[ 536 ] 
Fire. The opinions of the ancients concerning the nature and properties of fire now only 
bold eonjeclures, p. 479. The profound veneration with which they contemplated 
that element accounted for, p. 480. Opinions of the alchymiils in the dark ages 
concerning it, ibid. On the revival of literature the nature of it began very foon 
to engage the . attention of philofophers, p. 481. Difficulties attending a philo- 
phical inveftigation of it, ibid. The firft Hep that was taken towards the cultivation 
of this branch of fcience, ibid. 
Fijb. Vaft quantities thrown on fir ore during a very dry feafon at the iiland of Sumatra, 
p.384. Conjecture of the caufe of that phenomenon, p . $$• 
Flies. Their ufefulnefs in deftroying putrefcent matter, p. 146. 
Floods of the tropical rivers. Probably, next to earthquakes, caufe the quickeft altera- 
tions in the face of our globe, p. 100. 
Fontana, Mr. See Air. 
Fordyce. See Crawford. 
Forjler, Dr. John Ileinhold, his natural hiftory, &c. of the Tyger-cat of the Cape 
of Good Hope, p. 1. Similitude between that animal and the Nfuffi, p. 3. And 
our domeffic cats, p, 4. Defcription of, ibid. Dimenfions of, p. 6. See Pennant. 
G. 
Ganges. See Rennell. Etymology of that name, p. 87. Fabulous account of the 
origin of, p. 89. Its courfe defcribed, in which it receives rivers, fome equal to the 
Rhine, and none fmaller than the Thames, ibid. Exceeds the Nile in magnitude, 
though not in length, p. 90. Different widths and depths of, p. 91. Though in 
fome places fordable, the navigation is never interrupted, but the principal branch 
cannot be entered by large veffels, ibid. Commencement of the head of the 
Delta, which is more than twice as large as that of the Nile, ibid. The part of the 
Delta bordering on the fea defcribed, p. 92. Width of the Ganges at its junction 
with the fea, p. 93. Medium rate of motion of that river, ibid. Its greater or 
lefs velocity, to what to be attributed, p. 94. The gradual change in the courfe of 
that river accounted for, p. 95. And the flacknefs of the tide, ibid. Decreafe in 
the breadth of that river in nine years, p, 96. Various alterations in the appearance 
of, 99. Prefumptive proof of its wandering from one fide of the Delta to the 
other, p. 102. Its annual fwelling and overflowing explained, p. 103. Still (hews 
itfelf by the grafs, 6 c c. on its banks and its rapid muddy ftream, even when the 
inundation becomes general, p. 104. Particular tra£ts of land, which require lefs 
moifture, are defended from the inundation by dykes, which do not always fucceed, 
and why, p. 105. The tide totally iofes its effeCt during the fwoln ftate of the 
river, ibid. Manner of navigating the river during the inundation, p. 106. Table 
of the gradual increafe of the river and that of its branches, ibid. See Hoogly , 
CLundnah, IJlands. Medium of that increafe, p. 107. The inundation is nearly at 
a Hand for fome days before it begins to run off', and why, ibid. Particular circum- 
ltance 
