tities of lumber. river, were preferved by chains, one end of which was fastened to their principal timbers, and the other end to trees or posts fet in the ground. In Cochecho river, below the great fall, the water rofe fourteen feet above high water mark. Immenfe quantities of drift wood are brought down by these frefhets, from which the inhabitants of the lower towns, contiguous to the rivers, are fupplied with fuel, and they have learned to be extremely dextrous in towing on fhore whole trees with their branch-: es. But notwithstanding their activity, much escapes them, and is driven out to fea, and fome of it is thrown back on the coaft.

Some mills, on Salmon-fall

Saco river has rifen twenty-five feet, in a. great frefhet; its common rife is ten feet, Pemigewaffet river has alfo been known to rife twenty-five feet. Connecticut river, ina common frefhet, is ten feet higher than its ufual fummer level. Its greatest elevation does not exceed twenty feet.

Winipifeogee lake, is the largest collection, of water in New-Hampfhire. It is twentytwo miles in length, from S. E. to N. W. and of very unequal breadth, but no where more than eight miles: Some very long necks, of land project into it, and it contains feveral, islands, large and fmall. The mountains which furround it, give rife to many ftreams.

which flow into it; and between it and the mountains, are several leffer ponds, which communicate with it. Contiguous to this lake, are the townships of Moultonborough, on the N.W. Tuftonborough and Wolfborough on the N. E. Meredith and Gilmantown on the S. W. and a tract of land, called the Gore, on the S. E. From the S. E. extremity of this lake, called Merry-meeting bay, to the N. W. part, called Senter-harbour, there is good navigation in the summer, and generally a good road in the winter; the lake is frozen about three months, and many fleighs and teams, from the circumjacent towns, cross it on the ice.

The next largest lake, is Umbagog, in the northern extremity of the State. It is but little known, and no other furvey has been made of it than was neceffary for extending the divifional line between New-Hampshire and Maine, in 1789. Next to this, are Squam, in the township of Holderneffe; Sunnapee, in the townships of Wendel and Fishersfield, and great Offapy, in the ungranted land of the Mafonian purchafe. Smaller ponds are very numerous, fcarcely any town being without one or more. There is generally a current through them'; but fome have no vifible outlet. Their waters are limpid and fweet. A remarkable circumftance is mentioned, refpecting Mafcomy pond, which lies partly in

Lebanon

Lebanon and partly in Enfield, and vents into Connecticut river. It is about five miles in length, and one in breadth; its depth is from thirty to forty fathoms. The furrounding land bears evident marks that the furface of this pond was once thirty or forty feet higher than its prefent level. By what cause the alteration was made, and at what time, is unknown; but appearances indicate a fudden rupture, there being no fign of any margin between its former and present height. About a mile diftant from its outlet, there is a declivity of rocks, forty feet higher than the stream, as it now runs. By the fituation of these rocks, it appears that they were once a fall, over which the water flowed; but it has now made for itself a very deep channel, through folid earth, nearly a mile in length, where it seems confined for futurity.*

In the township of Atkinson, in a large meadow, there is an ifland, containing feven or eight acres, which was formerly loaded with valuable pine timber, and other forest 'wood, When the meadow is overflowed, by means of an artificial dam, this island rifes in the fame degree as the water rises, 'which is fometimes fix feet. Near the mid'dle of this ifland, is a small pond, which has 'been gradually leffening ever fince it was 'known, and is now almoft covered with verdure.

*MS. Letter of the Hon. Elifha Payne, Efq.

‹ dure. In this place, a pole of fifty feet has disappeared, without finding a bottom. In the water of that pond, there have been fish in plenty; which when the meadow hath 'been flowed, have appeared there, and when ' the water hath been drawn off, have been left on the meadow; at which time the island • settles to its usual state.’*

:. In the town of Rye, there was formerly a fresh pond, covering about one hundred and fifty acres, fituate within ten or fifteen rods of the fea, being separated from it by a bank of fand. A communication was opened between this pond and the fea, in the year 1719, by

which means the fresh water was drawn off, and the place is regularly overflowed by the tide, and yields large crops of falt hay.†

Within this prefent year (1791) a canal has been cut through the marshes, which opens an Inland navigation, from Hampton, through Salisbury, into Merrimack river, for about eight miles. By this paffage, loaded boats may be conducted with the utmost ease and fafety.

* MS. letter of the Rev. Stephen Peabody.

MS. letter of Rev. Mr. Porter.

CHAP.

CHA P. VI.

Remarks on the Foreft, Manner of Surveying, making Roads, and Travelling.

NOT

OTWITHSTANDING the gloomy appearance of an American foreft, yet a contemplative mind may find in it many fubjects of entertainment. The most obvious remark, is the filence which reigns through it. In a calm day, no found is heard but that of running water, or perhaps the chirping of a fquirrel, or the fqualling of a jay. Singing birds do not frequent the thick woods; but in every opening, made by the hand of cultivation, their melody is delightful.

Another thing, worthy of obfervation, is the aged and majestic appearance of the trees, of which the most noble is the mast pine. This tree often grows to the height of one hundred and fifty, and sometimes two hundred feet. It is ftraight as an arrow, and has no branches

but very near the top. It is from twenty to forty inches in diameter at its bafe, and appears like a stately pillar, adorned with a verdant сарital, in form of a cone. Interfperfed among thefe, are the common forest trees, of various kinds, whofe height is generally about fixty

F

or