%66 • HISTORY OF 



produced in some places. There are attached to' 

 some parts of these islands low sandy land, of 

 the same height with the lower islands. 



Preservation Island, is of the humble class 

 of islands and of a moderate height. A 

 surface of sand, mixed with vegetable soil, 

 scarcety hides from view the base of granite. 

 In several places vast blocks of this stone lie 

 scattered about, as free from vegetation and the 

 injuries of weather as if they had but just 

 fallen ; and, what is remarkable, most of them 

 are entirely detached from the stone on which 

 they rest. It seemed that these blocks had 

 fallen from some place higher than on which 

 they were found ; but that was at the same time 

 deemed impossible, for they were then higher 

 than any other part of the island. It is cer- 

 tainly more probable, that subterraneous or vol- 

 canic fire might have caused their appearance. 



The bulk of these blocks render them so con- 

 spicuous, that the attention is first taken bjr 

 them on approaching the island. But, besides 

 gran ate, there is on the North side, where the 

 island is lowest, a slip of calcareous earth, 

 which discovers itself near the surface of the 

 water. It is not pure, for broken pieces of the 

 granite are mixed with it. Some parts are a 

 mere mass of these pieces, cemented by the 

 calcareous matter; others are a perfect chalk, 

 and may be burnt into excellent lime. Broken 

 sea shells and other exuviae of marine animals 

 are apparent throughout the whole mass. 



