1down ſome Land-flood upon it, which may
ſubſide there, it will make a Cruſt over the
whole. But of this in another Place. If the
Region is ſubject to Inundations, as Lombardy
along the Banks of the Po; Venice, and ſome
other Place; in that Caſe, ſeveral Particulars
are to be conſidered: For the Water is trouble
ſome either from its over-abundance, or from
its Motion, or from both theſe. Upon theſe
we ſhall make ſome brief Obſervations. The
Emperor Claudius bored through a Hill near
the Lake Fucinus, and ſo carried away the ſu
perfluous Water into the River; and perhaps it
was for the ſame Reaſon, that M. Curius open
ed a Way for the Lake Velinus to diſcharge it
ſelf into the Sea. Thus we ſee the Lake Ne
morenſis, carried into the Lake Laurentina
through a Hill bored on purpoſe; to which
we owe thoſe pleaſant Gardens and that fruit
ful Grove which lie below the Former of thoſe
Lakes.
ſubſide there, it will make a Cruſt over the
whole. But of this in another Place. If the
Region is ſubject to Inundations, as Lombardy
along the Banks of the Po; Venice, and ſome
other Place; in that Caſe, ſeveral Particulars
are to be conſidered: For the Water is trouble
ſome either from its over-abundance, or from
its Motion, or from both theſe. Upon theſe
we ſhall make ſome brief Obſervations. The
Emperor Claudius bored through a Hill near
the Lake Fucinus, and ſo carried away the ſu
perfluous Water into the River; and perhaps it
was for the ſame Reaſon, that M. Curius open
ed a Way for the Lake Velinus to diſcharge it
ſelf into the Sea. Thus we ſee the Lake Ne
morenſis, carried into the Lake Laurentina
through a Hill bored on purpoſe; to which
we owe thoſe pleaſant Gardens and that fruit
ful Grove which lie below the Former of thoſe
Lakes.
Cæſar had Thoughts of cutting a Number
of Trenches near Herda in Spain, in order to
diſcharge ſome Part of the Water of the River
Sicoris. The Erymanthus, a River of Arcadia,
very full of Windings, is almoſt exhauſted by
the Inhabitants in watering their Lands, by
which means his Remains fall into the Sea with
out ſo much as preſerving his Name. Cyrus
cut the Ganges into a vaſt Number of Canals,
Eutropius ſays, no leſs than four hundred and
ſixty, by which he ſo ſunk that River, that it
might eaſily be forded, and ſometimes even dri
ſhod. Near the Tomb of King Halyattes, in
the Country of the Sardes, built chiefly by the
female Slaves, is the Lake Coloe, dug by Art
on purpoſe to receive Inundations. Myris dug
a Lake in Meſopotamia above the City, three
hundred and forty Furlongs in Circumference,
and threeſcore Cubits deep, to receive the Nile
whenever it roſe higher than uſual. Beſides
the ſtrong Banks made for keeping in the Eu
phrates, that it might not overflow and waſh
away the Houſes, ſome Lakes were alſo dug,
together with ſome vaſt hollow Caves, that the
ſtanding Water in thoſe might receive and
break the Fury of Inundations. Thus much
may ſuffice of Waters which are apt to over
flow, or to do Miſchief by the Impetuoſity of
their Motion. If any thing is wanting to this
Head, we ſhall inſert it immediately, when we
come to ſpeak of Rivers and the Sea.
of Trenches near Herda in Spain, in order to
diſcharge ſome Part of the Water of the River
Sicoris. The Erymanthus, a River of Arcadia,
very full of Windings, is almoſt exhauſted by
the Inhabitants in watering their Lands, by
which means his Remains fall into the Sea with
out ſo much as preſerving his Name. Cyrus
cut the Ganges into a vaſt Number of Canals,
Eutropius ſays, no leſs than four hundred and
ſixty, by which he ſo ſunk that River, that it
might eaſily be forded, and ſometimes even dri
ſhod. Near the Tomb of King Halyattes, in
the Country of the Sardes, built chiefly by the
female Slaves, is the Lake Coloe, dug by Art
on purpoſe to receive Inundations. Myris dug
a Lake in Meſopotamia above the City, three
hundred and forty Furlongs in Circumference,
and threeſcore Cubits deep, to receive the Nile
whenever it roſe higher than uſual. Beſides
the ſtrong Banks made for keeping in the Eu
phrates, that it might not overflow and waſh
away the Houſes, ſome Lakes were alſo dug,
together with ſome vaſt hollow Caves, that the
ſtanding Water in thoſe might receive and
break the Fury of Inundations. Thus much
may ſuffice of Waters which are apt to over
flow, or to do Miſchief by the Impetuoſity of
their Motion. If any thing is wanting to this
Head, we ſhall inſert it immediately, when we
come to ſpeak of Rivers and the Sea.
CHAP. X.
Of Roads; of Paſſages by Water, and of artificial Banks to Rivers.
The next Buſineſs is to get as conveni
ently as is poſſible from abroad, thoſe
Neceſſaries which we cannot be ſupplied with
at home. To this Purpoſe are Roads and
Highways, which are to be made ſuch, that
whatever is wanting may be eaſily brought, in
its proper Seaſon. There are two Sorts of
Highways, one by Land, the other by Water,
as we hinted in the formar Part of this Work.
Care is to be taken that the Highway by Land
is not too deep, nor too much broke by Car
riages; and beſides thoſe Cauſeways which we
have ſpoken of formerly, we ſhould be ſure to
let them be open to a good deal of Sun and to
a free Air, and that they be not covered with
too much Shade. In our Days, near the Wood
by Ravenna, the Road which uſed to be very
bad, has been made extremely convenient by
cutting down the Trees, and admitting the
Sun to it. We may generally obſerve little
Puddles under Trees which ſtand by the Side
of the Road, occaſioned by the Tread of Cat
tle, and the Shade preventing the Ground
from drying ſo faſt as it otherwiſe would do,
ſo that the Rain always ſettles and lies there.
Highways (if we may ſo call them) by Water
are of two Sorts: One which may be corrected
and forced; as Rivers or Canals; the other
which cannot; as the Sea. We may venture
to ſay, that there happen the ſame Faults in a
River as we find in a ſmaller Veſſel for con
taining Water; that is, that perhaps either the
Sides, or the Bottom are defective or not ſound
and convenient. For as a large Quantity of
Water is neceſſary for the carrying of Ships, if
it is not contained in ſtout Banks, it may break
its Way through them and drown all the Coun
try, and ſo even ſpoil the Highways on Shore.
If the Bottom be very ſteep, how can we ima
gine that a Ship can make its Way up againſt
the Rapidity of the Stream? and if it riſes in
to Shelves, it will ſpoil the Navigation. Upon
bringing the famous Obelisk from Ægypt to
Rome, it was found that the Tyber was a more
convenient River for Navigation than the Nile.
The latter indeed was much broader, but the
ently as is poſſible from abroad, thoſe
Neceſſaries which we cannot be ſupplied with
at home. To this Purpoſe are Roads and
Highways, which are to be made ſuch, that
whatever is wanting may be eaſily brought, in
its proper Seaſon. There are two Sorts of
Highways, one by Land, the other by Water,
as we hinted in the formar Part of this Work.
Care is to be taken that the Highway by Land
is not too deep, nor too much broke by Car
riages; and beſides thoſe Cauſeways which we
have ſpoken of formerly, we ſhould be ſure to
let them be open to a good deal of Sun and to
a free Air, and that they be not covered with
too much Shade. In our Days, near the Wood
by Ravenna, the Road which uſed to be very
bad, has been made extremely convenient by
cutting down the Trees, and admitting the
Sun to it. We may generally obſerve little
Puddles under Trees which ſtand by the Side
of the Road, occaſioned by the Tread of Cat
tle, and the Shade preventing the Ground
from drying ſo faſt as it otherwiſe would do,
ſo that the Rain always ſettles and lies there.
Highways (if we may ſo call them) by Water
are of two Sorts: One which may be corrected
and forced; as Rivers or Canals; the other
which cannot; as the Sea. We may venture
to ſay, that there happen the ſame Faults in a
River as we find in a ſmaller Veſſel for con
taining Water; that is, that perhaps either the
Sides, or the Bottom are defective or not ſound
and convenient. For as a large Quantity of
Water is neceſſary for the carrying of Ships, if
it is not contained in ſtout Banks, it may break
its Way through them and drown all the Coun
try, and ſo even ſpoil the Highways on Shore.
If the Bottom be very ſteep, how can we ima
gine that a Ship can make its Way up againſt
the Rapidity of the Stream? and if it riſes in
to Shelves, it will ſpoil the Navigation. Upon
bringing the famous Obelisk from Ægypt to
Rome, it was found that the Tyber was a more
convenient River for Navigation than the Nile.
The latter indeed was much broader, but the