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verge. Its colour, and even the surface, presents, at first, the 

 aspect of a lake of water. But Mr. Anderson imagines it obtained 

 the appellation of lake, when seen in the hot and dry weather : 

 at which time its surface, to the depth of an inch, is liquid ; and 

 then, from its cohesive quality, it cannot be walked on. 



It is of a circular form, and above three miles in circumference, 

 appearing at first a plain as smooth as glass ; excepting some small 

 clumps of shrubs and dwarf trees, that have taken possession of 

 some spots of it ; but, on a nearer view, it is discovered to be 

 divided into areolce of different sizes and shapes; the chasms or divi- 

 sions anastamosing, through every part of it. The surfaces of the 

 areolce are perfectly horizontal and smooth ; the margins are undu- 

 lated, and each undulation is enlarged to the bottom, till it joins 

 the opposite. On the surface, the margin, or first undulation, is 

 distinct from the opposite, from four to six feet; and the same 

 depth before they coalesce ; but where the angles of the areolce op- 

 pose, the chasms or ramifications are wider and deeper. When Mr. 

 Anderson was there, these chasms .were full of water: the whole 

 forming one true horizontal plain, which rendered his investigation 

 of it difficult and tedious; being necessitated to plunge into the 

 water a great depth, in passing from one areola to another. The 

 truest idea that can be formed of its surface, would be from the 

 areolce, and their ramifications, on the back of a turtle. Its more 

 common consistence and appearance, is that of pit-coal ; but its 

 colour is rather greyer. It breaks into small fragments, of a similar 

 appearance and glossy ; with a number of minute and shining par- 

 ticles interspersed through its substance. It is very friable; and 

 when liquid, is of a jet black : some parts of the surface are covered 

 with a thin brittle scoriae, a little elevated. As to its depth, he 

 could form no idea of it, for in no part could he find a substratum, 

 of any other substance. Its smell resembled that of pitch, and it. 

 was so hard, that no impression could be made on its surface, 



