168 



country, or deposited in tlieir western and southern 

 banks That facts of this kind are common in almost 

 every part of America But throughout the whole of 

 this immense space, not an instance occurs, that 1 can 

 hear of, that will favour, in the least possible degree, an 

 opinion that a current had flowed in a contrary direc- 

 tion, (the present rivers excepted,) over any part or 

 portion of our hemisphere. With Asia, however, it is 

 not only different but directly the reverse ; the strong- 

 est evidence of which, is that, which Mr. Kirwan has 

 adduced in favour of his theory, (viz.) the immense de- 

 posites of elephants and rhinoceri, mixed with marine 

 substances, in Siberia These animals, it is well known, 

 are, almost exclusively, inhabitants of the southern parts 

 of Asia, from lat. 10 to 30 or 35 north ; that from 

 their enormous size and clumsy form, they are render- 

 ed extremely unwieldly, and, when exposed to the ope- 

 rations of an irresistible current, must be among the 

 first that fall victims to its fury Hence, the conclusion, 

 that a current, flowing from the south pole, overrun the 

 continent of Asia, and swept in its course these animals 

 and buried them with the alluvion, in the high northern 

 regions of Siberia. 



Numerous other circumstances, doubtless, exist in 

 every country comprised within the limits of this great 

 continent, which will apply with equal force as proofs 

 of the existence and operations of a current from the 

 southern ocean or south pole. 



But as yet, few travellers have visited these coun- 

 tries with a view to the promotion of science and 



