438 Report on the Soils brought from Chedooba. [No. 114. 



of the question, as a product, I have not thought it worth while, to 

 institute any closer examination. 



No. 5. Contains, apparently, a portion of carbonaceous matter. 



No. 6. Does not shew any trace of it. 



No. 7. Is a very curious soil, if of any extent, on account of its 

 locality in the neighbourhood of the petroleum wells. Captain Hal- 

 sted does not say if these soils are fertile or barren, which it would be 

 of interest to know ; vegetable matter, in the shape of leaves and roots, 

 abound in the specimen. As No. 14, is said to be ' the only barren spot ' 

 so that we may suppose this was not wanting in fertility. Nos. 10 and 

 12, much resemble No. 7. in appearance, though they are not so strongly 

 impregnated with petroleum. 



Nos. 8 and 9. As tobacco soils probably owe their superiority to the 

 free peroxide of iron dispersed through them in veins and spots. 



No. 11. Is identical with the best Georgian Sea Island cotton soil. 

 I must refer here to my special report on this soil : 



No. 13. Is remarkable as being the only soil which offers any sensible 

 proportion of free calcareous matter in the shape of debris of shells j 

 and here again we have to regret the want of the rocks, for these would 

 have assisted us in forming a judgment as to whether the soils have been 

 formed from their decomposition, or in horizontal beds and raised up 

 with the Island. We have here a succession of strata through which 

 the volcana may have forced its way withuut much disturbance ? or 

 which may have been raised up so as to shew its edges in overlying 

 beds? Which should then correspond round the volcanic centre; or 

 which may have been formed by the eruptions ? All these are curious 

 questions for investigation, and it is to be hoped will not long be left 

 unexamined. 



No. 14. ' The only barren spot on the Island' says Capt. Halsted 

 4 being the highest part of the central hill,' I could not on examination 

 detect any saline or acid impregnation in this soil, and I should take its 

 barrenness, in the absence of any gaseous exhalations, which are no where 

 noticed in the report, to be owing to the great quantity of peroxide of 

 iron which it contains, so much indeed that it is almost a red ochre. 



No. 15. I have already referred to above. 



Minerals. 



No. 16. Is sent as iron ore. It is merely composed of masses of 

 amorphous iron pyrites, and wholly useless as an ore of iron. 



