Journey from Vienna* 85 



the external temperature. The water then drops from the 

 vault, in greater or less quantities, and congeals into stalactites 

 and stalagmites, that continue increasing through the winter, 

 the quantity of ice being greater in proportion to the length 

 and the rigour of the frost, It increases even when the frost 

 without is gone, as the air of the cavern is a long time in ac- 

 quiring an equilibrium of temperature, and the maximum of 

 the quantity of ice obtains only in the spring. Then it begins 

 and continues melting through the summer, so that it is en- 

 tirely melted, or considerably diminished by the return of 

 winter, when similar phenomena recur. Both the caverns of 

 Szclitze, where I then was, and that of Chaux, and many 

 others in the mountains of Jura, have their apertures turned to 

 the north, which must facilitate the lowering of the tempera- 

 ture during the winter, and keep it, at the same time, from 

 rising rapidly during the summer, 



The town of Dobschau* (Dobsina, Sclav.) is one of the most 

 ancient mining towns of Hungary, and situated in the most 

 mountainous part. It was founded by some Germans, in the 

 beginning of the fourteenth century, for the sake of working 

 its mines. Its mountains contain 'immense mineral riches; 

 here are mines of copper, iron, and cobalt, the productions 

 from which were very considerable, when strict attention was 

 paid to this branch of revenue. According to the .miners, all 

 these minerals are in couches or beds, more or less condensed, 

 and very few in veins. 



CHAPTER XI. 



PLAINS OF IGLO. MOUNTAIN OF TATRA. SALT-MINES OF 

 VILL1CZKA, &C. 



After quitting the comitat of Gomor, my next excursion was 

 to the frontiers of Galicia. Passing through the plains of Iglo, 

 I came to the town of that name, which is but a small place, 



* This word is often pronounced and written Topfschan, and hence, it ha$ 

 been derived by many from Topfschaven, to look into a pot. The arms of the 

 town represent the circumstance of a miner looking into a pet. This refers to a 

 tradition, that the original miners having assembled to give a name to the town, 

 agreed to take for it the word that the first miner, coming out of the mines, 

 should utter. One of their comrades soon appearing, drew near the fire, ex- 

 claiming, " Er muszle zu seinem topfschauen, I must look into my pot." Others, 

 however, derive it from the situation of the town, appearing, from the very higu 

 aiuuutiuuf that surround it, as lying in the bottom ot a pot. 



