1 5 2 The Natural Hijiory Part IIL 



the Air to continue its Afeent, and 

 buoy it up ; fo that there then muft 

 needs have been an univerfal failure 

 and want of Springs and Rivers all the 

 Sumfiier-Seafbn, in the colder Climes : , 

 and all the Year round in the hotter 

 and thofe that are near tho JEquatorj 

 where there is much the greateft need 

 pf both the one and the other; and 

 this ipeerly for want of the Interpbfi- 

 tion of fuch dcnfe and folid StratAy to 

 arreft the afcending Vapour to flop it 

 at the Surface of the Earth : and to 

 colled and condenle it there. 



That though the Strata had become 

 folid, fb as to have condenfed the rifing 

 Vapour, yet if they had not been bro* 

 jIAsP^r/i. ken alfo, | the Water muft have lain 

 eternally underneath thofe 6Vr/«/^5with«^ 

 out ever coming forth ; fo that there 

 then could have been neither Springs 

 iior Rivers for a very confiderable part, 

 or indeed, almofl: the whole Earth ; 

 the Water, which fupplies thefe, pror 

 f conf. %, feeding out at thofe Breaches This 

 ifupra. Water therefore would have been 

 wholly intercepted, all lock'd up with-r 

 in the Earth, and its Egrefs utterly de- 

 barred, had the Strata oi Stone and 

 Marble rer}iained pontinuovjs , and 



