BOOK III. CPIAP. VI. s-jg 



befides, with numbers of other an'imalcidce ; and is further cor- 

 rupted with ftinking aquatic phmts and filthy ooze[;-]. It is 

 difficult to exclude mufkeetos from water referved for uic, v/ith- 

 out keeping the mouth of the jar covered with a piece of ofnabrig-, 

 or other cloth, which may hinder them from penetrating, at the 

 fame time not wholly excluding the admifllon of frefli air. They 

 depofite their eggs in river-water, and in cjflerns. I have even 

 known them hatch in lime-water : but, when the eggs are hatched, 

 the young ones are very confpicuous to the eye, and appear like 

 little tad-poles. Whenever the water is fufpefted to contain them, 

 it is carefully flrained, for drinking, through a clean linen cloth 

 three or four times doubled. The Spaniards generally made ufe 

 of percolating fiones; and, indeed, many perfons now ufe them 

 in Jamaica. Tiiey tranfmit an exceeding pure, and very cool 

 water; but the procefs is rather tedious, where a large quantity is 

 every day wanted. Mod people here put out of doors, in a (haded 

 place (the more open to the wind, the better), feveral fmall un- 

 glazed jars, with water ; which is always coolefl in thofe whofe 

 texture is fo loofe as to admit part of the water to penetrate through, 

 and appear in a conftant moifture on their outfide; the evaporation, 

 no doubt, contributing greatly to the cnolnefs of the fluid within, 

 by carrying off the heated, rarefied particles inceflantly. 



Cool water may juftly be regarded in this climate as medicinal, 

 and necefliiry either to preferve health or reftore it. Many perfons, 

 afflifted with putrid fevers, have even recovered by no other re- 

 medy ; and, in thefe diforders, it is remarkable with what ea- 

 gernefs and pleafure the patient Vv'ill drink cold water in preference 

 to lubacid liquors, or any other. The natives drink it almofl uni- 

 verfally. Sir Hans Sloane mentions it as the cuftom, when he was 

 here, to take a glafs of it every morning at getting out of bed; 

 and he judges it extremely conducive to health, as it not only may 

 cool the inflamed blood, creating a rheumatifm (very often taken 

 for, and almort always joined with, the belly-ach), but it may 

 alfo clear the bowels of fome four or (harp matter, which may 

 happen to lodge in their cells. He therefore efteems good water to 



[r] A dead lizard being pi'.t into a tub of fredi rain-water, tlie water became jnitrid in about 

 twelve hours. 



4 E 2 be 



