(fc 





Geology of the Highlands. 231 



The "prints" were seen when the country was first 

 settled, and had the same appearance then as" now. No 

 tradition can tell any thing about them. They look as old 

 as the rock* They have the same fine pohsh which the at- 

 trition of the sand and water have made upon the rest of 

 the rock wliich is exposed to their action, f have examin- 

 ed them often with great attention. They are not hand- 

 some, but exquisitely natural, bo(h in the form and position, 

 spread-toed, and of course anterior to the use of narrow 

 shoes. I do not think them ''impressions," but the woik 

 of hands, and refer their existence to the ai^e of the mound 

 upon the American Bottom, and above the town of S(. 

 Louis. My reasons for this opinion are : J. The hardiiess 

 of the rock: 2. The want of other tracks leading to and 

 from them: 3. The difficuUy of supposing a change so in- 

 stafitaneous and apropos, as must have taken place in <he 

 formation of the rock, if impressed when soft enoui^h to re- 

 ceive such deep and distinct tracks. . Opposed to this opin- 

 ion are : 1- The exquisiteness of the workmansliip : 2, The 

 difficulty of working in such hard materials without steel or 

 iron. 



"A block of 6 or 8 feet long, and 3 or 4 wide, containing 

 the ^' prints,'' was cut out by Mr, John Jones, a stone ma- 

 son in St. Louis, and ?old to Mr. Rappe of Indiana, and, 

 under his orders, removed to his establishment, called Har- 

 mony, on the left bank of the Wabash. 



^' Very respectfully yours, 



^' THOMAS H. BENTON. 



" Henry R. Schoolcraft.*" 



Art. III. — An Outline cfthe Geologijofthe Jllghlands, on 



the River Hudson — By Prof. Amos Eaton. 



Several sketches of the geology of the Highlands have 

 already been published. The best, which has come to my 

 knowledge, is that of Dr. Akerly, accompanied with a pro- 

 file view. But Dr. A. told me, that his sketch was drawn 

 up in haste, witfiout a personal examlnat'on of the whole 

 succession of strata which constitute this stupendous pile of 

 mountain*^. 



