MATERIALS WASHED IN BY III VERS. 5) 



The composition of sea-water varies most in the 

 neighbourhood of the coasts. It is only at a con- 

 siderable distance from its embouchure that the 

 water of a river mixes with that of the ocean, and 

 the one is often distinguished from the other by a 

 well-defined line. This phenomenon is most striking 

 at the embouchure of the Mississippi. The " Father 

 of Waters " rolls into the sea laden with yellow mud, 

 which forms a shifting promontory in the midst of 

 the dark waters of the Mexican Gulf. 



*' Suddenly," says a recent traveller,* " it seemed 

 to me tliat the colour of the water had changed : 

 the deep blue had become yellow, and the distinc- 

 tion between them was marlved by a line as straight 

 as if drawn with a cord, extending from east to 

 west. Northward, a darkish coast-line, half con- 

 cealed by mist, indicated the direction of the land : 

 we were floating on the waters of the Mississippi. 

 Soon the speed of the ship was slackened, she was 

 scarcely able to make way ; all at once she stopped, 

 her keel was fast in the murl." 



Another cause sometimes tends to diminish the 

 saltness of the superficial waters near the coasts. 

 Bain which falls upon the steep or sloping shores 

 at once finds its way into the sea. In this case the 

 waves and currents combine to mingle the fresh 



* M. Elisc'e Reclus : Fragment d'un Voyage h In NouveUe-Orhnns 



