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the sea, and at a height of about 50 feet above its 

 level ? Evidently in this instance, as in that of 

 Gabriel island, these blocks were placed where they 

 are now lying by the sea, either when the land was 

 emerging from the sea, or when it was still in deep 

 water. Eocky eminences are dotted more or less 

 abundantly over the surface of the central plain or 

 plateau. But curious to observe, these rocky knolls 

 are most common in a line with the dike above 

 mentioned, from the Deux Mamelles to the Pigeon 

 House Rock, or a little to the right or left of this linei 

 This would indicate that the dike was probably the 

 line or vein through which volcanic action passed 

 between the Deus Mamelles, the volcanic central 

 plateau of the Island and the lofty Pigeon House 

 Rock. 



Along the North Western shore there are no reefs, 

 and the sea breaks on the rocks, which form as it 

 were the foundations of the Island. The central 

 plateau is well projected at this part of the coast from 

 exceptionally high seas, by a high bank of volcanic 

 stones and lumps of coral, which the sea has thrown 

 up in violent storms, during which the waves must 

 break on this part of the coast with great force. 



The angles of many of these lumps of coral are 

 still sharp and well defined. In this respect the blocks 

 look as if they had recently been separated from each 

 other or from the reef of which they had formed a 

 portion. Neither time, weather, nor rubbing against 

 each other and the basaltic stones have done much 

 to wear off the corners of a large number of these 

 lumps. 



Something of this resistance to the elements may 

 be due to the hardness of the coral- But even making 

 allowance for hardness, there is room to doubt whether 



