67 



this happens, says he> a because there issues from the 

 amber a subtle matter^ by which it draws other bodies 

 to itself." 



14. The moderns are also divided in their senti- 

 ments, how it comes to pass, thai rivers continually 

 ftowing frtto the s<a 5 do ut swell its ma^s of waters, 

 so a* to make it overflow its banks. One of the chief 

 solutions or this difficulty is, that rivers return again 

 to their source by subterraneous passages, which 

 nature hat n formed for thai impose; t;:ere being 

 between (he sk-a and the springs'')! rivers, a Circuia^oii 

 analogous to that of blood m the nurnan body. Tais 

 explanation of the origin ot river*, and the c mi aru 

 Son respecting their ci: dilation, is taken- from S n ia; 

 who ace -unts n >\ only tor (he.r not on-j-ii >\vin^ iho 

 b (1 uf tne ocraiK Sy the secret pa.ssiu^'s fanned Jor 

 Hum b) tiiture to recoriduct them to their anriius-; bvit 

 ttHsign.^ (ItM reason why. at llu? spritjgii; thev liHaitl 

 Doiluug of that bricUbhftrif, which they earned with 

 them from the sea ? because, sa\ he, ihey are com- 

 pleatly filtrated in that extensive circuit they make 

 under ground,through winding pzuns { 't ah dimrusions, 

 and through layers of every soil ; su that they must 

 needs return to their source, as pure aad sweet as they 

 departed thence. 



