zj, YORKSHIRE. 329 



At the time thefe mountains and this chafm 

 were formed, it is probable the water gufhcd 

 out of the face of a perpendicular rock, 

 which now rifcs about eighty feet above 

 the fpring ; but through the mouldering 

 of the rock, and the accumulative effedt of 

 the waters, the bafe of the precipice, out 

 of which they iffue, now reaches with a Iharp 

 afcent to near the mouth of the fpring. 



The upper part of the flope at leail has 

 evidently been raifed by vegetation and 

 PETRIFACTION. Had not the hand of ar( 

 been aflifting in removing from time to time 

 the accumulated matter, in the form of 

 *' marl" and " limeflone," and in leading the 

 water by a channel from the rock, the fpring 

 might long fince, by over growing its mouth, 

 have been the caufe of its own extinftion, 



Thefe waters,, at their fource, are remark- 

 ably cold and flrongly chalybeate to the 

 tafte, tinging their bed of a deep ruit co- 

 lour ; but as they fall down the bafe of the 

 hill, they lofe by degrees their chalybeate 

 qualities, lofing them entirely before they 

 reach the foot of the flope. 



Whal 



