Chap. 110.] YOLCANOS. 139 



to every solid body which it touches, and moreover, when 

 touched, it follows you, it* you attempt to escape from it. 

 By means of it the people defended their walls against 

 Lucullus, and the soldiers were burned in their armour ^ It 

 is even set on lire in water. We learn by experience that 

 it can be extinguished only by earth. 



cn^p. 109. (105.) — or KAPHTnA. 



jN^aphtha is a substance of a similar nature" (it is so called 

 about Babylon, and in the territory of the Astaceni, in 

 Parthia^), flowing like liquid bitumen. It has a great affi- 

 nity to fire, which instantly darts on it wherever it is seen"*. 

 It is said, that in this way it was that Medea burned Ja- 

 son's mistress ; her croAvn ha\dng taken fire, when she ap- 

 proached the altar for the purpose of sacrificing^. 



CHAP. 110. (106.) — PLACES -WIIICH AEE ALWAYS BUENING. 



Among the wonders of moimtains there is -Stna, which 

 always burns in the night*', and for so long a period has 

 always had materials for combustion, being in the winter 

 buried in snow, and having the ashes which it has ejected 

 covered ^\'ith frost. Xor is it in this mountain alone that 

 nature rages, threatening to consume the earth" ; in Pha- 



face of the earth. Our author has exaggerated its properties and action 

 upon other bodies. 



^ Respecting the transaction here mentioned, I shall refer to the note 

 of Hardouin, Lemaire, i. 452. 



■2 The substance here mentioned may be considered as not differing 

 essentially from the Maltha of the last chapter, except in being of a more 

 fluid consistence. 



3 The Astaceni are supposed to have inhabited a district near the 

 sources of the Indus, probably corresponding to the modern Cabul. 



■* We may conceive of a quantity of inflammable vapour on the surface 

 of tlie naphtlia, which might, iu some degree, produce the eiiect here 

 described. 



^ Horace, in one of his Epodes, where he refers to the magical arts of 

 Medea, says, that it was a cloak, " paUa," wliich was sent to Creiisa ; 

 V. 65. So far as there is any foundation for the story, wo may suppose 

 that some part of her dress had been impregnated witli an inflammable 

 substance, which took fire when she approached the blazing altar. 



^ When the volcanos ai'e less active the flame is visible in the night 

 only. 



' The observations of modem travellers and geologists have proved, 



