INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. iii 



and precipitating, a large portion of High Knoll into the crater, 

 may have extinguished it. 



This conjecture is at least plausible (if not clearly verified) by 

 the appearance of High Knoll. The western side is sloping, and 

 the base of that part (extending more than 1200 yards from north 

 to south) rests upon the surface of Ladder Hill ; whilst the eastern 

 side is a stupendous precipitous cliff, the foot of which stands in 

 James's Valley, at least 260 feet lower than the opposite base on 

 Ladder Hill. In short, High Knoll, which rises 1903 feet above the 

 level of the sea, is decidedly but a fragmentof what it has originally 

 been. One third at least of this mountain has been precipitated 

 to the eastward, apparently close to the water-fall, and into that 

 very spot whence the eruptions of lava seem to have proceeded, 

 and afterwards descended, even to the northern extremity of 

 Ladder Hill : a distance of 3000 yards. The disruption of High 

 Knoll has exposed to view many layers of lava, from the base 

 almost to the summit, which may be traced throughout the whole 

 distance to the north extreme of Ladder Hill. Hence it seems 

 reasonable to infer that High Knoll was raised by the eruptions 

 of a volcano. 



The strata on the east side of Ladder Hill point directly to 

 High Knoll and the waterfall : and it is remarkable that there are 

 several layers near to High Knoll, high up the cliiFs, from whicK 

 salt springs ooze, and more especially during the rainy seasons. 

 These layers have the same declination as the other strata. 



There is moreover a very singular vein of red clay on the eastern 

 side, and near the summit of Ladder Hill (two hundred yards 

 above the level of the sea) which corresponds in dimensions, ele- 

 vation, and colour, with another vein on the opposite hill. Several 

 .strata of slimy mud, very strongly impregnated with marine salt, 

 are also to be seen on the same face of Ladder Hill ; one at the 



