NORTH SIDE OF L. ISLAND AND STATEN ISLAND. 383 



more, have a basis of stratified rocks; while Hart Island, 

 Miniford's Island, Hiker's Island, and several others, are 

 modern and alluvial. The tide, and storms from the N. 

 E., have done much of this work. 



I next proceed to trace the consequences of the breach 

 through the Clove, where the Ramapough river now 

 runs. That part of the imprisoned water escaped 

 through this passage, is so plain an inference from the ap- 

 pearances, that every traveller through the pass readily 

 and involuntarily draws it. Such a burst of rocks, stones, 

 sand and water appears to have been driven over the 

 region, situated along the Hackinsack, Saddle, and Pas- 

 saick rivers. After sweeping along the valley lying be- 

 tween Bergen and Newark, it seems to have rolled up 

 a huge pile of materials on the north side of Staten Island, 

 and to have imparted to it a portion of its altitude, rough- 

 ness and character. Another mass of these dislodged 

 materials appears beyond the Rariton, in the form of the 

 Neversink Hills, carried thither by the impetuosity of the 

 flood. 



The south side of Staten Island resembles Long Island. 

 Carbonated wood, pyritical coal, and other organic re- 

 mains, have frequently been discovered by digging wells. 

 At the Narrows, where the fortifications and beacons are, 

 several pieces of native copper were found by the labour- 

 ers on the works. Has this any connexion with the copper 

 mines near Belleville, above ? Over other parts, iron ore 

 is scattered. Has this any relation to the iron mines 

 along the Ramapough in the Clove ? 



The basis of the Neversink Hills is oceanic. Up- 

 on this has been accumulated the mass of sand and 

 stones, from the interior district. Near their summits are. 



