Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-03-10
Floating Islands.

The island Of pslcs. in the Greek
Archipelago, was additionally said TO
be floating on the surface OF the water,
an object of sport for the winds, al the
mercy of the waves. 1t was the power
of Neptune, Tie deity who presided
over the ocean, that rendered this spot
stationary; and in order that it might
remain so, he begirt it by two other is
lands, Mycone and GyarOs, which, as 1t
were, hem in the place. Extraordinary
as this narrative may appear, we have
accounts in modern times somewhat
resembling il; We must except, how
ever, the interpOsitiCn OF Neptune.
Floating gardens are very common in
New Spain, of which there are two
kinds. one glides upon the water,
waited by the capricious winds; others
are attached 10 the shore. The princi-
pal flowers and roots consumed in the
city of Mexico are raised in these small
gardens. Baron Humboldt states it to
be highly interesting spectacle to OBJ
serve "early in the morning, at sun
rise, the provisions brought in by in-
dians, in RATS, descending the canals
of Chalse and istacabO. In them are
cultivated beans, artichOkes and cauli-
flowers, while the edges are ornament
ed with rose-bushes.' The promenade
In boats around these little islands is
represented as being the most agree
able in the environs of Mexico. Should
the proprietor of one of these erratic
gardens fnl he has a disagreeable
neighbOr. he uaties the chain that
fastens his property TO the shore, and
with has hut and his habitatiOn floats
wherever he pleases. In China these
RATS or floating Islands are formed on
the surface of their numerous canals
and rivers, the whole of which TEEN,
as il were, with lie aud vegetation.
The ancient historians mention many
ofthese curious islands, and the Greeks
thought that the whole of the Cyclades
once were floating. In the Tiber, the
spot now occupied by the church of st.
Bartholomew traces its origin TO the
circumstance OF quantity of corn,
bound in sheaves, being thrown into
the river by the indignant pOpu lace
after the expulsion of Tarquin. The
TIber was at low water, The sheaves
stuck in the mud, and when the river
rose il deposited pieces OF wood, trunks
of trees, etc. Atlength an island be-
came formed, which in the course of
time was surrounded By wall.
Several floating Islands are found Ia
Lapland. Near the gothic fortress of
CASTILLO Archione is a small lake con-
taining several Islands formed of plants
matted or joined together. The peasants
get upon them, aud with long rods
navigate themselves about. There are
several also in the lakes of Conracchia,
Garden and kolk, in Osnabruck; and
there is one IN Subterraneous lake in
West Friesland. Near ST. Omer, in
France, there are several, which move
at the will of the ncighboring farmers,
who draw them near he shore TO drive
their cattle upon; and having done so,
they uuloose the cords and allow them
TO float a: the direction of the winds.
A similar phenomenon is TO be seen in
Lake Dochart, among the Grampian
mountains; and a very remarkable one
has within these thirty years three
times emerged from the bottom of the
Derwent, in the county of Cunber-
land. Il is formed BY the decaying
aquatic plants. At the head of Esth-
waite lake, Hawkeshead, there is a
smaller sheet of water, known by the
name of the Priest-foot, but connected
with the other lake by small outlet.
Upon this there has been for many
years a floating island, little noticed by
tourists. and eTrOneously stated by
soae writers of "Guides 10 the Lakes
not TO move or sail with the wind. In
contradiction of this, il was never
known since first it became floating
island TO have remained stationary, or
TO be fixed for any length of time, till
q few years back, when the heavy floods
lifted One-half of it upon land. IL was
relaunched by some young men, who
took advantage of the flood at that time
TO effect their purpose, and had the
pleasure OF sailing across the lake upon
II. 1t was afterwarj moved from one
lake TO the Otler four different times
ON one of its trips no less than fifteen
persons were upon II. Ii is thirty
yards long by five broad, and covered
with wood of various sorts, which sup
plies the place of soils. Inis curiosity
has not probably its equal in the United
Kingdom. In Gulysquil, in the king
dom of Quito; In the river Congo, on
the western coast Of Africa; in the lake
of Tivoli, near the hoc baths OF Agrippa
we find the serOving lands. The
Congo is said to carry floating islands
sixty or seventy miles out at sea. There
are many N the Nile. One appeared
several times in the sea Of AzOf, and
in ISIS small island emerged from the
lake OF Wallenstadt. In Switzerland,
which had sunk a century before. On
this occasion fetes on an extensive scale
were given.
Eamschneider's Hat