HINTS AND CONJECTURES. 321 



The seeds and roots of vegetables, and perhaps whole trees and 

 shrubs, -would float in considerable quantity ; and being left by the 

 retiring waters, mixed probably with a fine loam, would speedily 

 vegetate, and deck the new earth with verdure. In like manner, the 

 fishes, and other marine animals, though vastly reduced in numbers, 

 would still sufiice to stock the new seas, lakes, and rivers. It need 

 not be objected, that the salt water would kill all the vegetables; for 

 the salt water was then diluted in fresh water; nay, it would seem, 

 from the quantities of salt found imbedded in the strata, that it then 

 deposited much of its salt in a crystallized form. — As to the efi"ect of 

 the volcanic heat on animal and vegetable life, the chief I'egion of that 

 heat must have been at such a distance from the surface, that it could 

 have no fatal influence; except in a few spots, where the fused matter 

 overflowed the fissures of the strata, and formed overlying masses : 

 and even there it would soon cool, on approaching the surface. It is 

 well known, that animals and vegetables live and thrive on the skirts 

 of JStna, Vesuvius, and other volcanoes; and the volcanic heat at the 

 deluge might have a genial influence, occasioning a more rapid resto- 

 ration of the vegetable world, as soon as the land emerged from the 

 ocean. We need not then wonder, that at the distance of four 

 months after the ark ceased to float, the dove should find a fresh 

 olive leaf, which she plucked off and brought to Noah. And let it 

 be remembered, that the top of mount Ararat, whatever it may be 

 now, could not then be cold and bleak; for it would enjoy the same 

 atmosphere in point of density and warmth, as that of any low island 

 now situated in the same latitude. 



Further, it will be urged, as a formidable objection against our 

 theory, Why are not the remains of quadrupeds found in great quanti- 

 ties, imbedded in the strata? Why, especially, are no remains of man 

 found in them? To these questions we reply; that if, in most instances, 

 what was dry land before the deluge became the bed of the sea after it, 



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