MADRAS JOURNAL 



OF 



LITERATURE AND SCIENCE. 



NO. 1.-NEW SERIES. 



October — December, 1856. 



I. Description and plan of the Natron Lake of Loonar, with 

 an analysis of the Salt. By George Smith, m. v., Resi- 

 dency Surgeon, Hyderabad. 



[The following interesting description of the Loonar Lake of Berar was com- 

 municated by Dr. Smith to the Committee for the Madras Exhibition for 1857, 

 and placed by them at the disposal of the Madras Literary Society, for insertion 

 in their Journal.] 



In the Circar of Meinker Soubah of Berar, about 45 miles 

 Description of theLake N. W. of Hingolie in Lat. 20° N., lies the 



of Loonar. curious Natron Lake of Loonar. It is situat- 



ed at the bottom, of a crateriform depression, which forms a sin- 

 gular and unexpected interruption to the general gentle undula- 

 tory character of the district. The Lake is 510 feet below the 

 level of the surrounding ground* — has a rounded outline and is 

 about 3 miles in circumference. The sharp edge of the great ex- 

 cavation is about 5 miles round and the inner surface of the bowl 

 rises abruptly at an angle of from 75° to 80°. The surface of this 

 sharp slope is covered with luxuriant vegetation, in the shape of 

 treesf and thick, vigorous underwood, tenanted by the tiger, hog, 

 panther, deer and peacock. Between the sloping bottom of the 



* As calculated in January last by the aneroid, which during the descent fr^m 

 the brim of the crater to the level of the lake rose 6-lOths of an inch, nearly 510 

 feet. 



t For list— yide Appendix No. 4 extracted from Surgeon Bradley's Memoir. 



