West Hiding of Yorkshire. 
291 
ditches like snow on a dry windy day. After Icavinji^ Tadcaster 
it assumes more decidedly its distinctive nature, both in colour 
and substance; and in the district around Goldsborough, Whixley, 
Green Hammerton, Ouseburn, and Boroughbridge, is marked 
by very superior land, both grass and arable. It is here of a 
much more firm and loamy character than in the southern portion 
of the Riding; and being at the same time dry, and containing a 
large proportion of colouring, the peroxide of iron so beneficial 
to vegetation, it produces the most luxuriant crops of turnips, 
barley, seeds, or clover, and wheat. The pasture lands too of this 
district are of a superior order, possessing feeding properties of 
great value, and carrying a more tlian usual numljer of stock. 
Before dismissing the consideration of this division of the Riding, 
it may be interesting to mention that, in (he neighbourhoodof Ripon, 
there seems to exist an under-stratiun of gravel in this formation, 
through which a great body of water flows, and which, on two or 
three occasions within my own time, has, as it were, washed away 
so large a subterranean area as to cause the surface to fall in and 
leave circular-shaped disruptions of considerable size filled with 
water. On one of these occasions an honoured relation of mine 
was roused from dinner by the sudden appearance of his farm- 
bailiff at the window, in great trepidation, begging him to come 
instantly, for, as he said, " the water was coming into the stack- 
yard." In the middle of which, and within a short distance of 
the mansion itself, sure enough, the surface had disappeared (and 
with it a portion of a corn-stack) in an area of 5 or G yards in 
diameter, which was constantly enlarging by the boiling up of a 
great volume of water. Much exertion was required to save the 
remainder of the stack, as well as others that stood near. During 
the whole of the day, and for some time afterwards, it con- 
tinued to enlarge, and, from not knowing where it might stop, 
created no little uneasiness. After a time, however, the action of 
the water ceased, and left a pond of 15 to 20 yards in diameter 
and of considerable depthj which remains in that state at this day. 
This occurred about 26 years ago; and within the last 10 or 
12 years another has fallen in, a little to the north of Ripon, 
where the stream in the bottom can be seen flowing from the 
surface : this of course is not filled with the water as in the other 
instances. The surface in the neighbourhood presents many 
indications of similar outbreaks ; and I have in my possession a note 
from an eye witness to a friend, describing one that took place in 
1796, which has ever since been a pond of beautifully clear water, 
with very little variation even in the driest seasons. 
We must now direct our course across the Riding from east to 
west, along the northern edge of the coal formation, from Tad- 
caster to the western boundary, and we shall pass through the 
