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Topographical Geology, 



1 



and the wind gently blowing, gave to this fog a strong resemblance 

 to an agitated ocean. To the north and south it seemed illimitable ; 

 but on the east and the west, the high mountain ranges that form the 

 boundaries of the valley of the Connecticut, constituted its shores. I 

 could not but feel myself transported back, to that remote period, when 

 this great valley was enveloped in like manner, by water, and Hol- 

 yoke and Tom formed only low and picturesque islands upon its sur- 

 face. 



Sugar Loaf Mountain. 



No object in the valley of the Connecticut, is more picturesque than 

 this conical peak of red sandstone, which rises almost perpendicular- 

 ly 500 feet above the plain on the bank of the Connecticut, in the 

 south part of Deerfield. As the traveler approaches this hill from 

 the south, it seems as if its summit were inaccesible. But it can be 

 attained without difficulty on foot, and affords a delightful view on al- 

 most every side. The Connecticut and the peaceful village of Sun- 

 derland on its bank, appear so near, that one imagines he might al- 

 most reach them by a single leap. 



This mountain overlooks the site of some of the most sanguinary 

 scenes, that occurred during the early settlement of this region. A 

 little south of the mountain the Indians were defeated in 1675 by 

 Captains Lathrop and Beers : and one mile northwest, where the vil- 

 lage of Bloody Brook now stands, (which derived its name from the 

 circumstance,) in the same year, Captain Lathrop, was drawn into an 

 ambuscade with a company of " 80 young men, the very flower of 

 Essex County," who were nearly all destroyed. 



Deerfield Mountain. 



A sandstone ridge commences at Sugar Loaf, and runs northerly 

 through Deerfield and Greenfield, into Gill, increasing in height as 

 far as the village of Deerfield, where it is 700 feet above the plain on 

 which that village stands. Standing near this point, on the western 

 edge of the mountain, a most enchanting paranoma opens to view. 

 The alluvial plain on which Deerfield stands is sunk nearly 100 feet 

 below the general level of the Connecticut valley ; and at the south- 

 west part of this basin, Deerfield river is seen emerging from the 

 mountains, and winding in the most graceful curves along its whole 

 western border. Still more beneath the eye is the village, remarkable 

 for regularity, and for the number and size of the trees along the prin- 



