Still he continued over it: turning and returning _gently_ in small Curves. 179. He presently passed _Northward_ of the Rivulet _over_ a woody Country, in which he coud discover _no_ Variety of _Colouring_ either in the Ground Work or Enclosures; the whole having a _dark green_ Cast. [Sidenote: Unusual Objects below.] An Appearance of a very distant and remote _Plain_ then presented itself; the Size of a moderate Carpet: of a _ruddy_ Colour; and surrounded by a _green_ Border. Being an unusual Object it continued to engage his Attention. 180. Not far from the first, another of the same Kind, of a more dusky Cast, but _less_ and somewhat nearer, that is _more under_ him, then attracted his Notice. He wished to _decipher them_, but in vain. [Sidenote: The Prospects opened, which demonstrated his Descent, owing to the Loss of Gass.] 181. The Sun shone +bright+ on both: and in a very few Minutes, the _circular_ Prospects _encreased_: which was now become a _regular_ and undeniable Signal that the Balloon had begun to _descend_. (Section 17.) The _latter_ Plain appeared, at the first, about the Size of a common _Handkerchief_. The Balloon continued to descend. [Sidenote: The same Spot perpetually varying to the Eye of the Aironaut.] 182. In a Couple of Minutes, the Plain appeared intersected +closely+ every Way, like the _Coat_ of a _ripening Melon_. Descending a little _lower_; it seemed covered with a _Net_, the _Meshes_ of which were distinct. And _lower_ still; it extended itself _greatly_ on _all_ Sides: (at which Time a certain Degree of _Chilliness_ prevailed:) and was then _again mistaken_, and looked upon as a +dry+ _Heath_, deeply overrun with Shrubs of the same Name. [Sidenote: Ballast thrown out gradually.] 183. The Descent of the Balloon being _rather_ quicker than was expected, or desired; it was deemed expedient to have Recourse to the _last_ Bag of Sand, which lay open, and weighed 20 Pounds. It was accordingly thrown out, a Handful at a Time. [Sidenote: The remaining Ballast thrown out _at once_, in all 20lb. weight.] But that Method not seeming _sufficient_ to _check_ the Descent, when at the Height of 150 or 200 Yards; _all_ the Sand was poured out, and the Bag thrown down. [Sidenote: Gentle Landing of the Balloon.] This had the desired Effect: and the Balloon continuing to descend with a Motion _uniformly retarded_, alighted, as the +down+ _of a Thistle_, in the gentlest Manner, without +any+ _Rebound_. [Sidenote: Anchor and Cable not made use of.] 184. There being scarcely a _Breath_ of Air abroad, the Aironaut made no Use of his Anchor and Cable: but continued as from the first, +standing+ _upright_ in the Car; which, having moved a Yard or two _only_ along the Ground, rested in a perpendicular Situation. The Balloon, suspended over him like a _vast_ Umbrella, +levitated+ _vertically_ in the grandest Manner.