Harris. 1 
28 
divide nearer and nearer to the other stream. Tliis occasionally 
goes so far that the slower stream is tapped and part of its w;iteis 
drawn off through the main eliannel of tlie pirate stream. Tlie 
resulting system of dr:unage often sliows a back-set position of 
the tributaries, like tlic barbs upon an arrow, due to tlie raaLn- 
tenance of the position which they lield when they disclnirged 
their waters through the original slower streatn. 
A typical instance is that of the Upper Engadine of Switzer- 
land, in which the Maira, flowing south-west, has cut back and 
captured a section of the slower Inn, flowing north-east, together 
with several of its headwater tributaries. Tliese tributaries re- 
tain their general original position except where they enter the 
pirate stream, and hence their ]>eculiar back-set character in 
the resulting system. 
.Vn instance of such stream capture is found fifteen miles west 
from Asheville in the Appalachian section of North Carolina. 
Hominy Creek, a rapid flowing tributary of the French Broad. 
A ^ 
INDEX MAP. 
