Dr. Skey on the Geology of Barbadoes* 239 



south and south-west side of the island, did I ever detect any other 

 rock than limestone, excepting that at very low water a bed of 

 calcareous sandstone is to be seen. This rock is observed to dip 

 to the south-west at an angle of about 25° or 30°. There is no 

 coral rock incumbent upon it, but a small section of the broken 

 strata is here and there observable. Such appearances are to be 

 met' with about a mile to the east of St. Ann's, and again to the 

 westward of Bridgtown, near to Black Rock. 



Towards the interior of the island this terraced appearance 

 becomes less observable, and here too the limestone rock loses 

 somewhat of its traces of organic structure, and occasionally even 

 passes into a calcareous tufa. 



In the windward parish of St. Philip, where also there is less 

 of this terraced appearance, and where, if I mistake not, the hills 

 commence which form the middle or main ridge, the rock as- 

 sumes the external appearance of hard chalk; it is used for build- 

 ing, but effloresces on exposure to the atmosphere. 



The island is almost destitute of running streams, excepting in a 

 district which I shall hereafter notice. Upon the leeward coast I 

 do not know of any constant stream ; this no doubt is partly 

 owing to the porous nature of the rocks, and partly to the nu- 

 merous caves which are every where to be met with. These caves 

 are sometimes of large dimensions, and in the parish of St. 

 Thomas is one (usually shewn to strangers) which forms the bed of 

 a subterranean stream, the source and termination of which are 

 wholly unknown. As in all caves of this description, large stalac- 

 titic masses of fantastic forms depend from the roof. 



I ought to notice another peculiarity in the features of this 

 island which is particularly observable among the hills which slope 

 from the central parts towards the leeward coast. The country is 



