ON THE COAST OF DEVONSHIRE. 139 



north-west, continuing in this course about half a mile, then 

 gradually bending to the south, till it meets the shore at or 

 near Culverhole Point, its western extremity. The level of 

 the ground, in which this ravine has been formed varies con- 

 siderably ; its deepest part showing cliffs of 200 feet perpen- 

 dicular height, whilst at the extremities adjoining the Under- 

 cliff, the level is not greatly changed, and the line of subsi- 

 dence marked principally by numerous small fissures in the 

 ground, by the fall of trees, &c. The present appearance 

 of the ravine is highly picturesque, for notwithstanding the 

 depth of the chasm, and the almost entire giving way of the 

 sub-strata, there are numerous columnar, tower-shaped, and 

 pyramidal masses of the chalky limestone, standing in the 

 deepest part, apparently unmoved, and which, particularly 

 when viewed longitudinally, form a striking group, whilst 

 around and beneath them the furrows of the corn-fields can 

 be traced nearly in the state the plough had left them. The 

 character of this late subsidence differs materially from that 

 of those which have preceded it, — the latter having taken 

 place in that part of the land immediately adjacent to the 

 sea beach,- the one now under consideration having left the 

 outer portion of the cliff almost entirely unmoved ; and this 

 circumstance viewed, in connection with the reef which has 

 been upraised in the sea, makes the unaltered position of the 

 cliff the more remarkable : it was this part of the scene which 

 attracted much of my attention, particularly the reef, ( for I 

 know of no better name for it), which was formed simulta- 

 neously with the sinking of the land ; consequently, there 

 must have been a connection between the causes which pro- 

 duced these two phenomena, — the lower or west extremity of 

 the reef, commencing at or near Culverhole Point, forming a 

 segment of a circle, ( a little irregular in its shape), runs into 

 the shore, at the eastern extremity of the subsidence ; — the 

 reef is composed of the original bed of the sea upheaved, 

 without disturbing, to any considerable extent, the masses of 

 stone with which it is covered ; and without injuring the beau- 

 tiful sea-weeds which appear to have luxuriated in the 

 habitat which they had chosen, for they had covered the 

 stones like a carpet ; and so gently must this extraordinary 

 upheaving have taken place, that scarcely a fibre of these 

 beautiful marine plants exhibits traces of injury. The main 

 bulk of the reef is composed of what appears to be indurated 

 sand, or possibly a bed of marl connected with the lias for- 

 mation ; the seaward face of it stands about 25 feet above 

 high-water-mark, at its highest point at the east end, whence 



