138 History of Nature. [BooK II. 



CHAPTER CIII. 

 The Wonders of Waters^ Fountains, and Rivers. 



OF all Wonders this is among the greatest, that some 

 fresh Waters close by the Sea spring forth as out of Pipes : 

 for the Nature of the Waters also ceaseth not from mira- 

 culous Properties. Fresh Waters are borne on the Sea, as 

 being, no doubt, the lighter : and, therefore, the Sea-water 

 (which naturally is heavier) beareth up whatsoever is brought 

 into it. Also, among fresh Waters, some there be that float 

 over others. As in the Lake Fucinus, the River that runneth 

 into it ; in Larius, Addua ; in Verbanus, Ticinus ; in Benacus, 

 Mincius; in Sevinus, Ollius ; in Lemanus, the River Rho- 

 danus. As for this River beyond the Alps, and the former in 

 Italy, for many a Mile as they pass they carry forth their own 

 Waters from thence as Strangers, and none other ; and the 

 same no larger than they brought in with them This is 

 reported likewise of Orontes, a River in Syria, and of many 

 others. Some Rivers again there be, which, upon an Hatred 

 to the Sea, run under the Bottom thereof; as Arethusa, a 

 Fountain in Syracuse : wherein this is observed, that what- 

 soever is cast into it cometh up again at the River Alpheus, 

 which, running through Olympia, falleth into the Sea-shore 

 of Peloponnesus. There go under the Ground, and appear 

 above the Ground again, Lycus in Asia, Erasinus in Argolica, 

 Tigris in Mesopotamia. And at Athens, the Things that are 

 immersed in the Fountain of ^Esculapius are cast up again 

 in Phalericus. Also in the Atinate Plains, the River that 

 becomes buried under the Earth 20,000 Paces off, appeareth 

 again; as doth Tirnavus in the Territory of Aquileia. In 

 Asphaltites (a Lake in Judea which produceth Bitumen) no- 

 thing will sink ; nor will it in Arethusa, in the greater Ar- 

 menia : and the same, though it be full of Nitre, produceth 

 Fish. In the Salentines' Country near the Town Manduria 

 there is a Lake full to the Bank, out of which, if there be 

 laden as much Water as you will, it decreaseth not ; nor is it 

 augmented, though any Quantity be poured in. In a River 



