1that conccaled Water, they muſt pierce into
the Body of the Hill, and eſpecially in one of
thoſe Parts where the Lines or Junctures of the
ſeveral Strata met together, which was likely
to be the moſt proper Place for what they
wanted, becauſe the Muſeles of the Hill meet
ing together muſt in all Probability form a na
tural Reſervoir. Beſides the ſeveral Coats
themſelves ſeemed to be of different Natures,
ſome likely to imbibe, others to retain the Wa
ter. Thus the reddiſh Stone is hardly ever
without Water; but then it is apt to deceive
you, for it often runs out through the Veins
with which that Stone abounds. The moiſt and
living Flint which lies about the Roots of the
Hill, broken and very ſharp, ſoon affords Wa
ter. The light Soil too gives you an eaſy Op
portunity of finding Plenty of Water; but then
it is of a bad Savour. But the Male-ſand and
the hard Grit are ſure to afford the beſt of
Water, and with the leaſt Danger of being ex
hauſted. It is quite the contrary with Chalk,
which being too cloſe, yields no Water; but
it is very good for retaining that which diſtills
into it. In common Sand we find but very
ſmall Veins, and thoſe foul, and apt to have a
Sediment. From white Clay we have but
ſmall Veins, but thoſe ſweeter than any other.
The ſoft Stone yields a very cold Water; the
black Earth a very clear one. In Gravel, if it
is looſe, we cannot dig with any very great
Hope; but if it grows cloſer as we come deeper,
there is no Danger of finding Water, and when
found, in either of them, there is no doubt of
its being well taſted. It is alſo certain, that by
the Help of Art there is no great Difficulty in
finding out the Spot under which the Vein lies:
And the Method by which we are taught to
do it, is as follows. In the Morning extremely
early, when the Air is perfectly clear and ſerene,
lay yourſelf flat with your Chin reſting upon
the Ground: Then take a careful Survey of
the Country all round you, and where-ever
you ſee a Vapour riſing out of the Earth, and
curling up into the Air like a Man's Breath in
a clear Froſt, there you may be pretty certain
of finding Water. But in order to be ſtill
more ſure of it, dig a Pit four Cubits deep and
as many broad, and in this Pit, about the Time
of Sun-ſet, put either an carthen Pot juſt freſh
taken out of the Furnace, or a ſmall Quantity
of unwaſhed Wool, or an earthen Pot unbak
ed, or a braſs Pot with the Mouth downwards
and rubbed over with Oil; then make up the
Mouth of the Pit with Boards and cover it
with Earth: If next Morning the baked Pot
be much heavier than it was over Night; if
the Wool be moiſtened; if the unbaked Pot be
wet; if the braſs Pot have Drops hanging up
on it, and if a Lamp left in the ſame Pit have
not conſumed much Oil, or if upon making a
Fire in it, the Earth emits a good deal of
Smoke, you may be very ſure that there are
Veins of Water concealed. In what Seaſon it
is beſt to make theſe Trials has not been ſo
clearly declared; but in ſome Writers I find
the following Obſervations. In the Dog-days,
not only the Earth, but alſo the Bodies of Ani
mals are very full of Humidity: Whence it
happens, that in this Seaſon the Trees grow
very moiſt under the Bark with Exceſs of Hu
mour; about this Time alſo Men are very ſub
ject to Fluxes of the Belly, and through exceſ
ſive Humectation, fall into frequent Fevers;
and the Waters ſpring out more abundantly at
this Time of the Year, than any other. Theo
phraſtus thinks the Reaſon of this to be, that
about this Time we have generally ſoutherly
Winds, which in their Nature are moiſt and
cloudy. Ariſtotle affirms, that in this Seaſon
the Ground is forced to emit Vapours by means
of the natural Fire which lies mixed in the
Bowels of the Earth. If this be true, thoſe
Times muſt be beſt for the above-mentioned
Trials, when thoſe Fires are moſt potent, or
leaſt oppreſſed with Exuberance of Humour,
as alſo when the Earth is not too much burnt
up and too dry. The Seaſon therefore which
I would recommend for this Purpoſe, ſhould
be the Spring in dry Places, and Autumn in
Places of more Shade. When your Hopes of
not being diſappointed are confirmed in the
Manner before ſhewn, you may begin to dig.
the Body of the Hill, and eſpecially in one of
thoſe Parts where the Lines or Junctures of the
ſeveral Strata met together, which was likely
to be the moſt proper Place for what they
wanted, becauſe the Muſeles of the Hill meet
ing together muſt in all Probability form a na
tural Reſervoir. Beſides the ſeveral Coats
themſelves ſeemed to be of different Natures,
ſome likely to imbibe, others to retain the Wa
ter. Thus the reddiſh Stone is hardly ever
without Water; but then it is apt to deceive
you, for it often runs out through the Veins
with which that Stone abounds. The moiſt and
living Flint which lies about the Roots of the
Hill, broken and very ſharp, ſoon affords Wa
ter. The light Soil too gives you an eaſy Op
portunity of finding Plenty of Water; but then
it is of a bad Savour. But the Male-ſand and
the hard Grit are ſure to afford the beſt of
Water, and with the leaſt Danger of being ex
hauſted. It is quite the contrary with Chalk,
which being too cloſe, yields no Water; but
it is very good for retaining that which diſtills
into it. In common Sand we find but very
ſmall Veins, and thoſe foul, and apt to have a
Sediment. From white Clay we have but
ſmall Veins, but thoſe ſweeter than any other.
The ſoft Stone yields a very cold Water; the
black Earth a very clear one. In Gravel, if it
is looſe, we cannot dig with any very great
Hope; but if it grows cloſer as we come deeper,
there is no Danger of finding Water, and when
found, in either of them, there is no doubt of
its being well taſted. It is alſo certain, that by
the Help of Art there is no great Difficulty in
finding out the Spot under which the Vein lies:
And the Method by which we are taught to
do it, is as follows. In the Morning extremely
early, when the Air is perfectly clear and ſerene,
lay yourſelf flat with your Chin reſting upon
the Ground: Then take a careful Survey of
the Country all round you, and where-ever
you ſee a Vapour riſing out of the Earth, and
curling up into the Air like a Man's Breath in
a clear Froſt, there you may be pretty certain
of finding Water. But in order to be ſtill
more ſure of it, dig a Pit four Cubits deep and
as many broad, and in this Pit, about the Time
of Sun-ſet, put either an carthen Pot juſt freſh
taken out of the Furnace, or a ſmall Quantity
of unwaſhed Wool, or an earthen Pot unbak
ed, or a braſs Pot with the Mouth downwards
and rubbed over with Oil; then make up the
Mouth of the Pit with Boards and cover it
with Earth: If next Morning the baked Pot
be much heavier than it was over Night; if
the Wool be moiſtened; if the unbaked Pot be
wet; if the braſs Pot have Drops hanging up
on it, and if a Lamp left in the ſame Pit have
not conſumed much Oil, or if upon making a
Fire in it, the Earth emits a good deal of
Smoke, you may be very ſure that there are
Veins of Water concealed. In what Seaſon it
is beſt to make theſe Trials has not been ſo
clearly declared; but in ſome Writers I find
the following Obſervations. In the Dog-days,
not only the Earth, but alſo the Bodies of Ani
mals are very full of Humidity: Whence it
happens, that in this Seaſon the Trees grow
very moiſt under the Bark with Exceſs of Hu
mour; about this Time alſo Men are very ſub
ject to Fluxes of the Belly, and through exceſ
ſive Humectation, fall into frequent Fevers;
and the Waters ſpring out more abundantly at
this Time of the Year, than any other. Theo
phraſtus thinks the Reaſon of this to be, that
about this Time we have generally ſoutherly
Winds, which in their Nature are moiſt and
cloudy. Ariſtotle affirms, that in this Seaſon
the Ground is forced to emit Vapours by means
of the natural Fire which lies mixed in the
Bowels of the Earth. If this be true, thoſe
Times muſt be beſt for the above-mentioned
Trials, when thoſe Fires are moſt potent, or
leaſt oppreſſed with Exuberance of Humour,
as alſo when the Earth is not too much burnt
up and too dry. The Seaſon therefore which
I would recommend for this Purpoſe, ſhould
be the Spring in dry Places, and Autumn in
Places of more Shade. When your Hopes of
not being diſappointed are confirmed in the
Manner before ſhewn, you may begin to dig.
*