United States Exploring Expedition. 37 



shattered remnant of two lofty volcanic mountains. A preci- 

 pice on this island, upwards of twenty miles long, and from 

 1000 to 3000 feet high, is apparently a section of one of those 

 volcanic mountains or domes, along which it was rent in two, 

 when the greater part was tumbled off and submerged in the 

 ocean. 



Oahu is fringed in part with a coral reef 25 feet out of 

 water ; and similar proofs of still greater elevation are met 

 with on the other islands. 



New Holland afforded the expedition a collection of coal 

 plants from the coal region ; the coal is bituminous, and the 

 beds are extensive. Large collections were also obtained of 

 fossil shells and corals (about 180 species in all), from the 

 sandstone next the coal. The geology of the coal region, and 

 of the overlying sandstone, and the fossiliferous sandstone 

 below, together with the trap dykes and beds, will prove highly 

 interesting. These are the only rocks observed. 



About 100 species of fossils, including vertebrae of Cetacea, 

 and remains of four species of fish, crabs, echini, and shells, 

 were collected from a clayey sandstone, near Astoria, on the 

 Columbia. Various explorations were made in the interior of 

 Oregon, and on a jaunt overland to California. 



The Andes were ascended both in Chili and Peru, and in 

 the latter an ammonite was obtained at a height of 16,000 

 feet. 



The collections at the National gallery contain suites of 

 specimens from all the regions visited, including gems, and 

 gold and iron ores from Brazil, the copper and some of the 

 silver ores of Peru and Chili, besides others illustrating the 

 general geological structure of these countries. 



But our remarks have already extended to an unexpected 

 length. The facts enumerated, although but here and there 

 one from the mass which have been collected, are sufficient to 

 evince that the nation which has done honour to itself in send- 

 ing out an exploring expedition so liberally organized, will 

 have no reason to be disappointed in the results. European 

 nations already appreciate it, and speak higher praise than 

 has yet been heard on this side of the waters. The advan- 

 tages accruing to commerce alone, from the large number of 

 surveys made, reefs discovered and laid down, unknown bar- 



