124 C. Atwater, Esq. on the Prairies, ^c 



examines them and the country towards Lake Erie, these hills 

 are much higher than any land between them and that lake. 

 And from certain indications, (as already remarked,) had not 

 the bed of the Niagara been deepened by the running of that 

 mighty river, Lake Erie, as formerly, would empty itself into 

 the Ohio by the Scioto and Miami ; and the great northern 

 lakes would once more discharge themselves into the Missis- 

 sippi by the Illinois. Lake Ontario, from some cause, (possi- 

 bly an earthquake,. or the wearing away of its outlet, or both,) 

 is considerably lower than it was formerly : in that way the 

 land along its banks, once covered by its waters, is drained, 

 presenting appearances exactly similar to those seen in many 

 of our prairies. 



Miscellaneous Remarks on the Prairies and Barrens relative to 

 their Picturesque Features, and to Agriculture and Health, as 

 affected by the peculiarities of these Tracts. 



To the traveller, who for several days traverses these prai- 

 ries and barrens, their appearance is quite uninviting, and 

 even disagreeable. He may travel from morning imtil night, 

 and make good speed, but on looking around him, he fancies 

 himself at the very spot whence he started. No pleasant 

 variety of hill and dale, no rapidly running brook delights the 

 eye, and no sound of woodland music strikes the ear ; but, in 

 their stead, aduU uniformity of prospect " spread out immense.'* 

 Excepting here and there a tree, or a slight elevation of ground,, 

 it is otherwise a dead level, covered with tall weeds and coarse 

 grass. The. sluggish rivulets, of a reddish colour, scarcely 

 move perceptibly, and their appearance is as uninviting to the- 

 eye, as their taste is disgusting to the palate. Such are the 

 prairies and barrens of the west ; but, in order to make ample 

 amends for any deficiency, nature has made them exuberantly 

 fertile. The farmer who settles upon them, by raising cattle^ 

 becomes rich with little labour. He ditches those which are 

 too moist for grain ; he ploughs and fences them, and raises 

 from seventy to one hundred bushels of maize or Indian corn 

 to the acre, without ever hoeing it. The United States qw« 



