90 Mr. Pierce on the Catskill Mountams. 
The elevated valleys and regions adjacent to those peaks 
are peculiarly interesting. Groves of lofty spruce and bal- 
sam fir, straight as the white pine, and presenting a beautiful 
never fading verdure, occupy, almost exclusively, extensive 
tracts. Little under-brush obstructs the passage and view, 
but the earth and flat rocks are covered by a handsome car- 
pet of diversified colors composed of a thick and soft velvet 
moss of a delicate light green, ornamented by gay flowers 
and tufts of white coral like silvery moss, with other species, 
—mountain sorrel varying the verdure. 
The region north of the Platterkill mountain valley, is ac- 
— for waggons to the base of the Round Top and from 
ascent is easy. 
ches passed a night on this peak at an elevation of near 4000 
feetabove the level of the sea. Its circular summit is near- 
ly flat, but slightly descending on every side, and presents 
about an acre mostly wood-clad. 
Although the heat of the river valley was oppressive, yet 
the mountain temperature rendered a large fire comfortable. 
dovigorated by cold and by b moun 
tain air, a traveller ranges with less fatigue than i in the > nid 
of the Hudson, and seldom fails of possessing a 
etite. 
Having enjoyed a refreshing repast, and amused ourselves 
sometime in conversa tion, we inereased our fire as a protec- 
tion from beasts of prey, and retired to rest on beds of moss 
upon which small branches of spruce were spread, forming a 
soft and dry couch. We viewed through the thinly scatter- 
on Penches of the balsam fir, the blue arch of heaven span- 
stars. ‘The azure of the sky appeared darker from 
our elevation than from below, and the heavenly bodies to 
move more brilliantly in their course. 
The atmosphere which gives a light blue coloring to oe 
tant = becomes mort rare and pure in proportion 
its elevatio 
Placed far above the haunts of men, no sound was heard 
save that of a light air, gently breathing through the fine 
pes tops of the pigeon 
