Near Pietra Mala, between Bologna and Florence, on a spot about twelve feet in diameter, several flames rise from the earth, the largest of which ascends to a height of five feet, and is seen burning at night with a pale yellow flame, while its minor satellites around are blue tipped with white. No doubt many a terrible legend is attached to this infernal spectacle. Near Barigazzo, between Modena and Pistoja, near the ruins of Velleji, and in many other parts of the volcanic region of the Apennines, similar flames gush out of the ground. The neat little town of Fredonia, in the State of New York, on the eastern shore of Lake Erie, is lighted by natural springs of carburetted hydrogen, which, being led into a gasometer, feed the seventy or eighty lamps of the town. The thrifty and practical Chinese, who have preceded us in so many useful discoveries, have for centuries made a like use of the many gaseous emanations in the provinces of Yunnan, Szutschuan, Kuangsi, and Schansi, by leading the inflammable air in pipes, wherever they want it for lighting or cooking. But there is no place in the world more remarkable for its burning springs than Baku, on the western coast of the Caspian Sea, where the holy and eternal fires are worshipped by the pious Parsees as the special symbol of the Almighty. Like most of the cloisters and convents of the Orient, which are exposed to the incursions of plundering hordes, Aleschga, the temple dedicated to the worship of fire, is a fortified square inclosing a large courtyard, and capable of being defended from the terraced roof. The outer wall forms at the same time the back of the cells, which front the yard. Over the entrance gate, which is situated to the north, rises a high bastion or tower, serving as an additional defence, from the summit, of which the visitor enjoys after sunset the fantastic view of the flames which, untarnished by smoke, rise on all sides from rents and crevices in the neighbouring steppe, and wave their bright summits to and fro like tongues of fire. In the centre of the court stands a square tower supported by four columns, and inclosing a basin-like excavation, three or four feet in diameter, into which the gas is conducted by a pipe from sources beyond the walls of the temple. Four chimneys at the four corners of the tower are fed in a similar manner. From the centre of the tower rises a trident, called _Thirsul_. The Parsees relate that the Devil once got possession of the earth, and reigned with despotic fury. But man in his distress prayed to the Almighty, and an angel came down and planted this identical trident in the earth as a token that the dominion of his Satanic Majesty had ceased. Round the court are twenty- two cells, like those of a Catholic convent. They are very small, and, with the exception of a ragged rug, wholly without furniture; but each of them is provided with a gas pipe, which can be opened or closed at pleasure, and furnishes light and warmth to the inmate.