120 C. Atwater, Esq. on the 
mountains, there neither-is, nor was there ever, any thing like 
these prairies and barrens, if we except those found in the 
western part of New-York, inthe Genessee country, and in 
the vicinity of the lakes in that quarter. These, the writer of 
this saw nearly thirty years since, and before that country was 
much settled. Those prairies were similar, in appearance, — 
to ours in the west, and were, beyond doubt, formed by similar 
means. 
Speculations on the Origin of the Prairies and Barrens. 
What were the causes which contributed to form these natu: 
ral meadows? That water was the principal agent in their 
formation, we very little doubt; but this is not the comma 
opinion. According to that opinion, oug* prairies and barrens, 
and especially the latter; were occasioned entirely by the burn: 
ing of the woods by ihe Indians, in order to take the wild 
game. Let us try this opinion by the indubitable appearances 
exhibited by these prairies and barrens. 
They are invariably found in a level country, or in om 
which is nearly so; and the soil is, generally, if not always, 
more moist than that which is uneven and hilly. Would not 
the leaves, where the land is dry, burn over with as great 
facility, or even with greater facility, than the grass would 
where the land is wet? Would there not be more wild gamé 
where they could find their food in plenty, such as acorns 
hickory nuts, on which they feed in winter, than on land, 
where no food, except dry grass and weeds, was to be found? 
It is well known that these prairies and barrens could not 
be burnt over when the vegetable productions which cover 
them were growing. At the only season when it is possible 
burn them, that is in winter, to what kind of regions do the 
wild animals resort? Is it not to the thick woods? Evel 
hunter will answer in the affirmative. For the space of twet- 
ty-five years, the writer of this lived in the vicinity of Indians, 
and, from information on which he relies, as well as from his 
own actual observation, he confidently avers that the Indians 
neither are, nor ever were, in the habit of firing the wootlt 
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