and destroy the walls of the cities and farmhouses
in the valley [14]. Then the ruins of the high
buildings in these cities will throw up a great dust,
rising up in shape like smoke or wreathed clouds against
the falling rain; But the swollen waters will sweep
round the pool which contains them striking in eddying
whirlpools against the different obstacles, and leaping
into the air in muddy foam; then, falling back, the
beaten water will again be dashed into the air.
And the whirling waves which fly from the place of
concussion, and whose impetus moves them across other
eddies going in a contrary direction, after their
recoil will be tossed up into the air but without
dashing off from the surface. Where the water
issues from the pool the spent waves will be seen
spreading out towards the outlet; and there falling
or pouring through the air and gaining weight and
impetus they will strike on the water below piercing
it and rushing furiously to reach its depth; from
which being thrown back it returns to the surface
of the lake, carrying up the air that was submerged
with it; and this remains at the outlet in foam mingled
with logs of wood and other matters lighter than water.
Round these again are formed the beginnings of waves
which increase the more in circumference as they acquire
more movement; and this movement rises less high in
proportion as they acquire a broader base and thus
they are less conspicuous as they die away. But
if these waves rebound from various objects they then
return in direct opposition to the others following
them, observing the same law of increase in their
curve as they have already acquired in the movement
they started with. The rain, as it falls from
the clouds is of the same colour as those clouds,
that is in its shaded side; unless indeed the sun’s
rays should break through them; in that case the rain
will appear less dark than the clouds. And if
the heavy masses of ruin of large mountains or of
other grand buildings fall into the vast pools of
water, a great quantity will be flung into the air
and its movement will be in a contrary direction to
that of the object which struck the water; that is
to say: The angle of reflection will be equal
to the angle of incidence. Of the objects carried
down by the current, those which are heaviest or rather
largest in mass will keep farthest from the two opposite
shores. The water in the eddies revolves more
swiftly in proportion as it is nearer to their centre.
The crests of the waves of the sea tumble to their
bases falling with friction on the bubbles of their
sides; and this friction grinds the falling water
into minute particles and this being converted into
a dense mist, mingles with the gale in the manner
of curling smoke and wreathing clouds, and at last
it, rises into the air and is converted into clouds.
But the rain which falls through the atmosphere being
driven and tossed by the winds becomes rarer or denser
according to the rarity or density of the winds that