CHAP. XIII.] MOUNT CARMEL. 211 



becomes excellent. This mountain is the com- 

 mencement of a continued chain of similar hills, 

 which run along the western coast to the south- 

 ward, their formation being different varieties of 

 trap. 



Mount Carmel itself is not connected with any 

 chain of mountains, but forms an isolated hill, and 

 rises to the height of about 500 feet above the sea. 

 This mountain protects a deep inlet, which, at the 

 head, branches off into several shallow channels, 

 and forms a perfectly sheltered harbour for vessels 

 of the largest burden, with anchorage close to the 

 eastern shore : the entrance to this harbour is not 

 more than forty or fifty yards broad. The moun- 

 tain is similar in its structure to the main range of 

 hills, and its appearance is such as to indicate clearly 

 its formation below the level of the sea. The base 

 is basalt and clinkstone ; the summit forms a narrow 

 ridge, from which steep buttresses run out towards 

 the sea on one side, and towards the harbour on 

 the other. In ascending we pass from the trap 

 to a greyish sandstone, irregularly mixed with pipe- 

 clay, steatite, and massy greenish quartz. On the 

 top, and to seaward, this hilly group is barren, 

 although, from the resin found here, we have un- 

 equivocal proofs that it was once covered with 

 kauri. Towards the harbour the natives have cul- 

 tivated portions of the steep ridges ; these planta- 

 tions alternate with pleasant bushes and groves to 

 the water's edge. The natives are only about forty 



p 2 



