l.'>2 HOT SPRINGS OP MARIARA. 



CHAP. XIV. the species of ])otamogcton, cliara, and equisctum, were 

 peculiar to tlie New Continent. 



R.rcrs, Some of tlie rivers that flow into this fine sheet of 



water owe their origin to hot springs, of which, how- 

 ever, the travellers wore able to examine only those of 

 Mariara and Las Trincheras. In going up the Cura 

 toward its source, the mountains of Mariara are seen 

 advancing into the plain, in the form of an amphitheatre 

 composed of steep rocks, crowned by serrated peaks. 



Ricoii ad '^^^^ central point is named Rincon del Diablo. These 



Diablo. masses are composed of a coarse-grained granite, and are 

 j)artially covered with vegetation. In the hills toward 

 the east of the Rincon is a ravine containing several 

 small basiiLS, the two uppermost of which are only eight 

 inches in diameter, while the three lower are from two 

 to three feet. Their depth varies from three to fifteen 

 inches, and their temperature is from 133^ to 138^. 



Hot sprin"-i '^^^^ ^^^^ water from these funnels forms a rill, which 

 thirty feet lower has a temperature of only 118-4°. 

 These springs are slightly impregnated with sulphuretted 

 hydrogen gas, the fluid having a thin pellicle of sulphur ; 

 while a few plants in the vicinity are crusted with the 

 same substance. To the south of this ravine, in the 

 plain extending to the shores of the lake, is another 

 fountain of the same kind, which issues from a crevice. 

 The water, which is nnt so hot, collects in a basin fifteen 

 or eighteen feet in diameter and three feet deep, in 

 which the slaves of the neighbouring plantations wash 

 at tlic end of the day. Here the travellers also bathed, 

 and afterwards found in the surrounding woods a great 

 variety of beautiful plants. 



Bntliing. While drying themselves in the sun, after coming out 



of the pool, a little mulatto approached them, bowing 

 gravely, and making a long speech on the virtues of the 

 water. Siiowing tiiem his hut, he assured them they 

 should find in it all the conveniences of life ; but his 

 attentions ceased the moment he heard they had come 

 merely to satisfy their curiosity, and had no intention 

 to try tlie cHicacy of the baths. They are said to be 



