conflux of an infinite number of
crystal springs of cool and pleasant water, issuing everywhere out of
the banks and sides of the valleys. These springs flow so plentifully,
that they make the river water fresh fifty, threescore, and sometimes a
hundred miles below the flux and reflux of the tides, and sometimes
within thirty or forty miles of the bay itself. The conveniences of
these springs are so many, they are not to be numbered. I shall
therefore content myself to mention that one of supplying the country
elsewhere, except in the lowlands, with as many mills as they can find
work for; and some of these send forth such a glut of water, that in
less than a mile below the fountain head, they afford a stream
sufficient to supply a grist mill, of which there are several instances.

Sec. 6. The only mischief I know belonging to these rivers is, that in the
month of June annually, there rise up in the salts, vast beds of
seedling-worms, which enter the ships, sloops or boats wherever they
find the coat of pitch, tar, or lime worn off the timber, and by degrees
eat the plank into cells like those of a honey-comb. These worms
continue thus upon the surface of the water, from their rise in June
until the first great rains after the middle of July, but after that do
no fresh damage till the next summer season, and never penetrate farther
than the plank or timber they first fix upon.

The damage occasioned by these worms may be four several ways avoided.

1. By keeping the coat (of pitch, lime and tallow, or whatever
else it is) whole upon the bottom of the ship or vessel, for these
worms never fasten nor enter, but where the timber is naked.

2. By anchoring the large vessel in the strength of the tide,
during the worm season, and hauling the smaller ashore; for in the
current of a strong tide, the worm cannot fasten.

3. By burning and cleaning immediately after the worm season is
over; for then they are but just stuck into the plank, and have
not buried themselves in it; so that the least fire in the world
destroys them entirely, and prevents all damage that would
otherwise ensue from them.

4. By running up into the freshes with the ship or vessel during
the five or six weeks that the worm is thus above water; for they
never enter, nor do any damage in fresh water, or where it is not
very salt.

CHAPTER III.

OF THE EARTH AND SOILS.

Sec. 7. The soil is of such variety, acco