Remarks on the Mineral Springs at thu Koogha. 27 



of the circumstance, (together with any remarks you may be 

 pleased to subjoin,) in the Quarterly Journal of the Institution, 

 might in some measure excite your Country Correspondents 

 to a more zealous investigation of the Antediluvian Relicts of 

 this portion of Southern Africa. 



1 have the honor to he, 



Yours, etc. 

 Veranda Lodge, Gre.cn Point, 

 2-lrVj Sept. 1830. 



Remarks on the Mineral Springs at the- Koogha \ in a 

 letter to John Arthur, Esq. M. D. 13y Dr. Mair. 



Sir, — I have the honor to submit, for your consideration, 

 the following remarks on the Mineral Springs at the Koogha; 

 but I deeply regret that the want of chemical apparatus pre- 

 vents me from analyzing the waters, and transmitting a more 

 finished account of their composition and qualities. 



Several Mineral Springs are found on trie farm of Mr. Nie- 

 kirk, which receives its name from its situation on the western 

 bank of a small river the Koogha, and is about ten mile* 

 distance from Uitcnhage and twenty-five from Port Elizabeth. 

 The country for many miles round is composed of strata of clay 

 and lime-stone, with occasional tracks of sand. 



The rocks aro chiefly of primary formation, presenting, par- 

 ticularly towards their summits, large irregular masses of que r la 

 and granite. 



A conical-shaped hill rises from the western bank of the 

 Koogha with a very gradual slope, near the base of which an 

 irregular mass of unctuous clay of a deep black color, in some, 

 places striped with red and yellow veins, and presen ing some- 

 thing of the appearance of an accumulation of molehills, open* 

 to the view. Upon arriving at the spot, a strong sulphurous 

 odor is perceived, which increases in intensity as you proceed. 

 The surface of the black clay is in many parts crusted with a 

 whitish lamina of a ghzed appearance, and likewise with small 

 yellow crystals, both of which are clnelly sulphate of iron. Near 

 the upper part of the mass two springs arc discovered a lew 

 yards from each other. 



The one placed higher up the ascent is of the medium tempe- 

 rature of the atmosphere, and rises from a sandy bed about six. 

 feet from the surface, in large quantity, and with a gurgling 

 sound. The water is covered with an ochry crust, and is beau- 

 tifully transparent when it is removed. The sides of the well 



