GRAVESEND. 429 



mile from those just described at Northfleet, the chalk- 

 walls had entirely the same structure as those described 

 above, viz., that they went in similar horizontal [T. II. 

 p. 78] and perpendicular fissures, contained the same 

 heterogenea, had precisely similar strata of flints, laid close 

 to one another, and i, 2, 3, or more fathoms of chalk 

 between every such stratum and the next. In the chalk 

 between these strata there were also some flints here and 

 there. 



How they burn lime from chalk at Northfleet and elsewhere 



in Kent. 



I have before remarked that all the country around 

 Northfleet consists of bare chalk, in which they have dug 

 deep pits and taken out of them both chalk and flint, partly 

 for sale abroad, and partly to burn lime from the chalk. 

 The method of burning lime here practised is the fol- 

 lowing, which I will relate in the order in which it 

 happens : — 



They break off with a crowbar large pieces from the 

 sides of the chalk-pits, and cause them to fall down to 

 the bottom of the pit. They begin this quarrying at the 

 top of the pit, after they have first removed the mould and 

 earth, which lies upon the chalk, and so continue down- 

 wards right to the bottom ; but not more at one time 

 than will suffice for burning for one or two weeks. All 

 the other walls in the chalk-pits which they have left off 

 quarrying are mostly perpendicular, but the walls where 

 they are working are sloping enough, so that they can go 

 up and down the same frequently. The pieces which 

 have fallen down, and are still very large, are hewn 

 asunder into smaller pieces with an iron pickaxe. 



[T. II. p. 79. J After that, the chalk, so reduced into 

 somewhat smaller pieces, is laid on a lump or block 

 of chalk which they have made for themselves, and with 



