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the basin, and, as in the case of tlio superheated waters, where the temperature stands 
at or above the boiling point, explosive liberation must follow. All alkaline solutions, 
whether in the laboratory or in Nature, exhibit, by reason of this viscosity, a tendency 
to bump and boil irregulaidy.” It may be mentioned that the “ Chinaman,” like the 
Einasleigh Springs, is a inere hot spring, never seen in geyser action, except when 
excited by soap. 
Round the margins of all the basiirs vfe found a little rim of remains of dragon- 
flies, beetles, centipedes, frogs, &c. These had the appearance of having been boiled, 
and a slight deposition of carbonate of lime had, in some cases, taken place on their 
harder parts. The deposition is evidently a slow procsss, some twigs, which had certainly 
been a long time in the water, being “petrified” only in a trifling degree. It would be 
interesting for a naturalist to ascertain how these animals met their deaths, but our time 
did not permit of such an investigation. Did the dragon-flies hover over the surface of 
the water, as is their custom, till they were overpowered by the gaseous emanations ? 
Did the frogs leap into the inviting blue water in ignorance of its deadly temperature ? 
I may mention that I have seen frogs sporting in the warm water issuing from some of 
the New Zealand hot springs. 
The mound is composed of carbonate of lime, and is covered by semi-circular or 
oval basins forming a series of steps from the summit to the edge of the dome. The 
water overflowing from the wells pours into these cups one after another, and, 
decreasing in temperature as it recedes from its source, the cups afford natural baths 
in which an invalid may be immersed in water of any temperature he may fancy.* 
It is easy to see the cause of the formation of the cups in the comparative rapidity 
with which the calcareous sinter would form round the edges of any accidental hollow in 
which the water might lodge. The heightening and extension of the rim would gradually 
enlarge the cup till it contained so much water that the tendency of the overflow 
would be to wear one channel deep enough at last to drain the cup. 
The calcareous sinter is light and spongy on the surface, but is tolerably compact 
in the interior. Loose in the bottom of the dry cups are shovelfuls of needles and 
spikes of calcite, each an aggregation of rhombohedral crystals. It may be remarked 
that the deposits of hot springs in other parts of the world are much more commonly 
siliceous than calcareous. 
It must be confessed that there is little of the picturesque in the general 
appearance of the mound, which is not striking for its size, and is of a dirty white or 
drab colour ; but, to the eye capable of dissociating colour from form, some of the cups 
are exquisitely beautiful in the freedom and originality of their curves. In this 
respect, at least, the Einasleigh mound and terraces will compare favourably with 
anything of the kind remainingin Now Zealand since the destruction of the Rotomahana 
Terraces by the eruption of Tarawera. 
Not the least singular thing about the Springs is tlie stream formed by their 
overflow. It gives rise to a narrow swamp on the surface of the alluvial flat, and runs 
parallel with the bank of the river for about half-a-mile. The bulk of the water 
empties into the river at the far eud of the swamp, but portions of it form two distinct 
gullies discharging into the river nearest the Springs, and two still higher outlets, though 
now dry, evidently at times convey part of the stream. AThether this points to an 
increased flow from the Springs at times, or whether the volume of water in the swamp 
is simply increased during wet seasons, I cannot say. 
It is in the highest degree unlikely that five distinct hot springs should rise from 
unkuown depths to escape within an area which can be compassed by two hundred and 
sixty paces. It is much more probable that there was originally a single orifice, which 
