The National Geographic Magazine, Vol. I., No. 3, July, 1889Various
Science
The National Geographic Magazine, Vol. I., No. 3, July, 1889
Various
Geography -- Periodicals
"The South mountain is not in ridges like the Endless mountains, but in
small, broken, steep, stoney hills; nor does it run with so much
regularity. In some places it gradually degenerates to nothing, not to
appear again for some miles, and in others it spreads several miles in
breadth. Between South mountain and the hither chain of the Endless
mountains (often for distinction called the North mountain, and in some
places the Kittatinni and Pequélin), there is a valley of pretty even
good land, some 8, 10 or 20 miles wide, and is the most considerable
quantity of valuable land that the English are possest of; and runs
through New Jersey, Pensilvania, Mariland and Virginia. It has yet
obtained no general name, but may properly enough be called Piemont,
from its situation. Besides conveniences always attending good land,
this valley is everywhere enriched with Limestone.
"The Endless mountains, so called from a translation of the Indian name
bearing that signification, come next in order. They are not confusedly
scattered and in lofty peaks overtopping one another, but stretch in
long uniform ridges scarce half a mile perpendicular in any place above
the intermediate vallies. Their name is expressive of their extent,
though no doubt not in a literal sense.... The mountains are almost all
so many ridges with even tops and nearly of a height. To look from
these hills into the lower lands is but, as it were, into an ocean of
woods, swelled and deprest here and there by little inequalities, not
to be distinguished one part from another any more than the waves of
the real ocean. The uniformity of these mountains, though debarring us
of an advantage in this respect, makes some amends in another. They are
very regular in their courses, and confine the creeks and rivers that
run between; and if we know where the gaps are that let through these
streams, we are not at a loss to lay down their most considerable
inflections....
"To the northwestward of the Endless mountains is a country of vast
extent, and in a manner as high as the mountains themselves. To look at
the abrupt termination of it, near the sea level, as is the case on the
west side of Hudson's river below Albany, it looks as a vast high
mountain; for the Kaats Kills, though of more lofty stature than any
other mountains in these parts of America, are but the continuation of
the Plains on the top, and the cliffs of them in the front they present
towards Kinderhook. These Upper Plains are of extraordinary rich level
land, and extend from the Mohocks river through the country of the
Confederates.[2] Their termination northward is at a little distance
from Lake Ontario; but what it is westward is not known, for those most
extensive plains of Ohio are part of them."
[Footnote 2: Referring to the league of Indian tribes, so-called.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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