CURIOSITIES OF ANGLING LITERATURE. 247 



After this the problem of setting the Thames on 

 fire may be considered as solved. 



The water of the Nile, as might perhaps be 

 expected from the mystery of its source, is also ex- 

 ceedingly peculiar in some respects. According to 

 Ludolphus " It is muddy and thick, and not whole- 

 some of itself, but they have a way to cure it. They 

 have large earthen vessels, which being filled, they 

 rub the inside with three or four almonds, and in the 

 space of a quarter of an hour the water becomes very 

 clear. Being thus purged, it is very wholesome, so 

 that it never does any man harm ; because running 

 so long a course, and through so hot a country as 

 ^Ethropiars is, the sun corrects and cleanseth it from 

 all crudities. Those that bring the water to the 

 houses have always a paste of almonds to rub the 

 vessels with." 



We find the name of Harris (probably Mrs.) 

 attached to the following highly-credible story : 

 "There is a wonderful water-tree in one of the 

 Canaries whose leaves continually distil pure water : 

 it is a single tree as big as a middle-sized oak. In 

 the night a thick cloud or mist always hangs about 

 it, and the water drops very fast and in great quan- 

 tities. There are lead pipes kid from it to a great 

 pond which is paved with stone and holds 20,000 

 tons of water, yet is filled in one night. There are 



