Between New York and Albany. 235 



number of little ftones. As foon as we 

 had palled thefe mountains* the country 

 became clearer of mountains, and higher. 

 The river like wife encreafed in breadth", 

 fo as to be near an Englijh mile broad. 

 After failing for fome time, we found no 

 more mountains along the river; but on 

 the eaftern fide goes a high chain of moun- 

 tains to the north-eaft, whofe fides are co- 

 vered with woods, up to one half of their 

 height. The fummits however are quite 

 barren; for I fuppofe that nothing would 

 grow there, on account of the great degree 

 of heat *, drynefs, and the violence of the 

 wind, to which that part is expofed. The 

 eaftern fide of the river is much more cul- 

 tivated than the weftern, where we fel- 

 dom faw a houfe, the land being covered 

 with woods, though it is in general very 

 level. About fifty-fix Englijh miles from 

 New^ York the country is not very high ; 

 yet it is every where covered with woods, 

 except fome ntw farms which were (bat- 

 tered here and there. The high moun- 

 tains 



* Mr Kalm was certainly miflaken, by thinking the fum- 

 mits of thefe mountains without wood, on account of the 

 great degree of beat : for it is a general notion, founded on 

 experience, that the fun operates not fo much on the tops 

 Of mountains, as in plains or vallies, and the cold often 

 hinders the increafe of wood on the fummits of hi?h moun- 

 tains. F. * 



