376 Scientific Intelligence — Geology. 



constructing on the scale of the general Swiss map directed by 

 General Dufour, or y^- inch to the mile. It is much to be regretted 

 that the scale of these Swiss maps varies in different cantons. In 

 the meantime, we are much indebted to M. Ziegler for a small, use- 

 ful, general map of Switzerland, which he has published, and which 

 will, I am assured, be soon coloured geologically by Professor Studer 

 of Berne, whose acquaintance with the structure of the Swiss Alps 

 is more extensive than that of any other living geologist. — (Address 

 at the Anniversary Meeting of the Royal Geographical Society, 24tth 

 May 1852, by Sir R. I. Murchison, p. 45.) 



14. Salt Lake of Utah. — While engaged upon this duty, we fre- 

 quently enjoyed the luxury of bathing in the water of the lake. No 

 one, without witnessing it, can form any idea of the buoyant proper- 

 ties of this singular water. A man may float, stretched at full 

 kngth, upon his back, having his head and neck, both his legs to the 

 knee, and both arms to the elbow, entirely out of the water. If a 

 sitting position be assumed, with the arms extended to preserve the 

 equilibrum, the shoulders will remain above the surface. The water 

 is nevertheless extremely difficult to swim in, on account of the con- 

 stant tendency of the lower extremities to rise above it. The brine, 

 too, is so strong that the least particle of it getting into the eyes 

 produces the most acute pain ; and if accidentally swallowed, rapid 

 strangulation must ensue. I doubt whether the most expert swimmer 

 could long preserve himself from drowning, if exposed to the action 

 of a rough sea. 



Upon one occasion a man of our party fell overboard into the lake, 

 and, although a good swimmer, the sudden immersion caused him to 

 take in some mouthfuls of water before rising to the surface. The 

 effect was a violent paroxysm of strangling and vomiting, and the man 

 was unfit for duty for a day or two afterwards. Tie would have in- 

 evitably been drowned, had he not received immediate assistance. 

 After bathing, it is necessary to wash the skin with fresh water, to 

 prevent the deposit of salt arising from evaporation of the brine. Yet 

 a bath in this water is delightfully refreshing and invigorating. 



The analysis of this water by Dr Gale, has shewn that it contains 

 rather more than 20 per cent, of pure chloride of sodium, and not 

 more than 2 per cent, of other salts, forming " one of the purest and 

 most concentrated brines known in the world." Its specific gravity 

 was 1*17, but this will slightly vary with the seasons, being doubt- 

 less affected by immense floods of fresh water which come rushing 

 down into it from the mountains, in the spring, caused by the melt- 

 ing of the snows in the gorges. — (Stansburg*s Expedition to the 

 Valley of the Great Salt Lake of Utah, p. 212.) 



1 I <-, . 7 77 A /• • 7 7 71 • 7-7 A ^IVlh 



lo. Suggestion that all Africa has a grand Basin-like Arrange- 

 ment. — Sir 11. I. Murchison, in his Address at the Anniversary 

 Meeting of the Royal Geographical Society, on the 24th May 1852, 

 under the heitfl, ComparaUvi View of Africa in Primeval and 



m 



