Baza and Alhama. 77 



the surface, in several little low groups, close to a spring of 

 beautiful water called La Fuente de los Alamillos, and forms a 

 considerable undulating tract, covered with vineyards, between 

 this point, a village called Hator, and the high primary moun- 

 tain of Tcjeda, which now forms the southern boundary of the 

 basin, at the distance of about three miles from the line of road. 

 This elevated mountain, indeed, composed of white and light- 

 blue crystalline limestone, constitutes the marked geographical 

 limit of the basin towards the south, all the way from Alhama 

 to Arenas, and the mica-slate, forming the low tract just alluded 

 to along its base, dtps under it* ? and is again met with or reap>- 

 pears at the base of its opposite slope, and may thence be fol- 

 lowed to the Mediterranean shore. 



About half a mile before arriving at Arenas, an insulated 

 mass of darkish-coloured earthy limestone, containing numerous 

 shells of the genera Paludina, Lymnea, and Planorbis, was ob- 

 served, in horizontal strata, and yielding on fracture a fetid 

 odour. In the remaining part of the descent to the stream, on 

 whose right bank Arenas is situated, no rock is seen, a whitish 

 marl constituting the upper stratum. 



This little stream, rising in the adjoining primitive district, 

 and passing by the village of Hator, standing at the base of its 

 northern slope, joins, below Arenas, another stream, which, at 

 the distance of two or three miles towards the east, issues out of 

 the same mountains. Between the two there is a low ridge 

 which will be the immediate subject of consideration. Its 

 length, from the base of the primitive district to Arenas, is 

 about four miles ; its medium breadth about three quarters of a 

 mile, increasing a little as it approaches the former. It is com- 

 posed principally of a lacustrine deposit; but in the vicinity of 

 the primitive district, of a mass of gravel and conglomerate. 

 Close to Arenas there is a small transversal ravine in this ridge, 

 where the nature of the former is well exposed. The lower 

 part of its banks is formed of alternating strata of earthy marly 

 limestone, of a dirty whitish hue, and of thin layers of a similar 

 substance, coloured blackish by a carbonaceous matter, and so 



• This limestone may perhaps be considered as an immense bed in the 

 mica-slate. I am, however, inclined to believe that it is of a subsequent 

 date, and rests upon it* 



