1864.] GRANT ON THE GEOLOGY OF THE OTTAWA. 425 



N. Y. He states that it is at least one hundred feet above the 

 Oswegatchie, three-fourths of a mile distant, with an intervening 

 hill higher by some fifty feet than this remarkable pot-hole, -which 

 is from twenty-four to thirty feet deep, and from twelve to fourteen 

 feet in diameter, bearing the usual marks on the interior of water- 

 worn surfices. Another example of this kind is described in- 

 Grafton, New Hampshire, on the crown of a high valley,between the 

 waters of the Connecticut and Merrimack rivers, at an elevation about 

 2000 feet above them, and a smaller one eight or ten feet higher. 

 The celebrated basin at Franconia Notch is one of these wells, forty 

 feet in diameter, and twenty-eight feet deep. It is filled to the depth 

 of eight or ten feet with pure water, which revolves with such force 

 that it is considered a dangerous place for even an expert swimmer. 

 These basins have also been noticed in the granites of high and 

 exposed regions of Devonshire, England, varying from one to 

 several feet in depth, and from a few inches to several feet in 

 diameter. At one time superstition ascribed the excavation of 

 these basins or pot-holes, in that locality, to the Druids; but 

 no person now doubts their true origin, as the results of 

 decomposition and attrition on the softer portions of the granite. 

 Pot-holes in process of formation are described in Chambers's Gazet- 

 teer, vol. i, p. 188, as seen in the course of the river Devon. 

 Throughout various parts of Canada these pot-holes have been 

 noticed, viz : At French River they occur at considerable distance 

 above the river level, and range from one to three and a half or 

 four feet in depth, and from twelve to eighteen inches in diameter. 

 At the High Falls, on the River du Moine, several pot-holes are 

 to be seen in the gneiss rocks. Very peculiar formations of tjbis 

 description are to be seen at the Roche Capetaine Rapids, on the 

 Ottawa River, at an elevation of fifty to sixty feet above the pres- 

 ent river level. Several small ones are met with at and above 

 the High Falls of Dartmouth River, which enters into the north- 

 west arm of Gaspe Bay ; also on York River, which enters the 

 south-west arm of Gaspe Bay; also seen in the black shale in 

 the bed of the Black River, lots 16th and 17th, fifth range of Acton, 

 in the Eastern Townships.* Those who take an interest in such 

 formations, need not proceed beyond the limits of Ottawa City in 

 order either to gratify curiosity or satiate a thirst for knowledge 

 in this respect. Numerous small formations are seen in the sur- 

 face-rock on the roadside towards the Little Chaudiere Falls : 



* Report of the Geological Survt'y. 



