38 THE BERMUDA ISLANDS. 



largely wanting, in the deeper waters. We sounded at various 

 points in 5-6 fathoms, and whether this represents a general 

 depth or not, it is certain that the basin is far shallower than 

 that of Harrington Sound. 



In the pinnacles of the North Rock we have probably the 

 most imposing lesson touching upon the annihilation of the 

 land -mass. The lower portion of these rocks is, I believe, un- 

 questionably of beacli formation ; I failed to detect in it the 

 fossils (Cyprseas, etc.) which Rein asserts are to be found there, 

 but possibly my search was not sufficiently systematic to bring 

 them to light. This basal portion of the rock is exceedingly 

 tough and compact, and rings loudly when struck with a ham- 

 mer. The upper moiety is made up of distinctly laminated or 

 stratified drift-rock, which dips at a steep angle. Manifestly, 

 the materials of this teolian formation must have had some 

 starting ground, and could not have been developed from the 

 small area which is exposed at low water about the base of the 

 pinnacles-. The height to which the well-indurated drift at- 

 tains, some twelve feet or more, taken in conjunction with the 

 vertical reduction which the rock must necessarily have under- 

 gone, and the destruction which has ensued elsewhere, argues 

 almost overwhelmingly for considering these fragments to be 

 merelj' the remains of a land-mass which had at onetime very 

 considerable extent, and not improbably actually united with 

 the main islands.' The work of destruction, according to this 

 interpretation, may have wiped from existence a piece of terri- 

 tory possibly not inferior in area to that which is now exposed 

 above water. 



In view of the rapid destruction which the islands are under- 

 going it remains to inquire what are or were the special condi- 

 tions which have permitted this destruction |to take place, and 

 have so completely reversed the history of the archipelago. 

 For evidently the conditions under which the islands were 

 first built up, and which permitted them to acquire their full 

 development, must have beesi very different from those which 



