28 THE BERMUDA ISLANDS. 



such elevation ; but the reverse could just as well have been, 

 and more likely was, the case. 



The loftiest eminence in all the Bermudas is Sear's Hill, 

 about a half mile southeast of Flatts Village, which attains the 

 modest height of 260 feet. We verified barometrically the 

 earlier determination of this height. After Sear's Hill, the 

 highest point is reached in Gibb's Hill, 245 feet. There are no 

 ponds, springs, nor flowing-bodies of freshwater throughout 

 the archipelago, although at one or two points the water of 

 interior collecting pools is only feebly brackish. In a cattle 

 cistern or spring, near Peniston Pond, there was little or no 

 salinity apprecial)le, although the water did not appeal invit- 

 ingly to the human gustatory sense. The porosity of the rock' 

 almost immediately absorbs all falling water, and likewise con- 

 ducts the sea-water into the innermost parts of the islands, 

 where it doubtless forms a clearly defined basal zone. Much of 

 it must be drawn by capillarity above sea-level. All attempts 

 to obtain freshwater by means of artesian borings have resulted 

 in failure, by reason of the complete permeation of the oceanic 

 waters. The large interior ponds or lakes, all of which occupy 

 low levels, are necessarily brackish, and they support a fauna 

 distinctive of brackish or salt waters. A fairly large peat-bog oc- 

 cupies the center of Main Island, and apparently marks the 

 site of an ancient, now wholly desiccated, lagoon. The peat is 

 said to extend down to a depth of 40 or 50 feet* below the sea- 

 level, or to about the level of the floor of the great outer water 

 which is inclosed by the northern reef. 



The rock of the islands is a granular limestone, which is in 

 most places still sufficiently soft to permit of being cut by 

 a hand-saw. On exposure to rain it hardens through cementa- 

 tion, or deposition of interstitial lime, and may then be con- 

 verted into a tough and very resisting material, which is ad- 

 vantageously used- in the construction of houses. Piles of 

 hand-sawn blocks awaiting induration are a not uncom- 



*Rice : Geology of Bermuda, Bull. U. S. National Museum, No. 25, p, 7. On 

 the authority of General Lefroy. 



