NOME XX. SALINE ROCKS. 



ated at the foot of a rock of salt, which from the 

 side of the river Cardonere, seems nearly mural. 

 This rock is a block of massive salt, which rises 

 from the earth about 4 or 500 feet, without cre- 

 vices, chasms, or layers: no gypsum is found 

 near it. This block is about a league in cir- 

 cumference j and its elevation is equal with that 

 of the surrounding mountains; as its depth is 

 not known, it is impossible to say on what it 

 rests. 



" In general, the salt from the top to the bot- 

 tom is white, though some parts are red ; some 

 is also found of a fine blue. 



" This prodigious mountain of salt, destitute 

 of all other matter, is the only one of its kind in 

 Europe. I do not know," adds Bowles, " if it 

 would be correct to affirm that it was formed by 

 an evaporation of the sea ; such a solution might 

 not satisfy every one." 



The salt mines of England are well known, 

 but are not elevated above the ground. The 

 same observation applies to the grand and cele- 

 brated mine of Wieliczka, in that part of the 

 former kingdom of Poland called Galitz, once 

 ceded to Austria. Smaller mines of salt are also 

 found at Thorda, Dees, and Eperies, all in Hun- 

 gary. 



But the most remarkable mines of salt, after 



