336 MK MILNE ON THE MID-LOTHIAN AND EAST-LOTHIAN COAL-FIELDS. 



impress of that impetuous torrent, which left traces of its violence on the adjacent 

 rocks, it is impossible to doubt. These rocks, we see, were able to stand the 

 shock, and turn aside the waters, charged though they were with blocks of enor- 

 mous weight. The increased force and i-apidity of the stream occasioned by these 

 impediments, would cause a greater scooping out to take place along their sides ; 

 and hence the reason why the ground at the west, as well as north and south 

 sides of most of our trap hiUs, is lower than it is any where else. 



The examples now given are sufficient to show, that even the outward form 

 and present surface of the district, attest the occurrence of several of those mighty 

 convulsions, which, from time to time, changed so completely the condition of aU 

 things in this part of the globe. 



