98 Gaidy River. 



any kind of mill. It abounds with fish,, and being placed on the top 

 of one of the highest mountains of the Alleghany, at least eighteen 

 hundred feet above the bed of the river, it is difficult to account for 

 its formation, and for its abundant and continual supply of water. 



Topography of the Country on Gaiily River. 



This stream is about one hundred miles in length, and at its mouth 

 more than one hundred yards in breadth. It takes its rise in the 

 spurs and sides of the Laurel, Greenbrier and Gauly ranges of moun- 

 tains. The country through which it passes is mountainous and 

 broken into lofty precipitous hills of sandstone rock. " The cliffs 

 of Gauly," are second only in height and grandeur, to those of the 

 "New river," extending for many miles, on each side of the stream, 

 at an elevation of five or six hundred feet. The river itself is precip- 

 itated over falls and rapids, for a considerable part of the course, and 

 its bed is so filled with huge blocks of sandstone rock, as to prevent 

 any navigation on its w^aters. In these secluded spots, nearly inac- 

 cessible to the foot of man, a few remnants of the Beaver tribe still 

 find a safe retreat; and in the adjacent mountains, here and there, a 

 solitary Elk sustains a precarious existence ; the last remnant of a 

 numerous race, that a kw years since animated th^ forests with their 

 numbers. Towards the heads, the mountain ranges spread out into 

 table lands, here known by the name of " glades." They lie in long 

 narrow patches, at an elevation of seven or eight hundred feet above 

 the water courses, with an elevated ridge, or border, along their sides, 

 through which, at intervals, are found gaps .for the water to pass off, 

 down immense precipices to the streams below. They are destitute of 

 heavy timber. The more elevated and drier portions, produce fine 

 crops of barley, oats and potatoes, while the more wet afford good 

 raeadov/s, and the swampy places, produce cranberries in abundance. 

 The soil is black, based on yellow clay; indicating that these, glades 

 were, at some remote period, the beds of lakes or ponds. Near the 

 head waters of the South easterly branches, extensive deposits of 

 limestone rock, take the place of the sandstone ; and continue over 

 to the headwaters of the Greenbrier. Lead ore has been found in 

 several places on the borders of this calcareous rock. Coal is very 

 abundant, for sixty or seventy miles above its mouth, and is found at 

 great elevations in the mountains. 



