On a Bitumen containing Benzoic Acid, 387 



10 ounces of this water, or 4375 grains, therefore, contain 



Carbonate of lime .... 4.4 



Hydriodide of potassa . . • • 0.07 



Oxide of silicium . . . ,0.3 



Carbonate of soda . . . . 8.4 



Sulphate of soda . . . ,2.52 



Chloride of sodium . . . . 57.00 



Water ... . 4302.30 



4375.00 



The striking facts relating to this mineral water are its exist-^ 

 ence at such a great altitude, and the presence of hydriodide 

 of potassa in it. We know that muriatic acid does not decompose 

 the hydriodides ; we are not, therefore, surprised to find hydrio- 

 dide of potassa in Avaters in which the muriate of soda exists ; 

 but the sulphuric acid does decompose them ; its affinity for 

 soda is less than for potassa, with which the hydriodic acid is 

 here combined, and yet it would appear that no change is 

 effected by double decomposition. With abundance of carbo- 

 nate of soda, and the sulphate of the oxide of sodium in solu- 

 tion with hydriodide of potassa^ we should expect, in the order of 

 affinities, to find the hydriodic acid united with the soda, and 

 the sulphuric acid to retain the potassa ; this, therefore, seems 

 an exception to a general rule. Thenard states, in his System of 

 Chemistry, that iodine has never been found to exist in nature 

 but in the state of iodide of potassium. It is surprising that this 

 water does not contain a single atom more of potassa than is 

 held in combination by the hydriodic acid, and it seems to 

 countenance the opinion that iodine does not naturally exist 

 but in combination with potassa. 



Earthy Bitumen^ called Murindo. 



This substance is found at Murindo, near Navitd, in the 

 Province of Choco, in Colombia. It takes its name from the 

 village of Murindo. 



It is externally of a blackish brown colour ; when broken, 

 the fracture is earthy and uneven, and the colour of the frac- 

 tured part is much lighter. It yields to the nail, and is sectile ; 

 it is dull, and leaves a mark on paper : when in powder, it 

 has a pungent smell ; the taste is hot and peculiar. Before 

 the blowpipe, it first ignites, and burns with a thick smoke^ 

 leaving a shining black coal. The smoke, whilst burning, has 

 the pleasant odour of benzoin. 



