188 



opposite directions. This is true of the swamp on Rockhmd 

 Street, of that east of Unit's Cove, and of that between Hersey 

 and Central Streets, tlic hitter being tributary to both Town 

 Brook and Weir River ; while many of the smaller swamps, 

 especially, have no visible drainage, occupying more or less 

 irregular kettles or depressions in the sandplains. Some of 

 what were originally salt marshes are now fresh, having been 

 reclaimed by the construction of artificial dikes or barriers. 

 These are the "damde nieddowcs" of the early inhabitants, and 

 the two most important examples are those on AVeir River 

 Bay, south of Rocky Neck, and west of Pleasant Hill. The 

 considerable swampy tracts which have been reclaimed by 

 artificial drainage are not represented on the map. 



The beach deposits, which are such a prominent feature of 

 Hull and Cohasset, are almost entirely wanting on the more 

 sheltered shores of Hingham ; and there is a corresponding 

 absence of erosion of the drumlins and other drift formations. 

 The World's End is joined to Planter's Hill by a short barrier 

 beach, but the most important beach of any kind is tliat on the 

 north shore, northwest of Pleasant Hill, separating one of the 

 "damde meddowes" just referred to, from the sea. The prin- 

 cipal drowned or submerged valley lying wholly in the town is 

 Hingham Harbor. The silting up of this basin has, over the 

 greater part of its area, reached the eel-grass stage ; and it 

 would probably have become a salt marsh long ago if the 

 scouring action of the tides liad been checked by a barrier beach 

 across its mouth. The same is true of Weymouth Back River. 

 The tidal scouring is particularly efficient here on account of 

 the contracted form of the basin. 



MAPS. 



Tills part is illustrated by one general aii'l three special 

 ma])s. The! general map is but a continuation, on the same 

 sheet, of that for Hull and Cohasset, and hence may be 



