GEOLOGICAL FEATURES OF OUR GLOBE. 
477 
Another remark may be made of these continental lines, 
which is, that they are seldom at rest, especially in tropical 
regions, where the source of disturbance arising from hurri- 
canes, tornadoes, typhoons, or whatever they may be called, is 
the most frequent and powerful ; perhaps the grand primary 
cause may be referred to the state of the ether our planet 
rolls through, which is perceived by the constant variation of 
the barometer to prove that infinitely more is to be attributed 
to it than is supposed, as it is continually changing in its 
character as we pass through it, and that atmospheric dis- 
turbance is to be regarded as the real cause of earthquakes 
seems to be inferred from Scripture, where it is alluded to as 
preceding a shock (see Exodus xix. 16, 18 ; 1 Kings xix. 11 ; 
Joel iii. 15, 16; Haggai ii. 6). 
The depressions and elevations which are constantly oc- 
curring in those lines are therefore correspondingly greater 
in the hottest regions. The Andes appear to be still rising, 
but whilst the range of New Zealand alps may be sinking, 
the country in general is being elevated ; large portions of 
Japan and the Philippines have also subsided ; the Maories 
have traditions of islands having been submerged. Williams 
likewise records that the natives of Rarotonga state their 
island was formerly united to Raiatea, a distance of fully six 
hundred miles, when the intervening land suddenly sank 
down, leaving only the small isles, which are now seen ; 
in fact, if credence is to be given to such accounts, a 
large portion of a southern continent must have disappeared. 
That there was one seems to be proved by the remnants 
of one common flora being* found through the length and 
breadth of the isles of that vast ocean, and this accounts for 
the fragmentary character of the line, its having been broken 
up into small islands, the peaks of submerged ravages ; 
indeed the elevation of these lines seems to point out such 
subsidence, whatever may be the height of one end of 
the plane, which is more immediately acted upon by the up- 
heaving power beneath, the depression at the other will 
correspond, if therefore as is supposed, the mountain range 
of New Zealand was once far more elevated than it is now, 
