the South Sea. t6$ 



it breeds in the Earth, or in a Cellar, by putting in a Mix- 

 ture of Sulphur and Saltpeter, as Monfieur Chambon af- 

 firms. 



Befides, there want not Natural Philofophers, who place Metals y 

 Metals among Vegetables, and pretend that they proceed KgctAlt** 

 from an Egg ; an Opinion which neverthelefs does not 

 pleafe all Men, and to maintain which, they aliedge Fa£ts 

 that are too wonderful to be eafily believ'd. 



T'heophraftus affirms, that in the Ifland of Cyprus, there 

 grows a fort of Copper very like Gold, which being fow'd 

 in Bits, flioots like a Plant. Palilfi fays, that in Hungary 

 a very fine fort of Gold has been feen, which winding 

 about a certain Plant like Fibres, increas'd from time to 

 time. See John IVebfters Metallographia, London. 



The Ancient Philofophers, and fome of the Modern, Metals m 

 have afcribed to the Sun the Forming of Metals $ but befides form'd by tfa 

 that it is incomprehenfible that his Heat can penetrate to Sm - 

 an infinite Depth, a Man may undeceive himfelf in regard 

 to this Opinion, by reflexfting on an indifputable matter of 

 Fatt, which follows. 



About 3 o Years ago, a Flafli of Lightning fell on the prtvd by « 

 Mountain of llimanni, which is above La Paz, otherwife^ infancy 

 caird Chuquiago, a Town in Peru, 80 Leagues from Arica ; 

 it beat down a Part of it, the Pieces or Shivers whereof, 

 found fcatter'd about the Town and Country adjoining, 

 -were full of Gold, and yet the Mountain has been Time 

 out of Mind cover' d with Snow. Therefore the Heat of 

 the Sun, which has not been ftrong enough to thaw the 

 Snow, could not have the Power to form the Gold that 

 was under it, and which it has cover 'd without any In* 

 termillion. 



This Fa6t farther proves, that we are here mifinform'd 

 .as to the Country of the Mines ; for Vallemon, in his oc- 

 cult Philofophy, fays, c That Mines are known or dif- 

 * cover'd, when there is a white Froft on the Ground, 

 f and there is none on the Veins of Metals, becaufe they 

 4 exhale dry and hot Vapours, which hinder it from frecz- 



Y 2 < fa 



