It seems that tourists are particularly liable to ask the wrong question of the wrong peasants. Coming to a ford similar to that mentioned above, one visitor to the area asked a nearby local, one J---- D----, whether there were "a good bottom to it" (and therefore safe to cross). He was assured that there was indeed a good bottom.

Emerging, predictably and spluttering from the water, which was much deeper than expected, he roared at the local, "you said it had a good bottom to it!" In response, he was calmly told, "there is a good bottom to it, ye're just not at it yet". (c. 1930)