56 M. Beudant's Travels in Hungary. 



colouwK commonly a dark grey. In some points, remarkably 

 cellulWTs, the colour is a pretty deep black. On the surface 

 of the soil are found considerable quantities of black scoriae, 

 twisted, and as evidently produced by the action of fire, as 

 those pf Nugere, Puy de la Vache, &c. in Auvergne, or as those 

 of volcanos in full activity. 



These, and other observations made in the vicinity of Ko- 

 riigsberg, could not lead to any decisive conclusion as to the 

 origin of the rocks, whether igneous or neptunian. It is evi- 

 dent that the trachytic earth is mixed with substances really 

 scoriaceous, and that the basalte contains scoriae, turbinated 

 or twisted, which would denote a probability in favour of an 

 igneous origin. The existence of metallic depots, in the heart 

 of substances produced by fire, is not peculiar to Konigsberg; 

 it is the case in the gold mines of Telkevariya, in Upper Hun- 

 gary, in those of Viltalpand, in Mexico, and perhaps in the 

 mines that Strabo makes mention of in the Isle of Yschia, on 

 the coast of Naples. But this will not apply to the mines of 

 Schemnitz, and a number of other places, where every thing, 

 on the contrary, points to a neptunian or aqueous origin. t 



CHAPTER III. 



COUNTRY OF SCHEMNITZ, &C. 



On quitting Konigsberg, we pass along the right bank of the 

 Gran, by mountains of molar porphyry, that stretch to beyond 

 Scharnowitz. After crossing the river at the village of Rudno, 

 we meet with trachyte rocks, extending to beyond the village 

 of Unter Hamer, and to the mine works that lie before the 

 village of Hodritz, where are various other rocks of different 

 kinds. 



The village of Hodritz, overlooked by wooded mountains, 

 or the dark foliage of pines, contrasts agreeably with the bright 

 green of other trees, and has a cheerful aspect. On a height, 

 a little before it, is a spot covered with little habitations, neat- 

 ly white-washed, and which have a fine effect, from the ver- 

 dant scenery with which they are surrounded. 



After this coasting along the left bank of the river, we meet 

 here and there with detached houses. We then begin to 

 ascend by a noble road, cut out regularly on the right declivity 

 of the valley. When arrived at the highest point of the road, 

 we discern on the N. W., the valley of Eisenbach, and on the 

 east, after turning the Paradeisberg, or Mountain of Paradise, 



