380 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [Vov. VIII. 
we confidently adopt the geology of Karsten(Geogn. Vehaltnisse des 
Westlichen Columbien, Wien, 1858), we should have no difficulty in 
finding a passage from the Caribean and Venezuelan region to the 
South Pacific, for he shows a continuous and extensive development of 
tertiary formations on the north side of the Orinoco via the plains of the 
Meta and the u, per waters of the Amazons to the Gulf of Guayaquil, 
the higher portions of the northern part of South America being newer 
and older cretaceous. Some doubt, however, rests upon some of 
Karsten’s delimitations, and besides, he marks as “plutonic” the region 
from Paria to Cumana, and the central portion of the Isthmus of 
Panama, whereas these are probably altered sedimentary rocks not 
comparable with the plutonic rocks of Guiana and Brazil. The difficulty 
is the height and extent of the Andes. It is true that in the neighbour- | 
hood of the Gulf of Guayaquil there is a break in the continuity of the 
great mass of the Andes. If, therefore, the Region marked by Karsten 
as tertiary and cretaceous was really occupied by sea during the 
cretaceous period and only gradually became land during the tertiary 
period, we have ample provision for a waterway fulfilling all require- 
ments for the migration of organisms from the South Pacific to the 
Caribean Region. 
THE OCEANIC ROCKS OF JAMAICA. 
Though the geology of Jamaica has been largely treated of first by 
the Government Geological Surveyors (1869) and subsequently by 
Robert T. Hill (Bull. Mus. Harvard, 1899), there remains a very great 
deal to be done in the working out of details and in the elucidation of 
the relationships of the formations to each other. I do not think that 
any mere visitor could do what is required. A residence of many years 
anda thorough grasp of the various features is required; but unfortunate- 
ly the dislike of scientific knowledge which underlies and characterizes 
public feeling in the West Indies, and is the result of slavery and 
superstition in spite of all pretences to the contrary, makes it unlikely 
that under present conditions any advance will be made. The whole 
aim of the dominant classes in the West Indies is directed to the dis- 
couragement of the general cultivation of science. 
Unfortunately on my late visit to Jamaica I was crippled by my 
constant enemy, rheumatism, so that I failed to do any geological work. 
But, by the kind assistance of one or two friends, I was enabled to 
obtain some material of interest. I take the opportunity of observing 
that fault has been found with my supposed determinations of the 
