344 



SECOND VOYAGE FOR THE DISCOVERY 



to be one thousand four hundred and forty-seven feet above the level of the 

 sea. The tops of these mountains have a smoothly-rounded outline ; and as 

 they were covered with snow for about one-fourth downwards from their 

 summits as early as the 18th of August, when we first discovered them from 

 the narrows, it is probable that they had been so during the whole summer. 

 To the eastward of these the land becomes much more rugged though con- 

 siderably lower ; and in every part there appeared to be a space of shelving 

 ground next the sea, like that over which Lieutenant Re id was now pur- 

 suing his journey. 



The appearance of Amherst Island also is remarkable on account of the 

 materials of which it is composed, which, unless covered with snow, pre- 

 sent an aspect singularly dark, and affording a striking contrast with the 

 surrounding lands. It was curious indeed to observe that, as if determined 

 to preserve this singularity, the snow was always first dissolved upon this 

 island, which, even on some very cold days, contrived to throw off its fleecy 

 mantle when no other shore was uncovered, which circumstance may per- 

 haps be in part attributed to the colour as well as to the other qualities of 

 the rocks. The geological character of Amherst Island, which I had not 

 myself an opportunity of visiting, differs from any we have hitherto met 

 With. I am happy therefore in availing myself of the following extracts 

 from the journals of Captain Lyon and Mr. Edwards, who walked over 

 various parts of the island, and have been kind enough to furnish me with 

 these notices. 



" The beach on which we landed," says Captain Lyon, " was flat, and 

 entirely covered with minute scales of black slate, and the whole of the 

 northern side of the island that I visited consists of the same substance, 

 lying in laminse which are loose and easily detached, those near the surface 

 being for the most part curiously fluted, or having small rounded ridges of a 

 finger's breadth running in parallel lines across them. From the appearance 

 of the ground where some broad chasms lay open, one of the seamen who 

 accompanied me, and had been brought up in a coal country, was led to 

 observe that he had no doubt of that mineral existing here, a short distance 

 below the surface ; but, after a narrow search, no pieces could be discovered. 

 Towards the centre of the island we found it assume a different aspect, be- 

 yond a line that may be supposed to intersect it from east to west. The south- 

 ern half was covered in many places with small amorphous masses of clay and 



