299 



nel of the gully. Here our fable forcerefs, In 

 all the filene and folemnity of magic, placing 

 the light at her fide, fell down upon her 

 knees, and, with her calabafh, emptied all 

 the water out of the hole, then, immerfmg 

 the taper in the deep void, fhe fuddenly fet 

 the whole pit In a flame ; when fhe inftantly 

 jumped upon her legs, and looked fignificantly 

 round, as if anxious to catch the furprife ex- 

 prefTed upofi our countenances, from the . 

 workings of her witchcraft. The taper being 

 removed, the empty fpace continued to burn 

 with a foft lambent flame, without the ap« 

 pearance of any thing to fupport the com- 

 buftlon. We obferved frefh water flowly 

 difl:illing into the pit, from the earth at Its 

 fides, and dropping to the bottom; and as this 

 increafed in quantity, it raifed the flame 

 higher and higher in the pit, fupporting it 

 upon its furface, and conveying the ap- 

 pearance of the water Itfelf being on fire ; 

 although It was very clear and pure, and not 

 fpread with any oily or bituminous matter. 

 When the water had rifen to a certain height, 

 the flame became feeble, then gradually de- 

 clined, and prefently was extind. The ' 



