xvi INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 



" I cannot help referring- Easter Island, St. Helena, owA Ascen- 

 " sion, to the last." 



The circumstances which have been noticed concerning- the 

 strata of Ladder Hill and High Knoll, cannot, I presnme, admit 

 of a donbt, that those parts have undergone a great change since 

 the island was formed ; and that this change has been effected by 

 eruptions from a volcano, succeeded by an earthquake. But, 

 whether those other changes, which are visible in many other 

 parts have been produced by similar causes, or subterraneous fire, 

 it is perhaps wholly impossible to ascertain : nor does it even 

 seem probable, that the effects from either, or from all these 

 causes, could have left the island in the state it now is. 



There is a central ridge, as will be seen by the annexed sketch, 

 which, running east and west, divides the island into, nearly, two 

 equal portions. In no part of this ridge (which is elevated 2000 

 feet above the level of the sea) is there a single chasm or opening. 

 It seems, therefore, wholly unaccountable that it should have 

 escaped being broken and shattered, if eaith quakes, or subterra- 

 nean fires, had occasioned the " overturnings." This ridge is 

 narrow on tlie top ; and very abrupt on the south, especially 

 between Diana's Peak and Manatee Bay. It continues eastward 

 to the Devil's Punch Bowl, where it again narrows, and then 

 spreads out and forms the Great Wood Plain. At the Punch 

 Bowl it becomes so narrow that it seems nearly to have been 

 broken : yet the whole extent, including the Great Wood, has 

 stood fast, in spite of all appearances of disruption on either 

 side. 



When the island was discovered (three hundred and thirteen 

 years ago), it is said, there were no living animals upon it ; and 

 that seals, sea-lions, turtle, and sea-fowl, occasionally frequented 

 its shores. All this is perfectly reconcileable to the idea that 



