276 TRAVELS THROUGH NORTH AMERICA r 
to the other, whilst at other times the greater 
part of the rocks are left uncovered. The, 
rocks are of a remarkable dark col our, and so 
also is the earth in the banks, which rise to a 
great height on either side. There is" a very 
pleasing view of this cataract as you passover 
the bridge across the river, about three quarters 
of a mile lower down. 
From hence we proceeded along the banks 
of the Hudson River, through the town, of 
Stillwater, which receives its name from th« 
uncommon stillness of the river opposite to it, 
and late' in the evening* reached Saratoga, 
thirty-five miles from Albany. This place 
contains about forty houses, and a Dutch re¬ 
formed* church, but they are so scattered about 
that it has not the smallest appearance of a 
town. 
In this neighbourhood, upon the borders of 
a marsh, are . several very remarkable mineral 
springs; one of them, in the crater of a. rock, 
of a pyramidical form, about five feet in height, 
is particularly curious. This rock seems to. 
have been formed by the petrifaction of ther 
water: all the other springs are likewise sur¬ 
rounded with petrifactions of the same kind. 
The water in the principal spring,, except at 
the beginning of the summer, when it regu¬ 
larly overflows, remains about r eight inches 
below the rim of the- crater, and bubbles up> 
i 
