196 DESCRIPTION OF BERING ISLAND 



to be explained quite differently from that of inland lakes in 

 large plains, which generally have a mucky or clayey bottom.^^ 

 Where, on the other hand, the mountains descend gradually^" 

 the water forms a continuous valley in the bottom of which a 

 stream flows. 



All the mountains of the island consist of a common gray rock 

 (granite). Where, however, they run parallel to the sea the 

 headlands that extend out into the water are generally trans- 

 formed into a clear, grayish, solid sandstone which can be used 

 for whetstones. This is a circumstance that seems quite remark- 

 able to me, as it almost has the appearance as if the transforma- 

 tion of this rock, whose structure is quite different, were due to 

 contact with the sea water. 



In many places the shore below the rocks is so narrow that 

 one can hardly get by at high water; in some one can only pass 

 at low water. In two places, of which one is not far from the 

 southeastern, the other not far from the northwestern point, 

 even this is absolutely impossible. These have probably been 

 caused by earthquakes, high seas, undermining of the land 

 through wave action, and splitting^^ of the rock through freezing 

 of the water. Of this there is evident proof partly in the large 

 boulder heaps and partly in the pillars and rocks that have 

 been torn off from the shore and stand up by themselves in the 

 water, of which many are to be found in such places. The 

 southern shore of the island is in general much more broken, 



ground becomes soft and porous and from time to time is loosened and 

 washed away, until finally, the upper layer being dispersed, the other, 

 namely the disintegrated rock and gravel, remains, which then con- 

 stitutes the bed of these shores and rivers." For the word here trans- 

 lated "dispersed" the MS has "verstopft," clogged, obstructed. 

 Probably this is a copyist's error for "verstobt," dispersed, 



29 The MS here has in addition: "but where the mountains are steep 

 and do not gradually descend to the [lower] land, more space remains 

 at the foot of the mountains for water and makes it possible for it to 

 collect, thus supplying the location for a lake." 



30 The MS here has in addition: "to the level land." 

 »i The MS has "annual splitting." 



