2 
centre, two well marked minor vents, and small bubbles coming up 
everyvvhere, these last not confined to the part under water at the time 
of my visit. The gas was odourless and did not burn. The water was 
five inches deep in the centre ; my feet sank slowly in the sand, causing 
more violent ebullition of gas ; by the time the sand had reached my 
knees it was difficult to extract my feet. The water was beautifully 
clear with a sharp but not disagreeable taste. The temperature of the 
spring was iio“ Fh., that of the Namba being 63-6“ Fh. The effects on the 
skin appeared to be only those of hot water. Still, all classes of natives 
attribute to it curative properties in cases of skin disease, and take 
long journeys to bathe there, leaving offerings of money in the pool. 
These disappear ; removed they suppose by the spirit of the spring. I 
was fortunate enough to find a* bronze coin. Its upper surface is much 
corroded : that which rested on the sand is less affected. To an expert* 
the effects looked like those which Hg S would produce. From a rough 
calculation I estimated the discharge at over eight ^ gallons per minute.: 
I brought away some of the water for chemical examination. 
Before the result of this examination was received a number of 
manuscripts were discovered in a long unopened drawer in the Library 
of the Royal Botanical Gardens. Among these was a series of MS. 
memoranda relating to the hot springs of the Namba forest ; these 
appear so valuable as to deserve publication now. 
“Memorandat relative to the hot-springs situated in the bed of, 
and near to, the Nambur river, on the left bank and right bank of the, 
Dhunsiri river in Upper Assam ; obtained from personal observations 
registered on the spot at the hours and dates stated below. 
“No. I. SOROO Noon-poong, the principal spring, is eleven miles from 
Golaghat and situated close to the edge of the right bank of the Nambur, 
exactly where the road leading from Golaghat to Deemapoor crosses it, 
on the left bank of the Dhunsiri. 
Temperature 
1845. Feb. 17, I P. M. Air 72 
Water of Nambur 64“ 
Ditto spring 112“ 
1851. Jan. I, 12.30 p. M. Air 65^ 
Water of spring 110“ 
* Dr. Warden, the chemical adviser to the Government of Bengal, who also 
kindly undertook the examination of a sample of the water. 
t The quotation is a transcript of pp. 489-492 of the MSS. memoranda of the 
late Mr. Masters, consisting of his notes on the hot-springs in full. ^ 
78 
