GEOLOGY. ciii 



As well as I could estimate, the distance of this primary interior range of momitains, 

 from the sea-shore, judging at least by that of their summits, is about thirty miles. 

 But from that, somewhat indeterminate point, of course, the ridge, if ridge it be, which 

 appears so to the eye, inclines towards the sea line, and, in its progress thence, reaches 

 the shore at Port Logan. The limestone which I have already mentioned, disappears 

 in consequence, and I met with it no more on this eastern coast ; recovering it only to 

 the westward of the isthmus of Boothia, near Neitchillee. 



I must now, therefore, note as much of its peculiarities as may enable geologists 

 to form that judgment of its analogy to the rocks they have defined on which I have 

 no right to decide, from my very imperfect acquaintance with this subject. I presume, 

 of course, that they will call it " the mountain limestone," because this is the name 

 which I have seen applied to rocks resembling it in character, and, as far as I under- 

 stand those subjects, in position: but this however I must leave to the more com- 

 petent. 



From Northeast Cape to Adelaide Bay, it presents those forms which distinguish the 

 limestone district of Yorkshire, but with far more decided shapes in some parts of this 

 line, of which the analogies and resemblances may be seen in Derbyshire, though in 

 the most remarkable places, these are very like to some scenery which I remember 

 seeing in a French picturesque work, representing the scenery and antiquities of Pola, 

 in Istria. 



It would be to repeat what must be well known to every one interested in this sub- 

 ject, to say, that the fractures which the precipices of this rock present, are frequently 

 such as to display the appearance of castles and towers, as the smaller ones are apt to 

 exhibit the appearances of niches and statues, so as to confer on them a singular and 

 striking variety of architectural effect, which, under peculiar circumstances, is even 

 very deceptive. Of these apings of the works of art, we had an abundant and various 

 display ; that I could not make pictures of what I saw, from the extreme severity of the 

 weather, and the difficult circumstances in which I was almost invariably placed, might 

 possibly be regretted on the score of art, but can be of no moment for the present end, 

 where the general fact and its bearings are so well understood by all whom geology 

 can interest. 



If this leading and striking character is not sufficient to sarisfy geologists respecting 

 the precise nature of this limestone, as it regards the systems of the earth which they 

 have adopted, I suppose that this presumed character will be confirmed by its mmcral 

 nature, and by that of the organic remains which it contains. In diflerent places, the 

 former exhibits all those various characters, in te.xture and colour, which I have seen m 

 collections of specimens of this particular limestone, as well as in several parts of Scot- 



