consideration of these differences in the conformation 1. The Bimana or two-handed animals. 4. The Rodentia or gnawers. 5. The Edentata or toothless animals. 6. The Ruminantia or ruminating animals. 7. The Pachydermata or thick-skinned animals. 8. The Cetacea or animals of the whale kind. 9. The Marsupialia or pouch-bearing animals. I. Bimana. Man, is the only individual of this order. The reasons for placing him in a distinct order from the four-handed animals, are so apparent, that we do not consider it necessary to enter into an explanation of them now. We have particularly described Man-the different races, and their distinguishing attributes in our first volume, pages 20 and 28, et passim. II. Quadrumana. In the internal and external structure of the animals of this order, there is a nearer approach to man than in any other animals. They differ, however, in the size and shape of the head; in the conformation of the face; in the length of the forearm; in the construction of the lower extremities; in their motions and posture, and in their modes of life. This order comprehends a numerous tribe, and a great variety of species, known under the names of apes, monkeys, baboons, &c. These names though generally applied with little discrimination, are intended to express actual differences. Thus the apes have no tail; that of the monkies is about the length of their bodies; and that of the baboons a very short one. Besides these, there are the sapajous, a species having long, and what are called prehensile tails. Their tails are so constructed as to answer in some measure the purpose of a fifth limb, enabling them to cling to the branches of trees, and assisting them in climbing. As the leading character under the order quadrumana "Oran-otang is the name this animal bears in the East Indies; Pongo, its denomination at Loando, a province of Congo; and Kukurlacks in some parts of the East Indies. We shall present the Oran-otang and the Jocko together, because they are, possibly, but one and the same species. We have seen the small Oran-otang, or the Jocko, alive, and we have preserved its skin, but we can only speak of the Pongo, or great Oran-otang, from the accounts travellers have given us of it. Battel assures us, that, excepting his size, the Pongo is exactly like that of a man in all his proportions: he is as tall (he says) as a giant: his face is like that of a man, the eyes deep sunk in the head, the hair on each side extremely long, the visage naked and without hair, as are also the ears and the hands; the body is lightly covered and scarcely differing from that of a man, except that there are no calves to the legs. Still, however, the animal is seen to walk on his hinder legs: he sleeps under trees, and builds himself a hut, which serves to protect him against the sun and the rains of the tropical climates, of which he is a native; he lives only upon fruits, and is not carnivorous: he cannot speak, although furnished with greater instinct than any other animal of the brute creation. When the Negroes make a fire in the woods, this animal comes near and warms himself by the blaze, he has not, however, skill enough to keep the flame alive by feeding it with fuel. They go together in companies, . and if they happen to meet with one of the human species, remote from succour, they show him no mercy. They even attack the elephant, which they beat with their clubs, and oblige to leave that part of the forest which they claim as their own. It is impossible to take any of these creatures alive, they are so strong. None of this kind therefore, are taken except when very young, and The then but rarely, when the female happens to leave them 6 200 their body with long and tawny coloured hair: their belly | the Oran it differs only in colour and stature; the foris extremely large, their heels flat, and yet rising behind mer being dark, brown, or blackish, and the latter not about half an inch: they sometimes walk upright, and exceeding two feet and a half or three feet. It is a native sometimes upon all fours when they are fantastically of Angola, Sierra Leone, and some parts of Asia. "Mr. M'Leod gives the following description of an disposed. We purchased two of these animals, one about fourteen months old, which was a male, and a Oran-otang which was brought to England, from Borneo, in 1816, on board the Alceste, when the embassy female about twelve months.' was returning from its fruitless mission to China:'The Oran-otang, also a native of Borneo (says he) is an animal remarkable not only from being extremely What is technically denominated rare, but as possessing, in many respects, a strong resemblance to man. the cranium is perfectly human in its appearance; the differshape of the upper part of the head, the forehead, the ears, eyes (which are dark and full,) the eyelashes, and, inThe hair of his head, deed, every thing relating to the eyes and ing in no respect from man. however, is merely the same which covers his body generally. The nose is very flat, the distance between it and the mouth considerable; the chin, and in fact the whole of the lower jaw, is very large, and his teeth, twenty-six in number, are strong. The lower part of his face is what may be termed an ugly or caricature likeness of the human countenance. The position of the scapulæ, or shoulderblades, the general form of the shoulders and breasts, as well as the figure of the arms, the elbow joint especially, and the hands, strongly continue the resemblance. The metacarpal, or that part of the hand immediately above the fingers, is somewhat elongated; and, by the thumb being thrown a little higher up, nature seems to have adapted the hand to his mode of life, and given him the power of grasping more effectually the branches of trees.' "The Oran-otang which I saw, walked always upright, even when it carried heavy burdens. Its air was melancholy, its deportment grave, its nature more gentle and very different from that of other apes. Unlike the baboon, or the monkey, whose motions are violent, and appetites capricious, who are fond of mischief, and only obedient through fear, a look was sufficient to keep it in awe. I have seen it give its hand to show the company to the door, that came to see it, and it would walk about gravely with them, as if one of the society. I have seen it sit at table, unfold its napkin, wipe its lips, make use of the spoon and the fork to carry the victuals to its mouth, pour out its drink into a glass, touch glasses when invited, take a cup and saucer and lay them on the table, put in sugar, pour out its tea, leave it to cool before drinking, and all this without any other instigation than the signs or the command of its master, and often of its own accord. It was gentle and inoffensive: it even approached strangers with respect, and came rather to receive caresses than to offer injuries: it ate almost of every thing that was offered to it, but it preferred dry and ripe fruits to all other aliments. It would drink wine, but in small quantities, and willingly left it for milk, or any other sweet liquor. Mr. L. Brosse, who bought two young ones that were but a year old, from a negro, relates that, even at that age, they sat at table, ate of every thing without distinction, made use of their knife, spoon and fork, both to eat their meat and help themselves; they drank wine and other liquors. We carried them on shipboard, and when they were at table, they made signs to the cabin-boys, expressive of their wants; and whenever they neglected attending upon them as they desired, they instantly flew into a passion, seized them by the arm, bit them and kept them down. The male was seasick, and required attendance like a human creature: he was even twice bled in the right arm; and every time afterwards when he found himself indisposed, he showed his arm, as desirous of being relieved by bleeding.' "He is corpulent about the abdomen, or, in common phrase, rather pot-bellied, looking like one of those figures of Bacchus often seen riding on casks: but whether this is his natural appearance when wild, or acquired since his introduction into new society, and by indulging in a high style of living, it is difficult to determine. His thighs and legs are short and bandy, the ankle and heel like the human; but the fore part of the foot is composed of toes, as long and as pliable as his fingers, with a thumb a little situated before the inner ankle; When he stands erect, he this conformation enabling him to hold equally fast with his feet as with his hands. is about three feet high, and he can walk when led like a child, but his natural locomotion, when on a plain surface, is supporting himself along, at every step, by placing the knuckles of his hands upon the ground. All the fingers, both of the hands and feet, have nails exactly like the human race, except the thumb of the foot, which is without any. "Henry Grose relates, 'that these animals are met with to the north of Coromandel; that Mr. Horne governour of Bombay, had two of them sent him, a male and a female; they were scarcely two feet high, but their form was entirely like the human: they walked erect upon their two feet, and were of a pale colour, without any hairs on any other part than where mankind generally have them; their actions perfectly resembled the human, and their melancholy plainly evinced how strong-fruits and nuts, but he eats biscuit, or any other sort of ly they felt the weight of their captivity: they made their bed very carefully in the cage in which they were sent on board the ship. When any person looked at them, they hid those parts with their hands, which modesty forbids the sight of. The female (adds he) died on board, and the male showed all real signs of grief, and took the death of his companion so greatly to heart, that he refused his food, and did not survive her more than two days.' "His natural food would appear to be all kinds of bread, and sometimes animal food. He will drink grog, or even spirits, if given to him; and has been known repeatedly to help himself in this way he was also taught to sip his tea or coffee, and, since his arrival in England, has discovered a taste for a pot of porter His usual conduct is not mischievous and chattering, like that of monkeys in general: but he has rather a grave and sedate character, and is much inclined to be social, and on good terms with every body. He made no difficulty, however, when cold, or inclined to sleep, in supplying himself with any jacket he found hanging about, or in stealing a pillow from a hammock in order to be more soft and comfortable. "Francis Pyrad relates, 'that in the province of Sierra Leona, in Africa, there are a kind of apes called Barris, which are strong and muscular, and so very industrious, that, if properly fed and instructed when "Sometimes, when teased by showing him someyoung, they serve as very useful domesticks: they usually walk upright, will pound at the mortar, fetch water from thing to eat, he would display in a very strong manner the river in a little pitcher, which they carry on their the human passions, following the person whining and heads; but, if care be not taken to receive the pitcher at crying, throwing himself off on his back, and rolling their return, they let it fall to the ground, and then see-about apparently in a great rage, attempting to bite ing it broken, they begin to lament and cry for the loss.' "The Jocko is known by the name of the Chimpanzee. It is the Simia Troglodytes of Linnæus. From those near him, and frequently lowering himself by a rope over the ships's side, as if pretending to drown himself; but, when he came near the water's edge, he always reconsidered the matter, and came on board again. He would often rifle and examine the pockets | fruit, almonds, &c., and calmly received the food that of his friends in quest of nuts and biscuits, which they sometimes carried for him. He had a great antipathy to the smaller tribe of monkeys, and would throw them overboard if he could; but in his general habits and disposition there is much docility and good nature, and when not annoyed he is extremely inoffensive. He approaches, upon the whole, nearer to the human kind than any other animal.' "An enormous Oran-otang, of the height of seven feet, and of a proportionate bulk, was, after many attempts, killed under a tree, from which it had fallen, in consequence of several bullet wounds, at Ramboon, on the western coast of Sumatra; having, as is supposed, wandered from the large and almost impenetrable forest, situated about two days' journey inland. The skin of this extraordinary creature is preserved in the museum of the Asiatic Society of Calcutta ; it is of a dark leaden colour, covered, unequally, with brownish red, shaggy and glossy hair, which is long on the flanks and shoulders. The head was well proportioned to the body, the nose prominent, the eyes large, and the mouth rather larger in proportion than that of man; the chin was fringed with a curling beard, reaching from ear to ear, and the visage by no means disgusting. His chest was wide and expanding, and waist rather slender : his legs rather short, as compared with his arms; the feet and hands had very nearly the human form, except that the thumbs were smaller, and situated higher towards the wrists, than in man. His walk was erect, but waddling, and not quick, unless when his hands were used to assist, or a branch of a tree, to push himself along, his chief agility being shown in climbing trees, and springing from branch to branch, when pursued. The perfect state of his teeth showed that he was young, and in full vigour. He was without any vestige of a tail. THE GIBBON OR LONG-ARMED APE. "This animal always keeps its erect posture, even when it walks on all fours, its arms being as long as its body and legs put together. We have seen one of these animals alive; it was but young, and not then more than three feet high; though we must présume that it had not attained its full size, but that when it is adult, and in its free state, it is at least four feet. It had no appearance of any tail; it had a circle of gray, bushy hair all round the face, which gave it a very remarkable appearance: its eyes were large and sunk in its head, its face resembling that of a man, tanned, and its ears well-proportioned. This Ape appeared to us to be of a gentle and tractable disposition; its motions were neither rash nor precipitate. It was fed on bread, was presented to it; it was very averse to cold and wet weather, and did not live long after being brought from its native country. It is a native of the East Indies, and particularly found along the coasts of Coromandel, Malacca, and the Molucca Islands." GEOGRAPHY. OUTLINES OF ITS HISTORY. Moses and Homer in presenting a picture of two of the most ancient nations, probably give us the first geographical writings, and therefore may merit to be called the fathers of geography. Soon after them, the Phoenicians became geographers in practice, by traversing the Mediterranean by the light of the stars, and discovering the Atlantic Ocean. Herodotus becomes an extensive traveller, and relates to the Greeks what he has seen and heard, concerning different nations and countries. Carthage arises, and her extensive colonial system, with the adventurous voyages of Pytheas of Marseilles, bring the western world into view, and create conjectures respecting the north. The military campaigns of Alexander throw a brilliant light on the countries of the east. Then among the Romans, Eratosthenes, Strabo, Pliny and Ptolemy, arrange the still obscure and incomplete materials into a system. When we get to this point, the system of "Ancient Geography" is formed; and here it terminates. Next comes the great migration of nations; and all is chaos and confusion till the elements of a new geography are formed, with the rise of Modern Europe. The spirit of travelling revives. It conducts the Arabs to the Moluccas, and it is said the Scandinavians to America. But these people travelled without science, and without profit. The magnetick needle is then discovered; and the Italians and Portuguese begin to navigate the sea with confidence. The horizon of geography extends; new light dissipates errour and prejudice, and the people of the earth begin to open their eyes to the contemplation and the true nature and dimensions of their planet. And now the adventurous and immortal Columbus, who taught affected wisdom not to judge without knowledge, conducts us triumphantly to a new world. After this glorious period, every nation enters emulously on the career of exploring and discovery:-hold and persevering adventure conducts us around the world; and the united efforts of nations continue to add new light, untill nearly the whole vast theatre of the globe, is developed to the understandings of men, and the gaze of science. Definition. The term Geography* literally signifies a description of the earth. In a description of the earth, we mean to comprehend a description of the whole terraqueous globe: its figure; the laws which affect it as a celestial body, and its relations to other celestial bodies; its dimensions, and its motions; its composition; its external configuration of mountains, valleys, plains, and coasts; its divisions into land and water, and the forms and distribution of continents and seas; its productions and its inhabitants. To the mind of man, who is lord of these dominions, which it is the object of Geography to describe, what a grand field of study and of interest is opened! what an opportunity to contemplate, for enduring and profitable results, those beautiful systems of the creation which strike one with admiring awe! What a splendid cabinet of curiosities does it open to the studious mind, desirous of acquainting itself with the secrets of the globe and the mysteries of Nature! And let us inquire with Malte Brun, "is not geography the sister and the rival of history? If the one enjoys the empire of universal time, does not the other rightfully claim that write. Compounded of two Greek words yn the earth, and ypado to of place? If the one has the power of recalling past A great variety of appearances, both on the surface generations, should not the other exert that of fixing of the earth and in the heavens, (which will be described in one scene the shifting pictures of history, by delin- presently) prove conclusively, that the earth is a spherieating to the mind the permanent theatre of the poor cal or round body. The possession of this important and brief transactions of mankind, strewed with the truth enables the geographer, by the application of the wrecks of numerous empires; and describe the course known mathematical properties of the sphere, to solve of nature, constantly occupied in repairing, by its many interesting problems, the most useful of which is beneficial operation, the ravages arising from hu- to determine the relative situation of places upon the man discord? Does not a description of the globe in-earth's surface. For this and some other practical purtimately connect itself with the study of human nature, poses, the earth is taken to be a perfect sphere; and alhuman manners, and human institutions? Does it not though this supposition be not strictly true, it is suffioffer information of the utmost importance to the polit- ciently near the truth to be adopted without sensible ical sciences? Is not this department always brought errour in the investigations into which it is commonly fully into view before a complete form can be given to introduced. The nature and quantity of its deviation any branch of Natural History? And does it not sup- from a perfectly spherical shape will be for future ply literature with a boundless treasure of feelings and inquiry. of images ?" At what particular period of the world the spherical With such considerations we shall proceed to the figure of the earth was first discovered, cannot now be task of searching into, and illustrating this vast and ascertained. It is natural to suppose, that the curiosinteresting science with alacrity. We find at the out-ity of mankind would early be directed to the shape of set, that it is obviously susceptible of three divisions; the earth they lived upon. But when first it engaged and in fact, we find it necessary, in order to a complete their attention, it fared with this as with all other parts and plain system of universal Geography, to institute of what is called natural philosophy. Men were led to three distinct departments, viz: Mathematical, Physi- entertain the most erroneous notions of it, by trusting cal, and Political Geography. too much to single appearances. Deceived by the In the first is included the contemplation of the fig-plain-like appearance of the earth, and disregarding all ure, size, and motions of our planet; its relation to other circumstances indicative of its figure, they con.. other planets; latitudes and longitudes; the measure-ceived it to be an extensive plain meeting the heavens ment of time, and the construction of globes and maps. In this department of geography, we obtain the requisite information and assistance from astronomy, and geometry. Physical Geography delineates all the leading features of nature; the mountains which diversify the surface of the land, and the seas which bound its outline; the valleys, the rivers, the caverns, the mines, and the volcanoes; the motions of the atmosphere, and the laws of temperature; and lastly, the distribution into their native regions of the animals, the plants, and all the beings that are nourished in the exhaustless bosom of the earth. Here we bring to our use the light of chymistry, and the discoveries of Natural History. Political Geography comprehends the classification of the human species; the particular description of countries, cantons, cities and towns; population, religion, government, institutions, manners, customs, arts, trade, commerce, and whatever may be enumerated under the head of statisticks. In this branch of the science we abstract our materials from chorography and topography, and the statements and testimony of travellers and explorators. But the principles of Mathematical and Physical Geography are fixed and immutable; they are founded on demonstrative evidence and mathematical truths, which have been the same and always will be the same as far as we know in all ages. So that the oldest Geography with calculations once correct, in so far as the mathematical and physical principles are concerned, would be as good as the latest. Widely different is the case with respect to Political Geography. That of a few years back may be no better than an old directory, pointing out people and places which perhaps have changed or no longer exist. The nations which it described may have become extinct, the kingdoms destroyed, the cities laid in ruins, and all traces of their former existence entirely effaced. Such are the vicissitudes of human life, and the instability of human institutions! We shall proceed to the consideration of MATHEMATICAL GEOGRAPHY. The figure of the earth is manifestly the first subject for inquiry-for the principles by which we may ascertain the various truths that lie within the scope of mathematical geography, are altogether different, on the different suppositions of the earth being a flat circular plain, a cylinder, or a sphere. on every side. Such was, for ages, the general opinion. But there were exceptions to the prevailing ignorance, which are honourable testimonies to the value of a more enlarged and extended observation of nature. The Egyptians and Chaldeans are especially entitled to this praise. The philosophers of these nations were, in all probability, led to form a correct opinion of the figure of the earth from their great practical familiarity with the appearances of the heavenly bodies. But whatever may have been the source from whence their knowledge was derived, it is manifest that they were not ignorant of its true shape, as it must have formed an element in the calculations by which they were enabled to predict eclipses of the moon. From the Egyptians and Chaldeans, who were the fathers as well of geographical as of astronomical science, the Greek philosophers, with all their most correct notions in natural philosophy, derived also their knowledge of the Earth's true shape. But (as Sir Isaac Newton remarks) the Greeks were of themselves more addicted to the study of philology (or language) than of nature: when therefore their communications with Egypt became less frequent, the ancient philosophy gradually declined among them; and no longer retaining the just ideas they once possessed, they put forth their own visionary speculations concerning the figure of the earth. Aristotle, the most celebrated of the Greek philosophers, did not escape the errour of those who allow the suggestions of fancy to occupy the place of a severe investigation into facts; and we find him alleging the earth to be of a cylindrical shape, like a common drum. The remarkable ingeniousness of the Greeks was ever impatient of the restraint which scientifick inquiry in order to a successful issue imposes upon the mind; and it is to be lamented that by reason of the admiration in which their writings were held, their errours should for so long have retained possession of the human mind, and by keeping down the spirit of inquiry retarded the full establishment of what is properly called experimental philosophy. During the greater part of that portion of the history of Europe, called the middle or dark ages, the earth was conceived to be a flat surface extending on every side till it met the heavens. The overthrow of this popular opinion was rendered the more difficult by the Roman church admitting it into the number of articles of faith: the tenet thus became guarded with the sanction of religious belief, and by the apprehension of incurring the serious charge of heretical opinions. It is however remarkable, that the appearance of objects at | part of them being always the last visible; and with sea, which are wholly inconsistent with the notion respect to bodies, the bottom part of which is the larof the earth being a plain, and which lead most directly, gest (as in the case of a ship,) it would not only be into the conclusion of its spherical shape, should not sufficient to explain the fact, but would be directly conhave redeemed the Venetians and Genoese, who had trary to experience, by which we are taught, that where long been in the habit of making adventurous sea voy- distance alone is the cause of a body becoming first ages, from the general ignorance. But notwithstanding indistinct and then invisible, the larger and more bulky the peculiar advantages enjoyed by navigators, it is ev-parts of it are seen the longest. The only supposition ident that the best of those of the age of Columbus which can account for the order in which the parts of were not better informed of the earth's real figure. It an object disappear is, that the surface of the earth is is related as a matter of history, that the Portuguese who continually and gradually bending or curving downhad arrived at the Moluccas (situated in the Pacific and wards-in other words, that it is a convex surface; and to the West of America,) by sailing continually in an the circumstance that these appearances are the same easterly direction, were astonished by the appearance both in kind and degree all over the earth, and in whatof Magellan's party, who reached the same point by ever direction the spectator moves from the object, or the sailing continually west. We may not, however, in- object from the spectator, proves that this convex surface volve Columbus in this general censure; to him is is every where and in all directions precisely or very nearproperly due the glory of establishing the fact that the ly the same, and consequently that the earth is a sphere. earth is a sphere. He was indeed eminently qualified The voyages of Magellan and Drake, of Anson, Cook, to give a new direction to the current of opinion. In and Vancouver, all tend to establish the same fact; for advance of the age he lived in by the extent and cor- by holding a course due west or due east, these navigarectness of his information, and being at once bold in tors have at last arrived at the point of their departure enterprise, enthusiastick in pursuit, and fertile in ex-thus they have sailed upon a line which in one revopedients, he possessed all the characteristicks of one who lution returns into itself, ending where it began; and, is destined to overthrow a great and prevailing errour. therefore, the surface on which it was described must His persuasion that the earth was a sphere, furnished be a sphere, or resembling a sphere: this was further him with the happy idea of arriving at the East Indies confirmed by the voyages of Captain Cook towards the by a shorter course than round the Cape of Good Hope, South pole, from which it appeared that the course by sailing due West. He failed in his undertaking, round the earth gradually diminished as it approached having been misled by the errour of the ancient geogra- the pole. phers. Ptolemy's map was then in use, and the East The proofs derived from the appearances of heavenly Indies are there laid down considerably to the west of bodies are even more conclusive than the foregoing. By their true position. The western coast of India is by travelling on the earth's surface from the north towards Ptolemy placed in longitude 165° east from the isle of the south, a certain star in the heavens, called the pole Ferro, (one of the Canaries through which the first star (which is itself almost stationary,) is observed to meridian passed,) whereas the true longitude is about change its place in the heavens relatively to the spec96°, thus making a difference of no less than 67°. The tator's horizon, and gradually to descend; by a movereasoning of Columbus was therefore right; and al- ment of the spectator in the opposite direction (from though he was disappointed of the immediate object of south to north,) the height of the same star above the his voyage, he became the discoverer of a new world, horizon is observed gradually to increase; and in both and eventually established his own opinion of the cases this apparent change of place in the star is in earth's spherical shape. Magellan was the first naviga-proportion to the distance travelled over. This change tor who practically demonstrated the roundness of the being also observed from whatever place the movement earth; following up the opinions which Columbus is made (supposing it to be in a direction perpendicular among the moderns had the merit of originating, he to the equator or on a meridian line,) cannot be othersailed upon the project of reaching the Moluccas by a wise accounted for than by the supposition that the westerly passage; but being killed in the Philippine earth is a sphere; and that the arc or circular space in Islands by the natives, he did not complete the entire the heavens through which the star appears to have voyage round the world. Sir Francis Drake was the moved, corresponds with a similar are traced upon the first person wno in one voyage circumnavigated the surface of the earth. globe; he accomplished the voyage (undertaken however solely for purposes of plunder, and marked by rapine and bloodshed) in the space of three years; and returned to England in 1560. After these voyages, the spherical figure of the earth was generally admitted by the philosophers of Europe. A spirit of investigation soon after arose, and furnished an abundance of satisfactory proofs, which, though of daily or frequent occurrence, had hitherto been unobserved or unheeded. These proofs consist in certain remarkable appearances, either of objects upon the surface of the earth itself, or of the heavenly bodies. They are of the following description : Another most convincing proof is furnished by the eclipses of the moon. These eclipses are known to be caused by the earth coming between the sun and moon, and intercepting or cutting off the supply of light from the sun which illuminates the moon's surface or disk; the dark part of the moon's disk is, therefore, nothing more than a representation of the earth's shadow at the distance of the moon. In whatever position the earth happens to be at the time of an eclipse, its shadow upon the moon's disk is aiways in the form of a circle or of part of a circle: the earth must therefore be a sphere, since no other than a spherical body, in every position in which it can be placed with respect to another body If a person were situated upon an open and extensive giving light, can cast a circular shadow upon a third plain, he would find, that as he departed from objects, body. If, however the earth were shaped like a cirthe view of which was not hindered by any unevenness cular flat plain, its shadow upon the moon's disk would in the plain, they would gradually disappear from their be circular only when either of its sides directly fa ed base upwards; in like manner, the hull of a ship pro- the moon: if turned edgewise towards the moon, the ceeding out to sea becomes invisible first, and afterwards shadow would be in the form of a streak, and in all the masts and rigging. The order in which the parts other positions it would be more or less elliptical, as the of these objects successively disappear, cannot be ex-earth happened to be turned more or less obliquely toplained by the mere supposition that the distance between the object and the spectator gradually increasing, the object becomes first indistinct, and at last invisible; because with respect to bodies whose bulk is the same from the top to the bottom, this reason is applicable to all the parts alike, and would not account for the highest wards the moon when she is eclipsed. The supposition that the earth is a sphere, accounts for all the appearances we have described; while, on the other hand, the various suppositions which have from time to time been advanced, and which differ from this, are totally inconsistent with one or other of them. |