North Ridge 



to the top, I was inexpressibly delighted with the 

 scene which opened before me. Immediately under 

 the mountain, which was covered with chamoe- 

 daphnes in full bloom, was a most beautiful river: 

 beyond this an extensive plain, diversified with every 

 pleasing object that nature can exhibit; and, at the 

 distance of fifty miles, another ridge of still more 

 lofty mountains, called the Great, or North Ridge,* 

 which inclosed and terminated the whole. 



The river Shenandoah rises a great way to the south- 

 ward from under this Great North Ridge. It runs 

 through Augusta county, and falls into the Poto- 

 mac somewhere in Frederick. At the place where I 

 ferried over, it is only about a hundred yards wide; 

 and indeed it is no where, I believe, very broad. It 

 is exceedingly romantic and beautiful, forming great 

 variety of falls, and is so transparent, that you may 

 see the smallest pebble at the depth of eight or ten 

 feet. There is plenty of trout and other fish in it; 

 but it is not navigable, except for rafts. In sudden 

 freshes it rises above forty or fifty feet. The low 

 grounds upon the banks of this river are very rich 

 and fertile; they are chiefly settled by Germans, who 

 gain a comfortable livelihood by raising stock for 

 the troops, and sending butter down into the lower 

 parts of the country. I could not but reflect with 

 pleasure on the situation of these people; and think 



* All these ridges consist of single mountains joined together, 

 and run parallel to each other. 



[73] 



