( *97 ) 
menc- What fuggefted this Motion was an Obfervation l 
had made, that all the Lukes in the World, properly lo 
called, are found to be Salt, fome more fome lefs than the 
Ocean Sea, which in the prefent cafe may al(o ,be eftee- 
med a Lake ; fince by that term 1 mean fuch (landing Wa- 
ters as perpetually receive Rivers running into them, and 
have no Exite or Evacuation. v 
The Number of thefe Lakes, in the knbwn Parts of the 
World is exceeding fmall,' and indeed upon Enquiry C 
cannot be certain there are in all any more than four or 
five, viz* firft, The Caff tan Sea ; fecondly, The Mare 
Mortuum or Lacus Afpbaltites ; thirdly, The Lake on which 
(lands the City of Mexico, and fourthly. The Lake of 
Titicaca in Peru, which by a Channel of about fifty Leagues 
communicates with a fifth and fmaller, call’d the Lake 
of Faria , neither of which have any other Exite. Of thefe 
the Cafpian 9 which is by much the greateft, is reported 
to be fomewhat lefs fait than the Ocean. The Lacus Af- 
phaltites is fo exceedingly Salt, that its Waters feem fully 
fated, or fdarce capable to diflblve any more 5 whence in 
Summer-time its Banks are incruftated with great Quan- 
tities of dry Salt, of fomewhat a more pungent nature 
than the Marine, as having a Relilh of Sal Armoniac ; as 
I wds : informed by a curious Gentleman that was upon 
the place. . / 
The Lake of Mexico properly fpeaking is two Lakes, 
divided by the Caufways that lead to the City, which is 
built in Iflands in the midft of the Lake, undoubtedly for 
its Security ; after the Idea, tis probable, its firft Founders 
borrowed from their Beavers, who build their Houfes on 
Damms they make in the Rivers after that manner. 
Now that part of the Lake which is to the Northwards of 
the Town and Caufways, receives a River of a confiderablc 
magnitude, which being fomewhat higher than the other, 
does with a fmall Fall exonerate it felf in the Southern 
B b b part 
