ILLUSTRATIONS. 69 



direction ; and turning westerly, are disembogued into a considerable stream 

 known by the name of Wall kill, and sometimes the Paltz river. On the high- 

 lands at Coldenham you perceive a range of high mountains, known by the name 

 of ' Shawangunk Mountains ;" from whence the waters run easterly, and falling 

 into the Wall kill, are carried into the Hudson river, at the strand, near Kingston, 

 In Ulster county, about one hundred and twelve miles distant from Kew-York. 



These mountains on the west, and a ridge of highlands on the east, form a na- 

 tural valley, of very considerable extent, varying in breadth from thirty-five in 

 the southern to the northern extremity of about three miles. The for- 

 mation and nature of this country has nothing to characterize it from other parts 

 of our state in the middle district : the woods and forest trees, the grasses and 

 productions of every kind, are those which are indigenous to various parts of the 

 state, and to all the adjacent counties. 



The general formation of this country is smooth, marked by some hills of se- 

 condary altitude, is susceptible of yielding every kind of produce cultivated in 

 northern climates. The immense quantities of what is generally termed Goshen 

 butter, is made in this valley ; and on the lands between it and the Hudson river, 

 extending from New Cornwall, situate at the northern entrance into the high- 

 lands, to the point of land called the Danse Kaumer, in the town of Marlborougb. 

 In all this district of country the pasturage is luxuriant and excellent ; and affords 

 a greedy repast for black cattle, sheep, <tc. \Vhether the high flavour of the but- 

 ter made in this vicinity is owing to the peculiar qualities of the pasturage, or to 

 the particular manner of making it, is a matter of doubt. 



The growing of hemp at the southwestern part of Orange county, has, of late 

 years, been a favourite and profitable pursuit with the proprietors of a large tract 

 of land heretofore covered with an extensive sheet of stagnant water, known by 

 the name of The Dronned Lands. This has, of late years, been partly drained 

 by commissioners authorized by law to open aqueducts at the outlet into the 

 Wall kill. Their enterprise has been reasonably successful, and the general opin- 

 ion of the best informed men, seems to be, that their labours will be ultimately 

 crowned with sue .-ess. In this event a tract of between twenty and thirty thous- 

 and acres of land will yield to the proprietors a rich reward for their agricultur- 

 al labours. 



Within the precincts of the country here described, there are also many curious 

 and valuable productions ; Ochres of various colours and qualities are found in 

 the neighbouring mountains, and in the environs are great quantities of iron and 

 >ther ores j chalybeate springs and other mineral waters are also very common 

 It will be seen from this succinct account of the country, that whether the 

 mammoth delighted in the fertile plain, in the low and sunken meadow, or swaui^ ; 

 or in the lofty and craggy mountains, or in all of them, the variety of the ?c:' 



