1heaps of ſand, carrying them by the tide; and force of the waves
into the Lake; it not having on its part any ſttength of current
that may raiſe and carry them away, they ſink to the bottom, and
ſo they choke up the Ports. And that this effect happeneth in
this manner, we have moſt frequent experiences thereof along the
Sea-coaſts: And I have obſerved in Tuſcany on the Roman
ſhores, and in the Kingdom of of Naples, that when a river fal
leth into the Sea, there is alwaies ſeen in the Sea it ſelf, at the place
of the rivets out-let, the reſemblance, as it were, of an half-Moon,
or a great ſhelf of ſettled ſand under water, much higher then the
reſt of the ſhore, and it is called in Tuſcany, il Cavallo; and here
in Venice, lo Scanto: the which cometh to be cut by the current
of the river, one while on the right ſide, another while on the
left, and ſometimes in the midſt, according as the Wind fits. And
a like effect I have obſerved in certain little Rillets of water,
along the Lake of Bolſena; with no other difference, ſave that of
ſmall and great.
into the Lake; it not having on its part any ſttength of current
that may raiſe and carry them away, they ſink to the bottom, and
ſo they choke up the Ports. And that this effect happeneth in
this manner, we have moſt frequent experiences thereof along the
Sea-coaſts: And I have obſerved in Tuſcany on the Roman
ſhores, and in the Kingdom of of Naples, that when a river fal
leth into the Sea, there is alwaies ſeen in the Sea it ſelf, at the place
of the rivets out-let, the reſemblance, as it were, of an half-Moon,
or a great ſhelf of ſettled ſand under water, much higher then the
reſt of the ſhore, and it is called in Tuſcany, il Cavallo; and here
in Venice, lo Scanto: the which cometh to be cut by the current
of the river, one while on the right ſide, another while on the
left, and ſometimes in the midſt, according as the Wind fits. And
a like effect I have obſerved in certain little Rillets of water,
along the Lake of Bolſena; with no other difference, ſave that of
ſmall and great.
Now whoſo well conſidereth this effect, plainly ſeeth that it
proceeds from no other, than from the contrariety of the ſtream
of the River, to the impetus of the Sea waves; ſeeing that
great abundance of ſand which the Sea continually throws upon
the ſhore, cometh to be driven into the Sea by the ſtream of the
river; and in that place where thoſe two impediments meet
with equal force, the ſand ſetleth under water, and thereupon is
made that ſame Shelf or Cavallo; the which if the river carry
water, and that any conſiderable ſtore, it ſhall be thereby cut
and broken; one while in one place, and another while in ano
ther; as hath been ſaid, according as the Wind blows: And
through that Chanel it is that Veſſels fall down into the Sea, and
again make to the river, as into a Port. But if the Water of
the river ſhall not be continual or ſhall be weak, in that caſe the
force of the Sea-Wind ſhall drive ſuch a quantity of ſand into
the mouth of the Port, and of the river, as ſhall wholly choak it
up. And hereupon there are ſeen along the Sea-ſide, very many
Lakes and Meers, which at certain times of the year abound with
waters, and the Lakes bear down that encloſure, and run into
the Sea.
proceeds from no other, than from the contrariety of the ſtream
of the River, to the impetus of the Sea waves; ſeeing that
great abundance of ſand which the Sea continually throws upon
the ſhore, cometh to be driven into the Sea by the ſtream of the
river; and in that place where thoſe two impediments meet
with equal force, the ſand ſetleth under water, and thereupon is
made that ſame Shelf or Cavallo; the which if the river carry
water, and that any conſiderable ſtore, it ſhall be thereby cut
and broken; one while in one place, and another while in ano
ther; as hath been ſaid, according as the Wind blows: And
through that Chanel it is that Veſſels fall down into the Sea, and
again make to the river, as into a Port. But if the Water of
the river ſhall not be continual or ſhall be weak, in that caſe the
force of the Sea-Wind ſhall drive ſuch a quantity of ſand into
the mouth of the Port, and of the river, as ſhall wholly choak it
up. And hereupon there are ſeen along the Sea-ſide, very many
Lakes and Meers, which at certain times of the year abound with
waters, and the Lakes bear down that encloſure, and run into
the Sea.
Now it is neceſſary to make the like reflections on our Ports
of Venice, Malamocco, Bondolo, and Chiozza; which in a certain
ſenſe are no other than Creeks, mouths, and openings of the ſhore
that parts the Lake from the main Sea; and therefore I hold that
if the Waters in the Lake were plentiful, they would have
ſtrength to ſcowr the mouths of the Ports thorowly, & with great
force; but the Water in the Lake failing, the Sea will with
out any oppoſal, bring ſuch a drift of ſand into the Ports; that if
of Venice, Malamocco, Bondolo, and Chiozza; which in a certain
ſenſe are no other than Creeks, mouths, and openings of the ſhore
that parts the Lake from the main Sea; and therefore I hold that
if the Waters in the Lake were plentiful, they would have
ſtrength to ſcowr the mouths of the Ports thorowly, & with great
force; but the Water in the Lake failing, the Sea will with
out any oppoſal, bring ſuch a drift of ſand into the Ports; that if