Mineralogy and Geology of a part of Nova Scotia, 147 



his favorite occupation of the chase, was precipitated to 

 the bottom of this frightful dungeon, and being confined by 

 its incHned walls, was unable to reach its summit and regain 

 the light. Thus incarcerated, he perished by hunger. 

 His bones are preserved in the library of King's College, 

 at Windsor, where they were politely shewed us, by the 

 acting Vice President, Rev. Wm. King, who related to 

 us the above story of their origin. The most extensive 

 beds of gypsum in the county of Hants, occur in New- 

 port. On the northeast side of the St. Croix River, 

 which runs through this township, the gypsum forms a pre- 

 cipitous wall rising from the river, and extending along its 

 course. It is extensively wrought, and furnishes more than 

 any other locality in Nova Scotia. The sandstone in which 

 the Newport gypsum occurs, is not of so dark a color as that 

 on the opposite shore of the Basin, in the vicinity of the trap. 

 It is greyish, and some of it almost white, composed princi- 

 pally of quartz, with a small proportion of argillaceous sub- 

 stance for a cement. 



On the banks of a small but romantic stream which emp- 

 ties itself into the St. Croix, called Montague River, a re- 

 markably beautiful precipice of sihceous breccia passing into 

 graywacke, presents itself to the traveller. It consists of 

 angular fragments of quartz and felspar, rarely containing a 

 few spangles of mica, united without any apparent cement. 

 The felspar, being of a flesh red color, and forming a princi- 

 pal ingredient in the rock, gives it an appearance at a dis- 

 tance resembling red sandstone. The precipice is about 

 sixty feet high, and rises from a base of the same rock form- 

 ing the bed of the stream, which has excavated numerous 

 deep holes into the bottom forming beautiful reservoirs of 

 hmpid water. The direction of the strata is N.E. and S. W. 

 and the dip 10° to the northwest, forming a declivity down 

 which the water rushes, and falling from the broken strata, 

 produces an agreeable effect. This place, adorned with 

 overshadowing trees, is a favorite resort for the visitors of the 

 Montague House, and has tempted the pencil of a noble 

 lady to portray its beauties. 



Gypsum also occurs abundantly in the county of Cumber- 

 land, at the head of Chignecto Bay. The most extensive 

 bed is on the banks of the Maran River, where the gypsum 

 is of a bluish color and equal to any in the province. 



