~ 
216 Geology, Mineralogy, Scenery, &. 
ingly rough, steep and difficult, and rarely travelled by any 
vehicles except carts. 
Induced however by a wish to cross the ridges I prefer- 
red the latter road. Its difficulties were even greater than 
had been represented, owing I suppose to recent rains 
which had swept away the loose earth from the rocks and - 
stones, and worn deep gullies. if 
I was however gratified to find that my previous impres- 
sions were correct, and that the ranges by the side of which 
{ yesterday travelled, and of which these were only a con- 
tinuation, were universally gneiss. 
fron ore bed of Kent. 
Arrived at the iron mine the observer is forcibly struck 
with the magnitude of the excavation. This ore bed, like 
that at Salisbury, is situated in the side of the hill, but this is 
ahigh and steep one, and the ore is explored under the open 
sky like a quarry, with the exception of a few places where gal- 
leries of some extent have been carried into the hill. Like the 
ore at Salisbury, this is imbedded inclay, which in most places 
1s the substance with which the iron is in immediate contact. 
Unlike the excavations at Salisbury, which are numerous but 
of small magnitude, this is nearly all in one great basin 
which in some places appeared to be 150 feet deep, and several 
hundred feet wide. The magnitude of the excavation has 
been greatly increased, by an ingenious contrivance of the 
present very respectable proprietor, Mr. Adam. Hehas turn- 
ed a stream of water coming from the more elevated ground 
in the vicinity, through the mine, and when it is swelled by 
rains, It carries off prodigious quantities of clay, stones and 
other things, and leaves the ore which, on account of its 
greater gravity, remains in a great measure behind. In this 
“manner a vast amount of labour and expence in getting rid 
of troublesome incumbrances, is saved. Very striking proofs 
of the force of the water are exhibited in the low ground 
beneath the mine, where great quantities of stones, gravel 
and earth are spread over a very considerable surface. 
As regards the geological position of this ore it is a little 
different from that of Salisbury ; the latter, it will be re-— 
membered, is in mica-slate, whereas that of Kent is in 
gneiss. The section of the hill which has been made by the 
