Introduction^ 35 



sorbed in the circumjacent parts, or is conveyed to Pest, where 

 it is chiefly in use with whitesmiths and blacksmiths. All 

 other depots of mineral coaly matter, passing under the name 

 of steinkohle or earth coal, consist of lignite, a coaly substance 

 which contains no bitumen like coal, never swells or puffs 

 when heated, is often difficult to set fire to, and diffuses an un- 

 pleasing odour. It is a remnant of wood that has lain buried 

 in the earth, in ancient revolutions of the globe, and the woody 

 texture is occasionally very apparent. Many vestiges of this 

 combustible have been discovered in different parts of Hun- 

 gary, but there are few places where it has become an object 

 of regular labours. At Wandorf, near CEdenburg, large quan- 

 tities are produced, chiefly for transport to Vienna. It is, how- 

 ever, highly probable that this mineral combustible might be 

 worked, in a great number of places hitherto unexplored, and 

 with obvious advantage. The mines of Sari Sap, at a little 

 distance from Gran and Pest, are deserving of notice, from 

 their situation in a part of Hungary where wood is getting 

 scarce and dear. 



Among other minerals, opal, which for ages has been the 

 peculiar produce of this country, should not be omitted. Of 

 late years, indeed, equatorial America has furnished samples 

 of it for commerce. Opal is particularly found in the groupe 

 of mountains that stretch from Tokai to Eperies, and it is 

 about half a day's journey N. W. of the town of Kaschau, near 

 the village of Cservenitza, that mining works have been carried 

 on for centuries. This substance is discovered in several other 

 places, but it no where else presents that life and vivacity of 

 colours that make it in request with the jeweller, and so highly 

 enhance its value. Ancient authors have recorded, and more 

 recent authors have repeated, that emeralds, beryls, topazes, 

 rubies, hyacinths, and lapis lazuli, have been found in the Car- 

 pathian mountains, but neither in my excursions, nor in the 

 collections that I visited, could 1 trace any vestiges of such. 

 I am of opinion that opal is the only fine or precious stone 

 that Hungary affords. 



There are mineral waters, in various parts, that have ac- 

 quired celebrity in a greater or less degree. Some are hot, 

 others cold ; some are purely acid like those of Seltz, others 

 are both acid and ferrugineous, acid and sulphureous. Some 

 are used for bathing in, others for drinking. Those most fre- 

 quented, and in the highest vogue, are at Bartfeld, in the 

 comitat of Saros, at Lublb, in that of Zips, at Trentseii, Eisen- 

 bach, Glasshutte, about Schemnitz, and at Fared, on the bor- 

 ders of the lake Balaton. These are the principal, but there 

 are other waters that require only a more agreeable situation 



