THE SANDS.

Origin of Sand—Sand now carried down to the Sea—The Sands of Egypt and the adjacent Desert—The Suez Canal—The Sands of Egypt—Coast Dunes and Sand Plains—Sand Banks—Dunes on Coast of America—Dunes of Western Europe—Formation of Dunes—Character of Dune Sand—Interior Structure of Dunes—Form of Dunes—Geological Importance of Dunes—Inland Dunes—Age, Character, and Permanence of Dunes—Use of Dunes as Barrier against the Sea—Encroachments of the Sea—The Lümfjord—Encroachments of the Sea—Drifting of Dune Sands—Dunes of Gascony—Dunes of Denmark—Dunes of Prussia—Artificial Formation of Dunes—Trees suitable for Dune Plantations—Extent of Dunes in Europe—Dune Vineyards of Cape Breton—Removal of Dunes—Inland Sand Plains—The Landes of Gascony—The Belgian Campine—Sands and Steppes of Eastern Europe—Advantages of Reclaiming Dunes—Government Works of Improvement, [451]

[CHAPTER VI.]

PROJECTED OR POSSIBLE GEOGRAPHICAL CHANGES BY MAN.

Cutting of Marine Isthmuses—The Suez Canal—Canal across Isthmus of Darien—Canals to the Dead Sea—Maritime Canals in Greece—Canal of Saros—Cape Cod Canal—Diversion of the Nile—Changes in the Caspian—Improvements in North American Hydrography—Diversion of the Rhine—Draining of the Zuiderzee—Waters of the Karst—Subterranean Waters of Greece—Soil below Rock—Covering Rocks with Earth—Wadies of Arabia Petræa—Incidental Effects of Human Action—Resistance to great Natural Forces—Effects of Mining—Espy's Theories—River Sediment—Nothing small in Nature, [517]

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTORY.

NATURAL ADVANTAGES OF THE TERRITORY OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE—PHYSICAL DECAY OF THAT TERRITORY AND OF OTHER PARTS OF THE OLD WORLD—CAUSES OF THE DECAY—NEW SCHOOL OF GEOGRAPHERS—REACTION OF MAN UPON NATURE—OBSERVATION OF NATURE—COSMICAL AND GEOLOGICAL INFLUENCES—GEOGRAPHICAL INFLUENCE OF MAN—UNCERTAINTY OF OUR METEOROLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE—MECHANICAL EFFECTS PRODUCED BY MAN ON THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH—IMPORTANCE AND POSSIBILITY OF PHYSICAL RESTORATION—STABILITY OF NATURE—RESTORATION OF DISTURBED HARMONIES—DESTRUCTIVENESS OF MAN—PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENT—HUMAN AND BRUTE ACTION COMPARED—FORMS AND FORMATIONS MOST LIABLE TO PHYSICAL DEGRADATION—PHYSICAL DECAY OF NEW COUNTRIES—CORRUPT INFLUENCE OF PRIVATE CORPORATIONS, note.