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here, no sounds from the distant villages found their way to this
height.  Flying around above our heads, at times approaching very
close were hundreds of buzzards.  How majestically they flew about (as if their motion were without an effort)
their heads lowered as if gazing far down on earth.
The rocks on which we were standing
were white with their limey excrement.  Mr. W. had brought his 
pistol to try an experiment.  When fired off there was a loud report
followed by <s>the</s> a reverberation growing fainter & fainter, lasting several
<s>sectio</s> seconds.  The same experiment tried on the Papocatepetl in Mexico
produced simply a dull thud.  We now <s>changed</s> left our position.
Finding other crags we went out on them also.  Here even a prettier
view was obtained, for off in the distance was the Potomac, and
after close scrutiny we saw also the C & O. canal and <s>the</s> a B. & O. R.R.
bridge.  At another place we saw the remains of an one-time
observatory.  We saw too the remains of a camp no doubt occupied
during the summer.  Having our time limited we thought it best to
descend.  On our way down we collected nice bunches of Solidago
caesia which here predominated.  Betula lenta was found frequently.
We arrived at the spring without much trouble and here we ate our
dinner.  Coffee was prepared.  About 3 p.m. we started for the
        