Miscellanea Curiosa.

of the whole Vapours, because of the great extent of the Ocean, which the motion of the Wind does not traverse in a very long space of Time; and this is the Reason why the Rivers do not return so much into the Mediterranean, as is extracted into Vapour. A third part falls on the Low-Lands, and is the Pabulum of Plants, where yet it does not rest, but is again exhaled in Vapour by the action of the Sun, and is either carried by the Winds to the Sea to fall in Rain or Dew there, or else to the Mountains to be there turn'd into Springs; and tho' this does not immediately come to pass, yet after several Vicissitudes of rising in Vapour, and falling in Rain or Dews, each Particle of the Water is at length return'd to the Sea from whence it came. Add to this, that the Rain-waters after the Earth is fully sated with moisture, does, by the Vallies or lower parts of the Earth, find its way into the Rivers, and so is compendiously sent back to the Sea. After this manner is the Circulation perform'd, and I doubt not but this Hypothesis is more reasonable than that of those who derive all Springs from the Rain-waters, which yet are perpetual and without diminution, even when no Rain falls for a long space of time; or that derive them from a Filtration or Percolation of the Sea-waters, thro' certain imaginary Tubes or Passages within the Earth wherein they lose their Saltness. This, besides many others, labouring under this principal Absurdity, that the greatest Rivers have their most copious Fountains farthest from the Sea, and whether so great quantities of fresh Water cannot reasonably be deriv'd any other way than in Vapour. This, if we may allow final Causes, seems to be the design of the Hills, that their Ridges being plac'd thro' the midst of the Continents, might serve, as it were, for Alembicks to distil fresh Water for the use of Man