200 Report on the Kooloo iron Mines. [No. S. 



gone any change in their temperature, observations being deficient 

 on the subject, but it is positive that, in their actual state, they 

 are in a medical point of view unimportant. 10,000 parts of this 

 water contain only 3-2 of saline substance composed of chloride 

 of sodium, sulphate of soda, chloride of calcium and carbonate of 

 lime. A simple evaporation followed by calcination, with the weight 

 of the produce, is sufficient to show, that with the exception of 

 their temperature, these waters differ little from ordinary drinking 

 water. It is nearly the same with the springs of Beshist and 

 Ketat, of which I analysed the waters. These two springs are in 

 the large lateral valley of Kooloo, the first on the left bank of the 

 Bias, temperature 1 17°, the second on the right bank, at about 1 

 miles from the first, temperature 102°. Both issue from the mica 

 schist. These springs contain the same salts, as that of Munni- 

 kurn, but in different proportions. That of Beshist furnished in 

 10,000 parts, 7 of saline matter, that of Ketat, also in 10,000 parts, 

 furnished 8. 



Though these proportions are larger than in the Munnikurn 

 waters, they are not sufficiently large to entitle the springs to the 

 denomination of medical mineral waters • it is to be remarked that 

 they only belong to the class of saline springs, no gas communicat- 

 ing to them any striking properties. The Ketat spring contains a 

 substance of an animalized odour, which gives to the residue from 

 evaporation a very characteristic shiny appearance. "We thus see 

 that the properties of the thermal sources of Kooloo are reduced 

 to the salutary effects of hot baths. 



This reality is however not appreciated by the natives of Kooloo, 

 especially as regards those of Munnikurn, which they consider to 

 possess supernatural virtues. It is true that the abundance and 

 high temperature of this source as well as the considerable quantity 

 of vapour discharged with noise from this burning furnace, is cal- 

 culated to impress deeply the mind of these people naturally dis- 

 posed to superstition. The Kooloo population is gifted by nature 

 with intellectual advantages which are not so conspicuous else- 

 where in this neighbourhood — regularity of features, a projecting 

 forehead, and an open facial angle characterise the natives of this pri- 

 vileged country. The decided taste they have for flowers, with 



