34 



give to the sand about its orifice the motion which it has 

 in a boiliniT spring. On |)resenting a liglited cnntlle or 

 torch within 18 inches of the hole, it flames up in a col- 

 umn of 18 inches diameter, and fom- or five feet in 

 heiglit, Avhich sometimes hums out within 20 minutes, 

 and at other times has been known to continue three 

 days, and then lias been still left burning. The flame 

 is unsteady, of the density of that of buming s|)irits, 

 and smells like burning pit coal. Water sometimes 

 collects in the basin, which is remarkably cold, and is 

 kept in ebullition by the vapour issuing through it. If 

 the va[)Our be fired in that state, the water soon be- 

 comes so warm that the Ijand cannot bear it, and eva- 

 porates wholly in a short time. This, with the circum- 

 jacent lands, is the proj)erty of his excellency General 

 Washington and of General Lewis. 



There is a similar one on Sandy river, the flame of 

 which is a column of about 12 inches diatneter, and 

 three feet high. General Clarke, who informs me of 

 it, kindled the vapour, staid about an hour, and left it 

 burning. 



The mention of uncommon springs leads me to that 

 of Syphon fountains. There is one of these near the 

 intersection of lord Fairfax's boundary with the North 

 mountain, not far from Brock's gap, on the stream of 

 which is a grist mill, which grinds two bushel of grain 

 at every flood of the spring: another near Cow pasture 

 river, a mile and a half below its confluence with the 

 Bull pasture river, and 16 or 17 miles from the Hot 

 springs, which intermits once in every twelve hours: 

 one also near the mouth of the north Holston. 



After these may be mentioned the JS^'atiwal JVell, on 

 the lands of a Mr Lewis in Frederic county. Jt is 

 somewhat larger than a common well : the water rises 

 in it as near the surface of the earth as in the neiirh- 

 bouring artificial wells, and is of a depth as yet un- 

 known. It is said there is a current in it tending sen- 

 sibly downwards. If this be true it ])robably feeds 

 some fountain, of which it is the natural reservoir, dis- 

 tinguished from others, like that of Madison's cave, by 



