bed was burned so low, that the water from succeeding rains filled 



succeeding year added to the height of the banks or'relative depth 

 of the lake. The perpendicular banks of the lake and the charred 

 stumps that have been formed at the bottom, confirm this supposi- 

 tion. There are many proofs that the water supply of the lake is 

 from the rainfall on the swamp and not from springs at the 

 bottom. The water is remarkably pure except from vegetable 

 matter infused, which gives it the color of weak tea and the name 

 of juniper water. It is considered the best water for long sea 

 voyages. Contrary to popular opinion abroad, the interior of the 

 swamp is a very healthful locality. 



Lyell briefly refers to the swamp in his "Travels in North 

 America," and of course sees a confirmation of his theory of coal 

 formations, viz. — "That ancient seams of coal were produced, 

 for the most part, by terrestrial plants of all sizes, not drifted, but 

 grovjing on the spot." 



That the Great Dismal was once much greater is evident from 

 the deposits of peaty matter, swamp mud, and burnt stumps, be- 

 low from twelve to fifteen feet of clay, at the distance of several 

 miles from its present limits. 



A specimen of charred wood was taken from a well about five 

 miles from the swamp, and perhaps a mile from Suffolk, Va., on 



large stump, where it had grown in the midst of the black peaty 

 soil, and below six and one-half feet of swamp mud, two feet of 

 blue clay, and twelve feet of red clay. In the mud about the roots 



It is well known that the southeastern part of Virginia con- 

 sists of two plateaus, one about eight or ten feet above the sea 

 and the other from twenty-five to forty feet. The well referred 

 to was dug near the eastern edge of the higher plateau, and the 

 surface of the swamp forms an inclined plane from one plateau to 

 the other. 



This vast swamp appears to be retained above the level of the 

 adjacent land in a way similar to the peat-mosses of Sol way ami 

 Sligo, until they burst and overwhelmed the neighboring country. 



as capillarity can supply and sustain the waters of the lake and 

 swamp above described? 



