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the Lake grows lower, and hath for a while shewed some abatement, so the Ascent and return is speedy; for at these holes it mounteth with such violence, that it springs out of the ground to the height of a pike, and soon covers the tract of Earth again.
And this piece of ground in the time of the retirement and absence of the Water is not unfruitful, but by a speedy and plentiful production of Grass yieldeth not only a present sustenance for the beasts of the field, but a good provision of hay for the cattle in the winter.
Nor have the Inhabitants thereabout only the benefit of the ground b these Commodities, but also the recreation and profit by Hunting. For at the time of the waters absence, Hares, Deer, Boares and other Animals come into it out of the neighbouring Forrest and Country, and are taken several wayes by them.
The Lake is not only thus fill'd with water, but every year well stored with fish. The Prince of Eckenberg is Lord of it and of much Country thereabout: But upon restoring of the waters all have liberty to Fish; and the fishermen, standing up to the wast at the holes before-mentioned, intercept the passage of the Fish, and take a very great number of them, which otherwise would be secure for some Months under the Earth, and not (illegible text) to return in September.
The fishof this Lake have a closer habitation than those of any other I know; for, they pass some Months under the Earth, and a good part of the Winter under Ice. I could not learn, that there were any Otters in this Lake, (which otherwise must probably have taken the same Course with the fish;) nor that there were any remarkable extraneous substances, any Vegetables, or unknown Fishes brought up by the water but those which come up are of the same kind with those which descended.
But beside these holes at the bottom of the Lake (of which there are many) there are also divers Caverns and deep places in the Country of Carniola, even where there is no water; after the like manner as we have in the Peack-country, and at Elden-hole in England.
halfe
