“It were to be wished,” says Humboldt, “that the Tour of the West Indies, from the coast of Paria to Cape Florida, were made by a good mineralogist, who would examine this ancient chain of mountains, broken by the action of currents, earthquakes, and volcanoes.”
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A good description of this extensive Archipelago would doubtless be extremely interesting, not so much from any variety of simple minerals which the islands may be supposed to contain, as from the curious geological features which they present. A minute investigation, however, from the extensive field of enquiry, and from the nature of the climate and physical obstacles, can hardly be expected from one individual, and must probably be effected by the joint exertions of persons in different islands.
No island of this cluster will perhaps be found more worthy of notice than Antigua; which, though it possesses none of the sublime features which frequently characterize primitive countries, and is entirely free from the modern vestiges of volcanic fire, does yet exhibit, in a singular degree, both in its outline and in its component rocks, the awful havock which has attended former revolutions of the earth’s surface.
Antigua, situated in 17° of north lat. and in 62° of west long. contains 108 square miles, and about 69,000 acres.
The most superficial beds occupy the northern and eastern parts of the island, and belong to a peculiar calcareous formation, more recent than those to which the attention of naturalists has been principally directed, and probably contemporaneous
