of the Island of St Christopher, 263 



mosphere considerably cooler than that of the low lands. It is 

 well covered with grass ; and having in various parts of it clumps 

 of trees, bears a strong resemblance to a park in England. The 

 mountain heads which surround it, covered with their thick, 

 dark foliage, and magnificent ferns, have a very fine effect, and 

 give a degree of grandeur to the scenery, which is heightened 

 by the vicinity of the clouds that gather round the mountain 

 tops. These, sometimes meeting, form an arch that entirely 

 excludes the rays of the sun ; and then suddenly dispersing, 

 occasion a surprising and instantaneous transition from gloom 

 to brightness. Close to the level, there is a curious and large 

 ravine, called Nine-turn Gut — Nine-turn, from there being 

 nine windings in the path leading down it — and Gut, from the 

 rather coarse appellation which is commonly given, in this 

 island, to a ravine. In the centre of this ravine, and border- 

 ing one side of the path, is a large chasm, of so great a depth, 

 that a stone thrown into it cannot be heard to strike the bot- 

 tom. All the mountains in this country are scored by deep 

 ravines ; and frequently, after continued falls of heavy rain, the 

 water rushes down them in such quantities, and with such 

 force, that it does considerable damage to the plantations below. 

 The little streams of water, which they dignify here by the 

 name of rivers, are formed by the rains, which fall in the 

 upper part of the mountains, and which, gradually pene- 

 trating the strata of earth, are collected in two or three of the 

 largest ravines, and run in small rivulets to the sea. Such 

 are Old Road River, and Cayon River ; in a very dry season 

 they are nearly exhausted. 



The upper stratum, on the low lands near Basse-terre, is a 

 soil so full of black volcanic cinder, and minute fragments of 

 augite, that in damp weather it appears quite black. The stra- 

 tum of soil about the hills, and on the western parts of the island, 

 is nearly free from these substances, and is, consequently, of a 

 lighter colour. This upper stratum of soil reposes on a bed 

 of terrass, which, being free from the least particle of decayed 

 animal or vegetable substance, is totally unfit for the support 

 of vegetable life. In some places, this terrass is of a very 

 considerable depth ; in others it is only a thin stratum, resting 

 on, or alternating with, grey or black cinders, pumice or 



