NEW YORK. 



223 



North of the Mohawk, and between lakes Champlain and Ontario, are five or six ranges of 

 mountains, with the direction and elevation of whicii we are imperfectly acquainted, for whicn 

 the name of Adirondac or JSIuhegan Jlfountains has been proposed. It has been recently ascer- 

 tained by the geological surveyors, that some of the summits in this group exceed 5,000 feet mi 

 height. The chain which traverses Warren and Essex counties seems to be the most elevated ; 

 Whiteface, in the latter, has been shown to be neai'ly 5,000 feet above the level of the sea ; and 

 later measurements have given to another summit, which has been called Jlluunt JWarcy, an 

 elevation of 5,460 feet. Some of the ridges of this group have received local names, as the 

 Kayaderosseras, on the west of Lake George ; the Highlands, of Black River ; the Hasscn- 

 cleaver „J\lountaiiis, of Oneida county ; and the central chain has been called JMacomb's Jh'oun- 

 tains. They received the name of Peruvian Jllountains from the early French inliabitants, in 

 consequence of a belief then entertained that they possessed great mineral treasures. The more 

 northern portions of these mountains have been little explored. 



The eastern face of the C'atskill ridge is steep and precipitous, displaying mural precipices 

 of great extent, and often of sulticient width to be distinguished at twenty miles' distance. They 

 appear encircling the mountains like enormous bands, and from their summits the most grand 

 and enchanting prospects of the great valley of the Hudson and the distant mountains of Con- 

 necticut and Massachusetts are alibrded. Many conical eminences rise above the general range ; 

 of these, the height near Cairo, and the Round Top are the most conspicuous ; the latter is 

 3,804 feet high. Several prominent spurs nm from the eastern ridge of the Catskill, in a north - 

 west direction, for many miles ; these border the elevated ravines and valleys through which the 

 rivers Kauterskill, Scoharie, and Plattei kill flow. The cloven passages of the Kauterskill and 

 Platterkill aflbrd the most sublime and picturesque scenery. 



The road through the Kauterskill clove,* ascends gradually near the river, where there ap- 

 pears scarcely space for the road and stream ; in many places, the traveler looks down from a 

 perpendicular and dizzy height upon foaming waters, that pursue a raging course among the 

 rocks, falling with a deafening noise from precipice to precipice. On the northern side of this 

 river, the mountain is lofty and precipitous, exhibiting, near its base, stupendous perpendicular 

 walls of argillaceous red sandstone and gray wacke slate, in strata nearly horizontal ; frequently 



but a small section of the horizon 

 can be seen. Mural precipices 

 rise in succession, and tower above 

 the forest ; the mountain top, 

 which seems to overhang the spec- 

 tator, is crowned by enormous 

 ledges, resembling castles or for- 

 tifications in ruins, on which a 

 few scattered pines preserve their 

 bleak station, in defiance of tem- 

 pests, and wave their dark ver- 

 dure over the cliffs like nodding 

 plumes. About two miles from 

 the entrance of the clove, the 

 Kauterskill is crossed by a bridge 

 thrown from crag to crag over the 

 brawling stream, here falling w 

 cascades. The mountain seems 

 torn asunder for the passage of the river, bearing high perpendicular walls of rock on its borders ; 

 a short distance above, the stream falls in a circular column nearly 100 feet. In tlie south, the 

 mountain rises to a great height ; its steep northern side is thickly clothed v, ith trees, and rivu- 

 lets are seen winding rapidly down the valley or sporting in cataracts. 



This mountain region abounds in small streams, which dash down the rocky glens m romantic 

 cascades, sometimes concealed by tho forest, and tlien flashing in the light through the ever- 

 green foliage, leaping from ledge to ledge, till they mingle their waters with the Platterkill. 

 The ascent from the Platterkill to the base of the mountains called Pound Top and High Peak, 

 is gradual, through thick groves of maple, beech, cherry, and hemlock. The elevated valleys 



'' l''roai !-!oi:f, I'tatcli. n cleft. 



