Mr. De la Beche on the Geology of Jamaica. 147 



west by those of Manchester. A remarkable hill, called the Round Hill in 

 Vere, terminates this plain near the mouth of the Milk River, and another 

 named Kemp's Hill rises in the middle of Vere. Portland Ridge bounds these 

 lowlands on the S.E. This plain would not appear to be much inclined, as 

 the works at Halse Hall estate, situated some distance inland, are only about 

 170 feet above the level of the sea. 



Luidas Vale, a remarkable basin in the upper part of the parish of St. John, 

 would form the bottom of a lake, were not the waters which run into and fall 

 upon it carried off by numerous sink-holes or gulfs : — but of this more here- 

 after. 



The elevated basin of Whitney estate, situated in the Mocho Range, is a 

 repetition of Luidas Vale on a small scale ; the waters losing themselves in 

 sink-holes, and the river, which sinks near the works of the estate, being gene- 

 rally considered as reappearing on the other side of the mountain, as the head 

 of the Milk River. 



The basin of St. Thomas-in-the-Vale, now studded with sugar estates, 

 would also form the bottom of a lake, if the rocky pass through which the Rio 

 Cobre flows were stopped up. This defile is a break in the range of the Red 

 Hills, and cannot fail to remind the geologist of many similar breaks in 

 mountain chains in other parts of the world, which, if closed, would convert 

 the districts, the waters of which they are the means of carrying off, into 

 lakes. 



A plain of some extent, covered with sugar estates, occurs between Bath 

 (St. Thomas-in-the-East) and the mouth of the Plantain Garden River. 



Few countries excel Jamaica in picturesque beauty. The great variety of 

 its surface, added to the luxuriance of tropical vegetation, cannot fail to charm 

 those who have visited it for the first time. Many of the valleys which take 

 their rise in the Blue Mountain Range, more particularly those on the north- 

 ern side, present a fine union of rock, wood, and water. The rivers run- 

 ning in these valleys are in general short and rapid, and, when swollen by 

 heavy tropical rains, dangerous to pass. The views from the summits of many 

 of the mountains are most splendid, particularly at sunset ; and that from the 

 top of Catherine's Peak, extending to the north and south sides of the island, is 

 well known and easily attainable. The Blue Mountain Peaks, as might be 

 expected, present noble and commanding views over the eastern part of the 

 island : to obtain these, however, the traveller is in general compelled to 

 ascend some tree, as the peaks are covered with vegetation, which in a great 

 measure conceals the country from him. 



Having thus presented the reader with a slight sketch of the scenery of Ja- 



