GRAVESEND. 443 



knolls and deep dales without seeing any stones larger 

 than a boy can throw, greatly increases its charm, but 

 nevertheless, the pretty effect of crystal clear running 

 becks, and their murmuring sound in the green dales is 

 much missed ; such a joy no one here knows of. I am 

 here speaking about the places I was at, for in several 

 other parts of England there is an abundance of beauti- 

 ful springs. [T. II. p. 95. J All the water which the 

 inhabitants require for themselves and their cattle must 

 be collected either in deep wells in the chalk, or in large 

 dug-pits and ponds in the inclosures, where the rain, 

 water stands, and serves for the cattle, which there, 

 pasture, to drink, for which purpose also such ponds 

 have always very gently sloping sides, that the cattle 

 may be able to go down to them and drink. But some- 

 one might ask the reason why there are here so very 

 few, or in short, no springs and becks, where, neverthe- 

 less, the country consists of banks and hills, with deep 

 valleys, though it sometimes rains here heavily ? I 

 answer that I cannot just understand this, but I have 

 made the following observations : — 



1. They have everywhere here deep wells in the 

 chalk, both near the Thames and far away from it, 

 wherein is an abundance of water which never fails. 



2. The surface of the ground consists of a loose 

 mould, on which one hardly ever sees any water stand, 

 however it rains, but it sinks in at once, and the upper 

 surface is soon dry, at least on the top. 



3. When they have dug the pits so deep, that they are 

 some way down in the chalk, the water stands in them, 

 and remains for several days before the sun succeeds in 

 drying it up. 



4. When one digs never so little into the chalk, where 

 it forms a hill, it is quite humid and moist within, and the 

 deeper one digs so much more humid and wetter.it is. . 



