1858.] MURRAY MINERAL SPRINGS. 199 



in several places large tracts of sandy grit, in many precipitous 

 heights of which numerous caves and hermitages have been exca- 

 vated in olden times. 



The most celebrated spring in the neighbourhood is the Ab-i-garm 

 (hot- water), — a warm sulphur-spring that rises on one of the spurs 

 of the Demavend, about six miles to the eastward of Aske, on the 

 left bank of the Laur, and probably about 2000 feet above the bed 

 of that river. 



The principal mineral ingredients of this spring are sulphur and 

 naphtha, with some iron and Hme. On the 15th of August, the 

 temperature of the atmosphere in the shade, at two p.m., being 75° F., 

 the temperature of the spring at its source was 150° P. From hence 

 it flows down the side of the mountain to a large basin about 15 feet 

 long, 10 broad, and 4 deep, over and around which a large stone 

 bath has been raised. The temperature in the basin is about 118° F. 

 Here in summer thousands congregate from every part of Northern 

 Persia. 



The bath seems to be beneficial in rheumatism, neuralgia, and 

 some diseases of the skin. 



Formerly there issued from the rock, a few feet from the Ab-i- 

 garm, a cold spring of pure water, which disappeared after an earth- 

 quake about forty years ago. 



The tepid baths of Aske are about half a mile from the village on 

 the right bank of the Laur, and about 250 or 300 feet above that 

 river. These are used both for bathing and drinking. Lime and 

 carbonic acid gas are abundant in this water. There are several 

 springs of different dimensions, the bathing-basins of which are 

 apart from each other at distances varying from ten to fifteen yards. 

 , At half-past five p.m., the temperature of the air in the shade being 

 71°F., the water in the centre of the largest basin (Avhere the bubbles 

 are thrown up by the gas to an elevation of 6 or 8 inches above 

 the surrounding surface) was at 82° — the average of the temperature 

 of the other springs near by. 



On the left bank of the Laur a small bubbling spring of water, 

 similar to those last mentioned, had a temperatiu^e of 85° F. These 

 tepid mineral springs lying to the eastward of Aske, do not appear 

 to be affected by the intervention of the deep and rocky bed of the 

 Laur. To the westward of Aske, at the distance of about 1^ mile, 

 on the left bank of the river, and not more than 150 feet above its 

 bed, is a fine cold chalybeate spring : besides iron, this probably con- 

 tains carbonic acid gas and a small portion of sulphur. Its tempe- 

 rature was found to be 50° F., that of the atmosphere being 73° F. 

 It is not disagreeable to the taste, and in some complaints is found 

 very strengthening and efficacious. 



In conclusion, the author referred to the undeveloped riches of the 

 Elburz — its coal, iron, copper, silver, sulphur, marble, and other 

 mineral treasures. 



