HOT SPRINGS.
In none of those parts of Paraguay which I have myself visited did I ever find any mineral, or medicinal waters. But Father Joseph Sanchez Labrador discovered, in his journeys through the towns of the Chiquitos, that two places contained salubrious springs, which I shall describe in his own words. "Not far from the town of St. Iago is a hot spring, surrounded on all sides by woods. It is wide, about three feet deep, and emits a sound like that of a boiling kettle, occasioned by the water bubbling up from the bottom. On dipping your foot into it you feel a violent heat, which in a short time becomes tolerable. Little fishes swim in these waters, without however doing them any injury; but their sulphureous odour renders them very disagreeable. The banks of the fountain are surrounded by lime-stones. The farther the water recedes from the spring, the colder it becomes, forming a river, which, about three leagues beyond the town of Santissimo Corazon de Jesu, loses itself amid extensive palm groves. Many persons who had been long, and grievously ill, derived much benefit from these springs. In sight of the town of St. Juan, at the borders of the rocks, rises another small fountain, bubbling with the heat of its waters; it forms a lake in the neighbouring vale, which gives birth to another river. That water is hot at its source, but gradually cools as it goes along, and is drunk by the Chiquitos: but it is of an unpleasant taste, and not very wholesome. Indeed the inferior fruitfulness of the women of that town is ascribed by many to this water. The same complaint is made by the inhabitants of the town of St. Iago. From which I conclude that these waters are beneficial to sick persons bathing in them, but not proper to be drunk."
Of metals, or rather of the total absence of all metals, I have discoursed elsewhere. Wild animals, trees, and plants I have described with a hasty touch, like one speeding upon a journey. Let me hasten therefore to the Abipones, the chief subject of my pen, lest I appear to dwell too long upon the introductory part of my work.
END OF VOL. I.
London: Printed by C. Roworth,
Bell-Yard, Temple-Bar.
Transcriber's notes.
1. The two "n"s with Macrons have been changed to ñ in this sentence to have consistency with the rest of the book. "The spirit of evil they call Aña or Añanga, but they pay him no adoration." Some unicode characters might not be available in all fonts and we advise using a font that renders unicode.
2. Variations in hyphenation, accentuation and punctuation have been retained as they were in the original publication.
3. Variations in the spelling of proper nouns have been retained as they appear in the original publication.
4. Possible printer and typographical errors have been changed silently.