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WILD LAKES OP THE ARIONDACK. 477 



is most happily named. Its shape is somewhat irregular, 

 and its length is four miles, with an average breadth of two 

 miles, and a depth of sixty feet. At the opposite extremity 

 is the narrow but deep outlet which forms the Sockendog 

 River, after passing through Cungamunck Bay, a few miles 

 farther on, and then strikes off to the north-east, a bold 

 and boisterous mountain stream, clattering among the hills 

 until it looses itself in the great Hudson, as its western 

 branch. 



The shores of Lake Pleasant have quite a cultivated aspect 

 — this is of course comparative. A number of beautiful 

 grazing farms are opened to view around its rolling shores 

 down to the water's edge. They are very rudely cultivated 

 yet, but they might be made surpassingly lovely some day. 



At the N. W. extremity of Lake Pleasant is the inlet of 

 Round Lake, which is about half a mile in length. Round 

 Lake ! Gloomy, wild and picturesque Round Lake ! twin 

 sister of Lake Pleasant, " but grander and more rude than 

 she !" — rimmed, like a Titan's brimming drinking cup, with 

 low rocks, all around and above them the unbroken forest 

 slanting up to blue-topped hills. How deep, austere and 

 solemn its repose. 



What a shadow beside the sunny loveliness of its contrasted 

 sister ! It is three miles both ways, and deeper than Lake 

 Pleasant. There is no sign of cultivation upon its savage 

 shores except at the outlet. It has several inlets, which go 

 glimmering faintly through the narrow valleys towards the 

 north-west. They connect it still with smaller lakes. Echo 

 Lake, Lake Sound, and — ! euphonious accord ! — Mud 

 Lake ! 



When a few miles to the west another chain commences with 

 Long Lake, which is two miles and a half in length by a 

 half in width. This connects with Fly Lake, which is 

 smaller still, and this with Falls Lake, about the same size, 

 which outlets into Piseco, eleven miles west. This is a 



