FOUNTAIN-Tree, a very extraordinary vegetable growing in one of the Canary islands, and likewife faid to exift in fome other places, which diftils water from its leaves in fuch plenty as to anfwer all the purpofes of the inhabitants who live near it. Of this tree we have the following account in Glaffe's history of the Canary islands.—" There are only three fountains of water in the whole island of Hierro, wherein the fountain-tree grows. One of thofe fountains is called Acof, which, in the language of the ancient inhabitants, fig- nifies river; a name, however, which does not seem to have been given it on account of its yielding much water, for in that respect it hardly deserves the name of a fountain. More to the northward is another called Hapio; and in the middle of the island is a spring, yielding a stream about the thickness of a man's finger. This last was discovered in the year 1565, and is called the fountain of Anton Hernandez. On account of the scarcity of water, the sheep, goats, and swine, here do not drink in the summer, but are taught to dig up the roots of fern, and chew them to quench their thirst. The great cattle are watered at those fountains, and at a place where water distils from the leaves of a tree. Many writers have made mention of this famous tree, some in such a manner as to make it appear miraculous: others again deny the existence of any such tree: among whom is Father Feyjoo, a modern Spanish author, in his Theatro Critico. But he, and those who agree with him in this matter, are as much mistaken as those who would make it appear to be miraculous. This is the only island of all the Canaries which I have not been in; but I have failed with natives of Hierro, who, when questioned about the existence of this tree, answered in the affirmative.

"The author of the History of the discovery and conquest has given us a particular account of it, which I shall here relate at large.

"The district in which this tree stands is called Tigualee; near to which, and in the cliff or steep rocky ascent that surrounds the whole island, is a narrow gutter or gully, which commences at the sea, and continues to the summit of the cliff, where it joins or coincides with a valley, which is terminated by the steep front of a rock. On the top of this rock grows a tree, called in the language of the ancient inhabitants, Garfe, "Sacred or Holy Tree," which for many years has been preserved sound, entire, and fresh. Its leaves constantly distil such a quantity of water as is sufficient to furnish drink to every living creature in Hierro; nature having provided this remedy for the drought of the island. It is situated about a league and a half from the sea. It is not certainly known of what species it is, only that it is called Til. It is distinct from other trees, and stands by itself; the circumference of the trunk is about 12 spans, the diameter four, and in height, from the ground to the top of the highest branch, 40 spans: the circumference of all the branches together is 120 feet. The branches are thick and extended; the lowest commence about the height of an ell from the ground. Its fruit resembles the acorn, and tastes something like the kernel of a pine apple, but is softer and more aromatic. The leaves of this tree resemble those of the laurel, but are larger, wider, and more curved; they come forth, in a perpetual succession, so that the tree always remains green. Near to it grows a thorn which it falls on many of its branches, and interweaves with them; and at a small distance from the garfe are some beech trees, breses, and thorns. On the north side of the trunk are two large tanks or cisterns, of rough stone, or rather one cistern divided, each half being 20 feet square, and 16 spans in depth. One of these contains water for the drinking of the inhabitants: and the other that which they use for their cattle, washing, and such like purposes. Every morning, near this part of the island, a cloud or mist rises from the sea, which the south and 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 advances slowly to the extremity of the valley, where it is stopped and checked by the front of the rock which terminates 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 garfe or til; for the breses, 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, together 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 those winds only the clouds or mists are drawn hither from 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 this present time be the fame 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 Fortunate islands, says, 'In the mountains of Ombrion are trees resembling the plant ferula, from which water may be procured by prelude. What comes from the black kind is bitter, but that which the white yields is sweet and potable.'"

Trees yielding water are not peculiar to the island of Hierro; for travellers inform us of one of the same kind in the island of St Thomas, in the bight or gulf of Guinea. In Cockburn's voyages we find the following account of a dropping tree, near the mountains of Vera Paz, in America.

"On the morning of the fourth day, we came out on a large plain, where were great numbers of fine deer, and in the middle stood a tree of unusual size, spreading its branches over a vast compass of ground. Curiosity led us up to it. We had perceived, at some distance off, the ground about it to be wet; at which we began to be somewhat surprised, as well knowing there had no rain fallen for near fix months past, according to the certain course of the season in that latitude: that it was impossible to be occasioned by the fall of dew on the tree, we were convinced, by the sun's having power to exhale away all moisture of that nature a few minutes after its rising. At last, to our great amazement as well as joy, we saw water dropping, or as it were distilling, fall from the end of every leaf of this wonderful (nor had it been amiss if I had said miraculous) tree; at least it was so with respect to us, who had been labouring four days through extreme heat, without receiving the least moisture, and were now almost expiring for want of it.

"We could not help looking on this as liquor sent from heaven to comfort us under great extremity. We cachted what we could of it in our hands, and drank very plentifully of it; and liked it so well, that we could hardly prevail with ourselves to give over. A matter of this nature could not but incite us to make the strictest observations concerning it; and accordingly we stayed under the tree near three hours, and found we could not fathom its body in five times. We observed the foil where it grew to be very strong; and upon the nicest inquiry we could afterwards make, both of the natives of the country and the Spanish inhabitants, we could not learn there was any such tree known throughout New Spain, nor perhaps all America over: but I do not relate this as a prodigy in nature, because I am not a philosopher enough to deride any natural cause for it; the learned may perhaps give substantial reasons in nature for what appeared to us a great and marvellous secret."