Archimedes Texts

50
miliar Problems, from which we shall pass to the Notions and
questions more subtil and curious; which will also prove profi
table, and not to be sleighted in this business of Waters.

Achanel of Running-Water being given, the breadth
of which passing through a Regulator, is three
Palms; and the height one Palm, little more or
less, to measure what water passeth through the
Regulator in a time given.

First, we are to dam up the Chanel; so that there pass not any
water below the Dam; then we must place in the side of the
Chanel, in the parts above the Regulator three, or four, or five
Bent-pipes, or Syphons, according to the quantity of the water
that runneth along the Chanel; in such sort, as that they may
drink up, or draw out of the Chanel all the water that the Cha
nel beareth (and then shall we know that the Syphons drink up
all the water, when we see that the water at the Dam doth nei
ther rise higher, nor abate, but alwaies keepeth in the same Le
vel.) These things being prepared, taking the Instrument to
measure the time, we will examine the quantity of the water that
issueth by one of those Syphons in the space of twenty vibrations,
and the like will we do one by one with the other Syphons; and
then collecting the whole summe, we will say, that so much is
the water that passeth and runneth thorow the Regulator or
Chanel (the Dam being taken away) in the space of twenty se
cond minutes of an hour; and calculating, we may easily reduce
it to hours, dayes, months, and years: And it hath fallen to my
turn to measure this way the waters of Mills and Fountains, and I
have been well assured of its exactness, by often repeating the
same work.

And this method must be made use of in measuring the waters,
that we are to bring into Conducts, and carry into Cities
and Castles, for Fountains; and that we may be able afterwards
to divide and share them to particular persons justly; which will
prevent infinite suits and controversies that every day happen in
these matters..