CENTURY IV. 17.9 



Experiment solitary touching subterrany foes. 



364. It is reported by one of the ancients, that 

 in part of Media there are eruptions of flames out of 

 plains ; and that those flames are clear, and cast not 

 forth such smoke, and ashes, and pumice, as moun 

 tain flames do. The reason, no doubt, is, because 

 the flame is not pent as it is in mountains and earth 

 quakes which cast flame. There be also some blind 

 fires under stone, which flame not out, but oil being 

 poured upon them they flame out. The cause 

 whereof is, for that it seemeth the fire is so choked, 

 as not able to remove the stone, it is heat rather 

 than flame, which nevertheless is sufficient to inflame 

 the oil. 



Experiment solitary touching nitre. 



362. It is reported, that in some lakes the water 

 is so nitrous, as, if foul clothes be put into it, it 

 scoureth them of itself; and if they stay any whit 

 long, they moulder away. And the scouring virtue 

 of nitre is the more to be noted, because it is a body 

 cold ; and we see warm water scoureth better than 

 cold. But the cause is, for that it hath a subtle 

 spirit, which severeth and divideth any thing that is 

 foul and viscous, and sticketh upon a body. 



Experiment solitary touching congealing of air. 



363. Take a bladder, the greatest you can get, 

 fill it full of wind, and tie it about the neck with a 

 silk thread waxed, and upon that put likewise wax 



