in Buncome County, North-Curoliaa. 119 



;Js much narrower in all others, both above and below. These 

 mountains seem to consist principally of rocks, of which a con- 

 siderable proportion in the immediate vicinity are compact 

 lime stone, both blue and grey. About six miles above the 

 springs there is said to be a vein of the sulphate of barytes, a 

 specimen of which was given me ; and in the vicinity of the 

 ferry below, there is a cavern of lime stone, which may be 

 penetrated with convenience for thirty yards and from the 

 roof of which stalactites are pendant. Near to this cave there 

 is another containing a large quantity of good yellow ochre. 



There are said to be mines of cobalt, copper, and iron in 

 the neighboring mountains, but these are lofty and not very 

 accessible. I found that there was, from the local circum- 

 stances of the establishment, considerable humidity during 

 the mornings and evenings, and a pretty high temperature 

 for several hours of the day. There were also sudden and 

 frequent thunder showers, but these were generally of short 

 duration. These meteorological observations will perhaps 

 lead to the conclusion, that this watering place would not be 

 advisable for persons laboring under pulmonic or dropsical 

 afFec.nons,and I did not learn that any such had been bene- 

 fited by their residence. 



After premising these remarks upon the situation and his- 

 torical account of these springs and the country in their vi- 

 cinity, I will proceed to detail the particulars of an analysis 

 of the water, which was commenced on the spot in Julvj 

 1818, and recently concluded in my laboratory. 



1. The appearance of the water at the fountain was lim- 

 pid, although there was a continual ascent of air bubbles to 

 its surface. 



2. The taste was insipid, excepting the disagreeable im- 

 pression made by its temperature, which has been already 

 stated to be 104° as the. water emerged from the sand. 



3. There was no smell ])erceivable by mjyseli, or by an 

 intelligent friend, who aided my researches, although I was 

 assured by several persons that in some seasons this water 

 was impregnated with so strong and permanent an odour, as 

 to be sensible after it had been conveyed to some distance. 

 In the immediate vicinity of the drinking springs, there 

 was undoubtedly an unpleasant effluvium., but this I attribu- 

 ted to the stagnation of common water in these low spots, 

 ai^'d the presence of decaying regetable, matter. It sh.ould 



