THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 6 1 



by a calm river, and contemplated what I shall 

 now relate to you. 



And first concerning rivers : there be so many 

 wonders reported and written of them, and of the 

 several creatures that be bred and live in them, and 

 those by authors of so good credit, that we need 

 not to deny them an historical faith. 



As namely of a river in Epirus, that puts out any 

 lighted torch, and kindles any torch that was not 

 lighted. 1 Some waters, being drunk, cause mad- 

 ness, some drunkenness, and some laughter to death. 

 The river Belarus in a few hours turns a rod or 

 wand to stone ; and our Camden mentions the like 

 in England, and the like in Lochmere in Ireland. 

 There is also a river in Arabia, of which all the 

 sheep that drink thereof have their wool turned 

 into a vermilion color. 2 And one of no less credit 

 than Aristotle tells us of a merry river, the river 

 Elusina, that dances at the noise of music ; for with 

 music it bubbles, dances, and grows sandy, and so 

 continues till the music ceases, but then it pres- 

 ently returns to its wonted calmness and clearness. 

 And Camden tells us of a well near to Kirby in West- 

 moreland, that ebbs and flows several times every 

 day ; and he tells us of a river in Surrey, it is called 

 Mole, that after it has run several miles, being op- 

 posed by hills, finds or makes itself a way under 



1 From evolving sulphuretted hydrogen gas. 



2 The river referred to was probably the Adonis, running out 

 of Mount Libanus, which turns red, from the red soil of the moun- 

 tain at the time of freshets. 



