On the how Country of North Carolina. 337 



opinions, in regard to the time and mode of its formation. 

 The remarks which follow, are thrown into the form of proofs 

 and illustrations of a few propositions ; chiefly for the sake of 

 perspicuity, and convenience to myself, and not because I 

 suppose the truth of these propositions to be fully established, 

 and placed beyond the reach of controversy. Most of our 

 conclusions, in the science of geology, are founded on proba- 

 ble arguments of greater or less force. It is proper for me to 

 remark, that by the expression " low country," I mean es- 

 pecially the low country of North Carolina, to which my ob- 

 servations have been confined. 



Of the composition and constitution of the low country. 



1. The low country of North Carolina is made up of strata 

 of clay and sand, alternating with and resting upon .each oth- 

 er, so as to present an endless variety in regard to the extent, 

 thickness, composition, and order of succession, of the differ- 

 ent beds. It is possible that a more extended and careful 

 examination will detect an unsuspected degree of order and 

 regularity in the midst of the chaos that first presents itself to 

 the observer. At present, individual strata appear to be of 

 limited extent, and of very variable composition and thick- 

 ness, so that the sides of two wells, sunk at a short distance 

 from each other, present but few points of resemblance. In 

 general the clay predominates. In many places it is very 

 fine, and free from any admixture of sand ; so fine that the 

 streams which flow pretty rapidly over it make little or no 

 impression upon it ; and a person viewing them at a 

 distance, would suppose their beds to be a mass of solid rock. 

 There is a remarkable instance of this kind in the upper part, 

 of Bladen county. Pieces of clay that have been broken off, 

 remain unchanged apparently for years. They look like 

 masses of stone, and we are surprised to find on taking them 

 up, that they can be cut with the greatest ease. Even in the 

 deepest of the sand hills, a considerable admixture of clay is 

 found in digging a short distance. It is carried down by the 

 rains, and leaving the sand by itself upon the surface, makes 

 the country appear more sandy and sterile than it really is. 



Water worn pebbles, (quartz exclusively,) from four or 

 five inches in diameter down to the size of common grains of 

 sand are abundant along the upper border of this district ; 

 they diminish in size as we recede from the border, and final- 



Vol. XIII.— No. 2. 18 



