Ch.XXL] 



TRANSVERSE VALLEYS. 



299 



Mr. Martin has suggested that the great cross fractures of the 



chalk which have become river 

 channels have a remarkable 

 correspondence on each side 

 of the valley of the Weald ; 

 in several instances the gor- 

 ges in the North and South 

 Downs appearing to be di- 

 rectly opposed to each other. 

 Thus, for example, the defiles 

 of the Wey, in the North 

 Downs, and of the Arun in 

 the South, seem to coincide 

 in direction ; and, in like 

 manner, the Ouse is opposed 

 to the Darent, and the Cuck- 

 mere to the Medway *. But 

 we think it very possible that 

 these coincidences may be 

 accidental. It is, however, 

 by no means improbable, as 

 hinted by the author above 

 mentioned, that the great 

 amount of elevation towards 

 the centre of the Weald dis- 

 trict gave rise to transverse 

 fissures. And as the longitu- 

 dinal valleys were connected 

 with that linear movement 

 which caused the anticlinal 

 lines running east and west, 

 so the cross fissures might 

 have been occasioned by the 

 intensity of the upheaving 

 force towards the centre of 



* Geol. of Western Sussex, p, 61. 



