Economic Geology. 21 



are unknown, or if known are neglected, since had the case 

 been otherwise it is certain that the records of our Indian 

 boring operations, varied and extensive as they have been, 

 would have exhibited results of a more satisfactory charac- 

 ter than they have hitherto done. It is undoubtedly true 

 that sources of failure lurk unseen in localities to all out- 

 ward appearance most favourable for boring experiments, 

 and no amount of geological knowledge can enable one 

 to predict, with absolute certainty, the success of individu- 

 al operations, any more than the most thorough acquaint- 

 ance with the laws of mortality can enable one to fore- 

 tel the duration of individual lives ; but still the geologist 

 is in possession of information which gives him the power 

 of duly estimating the probabilities for and against success 

 in each particular case, and can confidently point to the 

 course warranted by reason and experience. The proof of 

 the correctness of this remark will appear as we advance 

 into the subject of this paper. 



The clouds of heaven and the waters of the ocean are 

 the two great natural reservoirs by which the earth is 

 supplied with water, and a system of circulation is main- 

 tained between these through the medium of the atmos- 

 phere. We examine the beautiful, but hitherto inexplicable 

 machinery by which this process is carried on, in vain, to 

 discover indications of the first step towards its establish- 

 ment, and it is from an entirely different source we learn 

 that the earth was the primary source of the system, since 

 before rain fell " A mist went up from the earth and watered 

 all the ground." — The cycle thus commenced has flowed on 

 uninterruptedly ; from that early day is this world's history, 

 up to the present time, the source of unnumbered blessings 

 to the varied subjects of the kingdoms of nature. 



The waters of the ocean, in obedience to the law of eva- 

 poration, ascend through the lower portions of the atmos- 

 phere in minute and invisible particles, which under the 



