GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ACADIAN PROVINCES. 15 



marked by the arrangement of the tints which distinguish the different 

 geological formations. The boundaries of these often coincide with 

 those of ranges of hills, and the general direction both of the hills 

 and lines of rock formation is N.E. and S.W., which is the prevailing 

 direction of the structure of the whole eastern part of North America. 

 The whole contour of the country indeed, as well as the directions of 

 its coasts, rivers, and hills, depends on the nature and arrangement 

 of its rocks, and on the elevatory movements to which they have 

 been subjected. The former determine the minor details of the 

 surface and the coast lines : the latter, the elevation and distribution 

 of the rocky masses on the great scale. For illustrations of this, 

 I may refer the reader to the general section annexed to the map, 

 in connexion with the following explanation of the colours represent- 

 ing the several formations. 



The eajmine_and jmrple portions of the map, representing the 

 oldest rocks in the province — rocks partly ejected in a molten state 

 from the interior of the earth, and partly very ancient sediments 

 metamorphosed or altered by heat and other chemical agencies — extend 

 in an unbroken band along the whole Atlantic coast, wide at its 

 western end, and tapering to a point in the eastern. This belt of 

 country is in some parts low^^ rugged, and broken, and in others 

 boldly undulating. It is traversed by many rocky ridges, and 

 abounds In lakes, bogs, and streams. Its soils are often sterile and 

 stony, though it has also large tracts of fertile soil, supporting noble 

 forests, and fine agricultural settlements. Its maritime situation and 

 numerous harbours have made it the abode of a large fishing and 

 trading population ; and these advantages have also given to it the 

 capital of the province, and several of the most jDrosperous towns 

 and villages, while its recently discovered gold veins have added 

 to it in recent years great importance as a mining district. This 

 district is low at the Atlantic coast, and gradually rises to the height 

 of a few hundreds of feet at its northern limit, where it descends 

 somewhat suddenly to the level of the inland valleys, which, in the 

 greater part of its length, separate it from the district next to be 

 mentioned. 



The very irregular bands and patches, of a blue colour, with 

 carmine lines and spots, also consist of altered rocks, with others of 

 igneous origin, poured through them from beneath ; but the whole of 

 somewhat later age than the rocks of the Atlantic coast. This 

 district consists in great part of elevated ridges. It includes the 

 highest and most continuous hills in the province, none of which, 

 however, exceed 1200 feet in height, and the sources of all the 



