lo of the Petrified City, 



infinite Kumber of extenfive Lakes, quite over the Globd. 

 For all and every one of thefe, by receiving as much Water 

 from their refpeftive Rivers, as they lofe in Vapour, will 

 preferve, as near as can be expected, their ufual Limits and 

 Dimenfions. The Almighty Providence having given to them, 

 no lefs than to the Elements, a Law which fiall not be broken ' ; 

 which hath {aid to the Sea^ hitherto JJjalt thou come and no 

 further ; and here jhall thy proud Waves be ft aid \ For Na- 

 ture always a6ls uniformly and confiftently with itfelf, let our 

 Reafonings and Conjectures about the Adions and Thtenomena 

 of it, be never fo doubtful and erroneous. 



CHAP. II. 



o^ Dissertation concerning the Petrified City, 

 called, by the Arabs, Ras Sem. 



c^cSnf^^ Tl E F o R E I had proceeded fo far in my Defence, I fliould, 



eft ^mBa^ -"-^ ^y ^^y ^^ Digreffion, have ftopt fhort at the Caftravan 



tary. Mountaius ; where this Author has given me an Opportunity 



to treat of the Tetrified City in Barbary ; which hitherto we 



have had no fatisfa£tory or indeed any authentick Account of. 



In fpeaking of thefe Mountains (p. 93. Vol. x.) he acquaints 



us, that he faw a con fider able Way up, the Rocks rifing above 



the Ground in fuch extraordinary Figures, for about two Miles, 



that at a little "Diftance they appeared like a ruined City, re- 



fembling Cafiles, Towers and Houfes, and even fome of them 



like Men. Such a Scene as this probably gave Rife to the Fable 



of a petrified City beyond Tripoly in u4frica. 



This Petri- In commenting therefore upon this Palfage, I fliall begin, 



been already )^ith obfcrving, that this Petrified City, called at prefent Ras 



ta en °"" ^^^^ ^^g occafioually taken Notice of, {J'rav. p.gSg. Not. a.) 



where it was obferved, " that there was nothing to be feen at 



"that Place, befides fuch Petrifications, as might well be ac- 



," counted for from the Deluge: which likewife had been al- 



" ready difcovered, in other Parts of the World." In treating 



likewife of the violent Heat which attends the Deferts of 



I ?/. 148.6. 2 Job 38. II. 



Lybia 



