620 ON THE RED SANDSTONE OF THE 



It is also intersected and broken by the violence 

 of the waves ; and the continued action of the 

 waters of the ocean, has carried away enormous 

 portions of it, forming in its stead bays of greater 

 or less extent. 



These bays do not appear to be always on the 

 increase ; on the contrary, they seem in general to 

 have limits set to their progress. After a longer 

 or shorter period, depending on the nature of the 

 rocks, their positions in regard to the sea, and 

 their relations to the other bays and promontories 

 on the coast, they begin to be filled up with allu- 

 vial matter, which, in the course of time, extends 

 outwards to the furthest promontories, and even 

 beyond them ; and thus, again, secures the land, 

 for a time, from the destroying effects of the 

 ocean. 



There are hollows in the surface of this sand- 

 stone tract, which are filled with water, thiis 

 forming lakes ; and everywhere we observe it 

 traversed by rivers and rivulets, which either 

 follow the direction of natural rents, or original 

 inequalities of the sandstone, or have worn their 

 way through it. In the lower parts of the river 

 districts, in particular, there are beautiful displays 

 of alluvial terraces ; but I have not met with any 

 of these high up on the sides of the valleys *. 



* It may here be noticed, that alluvial terraces occur fre^ 

 •[ucntly in the course of riveri, not only where they pass througk. 



