254 Mr. Towin’s Account of the Pitch-loke 
originating from organized bodies, once possessed of animal or 
vegetable life; yet I have no doubt, bút the discovery of such 
an extensive mass of bituminous matter existing in one of our 
own colonies, situated so near the equator, will contribute, in 
due time, to throw much additional light on a question of much 
importance in the natural history of our globe. 
From subsequent intelligence which I have procured c on the 
subject, I learn—that this lake (as it is called) is about three or 
four miles in circumference—that the water which intersects it 
sometimes forms small pools, as well as rills—that the immediate ` 
substratum of all the lands around it, to an unascertained di- 
stance, consists of the same bituminous substances, with a co- 
vering of from two to four feet thick, of good vegetable mould 
—that this bitumen runs under its coat of earth, from the bor- 
ders of. the lake to the sea, which in some places is above half a 
mile, and extends to an unknown distance under the ocean— 
that the cliffs forming the shore of this part of the gulf, which — 
in some places appear i in abrupt precipices, from fifty to a hun- 
dred feet high, are composed entirely of this bituminous mineral, 
in ahard, compact state, but covered with a stratum of earth 
unequally thick—that, notwithstanding the general opinion of 
the country gives a volcanic origin to this immense body of. bi- 
tuminous matter, no symptoms of heat are perceptible in any 
part of the lake ; not even in the hollows of the small tumuli 
(nere | erly | called craters), where this substance seems: to have 
ect tly thrown up: nor does there appear to be any thing. 
like scorive, or cinders, among: the specimens. which 1 have 
hitherto received, Eye | 
Undera an idea that this ‘information, defect. a it sm may 
prove acceptable to y you, 1 until a regular and | quiet. peer BP - 
this newly acquired i laud 
will furnish better opportunities to fu- 
-oo 
