MASSACHUSETTS. Igg 



CHAPTER VITI. MASSACHUSETTS. 



EntruncE ti> Do.--tnn Harbor and Boston Liir/it. 

 PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



1. Boundaries and Extent. Massachusetts is bounded N. by Vermont and New Hainp 

 sliire ; E. by the Atlantic ; S. by Rhods Island and Connecticut ; and W. by New York. It 

 extends from 41^ 10' to 42^ 52' N. lat., and from 69= 50' to 7S° 20' W. long. Its greatest 

 length is from E. to W., which, reckoning the peninsula of Cape Cod, is 190 miles ; its breadth 

 is about 90. Its area is computed at 7,800 square miles. 



2. Mountains. That range, denominated in Vermont the Green Mountains, enters the west 

 part of Massachusetts from the north, forming the Honsac and Tavgkannuc ridges, which run 

 nearly parallel to each other south into Connecticut. The Taugkannuck ridge is near the west- 

 ern boundary of the State ; its most elevated peaks are Saddle Mountain, in the north, 3,600 

 feet high, and Taugkannuc .'^lountain, in the south, 3,000 feet. The Hoosac ridge has no 

 summits much above half these elevations. It divides the waters of the Connecticut from those 

 of the Housatonic. The IVhile Mountain range enters this State from New Hampshire, a 

 little to the east of the Connecticut, and running southerly, divides below Northampton, into 

 the Mount Tom and Lyme ranges, dlount Tom and Mount Holyoke are single peaks in this 

 range ; the first is 1,200, and the second 910 feet above the level of Connecticut river, which 

 flows between them. East of this range are some detached groups. JVuchusett., a single 

 mountain toward the east, is 3,000 feet above the level of the sea. Saddle J]Iountain is in the 

 northwest corner of Massachusetts, and is the highest point of land in the Stale. It consists of 

 a ridge 6 miles long, with two distinct summits. The ascent begins at Hoosac river, but for a 

 mile and a half it is a very gradual acclivity. The mountain is covered with forests of maple, 

 beech, cherry, and birch, with large patches and streaks of evergreens ; the rocks are a shining 

 schistus, of'a beautiful light blue, and lamellated with a smooth, brilliant surface. The soil is 

 rich up to the summit, and abounds with springs. Near the highest point is a pond. Clouds 

 hang about the mountain almost perpetually, and its surface is covered with leaves, moss, and 

 other spongy materials, fitted to retain moisture. From the summit, a very grand and exten- 

 '.sive view is afforded. The Catskill Mountains appear in the west, the Green Mountains in 

 the east, nortn, and south, with the peaks of Monadnock, Taugkannuc, and Mount Tom, at 

 40 or 50 miles' distance. 



An extraordinary phenomenon, which the inhabitants describe as the bursting of a cloud, 

 took place upon this mountain in the autumn of 17S4. A deluge of water came pouring down 



