45 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



vhcre another curious phenomenon occurs. 

 The rivers have chciiiged their courses, their 

 ancient char.nelo are kft dry, and they have 

 formed new ones. In the uncultivated •pivctt of 

 the countrv, ^vherc the operations of nature 

 have not been ai.ercd or changed, the traveller 

 finds many places where the rivers formerly 

 rolled, which are now dry, and at a considerable 

 distance, sometimes a mi-e or n:ore from the 

 present beds of ihose rivers. In some of these 

 ancient channels, the waters must have run for 

 a long number of ages ; as they hove worn the 

 surface of the s'oncs as smooth as those, v.hich 

 •arc to be four;d on the sea shores. In som^e 

 places the former channels are left dry, abound- 

 ing with smooth stones and rocks : In others, 

 the channels are converted into ponds, or over- 

 g-'own with bubhes or trees. Appearances of 

 this kiiid are common in all the mountainous 

 parts of the country ; and something of the 

 same kind, is constantly taking place in most of 

 our rivers. In all large streams, the channel is 

 more or less afi'ectcd every year : Strips of 

 land, one or two rods in width, and of some 

 miles in length, are often carried off in the 

 spring ; and additions are made to the banks in 

 oiher places. The lands thus form.d, in some 

 pluces, in the course of a few years amount to 

 several acres, and aj'e of an uncommion richness 

 and fertility ; but they are ahvays attended with 

 an equal loss in som.e oiher part of the river. 



The dej.th of the clianne s which our rivers 

 have ibrmed, depends upon a variety of circum- 

 stances : The nature of the soil, the declivity 

 oi tlie river, tiie siluatioa of lijie adjacent banks. 



