O SPRINGS, RIVERS, CANALS, LAKES, 



Rivers, as every body has seen, are always broadest at the mouth, 

 and narrower towards their source. But what is less known, and 

 probably more deserving curiosity, is, that they run in a more direct 

 channel as iiiev immediately leave their sources j and that their 

 sinuosities and turnings become mere numerous as they proceed. It 

 is a certain sign among the savages of North America, that they 

 are near the sea, when they find the rivers winding, and every now 

 and then changing their direction. And this is^ven now become an 

 indication to the Europeans themselves, in their journeys through 

 those trackless forests. As those sinuosities, therefore, increase as 

 the river approaches the sea, it is not to be wondered at, that they 

 sometimes divide, and thus disembogue by different channels. The 

 Danube disembogues into the Euxine by seven mouths; the Nile, 

 by the same number; and the Wolga, by seventy. 



There are some rivers which are said to lose themselves in chasms 

 under the earth, and to flow for several miles in secret and undis- 

 covered channels. On this circumstance is founded one of the most 

 beautiful fables of antiquity, relative to the fountain of Arethusa, 

 in Sicily. The same thing is affirmed of the Rhine, and even of 

 the river Mole, in Sum, which from this circumstance derives its 

 name. With respect to the two latter rivers, however, some doubts 

 are entertained of the aserted fact. 



On this subject there is a valuable article in the Memoirs 

 lately published, by the abbe Guettard. " It is very surprising (lie 

 observes) if we reflect on it, that a river in its course, which is very 

 often very extensive, should not meet with spongy soils to swal- 

 low up its waters, or gulphs in which they are lo^t ; nevertheless, as 

 there has been hitheito known but a small number of rivers whose 

 waters thus disappear, this phenomenon has been accounted very 

 extraordinary, both by the ancients and moderns. M. Guettard 

 next describes what he has observed in several rivers of Normandy, 

 which are lost and afterwards appear again; these are five in num- 

 ber, viz. the Uille, the Ithom, the Aure, the river of Sap Andre*, 

 and the Dr6me. The three first disappear gradually, and then come 

 in sight again; the fourth loses itself entirely by degrees, but after- 

 wards re appears; the fifth loses some of its water in its course, 

 and ends by precipitating itself into a cavity, whence it is never 

 seen to rise again. 



What seems to occasion the loss of the Rille, the Ithon, and the 



