Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 December 1879 — The Hottest Spot on Earth. [ARTICLE]

The Hottest Spot on Earth.

One of the hottest regions on the earth is along the Persian gulf, where little or no rain falls. At Bahtin the arid shore has no fresh water, yet a comparatively numerous population contrive to live there, thanks to the copious springs which break forth from the bottom of the'sea. The fresh water is got by diving. The diver, sitting in his boat, winds a great goatskin bag around his arm, the band grasping its mouth; then takes in his right band a heavy stone,, to which is attached a strong line, and, thus equipped, he plunges in and quickly reaches the bottom. Instantly opening the bag over the strong jet of fresh water, he springs up the ascending current, at the same time closing the bag, and is helped aboard. The stoDe is then hauled up, and the diver, after taking breath, plunges again. The source of the copious submarine springs is thought to be in the green bills of Osman, some 500 or 600 miles distant. The Earl of Seftan would be to-day almost the wealthiest man in England if his ancestor had not sold, for a comparative trifle, his harbor rights, held under an anoient grant, to the town of Liverpool; and the Marquis of Donegal would to-day be thrice as rich as' the richest mah in Ireland bad he not recklessly leased the to wn of Belfast on perpetual leases at nominal rents, receiving, in so doing,Tieavy “fines,” or payment*, Almost the whole town is nominally hi* property.