"If we follow the western coasts of America, from Behring's
straits, which hardly form a sensible interruption, to Cape
Horn, we find an uninterrupted chain of mountains. From time to
time this chain retires a little into the interior, but more
frequently it immediately borders upon the great ocean, in
immense cliffs, and often by frightful precipices. On the other
side of it, the manner in which the lakes discharge themselves,
and the direction of the great rivers, show sufficiently, that
the surface of America inclines gently towards the Atlantic
ocean.

"It results from a combination of these observations, that the
greatest chains of mountains on our globe, are ranged in an arc
of a circle around the great ocean, and the sea of India; that
they seem to present rapid descents towards the immense basin
they surround, and gentle slopes on their opposite sides; in
fine, from the Cape of Good Hope to Behring's straits, and
thence to Cape Horn, the eye of the most timid observer cannot
fail to see some trace of an arrangement, as surprising from
its uniformity, as from the vast extent of ground which it
embraces.

"Let us pause for an instant to consider this great fact of
physical geography. If we conceive ourselves placed in New
South Wales, with our face turned towards the north, we have
America on our right hand, Africa and Asia on our left. These
continents, which we hardly before ventured to approach in our
imagination, considered in this point of view, form a
consistent system, whose structure, as far as we are acquainted
with it, presents in its great features an astonishing
symmetry. A chain of enormous mountains surrounds an enormous
basin; this basin, divided into two by a vast collection of
islands, often bathes with its waves the feet of this great
primary chain of the earth."

In this chain lie the greatest mountains of the globe. One peak of the
Himmalayah rises nearly five miles above the level of the sea; another
has a height of 25,500 feet; and a third of 22,217 feet. In South
America are Soratu, in height 25,250 feet.

Illimani, 24,000
Chimborazo, 21,400

not to mention Antisana, Mauflos, Chillau, Cotopaxi, all of which exceed
in height any mountains that do not lie in this great system. Nay, did
not the great Volcano of Owyhee e