BROOK FOINT. 277 



containing bands of reddish and yellow sand, and 

 hard grit or sand-rock ; and the strata gradually 

 decline till we reach Brook Bay, where they are 

 nearly horizontal. 



From Bullface Ledge we perceive the low pro- 

 montory of Brook Point that forms the eastern 

 boundary of Compton Bay, and at its base a 

 reef of rocks extending seaward to a considerable 

 distance. If the tide is very low, a succession of 

 ledges of this kind are visible along the shore, 

 stretching out to the distance of half a mile or 

 more from the land, and indicating the former 

 extent of the southern coast of the Island, at a 

 comparatively very modern period. These reefs 

 and rocks consist of the harder masses of the 

 Wealden sandstone, which have resisted the de- 

 structive effects of the waves, after the clays, 

 sands, and softer materials, have been swept 

 away. 



Brook Point. — As we approach Brook Point, 

 the variegated sands and grit which lie beneath 

 the clays, become more developed ; and large 

 waterworn blocks of sandstone appear here and 

 there on the shore. The ledge at the base of 

 the cliff, which formed so prominent a feature 

 of this part of the coast when seen from a dis- 

 tance, consists of indurated sandstone inclosing 



