IV 



persons who had been fishing for Barbel in the 

 Thames, and described the fish as being generally 

 many pounds weight, and as long as his arm, this 

 information was immediately followed by preparing 

 such tackle as we considered best calculated to 

 cope with these tenants of the deep ; we ac- 

 cordingly, full of expectation, proceeded to 

 Twickenham, but failing to meet with a man 

 and punt, were necessitated to undertake the 

 navigation of the boat ourselves ; it was in the 

 month of June, the sun was shining brilliantly 

 above us, and the water as clear as crystal, to these 

 obstacles we were then insensible, and indifferent 

 alike to the weather and the scoffing of some rude 

 persons who witnessed our embarkation, we toiled 

 for three or four hours before we were able to fix 

 the punt, it was our intention to proceed upwards, 

 but after passing round the aight 2 or 3 times, we 

 abandoned the bark to the force of the stream, 



