STUDY VII. 43 



Intendant of the province provides the labourers ; 

 all things concur to the effeâ; propofed, except 

 Nature. From the bofom of rotten eajth arife pu- 

 trid emanations, which prefently fcatter death 

 among the workmen. 



As a remedy to thefe inconveniencies, I beg 

 leave to throw out fome obfervations, which I be- 

 lieve to be well-founded. A piece of land entirely 

 covered with water is never unwholefome. It be- 

 comes fo, only when the water which covers it eva- 

 porates, and expofes to the air the muds of it's 

 bottom and fides. The putridity of amorafsmight 

 be remedied as effedually by transforming it into 

 a lake, as into folid ground. It's fituation mufl 

 determine whether of thefe two objeds is to be 

 preferred. If it is in a bottom, without declivity, 

 and without efflux, the indication of Nature ought 

 to be followed up, and the whole covered with 

 water. If there is not enough to form a complete 

 inundation, it might be cut into deep ditches, and 

 the ftufFdug out thrown on the adjoining lands. 

 Thus we fhould have, at once, canals always full 

 of water, and little ifles both fertile and whole- 

 fome. As to the feafon proper for fuch labours, 

 the Spring and Autumn ought to be preferred ; 

 and great care muft be taken to place the labourers 

 "with their faces to windward, and to fupply, by 

 means of machinery, the neceffity, to which they 



are 



