MOUNTAINS. 



always endeavoured to dissuade every one from the 

 attempts From them, and the captives, whom they 

 sometimes led to Canada, through the passes of 

 these mountains, many fictions have been propagat- 

 ed, which have given rise to marvellous and incre- 

 dible stories; particularly, it has been reported, 

 that at immense and inaccessible heights, there 

 have been seen carbuncles, which are supposed to 

 appear lu^iinous in the night. Some writers, who 

 have attempted to give an account of these moun- 

 tains, have ascribed the whiteness of them, to shin- 

 ing rocks, or a kind of white moss ; and the highest 

 summit has been deemed inaccessible, on account of 

 the extreme cold, which threatens to freeze the tra- 

 veller, hi the midst of Summer. 



The White mcuntains are the most elevated part 

 of a ridge, which extends north-east and south-west 

 to an immense distance. The area of their base, 

 is an irregular figure, the whole circuit of which is 

 not less than sixty miles. The number of summits 

 within this area, cannot at present be ascertained, 

 the country round them being a thick wilderness. 

 The greatest number which can be seen at once, 

 is at Dartmouth, on the north-west side, where 

 seven summits appear at one view, of which four 

 are bald. Of these the three highest are the most 

 distant, being on the eastern side of the cluster; 

 one of these is the mountain which makes so ma- 

 jestic an appearance all along the shore of the east- 

 ern counties of Massachusetts. It has lately been 

 distinguished by the name of Mount Washing- 

 ton. 



