264 LABORE TO FATIKO. 



high ; they sloped down gently, and were scantily clothed with 

 vegetation. 



On the left bank of the river, which here flows due north, 

 thick smoke appeared, and as we approached I fancied that I 

 perceived a very slight smell of sulphur. From large' clefts 

 between the boulders, and still oftener from springs close by the 

 river, there bubbles out perfectly clear hot water, without taste or 

 smell, at a temperature of from 137. 3 to 138. 3 Fahr. (at diffe- 

 rent places), forming a small brook forty-six inches broad and 

 three inches deep. In this little channel two other springs gush 

 forth, whirling up thick mud. By measuring with a stick, I 

 found a rocky bottom at a depth of twelve inches. The tempera- 

 ture of the air was 72.5° Fahr. ; that of the river water, yy° 

 Fahr. ; the aneroid read 27.69 in. A boiling-point observation, 

 made somewhat later, resulted in 208.8° Fahr., the temperature 

 of the air being 73.4° Fahr., and the aneroid indicating 27.69 

 in. No deposit of efflorescence was noticed near the springs, 

 and no plants or animals were to be seen around, except the 

 boiled body of an inquisitive frog. In the middle of the river, 

 somewhat higher up, there are other warm springs, having a 

 lower temperature, viz., 104° Fahr. The whole of the western 

 sandbank appears to be undermined by hot springs, for a very 

 short distance below the surface the ground becomes hot and 

 moist. After a course of about ten feet, the little streamlet flows 

 into the river, and makes its water warm to the touch for some 

 distance. The whole ground must be quite under water when 

 the river is at full flood. The water from these hot springs is 

 credited with great healing power, especially for syphilis and 

 skin diseases. The practice of scattering corn and flour round 

 the springs indicates a traditional reverence for them. These 

 springs, together with those on Jebel Labilla and that to the 

 south of Fatiko, appear to originate in one and the same large 

 basin. I took some of the water for analysis. I found many 

 wing-shells in the river. Farshile lies to the south-west of 

 this place, and may be reached in about three hours and a half. 



Undulating grass land, strewn over with boulders, rose 

 gently before us ; but few trees were visible, and most of 

 those were distorted by fire. A very lofty tree stood out 

 upon the ridge of the hills, forming a good landmark. Jebel 



