UNITED STATES. 



To arrive at the foot of this mountain, there is a 

 continual ascent of twelve miles, from the plain of 

 Pigwacket, which brings the traveller to the height 

 of land, between Saco and Amariscoggin rivers. 

 At this height there is a level of about a mile 

 square, part of which is a meadow, formerly a bea- 

 ver pond, with a dam at each end. Here, though 

 elevated more than three thousand feet above the . 

 level of the sea, the traveller finds himself in a 

 deep valley. On the east is a steep mountain, out 

 of which issue several springs, one of which is the 

 fountain of Ellis river, a branch of Saco, which runs 

 south ; another, of Peabody river, a branch of Ama*- 

 riscoggin, which runs north. From this meadow, 

 towards the west, there is an uninterrupted ascent, 

 on a ridge, between two deep gullies, to the summit 

 of Mount Washington. 



The lower part pf the mountain is shaded by a 

 thick growth of spruce and fir. The surface is 

 composed of rocks, covered with very long greeti 

 moss, which extends from one rock to another, and 

 is, in many places, so thick and strong, as to bear a 

 man's weight. This immense bed of moss, serves as 

 a sponge, to retain the moisture brought by the clouds 

 and vapours, which are frequently rising and gather- 

 ing round the mountains; the thick growth of wood, 

 prevents the rays of the sun from penetrating to ex- 

 hale it ; so that there is a constant supply of water . 

 deposited in the crevices of the rocks, and issuing 

 in the form of springs, from every part of the moun- 

 tain. 



TJie rocks which compose the surface of th^ 



