the South- Sea. Zij 



rare, as at Cufco, Gmmanga^ and elfewhere ; for the fame 

 Reafon that they are more frequent in Italy than about the 

 Alps, In fine, k cannot but be own'd that the Water has 

 a great Share in Earthquakes, when we fee Fields run like Hm 

 melted Wax, and Lakes form'd on a fudden in Places that ma ^ rm ' 

 fink, becaufe the Earth fubfiding in the Water, obliges it 

 to rife above it, if the Quantity be eonfiderable, or elfe 

 to glide like Sand, ythen the Bafe is diffolv'd and on an 

 inclining Plar*. 



The Dread of Earthquakes has not obftru&ed their Churches m& 

 building many fine Churches, and high Steeples at Li?na„ Hou f e '* 

 It is true, that moft of the Arches are only of Timber 

 whitifli, or elfe of Cane Work, but fo well order'd, that 3 

 unlefs told it, no Man can difeern it. The Walls of the 

 great Structures are of burnt Bricks, and thofe of the letter 

 of unburnt Bricks. The Houfes have only a Ground Floor,, 

 in which there is fometimes one upper Story made of 

 Canes, that it may be light j and laftly, they are all with* 

 ©ut Roofs, becaufe k never rains there; 



A Phenomenon fo contrary to what we fee in> our Cli^ 

 niates^ immediately occafions two Queftions. *m g£*f&* 



The firft, how the Earth can produce, without Rain -ft m ** 



The fecond, how comes it, that it never rains along the- 

 Coaft, tho' it rains 1 5 or 20 Leagues from the Sea y up the 

 Country ? 



To anfwer the firft, I muff declare, that this Want Ftrtfiity m# 

 Rain renders almoft all the Country fruitiefs in the High- Barrmmf&. 

 lands; there are only fome Vales, through whtcfc Ri~ 

 wlets glide, coming down from the Mountains,, where 

 it rains and fnows, which afford any Produ^ and 

 which can confequently be inhabited* but in-thefe Places 

 the Earth is fo fruitful, andon the other hand the Country 

 h fo thin peopled, that thofe Vales are fufficient,, and-fiap- 

 ply all Things plentifully for the Subfiftence of the Inhabi- 

 tants."- The ancient Indians were- extraordinary induftriaus 

 in conveying the Water of the Risers to their Dwellings**, 

 there are (till to be feen 10 many Places Aquedii&s of Earthy 



