THE EAUTH. 199 



of the water bursting up from the bottom, wliicb requires great 

 strength to resist ; secondly, the abniptness of the rocks, that 

 on every side threatened destruction; thirdly, the force of 

 the whirlpool, dashing against those rocks ; and fourthly, the 

 number and magnitude of the polypus fish, some of which ap- 

 peared as large as a man, and which everywhere sticking againsf 

 the rocks, projected their fibrous arms to entangle him. Being 

 asked how he was able so readily to find the cup that had been 

 thrown in, he rei)lied that it happened to be flung by the waves into 

 the cavity of a rock, against which he himself was urged in his de- 

 scent This account, however, did not satisfy the king's curio- 

 sity : being requested to venture once more into the gulf for 

 further discoveries, he at first refused; but the king, desirous 

 of having the most exact information possible of all things to 

 be found in the gulf, repeated bis solicitations ; and to give 

 them still greater weight, produced a larger cup than the for- 

 mer, and added also a purse of gold. Upon these considerations, 

 the unfortunate Pessacola once again plunged into the whirl- 

 pool, and was never heard of more." 



CHAP. XVIII. 



A SUMMARY ACCOUNT OF THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF AIR. 



Having described the earth and the sea, we now ascend into 

 that fluid which surrounds them both ; and which, in some mea- 

 sure, supports and supplies all animated nature. As upon view- 

 ing the bottom of the ocean from its surface, we see an infinity 

 of animals mo\'ing therein, and seeking food ; so, were some 

 superior being to regard the eai'th at a proper distance, he might 

 consider us in the same light ; he might from his superior sta- 

 tion behold a number of busy little beings, immersed in the aerial 

 fluid that everywhere surrounds them, and sedulously emploj-ed 

 in procuring the means of subsistence. This fluid, though too 

 fine for the gross perception of its inhabitants, might to his nicei 

 organs of sight be very visible ; and while he at once saw into 

 its operations, ho might smile at the varieties of human conjee- 



