lS53] 



VARIATIONS IN THE LEVEL OP THE LAKES. 



61 



To complete this rambling retrospective memorandum, it is 

 proper to add that the patriotism of our American neighbours 

 has progressive!}' given distinctive names to the principal peaks 

 or summits of this Alpine region, derived from successive Presi- 

 dents and other celebrated statesmen, as will be further mentioned ; 

 but that the appropriate appellation usually assigned to them by 

 the Indians is said to be Waumbeotbet Methna, signifying "the 

 mountains of the snowy foreheads," and that the whole range is 

 by them regarded as the abode of Genii, or Guardian Spirits, 

 having the controul of the angry mountain tempests, whom it is 

 advisable to propitiate by sacrifices. The name is in all proba- 

 bility derived from their summits being generally clothed with 

 snow about nine months in the year; but it is also possible that 

 both that and the appellation bestowed by Europeans may be 

 derived from certain remarkable mountains of the group, noticed 

 by all passing travellers as retaining a naked, hoary aspect through- 

 out the whole year, similar to the two lower spurs of Mount 

 Washington above described. 



The height of the principal summits of the White Mountains 

 above the sea has been determined by the scientific observations 

 of W. A. Goodwin, Esq., to be as follows: — 



Mount Washington 6285 feet. 



" Adams 5790 " 



' " Jefferson 5710 " 



and Mount Madison- 5361 " 



and that of others, by previous measurements, as follows : — 



Mount Munro-.. 5349 feet 



" Clay 5011 " 



" Franklin 4850 " 



and Mount Clinton 4200 " 



besides Mount Pleasant, 4715 feet, and several other peaks ex- 

 ceeding 3000 feet, such as Mounts Moriah, Webster, Crawford, &c. 

 The climate of this elevated region of course differs materially 

 from the plains below. The greatest heat indicated on even the 

 bare, rocky summit of Mount Washington, is said to be seldom 

 above 60 ° . The greatest cold has not, I believe, been jet ascer- 

 tained. At times during the summer the thermometer descends 

 below the freezing point. As for instance, a week ago it was, at 

 sunrise, as low as 31 c ; and on the morning of our visit it was 

 said to have been the same, whereas at sunset it stood at 42 , 

 and continued so till next morning, when we commenced our 

 descent; and I afterwards learnt that it only rose seven degrees 

 higher during the day. By a memorandum which 1 found taken 

 of the range of the thermometer from the 21st to the 27th Aug., 

 inclusive, it would appear that it was as follows :— 



DATE. 



Sunrise. 



Noon. 



Sunset. 



REMARKS. 



August 21 



" 22 



" 23 



" 24 

 " 25 .. 

 " 26 . 

 " 27 



36 

 39 

 33 

 37 

 44 

 31 

 42 



46 

 41 

 43 

 46 

 42 

 47 

 47 



45 

 35 

 42 

 45 

 36 

 42 

 49 



To give correct 

 mean, the middle 

 observation ought 

 to have been ta- 

 ken at 2 p.m., in- 

 stead of at Noon, 

 and the evening 

 observation at 10 

 r. M. 



It may be added that the whole is perhaps rated a little too 



character. Tliey are probably melamorphic. The crystal* in o: e or two, however, 

 are confused aggregate ; and these are perhaps derived from arnnite veins. Some of 

 the specimens hold black tourmaline or schorl, and small pink garnets The speci- 

 mens from the two remarkable white looking heights observed in the descent from 

 Mount Washington, appear to be true granite. They are composed ol opaque, white 

 feldspar, in a slate ol partial decomposition, colourless, transparent quariz arid 

 silvery mica ; and the mass of rock from which they are derived is probably 

 intrusive." 



high, the thermometer being placed within a few inches of the 

 outside of the glazed window of a warm kitchen, and therefore 

 liable to be more or less influenced thereby. Our landlord, how- 

 ever, insisted that it had been proved that such was not the case. 



It only remains to observe that, to enjoy as much as possible 

 of the grand and imposing scenery of the White Mountains, it is 

 advisable not to take any luggage to the Glen-House, but either 

 to leave it at the Gorham Hotel, or send it on to Sherbrooke, and 

 thereby leave the tourist at liberty to descend Mount Washington 

 by some new route, such as by the Great Notch, a stupendous 

 narrow rocky portal or chasm between the steep sides of Mount 

 Webster and Mount Willard, near which there is a convenient 

 Hotel kept by Mr. Gibbs; or, by taking pains to enquire before- 

 hand, he can select some other equally inviting and interesting 

 route, taking care, if time be an object, to arrive at the Gorham 

 station in proper season to rejoin the passing ears. 



For the benefit of those who study economy in their move- 

 ments, it may be proper to uote, that the usual expense at the 

 Gorham House is fSl-J a day, and at the more secluded and less 

 frequented Glen Honse, $2 ; and that at the Summit House it is 

 $3 ; and that, too, is a reasonable charge, considering that every 

 article of consumption, including even wood and coal for a con- 

 stant fire, is obliged to be brought up on horseback, from below, 

 but it is at the same time necessary to be " pretty much " on one's 

 guard against extras, as " they contrive to stick it on at an awful 

 rate," whenever an opportunity offers. The usual coach fare from 

 the Gorham to the Glen House is 75 cents; and that of a horse 

 per day for ascending Mount Washington is §3. 



It may also be here added, that the existence of two hotels on 

 the bleak, solitary summit of Mount Washington, though perhaps 

 beneficial to the public, furnishes an opportune illustration of the 

 reckless go-ahead competition common among our American 

 neighbours; it having no sooner been understood that the origi- 

 nal enterprising proprietor of the " Summit House " establish- 

 ment had made a tolerably good speculation out of it, than up 

 starts another competitor this year, in our neighbour of the " Tip- 

 Top House," — who, not content with taking the hard-earned 

 morsel out of his rival's mouth, was resolved to usurp his very 

 name and title also, which, it appears, last year rejoiced in the 

 double cognomen of " The Tip-Top, or Summit House." This, 

 however, w 7 as too much; and was likely to have produced a se- 

 rious " blow up ;" but it was at last amicably settled, by its being 

 agreed that the elder occupant should retain an undisputed right 

 to the title of the Summit House, and that his junior might assume 

 that of the Tip-Top, or any other higher rank that he pleased. 

 And " Tip- Top House" is therefore, now, proudly blazoned on 

 his inviting sign-board. It would appear, however, that a 

 discerning public, respecting the rights of primogeniture, or 

 primo " entemps," are determined to continue their patronage to 

 the original enterprizing caterer for their comforts, — for a personal 

 inspection of their respective guest-books, exhibits a flood of no 

 less than 2200 visitors to the Summit House during the season, of 

 whom 1 6 only were from Canada, while at the other, though 

 intended to be the tip-top of the fashion, as well as of the moun- 

 tain, the number was as yet not more than 300. So much for 

 unnecessary rivalship. 



VALE. 



Variations in the Level cf tie Lakes.* 



The year 1819 was one of low water on all the lakes, the lov 



* Continued from page 25. 



