FROM PHILADELPHIA 189 



The deeper, less shaken, and older bed of this range 

 appears to be of the unpolished, quartz-grained stone 

 elsewhere mentioned. For this is seen on the east side 

 of the mountains, at Easton, and to the west in the 

 hills towards Wyoming; is therefore probably the un- 

 derlying bed, and is throughout overlaid with the 

 laminated sand-stone, which quite as probably is to be 

 regarded as a deposit from water standing above these 

 mountains. Not here indeed, but later, and on the 

 continuation of this range, I have found in similar 

 sand-stone impressions of muscles and animalcules of 

 the sea. But it is surprising to find in this part of the 

 range no appearance of limestone. On the road fol- 

 lowed by us today I saw none, and I could on inquiry 

 hear of none. The greatest part of this road, the land 

 seemed too stony or too poor to be used for cultiva- 

 tion ; but in the Swamp especially and in most of the 

 lower spots, there are tracts affording deep layers of 

 the finest black earth. In such places are to be found 

 many beautiful plants and shrubs, but to be come at 

 only with the greatest difficulty. Here the American 

 botanist has much in reserve for him, and it is to be 

 hoped that his zeal will soon be aroused. 



From Sebitz's to Heller's the road is for the most 

 part down-grade, through a multitude of sand-stones. 

 The Pokonoke Creek is again crossed several times ; it 

 winds through very pleasing low-grounds. In the 

 mountains as well as here it is plainly to be seen that 

 most of the higher trees, especially those standing 

 apart, lean sharply from northwest to southeast, 

 the course, that is, of the strongest and most frequent 

 winds. Near Brinker's Mill there is a rarity a beau- 

 tiful prospect, of the Delaware Gap to the left and in 



