Feb. 1845-3 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. xxiii 



persuade me the Island had been formed within fifty years, and was only of mud, I 

 picked up these specimens. Although within 60 miles of Manilla, such is the in- 

 formation to be obtained there. I send you also a bonnet from the Sandwich Islands, 

 such as worn by the native ladies there, and made by them. 



J. H. Low. 



The following Diary accompanies the specimens referred to in it, from the Hot 

 Springs of Chittagong. 



My deak Mr. Torrens, — I will now endeavour to give you some account of my 

 travels, but fear it will prove but an imperfect one. On the 9th of this month I reached 

 Seetakoond, where I began my inquiries about the springs, and the next day visited the 

 nearest. I left my tent a little after 11 a. m., and was soon obliged to leave my palkee 

 behind. A walk of little more than half an hour over the bed of what must be an awful 

 torrent during the rains, brought me to the spring; it is raised a little above the bed of 

 a small nullah, which branches off from the torrent bed : the spring is about eight feet by 

 six, and not more than a foot and a half deep ; in three or four places the water rises in 

 small bubbles : it is quite cold and beautifully clear ; it is nearly double the strength of 

 common sea-water. The great drawback is the difficulty of approach. The spring has 

 no particular name, but is known by the Pergunnah in which it is situated — Pan- 

 taseelah; beyond it and in a continuation of the road 1 went, (if it can be so called) 

 is the Doburrea or Dobie Kedallah or Pass, which goes direct through the hills and 

 is said to have been cut by a Dobie. 1 struck off from the main road at a village called 

 Yakoobnuggur. I believe, I am the first European who has ever visited this spring. 



On the 11th I went on to near Jeygopal's^a^A, and then left the main road, from which 

 in about half an hour I reached the famous spring called Nabboo Luckee, the distance 

 being about two miles, rather more. This road is generally good, but over the tor- 

 rent bed, which is much the same as the other; the rush of water must however be 

 greater in the rains, and during that season the people who attend at the spring are 

 obliged to make use of a narrow foot path over the hills ; it is situated on a rising ground 

 of about 8 or 10 feet above the bed of the stream, a temple is erected over it, and I had 

 to descend about half a dozen steps. The pucka part round the spring is about three 

 feet square, and not more than three feet deep ; on the right hand side is a small place 

 raised about a foot and a half above the other parts, but communicating with the 

 spring, and from the hole marked A, in my sketch, a flame issues, which is constantly 

 fed with ghee; conceiving that there might be some tricking 1 made them put the 

 light to the hole marked B, when a beautiful blue flame issued, such as would not 

 have been caused by ghee alone; on the left hand is a spout, which goes through the 

 temple wall into the spring, and through which is a constant flow of the water; within 

 the spring is a sound resembling the growl of a dog, repeated about every second, 

 when a large bubble rises to the surface, and bursts a few yards to the left ; and a 

 little above the bed of the torrent is another spring, called Duddee Koond, bubbling 

 up in the same manner as the first I saw ; the water of the three is of the same strength. 

 On the 14th, I set off to visit Soorjoo Koond, but there was so much uncertainty about 

 the distance and exact spot, that I was induced to try the strength of the water about 

 half a mile from the main road, and found it about one-third less in strength than the 

 other springs. 1 then went to the one considered by the natives as the most holy ; it 



