30 



A NATURALIST IN THE PACIFIC 



CHAP 



Pieper that the salts in solution consist for the most part of 

 chlorides, the chlorides of calcium and sodium largely prevailing. 



Comparison of the analyses of the water of the Savu-savu thermal 

 springs, stated in grains per thousand of water. ^ 



It is to be inferred from the above that the quantity of salts in 

 solution remains about the same, the proportion varying only in the 

 four analyses, which extended over a period of forty years, 

 between 7*2 and 8'8 grains per thousand grains of water. This is 

 considerably less than the salts in solution in sea-water, namely 

 35 grains per thousand. The relative proportions of the salts, 

 excepting those of calcium, do not vary more than we should 

 expect in the case of analyses made by varying methods and 

 probably with a varying degree of exactness. 



Dana^ considered from Dr. Jackson's analysis that the water 

 of the Savu-savu springs is probably of marine origin ; but the 

 absence of bromine and iodine, as especially remarked by Dr. 

 Pieper and Prof Liversidge does not support this view. We 

 might also expect the proportion of the salts to each other to show 

 a greater similarity to that in sea-water than they do. On the 

 other hand the total volume of water discharged, not only by the 

 springs proper but for several hundred yards along the beach, and 

 also between the tide-marks and beyond, must be far greater than 

 could be supplied by the rainfall of this portion of the Savu-savu 

 peninsula, which is only one and a half to two miles across and 800 

 feet high. We must look, I think, for the source of these waters 

 in deep subterranean streams or artesian basins that would be 

 fed by the rains precipitated in the mountainous districts where 

 the rainfall amounts to at least 200 — 300 inches in the year. 



^ To avoid error, I have given the results of each without converting them 

 to a common standard. The numbers in brackets are taken from the form of 

 Prof. Liversidge's analysis given in Miss Gordon Cumming's book. 



2 United States Exploring Expedition, vol. 10^ QgoIo^y- 



