154 nor spuings of la trinchera. 



CHAP. XIV Porto Cabcllo ; and on the 27tli visited the hot springs 

 ~~ of La Trincliera, ten miles from Valencia. These foun- 

 tains were so copious as to form a rivulet, which, during 

 the greatest droughts, was two feet deep and eighteen 

 wide. The temperature of the water was 194-5°. 

 Ef^gs immersed in them were boiled in less than four 

 minutes. They issued from granite, and were strongly 

 impregnated with sulphuretted hydrogen. A sediment 

 of carbonate of lime was deposited, and the most luxu- 

 riant vegetation surrounded the basin, — mimosas, clu- 

 sias, and fig-trees, pushing their roots into the water, 

 and extending their branches over it. Forty feet 

 distant from these remarkable sources there rose others 

 Pi'^'iiicction which were of the ordinary temperature. Humboldt 

 lur litat. remarks, that in all climates people show the same pre- 

 dilection for heat. In Iceland the first Christian con- 

 verts would be baptized only in the tepid streams of 

 Ilecla ; and in the torrid zone, the natives flock 

 from all parts to the thermal waters. The river which 

 is formed by the fountains of La Trincliera runs toward 

 the north-cast, and near the coast expands to a consider- 

 able size. 

 Potto Descending towai'd Porto Cabello, the travellers 



CabtUo. passed tlirough a very picturesque district, beautified by 

 a most luxuriant vegetation and numerous cascades. A 

 stratified coarse-grained granite occurred near the road. 

 The heat became suffocating as they approached the 

 coast, and a reddish vapour veiled the horizon. In the 

 evening they reached the town, where they were 

 V, Ju;i.ic l^''"^b' received by a Frencli physician, M. Juliac, 

 whose house contained an interesting collection of zoolo- 

 gical subjects. This gentleman was principal surgeon 

 to the royal hospital, and was celebrated for his profound 

 ocfpiaintance witli the yellow fever. He stated, that 

 wlien he had treated his patients by bleeding, aperients, 

 and acid drinks, in hospitals wliere the sick were 

 crowded, the mortality was 33 in 100 among the white 

 Creoles, and 05 in 100 among recently-disembarked 

 Eun.])eans ; but that since a stimulating treatment, and 



