189 



lying on the bottom in four fathoms water, in a still 

 tini'v'* Yet, as before, although subject to currents, 

 and those sometimes strong too, not one particle of this 

 sand is seen to move on the bottom, or mixed with the 

 water, and carried away by the currents. 



Were we to admit that sand is thrown upon the 

 shores of any country, by the sea, in a quantity, suffici- 

 ent to form alluvial districts, we might expect to find 

 similar results, by the operations of the winds and 

 waves, in all large lakes ; more particularly such as re- 

 ceive the waters and alluvion of a number of large ri- 

 vers ; but this is seldom the case, although the waves 

 in many lakes rise to a great height, and, during the 

 prevalence of severe and long continued storms, rage 

 with a fearful violence, that often appals the stoutest 

 heart, whilst they seem to threaten a total disruption 

 of their natural boundaries. 



There are many lakes and bays of very considerable 

 extent, that afford no indications of alluvial formations, 

 by the sand cast upon the shores by the waves ; and if 

 we examine the subject attentively, it is by no means 

 to be wondered at, for the bottom of most lakes, ex- 

 cept where rocks prevail, is, like that of the sea, com- 

 posed of mud ; and even in this there does not appear 

 to be that wonderful and rapid accumulation, which 

 some have supposed. 



Considerable changes have taken place in the lake 

 Mseotis, and which have, most probably, been produc- 



* Riley's Narrative, page 25. 



