270 



up of loose gi'avel, must liave suffered most in their early 

 years, when unprotected at their tops by soil and herbage. 

 It is very sale, therefore, to say that Powow Hill was once 

 considerably higher than at present, — how much higlier it 

 would require a nicer observation and more acQurate math- 

 ■ematics than Geology is yet convei'sant with, to determine. 



The origin of Powow Hill was, in brief, thus : — Prom 

 thousands of observations in numberless localities. Geolo- 

 gists have arrived at the conclusion that thousands of years 

 ago a great flood swept down from the North-west, (not 

 Noah's liood,) covering the earth to the deptii of a mile or 

 more, and, tearing masses of rocks from hills and mountains, 

 broke up, ground up, and deposited them in masses and 

 beds over the surface of the earth. This was the origin of 

 Powov.' Hill and others of its class. 



Why is the soil of this hill so lertile, and so retentive of 

 moisture to its very top? Doubtless this question has been 

 often asked by the visitor, who, climbing with the expecta- 

 tion of finding but aridity and sterility, has been surprised, 

 at every step of his advance, to find one of the most fertile 

 and well watered (and, 1 may add, best tilled.) tract of land 

 in the township. A moment's examination of those heaps 

 of stones that industrious hands have collected irom the til- 

 lage land will explain all. It will be seen that these heaps 

 are made up, to a great degree, of a variety of clay slate, 

 which appears to be readily acted on by the elements. The 

 decomposition of tliis rock has given a soil abounding in clay, 

 an element which is retentive of moisture. But not only 

 does this i-ock give an element to the soil retentive of mois- 

 ture, but it affords a liberal supply, of potash and alumina, 

 and thus makes it ferlile. 



These piles of stone, with the addition of some sand and 

 gra.vel sprinkled in , would serve as very good models of Pow- 

 ow Hill as it must liave appeared when first formed. 



