270 Boracic Add Lagoons of Tuscany. 



In performing his experiments, it would seems that Prof. Dan- 

 iell used his ingenious apparatus, known as the sustaining bat- 

 tery, which, although pecuharly quahfied for the production of a 

 durable current, is, as we think, far less competent than the calo- 

 rimotor of Dr. Hare, to produce a transient intense ignition such 

 as would be the most efficacious in igniting gunpowder. 



Art.- XI.— On the Boracic Acid Lagoons of Tuscany 



John Bowring, LL. D.* 



The borax lagoons of Tuscany are entitled to a detailed de- 

 scription. They are unique in Europe, if not in the world ; and 

 their produce is become an article of equal importance to Great 

 Britain as an import, and to Tuscany as an export. They are 

 spread over a surface of about 30 miles, and exhibit from the dis- 



more 



the year and state of the weather, which rise in large volumes 



mountains 



As you approach the lagoons, the earth seems to pour out boil- 

 'm^ water as if from volcanos of various sizes, in a variety of sod, 

 bm principally of chalk and sand. The heat in the immediate 

 adjacency is intolerable, and you are drenched by the vapor, 

 which impregnates the atmosphere with a strong and somewhat 

 sulphurous smell. The whole scene is one of terrible violence 

 and confusion — the noisy outbreak of the boiling element — the 

 ruc^o-ed and agitated surface — the volumes of vapor — the impreg- 

 nated atmosphere — the rush of waters — amon 



tary mountains. 



The ground, which burns and shakes beneath your feet, is 

 covered with beautiful crystallizations of sulphur and other min- 

 erals. Its character beneath the surface at Mount Cerbole is that 

 of a black marl streaked with chalk, giving it, at a short distance, 

 the appearance of variegated marble. 



Formerly the place was regarded by the peasants as the en- 

 trance of hell, a superstition derived no doubt from very ancient 

 times, for the principal of the lagoons and the neighboring vol- 



From Dr. Bowring's Report on the Statistics of Tuscany. 



