CHAPTER VI.

OF THE DISTRIBUTION AND SITUATION OF BUILD-INGS WITHIN THE WALLS.

Their circuit being completed, it behoves us to considerthe manner of disposing of the area of the space enclosedwithin the walls, and the proper directions and aspectsof the streets and lanes. They should be so planned asto exclude the winds : these, if cold, are unpleasant; ifhot, are hurtful; if damp, destructive. A fault in thisrespect must be therefore avoided, and care taken toprevent that which occurs in so many cities. For in-stance ; in the island of Lesbos, the town of Mytilene ismagnificently and elegantly designed, and well built, butimprudently placed. When the south wind prevails init, the inhabitants fall sick; the north-west wind affectsthem with coughs ; and the north wind restores them tohealth : but the intensity of the cold therein is so great,that no one can stand about in the streets and lanes.Wind is a floating wave of air, whose undulation con-tinually varies. It is generated by the action of heatupon moisture, the rarefaction thereby produced creatinga continued rush of wind. That such is the case, maybe satisfactorily proved by observations on brazen seo-lipylse, which clearly shew that an attentive examinationof human inventions often leads to a knowledge of thegeneral laws of nature. iEolipylae are hollow brazenvessels, which have an opening or mouth of small size,by means of which they can be filled with water. Pre-vious to the water being heated over the fire, but littlewind is emitted; as soon, however, as the water beginsto boil, a violent wind issues forth. Thus a simple ex-periment enables us to ascertain and determine the