The river Tinto rises in Sierra Morena, and empties itself into the
Mediterranean, near Huelva, having the name of Tinto given it from the
tinge of its waters, which are as yellow as a topaz, hardening the sand
and petrifying it in a most surprising manner. If a stone happen to fall
in, and rest on another, they both become in a year's time perfectly
united and conglutiated. This river withers all the plants on its banks,
as well as the roots of trees, which it dyes of the same hue as its
waters. No kind of verdure will flourish where it reaches, nor any fish
live in its stream. It kills worms in cattle, when given them to drink;
but in general no animals will drink out of the river, except goats,
whose flesh, nevertheless, has an excellent flavour. These singular
properties continue till other rivulets run into it, and alter its
nature; for when it passes by Niebla, it is not different from other
rivers. It falls into the Mediterranean six leagues lower down, at the
town of Huelva, where it is two leagues broad, and admits of large
vessels, which may come up the river as high as San Juan del Puerto,
three leagues above Huelva.--_From a Correspondent._
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