of New-York and New-Jersey, &c. 193 
and adhesive to the tongue. Peirifactions of marine shells 
were observed in various parts of the alluvial district adja- 
cent to the greenstone ridge, and detached pieces of 
bituminous coal. The alluvial North of the Rariton 
above described, is connected with an extensive alluvi- 
al plain five miles in length by twenty in breadth, formed by 
the deposits of the navigable rivers, Hackensac and Passaic, 
‘situated between the secondary valley and the Bergen 
ridge ; the depth of the alluvial is from twelve to twenty 
feet—the basis is sand and shells like the shore of the sea— 
several insulated groves of lofty swamp cedars remain in 
the North part of the meadows. ‘The whole tract was for- 
merly covered with wood; the bodies of trees but little de- 
cayed are found at various depths. An attempt is now 
making to reclaim a part of these meadows——it will be the 
work of time to produce a compact soil by the decay of the 
turf and other vegetable matter.—The enterprising propri- 
etors, the Messrs. Swartouts, deserve success. A singular 
elevation called Snake-hill appears insulated in this verdant 
ocean. It is wood-clad, rocky and precipitous on the east- 
erm, southern andw estern sides, and declines gradually to the 
north where it is nearly free from stone and is cultivated—— 
the Hackensack approaches the southern and washes the 
western base. From this eminence the Hackensack and 
Passaic are seen for several miles slowly winding through 
the meadows and almost slumbering on the plain ; many 
villages, ranges of mountains, and the distant ocean are ob- 
served from this elevated ground. Greenstone, no way 
differing from the summit rock of the Palisadoes is exclusive- 
ly the rock of this mountain, presenting in several places 
mural precipices of considerable height ; cubic masses of 
this rock are piled up at the southern base. Serpents were 
formerly numerousat this place ; a few rattlesnakes and cop- 
. perheads remain in the southern ledges.. To the North of 
Snake-hill an insulated tract, three miles in length and one 
im breadth is observed gradually rising from the meadows—~ 
no rock im place appears on the surface, but good red and 
sray sandstone is quarried in several places. 1 found mica- 
ceous iron ore abundantly diffused through the gray sand- 
stone 5 pectinites and other marine petrifactions are seen 
resting on the most elevated parts of the tract. 
