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Notices of a curious Water-Fall, &c. 253 
what unctuous. At numerous places in and near the stream, 
we saw chlorite slate in abundance. Along the lower part 
of the rapids, the rocks are chiefly mica-slate. These rocks, 
as well as the chlorite, are in situ. But there are thousands 
of tons of stones, principally rolled quartz, scattered over 
the surface, on both sides of the rivulet, forming an irregu- 
lar pavement, which are evidently out of place. They were, 
be seventeen feet in width. is capacious basin has, 
manifestly, been formed in the chlorite rock, solely by the 
incessant friction of the water. From the south side, where 
the basin is open, the water flows off calmly in a canal in 
the rock, a few inches wide, and regular, as if cut by the 
chisel, for two or three rods, and then precipitates itself into 
a second cavity, eighteen feet in width and fifteen in depth, 
produced, evidently, in a manner similar to the first. The 
water, after travelling about six miles farther, has formed 
another basin, still larger, but less deep, than the last; its 
width being twenty-six feet and its depth twelve. 
There is a succession of cavities, or basins, at small in- 
tervals, for a distance of three hundred and thirty paces, or 
nearly one fourth of a mile. They are all wrought in the 
solid rock. Their forms are very dissimilar ; some resem- 
bling a deep pot, and others an immense oven, inverted. 
We observed but a few small cavities, such as are generated 
in the Connecticut river, at Bellows Falls, by the rolling of 
a single stone. 
I am aware, that the traveller who visits this spot at the 
season we did, will, at once, pronounce this puny brook to- 
tally inadequate to the production of these wonderful cavi- 
tes. ut his sentiments will alter, when he considers that 
a vast stratum of snow falls, annually, on the Green Moun- 
tains; which, when it dissolves in the spring, swells this 
rivulet,during a number of weeks, to a mighty torrent. Marks 
