DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70266#0418
kirby’s wonderful museum.
in depth. One of these contains water for the drinking of
the inhabitants, and the other they use for their cattle,
washing, and such like purposes. Every morning, near
this part of the island, a cloud, or mist arises from the sea,
which the south or easterly winds force against the fore-
mentioned steep cliff, so that the cloud having no vent but
by the gutter, gradually ascends it, and from thence ad-
vances slowly to the extreffiity of the valley, while it is
stopped and checked by the front of the rock which termi-
nates the valley, and then rests upon the thick leaves and
wide spreading branches of the tree, from whence it distils
in drops during the remainder of the day, until it is at
length exhausted, in the same manner that we see water drip
from the leaves of trees after a heavy shower of rain. This
distillation is not peculiar to the Garse or Til, for the Bresas,
which grow near it, likewise drop water; but their leaves
being but few and narrow, the quantity is so trifling, that
though the natives save some of it, yet they make little or
no account of any but what distils from the Til, which to-
gether with the water of some fountains, and what is saved
in the winter-season, is sufficient to serve them and their
flocks. This tree yields most water in those years when the
Levant, or easterly winds, have prevailed for a continuance;
for by these winds only the clouds or mists are drawn hither
frtom the sea. A person lives on the spot near which this
tree grows, who is appointed by the council to take care of
it and its water, and is allowed a house to live in, with a.
certain salary. He every day distributes to each family of
the district seven pots or vessels full of water, besides what
he-gives to the principal people of the island.
Whether the tree which yields water at the present time,
be the same as that mentioned in the above description, I
cannot pretend to determine; but it is probable there has
been a succession of them ; -for Pliny, describing the For-
tunate island, says,-—“ In the mountains of Ombrion are
in depth. One of these contains water for the drinking of
the inhabitants, and the other they use for their cattle,
washing, and such like purposes. Every morning, near
this part of the island, a cloud, or mist arises from the sea,
which the south or easterly winds force against the fore-
mentioned steep cliff, so that the cloud having no vent but
by the gutter, gradually ascends it, and from thence ad-
vances slowly to the extreffiity of the valley, while it is
stopped and checked by the front of the rock which termi-
nates the valley, and then rests upon the thick leaves and
wide spreading branches of the tree, from whence it distils
in drops during the remainder of the day, until it is at
length exhausted, in the same manner that we see water drip
from the leaves of trees after a heavy shower of rain. This
distillation is not peculiar to the Garse or Til, for the Bresas,
which grow near it, likewise drop water; but their leaves
being but few and narrow, the quantity is so trifling, that
though the natives save some of it, yet they make little or
no account of any but what distils from the Til, which to-
gether with the water of some fountains, and what is saved
in the winter-season, is sufficient to serve them and their
flocks. This tree yields most water in those years when the
Levant, or easterly winds, have prevailed for a continuance;
for by these winds only the clouds or mists are drawn hither
frtom the sea. A person lives on the spot near which this
tree grows, who is appointed by the council to take care of
it and its water, and is allowed a house to live in, with a.
certain salary. He every day distributes to each family of
the district seven pots or vessels full of water, besides what
he-gives to the principal people of the island.
Whether the tree which yields water at the present time,
be the same as that mentioned in the above description, I
cannot pretend to determine; but it is probable there has
been a succession of them ; -for Pliny, describing the For-
tunate island, says,-—“ In the mountains of Ombrion are