428 ON THE GEOLOGY OF THE 



ries which surround it on all sides, except the south : these 

 rise with considerable abruptness, to a height of from 500 to 

 1000 feet, gradually increasing till they approach Mount Cao 

 or Calvo, by some called Mount Chauve, from the bald, herb- 

 less aspect of its summit. This mountain towers majestically- 

 over the rest, and forms an imposing feature in the group. I 

 was informed by M. Risso, that its altitude had been ascertain- 

 ed to be 440 toises, about 2650 feet. 



Beyond this range there is a second, which separates it from 

 the High Alps. Its most prominent points, as seen from 

 Nice, are the Col de Brois, the Trois Mamelons, the Col 

 d'Autillons, the Vierge d'Utelle, &c. ; and then as a third de- 

 fence, the Alps encircle the whole ; protecting this favoured 

 spot, on the west, by that branch which stretches through 

 Provence, and terminates by the mountains of Les Estrelles 

 in the sea, at a point denominated by Saussure Cap Roux ; on 

 the north, by that elevated range, whose snowy summits pre- 

 sent a striking contrast with the ceaseless verdure of the plain 

 below ; and on the east, by that group which forms the rugged 

 country of the Corniche, and which, by the abrupt manner it 

 terminates in the sea, has shut up the most natural and direct 

 access into Italy ; and unfortunately, the policy of the Sardi- 

 nian Government has prevented the energy and industry of 

 mankind from being exerted in removing the difficulties which 

 Nature has here interposed *. 



It is, however, to a very small proportion of this territory 

 that my observations extend, having been confined to within a 



forenoon's 



* Bonaparte saw the advantage which must accrue to the country by a tho- 

 roughfare being opened in this direction, and commanded a road to be construct- 

 ed, fit for every purpose between Nice and Genoa. Already one-third of this 

 imperial undertaking is completed, one-third of the road is marked out, and the re- 

 mainder 



