The whole soil that I saw was composed of decomposed old volcanic rocks; but I saw no rock but basalt in different stages of decomposition; sometimes it assumed the form of porphyry.

I also saw veins of quartz, gypsum, and jasper.

On a part of Flagstaff Hill there was a thin stratum of calcareous earth, in which shells are found.
My hip was so painful that I could not climb to the point where these were, but an artillery soldier ascended and brought down some, and of these I had several specimens given me; they are found associated with bones which are apparently those of birds.

None of these bones were given to me but I saw and examined several specimens.

The shells are very numerous at this point.
On returning into town I found several specimens of dead land shells, apparently recent; these lay on the sides of the hills, partly buried in the soil, and bore the appearance of having been washed into this position by the heavy rains.
July 22.
Rode over in the morning to Longwood, and then proceeded to Gregory's Valley, lying between Longwood and The Barn.