96 



Topographical Geology. 



tion meets the eye in immense quantities ; and the traveler naturally 

 inquires whither the soil has been carried, which must once have cov- 

 ered them ; and what mighty flood of waters could have swept over 

 this region with the fury requisite to produce such devastation. 

 Scenery of this kind, would be regarded as extremely dreary, were 

 not this^desolation carried to such an extent as to be interesting by its 

 novelty. It is scarcely possible for any man, however little interested 

 in the bizarre of natural scenery, to traverse this region for the first 

 time, without having his attention forcibly and constantly directed to 

 the landscape around him. And hence this must be one of the best 

 excursions for those afflicted with ennui, that can be found. More 

 extensive, however, and in general, finely contrasted with the scenery 

 of Cape Ann, is that along the south side of the Bay. 



Nantasket Beach and Hull. 



Supposing the traveler to start as before from Boston, the long and 

 narrow neck of land connecting the settlement of Hull with the main- 

 land must not be passed unvisited. To say nothing of the rocks 

 which at the head of this beach constitute almost the entire surface, 

 rivaling even Cape Ann in this respect, and which on the shore pre- 

 sent a remarkable and elegant variety of colours, the beach itself, not 

 less than 4 or 5 miles in extent, is much more interesting than that 

 leading to Nahant. The Light House and the Brewster and other 

 islands in view, as one advances towards Hull, are picturesque objects ; 

 and then the pleasant and sunny situation of the little village of Hull, 

 furnishes a convenient resting place for the traveler. 



In proceeding from this beach to Cape Cod, the traveler should not 

 fail to pass along the north shore of Cohasset — the most rocky place 

 perhaps in the Commonwealth. 



Cape Cod. 



But after passing Duxbury, the region of sand and gravel commen- 

 ces ; and to Provincetown, the extremity of Cape Cod, no genuine 

 ledge of rocks appears ; although bowlders of every size, over the 

 greater part of the distance, are common. 



The dunes or sand hills, which are often nearly or quite barren of 

 vegetation, and of snowy whiteness, forcibly attract the attention on 

 account of their peculiarity : while the numerous wind mills and vats 

 along the shore, for the manufacture of salt, are scarcely less interes- 

 ting to one not familiar with such processes. As we approach the 



