Book IL Iland of BARBADOS. 45 
Another Reafon why Spring-Waters, at their Fountain-Heads, as well 
as Wells, are purer (efpecially in hot Climates) than the Waters of Rivers 
or Ponds, is, becaufe the latter, whether in its current Stream, or in Re- 
fervoirs, is expofed to the Heat of the Sun, whofe exhaling Power is here 
fo great, that it raifes up the lighteft and fimpleft, that is, the beft Parts of 
it in Vapours, leaving the Remainder lefs pure. 
What is here called Pond-Water, is Rain-Water fettled in artificial or 
natural Bafins, which, in a Country fo {paringly furnifhed with Springs, 
or Rivers, are of great Service to Man and Beaft. 
Thefe Refervoirs are generally dug near a Defcent, that they may be 
fupplied with Water as often as it rains, which it generally does in greater 
Quantity, in the Months of Fume, Fuly, and Auguft ; but tho’ we call 
this Time.of the Year the Rainy Seafon, yet the periodical Return of wet 
Weather in thofe Months is not near fo certain here, as it is in fome Parts 
of Africa. The Rains likewife in thofe hot Months, when they are moft 
wanted to cool the Atmofphere, fall at fuch times, by reafon of the 
Rarefaction of the Air, in very large Drops, like thofe fudden Summer 
Showers in Exgland. We find the above-mentioned Conveniencies of 
Refervoirs made ufe of in Palefine, as early as the Patriarchal Age. 
The Inhabitants of St. Andrew's, and fome Part of S¢. Fofeph’s Parith, Aa 
are plentifully fupplied with frefh Water, by digging Holes in the Sand, inure 
from Ten Inches to Three Feet deep: Thefe are almoft inftantaneoufly song the 
filled with frefh Water percolated thro’ the Sand. 
Some Parts of Barbary are in the like manner fupplied: And Cafar, 
being befieged in Wexandria, when the Enemy, by turning the Sea-Water 
into his Springs, rendered them ufelefs, faved himfelf, and his Army, by 
digging fuch Pits or Holes in the Sand, from whence he had a conftant 
Supply of frefh Water. 
Tho’ thefe and fuch Supplies of Water proceed partly from the Sea ; 
yet I am of Opinion, that the above-mentioned Supply, in this Ifland, is - 
greatly, if not chiefly, owing to the Rain-Water that defcends from the ad- 
jacent Hills, and then fettles in the Sand. This is evident from the greater 
Plenty that is to be found, and that nearer the Surface, after great Rains : 
Its Purity likewife may, in fome meafure, be owing to the Place where it 
is found; for Sand hath a great deal lefs of Matter capable of Solution in 
it than Earth. 
As any artificial Refervoir of Water is often, in Scripture, called a 
Well, when the Station of the [/raelites, in their Way to Canaan, was 
upon the Borders of the Red Sea, the Waters there mentioned to be in 
fuch Plenty, that the Princes digged a Well with their Staves, muft pro- 
bably (fince they digged with thefe Inftruments) be in fuch a fandy 
Situation’as the above-mentioned ; otherwife Staves would not, in Places 
lefs foft and porous, be proper to dig Holes fufficient for that Purpofe. 
The digging thefe, or almoft any other Bafin, for the fame Ufe in any 
other kind of Soil, muft, in all Probability, be attended with Art, and 
N great 
