252 -~ Mr. Span’s Account of the Pitch-lake 
the ground witiin the crater. This lake is situated about a mile 
from the gulf, on an eminence, as I conceive, of from eighty 
to one hundred feet above the level of the sea. It is surrounded 
on all sides by high woods, except where it has been cleared for 
the cultivation of the sugar-cane; and in those places the soil 
has universally proved very fertile. It is the highest land in that 
quarter of the island. The lake is about a mile across, inter- 
sected every where by streams of pure, clear water, which abound 
with small fish. In many places, even in the centre of the lake, on 
the solid pitch, are spots having the appearance of so many 
islands, on which grow plants and shrubs of various kinds: 
among the rest is the wild pine-apple, or the pine in its natural 
state, in great abundance. Of this latter I have sent home a few 
plants to Mr. Edwards, who desired me, previous to my de- 
parture, to procure and forward him different kinds of pine 
plants from these islands. The banks of the rivulets are semi- 
circular, thus terminating at bottom in a crevice. 
The water aopn M of various depths, from two to ten feet; 
and the channels are continually fluctuating: one of eight 
or ten feet to-day, may tomorrow be entirely closed up, and 
others formed where yesterday was a solid mass of pitch. From 
this it appears, that the pitch itself is supported by a lake of 
water underneath ; but what the thickness or substance of the 
pitch may be, I can form no idea of. It has, however, evident- 
ly been the effect of subterraneous fire. I have been informed 
that the country on the sea-coast to windward of the lake 
abounds with coal; but I could not collect any | information how | 
far these veins extend towards the lake; nor have I ever seen any - 
specimens of this coal. | 
Dr. Anderson, the superintendant of tlie. botanical garden i in 
Bt. Vincent, who accompanied me on this expec lition, wrote an. 
account 
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