1^8 Farther observations on the current that often 
In effect, the embouchures of rivers, situated in alluvial 
ground, always point in the direction of the stream of the sea 
current. The sand, mud, or gravel banks formed by the 
same current, lie in the same direction ; and with their narrowest, 
or sharpest point, downwards. 
In many places along the coast, water courses are found 
to terminate in long narrow lakes, with narrow sandy tracts, 
between them and the sea (through which the water still 
oozes, though all appears to be stagnant). These also have 
been formed by the sea currents, and point the same way. 
Originally, these water-courses, or rivers, gained the sea, near 
the place where the head of the lake now is ; but the sea 
current, forming sandy alluvion, along that part of the coast, 
the river kept its course within it, along the former sea shore; 
would commence. In the mean time, a triangular space of still water, would 
be formed between the original upper angle of junction, and the new one, occasioned 
by the obliquity of course : and this s till water, as is its nature, would let drop the 
mud and sand which it had held suspended, whilst in motion ; and thus begin to 
form a triangular bank, of the same shape and extent,* 
Here then the operation is commenced, in all its parts : and the triangular bank by 
its being constantly on the increase, will force the adjunct stream to borrow still more 
and more, on its opposite bank ; which will gradually wear away, until the angle of 
junction of the two waters, becomes so acute, that the adjunct stream no longer meets 
with any resistance, from that of the recipient ; but may be said to slide into contact 
with it. This then, is the natural state of the junction of streams : but after all, the 
point of junction will, although almost imperceptibly, move downwards; because the 
triangular bank must continue to receive additions, if left to itself. Mean time, the 
body of it rises by the continual depositions, above the surface of the water, and be- 
comes firm alluvial land ; its apex being the point of junction of the two waters ; and 
its direction, of course, the same with that of the stream of the recipient water. 
When two streams that are nearly equal to each other, in respect of bulk, and of 
velocity, join ; each of them, as it were, asserts its own rights ; and the collective 
* The reader is referred, for explanation, to the sketch on the following page. 
