224 
TRAVELS IN 
defcending, they are filtered through the fands and 
other ftrata of earth, to the horizontal beds of po- 
rous rocks, which, being compofed of thin feparable 
laminse, lying generally in obliquely horizontal 
directions over each other, admit thefe waters to 
pafs on by gradual but conftant percolation. Thus 
collecting and alfociating, they augment and form 
little rills, brooks, and even fubterraneous rivers, 
which wander in darknefs beneath the furface of the 
earth, by innumerable doublings, windings, and 
fecret labyrinths ; no doubt in fome places forming 
vaft refervoirs and fubterranean lakes, inhabited 
by multitudes of fifh and aquatic animals : and pof- 
fibly when collected into large rapid brooks, meet- 
ing irrefiftible obftructions in their courfe, they fud- 
denly break through thefe perforated fluted rocks, 
in high perpendicular jets, nearly to their former 
level, flooding large diftricts of land. Thus by means 
of thofe fubterranean courfes, the waters are puri- 
fied and finally carried to the banks of great rivers, 
where they emerge and prefent themfelves to open 
day-light, with their troops of finny inhabitants, in 
thofe furprifing vaft fountains near the banks of this 
river ; and likewife on and near the fliores of Great 
St. Juan, on the eaft coaft of the ifthmus, fome of 
which I have already given an account of. 
On our arrival at Talahafochte, in the evening 
we repaired to the trading houfe formerly belonging 
to our chief, where were a family of Indians, who 
immediately and complaifantly moved out to ac- 
commodate us. The White King with mod of the 
male inhabitants were out hunting or tending their 
Corn plantations. 
'the town is delightfully fituated on the elevated 
eafl: banks of the river, the ground level to near 
the river, when it defcends fuddenly to the water ; 
I fuppofe 
