A Natural History: Containing Many not Common OBSERVATIONS: Extracted out of the best Modern Writers.  
BY Sir Thomas Pope Blount, Baronet.  Foelix qui potuit Rerum dignoscere Causas. Virgil. 
LONDON: Printed for R. Bentley in Russel Street, in Covent Garden. 1693.   

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE Henry Lord Capel, Baron of Tewksbury, and one of their Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council.  
My Lord,  
DEDICATIONS are in this Age grown so much in fashion, that an Author who appears without one, seems but an uncouth sort of Animal; and therefore since Necessity forces me to a Compliance with this Custom, I hope Your Lordship will vouchsafe to Honour this small Piece with Your Protection. My Lord, should I follow the common course of Dedications, I might here have a fair opportunity of Celebrating your many Virtues; here (indeed) is Field-Room enough to range in, and it is easy to be Eloquent upon such a Topick; but since Nature has by no means fitted me for Panegyrics, nor is there any need of Proclaiming that which every one already knows; I shall now wholly forbear anything of this kind.  
My Lord, what I now (with all deference) present to Your Lordship, is not any superficial, slight Notion of my own, but that which is here tendered, is a NATURAL HISTORY, drawn from the Writings of the Beaux Esprits, or the greatest Wits of the Present Age upon these several Subjects, so that I question not but Your Lordship will meet with some remarks, that may be Entertaining, Useful, and not Common. And if upon any Account it be acceptable to Your Lordship, I have then fully attained my End; since the utmost I can pretend to, is but a Pepper-Corn Acknowledgement from,  
Your Lordship's Most Devoted, And Obliged Humble Servant, Tho. Pope Blount.   

THE PREFACE.  
WHoever Surveys the Curious Fabric of the UNIVERSE, ●an never imagine, that so Noble a Structure should be Framed for no other Use, than barely for MANKIND to live and breath in. It was certainly the Design of the great Architect, that his Creatures should afford not only Necessaries and Accommodations to our Animal part, but also Instructions to our Intellectual. Every Flower of the Field, every Fiber of a Plant, every Particle of an Insect, carries with it the Impress of its Maker, and can (if duly considered) read us Lectures of Ethics or Divinity. The deeper insight any Man hath into the Affairs of NATURE, the more he discovers of the Accurateness, and Art, that is in the Contexture of Things: For the Works of God, are not like the Compositions of Fancy, or the Tricks of Jugglers, that will not bear a clear Light, or strict Scrutiny; but their Exactness receives advantage fro● the severest Inspection; and he admires most, that knows most. How unreasonable (then) are those Men, who will not herein allow us the use of ●our RATIONAL FACULTIES, but with great Fury and Zeal declaim against the Study of NATURE, as a thing most dangerous and pernicious; telling us, that too strict an Enquiry into the Works of NATURE, does often terminate in a Spirit of Atheism. But whoever He was that first broached this Doctrine, I am sure the true RELIGION is little beholden to him for it; for instead of Obeying the Jewish Law, which forbids us to offer up to God a Sacrifice that has a Blemish; He has only assigned to Religion those Men, who have the greatest Blemish of Humane Nature, even a defect in their Knowledge and Understanding. Indeed, it cannot but justly provoke any Man of an Ingenious temper, to hear after what manner some Men inveigh against REASON, calling it the Stepmother of FAITH, and a proclaimed Rebel against God Almighty; and such declared Traitors, ●s dare harbour it, or so much as appear in its defence. Methinks these Sort of Men Act every whit as foolishly, as He who in great wrath should break his Perspective, only because it could not bring home to his view the most remote Objects; and are as unjust as Jacob had been, if he had divorced from Leah, because she was Tender-eyed. Ever since FAITH and REASON have been by Divines set together by the Ears, the brutish Multitude conclude those who are most REASONABLE to be least RELIGIOUS; and the greatest SPIRITS to be the least SPIRITVAL: A conceit most inconsistent with that Divine Parable, wherein Those who received the Many Talents, improved them to the best advantage, whilst He who had but One, laid it up in a Napkin. Nor is it probable, that God would choose low Shrubs, and not tall Cedars, for the Building of his Glorious Temple. And besides, it is remarkable, that God in the Old Law refused to accept the Firstborn of an Ass in Sacrifice, but not of any other Creature. We have Reason (then) to think, that no Perfection is to be valued at so high a Rate, as a true Freedom and Ingenuity of Mind; 'Tis this that distinguishes Churches from Herds, as a Modern Author expresses it. And those Men who have laid aside the free and impartial use of their REASON, are just as fit for RELIGION, as Sheep and Oxen; for they differ only in this, that the One are Brutes without REASON, and the other Brutes with it. How could the Scythian have Sacrificed RATIONAL Being's, had he not first Sacrificed his own REASON? Or the Egyptian adored IRRATIONAL Creatures, had not He himself been one? Onion's could never have been Deities, if Egyptians had been Men; but when REASON was once banished the Temples, no wonder if Folly and Superstition commenced RELIGION; a Stock might be a Deity, when the Priest was no more. Thus than we see, that unless we make use of our RATIONAL Faculties, we presently cease from Acting like Men, nay, We do not so much in our Kind, as Beasts do in theirs, who justly obey the Prescrpit of their Natures, and live up to the height of that Instinct that Providence hath given them. But, alas! though every Man would be thought to be ANIMAL RATIONALE, yet how few are there who Act as if they really were so! insomuch that it may be truly said, Humanum paucis vivit genus; MANKIND is but preserved in a few Individuals; The greatest part of Men, like the Serpent, lie hissing and grovelling upon the Earth, and their Souls are so fixed in that grosser Moiety of Themselves, their Bodies, that nothing can Sublimate or Refine them. The numerous Rabble that seem to have the Signatures of Man in their Faces, are but Brutes in their Understanding, and have nothing of the Nobler part that should denominate their Essences; 'tis by the favour of a Metaphor, we call them Men, for at the best they are but Descartes's AUTOMATA, moving Frames and Figures of Men, and have nothing but their Outsides to justify their Titles to Rationality.  
Now, having said thus much, it remains only, that I apply myself to another sort of Men, and they are such, who pretend to be wiser and more knowing than the rest of Mankind: These, I know, will be apt to smile at, and despise many of the Subjects here treated of, as mean and trifling. What! Entertain such brave Heros, such mighty Dons, with an insipid Discourse of PLANTS, INFECTS and REPTILES! away with them, this is an Impertinence not to be boar with. But let these highflown Topping Sparks swell and strut as much as they please, I am sure one, who may be allowed to have a great deal more Wit than Themselves, I mean the Wise Solomon, was of another Opinion; for he thought it not beneath him to take notice as well of Abject REPTILES, as of Lions, Eagles, Elephants, and other noble Animals; nor did he only writ of the tall Cedars of Lebanon, but also of that Dspicable Plant, which grows out of the Wall. Pliny in his Treatise of INFECTS seems to be transported with an unusual admiration of the Workmanship of NATURE in them; Nusquam alibi spectatiore Naturae rerum Artificio; In nothing, saith he, is the Workmanship of NATURE more remarkable, than in the Contexture of these little Creatures. And after a Wonder, not unworthy a Philosopher, He concludes, Rerum Natura nusquam magis quam in Minimis tota est, NATURE in her whole Power is never more wholly seen than in her smallest Works. And from this very Opinion, in all probability, did Epicurus frame his Doctrine of ATOMS. The Gods, saith Aristotle, are as well in the least INFECTS, as in the most bulky ANIMALS; and therefore we ought not to despise these little Creatures. For on the contrary, as in Art, the less room a Picture takes up, the more it is esteemed; so in Nature, the less Volume Things are in, the more worthy they are of Admiration. Much to the same Effect saith that Noble Philosopher, Mr. boil, viz. That God's Wisdom appears not less in lesser Creatures, than in the larger; and that there is none of them so little, but would deserve a great deal of our Wonder, did we attentively enough consider it. History tells us, that Apelles was discovered by the skilful Protagoras, by drawing so fine and slender a Line, that Protagoras, by being scarce able to discern it, discovered it to have been drawn by Appelles; even so Almighty God, in these little Creatures, does often draw such exquisite and delicate Lines and Traces, that nothing less than the Divine Pencil could ever have framed the like: How can any thing be more stupendious and wonderful, than to see in these little Creatures all the Perfections of the largest Animals? They have the same Organs of Body, multiplicity of Parts, variety of Motions, diversity of Figures, and severality of Functions with those of the largest Size; And that which is still more wonderful, is, that all these in so narrow a room do neither interfere, nor impede one another in their several Op●rations.  
And now, that I may not be too tedious, I will close this PREFACE with a word or two, in Answer to one Objection, that this following Piece may seem liable to. I know many will think it very ahsurd and preposterous, that I should undertake to write a NATURAL HISTORY in so small a Volume, and Contract a Subject of the largest Field into so narrow a Compass. But in Answer hereunto I have this to say; that (indeed) had I taken in all things that properly relate to Natural History, instead of an Octavo, I could easily have swelled it into a Folio; but I considered, that by reason of the present Taxes men now are forced into good Husbandry, and that the laying out much Money in Books is by most men thought an unnecessary Charge fit to ●e retrenched: wherefore I resolved to make myself as easy to the Reader as I could, by not being too chargeable to him; and this I thought was best to be done, by singling out such Subjects only, as I knew contained in them matters of the greatest curiosity. So that (in a word) my chief Design is, that by the help of such a Vade Mecum, Gentlemen may entertain themselves upon these following Subjects, without too great an Expense either of Time, or Money.   

The several Subjects here treated of, are, as follow.  
MVsk. 
Pag. 1  Civit and Civet-Cats. 
Pag. 9  Amber. 
Pag. 13  Ambergris. 
Pag. 17  Coral. 
Pag. 23  Bezoar. 
Pag. 30  Cinnamon. 
Pag. 37  Nutmegs. 
Pag. 44  Pepper. 
Pag. 49  Cloves. 
Pag. 54  Ginger. 
Pag. 57  Manna. 
Pag. 61  Mastic. 
Pag. 65  Lignum Aloes. 
Pag. 70  Cochincel. 
Pag. 75  Indigo. 
Pag. 80  Cocoanut. 
Pag. 85  Cacao-Nut. 
Pag. 91  Tea, or The. 
Pag. 99  Cough. 
Pag. 107  Opium. 
Pag. 116  Tobacco. 
Pag. 123  Planting and Ordering Tobacco. 
Pag. 132  Sugar. 
Pag. 136  Ordering the Canes, and how the Sugar is made. 
Pag. 141  Diamonds. 
Pag. 150  Pearl. 
Pag. 158  Of the way and Manner of Diving for Pearl. 
Pag. 167  Several Precious Stones. 
Pag. 170  Loadstone. 
Pag. 182  Sea Ccompass. 
Pag. 190  Petrification. 
Pag. 195  Salt. 
Pag. 209  Gold. 
Pag. 225  Silver. 
Pag. 237  Generation of Metals. 
Pag. 245  Damps in Mines. 
Pag. 251  Generation of Infects. 
Pag. 262  Aunts, Emmet's, or Pismires. 
Pag. 276  Bees. 
Pag. 293  Gloworm. 
Pag. 303  Spiders. 
Pag. 313  Silkworm. 
Pag. 325  Snakes, Serpents, or Vipers 
Pag. 337  Tortoises. 
Pag. 349  Remarkable Trees. 
Pag. 356  Mountains. 
Pag. 368  Vulcano's, or Subterranean Fires. 
Pag. 388  Earthquakes. 
Pag. 403  Hurricanes. 
Pag. 416  Tornadoes. 
Pag. 434  Islands. 
Pag. 443  Origine of Fountains. 
Pag. 451    

A Natural History.  

Observations concerning MUSK.  
THe MUSK-Cat is a Creature almost like a Goat, bred in the Kingdom of Pegu, in the Indies; as also in Egypt, and other places. It has been brought into our Northern Countries, but through the disagreeableness of the Climate, it will not with us yield any MUSK, nor will it live long.  
Schroder says, that MUSK is an Excrement, or matter included in a Cistis or Bladder about the Navel, while the Creature is full of Venery. When this Imposthume swells much, and puts him to Pain, he rubs it against Stones or Shrubs. and breaks it, upon which the Matter falling it sticks, and, by Virtue of the Sunbeams, it becomes sweet-scented MUSK.  
Monsieur Thevenot tells us, That in the Province of Azmer, belonging to the Great Mogul, there is a Beast, like a Fox in the Snout, which is no bigger than a Hare: The Hair of it, is of the Colour of a Stags, and the Teeth like to a Dogs. He says, it yields most excellent MUSK; for at the Belly it hath a Bladder full of corrupt Blood, and that Blood maketh the MUSK, or is rather the MUSK itself; which they take from it, and immediately cover the place where the Bladder is cut with Leather, to hinder the Scent from evaporating: But after this Operation is made, the Beast is not long-lived.  
Monsieur Tavernier, in his Travels in India, says, That the best sort, and the greatest quantity of MUSK, comes from the Kingdom of Boutan, from whence they bring it to Patna, the chief City of Bengala, to truck it away for other Commodities: And that all the MUSK which is Sold in Persia, comes from thence: And that the MUSK-Merchants had rather deal with you for Coral and Tellow-Amber, than for Gold or Silver; in regard the other is more in esteem among the Natives where they live.  
Tavernier also tells us, That after they have killed the Creature, they cut off the Bladder that grows under the Belly, as big as an Egg, nearer to the Genital parts, than to the Navel: And that then they take out the MUSK that is in the Bladder, which at that time looks like Clotted-Blood.  
He observes to us, That this Creature is not to be found in 65 degrees, but in 60 there are vast Numbers, the Country being all over covered with Forests. But he says, that in the Months of February and March, after they have endured a sharp Hunger, by reason of the great Snows that fall where they breed, Ten or Twelve Foot deep, they will come to 44 or 45 degrees to fill themselves with Corn and new Rice. And then it is that the Natives lay Gins and Snares for them, to catch them as they go back: Shooting some with Bows, and knocking others o'the head. Nay, he says, some have assured him, That they are so lean and faint with Hunger at that time, that one may almost take them running  
He also informs us, That none of these Creatures have above one Bladder, no bigger th●n a Hen'segg, which will not yield above half an Ounce of MUSK; and that sometimes three or four will not afford an Ounce; and yet what a world of MUSK is bought up!  
There are three sorts of MUSK, Black, Brown, and Yellow; of which the First is naught, the Second is good, the last best; which ought to be of Colour like the best Spikenard, that is, of a deep Amber Colour, enclosed with one only Skin, and not one over another, as it is oftentimes to 〈…〉- moist, which make●● 〈…〉 but in a mean; having som● 〈…〉 like Bristles, but not over many clear of Stones, Led, or ●ther Trash intermixed; and of so strong and fragrant a smell, that to many it is offensive, and being tasted in the Mouth, it pierceth the very Brain with the Scent, and ought not oversoon to dissolve in the Mouth, nor yet to remain very long undissolved in any hand; it must not be kept near to any sweet Spices, lest it lose the scent PURCH. P●lgr. Vol. 1. Pag. 389.  
That the Testicles of the Animal called MUSK-QUASS do smell strong of MUSK, as Mr. josselin in his Treatise of the Rarities of New-England affirms, is most certain; for a certain Person, (as you may see in the Philosoph. Transact) t●lls us,  
There is a Plant, pretty common in England, viz. One kind of Cranes-Bill, called Geranium Moschatum, that smells just like MUSK, especially Morning and Evening.  
There are several ways of adulterating MUSK. Sometimes with Roots of Angelica, a Kid's Liver, or Goat's Blood, p. iiii., of it to i p. of MUSK. As also with Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Cloves, Spikenard, ana, mixed with MUSKED Rose-Water. And sometimes with Benjamin, Storax, and Laudanum.  
The King of Boutan fearing that 〈◊〉 Cheats and Adulterations of 〈◊〉 ●●SK would spoil the MUSK- 〈◊〉 ordered that none of the 〈◊〉 should be sowed up, but 〈◊〉 they should be all brought to 〈◊〉, and there, after due inaction, be sealed up with his Seal. 〈◊〉 notwithstanding all the wariness and care of the King, they will 〈◊〉, cunningly open them, 〈◊〉 put in little pieces of Lead to 〈◊〉 the Weight.   

Observations concerning CIVET, and CIVET-CATS.  
THe CIVET-CAT is a Beast almost as big as a good Dog; it hath a sharp Snout, small Eyes, little Ears, and Mustachios like a Cat; the Skin of it is all spotted Black and White, with some yellowish specks, and hath a long bushy Tail, almost like a Fox. It is a very Wild Creature; and I believe the by't of it would put a Man to no small pain. There is great plenty of this sort of Animals in Aethiopia, but especially in the Kingdom of Naria, Tributary to the King of Aethopia; where the jews keep them in great square Wooden Cages, feeding them with raw Mutton and Beef, cut into small pieces. When they would get from them that which is called CIVET, (and is the Sweat of this Beast, that smells so sweet,) they make him go back with a Stick, which they thrust in betwixt the Bars of the Cage, and catch hold of his Tail; when they have that fast, they take hold also of his two hind Legs, pulling him half out of the Cage by the Door, which falls down upon his back, and keeps him fast there, than another opens a certain ●od of Flesh, that these Beasts have, which is shaped like a split Gysern, and with an Iron-Spatula scrapes all the Sweat off it within. The Males have that piece of Flesh betwixt their Stones and Yard, which is like a Cats. The Females have it betwixt their Fundament and Privities; and it is emptied of the Sweat but twice a Week; each Beast yielding about a Drachm at a time. When that Sweat or Excrement is taken out, it is of a whitish Grace, but by little and little in some short space it turns to a very brown Colour. It smells very sweet at a distance, but near hand it stinks, and causes the Headache. There are as many Kind's of CIVET-Sweat, as there are of CIVET-CATS, for it is more whitish, grayish, or yellowish, and drier, in some than in others, and yet they mingle all together. After all, it is in vain to think to have pure CIVET, for the jews falsify it; and if a Man imagine it to be pure, because he has seen it taken from the Beast, he is mistaken; for the jews (before People come to their Houses) rub the inside of that piece of Flesh, with a little Oil, or some such stuff, that so the Sweat and it together may make more Weight; but when no body is present, they take it out pure, and mingle it afterwards. The jews hold this Beast very dear, the common rate for a CIVET-CAT being an hundred Chequins. THEVENOT's Travels, Pag. 239.  
The Island of Socotora in the East-Indies does so abound with CIVET-CATS, that as Purchas, Vol. 1. Pag. 419. tells us, They often take them with Traps on the ●ountains, and sell them for Twelve Pence a piece, to such as will buy them.  
Dr. Stubbes, in his jamaica Observations, saith, That CIVET-CATS will live above a Month without drinking, as he himself once tried on one that he kept: But that if they drink once a Month, they will then yield more CIVET; and so, if they be fed with Fish. He also says, they Piss much, as do Rabbits. PHILOS. TRANSACT. Numb. 36 Pag. 704.  
The Lord Bacon, in his Natural History, Cent. X. Pag. 204. says, That the smells of MUSK, Amber, and CIVET, are thought to further Venereous Appetite: Which, in his Opinion, they may do, by the Refreshing and calling forth of the Spirits.  
It is a certain Received Opinion, That CIVET put into Wine adds much to the strength of it, and gives it a more Inebriating Quality.  
CIVET is adulterated with the Gall of a Bull, liquid Storax, and Honey.   

Observations concerning AMBER.  
GReat variety of Opinions hath there been concerning AMBER. Some think it to be a Gum that distils from Trees: Others tell us, it is made of Whale's Dung; or else of their Sperm or Seed, (as others will have it,) which being consolidate and hardened by the Sea is cast upon the Shore.  
But Peter Heylin affirms, That AMBER is the Juice of a Stone, which grows like a Coral in Poland, in a Mountain of the North Sea, clean covered with Water; and that in the Months especially of September and December, this Liquor is by violence of the Sea, rend from the Rock, and cast into the Havens of Poland, and the Neighbouring Countries: He likewise affirms, that being taken out of the Water, it hardens like to Coral: And that besides its Beauty, and the Quality it hath of burning like Pitch, and attracting Straws and Iron, like the Adamant, it is good for stopping the Blood, all kind of Agues, Falling Sickness, Dropsies, Stone, Colic, Weakness of Stomach, Headache, and the Yellow Jaundice. PET. HEYL. Cosmog.  
Tavernier says, that AMBER is nothing but a certain Congelation made in the Sea, like a certain Gum: And that Yellow AMBER is only found upon the Coast of Prussia in the Baltic Sea, where the Sea throws it upon the Sand, when such and such Winds blow. He affirms, that the Elector of Brandenburg, who is Sovereign of that Coast, Farms it out for Twenty Thousand Crowns a Year, and sometimes Two and Twenty Thousand. And that the Farmers keep Guards on both sides of the Shoar, in regard the Sea casts it up sometimes upon one side, and sometimes upon the other, to prevent the stealing of it. TAVERN. Travels in India, Pag. 152.  
In China, when any great Lord makes a Feast, it is for his Grandeur and Magnificence to cause three or four several sorts of Perfuming-Pots to be set upon the Table, and to throw into every one of them a vast quantity of AMBER; for the more it burns, and the bigger the pieces are, the more magnificent is the Entertainment accounted. The reason of this Custom is, because they adore the Fire; and besides that the AMBER casts forth a scent pleasing to the Chinese, there is a kind of Oil in it, that flames after a more unusual manner than other materials of Fire. This waste of AMBER makes it the best Commodity that could be imported into China, if the Trade were free for Strangers. At present the Hollanders have engrossed all this Trade to themselves, and the Chineses Authors) affirm it to be a kind of Bitumen, issuing from Fountains, or Springs in the bottom of the Sea, and that by floating upon the Water it becomes hard, etc.  
justus Klobius, in his H●storia Ambra●, reckons up no less than Eighteen several Opinions concerning this Noble Drug: But that which he embraces, is, That it is the Dung of a Bird, of the bigness of a Goose, found in Madagascar, the Maldives, and other parts of the East-Indies; and that these Birds, flocking together in great Numbers, as Cranes; and frequenting high Cliffs near the Seaside, do there void their Excrement, from whence the Sea washes it, if it fall not of itself into it.  
There is another Opinion also among the Eighteen, to which Klobius seems well inclined, but yet dares not wholly stick to it; viz. That it is the Excrement of a particular sort of Whale. But that which makes him not rely upon this this Opinion, is, because he observes, there is none of this Drug to be had in those other places, where there is good store of such Whales.  
The Honourable Robert boil, Esquire, in a Letter to Mr. Oldenburgh, Dated September 13. 1673. after he had declared how little satisfied he was with the common received Opinions of AMBERGRIS, at last affixes to the said Letter an Extract out of a Dutch journal, belonging to the Dutch East-India Company; which is in these words. AMBERGRIS is not the Scum or Excrement of the Whale, etc. but issues out of the Root of a Tree, which Tree how far soever it stands on the Land, always shoots forth its Roots towards the Sea, seeking the warmth of it, thereby to deliver the fattest Gum that comes out of it: Which Tree otherwise by its copious fatness might be burnt and destroyed. wherever that fat Gum is shot into the Sea, it is so tough, that it is not easily broken from the Root, unless its own weight and the working of the warm Sea doth it, and so it floats on the Sea. PHILOSOPH. TRANSACT. Numb. 97.  
Tavernier in his Travels in India, says, There is no Person in the World that knows either what AMBERGRIS is, or where, or how it is produced. But the fairest probability is, that it must be only in the Eastern-Sea: Though some Parcels have been found upon the Coast of England, and in some other parts of Europe. He says, that the greatest quantity is found upon the Coast of Melinda, but more especially in the Mouth of a River called Rio de Sena: That the Governor of Mozambique gets in the three Years of his Government above Three Hundred Thousand Pardo's of AMBERGRIS, every Pardo containing 27 Sous of French Money: That sometimes they meet with very large and very considerable pieces, viz. Of Thirty or Forty, Pounds Weight. TAVERN. Trau. in India, pag. 152.  
Sir Philoberto Vernatti, late Resident in java Major, says, That the best AMBERGRIS in the World comes from the Island Mauritius in the East-Indies; and is commonly found after a Storm: That the Hogs can smell it at a great distance; who run like mad to it, and devour it commonly before the People come to it: That it is held to be a Zeequal Viscosity, which, being dried by the Sun, turns to such a Consistence as is daily seen. He mentions one Isaac Vigny, a Frenchman, who had been a great Traveller in his time, who told him, that he had sailed once in his Youth through so many of these Zeequalen, as would have loaded Ten Thousand Ships; the like having been never seen; and that his Curiosity drove him to take up some of those, which being dried in the Sun, were perceived to be the best AMBERGRIS in the World. Sir Philoberto, says, He has seen one piece which the Frenchman kept for a Memento, and another piece he sold for Thirteen Hundred Pounds Sterling: This being discovered, They set Sail to the same place where these Zeequalen appeared, and Cruised there to and fro, for the space of six Weeks, but could not perceive any more. Where this place is seituated, Sir Philoberto says, He knows not; but Monsieur Gentillot, a French Captain in Holland, does. SPRAT's Hist. of the R. S. pag. 168.  
There is AMBERGRIS of four several Colours; White, Grace, Red, and Black; which comes according to the variety of Places or Regions where it is found; the Grace is preferred before all the other, and is known to be good, if when pricking it with a Pin, it sends out a moisture like Oil.  
The Black or White AMBERGRIS is adulterated with a little mixture of Musk and Civet with Storax, Laudanum, and Lignum-Aloes, but may easily be known by the scent.   

Observations concerning CORAL.  
THere are several sorts of CORAL, but the two Principal are the White and the Red; but the Red is the best. It grows like a Tree in the bottom of the Sea, green when under the Water, and bearing a White Berry; and when out, it turns Red. There is also a Black and Yellow kind of CORAL. Nay, Linschot in his Description of the East-Indies, says, That at the Cape of Bon-Esperance there are Rocks on which CORAL grows of all Colours.  
CORAL, but little valued in Europe, is highly esteemed in all the three other parts of the World. There are three places where they Fish for it upon the Coast of Sardigna. That of Arguerrel is the fairest of all. The second place is called Boza; and the third is near the Island of St. Peter. There are two other places upon the Coast of France, the one near the Bastion of France; the other at Tabarque. There is also another Fishery upon the Coast of Sicily, near Trepano, but the CORAL is small, and ill-coloured. There is another upon the Coast of Catalogna, near Cape de Quires, where the CORAL is large, and of an excellent Colour, but the Branches are short. There is a Ninth Fishery in the Island of Majorque, much like that near the Island of Corsica. And these are all the places in the Mediterranean Sea, where they Fish for CORAL; for there is none at all in the Ocean. TAVERN. Trau. in India.  
They Fish for CORAL, from the beginning of April to the End of july; to which purpose there are employed above two Hundred Vessels; some Years more, and some Years less. They are built all along the River of Genoa, being very swift. Their Sails are very large for more swiftness, so that there are no Galleys can reach them. There are seven Men and a Boy to every Bark. They never Fish above forty Miles from the Land, where they think there are Rocks, for fear of the Pirates, whom they easily escape through the nimbleness of their Vessels. Ibidem.  
Monsieur Chapuzeau, in his History of the Riches of the East and West-Indies, says, That the manner of Fishing for CORAL, is with two big Beams of Wood, laid crosswise, with a good piece of Lead on the middle, to make it sink, casting about it course Hemp, carelessly twisted, and tying this Wood to two Ropes, whereof one hangs at the Stern, and the other at the forepart of the Boat; and so letting this contrivance fall into the Current, along the Rocks, where the Hemp being turned about, and engaged in the CORAL, there is occasion sometimes for a great many Boats to draw away the Instrument.  
The common Opinion, That CORAL is soft under Water, but waxeth hard in the Air, hath been sufficiently re●uted by several. johannes Begvinus, in his Chapt. of the Tincture of CORAL, undertakes to clear the World of this Error, from the very Experiment of john Baptista de Nicole, who was Overseer of the Gathering of CORAL in the Kingdom of Thunis. This Gentleman, saith he, desirous to find out the Nature of CORAL, and to be resolved how it grows at the bottom of the Sea; caused a Man to go down no less than a Hundred Fathom, on purpose to take notice, whether it were hard or soft in the place where it grows. Who returning, brought in each Hand a Branch of CORAL, affirming it was as hard at the bottom, as in the Air where he delivered it. The same was also confirmed by a Trial of his own, handling it a Fathom under Water before it felt the Air.  
Boetius, in his accurate Tract de Gemmis, is of the same Opinion; not ascribing its Concretion unto the Air, but to the coagulating Spirits of Salt, and the petrifying Juice of the Sea, which entering the Parts of that Plant, overcomes its Vegetability, and converts it into a Stony substance. And this, says he, doth happen when the Plant is ready to decay; for all CORAL is not hard, and in many Concreted parts some parts remain unpetrified, that is, the livelier parts remain as Wood, and were never yet converted. BROWN's Vulg. Errors.  
The Lord Bacon, in his Natural History, tells us, there are very few Creatures that participate of the Nature of Plants and Metals both; but that CORAL is one of the nearest of both Kind's. But the Ingenious Monsieur Guisony seems to be of another Opinion, for he utterly denies CORAL to be a Plant, affirming that it is a mere Mineral, composed of much Salt, and a little Earth; and that it is form into that substance by a precipitation of divers Salts, tha● ensues upon the Encounter of the Earth with those Salts. PHILOSOPH. TRANSACT. Numb. 99 pag. 6159.  
Of the Nature and Generation of CORAL, it is affirmed by the Honourable Mr. boil, That whilst it grows, it is often found Soft and Succulent, and propagates its Species. And by Georg. de Sepibus, That of those who had been used for many Years to dive for CORAL in the Red-Sea, Kircher learned thus much; That it would sometimes let fall a Spermatick Juice, which lighting upon any [Steady] body, would thereupon produce another CORAL. And further, by Wormius and Tavernier, from the Relations of others, That this Juice is White or Milky. Which may seem the more Credible, when we consider that the like Milky substance is found in divers Mines. Sometimes enclosed, (as is observed in the Philos. Transact. Numb. 100 by Mr. George Planton,) in great Hollows of the Metallic Rock. And that Mr. Beaumont (Philos. Transact. Numb. 129. Pag. 730.) hath found in the Hollows of some Stones called Entrochi, and Rock-Plants, or akin to them, an evident Concretion of such Milky Juice. GREW's Mus. Regal. Societ.  
Paracelsus makes an Amulet of CORAL against Fears, Fright, Melancholy, Epilepsy, Enchantment, and Witchcraft.  
The Learned Dr. Brown, in his Vulgar Errors, seems to suspect, That the Custom of children's wearing CORAL, was at first superstitiously founded; and that (possibly) in former times, it might be looked upon as an Amulet or Defensative against Witchcraft.   

Observations concerning BEZOAR.  
THe Deer-Goat, is a Creature bred both in the East and West-Indies: That from Persia and the East-Indies yields the Oriental BEZOAR, being partly like a Deer, partly like a Goat. That of Peru is like the former, but without Horns, yielding the Occidental BEZOAR. The BEZOAR Stone is of an Oval Form, or round, hollow within, (the Oriental having Chaff, Hair, Sticks, Grains, Filth, or the like, in its Capacity, the Occidental Not) shining and smooth without, having a Coat ●olded like an Onion, of a various Colour, but generally of a Blackish● Green, Pale, Ash-colour, or Hony-Colour, without scent, and much about the bigness of a Walnut. The Occidental is rough without, Whitish, Ash-coloured, Black, or Blackish Green, and generally bigger than the former.  
BEZOAR, (says Tavernier) comes from a Province of the Kingdom of Golconda, toward the North-East. It is found among the Ordure in the Paunch of a Wild-Goat, that browzes upon a certain Tree, the Name whereof Tavernier had forgot. This Shrub bears little Buds, round about which, and the Tops of the Boughs, the BEZOAR Engenders in the Maw of the Goat. It is shaped according to the form of the Buds, or Tops of the Branches or which the Goats eat: Which is the reason there are so many shapes of BEZOAR Stones.  
The Natives (as Tavernier informs us) know by feeling the Belly of the Goat, how many Stones she has within, and sell the Goat according to the quantity. This they will find out by slideing their hands under their Bellies, and then shaking both sides of the Paunch; for the Stones will fall into the middle, where they may easily count them all by their feeling.  
The rarity of BEZOAR is in the bigness; though the small BEZOAR has the same Virtue as that which is larger. But there is more deceit in the large BEZOAR; for the Natives have got a trick to add to the bigness of the Stone, with a certain Paste composed of Gum, and something else of the Colour of BEZOAR. And they are so cunning too, to shape it just like Natural BEZOAR. The cheat is found out two ways; the first is by weighing the BEZOAR, and then sleeping it in warm Water: If neither the Water change Colour, nor the BEZOAR lose any thing of its Weight, the Stone is right. The other way is to thrust a red hot Bodkin of Iron into the Stone; If the Bodkin enters, and causes it to fry, there is a mixture. TAVERN. Trau. in India, Pag. 153, 154.  
As well in the East, as West, there are a great quantity of BEZOARS that breed in the same m●nner in Cows; of which there have been some that have weighed Seventeen or Eighteen Ounces; for there was such a one that was given to the Great Duke of Tuscany. But those BEZOARS are little esteemed, Six Grains of the other BEZOAR working more powerfully than Thirty of this.  
As for the BEZOAR which breeds in Apes, as some believe it, it is so strong, that two Grains work as effectually, as Six of Goat's-BEZOAR: B●t it is very scarce, as being only found in those Apes, that breed in the Island of Macassar. This sort of BEZOAR is round, whereas the other is of several Fashions. And as the Apes-BEZOAR is stronger, and scarcer than the Goat's, so it is dearer, and more 〈…〉; a p●●ce as big as 〈…〉 worth a 〈…〉 The Portugals 〈…〉 ●f this BEZOAR 〈…〉 upon their 〈…〉 Personed. TAVER●● 〈◊〉 154.  
There hath always 〈…〉 Dispute amongst the 〈◊〉, concerning the part wh●re the Stone grows. Tav●●nier d●clares, he could not find it out, though he laboured all he could.  
The Arabians writ, That the Goat-●eer, and all other sorts of Deer, finding themselves Old and Sick, ●y their breath draw Serpent's out of their Holes and devour them, that ●o thereby they become youn● and well again; after which, ●inding themselves heated by this ●ood, th●● 〈◊〉 into the Water, and 〈◊〉 there thou't drinking till their 〈…〉; during which stay 〈…〉, this St●ne is bred in the Corne●● of their Eyes, whence 〈…〉.  
But Monardes', more probably, learned from the Inhabitants of the Mountains of China, that in the Indies near the River ●anges, these Goat-Deer, after their ●●●ing of Serpent's, go about the Tops of the Mountains, seeding on such Herbs, as Nature hath taught them resist Poisons; of the Quintessence whereof, mixed with that of the Poisons, the BEZOAR is by some particular Virtue, produced in some cavity of their Bodies; Garsias ●b Horto, and Acosta say, in their Stomach; Others, as Fragosus, in the Kidneys, because some Stones have the Figure of that p●rt, which also is the most Lapidi●ick of the whole Body; and others too, as R●bbi Moses the Egyptian, in the Gall; which Opinion Monardes' himself is o●, though he admits too that it is found in the Ventricle, Intestines, and other 〈◊〉 of the Body: As, indeed, there is no place in the Bodies of Animals, but Stones may be generated in them. PHILOS. CONFER. of the Virtuosos of France. Vol. 2. Pag. 365.  
This word [BEZOAR] some think is derived from the Hebrew Bel, which signifies King, and Zaars, Poisons, as if it were the King or Master of Poisons, which are subdued more powerfully by this than any other Remedy. According to Scaliger, BEZOHARD is taken by the Arabians for that which preserves Life, and so the Stone will have borrowed its Name from its Effect. Cardan says, There is a Poisonous Root of this Name, which bears a Fruit called Nirabri, which is an Antidote to it. Plants and every thing good against Poisons, is commonly termed BEZOARDICAL. Ibidem.  
Tavernier says, That he once sold a BEZOAR of four Ounces and a half, for two Thousand French Livers.  
He affirms, That it is Death without Mercy, to transport any of these Goats out of the Country.  
The BEZOAR Stones are adulterated with Pitch, dried Blood, Stones powdered fine, Ashes of Shells, Antimony, Cinnabar, Mercury, mixed with small BEZOAR-Stones tightly pulverised, and made up with a proper Mucilage.  
The Persian BEZOAR is best; then that of Peru; then that from New-Spain. The Oriental BEZOAR is the most Sudorific; the Occidental most purging.   

Observations concerning CINNAMON.  
CINNAMON comes at present from the Island of Ceylan. The Tree that bears it is very much like the Willow, and has three Barks. They never take off but the first and second, which is accounted the best. They never meddle with the third, for should the 〈◊〉 enter that, the Tree would die. So that it is an Art to take o 〈◊〉 the CINNAMON, which they learn from their Youth. The CINNAMON Spice is much dearer to the Hollanders than People think; for the King of Ceylan, being a sworn Enemy to the Hollanders, sends his Forces with an Intention to surprise them, when they gather their CINNAMON; so that they are forced to bring Seven or Eight Hundred Men t●●●ther to ●●●end as many more that are at Work Which great Expense of thei●s, very much enhances the Price of the CINNAMON. There grows upon the CINNAMON Tree a ●ruit like an Olive, though not to be eaten. This the Portugals were wont to put into a Cauldron of Water, together with the Tops of the Branches, and boiled it till the Water was all consumed. When it was cold, the upper part became a Paste like white Wax; o● which they made Tapers to 〈◊〉 up in their Churches, 〈◊〉 no sooner were the 〈…〉 but all the Church 〈…〉 fumed. Formerly the Po●●●gals brought CINNAMON out of ●ther Countries, belonging to the rajas about C●●hin. 〈…〉 Hollanders have destroyed all those places, so that the CINNAMON is now in their hands. TAVERN. of the Commodities belonging to the G. Mog●l.  
CINNAMON formerly grew in such great plenty in Aethiop●●, that we find the Southern part of it was called by Ptolemy the Geographer, REGIO CINNAMO MI FERA, from the great quantity of CINNAMON which then grew there, though now there is not a Tree of it to be found in all this Country, as the portugals, who have looked narrowly ●o● it, have affirmed. PET. 〈◊〉.  
The Ancient CINNAMON was, of all other P●am●, while it grew, the driest; and those Things which are known to comfort 〈◊〉 Plants, did make that more barren: For in Showers it prospered worst: It grew also amongst Bushes of other Kind's, where commonly Plants do not thrive: Neither did it love the Sun: There might be one Cause of all those Effects; namely, the Sparing Nourishment, which that Plant required. BAC. NAT. Hist.  
There is a great Dispute concerning the difference between Cassia Lignea and CINNAMON; Some say, they are both one, differing only in Names; Others, that they are the same, but differ only in place; Others, that they come both off of the same Tree, and so call the outward thickest Bark Cassia Lignea, the inward thin Bark the CINNAMON: Others say, that they come off o● different Trees that are very like, so that the Cassia may be made a CINNAMON-Tree by Transplantation: But doubtless, the Shop-CINNAMON or Canella, is the true Cassia of the Ancients; and if we must distinguish, you may call the thicker Bark Cassia, and the thinner CINNAMON.  
CINNAMON was so scarce in Galen's time, that he says, Lib. 1. De Antid. No Man had any but the Emperor. But Scaliger is of the Opinion, that the CINNAMON which we now use, is very different from what was in Galen's Days. CAESAR. SCALIG. Exercit. 144  
It is a great mistake to think (as many do) that CINNAMON will hold good for Twenty or Thirty Years, and that it impairs not with Age: For that great Father of Physicians, Galen, in the place just now mentioned, tells us, that by his own Experience he found the contrary.  
Monsieur Thevenot says, that the Isle of Ceilan produces the best CINNAMON; that the Tree (from which they have that Bark) is straight, and pretty like to the Olive-Tree; that it bears a white Flower of an excellent Scent, and that the Fruit of it is round; that they take off the Bark in the Summer time, and that when they cut it, the smell is so strong, that the Soldiers (who are to Guard the same) fall almost Sick upon't. He says, that towards Cochin there is wild CINNAMON; but because it is weak, it is not much esteemed. THEVENOT's Trau. into the Indies, Pag. 109.  
There are some who affirm, th●t CINNAMON when first gathered hath no taste at all, but acquires its taste and strength by fifteen Days Sunning. But in answer hereunto, Sir Philoberto Vernatti, late Resident in java Major, saith, That the CINNAMON-Tree, as it groweth, is so fragrant, that it may be smelled a great way off before it be seen: And that it hath even then, a most Excellent taste; so that by Sunning, it loses rather, than acquires any taste or force. He also affirms, that the Tree being peeled, is cut down to the Root; but that the young Sprigs, after a Year or two▪ give the best and finest CINNAMON. SPRAT's Hist. of the R.S. Pag. 169.  
In the Philosophical T●ansactions, Numb. 172. Pag. 1031. we have an account of a sort of White CINNAMON, which comes from Guardaloupe.  
The Ephemerideses Medico-physicae Germanicae, for the Years ●673. and 1674. make mention of ●INNAMON-Trees, sent o●t of Ceylan in Chests, filled 〈…〉 Native Earth of that Island, 〈◊〉 into the Low Country's, and there thriving very well, 〈◊〉 any considerable change of their Quality.  
Linschoten says, that t●●●●●NAMON-Trees grow 〈◊〉 Island of Ceylan in great 〈◊〉, and that they sp●ing up 〈…〉 without Planting, in ●he open Fields like ●ushes; 〈◊〉 the Tree from whence 〈◊〉 B●rk is ●●ken, they let it stand, and within three Years▪ after it hath another Bark as it had before.  
The CINNAMON that is not well dried, is of an Ash-Colour; and that which is overmuch dried, is Blackish; but the best dried, is Reddish.   

Observations concerning NUTMEGS.  
THe NUTMEGS grow in the Molucca Islands, Zeilan, and the Isle of Banda in the East-Indies.  
The Tree is somewhat like a Peach: The Fruit consisteth of four parts; the First, is a thick covering, like that of a Walnut. The Second, a dry and Hosculous Coat, commonly called MACE. The Third, a harder Tegument or Shell, which lieth under the Mace. The Fourth, a Kernel included in the Shell, which is the same we call NUTMEG: All which both in their parts, and order of disposure, are easily discerned in those Fruits, which are brought in Preserves to us. BROWN's Vulg. Errors.  
There are two sorts of NUTMEGS, the Male which is long, and the Female round. Sir Philoberto Vernatti, late Resident in java Major, takes particular notice of the NUTMEG called Thieving: So called, because that being put among a whole Room full of good NUTMEGS, though it be but one, it will corrupt them all. PHILOSOPH. TRANSACT. Numb. 43. Pag. 863.  
'Tis observable of the NUTMEG, that the Tree which tears it, is never Planted, which, as Tavernier says, hath been confirmed to him by several Persons that have lived many Years in the Country. He says, the Relation they gave him, was, that the NUTMEG being ripe, several Birds come from the Islands toward the South, and devour it wh●le, but are forced to thr●w it up again before it be digested: Thatch ●he NUTMEG, then 〈…〉 a Viscous martyr, ●ailing to ●he Ground takes Root, and produces a Tree, which would never 〈◊〉 were it Planted.  
This, says Tav●rni●●, puts me in mind of making on Observation upon the Birds of Paradise. These Birds being very greedy after NUTMEGS, come in flights to gorge themselves with the pleasing Spice, a● the Season, like Felfares in Vintage time, but the strength of the NUTMEG so intoxicate them, that they fall dead drunk ●n the Ground, where the Emmets in a short time eat off their Legs. Hence it comes, that the Birds of Paradise are said to have no Feet; which, ●ays T●vernier, is utterly false, 〈◊〉 ●hat he had seen three or 〈…〉; and a French Merchant s●●t one from Aleppo, as a Present to Lewis the Thirteenth, that had Feet; of which the King made great account as being a very lovely Fowl. TAVERN▪ Of the Commodities of the Dominions of the G. Mogul.  
Monsieur Thevenot says, that the best NUTMEGS are got in the Isle of Banda, which is to the South of the Molucca's: The Tree, saith He, that produces them, is no higher than our common Apricock-Trees that grow by themselves; when its outward Husk falls off, its Mace appears of a lovely Vermilion Colour; but being in the l●●st exposed to the Air, it changes its Colour into a light Brown as we have it. The Tree is produced after this manner, There is a kind of Birds in the Island, that having picked off the Green Husk▪ swallow the Nuts, which having been some time in their Stomach, they void by the Ordinary way; and they 〈◊〉 not to take Rooting in the place where they fall, and in time to grow up to a Tree. This Bird is shaped like a Cuckoo, and the Dutch prohibit their Subjects under pain of Death to kill any of them. THEVENOT's Trau. into the Indies, Pag. 109.  
'Tis to be Noted, that the Oil of Mace or NUTMEGS by Expression, is the Ground, Foundation, and Body of all Great, N●ble, and Generous Artificial Balsams: As for Example, if to Oil of Mace or NUTMEGS by Expression, you add a small proportion of Oil of CINNAMON, you then have Balsam of CINNAMON, etc.  
The best NUTMEGS are those which are fresh, heavy, fat, and which, when pricked, force out Oil.   

Observations concerning PEPPER.  
THere are divers sorts of PEPPER; viz. Black, White, and Long PEPPER. The Black is the commonest.  
The Plant that beareth the Black PEPPER, groweth up like a Vine among Bushes and Brambles, where it naturally grows; but where it is manured, it is Sown at the bottom of some Tree, where it climbs up to the top. The Leaves are few in Number, growing at each joint one, first on one side of the Stalk, then on the other, like in shape to the long undivided Leaves of Ivy, but thinner, and broader.  
The Plant that bears White PEPPER is not to be distinguished from the other, but only by the Colour of the Fruit; no more than a Vine that beareth Black Grapes, from that which bringeth White: And by some it is thought, that the self same Plant does sometimes change itself from Black to White.  
The Tree that beareth long PEPPER, is quite different from the Two former, and grows in another Country. It is much hotter than the common ' Black PEPPER, yet sweeter, and of better taste. GERRARD's Herbal.  
Tavernier says, there are two sorts of PEPPER; one is very small, another sort much bigger; both which sorts are distinguished into Small and Great PEPPER. The larger sort comes from the Coast of Malavare; and Tuticorin and Calicut are the Cities where it is brought up. Some of this PEPPER comes from the Territories of the King of Visapour, being vended at Rejapour, a little City in that Kingdom. The Hollanders that purchase it of the Malavares, do not give Money for it, but several sorts of Commodities in Exchange; as Corten, Opium, Vermilion, and Quicksilver; and this is the PEPPER which is brought into Europe.  
As for the little PEPPER that comes from Bantam, Afchen, and some other parts toward the East, there is none of it carried out of Asia, where it is spent in vast quantities, especially among the Mahometans. For there are double the Grains of Small PEPPER in one pound, to what there are of the Great PEPPER; besides that the Great PEPPER is hotter in the Mouth. TAVERN. of the Commodities of the Dominions of the Great Mogul.  
Philippus Baldaeus, in his Description of some of the Chief Parts of the East-Indies, says, that PEPPER grows best in shady places; that it hath a weak Stem, to be supported like Vines; having on each Branch commonly six Clusters, each a Foot long, in Colour like unripe Grapes; that they gather it, being Green, in October and November, exposing it to the Sun to dry, whereby it grows Black in a few Days.  
Ligon says, that in the Island of Barbadoes there is a kind of Red PEPPER, which is of two sorts; the one so like a Child's Coral, as not to be discerned at the distance of two paces; a Crimson and Scarlet mixed; the Fruit about two Inches long, and shines more than the best Polished Coral. The Other of the same Colour, and glistering as much, but shaped like a large Button of a Cloak; both of one and the same Quality; both so violently strong, that when they break but the Skin, it sends out such a vapour into their Lungs, as makes them fall a Coughing, which lasts a quarter of an hour after the Fruit is removed; but, as long as they are garbling it, they never give over. The Spaniards are so much in love with this Spice, that they will have it in all their Meat, that they intent to have piquant, for a greater Haut-goust is not in the World. Garlick is faint and cool to it. It grows on a little Shrub, no bigger than a Gooseberry Bush. LIGON's Hist. of Barbadoss, Pag. 79.  
Piso Describes and Figures nine or ten sorts of Guiny-PEPPER, all growing in Brasile, and there called Quiya. The Guiny-PEPPER is used as a great Stomachick Medicine, and in Sauces, both in substance and infusion, in America, Spain, and other Countries, and by many preferred before the best PEPPER. GREW's Mus. Regal. Societ. Pag. 231.  
Mr. Hughes, in his Treatise, called The American Physician, mentions a sort of PEPPER called the Sweet-Scented PEPPER, which he says he never saw but in jamaica, it groweth much after the same manner as the East-India PEPPER does. He also says, that the Red PEPPER-Tree grows in many Plantations in jamaica.   

Observations concerning CLOVES.  
THe CLOVE-Tree groweth in Form much like to our Bay-Tree, the Bark of an Olive Colour. The CLOVES grow Ten and Twenty together among the Leaves. The Blossoms at the first are White, then Green, and at last Red and hard, which are the CLOVES. The Leaf, Bark, and Wood being Green, is as strong as the CLOVE. When the Blossoms are Green, they have the pleasantest smell in the World. The right Colour of CLOVES, when they are dry, is a dark Yellow, and to give them a black Colour they are commonly smoked. The CLOVES are gathering from September unto the End of February, not with hands, as we gather Apples, Cherries, and such like Fruit, but by beating the Tree, as we do Walnuts. The CLOVES that stay on the Tree ungathered are thick, and continue till the next Year, and these are called The Mother of CLOVES.  
This Tree grows in great plenty in the Molucca Islands, as also in Amboyna, where they grow of themselves without Planting, by the falling of the Fruit; and when they are of Eight Years growth they bear Fruit, and so continue bearing for an Hundred Years together.  
In the place where these Trees stand, there is neither Grass, Weed, nor any sort of Herbs, for that the Tree draweth unto itself all the moisture round about. The CLOVES are so hot by Nature, that whensoever they are made clean, and separated from their Garbage, if there chance to stand either Tub, or Pail of Water, in the Chamber where they cl●an●e them, or any other Vessel with Wine, or any kind of moisture, it will within two Days at the furthest be wholly dried up, although it stand not near them, by reason of the great heat of the CLOVES that draw all moisture to them. Of the same Nature is the unspun Silk of China; so that whensoever the Silk lieth any where in a House upon the Floor, that is to say, upon Board's, a Foot or two above the Ground, and that the Floor is covered with Water, although it toucheth not the Silk, in the Morning all that Water will be in the Silk, for that it draweth all unto it. And this trick the Indians oftentimes use to make their Silk weigh heavy, when they sell it, for it can neither be seen nor found in the Silk. PURCH. Pilgr. Vol. 2. Pag. 1783.  
The same Author, Vol. 1. Pag. 699. says, That in Machan, one of the Molucca Islands, there is a CLOVE-Tree differing from all others in its Fruit, which is called The Kings CLOVE, much esteemed by the Country People, both for the variety, as also for the goodness; nor is there any other but this in all the Molucca's; they are not to be bought for any Money, but are given away to Friends by handfuls and half handfuls.  
There is extracted from the CLOVES a certain Oil, or rather thick Butter of a Yellow Colour, which being Chased in the hands, smelleth like the CLOVES themselves, wherewith the Indians Cure their Wounds, as we do with Balsam. GERARD's Herbal.  
Avicenna affirms, that the Gum of this Tree is like Turpentine; but he is mistaken, it being certain, that it does not produce any at all. MANDELSLO's Trau. into the Indies, Pag. 132.   

Observations concerning GINGER.  
GINGER is the Root of ne●ther Tree nor Shrub, but of an Herbaceous Plant, resembling the Water Flower-De-Luce, as Garsias first described; or rather the common Reed, as Lobelius since affirmed. Very common in many parts of India, growing either from Root or Seed; which in December and january they take up, and, gently dried, role it up in Earth; whereby stopping the Pores, they preserve the Natural Moisture, and so prevent Corruption. BROWN's Vulg. Errors.  
GINGER groweth in many places of India, yet the best and most carried abroad, is, that which groweth on the Coast of Malabar: It grows like thin and young netherlands Reeds, of two or three Spans high, the Root whereof is GINGER; being Green, it is much eaten in India for Salads, as also sod in Vinegar. The time when they are most gathered, and begun to be dried, is in December and january: They dry it in this manner; They cover it with Pot-Earth, which they do to stop and fill up the Holes, thereby to make it continue the fresher; for the Pot-Earth preserves it from Worms, without the which it is presently consumed by them. GINGER is little esteemed in India, notwithstanding there is much Shipped off, as well to the Red Sea, as to Ormus, Arabia, and Asia. PURCH. Pilgr. Vol. 2. Pag. 1782.  
Mr. Ligon says, that in Barbadoes the GINGER (being a Root) brings forth Blades, not unlike in shape to the Blades of Wheat, but broader and thicker, for they cover the Ground so, that one cnanot see any part of it. They are of a Popinjay Colour, the Blossom a pure Scarlet. When 'tis ripe, they dig up the Roots, (cutting off the Blades,) and put them into the Hands of an Overseer, who sets many of the Young Negroes to scrape them with little Knives, or small Iron Spuds, ground to an edge. They are to scrape all the outward Skin off, to kill the Spirit; for, without that, it will perpetually grow. Those that have GINGER, and not hands to dress it thus, are compelled to scald it, to kill the Spirit; and that GINGER is nothing so good as the other, for it will be as hard as Wood, and Black, whereas the scrapped GINGER is White and soft, and hath a cleaner and quicker taste. LIGON's Hist. of Barbadoes Pag. 79.  
Dr. Grew in the Musaeum Regalis Societatis, Pag. 228. says, There are some GINGER Roots so large, that sometimes one single Root will weigh fourteen Ounces. He also observes what great variety of Opinions there is concerning this Plant. Acosta compares it to that called Lachryma jobi; Lobelius to a Reed; Garsias to a Flag; and Bauhinus Pictures it accordingly with a trivalvous Cod. Piso, out of Bontius' Papers, gives two Figures, one of the Male, the other of the Female: And supposes, that the reason why this Plant is so variously described, may proceed partly from the not distinguishing betwixt them.  
Mr. Glanius in his Voyage to the Eastindies, says, that in the King of Bantam's Dominions there is a Plant called Ganti, a Root so like GINGER, that the Bantamites have given it the same Name, but it is dearer; and with it they rub their Bodies. Pag. 107.  
GINGER is brought in great quantities from Amadabat, where (says Tavernier) there grows more, than in any other part of Asia; and that it is hardly to be imagined, how much there is Transported Candited into Foreign Parts.   

Observations concerning MANNA.  
MANNA, or the Dew of Heaven; a delicate Food, wherewith God fed the Children of Israel, it falling from Heaven in manner of a Dew, White and somewhat like Coriander Seed; with which the Israelites lived Forty Years in the Wilderness, till they came to the Borders of the Land of Canaan. At first sending hereof, the People were in such admiration, that they said each to other, Manhu? id est, Quid est hoc? What is this? Which seems to be the Cause why it was afterwards called MANNA. In Physic it is taken for a kind of Dew, or grained MANNA, which falling in hot Countries upon Trees and Herbs before break of Day, doth there congeal, almost like Crumbs of White-Bread, and is gathered and choicely kept, as a gentle purger of Choler. BLOVNT's Glossogr.  
The MANNA of Calabria, is the best, and in most Plenty. They gather it from the Leaf of the Mulberry Tree; but not of such Mulberry Trees, as grow in the Valleys. And MANNA falleth upon the Leaves by Night, as other Dews do. It is very likely, that before those Dews come upon the Trees in the Valleys, they dissipate, and cannot hold out. And, in all probability, the Mulberry Leaf hath some Coagulating Virtue, which thickens the Dew, for that it is not found upon other Trees: And we see by the Silkworm, which feedeth upon that Leaf, what a dainty smooth juice it hath; and the Leaves also, (especially of the Black Mulberry,) are somewhat Bristly, which (possibly) may help to preserve the Dew. Certainly, it were not amiss, to observe a little better the Dews that fall upon Trees, or Herbs, growing on Mountains: For it may be, many Dews fall, that spend before they come to the Valleys. And I suppose, that he that would gather the best May-Dew for Medicine, should gather it from the Hills. BACON's. Nat. Hist.  
The Learned and Ingenious Mr. Evelyn, says, that the MANNA of Calabria is found to exsude out of the Leaves and Boughs of the Ash. This is also confirmed by Mr. john Ray, in his Historia Plantarum, Vol. 2. Pag. 1703.  
Christophorus Vega Writes, that MANNA is made by a sort of little Bees like thick Gnats, from whom, sitting by Swarms upon Trees, Sweat as it were drops from them. But Sennertus Lib. 4. Cap. 8. thinks, that they are rather drawn thither by the Sweetness of the MANNA, and that they make it not.  
It hath been controverted among the Learned, whether the jews MANNA was the same with Ours? They do indeed in many Things agree, but in this they differ, that Theirs, ground in a Mill, or bruised in a Mortar, was fit to make Wafers. If it be not prevented, MANNA will melt with any Sun; for even an Easterly Sun will dissolve it.  
We read in Scaliger, Exercit. 164. that those Shepherds that frequent the Deserts of Targa, use MANNA instead of Sugar, with the Water which they drink. JOH. JOHNSTON. Thaumatogr. Naturalis.  
MANNA falls from Heaven like Dew in several of the Oriental Countries, as judaea, Mesopotamia, Persia, Syria, Calabria, and is also sound in England: In those hot Countries it Coagulates, with us it is liquid. The Syrian MANNA is best; then that of Calabria; then that which hath Grains like Mastic: The White and Fresh is good, not old, the Red and Dark is old, and not so Effectual.   

Observations concerning MASTIC.  
MASTIC is a Gummy Rosin, of a Whitish Yellow, well scented, and in Grains, proceeding from the Lentisk Tree. The Best comes from Chio.  
Three Leagues from the Island of Chio, upon a Mountain to the South, there grows a peculiar sort of Trees; the Leaves are somewhat like a Myrt●●, their Branches so long, that they cr●●p upon the Ground; but which is more wonderful, that when they are down, they rise again of themselves. From the beginning of May to the end of june, the Inhabitants take great care to keep the Earth under the Tree very clean; for during those two Months there issues out a certain Gum from the Joints of the Branches, which drops upon the Ground; this is that which we call MASTIC, and the Turks, Sakes, according to the Name which they give the Island. The Island produces great store of this MASTIC, which is spent in the Seraglio of Constantinople, where the Women continually chew it, to cleanse and keep their Teeth white. When the MASTIC Season draws near, the Grand Signior every Year, sends a certain number of Bestangi's to take care that it be not exported, but be preserved for the use of the Seraglio. If it be a plentiful Year for MASTIC, the Bestangi's that cull out the lesser sort to sell, put it into little Bags and seal ●t up; which ●ags being so sealed, are never questioned by the Customhouse Officers. TAVERN. of Chio.  
Dioscorides affirms, that several other Places afford MASTIC, but still acknowledges, that the MASTIC that grows elsewhere, is rarer, and not so good as that of Chio. They prick these Trees in the Months of August and September, and the MASTIC, which is their Gum, sweeting out by the Holes they have made in the Bark, runs down the Tree, and falls upon the Ground, where it congeals into flat pieces, which some time after they gather, then dry them in the Sun, and afterwards range and shake them in a Ranging-Sive, to separate the Dust from them, which so sticks to the Faces of those that handle the Sieve, that they cannot get it off, but by rubbing their Faces with Oil. There are two and twenty Villages in the Island of Chio that have MASTICK-Trees, and among them all, they have about an hundred thousand of them, for which they yearly pay to the Grand Signior, three hundred Chests of MASTIC, which make seven and twenty thousand Oques, at fourscore and ten Oques the Chest, and every Oque contains four hundred Drachms. In raising all this MASTIC, every one of the Villages where it grows, is assessed, at so many Oques, according as they have more or fewer Trees, for they know within a little, how much every Tree can yield; and seeing all Years are not alike good or bad for all the Quarters where they grow, they who gather more than they are to pay, sell to those who have not gathered so much as their Tax comes to, at the rate of threescore Aspres the Oque, for they assist one another as much as they can, else they would be obliged to buy of the Master of the Customhouse, at the rate of two Piastres the Oque. Afterwards, they sell what they have over to the Customer a● the price of threescore Osprey the Oque, which turns to good account to him; for they are not suffered to sell to any but the Master of the Customs, who sells it afterwards for an hundred and fourscore Aspres, or two Piastres the Oque, there being none but he in Chio that can sell any, because it is a Commodity that belongs to the Grand Signior, as the Terra Sigillata, or Terra Lemnia is; and for that reason they have Waiters upon all the Avenues of the Places where the Trees grow, who live in little Houses purposely built for them; and search all that come or go that way, to see if they have any MASTIC about them, and that so strictly, that once they found a good piece about a Woman, which she had hid in her most privy parts. Whosoever are taken stealing of MASTIC, are without remission sent to the Galleys. THEVENOT's Travels into the Levant, Part 1. Chap. 62.  
The Felling of this Tree, at the time of its Distilling, is prohibited, on the Penalty of losing the Right Hand of him that does it. PET. HETLIN.  
In China, Men, Women, and Children go almost constantly with MASTIC in their Mouths, which they take to be the best thing in the World for fastening of their Teeth, and also for a good Breath. They also put it into their Bread, and Biscuit, to give it a more delicate Taste. JOH. RAII Hist. Plant. Tom. 2. Pag. 1581.   

Observations concerning LIGNUM ALOES.  
THe LIGNUM ALOES, which in India is called Calamba and Palo D'aguilla, is most in Malacca, in the Island of Sumatra, Camboia, Zion, and the adjoining Countries. The Trees are like Olive-Trees, and somewhat larger; when the Wood is first cut down, it smelleth not so well, because it is green, for the drier it is, the better it smells: the best and that which smelleth most, is the innermost part of the Word: Some of it is better than the rest, which the Indians do presently know how to find out. The best and finest is called Calamba, and the other Palo D'aguilla. Now to know which is the best, you must understand, that the Wood that is very heavy, with black and brown Veins, and which yieldeth much Oys or Moistness (which is found by the Fire) is the best, and the greater and thicker it is, the better it is, and hath the more Virtue. Of this Wood they make many costly Things, and it has so curious a smell, that it is greatly esteemed; especially the Calamba. which if it be good, is sold by weight against Silver and Gold. The Palo D'aguilla next a●ter the Calamba is much accouted of. There is another kind of Palo D'aguilla, which is called Aquilla Brava, or wild Aquilla, and i● also much esteemed: for the Indians use therewith to burn the Bodies of their Bramen, and other Men of account; and because it is costly, therefore it is a great Honour to those that are burnt therewith, as it is to those that with us are buried in Tombs of Marble: But it is not comparable to the other Palo D'aguilla, nor the Calamba. The Wild Aguilla groweth most in the Island of and Ceylon, on the Coast of Choramandel. LINSCHOTEN.  
Dr. GREW says, that the Honourable Mr. BOIL presented the ROYAL SOCIETY with a Piece of LIGNUM ALOES, with its own Gum growing upon it. He says, that the taste of the Gum is perfectly like to that of the Wood: the Colour, like that of the purest and most lucid Aloe, called Succotrina: for with the Light reflected, it looks almost l●ke Pitch; with the Light transmitted, it glisters like a Carbuncle; powdered, it is of a reddish Yellow. This, says the Doctor, or some other like Aromatic Gum, was the Aloe of the Hebrews; whence the other, from the Likeness, has its Name.  
The Tree is described by Linschoten; about the bigness of the Olive. This Wood is the Heart of the Tree, the outward part, commonly called the Sap of a Tree, being whitish and soft. 'Tis said by Sir Philoberto Vernatti, formerly Resident in java Major, to yield a Milk so hurtful, that if any of it lights in the Eyes, it causes Blindness; if on any other part the of Body Scabbiness. But, says Dr. Grew, this (doubtless) is to be understood, neither of the Heart, nor the Sap; but only of the Bark: there being no Milk-Vessels in either of the former, as the Doctor remembers. in any Tree, by him observed. GREW●● Mus●um REGALIS SOCIETATIS pag. 179.  
Palo D'aguilla, by Druggist's called LIGNU●● ALO●, ●y the Portugals, Palo 〈…〉 the Indians, Calamb● 〈…〉 java, but not in such Quantity, 〈…〉 Malacca, Sumatra, Cambaya, and other places. The Tree is like the Olive-Tree, only a little bigger. The Wood while green has no Scent, but as it dries its Odour increases. The weightiest and the brownest is the best; the Perfection is known by the Oil that issues out of it when it is held to the Fire. They make Bands of it, and the Indians use it to embellish their Cabinets; but the chiefest use is for Physic; for this Wood beaten to Powder, and taken in Broth or Wine, fortifies the Stomach, stays Vomiting, and cures the Pleurisy, and Bloodyflux. Glanivs' New Voyage to the East-Indies, pag. 105, 106.  
This Wood is much used in India for the making of Beads and Crucisixes. Monfart says, the Portugals did commonly pay a hundred Crowns a pound for it to make their Beads.  
This Wood is brought to us in small Pieces, which are heavy, bitter, and of a blackish Purple-colour, with Ash coloured Veins, of a sweet Scent, and if they be good, they will swim when put into Water.   

Observations concerning COCHINEEL.  
COCHINEEL, a kind of Dust or Grain, wherewith to Die the Crimson or Scarlet Colour. It is a little Worm breeding in a certain Shrub, which they call Holy-Oak, or Dwarf-Oak, and is found in Cephalonia and other Places; on the Leaves whereof there ariseth a Tumour, like a Blister; which they gather, and rub out of it a certain red Dust, that converts (after a while) into Worms, which they kill with Wine (as is reported) when they begin to quicken. BAC●NS's Nat. Hist. Experim. 887.  
New Spain in America does so wonderfully abound with this Commodity, that 5670 Arro●a's of ●● (each Arroba containg 25 Buthels o● our English Measure) have been shipped for Europe in one Year. Now, this COCHINEEL groweth on a small Tree, or Shrub, having very thick Leaves, which they call a Tuna; planted and ordered by them as the French do their Vines; out of the Seed whereof, arises a small Worm at first no bigger than a Flea, at the greatest not much bigger than our common Lady-Cows, which they much resemble; which feeding on the Leaves, and overspreading all the Ground in which they are, are gathered by the Natives twice a Year, stifled with Ashes, or with Wate●. (but this last the best) dried to a Powder in the Shade, and so transported into Europe. PET. HE●LIN.  
It is generally believed, that the COCHINEEL comes out of a Fruit called the Prickle-Pear, bearing a Leaf of a slimy Nature, and a Fruit Blood-red, and full of Seeds, which give a die almost like to Brasiletto Wood, that will perish in a few days by the Fire: But the Insect engendered of this Fruit or Leaves, gives a permanent Tincture, as is generally known.  
There grows a Berry (by report) both in the Bermudas and New-England, called the Summer-Island-Redweed, which Berry is as red as the Prickle-Pear, giving much the like Tincture; out of which Berry come out first Worms▪ which afterwards turn into Flies somewhat bigger than the COCHINEEL-Fly, feeding on the same Berry: In which we read, there hath been found a Colour no whit in●erior to that of the COCHINEEL-Fly, and as to Medicinal Virtue much exceeding it.  
Whereupon it hath been offered to the consideration and trial of the ROYAL SOCIETY. 1. Whether this Bermuda Berry might not grow in England? 2. Whether out of the Berry of Brasil●●●● Wood the like Insect might not ●e obtained in respect of Colour or Tincture? 3. Whether a fading Colour, yielded by certain Vegetables, ●ight not be fixed by causing such a Fermentation in the Concrete, as may engender Infects giving the Tincture of its Original, which will hold in Grain? PHILOS. TRANSACT. Numb. 40. pag. 496.  
That Learned, and Ingenious Naturalist, Dr. Lister, is of Opinion, that COCHINEIL is a sort of Kermes. As you may see in a Letter of his to Mr. Oldenburgh in the Philos. Transact Numb. 87.  
COCHINELE, Coccus Radicum The former Name, seemeth to be but the Diminutive of Coccus. The ●atter, grounded upon the Opinion, That as the Kermes Berry grows on the Body and Leaves, so This, on the Roots, of Plants, especially on those of Pimpinel; yet in some places only. Farther, I find no certain account. To me, thus much seems evident, That 'tis neither a Vegetable Excrescence, as some surmise; not an Insect, as others; yet an Animal Body, as the Kermes Berry, by some Insect affixed to a Plant; and thence nourished for a time, but gathered before it be filled with Mites or Maggots. For being held, as the Kermes Berry, in the Flame of a Candle, it usually huffs and swells, but always stinks, like Hair or Horn when they are burnt.  
A Scruple of COCHINELE added to an Ounce of Saccharum Saturni, makes a most curious Purple; but I believe fading. GREW's Mus. Regal. Societ. pag. 241.  
In the Philosophical Transactions Numb. 176. We have three several Figures representing the COCHINEEL-Fly, as seen on its Belly by the help of the Microscope, and by the naked Eye, and as seen on its back through a Microscope; the Draughts of which were communicated by Dr. Tyson, Fellow of the Royal Society.   

Observations concerning INDIGO.  
INDIGO comes from several Parts of the Great Mogul's Empire; and according to the Diversity of the Place it differs in Quality, and consequently in price.  
In the first place, it comes from the Territories of Biana, Indova, and Corsa, a Day or two's Journey from Agra: Which is esteemed the best of all. It is made also in a Village called Sarquess, Eight Days Journey from Surat, and two League's distance from Amadabat: Here the flat INDIGO is made. There is also INDIGO little inferior in goodness and price, which comes from the King of Golconda's Territories. There comes INDIGO also from Bengala, which the Dutch Company transports for M●s●ipa●an: But (as Tavernier informs us) the Merchants buy this INDI●O, and that of Brampour and Amadabat, cheaper by 24 in the Hundred, than that of Agra.  
INDIGO is made of an Herb, which they sow every Year after the Rains are over: Which when it is grown up, is very like our Hemp. They cut it three several times; the first cutting far exceeds the two latter. The Second cutting is worse than the First by Ten or Twelve in the Hundred. And the Third worse than the Second by Twelve in the Hundred. The difference is found by breaking a piece of the Paste, and observing the Colour. The Colour of that INDIGO which is made of the First cutting, is a Violet-Blue, but more brisk and lively than the two others: And that which is made of the Second, is more lively than the Third.  
When they have cut the Herb, they throw it into Pits which they make with Lime, which becomes so hard, that you would judge it to be one entire piece of Marble. They are generally 80 or 100 Paces in Circuit; and being half full of Water, they fill them quite up with the Herb. Then they bruise and jumble it in the Water, till the Leaf (for the Stalk is worth nothing) becomes like a kind of thick Mud. This being done, they let it settle for some days; and when the settling is all at the bottom, and the Water clear above, they let out all the Water. When the Water is all drained out, they fill several Baskets with this Slime, and in a plain Field you shall see several Men at work, every one at his own Basket, making up little pieces of INDIGO flat at the bottom, at the top sharp like an Egg. Though at Amadabat they make their pieces quite flat like a small Cake. Here you are to take particular notice, that the Merchants, because they would not pay Custom for an Unnecessary Weight, before they transport their INDIGO out of Asia into Europe, are very careful to cause it to be sifted, to separate the Dust from it; which they sell afterwards to the Natives of the Country to Die their Calicuts. TAVERN. of the Commodities belonging to the Dominions of the Great Mogul.  
Philippus Baldaeus, in his Description of some of the Chief Parts of the East-Indies, says, That the Plant, which yields the INDIGO, beareth a Flower like that of Thistles, and a Seed like that of Faenum Graecum: He says, That the principal Marks of good INDIGO are, dryness, lightness, and swimming on Water; yielding a high Violet-Colour; and when put upon live Coals, giving a Violet Smoak, and leaving but few Ashes: That the INDIGO Merchant is to beware of buying moist INDIGO, because he will then find, that in Eight Days time he loses three Pounds in Ten; That the best way is to try it in a clear Sunshine, by breaking some Lumps in pieces, and viewing them well, whether there can be observed in them any thing that glistens; which if there be, one may be sure there is Sand in it, with which it hath been sophisticated, to increase the Weight. But for the greater assurance of the goodness of INDIGO, his Advice is, to pass the Nail of ones Thumb over the broken pieces, and if it be good, it will be of a Violet-Colour, and the higher that Colour, the better the INDIGO.  
Monsieur Tavernier says, That the penetrancy of the Powder of INDIGO is such, that all the while they are sisting it, they are fain to keep a Linen Cloth before their Faces, and to stop their Nostrils, leaving only two little holes for their Eyes: And that besides, they are forced every half Hour to drink Milk, which they find to be a great Preservative against the piercing Quality of the Dust: And that notwithstanding all this caution, they yet often find, that having been for Nine or Ten Days together employed about this Work, whatever they spit for a good while is Blueish. And He also tells us, That one Morning he laid an Egg among the Sisters, and when he came to break it in the Evening, it was all Blue within.   

Observations concerning the COCONVT-Tree.  
THis Tree, when Young, is very Tender; but as it becomes more lofty, so it grows more solid and strong: The Body is straight and smooth, and in Circumference equals the Waste of a Man at the full growth: In height, Twelve or Fourteen Foot: Round about the top (and so a Yard or two down) Spring forth many Boughs or Branches, but without any Fork in them, b●s●● very thick which long and slender Leaves, almost of a Sea-Green Colour. At the Roots of these Boughs, as low as they grow round, about the Head of the Tree, grow the COCO NUTS. This Nut is at first, whilst it is Young, of a Green Colour; but when they are Ripe, they appear outwardly of a Brown or Whitish Brown Colour: They are of several sizes, some bigger, and some less: The largest of them are (Husk and Rind) two Foot in Circumference: They are almost Oval, and their outer Rind is very tough and thready; so fast fixed to the Shell, that it is hard to be gotten off: This Rind is nigh an Inch thick, under which is a rough strong hard Shell, some of them Black, and some Brown or Yellowish. In the top of each of these Shells there are three Holes, by which the inner Cavity receiveth a continual supply of Nourishment: Just within this Shell, sticking close thereto, is a Milk-White Kernel, about half an Inch thick; and the hollow Cavity within the Kernel is full of a thin, clear, sweet Water or Juice, which is as a Viand to them. HVGHES's American Physician.  
They grow in jamaica, and in most of the Caribbean-islands; as also in the Islands of Maldiva, and other places in the East-Indies. But those that grow in the East-Indies seem to be of another kind, growing to Forty, sometimes Fifty Foot high.  
Amongst other rare Fruits, the Island Madagascar hath plenty of those, which they call COCOS, or COCO-NUTS; a kind of Date as big as a Cabbage; the Liquor in it, about the quantity of a Pint, tastes like Wine and Sugar; the Kernel big enough to content two Men; and like good Ale, it affords not only Meat and Drink, but Clothing; as also Furniture for their Houses, Tackle for their Ships, Fuel for the Fire, and Timber for Building; the Body of the Tree being straight and high, and towards the top diversified into many Branches. PET. HETLIN.  
Linschoten says, that this Tree grows in greater abundance in the Islands of Maldiva, than either Olive-Trees in Spain, or Willow-Trees in the Low-countrieses. He says, They grow not where but on the Seaside, or Banks of Rivers, and in Sandy Grounds, and that they grow not within the Land: That they have no great Root, so that a Man would think it impossible for them to have any fast hold within the Earth, and yet they stand so fast, and grow so high, that it makes one afraid to see a Man climb up to the top of them.  
The Question ●eing put to Sir Philoberto Vernatti, late Resident in java Major, whether there be a Tree in Mexico, that yields Water, Wine, Vinegar, Oil, Milk, Honey, Wax, Thread, and Needles? His Answer was, The COCO-Tree yields all this and more; The Nut, while it is Green, hath very good Water in it; the Flower being cut, drops out great Quantity of Liquor, called Sury, or Taywack, which drank fresh, hath the force, and almost the taste of Wine; grown four, is very good Vinegar; and distilled, makes very good Brandy, or Areck: The Nut grated, and mingled with Water, tasteth like Milk; pressed, yields very good Oil; Bees swarm in these Trees, as well as in others; Thread and Needles are made of the Leaves and tough Twigs. SPRAT's Hist. of the ROYAL SOCIETY, Pag. 170.  
The COCO is one of the most useful Trees in the World. Of the Husk, or outmost fibrous cover of the Nut, all manner of Ropes and Cables are made throughout India. Of the Shells, the Indians make Ladles, Wine-Bottles, and many forts of Vessels. The inmost Cover next the Kernel, while it contains only Liquor, they eat with Salt, as a very pleasant Food. The said Liquor, is commonly used as a clear, sweet, and cool Drink. Sometimes they cut away the Blossom of the young Nut, and binding a convenient Vessel to the place, thereby obtain a sweet and pleasant Liquor, which they call Sura. This standing an hour in the Sun, becomes good Vinegar, used throughout India. The same Distilled (I suppose after Fermentation) yieldeth a pretty strong Brandy, called Fulo, and is the first running. The second is called Vraca, the only Wine of India. Of the same Sura, being boiled, and set in the Sun, they also make a fort of Brown Sugar, which they call jagra. From the Kernel itself, when fresh, and well stamped, they press out a Milk, which they always mix and eat with their Rice-Meats. Of the Kernel dried (called Copra) and stamped, they make Oil, both to eat and to burn. Of the Leaves of the Tree (called Olas) they make the Sails of their Ships: As also Covers for their Houses and Tents; and Summer-Hats. Of the Wood, they make Ships without Nails; sewing the several parts together with the Cords made of the Huk of the Nut. GREW's Musaeum REG. SOCIET. Pag. 199, 200.   

Observations concerning the CACAO-Tree, and its NUT, of which CHOCOLATE is made.  
OF these Trees there are several sorts, which grow to a reasonable height: The Bodies of the largest do usually arrive in bulk (although not in tallness) to the largeness of our English Plum-Trees: They are in every part smooth; and the Boughs and Branches thereof extend themselves on every side, to the proportion of a well-spread Tree, much resembling our HeartCherry-Tree, but at its full growth 'tis dilated to a greater breadth in compass, and is something loftier; there is little difference in the Leaves, these being pointed, but smother on the E●●●s, and of a white kind of Pulp, that's agreeable to the Palate. By the turning and Sweeting, their little Strings are broken, and the Pulp is imbibed and mingled with the substance of the Nut. After this, they are put to dry 3 or 4 Weeks in the Sun, and then they become of a Reddish dark Colour, as you see; and so are Cured.  
What is remarkable in this Fruit, is, that the Cod's grow only out of the Body or great Limbs, and Boughs; and that, at the same time, and in the same place, there are Blossoms, Young and Ripe Fruit.  
This Tree requires to be sheltered from the Sun while 'tis Young, and always from the North-East Winds; and to have a fat, moist, low Soil, which makes them to be Planted commonly by Rivers and between Mountains: So that 'tis ill living where there are good CACAO-Walks. In a Years time the Plant comes to be 4 Foot high, and hath a Leaf six times as big as an Old Tree, which, as the Plant grows bigger, falls off, and lesser come in their place, which is another extraordinary Quality of this Tree.  
The Trees are commonly Planted at 12 Foot distance; and at 3 years old, where the Ground is good, and the Plant prosperous, it gins to bear a little, and then they cut down all or some of the Shade, and so the Fruit increases till the 10 th' or 12 th' Year; and then the Tree is supposed to be in its prime. How long it may continue so, none with us (in jamaica) can guests; but it's certain, the Root generally shoots out Suckers, that supply the place of the old Stock when dead or cut down, unless when any ill Quality of the Ground or Air kill both. [See this Accurate Account of the CACAO- Tree, given by a very Intelligent Person residing in Jamaica,] which you may find in the PHILOS. TRANS ACT. Numb. 93.  
These Kernels being well pounded, as Almonds, in a Mortar, and mixed with a certain proportion of Sugar and Spices (according as the Trader thinks or finds it best for Sale,) are commonly made up in Cakes or Rolls; which are brought over hither from Spain, and other parts. But those that would have a good Quantity for their own private use, had much better procure the NUTS themselves, (as fresh and new as may be,) and so prepare and Compound them to their own Constitution and Taste. And for those that drink it, without any Medicinal respect, at Coffeehouses; there is no doubt but that of Almonds finely beaten, and mixed with a due proportion of Sugar and Spices, may be made as pleasant a Drink, as the best CHAWCALATE, GREW's Mus. REG. SOC. Pag. 205.  
Dr. Stubbes, in the last part of his Observations relating to jamaica (see the Philos. Transact. Numb. 37.) takes notice of the Censure of Simon Paula in his Herbal, Pag. 383. against CHOCOLATA, and says, He cannot forgive him for it; being of Opinion, that that Liquor, if it were well made, and taken in a right way, is the best Diet for Hypochondriacs, and Chronical Distempers, for the Scurvy, Gout and Stone, and Women Lying-in, and Children Newborn (to prevent Convulsions; and purge the Meconium out,) and many other Distempers, that infested Europe; but that 'tis now rather used for Luxury than Physic; and so compounded, as to destroy the Stomach, and to increase Hypochondriacal Diseases; and that we now so Cook it, as if it were to be transformed into a Caudle or Custard.  
The Native Indians seldom or never use any Compounds; desiring rather to preserve their Healths, than to gratify and please their Palars, until the Spaniards, coming amongst them, made several Mixtures and Compounds; which instead of making CHOCOLATE better (as they supposed) have made it much worse: And many of the English (especially those that know not the Nature of the CACAO) do now imitate them: For in jamaica, as well as other places, when they make it into Lumps, Balls, Cakes, etc. they add to the CACAO Paste, Chille, or Red Pepper; Achiote, sweet Pepper, commonly known by the Name of jamaicapepper, or some or one of them; as also such other Ingredients as the place affordeth, or as most pleases them that make it; or else as the more skilful Persons may think it to agree with this or that Individual Person; adding thereto as much Sugar only as will sweeten it: First of all drying and beating every Ingredient apart; and then at the last mixing them together, as it is wrought up into a Mass. Hughes' American Physician▪  
josephus Acosta says, that in several places in the West-Indies, The CACAW-NUT is so much esteemed, that the Kernels are used instead of Money; and commonly given to the Poor, as Alms: And that the Indians are wont to Treat Noble Men with CHACAWLATE, as they pass through their Country. IOS. ACCOST. Hist. Lib. 4. Cap. 22.   

Observations concerning THEE, or TEA.  
THEE is a Shrub growing in most parts of China and japan; it arises generally to the height and bigness of our Garden-Rose and Currant-Trees; the Roots are Fibrous, and spread into many little Filaments, near the surface of the Earth; the Flowers are like those of Rosa Sylvestris; the Seeds round, and black; which being sowed come to perfection in three Years time, and then yield yearly a Crop; but these are little valued; the great and only Virtue of this Plant being supposed to consist only in the Leaves; of which there are five sorts, both as to bigness, and valued; for the largest at bottom are sold for about one Penny half Penny the Pound; but the smallest at the top for Fifty, nay sometimes one H●ndred and Fifty Crow●s the Pound. JOH. NIC. PEC●LIN. De potu THE●E.  
This Plant (saith the Learned Pechlin) abounds with a brisk volatile Salt, which he adjudges very agreeable to our Northern Constitutions, whose Blood is naturally very heavy, and sluggish; it carries also with it a fine thinner sort of Oil; but so admirably well tempared, that as this hinders the Spirit from Evaporating, so that corrects the Inflammability of this; from whence results the very agreeable latter Astringent: All which together, as they rectify the Ferment of the Blood, and at the same time strengthen, and confirm the tone of the Parts, contribute so much to the assisting of Nature in her Operations, as to prevent, if not to Cure, most Chronical Distempers.  
Because the discreet Choice of a proper Vehicle for this great Panacea, may be very material, the Learned Author therefore thinks good to show his dislike of Milk; in that it very much obstructs its more lively and quicker parts; as always leaving behind it much acidity, which how prejudicial to Hypochondriacal Persons, is sufficiently obvious He dislikes the Custom they use in japan, of drinking the Leaves powdered, supposing that it may dry the Body too much. In short, He concludes warm-Water to be the most Natural and Effectual Vehicle, as being pure, and vo●d of all Saline or other ways pernicious Particles, and being more ready to be impregnated with the Virtue hereof; which when Armed with this powerful Vegetable, Nature easily admits into its obscure Channels, and dark Recesses.  
He approves well enough of the use of Sugar; as it serves not only to qualify the bitter taste, by its sweetness, which at the same time is corrected by the Heat; but as being good also for the Kindnies, and Lungs. He thinks the difference of Constitutions too great to be insisted on, and therefore only says this, viz. That those of a drier Habit may take it more diluted, because their Salts may more easily be carried off: And for the Moister and Hydropical Temper, He supposes this Water, if more strongly impregnated, may make way for the Evacuation of the other.  
As to the Times of taking it, He says, the more empty the Stomach, the passage will be the more easy, and therefore in such the more effectual: He condemns the use of it after Meals; because the Volati●e part flies off, before the Meat is any ways digested; after which the Concoction is difficulty performed; because the Ferment, as well as the Volatility of the Chyle, is suppressed by the Astringent Quality; which in those Circumstances oft proves a thing of very pernicious Consequence.  
To conclude, our Author, notwithstanding all his Encomium's of this Exotic, can be content to think, we might receive as much benefit from some Plants of our own Growth; were People industrious to search after them; such as Veronica, Lingua Cervina, Marrhubium, Hepatica, Cichoreum, and some others which he names. PEC●LIN. Ibidem.  
The Physicians of Tunquin in India do mightily admire the Herb TEA, which comes from China and japan; which latter Country produces the best. It is brought to them in Tin Pots close stopped, to keep out the Air.  
When they would use it they boil a Quantity of Water, according to the proportion they intent to use, and when the Water seethes, they throw a small Quantity into it, allowing as much as they can nip between their Thumb and Forefinger to a Glass. This they prescribe to be drank as hot as they can endure it, as being an excellent Remedy against the Headache, for the Gravel, and for those that are subject to the Griping of the Guts; but then they order a little Ginger to be put into the Water when it boils. At Goa, Batavia, and in all the Indian Factories, there are none of the Eui●●●●●ns who do not spend above four or five Leaves a day; and they are careful to preserve the boiled Leaf for an Evening Salad, with Sugar, Vinegar, and Oil. That is accounted the best TEA, which colours the Water greenest; but that which makes the Water look red, is little valued. In japan, the King and great Lords, who drink TEA, drink only the Flower, which is much more wholesome, and of a taste much more pleasing. But the Price is much different, for one of our ordinary ●e●●-Giasses is there worth a French Crown. TAVERN. of the Kingdom of Tunqin. Chap. X.  
In japan there is a Plant called TSIA, it is a kind of THE or TEN; but the Plant is much more delicate, and more highly esteemed than that of THE. Persons of Quality keep it very carefully in Earthen Pots well stopped, that it may not take Wind●: but the japponneses prepare it quite otherwise than is done in Europe. For, instead of infusing it into warm Water, they beat it as small as Powder, and take of it as much as will lie on the point of a Knife, and put it into a Dish of Porcelain or Earth, full of seething Water, in which they slir it, till the Water be all green, and then drink it as hot as they can endure it. It is excellent good after a Debauch, it being certain there is not any thing that allays the Vapours, and settles the Stomach better than this Herb does. The Pots they make use of about this kind of Drink are the most precious of any of their Householdstuff, in as much as it is known, that there have been TSIA-Pots, which had cost between Six and Seven Thousand Pounds Sterling▪ MANDELSLO's Trau. into the Indies, pag. 156.  
The Persians, Indians, Chineses, and japonneses, assign to TEA such extraordinary Qualities, that, imagining it alone able to keep a Man in constant Health, they are sure to treat such as come to visit them, with this Drink, at all Hours. The Quality it is (by experience) found to have, is, that it is astringent, and that it consumes superfluous Humours, which incommodate the Brain, and provoke Drowsiness. Olearivs' Ambassadors Trau. into Musc. Pers. and Tartar. pag. 241.  
The Dutch are said to transport the dried Leaves of Sage into China, and, under the Name of European TEA, to barter it with the Chineses for their TEA.   

Observations concerning COFFEE, or CAUPHE.  
THis Tree is said to grow only in that part of Arabia Foelix, which lieth within the Tropics; and that it very much resembles our Cherrytrees, but scarce so big. It bears a Berry about the bigness of a small Bean; of which is made a thick and bitter Drink, as black as Soot, and of a strong Scent, but not Aromatical; which is commonly called COFFEE. This Drink is in such mighty request among the Turks, that, as the Learned Veslingius affirms, there are no less than some Thousands of Coffeehouses in that one City of Cairo. It is also much used in Barbary, and great part of afric. And of late Years it hath crept into Europe, nay even into our Northern Climate. So that we now see great plenty of Coffeehouses, not only in the City of London, but also in other p●rts of the Kingdom. And wh●● a mighty Consumption there is of this Drink, plainly appears from that considerable Revenue, which yearly arises to the Crown▪ from the Impost laid upon that one Commodity of COFFEE.  
In the Coffeehouses where the Turks use to resort to tipple, there is usually one hired by the Owne●s to read either an Idle Book of Tales, which they admire as Wit, or filthy obscene Stories, with which they seem wonderfully affected and pleased, few of them being able to read. These are the Schools, which they frequent for their Information, though in Times of War, when Things went ill with them, their Discourses would be of the Ill Government; and the Grand Signior himself and his chief Ministers could not escape their Censures; which manifestly tending to Sedition, and to the heightening of their Discontents by their mutual Complaints, and by this free venting of their Grievances, during the War at Candia, the wise Visier, seeing the evil Consequences that would follow, if such Meetings, and Discourses were any longer tolerated, commanded, that all the public Coffeehouses should be shut up in Constantinople, and several other great Cities of the Empire, where the Malcontents used to rendezvous themselves, and find fault, upon every ill Success and Miscarriage, with the Administration of Affairs. Dr. THO. SMITH's Account of Constantinople, etc. in the PHILOS. TRANSACT. Numb. 155.  
The Turks look upon CAUPHE ●o be good all Hours of the Day, ●ut especially Morning and Evening, when to that purpose, they en●ertain themselves two or three Hours in CAUPHE-Houses, which throughout Turkey abound more than ●●s, and Alehouses, with us. This Drink is thought to be the old Black Broth used so much by the Lacedæmonians; it drieth ill Humours in the Stomach, comforteth the Brain, never causeth Drunkenness, or any other Surfeit, and is a harmless Entertainment of Good-Fellowship. Sir HENR. BLOVNT's Voyage into the Levant. Pag. 137.  
The Lord Bacon in his Natural History, says, That this Drink comforteth the Brain, and Heart, and helpeth Digestion.  
Monsieur Thevenot speaking of the Qualities of this Drink, says, that if it be drank very hot, it clears the Head of Vapours, moderately hot it binds up the Body, and cold it is Laxative. THEU. Trau. into th● Levant. Part 2. Chap. v.  
Those who writ of COFFEE, do almost all reckon it amongst the Antihypnoticks, agreeing that it is a Driver away of Sleep.  
The Learned Dr. Willis, in his Discourse of COFFEE, is of the Opininion, that this Drink, though most commonly used, and very profitable in some Cases, and very Medicinal; is to others perhaps very hurtful, or less healthful. Indeed, that it is so, not only Reason (says the Doctor) but also common Observation every where dictates, for we see that great COFFEE Drinkers become lean, and are very often subject to be Paralytic, and grow impotent for Generation. Yet as to Affects of the Brain, and the Genus Nervosum, I very often (says the Doctor) prescribe this Drink for them. For indeed in very many Cephalick Diseases and Infirmities, viz. in headaches, Giddiness, the Lethargy, Catarrhs, and the like, where with a full habit of Body, and a cold Temperament, or one that is not hot, and a Watery Blood, there is a moist Brain with a Sluggishness and Dullness of the Animal Spirits, COFFEE has often a very good effect, for being daily drank, it wonderfully clears and enlightens each part of the Soul, and disperses all the Clouds of every Function. But on the contrary, those who being thin, and of a Bilious, or Melancholic Temperament, have a sharp, or burnt Blood, a hot Brain, and the Animal Spirits too much stirred and restless, aught to forbear this Drink altogether, as being apt to pervert both the Spirits and Humours in a greater measure, and to render them wholly unfit, and unable to perform any Functions: For I have observed many (says the Learned Doctor,) not having a sufficient plenty of Spirits, and being also subject to the Headache, Vertigo, Palpitation of the Heart, and a trembling or numbness of the Limbs, who presently after drinking COFFEE became worse as to those Affects, and suddenly found an unusual Languor in their whole Body. WILLIS Pharmaceut. Ration. Sect. 7. Cap. 3.  
COFFEE hath a cooling Quality, and the Persians think it allays the Natural Heat. And therefore they often drink of it, on purpose to avoid the charge of having many Children. To this purpose they tell a Story of one of their Kings, named Sultan Mahomet Caswin, who Reigned in Persia before Tamerlane's time, that he was so accustomed to the drinking of COFFEE, that▪ he had a strange aversion to all Women; and that the Queen standing one day at her Chamber Window, and perceiving they had got down a Horse upon the Ground, in order to the Gelding of him, asked some that stood by, why they treated so handsome a Creature in that manner; whereupon answer being made her, that he was too Fiery and Mettlesome, and that the business of those that were about him, wa●, with the taking away of the Exce●s of Mettle, which Stone-Horses are guilty of, to deprive him of all Generative Virtue; the Queen replied, that that trouble might have been spared, since COFFEE would have wrought the same effect; and th●t ●f th●y would keep the Stone-Horse with that Drink, he would, in a short time, be as tame and quiet as the King her Husband. OLEARIUS in the Ambassadors Travels, pag. 240.  
There goes a Story, (how true I know not) that the Virtue of COFFEE, was at first discovered by a Prior of a Convent; who observing that the Goats, which fed in that part of Arabi● where these Trees grow▪ used to live with little or no Sleep, and that 〈◊〉 the day time they ●e●e mighty brisk and frisking; ●he said ●rior did from thence concl●●e that this must necessarily proceed from the Goats licking up the Berries that fell from these Trees: Whereupon to satisfy his Curiosity. He tried the Experiment upon another sort of Beast, viz. a Sleepy Heavy-Headed Monk, whom the Prior did often ply with this sort of Drink; on whom, as the Story goes, it had, in a short time, such a wonderful effect, that it quite altered his Constitution, and that he afterwards became more quick, brisk, and airy, than generally that sort of Cattle are.  
The Goodness of COFFEE chief consists in an exact way of Parching and managing the Berries; for if these are parched to a higher or lower degree than they ought, the COFFEE is stark naught, and good for nothing. Dr. Bernier affirms, that there were but two Men in the whole City of Cairo that rightly understood the Art and Mystery of Parching and ordering these Berries. JOH. RAII Hist. Plant. Vol. 2. pag. 1692.  
That Learned Botanist, Mr. Ray, in the place last quoted, tells us, that the Arabians are very industrious in destroying the Vegetative Force of the Seed, that so thereby they might prevent its growing in any other Country. Nor indeed are they to be blamed for so doing; since from this one Commodity of COFFEE there accrues to their Country such an immense Treasure from almost all the other parts of the World; in which respect, as the Learned Ray wittily observes, Arabia may b● said to be, not only Felix, but ●●licissim●.   

Observations concerning OPIUM.  
OPIUM is a Tear which flows from the wounded Heads of the Poppy being ripe: Some do promiscuously use it with MECONIUM, but very improperly; for OPIUM is a Drop or Tear, MECONIUM the gross expressed Juice from the whole Plant; however they are both of one Quality: OPIUM is the finer Gum, and the stronger; MECONIUM is the courser and weaker, yet the more malign.  
OPIUM is of three sorts. 1. Black and hard from Syria and Aden. 2. Yellower and softer from Cambaia. 3. Whiter from Cairo or Thebes; which last commonly called Thebian-OPIUM, is the best, being heavy, thick, strong scented like Poppy, bitter and sharp, inflammable, almost of the Colour of Aloes, and easy to dissolve in Water. The Sergeant, when washed, colours the Water like Saffron.  
The OPIUM, which is spent in Europe, comes from Aden or Cairo; but that which is sold in the Indies comes out of the Province of Gualor, in Indostan, and is nothing but the Juice which is got out of POPPY, by an Incision made therein, when it gins to grow ripe. All the Eastern Nations are great Lovers of it, insomuch that the young People, who are not permitted the use of it, and the meaver sort, who are not able to buy it, will boil the POPPY itself, and eat of the Broth which is made thereof. And whereas the POPPY among them is called Pust, they thence call those Pusty, who make use of that Broth, instead of OPIUM. The Persians affirm, that they were the first who made use of it, and that all other Nations did it in Imitation of their Grandees, who took it, at first, to provoke Sleep. They take every Day a small Pill of it, about the bigness of a Pea; not so much in order to Sleeping, as that it should work the same effect as Wine does, which infuses Courage and great Hopes into those, who otherwise would not discover much of either. The Caffees, or Messengers, who travel into the Country, take of it to hearten themselves; but the Indians make use of it for the most part, that they may be the better fitted for the Enjoyments of W●men. No doubt but it is a Poison, which kills, if a Man do not accustom himself thereto by little and little; and when he hath so accustomed himself, he must continue the frequent use of it, or he dies, on the other side. It so weakens their B●ains who take it continually, that they run ●he hazard of losing the use of their Reason, an●●he principal Functions of their Understanding, and become in a manner stupid, if they recover not themselves by the same Remedy. MANDELSLO's Trau. into the Indies, pag. 67.  
OPIUM is commonly used among the Persians; they make Pills of it of the bigness of a Pea, and take two or three of them at a time. Those who are accustomed thereto, will take about an Ounce at a time. There are some who take of it only once in two or three Days, which makes them Sleepy, and a little disturbs their Brains, so as that they are as if they were a little entered in Drink. There is abundance of it made in Persia, especially at Ispahan, and it is thus ordered. The POPPY being yet green, they cleave the Head of it, out of which there comes a white Liquor, which being exposed to the Air grows bl●ck, and their Apothecaries and Druggist's trade very much in it. All 〈…〉 East they use this D●ug, the 〈◊〉 and Indians, as w●ll as the 〈◊〉 insomuch, that belen s●y●▪ 〈…〉 Observations, that if a Turk 〈◊〉 but a P●nny, he will spend a Farthing o● it in OPIUM; that he saw above ●itty Camels loaden with it, going from Anatolia into Turkey, Persia, and the Indies; and that a janisary, who had taken a whole Ounce of OPIUM one Day, took the next Day two, and was never the worse for it, save that it wrought the same effect in him, as Wine does in such as take too much of it, and that he staggered a little. It hath also this Quality common with Wine, that it does infuse Courage into those who have not much. And therefore the Turks never fail to take of it before they enter upon any great Design. The Women do not ordinarily take any; but those who are not able to b●ar with their untoward and imperious Husbands, and prefer Death b●fore the Slavery they live in, do sometimes make use of OPIUM, whereof they take a good Quantity, and drinking cold Water upon it, they, by a gentle and insensi●l● D●ath, depart this World. OLEA●●●S's Trau. of the Ambassadors, etc. p●●. 2●9.  
Dr. Bernier, in his History of the late Revolution of the Empire of Mogol, says, that the Ragipous, or the Soldiers of that Kingdom, are great takers of OPIUM; that he has oftentimes wondered to see them take such great Quantity; that they accustom themselves to it from their Youth; that on the Day of B●ttel they double the Dose, this Drug animating, or rather inebriating them, and making them insensible of Danger; insomuch, that they cast themselves into the Combat like so many furious Beasts, not knowing what it is to run away, but dying at the Feet of their Commanders, when they stand to it. 'Tis a pleasure, says the Dr. thus to see them, with the Fume of OPIUM in their Head, to embrace one another; when the Battle is to begin, and to give their Mutual Farewells. as Men resolved to die. Pag. 60.  
Tavernier says, that such of the Persians, who from their Youth have been great Takers of OPIUM, are short lived: And that if they do live till Forty, they complain heavily of the Pains that proceed from the cold Venom of the Herb.  
He says, that those who have a Mind to kill themselves, swallow a large piece, and drink Vinegar after it, to prevent the relief of any other Counterpoison, and so they die Smiling. TAVERN. Trau. into Persia Pag. 242.  
Sachsius in the Ephemerideses Germanicae An. 2. Obseru. 69. is of Opinion, that OPIUM is an Inciter of Venery in those who live in the Eastern parts of the World; but that it hath a quite contrary Effect on those who inhabit the Western. But herein he seems to be singular; since all other Authors do agree, tha● OPIUM in both, is a very great provocative to Lust.  
johannes I●cobus Saar, in his Iti●erar. L●d. Orient Pag. 11. says, that the Indians make an Electuary of OPIUM, which the Chineses take on purpose to Excite them to Lust and that by Virtue thereof, they can lie a whole Night in a constant Enjoyment.  
Wagnerus in his Historia Naturalis Helvetiae, Pag. 262. says, that in Argovia, where POPPY is sowed in great quantity, they express on Oil out of the Seed, which they use in their Lamps instead of olive-oil: That some make use of it with their Meat instead of Butter, and that they also Knead it with their Flower, and make Cakes of it, which they eat without any manner of harm.   

Observations concerning TOBACCO.  
THe Herb called by the Sp●niards TOBACCO, ●●om on Island of the same Name 〈◊〉 ●he West-Indies, wherein it grow● 〈◊〉 great abundance, is Named by 〈◊〉 Indians PETUN; by others, 〈◊〉 its great Virtues, Herba Sancta; and john Nicot, Ambassador of Francis II. having first brought out of Portugal into France some of the Seed of it to Queen Catherine de Medicis, with the Description of its Virtues, it became denominated from him in French NICOTIANES, or HERB OF LA RHINE, (the QUEENS HERB;) as in Italy it was termed HERB DE SANTA CROCE, (or HOLY CROSS) because a Cardinal of that Name was the first that brought it to Rome. Some others call it ANTARCTICAL bugloss, HENBANE of PERU ●nd INDIAN WOUNDWORT It grows, many times, to the height of three Cubits, with a strait and thick Stalk, so fat that it seems anointed with Honey; it sends forth sundry large Branches, with many Leaves long and broad, rounder than those of great Comfrey, somewhat like those of great Personata, or Bur-dock; Fleshy, Fat, and a little rough, of a pale Green, unpleasing Smell, and biting Taste; on the top of the Stalk it hath many Flowers, Oblong, Hollow, and Large, in form of a Trumpet, of a White inclining to Purple; to which succeed little slender Cod or Husks, full of a brownish Seed, smaller than that of Poppy. It's Root is thick, hath several Lobes, is Woody, yellow within, bitter, easily, separating from its Bark and, like all Herbs hot and dry. (for this is so in the Second Degree.) it requires moist places and Shadow, and delights to be cultivated. Moreover, 'tis kept in Gardens, as well for its Beauty, as for its Faculties of curing abundance of Diseases; to which 'tis the more proper, in that it hath an unctuosity or Oilyness familiar to our Bodies, whose Excrementious Humours (the Seed of most Diseases) it potently resolves. For as Plants are of a middle Nature between Minerals and Animals; so they are more proper and safe for the Preservation and restoring of Man's Health, than Animals themselves, which by reason of their Similitude Act less on us; or than Minerals and inanimate Bodies, which through the too great Diversity of their Nature Act with too much violence. PHILOSOPII. CONFER. of the VIRTVOS● of FRANCE, Pag. 19.20. Vol. 2.  
The first thing the Persians set upon the Table is the Pipe, the TOBACCO, and the Dish of Coffee; and indeed thus it is, that they begin all their Debauches. They Suck and Smoke of their TOBACCO through Water in a long Glass Bottle, by which means it comes cool into their Mouths; else they would never be able to take it all Day long as they do. They Sing very little in their Cups: But they recite a vast Number of Wicked Verses, which they rehearse with a great deal of Gravity. They are so accustomed to take TOBACCO, both Men and Women, that a Poor Tradesman tha● has not above five Sous to spend, will lay out three of them in TOBACCO. If they had none, they say that they should not have dam●que, that is, Gladness in their Hearts. Many will confess, that their Excessive taking TOBACCO is hurtful; but if you tell 'em of it, they answer in a word, Adedehoud, 'Tis the Custom. TAVERN. Trau. into Persia, Lib. 5. Cap. 17.  
Diemerbrockius, in his Book De Peste, very much commends the use of TOBACCO in the time of Plague; he says, it absolutely Cured him when he had it; He also observes, that almost all those Houses, where TOBACCO was sold, both in Spires (a City in the Palatinate,) and likewise in London, were never infected, whereas the Houses round about them were.  
The Learned Dr. Willis, very much commends the use of TOBACCO for Soldiers and Mariners; in as much as it renders them both fearless of any Dangers, and patiented of Hunger, Cold, and Labour.  
He says, that assoon as the Custom of taking TOBACCO becomes familiar, 'tis gra●eful, and takes the Animal Spirits with so great a Witchcraft or pleasing allurements, that some had rather be debarred Meat or Drink, than the use of it. The Reason of which is, that this Smoking gently awaking or stirring up the Animal Spirits at any time, sluggish or slothful, and as it were tickling them, provokes them into gentle and expansive Motions, with which they are wonderfully recreated, as with the Drinking of Wine. WILLIS. Pharmaceut Rational. Sect. 7. Cap. 3.  
TOBACCO grows more abundantly in the Kingdom of Peru, than in any other Country of America: For which cause, and the resemblance it hath to Henbane, in Form and Quality, it is called the HENBANE of PERU, by Gerrard, and some others of our Modern Herbalists. A Plant, which though in some respect being moderately taken, it may be serviceable for Physic; yet, besides the Consumption of the Purse, and impairing of our inward Parts, the immoderate, vain, and fantastical abuse of this Stinking Weed, Corrupteth the Natural sweetness of the Breath, stupifieth the Brain, and indeed is so prejudicial to the general esteem of our Countrymen, that one saith of them, Anglorum Corpora qui huic Plantae tantopere indulgent, in Barbarorum naturam degenerâsse videntur. The two chief Virtues ascribed unto it are, that it voideth Rheum, and is found to be a Sovereign Antidote against lues Venerea, that loathsome Disease of the French-Pox. As for this last, like enough it is, that so unclean a Disease may be helped with such an Unsavoury Medicine: But as for the other, it may perhaps consist more in Opinion, than Truth or Reality; the Rheum, which it is said to void, being no more than what it breedeth at the present. We may as well conclude that Bottled-Ale is good for the breaking of Wind, (which Effect we find commonly to follow on the Drinking of it,) though indeed it be only the same Wind which itself conveyed into the Stomach. But TOBACCO is by few now taken as Medicinal; it is of late times grown a Goodfellow, and fallen from a Physician to a Compliment. An Humour, which had never spread so far amongst us, if the same means of Prevention had been used by the Christian Magistrates, as was by Morat Bassa among the Turks: Who commanded a Pipe to be thrust through the Nose of a Turk, whom he ●ound taking TOBACCO, and so to be carried in Derision all about Constantinople.  
It is observed, that the taking of TOBACCO was first brought into England, by the Mariners of Sir Francis Drake, Anno Dom. 1585. PET. HETLIN's Cosmogr.  
King james the First (for the Second was no Writer,) had such an aversion to this Plant, that he Printed a small Discourse against it, which he Entitled, A COUNTERBLAST to TOBACCO. Wherein He very wittily observes, among other things, that this Custom of taking TOBACCO, was at first derived from the Indians, from whom he wished that we might not in time learn the other Custom too. Of Worshipping the Devil.  
He also tells us, that this Custom of taking TOBACCO is looked upon, even by the Indians themselves, as such an Effeminate thing, that in the Market they will not offer to buy a Slave, whom they find to be a great TOBACCO taker.   

The Manner of Planting and Ordering TOBACCO.  
IN the Twelve-Days they begin to Sow their Seed in Beds of fine Mould, and when the Plants be grown to the breadth of a Shilling, they are fit to Replant into the Hills; for in their Plantations they make small Hills about four Foot distant from each other, somewhat after the manner of our Hop-Yards; these Hills being prepared against the Plants be grown to the forementioned bigness (which is about the beginning of May,) they then in moist Wether draw the Plants out of their Beds, and Replant them in the Hills, which afterwards they keep with diligent Weeding. When the Plant hath put out so many Leaves as the Ground will nourish to a substance and largeness that will render them Merchantable, than they take off the top of the Plant; if the Ground be very rich, they let a Plant put out a dozen or sixteen Leaves before they top it; if mean, than not above nine or ten, and so according to the strength of their Soil, the top being taken if the Plant grows no higher; but afterwards it will put out Suckers between their Leaves, which they pluck away once a Week, till the Plant comes to perfection, which it doth in August. Then, in dry Wether, when there is a little Breeze of Wind, they cut down what is Ripe, letting it lie about four hours on the Ground, till such time as the Leaves, that stood strutting out, fall down to the Stalk, than they carry it on their Shoulders into their TOBACCO-Houses, where other Servants receiving it, drive into the Stalk of each Plant a Peg, and as fast as they are pegged, they hang them up by the Pegs on TOBACCO-Sticks, so nigh each other that they just touch, much after the manner they hang Herrings in Yarmouth; thus they let them hang five or six Weeks, till such time as the Stem in the middle of the Leaf will snap in the bending of it; then, when the Air hath so moistened the Leaf, as that it may be handled without breaking, they strike it down, strip it off the Stalk, bind it up in Bundles, and pack it into Hogsheads for use.  
Sometimes they are forced to Plant their Hills twice or thrice over, by reason of an Earthworm, which eats the Root; and when the Plant is well grown, they suffer damage by a Worm that devours the Leaf, called a Horn Worm, (an Eruca or Caterpillar), which is bred upon the Leaf; if these Worms be not carefully taken off, they will spoil the whole Crop. THOMAS GLOVER's Account of VIRGINIA, in the PHILOS. TRANSACT. Numb. 126.  
'Tis certain, that the TOBACCO, which grows on Salt-Peter‑Ground, flashes as 'tis Smoked; but 'tis a mistake, that any TOBACCO grows Wild, in jamaica at least. The same Nitrous TOBACCO will not come to so good a Colour, nor keep so long, as ●ther TOBACCO; insomuch that the Merchants do oftentimes lose all their TOBACCO in the Voyage for England, or Ireland, it rotting all by the way. Dr. Stvbbes' Obseru. on the Caribe- Islands: In the PHILOS. TRANSACT. Numb. 36.  
If one would try a pretty Conclusion how much Smoke there is in a Pound of TOBACCO the Ashes will tell him; for let a Pound be exactly weighed, and the Ashes kept charily and weighed afterwards, what wants of a Pound weight in the Ashes cannot be denied to have been Smoak, which Evaporated into Air: I have been told that Sir Walter Raleigh won a Wager of Queen Elizabeth upon this nicety. IAM. HOWEL's Famil. Let. Pag. 404. Edit. 5.   

Observations concerning SUGAR, and the SVGAR-Cane.  
THe SUGAR-Cane is a kind of Reed, both pleasant and profitable, having long Stalks, about some six or seven Foot high, (if you reckon the Top-Leaves, or Branches and all,) jointed or knotted much like unto the Great-cave: The Leaves come forth of every joint on each side of the Stalk, long, narrow, and sharp-pointed, much like unto some Flags, or Flower-de-luces', but not so broad; and seem, at a distance, like those Sag-Beds, which grow many together in some extraordinary Moorish or Boggy places in England; but of a more Bluish Green Colour, much like a Willow-Green. These Canes are not hollow; but the Stalk, or Body itself, is stuffed with a porous substance, moist and sweet in taste: From the Root Spring young Suckers (as they are called) which are cut away, and serve to Plant elsewhere for increase. HVGHES's American Physician.  
The Sugarcanes grow in both the Indies, in the Canary Islands, Portugal, Spain, Sicily, Crect, and Cyprus.  
The SUGAR which comes from the Maderaes is the best: That from the Canaries next: That from Malta next: Then that which comes from Barbados, Virginia, St. Thomas, etc.  
The Island of St. Thomas is quite destitute of Wheat, which if sown, turneth all to Blade, and brings forth no Ear: Nor will any Fruits here prosper, that have any Stone in them: But so abundant in Sugarcanes, and well stored with SUGARS, that forty Ships are thence loaded Yearly, with that one Commodity: For the making of which, they have there Seventy Ingenios', or SUGAR-Houses, and in each of them Two Hundred Slave●, in some Three Hundred, which belong to the Works. Six (says He) that Concrete consists of a very sharp and Corrosive Salt, though mitigated with a Sulphur, as it plainly appears from its Chemical Analysis: For SUGAR distilled by itself, yields a Liquor scarce inferior to Aqua Stygia: And if you distil it in a Vesica, with a great deal of Fountain-Water poured to it, though the fixt-Salt will not so ascend, nevertheless a Liquor will come from it, like the hottest Aqua Vitae, burning and very pungent; when therefore (says the Dr.) SUGAR mixed almost with any sorts of Food, is taken by us in so great a plenty, how probable is it that the Blood and Humours are rendered Salt and sharp, and consequently Scorbutical, by its daily use? A certain Famous Author (viz. Simon Pauli) has laid the cause of the English Consumption on the immoderate use of SUGAR amongst our Countrymen: I know not (says the Dr.) whether the cause of the increase of the Scurvy, may not also be rather hence derived. WILLIS's London-Practice, Pag. 372.  
'Tis observed of Those who work much in the SUGAR-Houses, that they are very subject to the Scurvy; and that in Portugal, where there is a mighty Quantity of SUGAR Yearly spent, their chief Distemper is a Consumption.   

The manner of Ordering the CANES, and How the SUGAR is made.  
WHen the CANES come to Maturity, (which the Planters know by several Signs, as well as we know when our Harvest is ready,) they cut them down at or above the first Joint from the Ground; (for there is little moisture in them close to the Ground) with a strong Instrument for the same purpose, laying them even in ●eaps, as we usually lay our Corn here in Harvest-time: Then they shred off all the Branches, and ●ind the Stalks in Bundles, ready ●or their Servants to carry away; or else they lay them together here and there, till they can carry them away with their Horses to the Mill, Machine, or Ingenio, where they squeeze them: Which must be as fast as they can after they are cut; for if they lie long after they are cut before they use them, than they come by much damage; so that whilst they are cutting in the Plantations, the Mill is usually going, and the Coppers are boiling. They carry them on their Horses, being lose, or bound up in bundles, after this wise: They have a kind of Pad made as some of our Horses have that carry Burdens; and on each side of that are two Crooks standing up even, or higher than the Horse's back; into which Crooks the CANES, are laid on each side of the Horse; and then they carry them up to the SUGAR-Mill, which is made after this manner following.  
They have an open House built on some pretty high Ground o● Hill, whereby they may have as much Air as they can, square, or at least pretty wide; in the middle of which they set up two great Posts, of very hard and solid Timber, made exactly round and strait, with Irons at each end ●itted for them to turn, the lower end of which turneth in Brasses fast fixed in a great and solid piece of Wood: Now in one of these Cylinders, or Rulers, which are to turn upright, is a set of Clogs set round about, which taketh always hold of the other Rowler, and causeth it to turn; so that both of them turn together: There being fastened to one of the Cylinders a piece of Wood, or rather a Frame of Wood, whereunto is fastened a Horse or two, to go round and draw it about, in such a manner as most Brewers in England Grind their Malt.  
Now the Mill being prepared, and the CANES laid by it, and all things ready to set them to work; there is one that doth always put the CANES between these Rulers, as they turn, which draw them through, by turning very nigh one against another; so that it squeezes all the Juice or Moisture out of them: And then there is another always to take the Crushed CANES away; unless one sometimes make shift to do both, which commonly is too hard a Task.  
Now under these Rulers is set a Receiver, as a Trough, Cistern, or the like convenient thing, to receive the Juice or Liquor that is squeezed out of the CANES: And from this Trough or Cistern, is a Spout to convey this Juice into the Furnaces or Coppers, where it is to be boiled to SUGAR; whereas, in some SUGAR-Houses, there are five or six Coppers for that purpose, which are commonly set in a House built only for the same use, at a distance from the Mill; and also somewhat lower than the Mill, because the Liquor is always running down into the Coppers: All which Passages and Vessels must be kept very clean; for otherwise, they are by reason of the great heat apt to Sower, and so spoil the Juice: Neither must the Juice be long kept after it is pressed out; for if it once grow Sour, it is not then sit to make SUGAR.  
These Coppers are set all one by another a-thwart the end of the SUGAR-House, or Caring-House, (as they term it,) so that the upper edges of each Copper do almost touch one another, being fast fixed in Brickwork, and cemented round the Edges, that no Fire can get up, or be seen in the SUGAR-House: But the mouth of the Furnaces where the Fire is put, is so contrived, ●hat they are made and appear on ●he outside the House; where before ●hem is always ready cut great store ●f Wood to cast in, to maintain ●he Fire so long as they boil.  
Now, if there be six C●ppers, the ●●st two are thinnest an● biggest, 〈◊〉 which the Juice is first 〈◊〉; but not by a very strong Fire, for that will make the Scum to rise, by casting in Temper, as they call it: the first of which that ariseth is little worth; but afterwards, what is scummed off, they make a very good drink of, called Locus-Ale, much used by the Servants in jamaica; or else they convey it into a Copper-Still (as they do all their other Settle and Dregs of SUGAR) to be distilled, and make a sort of strong-water, which they call Rum, or Rumbullion, stronger than Spirit of Wine, and not very pleasant, until a Man be used to it. This strong Liquor is ordinarily drank amongst the Planters, as well alone, as made into Punch.  
Furthermore, when this Juice hath so boiled into the two first Coppers, then is it strained into the third and fourth Furnaces, which are less and thicker, and there it is boiled by somewhat greater Fire; and as it gins to grow pretty thick, the● is it put into the fifth and sixth Coppers, and there boiled by a greater and very strong Fir●, to a just consistence: These Coppers are lesser and thicker than the other, which the Master-Workman doth always tend, with a great deal of care, till it be boiled enough; and then they put it into Wooden-Boxes, made broad at the top, and narrow at the bottom, with a hole almost like a Mill-Hopper: then they set it in the Curing-House, in which there is a place made to set them all in Rows; under the bottom of which Gutters or Troughs are placed to receive the Mallassus, and convey it into a Vessel. They cover the tops of these Boxes, or Earthen Vessels, with a tempered white Earth: and indeed there is great Art in whitening and making of good SUGAR. See HVGHES's American Physician, pag. 30, 31, 32, 33, & 34.  
The principal Knack, without which all their Labour were in vain, is in making the juice, when sufficiently boiled, to Kerne or Granulate. Which is done, by adding to it, a small proportion of Lie made with (Vegetable) Ashes: without which, it would never come to any thing by boiling, but a Syrup, or an Extract. But a little of that Fixed Salt, serves, it seems, to Shackle or Crystallise (which is a degree of Fixation) a very great quantity of the Essential Salt of this Plant.  
In re●ining the SUGAR, the first degree of pureness is effected, only by permitting the Molosses to drain a way through a Hole at the bottom of the SUGAR- Pots; the Pots being, all the time, open at the top. The Second Degree is procured, by covering the Pots at the top with Clay. The reason whereof is, for that the Air is hereby kept out from the SUGAR, which, in the open Pots, it hardens, before it hath full time to refine by Separation. And therefore, whereas the first way requires but one Month, this requires four. The finest SUGAR of all, is made with Limewater (and sometimes Urine) and Whites of Eggs.  
That which Dioscorides calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉; Galen, Sacchar; and Archigenes, Sal Indium; is the same thing for substance, faith Matthiolus, with that we call SUGAR: saving that, whereas this is made of the Juice expressed and boiled; that of the Ancients, as is likely, was only the Tears; which bursting out of the CANE, as the Gums or Milks of Plants are used to do, were thereupon hardened into a pure White SUGAR. That the SUGAR of the Ancients was the simple concreted Juice of a CANE, he well conjectures: But that it was the Juice or Tears of the SUGAR-CANE, he proves not. Nor, I think, could be, if, as is supposed, it was, like Salt, friable and hard. And in affirming our SUGAR to be the same for Substance with that of the Ancients, he much mistakes; that being the simple Juice of the CANE, ●his a compounded Thing, always mixed either with the Salt of Lime, or of Ashes; sometimes of Animals too. GREW's M●s. Reg. Societ. pag. 224, 225.  
In jamaica the SUGAR cures faster in ten days, than in six Months in Barbadoes: and this happens in such places, as it reins for many Months at the same time; but you must know, that Rains there are sudden, and make no previous Alteration in the Air before they fall, nor do they leave it moist afterwards. Dr. STVBBES in the PHILOS. TRANSACT. Numb. 36. pag. 705.   

Observations concerning DIAMONDS.  
THE principal DIAMOND Mines now known, are four. That of Raolconda, in the Kingdom of Visapour; discovered two hundred Years since. In this Mine, the DIAMONDS lie in sandy Veins in the Rocks. Of all, the clearest, and of the whitest Water. They pound and wash the Vein for the DIAMONDS, just as we do some of our Oars for the Metal. A second called the Gany, about seven Days Journey from Golconda; found out a hundred Years since. They dig here not above fourteen foot deep. Sometimes above sixty thousand Men, Women, and Children are at work. It affords the largest DIAMONDS, but not clear. A Third, that of Govel, a River in the Kingdom of Bengala. The DIAMONDS are found in the Sand of the River, for the space of fifty Leagues. From hence come those fair pointed Stones, called Natural Points: but not great. The Fourth, that of Succadan, a River in Borneo. But there are none come from thence but by stealth. GREW's Mus. Reg. Societ. pag. 281, 282.  
There are in the DIAMOND-Rocks of Raolconda several Veins, some half a finger, some a whole finger-wide: And the Miners make make use of Irons with Hooks at the end, with which they pick out the Earth or Sand, which they put into Tubs, and among that Earth, they find the DIAMONDS. But because these Veins do not run always str●ight, but sometimes down, sometimes upward, the Min●rs (following always the trace of the Veins) are often constrained to break the Rock with great Iron-Leavers, and striking with a violent force; which often 〈◊〉 the DIAMOND, and make● it look like Crystal. Which is the reason there are found so many sof● Stones in this DIAMOND-Mine, though they make a great show. When they have opened all the Veins, and taken out all the Sand, than they wash it two or three times over to look, for the DIAMONDS. TAVERN. Trau. in In●ia, Part II. Book II. Chap. xi.  
The Water of those DIAMONDS which are drawn, not from the Rock, but th● Ground, commonly partakes of the Colour of the Soil wherein they are found. So that if the Earth be clean and somewhat sandy, the DIAMONDS will be of a good Water; but if it be fat or black, or of any other Colour, they will have some tincture of it. BOIL of Gems, pag. 51.  
Whereas it is commonly said, that as Gold is the heaviest of Metals, so Diamonds are the hardest and heaviest of Stones. The Honourable Mr. boil can by no means agree to this Assertion, since as he tells us, in his Discourse of GEMS, pag. 52. He by his own Experience knows it to be false.  
Boethius, in his Treatise De Gemmis & Lapidibus, affirms, that DIAMONDS receive no hurt, but are rather mended, by the Fir●.  
Garci●s lib. 1. cap. 43. tells us, that some DIAMONDS, being rub●'d, will take up Straws, just like Amber, and other Electrical Bodies. And Mr. boil, in his forementioned Tract of GEMS, pag. 109. mentions a DIAMOND of his, which with a little friction attracts vigorously. And that he had another DIAMOND in his keeping, which by Water, made a little more than lukewarm, He could bring to shine in the Dark. Ibidem, pag. 112.  
'Tis the property of all true DIAMONDS, to unite the Foil closely and equally to itself, and thereby better augment its Lustre, than any other Gem. That which is called the Foil, is a mixture of Mastic and burnt Ivory: The latter, being one of the blackest of Colours; used by Painters for Velvet, the Pupil of the Eye, etc. Grews' Mus. Reg. Societ. pag. 282.  
Between the Grain and the Vein of a DIAMOND, there is this difference, that the former furthers; the latter, being so insuperably hard, hinders the splitting of it. Although it seems, that a Vein, sometimes is nothing else, but a Cross-Grain. Our European Jewellers, when they split one, they take a very small Iron Wyre, and having daubed it with Oil and Powder of DIAMONDS; draw it upon the DIAMOND, by a Tool, to and fro like a Saw, so long as is needful for that purpose. GREW ibidem.  
As fo● the Water of DIAMONDS, it is remarkable, that whereas in Europe we make use of Daylight to examine the rough Stones, and to judge of their Water, and the Specks that are found therein; the Indians do all that in the Nighttime, setting up a Lamp with a large Wiek, in a hole which they make in the Wall, about a Foot square; by the Light whereof they judge of the Water and clearness of the Stone, which they hold between their Fingers. The Water which they call Celestial is the worst of all, and it is impossible to discern it so long as the Stone is rough. The most infallible way to find out that Water, is to carry the Stone under a Tree thick of ●oughs, for by the verdure of that shade you may easily discern whether the Water be bluish or no. TAVERN. TRAV. in India, Part II. Book II. Chap. xii.  
To know the value of DIAMONDS, if they be every way perfect, Tavernier gives this Rule: That if a good DIAMOND weigh one Carat, viz. four Grains, 'tis worth 150 French Livres; and then to know, how much a good Stone, weighing 12 Carats, is worth, you are to multiply 12 by 12, which makes 144; which Product is to be multiplied by 150 (the price of a Stone of one Carat,) which will make 21600 Livres, the price of a DIAMOND of 12 Carats. But if the DIAMOND be not perfect, than you are to allow but 80 Livers for a Carat; and if such a kind of DIAMOND should weight 15 C●rats, then multiply 15 by 15, which is 225, and this into 80, makes 18000 Livres, the value of that DIAMOND.  
According to which Rule, the DIAMOND of the Great mogul (weighing 279 and 9 16 th' Carats, being o● a perfect g●●d Water, and of a good shape, w●t● only a little flaw in the edge of the cutting below, which g●es ●ound a●●ut the Stone) will an ●unt to 11723278 Livres. Were it not for that little flaw which is mentioned, the first Carat of this DIAMOND w●re worth 160 Livres, but Tav●rnier allowing for that flaw, he values the first Carat but at 150 Livres, and so he has made his Computation.  
He says, that the Great Duke of Tuscany's DIAMOND weighs 139 Carats, clean and well-shaped, cut in Facets every way: but that in regard the Water inclines somewhat toward the Colour of Citron, He does not value the first Carat above 135 Livres; so that by the Rule the DIAMOND ought to be worth 2608335 Livres. TAVERN. ibid. Chap. 15.   

Observations concerning PEARL.  
IN the first place, there is a Fishery for PEARLS in the Persian Gulf, round about the Island of Bakren. Every one that fishes pays to the King of Persia five Abassi's, (every Abassi is worth about 18 Sols French Money) whether he get any thing or no. The Merchant also pays the King some small matter for every thousand Oysters.  
The second Fishery for PEARLS is right against Bakrens upon the Coast of Arabia Felix, near the City of Catifa, which together with all the Country about it, is under the Jurisdiction of an Arabian Prince. The PEARLS that are fished in these Places are sold to the Indians, who (as Tavernier informs us) are not so nice as we; for they give a good price for all, as well the uneven as the round ones.  
There is another Fishery for PEARLS in the Sea that beats against the Walls of a great Town called Manar, in the Island of Ceylan. For their roundness and their Water, they are the fairest that are found in any other Fishery; but they rarely weigh above three or four Carats.  
There are excellent PEARLS, and of a very good Water, and large, which are found upon the Coast of japan; but there are few fished for, in regard jewels are of no esteem among the Natives.  
There are other Fisheries, in the West-Indies; in the first place all along the Island of Cubagna, three Leagues in compass, lying ten Degrees and a half of Northern Latitude, a hundred and sixty Leagues from Santo Domingo. The PEARLS are small, seldom weighing above five Carats.  
The second Fishery is in the Island of Margarita, or the Island of PEARLS, a League from Cubagna, but much bigger. This Fishery is not the most plentiful, but it is the most esteemed of all those in the West-Indies, by reason the PEARLS are of a most excellent Water, and very large. Tavernier says, He sold one Pear-fashioned to Sha-est-Kan, the Great Mogul's Uncle, that weighed fifty five Carats.  
The third Fishery is at Camogete, near the Continent.  
The fourth at Rio de la H●cha, all along the same Coast.  
The fifth and last, at St. Martha's, sixty Leagues from Rio de la Hacha. All these three Fisheries produce very weighty PEARLS; but they are generally ill shaped, and of a Water inclining to the Colour of Lead.  
As for Scotch PEARL, and those that are found in the Rivers of Bavaria, though a Necklace of them may be worth a thousand Crowns, yet they are not to be compared with the Eastern and West-Indian PEARLS.  
Some Years since, there was a F●sh●ry discovered in a certain place upon the Coast of japan; Tavernier says, He has seen some which the Hollanders have brought thence; They are of a very good Water, and large, but very uneven. TAVERN. Trau. in India, Part II. Book II. Chap. xvii.  
Over all Asia they choose the yellow Water inclining to white; for they say, those PEARLS that incline somewhat to a Gold Colour, are more brisk, and never change Colour; but that the white ones will change in Thirty Years time, through the very heat of the Wether, and the Sweat of the Person that wears them, turning them scandalously yellow.  
Take this Observation along with you, touching the difference of their Waters; some being very White, others inclining to Yellow, others to Black, others to a Leaden Colour. As for the last, there are no such, but only in America, which proceeds from the Nature of the Earth, at the bottom of the Water; which is generally more Oozy than in the East. I once met with Six PEARLS, in the return of a Cargo from the West-Indies, that were perfectly round, but black like jet, which weighed one with another Twelve Carats. I carried them into the East-Indies to put them off, but could meet with no Chapman to buy them. As for those that incline to Yellow, it proceeds from hence, that the Fishermen selling the Oysters to the Merchants in heaps, while they stay Fourteen or Fifteen Days, till the Oysters lose their Water, the Oysters waste and begin to smell, for which reason the PEARL grows Yellow by Infection; which appears to be a Truth, in regard that where the Oysters preserve their Liquor, the PEARLS are White. Now the Reason why they stay till the Oysters open of themselves, is, because that if they should force them open, they might perhaps injure and cut the PEARL. In short, the Eastern People are much of our Humour, in matter of Whiteness, for they love the whitest PEARLS and the blackest Diamonds; the whitest Bread, and the fairest Women. TAVERN. Ibid.  
Some Ancient Writers have commonly Reported, that PEARLS are produced by the Dew of Heaven, and that there is but one in an Oyster; but Experience teaches the contrary. For the Oyster never stirs from the bottom of the Sea, where the Dew can never come, which is many times Twelve Fathoms deep; besides, that it is as often observed, that there are Six or Seven PEARLS in one Oyster; and I have had in my hands an Oyster, wherein there were above Ten beginning to breed. 'Tis very true, that they are not always of the same bigness; for they grow in an Oyster after the same manner as Eggs in the Belly of a P●llet. But I cannot say there are PEARLS in all, for you may open many Oysters and find none. TAVERN Ibid. Chapt. XVIII.  
They Fish in the Eastern Seas twice a Year; the First time in March and April, the Second time in August and September; and they keep their Fairs in june and November. However they do not Fish every Year; For they that Fish will know beforehand whether it will turn to account or no. Now to the end they may no● be deceived, they send to the places where they are wont to Fish, seven or eight Barks, who bring back each of them about a Thousand Oysters, which they open, and if they find not in every Thousand Oysters to the value of Five Fano's of PEARLS, which amounts to half a Crown French Money, 'tis a sign that the Fishing will not turn to account, in regard the poor People would not be able to de●ray their Charge. For partly for a Stock to set out, and partly for Victuals while they are abroad, they are forced to borrow Money at three or four in the Hundred a Month. So that unless a Thousand Oysters yield them five Fano's of PEARLS, they do not Fish that Year. As for the Merchants, they must buy their Oysters at haphazard, and be content with what they find in them. If they meet with great PEARLS, they account themselves happy; which they seldom do at the Fishery of Manar, those Pearls being sit for little else but to be sold by the Ounce, to Powder. Sometimes a Thousand Oysters amounts to seven Fano's, and the whole Fishery to a Hundred Thousand Piastres, (every Piastre being worth four Shillings Sterling.) The Hollanders take of every Diver 8 Piastres, in regard they always attend the Fishery with two or three small Men of War, to defend them from the Malavares Pirates.  
The more Rain falls in the Year, the more profitable the Fishery happens to be. They Fish in Twelve Fathom Water, Five or Six Leagues off at Sea, sometimes Two Hundred and Fifty Barks together, among which there is not above one or two Divers at most. Ibidem.  
Monsieur Thevenot says, that the Two Fisheries, at Manar and Tutucorim, (which is over against the Isle of Manar,) have sometimes been spoiled, by throwing into the bottom of the Sea a certain Drug that chased away the Fish that breed them, and hindered them for many Years from coming back again; and that they who did it (knowing whither they went) fished them there, and grew rich, before it was known that there was good Fishing in that Place. THEU. Trau. into the Indies, Pag. 109.  
There goes a Common Tradition, that PEARL, which hath lost its Colour, may be recovered by being buried in the Earth; which if true, would (as the Lord Bacon Observes) be a thing of great advantage: But that Noble Lord tells us, that, upon a Six Weeks Trial, he could find no such Effect. But for a further Satisfaction, he says, it were good to try it in a Deep Well; or in a Conservatory of Snow, where the Cold may be more Constringent; and so make the Body more United, and thereby more Resplendent. BAC. Nat. Hist. Experim. 380.   

Of the Way and Manner of DIVING for PEARL.  
THere is a Cord tied under the Arms of them that DIVE, one end whereof is held by them that are in the Bark. There is also a great Stone of 18 or 20 Pound tied to the great Toe of him that DIVES; the end of the Rope that fastens it, being also held by them in the Vessel. The DIVER has beside a Sack made like a Net, the Mouth whereof is kept open with a Hoop. Thus provided, he plunges into the Sea, the Weight of the Stone presently sinking him: When he is at the bottom, he slips off the Stone, and the Bark puts off.  
Then the DIVER goes to filling his Sack, as long as he can keep his breath; which when he can do no longer, he gives the Rope a twitch, and is presently haled up again. After the DIVER is drawn up, he stays half a quarter of an hour to take breath, and then dives again (at this rate) for ten or twelve hours together.  
Those ●● Manar, are better Fishers, and s●ay longer in the Water than those of Bakrens and Catifa; for they neither put Pincers upon their Noses, nor Cotton in their Ears, as they do in the Persian Gulf.  
The PEARL-DIVERS are fed with dry and roasted Meat, on purpose to enable them to hold their Breath the longer.  
Sir Philoberto Vernatti, late Precedent in java Major; says, that the longest the PEARL-DIVERS in those Parts can continue under Water, is about a quarter of an hour; and this they can do by no other means but Custom: For PEARL-DIVING (as he observes) lasteth not above six Weeks, and the DIVERS stay a great while longer under Water at the end of the Season, than at the beginning. PHILOSOPH. TRANSACT. Numb. 43. Pag. 863.  
The same Person also affirms, that the PEARL Fishing is accounted so very dangerous, that the DIVERS do commonly make their Will, and take leave of their Friends, before they tread the Stone to go down. SPRAT's Hist. of the ROYAL-SOCIETY, Pag 169.  
The PEARL-Oysters are so very hard and tough, and of such an Unpleasant Taste, that they always throw them away.  
To Conclude the Discourse of PEARLS, you are to take notice, that in Europe they sell them by the Carat Weight, which is four Grains▪ In Persia they sell them by the Abas, and one Abas is an Eighteenth less than our Carat. In the Domions of the Mogul, the Kings of Visapour and Golconda Weigh them by the Ratis, and one Ratis is also an Eighteenth less than our Carat.   

Observations concerning several PRECIOUS STONES.  
THE AGATE, is so called from the River ACHATES in Sicily, near which it was first found. Almost of the Colour of Clear-Horn. The hardest of Semi-perspicuous Gems. They grow in India, Germany, and Bohemia.  
Naturally Adorned with much Variety of waved and other figured Veins, Spots, the representation of Vegetable, and sometimes of Animal Bodies. None more memorable, than that mentioned by Pliny of Pyrrhus King of Epyrus, in which, without much strain of Fancy, one might imagine a Representation of the Nine Muses, and Apollo, with his Harp, in the middle of them.  
'Tis used for Sword-Hilts, Knife-Hasts, Beads, Cups, and the like. There are pieces of it, sometimes as thick as a Man's Arm. GREW's Mus. Reg. Societ. Pag. 287.288.  
The AMETHYST, hath its Name from the Opinion of its being an Amulet against Drunkenness, and so much the Word (in Greek) imports. The Best are those of a Purple Colour, Shining and Sparkling. It is brought from India, Arabia, Armenia, and Egypt.  
The AMETHYST, is often called GEMMA VENERIS, from its Beauty and Splendour. Pliny observes, that the Indian AMETHYSTS have the exact Colour of the Phoenician Purple; which (says be) the Dyer's would be glad if they could but imitate.  
CRYSTAL, derived from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉: Because supposed to be only Water contracted or condensed with Cold.  
It is a Stone found in India, Scythia, Spain, Germany, and Asia; more transparent than clear Glass. It is the softest of all Gems; that which is most pure and transparent is best.  
CRYSTAL, at least some sorts of it, is the softest, saith Boetius, of all Gems. He should have said, of all perspicuous Gems: For the Turcois is much softer. The most usual Figure of CRYSTAL, is Sexangular: Yet Terzagi mentions a Rock of square pointed ones. But it is observable, says Dr. Grew, that he saith the Bed on which they grew, seemed to be Gold-Ore. If so, it might proceed from some Governing Principle in the Ore. For I have heard it Noted, saith the Dr. as I Remember, by Sir Christopher Wren, That Grain-Gold is often found naturally Figured into Cubes. CRYSTAL grows in most Countries, both cold and hot: The Globous, especially in B●hemia and Silesia. GREWS's Mus. Regal. Societ. Pag. 284.  
Dr. Grew, in the same place, taketh notice of a Massy Piece of CRYSTAL, now in possession of the ROYAL SOCIETY: He saith, it is not pointed, nor angular; but of a roundish Figure; much bigger than any Man's Head. One way, near a Yard in compass; the other, above three Quarters. In Weight, Thirty Nine Pounds and a quarter Haver dupoise. Yet it is very clear, beyond the clearest Ice of the same thickness. The biggest Piece of CRYSTAL the Dr. says he finds mentioned elsewhere, is a Ball of thirty six Ounces in Septalius' Musaeum.  
It hath been much Controverted amongst the Learned, concerning the Original of CRYSTAL. Pliny will have it, that it is made by the most Violent Frost from Snow or Ice. But Georgius Agricola, in his De Natura Fossilium, faith, it is some Sap Congealed by Cold in the Bowels of the Earth. Both these Opinions have had their several Champions; and though the first be most Generally received; yet the Learned Dr. Brown will by no means admit of it.  
The EMERALD is a Clear Transparent Gem, of a very beautiful and Glorious Green Colour, and is either Oriental or Occidental. The Oriental are the harder, more Beautiful and Precious; found in Scythia, Egypt and Cyprus. The Occidental are worse, being had in Peru, and several Parts of Europe.  
Monsieur Chapuzeau, in his History of the Riches of the East and West, affirms, that EMERALDS are never to be foundi n the East-Indies, but in Peru, whence they were carried by that Trading People to the Moluccas, even before America was Discovered by the Europeans; and so they came from the Orient; of much less value now, than they were formerly, by reason of their Commonness. The Author notes, that EMERALDS grow in Stones, just as Crystals, forming a Vein, in which they are by little and little refined and thickened: And that some of them are seen, half White and half green; others, all White; and others all Green and perfect. PHILOS. TRANSACT. Numb. 23. Pag. 430.  
The Learned and Ingenious Dr. Grew saith, that there is in Gresham College, a Clear and Green Stone, (a kind of Smaragdus) which being heated red hot, shineth in the Dark for a considerable time, sc. about 〈◊〉 of an Hour. Given by Dr. William Crown. Dr. Grew says, He tried the Experiment himself; and at the same time observed, that as it grew hot in the Fire, its Green Co●our was changed into a Sky-Blue; which it likewise retained so long as it continued to shine: But after that, recovered its Native Green again. GREW's Mus. REG. SOCIET. Pag. 287.  
The RUBY or CARBUNCLE, is either White or Red; The White are unripe; for that is their Primary Colour; then as they grow to perfection, they grow to a Rose Red, and at last they b●●ome as Red as Blood.  
The best come from Ceilan and Pegu; the worse and lesser are found in Calicut, Bisnagar, Coria, and Camboia, being found in the same Mines with the Saphire. It is a most Transparent Red Gem, and so hard as not to be touched with a File. The best are the Hardest and Coldest, (which you may perceive by your Mouth and Tongue) and such (as Isidore saith) shine in the Dark.  
Pliny saith, that among the Red Gems, the RUBIES or CARBUNCLES, challenge the first Place. It is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, from its likeness unto Fire, and yet the Fire hath no Power over it, which is the reason that some call them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. There are, saith he, several sorts of RUBIES, among which there is the Male and the Female; those are taken for the Male, whose red is briskest, and most Fire-like. He tells us, that the Aethiopians were wont to steep their dusky dark RUBIES in Vinegar; and that in fourteen days they would be pure and resplendent, and that for fourteen Months they would hold it. In conclusion, he says, that it is a very difficult thing to distinguish the several sorts of RUBIES one from another; in that they are so easy to be counterfeited and falsified by the Art and Skill of Lapidaries and Goldsmiths, who commonly lay some foil under, to make them shine and glister like Fire. PLIN. Lib. 37. Cap. 7.  
The Natives of Pegu call all coloured Stones RUBIES, distinguishing them only by the colour. Saphires they call Blue-Rubies; Amethysts they call Violet-Rubies; Topazes, Yellow-Rubies; and so of other Stones.  
Tavernier saith, that among all the RUBIES found in the Mountain Capelan, within the Kingdom of Pegu, you shall hardly see one of three or four Carats that is absolutely clean, by reason that the King strictly enjoins his Subjects not to export th●m out of his Dominions; besides that, he keeps to himself all the clean Stones that are found. So that Tavernier, as himself informs us, got very considerably in his Travels, by carrying RUBIES out of Europe into Asia. And this may very well render the Relation of Vincent le Blanc suspicious, who reports, that he saw in the King's Palace, RUBIES as big as Eggs.  
The other place where RUBIES are found, is a River in the Island of Ceyl●n, which descends from certain high Mountains in the middle of the Island; which swells very high when the Rains fall; but, when the Waters are low, the People make it their business to search among the Sands for RUBIES, Saphires, and Topazes. All the Stones that are found in this River, are generally fairer and clearer than those of Pegu.  
There are also some RUBIES, but more Balleis-Rubies, and an abundance of Bastard Rubies, Saphires and Topazes, found in the Mountains that run along from Pegu to the Kingdom of Camboya.  
In Hungary there is a Mine where they find certain Flints of different bigness, some as big as Eggs, some as big as a Man's Fist, which being broken, contain a RUBY within, as hard and as clean as those of Pegu. TAVERN. Trau. in India, Part. II. Book. II. Chap. XVI.  
The SAPHIRE, is either Oriental or Occidental; and of each there are Male and Female. The Oriental are found in Zeilan, Calcutta, Bisnagar, and Pegu, in which last place are the best. The Occidental are found in Silesia and Bohemia. It is a glorious, clear transparent Blue, or Skye-coloured Stone; these are the Males. The Females are white, and unripe; so they want colour. The most transparent and deep coloured, are easily divested of that Beauty, by a little heat of the Fire.  
The SAPHIRE is cut or fashioned with Emery and Tripoli; and engraven with Diamond-Dust, as other harder Gems.  
Ulysses' Aldrovandus in his Musaeum Metallicum, affirms, that AEs ustum and Glass melted together, imitate a SAPHIRE.  
The TURCOIS or TURKEY STONE, is of a dark Sky-colour, and sometimes greenish withal, or greenish Blue. This Stone is not where to be found but in Persia: Where there are two Mines. The one is called the Old Rock, three days Journey from Meched, toward the Northwest, near a gre●● Town which goes by the Name of Michabourg. The other, which is called the New-Rock, is five days Journey off.  
Those of the New-Rock are of a Paler Blue inclining to White, and less esteemed, so that you may have a great many for a little Money. Some Years since the King of Persia Commanded, that no Turquoises should be digged out of the Old Rock, but only for himself; making use of those Turquoises instead of Enamelling, to adorn Hilts of Swords, Knives and Daggers: of which the Persians are altogether ignorant. See TAVERN. TRAV. in India, Part II. Book II. Chap XVI.  
The best TURQUOIS, according to Pliny, is that which comes nearest to the Grass Green of an Emerald; though after all, he says, whatsoever Beauty is in this Stone, seems to come from outward helps: Fo● being set in Gold, it looks most Beautiful, nor is there any Precicious Stone that becomes Gold better.  
The fairer a TURQUOIS is, the sooner it loses the Colour, by Oil, Ointment, or Wine; whereas one of a base sort, will much better hold its own, and maintain the Luster. In Conclusion, He tells us, that of all Gems the Turquois is the easiest to be falsified, and counterfeited with Glass. PLIN. Lib. 37. Chap. 8.   

Observations concerning the LOADSTONE, and the Sea COMPASS.  
THe LOADSTONE, Magnes; from Magnesia, a Country between Thessaly and Macedonia, where, it's said, it was first found. For the most part of an Iron-Colour, tending to Blue, by some called The Male; if Black, The Female. It is of a Metallic or Iron Matter, usually found in Germany, Norway, Italy, etc. about 〈◊〉 of Mines.  
The admirable and known Properties of this Stone, are, in general, these; That it attracteth Iron; or any Body, if small, which hath Iron in it. That it hath no perception of any other Body, though never so light. That it maketh the Attraction according to its Poles. And that it communicateth to Iron both the same Attractive Power, and a Verticity to the North-Pole. In which last lieth its great Use, as applied to Navigation. Although by Observations made from the Variation of the Needle, Time may produce further Discoveries in Astronomy. Those that Travel through the vast Deserts of A●●bia, have also a Needle and Compass, whereby they direct themselves in their way, as Marine's at Sea.  
The Power of the MAGNET dependeth not on its Bulk; the smaller being usually the stronger. Tergazi mentions one that would ●●●pend Sixty times, and Mr. Boil another, Eighty times, it's own Weight. But the Best in time lose very much of their strength; as those now kept in GRESHAM COLLEGE have done.  
Some Means have been proposed for preserving the strength of a LOADSTONE. But there is none mentioned by any Author, that I know of, comparable to That, Experimented by Mr. Theodore Haac, Fellow of the ROYAL SOCIETY; not only for Preserving, but also Recovering and Increasing the strength of the LOADSTONE. For he having one that weighed about four Ounces and a half armed, which would take up Sixteen times its own Weight: And having laid it by for the space of some Years unused, found it to have lost one Fourth part of its strength, so that it would now take up but about three Pound; and, upon search, meeting with no Means Effectual to recover it; considered with himself, That as in Morals, the Exercise of Virtue, makes it more generous; and that Animal Motions, by use, become more Vigorous: So it might possibly prove also as to some Properties of Inanimate Bodies. Whereupon, he hung as much at his Stone, as it would bear; and so left it for the space of some Weeks. Then, returning to it, and applying more Weight to the former, it very easily held the same. And repeating the Addition of more Weight, at several Periods, in the space of about Two Years; He at last found, That his Stone had not only recovered its former strength, but increased it; for whereas before he had never known it to take up more than Sixteen, it would now take up Twenty times its own Weight. And he is now continuing the Experiment, to see how far it will go further. GREW's Mus. Reg. Societ. pag. 317, 318.  
Dr. Highmore tells us, That the Magnetical Exspirations of the LOADSTONE may be discovered by the help of Glasses, and be seen in the form of a Mist, to flow from the LOADSTONE: This, indeed, would be a most incomparable Eviction of the Corporeity of Magnetical Efflurviums, and sensibly decide the Controversy. But I am sure he had either better Eyes, or else better Glasses than ever I saw (tho' I have looked through as good as England affords,) and the best of them all was so far from presenting these subtle Emanations, that they would never exhibit to me those grosser, and far more Material, Effluviums, from Electrical and Aromatical Bodies: Nay, not the Evaporations of Camphire, which spends itself by continually effluviating its own Particles: Nay, I could never see the grosser Steams, that continually transpire out of our own Bodies, and are the fuliginous Eruct●tions of that Internal Fire, which constantly burns within us. Indeed, if our Dioptrics could attain to that Curiosity, as to grind us such Glasses as would present the Effluviums of the Magnet; we might hope to discover all▪ Epicurus' Atoms, Des Cartes his Globuli Aetherii, and all those insensible Corpuseles which daily produce such considerable Effects in the Generation and Corruption of Bodies about us: Nay, might not such Microscopes hazard the discovery of the Aerial Genti, and present even Spiritualities themselves to our view? HENR. POWER's Experim. Philosophy. pag. 154, 155.  
Andrea's Libavius, lib. 2. Singul. affirms, that the LOADSTONE, if it be put into Fire, loseth its attractive force; and that whilst it burns, the Sulphureous Particles fly forth.  
Baptista Porta, in his 7th. Book, Chap. 2. saith, that he hath often seen with great delight, a LOADSTONE wrapped up in burning Coals that sent ●●rth a blue Flame, which smelled of Brimstone and Iron; and that being dissipated, it lost its attractive Virtue.  
Mr. Samuel Colepress, in a Letter to the ingenious Mr. Oldenburg, giving an account of some Magnetical Experiments, acquaints him, That he had taken a LOADSTONE unpolished, which attracted but meanly; and that he had heated a Lath-nail glowing hot, nimbly applying the North-Pole of the said Magnet to it, which quickly took it up, and held it suspended a great while, till he put down both the Magnet and Nail.  
He further faith, that he took the same Stone, and cast it into the Fire, letting it remain there, till it was through hot, altering its colour from black to red, and that being red-hot, he applied the North-Pole to another Lath-nail cold, and untouched before, which it took up but faintly, yet held it suspended for some time.  
In conclusion, he saith, that two or three days after, he took the very same LOADSTONE, and found that it attracted then as strongly, as before it was cast into the Fire. Whence he inferred, that the Fire somewhat lessened its attractive Faculty, but did not deprive the Stone of it. PHILOS. TRANSACT. Numb. 27. pag. 500▪ 501.  
Dr. Edward Cotton made a Present to the ROYAL SOCIETY of a LOADSTONE, that weighed sixty Pounds. Dug out of the Ground in Devonshire. Which though it takes up no great Weight, yet moves a Needle nine foot distant. Some part hereof, which was broken off, being put into its proper place, adds much Strength to it. PHILOS. TRANSACT. Numb. 23. pag. 423.   

Of the Sea COMPASS.  
IN the Year Thirteen Hundred, One Flavio of Malphi, in the Realm of Naples, found out the COMPASS, or Pixis Nautica, consisting of Eight Winds only, the Four Principal, and Four Collateral: and not long after, the People of Bruges, and Antwerp, perfected that Excellent Invention; adding Twenty-four other Subordinate Winds or Points. By means of this most Excellent Instrument, and withal by the good Success of Columbus, the Portugals Eastwards; the Spaniards, Westwards; and the English, Northwards; have made many Glorious and Fortunate Expeditions: Which had been utterly impossible to have been performed, and had been foolishly undertaken, when that help Was wanting. I know there hath been much Pains taken by some Learned men, to prove the use of the Mariner's Compass to be far more Ancient, than is now commonly pretended. Nicolas Fuller, a very Learned and Industrious Man, but better skilled in the Hebrew Tongue, than the Philology of the Greeks and Latins, will have it known to Solomon, and by him taught unto the Tyrians and Phoenicians (the most famous Seamen of Old Times): but he brings no Argument of Weight to make good the Cause. Nor is it possible that such an Excellent Invention, so beneficial to the common good of all Mankind, should have been forgotten and discontinued, for the space of more than Two Thousand Years; if ever the Tyrians, and Phoenicians had been Masters of it; who could not possibly conceal it (had they been so minded) from the Common-Mariners, or they not have Communicated it for gain, or desire of Glory, to the Greeks, and Romans; under whom successively they lived. And as little moment do I find in some other Arguments, as that the Lapis Heraclius of the Ancient Writers, or the Versoria of Plautus, should be by them intended for the Mariner's Compass. For plainly the Versoria of Plauturs is no other than the Piece of Tackle which our Mariners now call the Bolin; by which they use to turn their Sails, and fit them to the change of every Wind. And so much doth appear by the Poet himself, in the Comedy which he calls Mercator; saying, Hinc ventus nunc Secundus est, cape modò Versoriam. So called from Verso, to turn often; or from Versum, the first Supine of Verto; Whence Velum Vertere is a common Phrase amongst the Latins, used for the shifting of the Sail, as the Wind doth vary. PET. HEYLIN's Cosmog.  
But as peremptory as Heylin is, in the assigning this Noble Invention to Flavius the Neapolitan, yet I find other Authors (it may be of as good Credit and Authority) wholly differ from him. Dr. Gilbert▪ our Countryman (who hath written an Excellent Latin Treatise of the Properties of the LOADSTONE) seems to be of Opinion, that Paulus Venetus brought the Invention of the Use of the COMPASS from the Chinese. Paulus Osorius, in his Discourse of the Acts of King Emanuel, ascribes it to Gama and his Countrymen the Portugals, who, as he pretends, took it from certain Barbarous Pirates, Roving upon the Sea about the Cape of Good Hope. Goropius Becanus likewise thinks, he has great Reason to entitle it upon his Countrymen the German's, in as much as the 32 Points of the Wind upon the COMPASS borrow the Name from the Dutch in all Languages▪ But Blondus, who is therein followed by Pancirollus, both Italians, will not have Italy lose the Praise thereof, telling us, that about 300 Years ago it was found out at Malphis or Melphis, a City in the Kingdom of Naples: But for the Author of it, the One Names him not, and the Other assures us, he is not known: Yet Salmuth, out of Ciezus and Gomara, confidently Christens him with the Name of Flavius. To conclude then, who it was, that first discovered this Noble, useful Invention, is not certainly known. And, is it not pity, that one of the Greatest Benefactors to Mankind that ever was, should lie hid in so neglected an obscurity? When the great Disturbers of the World, have so dear, and so precious a Memory. For my part, I think there is much more acknowledgement due to this obscure Fellow, (if it be Flavius) than to a Thousand Alexanders and Caesars, or to Ten times the Number of Aristotle's. And He really did more for the increase of Knowledge, and the Advantage of the World, by this one Invention; than the whole Tribe of Schoolmen have done by their many niceties, and subtle Disputations.  
In the Philosophical Transactions, Number 157, Pag. 520. we meet with a very Remarkable Account concerning the COMPASS of a Ship, viz. of its changing its Poles in a Thunder-Storm.  
There are Three Kind's of Sea-COMPASSES; the First, the plain Meridional COMPASS. The Second, a COMPASS of Variation. The Third, a Dark COMPASS.   

Observations concerning PETRIFICATION.  
OF PETRIFYING Waters, tho' I doubt not but their Kind's are as various, as the Effects they produce; and the Effects again, as the Subjects they Work on; yet I am inclined to believe, that they all agree thus far, that they proceed in the Main from the same Stock and Lineage, and are all more or less of the Kindred of SALTS, which sublimed and rarified in the Bowels of the Earth into an invisible Steam, are received by the Waters as their most agreeable Vehicle, and brought hither to us at the Rising of Springs, as invisibly as the Particles of Silver or Gold, when each is dissolved in its proper Menstruum: Where meeting perchance with an ambient Air, much colder and chilling than any under Ground, in all likelihood are precipitated, and thrown down on such Subjects, as they casually find at the place of their Exit, which they presently Cloth with a Crust of Stone; or else (where Precipitation or Cohesion will not suffice) they pass with the Waters through the Pores of the Subjects, and are left behind in them just as in a Filter.  
The Reason of which difference may probably be, that some of these PETRIFYING Steams or Atoms, may be gross and more bulky, than some others are, and cannot be held up in the watery Vehicle, without such a Heat as they have under Ground, but fall, and by Reason of their bigness, do not penetrate, but adhere to their Subjects; whereas others that are fine, more minute, and subtle, are easily supported in a Volatile Condition, and pass with the Waters into the closest Textures.  
If any body doubt whether Stones, and so PETRIFICATIONS, arise from SALTS, let him but consult the Chemists, and ask whether they find not all indurated Bodies, such as Stones, Bones, Shells, and the like, most highly sa●ed with the Saline Principle? Some Mixture of Earth and Sulphur, 'tis true, there is in them, which give the Opacity that most Stones have; from which, according as they ar● more or less free, they have proportionable Transparency, and some hardness too; as the best of Gems, the Diamant, evinces. And if he shall ask what SALTS are the aptest to perform this Feat of PETRIFICATION, though the difficulty of the Question might well excuse me, yet I'll venture thus far to give him an Answer, That I have frequently seen at Whitstable in Kent, how their Coperas or Vitriol is made out of Stones, that 'tis more than probable were first made out of That: To the Spirit of which Vitriol, if you add Oil of Tartar, they presently turn into a fixed and somewhat hard Substance, not much inferior or unlike to some Incrustations; which seems to conclude, that from these Two, all such like Concretions are probably made; and that could we but admit that Ocean of Tartar, which Plato placed in the Centre of the Earth, and thought the Origin of all our Springs, the business of PETRIFICATIONS were sufficiently clear. To which I also add in the behalf of Vitriol, what's matter of Fact, and prevails with me much, That wherever I find strong Vitriol-Waters, the PETRIFYING ones are seldom far off. PLOT's Nat. Hist. of OXFORD-SHIRE.  
The Ingenious, and Learned Mr. Hook saith, that all the PETRIFIED Pieces of Wood that he ever saw, seemed to have been rotten Wood before the PETRIFICATION began. And since I have Named this Industrious and knowing Gentleman, I shall not think my time ill spent, if (for the Entertainment of the Reader) I Transcribe the Observations he hath made of a Piece of PETRIFIED Wood, taken from a Microscopical Examen.  
This PETRIFIED Substance resembled Wood, in that  
First, all the parts of it seemed not at all dislocated, or altered from their Natural Position whiles they were Wood; but the whole Piece retained the exact shape of Wood, having many of the Conspicuous Pores of Wood still remaining Pores, and showing a manifest difference, visible enough, between the Grain of the Wood and that of the Bark; especially, when any side of it was cut smooth and polite; for than it appeared to have a very lovely Grain, like that of some curious close Wood  
Next (it resembled Wood) in that all the smaller, and (if I may so call those which are only to be seen by a good Glass) Microscopical Pores of it appear, (both when the Substance is cut and polished Transversly, and Parallel to the Pores) perfectly like the Microscopical Pores of several kinds of Wood, retaining both the shape, and Position of such Pores.  
It was differing from Wood, First, in Weight, being to Common Water, as 3¼ to 1. Whereas there are few of our English Woods, that, when dry, are found to be full as heavy as Water.  
Secondly, in Hardness, being very near as hard as a Flint, and in some places of it also resembling the Grain of a Flint: It would very readily Cut Glass, and would not without difficulty (especially in some parts of it) be scratched by a Black hard Flint: It would also as readily strike Fire against a Steel, as also against a Flint.  
Thirdly, in the Closeness of it; for, though all the Microscopical Pores of the Wood were very Conspicuous in one position, yet by altering that position of the Polished Surface to the Light, it was also manifest that those Pores appeared darker than the rest of the Body, only because they were filled up with a more Dusky Substance, and not because they were hollow.  
Fourthly, in its Incumbustibleness, in that it would not burn in the Fire; nay, though I kept it a good While red-hot in the Flame of a Lamp, made very Intense by the Blast of a small Pipe; yet it seemed not at all to have diminished its extension; but only I found it to have changed its Colour, and to have put on a more Dark and Dusky Brown Hue. Nor could I perceive that those parts which seemed to have been Wood at first, were any thing wasted, but the Parts appeared as Solid, and Close as before. It was farther observable also, that as it did not Consume like Wood; so neither did it Crack and Fly like a Flint, or such like hard Stone; nor was it long before it appeared red-hot.  
Fifthly, in its Dissolubleness; for putting some drops of Distilled Vinegar upon the Stone, I found it presently to yield very many Bubbles, just like those which may be observed in Spirit of Vinegar when it Corrodes Coral; tho' I guess many of those Bubbles proceeded from the small parcels of Air, which were driven out of the Pores of this PETRIFIED substance, by the insinuating Liquid Menstruum.  
Sixthly, in its Rididness, and Friability; being not at all Flexible, but Brittle like a Flint; insomuch that with one knock of a Hammer I broke off a small piece of it, and with the same Hammer quickly beat it to pretty fine Powder upon an Anvil.  
Seventhly, it seemed also very differing from Wood to the Touch, feeling more Cold than Wood usually does, and much like other close Stones and Minerals.  
The Reasons of all which Phoenomena seem to be: That this PETRIFIED Wood having lain in some place where it was well soaked with PETRIFYING Water (that is, such a Water as is well impregnated with Stony and Earthy Particles) did by degrees separate, either by Straining and Filtration, or perhaps by Precipitation, Cohoesion or Coagulation, abundance of Stony Particles from that permeating Water: Which Stony Particles having, by means of the fluid Vehicle, conveyed themselves not only into the Microscopical Pores, and so perfectly stopped them up; but also into the Pores, which may perhaps be even in that part of the Wood, which, through the Microscope, appears most solid; do thereby so augment the Weight of the Wood, as to make it above three times heavier than Water, and perhaps six times as heavy as it was when Wood: Next, they hereby so lock up and fetter the parts of the Wood, that the Fire cannot easily make them fly away, but the Action of the Fire upon them is only able to Char those parts as it were, like as a piece of Wood, if it be closed very fast up in Clay, and kept a good while Red-hot in the Fire, will by the heat of the Fire be Charred, and not Consumed; which may perhaps be the Reason why the PETRIFIED Substance appeared of a blackish Brown Colour after it had been burnt.  
By this intrusion of the Petrified Particles, it also becomes hard and friable; for the smaller Pores of the Wood being perfectly stuffed up with these Stony Particles; the Particles of the Wood have few or no Pores in which they can reside, and consequently, no Flexion or yielding can be caused in such a Substance.  
The remaining Particles likewise of the Wood; among the Stony Particles, may keep them from cracking and flying, as they are very apt to do in a Flint. HOOK's Microg. Obseru. XVII.  
Among the several Kind's of the PETRESCENT Liquors, I have observed a sort that is of so fine a Substance, and yet of so PETRIFYING a Virtue, that it will Penetrate and PETRIFY Bodies of very different Kind's, and yet scarce, if at all, visibly increase their bulk, or change their Shape or Colour. To which purpose, I Remember, that I have seen divers Animal and Vegetable Substances so PETRIFIED, as scarce at all to be taken notice of, by their appearance, to have been altered by the Operation of the PETRESCENT Liquor. I have with Pleasure seen a thin Cream-Cheese turned into Stone, where the Size, Shape, and Colour even of the Wrinkles, and the blueish Mould (which it seems it began to have when the Liquor Invaded it) were so well preserved, that an Hungry Man would not have scrupled to have fallen upon it as a good Bit. And as for the Hardness, that this PETRESCENT Juice can give to the Body that it Penetrates, I shall only tell you, that I have had (and I think yet have) a pretty quantity of Wood, PETRIFIED in England, which retaining its former Figure, and Grain, and scarce at all visibly increased in Bulk, was so very hard, that I could make Impressions with it upon Iron, and Glass itself, and make it strike Fire like an Excellent Flint. To which I shall here add, that the Stone parts did not suffer the Wood, which they had Penetrated, to be reduced in the Fire, either to Ashes or Charcoal. And I have by me a Lump of Mineral Substances, wherein a PETRESCENT Liquor, that fills the large Intervals between them, is Transparent enough, and harder than most Stones, as far as we could guests by some trial of it made by a skilful Ingraver of Gems. And to these Instances might be added many others, if it did not by these few sufficiently appear, that PETRIFICK Agents may insinuate themselves into the Pores of Various Bodies, and turn them into Stone, without otherwise destroying their Pristine Nature, or so much as their Former Figure. BOIL of Gems, Pag. 124, 125.  
Where there are PETRESCENT Liquors mingled with common Water, there may, by divers accidents, and particularly an hot Summer, a sufficient Discharge be made of the superflous Moisture, to make the more disposed parts of the PETRESCENT Liquor to Coagulate; and afterwards the Coagulation may be suspended, either by the supervening of a Colder Season, as Winter; or even in Summer itself, by a plentiful Rain, or the effect of it, a Land-Flood, which might check the progress of Coalitions by over much diluting the Liquor, that might else have turned into Stone. BOIL ibidem, pag. 143.  
For aught we know, in those very Places, where now there is nothing to be seen but lose Stones, and perhaps Beds of Stone themselves, in those very Places (I say) there may in times past have been PETRESCENT Liquors, whether Stagnant or Running. For, I have in another place showed, that Earthquakes, Inundations of Seas and Rivers, Sinking of Ground, Encroachments of the Land on the Water, Fiery Eruptions, and other such Accidents, (some related by Authentic Authors, and others happening in our own times, in places, some of which I had the curiosity to see,) have among other odd Effects, been able to dry or choke up Pools and Lakes, and to stop and quite divert the course not only of Springs, but of Rivers, so as to leave no Footsteps of them, where they plentifully flowed before. IDEM Ibid. pag. 157.   

Observations concerning SALT: Several sorts thereof.  
COmmon SALT is the Coagulum of Sea-Water, or of Salt; Fountain-Water; but that of the Sea is the chief. It is purified by Solution, Filtration, and Coagulation, or Crystallization. It is to be noted, that the artificial SALT of Vegetables and Animals are subject to the same Preparations which common SALT is subject to. If the Solution and Crystallization be often repeated, this common SALT will at last be sweet.  
The SAL ARMONIAC of the Ancients was a Native SALT, which grew in the Lybic Sea, unknown to us: Ours is a Compound Artificial Volatile SALT, boiled from the Ashes of Minerals, Vegetables, and Animals, Salt of Soot, common SALT, and Sal Gem. The best comes from Venice and Antwerp, being very white and pure.  
Among all the SALTS that Nature alone produceth, the scarcest, but of greatest Virtue, is the SALT-AMMONIAC; they call it vulgarly ARMONIAC, and from that Name conclude, that it comes from Armenia; but that is not the true name of it but AMMONIAC, which in Greek signifies, SALT of the Sand: and underneath the Sand (of the Seashore, I suppose) it is found congealed in little pieces by its internal Heat, and the continual burning of the Sun, baked so much that it is made the bitterest to taste of all kind of SALT. Goldsmith's use it more than the Physicians. It is one of those they call The four Spirits, because the Fire will convert them into Smoak, and so they fly away: The other three are Quick Silver, Sulphur, and Salt Peter. It hath a particular Property to cleanse and colour Gold, and is put into the Composition of that Aqua fortis that dissolves it. ALBARO ALONSO BARBA of Metals. Transl. by the Earl of SANDWICH. Chap. 8.  
johannes Alphonsus Borellus in his Historia & Meteorologia Incendii Aetnoei, Ann. 1669. takes particular notice of the great abundance of SAL ARMONIAC, that was found in all the holes and vents of the Ground, and in the Clefts of Stones. And of this SALT He affirms, that there had been sublimed (for he makes it factitious) so great Store, that many thousands of Pounds might be gathered; adding, that even a whole Year after the Extinction of the Fire in the Mouths of AETNA, there were found remaining d●vers vents about Catania, exhaling store of Smoke, which had the like SAL ARMONIAC flicking to the sides and edges of the Stones.  
At this day, we have little knowledge of the true NITRE, which was anciently made of the Water of the River Nilus; although Albertus Magnus saith, that in Goselaria there was a Mountain that contained a very rich Mine of Copper, and that the Water which issued out at the bottom of it, being dried, became NITRE. We know little also of Aphronitrum, which is but as it were the froth of NITRE.  
NITRE is bitterer than Salt, but less Salt. SALT PETER is the Mean between them two, and consists of very dry and subtle parts; it grows on the Walls of old Houses, and in Stables, Cow-Houses, Hog-Sties, and Dove-Coats; it will grow again in the same Earth it was taken out of, if that Earth be thrown in heaps, and not stirred, and taken care of; or if ordinary Earth be cast up into heaps, and watered with Brackish Water, after some Years it will give a great increase, as profitable as Crops of Corn.  
The use of it in making GunPowder, and Aqua Fortis is very well known. It is used also in the melting of Metals. Ibidem.  
Whether the NITRE of the Ancients be of the same Species with the SALT, which is commonly known by the name of SALT PETER, is variously disputed by very learned Authors amongst the Modern Physicians: On the Negative side are Mathiolus and Bellonius; the latter of which had the advantage by the opportunity of his Travels in Egypt, to have often seen and handled them both, and is so positive as to pronounce, that in all Christendom there is not one Grain of NITRE to be found, unless it be brought from other parts; although at the time of his being in Grand Cairo (which was about the Year 1550) it was so common there (as he says) that ten Pounds of it would not cost a Moidin Among those that hold the Affirmative, the most eminent are Cardan and Longius; and it seems the general Vote of Learned Men hath been most favourable to that Opinion, by reason that in all Latin Relations and Prescriptions, the word NITRUM or HALINITRUM is most commonly used for SALT PETER.  
I have often enquired amongst our London Drugster's for Egyptian NITRE, and if I had been so fortunate as to have ●ound any, I doubt not, but I should have been able to have put an end to that Question by a Demonstration: that is, by turning the greatest part of it into SALT PETER. However, the Observations I have made in my own private Experiments, and in the Practice of SALT PETER-Men, and Refiners of SALT PETER, seem to give me sufficient ground to suspect, that the confidence of those who hold them to be several SALTS, proceedeth chief from their being unacquainted with the various 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of SALT PETER in the making and refining of it: And also their comparing double refined SALT PETER (o● which Gunpowder is made) with the NITRUM and APHRONITRUM described by Pliny, in the one and thirtieth Book of his Natural History; which indeed is the only tolerable account of that SALT, that hath been handed to us from Antiquity: where he tells us, that APHRONITRUM was Colore penè purpureo, and Egyptian NITRE Fuscum & Lapidosum. HENSHAW of the making of SALT PETER. See SPRAT's Hist. of the R. S. pag. 260, 261.  
NITRE is often adulterated by being mixed with common SALT, but you may try it by burning; for being fired upon a red hot Tile, or Stone, if all fly away, it is pure; but if any thing remain, it is common SALT.  
The Lord Bacon saith, that NITRE is a kind of cool Spice; in that it bites the Tongue and palate with Cold, just as Spices do with Heat; and that NITRE is the only Vegetable, which aboundeth with Spirit, and yet is Cold.  
He further tells us, that Cattle which drink of NITROUS Water, do manifestly grow fat; which, saith he, is a sign of its cold Quality. BAC. Hist. of LIFE and DEATH.  
It is affirmed by several, that Gunpowder, which consisteth principally of NITRE, being taken in Drink, doth conduce to Valour; and therefore 'tis often used by Mariners and Soldiers just before they are to fight, even as the Turks do Opium.  
The greater Part of Africa hath no other SALT but such as is digged out of Quarries and Mines, after the manner of Marble or Free Stone, being of a White, Red, and Grey Colour. Barbary aboundeth with SALT, and N●midia is indifferently furnished therewith: But the Land of Negro, and especially the inner part of Ethiopia, is so destitute thereof, that a Pound of SALT is there sold for half a Ducat. And the People of that Country use not to set SALT upon their Tables; but holding a crumb of SALT in their hands, they ●ick the same at every morsel of Meat which they put in their Mouths. In certain Lakes of Barbary, all the Summer time, there is fair and white SALT congealed or kerned, as namely, in divers places near the City of Fez, PURCH. Pilgr. Vol. II. pag. 849.  
The Learned and Ingenious Dr. Brown in his Travels, pag. 112. saith, That near the City of Eperies, in upper Hungary, there is a SALT-Mine of great note, being an hundred and fourscore Fathoms deep, in which are pieces of Salt found of ten thousand pounds' weight.  
The Principal SALT-Mines are in Poland and Calabria. In the lesser Poland, says Comer, in his Description of that Country, are some pieces of SALT as big as huge Stones; so hard, that Houses and even whole Towns are built with them.  
In the Philosophical Transactions we have a Relation concerning the SALGEMME Mines in Poland, lying within a Mile of Cracovia: which Relation was communicated to Mr. Oldenburg by a curious Gentleman in Germany, who some Years since descended himself into those Mines, to the depth of 200 Fathoms, and was led about in them for the space of three Hours. He saith, that out of these Mines they dig and cut out three sorts of SALT; One is common, course, and black; the Second somewhat sinner and whiter; the Third, very white, and clear, like Crystal. He says, the course and black SALT is cut out in great pieces, roundish, and three Polonian els long, and one Ell thick, which c●sts from fifty to seventy Polonian Florins: In the mean time the Inhabitants of Cracow have a Privilege, whereby a certain number of Pieces is to be delivered to them, at the rate of eight such Florins the Piece. The great Pieces lie at Cracow about the Streets before the doors of the Citizens; as also in the Country, in the small Towns and Villages, and before the ●orts and Houses of the Nobility; where the Cattle, passing to and fro, lick of those SALT Stones; which afterwards by Mills and other Engines are ground and beaten small for use.  
These SALT-Works belong to the King of Poland, who appoints and maintains the Officers of them; and 'tis one of his best ROYAL REVENUES, amounting to a very considerable Sum. There are no less than a thousand Men that are constantly employed in these Mines; and he saith, There was then a Provision of SALT valued at two Millions.  
He farther says, There are in these Works three Horses that stay always below, having their Stable and other Necessaries there; the Horses, after they have been a while under Ground, grow blind from the sharpness of the SALT; and that all the Three, which then Laboured there, were quite blind. PHILOS. TRANSACT. Numb. 61. pag. 1099, etc.  
In jamaica they have a very pretty and easy way for the producing of good SALT, which is thus: Near the Seaside they dig a low place, as it were a Lough or Pond, and pave it very even, and with a Sluice let in some of the Sea-water, an Inch, two Inches, or three Inches deep, or more; and there letting it remain, the Sun in a short time turneth it into SALT: And if they have occasion to use it quickly, they let in the less; but if they have a good Stock, that they can stay longer, than they let in the more; for the more is let in, the longer will it be e'er it become SALT: which being done, they sweep it up, and keep it for use, and so let in more. And thus are they well provided with SALT, to Powder their Beef, Pork, etc. which will not keep sweet otherwise many hours after it is killed. HVGHES's American Physician, pag. 35.  
According to the Quality of the Earth, or Ground of the Marish, the SALT is made more or less white. The Reddish Earth maketh the SALT more Grey; the Blueish more white. Besides, if you let run in a little more Water than you ought, the SALT becomes thence more White; but than it yields not so much. Generally all the Marshes require a fat Earth, neither Spongy, nor Sandy.  
Unless it rain much, the Rain-water does little hurt to the Marish; and although it rain a day or a night, they do not let the Water which is in the Marish run out, the heat of the Sun sufficiently exhaling such Rain-Water. Only, if it have reigned very plentifully that day, no SALT is drawn for the three or four next following days. But if it rain five or six days, the People are then necessitated to empty all the Water of the Beds by a peculiar Channel, conveying it into the Sea; which Channel cannot be opened, but when 'tis low Water. But 'tis very seldom that it reins so long, as to constrain them to empty those Beds.  
'Tis Obvious that the hottest Years make the most SALT; where yet it is to be noted, that besides the heat of the Sun, the Winds contribute much to it, in regard that less SALT is made in calm, than in Windy Wether. The West and North-West Winds are the best for this Purpose.  
In the Beds of the Marish, where the SALT is made, the Water must not be above an Inch and an half deep. Each of these Beds is fifteen Foot long, and fourteen Foot broad. Chief care is to be taken, that the Earth at the bottom of the Beds mingle not with the SALT. This Account was communicated to Mr. Oldenburg by a French Dr. of Physic, residing in the Isle of the, where Salt is made in a great Quantity. As you may fin● in the PHILOS. TRANSACT. Numb. 51. pag. 1025.  
SALT is that which gives Ligature, Weight, and Constitution to things, and is the most manifest Substance in all Artificial Composts. 'Tis SALT which Fertilizes, and Renders Egypt so Luxuriously Fruitful after the Inundations of Nile; and the Nitrous Grounds of jamaica, and other places, which cause so stupendious a growth of Plants and Trees. In a Word, SALT may be said to have a Dominion almost Monarchical, in the great Work of Vegetation, being so absolute an Ingredient in all our Dungs and Composts.  
To Conclude, you know, who have Dignified SALT with the Prerogative of being Named Element-Earth, the Vigour and Close of all Things, yea, the first and last of Elementated Bodies: What shall I say, Quid Divinum, the Original of all Fecundity; nor can I say less, since there was nor Sacrifice, nor Discourse acceptable without it. EVEL●N's Discourse of Earth, in several places, Pag. 312, 313, 314. Fol.  
See an Account of the SALT Springs at Nantwich in Ch●shire, by Dr. William jackson, in the PHILOS. TRANSACT. Numb. 53.  
And of the SALT Waters of Droytwich in Worcester-shire, by Dr. Tho. Rastell, in the PHILOS. TRANSACT. Numb. 142.  
And of the SALT Springs in Staffordshire, by Dr. Rob. Plot, in his Description of that County.   

Observations concerning GOLD.  
THE most perfect of all Inanimate Bodies, and the most esteemed of all Metals is GOLD, universally known, and covered by all People. It is made of the same Matter, a●d in the s●me Manner, as other Metals are, but of parts so pure and perfect, and so well compacted together by Decoction, that its substance is, as it were, incorruptible, being out of the Power of any of the Elements to be Corrupted or Destroyed. The Fire that consumes all other Metals, only makes GOLD more pure: The Air and Water, diminish not its Lustre, nor can Earth make it Rust or, Waste. By the Nobleness of its Substance, it hath most deservedly obtained that Estimation, which the World gives it, and the Natural Virtue which flows from the admirable Equality of its Composition, is the best Medicine against Melancholy, and the greatest Cordial to the Hearts of Men, which perpetually run after this Avaricious Metal, as the Needle doth after the Loadstone. The Virtue ascribed to Aurum Potabile, to preserve a Body perpetually in Youthfulness without Infirmity; together with the Receipt of making thereof, depends upon the Credit of those Authors, who have written concerning the same. ALBARO ALONSO BARBA, of Metals, Translat. by the Earl of Sandwich, Chap. 26.  
GOLD hath the least Variety of Regular Figure, in the Ore, of any Metal. Because more solid, and therefore, less wanton, than the rest. 'Tis a rare Specimen, mentioned by Georgius de Sepibus, which he calls, Aurum Ramescens.  
The Ductility of GOLD is admirable; One Grain, in Leaves, is extended to above Fifty Inches Square: And one Ounce employed in Guilding small Hair-Wyre, will be extended to almost an Hundred Miles in length; as Mr. boil hath observed.  
The Uses of GOLD for Vessels, Coins, Armour, Garments, etc. are infinite. The Luxury of Galienus the Emperor, taught him to Powder his Hair with the Dust of GOLD. Some Painters, saith Ambrosinus, hang Plated GOLD over Vinegar, whereby is produced a pure Blue (as Ceruse out of Lead) which they prefer before the Vltramarine.  
One principal Use of GOLD in Medicine is, for the Correction o● Mercurial Medicines. The Original Use of Leaf-GOLD in Electuaries, and divers other Preparations, was not only for better Grace, but from the Opinion of its adding Virtue to them. And Plates of GOLD, anciently, have been used especially for Children, as an Amulet. Which I take to be the true Reason, why the Kings of England hang a piece of GOLD upon those they Touch▪ GREW's Mus●eum REG. SOC. Pag. 323.  
There goes a Tradition among Learned Men, that the Leaves of Vines that grow in some places of Hungary, whose Mines afford GOLD, are as it were Gild on the lower side, by ascending Exhalations of a GOLDEN Nature: Whether this be true or no, I shall not take upon me to determine: But I remember, that having made Enquiry about the Truth of it, of a very l●genious Traveller, whose Curiosity led him to visit heedfully those famous Mines: He told me, that he did not remember He had observed what is Reported about the Leaves of the Vine: But He knew very well, that at Tockay, (a place that affords the famousest Wine of Hungary, and indeed the best I have drunk) very many of the Kernels of the Grapes would appear Gild over, as it were, with Leaf-GOLD. ROB. BOTTLE of the Insalubrity, vnd Salubrity of the Air. pag. 44, 45.  
At Chremnitz, a small Town in Hungary, there is a GOLD-MINE, in which they have Worked these Nine Hundred and Fifty●Years; the Mine is about Nine or Ten English Miles in length, and the●● 〈◊〉 one Cuniculus or Horizontal passage, which is Eight Hundred 〈◊〉 long, called the Erbstall. The depth of it is above One Hundred and Seventy Fathoms; They do not use Ladders to descend into this Mine, but are let down at the end of a Cable, unto which is fastened a Sling, or Seat of Leather; the Leather being broad, and divided ordinarily into Two or Three parts, so that it is to be shifted or changed as you find Convenience, and affords no uneasy Seat even to such as are not used to it. And in this manner, whosoever entereth the Mine is let down. Through one of the Schachts or perpendicular Pits, of which there are Six. 1. That of Rodolphus. 2. Queen Anne. 3. Ferdinand. 4. Mathias. 5. Windschacht. and 6. Leopold. I went down by the Pit of the Emperor Rodlophus, gently descending by the turning about of a large Wheel, to which the Cable is fastened, One Hundred and Eight Fathoms deep into the Earth; and after many Hours being in the Mine, was drawn out again by Leopold's Pit, straight up above One Hundred and Fifty Fathoms; a height surpassing that of the Pyramids, by a Third part. At the bottom of which Pit, I was not Discouraged to find myself so deep in the Earth, for considering I was yet above Three Thousand Miles from the Centre, I thought myself but in a Well. It is built on all sides with Firr-Trees one laying upon another on Four sides from the bottom to the top.  
The Work towards One, Two, or Three of the Clock, as they speak; for the Miners direct themselves underground by a Compass, not of Thirty Two Points, (such as is used at Sea,) but by one of Twenty Four, which they divide, as we do the Hours of the Day, into Twice Twelve.  
Of the GOLD-Ore some is White, some Black, some of it Red, and some Yellow. That with Black Spots in White is esteemed the best; as also the Ore which lieth next to the Black Veins.  
There have been Pieces of Virgin GOLD found in this Mine.  
Where they Pound the GOLD-Ore, they lay a Foundation Three Yards deep of Wood, upon which they place the Ore, over which there are Four and Twenty Beams, armed at the bottom with Iron, which break and grind the Ore, it being covered all the while with Water. These Beams are moved by Four Wheels, one Wheel to Six Beams, the Water which cometh out from the pounded Ore, is let into little Pits or Chests commonly Seven or Eight one after another; and afterwards into a large Pit of almost half an Acre of Ground, and then after settling let out.  
The GOLD-Ore in Powder or Pounded is called Slich, of which that is the Richest which is nearest to the Beams where it is first Pounded. They Work thus Day and Night continually. The Candles which they make use of are of Fir or some Resinous Wood  
They wash the Slich so long, as perhaps in an Hundred Pound Weight, there may be half an Ounce, or an Ounce of GOLD and Silver, the greatest part ordinarily GOLD, Two Thirds generally. To this Slich they add Limestone and Slacken, and Melt them together in the Melting Furnace.  
The first Melting produceth a Substance called Lech; this Lech they burn with Charcoal to make it lighter, to open its Body and render it porous, and then it is called Rost.  
To the Roast they add Sand as they see occasion, and Melt it again in the Melting Furnace; then let it out into the Pan, and proceed as in the Melting of Silver. BROWN's Trau. in Hungaria etc. Pag. 98, etc.  
The Lord Bacon commends the Wit of the Chinese, who despair of Making of GOLD, but at the same time are mad upon the Making of SILVER: For certain it is, saith that Noble Philosopher, that it is more difficult to make GOLD, (which is the most Ponderous and Materiate amongst Metals) of other Metals, less Ponderous, and less Materiate; than (Viâ Versâ) to make SILVER: of Lead, or Quicksilver: Both which are more Ponderous than SILVER: So that They need rather a further Degree of Fixation, than any Condensation. BAC. Nat. Hist.  
The Polite and Ingenious Dr. Sprat, now Bishop of Rochester, speaking of the Modern Chemists, who search after Riches, by Transmutations, and the great Elixir, saith, That their Success has been as small, as their Design was extravagant; and that their Writers involve them in such Darkness, that He scarcely knows, which was the greatest Task, to understand their meaning, or to Effect it. These Men, saith He, are so earnest in the Chase of the Philosopher's Stone, that they are scarce capable of any other Thoughts: So that if an Experiment lie never so little out of their Road, it is free from their Discovery: As I have heard of some Creatures in afric, which still going a violent pace strait on, and not being able to turn themselves, can never get any Prey, but what they meet just in their way. This Secret they prosecute so impetuously, that they believe they see some Footsteps of it, in every Line of Moses, Solomon, or Virgil. The Truth is, they are downright Enthusiasts about it. And seeing we cast Enthusiasm out of Divinity itself, we shall hardly sure be persuaded, to admit it into Philosophy. It were perhaps a vain attempt, to try to cure such Men of their groundless Hopes. It may be they are happier now, as they are: And they would only cry out with the Man in Horace, that their Friends, who had restored them to a perfect Sense, had Murdered them. But certainly if these Men could be brought to content themselves with moderate Things, to grow Rich by degrees, and not to imagine, they shall gain the Indies, cut of every Crucible: There might be wonderful things expected from them. SPRAT's Hist. of the ROYAL SOCIETY, Pag. 37, 38.  
Dr. Hackwell, in his Apology of the Power and Providence of God, speaking of the Philosopher's Stone, saith, He much doubts whether any such Experiment be yet really found or no; and if it be, whether the Operation of it be not more dangerous and difficult, than the effect arising from it, is or can be advantageous. But of this, saith he, I am well assured, that as he who digged in his Vineyard for GOLD missed it, but by opening the Roots of his Vines, thereby found their Fruit, the next Year more worth unto him than GOLD: So whilst Men have laboured by Transmutation of Metals from one Species to another to make GOLD, they have fallen upon the Distillations of Wa●ers, Extractions of Oils, and such like r●re Experiments unknown to the Ancients, which are undoubtedly more precious for the use of Man, than all the GOLD of both the Indies. HAKEWILL, Lib. 3. Chap. 9 Sect. 2.   

Observations conserning SILULR.  
SILVER is the most Perfect of all Metals Except Gold, whereunto it comes so near, as to want nothing but the Colour; and therefore those that most of all oppose the Opinion of the Transmutation of Metals one into another, do yet hold it possible to turn SILVER into Gold, because the Colour only being wanting, the Fire and Artificial Concoctions can supply that, whereof there be many Experiments: From the good Mixture and Fineness of its Parts, proceeds its enduring the Fire with very little waste, as also its being Tough and Malleable, and endures the drawing out into very Thin Leaves, and small Wire; if it were not a Common Trade to do it, it would not be believed to be possible, that an Ounce of SILVER should be Drawn out into Fourteen Hundred Yards of Wyre; and it is yet more admirable, that all that shall be made Gild Wyre, with only six Grains of Gold; So that although SILVER can be Extended to admiration, yet Gold is a Hundred times more Ductile than it. BARBA of Metals, Chap. 27.  
The Chief Places of the Indies from whence they draw SILVER, are New Spain, and Peru; but the Mines of Peru, saith Acosta, far surpass the rest; and amongst all others of the World, those of Potozi.  
The greatest Riches of the Kingdom of Peru is most out of sight hid in the Bowels of the Earth, but found in those never decaying Mines of GOLD and SILVER; more eminently abounding in this one Province, than in all America. For instance whereof we may take the SILVER Mines of Potozi, Discovered in the Year 1545, the fifth of which Payable into the King's Exchequer, amounted in Forty Years to one Hundred and Eleven Millions of Pezoes', every Pezo being Valued at Six Shillings and Six Pence; and yet a third part of the Whole was discharged of that Payment. By this one we may guests somewhat of the rest, as by the proportion of one Member, the Dimensions of the Whole Body may be probably geussed at; unless the Riches of these Mines be beyond conjecture of which it is affirmed by some knowing Men, that they yield in many Places more Gold than Earth. PET. HETLIN.  
How these Rich Mines of Potozi came first to be discovered since it was a thing somewhat Remarkable, I shall here give an account: The manner (therefore) of this Discovery was as followeth.  
A Peruvian called Gualpa, who Worked at the Mines of Porco, going a Hunting, it chanced that the Game ran up the steep Mountain of Potosii, which prevented his Pursuing of it any ●urther; but the Mountain being over grown with Trees, he got hold from one Bough to another to help himself up, and at last taking hold of the Bramble called Quinua, he pulled the same out of the Ground, and finding it heavy, looked upon it, and espied a great Lump of SILVER hanging at the Root of it; whereupon viewing the Hole, he discovered a Rich SILVER Vein; of which taking some Pieces home, and Melting them, he found that it was the best SILVER that ever he had known; wherefore he privately got a greater quantity, and by degrees grew Extraordinary Rich: But though he carried his design never so close, yet he was at last suspected, and especially by his Neighbour Guanca, Born in the Valley Xauxa, who was the more jealous of him, because he sold greater Bars of SILVER than any were Cast at Porco. Whereupon he resolved to speak to him, and getting out the Secret, it came to this Agreement between them, that they should both be Partners, and share the Booty; Gualpa was to keep the Vein, since called the Rich Vein. and Guanca was to have another, at Present Named Diego Centeno: But they agreed not long; for Guanca finding much Labour upon his Vein, by reason of the hardness, and that he could get no share in what Gualpa got, acquainted his Spanish Master Vilaroel with it, who rested not till he had sound out the truth thereof; for which Valaroel obtained (according to the Custom of Porco) several Rods to work for him, only Paying the King one fifth Part of what he got, and so remained owner of the Mine Centeno.  
This Discovery of the Rich, Mine Potozi, is said to have happened on the 24 th'. of April, 1545. Soon after which they found the SILVER Vein Del Estanno, which though it was very Rich, was difficult to be digged, because of its hardness. The first Vein which Gualpa, searched after stood upright from the bottom of the Mine, and contained above Three Hundred Foot in Length, and Thirteen in Breadth, and continuing good for Two Hundred Foot in Depth, af●●r which the SILVER gins ●o lessen.  
These Mines produce Yearly for the King's fi●th Part, Forty Thousand Pieces of SILVER, each valued at Thirteen Rials, each Ryal being Four Shillings, besides what he is desrau●e● of, which is perhaps half as much more. OGILB●'s America, pag, 463.  
For the more easy Working in the Mines, the Spaniards have digged Trenches, which they call Socabon●●, at t●e Foot of the Mountain of Potozi, towards the West, cross through the Mountain to the Mine, each of them being Eight Foot Br●●d and a Fathom Deep, and lock'● up with Gates, through which the SILVER is carried out, whereof the Owner of the Socabon receives a fifth Part. The Socabon which leads to the Rich Vein, was begun Anno 1556. and finished in Twenty-nine Years, Extending itself Two Hundred and Fifty Rods in Length. The Miners work by Candlelight, both Day and Night by turns; those that Work in the Day, Sleep in the Night, and those that Work in the Night, Sleep in the Day. The Ore, which is as hard as a Stone, is cut out with Pick-Axes, beaten in pieces with an Iron-Crow, and carried upon their Backs on Ladders made of Leather; Each Ladder hath three fastenings about the thickness of a Cable, stretched out by Sticks, so that one goes up on one side, whilst another comes down on the other. Each Ladder being Ten Fathom long, is pitched upon its several Floor on which the Labourers rest before they go up higher, for they make divers Floors according to the Depth of the Mine. The Labourers carry the Ore in Bags fastened before on their Breasts, and falling back over their Shoulders, three and three together, the foremost whereof ties a lighted Candle to his Thumb, and thus they help themselves with both hands. It is a wonderful thing to Consider, how the Peruvians are able to scramble up and down continually a Hundred and Fifty Fathom: But besides many other Inconveniences, the Mines often fall in, or at least great Pieces, which Bury all the Diggers. The Mines also being excessive Cold, occasion to those that are not used to them a Vertigo in the Head, and Vomiting. The SILVER runs for the most part between two Rocks, as it were in a long Channel, of which one side is as hard as Flint, and the other much softer, The SILVER is of different Value; the best, called Cacilla, or Tacana, resembles Amber in Colour; the worse sort is Blackish, and sometimes of an Ash-Colour. The Pieces of Ore are carried on the Backs of the Sheep Pacos to the Mill, where being ground to Powder, they are put into Furnaces to melt; of which there were once above Six Thousand on the Top of Potozi; but since the Quick-Siviler was found to cleanse the same, not a third part remains. Ibidem, Pag. 464, 465.  
SILVER is in its highest perpection in JAPAN, but not used in Trade; in which is seen nothing but Gold, and some small Coin of Brass; which latter they spoil by Refining it too much. PHILOSOPH. TRANSACT. Numb. 49. Pag. 984.   

Observations concerning METALS; how they are generated.  
IT is no wonder, that Learned Men differ so much in their Opinions, about the Matter whereof METALS are engendered, because the Author of Nature seems to have Created them in that obscurity, and depth, and to have immured them with hard Rocks, on purpose, to hid their Causes, and to give check to the Ambiton of Man.  
The Philosophers, who pretend to know the Causes of Things, ●esides the first Matter, (which is the first Principle, not only of Metals, but of all other Bodies in the World) assign another Matter remote also, which is a certain moist and unctuous Exhalation, together with a portion of thick and rough Earth, from which, being mingled together, there results a M●●●er, whereof not only Metals, but also Stones are made: For if dryness prevail, Stones are begotten, but if the unctuous humidity be predominant, than Metals are begotten; Plato, Aristotle, and their Followers are of this Opinion.  
From the abundance of this pure, and Shining Moisture, made Solid, proceeds the Lustre of Metals, in whom, of all the Elements, Water is experimentally known, to 〈◊〉 most predominant, and t●● 〈◊〉 they run, and are dissolv●d ●y Fire.  
From the v●ri●us temperament, and purity of ●he as●● 〈◊〉 Mate●, come the Dive●s kinds of Metals, the most pure and ●ine of all which, and (as it would seem) N●tur●● Principal intention, is Gold.  
Many, to avoid difficult dispures of this Nature, do hold with the Vulgar; That at the Creation of the World, God Almighty made the Veins of Metals in the same Condition, as we now find them at this Day; herein doing Nature a great injury, by denying her▪ without Reason) a productive Virtue ●n this Matter, which is aloud unto her in all other Sublunary L●ing●▪ Moreover, that Exp●i●ce in divers places hath 〈…〉 trary: A clear Example whereof we have in Ilva, an 〈…〉ing to Tuscany, full of Iron Mines, which when they have dug as hollow, and as deep as they can, the Circumjacent Earth falls in, and f●lls them up again; and in the space of Ten or Fifteen Years at most, they work those Mines again, and thence draw out abundance of Mettle, which that new Earth hath been converted into: Many do think that the same happens in the rich Hill of Potosi. BARBA of Metals. Chap. 18.  
It is Reported by some of the Ancients, that in Cyprus, there is a kind of Iron, that being cut into little Pieces, and put into the Ground, if it be well Watered, will increase into greater Pieces. But this is certain, and known of Old, That Lead will multiply, and increase; as hath been seen in Old statuas of Stone, which have been put in Cellars; the Feet of them being bound with Lead; where (after some time) it appeared, that the Lead did swell; insomuch as it hanged upon the Stone like Warts. BACON's Nat. Hist. Experim. 797.  
Our Salt-Petre Men find, that when they have extracted Salt-Petre out of a Floor of Earth one Year, within Three or Four Years after, they find more Salt-Petre generated there, and do work it over again. The like is observed in Alum and Copperas.  
And for Metals, our Tinners in Cornwall have experience of Pits which have been filled up with Earth, after they have wrought out all the Tin they could find in them, and within Thirty Years they have opened them again, and found more Tin generated. The like hath been observed in Iron, as Gaudencius Merula reports of Ilva, an Island in the Adriatick-Sea, under the Venetians, where Iron breeds continually, as fast as they can Work it; which is confirmed also by Agricola and Baccius. The like we read of at Saga in Ly●iis, where they dig over their Iron Mines every Tenth Year. john Mathesius gives us examples of almost all sorts of Minerals and Metals which he ●ad observed to grow and regenerate. The like examples you m●y find in Leonardus Thurnesserus E●●stus affirms, that he did see in St. joachims' Dale. Silver grown upon a Beam of Wood, which was placed in the Pit to support the Works; and when it was rotten, the Workmen coming to set new Timber in the place, found the Silver sticking to the Old Beam. Also He reports, that in Germany there hath been Unripe and Unconcocted Silver found in Mines; which the best Workmen affirmed would become Perfect Silver in Thirty Years. The like Modestin●s Factuus, and Mathesius, affirm of Unripe and Liquid Silver; which when the Workmen find, they use to say, We are come too soon. IORDEN's Discourse of Natural Baths, and Mineral Waters, Cap. 11.  
T●●● Metals may be (and often have been) ●ound in a Solt and Liquid Form or Substance, the Honourable Mr Boil instan●●●●●rom Ger●ardus, in these Wor●●● 〈◊〉 aqua caerulea inventa●st An●●b●●gae ●i argentum adhue crat in primo 〈◊〉, qu●e coagulata, red●cta in ca●cem sixi & boni Argenti. Also that at Anneberg a B●ue Water was found, where Silver was yet in its first Being, which coagulated, was reduced into the Powder or Calx of fixed and good Silver. BOTLE's S●ept. Chym. pag. 360.   

Observations concerning DAMPS in Mines  
THE Learned and Ingenious Dr. Plot, speaking of DAMPS in Coal-Mines, reduces them to either Superterraneal, or Subterraneal; both which sorts, He saith, He takes to proceed from Stagnations in the Subterraneal Vaults of the Earth, for want of due Ventilations, and Commerce between the In●●●ior and Superior Air. The Material Causes, saith the Dr. may be various, either Simple, or Compound: As the mere Corruption of the simple Air alone upon a long Stagnation in the Coal-Rooms, and the Rifts and Clists of the Rock of Coal itself, may be its Material Cause indeed; but the Causa sine qu● non of such a Damp, he takes to be the want of motion in those Cavities, without which, the Air would never have Corrupted; no more than Water which never Corrupts till it Stagnates, when indeed like the Air it becomes poisonous, tho' possibly not to that Degree, the Air being a Body much finer, and conveyed to the more tender parts of the Body. Whence it is, that in the Old Works, wherein there has been no digging for a long time, no laveing, drawing, or pumping of Water, all which keep the Air in motion, and the Water from Cankering, these DAMPS are most frequent and most dangerous. Whence it is too, that the Works where the Bed of Coal is thin, and admits of but few or no such Rifts or Clefts for the Air to Stagnat or Corrupt in, are seldom or never troubled with them. Upon which account 'tis likewise, that tho' a Bed of Coal have many of these Rifts, and large Ones too; yet as long as there is a profluence of Water through them, there is no Danger of their Entertaining such DAMPS; which as soon as made dry by a Seek or Free-Level, the same Mine shall become much more liable to them; the wholesome Air that was in them whilst kept in motion by the Flux of the Water (having little or no Communication with that above Ground) now Stagnating and Corrupting to that Degree, that it not only extinguishes the glowing heat of Coals, and the Flame of Candles, Torches, etc. but the Flammula Vitae too in most living Creatures, so that the Animal which respires it, sometimes Subterraneous Waters are at the lowest. They fancy, it proceeds from the multitude of Red Trifoil Flowers, by them called Honey-Suckles, with which the Limestone Meadows of the Peak (where they have this sort of DAMP) do much abound.  
Dr. Plot says, that he enquir'd concerning this Sort in the East part of Staffordshire, where the Moorelands bound upon the Peak-Country of Darbyshire, and found it not only there, but as far as he could learn, to be the most common DAMP in the Country, it making their Candles first to diminish, to burn round, and at length to go out, persuming the Stauls at the same time with a faint Sweet smell, as those in Darbyshire do, only with this Difference, that these in Staffordshire are said to be sometimes visible, showing like a thin Smoke which may be seen not only in the Groves, but fuming out at the top of the Pit. But in Staffordshire (says Dr. Plot) they are wiser (where they go for their Coal Forty or Fifty Yards deep, and have no such thing us Trefoil, for many Miles, and yet have this DAMP,) than to think it proceeds either from Pease or Trefoil; it being rather apprehended to arise from the Workmen's Breath and Sweat, mixed with the Steams of the Golden Marchasite or Brass Lumps, than any thing else.  
The Third sort of DAMP is the strangest, and most Pestilential of any, if all be true which is said concerning it. Those who pretend to have seen it (for it is visible) describe it thus: In the highest part of the Roof of those Passages, which Branch out from the main Grove, they often see a round thing hanging, about the bigness of a Football, covered with a Skin of the thickness and Colour of a Cobweb: This, they say, if by any Accident, as the Splinter of a Stone, or the like, if it be broken, immediately disperseth itself, and Suffocates all the Company. Therefore to prevent Casualties, as soon as ever they espy it, they say, they have a way, by the help of a Stick and a long Rope, of breaking it at a distance; which done, they purify the place well by Fire, before they dare enter it again. Mr. jessop says, He dares not avouch the Truth of this Story in all its Circumstances; because the Proof of it seems impossible, since they say, it kills all that are likely to bear Witness to all the Particulars: Neither dares He deny, but such a thing may have been seen hanging on the Roof, since He has heard many affirm it. Perhaps the General Tradition they have amongst them, hath made them ascribe all Strange and Surprising Effects unto this Cause. They are not without a Reason for it, which is not altogether irrational, if the Matter of Fact be true; for they say, the Steam which arises from their Bodies and the Candles, ascends unto the highest part of the Vault, and there condenseth, and in time hath a Film grows round about it, and at length Corrupting becomes Pestilential: Thus (saith Mr. jessop) have I heard many of our Vnderground Philosopher's Discourse.  
The Fourth which they also call a DAMP (although how properly, I will now not argue) is that Vapour, which being touched by their Candle, presently takes Fire, and giving a Crack like a Gun, produceth the like Effects, or rather those of Lightning. Hence it is commonly called the Fulminating DAMP. PHILOS. TRANSACT. Numb. 117. pag. 391, 392.  
Mr. jessop, in a Letter to the Ingenious Mr. Oldenburg, concerning a further Account of DAMPS, says, That DAMPS are most generally observed to come about the latter End of May, and to continue during the Heat of Summer, and in those places, which have DAMPS all the Year long, yet they observe them to be most violent at that Season: And that He could meet with no other certain Rule for any Periodical returns, except this Annual; although it be certain they do often return in the same Summer.  
He also saith, There are some DAMPS that will quite extinguish all those Fires that are let down into them, be they never so many Successively, or never so great; and Fire is observed to be so far from Curing, that it often creates DAMPS in places not otherwise Subject to them. Indeed they are a present Remedy, if you can so order them, as by their help to make a Circula●ion of the Air through the Infected place, otherwise they do hurt; and those Groves wherein they are forced to break their Rocks by the help of great Fires, are seldom free from DAMPS. PHILOS. TRANSACT. Numb. 119. pag. 453, 454.  
Mr. George Sinclar says, That the Fire of Fulminating DAMP is in Scotland, in a Land called Werdy, West of Leith; which they there from its Effects (that are very much like ours) are pleased to call Wildfire.  
He says, that they do there prevent this DAMP by a Person that enters before the Workmen, who being covered with wet Sackcloth, when He comes near the Coal-Wall, where the Fire is feared, He creepeth on his Belly with a long Pole before him, having a lighted Candle on the top on't, with whose Flame the Wildfire meeting, it breaketh with violence, and running along the Roof, goeth out with a Noise at the Mouth of the Sink; the Person that gave Fire escaping by creeping on the Ground, and keeping his Face close to it, till it be over past. GEORGE SINCLAR's Miscellan. Obseru. pag. 292, 293, 294.  
Dr. Plot advises all such as are to go down into any deep Well, that may be suspected to have any malignant, noxious Steams, or Vapours, first to throw down into them a Peck of good Lime, which slaking in the Water, and fuming out at the top, will so effectually dispel all such poisonous Vapours, that they may safely go down, and stay some time unhurt. PLOT's Nat. Hist. of Oxfordshire, P●g. 63.   

Observations concerning the Generation of INFECTS.  
THat Learned and Ingenious Italian Author, Francisco Redi, in his Book Entitled, Esperienze intorno alla Generatione Degl' Insetti, with much Industry undertakes to evince, That there is no such thing as Aequivocal Generation, but that every Animal is generated by the Seed of another Animal, (its Parent,) or, at least, from some Living and un-corrupted Plant, as out of Oak-Apples, and several Protuberances and Excrescencies of Vegetables.  
First then, in the asserting of the Universal and true Generation of INFECTS by a peculiar and paternal Seed, this Author positively affirms, that He could never find, by all the Experiments and Observations he ever made, (of which he relateth a great Number, by himself made upon many sorts of Animals) that ever any INFECTS were bred from Flesh, or Fish, or putrified Plants, or any other Bodies, but such, as Flies had access unto, and scattered their Seed upon; He having taken extraordinary care and pains to observe, that always on the Flesh, before it did Verminate, there sat Flies of the self same kind with those that were afterwards produced thence; and again, that no Worms would ever come from any Flesh in Vessels well covered, and defended from the Access of Flies; so that to him there seems no Generation of INFECTS from any dead Animals, but such as have been Flyblown.  
And lest●it should be objected, that the Reason, why in Vessels exactly closed, no INSECT breeds, is the Want of Air, necessary to all Generation, He hath carefully covered several Vessels with very fine Naples-Vaile, for the Air to enter, though Flies could not; but that no Worms at all were bred there, notwithstanding that many Flies swarmed about them, invited by the smell of the Flesh enclosed therein.  
Secondly, to make out the other part of his Position, viz. That those Animals that are not bred by the Seed of other Animals, are produced from some Live Plant, or its Excrescence; This Author thinks it not absurd to affirm, That that Anima or Power, which is able to produce Flowers and Fruits in Living Plants, may be alike capable to breed Worms in them; since that Soul is so powerful, as to cause Plants to feed, to grow and to produce Seed, as it doth in Animals. For Confirmation of which, He observeth, that both the Generation of Worms in Vegetables is always and constantly the same, (not at all casual▪) and that all Galls grow constantly in one determinate part of the Branches, and always in the new Branches; as also, that those little Galls, which grow on the Leaves of the Oak-Holm, & c. do all grow constantly on the Fibres or Strings of those Leaves, not one of them being seen to grow on the smooth part betwixt two Strings: Farther, that there are ●ound many Leaves of other Trees, on which grow Vesicles, or small Bags, or some wrinkled or swelled places, full of Worms, springing ●orth with those Leaves. Besides, that there is not one Gall but it hath its proper Worm; and that each sort of Galls hath its peculiar and determinate Race of Worms and Flies, which never vary: Where He takes notice of the Singular Art of Nature, both in forming the Egg, which is found in the Centre of Galls, and in preparing its place therein, furnishing it with many filaments, that pass from the Gall-Apple to the Egg, as to many Veins and Arteries, serving for the formation of the Egg and Worm, and for the Nourishment requisite thereto. To which He adds this Observation, that, there being certain sorts of Galls, which breed more Worms at a time than One, Nature hath carefully provided and distinguished places for them, as she doth in those Animals that are multiparous.  
H●●ing Established this ground against Equivocal Generation, he proceeds to Particulars, and refutes the Opinion of those, that will have Bees to be Bred of the Putrified Flesh of Bullocks; Wasps, of Asses or Mules Flesh; Drones, of Horses; Scorpions, of buried Crayfish, or the Herb Basilica, or dead Scorpions; Toads, of Ducks Buried in Dung; Mites of Cheese; affirming that none of these INFECTS have any such Origin mentioned, but that all those Substances have been first blown upon by some Fly or other.  
See this Abstract of Francisco Redi's Book of the Generation of INFECTS, in the PHLOSOPH. TRANSACT. Numb. 57 Pag. 1175.  
To that Opinion of the Italian Francisco Redi, viz. That some live Plants or their Excrescencies do truly generate some INFECTS, I told my Friend, as I Remember, that I indeed had observed, that the By-Fruits of some Vegetables, as of the Oak and Wild-Rose, for Example, did grow up together with their respective Worms in them, from small Beginnings to fair and large Fruit, some of them Emulating even the genuine Offspring of the Plant, — Et miratur non sua poma.  
And further, that I did believe, the Worms were furnished with food in and from them; but not by any Naval-Connexion, as that Author fancies, and which I said, to me was unintelligible, and that I should be glad of a Notion, which might make out to me such a monstrous Relation, as half Animal, half Vegetable, or, which is all one, Vegetable Vessels inserted into an Animal, or, the Contrary. Strange Oeconomy!  
That it had never been my good Fortune (what ever diligence I had used) to discern Eggs in the Centre of Galls, but a Worm constantly, even at the very first appearance, as near at least as my Fortune led me. Yet I would not deny, but that diligence might one Day discover the Egg itself, which I was of Opinion was affixed to or near the Place by the Parent-INSECT, where the Gall risen.  
That I ever found the Worms in all the Excrescencies, that I had yet met with, perfectly at liberty; and for the Filaments, our Author mentions, it was very possible he might be mistaken, it being very hard, and a matter not yet Treated of in any Public Paper, which and what are the Vessels that enter into the Texture of a Vegetable, as of a large Tree, for Example, much more hard would it be to say, this is a Vessel in a small Gall.  
That there were many By-Fruits of different Figure and shape (tho' perhaps of a like Texture) upon one and the same Plant, every one of which did Nourish and Produce a different Race of INFECTS; This, I told him, I thought might rather argue the divers Work-manship of different INFECTS, than one and the same Principle of Vegetation to be Author of several sorts of Animals. MARTIN LISTER in a Letter to Mr. Oldenburg; which you may find in the PHILOS. TRANSACT. Numb. 75.  
I have for my own Particular, besides several of those mentioned by the diligent Goedartius, observed divers other Circumstances, perhaps, not much taken notice of, though very Common, which do indeed afford us a very Coercive Argument to admire the Goodness and Providence of the Infinitely Wise Creator, in his most Excellent Contrivances and Dispensations. I have observed at several times of the Summer, that many of the Leaves of divers Plants, have been spotted, or, as it were scabbed, and looking on the under-sides of those of them that have been but a little irregular, I have perceived them to be sprinkled with divers sorts of little Eggs, which letting alone, I have found by degrees to grow bigger, and become little Worms with Legs, but still to keep their former Places, and those Places of the Leaves, of there own accords, to be grown very Protuberant upwards, and very hollow, and arched underneath, whereby those Young Creatures, are, as it were, sheltered and housed from External Injury; divers Leaves I have observed to grow and swell so far, as at length perfectly to enclose the Animal, which by other Observations I have made, I guess to contain it, and become, as it were a womb to it, so long till it be fit and prepared to be Translated into another State, at which time, like (what they say of) Vipers, they gnaw their way through the Womb that bred them; divers of these kinds I have met with upon Goosberry Leaves, Rose-Tree Leaves, Willow Leaves, and many other kinds.  
There are often to be found upon Rosetrees and Brier Bushes, little red tufts, which are certain Knobs or Excrescencies, growing out from the Rind, or Barks of those kinds of Plants, they are covered with strange kinds of threads or red hairs, which feel very soft, and look not unpleasantly. In most of these, if it has no hole in it, you shall find certain little Worms, which I suppose to be the causes of their Production; for when that Worm has eat its way through, they having performed what they were designed by Nature to do, by degrees die and whither away.  
Now, the manner of their Production, I suppose to be thus; that the Alwise Creator has as well Implanted in every Creature a Faculty of knowing what Place is convenient for the Hatching, Nutrition, and preservation of their Eggs and Offsprings, whereby they are stimulated and directed to convenient Places, which become, as 'twere, the wombs that perform those Offices; as He has also suited and adapted a Property to those Places, whereby they grow and enclose those Seeds, and having enclosed them, provide a convenient Nourishment for them; but as soon as they have done the Office of a Womb, they die and whither.  
The Progress of Enclosure I have often observed in Leaves, which, in those Places where those Seeds have been cast, have by degrees swelled and enclosed them, so perfectly round, as not to leave any perceptible passage out.  
From this same cause, I suppose that Galls, Oak-Apples, and several other Productions of that kind, upon the Branches and Leaves of Trees, have their Original; for if you open any of them, when almost Ripe, you shall find a little Worm in them.  
Thus, if you open never so many dry Galls, you shall find either a hole whereby the Worm has eat its passage out, or if you find no passage, you may, by breaking or cutting the Gall, find in the middle of it a small Cavity, and in it a small body, which does plainly enough yet retain a shape, to manifest it once to have ●een a Worm, tho' it died by a too early separation from the Oak on which it grew, its Navel-String, as 'twere, being broken off from the Leaf or Branch by which the Globular body that invelop'd it, received its Nourishment from the Oak. R. HOOKE's Microg. Pag. 189, 190.  
Perchance some kind of INSECT, in such places where there are Putrifying or Fermenting Bodies, may, by a certain Instinct of Nature, eject some sort of Seminal principle, which Co-operating with various kinds of Putrifying Substances, may produce various kinds of INFECTS, or Animate Bodies: For we find in most sorts of those lower degrees of Animate Bodies: that the Putrifying Substances on which these Eggs, Seeds, or Seminal Principles are cast by the INSECT, become as 'twere, the Matrices or Wombs that conduce very much to their generation, and may perchance also to their variation and alteration, much after the same manner, as by strange and unnatural Copulations, several new kinds of Animals are produced, as Mules, and the ●ike, which are usually called Monstrous, because a little unusual, though many of them have all their principal parts as perfectly shaped and a●aapted for their peculiar uses, as ●ny of the most perfect Animals. 〈◊〉 therefore the Putrifying Body, ●n which any kind of Seminal or ●ital principle chances to be cast, become somewhat more than merely a Nursing and Fostering Helper, ●n the Generation and Production of any kind of Animate Bo●y, the more near it approaches ●he true Nature of a Womb, the ●ore Power will it have on the by-blow it encloses. HOOK ibid. ●ag. 123.   

Observations concerning the ANT, EMMET or PISMIRE.  
THIS little Animal is that great Pattern of Industry and Frugality: To this Schoolmaster did Soloman send his Sluggard, who in those Virtues not only excels al● Infects, but most Men. Other Excellent Observables there are in 〈◊〉 small a Fabric: As the Hercule● strength of its Body, that it is able to carry its Triple Weight and Bulk: The Agility of its Limbs that it runs so swiftly: The equality of its Motion, that it trips 〈◊〉 nimbly away without any salienc● or leaping, without any fits or start in its Progression. Her Head i● large and globular, with a Prominent Snou●: Her Eye is of a very fair black Colour, round, globular and Prominent, of the bigness of P●a, Foraminulous, and Letticed like that of other Infects: He mouth (in which you may se● something to move) is armed with a pair of Pincers, which move laterally, and are indented on the inside like a Saw, by which she bites, and better holds her Prey; and you may often see them carry their White Oblong Eggs in them for better Security. HENR. POWER's Microscop. Obseru. Pag. 25.  
There have occurred to my Observation but three sorts of AUNTS, commonly without Wings; viz. very Black; Dark Brown; and the Third sort of near the Colour usually called Philemort.  
Each kind Inhabit by themselves in their several Banks; Two sorts seldom or never being ●ound together; and if either of the other Two sorts be put into the Black AUNT'S Bank, 'tis worth observing what enmity there is betwixt these ●ittle Creatures, and with what violence the Black on●s will seize on ●he Red, never leaving to pinch ●hem on the Head with their Forceps or Claws, till they have killed them upon the Place: Which done, they will carry them dead out of the Field, from their Bank. But if you put Black AUNTS into a Bank of the Red, the Black seem to be so sensible of the strangeness of the Place they are in, that there they will not meddle with the Red, but as if they were Frighted, and concerned for nothing but self-preservation, run away.  
Upon opening of these Banks, 〈◊〉 observe first a White Substance, which to the bare Eye looks like the scatter of fine White Sugar, o● Salt, but very soft and tender; and if you take a bit of it, as big perhaps as a Mustard Seed, and lay i● on the Object Plate of a good Microscope, you may by opening i● with the Point of a Needle, discern many pure, White and Clear Appearances in distinct Membrans, al● figured like the lesser sort o● Birds Eggs, and as clear as a Fish's Bladder. This same Substance, as it hath been j●st now described, I find in the AUNTS themselves, which I take to be the true AUNT'S Eggs; it being obvious to Observation that where ever this is uncovered, they make it their business to carry it away in their Mouths to secure it, and will, after you have scattered it, lay it on a heap again, with what speed they can.  
I Observe they lie in multitudes upon this (if I may so call it) Spawn of theirs; and after a little time, every one of these small adherances is turned into a little Vermicle, as small as a Mite, hardly discerned to stir; but after a few days more, you may perceive a feeble Motion of Flexion, and Extension, and they begin to look Yellowish and Hairy, shaped very like a small Maggot; and so keeping that Shape, grow almost as big as an ANT, and have every one a black spot on them.  
Then they get a Film over them, whitish, and of an Oval shape, for which reason I suppose they are commonly called AUNTS Eggs, which yet (to speak properly they) are not.  
I have, to prevent mistakes, opened many of these vulgarly called AUNTS Eggs, I mean, the lesser sort, (for there are some as big as a Wheat-Corn, others less than a Rye-Corn) and in Some I find only a Maggot, to appearance, just such as was described before: In O●●ers, I find a Maggot beginning to put on the Shape of an ANT about the Head, with Two little Yellow Specks where the Eyes are designed: In Others, a further progress, and furnished with every thing to complete the Shape of an ANT, but wholly transparent, the Eyes only excepted, which are then as black as black Bugles.  
But when they have newly put on this Shape, I could never discern the least Motion in any one part of the little Creature, whereof the Reason may perhaps be, the weakness of their Fibres; for after a little more time, when they begin to be Brownish, they have strength to stir all their parts.  
At last I met with some of these reputed Eggs, which being carefully op●n'd by me, I took out several of them, every way perfect and complete AUNTS, which did immediately creep about among the rest, no way differing from many other AUNTS, but by a more feeble motion of their Limbs. And this I took for a clear Demonstration of what I designed, which was to know, That the Film does only cover the Maggot, while she is transforming into an ANT, and fit to shift for herself.  
The Black Speck that is at one end of every such reputed AUNTS Egg, I suppose to be cast out of the Maggot, in her transformation; since, after it puts on the Shape of an ANT, the Speck is quite gone, and the whole Body of the ANT pure clear; since also this Speck at the end of the said Egg, lies always close to the Anus of the included ANT.  
As to their care for their Young, (by which I mean, all the Sorts and Degrees aforesaid, from the Spawn to the vulgarly called Eggs, in every one of which you'll find a Young ANT,) it is observable, how upon the breaking up of their Banks, they make it their business immediately to carry their Young out of sight again, laying the several sorts of them in several places and heaps: The which if you mingle again or scatter, you shall, laying but some bits of Slate, or the like, in any place they may come to and get under, after a few Hours see all the Vermicles, and vulgarly called Eggs, laid in their several and distinct parcels, under such pieces of Slate, & c. provided the place be not so cold as to i'll their Limbs; which if it be, by being brought to the Fire they will soon recover their strength, and fall to their business again, of securing their little Ones.  
I have observed in Summer, That in the Morning they bring 〈◊〉 those of their Young (that are vulgarly called AUNTS Eggs) towards the top of their Bank; so that you may from Ten in the Morning, until Five or Six in the Afternoon, find them near the top; especially about One, Two, or Three of the Clock, and later, if the Wether be hot, when for the most part they are found on the Southside of the Bank: That towards Seven or Eight at Night, if it be Cool, or likely to Rain, you may dig a Foot deep before you can find them. EDMUND KING, M. D. his Obseru. concerning Emmet's or AUNTS. Which you may find in the PHILOS. TRANSACT. Numb. 23. Pag. 425, 426, 427.  
The next of these moving little Animals, are AUNTS or PISMIRES, and those are but of a small Size, but great in Industry; and that which gives them means to attain to their Ends, is, they have all One Soul. If I should say, they are here or there, I should do them wrong; for they are every where, under Ground, where any hollow or lose Earth is, amongst the Roots of Trees, upon the Bodies, Branches, Leaves, and Fruit of all Trees, in all places, without the Houses and within, upon the Sides, Walls, Windows, and Roofs without; and on the Floors, Side-Walls, Ceilings, and Windows within, Tables, Cup-Boards, Beds, Stools, all are covered with them, so that they are a kind of Ubiquitaries. The Cockroaches are their Mortal Enemies, and tho' they are not able to do them any Mischief, being Living, (by Reason they are far stronger, and mightier than a Hundred of them, and if they should force any One of them with Multitudes, he has the liberty of his Wings to make his escape) yet, when they find him dead, they will divide him amongst them into Atoms; and to that purpose, they carry him home to their Houses or Nests. We sometimes kill a Cockroach, and throw him on the Ground, and Mark what they will do with him; his Body is bigger than a Hundred of them, and yet they will find the Means to take hold of him, and lift him up; and having him above Ground, away they carry him, and some go by as ready Assistants, if any be weary; and some are the Officers that lead and show the way to the Hole into which he must pass; and if the Van Couriers perceive, that the Body of the Cockroach lies cross, and will not pass through the Hole, or Arch, through which they mean to carry him, Order is given, and the Body turned Endwise, and this done a Foot before they come to the Hole, and that without any stop or stay, and this is Observable, that they never pull contrary ways.  
Those that are Curious, and will prevent their coming on their Tables, Cupboards, or Beds, have little Hollows of Timber, filled with Water, for the Feet of these to stand in; but all this will not serve their turn; for they will some of them go up to the Ceiling, and let themselves fall upon the Tasters of the Beds, Cupboards, and Tables.  
To prevent them from coming on our Shelves where our Meat is kept, we hang them to the Roof by Ropes, and Tarr those Ropes, and the Roofs over them, as also the Strings of our Hammocks, for which Reason we avoid them better in Hammocks than in Beds.  
Sometimes when we try Conclusions upon them, we take the Carpet off the Table, and shake it, so that all the AUNTS drop off, and rub down the Legs and Feet of those Tables, (which stood not in Water,) and having done so, we lay on the Carpet again, and set upon it a Sallet-Dish, or Trencher, with Sugar in it, which some of them in the Room will presently smell, and make towards it as fast as they can, which is a long journey, for he must begin at the Foot of the Table, and come as high as the inside of the Carpet, and so go down to the bottom and up of the outside of the Carpet, before he gets on the Table, and then to the Sugar, which he smells to; and having found it, returns again the same way, without taking any for his pains, and informs all his Friends of this Booty; who come in Thousands, and Ten Thousands, and in an instant, fetch it all away; and when they are thickest upon the Table, clap a large Book (or any thing fit for that purpose) upon them, so hard as to kill all that are under i●, and when you have done so, take away the Book, and leave them to themselves, but a Quarter of an Hour, and when you come again, you shall find all those Bodies carried away. Other Trials we make of their Ingenuity, as this Take a Pewter Dish, and fill it half full of Water, into which put a little Galley-pot filled with Sugar, and the AUNTS will presently find it, and come upon the Table; but when they perceive it Environed with Water, they try about the brims of the Dish, where the Galley-pot is nearest, and there the most venturous amongst them, commits himself to the Water, tho' he be conscious how ill a Swimmer he is, and is drowned in the Adventure: The next is not warned by his Example, but ventures too; and is a like , and many more, so that there is a small Foundation of their Bodies to venture on; and then they come faster than ever, and so make a Bridge of their own Bodies, for their Friends to pass on; neglecting their Lives for the good of the Public; for before they make an End, they will make way for the rest, and become Masters of the Prize. I had a little White Sugar which I desired to keep from them, and was devising which way to do it, and I knocked a Nail in the Beam of the Room, and fastened to it a brown Thread, at the lower end of which Thread, I tied a large Shell of a Fish, which being hollow, I put the Sugar in, ●nd locked the Door, thinking it safe; but when I returned, I found three Quarters of my Sugar gone, and the AUNTS in abundance, ascending and descending, like the Angels on Iacob's Ladder, as I have seen it Painted, so that I found no place safe, from these more than busy Creatures.  
Another sort of AUNTS there are, but nothing so numerous or harmful as the other, but larger by far; These build great Nests, as big as Bee-Hives, against a Wall, or a Tree, of Clay and Lome, sometimes within Doors, and in it several little Mansions, such as Bees make for themselves, but nothing so curious; These the Cockroaches and Lizzards meet withal, waylay them near their Nests, and feed upon them: which to prevent, they make from thence many and several Galleries, that reach some of them Six or Seven Yards several ways, of the same Earth they do their Nests: So that for such a distance as that, they are not to be perceived, by any of their Enemies, and commonly their Avenues go out amongst Leaves, or Moss, or some other Covert, that they may not be perceived: But the most of These are in the Woods; for we have destroyed their Nests, and their Galleries within Doors so often, as they are weary of Building, and so quit the House: I can say nothing of These, but that they are the quickest at their Work of Building, of any little Creatures that ever I saw. LIGON's Hist. of Barbadoss, Pag. 63, 64.  
Mr. john Ray observes, that the Liquor which AUNTS sometimes let fall from their Mouths, dropping upon the Blue Flowers of Cichory, immediately gives them a large Red Stain; and supposeth, it would produce the like in other Blue Flowers.  
Mr. Samuel Fisher saith, that not only the juice, but also the Distilled Water or Spirit of this Insect will produce the same Effect.  
Mr. Ray says, That the said Mr. Fisher had some Years since acquainted him with this Experiment, viz. That if with a Staff, or other Instrument, you stir an heap of AUNTS, (especially Horse-ANTS) so as to anger them, they will let fall thereon a Liquor, which if you presently smell to, will twinge the Nose like newly Distilled Spirit of Vitriol. PHILOS. TRANSACT. Numb. 68  
'Tis a Thing well known, that AUNTS, if they get into People's Clothes, and so to their Skin, will cause a smart and tingling, as if they were Nettled: which, saith Mr. Ray, I conceive is done by letting fall the forementioned Corrosive Liquor, rather than by Stinging. PHILOS. TRANSACT. Ibid.  
The Liquor of AUNTS is commended by Schroder for a most Excellent Ophthalmick.  
Mr. Evelyn in that most Incomparable and Useful Discourse of Forest-Trees, saith, That PISMIRES may be destroyed with Scalding Water, and disturbing their Hills, or rubbing the Stem with Cowdung, or a decoction of Tithymale, washing the infested parts; this, saith He, will insinuate, and chase them quite out of the Chinks and Crevices, without prejudice to the Tree, and is a good prevention of other Infirmities: They are also to be destroyed by laying Soot, Sawdust, or refuse Tobacco, where they haunt, Chap. XXVII. Sect. 19   

Observations concerning BEES.  
THE Eye of a BEE is of a protuberant Oval Figure, black and all foraminulous, drilled full of innumerable Holes like a Grater or Thimble; and, which is more wonderful, we could plainly see, that the Holes were all of a square Figure like an Honeycomb, and stuck full of small Hairs (like the Pores in our Skin) and which (by blowing upon) you might see wa●t to and fro; All which neat particularities were more palpably discovered in the Eye of a great HUMBLEBEE. Now these Holes were not absolute perforations, but only dimples in their Crustaceous ●unica Cornea; which it seems is full of little Pit-Holes, like the Cap of a Thimble: For we cut out the Eye in a large HUMBLEBEE and Crecket, and bared the Shell or Horney-Coat of the Eye; and laying either the Convex or Concave sid● upwards (upon the Object Plate) I could easily perceive the little Holes or Dimples formerly mentioned. So that, by the favour of our Microscope. I have seen more in One Hour, than that Famous BEE-Master Aristomachus did in his Fifty Years Contemplation of those Laborious Infects.  
If you divide the BEE (or HUMBLEBEE especially) near the Neck, you shall, without help of the Glass, see the Heart beat most lively, which is a White Pulsing Vesicle.  
The Stings in all BEES are hollow and tubulous (like a Shoomaker's- Punch) so that when they prick the Flesh, they do also, through that Channel, transfuse the Poison into it: For if you take a BEE, Wasp, or HUMBLEBEE especially, and gently squeeze her Tail, so that you may see the Sting, you shall perceive a drop of Diaphanous Liquor at the very end of it, which if you wipe off, you shall distinctly see it renewed again, that Humour passing down the Cavity into the end thereof. POWER's Microscop. Obseru. pag. 3, 4.  
The Sting of a BEE seems to be a Weapon of Offence, and is as great an instance, that Nature did really intent Revenge as any, and that First, because there seems to be no other use of it. Secondly, by Reason of its admirable shape, seeming to be purposely shaped for that very end. Thirdly, from the Virulency of the Liquor it ejects, and the sad Effects and Symptoms that follow it.  
But whatever be the Use of it, certain it is, that the Structure of it is very admirable; what it appears to the Naked Eye, I need not describe, the Thing being known almost to every One; but it appears through the Microscope, to consist of Two parts, the One a Sheath, without a Chape or top, shaped almost like the Holster of a Pistol; this Sheath I could most plainly perceive to be hollow, and to contain in it, both a Sword or Dart, and the Poisonous Liquor that causes the Pain. The Sheath or Case seemed to have several Joints or Setting together, it was armed moreover near the top, with several Crooks or Forks on one side, and on the other, each of which seemed like so many Thorns growing on a Briar, or rather like so many Cat's Claws; for the Crooks themselves seemed to be little sharp transparent Points or Claws, growing out of little Protuberancies on the side of the Sheath; and from several particulars, I suppose the Animal has a power of displaying them, and shutting them in again, as it pleases, as a Cat does its 〈◊〉, or as an Adder or Viper can its Teeth or Fangs.  
The other part of the Sting was the Sword, as I may so call it, which is Sheathed, as it were, in it; the top of which appears quite through at the smaller end, just as if the Chape of the Sheath of a Sword w●re l●st, and the end of it appeared beyond the Scabbard; the end of this Dart was very sharp, and it was armed likewise with the like Tenterbooks or Claws with those of the Sheath: These Crooks, I am very apt to think, can be closed up also, or laid flat to the sides of the Sword when it is drawn into the Scabbard, as I have several times observed it to be, and can be spread again, or extended, whenever the Animal pleases.  
The Consideration of which very pretty Structure, has hinted to me, that certainly the Use of these Claws seems to be very Considerable, as to the Main end of this Instrument, for the drawing in, and holding the Sting in the Flesh; for the point being very sharp, the top of the Sting or Dagger is very easily thrust into an Animal's Body, which being once ●ntred, the BEE, by endeavouring to pull it into the Sheath, draws (by Reason of the Cro●ks which lay hold of the Skin on either side) the top of the Sheath into the Skin after it, and the Crooks being entered, when the BEE endeavours to thrust out the top of the Sting out of the Sheath again, they lay hold of the Skin on either side, and so not only keep the Sheath from sliding back, but helps the top inwards, and thus, by an alternate and successive retracting and emitting of the Sting in and out of the Sheath, the little enraged Creature by degrees makes his revengful Weapon pierce the toughest and thickest Hides of his Enemies, in so much that some few of these stout and resolute Soldiers with these little Engines, do often put to flight a huge Masty Bear, one of their deadly Enemies, and thereby show the World, how much more considerable in War a few skilful Engineers, and resolute Soldiers politicly ordered, that know how to manage such Engines, are, than a vast unwieldy rude force, that confides in, and Acts only by, its strength. But (to proceed) that he thus gets in his Sting into the Skin, I conjecture, because, when I have observed this Creature living, I have found it to move the Sting thus, to and fro, and thereby also, perhaps, does as 'twere, pump or force out the Poisonous Liquor, and make it hang at the end of the Sheath in a drop. The Crooks, I suppose also, to be the cause why these angry Creatures, hastily removing themselves from their Revenge, do often leave these Weapons behind them, Sheathed, as 'twere in the Flesh, and, by that Means, cause the painful Symptoms to be greater, and more lasting, which are very probably caused, partly by the piercing and tearing of the Skin, by the Sting, but chief by the Corrosive and Poisonous Liquor that is by this Syringe-Pipe conveyed among the Sensitive Parts, and thereby more easily gnaws and corrodes those tender Fibres. HOOK's Microg. Pag. 163, 164.  
Those Two Learned and Ingenious Persons, Dr. Edmund King, and Mr. Francis Willoughby, give an account of a sort of Wild BEE, which breeds in the Stocks of old Willows. Curious to Observe. They first bore a Canale in the Stock, which, for more Warmth, they Furnish afterwards with Hang, made of Rose-leaves, so rolled up, as to be Contiguous round about to the sides of the Canale. And to finish their Work, they divide the whole into several Rooms or Nests, with round Pieces of the same leaves. See this more at large, in the PHILOSOPH. TRANSACT. Numb. 65.  
The under or hinder Wings of a BEE, are the least; that they may not incommode his flight. In Windy Wether, BEES often hold a little Stone in their hinder Feet; which serves as a ballast to make them Sail through the Air more Steadily. M●V F. De INSECT. Cap 1.  
The Humming of BEES, is an unequal Buzzing; and is conceived by some of the Ancients, not to come forth at their Mouth, but to be an Inward Sound: But it may be, it is neither; but from the motion of their Wings; for, it is not heard but when they Stir. BACON's Nat. Hist.  
Sugar hath put down the use of Honey; insomuch as we have lost those Observations, and Preparations of Honey, which the Ancients had, when it was more valued. First, it seemeth that there was in Old Time, Tree-Honey, as well as BEE- Honey, which was the Tear or Blood issuing from the Tree: Insomuch as one of the Ancients relateth, that in Tribesond there was Honey issuing from the Box-Trees, which made Men mad. Again, in Ancient Time, there was a kind of Honey, which either of its own Nature, or by art, would grow as Hard as Sugar; And was not so Luscious as ours. IDEM Ibid.  
The Honey-Bag, is the Stomach, which they always fill to Satisfy, and to spare; Vomiting up the greater part of the Honey, to be kept against Winter.  
The History of BEES, is the best that Aristotle hath given us, of any one Animal. Of their Polity, Generation, Conservation, Diseases, and Use: See also Moufet, Butler, and a late Treatise of Mr. Rusden. All that Authors speak of the Spontaneous Generation of BEES, is Fabulous. The Ashes of BEES are put into most Compositions for Breeding of Hair, GREW's Mus. REG. SOC. Pag. 155.   

Observations concerning the GLOW-WORM.  
HER Eyes (which are Two small black Points or Specks of jet) are Penthoused under the broad Flat Cap or Plate which covers her head; which obscure Situation, together with their exceeding exiguity, make them undiscernible to common Spectators. Yet in the Microscope they appear very fair, like black Polished jet or Marble, Semi-globular, and all foraminulous, or full of small but very curious Persorations, (as in common Flies.) Her two Horns are all jointed and degreed like the stops in the Germination of some Plants, as Horse-tail and Canes: Under which she hath two other small Horns or Pointers, of the same Stuff and fashion. If you take hold of her Horns, you may draw out her Eyes, and cut them out, and so lay them on your Object Plate and see them distinctly.  
This is that Night-Animal with its Lantern in its Tail; that creeping Star that seems to out shine those of the Firmament, and to outvie them too in this property especially; that whereas the Celestial-Lights are quite obscured by the Interposition of a small Cloud, this Terrestrial-Star is more Enlivened and Enkindled thereby, whose pleasant sulgour no Darkness is able to Eclipse. POWER's Microscop. Observe. Pag. 23, 24.  
The Nature of the GLOWORM is hitherto not well Observed. Thus much we see, that they breed chief in the hottest Months of Summer; And that they breed not in the open Air, but in Bushes and Hedges. Whereby it may be conceived, that the Spirit of them is very fine, and not to be refined, but by Summer's Heats: And again, that by reason of the Fineness it doth easily exhale. In Italy, and the Hotter Countries, there is a Fly they call Lucciole, that Shineth as the GLOW-WORM does; and it may be is the Flying GLOW-WORM. But that Fly is chief upon Fens and Marshes. But yet the Two former Observations hold; for they are not seen, but in the Heat of Summer; and Sedge or other Green of the Fens, give as good Shade, as Bushes. It may be the GLOWWORMS of the Cold Countries Ripen not so far as to be Winged. BACON's Nat. Hist.  
The FLYING GLOWWORMS are in Italy every where to be seen in Summer Time. These Flying or Winged GLOWWORMS are nothing else but the Males of the Common Creeping or Unwinged GLOWWORMS. Fabius Columna, relates, that Carolus Vintimiglia of Palermo in Sicily, having out of Curiosity kept many Unwinged GLOWWORMS in a Glass, did put in among them a Flying one, which presently in his Sight did Couple with them one by one, after the manner of Silkworms; and that the next day the Vnwinged ones, or Females, began to lay their Eggs. That the Males are also Flying Infects in England, though they do but rarely or not at all shine with us, we are assured by an Eye Witness; who saw them in Conjunction with the Common shining Vnwinged GLOWWORMS. Here by the way it may not be amiss to impart to the Reader a discovery made by a certain Gentleman, and Communicated to me by Francis jessop Esq which is, that those reputed Meteors called in Latin Ignes Fatui, and known in England by the Conceited Names of jack with a Lantern, and Will with a Wisp, are nothing else but swarms of these Flying GLOWWORMS. Which if true, we may give an easy account of those strange Phoenomena of these supposed Fires, viz. their sudden Motion from Place to Place, and leading Travellers that follow them into Bogs and Precipices. JOH. RAY's Observat. Topograph. Pag. 409.410.  
The Cicindela Volans, or Flying GLOW-WORM, though it hath been pretty well described by several Writers that treat of Infects, yet I think has been by none mentioned to be found in England, and indeed it is very rare, but I have happened to catch twice of them at Northaw in Hertford-shire; First about Midsummer 1680, and for a Fortnight in june 1684. they slew about the Candle as soon as it grew Dark; at both which times the Wether was very Hot, and it may be it Shines only at such Seasons, though the Animal be easy enough to be met withal Winged when it Shines not, and without Wings shining, which is the Common GLOW-WORM.  
Aldrovandus affirms, Ovis quae parit Cicindela, Erucam quandam fieri, & ex hac tandem alatam gigni, etc. It is much to the same purpose described by Moufet and Thomas Bartholin in his Treatise De luce Animalium: Save that they both, I think, mistake in allowing the Male only to have Wings, whereas they both fly alike, as we may conclude was known to julius Scaliger, Exercit. 191, from a Place it seems not regarded, though Cited by Moufet, where he says, Cicindelam Volantem cum suo M●r● in Coitu deprehendi, & c. The same which happened to 〈◊〉, for I once caught the Male and F●●●l● Coupled, and could Observe no difference between them, except in Size, the Female being a little the larger, for they both shined alike. It's Light was very Vivid, so as to be seen plainly when a Candle was in the Room, but the Vibrations thereof were unequal, and the Colour Greenish, like that of the Creeping GLOW-WORM. The Luminous Part was two small Specks on the under si●e of the Tail at its end. The shining continued for a little while after the Tail was cut off, though it sensibly decayed, till at last it went quite out. Whether it shined longer than the life remained in that Part (which will live for a Considerable time in all Infects, after it has been severed from the Body,) I much doubt; and Moufet says, Clarissimum istum Splendorem unà cum Spiritu Vitali prorsus evanescere. Possibly the use of this Light is to be a Lantern to the Insect in catching its Prey, and to direct its Course by in the Night, which is made probable, by the Position of it on the under Part of the Tail, so that by bending the same downward (as I always observed it to do,) it gives a light forward upon the Prey or Object: The Luminous Rays in the mean time not being at all incommodious to its sight, as they would have been, if this Torch had been carried before it. This Conjecture is also favoured by the placing of the Eyes, which are on the under Part of the Head, not on the Top. I observed also that it could, and did by some contrivance Cover its Light, and make a kind of Dark Lantern.  
This Insect appears to be of the Beetle kind; it is of a dark brown Colour unpolisht, when the Case Wings are opened, it extends Two very large Membranous Wings, fastened to the upper part of the Thorax; its head is Covered as it we●e were with a Shield, or broad-brimed Hat.  
The Two Eyes under the broad Covering are black, and very large, making almost the whole Head; there being little else to be seen: these are Movable, so that the Animal can thrust them forward to the edge of its Hat. From between these are discovered the Two hairy feelers, or perhaps Brushes to cleanse the Eyes. Between these Eyes and the Thorax lies the Mouth: On the Thorax are Six Legs almost all of a Length. The Tail is made of Seven Shelly Rings, at the last of which are visible the Two Shining Points. RICHARD WALLER Esq his Obseru. PHILOS. TRANSACT. Numb. 167.  
The Ingenious Mr. john Templer, in his accurate Observations upon this Insect, one whereof he kept for some days in a Box, to enable him the better to make his Remarks, says, That he never saw her Shine without some Sensible Motion either in her Body or Legs; and that in her Clearest Shining she extends her Body a Third Part beyond its usual Length.  
He further Observes, That, if his Senses fail him not, she emits a Sensible Heat in her Clear Shining. PHILOSOPH. TRANSACT. Numb. 72.  
Wondrous things are promised from the GLOWORM; thereof Perpetual Lights are pretended, and Waters said to be distilled, which afford a Lustre in the Night; and this is asserted by Carden, Albertus, Gaudentinus, Mizaldus, and many more. But hereto we cannot with reason assent; for the Light made by this Animal, depends upon a Living Spirit, and seems by some Vital Irradiation to be actuated into this Luster. For, when they are dead, they Shine not, nor always while they are alive, but are obscure, or give Light, according to the Disfusion of this Spirit, and the Protrusion of their Luminous' Parts, as Observation will instruct us. For this Flammeous Light is not over all the Body, but only visible on the inward side; in a small White part near the Tail. When this is full, and seemeth protruded, there ariseth a Flame of a Circular Figure, and Emrald-Green Colour; which is more Discernible in any Dark place, than day; but when it falleth and seemeth contracted, the Light disappears, and the Colour of that part only remains. Now this Light, as it appeareth and disappeareth in their Life, so doth it go quite out at their Death. As we have Observed in some, which, preserved in fresh Grass, have Lived and Shined Eighteen Days; but as they declined, their Light grew Languid, and at last went out with their Lives. BROWN's Vulg. Errors.   

Observations concerning SPIDERS.  
NOW let us see what we can discover in Ovid's Lydian Spinstress, that proud Madam, which Pallas, for her Rivalship, transformed into the SPIDER; which hath not only the Character of Aristotle, but of Solomon himself, for a Wise and Prudent Animal, and therefore a fit Residentiary in the Court of Kings.  
Of Domestic SPIDERS there are Two Sorts; One with longer Legs, and a little Body, and the other contrariwise.  
The First eminent thing we found in these House-SPIDERS, were their Eyes, which in some were Four, in some Six, and in some Eight, according to the proportion of their bulk, and length of their Legs. These Eyes are placed all in the forefront of their Head (●hich is round, and without any Neck) all diaphanous and transparent, like a Locket of Diamonds, or ● Set of round Crystal Beads: So that well might Muffet say of those Philosophers that held them blind, Sanè coecutiunt illi summo Meridie, qui videre ipsas non vident n●que intelligunt: Far better might he have said it, if his Eyes had had the assistance of our Microscope.  
Neither wonder, why Providence should be so Anomalous in this Animal, more than in any other we know of (Argus' Head being fixed to Arachne's Shoulders.) For, First: Since they wanting a Neck cannot move their Head, it is requisite that defect should be supplied by the multiplicity of Eyes. Secondly: Since they were to live by catching so nimble a Prey as a Fly is, they ought to see her every way, and to take her per Saltum (as they do) without any motion of their Head to discover her; which motion would have scared away so timorous an Insect.  
They have a very puffy light Body, of an Oval Figure, covered with a sleek thin Skin; which they change once a Month, says Muffet; tho' I hardly believe they cast their Spoils so often.  
Their Skin is not pellucid, for I could never discover any pulsing Particle within them: She hath Eight Legs, four on each side, split into small oblong Fingers at the Ends, by which she makes her curious Web-Work. Both Body and Limbs is all stuck over with small Silver-Hairs, which the very Air will waft to and fro, as you may see in the Microscope. POWER's Microscop. Obseru. pag. 11, 12.  
There are Multitudes of several sorts of SPIDERS, whose Eyes, and most other Parts and Properties, are so exceedingly different from one another, that it would be almost endless to describe them, as Some with Six Eyes, placed in quite another Order; Others with Eight Eyes, others with fewer, and Some with more. They all seem to be Creatures of Prey, and to feed on other small Infects, but their ways of catching them seem very differing: The Shepherd SPIDER by running on his Prey; The Hunting SPIDER by leaping on it; Other Sorts wove Nets, or Cobwebs, whereby they ensnare them, Nature having both sitted them with Materials and Tools, and taught them how to Work and Wove their Nets, and to lie perdue, and to watch diligently to run on any Fly, as soon as ever entangled.  
Their Thread or Web seems to be Spun out of some Viscous kind of Excrement, lying in their Belly, which, tho' soft when drawn out, is presently, by Reason of its smallness, hardened and dried by the Ambiet Air; examining several of which with my Microscope, I found them to appear much like White Horsehair, or some such transparent horny substance, and to be of very differing Magnitudes; Some appearing as big as a Pig's Bristle; Others equal to a Horsehair; Others no bigger than a Man's Hair; Others yet smaller and finer. I observed further, that the radiating Chords of the Web were much bigger, and smother than those that were Woven round, which seemed smaller, and all over knotted or pearled, with small transparent Globules, not unlike small Crystal-Beads or Seed-Pearls, thin strung on a Clew of Silk; which, whether they were to Spungius by the SPIDER, or by the adventitous Moisture of a Fog (which I have observed to cover all these Filaments with such Crystalline Beads) I will not now dispute. HOOK's Microg. Obseru. 48.  
The long Threads in the Air in Summer, and especially towards September, have been a strange puzzle to the Wiser World. It would divert you, tho' you know them as well as I, if I should here reckon up the ridiculous Opinions concerning them: but I shall omit them, and proceed to tell you the certain and immediate Authors of them, and how they make them.  
I say then, that all SPIDERS, that Spin in a Thread, (those, which we call Shepherds, or long-legged SPIDERS, never do;) are the Makers of these Threads, so much wondered at, and in such infinite quantities every where.  
I sent you the last Summer a Catalogue of Thirty sorts of SPIDERS, that I had distinguished here with us in England; and I must confess, I had well near completed that Number, with many other Experiments concerning them, before I discovered this Secret.  
I had exactly Marked all the ways of Weaving, used by any sorts of them, and in those admirable Works I had ever noted that they still let down the Thread, they made use of; and drew it after them. Happily at length, in nearly attending on One, that wrought a Net, I saw him suddenly in the Mid-Work to desist, and turning his Tail into the Wind to dart out a Thread with the same violence and stream, as we see Water spout out of a Spring: This Thread taken up by the Wind, was in a moment emitted some Fathoms long, still issuing out of the Belly of the Animal; by and by the SPIDER leapt into the Air, and the Thread mounted her up swiftly.  
After this Discovery, I made the like Observation in almost all the sorts of SPIDERS, I had before distinguished; and I found the Air filled with Young and Old, sailing on their Threads, and undoubtedly seizing Gnats and other Infects in their passage; there being often as manifest Signs of Slaughter, as Legs, Wings of Flies, etc. on these Threads, as in their Webs below.  
One thing yet was a Wonder to me, viz. That many of these Threads, that came down out of the Air, were not single, but snarled and with complicable Wooly Locks, sometimes more, sometimes less; and that on these I did not always find SPIDERS, tho' many times I had found Two or Three upon One of them: Whereas when they first flew up, the Thread was still single, or but little tangled, or, it may be, thicker in one place than another. In the End, by good attention I plainly found, what satisfied me abundantly, and that was this; That I observed them to get to the top of a Stalk or Bough, or some such like thing, where they Excercise this Darting of Threads into the Air, and if they had not a mind to sail, they either swiftly drew it up again, winding it up with their Fore-feets over their Head into a Lock; Or break it off short, and let the Air carry it away. This they will do many times together, and you may see some of them, that have Chains of these Locks, or Snarled Thread before them, and yet not taken flight.  
Again, I found, that after the first flight, all the time of their Sailing they make Locks, still Darting forth fresh supplies of Thread to sport and sail by.  
It is further to be Noted, that these Complicated Threads are much more tender, than our House-Webbs.  
In Winter and at Christmas, I have observed them busy a Darting, but few of them sail then, and therefore but single Threads only are to be seen; And besides, they are but the Young Ones of last Autumn's hatch, that are then employed; and it is more than probable, that the great Ropes of Autumn are made only by the great Ones, and upon long Passages and Summer Weather, when great Numbers of Prey may invite them to stay longer up. MARTIN LISTER's Obseru. See the PHILOS. TRANSACT. Numb. 50.  
The Learned and Ingenious Mr. King, Chaplain to Mr. Chetwynd of Staffordshire, tells us, that SPIDERS in projecting a Thread cross a Room in plano Horizontis (which they do for their easier and more direct passage) raise themselves on their Legs, as high as they can, setting them very strait and stiff, and turning their hinder Parts up higher than usual, they will shoot out a Thread to a great distance; which when fastened where they would have it, with their Forelegs they will wind up the Thread shorter till it is very strait, as the Funambuli strain their Ropes, and then like them too, will get upon it, and run from one end to the other.  
And as to their Sailing at the Ends of these Threads, He further observed, not only that they Sailed much swifter than any Wind then stirring could carry them, but that at the same time they constantly Sailed all the same way, which was not directly with, but as he once noted at Eight Points distance, as it were with a Side-Wind; which plainly shows, that they do not only Row, but Steer too, with the motion of their Feet, according as directed by some Secret Instinct they have in them. PLOT of Staffordshire, Pag. 239.  
Mr. Richard Stafford in a Letter to the Ingenious Mr. Oldenburg, (an Extract whereof you have in the Philos. Transact. Numb. 40.) says, That the Web of a Bermuda-SPIDER is so strong, as to snare a Bird is big as a Thrush.  
At Gresham College, they have some of this Web, where it is wound upon a Paper like Raw Silk.  
I know there are some that question the truth of the things related of the TARANTATI (as the Italians call them that are bit by the TARANTULA SPIDER) and I easily grant, that some Fictions may have been suffered to pass under the Countenance of so strange a Truth. But besides the Affirmations of some Learned Men, as well Physicians as others, my Doubts have been much removed by the Accounts I have received from an Ingenious Acquaintance of mine own, who at TARENTUM itself, whence the Insect takes its Name, and elsewhere, saw many bitten Persons in their Dances, some in public and some in private places, and amongst the rest a Physician, on whom the Tune that fitted his Distemper had the same Operation as on the other Patients. And the Learned Epiphanius Ferdinandus, who Practised Physic in Apulia and Calabria for many Years, not only delivers, upon his own Personal Observation, several Narratives of the Effects of Music upon the TARANTATI, but invites any that may doubt of the Truth of such Narratives to repair to him at a fit Season, undertaking to convince them by Ocular Demonstration. ROB. BOTTLE of lanquid motion, pag. 75, 76.   

Observations concerning the SILKWORM.  
THE use of SILK was brought over from the East-Indies into Europe above a Thousand Years since, and was particularly introduced into Italy by Two Religious Men, who brought thither the Grain of it somewhat above Three Hundred Years since; in which Country of Italy, that Commodity hath been much Cultivated, and that upon several Accounts; as, the preciousness of it, the easy Transportation from one place to another, by Reason of its lightness: And lastly, for that it is one of the principal Instruments of Luxury, which never wanted Partisans and Abettors in any Age, not to mention the great Advantages and Wealth attending the Manufacture of it. The Latin Word SERICUM is received from that of SERES, an Oriental People, who were more Sedulous in the Cultivation of it than any other: And the same thing that hath happened to this, as to many other Excellent Productions derived from mean an despicable Principles. For the Animal, from whose Labour we have the SILK, is an Insect, as are all those which Spin, to wit, the Spider and the Caterpillar, and it differs in nothing from this latter, save that the Caterpillar hath a little Hairiness, and the Silk of the Silkworm is stronger than the Web of the Caterpillar, and of another Colour, but as to figure and bulk there is little difference between them. Whereto may be added, that their production is much at one, as being as it were hatched of certain Eggs, living on Leaves, enclosing themselves in certain Webs, out of which they make their way, after they are become a kind of Butterflies, by a strange Metamorphosis, which forces them from one Extremity to another, That is, from the Nature of Reptiles to that of Volatiles: Which Transformation is such, as, were it not for the frequency of it, might be placed among the greatest Miracles of Nature, considering the great difference there is between those Two Forms. And that indeed is such, as hath given some occasion to doubt, whether the SILKWORM becoming a BUTTERFLY did not change its Species, as certainly it would, were it not that every thing produces its like; and the SILKWORM deriving its Birth from the Seed of the BUTTERFLY, it is an Argument that both are of the same Species. Thus much as to their Progress. The Kingdom of Spain commonly furnishes us with the best Grain or Seed of these Worms, which are like Heads of Pins, but black, or resembling Rape-Seed, somewhat flatted on both sides: This Grain, sometime in the Month of April, being put between two warm Pillows, or exposed to the Sun, enclosed in the Linings of one's clothes, or otherwise chased by a moderate Heat, but without any Moisture, there are produced o● it little certain Worms of the same Colour, that is, black at their first coming forth, which by Reason of their smallness, as resembling the Points of Needles, pass through certain little Holes made in a Paper, wherewith they are covered, and fasten themselves on the Mulberry-Leaves, which are also placed on the said Paper full of little Holes, upon which Leaves all the best Grain being hatched, within Five or Six Days, goes creeping after the first Worm that gets out of her Shell; all that is hatched afterwards never coming to any good. These Worms are thence transported, with the Leaves laid upon little Board's or Hurdles, into a temperate place, and disposed in a lightsome and spacious Room, where they are Entertained with fresh Leaves twice a Day, among which those of the White Mulberry make finer SILK, than those of the Black; for want whereof, the Leaves of the Rose-Bush, Lettuce, and some others may be used: But though the Worm makes a shift to Subsist by that Nourishment, yet either it will not Spin at all, or the SILK will be like the Web or Clue wrought by the Caterpillars. Thus it feeds for the space of Forty Days, during which it becomes Grey, and changes its Colour four times, not eating for some Days before each Change, by reason of the fullness it is then sensible of. The Worm is subject to certain Disseases; and those oblige such as have the care of them to remove them out of one Room into another, and that even when they are dying in great quantities; Perfume, Incense, Benjamin, Vinegar, and Wine recovering and comforting them; as also the smell of broiled Bacon. To prevent which Diseases, and the Assaults of Flies and Pismires, who will make havoc among them, they are very carefully to be kept clean, the Board's on which the Leaves lie to be rubbed with Wormwood, or sprinkled with Wine, which must be well dried up before they come near them, all moisture being hurtful to them, as also Salt, or the hands that have handled it. All harsh sounds, as those of the discharging of Muskets, Bells, and Trumpets, destroy them; nay, the strong Breathes of those who come near them, especially such as have eaten or handled Garlic or Onions, are very prejudicial to them. When their time of Spinning draws nigh, which is about Six Weeks after their being first alive at which time they are about the bigness of a Man's little Finger, more transparent than they use to be, and the little Snowt so lengthened, as that it represents the form of a Nose, the Animal by an extraordinary motion, expresses the inconvenience it endures by Reason of its burden: Then is it cleansed oftener, and there is so much the less given it to eat, and afterwards they set on the Board's some dried Branches of Heath, Broom, or Vines, and above all of Birch, as being the most delicate and least prickly, lest it should prick the Worm, or entangle the SILK. Then you shall see them fasten their first Threads, and casting out of their Mouths a kind of corpse Sleeve SILK, and afterwards that which is finer and more perfect, in one continued Thread, accompanied with a Gum, which makes it stick one to another, so that the Worm does encompass itself with that SILK, which is commonly Yellow, very seldom Greenish or White, and being come to the end of the Clue, hath only so much room as it takes up. Then, for the space of Fifteen Days, it remains immovable, and is covered with a Skin of Film like that which covers the Fruit of the Pinetree, under its Shell, and which appears not till after that is broken. But these Fifteen Days being ove● (of which those will abate some, who are desirous to make advantage of the SILK, and trouble not themselves what becomes of the Grain) the SILKWORM, though it seemed to have been dead, breaks through its Web, and comes out in the form of a White and Horned BUTTERFLY, bearing a certain Image of the Resurrection; then coming together, the Male, which is smaller, coupling with the Female that is bigger, the latter sheds her Seed upon a clean Paper, spread under her for the Reception of it. The Seed being carefully put into a Box. is either kept for the next Year, or sold by the Ounce; they commonly keep as much as comes from a Hundred Males, and so many Females; the Grain or Seed whereof, before their Copulation, is barren. Now, if they be desirous to get SILK out of it, which is the principle Advantage, in order to which the Worms are kept, about Fifteen Days after they are completed, these Webs are cast into Water, somewhat better than lukewarm, and the Women and Children employed about that Work, stir the Water with an handful of Birch, till they have fastened on Seven or Eight Ends of SILK, which having done, they wind it up into Skains, and that is the Raw SILK. PHILOS. CONFER. of the VIRTUOSOS of France, Vol. 2. Pag. 402, 403, 404.  
'Tis to be imagined that the use of SILK was absolutely unknown to the jews, especially when we consider, that in the Works of that of the Worm the Head of the Fly. But Sig. Malpighius makes no mention hereof; neither is it any way likely to be so. GREW's Mus. Reg. Soc. Pag. 176.  
An Ingenious Gentlewoman of my Acquaintance, Wise to a Learned Physician, taking much Pleasure to keep SILKWORMS, had once the Curiosity to draw out one of the Oval Cases, (which the SILKWORM Spins, not, as 'tis commonly thought, out of its Belly, but out of the Mouth, whence I have taken Pleasure to draw it out with my Fingers,) into all the SILKENWire it was made up of, which, to the great Wonder as well of her Husband, as herself, who both informed me of it, appeared to be by Measure a great deal above Three Hundred Yards, and yet weighed but two Grains and a half: So that each Cylindrically shaped Grain of SILK may well be reckoned to be at least One Hundred and Twenty Yards long. ROB BOTTLE of E●fluviums, Pag. XI.   

Observations concerning SNAKES, SERPENTS, or VIPRRS.  
IN Barbadoes there are SNAKES about a Yard and a half long, that will slide up the Perpendicular Wall of a House out of one Room into another. A greater agility without Feet, than we see in most Creatures that have Four. Much helped, as it should seem, by their great length; whereby they can, in an instant, reduce themselves into so many more undulations for their better ascent. GREW's Mus. REG. SOC.  
In Brasile, saith job. de Laet, there are SNAKES found sometimes 25 or 30 Foot long. They have also a sort of SERPENT called the RATTLE-SNAKE, from the Rattle at the end of his Tail. By this Rattle, those that Travel through the Fields, or along the Highways, are warned to avoid coming near so noxious a Creature. For those  
He also observes, that where commonly it hath hitherto bee● believed, that the Poison of VIPERS being swallowed, was prese D●ath; He, after many reiterate Experiments, tells us, that in VIPER'S there is neither Humou● nor Excrement, nor any part, nay not the Gall itself, that, being taken into the Body, kills. And H● assures us, that he has seen Me● eat, and has often made Brute Animals swallow all that is esteemed most poisonous in a VIPER, ye● without the least Mischief to them● And therefore what some Author have affirmed, viz. That it is Mortal to eat of the Flesh of Creature killed by VIPERS, Or to drink o● the Wine wherein VIPER'S hav● been drowned; Or to such the Wounds that have been made by them, is by this Author observed to be utterly false. For He affirms That many Persons have eaten Pullet's and Pigeon, bitten by VIPERS, without finding any alteration from it in their Health. On the contrary, He declares, That it is a Sovereign Remedy against the biting of VIPERS, to suck the Wound; alleging an Experiment made upon a Dog, which he caused to be bitten by a VIPER at the Nose, who, by licking his own Wound, saved his Life. Which He affirms by the Example of those People, Celebrated in History by the Name of Marsi and Psilli, whose Employment it was to heal those that had been bitten by SERPENTS, by sucking their Wounds.  
Again, He adds, That although Galen, and many Modern Physicians, do affirm, that there is nothing, which causeth so much Thirst, as VIPERS-Flesh, yet he hath Experimented the contrary, and known divers Persons, who were wont to eat the Flesh of VIPERS every Meal, and yet did assure him, They never were less dry, than when they observed that kind of Diet. the Experiment and found no such matter: Whereupon I got leave (in the absence of the Family) to enclose my SNAKE in the Court, before the Right Honourable the Lord Anglesey's House, to see what time would produce, leaving the Gardener in trust to observe it strictly, who found it, indeed, after three Weeks time dead, without any sensible external hurt.  
How this should come to pass, is a Question indeed not easy to determine; but certainly it must not be ascribed to the Talismanical Figure of the Stone Ophiomorphites to be found about Adderbury, and in most Blue Clays, whereof there are plenty in this Country. Since these are to be met with about Oxford too, and many other places, where there are SNAKES enough. Beside, we are informed by Cardan, that Albertus Magnus had a Stone, that being naturally marked with the Figure of a SERPENT, had this no less admirable than contrary Virtue, that if it were put into a place that was haunted with SERPENTS, it would draw them all to it. Much rather may we subscribe to the Cause assigned by Pliny, who seems confidently to assert, that the Earth that is Blackish, and standeth much upon Salt-Peter, is freer from Vermin than any other. To which we may add, if need be, Sulphur and Vitriol, whereof there is plenty in these parts of the Country; but whether by One, Two, or All these, though we dare not pronounce, yet that it is caused by some such Mineral Steam disagreeable to the Animal, I think we may be Confident. PLOT of Oxfordshire, pag. 187.  
My Father in his Voyage to the Levant, giving an Account of what he observed in Egypt, has, among other remarkable Things, this passage: Many Rarities of living Creatures I saw in Gran Cairo, but the most Ingenious was a Nest of Four-Legged SERPENTS, of Two Foot long, Black, and ugly, kept by a Frenchman, who when he came to handle them, they would not endure him, but ran and hid in their Hole; then would he take his Cittern, and play upon it; They, hearing his Music, came all crawling to his Feet, and began to climb up him, till he gave over playing, then away they ran. Sir HENR. BLOUNT's Voyage into the Levant, Pag. 58, 59  
That which is mentioned by Sir Henry Blount about the Effect of Music upon SERPENTS at Grand Cairo, may be not only confirmed but exceeded, by a strange Relation that I had from a Person of unsuspected Credit. Which Narrative having appeared to me so considerable, as well to deserve a place among my Adversaria, I shall subjoin that part of it which concerns our present Subject, in the Words wherein I find it set down.  
Sir I.C. A very candid and judicious Traveller, favouring me yesterday with a Visit, told me among other remarkable Things relating to the East-Indies, (which Countries He had curiously visited,) that He, with divers European Merchants had seen, (and that if I mistake not, several times) an Indian, who by many was thought to be a Magician, that kept tame SERPENTS of a great Bulk. And that when the Owner of them played upon a Musical Instrument, these SERPENTS would raise themselves upright into the Air, leaving upon the Ground but 3 or 4 Inches of their Tail, upon which they leaned for their Support. He added, that at the same time that they erected their Bodies, they also stretched and lengthened them in a strange and frightful manner; and whilst they were thus slender, they were taller than He, or any Man of ordinary Stature. But that which appeared to Him the most Wonderful and Surprising, was, that they manifestly seemed to be very much affected with the Music they heard; insomuch that some parts of the Tune would make them move to and fro with a surprising agility, and some other Parts of it would cast them into a Posture, wherein they seemed to be half asleep, and as it were to melt away with Pleasure. ROB. BOTTLE of the Insalubrity and Salubrity of the Air, pag. 135, 136, 137.  
The VIPER, saith Sir Thomas Brown, from the Experience of Credible Persons, in Case of fear, receiveth her Young Ones into her Mouth; which being over, they return thence again. BROWN's Pseudod. Epidem.  
The chief Use of VIPERS is for the making of Treacle, and for that purpose, the young Females are the best, being taken in the Spring, after they have been a while ou● of their Dens.  
The Indians, in some places, eat SNAKES very greedily.   

Observations concerning TORTOISES.  
DR. Grew saith, That the Sea-Tortoise differs from the Land-Tortoise, chief, in having a more rude, and softer Shell, and Feet rather like the Finns of a Fish, as proper to Swim with.  
Rondeletius affirms, That he Squirts the Water out at his Nostrils, in the same manner as the Dolphin doth at his Spout.  
Trapham in his Discourse of jamaica, Cap. 4. says, That in Generation, the Embraces of the Male and Female do continue for a whole Lunary Month.  
They abound in the Caribee and Lucayick Islands, and in jamaica, as also in the Red-Sea.  
I remember that in a place called the Camanas, which lieth to the Lewward of Jamaica, the Sea TORTOISE (of which there are Five Sorts) or TURTLES, as some call them, those Triple-Hearted Amphibious Creatures (for they have each of them three distinct Hearts) being entangled in a Sain or Net, which was usually set for the taking of them, or else being turned on their Backs on Land (for then they cannot turn themselves on their Feet again) did always Sigh, Sob, shed Tears, and mightily seem to Lament, as being most sensible of their Destruction, and that they were in their Enemy's hands. WILL. Hughes' Pref. to The American Physician.  
Sir Philoberto Vernatti, late Resident in java Major, saith, That he had seen in those parts some SeaTORTOISES of Four Foot broad, in Oval Form, very low Legged, but of that strength, that a Man might stand on one: That the manner of catching them, was to turn them with a Fork upon their Backs. SPRAT's Hist. of the ROYAL SOCIETY, pag. 170.  
All the TORTOISES, from the Caribes to the Bay of Mexico and Honduras, repair in Summer to the Cayman Islands, to lay their Eggs and to hatch there. They Coot for Fourteen Days together, then lay in one Night some Three Hundred Eggs, with White and Yolk, but no Shells: Then they Coot again, and lay in the Sand, and so thrice. Then the Male is reduced to a kind of Jelly within, and blind, and is so carried home by the Female. Their Fat is Green, but not offensive to the Stomach, though you eat it as Broth, Stewed. Your Urine looks of a Yellowish-Green, and Oily, after eating it. Dr. Stvbbes' Obseru. Sailing from England to the Caribe-Islands, in PHILOS. TRANSACT. Numb. 27.  
●●●ing an Hour or Two's stay, at ●e Caymans', I examined that Assertion of Mr. Lygans, that a TORTOISE hath Three Hearts, and I found it false. For, although the resemblance of the Two Auricles be such, as also their Bodies or Flesh, as to deceive the unwary Observer; yet is there but One Heart, triangular and fleshy; the other Two are only the Auricles, yet of the same Shape and Body. The Two Auricles move at a several time from the Heart, and they are distanced from the Heart about an Inch; and the passage fleshy (as I remember) and narrow, by which the Blood is insused into the Heart. This Heart hath but One Ventricle; yet are Three several Columns of Flesh, and receptacles in it, such as are not in the Auricles— The TORTOISES By't much more than they Swallow, so that the Sea is covered with the Grass, where they feed at the bottom. Once in about half an Hour they come up, and fetch one Breath like a Sig●, and then sink down again. And if out of the Water, they Breath somewhat oftener. If you hurt them on Shore, as they lie on their Backs, the Tears will trickle from their Eyes. You may keep them out of the Water Twenty Days and more, and yet they will be so Fat as to be very good Meat, provided you give them twice a Day about half a Pint of Salt-Water. The Fat that is about their Guts, is Yellow, though that of the Body be Green. The Head being cut off, dies instantly; and if you take out the Heart, the motion continues not long. But any quantity of the Flesh will move, if pricked, and also of itself, for many Hours after it is cut into Quarters; and the very Joints of the Bones of the Shoulders and Legs (answering our Omo-Plate and Thigh, yet within the Shell) have their motion; and even though you prick only the Fat of it. Bu● if you place these parts of the TORTOISE in the Sun; they presently die. The Legs die as soon, in a manner as cut off. Stvbbes' Enlargement of the former Obseru. PHILOS. TRANSACT. Numb. 36.  
Trapham in his Discourse of jamaica, saith, That the Flesh of a TORTOISE maketh a most pleasant Jelly: And that the Callapee, viz. the Belly-part so called, baked, is an excellent Dish.  
The Legs, saith Schroder out of Solenander, applied to the part affected, are a most Experienced Remedy in the Gout.  
In Turkey, the Shells are used for Bucklers: In Tabrobana, (according to Aelian) to cover their Houses: And in China, to make Girdles for Noble Men.  
In the Kingdom of Tunquin in India, there ar● infinite Number of TORTOISES, which are esteemed such excellent Food, that the Tumquinese and Cochinchinese do not believe they have entertained their Friends at a Banquet as they ought to do, till the TORTOISES are brought in. Those two Nations pickle up great Quantities of them, and send them abroad, which is a vast Trade among them; and indeed the chiefest occasion of the Wars between them is, because the Cochinchineses do all they can to hinder the Tunquinese to Fish for them, alleging that those Seas and Islands, where they breed, belong to them. Neither is the Meat but the Shell also of great esteem, and one of the most considerable Commodities for Trade in Asia. TAVERNIER's Relat. of the Kingdom of Tunquin, Cap. 3.   

Observations concerning several Remarkable TREES.  
IN the Islands of Solon and Timor in the East-Indies, there grows a Tree called the STINKING-TREE; and indeed, well may it be so called: For it naturally smells like the strongest Humane Excrements, especially, as upon the Emptying of a House of Office. Sir Philoberto Vernatti procured an Arm of this TREE, and sent it to the ROYAL SOCIETY at Gresham College. Where, though it hath now been preserved many Years, yet seems to give as full and quick a Scent as ever. Yet in burning, it yields no smell; as do Lignum Aloe, and some other Woods. 'Tis ponderous, hard, and of the Colour of English-Oak; and as that hath large Aer-Vessels; yet but few I should have conjectured, saith Dr. Grew, that this Wood belonged to the TREE called Ahovaj, which hath a Stinking smell, but that this is said to be the more odious when it burns. GREW's Mus. REG. SOC. Pag. 180.  
There is in jamaica a sort of Tree called the SOAPE-TREE; the Berries whereof (being as big as Bullets of Muskets) without any proportion of Salt-Lixiviate, or Sulphur, or Oil, wash better than any Castile-SOAPE; but they rot the Linen in time. The Negro's use them. Dr. STUBBES.  
In the Caribe-Islands grows the Famous TREE called the Cabbage-Tree; which, though one would not imagine, I assure you, saith Dr. Stubbes, is a sort of Palm-tree: All that part which is eaten as the Cabbage, is, what sprouted out that Year, and so is tender. If eaten raw, it is as good as New-Almonds; and if boiled, it excels the best Cabbage. When that Top is ●ut off, the TREE dies. The Dr. saith, There was one of those TREES at Barbadoes, above Three Hundred Foot high, as He was credibly informed. This TREE will never Rot, and when 'tis dried, grows so hard, that you cannot drive a Nail into it. STVBBES Account of the Carbie-Is●ands.  
In Barbadoes there is a particular sort of TREE called the POYSON-TREE. Its Leaves are full out as large and beautiful, as the Laurels, and so like, as not to be known asunder. The People that have lived long there, say, 'tis not whole some to be under the Shade of this TREE. The Workmen, as they cut them down, are very careful of their Eyes; and those that have Cipers, put it over their Faces; for if any of the Sap fly into their Eyes, they become Blind for a Month. A Negro had two Horses to walk, which were left with him by two Gentlemen; and the Horse's beginning to fight, the Negro was afraid, and let them go; and they running into the Wood together, stuck at one another, and their Heels hitting some young TREES of this kind, struck the poisonous Juice into one another's Eyes, and so their Blindness parted the Fray, and they were both led home Stone Blind, and continued so a Month, all the Hair and Skin peeling off their Faces. Yet, of this Timber they make all, or the most part, of the Pots they Cure their Sugar in; for being Sawed, and the Board's dried in the Sun, the POISON vapours out. LIGON's Hist. of Barbadoss. pag. 68  
He also tells us of a certain Sort of POISONOUS CANE, so like the SUGAR-CANE, as hardly to be discerned the one from the other: This Plant hath this Quality, that whosoever chews it, and sucks in any of the juice, will have his tongue, mouth, and throat, so swelled, as to take away the faculty of Speech for two days, and no remedy but patience. Ibidem Pag. 69.  
Among the Rarities of the Malacca, or rather of the World, is the Arbour Tristis, which bears Flowers only after Sunset, and sheds them so soon as the Sun-rises, and this every Night in the Year. ROB. MORDEN's Geogr. Pag. 413.  
In the Molucca Islands, in the East-Indies, there is a certain Wood, which, laid in the Fire, burns, sparkles, and flames, yet consumes not; and yet a Man may rub it to Powder betwixt his Fingers, MANDELSLO's Travels into the Indies, Pag. 133.  
In the Philosophical Transactions we have an Account of a sort of INCOMBUSTIBLE CLOTH, called Linum Asbestinum: which was esteemed by the Ancients (though then more common, and perhaps better known than 'tis yet amongst us) equally precious with the best of Pearls. But as great a Rarity as it now is, it seems one Mr. Nicb. Wait, Merchant of London, hath lately procured a piece of it; an Account whereof he gives in a Letter to Dr. Plot, He says, he received it from one Conco, a Natural Chinese, Resident in the City of Batavia in the North East parts of India. Who▪ by means of Keayarear Sukradana (likewise a Chinese, and formerly chief Customer to the old Sultan of Bantam) did after several Years diligence, procure, from a great Mandarin in Lanquin (a Province of China) near ¼ of a Yard of the said Cloth; and declared, that he was credibly informed, that the Princes of Tartary, and others adjoining to them, did use it in burning their Dead; and that it was said and believed by them, to be made of the under part of the Root of a Tree growing in the Province of Sutan; and was supposed, in like manner, to be made of the Todda Trees in India: And that, of the upper part of the said Root, near the Surface of the Ground, was made a finer Sort, which in three or four times burning, the said Mr. Waite saith, He has seen diminish almost half: They Report also, that out of the said Tree there distils a Liquor, which not consuming, is used with a Wiek made of the same Material with the Cloth, to burn in their Temples to posterity.  
Mr. Wait showed a Handkerchief or Pattern of this INCOMBUSTIBLE LINEN to the ROYAL SOCIETY; which being measured, was found in length Nine Inches, between the Fringe or Tassels; the Fringe at each end being three Inches more; so that the whole was just a Foot in length; and the breadth was just half a Foot.  
There were two Proofs of its resisting Fire, given at London: One, before some of the Members of the R. Society, privately, Aug. 20.1684. when Oil was permitted to be poured upon it whilst red hot, to enforce the Violence of the Fire: Before it was put into the Fire this First Trial, it weighed one Ounce, Six Drams, Sixteen Grains, and lost in the burning Two Drams, Five Grains.  
The Second Experiment of it was public before the SOCIETY, Nou. 12. following, when it weighed (as appears by the journal of the SOCIETY) before it was put into the Fire, One Ounce, Three Drams, 18 Grains. Being put into a clear Charcoal Fire, it was permitted to continue Red hot in it, for several Minutes: When taken out (though red hot) it did not consume a piece of White Paper, on which it was laid: It was presently Cool, and upon weighing it again, was found to have lost one Dram, Six Grains. PHILOS. TRANSACT Numb. 172.  
That this LINEN was very well known to the Ancients, beside that of Pliny, we have the further Testimony of Caelius Rhodiginus, who agrees with the aforesaid Account in Mr. Waits Letter to Dr. Plot, placing both the Materials and Manufacture of it in India; and Paulus Venetus more particularly in Tartary, the Emperor whereof, He says, sent a piece of it to Pope Alexander. It is also mentioned by Varro; and Turnebus in his Commentary upon him, De lingua Latina. And by all of them as a thing inconsumable by Fire. In these latter Ages; Georg. Agricola tells us, that there was a Mantle of this LINEN at Vereburg in Saxony; and Simon Majolus says, He saw another of it at Louvain exposed to the Fire. Salmuth also acquaints us, that one ●odocattarus, a Cyprian Knight, showed it publicly at Venice, throwing it into the Fire without scruple or hurt; and Mr. Lassells saw a piece of it in the Curious Cabinet of Manfred Septalla, Canon of Milan. Mr. Ray was showed a Purse of it by the Prince Palatin at Heidelberg, which he saw put into a Pan of burning Charcoal till it was red hot, which when taken out and cool, he could not perceive had received any harm; and we are told in the Burgundian Philosophy, of a long Rope of it, sent from Signior Bocconi to the French King, and kept by Monsieur Marchand in the King's Gardens at Paris, which tho' steeped in Oil, and put in the Fire, is not consumed. To which add, that we have now seen a piece of this LINEN pass the fiery Trial both at London and Oxford. So that it seems to have been known in all Ages, all describing it after the same manner, as a thing so insuperable by Fire, that it only Cleanses and makes it better. Dr. ROB. PLOT, in the PHILOS. TRANSACT. Numb. 172.  
The said Dr. saith, that this INCOMBUSTIBLE CLOTH is now of no Mean value even in the Country where made, a China Covet, that is, a piece 23 Inches and three Quarters long, being worth 80 Tale, that is, Thirty Six Pounds Thirteen Shillings, and four pence.  
PURCHAS saith, that in Fanfur, a Kingdom of java, in the East-Indies, there is a Tree of a great bigness, and length, the Pit● whereof is Meal, which they put in water, and stir well, the lightest dross swimming, and the purest settling to the bottom; and then the water being cast away, they makethere of Paste, which tastes just like Barley Bread.  
The Wood of this Tree thrown into water, sinks like Tron; hereof they make Lances, but short, for if they were long, they would be too heavy for use: These they sharpen, and burn at the tops, which, so prepared, will pierce Armour sooner than if they were made of Iron. PURCH. Pilg. Vol. 3. Pag. ●04.  
In great java they say, there is a Tree, 〈◊〉 Pith is Iron: It is very small, ●et runs from the top to the bottom of the Plant. The Fruit that grows on it, is not to be pierced with Iron. JUL. SCALIG. Exercit. 181. Sect. 27.  
In the Island C●mbubon there grows a Tree, whose Leaves fallen upon the ground, do move, and creep. It hath Leaves like the Mulberry Tree. They have on both sides that which looks like two little feet; pressed, they yield no Liquor. If you touch them, they fly from you. One of them kept eight days in a Dish, lived, and moved, as oft as one touched it. JUL. SCALIG. Exercit. 112.  
The SENSITIVE PLANT is somewhat of this Nature, which contracts itself, if any one puts his hand to it; and if you pull back your hand, it recovers itself again.   

Observations concerning MOUNTAINS.  
SOme have thought that MOUNTAINS and all other Irregularities in the Earth have rise from Earthquakes, and such like Causes; Others have thought that they came from the Universal Deluge; ye● not from any Dissolution of the Earth that was then, but only from the great agitation of the Waters, which broke the ground into this rude and unequal Form. Both these Causes seem to me very incompetent and insufficient. Earthquakes seldom make MOUNTAINS, they often take them away, and sink them down into the Caverns that lie under them; Besides, Earthquakes are not in all Countries and Climates as MOUNTAINS are; for, as we have observed more than once, there is neither Island that is Original, nor Continent any where in the Earth, in what Latitude soever, but hath MOUNTAINS and Rocks in it. And lastly, what probability is there, or how is it credible that those vast Tracts of Land which we see filled with MOUNTAINS both in Europe, Asia, and Africa, were raised by Earthquakes, or any Eruptions from below? In what Age of the World was this done; and why not continued? As for the Deluge, I dou●t not but MOUNTAINS were made in the time of the General Deluge, that great Change and Transformation of the Earth happened then, but not from such Causes as are pretended, that is, the bare rolling and agitation of the Waters: For if the Earth was smooth and plain before the Flood, as they seem to suppose as well as we do, the Waters could have little or no power over a smooth Surface to tear it any way in pieces, no more than they do a Meadow or low Ground when they lie upon it; for that which makes Torrents and Land Floods violent, is their fall from the MOUNTAINS and high Lands, which our Earth is now full of, but if the Rain fell upon even and Level Ground, it would only sadden and compress it; there is no possibility how it should raise MOUNTAINS in it. And if we could imagine an Universal Deluge as the Earth is now constituted, it would rather throw down the Hills and MOUNTAINS, than raise new ones; or by beating down their Tops and lose parts, help to fill the Valleys, and bring the Earth nearer to evenness and plainness.  
Seeing then there are no hopes of Explaining the Origin of MOUNTAINS, either from particular Earthquakes, or from the General Deluge, according to the common notion and Explication of it; these not being Causes answerable to such vast Effects; let us try our Hypothesis again, which hath made us a Channel large enough for the Sea, and room for all Subterraneous Cavities, and I think will find us Materials enough to raise all the MOUNTAINS of the Earth. We suppose the great Arch or Circumference of the first Earth to have fallen into the Abyss at the Deluge, and seeing that was larger than the Surface it fell upon, 'tis absolutely certain, that it could not all fall flat, or lie under the Water: Now, as all those parts that stood above the Water made dry Land, or the present Habitable Earth, so such parts of the dry Land as stood higher than the rest made Hills and MOUNTAINS; and this is the first and General Account of them, and of all the Inequalities of the Earth. THO. BVRNET's Theory of the Earth. Lib. 1. Cap. XI.  
The Height of MOUNTAINS compared with the Diameter of the Earth is not considerable, but the Extent of them and the Ground they stand upon, bears a considerable proportion to the Surface of the Earth. And if from Europe we may take our Measures for the rest, I easily believe, that the MOUNTAINS do at least take up the Tenth part of the Dry Land. Ibidem.  
The Height of the highest MOUNTAINS doth bear no greater a proportion to the Diameter of the Earth, than of the Sixteen Hundred and Seventieth part to the whole, supposing the Diameter of the Earth to be Eight Thousand Three Hundred Fifty Five Miles, as Pet. Gassendus computes both. And it is more than probable, that Men have been exceedingly mistaken, as to the height of MOUNTAINS, which comes so far short of Sir Walter Raleighs Computation of Thirty Miles, that the Highest MOUNTAIN in the World will not be found to be Five direct Miles in height, taking the Altitude of them from the plain they stand upon. Olympus, whose Height is so extolled by the Poets and Ancient Greeks, that it is said to exceed the Clouds, yet Plutarch tells us, that Xenagoras measured it, and found it not to exceed a Mile and a half perpendicular, and about 70 paces. Much about the same height Pliny saith that Dicaearchus found the Mountain P●lion to be. The Mount Athos is supposed of extraordinary height, because it casts its shadow into the Isle of Lemnos, which according to Pliny was 87 Miles; yet Gass●ndus allows it but Two Miles in height; but Isaac Vossius in a Learned Discourse concerning the height of MOUNTAINS, in his Notes on Pomponius Mela, does not allow above 10 or 11 Furlongs at most to the Height of Mount Athos. Cancasus, by Ricciolus, is said to be 51. Miles in height: Gassendus allowing it to be higher than Athos or Olympus, yet conceives it not above three or four Miles at most; but Vossius will not yield it above Two Miles perpendicular, for which he gives this very good Reason; Polybius affirms, there is no MOUNTAIN in Greece which may not be ascended in a Days time, and makes the highest MOUNTAIN there not to exceed Ten Furlongs; Which, saith Vossius, it is scarce possible for any one to reach, unless he be a Mountainer born; any other will scarce be able to ascend above Six Furlongs perpendicular; for in the Ascent of a MOUNTAIN every pace doth reach but to an hands breadth, perpendicular; but if we do allow Eight Furlongs to a Days Ascent, yet thereby it will appear that the Highest MOUNTAINS in the World are not above Twenty four Furlongs in height, since they may be ascended in Three Days time: And it is affirmed of the top of Mount Caucasus, that it may be ascended in less than the compass of three Days, and therefore cannot be much above two Miles in height. Which may be the easier believed of any other Mountain, when that which is reputed the highest of the World, viz. the Pike of Teneriffe, which the Inhabitants call Pica de Terraria, may be ascended in that compass of time, viz. Three Days; For in the Months of july and August (which are the only Months in which Men can ascend it, because all other times of the Year Snow lies upon it, although neither in the Isle of Teneriffe, nor any other of the Canary Islands, there be Snow ever seen) the Inhabitants than ascend to the top of it in Three Days time, which top of it is not Pyramidal but plain, from whence they gather some Sulphureous Stones, which are carried in great quantities into Spain. So that according to the proportion of Eight Furlongs to a Days journey, this Pike of Teneriffe will not exceed the Height of a Germane Mile perpendicular, as Varenius confesseth, than which he thinks likewise, that no Mountain in the World is higher. For what Pliny speaks of the Alps, being Fifty Miles in height, must be understood not perpendicular, but in regard of the Obliquity of the Ascent of it; so that he might account so much from the Foot of the Alps to the top of them, and yet the Alps in a perpendicular Line not come near the Height of a Germane Mile. STILLINGFLEET's Orig. Sacr. Lib. 3. Cap. 4. pag. 544, etc.  
Mr. Muraltus of Zurich in a Letter to Mr. Haak, a Fellow of the R. S. concerning the Icy MOUNTAINS of Helvetia, called the GLETSCHER, gives him this Account.  
The Highest ICY MOUNTAINS of Helvetia about Valesia and Augusta, in the Canton of Bern; about Paminium and Tavetsch of the Rhaetians, are always seen covered with Snow. The Snow melted by the heat of the Summer, other Snow being fallen within in a little while after, is hardened into ICE, which by little and little, in a long tract of time, depurating itself, turns into a Stone, not yielding in hardness and clearness to Crystal. Such Stones closely joined and compacted together, compose a whole MOUNTAIN, and that a very firm one; though in Summer time the Country People have observed it to burst asunder with great cracking, Thunderlike: Which is also well known to Hunters, to their great cost; for as much as such Cracks and Openings, being by the Winds covered with Snow, are the Death of those that pass over them. PHILOS. TRANSACT. Numb. 49.  
Monsieur justel in an Enlargement upon this very Subject, says, that the ICY-MOUNTAIN called the GLETSCHER, is very high, and extends itself every year more and more over the Neighbouring Meadows, by increments that make a great noise, and cracking. There are great Holes and Caverns, which are made when the ICE bursts; which happens at all times, but especially in the Dog-days. Hunter's do there hang up their Game they take during the great heat, to make it keep sweet by that means. Very little of the Surface melts in Summer, and all freezes again in the Night. When the Sun shineth, there is seen such a variety of Colours as in a Prism.  
There is such another MOUNTAIN near Geneva, and upon the Alps. A certain Capucin told Monsieur justel, that he had been upon the highest of these MOUNTAINS with a Trader in Crystal, who having driven his hammer into one of these Rocks, and sound it hollow and resonant; made a hole into it, and thence drew forth a Substance like Talk; which to him was a sign there was Crystal. After which, he made a great hole with Gunpowder, and found Rock-Crystal in it. PHILOS. TRANSACT. Numb. 100  
I have had the Curiosity to inquire of more than one Traveller, that had Visited the Famous Pico of Tenari●, (at whose upper part there are found scattered parcels of Sulphur, and divers manifest Tokens of a Vulcan) whether the Sulphureous Steams (that I supposed to be copious near the top of the Mountain) did not work upon the Silver they had in their Pockets, and discolour it: To which he answered, that 'twas no uncommon Observation, to find at men's return from visiting the top of the Hill, that the Money they carried about them was blackened, and that he himself had particularly observed it to be so: Which might easily gain Credit with me, who have divers times made a Preparation of Sulphur, which even in the Cold, sends out exhalations so penetrant, that having for Trials sake, put some pieces of Coin (which ought not to be Golden) into a Leather Purse, they were able, and that not in very many Minutes, to discolour manifestly the Money, in spite of the interposition of the Purse, that contained it. But I had a more considerable instance of the Efficacy of the Sulphureous Expirations of the Pico of Tenari●, by a Sober Person, that is one of the Chief Directors of the Famous East-India. Company of London; who, being questioned by me about some Circumstances of his Journey to visit the top of that stupendious MOUNTAIN, answered me, that among other Effects the Sulphureous Air had upon ●im, (who is of a very fine Complexion) he found at his return to the bottom, that his light-coloured hair had manifestly changed colour, and was in many places grown sorked at the ends. ROB. boil's Experim. Disc. of the Insalubr. and Salubrity of the Air, pag. 31, 32.  
Though there are some, who think MOUNTAINS to be a desormity to the Earth, as if they were either beat up by the Flood, or else cast up like so many heaps of Rubbish left at the Creation; yet, if well considered, they will be found as much to conduce to the Beauty and Conveniency of the Universe, as any of the other parts. Nature (saith Pliny) purposely framed them for many excellent uses; partly to tame the violence of greater Rivers, to strengthen certain joints within the Veins and Bowels of the Earth, to break the force of the Seas inundation, and for the safety of the Earth's Inhabitants, whether Beasts, or Men. That they make much for the protection of Beasts, the Psalmist testifies, The Highest Hills ar● a refuge for the Wild Goats, and the Rocks for Coneys. The Kingly Prophet had likewise learned the safety of those by his own experience▪ when He also was fain to make a MOUNTAIN his Resuge from the sury of his Master Saul, who Persecuted him in the Wilderness.  
True indeed, such Places as these keep their Neighbours poor, as being most barren, but yet they preserve them safe, as being most strong; witness our Unconquered Wales, and Scotland, whose greatest protection hath been the natural strength of their Country, so fortified with MOUNTAINS, that these have always been unto them sure retreats from the Violence, and Oppression of others. Wherefore a good Author doth rightly call them Natures Bulwarks, cast up at God Almighty's own Charges, the scorns and curbs of Victorious Armies; which made the Barbarians in Curtius so confident of their own safety, when they were once retired to an inaccessible MOUNTAIN, that when Alexander's Legate had brought them to a Parley, and persuading them to yield, told them of his Master's Victories, what S●as and Wildernesses he had passed: They replied, that all that might be, but could Alexander fly too? Over the Seas he might have Ships, and over the Land Horses, but he must have Wings before he could get up thither. Such safety did those Barbarous Nations conceive in the MOUNTAINS whereunto they were retired. Certainly then such useful parts were not the effect of Man's Sin, or produced by the World's Curse, the Flood, but rather at the first Created by the Goodness and Providence of the Almighty. WILKIN's World in the Moon, pag. 114, 115, 116.  
It may be objected, that the present Earth looks like a heap of Rubbish, and Ruins; and that there are no greater Examples of Confusion in Nature than Mountain singly or jointly considered, and that there appear not the least footsteps of any Art or Counsel either in the Figure and Shape, or Order and Disposition of MOUNTAINS and ROCKS. Wherefore is is not likely they came so out of God's hands; who by the Ancient Philosophers is said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, and to make all things in Number, Weight, and Measure.  
To which I answer, that the present ●ace of the Earth, with all its MOUNTAINS, and Hills, its Promontories, and Rocks, as rude and deformed as they appear, seems to me a very beautiful and pleasant Object, and with all that variety of Hills, and Valleys, and Inequalities sat more grateful to behold, than a perfectly levelly Country without any rising or protuberancy to terminate the Sight: As any one that hath but seen the Isle of Ely, or any the like Country, must needs acknowledge. Neither is it only more pleasant to behold, but more commodious for habitation, which is so plain, that I need not spend time to prove it.  
Secondly, A Land so distinguished into MOUNTAINS, Valleys, and Plains, is also most convenient for the Entertainment of the various sorts of Animals, which God hath Created, some whereof delight in Cold, some in Hot, some Moist and Watery, some in dry and upland Places, and some of them could neither find nor gather their proper food in different Regions. Some Beasts and Birds we find live upon the highest tops of the Alps, and that all the Winter too, while they are constantly covered with Snow, as the Ibex, and Rupicapra, or Chamois among Quadrupeds, and Lagopus among Birds.  
Thirdly, The MOUNTAINS are most proper for the putting forth of Plants; yielding the greatest variety, and the most Luxuriant sort of Vegetables, for the maintenance of the Animals proper to those places, and for Medicinal Uses; partly also for the Exercise and Delight of such ingenious Persons as are addicted to search out and collect those Rarities, to Contemplate and Consider their Forms and Natures, and to admire and Celebrate the Wisdom of their Creator.  
Fourthly, All manner of Metals, Minerals, and Fossils' if they could be generated in a level Earth, of which there is some question, yet should they be Dug or Mined for, the Delss must necessarily be so slown with water, (which to drive and rid away no Adits or Soughs could be made, and I much doubt whether Gins would suffice) that it would be extremely difficult and chargeable, if possible to work them at all. JOH. RAY's Miscell. Disc. of the Dissolute. of the World, pag. 165, & c.  
It is likely, if not certain, that all Valleys rise by atteration, that is, by Earth continually brought down from the tops of MOUNTAINS by Rains, and Snows, whence all MOUNTAINS are become lower than they were formerly, and the Valleys risen higher; so that in time all the MOUNTAINS (except the Rocky) will by great shoots of Rain be quite washed away, and the whole Earth levelled: Whereof the ingenious Mr. john Ray in his Observat. Topograph. p. 8. gives us a very pertinent Consirmation from the Steeple of Craich▪ in the Peak of Derb●shire, which in the Memory of some Old Men yet living, could not have been seen from a certain Hill lying between Hopton, and Werksworth, whereas now, not only the Steeple, but a great part of the Body of the Church may be seen thence; which without doubt comes to pass by the deterration or sinking of a Hill between the Church, and place of View. And I am told of just such another Example of a Hill between Sib●ertost and Hasleby in Northamptonshire, whence yet we may only infer, that the Parts of the Earth do ●hange their Situation, giving as much Increase (in proportion) at one place, as it takes away at another, without any Augmentation, or Diminution in the whole. PLOT of Stafford Chap. 3. Sect. 11, 12.   

Observations concerning VVLCANO's, or SUBTERRANEAN FIRES.  
THere are Subterraneous Cavities, which they call VOLCANO's, or Fiery Mountains; that belch out Flames, Smoke and Ashes, and sometimes great Stones and broken Rocks, and Lumps of Earth, or some Metallic mixture; and throw them to an incredible distance by the force of the Eruption. These argue great vacuities in the Bowels of the Earth, and Magazines of Combustible Matter treasured up in them. And as the Exhalations within these places must be copious, so they must lie in long Mines or Trains to do so great Execution, and to last so long. 'Tis scarce credible what is Reported concerning some Eruptions of VESUVIUS and AETNA. The Eruptions of VESUVIUS seem to be more frequent and less violent of late; the Flame and Smoke break out at the top of the Mountain, where they have eaten away the Ground, and made a great hollow, so as it looks at the top, when you stand upon the brims of it▪ like an Amphitheatre, or like a great Cauldron, about a Mile in Circumference, and the burning Furnace lies under it. The outside of the Mountain is all spread with Ashes, but the inside much more; for you wade up to the leg in Ashes to go down to the bottom of the Cavity, and 'tis extremely heavy and troublesome to get up again. The inside lies sloping, and one may safely go down i● it be not in a raging fit; but the middle part of it or Centre, which is a little raised like the bottom of a Platter, is not to be ventured upon, the Ground their lies false and hollow, there it always Smokes, and here the Funnel is supposed to be; yet there is no visible Hole or gaping any where when it doth not rage. Naples stands below in fear of this Fiery Mountain, which hath often covered its Streets and Palaces with its Ashes; and in sight of the Sea (which lies by the side of them both) and as it were in desiance to it, threatens it at one time or another, to burn that fair City. History tells us, that some Eruptions of VESUVIUS have carned Cinders and Ashes as far as Constantinople; This is a●●e●ted both by Greek and Latin Authors; particularly Ammianus Marcellinus saith, that they were so affrighted with them, that the Emperor le●t the City, and that there was a Day observed Yearly in Memorial of 〈◊〉▪  
AETNA is of greater Fame than VESUVIUS, and of greater Fury, all Antiquity speaks of it; not only the Greeks and Romans, but as far as History reacheth, either real or fabulous, there is something recorded of the Fires of AETNA The Figure of the Mountain is inconstant, by Reason of the great Consumptions and Ruins it is Subject to; The Fires and Aestuations of it are excellently described by Virgil, upon occasion of Aeneas his passing by those Coasts. 

— Horrificis juxta tonat AETNA ruinis;  
Interdumque at ram prorumpit ad aethera nubem,  
Turbine fumantem peiceo & candente favilla;  
Attollitque globas flammarum, & Sydera lambit;  
Interdum scopulos, avulsaque viscera Montis  
Erigit eructans, liquefactaque Saxa sub auras.  
Cum gemitu glomerat, fundoque exaestuat imo.   

Fama est Enceladi Semustum fulmine Corpus  
Vrgeri mole hâc, ingentemque insuper AETNAM  
Impositam, ruptis flammam expirare Caminis.  
Et fessum quoties mutet latus, intremere omnem  
Murmur TRINACRIAM & caelum subtexere fumo.   

— AETNA whose ruins make a thunder;  
Sometimes a Cloud of Smoke in pitchy Curls,  
Mingled with burning Ashes, forth it hurls.  
Or balls of flame, that scorch the Stars on high;  
Or it's own Bowels torn, throws in the Sky.   

In its deep Cells under the Earth, a Store  
Of Fire Materials, molten Stones, and Ore,  
It gathers, then Spews out, and gathers more.  
ENCELADUS when Thunderstruck by JOVE,  
Was buried here, and AETNA thrown above;   

And when to change his wearied Side, he turns,  
The ISLAND trembles, and the MOUNTAIN burns.   Not far from AETNA lies STROMBOLO, and other adjacent Islands, where there are also such Magazines of Fire; and throughout all Regions and Countries, in the West-Indies and in the East, in the Northern and Southern parts of the Earth, there are some of these VOLCANO's, which are sensible Evidences that the Earth is incompact and full of Caverns; besides, the roar and bellow that use to be heard before an Eruption of these VOLCANO's, argue some dreadful hollowness in the belly or under the Roots of the Mountain, where the Exhalations struggle b●fore they can break their Prison. THO. BVRNET's Theory of th● Earth, Pag. 117, etc.  
I will not enter upon a long Description of that which is so well known as Mount VESUVIO; it had roared so loud about a Month before I came to Naples, that at Naples they could hardly sleep in the Nights, and some old Houses were so shaken, by the Earthquake that was occasioned by this Convulsion of the Hill, that they ●●ll to the Ground: And the last Eruption, above Fifty Years ago, was so terrible, that there was no small fear in Naples, though it lies at the distance of Seven Miles from the Hill, yet the Storm was choked under Ground.  
When one sees the Mouth o● this Fire, and so great a pa●t of the Hill which is covered some Foot deep with Ashes and Stones of a Metallic Composition, that the Fire throws out, he cannot but stand amazed, and wonder what can be the Fuel of so lasting a Burning, that hath calcined so much matter, and spewed out such prodigious quantities. It is plain there are vast V●●ns of SULPHUR all along in t●●s Soil, and it seems in this Mountain they run along through some Mines and Rocks, and as their slow Consumption, produceth a perpetual Smoke, so when the Air within is so much ratified that it must open itself, it throws up those Masses of Mettle and Rock that shut it in; but how this Fire draws in Air to nourish its Flame, is not so easily apprehended; unless there is either a Conveyance of Air under Ground, by some undiscovered Vacuity; or a more insensible transmission of Air, through the Pores of the Earth. The heat of this Hill operates so much upon the Soil that lies upon it toward the Foot of it, that it produceth the richest Wine about Naples; and it also purifieth the Air so much, that the Village at the bottom is thought the best Air of the Country, so that many come from Naples thither for their Health. Ischia that is an Island not far from Naples, doth also sometimes spew out Fire. Dr. BVRNET's Lett. Pag. 174, 175.  
The Hill AETNA now called MONTGIBEL, is Ten Miles from the top to the bottom, and may be easily discerned by Sailors at an Hundred Miles distance: The lower parts thereof are very Fruitful, the middle being shaded with Woods, and the Top covered with Snow, a great part of the Year, notwithstanding the frequent Vomiting of Flames and Cinders. It was formerly observed, and to this Day the same Observation holds, That whenever any extraordinary Eruption happens, it certainly portends some Revolution. But these Eruptions of Fire are not now so ordinary as formerly; the matter which gave Fuel to it, being wasted by continual Burn: So that the Flames which issue from it are hardly visible but by Night, tho' the Smoke show itself the most part of the Day. And when it doth break out, which is commonly once in three or Four Years, it falleth in great flakes on the Vales adjoining, to the destruction of the Vintage, and great loss of the Country. But that, they say, is recompensed by the plenty of the following Years, the Ashes thereof so enriching the Soil, that both the Vines and Cornfields are much bettered by it.  
The Reason of these Fires is the Abundance of SULPHUR and BRIMSTONE, contained in the bosom of the Hill; which is blown by the Wind, driving in at the Chaps of the Earth, as by a pair of Bellows. Through these Chinks also there is continually more Fuel added to the Fire, the very Water adding to the force of it: As we see that Water cast on Coals in the Smith's Forge, doth make them burn more ardently. PET. HE●LIN's Cosmogr.  
johannes Alphonsus Borellus in his Historia and Meteorologia INCENDII AETNAEI, Ann● 1669, rejects the Opinion of those, that maintain the AETNEAN Fires to have been perpetual and never extinguished, asserting the frequent Cessation of them, and withal assigning the Cause of that Cessation, as well as that of their Renovation. Concerning which, and many other considerable Remarks and Reflections, too many to be here recited, we refer the Reader to the Book itself.  
Now, whether these Eruptions are caused by actual Subterraneous Fires, lighting upon Combustible Matter; Or by Fire struck out of falling and breaking Stones, whose Sparks meet with Nitro-Sulphureous or other inflammable Substance heaped together in the Bowels of the Earth, and by the Expansive violence of the Fire forced to take more room, and so bursting out with the impetuosity we see; may not be unworthy of a Philosopher's Speculation. PHILOS. TRANSACT. Numb. 48. Pag. 969.  
Naturalists affirm, that these VULCANO's or Fiery Mountains nourish SULPHUREOUS Matter in their Bowels which is easily inflamed, and issues out with more or less Vehemency, and more or less frequency, according as the Matter is more or less disposed; and the Subterranean Winds kindle and eject these Fires, and open the Mass of Earth, under which they are shut up. But the Opinion of certain Philosophers, who maintain, That mere Chance produces these extraordinary Events, appears to me very Ridiculous; affirming, that one Stone striking another, produceth a Spark whence happ●● 〈◊〉 great Inflammations: Nay, they proceed farther, and would persuade us, That a Lighted Lamp, left, by chance, by those who scarched into the Bowels of these Mountains, to discover the Secrets of Nature, might make these Flames; which lighting on a Combustible Matter, and meeting with nothing that is contrary to 'em to extinguish them, to cause these Surprising Effects. They also say, That Lightning striking fiercely on some one of the Coasts on these Mountains, may do the same thing; as the Stones striking one against another, or the Lamp left Lighted. See LETTERS writ by a TURKISH SPY at Paris, Vol. 1. Pag. 126, 127.  
That Learned Physician, and most Sagacious Inquirer into Nature, Dr. Martin Lyster, saith, That amongst Minerals, the Pyrities, both in Gross and in Vapour, is actually of its one accord fired. He instances the VULCANO's all the World over for a proof of it; for, saith he, we with great probability believe them to be Mountains made up in great part of Pyrites (the Breath whereof is SULPHUR Ex tota Substantia,) by the qualities of SULPHUR thence Sublimed, and the Application of the Loadstone to the Ejected Cinder. And he proceeds, telling us, That these VULCANO's were naturally kindled of themselves, at or near the Creation, in all probability, because there is but a certain known Number of them, which have all continued burning beyond the Memoirs of any History, few or none of them that he knows of, have ever totally decayed or been extinct, unless possibly by the Submersion of the whole, being absorbed in the Sea. Though they indeed, do burn more fiercely sometimes than at others, for other Reasons. So that it seems to me, saith the Doctor, as natural to have actual Fire in the Terrestrial World from the Creation, as to have Sea and Water.  
Again, saith the Doctor, if these VULCANO's did not kindle of themselves, what cause can we imagine to 〈◊〉 done it? I● the Sun; we 〈◊〉, Hecla placed in so extreme Cold● Climate was kindled, for aught I 〈◊〉 see by the Natural History of bo●●, as soon as AETNA, or FUEGOS, or the most Southerly. Not the Accidents happening from Man; for, i Man was (as we must believe) created Solitary and Topical, they were none of his kindling, because they seem to be fired before the World could be all over Peopled; besides, they were mostly the very Tops of vast high Mountains, and therefore the most unfit for the Habitation of Man. MART. LYSTER in the PHILOS. TRANSACT. 157. pag. 516.   

Observations concerning EARTH-QVAKES.  
EARTHQUAKES are too evident Demonstrations of the Hollowness of the Earth, being the dreadful Effects or Consequences of it; for if the Body of the Earth was sound and compact, there would be no such thing in Nature as an EARTHQUAKE. They are commonly accompanied with an heavy dead Sound, like a dull Thunder, which ariseth from the Vapours, that are striving in the Womb of Nature when her Throes are coming upon her. And that these Caverns where the Vapours lie are very large and capocious, we are taught sometimes by sad Experience; for whole Cities and Countries have been swallowed up into them, as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the Region of Pentapolis, and several Cities in Greece. and in Asia, and other parts. Whole Islands also have been thus absorbed in an EARTHQUAKE; the pillars and props they stood upon being broken, they have sunk and saln, in as an House blown up. I am also of Opinion, that those Islands that are made by divulsion from a Continent, as Sicily was broken off from Italy, and great Britain, as some think, from France, have been made the same way; that is, the Isthmus or Necks of Land that joined these Islands with their Continents before, have been hollow, and being either worn by the Water, or shaked by an EARTHQUAKE, have sunk down, and so made way for the Sea to overflow them, and of a Promontory to make an Island.  
For it is not at all likely, that the Neck of Land continued standing, and the Sea overflowed it, and so made an Island; for then all those Passages between such Islands, and their respective Continents, would be extremely shallow and unnavigable, which we do not find them to be. Nor is it any more wonder, if such a Neck of Land should fall, than that a Mountain should sink, or any other Tract of Land, and a Lake rise in its place, which hath often happened. Plato supposeth his Atlantis to have been greater than Asia and Africa together, and yet to have sunk all into the Sea: whether that be true or no, I do not think it impossible that some Arms of the Sea or Sinus' might have had such an Original as that: and I am very apt to think, that for some Years after the Deluge, till the Fragments were well settled and adjusted, great alterations would happen as to the Face of the Sea and the Land; many of the Fragments would change their posture, and many would sink into the Water that stood out before, the props failing that bore them up, or the Joints and Corners whereby they leaned upon one another; and thereupon a new Face of Things would arise, and a new Deluge for that part of the Earth. Such removes and interchanges, I believe, would often happen in the first Ages after the Flood; as we see in all other Ruins there happen lesser and Secondary Ruins after the first, till the parts be so well poised and settled, that without some violence they scarce change their posture any more.  
But to return to our EARTHQUAKES, and to give an instance or two of their Extent and Violence: Pliny mentions one in the Reign of Tiberius Caesar that struck down Twelve Cities of Asia in one Night. And Fournier gives us an Account of one in Peru, that reached Three Hundred Leagues along the Sea-Shore, and Seventy Leagues Inland; and levelled the Mountains all along as it went, threw down the Cities, turned the Rivers out of their Channels, and made an Universal havoc and Confusion; And all this, ●e saith, was done within the space of Seven or Eight Minutes. There must be dreadful Vaults and Mines under that Continent, that gave passage to the Vapours, and liberty to play for Nine Hundred Miles in length, and above Two Hundred in breadth. Asia also hath been very subject to these Desolations by EARTHQUAKES; and many parts in Europe, as Greece, Italy, and others. The Truth is, our Cities are built upon Ruins, and our Fields and Countries stand upon broken Arches and Vaults, and so does the greatest part of the outward Frame of the Earth, and therefore it is no wonder if it be often shaken; there being quantities of Exhalations within these Mines, or Cavernous passages, that are capable of rarifaction and inflammation; and upon such Occasions, requiring more room, they shake or break the Ground that covers them. THO. BVRNET's Theory of the Earth. Pag. 119, 120, 121.  
Many have written of the Causes of these dreadful Effects of Nature, of these Tremble and Shivering of the Earth, or rather Aguish shaking Fits, whereunto we find her Body is as subject as the Body of Men, or Lions, who are observed to have their Mont● Paroxisines.  
The Babylonian Philosophers think the Cause of these impetuous Motions happeneth by the force of some Planet meeting with the Sun in the Region of the Earth; Others hold it to be a Vapour a long time engendering in some Concavities of the Earth, and restrained from Sallying forth into the Air; Others affirm, that it is a Wind penned up in the Entrails of the Earth; Pliny says, that the Earth never quaketh, but when the Sea is very Calm, and the Air so still and clear, as the Birds can hardly bear themselves up, and that the Winds are then shut up in the Bowels of the Earth, their improper Station. He addeth further, that an EARTHQUAKE is nothing else but as Thunder in the Air, or an overture and Crevice in the Earth, or as Lightning breaking forth violently and making eruptions from the midst of the Clouds, the Wind enclosed therein, and struggling to come forth by force. The Stoics speak of divers Sorts of EARTHQUAKES that cause the gapings of the Earth, the swell of the Water, and bolling of the same; a horrid confused Sound commonly proceedeth and accompanieth this Quaking, sometimes like to the roaring of a Bull, sometimes to the lamentable Cry of some Humane Creature, or like the Clattering of Armour, according to the quality of the Matter which is enclosed, or according to the Form of the Cave, and Hole, or SPELUNCA, through which it passeth, which resounds in Vaulty and hollow places: It waxeth hot, in sharp and dry places and causeth defluxions in those that are moist and humid. Now amongst all EARTHQUAKES, the Agitation of the Waters is most dangerous, for Lightning is not so hurtful, nor the shaking of Buildings, or when the Earth is pushed up, or falleth down by an interchangeable Motion, because the one keepeth back the other. The safest Buildings are those upon Vaults, the Corners of Walls, and on Bridges leaning one against another; beside, Brick Buildings are less dangerous in such Accidents. Your skilful Navigators can foretell these EARTHQUAKES, at such time as they perceive the Waves to swell on a sudden without a Wind; and likewise those on Land may also foretell them, when they behold Birds in a maze to stay their flight; or when Waters in Wells are troubled more than ordinary, having a bad unsavoury smell: All these are Presages of such hideous Motions: Pherecydes the Syrian drawing Water out of a Well, foretold an EARTHQUAKE; and so did Anaximander Milesius; And the truest Signs are, either when the Wind blows not; Or when the Sea and Region of the Air are Calm, for an EARTHQUAKE never happeneth, when the Wind blows, or the Sea swells. JAMES howel's Hist. of Venice, Pag. 75, 76.  
If we may Credit Aristotle, he tells us that EARTHQUAKES are most frequent in Spring and Autumn; which remark, though slighted by G●ssendus, who generally affects to contradict that Philosopher, is notwithstanding confirmed by that great Naturalist Pliny, and several other Learned Men in all Ages; who do not deny but that EARTHQUAKES may, and have several times happened both in Summer and Winter, tho' not so commonly as in the other Two Seasons, in which there is generally a greater abundance of Moisture sucked up, more Vapours and a larger quantity of Nitrè, as Experience doth demonstrate, all which Ingredients may conspire to the producing of an EARTHQUAKE. For if we consider, how capable they are of a large Expansion, how forcible they are when ratified in Vessels closed, and placed over the Fire; in Aeolypiles, or vents, from which they break out, with forcible Blasts, or in Winds, which frequently proceed from the rarisaction of such Principles, we may suppose that those Vapours, which produce such great Commotions in the Air, may cause a considerable Disturbance in the Earth, when penned and locked up by Cold, or any such like Accident.  
It is generally observed, that some little time before an EARTHQUAKE, there is not only a great Calmness, but likewise a sudden Coldness and Chillness in the Air; which was observed just before the EARTHQUAKE that happened at Oxford, and the parts adjacent Sept. 17. 1683. And the like Observations of Cold preceding are in Dr. Wallis' Account of an EARTHQUAKE, Numb. 10. of the Philosophical Transactions, as also in that of Mr. boil, Numb. XI. concerning the same EARTHQUAKE, THOMAS PIGOT's Account of the EARTHQVAKE at Oxford, etc. Sept. 17. 1683. in the PHILOS. TRANSACT. Numb. 151. Pag. 312, 313.  
In EARTHQUAKES the tremulous Motion sometimes extends so very far, that, tho' it seems highly probable that the Shake that is given to one part of the Earth by the Firing and Explosion of Subterraneal Exhalations, (if that be the true and only cause of EARTHQUAKES) is not capable of reaching near so far as divers EARTHQUAKES have done, but that the Fire passes through some little Subterraneal Clefts, or Channels, or hidden Conveyances, from one great Cavity or Mine to another; yet 'tis not improbable, but that the vehemently tremulous Motion does oftentimes reach a very great way beyond the places where the Explosions were made. Since, tho' Seneca would confine the Extent of EARTHQUAKES to two Hundred Miles, yet Observations made in this and the last Century warrant us to allow them a far greater spread.  
The Learned josephus Acosta affirms, that in the Kingdom of Peru, in the Year 1586. an EARTHQUAKE reached along the Shoar of the Pacifick Sea 160 Leagues; And adds, that sometimes it has in those parts run on from South to North 300 Leagues. And in the beginning of this our Age (Anno Dom. 1601) good Writers relate a much larger EARTHQUAKE to have happened, since it reached from Asia to that Sea that washes the French Shores, and, besides some Asiatic Regions, shock Hungary, Germany, Italy and France, and consequently a great part of Europe. And if that part of the Narrative be certain, which relates, that this lasted not much above a quarter of an Hour, it will be the more likely, that this EARTHQUAKE shook great Tracts of Land beyond those places, to which the fired Matter, passing from one Cavity to another, could reach in so short a time: As you will the more easily guests, if you try, as I have done, that in Trains of Gunpowder itself, the Fire do●s not run on near so swiftly as one imagines. ROB. BOIL 〈◊〉 the great Effects of even LANGVID MOTION, Pag. 49, 50, 51.  
where they ●age with the greatest Violence.  
HURRICANES are no strangers to the Moluccas, and Philippines, and we have most incredible Relations of the Storms in the way to japan, which have carried Ships a considerable distance from the Sea, up the D●y-Land: Some have been miserably wracks, and buried in the Waves, others split in a Thousand pieces against the Rocks, that scarce one Ship in five escapes these Disasters in the Tempestuous Months about Autumn, or at the Change of the Monsoons. From thence we may collect this Considerable Remark, That they never happen but on the Eastern Shores, where they are Fatal to the Chinese and Caribbee-Seas, and so as far as the River of Plate; likewise to that part of Afric from the Cape to St Laurence, and the Adjacent Isles: When they are altogether unknown to the African Ocean, from the Canaries to Cape Bon Esperance, nor are they ever heard of at New-Spain, or the Coasts of Peru, nor towards any other Western parts of America, because there the Winds, which blow off from Land, make no Opposition against the General Brise, but comply with the constant Motion of the Air between the Tropiques, from East to West▪ For the shifting of the Trade-Wind from the Easterly Points, is usually the first Onset of an approaching HURRICANE.  
Yet, however these Suspicions of Mine be received, I think it cannot be rationally disputed, but that those diresul Tempests have their first Rise from the Western Continent: For we seldom meet them very remote from Land, and the Experienced Masters of Ships are never jealous of HURRICANES in the Spacious Ocean; Or, i● they perceive them coming, immediately make out to Sea, where their Fury is much less, than near the Shoa●s.  
HURRICANES are most to be dreaded about the end of Summer, in the Months of july and August: For both the Winds and Seas imitate the Motions of the Sun, and being dilated by the Celestial Heat, annually revert from North to South; and from South to North again; So that the Sun hastening from one Tropic to another, causes the like sudden Conversions in the 〈◊〉 and Winds; and being the mo●● Universal Efficient, must needs ●● principally concerned in all Vic●●●●udes of the Sublunary World.  
HURRICANES are usually preceded by an extraordinary Tranquillity of the Heavens and Seas: Possibly. some Counter-Winds may for a short space balance one another, and bring the Air to an equal poise. So that ●●ose who h●ppen to be in the Centre of the Whirlwind are at first sensible of no disturbance; as we see in Eddys or Whirl-Peo's of Water, that, while the Circumference is violently agitated, in the middle it continues for some time quiet and calm. R. BOHVN's Disc. of the ORIGINE and PROPERTIES of WIND, Pag▪ 255, 256, etc.  
This following Account of the Nature of HURRICANES, is given us by an Ingenious Frenchman, in his History of the Caribbe-Islands; quoted by the aforesaid Mr. Bohun, Pag. 280, 281, etc.  
HURRICANES are terrible and violent Tempests, which may be termed the true Images of the last Conssag●ation of the World: Formerly they happened but once in Five or Seven Years; but they are now become more frequent, since the Antilles were inhabited, for there was One in 51, another in 52, Two in 53, and Two in 50: (Nay, in the Islands of Gardaloupe▪ lying about the 16 degree of N. Latitude, there happened no less than three HURRICANES in one Year.) The Manner of them is, as followeth.  
Ordinarily the Sea becomes Calm on a sudden, and smooth as Glass: Then presently a●ter, the Air is Darkened, and filled with thick and gloomy Clouds; after which, it's all (as it were) on Fire, and opens on every side with dreadful Lightnings, that last a considerable time: After which follow wonderful Claps of Thunder, that seem as i● the Heaven was re●t asunder.  
The Earth trembles in many places, and the Wind blows with so great Imperuosity, that it Roo●s up the tallest and greatest Trees which grow in the Woods; beats down almost all the Houses, and tears up the Vegetables; destroying every thing that grows upon the Earth; and very often compels Men, whilst this dreadful Tempest lasts, to catch hold of the Trunks of Trees, to secure themselves from being carried away by the Winds; some lie in the Caves of the Rocks, or retire into the Huts of the Negroes and Caribbians, which are built exceeding low on purpose to elude the Shocks of these Tempests.  
But that which is most dangerous of all, and which causes the greatest Mischief, is, that in Four and Twenty Hours, and sometimes in less space, it makes the whole Circle of the Compass; leaving neither Road nor Haven secure from its raging force; so that all the Ships that are at that time on the Coast, do perish most Miserably.  
At the Island of St. Christopher's, several Ships in the Harbour, being laden with Tobacco, were all cast away by an HURRICAN; and afterwards the Tobacco poisoned most of the Fish on their Coasts.  
When these Storms are over, a Man may behold the saddest Spectacles that can be imagined. There may be seen Pieces of Mountains shaken by the Earthquakes, and Forests overturned; Houses beaten down by the Violence of the Winds; abundance of poor Families undone by the loss of their Goods, and the Merchandise in their Cottages; of which they can save but very little. There one may see the poor Seamen drowned and rolling in the Waves, with many brave Ships broken in pieces, and battered against the Rocks. 'Tis a thing so Woeful and Deplerable, that should this Disorder happen often, I know not who could have the Heart or Confidence to go to the Indies.  
A Letter from a Sea-Captain, to Mr. R. BOHUN.  
SIR.  
IN Answer to your Request, concerning the HURRICANE, I can say little of its Effects more, than what concerns our particular damage, and terror. It happened upon the 18 th' of August last (1670) Sixteen Hours after the New-Moon, in the 14 th' Degree of North Latitude, about Ninety Leagues from Barbadoes; It succeeded a Storm of 48 Hours continuance at North-East; an unusual way of its appearing, for it commonly follows a Calm: Its presage being a shifting of the Wind about the Compass, with the Appearance of a troubled Sky, the only advantage we have to prepare for its reception. The Fury of it beg●n about 10 at Night, and continued till 12 the next Day. I''s observed that the HURRICANES of the New-Moon begin at Night, and those at the Full in the Day; as was noted two Fears since, when the Lord Willoughby perished with Eight Ships, and near a Thousand Persons.  
During its 14 Hours Fury with us, it shifted 14 Points, from the N. E. to the S. S. West, keeping a Method of Changing One P●int an Hour; and then shifted backward, and in its retreat still abated, until it returned to the Original Point, where it wholly ceased.  
In the height of it, we had some H●●l, the Stones whereof were very great, which seemed to be thrown upon us for the space of the twentieth part of a Minute, and then an intermission of Five or Six Minutes, before any more came. The Sea in the Night seemed as a real Fire, and I believe we might have distinctly perceived any Object at a great distance: In the day time we seemed rather to S●il in the Air than Water, the Wind forcing the Sea so high that we could scarce make a distinction of either Element.  
The Terror of it was such, that I thought it the Emblem of Hell, and the last Dissolution of all things; especially the first two Hours, which were attended with so much Thunder, and Lightning, so astonishing, as if we had been wrapped up into the Clouds, or the whole Air set on Fire. The strength of the Wind was so great, that it blew a Boat of 18 Foot long (fastened to four Ring-●olts, and each bolt through a Ring of the Ship) clear off the Deck: I● blew away a piece of Timber of great Substance and Weight, called the Cross-Piece of the Bits, to which we fasten our Cables: It tore off the Sails from the Yards, though fast furled; the Yards from the Masts, and the upper Masts from the lower: It blew away four Men of F●ve, who were upon the Fore-Yard, three of which, by a Strange Providence, were thrown in again upon the Deck by the Sea, and saved. The last remain of its Fury was a Weighty Grinding Stone, which it left fastened between two Timber Heads, but it blew away the Trough from under it▪ I had several Accounts from Particular Friends how terrible it was in other places, but to me it seemed beyond all Expression.  
These HURRICANES are most frequent between the AeQUINOCTIAL, and the Tropic of CANCER: They more rarely happen between the LINE and the Tropic of CAPRICORN But that which to me is the greatest Wonder, is, that they should be so terrible among the Caribbe-Islands, that, in some of them, they have neither l●ft House, Tree, nor Plant in the Ground, beginning at St. JOHN De Porto Rico, and so running Eastward: but the ISLANDS of HISPANIOLA, CUBA; and JAMAICA are never troubled with them, though within few Leagues of the Rest.  
There are some Old INDIANS that have given notice of them three or four Days before their Coming: By what R●les, I was never curious to understand; It being enough for us to study how to defend ourselves and Ships from them, rather than by any nice Inquiries to s●arch into their Causes: Only thus much I observed, that they have an influence upon the SEA, as well as the MOON, both upon them and it; for I found by Observation of the SUN and STARS, that there was a Current tending so violently Northward, that in 24 Hours it would force us as many Leagues from our Easterly Course; which did so confound us, having neither Card nor Compass left to Steer by (which, with several other Goods, were swept away in a Breach which the SEA made into our Ship) that I think it was as great a difficulty for me to find out BARBADOS (this place being nearest for our relief) as COLUMBUS, who first discovered those Countries▪ Sir, I have been as modest as I could in giving you this Relation, because I know many who are acquainted with the violence of these Tempests, will be incredulous; But I should be sorry, that all who will not believe this Account, should have the same Confirmation which I had▪ If there be any thing in it worth your notice, it may engage me hereafter to recollect some more Particulars; In all things I shall endeavour to assure you that I am, etc.  
Were it not sufficient, that a Relation much of this Nature was presented to his Majesty; and that the Ship, after it returned, lay at Anchor a long time in the River of Thames; not without Signal Marks of the HURRICANE, I might have been scrupulous enough, to have desired the Subscriptions of several others, who could attest the Truth of this Narrative. I should only wish that some of those Reflections, which the Ingenious Captain is pleased to make upon this Occasion, were enquired into, by those who live in any of the Caribbe-Islands: Whether the HURRICANES of the NEW-MOON begin constantly by Night, and those at the Full in the Day? Which would be remarkable, tho' I never remember to have met with the like Observation in any other Description: However, w● can by no means exclude the Operations of this Influential Planet; which has a very great Dominion over both the Winds and Tides; whether from its Pressure, or by what means soever it produces these Effects: Some have thought that the MOON has an Atmosphere of its own, and sends out Effluvium's to the Neighbouring World; and therefore acts more powerfully in the Perigaeum, when it approaches nearest the Earth.  
That wonderful Light which appeared during this HURRICANE, might be from the Collision of the Lucid Salts, with which the Sea-Water is so deeply impregnated: Light happily being nothing else but the Motion of some Subtle Matter.—  
Not only the Winds, but the Currents are observed to change, and run round in Eddys, before the beginning of the Tempest.— It's likewise esteemed a sure Prognostique, that the Birds (led by an instinct of Nature) come down before hand in Flocks from the Mountains, to secure themselves in the Valleys against the injury of the Wether.  
I believe, there might be excellent use made of the Barometer for predicting of HURRICANES, and other Tempests, especially at Sea; since I am credibly informed, that a Person of Quality, who lives by the Seaside, (though happily there may not be so considerable Alterations in the gravity of the Atmosphere far off at Land) can by the Barometer almost infallibly foretell any great Tempest for several Hours before it gins.  
I find no mention of Salt Rains in any of the English Narratives; but the most Inquisitive of the French and Dutch have reckoned it as a very infallible Presage, that the Rain, which falls a little before, is bitter, and Salt as the Sea-Water: Which happily may argue a Collection of some Saline and Sulphureous Spirits, in the Regions of the Air, that encountering each other, may by their violent Displosion be principally concerned in the Production of HURRICANES. R. BOHUN, Ibid.  
Dr. Stubbes says, that he had enquired of some, that had been in HURRICANES, if it were so Cold then, as Vincent le Blanc relates it? They said, they had not found it to be so Cold; but yet in Comparison of other times, it was much colder then. He also enquired of the Nature of those Tempests, whether the Wind varied all the Points of the COMPASS as 'tis said? They answered, No; but it began always with a Northwind, and when it came EAST, it ceased: But betwixt the NORTH and EAST-Point it varied so fast, and with such a violent Gust always, that it was impossible for any Ship in the Water to answer the Veering of the Wind. PHILOS. TRANSACT. Numb. 36. Pag. 706.   

Observations concerning the TORNADOES.  
THe TORNADOES are variable Winds, called in the Portugal Language TRAVADOES, but most significantly by the Greeks ECNAPHIAS' from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉▪ Nubes; for their surest Prognostique is a Thick Cloud, suddenly rising above the Horizon, which is easily visible in those Countries, where the Air is generally defecate and serene. The Cloud for its smallness at first was called Olho de Boy, the Bull's- Eye; yet this, from so insensible a beginning, diffuses itself by degrees, and at last, covering the whole Face of the Heavens with a Canopy of Darkness, causes horrible Storms, Thunder and Lightning, swells the raging Seas up to the Clouds, which pour them down in Deluges of Rain, falling rather in huge Cascades, and by Buckets-full, than Drops; sometimes together with Hailstones of prodigious bulk: So variable and unsteady are the TORNADO-Winds, so little obliged to any certain Law, that they commonly shift all the Points of the Compass in the space of an hour, blowing in such sudden and impetuous Gusts, that a Ship which was ready to overset on one side, is no less dangerous assaulted on the other; sometimes they shift without intermission, and otherwhile they blow in Starts, so that you shall have a perfect Calm between every puff: Let a Fleet of Ships sail as near as they can without falling foul on each other, and they shall have several and contrary Winds: You shall be alarmed with many of them in the same Day, most towards the Coasts of afric, for half an hour or three quarters at a time: And were they equally lasting, as impetuous, few would be invited thither by the Guiny Gold, or venture to cross the Line for the richest Merchandise of the East.  
Our Seamen commonly meet with the TORNADOES from the 10 th' sometimes the 11 th' and 12 th' Degree of Northern Latitude, likewise in the Tropic of Capricorn near the Promontory of Cape Bon ●sperance; where the Fatal Cloud rises as only a small Spot in the Air, and then displays itself, spreading like a Carpet o'er the top of the Mountain; which the Seamen espying, though in the Calmest Wether, immediately furl their Sails, and provide for the ensuing Storm, that not long after descends 〈◊〉 Lightning and Winds, being the more terrible because it gins with the utmost Fury at first, and the Changes of the Points sudden, as the twinkling of an Eye. You shall have a treacherous Calm, a dreadful Tempest, and in an hours space the Sky clear again, and the Sea Smooth as Glass: The Portuguese in their Discoveries of the Oriental Indies, lost Nine Ships out of Twelve, which was overset by the Prodigious Impetuosity of these sudden Gusts. But we seldom hear of such Disasters now adays, our Seamen being more expert to govern themselves, in these Dangerous Attacks; and always jealous of Surprise in the African Seas: For the nearer you are to the Coasts of afric (as was observed by an Inquisitive Traveller of late, in the Philosophical Transactio●s, Numb. 50. Pag. 1004.) so much more dreadful is the Thunder and Rain; but the further Westward you go, the Thunder and Rain will be less, and the Winds not so uncertain; so that, if you go as far West, as the Meridian of the East side of Brasile, there is little Thunder, neither doth the Wind come down in such sudden Puffs and Flaws; but between the 4 and 8 Degree, it is most inclined to Calms and thick Fogs, and the Rains come not in such dangerous Showers.  
I have not only consulted the most Experienced of our Seamen, from whom I had information in these Particulars; but I find that many others, both English and Foreigners, have in their Travels given u● Descriptions of the TORNADOES, which would be Superfluous to recite; I shall only add a Relation out of Sir Thomas Roe (in his East-India Vo●age) to confirm the precedent Discourses.  
These TORNADO Blasts were so variable, that sometimes within the space of an hour, all the several Winds of the Compass will blow; so that ●f there be many Ships in Company, you shall have them Sail so many several ways, and every one of them seem to go directly before the Wind. These strange Gusts came with much Thunder and Lightning, and extreme Rain, so noisome, that it made their clothes who stirred much in it, to stink upon their Backs; and the Water of these Hot, and Unwholesome Showers would presently bring forth Worms, and other offensive Animals. The TORNADOES met with us, when we were about Twelve Degrees of N. Latitude, and kept us Company, till Two Degrees Southward of the Aequinoctial.  
This ECNEPHIAS' not only visits the Coasts of Malaguta and Guiny, producing vehement Gusts of Wind and Rain, but reaches as far as Terra de Natal, lying to the East-North-East towards St. Laurence; and at Cape Gardafui near the entrance of the Arabian Gulf, it infests those parts in May, as was collected by Varenius from the Dutch journals: In the Sea towards the Kingdom of Loango, and that part of the Aethiopique Ocean, the TORNADOES are most frequent in january, February, and March. On the Shores of Guiny, when no other Winds blow in those Climates, and within Five, Six, or Seven Degrees of the Aequinoctial, they reign in April, May, and june, which is the time of their Rains; and in other parts of afric, they observe other Months; For they have not only Etesian Winds, but Anniversary Tempests in some Seas. Yet, to be fuller satisfied in the History of this Ecnephias, I addressed myself to Mr. George Cock of Greenwich (a Gentleman of a Generous and Communicative Temper) who being interested in the Royal Company, is well versed in all Occurrences of the African Trade, and at my request procured me this following Account of the TORNADOES on the Coast of Guiny, from a Person long employed in their Service.  
The place of the TORNADOES rising is, E. N.E to the N.N.E. they frequently give 2 or 3 hours' notice of then coming, by a thick black Cloud gathered in the Horizon, with much Thunder and Lightning. Sometimes the Wind comes first, very forceable, and then a great quantity of Rain; otherwhile, the Rain gins, and is followed by a Tempestuous Wind. At this Season the Blacks count it good Planting Corn, or Roots.  
They make the Air very clear; ●o that a Man may see 5 times further than before: I myself lying at Anchor in the River, have seen the Isle of Princes, at least Six Leagues up; when before, I could not see the Isle of Fernando do Po●.  
During the TORNADOES its exceeding Cold, insomuch that the Natives, and other Inhabitants are very sensible of it for the time. Their Continuance is about an Hour, or two Hours at most.  
I lately made inquiries of several Ships, that, during the Winter Months, never met with any TORNADOES, all the way from Brasile; They being most violent, when the Sun is near their Zenith and in the time of their Rains, when the Air is Moist, and affords greater Quantities of Flatulent Vapours. R. BOHUN of the Origine and Properties of Wind, Pag. 235. etc.   

Observations concerning ISLANDS.  
WE must in the first place distinguish between Original Islands and Factitious Islands; Those I call Factitious, that are not of the same Date and Antiquity with the Sea, but have been made some at one time, some at another, by accidental Causes, as the Aggestion of Sands and Sandbeds, or the Sea leaving the tops of some shallow places that lie high, and yet flowing about the lower Skirts of them; These make sandy and plain ISLANDS, that have no high Land in them, and are but mock-ISLANDS in Effect. Others are made by divulsion from some Continent, when an Isthmus or the Neck of a Promontory running into the Sea, sinks or falls in, by an Earthquake or otherwise, and the Sea entering in at the gap passeth through, and makes that Promontory or Country become an ISLAND. Thus the ISLAND Sicily is supposed to have been made, and all Africa might be an ISLAND, if the Isthmus between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea should sink down. And these ISLANDS may have Rocks and Mountains in them, if the Land had so before. Lastly, there are ISLANDS that have been said to rise from the bottom of the Sea; History mentions such in both the Archipelagos, Aegean and Indian; and this seems to argue that there are great Fragments or Tracts of Earth that he lose at the bottom of the Sea, or that are not incorporated with the Ground.  
But besides these ISLANDS and the several Sorts of them, there are others which I call Original: because they could not be produced in any of the forementioned ways, but are of the same Origin and Antiquity with the Channel of the Sea; and such are the generality of our ISLANDS; They were not made of heaps of Sands, nor torn from any Continent, but are as Ancient as the Continents themselves, Namely, ever since the Deluge, the common Parent of them both. Nor is there any difficulty to understand how ISLANDS were made at the Dissolution of the Earth, any more than how CONTINENTS were made; for ISLANDS are but lesser CONTINENTS, or CONTINENTS greater ISLANDS; and according as CONTINENTS were made of greater Masses of Earth or greater Fragments standing above the Water, so ISLANDS were made of less, but so big always, and in such a posture, as to bear their tops above the Water. Yet though they agree thus far, there is a particular difference to be taken notice of as to their Origin; ●or the CONTINENTS were made of those three or four primary Masses into which the falling Orb of the Earth was divided, but the ISLANDS were made of the Fractures of these, and broken off by the fall from the Skirts and Extremities of the CONTINENTS; we noted before, that when those great Masses and primary Fragments came to dash upon the Abyss in their fall, the sudden stop of the Motion, and the weighty Bulk of the descending Fragment broke off all the Edges and Extremities of it, which Edges and Extremities broken off made the ISLANDS; And accordingly we see that they generally lie scattered along the sides of the Continents, and are but Splinters, as it were, of those greater Bodies. 'Tis true, besides these, there were an infinite Number of other pieces broke off that do not appear, some making Rocks under Water, some shallows and Banks in the Sea; but the greatest of them when they fell either one upon another, or in such a posture as to prop up one another, their Heads and higher parts would stand out of the Water and make ISLANDS.  
Thus I conceive the ISLANDS of the Sea were at first produced; we cannot wonder therefore that they should be so numerous, or fa● more numerous than the Continents; These are the Parents, and those are the Children; Nor can we wonder to see along the 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 placed. So the American ISLANDS lie scattered upon the Coast of that Continent; the Maldivian and Philippine upon the East-Indian Shoar, and the Hesperides upon the A●rick; and there seldom happen to be any towards the middle of the Ocean, though▪ by an Accident, that also might come to pass. BVRNET's Theory of the Earth, pag. 137, 138, 139.  
Athanasius Kircher, amongst many considerable Remarks in his China Illustrata, tells us, that in China there were several Isles, to the Number of 99 all turned into one, under the same Extent of space they had, when they were divided by Water.  
As concerning the Situation of ISLANDS, whether Comodious or not, this, saith Peter He●lin, is my judgement. I find in Machiavelli, that for a City whose People covet no Empire but their own Towns, a Barren place is better than a Fruitful; because in such Seats they are compelled to Work and Labour, whereby they are freed from Idleness, and by Consequence from Luxury: But for a City whose Inhabitants desire to enlarge their Confines, a fertile place was rather to be chosen than a Barren, as being more able to nourish Multitudes of People. The like Pet. Heylin says of ISLANDS. If a Prince desire rather to keep than augment his Dominions, no place fit for his Abode than an ISLAND; as being by itself and Nature sufficiently desensible. But if a King be minded to add continually to his Empire, an ISLAND is no fit Seat for him; because, partly by the uncertainty of Winds and Seas, partly by the length and tediousness of the ways, he is not so well able to supply and keep such Forces as he hath on the Continent. An Example hereof is England, which hath even to admiration repelled the most puissant Monarch of Europe; but for the Causes above mentioned, cannot show any of her Conquests on the firm Land, though she hath attempted and achieved as many glorious Exploits, as any Country in the World. PET. HEYL. Cosmogr.  
The Ingenious Dr. Sprat, now Bishop of Rochester, observes, that the chief Design of the Ancient English was the glory of spreading their Victories on the Continent: But this, says he, was a Magnanimous mistake: For by their very Conquests, if they had maintained them, this ISLAND had been ruined, and had only become a Province to a greater Empire. But now it is rightly understood, that the English Greatness will never be supported or increased in this Age, by any other Wars but those at Sea. SPRAT's Hist. of the R. S. Pag. 404.  
ISLANDERS are for the most part longer lived, than those that dwell in Continents: For they live not so long in Russia, as in the Orcadeses; nor so long in Africa, though under the same Parallel, as in the Canaries, and Terceras; And the japonians are longer lived, than the Chinese; though the Chineses are mad upon long life. And this is no wonder; seeing the Air of the Sea doth heat and cherish in cooler Regions, and cool in hotter. BACON's Hist. of Life and Death.   

Of the Origine of FOUNTAINS.  
THat there is a Mass of Waters in the Body of the Earth, is evident from the Origine of Fountains; for the Opinion of Aristotle imputing them to the Condensation of Air in the Caverns of the Earth, and that of other Philosophers ascribing them to the fall of Rain-Water, received into such Cisterns in the Earth which are capable of receiving it, are both equally unsatisfactory, unless we suppose a Mass of Waters in the Bowels of the Earth, which may be as the Common-Stock to supply those Fountains with. For it is very hard conceiving how mere Air should be so far Condensed, as to cause not only such a Number of Fountains, but so great a quantity of Water as runs into the Sea by those Rivers which come from them, (as the River Volga is supposed to empty so much Water in a Years time into the Caspian Sea, as might suffice to cover the whole Earth,) by which likewise it is most evident, that there must be some Subterranean Passages in the Sea, or else of necessity, by that abundance of Water which continually runs into it from the Rivers, it would overflow and drown the World. And from this Multitude of Waters which comes from Fountains, it is likewise evident, that the Origine of ●ountains cannot be merely 〈…〉 Water which 〈…〉, which would 〈…〉 maintain so full 〈…〉 many 〈…〉 that 〈…〉, that Rain-Water doth never moisten the Earth above Ten Foot deep, for of far greater profundity many Fountains are. And besides the Rain-Water runs most upon the Surface of the Earth, and so doth rather swell the Rivers, which thereby run with greater force in their Passage to the Ocean, and doth not lodge itself presently in the Earth, especially if it descends in a greater Quantity, which alone is able to fill such Cisterns supposed to be in the Earth, especially in Mountains, which may keep a Stream continually running. Although therefore we may acknowledge that the fall of Rain may much conduce to the Overflowing and Continuance of Fountains, as is evident by the greater force of Springs af●er continued Rains, and by the d●c●y of many of them in hot and dry Wether, (which yet I had rather impute to the Suns exhaling by his continued heat those moist Legs, because it is equally dispersed into all the parts from the Centre of it; so in the Body of the Earth, it is as natural for the Water to ascend into the Tops of Mountains, as it is to fall down into the Centre of the Earth. And that it is no more wonder to see Springs issue out of Mountains, than it is to see a Man Bleed in the Veins of his Forehead when he is let Blood there. So in all places of the Earth the parts of it are not disposed for Apertion; for some of them are so hard and compact, that there seems to be no passage through them (which is the most probable Reason, why there is no Rain neither in those places, because there is no such Exsudation of those moist Vapours through the Surface of the Earth, which may yield matter for Rain, as it is in many of the Sandy places of Africa, but usually Mountainous Countries have more large, and as it were Temple-Veins, through whi●h the moist Vapours have a free and open passage, and thence there are not only more frequent Springs there, but Clouds and Rains too.) Now if this Account of the Origine of Springs in the Earth be as rational as it is ingenious and handsome, (and there is not much can be said against it, but only that then all Fountains should be Salt, as the Water is from whence they come) than we easily understand how the Earth might be overflowed in the Universal Deluge; for then the Fountains of the Deep were broken up, or there was an Universal opening of the Veins of the Earth, whereby all the Water contained in them would presently run upon the Surface of the Earth, and must needs, according to its proportion, advance itself to a considerable height. But because the salving the difference of the Water in Springs from what it is in the Sea is so considerable a Phaenomenon in our present case, I therefore rather take this following as the most rational Account of the Origine of Fountains, viz. That there are great Cavities in the Earth, which are capable of receiving a considerable Quantity of Water; which continually runs into them from the Sea (which as it continually receives fresh Supplies from the Rivers which empty themselves into it, so it dispatcheth away a like quantity thorough those Spongy parts of the Earth under the Ocean. which are most apt to suck in and convey away the Surplusage of Water) so that by this means the Sea never swells by the Water conveyed into it by the Rivers, there being as continual a Circulation in the Body of the Earth, of the Water which passeth out of the Ocean into the Subterraneous Caverns, and from thence to the Mountains, and thence into the Sea again; as there is a Circulation of Blood in Man's Body from the Heart, by the Arteries into the Exterior Parts, and returning back again by the Veins into the Heart. According to which we may imagine such a place in the Heart of the Earth, like Plato's Barathrum, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. As Plato in his Phaedrus describes it out of Homer, a long and deep Subterraneous Cavity. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Into which Cavity all the Rivers at last flow, and from which they again disperse themselves abroad. Now this Cavity of the Earth thus filled with Water, supplies the place of the Heart in the Body o● the Earth, from which all those several Aqueducts which are in the Earth have their continual supply▪ But that which makes those passages of Water which we call Springs and Fountains properly, I suppose▪ is thus generated; from those Cavities filled with Water in the Earth, by Reason of the hot Steams which are in the Body of the Earth, there are continually rising some Vapours or little Particles of Water, which are disjoined from each other by the Heat, by Reason of which they attain a greater Celerity of Motion, and so pass through the inner Pores of the Earth, till they come near the Superficies of it. Which when they have approached to, they are beat back again by the Cold, which environs the Surface of the Earth, or at least are so arrested by the Cold, and condensed by it, that they lose the form of Vapours, and become perfect Water again. Which Water being now more gross, than while it was a mere Vapour, cannot descend again through the same Pores through which it ascended before, because these are not now capable of receiving it: And therefore it seeks out some wider passages near the Surface of the Earth, by which means it moves in an Obliqne manner, and is ready to embrace any other Vapours which are arrested in the same manner; now when these are grown to a Considerable Body in the Surface of a Mountain, or a Plain, and find a Vent fit for them, there appears a proper FOUNTAIN, whose Streams are still maintained by the same Condensation of Vapours, which when they are once come abroad, are in continual Motion, whereby Rivers are made, which are still finding a passage through the declivity of the Surface of the Earth, whereby they may return to the Ocean again. Now, according to this Account, that grand Phaenomenon of the freshness of Fountain-Water, when the Water of the Sea is Salt, whence it Originally comes, is sufficiently resolved. For mere Transcolation may by degrees take away that which the Chemists call the Fixed Salt; and for the Volatile Salt of it (which being a more Spirituous thing, is not removable by Distillation, and so neither can it be by Transcolation) yet such an Evaporation as that mentioned, may serve to do it, because it is evident that Fresh Water will fall from the Clouds, which hath risen from those Vapours which have come out of the Sea; and besides, these Vapours or small Particles of Water in their passage throw the Earth (especially when they come near the Surface of it) do Incorporate with other Sweet Vapours, as those which come from Rain and others, by which means they insensibly lose their former Acidity and Sharpness: But those FOUNTAINS which do retain their former Saltness, as there are many such in the World, may very probably be supposed not to have come from these Vapours condensed, but to be a kind of a breaking of a Vein, in which the Salt-Water was conveyed up and down the Body of the Earth. STILLINGFLEET's Orig. Sacr. lib. 3. Cap. 4. Sect. 6.  
The Opinion of Mr. Edmund Halley, in the Philos. Transact. Numb. 192. That Springs and Rive●s own their Original to Vapours condensed on the sides of Mountains, rather than unto Rains, I acknowledge to be very Ingenious, grounded upon good Observations, and worthy of its Author; and I will not deny it to be in part true in those hot Countries in the Torid Zone, and near it; where, by reason of the great heats, the Vapours are more copiously exhaled out of the Earth, and its likely carried up high in the form of Vapours: But in Europe, and the more Temperate Countries, I believe the Vapours condensed in the manner as Mr. Halley describes, have but little Interest in the producing of their Springs. JOHN RAY's Miscell. Disc. of the Dissolute. of the World, Pag. 82. and 85.   

Dr. Tankred Robinson's Letter to Mr. John Ray.  
YOU may peradventure meet with some opposition against your Hypothesis of FOUNTAINS, tho' indeed I am more and more confirmed in your Opinion of them, and the use of the Mountains. Father TECHART in his second Voyage to Siam, says, when he went up to the top of the Table Mountain at the Cape of Good Hope, the Rocks and Shrubs were perpetually dropping and feeding the Springs and Rills below, there being generally Clouds hanging on the sides near the top.  
The same Observation hath been frequently made by our English Merchants in the Madera and Canary Islands, especially in their journeys up to the Pike of Teneriff, in which, at such and such heights, they were always wet to the Skin, by the droppings of the great Stones, yet no Rain over head; The same I have felt in passing over some of the Alps. The Trees, which in the Islands of Ferro and St. Thomas, are said to furnish the Inhabitants with most of their Water, stand on the sides of Vast Mountains: Vossius in his Notes on Pomponius Mela, affirms them to be Arborescent F●rula's; I believe there is something in the many Relations of Traveller's and Voyagers concerning these Trees; but then I fancy they are all mistaken, when they say, the Water issues out of the Trees: The Vapours, s●●pt by the Mountains condense, and Distil down by the Boughs. There being no Mountains in Egypt, may be one reason, why there is little or no Rain in th●t Country, and Consequently no fresh Springs; therefore in their Caravans they carry all their Water with them in great Borracio's. This may be the cause that the Vast Ridge and Chain of Mountains in Peru, are continually watered, when the great Plains in that Country are all dried up and parched. This Hypothesis concerning the ORIGINAL of SPRING'S, from Vapours, may hold better in those Hot Regions within and near the TROPICS (where the Exhalations from the Sea are most plentiful, most rarified, and Rain scarce) than in the Temperate and Frigid ones (where it Rains and Snows generally on the Tops of the Mountains) yet even in our EUROPEAN Climates I have often observed the Firs, Pines, and other Vegetables near the Summets of the ALPS and APENNINESES, to drop and run with Water, when it did not Rain above; some Trees more than others, according to the density and smoothness of their Leaves and Superficies, whereby they stop and condense the Vapours more or less. The Beams of the Sun having little force on the high Parts of Mountains, the interrupted Vapours must continually moisten them, and, (as in the Head of an Alembick) condense and trickle down; so that we own part of our Rain, Springs, Rivers, and Conveniencies of Life, to the Operation of Distillation, and Circulation, by the Sun, the Sea, and the Hills, without even the last of which, the Earth would scarce be Habitable.  
Novemb. 12. 1691. TANCRED ROBINSON.  
Since the Receipt of this Letter, an Experiment occurred to Me, which hath much confirmed me in the belief and persuasion of the Truth of those Histories and Relations which Writers and Travellers have delivered to us concerning Dropping Trees in FERRO, St. THOME, GUINY, etc. of which before I was somewhat dissident; And likewise in the approbation of the Hipothesis of my Learned Friend Dr. Tancred Robinson for the solving of that Phoenomenon. The same also induces me to believe, that Vapours may have a greater Interest in the production of SPRRINGS even in temperate and cold Regions, than I had before thought. Therefore whenever in this Work I have assigned RAIN to be a sufficient o● only Cause of SPRING'S and RIVER'S, I would not be understood to exclude, but to comprehend therein MISTS an VAPOURS; which I grant to have some interest in the production of them, even in Temperate and Cold Regions; and a very considerable one in Hot. Though I cannot be persuaded, that even there they are the Sole Cause of SPRING'S, for that there fall such plentiful and long continuing RAINS, both in the East and West-Indies, in the Summer Months: Which must needs contribute something to their ORIGINAL. JOH. RAY's Miscell. Disc. of the Dissolution of the World, Pag. 249.   
FINIS.   

A Catalogue of some Plays Printed for R. Bentley.  

BEaumont and Fletcher's Plays: in all 51. in large Fol.  
Mr. Shakespear's Plays: In one large Fol. Volume, containg 43 Plays.  
Mr. Nathaniel Lee's Plays: In one Volume.  
Mr. Otway's Plays: In one Volume.  
Mr. Shadwel's Plays: In one Volume.  
Mr. Dryden's Plays: In two Volumes.   


His other Poems: One Volume more.  
1 All mistaken, or the mad Couple.  
2 Alexander the Great.  
3 Andromache.  
4 Ambitious Statesman, or the Loyal Favourite.  
5 Virtue Betrayed, or Anna Bullen.  
6 Abdellazor, or the Moor's Revenge.  
7 Amoro●● Prince.  
8 Amends for Ladies.  
9 Albumazor.  
10 Amboyna, a Tragedy.  
11 Brutus of Alba.  
12 Byron's Conspiracy, 1. Part.  
13 Byron's Conspiracy, 2 d. Part.  
14 Banditti, or the Lady in distress▪  
15 Busey d' Ambois.  
16 Caesar Borgia.  
17 Country Wit.  
18 Calisto, or the chaste Nymph.  
19 Country Wife.  
20 City Politics.  
21 Constantine.  
22 Commonwealth of Women.  
23 Counterfeits.  
24 Caius Marius.  
25 Destruction of jerusalem, in two Parts.  
26 Duke of Guise.  
27 Dutch Lovers.  
28 Duke of Milan.  
29 Disappointment.  
30 English Monsieur.  
31 Esquire Old-Sap, or the Night Adventures.  
32 Essex and Elizabeth, or the Unhappy Favourite.  
33 Empress of Morocco.  
34 Evening Love, or the mock ginger.  
35 Forced Marriage, or the Jealous Bridegroom.  
36 The Fond Husband, or the Plotting Sisters.  
37 Fool turned Critic.  
38 The Fatal Wager.  
39 Fatal Jealousy.  
40 False Count  
41 Generous Enemies, or the Ridiculous Lovers.  
42 Gloriana, or the Court of Augustus Caesar.  
43 Grateful Servant.  
44 Henry the Sixth, or the Misery of Civil-War.  
45 Henry the Sixth, or the Murder of the Duke of Gloucester, the 2 d. Part.  
46 Hamlet Pr. of Denmark, a Tragedy.  
47 Humorous Courtier.  
48 The Hollander.  
49 julius Caesar.  
50 Island Queen, or Mary of Scotland.  
51 King Lear.  
52 King, and no King.  
53 Knave in Grain.  
54 Little Thief.  
55 Love Tricks.  
56 Lucius junius Brutus.  
57 Loyal Brother.  
58 Mythridates King of Pontus.  
59 Madam Fickle, or the Witty False One.  
60 Mr. Limberham, or the Kind Keeper  
61 Mistaken Husband.  
62 Moor of Venice.