TRAVELS in 
>k 
A* 
ether it 
of earth* to the horizontal beds of po- 
rous rocks, vhich b ang compofed of thin feparable 
laminae, lying generally in obliquely horizontal 
directions over each other, admit thefe waters to 
pafs on; by gradual but conftant percolation. Thus 
collebckg and aifociating, 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 fifli and aquatic animals : and pof- 
fibly, when collebled into large rapid brooks, meet- 
ing irrefiftible obftrudtions in their courfe, they fud- 
denly break through thefe perforated fluted rocks, 
in high perpendicular jets, nearly to their former 
level, flooding large diftricls 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 fhores of Great 
St. Juan, on the eaft coafl: of the ifthmus, fome 
of which I have already given an account of. 
On our arrival at Talahafochte, in the evening 
v/e repaired to the trading houfe formerly belong- 
ing to our chief, where were a family of Indians, 
who immediately and complaifantly moved out to 
accommodate us. The White King with moil of 
the male inhabitants were out hunting or tending 
their corn plantations. 
The town is delightfully fituated on the elevated 
eafh banks of the river, the ground level to near 
the river, when it defeends fuddenly to the water 1 
I fuppofe 
1 
