HISTORY OF VERMONT. 33 



ks water by heat. And no rain can ever fall 

 upon the surface of the earth, which was not 

 first carried off from it, by evaporation. 



Mountains serve also to form sm.all streams 

 and rivulets, by preventing the evaporation of 

 water from their surfaces. The vapours out of 

 which the clouds and rains are formed, are all 

 of them first raised from the surface of the 

 earth. When the evaporation is in an open 

 field, exposed to the sun and wind, the exhala- 

 tions are soon carried off into the atmosphere, 

 and the stirtace of the earth is left dry. When 

 the evaporation is horn lands covered over with 

 tliick trees and bushes, the influence of the sun 

 and winds are much prevented ; and the waters 

 stagnate upon the surface of the earth, and ren- 

 der it wet and miry, in the form of swamps, 

 and confined v/aiers. When the evaporation is 

 from the sides and toj^s of mountains, covered, 

 with vegetables, the waters are but slowly car- 

 ried off by the heat and wind ; nor can they 

 stagnate, but will be gradually and constantly 

 descending down the sides of the mountains, in 

 natural or ai'tificial channels : And in this way, 

 the mountains v,"ill also be constantly producing 

 small streams or rivulets. 



A similar effect will also be produced by the 

 condensation and collection of the vapours in 

 the atmosphere, occasioned by the height and 

 coldness of the mountains. When the weather 

 is fair and clear, and the atmosphere serene and 

 pleasant in the vallies, the tops of the mountains 

 are often obscured, and covered with a thick 

 fog or cloud. In the cool mornings of the 

 spring and fall, the vapours form a thick fog on 



