the South- Sea. 1 1 3 



Mines, and loofed the Gold, which the Waters drove into 

 the lower Grounds, where it has continued to this Day. 



This Opinion, which Mr. Ifioodwardlus very much cn- D (fP r0V ^ 

 forc'd, is not well grounded on Scripture ; which, inftead 

 orfpeaking of fuch Overturning, feems, on the contrary, 

 to fignify to us, that the Deluge made very little Altera* 

 tion )pn the Surface of the Earth, fince the fecond Time 

 that Noah let go the Dove, fhe brought back an Olive 

 Branch. It may perhaps be alledg'd, that it was a Piece 

 that floated of aTreetorne up, or broken, fince, accord- 

 ing to the Report of Travelers, there are no Olivt Trees 

 about Mount Ararat, where the Ark refted, according to 

 Tradition. Tho' that were fo, it is at leaft likely, that 

 the third Time flie found fomething to fubfift on, fince flie 

 did not return, by which the Patriarch underft^od that the 

 Waters were dry'd. 



Without going back to fuch remote Times, I am of 'Another Qpi z 

 Opinion, that the Winter Rains alone may have caufed the 

 feme Effed ; they are fo heavy in Chili during the Months 

 of May, June, July and Auguft, and the Ground is fo lit- 

 tle fupported by Rocks, that every Day* there are new 

 Breaks, or Channels, form'd and enlarged on the Decli- 

 vity of the Mountains, which vilibly fink in an Infinity of 

 feveral Places. 



The frequent Earthquakes have alfo, doubtlefs, occa- Reinforcd. 

 fion'd great Alterations in that Country. Acofla tells us 

 of one, which in Chili overturn'd whole Mountains $ the 

 falling of which ftopp'd the Courfe of Rivers, and turn'd 

 them into Lakes, and made the Sea run feveral Leagues 

 beyond its Bounds, leaving the Ships upon dry Ground., 



This Reafon will not fit other Countries, where Gold More A r »- 

 Duft is found, as in the Rivers of Guinea, and Parts adja-" 0 *'* 

 cent ; it may be fuppofed, with the Author of the Book, 

 entitul'd, Curiofitates Phiolofophic<e, Lond. 1713, that the 

 Mountains have been overturn'd by a Fermentation ; and 

 that the Mines, not yet rightly form' d, burft, and in Pro- 



cefs 



