'NORTH AMERICA. 
2 2J 
branches or collateral brooks or rivers tributary to 
it, but that it is fed or augmented by great fprings 
which break out through the banks. From the ac- 
counts given by them, and my own obfervations on 
the country round about, it fee ms a probable af- 
ferrion ; for there was not a creek or rivulet to be 
feen, running on the furra.ce of the ground, fro in 
the great Alachua Savanna to this river, a diftance 
of above feventy miles , yet, perhaps, no part of the 
earth affords a greater plenty of pure, falubrious 
waters. The unparalleled tranfparency of thefe wa- 
ters furnifhes an argument for fuch a conjeflure, 
that amounts at lea ft to a probability, were it not 
confirmed by ocular demonftration ; for in all the 
flat countries of Carolina and Florida, except this 
ifthmus, the waters of the rivers are, in fome degree, 
turgid, and have a dark hue, owing to the annual 
bring of the forefts and plains ; and afterwards the 
heavy rains walking the light furface of the burnt 
earth into rivulets, which rivulets running ra- 
pidly over the furface of the earth, flow into 
the rivers, and tinge the waters the colour of 
lye or beer, aim oft down to the tide near the fea 
eoaft. But here behold how different the appear- 
ance, and how manifeft the caufe ! for although the 
furface of the ground produces the fame vegetable 
fubftances, the foil the fame, and fuffers in like 
manner a general conflagration, and the rains, in 
impetuous fhowers, as liberally defend upon the 
parched furface of the ground ; yet the earth be- 
ing fo hollow and porous, thefe fuperabundant wa- 
ters cannot conftitute a rivulet or brook, to conti- 
nue any diftance on its furface, before they are 
arrefted in their courfe and fw allowed up : thence 
defending, they are filtered through the fands and 
ocher 
