33 



rites, to the most recent lavas ; the other, less 

 accessible and more neglected, comprehends 

 the physical relations which link volcanoes 

 together, the influence of one volcanic system 

 on another, the connection that manifests itself 

 between the action of burning mountains and 

 the commotions which shake the earth at great 

 distances, and during a long time, in the same 

 direction. This study cannot make any pro- 

 gress, till the various epochas of simultaneous 

 action, the direction, the extent, and the force 

 of the commotions, are carefully noted ; as well 

 as their progressive advance toward regions, 

 which they had not yet reached*; and that 

 coincidence between distant volcanic eruptions 

 and those subterranean noises, which, on ac- 

 count of their force, the inhabitants of the 

 Andes denominate in a very expressive manner 

 subterraneous thunders, or roarings. All these 

 objects are comprehended in the domain of the 

 history of nature, a science which has not even 

 preserved it's n^me, and the origin of which, like 

 that of all other histories, begins with times 

 which appear to us fabulous, and catastrophes, 

 of which our imagination cannot embrace the 

 violence and magnitude. 



The study of the history of nature has been 

 long confined to that of the ancient document^ 



* See vol. ii, p. 230. 



vol. i^. o 



