Geology of North Carolina. 245 



Nothing could exceed the regularity and beauty of its appear- 

 ance, as it presented itself to President Caldwell, Professor An- 

 drews, and myself, on a summer evening of 1823, while we 

 were approaching it from the east a little before sunset. Its 

 dark side being towards us, we could the more distinctly observe 

 its finished outline, which was still illuminated. The figure now 

 presented by its sloping sides and perpendicular summit, was 

 that of a triangle, having a portion of its vertex removed and 

 replaced by a parallelogram ; while the trees and shrubbery 

 that graced the outline, appeared like delicate fringe projected 

 on the western sky. We took lodgings at the eastern base of 

 the mountain, and waited for morning to make our ascent. Tbe 

 sun rose fair, and at an early hour, led by our host, we set for- 

 ward for the pinnacle. The country around for a great extent, 

 especially to the east and south, though undulating, is still so low 

 compared with this eminence, that the latter seems almost to 

 rise from an immense plain. In the immediate vicinity the land 

 descends a little towards the mountain on every side, which 

 therefore literally " swells from the vale." 



Dr. Caldwell and Professor Andrews had provided them- 

 selves with a quadrant, and a mountain barometer, for taking el- 

 evations, while I was to examine the geology of the mountain. 

 A small stream called Grassy creek which runs southerly being 

 considered as the true base, at this point we began our observa- 

 tions. For more than half the distance from this spot the ascent 

 is so gradual, that one may proceed on horseback, the acclivity be- 

 ing only about 20° until we reach the Spring, a post of rest and 

 refreshment, which was very grateful to our party. The water 

 was very cool and pure, its temperature being only 58°, (June 

 23d,) which may be regarded as the mean temperature of the 

 place for the year. From this spot the ascent becomes more ab- 

 rupt, (about twenty five degrees) and those who are unaccustom- 

 ed to climbing mountains find it extremely fatiguing. We arrive 

 at the pinnacle on the north side, where is the only pass that has 

 hitherto been found to the summit. The form of the pinnacle 

 is almost perfectly cylindrical, resembling an eminence in the 

 western Islands of Scotland, called the Scuir of Egg, but is even 

 much more regular than that, (see M'Culloch's western Islands, 

 plate 5.) The perpendicular wall is two hundred feet in height; 

 and many of the visitants, unaccustomed as they are to alpine 

 scenery, are so affected by the bewildering aspect of tbe world 

 below them, and so appalled at the idea of hanging on the sides 

 of the cliff that frowns over their heads, that no persuasion can 

 induce them to ascend the pinnacle. The path is indeed nar- 

 row and steep; but it appears when viewed from below, more 

 formidable than it really is. In some places the ascent is nearly 



