161 
these lilts in direct contradic- 
tion with the northern features* 
Another is found in the Unaka 
mts. (dividing N. Carolina from 
Tennessee) forming a narrow 
winding ridge 4000 feet high, 
primitive on the eastern slope 
and secondary on the western 
slope. The Cowita mts also 
primitive are E. of it and W. 
of the Blue Ridge, 3000 feet 
high. 
In east Tennessee or west 
of Unaka mts are 3 ranges of 
mts between the branches of 
the Tennessee river. 1. Chil- 
howi 2500 feet. 2. Bay 2100 
feet 3. Clinch 2200 feet, and 
lastly comes the Cumberland 
mts 1800 feet, which by Wal- 
den mt to the N. and Lookout 
mt S. form the great Tennessee 
water gap; 
Many names are given to 
these ranges in Virginia, be- 
tween the stream of the Poto- 
mac and Kenhaway branches; 
but they are mere continua- 
tions. The Unaka mts become 
the Iron mts, and S. of James’ 
river head, connecting trans- 
verse chains, bind and blend 
together the primitive and 
secondary ranges in a very cu- 
rious Way not yet geologicaly 
explained. 
Thus far from the Allegha- 
nies being a mere bundle of pa- 
rallel ridges as geographers 
and geologists have supposed 
through false surveys, we find 
them a vast and lofty mass 
of mingled mountains, table- 
lands, peaks, hills, groups, 
knobs, spurs, steps, aprons, 
slopes, winding chains and 
some parellel ridges: nearly 
1500 miles long from N. E. to 
S. W. and very unequally 
wide, with all the geological 
formations among them. 
There is nothing exactly 
like elsewhere in the World: 
the Pyrenees, Apennines, Car- 
pathian, usually compared arc 
totally different in structure 
and configuration. Therefore 
these interesting mts demand 
the utmost attention from the 
geographer, geologist, miner- 
alogist, botanist, and philoso- 
pher. I mean to explore them 
every year over again. Thei£ 
valuable mines of coal, iron, 
gold, &c. begins to draw the at- 
tention of many; blit I will seek 
there the unexplored fossils, 
flowers, animals and precious 
stones Which I know they con- 
tain: taking maps and surveys 
of remote valleys and ranges 
to add to general knowledge. 
Is it not strange that while 
our political geography (which 
is fluctuating every year) is so 
much attended to, altho* new 
maps are needed every year to 
show new counties and towns: 
physical geography; which if 
once well drawn; would Be 
forever -permanent, has been 
so utterly neglected, or so long 
improperly understood ? 
C. S. RAFirasqtm. 
122. The Patagons. 
The nations dwelling in Au- 
stral America were thus nick- 
named by Magellan, in 1520, 
from two Catalan words mean- 
ing hoof paw. For 312 years 
past, they have been the sub- 
ject of romances, fables and 
I axrai pm* All the nations S. of 
