from the Observations of himself and Mr. Clemson. 19 



at present been ascertained to contain veins of copper, is re- 

 markable for the undulations of its surface, and consists of a 

 countless series of rounded hills, which rise from one hun- 

 dred to four or five hundred feet above the bed of the prin- 

 cipal streams. Some of these hills are prolonged in the form 

 of ridges, stretching several miles in a direction varying be- 

 tween north-east and east ; their sides penetrated deeply, at 

 inconsiderable intervals, by innumerable lateral ravines. 

 Other eminences are so surrounded by watercourses and ra- 

 vines as to appear in regular oval or circular forms, as if con- 

 structed by the hand of man, like the ancient mounds and 

 earth-works of Europe, on a gigantic scale. Some of them 

 are a few hundred yards only in diameter, and rise from two 

 to four hundred feet in elevation, and slope on all sides with 

 a remarkable uniformity. To speak of these conformations 

 of the surface, chiefly derived from the slow operation of 

 drainage, as mere undulations will scarcely convey an adequate 

 impression of the superficial character of this region. It is 

 seldom that so extensive an expanse of country is seen, which, 

 without presenting any precipitous faces of naked rock, main- 

 tains over its entire area a surface so uneven. Standing upon 

 one of these eminences in the midst of the savanas, and looking 

 over those countless barren and rounded hills, the only scene 

 to which they may be compared, yet on a very inferior scale 

 as to magnitude, will be the billows of an agitated ocean. 



These circumstances of external configuration are not un- 

 important to the miner, who will perceive the facilities they 

 offer to his operations, and how readily these ridges and hills, 

 containing the mineral veins, can be reached, and worked, 

 and drained, to a great depth, from the adjacent ravines. 



White Limestone Mountains. — Whilst describing the pecu- 

 liar features which characterize this part of the island, and 

 which are mainly attributable to geological phenomena, we 

 may not pass unnoticed those remarkable mountains of lime- 

 stone or marble, which not only approach the borders of the 

 savanas, but even rise in the midst of them. 



As we approach the bay of Gibara from the sea, the aspect 

 of the coast and country inland is bold and striking. Moun- 

 tains of strange forms, pinnacles and isolated bluffs, and ele- 

 vated saddle-shaped masses, steep and bare of vegetation on 

 their faces, range along the coast at the distance of a few miles 

 in the interior. 



We cross them, and amidst them, and pass to the savanas 

 in their rear, towards the south. From hence, as they stretch, 

 at intervals, to the east and to the west, a scene unusually 

 striking and geologically interesting presents itself. 



D2 



