96 LUNDY ISLAND. 



edge of the cliff, and goes down to a depth nearly 

 double that of the former. The rocky sides, which 

 are from three to six feet apart, are very plane and 

 parallel, yet slightly approaching as they descend. 

 We were able to scramble down to some depth in the 

 narrow fissure, and to obtain a glimpse, through 

 slender cracks and crevices, into cavities apparently 

 large, but unconnected with the air, and utterly dark. 

 They gave forcible intimations, however, that the 

 tearing of the solid granite rock had been much more 

 extensive than one would suppose from merely viewing 

 the superficial chasms. 



A short time ago a large and beautiful amethyst was 

 discovered imbedded in the rock some distance down, 

 partially exposed by the cleft, in the line of which it 

 happened to lie. The proprietor, who had himself 

 made the discovery, and who thus possessed a double 

 claim to it, wished to obtain the aid of a professed 

 lapidary in extracting it ; but, meanwhile, some greedy 

 and dishonest person, who had got wind of the dis- 

 covery, endeavoured to secure possession of the prize. 

 The unskilful hands and clumsy tools employed 

 managed, indeed, to deprive the rightful owner of the 

 gem, but with no advantage to the covetous plunderer. 

 In the rude efforts to extract it, the beautiful crystal 

 became split and crushed to worthless fragments. 

 We saw the hole which the rough chisel had pro- 

 duced, and the remains of the lovely gem still partly 

 embedded in the stone, but beaten and pounded to a 

 purple dust. A much smaller specimen was subse- 



