NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. 381 



for domestic purposes was to be obtained only from lakes, 

 rivers, springs, and wells ; and that water companies were 

 requisite to convey this necessary of life to the dwellings of 

 mankind. 



I was ordered to Bermuda, and was there employed in 

 the service of Her Majesty's Customs for the ensuing four- 

 teen years. 



I then found myself in a part of the world entirely devoid 

 of all the ordinary resources for obtaining a supply of 

 fresh water ; though it is not uncommon to hear the native 

 inhabitants speak of their " springs of fresh water." 

 Now this is merely a faconde parler, for in reality there 

 is not the smallest rill of running Water in the islands ; 

 the so-called springs being nothing more than wells sunk 

 a few feet in depth on the lower levels, particularly along 

 the edge of the north shore. 



From these a supply of water is obtained which can be 

 used for many ordinary purposes, though the water in them 

 is subject to rise and fall with the action of the tides. 



There can be little doubt that these wells are supplied 

 by rain-water percolating through the porous conglomerate 

 of shell, of which the entire islands are composed ; and that 

 such rain-water is met, at a certain level, by the water of 

 the ocean penetrating through fissures, or forcing its way by 

 means of filtration. Under such circumstances it is diffi- 

 cult to conceive how the well-water should retain its purity, 

 so as to be fit even for the use of cattle. 



That fresh water, from being specifically lighter than 

 sea- water, will, when undisturbed, float for some time 

 upon the denser fluid of the latter, without much admix- 

 ture of the two, I think highly probable, but the bare 

 contact of rain and sea-water, in any degree, must, I 

 apprehend tend to deprive the former of its purity. I 

 will cite one or two cases in support of this opinion. On 



