It begat the notion, that our trip to the fish-ponds was to prove a long journey.

But they were not three hundred yards distant; though Borabolla being a veteran traveler, never stirred from his abode without his battalion of butlers.
The ponds were four in number, close bordering the water, embracing about an acre each, and situated in a low fen, draining several valleys.

The excavated soil was thrown up in dykes, made tight by being beaten all over, while in a soft state, with the heavy, flat ends of Palm stalks.

Lving side by side, by three connecting trenches, these ponds could be made to communicate at pleasure; while two additional canals afforded means of letting in upon them the salt waters of the lagoon on one hand, or those of an inland stream on the other.

And by a third canal with four branches, together or separately, they could be partially drained.