of ignorance respecting these mountains, it is impossible to give a solution of this phenomenon, though it may proceed from some distant volcano, which, like Stromboli, may be in a state of constant activity, but more irregularly. It is well known that the sounds of volcanoes are heard at very great distances, as at Guatimala, where the sound of the volcano of Cotopaxi was distinctly heard, though more than two hundred and twenty miles distant. Some indications of volcanoes had been seen by the American party, when ascending the river, about sixty miles below the mouth of the Little Missouri, where they passed several very high bluffs on the south side, one of which had been lately a burning volcano, as the pumice stones lay very thick around it, and emitted a strong sulphureous smell. Similar appearances are mentioned by Mackenzie, as taking place among the Rocky Mountains on their eastern side, in north latitude fifty-six and one hundred and twenty degrees west longitude. ‘Mr. Mackay,’ says he, ‘informed me, that in passing over the mountains, he observed several chasms in the earth that emitted heat and smoke, which diffused a strong sulphureous stench.’ From all these circumstances combined, it is natural to infer that the sound proceeds from some very distant and unknown volcano.
On the west side of the Mississippi, and about midway between the Rocky Mountains and the Alleghanies, lies a broad range of mountains, called the Ozarks, six or seven hundred miles in length, about one hundred broad, and having an elevation varying from one to two thousand feet above the sea. This range of low mountains, which is penetrated by two branches of the Mississippi, the Arkansas and Red river, was nearly altogether unknown till within these few years. It is parallel with the range of the Alleghanies, making an angle of about forty degrees with the great range of the Andes. As far as the Ozarks have yet been explored, the granites and older primitive rocks are found at the lowest part, being surmounted by those of more recent formation. The reverse of this is observed in the Rocky Mountains. A similar range of broken and hilly country commences on the Ouisconsin river and extends north to Lake Superior. It is called the Wisconsin or Ouisconsin Hills.
GENERAL REMARKS ON MOUNTAINS.
Mountains are supposed by naturalists to have different origins, and to date their commencement from various periods. Those which form a chain, and are covered with snow, are accounted primitive, or antediluvian. They greatly exceed all other mountains in height; in general their elevation is very sudden, and their ascent steep and difficult. They are composed of vast masses of quartz, destitute of shells, and of all organized marine matter; and appear to descend almost perpendicularly into the body of the earth. Of this kind are the Pyrenees, the Alps, the Himmaleh ranges, the Atlas, and the Andes. Another class are of volcanic origin. These are either detached or surrounded with groups of lower hills, the soil of which is heaped up in disorder, and consists of gravel and other loose substances. Among these are Mount Ætna and Vesuvius. A third class of mountains, whether grouped or isolated, are such as are composed of stratified earth or stone, consisting of different substances of various colors. The interior consists of numerous strata, almost horizontally disposed, containing shells, marine productions, and fish bones in great quantities. The strata of mountains which are lower and of more recent date, sometimes appear to rise from the side of primitive mountains which they surround, and of which they form the first step in the ascent.
The mountains in Asia are the most elevated and imposing in the world. Of these the Himmaleh chain is the highest; one of its peaks, Dhawalaghiri, reaching the altitude of twenty-eight thousand and ninety-six feet, and several exceeding twenty-four thousand. Africa has some extensive chains of mountains, but the altitudes of only a few have been ascertained. Mont Blanc is the highest summit of Europe, reaching an elevation of fifteen thousand seven hundred and thirty-five feet. The Andes of South America present the most striking and stupendous features; cataracts, volcanoes, and immense chasms of an almost perpendicular descent. Chimborazo, the highest point of the Andes, reaches twenty-one thousand four hundred and sixty-four feet; in many places the peaks rise to upwards of twenty thousand feet, though in others they sink to less than one thousand.
In general, all the chains of mountains in the same continent, seem to have a mutual connection more or less apparent; they form a sort of frame-work to the land, and appear in the origin of things to have determined the shape which it was to assume; but this analogy, were we to generalize too much, would lead us into error. There are many chains, which have very little, or, rather, no affinity to each other. Such are the mountains of Scandinavia and of Scotland, mountains as independent as the character of the nations who inhabit them.
| TABLE OF THE PRINCIPAL ELEVATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES. | ||
| 1. | Long’s Peak, the highest of the Rocky Mountains, Missouri Territory | 12,000 |
| 2. | James’s Peak, of the Rocky Mountains, Missouri Territory | 11,500 |
| 3. | Inferior peaks of the Rocky Mountains, varying from 10,700 to | 7,200 |
| 4. | Mt. Washington, the highest of the White Hills, New Hampshire | 6,234 |
| 5. | Inferior peaks of the White Hills, varying from 5,328 to | 4,356 |
| 6. | Moosehillock Mt., Grafton County, New Hampshire | 4,636 |
| 7. | Mansfield or Chin Mt., Chittenden County, Vermont | 4,279 |
| 8. | Camels’ Rump, Chittenden County, Vermont | 4,188 |
| 9. | Shrewsbury Peak, Rutland County, Vermont | 4,034 |
| 10. | Saddleback Mt., Berkshire County, Massachusetts | 4,000 |
| 11. | Table Mountain, Pendleton District, South Carolina | 4,000 |
| 12. | Peaks of Otter, Bedford County, Virginia | 3,955 |
| 13. | Killington Peak, Rutland County, Vermont | 3,924 |
| 14. | Round Top, the highest of the Catskill Mountains, New York | 3,804 |
| 15. | High Peak, one of the highest of the Catskill Mountains, New York | 3,718 |
| 16. | Grand Monadnock, Cheshire County, New Hampshire | 3,718 |
| 17. | Manchester Mountain, Bennington County, Vermont | 3,706 |
| 18. | Ascutney Mountain, Windsor County, Vermont | 3,320 |
| 19. | Ozark Mountains, Arkansas Territory, average height | 3,200 |
| 20. | Wachuset Mountain, or Mount Adams, Worcester County, Mass. | 2,990 |
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