Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.2): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

ON THE DELUGE. 679 again through cavities and hollows : such, on a grand scale, would be the effect of a diluvial wave urged against a moun- tain side. In such a war of waters, earth, and fire ; a buoyant, closed- in vessel — without masts, rudder, or external ' hamper '' to hold wind, or catch a sea — might have floated uninjured ; and the fewer openings, of any description, in her cover, or sides, the better for her security. Seeing nothing of the conflict around might have diminished the excessive terror which must have been felt by those that were within, except the confiding Chief. We do not find that the largest or highest ' swell injures a good ' sea-boat,' when in deep water, and far from land : the foaming ' breakers ' alone destroy. But, after all, such conjectures as these are vain , we cannot now know how far miraculous interposition extended — how far secondary causes were employed. The landing of the ark on a mountain of middle height appears remarkable ; because the climate of the highest, on which we might naturally suppose the ark rested, did we not know to the contrary, might have been insupportable during the time that Noah waited for the recess of the waters.* Rea- soning from existing circumstances, the temperature of the surface of the ocean would have been nearly that of the con- tiguous air : but after the waters had receded, high mountain tops would have gradually acquired their present frozen state. Here the reflection arises— when did icebergs begin to ap- pear ? Was not the chmate equable and temperate all over the world for some time after the Deluge, in consequence of the slow drying and warming of tropical regions, and gradual for- mation of ice near the poles ? Such a condition of climate would have favoured the distribution of animals. Those who oppose » The Deluge began in the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, and seventeenth day of the month (Gen. \y. 11), ; and Noah quitted the ark in the six hundred and first year, in the second month, and twenty.seventh day of the month (Gen. viii. 14), making a period of twelve months and ten days. Noah waited in the ark nearly five months after it grounded on Ararat.