1873.] .VESTED — SOLFATARAS AM) DEPOSITS OP SULPHUR. 361 



I am aware of several place3 where volcanic products are found, 

 some on the shores of Italy and others in the Ionian islands. 



As affording proof of the fact that there is even now a real, though 

 subdued, volcanic energy in this part of Europe, which may at any 

 time break out afresh in the form of a distinct eruption, and which 

 renders it not at all unlikely that earthquake movements known in 

 the Adriatic and the open Mediterranean may be anticipated in 

 Greece, I have thought that a brief notice of the Solfataras of Kala- 

 maki might be worth recording. 



About three miles east of the Isthmus of Corinth a series of cream- 

 coloured and grey gypseous marls flanking white Miocene limestones, 

 which rise to the height of a couple of thousand feet on the northern 

 shore of the Sea of JEgina, is broken by a few narrow rocky gorges 

 and fissures. The dip of the rocks is variable, and the stratification 

 much disturbed. Approaching the rising hills to a level of about 

 250 feet above the sea, and at a distance from the shore of from half 

 a mile to two miles, these marls are loaded with sulphur ; and on 

 entering the gorges it is evident that there has been open com- 

 munication with some volcanic vent at no distant time. 



The principal gorge is narrow and irregular, and it has all the 

 appearance of a natural fissure enlarged by weathering and water- 

 action. Near the entrance on one side there are two considerable 

 lateral fissures within fifty yards of each other, each communicating 

 by a deep crack with the interior, and each consisting of a small 

 cavern lined entirely with crystals of sulphur and other volcanic 

 minerals, aud inaccessible, owing to the large body of hot stifling 

 vapour constantly emitted. The temperature of the vapour three 

 feet above the ground, where it can be reached, is about 100° F. ; 

 but the floor, consisting chiefly of sulphur, is too hot to permit one to 

 remain long standing even near the entrance. The whole of the 

 walls of this cavity are lined with beautiful crystals, which, however, 

 fall to powder on being removed. Much sulphur exists in fine 

 powdery crystals both on the walls and floor. 



A few hundred yards distant, on the same side of the same ravine, 

 and about twenty feet higher, is another similar cavern, with a fissure 

 from which also the vapours are too stifling to admit of the end 

 being reached. The temperature here also is about 100° F. There 

 is a large quantity of pure sulphur in the rocks adjacent. 



On the opposite side of the ravine is a third similar fissure, with 

 hot stifling vapours ; but the heat is less considerable ; and advancing 

 up the ravine more than half a mile from the first solfatara there 

 are numerous places where a sensible heat is felt by the hand on 

 touching the surface, and where hot vapour issues from natural 

 cracks and small fissures in the rock. 



The whole of the marls and other rocks in this gorge are loaded 

 with sulphur, and the quantity appears amply sufficient to justify the 

 expectation that it may be worked economically. 



AVithin a distance of about a mile to the east of the ravine just 

 described there are several places on the hill-side where sulphur- 

 bearing rocks are seen wherever the vegetable soil is .removed from 



