THE INANIMATE ENEMIES OF THE FOREST. 67 



to retard the free drainage of the country, and 

 often result in marked changes in the river chan- 

 nel. Such rafts are still found in the Mackenzie 

 Biver, and formerly existed in parts of the Missis- 

 sippi and the Red Rivers. 



The effects of the avalanche in sweeping away 

 entire forests from the mountain slopes are well 

 known. Like the influence of the wind, this effect 

 is at first limited to the edges of the forest. If 

 the forests are preserved, the further movement of 

 the avalanche may be checked. In most moun- 

 tainous countries, forests skirting villages are pre- 

 served by rigorous penal laws. 



The protection from the destructive effects of 

 avalanches afforded by forests on mountain slopes 

 is shown in the following statement by ^lisee 

 Reclus in a work entitled, " The Earth," * on page 

 171: 



" The protecting woods of Switzerland and the Tyrol used to 

 be defended by the national bann, and, as it were, ' tabooed/ 

 They were, and still are, called the Bannwoelder. In the 

 valley of the Andermatt, at the northern foot of the St. Goth- 



* Reprinted, by permission, from " The Earth," by Elisee 

 Eeclus. New York : Harper & Brothers, Publishers, Franklin 

 Square. Pp. 573. 



