Valleys^ iBays^ and Creehs, 15S 
we may also notice, that a little below Danby Castle, it turns 
aside to the right, out of what appears its direct course in the 
valley, and passes through Cronkley Gill, in a deep rocky chasm^ 
the margins of which are much higher than the middle of the 
Vale, through which we might have expected the river to flow, 
and into which it again returns at Lealholm Bridge. Now, if 
the river had excavated the middle part of the valley, and for- 
merly flowed there, how could it forsake that natural channel, 
to cut a circuitous passage through rocky strata, the surface of 
which is considerably higher than the alluvial vale which, ori 
that supposition, it deserted ? A similar instance occurs in that 
small branch of the Esk, which flows from Tranmire and Stone- 
gate. A little below Stonegate the stream bends to the right, 
and runs in a deep rocky fissure on one side of the alluvial val- 
ley ; the middle part of which is left dry, though greatly below 
the level of the banks of the stream, as if artificial means had 
been used to turn the rivulet out of its natural course. A third 
instance, fully more remarkable, occurs in the Esk, near where 
this stream joins it. The river, before arriving at Arncliff’, 
leaves the valley, and seems to make a sweep through part of a 
hill. In a similar way, the Derwent, which rises in the moors 
between Whitby and Scarborough, does not run down to the 
sea by the opening at Scalby, but passes on between steep 
banks to Ayton, and into the vale of Pickering ; and, on ap- 
proaching the chalk strata, it does not turn to the left in the di- 
rection of Filly, which seems the most natural and easy passage, 
but flows round the foot of the Wolds, by Malton and Hows- 
ham, finding its way between banks that are higher and strong- 
er than the obstacles which opposed its progress in the other di- 
rection. In such cases, it is quite clear that the streams have 
neither cut their channels, nor deposited the alluvium that co- 
vers the principal part of the valleys through which they pass. 
Many of the valleys, indeed, bear marks of their having been 
formed or modified by the flowing of waters ; yet not by the 
flowing of their own little streams, but by the waters which once 
covered the whole of our rocks, and which, in retiring, have 
washed away vast portions of the more loose or exposed parts of 
the strata, and employed the materials, thus obtained, in form- 
ing the alluvial covering. 
