6

FORM, SIZE,

rises. It is extremely narrow during the two first miles : nearKingston it widens a little; but its breadth does not exceed amile, until, near Gatcombe, it opens to the west and still moreto the east, where another small stream rises, and falls into theMedina at Black Bridge. The bason here is of a form approachingto circular, and about three miles and an half wide. The riverthen passes through a very narrow opening in the chalk hillsbetween Carisbrook on the west, and St. George’s Down on theeast; and enters Newport. It is here joined by a stream, whichrises to the west in a narrow valley, winding into the chalkrange about four miles, called Ronghborough or Bucombe vale.From Newport to the sea at Cowes, the valley is nearly straight,and in general not above a mile wide, the ground on both sidessloping to the water with very little meadow on either hand. Partof the parishes of Chale, Godshill, Kingston, Gatcombe, Caris-brook, Newport, Whippingham, and Northwood, lie in thisvalley.

The second bason, or valley, is that of the Eastern Yar. Thisis much more extensive than that of the Medina, and comprisesa great portion of the most fertile land of the Island . It is boundedto the south, by the great southern range of hills; to the west,by the hills east of the Medina; to the north by the great chalkrange ; and to the east, by the sea, or rather by the hills formingthe cliffs from Sandown to Shanklin, which fall inwards with aquick descent along the whole coast. The waters of the Yar,and the numerous rills which join it in its course, at Yarbridgeenter the marshy flat of Sandown; but instead of joining the seathere, wind across it to the northward ; and passing through thenarrow opening in the chalk range between Brading and Yaver-