Geology of Newfo2indland, 327 



dered to afford what may be deemed the mean temperature of tke 

 island. 



The weather there, although severe, is less fierce than in Lower 

 Canada, and during winter, the extraordinary brilliancy of the 

 Aurora Borealis, and the splendid lustre of the moon and stars, 

 give a rare and peculiar beauty to the atmosphere. 



The eastern coast of Newfoundland is much more humid than 

 the western, owing to the heavy fogs which are driven in from 

 the Grand Bank; and it is also more subject to violent gales and 

 storms, owing to its exposed position. On the west coast, from 

 Cape Ray to the north, and in the interior, the atmosphere is 

 generally clear, and the climate is much the same as that of the 

 district of Gaspe, in Lower Canada. 



THE GEOLOGY OF NEWFOUNDLAND. 



In the years 1839 and 1840, Mr. J. B. Jukes, a fellow of the 

 Geological Society, who has since greatly distinguished himself in 

 South Australia,was employed by the Government of Newfoundland 

 to make a geological survey of the Island. The means placed 

 at the disposal of Mr. Jukes by the Legislature, were exceedingly 

 small, and it was only an ardent love of science, and a desire 

 to do all that man could do, in an interesting but most difficult 

 country, that induced Mr. Jukes to persevere as long as he did. 

 Because Mr. Jukes, at the outset of his explorations, did not en- 

 counter anything of very great value, the Legislature declined to 

 assist him in further researches, at the very point where those 

 researches were beginning to be interesting, and becoming of 

 practical value. 



The only authentic account, therefore, of the Geology of New- 

 foundland, is that of Mr. Jukes, but to that has been added within 

 a few years, the observations of other scientific men, who have 

 been employed to explore certain sections of the island, with a 

 view to discover its mineral wealth. 



Mr. Jukes divides Newfoundland, geologically, into two sections, 

 which are shown on the map by a line drawn from Cape Ray, 

 the south-western angle of the island, to Quirpen, very nearly 

 through the centre of the island. 



To the south-westward of this line, the geological character 

 of the country is such as to indicate a broken and sterile country, 

 with but slight hope of mineral wealth ; while to the Northward 

 and eastward of the line, the country is composed of rocks of 



