A GEOLOGICAL RAMBLE TO INGLEBOROUGH. 115 



be seen standing like a wall out of the water, on the right hand side going 

 up. It is a reddish fine grained crystalline rock, very much like granite and 

 totally difEerent from the surrounding stratum, which is composed of a mass 

 of broken up slate rocks. 



We had not gone very far up the beck side before our progress was 

 barred by a ledge of rock over which the water came, occupying the whole 

 of the narrow space betwixt the overhanging cliffs. We were obliged to 

 turn back and force our way through a dense underwood, where the trees 

 were very close together, and their branches interwoven with one another 

 so intricately as to hinder our progress very much. It is called " Creeping 

 Avood " and well does it deserve the name, for we could seldom stand upright 

 and we had to creep on our hands and knees for a great part of the way. 

 The groimd was literally covered with wild flower and ferns, around 

 the roots of the trees, and in every crevice of the rocks ; in fact 

 every place where plants could find space to live, was occupied by 

 them. We recognized many old favourites and doubtless had our 

 botanical friends been with us, some rareties would have rewarded their 

 search, for the place seemed peculiarly favotu-able for them. By great 

 exertion, and sundry rents of clothes and scratches, we reached an open 

 space, from which a path led down into a deep chasm through which the 

 beck runs. Curious to know where it led we followed the path hoping it 

 might conduct us to the waterfall. When we got to the bottom we found 

 ourselves in a deep and narrow glen, having on one side a perpendicular 

 cliff of solid rock, and on the othei a sloping cliff of a softer shale ; plainly 

 showing us, that we were in the line of & fault. At the upper end the water 

 came tumbling down a narrow rocky gorge and at the lower end, we 

 foimd the upper side of the ledge, which had barred our progress in 

 coming up the beck side. Not being able to get down that way we turned 

 back in order to re-ascend, but in the semi-darkness which prevailed in this 

 deep glen, we experienced some difiiculty in finding the path again. At length 

 however, after forcing our way through a mass of tall ferns and brambles, 

 we found it, and were soon on the top again. Fortunately the path got 

 more distinct and fewer obstacles obtruded themselves. We emerged out 

 of the gloomy wood (for it was now fast getting dark) into an open field 

 in front of the object of our journey, " Thornton Force." We sat down 

 on the ti'unk of a fallen tree while we examined the " Force." The 

 water falls some thirty feet, and after heavy rains it is said to be a 

 magnificient spectacle. But even then it was very impressive, especially 



