nt ordinairement entoures de leurs debris et de leurs
eboulemens qui en cachent le pied. Ici c'est une roche de schiste
bleuatre, dure et compact, traversee de filons de quartz blanc, et
quelquefois jaunatre, dans laquelle on a taille un sentier pour pouvoir
en franchir le pied. Cette roche s'eleve a une hauteur prodigieuse,
est presque verticale, et ces couches sont a quatre-vingt degres
d'inclinaison. L'imagination est effrayee de voir que de pareilles
masses ayent pu etre ebranlees et deplacees au point d'avoir fait
presque un quart de conversion. Apres avoir monte et suivi cette roche
parmi les pierres et les decombres, une heure et demie, on trouve
cette roche de schiste surmontee d'autres rochers fort hauts qui sont
calcaires, et dont les lits sont fort horizontaux. Les schistes,
qui sont directement sous les roches calcaires, conservent la meme
inclinaison qu'elles ont a leur pied."

Here is an observation which certainly agrees with that given by M. de
Luc, and would seem to confirm this conclusion, that strata had been
deposited upon those _schisti_ after they had been changed from their
natural or horizontal position, and become vertical; at the same time,
this conclusion is not of necessary consequence, without examining
concomitant appearances, and finding particular marks by which this
operation might be traced; for the simply finding horizontal strata,
placed above vertical or much inclined schiste, is not sufficient, of
itself, to constitute that fact, while it is acknowledged that every
species of fracture, dislocation, and contortion, is to be found among
the displaced strata of the globe.

Since writing this chapter, I am enabled to speak more decisively upon
that point, having acquired more light upon the subject, as will appear
in the next chapter.

CHAP. VI.

The Theory of interchanging Sea and Land illustrated by an
Investigation of the Primary and Secondary Strata.

SECT. I.--A distinct View of the Primary and Secondary Strata.

Having given a view of what seems to be the primary and secondary
strata, from the observations of authors, and having given what was
my opinion when I first wrote that chapter, I am now to treat of this
subject from observations of my own, which I made since forming that
opinion.

From Portpatrick, on the west coast, to St Abb's Head, on the east,
there is a tract of schistus mountains, in which the strata are
generally much inclined, or approaching to the