ILLUSTRATIONS. 53 



jS they had been formerly dammed up and had forced a passage ; and in 

 all directions you behold great rocks exhibiting rotundities, points, and 

 cavities ; as if worn by the violence of the waves, or hurled from their ancient 

 positions. 



The general appearance of the little falls indicates the former existence of a 

 great lake above, connected with the Oneida lake ; and as the waters forced 

 a passage here and receded, the flats above were formed and composed several 

 thousand acres of the richest land. Rome being the highest point on the lake, 

 the passage of the waters on the east side left it bare ; the Oneida lake gradually 

 receded on the west side, and formed the great marsh or swamp, now surround- 

 ing the waters on Wood creek. The physiognomy of the country from the 

 commencement of Wood creek to its termination in the Oneida lake, confirm* 

 this hypothesis. The westerly and northwesterly winds continually drive the 

 gand of the lake towards the creek, and you can distinctly perceive the allu- 

 vions increasing eastward by the accumulation of sand, and the formation of 

 uew ground. Near the lake you observe sand without trees ; then to the east 

 a few scattering trees ; and as you proceed in that direction the woods thicken. 

 The whole country from the commencement to the termination of Wood creek 

 looks like made ground. In digging the canal in Wood creek, pine trees have 

 been found twelve feet deep. An old boatman several years ago said that he 

 had been fifty years in that employ, and that the Oneida lake had receded 

 half a mile within bis memory. William Colbreath, one of the first settlers at 

 Rome, in digging a well found a large tree at the depth of twelve feet. This 

 great lake breaking down ia the first place the barriers which opposed the 

 progress of its waters to the east, and then gradually receding to the west, is a 

 subject well deserving of minute investigation. 



It is supposed that the Hudson river opened a new route for itself by prostra- 

 ting the mountains at the highlands, and that its former coarse lay through one 

 pf the vallies to the west. 



Among similar instances which might be adduced, as having occurred in the 

 old world, I might refer to the Caspian Sea and Lake Aral j which were supposed 

 to have been formerly united. The Caspian Sea is three hundred leagues long, 

 and fifty broad. Lake Aral about one hundred leagues long, and fifty broad j 

 the latter is about one hundred leagues east of the former ; the intervening 

 country is a sandy desert ; neither have an outlet j both are salt, and the surplus 

 waters are carried off by evaporation. The Caspian receives no rivers from the 

 east, and Lake Aral nne from the west. From these circumstances it is inferred 

 that they were formerly united. 



Since the cultivation of our country great changes have taken place in rivers, 

 streams, and small lakes. Some that were formerly fall of water are nearly dry, 



