NATURAL

HISTORY

First Century

Bacon organized his Natural History into "Centuries," which are groups of 100 experiments or observations each.

Dig a pit upon the seashore, somewhat above the high-water mark, and sink it as deep as the low-water mark. As the tide comes in, it will fill with fresh and drinkable original: "potable" water. This is commonly practiced on the coast of Barbary A historical term for the coastal regions of North Africa., where other fresh water is lacking. Caesar knew this well when he was besieged in Alexandria; for by digging pits in the seashore, he frustrated the laborious works of the enemies, who had turned the seawater into the wells of Alexandria, and so saved his army, which was then in despair. But Caesar mistook the cause; for he thought that all sea sands had natural springs of fresh water. But it is plain that it is actually seawater, because the pit fills according to the measurement of the tide; and the seawater, passing or straining through the sands, leaves the saltiness behind.

I remember to have read that a trial has been made of saltwater passed through earth, through ten vessels, one within another, and yet it has not lost its saltiness enough to become drinkable. But the same author says that (by the report of another) saltwater drained through twenty vessels has become fresh. This experiment seems to contradict that other regarding pits made by the seaside; and yet only in part, if it be true that twenty repetitions produce the effect. But it is worth noting how poor the imitations of nature are in the common course of experiments, unless they are guided by great judgment and some good light of axioms In this context, "axioms" refers to established principles or laws of nature.. For first, there is little difference between a passage