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CHAP. 14.—WATERS WHICH SERVE AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR OIL.

Polyclitus says, that the water1 of the river Liparis,2 near Soli, in Cilicia, is used as a substitute for oil, and Theophrastus mentions a spring of that name in Æthiopia, which is possessed of similar properties. Lycus says, that at Tasitia3 there is a fountain of it, the water of which emits light: the same is asserted, too, of a spring at Eebatana. According to Theopompus, there is a lake at Scotussa,4 the waters of which heal wounds.

1 He no doubt alludes to "petroleum," rock-oil, or Barbadoes tar.

2 So called from the Greek λιπαρὸς, "unctuous."

3 A new reading given by Sillig in place of "India," the former one. Tasitia is the name of a district mentioned by Ptolemy, iv. 7, 15, as being in Æthiopia. He alludes to a burning spring, probably, of naphtha or of petroleum. The burning springs of Bakou in the East are well known. Genoa is lighted with naphtha from the village of Amiano, in Parma.

4 In Macedonia.

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