Chap. 40.] MUiiTA. 503 



which salt 7 is found is naturally barren, and produces nothing. 

 Such are the particulars, in general, which have been ascer- 

 tained with reference to native salt. 



Of artificial salt there are' several kinds ; the common salt, 

 and the most abundant, being made from sea-water drained 

 into salt-pans, and accompanied with streams of fresh water ; 

 but it is rain more particularly, and, above all things, the sun, 

 that aids in its formation ; indeed without this last it would 

 never dry. In the neighbourhood of Utica, in Africa, they build 

 up masses of salt, like hills in appearance ; and when these have 

 been hardened by the action of the sun and moon, no moisture 

 will ever melt them, and iron can hardly divide them. In 

 Crete, however, salt is made without the aid of fresh water, 

 and merely by introducing sea- water into the salt-pans. On 

 the shores of Egypt, salt is formed by the overflow of the sea 

 upon the land, already prepared for its reception, in my opinion, 

 by the emanations of the river Nilus. It is made here, also, 

 from the water 8 of certain wells, discharged into salt-pans. At 

 Eabylon, the result of the first condensation is a bituminous 9 

 liquid, like oil, which is used for burning in lamps ; when this 

 is skimmed off, the salt is found beneath. In Cappadocia, 

 also, both well and spring- water are introduced into the salt- 

 pans. In Chaonia there is a spring, from the water of which, 

 when boiled 10 and left to cool, there is an inert salt obtained, 

 not so white as ordinary salt. In the Gallic provinces and 

 in Germany, it is the practice to pour salt-water upon burning 

 wood. 11 



CHAP. 40. MURIA. 



In one part of Spain, they draw a brine for this purpose 

 from deep-sunk pits, to which they give the name of "muria;" 

 being of opinion, also, that it makes a considerable difference 

 upon what kind of wood it is poured. That of the quercus 

 they look upon as the best, as the ashes of it, unmixed, have 



7 Speaking generally, this is true ; but soils which contain it in small 

 quantities are fruitful. 



8 A similar method is still employed, Ajasson says, at the salt-mines near 

 ] nnspruck in the Tyrol. 



9 Native bitumen ; always to be found in greater or less quantities, in 

 K;iliferous earths. 



10 The process of artificial evaporation. 



11 This would produce an impure alkaline salt. According to Townson, 

 this practice still prevails in Transylvania and Moldavia. 



