20 JONES GEOLOGICAL FEATURES OF THE BERMUDAS. 



tills interesting question. The cavernous condition of the founda- 

 tion of the group has often led ignorant minds to suppose that the 

 islands rest upon no secure basis, and the circumstance of brackish 

 water always making its appearance wherever holes are duo- to the 

 level of the sea, has given more credit to the statement. 



In speaking of the cavernous foundation of the Bermuda group, 

 I must not omit to mention a phenomena which may or may not 

 exist in consequence of cavernous communication with the outer 

 sea. Near the eastern end of the main island there is an 

 extensive basin some six miles in circumference, called Harrinsrton 

 Sound. It connects with the sea by a narrow passage at its western 

 end, over which a bridge is placed called "Flatt's Bridge." When 

 the tide without flows, it is carried with great force into the sound 

 through this passage, and likewise when it ebbs, it runs out again 

 with the same degree of force. Now, it would be imagined that 

 with such an increase of water as a flowing tide pours into this lake* 

 a rise of a few inches at least would occur : but such is not the case. ' 

 Not an inch does the sound rise, and when the ebb begins, the 

 v/aters rush out again to sea with the same impetuosity ; yet not an 

 inch has it fallen. Now where does the incomins: Avater at flowins: 

 tide go to ? And where does the water come from, that replaces the 

 amount lost by the ebb ? For there must be some outlet to account 

 for such a singular occurrence. It must be borne in mind that this 

 passage through which the tide ebbs and flows, is the only connection 

 the lake has with the sea so far as can be ascertained. jMany rea- 

 sons have been given, endeavouring to account for this curious 

 phenomenon, but as yet I am not aware of any definite conclusion 

 having been arrived at. 



The neck of land which divides this Sound from Castle Harbour 

 is filled with caverns, and presents above ground an uneven and 

 picturesque appearance. IMiniature valleys surrounded by rocky 

 ridges, honeycombed into caverns large and small, in the lower 

 parts of which may be seen the clear waters of azure tint, through 

 which the tropic fishes of rainbow hues may be seen floating about ; 

 and shrubs and plants of many kinds jutting out of the holes and 

 crannies of the sandstone, while overhead the sage and coftee , 

 bushes, cedars and palmettos grow in wild profusion. This is the 

 far famed Walsingham, immortalized by Tom Moore, in his ode to 



