GLENCOE. 



3!3 



ver the faces of the steep ascents to the very top, 

 and thus, in conjunction with the distant appear- 

 ance, enable us to judge, with tolerable certainty, 

 of the materials at the summit of the inaccessible 

 heights on both sides. 



Should this conjecture prove correct, the for- 

 mations now mentioned will be found connected 

 with that which is afterwards to be described, as 

 composing the summit o' Ben-Nevis, and probably 

 extending over the whole intermediate range of 

 alpine country. To confirm the truth of this 

 supposition, it is observable from the top of Ben- 

 Nevis, that the higher parts and acclivities of the 

 mountains, lying in 'he direction of Glencoe, 

 have uniformly the appearance (that of being 

 covered with a whitish powder or crust) w ich is 

 known to characterize this species of compact-fel- 

 spar, in a state of decomposition. And the up- 

 per part, indeed the whole of Ben-Nevis itself, 

 will be shewn to be a rock intimately allied to the 

 species felspar. 



As we advance towards the lower part of the 

 glen, mica-slate, in different varieties, again ap- 

 pears from beneath the rocks along which we 

 have passed. Beds of flesh coloured granular quartz 

 now occur, and veins of felspar which is ppr- 

 phyritic, and contains fragments of the neigh- 

 bouring rocks. Near the house of Glencoe, spe- 

 cimens of blackish hornblende rocks, and of dark 

 grey mica-slate, with garnets, occur. 



