106 THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA. 



in all seas submarine springs of fresh- water. Hum- 

 boldt observed one, two or three leagues southward 

 from Cuba, rising with such force that the smaller 

 craft could not approach witiiout risk. Ships supply 

 themselves with this water, and find it sweeter than 

 water taken from other places of greater depth. 



Water that has been in the earth holds in solution 

 a certain amount of salts, proportioned to the time it 

 has been detained underground, and to the depth 

 and consequently increased temperature it may have 

 attained. On returning to the surface, whether it be 

 on the land or beneath the sea, it makes some slight 

 deposit of the salt it holds in solution. Of course the 

 quantity is not greater than is usually to be lound in 

 what is called fresh-water, yet the deposit, accumu- 

 lated -..through a long period of time, assists in the 

 work of sedimentation, and thus modifies the bottom 

 of the sea. To express by one word the character in 

 common of all the deposits thus formed, they may 

 be called '* Geyserian." This appellation has been 

 given to them by M. Alexandre Yezian, from the 

 phenomenon which may be considered typical. 



Springs charged with stony matter, that is to say, 

 petrifying springs, are the cause of deposits after 

 their kind, but differing considerably according as 

 the water in which they rise is calm or troubled. In 

 the first case, the deposit is made tranquilly, and the 



