ON THE ART OF SWIMMING. 320 



■kill ; but at the same time it must be allowed, that he who swim, gives 



has acquired the former, will require very little of the latter to confidence, but 

 , . r , , , n*^*^ skill, 



become a swimmer. I have, nevertheless, remarked, that those 



boys who were the most daring at plunging into the water 



before they could swim, have mostly arrived at the art 



later than others who have attended with some care to the 



method of striking their arras and legs. I have known several Method of 



persons who, after acquiring the method of strilung the arms P/"* v'^^'^^ ^^^ 



separately, so as to have gained confidence to walk in water 



rising above their shoulders, and of striking the legs while the ^ 



body was supported by the hands bearing on the ground in 



shallow water, have swam very well upon the first trial to 



combine both together. 



The rules for swimming well, in our metho.',, that is to say, Short ruks for 

 swiftly, and with little fatigue, are few. The body must lie as *^'™"*'"S well, 

 near the surface, and the head as low as conveniently naij be ; 

 the knees must be kept wide asunder, in order that the obli- 

 quity of action in one leg may counteract that in the other, in-, 

 stead of their joint action producing a libratory motion of the 

 body ; and the stroke or impulse must be given with much, 

 more velocity than that employed in drawing the legs up again. 

 It is not easy to make any mistake of importance in using the 

 arms by imitation of other swimmers. 



To swim on the back is so easy, that I have several times To swim on 

 taught it at the very first trial, to persons who had no previous Jre^,neiv\asv at 

 notion of supporting themselves in the water. My first care first trial. How 

 was to assure my pupil that he might depend that his face <jone! ^ ^ ' 

 would continue above water and not sink, when he should be 

 placed in the horizontal position. I directed him to remain in 

 that situation quietly, without the least motion, until he had 

 recovered from any trepidation or confusion of mind, and had 

 acquired confidence from finding that he did not sink. He 

 was then gently to move his hands, in the way of paddling or 

 skulling, which, though not absolutely necessary, would insure 

 the support of his head, and prevent his feet from sinking. And 

 lastly, he was instructed to draw up his legs very gently and 

 strike them out; at the same time bringing his chin towards 

 his breast, to prevent the water from flowing over his face. 

 These instructions, illustrated with appropriate action, being 

 Vol. XIV.— August, 1806. Uu first 



