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Show ANNOTATIONS AND ADDITIONS. 187 ANNOTA.TIONS A.ND A.DDITIONS. (1) p. 170.-" Across the peaceful ocean arm, which fills the wide valley between the American shore and Western Africa." The Atlantic Ocean, from the 23d degree of south, to the 70th degree of north latitude, has the form of an excavated longitudinal valley, in which the salient and re-entering angles are opposite to each other. I first developed this idea in my "Essai d'un Tableau geologique de l' Amerique meridionale," printed in the Journal de Physique, t. liii. p. 61. (Geognostische Skizze von Siidamerika, in Gilbert's Annalen der Physik, bd. xvi. 1804, s. 394-449.) From the Canaries, and especially from the 21st degree of north latitude and the 23d degree of west longitude, to the north-east coast of South America, the surface of the sea is usually so calm, and the waves so gentle, that an open boat might navigate in safety. (.!!) p. 170.-" A wonderful outlYreak of f1·esh springs in the middle of the ocean." 0 n the southern coast of the Island of Cuba, south-west of the Port of Batabano, in the Gulf of Xagua, a few miles from the coast, springs of fresh water gush from the bed of the ocean, probably under the influence of hydrostatic pressure, and rise through the midst of the salt water. They issue forth with such force that boats are cautious in approaching this locality, which has an ill repute on account of the high cross sea thus caused. Trading vessels sailing along the coast, and not disposed to land, sometimes visit these springs to take in a supply of fresh water, which is thus obtained in the open sea. The greater the depth from which the water is taken, the fresher it is found to be. The "river cow," Trichecus manati, which does not remain habitually in salt water, is often killed here. This remarkable phenomenon of fresh springs issuing from the sea, has been most carefully examined by a friend of mine, Don Fran- |
