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have become dangerous and destruc- 

 tive mountain torrents. On the south- 

 erly slopes the forests still persist, and 

 give one some idea of what they prob- 

 ably were once throughout this moun- 

 tain region. I have scarcely seen their 

 equal anywhere, and here they stand as 

 they have stood for ages, and the 

 streams that come from them are living 

 streams which flow peacefully and 

 harmlessly in their channels, in sharp 

 contrast to those on the northerly slope. 

 If any one is in doubt as to the efifect 

 of the removal of the forests upon 



stream-flow, he has but to contrast the 

 two sides of the Caucasus Mountains. 

 On the treeless side, the rivers are 

 uncontrollable torrents that rush down 

 suddenly, rend and tear the valleys, and 

 carry sand and gravel out upon the level 

 farm lands below the mountain sides ; 

 on the other, the streams flow steadily, 

 and the little fields in the lower valleys 

 are not molested. On the one hand, the 

 forests retain and restrain the waters ; 

 on the other, the deforested, naked 

 mountain sides allow the waters to run 

 off at once with destructive rapidity. 



537 



