Prairies and Barrens of the West. 123 



the waters of that river. The bed of that stream has been 

 deepened by the constant flowing of the water along its chan- 

 nel ; the water is drained off, and the prairies and barrens 

 now occupy the soil which the water had made and formerly 

 covered. The prairies above the falls of Hockhocking, along 

 that river, have evidently been formed in the same way, and 

 owe their origin and appearances to similar causes. There is 

 near Lancaster, on the last-mentioned river in the State of 

 Ohio, and near the great road, a gentle rise of ground in the 

 prairie, which has every appearance of having been an island, 

 and is so called by the people of the vicinity. 



In fine, wherever prairies and barrens are found, there, for 

 a long space of time, water once stood, but was gradually 

 drained off. Else why alluvial soil to such a depth, in low 

 situations, and growing thinner as we ascend on ground more 

 elevated ? Else why do we find rocks in more elevated tracts 

 of country, and not in prairies or barrens ? Else why do we 

 find no alluvion, no grass, but a thick growth of ancient forest- 

 trees on the higher lands ? Else why do we find beneath the 

 alluvion of the prairies, pebbles and shells similar to those at 

 the bottom of lakes and ponds ? Else why do the higher grounds 

 to this moment present the appearances of so many islands ? 

 And all these indications where no stream now in existence 

 could by possibility have reached them ? 



That the waters which once covered so great a part of this 

 State (Ohio) were drawn off gradually, we infer from the fact, 

 that there is not a single indication of the effects of an earth- 

 quake or volcano, from the foot of the Allegany to the banks 

 of the Mississippi : in this region not a stone nor a layer of 

 earth has been misplaced, nor its position changed. 



But an interesting inquiry here presents itself. Were the 

 hills along the Ohio, before they were worn away by the; 

 streams which now empty themselves into that river, ever 

 high enough to raise the water to the north of them to such a 

 degree that it would overspread the country where the prai- 

 ries and barrens are now found? Although the height of these 

 hills has not been ascertained by the proper instruments, yet 

 from appearances, not to be mistaken by any person who 



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