JONES GEOLOGICAL FEATURES OF THE BERMUDAS. 19 



frao^ments, however, are about in tlie sand, which is found at a dis- 

 tance from the shore, and this hill sand is much smaller in grain and 

 of a dull white colour ; probably owing to the same process which 

 according to Darwin takes place at St. Helena, viz., the drifting up 

 of the sea sand to heights above, and the winnowing occurring during 

 the transit.* 



In traversing the islands from one end to the other, and ascend- 

 ing the highest positions, the hills are found to be rounded at their 

 tops. This state arises from the action of the wind upon the masses 

 of sand ; and from sections of hill sides laid bare by excavation for 

 road and other purposes, it appears that the same kind of formation 

 has taken place in olden time, the shape of the former hills being 

 clearly defined by the hardened mass which covers the underlying 

 formation, and separates it from the recent one above. 



From a general survey of the Islands I take it that they rest 

 mainly on a series of caverns, partly and wholly in some cases filled 

 ■with red earth ; but near the shores of the islands these caverns are 

 kept clear of contents by the waters of the ocean, which every flow- 

 ing tide, find entrance through channels in the sandstone rock. There 

 are some parts, hoAvever, which from observation I am led to believe 

 are not so honeycombed by caverns, and these lie on the south shore 

 of the main island, in Paget, Warwick and Sandy's parishes, where 

 the sandstone has become hardened by some particular process into 

 a very compact and close-grained stone. Of this stone lime is made, 

 and when large houses and public buildings are erected, the contract 

 generally specifies that this south side stone shall be used, it being 

 far more durable than any other found on the Islands. Some per- 

 sons imagine that the locality where this description of stone is 

 found is the oldest land in the group, but it would be rash 

 to concur in this theory where so many cases of recent forma- 

 tions having the appearance of age occur, and especially when we 

 take into consideration the fact, that calcareous deposits soon become 

 compact under the influence of exposure to the elements. Close 

 observation made by residents on the Islands can alone set at rest 



*When I last visited the Paget Sand Hills, a house at the summit of the hills 

 lome distance from the shore was almost totally buried, the chimney top being the 

 only portion of the dwelling seen. The sand was still slowly but steadily working 

 its way, and a few years more will no doubt cause adjoining properties to fall a prey 

 to its encroachments. 



