MOUNTAINS 



i^iiountain, are, in some parts, slate, in others flint ; 

 some specimens of rock crystal have been found, but 

 pf no great value. No limestone has yet been dis- 

 covered, though the most likely rocks have been 

 tried with aqua fortis. There is one precipice, on 

 the eastern side, not only completely perpendicular, 

 but composed of square stones as regular as a piece 

 pf masonry; it is almost five feet high, and from 

 fifteen to twenty in length. The uppermost rocks 

 of the mountain, are the common quartz, of a dark- 

 grey colour ; when broken they shew very small 

 shining specks, but there is no such appearance on 

 the exterior part. The eastern side of the moun- 

 tain rises in an angle of 45 degrees, and requires six 

 or seven hours of hard labour to ascend it. Many of 

 the precipices are so steep, as to oblige the traveller 

 to use his hands, as well as feet, and to hold by the 

 trees, which diminish in size, till ^they degenerate to 

 shrubs and bushes; above these are low vines, some 

 bearing red, and others blue berries, and the upper- 

 most vegetation is a species of grass, called Winter- 

 grass, mixed with the moss of the rocks. 



Having surmounted the upper and steepest preci- 

 pice, there is a large area, called the plain. It is a 

 dry heath, composed of rocks covered with moss, 

 and bearing the appearance of a pasture, in the be- 

 ginning of the Winter season. In some openings 

 between the rocks there are springs of water, in 

 others dry gravel. Here the grouse or heath bird 

 resorts, and is generally out of danger ; several of 

 them were shot by some travellers in October, 1774. 

 The extent of this plain is uncertain ; from the east- 

 ern side to the foot of the Pinnacle, or Sugarloaf, it is 



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