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66 Geology of St. Croiz. 
them, St. Vincent’s and Guadaloupe, are at present the seats of 
active voleanoes. By inspecting a map of the West Indies, it 
will be seen, that St: Croix is near the northern termination of 
the crescent of islands, which, commencing with Trinidad on the 
south, and ending with St. Thomas on the north, constitutes the 
eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea. These islands extend 
through more than eight degrees of latitude; and yet, it is im- 
possible to look at their relative position, without suspecting that 
they were-elevated by a common force, and have been subject to 
similar geological revolutions. This, so far as my own observa- 
tion and the information otherwise obtained extend, I believe to 
be true. Many of the islands contain several formations, dis- 
similar in age and geological constitution ; but they all bear, if I 
may use the expression, a striking family likeness. The prevail- 
ing formations in the West Indies are, in the first place, recent 
igneous rocks, comprising the products of active volcanoes and 
different varieties of trap; in the second, tertiary groups, consist- 
ing of marl, calcareous sandstone, and shell limestone ; and in the 
third, a stratified deposit, which, without at present intending to 
intimate its place in the geological series of rocks, I shall call in- 
durated clay. As 1 have already suggested, some of the islands 
present all these formations, indications of which are seen upon 
as first approach to them. St: Croix contains only the two latter, 
which divide the superficial area of the island about equally. 
This island isin north lat. 17° 45’ 28”, and west long. 67° 12’ 
40”. It is about 26 miles in length, and, on an average, not more 
than four or five in breadth. Its shape is irregular. The north- 
ern and southeastern parts comprise the clay formation, and the 
central and southern are caleareous.. There is a striking contrast 
in the elevation of the two portions of the island. The clay 
formation is a pile of mountains, separated, however, by gorges 
and valleys, which run in every direction, and give to it a beauti- 
fully diversified aspect. The highest point is Mount Eagle, which 
is estimated to be about 1200 feet above the level of the sea. The 
calcareous formation is much lower and less broken, but undula- 
ting. The greatest elevation in this part of the island, is about 
600 feet. It is that on which stands Bulow’s Mindo, the elegant 
eountry-seat of the governor, so named in memory of his friend, 
Shag OS he 7 
