Chap. 19.] 
DEADLY WATEES. 
481 
a more fatal nature. Ctesias states in his writings, that there 
is a spring in Armenia, the fishes in which are black,'''^ and, if 
used as food, productive of instaiitaneous death. I have heard 
the same, too, with reference to the waters near the sources 
of the river Danuvius,^^ until a spring is reached which is 
near its main channel, and beyond which this poisonous kind 
of fish is not to be found. Hence it is that this spot is gene- 
rally looked upon as the source of the river. The same, too, is 
reported of the Lake of the I^ymphs, in Lydia. IS'ear the river 
Pheneus, in Achaia, there flows from the rocks a spring known 
as the Styx, the waters of which, as already"^^ stated, are in- 
stantly fatal. And not only this, but there are also small fish 
in it, Theophrastus says, which are as deadly as the water, 
a thing that is not the case with the fish of any other poison- 
ous springs. Theopompus says, that at the town of Cychri, 
in Thrace, the waters are deadly ; and Lycus states, that at 
Leontium^''' there is a spring, the waters of which are fatal at 
the end of a couple of days to those who drink thereof. Yarro 
speaks also of a spring upon Mount Soracte, some four feet in 
breadth, the waters of which bubble forth at sunrise, as though 
they were boiling ; birds, he says, which only taste thereof, 
fall dead close by. 
And then, besides, we meet with this insidious circumstance, 
that in some cases, waters of this nature are inviting even in 
their appearance ; those at JNTonacris, in Arcadia, for example, 
the water of which fountain possesses no apparent quality to 
excite mistrust, though, owing to its intense coldness, it is 
generally looked upon as highly injurious, seeing that it petri- 
fies as it flows. It is otherwise with the waters of Tempe, 
in Thessaly, their baneful properties inspiring universal terror, 
and possessing the property of corroding copper even and 
iron, it is said. This stream runs a short distance only, as 
already stated and it is truly marvellous that, according 
to general report, the banks of its source"^^ are surrounded with 
the roots of a wild carob,^^ always covered with purple flowers, 
Ajasson thinks that he means, grey. He remarks also, that it is a 
matter of doubt whether there are any fishes that are poisonous. 
The Danube. "^^ In B. ii. c. 106, see also B. xxx. c. 53. 
'^'^ 3ee B. iii. c. 14, and B. xviii. c. 21. 
In B. iv. c. 15. 
"9 He alludes, according to Dalechamps, to the Eurotas, a tributary, and 
not the source, of the Peneus. See B. iv. c. 8. so a Siliqua." 
YOL. v. II 
