266 ON SWIMMING, Sec. 



the bottom is discernible at the depths mentioned above. 

 In the Mindora Si-a I have seen the spotted coral at the 

 bottom when the depth of M^atcr over it was twenty-live 

 fathoms; and liave often tacked ship on the edges of co- 

 ral shoals, by the appearance of the bottom, in depths of 

 ten and twelve fathoms. 

 The author can Swimming has ever been my favourite amusement. At 

 with the face M^^ras, where the snrf is higii, and ships' boats not per- 

 undtr water mitted to land, I once had the im])rndence to swim on 

 as in theaiT^ shore through the surf, by way of diversion, and returned 

 through it to a boat at a grapnel outside, ^vhich nearly 

 cost me my life, being obliged to dive so frequently in 

 resisting many heavy surfs. I have always observed 

 when the bottom was clear, and any object upon it visible 

 when my head v/as above water, it was nearly as well per- 

 ceived when my head was under water. At the island 

 Diego Garcia, where the water is very transparent in the 

 harbour and at other places, I have frequently, when 

 swimming underwater, seen fishes darting about in vari- 

 ous directions, and every article on the bottom very 

 plain. The legs and feet of persons standing at six or 

 eight yards distance were always visible in clear water 

 when my head was under it ; and at discretion easily 

 taken hold of, by swimming under water to them with 

 open eyes. 

 As far as his I have always supposed that all persons could see under 



co« 'au'^Dcr- '^^'^^^'''? ^^ timidity did not prevent them from open- 

 sons can see ing their eyes during immersion ; but must own that 1 

 under water j,ave been in company witir persons who could swim, but 

 could not be prevailed on to open their eyes underwater, 

 affirming that they could not, although they endeavoured 

 to doit. Those persons who could open their eyes with 

 facility whilst immersed, always asserted that they saw 

 •-but not ob- objects in the water. Vision under water is probably 

 whUe^h^mt''^' confined to this element, for I never could distinguish 

 selves are im- external objects, such as the sun, clouds, &c. but only 

 mersed. confused rays of light (in looking upward) were viable. 



Infants proba- It is probable that most infants will float ; I have seen 

 Wy will float, one of ten or twelve months old fall from a boat into tiie 

 water; the mother leaped in and rescued it, apparently 

 without either receiving injury. The natives of China 



that 



