134 THE CHEMISTKY OF CREATION. 



Falls of Niagara, a burning spring exists. The 

 gas makes its way in countless bubbles through 

 the clear transparent waters of the Niagara. 

 On the application of a candle it takes fire and 

 plays about with a lambent flickering flame, 

 which seldom touches the water, the gas being 

 at first too pure to be inflammable, and only 

 obtaining sufficient oxygen after mingling with 

 the atmosphere at the height of several inches 

 above the surface of the stream. This gas rises 

 out of a bed of limestone rock, probably from the 

 decomposition of some bituminous matter below 

 it. The Chinese collect it in such quantities, by 

 means of bamboo tubes, from wells, where it is 

 produced naturally, as to apply it on the large 

 scale for heating evaporating pans. One such 

 well is said to heat more than 300 pans. The 

 production of the gas in this, as in some other 

 instances, appears connected with saline springs. 

 It is related that, while boring for salt near Lake 

 Erie, the borer suddenly fell, after penetrating to 

 the depth of 197 feet. Salt-water sprang up for 

 several hours ; after which, a considerable quan- 

 tity of inflammable gas burst forth from the 

 same aperture, and, being ignited by a fire in 

 the vicinity, consumed all within its reach. A 

 similar eruption of this gas was related to the 

 writer, as having occurred in a magnificent salt- 

 mine near Northwich, in Cheshire. On a hole 



