24 
THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 
enters deep ravines where numerous cascades pla3' over 
great ledges down to the Hoosac. The chasm is very 
irregular and overhanging the banks, a great profusion of 
common polypod\- ferns cling together with frequent 
plants of maiden-hair spleenwort and walking terns. 
Leaving the Highlands by way of this stream one follows 
the river northward through broad terraced meadows on 
the Harrison flats near the site of old Fort Massachu- 
setts. The serpentine windings of these peaceful waters 
add im]:>etus to the current. 
The terraces of that ancient Lake of Aurora are still 
discernible everywhere about the valley and as the stream 
approaches the narrow pass just beyond the State Line it 
crowds hard against the rocky hillsides, scarcely leaving a 
safe passage for the roadway. 
An interesting ledge ol rock is formed along the Dug- 
Away at this place, known locally as the "Weeping 
Rocks." They consist of enormous shelving, pudding- 
stones covered with moss hanging in the form of stalac- 
tites, from which water trickles. These rocks are of calci- 
ferous, conglomerate and sandstone formation, and the 
cement or calcareous matter is being constantly derived 
from the slowly flowing water from these limestone hills. 
This cements together the small boulders and sandstone 
in such a manner as to amass enormous rocks that 
dynamite has little power over, since no drill could be used 
advantogeously to blast them. 
An Indian legend is associated with these " Weeping 
Rocks." In this region a powerful tribe of Indians once 
sought refuge from the persecution of their enemies. 
Among them had been handed down a tradition that thev 
should never be totally conquered and would endure till 
the rocks wept. Upon observing these rocks, however, 
terror and apparent fulfillment of the fatal prediction 
overwhelmed them with despair. A son of Williams 
College early commemorates the legend in part : * 
* Williams Quarterly. 
