Part L of the Earth. 



them behind. And fb far they were 

 in the right : this was an Inference ra- 

 tional and natural enough. But when 

 they began to realbn about the means 

 how the Sea got thither, and a way 

 back again, there they were perfeftly 

 in the dark; and, both Tradition and 

 Philofbphy failing them, they had re- 

 courfe to Shifts, and to the beft Con- 

 jeftures they could think of ; conclu- 

 ding that it was either forced forth, as 

 in particular Inundations, fuch as thole 

 lately mentioned : or th^t thofe Parts^ 

 where they found the Shells, had been 

 formerly in the PpfTeflion of the Sea, 

 and the place of its natural Refidence, 

 which it had fince quitted and de- 

 fer ted. 



Upon this they began to feek out 

 by what means, moll probably, the 

 Sea might have been difpoiTeft ol:' thofe 

 Parts, and conftrained to move into 

 other Quarters. And if 'twas an Ifland 

 where they found the Shells, they 

 liraitways concluded that the whole 

 Ifland lay originally at the bottom of 

 the Sea: and that 'twas either hoifled 

 up by fome Vapour from beneath : or 

 that the Water of the Sea, which for- 

 merly coverM it, was in time exhaled, 



F 3 and 



