125 



The well lay about thirty yards from the Seven** 

 which in that place, and for some miles above and be- 

 low, runs in a vale full a hundred yards perpendicular be- 

 low the level of the country on either side. But the well 

 s now^lost again, the water being drawn of by a coal-pit. 



23. There is a fire of the same kind at Pietra Mala, 

 ; village on the Appennines. The flame is extremely 

 bright, covers a surface of three yards by two, and 

 usually rises about four feet. After great rains or snows, 

 he whole bare patch, about nine yards diameter, flames, 

 flic gravel out of which it rises, at a very little depth, 

 s quite cold. There, are four of these fires in the 

 leiglibourhood : the middle of the ground whence one 

 >f them rises, is a little hollowed, and has in it a pud- 

 lie of water, through which there are strong ebulli- 

 ious of air. This air will not take fire ; but that which 

 ises through the wet and cold gravel flames briskly. 



In Dauphiny, and some other parts of France, the 

 urface of several springs take fire in the same manner 

 n the approach of a candle* Sulphureous vapours wr- 

 oubtedly exhale from the waters : as is the case in the 

 iinous Grotto del Cani. 



This lies on the side of a little hill, between Naples 

 fid Pozzoli. The sides of it are cut perpendicular in 

 ic earth. It is about three feet wide ; near twelve feet 

 nig ; five or six feet high at the entrance, and less than 

 iree at the farther end. 



The ground slopes a little from this end to the mouth* 

 id more from thence to the road. If you stand a few 

 eps without, and stoop so as to have your eye nearly 

 i a level with the ground of the grotto, you may see a 

 ipour within, like that which appears over a chafing- 

 sli of red-hot coals, only that it is more sluggish, and 

 >es not rise above five or six inches higlh Its surface 

 ore distinctly terminated than that of other vapours, 

 dances visibly under the air, as if unwilling to mix 

 ith it. 



The ground of the grotto is always moist ; and so are 

 G 2 





