242 SPRINGS, RIVERS, CANALS, LAKES, 



or petrifying matter*. On throwing a bundle of shrubs or small 

 sticks into it, they will in a few days be covered with a white crust > 

 but what seems still more extraordinary, this incrustatiug quality 

 is not so stroii" in the lake itself as in the canal, or little rivulet 

 that runs from it, and the farther the water has flowed from the 

 Jake, til! it is quite lost in the Auio, the stronger this quality be- 

 comes. These small round incrustations which cover the sand aud 

 pebbles, resembling sugar-plumbs, are called Confectidi Tivoli, or 

 confections of Tivoli. Fishes are found in the Anio, both above 

 and below Tivoli, till it receives the Solfatara, after which, during 

 the rest of its course to the Tiber there are none. The waters of 

 this lake had a high medicinal reputation anciently, but they are in 

 no esteem at present. 



The lake of AGNANO, in the kingdom of Naples, is not far dis- 

 tant from the Grotto of Pausilipo, which as an artificial excavation 

 will be described in Part III. of this Work. The communication 

 between these two remarkable places is by a very pleasant road, 

 between fine vineyards. This lake is a perfect circle, about an 

 Italian mile in circumference. At high water, in some parts of it, 

 js seen a strong ebullition. On approaching it, one is sensible of 

 the motion of the water, which possibly proceeds from the ascent 

 of the effluvia. The tenches and eels in this lake have in winter a 

 very good flavour, but in summer are not eatable, which is in 

 some measure imputed to the great quantities of flax and hemp 

 brought thither from all the neighbouring parts, which are soaked 

 in this water for the purpose of mellowing them. 



Near this lake stand the sudalorics of St. Gcrmano, which consist 

 of several apartments built with stone, where the heat and sulphu- 

 reous vapours issuing from the earth soon cause a profuse sweat; 

 jn some places the wall is too hot for the hand to bear it, and yet 

 the heat is supportable in the hottest room, especially if you stoop 

 toward the ground. The same observation is made on the baths 

 of Tritoli. The patients are put into rooms of different degrees 

 of heat, according to the nature of their complaint ; and in the 

 ludatories of St. Germano, which are said to be very efficacious in 

 the gout, debilities, inward heats, &c. they never stay above a 

 quarter of an hour at a time. 



* See a similar property in the water of Loch-ueagh in the subdivision 3, of 

 section. 



