LAKE MBA AND SAVU-SAVU. 



207 





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tance from the beach, and are nine feet above the level of high water ; 

 they occupy a basin forty feet in diameter, about half-way between 

 the base of the hill and the beach. A small brook of fresh water, 

 three feet wide by two deep, passes so close to the basin, that one 

 hand may be put into a scalding spring, and the other in water of 

 the temperature of 75°. That of the spring stands at 200° to 210°. 

 The waters join below, and the united streams stand at 145°, which 

 diminish in temperature until they enter the sea. In the lower part 

 of the bed of the united stream, excavations have been made, where 

 the natives bathe. The rock in the neighbourhood is compact coral 

 and volcanic breccia, although it is no where to be seen exposed 

 within a third of a mile of the spring. The ground about the spring 

 is a deep brown and black mould, covered with coarse native grass, 

 (a species of Scirpus), which is thickly matted. There is no smell of 

 sulphur, except when the head is brought as close as possible to the 

 water ; but it has a strong saline taste. No gas appeared to be disen- 

 gaged. The basin is in a mixture of blue and brown clay, and little 

 grass grows in it. 



These springs are used by the natives to boil their food, which is 

 done by putting the taro or yams into the spring, and covering them 

 up with leaves and grass. Although the water scarcely had any 



