24^ TRAVELS I 
I had many times remarked^ that whenevef 
the fky appeared cloudy around us, about 
twenty-four hours after the river conftantly 
rofe five or fix inches, and did not regain its 
former level for fome days* 
- The conflant conjundlion of thefe tv^d fads 
could not do otherwife than ftrike me ; and I 
concluded from them, that the river had itc, 
fource in fome chain of mountains, whither 
the clouds were carried that pafTed over my 
head, and where they diflblved. My excurfions 
on the right fide of the river confirmed this 
conjedure. Frequently, afcending the moun-^ 
tains, I had perceived others which extended 
like an amphitheatre ; and, rifing ftill more and 
more as they receded, were loft at a diftance. 
My perfpedive glafs had even fhown me, 
that, whenever we had clouds in the zenith ^ 
it rained in the chain to the north-eaft ; and, in 
that cafe, I was certain the next day of feeing 
an augmentation of the river. 
What would I have given to have been 
placed on thofe diftant mountains, which ex* 
perlenccd not the drought by which we were 
periihing ! But how fliould I get thither ? 
And befideSj notwithftanding their rains, per- 
haps 
