J^fotices of a curious Water-Fall, &fc. 253 



what unctuous. At numerous places in and near the stream, 

 we saw chlorite slate in abundance. Along the lower part 

 of the rapids, the rocks are chiefly mica-slate. These rocks, 

 as well as the chlorite, are in situ. But there are thousands 

 of tons of stones, principally rolled quartz, scattered over 

 the surface, on both sides of the rivulet, forming an irregu- 

 lar pavement, which are evidently out of place. They were, 

 unquestionably, transported hither by the impetuosity of the 

 current from higher lands, where they had their origin. 



The water, at the time of our visit to the rapids, was un- 

 commonly low. At the head of the falls we measured the 

 brook, and found it only two feet and four inches wide, and 

 three inches deep. At high water it covers an area about 

 two rods in width. At the point where the rivulet is most 

 contracted, it takes a perpendicular leap of eight feet and 

 ten inches into an oblong basin, which we ascertained to 

 be seventeen feet in width. This capacious basin has, 

 manifestly, been formed in the chlorite rock, solely by the 

 incessant friction of the water. From the south side, where 

 the basin is open, the water flows off calmly in a canal in 

 the rock, a few inches wide, and regular, as if cut by the 

 chisel, for two or three rods, and then precipitates itself into 

 a second cavity, eighteen feet in width and fifteen in depth, 

 produced, evidently, in a manner similar to the first. The 

 water, after travelling about six miles farther, has formed 

 another basin, still larger, but less deep, than the last; its 

 width being twenty-six feet and its depth twelve. 



There is a succession of cavities, or basins, at small in- 

 tervals, for a distance of three hundred and thirty paces, or 

 nearly one fourth of a mile. They are all wrought in the 

 solid rock. Their forms are very dissimilar ; some resem- 

 bling a deep pot, and others an immense oven, inverted. 

 We observed but a few small cavities, such as are generated 

 in the Connecticut river, at Bellows Falls, by the rolhng of 

 a single stone, 



I am aware, that the traveller who visits this spot at the 

 season we did, will, at once, pronounce this puny brook to- 

 tally inadequate to the production of these wonderful cavi- 

 ties. But his sentiments will alter, when he considers that 

 a vast stratum of snow falls, annually, on the Green Moun- 

 tains; which, when it dissolves in the spring, swells this 

 rivuletjduringanuraberof weeks, toa mighty torrent. Marks 



