242 Chronicles of Science. [ April, 
suited for pasturage and roots, but not well adapted to corn, being 
covered with brush. The soil is of a loamy nature, but deposits of 
limestone and of a so-called “brown coal” are found. The lime- 
stone is fit for building, and for some finer work, and the coal has 
been used on the river steamers. The amount of the latter is 
considerable, and promises to be easily worked, without sinking 
shafts or difficulty from water. 
In Australia, the exploration of the Gulf of Carpentaria has been 
continued by the expedition sent out by the Government of South 
Australia. Several hitherto unknown rivers, and a bay of 20 miles 
width by 10 broad, have been discovered on the north-western 
promontory of the Gulf. A large quantity of gold has been found 
on the Mary River, about 100 miles to the north of Brisbane, 
which, of course, has had a great effect upon the labour market. 
In Europe, the greatest geographical event has been the eruption 
of Mount Vesuvius, with its attendant disturbances of landslips 
and earthquakes. In the midst of Naples itself, a portion of a cliff 
which overhung a main street slipped forward, burying houses and, it 
is said, even carriages in its fall. That the continued earthquakes 
have had something to do with this disaster there cannot be any 
doubt: how much is a question that cannot be solved at present. 
The eruption itself has now gone on for some considerable period. 
Part of the older crater has been broken away; a new cone has 
arisen; several streams of lava have poured down the sides, threat- 
ening in turn Resina, Torre del Greco, the Hermitage, and the 
Observatory. As yet, no great damage has been done to the culti- 
vated lands ; but the people of the neighbourhood have been pre- 
pared to flee at the first appearance of danger. The form of the 
mountain is considerably changed, and it has been covered at 
various times with sublimates of different salts, which are washed 
away by the rain, a new deposit soon taking the place of the old 
one. The mountain in the meanwhile has been a magnificent 
sight, especially by night. The streams of lava glow with various 
degrees of brightness, whilst that which appears a pillar of cloud 
by day is a fountain of fire at night. Continuous discharges of 
various characters accompany the earthquakes, which are so violent, 
that the instruments at the Observatory have to be detached from 
the walls, and laid on the ground. Professor Phillips, of Oxford, 
has gone to the spot to settle some points with regard to the depo- 
sition of lava. 
The Gulf Stream is said to have become much more rapid since 
the disturbances in the West Indies. Changes in this current 
cannot but affect our climate. ‘The subject of this stream has been 
carefully handled by J. G. Kohl, in his ‘ Geschichte des Golf- 
stroms und seiner Erforschung. Amongst the new works on 
Geography, either published or promised shortly, are ‘ Vambery’s 
———— eer 
