14 



Norway, this projects in a range, about an ell in breadth, 

 betwixt the other stony strata, through tne whole length 

 or bulk of the mountain, and from the variety of its co- 

 lours, makes a very pleasing appearance.^ Of these veins, 

 some consist of marble or alabaster, some of agate, some 

 white, red, or blue stone, which especially towards the 

 sea, where the rocks are bare, form many curious varie- 

 gations. Hence likewise there remain on the surface 

 mny detached blocks and fragments, scattered not only 

 in the valleys and creeks, but on the tops of the highest 

 mountains. Many of these are of the bulk of a com- 

 mon house, and x:onseqiuntly too ponderous to have 

 been raised to such an immmense height by the hands 

 or art of men. 



But the largest mountairs may have been formed in 

 the following manmr. The sea waters doubtless re- 

 mained some time on the earth : and during that time 

 the surface of the earth was the bottom of the sea, where 

 every tiling passed i.> the same manner as passes at the 

 present bottom of the sea. Now the sea has always had a 

 8ux and reflux, and that most violent under the equator, 

 where likewise the earth's motion causes a greater centri- 

 fugal force than any where else. Suppose then the 

 earth was at first quite round, yet its diurnal motion, 

 with the flux and reflux of the sea, would have raised by 

 degrees the parts near the equator, by amassing, there 

 shells, H'UKV and earth.. And as this, is performed daily, 

 the water would carry at each time a small quantity of 

 matter, which afterwards sinks to the bottom, and forms 

 those parrallel strata, which are every where found. 



Thus in fact, on many .slfores the flux brings a great 

 number of things along with it, and leaves them there. 

 So that. while it insensibly covers some lands, it aban- 

 dons others, after adding thereto shells, earth a$d sand, 

 which gradually accumulating,, make a part of the con- 

 tinent. 



On a coast ugainst which the sea beats violently, it 

 carries a little soil away at each tide. Yea, even where 

 it is bordered with rocks, it wears them away by little 

 t tie. T hese particles the water carry lo a certain 



