those gtrttle declivities, quite down to the sea, they 

 would drown large tracts of land, and then stagnate and 

 putrify. 



Indeed, without hills, as there could be no rivers, so 

 neither could there be any springe, which we continually 

 6nd in or near high grounds, very rarely on spacious 

 plains. When we do iind any there, it is generally at 

 great and inconvenient depths. And even these are 

 probably owing to hills, cither near or at some distance : 

 es we may gather from the impetuous manner wherein 

 these subterraneous waters break out, when wells are 

 dug in the Lower Austria, or in several parts of Italy. 

 A ad if there are some islands, which seem void of 

 xnountains, and nevertheless fire well watered ; in 

 reality, the whole mass of land is no other than one 

 niouhtaip, descending gently <ind imperceptibly down, 

 from tlie midland parts to the sea. 



5. The benefit of mountains in general js not only, 

 that Vapours driven against them are condensed, so as* to 

 be precipitated through the chinks of the rocks, but that 

 afterwards in their bowels they are preserved till they 

 form rivulets, and then rivers. Vapours would fall ia 

 ram or dew though there were no mountains, but then 

 they would fall equally, over considerable places of the 

 globe at once, aijd so would be sucked deep in the 

 ground, or make an universal puddle ; whereas by 

 means of mountains they are perpetually pouring down 

 in particular places, and treasuring up a. constant supply 

 to the rivers. Another considerable use of them is 

 the determination of these rivers; for if . there could 

 have been rivers without mountains, yet they could only 

 Lave run in a strait line, if they had run ^t all ; whereas 

 bj fhesg eminences, placed up and down, they make 

 innumerable turnings mid windings, whereby they enrich, 

 fatten, and water the soil of several (iaTereut countries in 

 one course, and at List disembogue in several mou ts 

 iri ID the sea. Lastly, ;i;ost hills are the nests of metals 

 or minerals. These, bv t ! ?e efiicaev of subterranean 

 the iuljaceii; earths into their substance, 

 B 4 



