Chap. XIX.] THE SURFACE OP THE EARTH. 217 



as would naturally result from the suggested change 

 of the earth's axis.^ 



Besides the above change of axis, some previous 

 changes would be requisite in order to account for 

 the absence of land in the central parts of the Pacific, 

 opposite the equatorial regions of Africa. 



The investigation of this point offers a problem, 

 intricate and interesting, but unsuited to the purpose 

 of this chapter, which is simply to illustrate the 

 universality of the action of the forces which deter- 

 mine the position and movements of the ocean and 

 atmosphere. And, if the foregoing arguments be 

 not erroneous, then the actual configuration of the 

 earth's crust shows the action of the forces in play in 



course does not disprove the supposed glacial period, but merely 

 proves that the sui-face has undergone more important changes since 

 that period than I and, as it seems to me, Professor Agassrz at 

 one time thought apparent. I, at any rate, supposed the surface 

 of the ground in Brazil to be almost as left after the melting of a 

 heavy covering of ice, but I have found that to have been a mistake, 

 for there have been considerable changes since the existence of 

 any glacial epoch there. Or, at least, causes now in action could 

 very well have produced all the ' striations ' and ' moraines ' that 

 I have seen there. 



' ' In those days Noah saw that the earth became inclined.' — 

 The Book of Enoch, Ixiv. 1. 



' The earth labours and is violently shaken.' — Icle7n, 3. 



' The fountains of the great deep were broken up.' — Genesis, 

 vii. 11. 



'And the foundations of the earth became equalised, while 

 other depths were opened; into which the water began to descend, 

 until the dry ground appeared.' — The Book of Enoch, Ixxxviii. 

 9 and 10. 



