372 LETTERS ON NATURAL MAGIC. 



When the sky is clear and the weather serene, the 

 springs in their ebullition do not rise higher than two or 

 three feet ; but in gloomy weather, and during the pre- 

 valence of stormy clouds, the springs are in a state of the 

 greatest ebullition, and the naphtha, which often takes fire 

 spontaneously at the earth's surface, flows -burning in 

 great quantities to the sea, which is frequently covered 

 with it, in a state of flame, to the distance of several 

 leagues from the shore. 



Besides the fires in the temple there is a large one 

 which springs from a natural cliff in an open situation, 

 and which continually burns. The general space in 

 which this volcanic fire is most abundant is somewhat less 

 than a mile in circuit. It forms a low flat hill sloping to 

 the sea, the soil of which is a sandy earth mixed with 

 stones. Mr. Forster did not observe any violent eruption 

 of flame in the country around the Attush Kudda ; but 

 Kinneir informs us, that the whole country round Badku 

 has at times the appearance of being enveloped in flames. 

 "It often seems," he adds, "as if the fire rolled down 

 from the mountains in large masses, and with incredible 

 velocity; and during the clear moonshine nights of 

 November and December, a bright blue light is observed 

 at times to cover the whole western range. The fire does 

 not consume, and if a person finds himself in the middle 

 of it no warmth is felt." 



The inhabitants apply these natural fires to domestic 

 purposes, by sinking a hollow cane or merely a tube of 

 paper, about two inches in the ground, and by blowing 

 upon a burning coal held near the orifice of the tube, 

 there issues a slight flame, which neither burns the cane 

 nor the paper. By means of these canes or paper tubes, 

 from which the fire issues, the inhabitants boil the water 

 in their coffee- urns, and even cook different articles of 

 food. The flame is put out by merely plugging up the 



