62 PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



and yet it is not above a Mile, where there is also a Level of about 

 an Acre of ground, with a pond of clear water in the midst of it, which 

 you may hear run down, but how it ascends is a mystery. From this 

 rocky Hill you may see the whole country round about. It is far above 

 the lower clouds ; and from hence we beheld a Vapour (like a great Pillar) 

 drawn up by the Sun Beams out of a great Lake or Pond into the air, 

 where it was formed into a Cloud. The Country beyond these Hills 

 Northward is daunting terrible, being full of rocky Hills as thick as Mole- 

 hills in a Meadow, and cloathed with infinite thick Woods."* In his 

 "Voyages," published a year or two later, Josselyn corrects what he says 

 of the snow's lying the whole year upon the mountains, by excepting the 

 month of August, f 



The "Voyages" contain an account of the Indian traditions which 

 clustered about our highest mountains. "Ask them," says Josselyn, 

 "whither they go when they dye, they will tell you, pointing with their 

 finger to Heaven, beyond the White Mountains ; and do hint at Noah's 

 Floud, as may be conceived by a story they have received from Father to 

 Son, time out of mind, that a great while agon their Countrey was 

 drowned, and all the People and other Creatures in it, only one Powaw 

 and his Webb, foreseeing the Floud, fled to the White Mountains, carrying 

 a hare along with them, and so escaped. After a while, the Powaw sent 

 the Hare away, who not returning, emboldened thereby, they descended, 

 and lived many years after and had many children, from whom the Coun- 

 trie was again filled with Indians." % None of the traditions of the 

 native tribes appear to have been so widespread as that of a flood ; and 

 many notices might be cited similar to this of the White Mountains. 

 Catlin describes a ceremony referring to this which he witnessed among 

 the Mandans, on the upper Missouri river, where the only survivor was 

 represented as white. 



The next mention of explorations among the White Mountains is on 

 April 29, 1725, when "a ranging company ascended the highest mountain 

 on the N. W. part," probably the first ascent from this side. As was to 

 be expected, they found the snow deep and the Alpine ponds frozen. || 

 Another ranging party being " in the neighborhood of the White 



* N. E. Rarities Disc, p. 3. f Josselyn's Voyages, p. 55. % Ibid, p. 135. || Belknap, N. H., iii., p. 35. 



