Valley of the Connecticut. 89 



rising with precipitous bo Wn ess on either side of the valley. Through 

 the opening, the river is seen for two or three miles, enlivened by 

 one or two lovely islands, while over the rich meadows that con- 

 stitute the banks, are scattered trees, through which, half hidden, 

 appears in the distance the village of Northampton ; its more con- 

 spicuous edifices only being visible. Far beyond, and forming 

 the remote outline of the picture, lies the broad eastern slope of the 

 Hoosic mountains. (See Plate IV.) 



Another road has been recently opened on the banks of the Con- 

 necticut in the north part of Springfield, a mile or two below South 

 Hadley Canal : and here, too, as you face the northwest, a landscape 

 full of interest opens before you. In full view towards the left hand 

 side of the picture, you have the Falls in the Connecticut and the 

 entrance of the Canal on the north shore. A little to the right of 

 the Canal, a well built village occupies a beautiful ampitheatre, whose 

 elevated border is not less than 150 feet high, and mostly crowned 

 with oaks and pines. Beyond this at no great distance, however, 

 Mount Tom occupies the back ground with its bold and imposing 

 outline. (See Plate VI.) 



Three miles southeast of Sugar Loaf, in Deerfield, that peak pre- 

 sents one of the most unique views conceivable. Its outlines are so 

 regular, that were the traveler to meet with it in Egypt, he might, at 

 first view, regard it as indebted to human art, for its present shape. 

 At any rate, in that country it would probably have been wrought 

 into a second Sphinx, or some other gigantic monster. But to the 

 student of nature it is no less interesting as the work of God. A lit- 

 tle to the left, as seen from the place mentioned above, the southern 

 point of the Deerfield Mountain, sometimes called North Sugar Loaf, 

 appears, as well as the bold western front of that range for several 

 miles : and a little to the right, across the Connecticut, Mount Toby 

 is in full view. The sketch, Plate VIL, was taken considerably 

 nearer to Sugar Loaf, and differs somewhat from the above description. 



Ravine of Wcstfield River. 



Westfield river has found or formed a deep passage across the 

 whole eastern slope of the Hoosic range of Mountains, through the 

 towns of Westfield, Russell, Blanford, Chester, and Middlefield. 

 The ravine through which it passes, is for the most part very deep 

 and narrow, and cuts across, not only the general direction of the 

 mountain ranges, but across the rock strata also. Hence it might be 

 12 



