Littell's Living Age/Volume 126/Issue 1629/Miscellany
The Trinidad Chronicle of May 21 contains an account of a visit to the spring by Mr. H. Prestoe, superintendent of the Trinidad Botanic Gardens. The lake lies in the mountains behind Roseau, and in the valleys around many souffrieres, or solfataras, are to be met with. The boiling lake is a gigantic solfatara, with an excess of water-volume over the ejective power exerted by its gases and heat. It is affected by a very considerable volume of water derived from two converging ravines which meet just on its north-west corner, and owing to the existence of a small hill immediately opposite (which has had the effect of diverting the course of the ravine-water into its present channel), the action of the solfatara has caused the formation of a crater-like cavity, which is now the boiling lake with its precipitous and ever-wasting banks on its north and south sides, of some sixty feet depth. The temperature of the lake ranges from 180° to 190° F. The point of ebullition seems to vary its position somewhat; the water rising two, three, and sometimes four feet above the general surface, the cone dividing occasionally into three, as though ejected from so many orifices. During ebullition a violent agitation is communicated over the whole surface of the lake. The sulphurous vapour arises in pretty equal density over the whole lake, there being no sudden ejection of gas observed from the point of ebullition; there are no detonations; the colour of the water is a deep dull grey, and it is highly charged with sulphur and decomposed rock. As the outlet of the water is constantly deepening, the surface of the lake must gradually become lower, and it will, Mr. Prestoe thinks, ultimately be destroyed, and its character be changed to that of a geyser. It will then gradually fill up by the reduction of the adjacent hillsides, and innumerable solfataras will be formed in the place of the present gigantic one. Mr. Prestoe found no bottom with a line of 195 feet, ten feet from the water's edge. One great result of the action of solfataras is the decomposition of the volcanic rock and the development therefrom of various kinds of gypsum. Some blocks met with have a very strong resemblance to the Tuscany or Volterra marble. Mr. Prestoe thinks that these large solfataras have had much to do in bringing about the present conformation of the district.
Sewerage in the Good Old Times. — In North's "Life of the Lord Keeper Guildford," we are told some curious facts about the sewerage of Chancery Lane, where was his lordship's residence. A well in the cellar received all the waste water of the house, and when this tank was full the contents were pumped out into the street. So it was with other houses, to the great annoyance of passengers, and to the discomfort of residents. After long discussion a forced "contribution" was levied on the owners of property, and the open kennel gradually gave place to a covered sewer, having its fall into that of Fleet Street. The proprietors and tenants were for the most part very indignant at this compulsory act for cleanliness and health, but afterwards were thankful to Lord Keeper Guildford, the chief mover in the affair, "for a singular good done them." " Which," North adds, "is an instance showing that the common people will be averse to their own interest until it is forced upon them, and then will be thankful for it."