A WAXING WATER 103 



accordingly went, and she was decidedly waxing, he 

 said. 



All this was a mystery to me at that time ; but 

 I learned from him that when the river is about to 

 flood, the rain that has fallen near its sources comes 

 pouring down from the gulleys and drains, and 

 propels the clear water before it, which then climbs 

 the dry stones of the channel, exhibiting a convex 

 surface, like wine in a glass filled to the brim. 

 This effect cannot be perceived where the river is 

 in quick motion ; but in the little bays and pools 

 that are here and there in the channel, it is 

 very visible : the water will rise to some height 

 before it is in the slightest degree discoloured, and 

 this in proportion to the quantity of rain that has 

 fallen near the sources ; so that a stranger would 

 not notice the change. In strong spates it is after- 

 wards of a reddish cast, and fines by degrees into a 

 porter colour, which gets clearer and clearer till it 

 resumes its wonted transparency. It must be noted 

 that I speak with reference to the Tweed only ; for 

 it is obvious that every river is coloured somewhat 

 differently, according to the nature of the soil from 

 which, and through which, it flows. Thus the Tay 

 partakes much of the dark moss and peat colour ; 

 and on part of the Inverness coast, where some of 

 the rivers come from a hard stony soil, they are 

 never much discoloured, or, if discoloured, in a 

 different manner. Thus the fisherman is kept two 

 or three days days from his sport. And he may 

 as well go home when the waxing begins, though 

 the water is clear, and the rise is imperceptible, 

 except in the way I have mentioned ; for it is a 



