66 Geology of St. Croisj, 



thenij St. Vincent's and Guadaloupe, are at present the seats of 

 active -volcanoes. By inspecting a map of the West Indies, it 

 will be seen, that St. Croix is near the northern termination of 

 the crescent of islands, which, commencing with Trinidad on the 

 south, and ending with St. Thomas on the north, constitutes the 

 eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea. These islands extend 

 through more than eight degrees of latitude ; and yet, it is im- 

 possible to look at their relative position, without suspecting that 

 they were elevated by a common force, and have been subject to 

 similar geological revolutions. This, so far as my own observa- 

 tion and the information otherwise obtained extend, I believe to 

 be true. Many of the islands contain several formations, dis- 

 similar in age and geological constitution ; but they all bear, if I 

 may use the expression, a striking family likeness. The prevail- 

 ing formations in the West Indies are, in the first place, recent 

 igneous rocks, comprising the products of active volcanoes and 

 different varieties of trap ; in the second, tertiary groups, consist- 

 ing of marl, calcareous sandstone, and shell limestone ; and in the 

 third, a stratified deposit, which, without at present intending to 

 intimate its place in the geological series of rocks, I shall call in- 

 durated clay. As I have already suggested, some of the islands 

 present all these formations, indications of which are seen upon 

 the first approach to them. St. Croix contains only the two latter, 

 which divide the superficial area of the island about equally. 



This island is in north lat. 17° 45' 28", and west long. 67° VI' 

 40''. It is about 26 miles in length, and, on an average, not more 

 than four or five in breadth. Its shape is irregular. The north- 

 ern and southeastern parts comprise the clay formation, and the 

 central and southern are calcareous. There is a striking contrast 

 in the elevation of the two portions of the island. The clay 

 formation is a pile of mountains, separated, however, by gorges 

 and valleys, which run in every direction, and give to it a beauti- 

 fully diversified aspect. The highest point is Mount Eagle, which 

 is estimated to be about 1200 feet above the level of the sea. The 

 calcareous formation is much lower and less broken, but undula- 

 ting. The greatest elevation in this part of the island, is about 

 600 feet. It is that on which stands Bulow's Mindo, the elegant 

 country-seat of the governor, so named in memory of his friend, 

 Gen. Bulow. 



