104 Sir H. C. Engletield^s 0^/ervathfJs 



of equal breadth or height throughout their extent. At Bern- 

 bridge, where they form the eaftern point of the iftand, they rife 

 abruptly from the fea to a height of abo it 400 feet ; and, bending a 

 little to the northward, they continue of ncjr'y the fame elevation 

 and a very narrow breadth, till they terminate at the valley through 

 which the Medina runs. To the well: of the Medina the range 

 grows confiderably wider, and is fubdivided into feveral lubordina*:e 

 vallies. This additional breadth gives the fouthern limit a great 

 curvature to the fouth, while the northern line remains nearly 

 ftraight. Their elevation increafes much, and at Mottifton is 700 feet. 

 The acute and perpendicular promontcry in which they terminate 

 to the weft, well known by the name of the needles, is nearly as 

 high as Mottifton. BcTidcs the valley of the Medina this range is 

 fingularly interrupted by two vallies exactly fimilar to each other 

 at the two ends of the ifland. Brading Haven renders Yaverland 

 at the eaft almoft an ifle, and the Yarmouth inlet cuts off the 

 weftern end fo nearly that at high tides it is fometimes quite infu- 

 lated at Frefhwater Gate. 



To the north of this range of chalk hills the foil is chiefly clay, 

 with a fuperftratum, in many parts, of gravel. The clay is inter- 

 fperfcd with many beds of ftonc of different qualities, and which 

 appear to lie in great confufion. Of thefe fome are grit with a 

 flight admixture of calcareous matter ; others have nearly equal 

 parts of land and lime, and others are purely calcareous. In the firft, 

 which are of great hardnefs, very few extraneous bodies appear. In 

 the fecond are many fine impreflions of fhells, while the laft are almoft 

 entirely compofed of moulds o^ turbinated iliells fo as to appear 

 quite honeycombed by them. This ftone is, however, of great 

 durabdity, for the walls of Cowes Caftle, which was built by Hen- 

 ry VllL and is expofed to the fea air from the weft and north, arc 

 as perfed as on the day in which they were built. Below all thefe 



ftrata 



