142 History of Nature. [BooK II. 



for fifty, and even an hundred, Miles, Balls of Fire cast out 

 Sand and Ashes 1 . 



CHAPTER CIV. 



The Wonders of Fire and Water jointly together, and 

 of Maltha. 



Now let us relate some Wonders of Fire also, which is 

 the fourth Element of Nature. But first, out of Waters. In 

 a City of Comagene, named Samosatis, there is a Pond 

 yielding forth a burning, slimy Mud (called Maltha 2 ). When 

 it meeteth with any Thing sqlid it sticketh to it ; and if it be 

 touched it followeth them that flee from it. By this means 

 the Townsmen defended their Walls when Lucullus assaulted 

 it ; and his Soldiers were burned in their own Armour. It 

 burns even in Water. Experience hath taught, that Earth 

 only will quench it 



CHAPTER CV. 

 Of Naphtha. 



OF the like Nature is Naphtha : for so is it called about 

 Babylonia, and in the Austacenes' Country in Parthia ; and 

 it runneth in the Manner of liquid Bitumen. There is great 

 Affinity between Fire and it ; for Fire is ready to leap unto 

 it immediately, if it be near it. Thus (they say) Medea 

 burnt her Husband's Concubine, by Reason that her Crown 

 anointed therewith was caught by the Fire after she had 

 approached to the Altars with the Intention to sacrifice 3 . 



1 Many of the phenomena here related are merely exaggerations of 

 the truth ; and many, however strange, are easily explained : as the inter- 

 mitting springs, and those which kindle into fire : the latter owing this pro- 

 perty either to the extrication of hydrogen gas or naphtha. Wcrn. Club. 



2 This is evidently a natural mineral pitch ; to which the artificial sub- 

 stance bearing the same name, and described in b. xxxvi. c. 24, could only 

 have been similar in its effects, especially of combustion. Wern. Club. 



3 There are many things in the history of Medea which shew her to 

 have been a skilful chemist, and possessed of a high degree of knowledge 

 of the science of the age in which she lived. Wern. Club. 



