334 Notice of Sketches of Naval Life. 



pears above.* The bottom is an earth, from which puffs up 

 hot air: this is strongly impregnated with sulphur, and deposits 

 about each crevice, beautiful small crystals of the mineral : 

 in front of the cave is a hot spring; and at its sides are other 

 caves, that have ceased to act. 



" There is another one, called by the natives, the Stipsy or 

 alum cave. It is near the centre of the island, and was worked 

 by the ancients : the alum, as Pliny tells us, being the best, 

 after that of Egypt, that could be procured. Towards the bot- 

 tom of a high reddish hill, we entered a hole on all fours ; and 

 working our way backward awhile ; and then proceeding more 

 erect, through a narrow passage, came to a large chamber, one 

 hundred and twenty feet long, and with an atmosphere that 

 makes the thermometer rise to ninety, in some places to one 

 hundred degrees of Fahrenheit. The earth above is filled 

 with specks of alum, and blown into the consistency of baker's 

 bread, to compare large things with small. The cells, often a 

 foot in length, are lined on the upper side with crystals of alum; 

 some small, but clean and pure, sometimes with a slight green 

 tinge : others are white and silky, with a covering of the most 

 delicate white down. Among them are spots, from which are 

 suspended crystals of acicular gypsum, each crystal distinct, and 

 falling at the slightest touch. The entrance is lined with 

 branchy gypsum ; and selenite is scattered over the rocks with- 

 out. Advancing from this to the harbour, you come to a cave, 

 called Loutra, about ninety feet deep ; at the end of which is a 

 fountain of hot salt water : the exhalations have coated the 

 rocks around it with salt. Our guide to this, was a priest: he 

 stripped off his upper garments, before entering, and judge of 

 our surprise, when we saw two pocket pistols among his trap- 

 pings. It will shew the state of the island : we met shepherds 

 with their flocks, in our excursions ; but the " piping times of 

 peace" are over ; and instead of the " tenui avena," each car- 

 ried a good long gun. The natives consider this fountain as endued 

 with good medical properties, and frequently use it as a bath, 

 as Avell as the waters on the shores just below: there are several 

 hot springs there, in the sand ; and a still larger mumber, a few 

 rods in the water : the thermometer rises to 128° in the spring, 

 and in the sand, to 135° of Fahrenheit. — Vol. L pp- 137 — 9. 



* This very rave mineral has been examined by Mr. Charles U. Shepard, 

 of Yale College ; and proves to be the native soda alum, a new species in 

 mineralogy, lately established by Dr. Thompson.— See American Journal of 

 Science, Vol. XVI, No. 1, 1829. 



