of Water it could contain, regard being only to be had to the different degree of warmth, from the nearness or distance of the Sun; and an eternal East-wind would blow all round the Globe, inclining only to the same side of the East, as the Latitude doth from the Equator; as is observed in the Ocean between the Tropicks.
Next let us suppose this Ocean interspersed with wide and spacious Tracts of Land, with high Ridges of Mountains, such as the Pyrenean , the Alps , the Apennine , the Carpathian in Europe , Taurus , Caucasus , Imaus , and several others in Asia ; Atlas and the Montes Lunæ , with other unknown Ridges in Africa , whence came the Nile , the Nigre , and the Zaire : And in America , the Andes and the Apalatean Mountains; each of which far surpass the usual height to which the Aqueous Vapours of themselves ascend, and on the tops of which the Air is so cold and rarified, as to retain but a small part of those Vapours, that shall be brought thither by Winds. Those Vapours therefore that are raised copiously in the Sea, and by the Wind, are carried over the low Land to those Ridges of Mountains, are there compelled by the Stream of the Air to mount up with it to the tops of the Mountains, where the Water presently precipitates, gleeting down by the Crannies of the Stone; and part of the Vapour entering into the Caverns of the Hills, the Water thereof gathers as in an Alembick into the Basons of Stone it finds; which being once fill'd, all the overplus of Water that comes thither runs over by the lowest place, and breaking out by the sides of the Hills, forms single Springs . Many of these running down by the Valleys or Guts between the Ridges of the Hills, and coming to unite, form little Rivulets, or Brooks: Many of these again, meeting in one common Valley and