The Merrimack River: its source and its tributaries. Embracing a history of manufactures, and of the towns along its course; their geography, topography, and products, with a description of the magnificent natural scenery about its upper waters./ By J. W. Meader.

THE MERRIMAACZ RIVEPR;
Pandemonium, and Jove still sits enthroned upon the lofty pinna cles, and milky torrents still roll down their sides, there is nothing
of mystery hovering about this section now, excepting the inexpli cable mystery of their creation.
"In 1642, Capt. Neal explored the White Mountain region, moved
to this enterprise, doubtless, by a passion for discovery and adven ture, and there could be no other place so well calculated to gratify a
disposition of that kind, as the unknown and mysterious region which
included these great mountains.
"Such an impression had they made upon the imagination of Neal,
that he set out on foot, attended by two companions, to reach them
through an unexplored forest. Ile described them. in the most exag gerated style,'to be a ridge extending an hundred leagues, on which
snow lieth all the year, and inaccessible except by the gullies which
the dissolved snow hath made.' On one of these mountains the
travellers reported'to have found a plain of a day's journey over,
whereon nothing grows but moss; and, at the further end of this
plain, a rude heap of mossy stones, piled upon one another a mile
high, on which one might ascend from stone to stone, like a pair of
winding stairs, to the top, where was another level of about an acre,
with a pond of clear water.' This summit was said to be far above
the clouds, and from hence they beheld a vapor like a vast pillar
drawn up by the sunbeams out of a great lake into the air, whence
it was formed into a cloud.
"The country beyond these mountains, northward, was said to be
daunting terrible,' full of rocky hills, as thick as molehills in a
meadow, and clothed with infinite thick woods. They had great
expectations of finding precious stones; and something resembling
crystals being picked up was sufficient to give them the name of
'Crystal Hills.' From hence they continued their route in search
of a lake, and' faire islands.' But their provisions were now well nigh spent, and the forests of Laconia yielded no supply. So they
were obliged to set their faces homeward, when'the discovery
wanted one day's journey of being finished.' *
Late in the year, depressed with that disappointment which ever
treads upon the heels of extravagant expectations, they returned
* from their melancholy journey across the wilderness.
* Barstow.
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