RECONNOISSANCE OF THE EIJZABETEl ISLANDS 3i>0 



its western end it merges into the central ridge which gradually 

 becomes lower and lower until it reaches tide level. As these 

 hills are absolutely destitute of trees, the sky line from almost 

 any direction is peculiarly sharp and conspicuous. [Plate XIV > 

 Fig. I.] 



A sand spit of recent deposition is a prominent feature at the 

 eastern end, which extends almost to Nashaweena, from which 

 it is separated by Canapitsett Gut. As in the case of the similar 

 deposit mentioned at the eastern end of Nashaweena, it is prob- 

 ably due to the eddies and currents which were estabHshed sub- 

 sequent to the formation of the passage between the islands. Fac- 

 ing the southern and western shores there are precipitous bluffs, 

 in which good sections are exposed. The material is entirely of 

 glacial origin, but bowlders are fewer than on the islands to the 

 eastward. The finer deposits are of grayish sandy clay, for the 

 most part distinctly stratified. 



Except for the few trees planted in the vicinity of the little 

 settlement at the eastern end, the island is absolutely treeless, 

 although there is abundant evidence that at one time it was well 

 wooded. Near the western end, on the south shore, is a de- 

 pression once occupied by a swamp, one edge of which is ex- 

 posed by the breaking away of the bluff. In the bottom of this 

 depression may be seen numerous large stumps and logs, buried 

 in a peat-like mass of fine vegetable debris, and subsequent micro- 

 scopic examination of specimens collected showed these to be 

 oak and beech. 



In the " History of New Bedford, etc.," previously mentioned, 

 there are numerous references to Bartholomew Gosnold's ac- 

 count of the island, which he called ''Elizabeth Island." In 

 Gabriel Archer's journal of Gosnold's voyage he says : " On 

 the north side, near adjoining unto the island of Elizabeth, is an 

 islet in compass half a mile, full of cedars, by me called Hill's 

 Hap." [Penikese.] He also notes that Elizabeth Island 

 [Cuttyhunk] was covered with trees — " oaks, ashes, beeches, 

 walnut, witch-hazel, sassafras, and cedars, with divers other un- 

 known names." 



In the account of the voyage written by John Brereton he 



