£ The Natron Lake of Loonar. [no. 1, new series, 



abrupt dip and edge of the still green lake, the ground especially 

 to the N. and N. E., is under cultivation, and the luxuriance of the 

 crops shews the excellence of the soil and the abundance of the 

 irrigation. Water is supplied freely from springs of sweet, soft 

 water, close to the edge of the lake, and near the surface of the 

 ground as well as from the streams, which in the rainy reason, 

 come from the surrounding water shed, and which have left their 

 vertical trace upon the walls of the crateriform hollow. Here 

 and there, in the thick recesses of the wood, are observed small 

 deserted and ruined Hindoo temples, built of the common compact 

 Trap of the district. Many years ago, an officer, upon entering one of 

 them, was seized and seriously injured by a tiger. The lake, a 

 still sheet of water, emitting an intolerable stench of sulphuretted 

 hydrogen (especially during the heat of the day, when the gas 

 rises in millions of bubbles to the surface of the water), has a 

 bright green color owing to the abundance of confervse on portions 

 of its surface, especially near the edges. The mud close to the 

 margin of the lake, is thick, black, salt and tenacious, from the 

 mixture of regur, salt and alum — when dry, fan shaped, black, 

 glassy crystals of carbonate of soda are seen. The lake has evi- 

 dently lately extended its bounds a good deal, as proved by this, 

 that numerous dead trees are standing within its margin (for every 

 tree touched by the lake dies) and also by the fact, that a bowrie of 

 sweet water, protected by a low wall is now completely surround- 

 ed by the water of the lake. Reptiles, fish, and insects are never 

 found in the lake, but flocks of teal and duck dot its surface. The 

 water has a salt and nauseous taste, and its emanations are said 

 to give rise to fevers of intermittent and remittent types. 



At two points, near the centre of the lake, distant from each 

 other about £ a mile (judging by sight) are two saline springs 

 which have never been known even in seasons of extreme drought, 

 to become dry. It is supposed that the muriate of soda from this 

 source, coming in contact with the carbonate of lime found abun- 

 dantly in the other springs of the lake, and in the surrounding 

 rocks whence it is washed down by the feeders of the lake, causes 

 the deposition of the carbonate of soda or natron salt, in a state of 

 greater or less purity. The purest varieties, containing upwards 



