348 Yorkshire Natural History 200 Years Ago. 
Besides these common Kinds of Waters, there are others 
more remarkable, viz. 1. The Spaw-Well at Scarborough, 
about a Quarter of a Wile South of the Town : It is a very 
quick Spring, arising upright out of the Earth like a boiling 
Pot, near the Level of the Spring-Tides, with which it is often 
overflown. In the most Droughty Years it is never dry, but 
in an hour affords twenty-four Gallons of Water ; for the Stones 
thro’ which it flows contain more than twelve Gallons, and 
being empty’d every Morning, it will be full within half Hour. 
Its Virtue proceeds from a Participation of Vitriol, Iron, Allum, 
Nitre, and Salt : to the Sight it is transparent, inclining a little 
to a Sky Colour, and hath a pleasant acid Taste from the 
Vitriol, and an Inky Smell. The Waters, (which are much 
resorted to in the hot Months of Summer) being drank are 
purgative and diuretick, much of the Nature of the Waters of 
Pyrmont in Germany. They have wrought Strange and 
Wonderful Effects, and many Persons almost every Year find 
great Benefit and Advantage by them. There are no Walks, 
nor publick Diversions, as there are at the Bath and Tunbridge, 
but there are very good Accommodations for such as drink the 
Waters. 
2. Baths, used frequently in the Roman Times by the 
Soldiers quartered in England ; from whence a Town in this 
Riding was called Lavatrce, now Bowes. These Baths were 
anciently in frequent Use among the Soldiers, as well as all 
others, as well for Health, as Cleanliness ; (for in those antient 
Times they were wont to wash every Day before they eat) 
and they were at one time built, both publickly and privately, 
at such a strange Rate, that that Man thought himself poor and 
mean, who had not the Walls of his Bath shining with great 
and costly Bosses. In them both Men and Women wash’d 
promiscuously, though that was often prohibited by the Laws 
of the Empire, and Synodical Decrees ; but these Baths here 
are now not used. Near New Malton is a Well, whose Waters 
are supposed to have the same Virtues with those at Scar- 
borough ; but the Spring being weak affords but a small 
Quantity. 
3. Mineral Waters are found upon Ounsbery Hill, or 
Roseberry Topping, where upon the very Top, out of a huge 
Rock, flows a Spring of Waters, which are an effectual Medicine 
for diseased Eyes. 
4. Rical, a small River, which in its Course runs under 
Ground for above a Mile, unless in Times of Rain, when the 
Abundance of Water makes it change its Course and run above 
Ground, as in other Places it doth. 
4. Fire, which in those Northern cold Climates is as necess- 
ary as Food, is by Nature as plentifully provided for in those 
Parts, and especially in this Riding, which being most North- 
Naturalist, 
