Geological Society of Pennsylvania. 521 



the upland affords a hollow for the waters which enlarges 

 as the waters advance, until at length the acclivities gradu- 

 ally assume a mountain aspect. The greater part of these 

 inequalities, however, present no serious obstacle to agricultural 

 operations. The slopes are generally gradual, and with some 

 exceptions near the larger streams, every part is susceptible of 

 cultivation. 



" Delaware river bounds the north-eastern side of the county. 

 It receives from Wayne county, besides the Lackawaxen river, 

 the waters of the northern end of the county, and much of the 

 eastern waters. There is much alluvial bottom land along the 

 margin of the river ; the upland acclivity is lofty, bold, and some- 

 times precipitous. The greater part of the river shore in Man- 

 chester township, from the mouth of Great Equinunk creek, 

 downwards, is bound by lofty perpendicular rock, from the 

 water's edge, which eifectually interrupts a direct land commu- 

 nication along the river for that distance. 



" Lackawaxen river flows through the middle of the county, 

 in a deep valley, which no where exceeds half a mile in breadth. 

 It unites the waters of the greater part of the county, which it 

 discharges into the Delaware river. The bottom of this valley 

 is, for the most part, an alluvial flat of fertile quality. The 

 principal branches of this river are, the Dyberry, which it re- 

 ceives from the north, flowing through a valley similar to the 

 Lackawaxen valley ; the west Branch, which is considered the 

 principal branch of this river, flows through a similar valley, and 

 unites its waters with the Dyberry, near Honesdale, forming to- 

 gether the true Lackawaxen river. The Middle creek enters 

 the Lackawaxen near the south-eastern line of the county. It 

 is a stream of considerable magnitude, but its channel Is rocky 

 and its course very rapid. The Wallenpaupac creek, on the 

 county line, is a considerable branch of the Lackawaxen, and 

 has much alluvial flat extending almost its whole length. It 

 has a high cataract near its mouth. For the last fifteen miles 

 the creek, after a previous rapid course, flows in a sinuous chan- 

 nel, with scarcely any sensible motion. Arrived at the head of 

 the falls, the bed of the creek appears suddenly depressed, and 

 forms a chasm, into which the water pours down a depth of near 

 seventy feet, and then rushing along in a deep rocky channel, is 

 precipitated over (hrec successive cataracts witjiin a distance of 

 Vol. !.—()() 



