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form of manure, the ufelefs and putrid remains of its 

 former produce. 



Where the water upon the lowef^ levels is run down to a 

 proper point, and where any attention has been paid to the 

 improvement of the furface, the herbage is more certain in 

 a dry feafon, and more applicable to the purpofes of grazing, 

 than upon the rich and deeper flapled lands, which form 

 the higher levels. 



A regular ftep of afcending planes is diflinflly to be traced 

 from the firfl: embankments ; rifing in richnefs and in height 

 to the prefent faltings. Thefe are ftill open to the fea, and 

 are liable to a flight overflowing from the top of the fpring 

 tides; and as every tide makes an increafe in their height 

 by depofiting its fediment on their furface; and as upon all 

 thefe fallings there is a conftant and regular increment of 

 foil from the annual growth and decay of vegetables, thefe 

 marflies in a few years will be raifed to the higheft level of 

 the tides, and thus without the induftry of man will the 

 fea be excluded from the fliores, and retire further from 

 ihem. 



From the fituation, general ftruclure, and materials, of 

 which thefe iflands are formed ; it is obvious, that they can 

 afford no fprings of water; and confequently, that the only 

 fupply for drinking, or for fencing, is to be obtained from 

 the rain, or from the melted fnows : this forms but a preca- 

 rious and fcanty dependance, which in the fummer feafon 

 is frequently dried up, or by putrefaction rendered extremely 

 injurious to the health of the inhabitants, and too frequently 

 alfo to that of the horfes and cattle : Hence there are but few 

 refident occupiers in the iflands; and in particular dry fea- 

 fons, the larger flock are driven from Foulnefs to Shoe- 

 bury for water ; and in like manner from the other iflands, 



and 



