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INTRODUCrOKY KSSAY. 



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Mount Hillaby is the higliest land, its altitude 

 being eleven hundred and forty-seven feet above 

 the level of the sea; from which it is distant, in a 

 direct line, about four miles. From this point the 

 high land branches off in steep precipitous ridges, 

 in two directions^ northerly and easterly, and 

 southerly and easterly, towards the sea on the 

 windward coast; suddenly diminishing in height 



as they approach it. These two ridges of high 

 land embrace a country, the appearance of which 

 is altogether different from the flat, open scenery 

 of that which has just been described. This por- 

 tion of the island is distinguished by the appella- 

 tions, Scotland, and 13elow the Cliff. The 

 hills in this district are numerous; they arc lofly, 

 conical, and steep, and project irregularly from the 

 ridges of high land, or rise in small groups from 

 the plain, which is little above the level of the sea. 

 The deep valleys intersecting the hills are covered 

 with the most luxuriant vegetation, the hills them- 

 selves appearing naked and barren, or 



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clothed with timber. The scenery is every where 

 wild, irregular, and picturesque, and displays in 

 miniature all the beauties of a mountainous country. 

 Such is the strikirtg dissimilarity in the general 

 appearance of the two districts. Altcntive obser- 

 vation points out an essential difference in the 

 immediate substratum of the soil; that of the flat 

 country being entirely calcareouSj the soil of the 



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