84 SECTION OF THE ALLUVIAL FLATS 



excursion this morning with Mr Crane, to look at the 

 steps that have been taken for its improvement. 



On our way, we examined several quarries of red 

 sandstone, which are situated on the summit of the slope 

 on which the settlement stands. The rocks dip south 

 east, towards the Tantamare Marsh, as the yellow or 

 grey sandstones of the Cumberland Ridge do towards 

 that of the Missiquash. A series of faults may probably 

 traverse the isthmus a circumstance which renders 

 doubtful the apparent relative position of the yellow arid 

 red rocks which are often met with separately, though 

 in few places in actual juxtaposition. If such faults 

 exist, their direction may have determined the original 

 course of the waters which covered the whole of this 

 low country, when it was the channel of a strait joining 

 the Gulf of St Lawrence to the Bay of Fundy. In the 

 following section of this marsh-valley, taken across 

 the head of Cumberland Basin, between the towns of 

 Sackville and Amherst, I have, however, supposed the 

 strata to be free from faults, and to be only thrown up 

 at a considerable angle as they are, in reality, seen to 

 be, wherever they come to day. Between each of the 

 rocky ridges crossed by the section there occurs a series 

 of thinner and softer beds, which the action of the 

 ancient sea-currents was more effectual in scooping out, 

 and upon which, when the land was elevated, the hori 

 zontal silts of the muddy waters were deposited, to form 

 the marsh and alluvial lands of the present day. 



No. I in this section is the red sandstone which forms 

 the slope on which the town of Sackville stands. Good 

 rich open soils are formed upon this rock ; and along the 

 edge of it, skirting the marsh, there are many good 

 farms. No. 2 I suppose to be the site of the limestone 

 and red gypsiferous marls, which, in other parts of the 

 province, occupy this position above the red sandstone 

 and conglomerate. Their softness has caused them to be 



