Chap. 2.]

Water.

9

CHAPTER II.

Water Its importance in the economy of nature—Forras part of all substances—Food of all aui-

ma ls Great physical changes effected by it—Earliest source of inanimate motive power—Its distribu-

tion over the earth not uniform—Sufferings of the orientals from want of water—A knowledge of thisnecessary to understand their writers—Political ingenuity of Mahomet—Water a prominent feature inthe paradise of the Asiatics—Camels often slain by travellers, to obtain water from their stomachs—Cost of a draught of such water—Hydraulic machine referred to in Ecclesiastes —The useful arts origi-nated in Asia—Primitive modes of procuring water—Using the band as a cup—Traditions respecting

Adam_Scythian tradition—Palladium—Observations on the primitive state of man and the origin of

the arts.

Water is, in many respects, the most important substance known to man:it is more extensively diffused throughout nature than almost any other. I-tcovers the greater part of the earth’s surface, and is found to pervade itsinterior wherever excavations are made. It enters into every or nearlyevery combination of mattex-, and was supposed by some ancient philoso-phers, tobe the origin of all matter; the primordial element; of whichevery object in nature was formed. The mineral kingdom, with its varie-gated substances and chrystalizations; the infinitely diversified and enchan-ting productions of the vegetable world; and every living being in anima-ted nature, were supposed to be so many modifications of this aqueous fluid.Accordingto Vitruvius , the Egyptian priests taught, that “ all things con-sist of water;”® and Egypt was doubtless the source whence Thaies andothers derived the doctrine. Pliny , says “ this one element seemeth torule and command all the rest.” b And it was remarked by Pindar —

“ Of all things, water is the best.”

Modern Science has shown that it is not a simple substance, but is com-posed of at least two others ; neither of which, it is possible, is elementary.

Water not only forms part of the bodies of all animals, c but it constitutesthe greatest portion of their food. Every comfort of civilized or savage lifedepends more or less upon it; and life itself cannot be sustained without it.Ifthere were no rains or fertilizing dews, Vegetation would cease, and everyanimated being would perish. Even terrestrial animals may be considered asexisting in water, for the atmosphere in which we live and move, is an im-mense aerial reservoir of it, and one more capacious than all the seas onthe face of the earth.

Water is also the prominent agent, by which those great physical andChemical changes are effected, which the earth is continually undergoing;and the stupendous effects produced by it, through the long series of pastages, have given rise, in modern times, to some of the most interestingdepartments of physical Science.

The mechanical effects produced by it, render it of the highest impor-tance in the arts. It was the earliest source of inanimate motive power;and has contributed more than all other agents to the amelioration of man’scondition. By its inertia in a running stream, and by its gravity in a fallingone, it has superseded much human toil; and has administered to ourwants, our pleasures and our profits; and by its expansion into the aeriform

a Proem to b. viii. b Nat. Hist, xxxi, 1.

C A human corpse which weighed an hundred and sixty pounds—when the moisturewas evaporated, weighed but twelve.