1835.] ObsermMms-on the Flora i)f-<Jm^c^^. ;^^3 



and as to pass over this feature without remark, would^ 

 to. leave my paper incomplete, I shall attempt to por- 

 Jtray.s.ome afr the leading points, though well aware 

 that to do. justice to such a landscape far exceeds my 

 powers of descriptipn. The hills forming the bound- 

 M^ios of thisj reees% vary considerably in height ; that 

 forming the south -east point, appears to be highest on the 

 .SQ'uth: side, and rises about 4,300 feet above the sea: the 

 otlier peaks which I ascended, I had not an opportunity 

 of measuring, in consequence of my Barometer being 

 broken on that occasion, but those to the west are cer- 

 tainly lower. Those on the north east face judging 

 from appearances, are higher than either. They belong 

 io the division of rocks denominated Trap, and present, 

 Mrongly marked, the peculiar features characteristic of 

 jfcfeat class, such as sharp broken ridges, high peaks with 

 a^ery steep, often nearly perpendicular sides, numerous 

 deep glens and chasms forming channels for the moun- 

 tain torrents, which rush with noisy impetuosity down 

 ^^ese:precipices. 



3. i The shelving flats and less precipitous sides of the 

 afnountains where soil can accumulate, are covered with 

 a loose dark redish and very fertile sdil, in some places 

 c*d;a great depth, partly formed of disintegrated rock, 

 ^ipmtiy oi decomposed vegetable matter ; which in some 

 |jlfes/iis Exceedingly abundant, whole trees of great size 

 being reduced to a state of decay, so complete that they 

 have merely tenuity enough left to retain their form, 

 and crumble to pieces on the slightest pressure. The 

 sheltered slopes on either side of these deep narrow 

 glens, are generally covered with a vegetation highly 

 varied and of truly topical luxuriance, extending along 

 the foot of, and concealing the bases of many ahnost 

 perpendicular masses of black nearly riaked rocks, ris* 

 ing high above the tallest trees ; while a few spots in 

 more exposed situations where the soil appears of more 



