MOUNTAINS. 



51 



tics are [particularly striking in Virginia and Mary- 

 land in the chain called Blue Ridge. This chain, 

 which I have traversed or pursued the direction 

 of from the frontier of Pennsylvania to James 

 river, always exhibited to me the appearance of a 

 terrace elevated ten or twelve hundred feet above 

 the plaiuj, with a very steep ascent, and a summit 

 so even, that we scarcely perceive its undulations, 

 ©r the few gaps that serve for passages across it. 

 The base of this mass is only from four to six miles 

 broad. Approaching the north the height of this 

 chain, as well as of those that are parallel to it, de- 

 creases; and as some of its ramifications have occa- 

 sioned in Pennsylyania a confusion of names, by which 

 even geographers are perplexed, I will endeavour in 

 the first place to elucidate them. 



In Virginia three principal well-marked ridges are 

 clearly to be distinguished. 



First, Blue ridge, situate most eastedy, which 

 derives its name from its blueish appearance at a 

 distance to those who come from the flat maritime 

 country. It bears the name of South mountain ill 

 the maps of Evans and other geographers, without 

 any good reason being assignable for the term. In- 

 deed the mountains of the United States in general, 

 named at hap hazard by the colonists of each, dis- 

 trict, have but unmeaning and frequently whimsical 

 names. However this may be with respect to Blue 

 ridge, it branches off from the grand arch or knot 

 of the AUeghanies, and is even the most direct pro- 

 longation of that chain, as you come from the south : 

 it crosses James river below the junction of its twa 

 superior branches, the Potowmac below the She- 



