The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-08-05

they have been neglected and suffered TO fall into
decay. AT any rate Alden 10 comparatively arsu.
mte OF vegetation; few stunted trees, shrubs, ara
wild herbs only being found in the mountains or IN
the hollows over which the rain flows Tor the SNORT
period OF the year when II visits these thirsty re-
gions The comminuted earth Of these mountains
would readily form into soil ii il were possible 10
give il moisture; but not having this IN sufficient
quantities. the tops and sides OF the mountains seem
10 exhibit the appearance now when they have
possessed for The uncounten ages elapsed sipce
they first out OF the earth or the sea But eA-
irnsive changes have occurred around their bases.
All these changes seem 10 have sprung from The
ocenn.
Whether these volcanic mountains were formed
under the sea, and then heav,d up 20 It's surface,
sr whether the volcanic action occurred IN the hst
instance above the surface OF the sea! these are
questions of theory for Others 10 Judge But the Ut
lie plains OF sand betwe the bases OF the ridges
speak for themselves, as manifest products Of The
sea- On a cursory inspection OF these plans, one
may not be aware OF the nature OF the sand
He sees PLAIN OF coarse sand ming the ulahguial
spaces from the seashore to the tool OF the hills,
with large quantity OF shells and Jumps OF blecK
stone scattered its surface, and DOES not stop
first scrutniZe the composition OF that sand In
proceeding to inspect the bases OF the mountains
in various places near 10 the sea- he dscerns Lodges
of superficial rock with shells and Jumps OF scoila
imbrdded in il; and on carefully examining ihs
rock, he ascertains that II IS composed Of she us
tritarated into sand mixed with some lite esIth oi
the mountains, and containing in not only lumIs
Of stone, but shells in every stage OF their possible
condition, from entire ones 10 1fagmtn,s III me
form Of the mlnutest powder. ! his induces iuf-
Their investigations and leads to the ascertainment
OF class OF curious facts.
OF the various sand beaches occurring between
the successive points OF rock formed by the ends
Of the ridges they extend out towards The water,
by which Alden is almost surrounded, some are on
the outside exposed to the unbrokep force OF the
whole Indian Ocean others are on the shores OF
Back Bay, where the SEA IS nearly land-ocked
and others again are in the Intermediate state, ~
on the beach between Ras Tarshein and y as Mar
bat, and on the beach Of the old port OF Alden: On
comparing the sand OF these respective Localities,
you find that il ls alike composed OF broken shells
with a very small admixture OF foreign matter;
that, where the beach is less exposed, the sand l.
more or less coarse, according 10 circumstances,
and consisting Of fragments OF shells, obviously
seen TO be such at the slightest glance that
where the beach is not exposed 10 the How anu
beat Of the waves OF the ocean, the shells are ie
duced to the finest possible sand, blown about al
the least breath OF air, and thrown ~ IN Gowns a.
extensive as the ofihe ground will admit ;bu'
that in each and every case the sand is composed
of broken shells. And accordingly lodges OF rock
may be found on these beaches, composed, as be,
tween Ras Tarshein and Ras Marbai, wholly Of
more or less fine she'll sand or, as near the Steam.
boat BUNGALOW, composed OF CONTAMINATION OF
sand, scor@, ant shells. Behind Ras Marbat the
strata dip; and here IL an example OF strata which,
when viewed in front, seem horizontal, but When
examined on the side are seen 10 be inclined
Whenever these lodges contain shells, they are OBJ
viously the same shell which now occupy the adj
joining waters and lie scattered along the beach
and these lodges may be seen in every stage Of
growth, from shell rock, SO impertectly compacted
as to crumbe in the hand, to shell rock which only
the hardest blow of the hammer can break. And.
as these seas abound IN shell and coral here is to
be seen the beginning and something OF the pro-
gress of the existence of lime and limestone.
BY putting all these visible facts IN relation with
one another, we may conjecture with reasonable
certainty what was, ut certain time, the condi-
ton Of these mountains. ard some OF the changes
which they have since undergone. We may sup
pose that in some past epoch, Alden and the oce an
stood here together in solitary grandeur both, per-
haps, boiling up and ioaming with prlmordial fires
Alden being rock inlet, wholly surrounded by the
ocean, which washed on every side the dark TANKS
and under-sea foundations Of Sham-shan. The
ocean at length began to TEEN with Its living inhabi
tants which performed their stated function Of
production and then died. leaving thei. coral and
shell exuv9 to collect in their rocky seabeds IN
TIL BY the agitation of the waters, they were bro
ken to fragments through mutual collision, which
accumulated, and were thrown up in sand on the
edge of the sea, and appeared in little beaches
and downs between the shorter ridges, and, at
length, in the lapse Of many ages. grew up into
the wide plains of sand and of sand.rock which
constitute the shores Of Alden.
| am, very faithfully yours.
G. CUSHING.
FRANCIS MARKoE, JR. Esq., Corresponding Secre-
farv nf National lnsfIfufs