94 



cleavage in the neighboring rock, or perhaps many other 

 causes combining, the thousands of bowlders on the beach 

 are rolled and worn by the surf till every one, almost, is 

 rounded and smooth as an egg. Indeed, so white is the 

 granite from which they are made and so remarkable their 

 form and the manner in which they lie clustered together in 

 the little nook, that an observer, looking for the first time 

 from the ledge above, might easily fancy that he saw the 

 nest of some monstrous bird, filled with eggs fit to rival 

 those of the Roc of Sinbad. Many of these have been car- 

 ried away for curiosities. 



Passing on over the stern granite shore to the eastward, 

 a large rock a short distance from the shore, and connected 

 with it by a sunken reef, boars the name of " Norman's 

 Woe." A tradition exists that a man named Norman was 

 shipwrecked here ; but history has no further confirmation 

 of it, than that Richard Norman, some time before 1682, 

 sailed on a voyage and never returned. Beyond the Woe, 

 the visitor looks with admiration down an immense chasm 

 or crack, caused by the disintegration and removal of a huge 

 greenstone dyke, which has thus left in the granite what is 

 termed " Rafe's Cleft." It is one of the most remarkable 

 of the rents, or " purgatories " which abound on our shores 

 and are, no doubt, due to the same cause. 



Some of the company explored the above spots, and oth- 

 ers resorted to the Magnolia Swamp, a mile or so away, the 

 praises of which have been often dwelt upon. Others, in 

 small parties, sought out whatever else in the vicinity proved 

 to possess interest and attractiveness. About 2, P.M., the 

 whole assembled in a shady bit of woods near by, and the 

 formal meeting was opened, Mr. S. P. Fowler of Danvers, 

 Vice President, in the Chair. 



The Records of the preceding meeting read, and dona- 

 tions were announced from the following : 



