220 Messrs. Jackson and Alger on the 
cally considered, they are a continuation of the neck of land, with 
which, though separated from it by these narrow channels, they 
are identical in structure and composition. They are composed 
of trap, under its different modifications, to the entire exclusion 
of every other rock; and like most islands of a similar nature when 
freely exposed to the ocean, they present scenery of unrivalled 
grandeur and magnificence. On the south side of Brier’s Island 
near the entrance of the channel, the cliffs present a very striking 
assemblage of neat and regular columnar masses, which some- 
times descend in lofty and continuous ranges of steps for many 
hundred yards into the sea; their serrated ridges rising up here 
and there from beneath its surface, and appearing, at first sight, 
like so much pier-work reared in defence of the island; which 
purpose, indeed, they may be said to answer in an admirable man- 
ner, since many of the masses scarcely break the surface of the 
water, and others are so concealed at shallow depths below it, as, 
in connexion with the currents that set in among them, to render 
an approach to the harbour dangerous even on ordinary occasions, 
and when directed by the most experienced mariners. We met 
with the wreck of a ship that had been driven in upon them a 
year or two since, and we were informed by the inhabitants, 
that the cargo and part of the unfortunate crew were lost. 
Situated as this island is, nearly in the direct route of ves- 
sels bound to St. John’s, or up the Bay of Fundy, the dan- 
ger of such accidents is not a little increased by the fogs and 
storms that suddenly close in upon this region, and which are 
sometimes known to endure for the continued space of three 
and four weeks. From the prevalence of these fogs, the island is 
comparatively barren of vegetation, and presents a dreary sur- 
face, affording only scanty support to the miserable sheep that 
