106 



Topographical Geology. 



New Marlborough, containing several apartments and some stalac- 

 tites. In West Stockbridge is a small one. In Lanesborough is 

 one, 100 feet long, narrow and irregular, produced probably by a 

 subterranean stream. In Adams, a mile south of the north village, 

 on the Cheshire road, is a cavern of considerable interest ; contain- 

 ing several apartments ; the largest of which is 30 feet long, 20 feet 

 wide, and 20 feet high. A similar cave may be seen in Bennington, 

 Vt. And although these caverns will not compare in extent with 

 those in our western states, yet they will afford not a little gratifica- 

 tion, to those not familiar with subterranean excursions. 



Purgatories. 



I know not what fancied resemblances have applied this whimsical 

 name to several extensive fissures in the rocks of New England. 

 The most remarkable case of this kind is in Sutton, 3 1-2 miles south 

 east of the congregational meeting house. It is a fissure in gneiss, 

 nearly half a mile long, in most parts partially filled by the masses 

 of rock that have been detached from the walls. The sides are often 

 perpendicular, and sometimes 70 feet high ; being separated from 

 each other about 50 feet. 



This is an immense chasm : and I confess myself at a loss to ex- 

 plain its origin. It is natural to suppose that its sides have been in 

 some manner separated from one another. But I can conceive of no 

 mode in which this could have been accomplished, but by a force ac- 

 ting beneath : and this would so elevate the strata, that they would 

 dip on both sides from the fissure. But I could discover no such 

 dip. The inclination along the fissure corresponds with that which 

 is common in the region around; viz. about 25° N.E. In the vicin- 

 ity of the fissure, however, the rocks are often exceedingly broken 

 into fragments :* and this circumstance indicates some early subter- 

 ranean convulsion. Still, I am rather inclined to refer these frag- 

 ments as well as the fissure, to the long continued action of the waves 

 of the sea, when the spot was so situated as to form a shore of mod- 

 erate elevation. The next case of a purgatory which I shall des- 

 cribe, will illustrate the mode in which the waves might have pro- 

 duced such effects. 



* Visitors to the Sutton Purgatory should recollect that such broken rocks fur- 

 nish a fine retreat for the rattlesnake. J met with one among the debris of that 

 place. But as he kindly warned me that I was trespassing- on his territory, I 

 thought it ungenerous to attack him, and we parted on good terms, mutually will- 

 ing to be rid of each others company. 



