54 PAPERS, ETC. 
drainage, in order to turn them to better account 
than mere fisheries. What is now the river Brue, 
could never have been effectual in the winter, but 
perhaps was sufficient to keep the level dry through- 
out the summer; and the peat which formed the 
bottom of the lake, and which was an immense 
accumulation of vegetable matter, when kept drained 
soon became an excellent article for fuel to the sur- 
rounding inhabitants, and of course every year 
became firmer in consistence. That part of the 
turbary nearest the sea, was of course first drained, 
which accounts for the peat dug in Woolavington, 
Huntspill, Cossington, Chilton Polden,and Edington 
being so much more firm and heavy, than what is 
taken from Shapwick and that part of the turbary 
nearest to Glastonbury. 
A great flood and hurricane must have happened 
before the lake was drained, by the descent of the 
waters from the hills, immense numbers of trees, 
principally oak and yew, were rooted up and forced 
into the bog. They are often found in the peat 
about a foot from the surface, and are termed by 
the delvers or peat men “underground oak.” Hazel 
trees are also found with the leaves still perfect, 
and the nuts in such high preservation, that it can 
be ascertained that though the kernels were formed, 
they were but half ripe when the flood took 
place. I am not aware that there is any record, 
or even tradition, of the era when this awful visit- 
ation occurred. 
