WHITE MOUNTAINS. 45 
mountains, which by thefe means are always replenifhed 
with water in every part. 
The rocks, of which thefe mountains are compofed, are 
in fome parts flate, in others flint, but toward the top a 
dark grey ftone, which, when broken, fhows fpecks of 
ifing-glafs. On the bald parts of the mountains the {tones 
are covered with a fhort grey mofs, and at the very fum- 
mit the mofs is of a yellowith colour and adheres firmly 
to the.rock. 
Eight of our company afcended the higheft mountain 
on the 24th of July, and were fix hours and fifty one 
minutes in gaining the fummit, deducting one hour and 
thirty eight minutes for the neceflary ftops. The fpruce 
and firs, as you afcend, grow fhorter till they degenerate to | 
fhrubs and bufhes, then you meet with low vines bearing 
a red and a blue berry, and laftly a fort of grafs called 
winter grafs mixed with the mofs. 
Having afcended the fteepeft precipice, you come to what 
is called the plain, where the afcent becomes gentle and 
eafy. This plain is compofed of rocks, covered with win- 
ter grafs and mols, and looks like the furface of a dry pafture 
or common. In fome openings between the rocks you 
meet with water, in others dry gravel. The plain is an 
irregular figure, its area uncertain, but from its eaftern 
edge to the foot of the fugar-loaf, is upwards of a mile; 
on the weftern fide it-extends farther. The fugar-loaf is a 
pyramidal heap of loofe grey rocks, not lefs than three hun- 
dred feet in perpendicular height, but the afcent is not fo 
difficult as the precipice below the plain. From this fum- 
mit in clear weather is a noble view, extending to the ocean 
on the fouth-eaft; to the highlands on the weft and north= 
weft, which feparate the waters of Conneicut river from 
thofe of lake Champlain and St. Laurence; on the fouth it 
extends to Winipifeogee lake, and the highlands fouthward. 
of Pemigewaflet river. 
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