sides of the Continents several Islands or sets of Islands,
sown, as it were, by handfuls, or laid in trains; for
the manner of their generation would lead us to think
they would be so plac'd. So the American Islands lie
scatter'd upon the Coast of that Continent; the Maldivian and Philipine upon the East-Indian shore, and
the Hesperides upon the Africk; and there seldom happen to be any towards the middle of the Occan,
though, by an accident, that also might come to pass.
Lastly, it suits very well with our Explication, that
there should be Mountains and Rocks, sometimes in
clusters, sometimes in long chains, in all Islands; (as
we find there are in all that are true and Original
Islands) for 'tis that makes them high enough to appear above the water, and strong enough to continue
and preserve themselves in that high situation.
And thus much may suffice for a summary Explication of the causes of the Sea-chanel and Islands, according to our Hypothesis.
CHAP. XI.
Concerning the Mountains of the Earth, their
greatness and irregular Form, their Situation,
Causes, and Origin.
WE have been in the hollows of the Earth, and
the chambers of the Deep, amongst the
damps and steams of those lower Regions; let us now
go air our selves on the tops of the Mountains,
where we shall have a more free and large Horizon,
and quite another face of things will present it self to
our observation.
The greatest objects of Nature are, methinks, the
most pleasing to behold; and next to the great Concave of the Heavens, and those boundless Regions
where the Stars inhabit, there is nothing that I look
upon with more pleasure than the wide Sea and the
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