CURIOSITIES OF ANGLING LITERATURE. 247 
After this the problem of setting the Thames on 
fire may be considered as solved. 
‘The water of the Nile, as might perhaps be 
expected from the mystery of its source, is also ex- 
ceedingly peculiar in some respects. According to 
Ludolphus—“ It is muddy and thick, and not whole- 
some of itself, but they have a way to cure it. They 
have large earthen vessels, which being filled, they 
rub the inside with three or four almonds, and in the 
space of a quarter of an hour the water becomes very 
clear. Being thus purged, it is very wholesome, so 
that it never does any man harm ; because running 
so long a course, and through so hot a country as 
AEthropiars is, the sun corrects and cleanseth it from 
all crudities. Those that bring the water to the 
houses have always a paste of almonds to rub the 
vessels with.” 
We find the name of Harris (probably Mrs.) 
attached to. the following highly-credible story :— 
“There is a wonderful water-tree in one of the 
Canaries whose leaves continually distil pure water : 
it is a single tree as big as a middle-sized oak. In 
the night a thick cloud or mist always hangs about 
it, and the water drops very fast and in great quan- 
tities. There are lead pipes laid from it to a great 
pond which is paved with stone and holds 20,000 
tons of water, yet is filled in one night. There are 
