NEW HAMPSHIRE. 



171 



bordered with the most beautiful winding shores, and studded with a multitude of islands. 

 Their relative positions, also, could scarcely be more happy. Many of the islands are large, 

 exquisitely fashioned, and arranged in a manner not less singular than pleasing. As they mot 

 the eye, when surveyed from the summit, they were set in groups on both sides of the great 

 channel, and left this vast field of water unoccupied between them. Their length was univer- 

 sally at right angles to that of the lake, and they appeared as if several chains of hills, origi- ■ 

 nally crossing the country in that direction, had, by some convulsion, been merged in the water, 

 so low, that no part of them was left visible except the oblong segments of their summits. Of 

 those which, by their size and situation, were most conspicuous, I counted 45, without attempt- 

 ing to enumerate the smaller ones, or such as were obscured. The points which intrude into 

 this lake are widely different from those of Lake George ; bold, masculine blaf}s, infringing 

 directly upon the water ; these, in several instances, were spacious peninsulas, fitted to become 

 rich and delightful residences of man, often elevated into handsome hills, and sloping gracefully 

 into the lake." This lake is 472 feet above the level of the sea ; it receives the water of 

 several small streams, but is supplied chiefly by subjacent springs. Its depth in many parts 

 has not yet been fathomed ; it abounds in excellent fish, and its waters are pure and salubrious. 

 Many of the islands contain large farms, and one of them is 500 acres in extent. The outlet 

 passes from the southwest arm of the lake into the Merrimack. 



Sqiiam Lake, a little to the N. W. of the above, is a splendid sheet of water, indented by 

 points, arched with coves, and studded with a succession of romantic islands. It abounds with 

 the finest trout, and is 6 miles in length and 3 in breadth. The largest island is about 1 mile 

 long and one third of a mile wide. This lake communicates with the Merrimack ; it is sur- 

 rounded by high lands, among which is Squam Mountain, on the N. W. Sunapce Lake, 

 S. W. from Winnipiseogee, is 9 miles long and 1| broad ; its waters pass into the Connecti- 

 cut. Ossipee Lake is a beautiful sheet of water without any islands ; it covers about 7,000 

 acres, and empties itself into the Saco. 



6. Islands. The Isle of Skoals belong partly to New Hampshire and partly to JMaine. 

 They lie about S miles out to sea, between Portsmouth and Newburyport, and are hardly 

 more than a cluster of rocks rising above the water ; yet they are on many accounts worthy 

 of notice. They have but a thin soil and barren appearance, yet, for more than a century 

 previous to the Revolution, they were quite populous, containing at one time 600 inhabitants, 

 who found there an advantageous situation for carrying on fisheries. To this day, the best 

 cod in the world are those which are known in market under the name of Isle of Shoals dun 

 fish. From 3,000 to 4,000 quintals were once annually caught and cured here, but the busi- 

 ness has latterly declined. These Islands were discovered by the celebrated Captain Smith, 

 in 1614, and called at first Smith's Isles. The New Hampshire portion now constitutes the 

 town of Gosport. In all of them are chasms in the rocks apparently caused by earthquakes. 

 There is a remarkable chasm on Star Island, where one of the female inhabitants secreted 

 herself when the islands were invaded, and the people carried into captivity by the Indians. 

 The largest is named Hog Island and contains 350 acres ; Star Island has 150, Haley''s 

 100 ; they are in all 7. The inhabitants are about 100; they live solely by fishing, and in 

 connexion with those of the shore in their immediate neighborhood, who follow the same 

 mode of life, are the most rude and uncivihzed beings in New England, except the Indians. 

 They supply the markets of Newburyport with fish, and have long been known there by the 

 appellation of Jllgerines. Efixjrts have recently been made to improve their social condition, 

 and they have now a meetinghouse, school, &c. 



7. Coast. The whole extent of the coast of New Hampshire is but IS miles, and the 

 shore is in most places a sandy beach, bordered by salt marshes. The only harbor is that of 

 Portsmouth, although there are several coves for fishing craft. 



8. Climate. The winter is less severe than in Maine ; the deepest snows fall with a north- 

 east wind, and the storms from that quarter are the longest and most violent, a circumstance com- 

 mon to all the New England States ; spots of snow are seen on the south sides of mountains, 

 as late as May, and on the highest till .July. On the most elevated summits, the violence of 

 the wind drives the snow into the long and deep gullies of the mountains, where it consolidates 

 into hard masses, and lies till very late in the season. Morning and evening fires become 

 necessary about the beginning of September. Cattle are housed in the beginning of November, 

 and in the course of this month, the earth and rivers are general y frozen and covered with 

 snow. The open country is usually clear of snow in April, but in the wood= and northern 



