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for I have both stood upon the island and caught fish, and
caught them when the boat in which I was lay at anchor over
it. Let me now endeavour to solve this paradox: The water
which, during a violent rain, pours down the
Cat-Gill, seems totally lost. It is, however,
evident, that it must disembogue itself into the Lake; I
therefore think that this torrent, after running among the
loose stones to some distance, endeavours to force its way
and mingle with the waters of the Lake; the toughness of the
superincumbent turf prevents this from being easily
affected; the force and weight of the water, therefore,
raises the turf into a convex form, and during the
continuance of the torrent gives it the appearance of an
island. As a farther confirmation of this hypothesis, I once
pierced the surface of the island with my fishing-rod; the
grass roots embraced the taper-rod so close, that no water
could escape; but upon with drawing it, the water spouted to
the height of two feet.
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From the Floating-Island, let the boat proceed to Lodore,
Low-door, or (as the inhabitants call it)
Low-low-Door, a neat and commodious little inn; then
let the travellers land, and order their boat to meet them
at the foot of Manesty Park, or Hardendale
Knott. (See plate VI.)
On the 28th of July 1785 I dined here; my fare was bacon and
eggs, and I sat in a manner not much unlike the account
Robinson Crusoe gives of his situation in his solitude. I
was seated (according to the custom of the country) at the
end of a long oaken table, with only those inseparable
attendants of a country table, the cat and
dog, who took their stations one on each side of me;
puss on my left-hand, and the dog on my right. In these
solitary parts of the country, domestic animals are treated
with the greatest kindness; their actions, therefore, shew
their conversation with mankind, and may be always
interpreted: they cannot speak, but they can converse by
signs. No sooner was I seated, than Puss jumped into the
window, (which in all cottages is behind the table,) which
window was very near me. She looked at me with a face of
inquiry , which seemed to say, "Am I making too
free?" I was too much engaged with my dinner to give her an
answer, but did not drive her away: seeing herself not
particularly noticed, she then came to my right-hand, not
over the table, but under it; and putting her foot gently
upon my knee, looked earnestly, but something timidly in my
face: as I was still too much engaged in gratifying my own
appetite, to mind her much, I gave her no encouragement,
whereupon she walked round me, and planted herself again at
my left-hand. The dog, who had observed all her motions,
seemed to disapprove of them; and testified his
disapprobation, not by snarling, but by his eyes, which were
watchfully fixed, sometimes on me, sometimes on the cat. He
spoke as plain as eyes could speak to Puss, "Be not too
troublesome with your advances; we may with patience obtain
our wishes, but too much importunity may get us turned out
of doors."
This story may seem to the sage speculatist to bear a
thousand morals; to me, who was merely in search of
pleasure, it bore only one, which I heartily wish all other
pleasure-hunters would take along with them when they set
out:Attend carefully to the workings of Nature:
search in them for pleasure; be they ever so minute, you
can not be disappointed.
This house, and the lands from Barrow-Beck to above
High-low Door, belong to Rowland Stephenson, Esq; now
Member for Carlisle, and are freehold; all the lands in
Borrowdale are the same, paying a small quit-rent to Sir
Gilfred (sic) Lawson, Baronet. The tenants have the mines,
minerals, and all other manerial rights, except the fishing
on Derwentwater. There is an excellent view from above this
house at Low-low Door; but it would be tedious,
amongst such a variety of landscapes, to describe them all.
These houses are not improperly called Low-Doors, for
between them is an opening into Borrowdale, which is almost
shut up between the rock and water at the place now called
Great Inin: whether it means the great hanging, or great
inlet; or whether it is called Inin from entering in, I know
not. It is a most awful overhanging rock, from
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