola, which, however far continued, never return into themselves 

 like the curve of a circle. It was therefore a bold undertaking to 

 circumnavigate the globe and thus demonstrate its spherical form, 

 by actually sailing around it. This was accomplished however 

 by Ferdinand Magellan, or rather by the expedition which he fitted 



