ON QUICKSANDS. 321 



Traverfing the plain of Arcachon, after a violent tempeft, Singular inci* 

 which had been accompanied with heavy rains, we thought '*^"^* 

 it prudent to get off our horfes and lead them by the bridle. 

 One of the horfes who was left to himfelf, immediately 

 quitted the company; and was retiring from the (liore, but 

 being compelled to return by the application of the whip, 

 he went upon the quickfand, which probably he had attempt- 

 ed to avoid bydefertion; but the moment he felt the earth 

 giving way, he crouched down, or rather threw himfelf pre- 

 cipitately on his fide. The ground quickly fank beneath and 

 round about him ; the water furmounted the fand ; the horfe 

 was only wetted to the crupper, and we efcaped with no 

 other damage than the lofs of our flock of bread, which being 

 foaked in the fait water was rendered unfit to be eaten. 



It may be received as matter of fa6l, that a man who Travellers when 

 fliould experience a fimilar misfortune, could not do belter ""^^^ ^'"^[^'^ 

 than to extend himfelf in the like manner, nearly in the throw them- 

 attitude of a fwimmer, when he throws himfelf into the ^^^"^^ '^°"'"* 

 water. It is fcarcely neceflary to explain the fuperior ad- 

 vantage of this method ; a plate of lead, of forae thoufands 

 of weight, and feveral feet in breadth, if caft flat into any 

 liquid body, would reach the bottom no quicker than the 

 fluid could efcape to make way for it ; if a fimilar body were 

 to fall upon a quickfand, it would fliake every part of it, 

 but would prevent the fand or earth from rifing, while the 

 firm furrounding earth would confine it laterally : the ruins of 

 the arched vaults would replace the waters which had been 

 liberated from their fubierraneous confinement ; folid heaps 

 would then neceffarily be formed towards the centre, and the 

 incumbent body would remain at the furface, or at leaft it 

 would not be (wallowed up. 



Thefe quickfands are generally denoted by fmall dreams, Quickfands art 

 below which, when pradicable, there is no danger i" of wlter!*^ ''"^ 

 pafiing. 



X. Extnt£l 



