GEOLOGISING. 91 



cattle from the benty links have come down towards the 

 sea, where they stand knee-deep in it, stooping and 

 eyeing it wistfully, but yet unable to drink ; when the 

 parched sands stretch away in the distance, the heated 

 air nickering upwards like the breath of a furnace ! 



" I look up, and implore the ' all-conquering sun to 

 intermit his wrath.' He only continues to shine out 

 stronger and fiercer ; till at last, faint and exhausted. I 

 throw myself down, and drink out of the burn which 

 flows across the sands, careless of the consequences. 

 Your very wise people may say what they please about 

 the consequences of imbibing cold water when over- 

 heated, but I have never found any harm, but much good 

 to be the result, and in no case more than in taking this 

 drink out of the burn as I crossed the sands towards 

 Dunnet. 



" Refreshed and invigorated, I rose and pursued my 

 way. Not long after, I had the pleasure of striking iny 

 first hearty blow on the yellow stones which crop out 

 through the unconsolidated beach. I examine and 

 search for organic remains. But no. Again and again 

 my efforts are renewed, and still the answer is, No. 



" Passing on along the foot of the cliffs now yellow- 

 ish, then reddish now thin and slaty-like, then in thick 

 solid beds I go rambling along. 



" ' Owre mony a weary ledge he limpit, 

 An' aye the tither stane he thumpit ; ' 



but thumped in vain. Oh for one scale ! But no ; no 

 organisms; not one, though you upturned the whole 

 stupendous accumulation of quartzy sand, which rears 



