322 Parley^ s observations on the 



From the sea, Newfoundland has a wild and rugged appear- 

 ance, which is anything but inviting. Of its interior, very little 

 is known, as it has been but very partially explored. Such parts 

 as have been visited by persons capable of giving a satisfactory 

 description, were found much broken up with water ; lakes, and 

 marshes, rocks and scrubby trees, forming its chief features. 



The prevailing character of Newfoundland is that of a rugged, 

 and, for the most part, a barren country. Hills and valleys con- 

 tinually succeed each other ; the former, but seldom rising into 

 mountains, and the latter, rarely expanding into plains. 



The hills, more or less lofty, are greatly varied in character. 

 Sometimes they form long flat-topped ridges ; occasionally, they 

 become round and isolated, with sharp peaks and craggy preci- 

 pices. 



The valleys also vary greatly. Sometimes they present deep 

 mountain gorges, and the wildest of ravines ; while in others, 

 they form depressions with gentle slopes toward the water, which 

 is ever found flowing at their greatest depth. 



The sea-Clio's of Newfoundland, — especially on the coast, between 

 St. John's and Cape Race, thence westwardly, between Cape 

 Bace and Cape Ray, and thence northerly along the western 

 coast and Bonne Bay, — are almost everywhere bold and lofty, 

 with deep water close at their foot. 



Loose rocks of all sizes, and with them huge boulders, are 

 scattered all over the country. They increase the general rough- 

 ness of its appearance, and give it a repulsive character. 



This rough and rugged surface is covei'ed by three different 

 kinds of vegetation, which form three distinct districts. 



The people of Newfoundland assign to these several districts, 

 the names of, " Woods, Marshes, and Barrens." 



The woods are in general found on the sides of hills, or the 

 slopes of valleys, wherever there is natural drainage for the sur- 

 plus water. For this reason, the forests, if they can be so called, 

 occur most frequently, and the trees are of the greatest size, near 

 the sea-coast, or near lakes and rivers, when the soil and other cir- 

 cumstances are favourable. 



Newfoundland has been frequently described as a thickly wooded 

 country, but such is not the case. The trees consist chiefly of 

 spruce, {Ahies nigra,)— white fir, {Abies alba,) — yellow birch 

 (Betula excelsa,) — white birch, {Betula2)opuli/olia,)—iind hackma- 

 tack or larch, (Larix Americana.) But what are considered large 



