( ) 
very dry Summer (I do not know whether the fame 
with the forejjoing ) he obferved, in the Middle of 
fome other Fields' of his ov/n, ft>r feveral Evenings 
together, a pretty confidecable Flame on the Ground, 
.nearly in the fame Place, and that having refolved to 
go and take a nearer View of it the next Evening, it 
did not appear for that Time ^ that, however, he went 
to the Place where he had before feen it^ and fat him- 
felf down on the Ground, but could not obferve the’ 
leaft Mark of anyj Fire or Flame having been in that 
Spot, nor feel any Heat, in the Ground any more than 
-in other Places y only he faw fome flight Flames ari- 
fing out ,of the Ground hard by, which- difappeared 
•as foon as 'they came into the open Air. It is- well 
known to People that- travel on Horfeback at the Be- 
ginning of the Night, in the Heat of the Summer, 
when they traverfe the dry Beds of Rivers, and break 
with their Horfes Feet, thofe. Tandy Grounds that have 
been, all Day long ’ftrongly heated i by the Sun, there 
rife up fome bluilh Flames, which very often fright 
the Horfes. This Phoeriomenon is moll common in 
thofe Places where the Water hath left behind a kind 
of a chalky Sediment, or fat Earth, which drying, af- 
terwards forms a thick hard Cruft. So likewife if 
in the Heat of the Summer you travel in dark Nights, 
either on Horfeback, or on Foot, over the burnt-up 
Ground of fome. Fields, you ftiall fee Flames break 
out of the Ground almoft at every Step. All thefe 
Fires and. Flames ihaveHndeed' the Light and Shining, 
but not" the Burning Quality of Fire, whether from 
the extream Smallnefs and Rarity of their Parts, as 
fome apprehend, or for fome other. Reafon, I will not 
attempt to determine. And. this is the only Thing 
' ' they 
