Journey to the Céteau des Prairies, §c. 145 
him, vanishing into azure in the distance, without a speck or spot 
x 
ae 
ot 
to break their softness. — 
The direction of this ridge clearly establishes the course of 
the diluvial current in this region, and the erratic stones which 
are distributed along the base I attribute to an origin several hun- 
dred miles northwest from the Coteau. I have not myself tra- 
ced the Coteau to its highest points, nor to its northern extremi- 
ty, but on this subject I have closely questioned a number of 
travellers who have traversed every mile of it with their carts, 
and from thence to Lake Winnepec on the north, who uniformly 
tell me that there is no range of primitive rocks to be crossed in 
travelling the whole distance, which is one connected and con- 
tinuous prairie. 
The surface of the top and the sides of the Coteau is every 
where strewed over with granitic sand and pebbles, which, 
together with the fact of the five bowlders resting at the Pipe 
Stone quarry, show clearly, that every part of the ridge has been 
subject to the action of these currents, which could not have run 
counter to it, without having disfigured or deranged its beautiful 
symmetry. 
The glazed or polished surface of the quartz rocks at the Pipe 
Stone quarry I consider a very interesting subject, and one which. 
will hereafter produce a variety of theories, as to the manner in 
which it has been formed, and the causes which have led to such 
Singular results. 'The quartz is of a close grain and exceedingly 
hard, eliciting the most brilliant sparks from steel; and in most 
places, where it is exposed to the sun and the air, its surface has a 
high polish, entirely beyond any result which could have been 
produced by diluvial action, being perfectly glazed as if by igni- 
tion. I was not sufficiently particular in my examinations, to as- 
certain whether any parts of the surface of these rocks under the 
ground and not exposed to the action of the air, were thus affec- 
ted, which would afford an important argument in forming a cor- 
_Tect theory with regard to it: and it may also be a fact of similar 
importance, that this polish does not extend over the whole wall 
or area, but is distributed over it in parts and sections, often dis- 
appearing suddenly, and re-appearing again, even where the char- 
acter and exposure of the rock are the same, and unbroken. In 
Seneral the parts and points most projecting and exposed, bear the 
~ highest polish, which would naturally be the case whether it was 
produced by ignition or by the action of the air and sun. It 
Vol. xxxvnuz, No. 1.—Oct—Dec. 1839. 19, 
