76 BOOK III 



mountains which are situated in the west. Lastly, of the streams or rivers 

 which flow from the rising sun toward the setting sun, or which flow from 

 the northern parts to the southern parts, they favour those which approach 

 the nearest to the lauded ones, and say they are more productive of gold, 

 and the further they depart from them the less productive they are. Such 

 are the opinions held about rivers and streams. Now, since gold is not 

 generated in the rivers and streams, as we have maintained against 

 Albertus^^ in the book entitled " De Subterraneorum Ortu et Causis," Book 

 V, but is torn away from the veins and stringers and settled in the sands of 

 torrents and water-courses, in whatever direction the rivers or streams flow, 

 therefore it is reasonable to expect to find gold therein ; which is not 

 opposed by experience. Nevertheless, we do not deny that gold is generated 

 in veins and stringers which lie under the beds of rivers or streams, as in 

 other places. 



'^Albertus Magnus. 



END OF BOOK III. 



