PHYSICAL CONTEMPLATION OF THE UNIVERSE. 121 



of the water of the sea, and in others, to the elevation of 

 parallel ridges of mountains. We may trace this transverse 

 strike in a south-east and north-west direction, from the 

 Indian Ocean to the mouth of the Elbe in northern 

 Germany; it shews itself in the Red Sea which, in its 

 southern portion, is bordered on both sides by volcanic 

 rocks ; in the Persian Gulf and the lowlands of the double 

 river Euphrates and Tigris; in the Zagros mountain 

 chain in Louristan; in the mountain chains of Greece 

 and the neighbouring islands of the Archipelago ; in 

 the Adriatic Sea; and in the Dalmatian limestone Alps. 

 This intersection ( 156 ) of two systems of geodesic lines, 

 N.E. S.W. and S.E. N.W. (concerning winch I believe 

 the S.E. N.W. to be the more recent, and that both result 

 from the direction of deep-seated earthquake movements in 

 the interior of the globe), has had an important influence on 

 the destinies of men, and in facilitating the intercourse 

 between nations. The relative positions of Eastern Africa, 

 Arabia, and the peninsula of Hindostan, and their very 

 unequal heating by the sun's rays at different seasons of the 

 year, produce a regular alternation of currents of air 

 (Monsoons), ( 15 ?) favouring navigation to the Myrrhifera 

 Eegio of the Adramites in Southern Arabia, and to the 

 Persian Gulf, India, and Ceylon. During the season of 

 north winds in the Eed Sea (April and May to October), 

 the south-west Monsoon prevails from the eastern shore of 

 Africa to the coast of Malabar; whilst from October to 

 April, the north-east Monsoon, which is favourable to the 

 return, coincides with the period of southerly winds between 

 the Straits of Bab-el-Mandeb and the Isthmus of Suez. 

 Having thus described the theatre on which the Greeks 



