Rambles among the Channel Islands / by a Naturalist.

Date:
[1855?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Rambles among the Channel Islands / by a Naturalist. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    morpliic rocks make their appearance. The south coast, like that of Guernsey, is abrupt and precipitous, and is constituted of gneissic rock. The rocks on this coast are in a greater state of disintegration than any we have met Avith in these islands. The whole surface of the rock for some distance is covered with a mass of debris and disintegrated material. We have detached pieces nearly a foot thick from the face of the rock, and with a slight blow crumbled them to poAvder. This renders it very perilous to attempt to climb them, and on one occasion Ave had a narroAv escape of falling from this cause. Having reached some height up the side of the rock, a precipitous part pre- sented itself, which, before gaining the summit, must be ascended. At every step the broken surface crumbled doAvn, and rendered a secure footing impossible. A ledge of rock on Avhich standing-room was found, appeared ready to be detached from the face of the cliff. To ascend was impossible, and to descend appeared equally dangerous, as neither the hands nor feet could avail themselves of any sound part upon Avhich a hold could be got. At length, by the assistance of some rock-plants, whose roots penetrated deep into the disintegrated mass, Ave Avere enabled to descend, and reaching the shore, gained the summit of the rock by a more circuitous and