56 Miscellaneous Geological Topics - 
the land much trodden by cattle. The whole of this piece of land 
was so situated, as to be drained by one outlet or valley. We fre- 
quently observed, that the heaviest falls of rain upon this land, pre- 
vious to clearing and cultivation, did not exhibit the least sign of wa- 
ter on the surface of the vale. But after a part was put into culti- 
vation, it was seen that a canal would be necessary to secure the 
crop from occasional inundation. So soon as all the land was turn- 
ed to use, the canal was enlarged from year to year,-until it was ten 
feet wide and six feet deep, before it was of sufficient dimensions to 
retam the water on its passage, and prevent an overflow, during a 
heavy fall of rain. . 
By 
INSTANCES OF THE INCREASE OF SURFACE WATER; 
The next case is not a part of a plantation, but of a tract lying’6n 
each side of a well known water course of this country, called Colés’ 
Creek ;—we shall suppose this tract to extend fifteen miles in one 
direction ; but as the creek has branches, we will confine our re- 
marks to its northern stream, in which it may be supposed to con- 
tain eight or ten square miles. Sixty years ago, this tract, as well as 
that in the vicinity, was a gloomy region of perpetual shade. Our 
informant, Mr. Daniels, reports his frequent visits about this time, for 
the purpose of hunting here the bear and the deer: for many years 
im succession, and often, several times in the same year, he crossed 
this then dry ravine, without either a channel of water. After a 
term of years, when settlements were made round about, and the 
cattle of the plantations extended their range, treading the land and 
breaking the texture of the roots of the cane brake, holes appeared 
in the ravine where now is Cole’s Creek: they were occasioned by 
the land and cane sinking into the subterranean passages, which had 
been made by the water. In wet seasons water was found in these 
openings; but in dry weather -there was. none. At length a ditch 
of five or six feet wide, and eight or ten feet deep, was forme: 
the rains. For some years after, Mr. D. could step across it in 
some places, and in others he could jump over it. Twenty six 
years since, when we first observed this creek, the usual crossing 
Places did not exceed ten or twelve steps in width and eight or ten 
in depth. But as the country was cleared, the creek continued to 
enlarge its dimensions until the present time, when it is between two 
and four hundred feet wide, and at least twenty five ar thirty feet 
deep. The inundations aré more frequent now than twenty ‘five 
