PHYSICAL HISTORY AND GEOLOGY. 27 



waters, and are cut and moulded into ragged masses wholly 

 unlike anything that is to be found on the opposite shore. 

 This picture of wild magnificence — the beetling cliffs and dash- 

 ing spray — is a surprise to the stranger who has conceived of 

 the Bermudas only from the north, and wanders over to this 

 side expecting to see the picture with which he is familiar re- 

 peated. Long before the shore is reached the character of the 

 work that is here being accomplished can be judged of from the 

 continuous booming that falls upon the ear. Deep bays, alter- 

 nating with bold and ragged promontories, bite through the 

 cliffs in some places, while at others they are still in course of 

 formation. Just west of Hungary Bay and at the Chequer 

 Board, perhaps the grandest views of destruction are presented, 

 but almost everywhere the picture unfolds itself in much the 

 same detail. We could, however, form no true conception of 

 the destructive power of the sea from the condition of the water 

 at the time of our visit to the islands. In the season of storms, 

 and more particularly during a hurricane, the fury of the waters 

 must be almost irresistible, if we give full credence to the 

 reports of experiences of the inhabitants ; and the landmarks 

 that the sea has impressed upon the country leave no room for 

 doubt as to the authenticity of these reports. The natural 

 arches at Tucker's Town, which are now not even reached by 

 the sea, bear ample testimony to an extent of erosion which is 

 not permitted to the sea in its ordinary condition ; and the 

 same is true of the massive cliffs, some 80-90 feet, or more, in 

 height, which constitute the " amphitheatre " a short distance 

 beyond the arches. Several considerations preclude the prob- 

 ability of these structures having been formed at a time when 

 the relations of the land and water were different from what 

 they are now, or that changes of level have taken place since 

 their formation. The evidences of recent encroaches of the sea 

 at these points are clearly visible, while there seems to be noth- 

 ing to indicate a late rise of the land-surface. Still, I must 

 admit that the observable facts at our command were not suf- 

 ficient to warrant us in assuming positively that there was no 



