JIIVERS* 



iri 



The western branch is formed by Swam scot river, 

 which comes from Exeter, Winnicot river, which 

 comes through Greenland, and Lamprey river, 

 which divides New Market from Durham ; these 

 empty into a bay four miles wide, called the Great 

 bay. The water in its further progress is contracted 

 into a lesser bay, and then it receives Oyster river, 

 which runs through Durham, and Back river, which 

 comes from Dover, and at length meets with the 

 main stream to Hilton's point. The tide rises 

 into all these bays, and branches as far as the lov>^er 

 falls in each river, and forms a most rapid current, 

 especially at the season of the freshes, when the ebb 

 continues about two hours longer than the flood ; 

 and were it not for the numerous eddies formed by 

 the indenting of the shore, the ferries would then be 

 impassable. 



At the lower falls in the several branches of the 

 river, are landing places, whence lumber and other 

 country produce is transported, and vessels or boats 

 from below discharge their lading : so that in each 

 river there is a convenient trading place, not more 

 than tv/elve or fifteen miles distant from Ports- 

 mouth, with which there is a constant communica- 

 tion with every tide. Thus the river from its forrn^ 

 and the situation of its branches, is extremely fa- 

 vorable to the purposes of navigation and com- 

 mere©.* 



