and
foaming like a gentle bellowing; but saw no water, sometimes not even
steam, rising.

Two of the most remarkable springs which can perhaps be found in the
world are situated immediately above the Geyser, in two openings, which
are separated by a wall of rock scarcely a foot wide. This partition
does not rise above the surface of the soil, but descends into the earth;
the water boils slowly, and has an equable, moderate discharge. The
beauty of these springs consists in their remarkable transparency. All
the varied forms and caves, the projecting peaks, and edges of rock, are
visible far down, until the eye is lost in the depths of darkness. But
the greatest beauty of the spring is the splendid colouring proceeding
from the rock; it is of the tenderest, most transparent, pale blue and
green, and resembles the reflection of a Bengal flame. But what is most
strange is, that this play of colour proceeds from the rock, and only
extends eight to ten inches from it, while the other water is colourless
as common water, only more transparent, and purer.

I could not believe it at first, and thought it must be occasioned by the
sun; I therefore visited the springs at different times, sometimes when
the sun shone brightly, sometimes when it was obscured by clouds, once
even after its setting; but the colouring always remained the same.

One may fearlessly approach the brink of these springs. The platform
which projects directly from them, and under which one can see in all
directions, is indeed only a thin ledge of rock, but strong enough to
prevent any accident. The beauty consists, as I have said, in the
magical illumination, and in the transparency, by which all the caves and
grottoes to the greatest depths become visible to the eye. Involuntarily
I thought of Schiller's _Diver_. {40} I seemed to see the goblet hang on
the peaks and jags of the rock; I could fancy I saw the monsters rise
from the bottom. It must be a peculiar pleasure to read this splendid
poem in such an appropriate spot.

I found scarcely any basins of Brodem or coloured waters. The only one
of the kind which I saw was a small basin, in which a brownish-red
substance, rather denser than water, was boiling. Another smaller
spring, with dirty brown water, I should have quite overlooked, if I had
not so industriously searched for these curiosities.

At last, after long waiting, on the second day of my stay, on the 27th
June, at half-past eig