266 NEW ATLANTIS 



and from the open air. These caves we call the lower 

 region, and we use them for all coagulations, indura- 

 tions, refrigerations, and conservations of bodies. We 

 use them likewise for the imitation of natural mines, 

 and the producing also of new artificial metals, by com- 

 positions and materials which we use, and lay there for 

 many years. We use them also sometimes (which may 

 seem strange) for curing of some diseases, and for pro- 

 longation of life, in some hermits that choose to live 

 there, well accommodated of all things necessary, and 

 indeed live very long ; by whom also we learn many 

 things. 



' We have burials in several earths, where we put 

 divers cements, as the Chinese do their porcelain. But 

 we have them in greater variety, and some of them 

 more fine. We also have great variety of composts 

 and soils, for the making of the earth fruitful. 



' We have high towers, the highest about half a mile 

 in height, and some of them likewise set upon high 

 mountains, so that the vantage of the hill, with the 

 tower, is in the highest of them three miles at least. 

 And these places we call the upper region, accounting 

 the air between the high places and the low as a middle 

 region. We use these towers, according to their several 

 heights and situations, for insulation, refrigeration, 

 conservation, and for the view of divers meteors — as 

 winds, rain, snow, hail ; and some of the fiery meteors 

 also. And upon them, in some places, are dwelUngs 

 of hermits, whom we visit sometimes, and instruct what 

 to observe. 



' We have great lakes, both salt and fresh, whereof 

 we have use for the fish and fowl. We use them also 

 for burials of some natural bodies, for we find a differ- 

 ence in things buried in earth, or in air below the earth, 

 and things buried in water. We have also pools, of 

 which some do strain fresh water out of salt, and others 

 by art do turn fresh water into salt. We have also 

 some rocks in the midst of the sea, and some bays upon 

 the shore for some works, wherein is required the air 

 and vapour of the sea. We have likewise violent streams 



