SECT. IV.

Containing HYDROGRAPHY; which is explained in fix Chapters.

CHA P. XII.

Of the Divifion of the Ocean by the Interpofition of

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Lands.

AVING treated of the Divifion of the Earth, and it's Parts, in the foregoing Chapters; Order requires that we alfo confider the Situation and Division of the WATERS, which make the other Part of the Terraqueous Globe, and explain fuch of their Properties as belong to Geography.

IN the second Propofition of Chapter vii. we divided the Waters into four Species, viz. 1. The Ocean and Seas. 2. Rivers and fresh Water. 3. Lakes and Marfhes. 4. Mineral Waters. In this Chapter we shall Difcourfe of the Divifion of the Ocean.

PROPOSITION I.

The Ocean, in a continued Extent, encompaffeth the whole Earth, and all it's Parts, nor is it's Superficies any where interrupted, or altogether broken by the interpofed Earth; only a larger Tract of Sea, or a wider Communication is in fome Places wanting.

THE Truth of this Propofition cannot be proved but by Experience, which is chiefly gained

by failing round the Earth, which hath been often attempted and happily accomplished; firft by the Spamards under Capt. Magellan, who firft difcovered the Streights, called by his Name; then by the English, viz. by Sir Francis Drake, Sir Thomas Cavendish, and others; after by the Dutch, &c.

THE Antients never doubted that the Ocean was thus continued; for they fuppofed the old World to be raised above the Waters, and every where furrounded thereby (and fome of them thought it floated). But when America was difcovered (which is extended in a long Tract from North to South, and feems to hinder the Continuation of the Ocean) and alfo the Arctic and Antarctic Continent, then they began to think o therwife; for they imagined, that America was joined to fome Part of the South Continent (which was not unlikely) in like Manner as most of our modern Geographers, fuppofe that North America is joined to Groenland. If both thefe Conjectures had been true, then indeed the Ocean had not encompaffed the whole Earth. But Magellan removed all Doubts and Scruples about it, by discovering, in the Year 1520, the Streights between America and the South Continent, which join the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. What therefore the Antients happened to ftumble upon, by a wrong way of arguing, we have found out to be a real Truth by Experience. The fame may be faid about Africa; for the Antients, without any Hefitation, fuppofed it to be bounded to the Southward by the Ocean, and not to be extended fo far beyond the Equator, as it really is; but when the Portuguese had failed along the western Coaft of Africa, and found it to be extended a great way beyond the Equator, it was queftioned whether Africa could be failed round (fo far as to afford a Paffage to India), that is, whether Africa was extended Southward or

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encompaffed by the Ocean. But this Doubt was alfo removed by Vafco di Gramma; who, in the Year 1497, firft failed round the most fouthern Promontory of Afric, called, The Cape of GoodHope; which Name it had received from John II, King of Portugal, in the Year 1494, when Barthel Diaz (who firft returned from it, tho' he did not double the Cape for want of Provifion, and by Reason of tempeftuous Weather) had given him a large Account of the ftormy troubled Sea about this Promontory.

PROPOSITION II.

The Ocean, taken altogether, is formed by the Land into feveral Portions, of which there are three Species, viz. 1. Oceans, or great Seas. 2. Bays or Gulphs. 3. Streights.

1. THE Word Ocean is taken in a double Senfe, fometimes for that general Collection of Waters which furround the whole Earth; and very often for a Part of that Collection, which is joined on both fides to other Parts by broad Tracts, Thus we fay, The Atlantic Ocean, The German Ocean, The Ethiopic Ocean, and Indian Ocean. We fhall here use the Word Ocean fometimes in the later Senfe according to Cuftom, instead of Sea; which alfo is a Part of the whole Ocean, because the Word Sea is often ufed in a fomewhat dif ferent Senfe, as will be fhewed by and by.

2. A BAY, or Gulph, is a Part of the Ocean which flows between two Shores, and is every where environed with Land, except where it communicates with other Bays, or the main Ocean. It is very often called a Sea.

A STREIGHT is a narrow Paffage, either joining a Gulph to the Neighbouring Ocean,

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or one Part of the Sea or Ocean to another. These Differences are found in the Ocean, as will appear from what follows.

PROPOSITION III.

The main Ocean is divided into four large and particular Parts, which are alfo each of them called Oceans, and anfwer to the four Continents, or great Ilands of the Earth. Thefe are,

1. THE Atlantic Ocean, which is placed between the western Shore of the old World, and the eaftern Shore of the new World. It is also called the western Ocean, because it lieth to the westward of Europe. It is beft divided into two Parts, by the Equator; whereof the one is contiguous to the Hyperborean Ocean, the other to the Icy or South

Sea.

2. THE Pacific Ocean, or great South Sea, which is placed between the western Shore of America and Afia, and is extended to China, and the Philippine Islands.

3. THE Hyperborean, or northern Ocean, about the Arctic Continent.

4. THE fouthern Ocean, about the South Continent, of which the Indian Ocean is a Part.

OTHER Geographers divide the main Ocean into four Parts, after this Manner: They make the Atlantic one Part, but do not extend it beyond the Equator, where they begin the Ethiopic: They alfo reckon with us the Pacific, and add thereto the Indian; but we, in our Divifion, have more regard to the four great Continents. Some make but three Parts, viz. the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian; but then they extend the Atlantic further. Let every one ufe what Divifion he likes beft, it is

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no great matter which; for these are not made by Nature, but contrived by the Fancy.

PROPOSITION IV.

Some Parts of the Ocean borrow a Name from the Countries which they bound.

THUS we fay the German Ocean, the British Sea, the Indian Ocean, the Gulph of Venice, &c.

PROPOSITION V.

Some Bays are oblong, others broad; some primary, and others fecondary; the former flow out of the Ocean, the latter out of fome other Bay: and fuch may be called Arms or Branches. The oblong are,

1. THE Mediterranean Sea, which breaks out from the Ocean, between Spain and Barbary; and runs a long space between Europe and Africa, even as far as Syria, Afia-minor and Thracia. The entrance is called by way of Eminence the Streights. Hence to fail up the Streights, is to vifit by Sea, Italy Greece, Syria, Sicily, Venice, and the reft of the Countries that lie upon the Coast of this Bay.

THERE are feveral fecondary Bays, or Arms, which proceed from it, viz. the Adriatic, Sea, or Gulph of Venice, the Archipelago, &c.

IT may be reasonably enquired, whether the Euxine Sea be a Part of this Bay. Of which fee Chap. xv.

THE Mediterranean hath divers Names from the several Coafts it reaches; on the North it hath Spain, France, Italy, Sicily, Sclavonia, Greece, Candia, Romania, Afia-minor; on the South it hath Morocco, Fez, Tunis, Tripoli, Egypt. From whence it is called the Gulph of Lyons, the Tuscan Sea, the