Mr. De la Beche on the Geologi/ of Jamaica. 175 



white limestone, as is also the hill named Portland Ridge, the most southern 

 part of Vere and of Jamaica ; the connexion of these hills with the white lime- 

 stones of Manchester, Clarendon and Vere, is concealed, and covered up by 

 diluvial and alluvial plains. 



The formation under consideration is continued from Clarendon into St. 

 Dorothy's and St. John's, forming a considerable portion of the mountains in 

 the latter parish. At Wood Hall estate (in the former parish) it is found close 

 to the trap, upon which it seems to rest, and from which it is separated by 

 marl beds : from hence to the southward, the hills are composed of compact 

 white limestone mixed with red sandstone and white marl. The dip observa- 

 ble on the road to Old Harbour varies, and shows that the strata undulate ; 

 the most prevalent is, however, to the southward, away from the trap. The 

 small hill upon which the Rectory stands, near Old Harbour, is composed of 

 white limestone. 



Proceeding from the latter place to the Rectory of St. John's, we find the 

 white limestone at Spring Garden Hill dipping at about an angle of 20° to the 

 S.W. At Hollow Rock Hill it is mixed with red sandstone, and from thence 

 to St. John's Rectory it is associated with red sandstone, and red marl tra- 

 versed by numerous veins of whitish calcareous matter, the two latter rocks 

 predominating. The compact white limestone is more abundant between St. 

 John's Rectory and Mountain River estate, where it meets the trap : patches 

 of it are however seen near the Barracks, after which it appears in considera- 

 ble force on the descent into Luidas Vale : among the beds in the latter situa- 

 tion, there are some resembling those of Chapclton, principally composed of 

 broken shells ; these beds are also mixed with marls, and dip at about 45° to 

 the S. The white limestone formation seems here much confused ; in one 

 place it dips slightly to the northward, and in another at from 10° to 15° to 

 the S.W., so that it would be difficult from this section to say whether the 

 limestone rests upon the trap or the latter forms a dyke amid the former. 



By reference to the map, it will be seen that the limestone formation occur- 

 ring in Manchester, Clarendon, Vere, and St. Dorothy, winds round the 

 eastern extremity of the trappean district which separates the above-men- 

 tioned limestones from those of St. Ann's, &c. for a considerable distance : 

 thus the white limestone on the north of St. John's becomes connected with 

 that on the S. 



Although it may seem out of place to notice fine scenery amid a dry detail 

 of Geological facts, yet that traveller must be indeed dead to the beauties of 

 Nature, who would not be struck with the fine and picturesque effect produced 

 by the first burst of Luidas Vale, in his descent from the Barracks. This beau- 



VOL. 11. — SECOND SERIES. 2 A 



