98 WATER WAXING. 



Mertoun into the water, they wud na look at her ; for the 

 storm cam from the wast last nigcht ye ken, and she * 

 wull be waxing the morn ; but we can gang doon to 

 her and see." Down we accordingly went, and she was 

 decidedly waxing, he said. 



All this was a mystery to me at that time ; but 

 I learned from him that when the river is about to 

 flood, the rain that has fallen near its sources comes 

 pouring down from the gulleys and drains, and propels 

 the clear water before it, which then climbs the dry 

 stones of the channel, exhibiting a convex surface, like 

 wine in a glass filled to the brim. This effect cannot be 

 perceived where the river is in quick motion ; but in 

 the little bays and pools that are here and there in the 

 channel, it is very visible : the water will rise to some 

 height before it is in the slightest degree discoloured, 

 and this in proportion to the quantity of rain that has 

 fallen near the sources; so that a stranger would not 

 notice the change. In strong spates it is afterwards of 

 a reddish cast, and fines by degrees into a porter colour, 

 which gets clearer and clearer till it resumes its wonted 

 transparency. It must be noted that I speak with 

 reference to the Tweed only; for it is obvious that 

 every river is coloured somewhat differently, according 

 to the nature of the soil from which, and through 

 which, it flows. Thus the Tay partakes much of the 

 dark moss and peat colour ; and on part of the Inver- 

 ness coast, where some of the rivers come from a hard 

 stony soil, they are never much discoloured, or, if dis- 



* The Tweed, like a ship, is always called she, the feminine 

 gender giving it its due consequence. 



