M. Chissman on the motion of large Stones, Sfc. 31 S 



and they seem to suppose these flashes and that event parts 

 of the same scene. 



The people without exception were unlettered back-woods- 

 men, of the class least addicted to reasoning. And yet it is 

 remarkable how ingeniously and conclusively they reasoned 

 from apprehension sharpened by fear. They remarked that 

 the chasms in the earth were in direction, from south-west to 

 north-east, and they were of an extent to swallow up not only 

 men but houses, " down quick into the pit ;" and these chasms 

 occurred frequently within intervals of half a mile. They 

 felled the tallest trees at right angles with the chasms ; and 

 stationed themselves upon the felled trees. By this invention 

 all were saved ; for the chasms occurred more than once under 

 these trees. — Fhnt's Travels. 



3. On the Motion of Large Stones^ ^c. in Lakes and Ponds. 

 By Mr N. Chissman. 



There is in Tinmouth a pond about a mile long and half a 

 mile broad. In 1775 I observed several large stones, some of 

 which may be called rocks, lying in the edge of the water, 

 which appeared to have been forced forward in a line inclining 

 to the shore by some powerful cause, leaving behind them 

 channels of considerable length, and the largest having the 

 largest channels. Year after year I observed that they had 

 been impelled in the same direction. In 1782 circumstances 

 persuaded me that ice had been the agent ; and in the spring 

 of 1783, when the ice was moving to the north in a large 

 field before a south wind, I placed myself by a large stone 

 on. the western shore, which appeared to have been much 

 moved in preceding years. The ice approached almost impercep- 

 tibly. When it met the stone the thinner edge of the ice gave way 

 a little and broke off, but it soon became strong enough for its 

 task. As soon as the ice had taken a firm hold of the stone, 

 I heard a grating noise of the gravel beneath, and plainly saw the 

 motion of the stones, as well as of the gravel and the earth heap- 

 ed up before it. I observed it while it was moved a foot or more, 

 when its progress was arrested by the ice swinging round 

 against the eastern shore of the pond. — Abridged from Silli- 

 man's Journal, No. 30, p. 303. 



