Singular Phainomenon — Jlfrica. 73 



wire with it, and leaves almost as thin as gold leaf. Its specific 

 gravity was 22*630. 



In repeating the process different times he did not always find 

 the platina in one lump at tlie Ijottoui of the crucil)le. It was 

 sometimes scattered in glol)ules among the dross. In this case 

 he treats the mass with a little diluted sulphuric acid : the glo- 

 bules are soon liberated from the dross, and sink to the bottom 

 of the crucible. They are then to be collected and washed, and 

 submitted to the same operation of the hammer as if the platina 

 had been found in one button with the lead. 



SINGULAR PH.ENOMENON. 



The following is a description of a curious phsenomenon which 

 was observed bv the Honourable Conipany's ships Fairlie and 

 James Sibbald, on their late pa'-sage to Calcutta : — " On the 1st 

 October, our latitude at noon was 13° 25' S, longitude S4° E.; 

 we observed quantities of stuff floating on the surface of the 

 water, which had to us the appearance of sea-weed — but we 

 ^vere quite astonished to find it burnt cinders, evidently volcanic. 

 The sea was covered with it the two next davs. Our latitude on 

 the 3d October, at noon, was 10= 9' S. longitude 84° 20' E. ; 

 the surface of the water was so completely covered with the vol- 

 canic matter, that I should think it very unlikely to have been 

 drifted any considerable distance, as it is probable it would have 

 been mucli more scattered. In an old chart I had on board 

 there is a submarine volcano placed in the same longitude, and 

 latitude about S- 30' S. ; and from the great distance from anv 

 land where we found this curious phsenomenon, 1 think there 

 can be no other u-ay of accounting for it than the jirobability of 

 a submarine volcano existing in that neighbourhood." 



In the month of July 1814 a similar phcsnomenon was ob- 

 served in the gulph of St. Lawrence. We were informed of it 

 by a letter from an intelligent military officer, who sent us some 

 of the sea-water, with a sample of the ashes swept frojn their 

 deck. The sea was black like ink, and for two days the sim 

 could hardly be seen ; and when seen, his light was so nuich 

 obscured by the thick atmo'phere as to appear like blood. \Ve 

 laid the letter aside, expecting that a few weeks would bring us 

 accounts of the breaking out of some volcano in North America, 

 or some dreadful coullagration in the forests; but no such ac- 

 counts arriving, the letter was forgotten, till recalled to memory 

 by the above occurrence. 



By advices received from the Gold Coast of Africa, it appears 

 that General Daendels, governor in chief of the Dutch forts in 

 that tuuiitiy, has been surveying the river Ancobar, and has re- 

 ported 



