88 Additional Notes on the. 



remark that these springs ahiiost always appear to be 

 issuing from the body of the clay, a fact not consonant with 

 the character of the clays in general, which usually throw 

 off waters. This phenomenon may, perhaps, be accounted 

 for thus : The fetid carbonate of lime is probably the 

 source from whence the sulphuretted hydrogen is derived, 

 which, rising in the state of gas is absorbed by the clay, and 

 finding an outlet, is partially converted into water, by its 

 hydrogen attracting oxygen from the atmosphere. It may 

 however, be explained more simply, by supposing that the 

 sulphuretted hydrogen combines with the water in the 

 clay. — Both cases, indeed, may occur. There appears 

 also to be something contradictory in saying that clays 

 (notoriously so absorbent when dry) throw off water ; but it 

 is well know that they do, and the reason appears to be, 

 that in consequence of their absorbent qualities, they soon 

 become saturated with water, in which case they will 

 receive no more, but oblige it to traverse their surfaces. — 

 Near this place, there is also a salt spring, situated in the 

 lower part of the valley. 



Wishing to ascertain a little more respecting the geology 

 of the valley, we left the road to the right, and ascending 

 an alluvial ridge, came once more upon the carboniferous 

 lime stone. Our view from hence was magnificent. Before 

 us lay the whitened and rounded summits of the primary 

 chain which, bending eastward, encloses the valley to the 

 northwards, and makes of it a species of Cul-de-Sac. — 

 Behind us the graceful sweep of the bay, the Isle aux 

 Coudres, and the far away blue of the south shore. Below, 

 a singularly undulated and well cultivated alluvial country, 

 intersected by the Gouflre. 



Crossing a field or two we came upon the junction of the 



