This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1864 Excerpt: ... the water-line to the astonishing height of 60, and even 75 feet. The current moves at the rate of 10 miles an hour, with a turbulence exceeding that of the rapids of the St. Lawrence; but the waters, unlike those clear green masses marbled over with snow-white foam, are here charged with red mud, which, if very ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1864 Excerpt: ... the water-line to the astonishing height of 60, and even 75 feet. The current moves at the rate of 10 miles an hour, with a turbulence exceeding that of the rapids of the St. Lawrence; but the waters, unlike those clear green masses marbled over with snow-white foam, are here charged with red mud, which, if very useful, is decidedly not pretty. On the outer shores the red sandstone which forms the base of the cliffs stretches far from them, in flats almost perfectly level. A slight ripple along their outer edge is the only warning of the coming flood, and he must be a swift runner who can escape the wave which covers these levels nearly simultaneously. In a few minutes, the salt water is three feet deep, and, as it rises more slowly, though still fast, upon the banks and cliffs, till the height is reckoned by scores of feet, the beholder cannot at first restrain some feeling of insecurity while marking such an unparalleled rise of the tide. Intervales.--The quantity of red mud brought up twice every day by these floods is enormous. At the point of turning, the waters are stationary for a short time, and this mud is then deposited. Under favourable conditions, it becomes hardened before succeeding tides act upon it. The settlers then fix a row of stakes along its seaward side, and twine a rude fence of bushes upon them. This immediately accumulates the sediment, so that in time a bank is raised, and with a little more assistance from man, the tract behind it is recovered from the sea. Such lands are called "intervales," and are the richest in the colony. Cape Breton Island.--It will be remembered that the northern part of the province is formed by Capo Breton Island. Its extreme length is 120 miles, and width 90; but it is nearly divided into two ...
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