520 ISLE OF MAN. GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 



mountain, as it has been ascertained by trigonometrical 

 observations, is 2004 feet high, and is accompanied by 

 numerous other elevations gradually declining from that 

 of North Barrule, the height of which is 200 feet less, 

 down to the shores on each side of the principal group. 



Notwithstanding the apparent division above alluded 

 to, I must remark, that no real distinction exists between 

 the hilly and the mountain land, since the latter declines 

 into the former without break or interruption, by a suc- 

 cession of undulations becoming gradually lower as they 

 approach the shores of the island. The forms of the 

 mountains are invariably rounded and tame, as is most 

 frequently the case in the schistose districts of Wales 

 and Cumberland, and the rock is very rarely seen pro- 

 truding so as to form abrupt faces ; never in such a 

 way as to give a rugged outline on the sky. No dif- 

 ference worthy of notice can be traced in the relative 

 rapidity of the declivities on any of the hills which 

 constitute the group ; nor do the few broken faces which 

 are to be seen, appear to respect one point of the 

 compass rather than another. 



On the north-eastern side of the island, the descent 

 appears indeed more rapid than on the other parts of 

 the group ; and the difference is very remarkable if we 

 compare the declivity which lies between Laxey and 

 Ramsey, and includes St. Maughold's head, with that 

 which descends towards Douglas, Peel, or Castle Town. 

 But this circumstance does not affect the validity of 

 the preceding remark ; since it merely arises from the 

 truncation of the group, (if it may so be called,) by 

 the sea at this end of the island, being nearer to the 

 highest elevations, and consequently from the absence 

 of those lower hilly tracts which, on the other sides, 

 skirt the principal mountainous district. In consequence 

 of the gentle slope of this elevated land, the mountains 

 are, as might be expected, wet and boggy; a covering 

 of peat, amounting on an average to two feet in depth, 



