that at no time of the year did they find the water in Loe Pool become salt. I tasted it repeatedly and found it quite fresh.[1]
The coast beyond Portlever rises abruptly, at the distance of a mile and a half from the sea, and at the height of three hundred and sixty feet, we leave the grauwacke and enter the granite, before we reach the road leading from Helston to Marazion.
It will be recollected that the mountain chain of Cornwall dips to the west, that the land is contracted very much on that side by Mount's Bay, thus cutting off a great portion of the grauwacke formation, for although the road from Helston to Marazion runs nearly the whole way along the shore, it lies directly on the line of transition. The grauwacke rises to the height of three hundred and sixty feet on the side of Tregonning-hill,[2] from thence the granite continues as far as the sixth mile stone from Helston to Marazion. There, the land gradually lowering to the sea, we enter again on the grauwacke, near the village of Kennegy but at what height I did not ascertain.
Antiquarians, after very laborious researches, have conceived, that they have found sufficient proofs in the testimony of ancient historians,
- ↑ This was in the beginning of May.—We find in the History of New Holland, by the Right Honourable William Eden, a fact of this sort, which is nearly similar. “ Part of the Batavia's people were sent to look for water one one of the islands near the spot where she was wrecked, and having landed there, had subsisted for near three weeks upon rain water, and what lodged in the cliffs of the rocks, not imagining that the water of two wells which were on the island could be of any use, as they saw them constantly rise and fall with the tide: for they concluded from this circumstance that, having a communication with the sea, the water must consequently be brackish; however, upon trial, it was found to be very good, and the ship's company were thenceforward plentifully supplied.” p. 12.
- ↑ The top of this hill at the signal house is five hundred and eighty-four feet above theses. Both channels may be seen from this station, which is the most elevated in this part of the country.
