STRAITS OF THERMOPYL^. 315 
dismounted, to examine their temperature : chap. 
and, as it was now noon, we first estmiated the 
temperature of the external air; it equalled 51° 
of Fahrenheit. The temperature of the water, 
within the mouth of the springs, amounted to 
111°,' being 31'^ lower than the temperature 
of the hot springs at Lijdia Hamam near Alex- 
andria Troas; which are nearly at the same 
height from the level of the sea^ Yet the 
water appeared very hot when we placed our 
hands in it ; and smoke ascended from it con- 
tinually. The water is impregnated with car- 
bonic acid, lime, muriate of soda, and sulphur. 
It is very transparent, but it deposits a calca- 
reous incrustation upon the substances in its 
neighbourhood. The ground about the springs 
yields a hollow sound, like that within the crater 
of the Solfatara near Naples. In some places, 
near to the springs, we observed cracks and 
fissures filled with stagnant water, through 
which a gaseous fluid was rising in large bub- 
bles to the surface. The fetid smell of this gas 
(3) See a former Part of these Travels, Vol. III. Chap.VI. pp.1 89, 90. 
Octavo Edit. Dr. Holland says, he " found the temperature to be 
pretty uniformly 103°, or 104*^, of Fahrenheit ;" which is even less than 
our statement : but perhaps Dr. H. did not place his thermometer 
quite so far within the mouth of these springs ; for this would cause a 
difference equal to seven or eight degrees of Fahrenheit,'— Se? Travels, 
&ic. hij Henry Holland, AJ. D. p. 3^2. lA>nd. 1815. 
