FOUNTAIN OF NAPHTHA. 
193 
Preceding along the southern coast, to the east of JLmi- 
quarez, we find running out into the sea very near each other 
three strips of land, bearing the names of Punta de Soto’ 
Punta de la Brea, and Punta Guaratarito. In these parts 
the bottom of the sea is evidently formed of mica-slate and 
from it near Cape de la Brea, but at eighty feet distant 
from the shore, there issues a Bpring of naphtha, the 
smell of which penetrates into the interior of the penin- 
sula. It is necessary to wade into the' sea up to the waist 
to examine this interesting phenomenon. The waters are 
covered with zostera ; and in the midst of a very extensive 
bank of weeds, we distuiguish a free and circular spot 
of three feet m diameter, on which float a few scattered 
masses ot Ulva lactuca. Here the springs are found. The 
bottom of the gulf is covered with sand; and the petroleum, 
which from its transparency and its yellow colour, resembles 
naphtha, rises in jets, accompanied by air bubbles. On tread- 
ing down the bottom with the foot, we perceive that these 
lift e springs change their place. The naphtha covers the 
surface of the sea to more than a thousand feet distant. If 
" e sapposo the dip of the strata to be regular, the mica-slate 
must be but a few toises below the sand. 
We have already observed, that the muriatiferous clay of 
Hi-aya contains solid and friable petroleum. This geological 
connection between the muriate of soda and the bitumens is 
evident wherever there are mines of sal-gem or salt springs • 
but a very remarkable fact is the existence of a fountain of 
naphtha in a primitive formation. All those hitherto known 
Delong to secondary mountains;* a circumstance which has 
been supposed to favour the idea that all mineral bitumens are 
owing to the destruction of vegetables aud animals, or to the 
burning of coal, in the peninsula of A raya, the naphtha flows 
from the primitive reck itself; and this phenomenon acquires 
new importance, when we recollect that the same primitive 
rocks contain the subterranean fires, that on the brink of 
burning craters the smell of petroleum is perceived from time 
to time, and that the greater, part of the hot springs of 
America rise from gneiss and micaceous schist. 
* As at Pietra Mala ; Fanano; Mont Zibio; and Amiano (in these 
terJSSX EE ** *• -**• — - W - 
