457 



which unite several partial chains, have not 

 the highest summits, either in the Andes, or, 

 for the most part, in the great Cordilleras of 

 the ancient continent ; it is not even certain 

 that there is always in those knots a widening 

 of the chain. The greatness of the mass, and 

 the height so long attributed to points whence 

 several considerable branches issue, was found- 

 ed either on theoretic prejudices, or on false 

 measures. Men amused themselves by compar- 

 ing the Cordilleras to rivers that swell as they 

 receive a number of tributary streams. 



