SOUTH AFRICAN SPRINGS. 280 



A.!goa Bay. It is resorted to by the inhabitants from very 

 distant parts of the colony, for the purpose of procuring salt 

 for their own consumption or for sale. It is situated in 

 a plain considerably elevated above the level of the sea, is 

 of an oval form, and about three miles in circumference. 

 It is named Zoutpan or SaUpajh, an appropriate name, as 

 the sun and wind do here what is effected in salt-works by 

 artificial heat. When Mr. Barrow examined it, the greatest 

 part of its bottom was covered with one continued body of 

 salt, like a sheet of ice, the crystals of which were so 

 united that they formed a solid mass as hard as rock. The 

 dry south-easterly winds of summer, agitating the water of 

 the lake, produce on the margin a fine, light, powdery salt, 

 like flakes of snow. This is equally beautiful as the re- 

 fined salt of England. Another salt lake, according to 

 Lichtenstein, occurs on the western coast of the colony near 

 to Elephant River, from which the inhabitants of the dis- 

 trict supply themselves with this necessary of life. A salt 

 lake of considerable extent is said to occur in about S. lat. 

 30°, in the upper part of the river-district of the Orange 

 River. The most northern, of which I have been able to 

 gain any intelligence, says Burchell, is one about the 27"^ 

 S. lat., eastward of Lattakoo. The Karroo day., as already 

 mentioned, is probably a deposite from lake water, at a time 

 when the tracts where it occurs were covered with water. 



Particulars to be attended to in investigating the Natural 

 History of Lakes. — Travellers, in examining and describing 

 lakes, ought to ascertain their relations to rivers and springs, 

 their magnitude, depth, temperature at the surface and at 

 various depths, their colours, occultations, and agitations. 

 The water of the lake ought to be submitted to chemical 

 analysis, in order to ascertain whether it is fresh water, 

 salt water, alkaline water, calcareous water, <fec. Their 

 mode of formation ought also to be considered, and the 

 peculiar characters of lake scenery and climate should be 

 attended to. 



SOUTH AFRICAN SPRINGS. 



The springs of Southern Africa may be divided into con> 

 mon, hot, and mineral. 



Common Springs. — Although much rain falls in the 

 Cape district, it afTords but comparatively few springs. 



