224 FORESTS ON FIRE. 



amongst the American forests are the most 

 awfully terrific. A hundred miles of country 

 were seen on fire at once, in the year 1825, on 

 the north side of the Miramichi river. I sup- 

 pose, that we Europeans can scarcely form an 

 idea of such a spectacle as this. The roaring 

 of the woods during this tremendous confla- 

 gration, resembled the incessant rolling of 

 thunder. The expansion of air in the forest, 

 by the intense heat, caused a rush of wind 

 around, which amounted to a hurricane.' If 

 these fires occur much oftener. North Ame- 

 rica, vast as is its natural supply, will no 

 longer export timber, as it has hitherto done ; 

 and we may then think more of the value 

 of our smaller, but better protected British 

 Forests." 



