348 Geology of North Carolina. 



After feasting for a week on the native luxuries of the Pilot, 

 we next passed a few miles eastward to the Sawratown moun- 

 tains, which we ascended at the highest point of elevation, cal- 

 led Moore's mountain. This eminence though higher than the 

 Pilot, is less difficult and perilous in the ascent, but is still suffi- 

 ciently laborious. The view which its summit presents, is simi- 

 lar to the other; and if the outline of the Blue Ridge loses a lit- 

 tle of its grandeur by a small increase of distance, the loss is 

 more than compensated by the Pilot itself, which stamps on the 

 landscape a most beautiful feature. The scenery that adorns the 

 sides of Moore's Mountain, is also of a highly interesting char- 

 acter. On the ascent we are conducted to a cascade, which > 

 though small, is eminently pleasing to the eye, presenting sud- 

 denly to the visiter, in a chasm between perpendicular rocks, 

 sixty five feet in height, a narrow sheet of silvery foam, falling 

 first down a precipice thirty feet, and then rolling down an in- 

 clined plain with peculiar grace and beauty. This water-fall 

 is so hidden among inaccessible rocks, as to be known to very 

 few persons, and remained without a name. But our party, 

 learning that Mr. Schweinitz, the distinguished botanist, had re- 

 cently penetrated to this spot in pursuing his favorite objects 

 among the mountains, and had expressed a high admiration of 

 its romantic scenery^ we agreed with one consent to designate it 

 afterwards by the name of Schweiniiz Falls. 



On our return we visited the celebrated grotto called the To- 

 ry House. The access to it on all sides is precipitous and diffi- 

 cult. Hence it was selected during the Revolutionary war by a 

 number of tories, forming a party of maurauders, who, like 

 Scottish Highlanders of former times, sallied forth now and then 

 upon the neighbouring low-lands, and plundered the inhabitants. 

 In this secluded spot, we discovered an arched entrance, through 

 which we passed, and found ourselves in a vaulted cavern of ve- 

 ry regular structure fifteen feet high, fifty feet long and twenty 

 feet wide in the center, but converging towards the farther end. 

 The arch is throughout remarkably well turned ; hardly a knob 

 or angular point appears to impair the smoothness of the sur- 

 face. The rocks consist of angular pieces of quartz, so wedged 

 as to fit each other with great precision, and of white mecaceous 

 rocks nicely pared by the hand of nature to the same level. 



We returned from our excursions with a full conviction, that 

 if the summit of the Sawratown mountains had inspired us with 

 emotions less sublime than that of the Pilot, yet it was only be- 

 cause we had there taken our first view of the landscape. 



For measuring the elevation of Moore's mountain, a good sta- 

 tion is obtained on the Banks of Dan River, which flows at its 

 base. From such an observation Messrs. Caldwell and Andrews 



