Telliamed, or, The world explain'd : containing discourses between an Indian philospher and a missionary, on the diminution of the sea, the formation of the earth, the origin of men & animals : and other singular subjects, relating to natural history & philosphy ; a very curious work.

  • Maillet, Benoît de, 1656-1738. Telliamed. English
Date:
1797
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Telliamed, or, The world explain'd : containing discourses between an Indian philospher and a missionary, on the diminution of the sea, the formation of the earth, the origin of men & animals : and other singular subjects, relating to natural history & philosphy ; a very curious work. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    [ 9* ] pafily known from the reft of the top of that mountain. Thus this fin was buried in the center of that mafs fixty fathoms higher than the fea. Besides thefe fenfible teftimonies of the fabri- cation of our mountains in the fea, you have alfo Hi their furfaces evident proofs, that the higheft of them have been long buried under the waves, as a great many others are at prcfent. Mount Pelare in Switzerland, fituated in Lucerne, fupports ano- ther very high mountain, called in the language of the country, the Field of the Ram, on which we fee very large rocks, whofe whole fubilance is com- pofedcf petrified fea.fhells. In confidering them we cannot doubt but the fea has formed them, as it flill forms others of the fame kind in a thoufand parts of thefe coafts, by adding, during whole ages, ihell after ihell, and uniting them to each other with fand and fait, which ferves as a cement to them. There are rocks of this kind in ail the large mountains on continents, in the Pyrcnean mountains, and thofe of China and Peru. We find the fame difpofition in all countries where there are high mountains, though it is more remarkable in fome parts than others. We aimoft every where find upon the declivities of the mountains, fea-fhells which adhere to them, efpeciaJly in parts which the wrecks c.f the rocks and earth have covered and fecured from the in- juries of time. We alfo find there a kind of fifh*, itill adhering to the ftonesf ; and pipes formed by r: Madrepores, •fc I had the honor fome year* ago to prefent to the academy iruc I. ;, fhll united 10 their rock, which I bad fepa- rated fro«i ihe earth at Chnnivoal, v.ezr Gifors : As a'.fo fome ihts, which only grow in ihe bottom of the fea. and ...oil certain marjis we can have' that this part of