1 00 Topographical Geology. 



New Marlborough, containing several apartments and some stalac- 

 tites. In West Stockbridge is a small one. In Lanesborough is 

 one, 100 feet long, narrow and irregular, produced probably by a 

 subterranean stream. In Adams, a mile south of the north village, 

 on the Cheshire road, is a cavern of considerable interest ; contain- 

 ing several apartments ; the largest of which is 30 feet long, 20 feet 

 wide, and 20 feet high. A similar cave may be seen in Bennington, 

 Vt. And although these caverns will not compare in extent with 

 those in our western states, yet they will afford not a little gratifica- 

 tion, to those not familiar with subterranean excursions. 



Purgatories. 



I know not what fancied resemblances have applied this whimsical 

 name to several extensive fissures in the rocks of New England. 

 The most remarkable case of this kind is in Sutton, 31-2 miles south 

 east of the congregational meeting house. It is a fissure in gneiss, 

 nearly half a mile long, in most parts partially filled by the masses 

 of rock that have been detached from the walls. The sides are often 

 perpendicular, and sometimes 70 feet high ; being separated from 

 each other about 50 feet. 



This is an immense chasm : and I confess myself at a loss to ex- 

 plain its origin. It is natural to suppose that its sides have been in 

 some manner separated from one another. But I can conceive of no 

 mode in which this could have been accomplished, but by a force ac- 

 ting beneath : and this would so elevate the strata, that they would 

 dip on both sides from the fissure. But I could discover no such 

 dip. The inclination along the fissure corresponds with that which 

 is common in the region around ; viz. about 25 N.E. In the vicin- 

 ity of the fissure, however, the rocks are often exceedingly broken 

 into fragments :* and this circumstance indicates some early subter- 

 ranean convulsion. Still, I am rather inclined to refer these frag- 

 ments as well as the fissure, to the long continued action of the waves 

 of the sea, when the spot was so situated as to form a shore of mod- 

 erate elevation. The next case of a purgatory which I shall des- 

 cribe, will illustrate the mode in which the waves might have pro- 

 duced such effects. 



* Visitors to the Sutton Purgatory should recollect that such broken rocks fur- 

 nish a fine retreat for the rattlesnake. I met with one among- the debris of that 

 place. But as he kindly warned me that I was trespassing- on his territory, I 

 thought it ungenerous to attack him, and we parted on good terms, mutually will- 

 ing to be rid of each others company. 



