NOTES ON THE GEOLOGY OF THE BAHAMAS 47 



Indies, and hence it is easy to understand "the origin of the Great 

 Bahama Banks, which are bordered on their southern and western 

 edges ^ by singularly shaped islands formed of sand, shells, and coral 

 rock, some of them about loo feet in height, is easily explained by the 

 elevation of banks fringed on their windward side by reefs." 



I think the facts I have given justify my conclusion in regard 

 to the recent elevation of Andros and New Providence. It is probable 

 that the elevation extended over the rest of the Bahamas, as caves 

 exist on the other islands. What the Bahamas are doing to-day, of 

 course, we cannot tell; but until we have proof to the contrary, we 

 may assume that they are rising. 



^ I have quoted this as given by Darwin. It is evidently a slip of the pen, as the 

 islands are on the eastern and northern edges of the banks. 



