1869.] 243 [Morse. 



My brother, who is quite thoroughly versed in the surface features of 

 this region, concurs with me in the opinion that at one time the Pre- 

 sumpscot river flowed through these estuaries, and originally formed 

 the Fore River estuary. 



An additional proof of this is seen in the traces of another slide of 

 great magnitude, which Ave believe first turned the Presumpscot 

 Eiver into Its present course. (The embankments of this slide on the 

 map surround the name Saccarappa.) The outlet of this slide is 

 occupied by the village of Saccarappa. It will be noticed that this 

 slide occurred on the south side of the river, at the precise angle, and 

 is of sufficient magnitude, to have pi'oduced these results. And fur- 

 thermore, my bi'other has jjartially traced the old bed of the river 

 commencing south of Saccarappa, and running through the marshy 

 land whose waters empty into Fore River. The supposed old chan- 

 nel is dotted on the map. 



As to the evidences of the Saccarappa slide, they are of the most 

 positive character. In the first place, the village rests on a level 

 plain of clay, and bordering this on all sides is an embankment from 

 ten to twenty feet in height. The upper portion of this depression 

 has always been called by the inhabitants Warren's Cellar, and in- 

 deed many have regarded this area as sunken land. In digging wells 

 and sewers, trunks and branches of trees are met with at a depth of 

 thirty feet from the surface. My brother sends me a birch stick, and 

 says: "It was dug out at a depth of twelve feet from the surface, and 

 about one eighth of a mile fi-om the j^resent bed of the river. A 

 great many pieces of wood have been found in digging for a sewer. 

 Some loam has been found, but not much. I saw one leaf that 

 was dug out; it was quite fresh. ... I think there are evidences of 

 another slide running to the south of the Saccarappa slide, and if this 

 is the case, it Avould lend additional proof to the hypothesis that the 

 river formerly had a southerly course." Another gentleman informs 

 me that he saw a number of leaves of the GauUheria procumbens, 

 which were still green, taken at a depth of thirty feet. Some bones, 

 presumed to be those of a bear, were also found. I have rudely es- 

 timated the superficial area of the slide at one hundred and eighty- 

 three acres. 



The whole region presents avast amount of material for study, and 

 we trust that accurate surveys may be made, tracing out these older 

 slides. Additional data may be expected in the course of another 

 year, as my brother will, if leisure allows, follow up to a definite con- 



