374 Gen.LiN cor N'sZfecount of the Defcent of aCurrent of Water. 
pores of the rock, and was now petrified and petrifying on ite 
furface. The bottom was apparently earth and {mal ftones. 
About three years fince, the people in the vicinity of this 
town, who lived near the mountain which is about ten miles 
from the village, were alarmed by a current of water overflow- 
ing the banks of the river. ‘The caufe they could not invefti- 
gate, as there had been, the night before, but a {mall rain : 
however, they foon found the firft effects of the water appeared 
within about twenty feet of the top of the mountain. Whe- 
ther it burit forth from the mountain, or was a column of wa- 
ter from the clouds, has not yet been afcertained. The courfe 
in which it ran down the mountain was dry the next morning. 
Tt was confined to the width of twenty feet, perhaps lefs. It 
appeared to be about thirty feet deep, as could be difcovered by 
‘its effe&s on. thofe trees which were not carried away by the 
water. It cut a paflage in the fide-of the mountain, of about 
deven or eight feet wide, and near that depth. ‘The traces of- 
it are feen from the town, though, as I faid before, it is ten 
‘miles diftant. One rock, of a very confiderable weight, was 
thrown into thecrotch of a tree, twelve feet from the ground, 
in which it remained for fome time. When the water came 
into the valley, its impetuofity was fo great that it was not im- 
‘mediately diverted, but reached a {mall rifing ground, through 
which it-cut a paflage ; then followed the valley, and fo on to 
the river, which was at fome confiderable diftance. In its 
Courfe, it carried off all the fences, and came upon the floors of 
fome of the houfes. I have had fome converfation with Mr. 
Rittenboufe on the fubje&, who has been twice to fee the effects 
Of the water. It is his opinion, that it was not a column of 
‘water which burfted forth from the mountain, as it was near 
‘the top of one of the higheft, On 
