s 
m53 Dr. Mitchill’s Obfervations on Pot-Afh, 
his approach, a crab came forth to the affiftance of Hydra: 
but Hercules crufhed the crab, and afterwards flew Hydra. 
Of the heads of Hydra, it’ was reported, when ome was cut 
off, two would fprout from the wound, unlefs prevented by 
the immediate application of fire. Hercules, availing himfelf 
of the aid of fire, fucceeded in his undertaking. In the ninth _ 
figure of Montfaucon’s 66th plate, there is a figure of Her- 
eulés with crabs near his feet, having, as the learned father 
eurioufly enough remarks, a relation to fome myftery which 
he does not comprehend. (1 Antiquity ee Art. Her- 
eules, chap. ix.) 
Now, it appears to me, this 1s an sffegsFy expels of the 
peftilential vapours emitted by the bog of Lerna, and of the 
means found by experience ufeful to “drain off its flagnant 
water, and to clear the adjoining and furrounding mor ites! 
The word “ hydra’’ is derived from idig, water. This 
fluid then, detained upon the marfh of Lerna, favoured oc- 
eafionally the production of unwholefome exhalations, Such 
vapours, being at once invifible and i injurious, were afcribed 
to fome preternatural enemy or deftruétive monfter; and 
being difiufed, or wafted around the country, and often- 
times cutting off both man and beaft, were fancied to be 
the effec of: the fuppcfed nionfter’s poifon. According to 
their extent and virulence was fhe reported to have fewer or 
more heads for preparing and inflicting this poifon. The 
mere draining off the water, and leaving the mud and flime 
bare, was termed ‘cutting off an head; and the imcreafe of 
deleterious gafes, m confequente of expofing fuch a naked 
furface, was aptly exprefled by the fprouting forth of two in 
its place. By cauterifing, or fearing, was underftood either 
the folar heat in drying the ground after the water was drained 
away, or the burning up of the trees, fhrubs, and obftacles 
to free ventilation by ordinary combuftion, or perhaps both. 
The crab, who was Hydra’s ally, perhaps does not refer to the 
fun’s place in the conftellation Cancer, fo much as to fhew the 
frequent recurrence of the difficulties, and the fuperior ftreneth 
and {kill requifite to overcome then:. In the whole allegory 
© Hercules’? may be underitood to mean “ infuperable con- 
rage and induftry.”” North America, at the elofe of the 18th 
7 century, 
