'Some years travels into divers parts of Africa, and Asia the great. Describing more particularly the empires of Persia and Industan: interwoven with such remarkable occurrences as hapned in those parts during these later times. As also, many other rich and famous kingdoms in the oriental India, with the isles adjacent. Severally relating their religion, language, customs and habit: as also proper observations concerning them.' [‎188] (209/448)

188 Cafpian Sea.
refembled a flux and reflux of the water; and though not in fuch a meafure as with us
upon the Bnglijh Ihore, yet more than is Within the Baltique Seas, and the water more
fait *, that in the Baltique being frefli by reafon of the ft ore of melted fnows which with the
frefh water floods is incefTantly poured in; as in fome meafure 'tis in the Cajpian, which
is the caufe that it abounds fo much with Eels, Lampreys, Trouts and fuch other Fifli
as love to be in the frelh waters and withal to manifeft its faltnefs is proved by the
plenty of Mullet, Sturgedn, Lobfters,X)yft€rs, and thofe other Filh I lately mentioned.
So as to Ipeak pofitively, I fhall with Scaliger in his Exercitat. againft fay, i n
ceani limn del Zur Boreali r nullm eft aftm, &c, which may be the condition of the Man
Cajptum*
But to affign a reafon for the ebbing and flowing of the Sea is a task too haM for me
feeing it hath puzzl'd great Scholars not a little: That of Euripm amazed Jylfidtk]
though Secretary of Nature v being indeed to be ranked inter occulta Nature For albeit
none may circumfcribe the powerful ads of the Almighty within the compafs of natural
caufes, neverthelefs fome afcribe the proper caufe unto that vaft flux of frefh Water,
which in places infinite is perpetually poured in by Rivers ^ as alfo from the clouds in a
vaft: proportion. Some likewife alcribe it to the equilibration of the Earth and Sea-,
but the molt platifible opinion, efpecially of the Platonifls, is from the powerful influ
ence of the Sun and Moon ( the nobleft if not the greateft of all the Planets) as the prin
cipal caufers*, efpecially .the Moon, which undoubtedly hath a great influence over all
moift Bodies, of which the Seals chief. So as at the full Moon, when the Sun gives
her the greateft light and power, the Sea then flows foigheft, and ebbs loweft, as her
light decreafes; and agreeable to her courfe we fee the tides are higher and lower: For
as Agcllus in his 14. Ub. notes. The Sea is the Moon's afTociate, ebbing and flowing as
the Moon grows old and young v altering as the Moon alters, and pafles the Cadi Cardi-
nes •, fuch and fo powerful are the influence and operation of her beams. Others never
thelefs afcribe this ebb and flood to the falthefsof the Sea*, which faltnefs {AriftotU fays)
is caufed by the Sun's exhaling the thinner and frefher parts thereout, leaving behind
what is thick and brinifh: or (as ShMger) by fome participation with fome fulphu-
reous minerals which vapour amongft it: upon which account it is Ariflotle in his
ProbUms afferts, that the Sea is hot. Now that faltnefs is the efficient caufe may the ra
ther be granted, in that tis demonftrative that fait waters have much more heat than
frefh waters have. For, albeit fpirits are concealed in all forts of humids bodyes, yet
do they appear moil in what is fait: whence fome obferve. That thofe vigorous fpirits
which exift in the fait humour, is, or at ieaft caufes that tumour which we ordinarily
in fair weather fee moving the furface 6f the Sea which ebbs and flows in various mo
tion v which moves Carpenter in his Gedgr. to fay, That the Sea as a Terreftrial Heaven,
therein imitates the celeftial Orbs,from whence proceeds this turbulent motion. Howbeit,
We may not imagine that this flux and re-flux of the Sea is fo difcernable in the Ocean
far from Land as tis in the narrow Seas near the fhore, where we behold the Sea vio
lent and ragmg if difturb'd by wind, and fretting by having bounds, but rather liable
and to the eye without any perfpicable motion. Upon which confideration it is that
Homer terns the Ocean A great ftandiftg Pool, and Semca refembles it to a dull mafs
or heap of matter, which Nature could not bring to perfedion. Albeit, it cannot be
deny'd that in calm weather (whenthe Sky and Sea are alike ferene) the water is pact
fique and without the leaft vifible curl Or wrinkle; and yet near the fhore a fpirit dif-
covers its fpontaneous motion. For motion it doubtlefs hath from wind within, which
as I have often obierved, makes it heave and rowl when there is not the leaft breath
of air above by which and by the appearmg of fome Birds,and Fifh playing and frisk
ing above the water, Mariners have an infallible prelage of the weather, and prepare
by that fair Warning accordingly agaifrft an approaching ftorm,happily fore-told thefti
by thefe watery Inhabitants from a fenfe and inftind they have of the enluing altera-
tl0n * ^ 0 T as not to be deny'd, That winds are generated in the womb of the Sea,
aswellasbowels of the Earth, and give an equal difturbance for their better making
way to their proper place or element.
TjJ* n ufually crofs this Cafpian Sea from Aftracanto Derhent or Ferrahaut-
Inis paflage is when the winds are favourable^ for through adverfe winds Sir Anthony
erley was eighty days in his paffage. The {hips here &tt not unlike our old Corraghes
wuiCn Jhuhs C4ar mentions in his Wars with Britain, and Luc an the like;, for they are
onely low d or ftitch'd together with hemp and cord, and comparatively with"ours
nave little ftrength through want of Iron. Many Canoos hew'd out of fome large Oak
we law, ot which provifion HyrcanU has plenty, eachfo large as capable to hold fit
Men,