CHAPTER III.

RIVERS AND LAKES.---The Situation, Channels, Intervales, Courses, Depths, and Effects of the Rivers. An account of Lake Champlain, and Memphremagog.

ALL the streams and rivers of Vermont, have their origin among the green mountains. About thirty five of them have an easterly direction, and fall into Connecticut river. About twenty five run westerly, and discharge themselves into Lake Champlain: Two or three, running in the same direction, fall into Hudson's river. In the northeasterly parts of the state, there are four or five streams which have a northerly direction, and run into the lake Memphremagog; from thence, through the river St. Francis, they are emptied into the river St. Lawrence.

runs

THE most considerable streams on the west side of the green mountains, are Otter creek, Onion river, the river Lamoille, and Michiscoui.---Otter creek rises in Bromley; northerly about ninety miles, and falls into Lake Champlain at Ferrisburgh; and in its course receives about fifteen smaller streams. There are large falls in this river at Rutland, Pittsford, Middlebury, and Vergennes. Between these falls, the current is very slow, the water is deep, and it is navigable for the largest boats. Vessels of any burden may come up to the falls at Vergennes, five miles from its mouth. The head of this river in Bromley is not more

than thirty feet from the head of Batton Kill, which runs in a contrary direction, and falls into Hudson's river.

A small

ONION river, was formerly called the French river, and by the Indians, Winooski. It rises in Cabot, about fourteen miles to the west of Connecticut river, and thirty miles to the east of the heights of the green mountains. southerly branch rises in Washington and Corinth, not more than ten miles from Connecticut river. From this southerly branch, Onion river runs northwesterly, about seventy five miles, and empties itself into Lake Champlain, between Burlington and Colchester. This river receives fourteen smaller streams, and is navigable for small vessels, five miles from its mouth. It has several falls, between which it is navigable for boats. At one of these falls in Waterbury, the channel of the river becomes. very narrow, and passes between a high ledge of rocks on each side. A huge unshapely rock, in some ancient time, hath fallen from one of these ledges, in such a manner, that the whole river now runs under it. The rock forms a kind of natural bridge, but one that can never be of any use; as neither the shape of the rock, or the situation of the adjacent banks, will ever admit of a road either to, or over the rock. About six miles from its mouth, between Burlington and Colchester, the channel of this river is formed by a solid rock. The channel through the rock, by estimation, is fifteen rods in length, fifty feet wide, and seventy feet deep. Every appearance seems to denote that this channel was formed by the water, which in this

place could not have had any other passage... Onion river is one of the finest streams in Vermont. It runs through a most fertile country, the produce of which for several miles on each side of the river, is brought down to the Lake at Burlington. It was along this river, that the Indians formerly travelled from Canada, when they made their attacks upon the frontier settlements on Connecticut river.

The river Lamoille proceeds from a pond in Glover. Its general course is westerly After running about seventy five miles, and receiving fourteen lesser streams, it falls into Lake Champlain at Colchester, five miles north of the mouth of Onion river; and is of the same magnitude as that. The river Lamoille is a fine, smooth, and pleasant stream; and runs through a rich, level, fertile, country. The height of the land in the northeast part of the state, seems to be about Greenborough. About six miles to the southwest of the origin of the river Lamoille, is Scotland pond: From this proceeds Black river, which, for five or six miles runs in a direction opposite to, and nearly parallel, with that of the river Lamoille, and discharges itself into the lake Memphremagog.

MICHISCOUI is the Indian name of the most

northerly river in the state. It has its source in Belvidere, and runs nearly northeast until it has crossed the north line of Vermont: After running to some distance in Canada, it turns west, and then southerly, and then reenters the state in Richford; and falls into Lake Champlain at Michiscoui bay, in Highgate. This river is navigable for the largest boats to the

falls at Swanton, seven miles from its mouth, Michiscoui, Lamoille, and Onion river, are nearly of the same magnitude.

On the east side of the green mountains, the rivers are not so large as those on the west, but they are more numerous. The largest of them are Wantastitquek or West river, White river, and Poousoomsuck. Wantastitquek has its main source in Bromley, about three miles southeast from the head of Otter creek. Its course is to the southeast; it receives seven or eight smaller streams; and after running about thirty seven miles, falls into Connecticut river at Brattleborough. At its mouth this river is about fifteen rods wide, and ten or twelve feet deep.

THE north branch of White river, rises in Kingston. The south branch has its source in Philadelphia. From Kingston, the general course of this river is southerly; its length about fifty miles; it receives six or seven lesser streams; and falls into Connecticut river at Hartford. White river abounds with falls and rapids; at its mouth it is about eighteen rods in width, but not more than ten feet in depth.

POOUSOOMSUCK, rises from a pond in Westmore. Its course is southerly; it is made up of ten lesser streams; and after running about forty five miles, it joins Connecticut river in Barnet. It is there twelve rods wide, and eight feet deep.

CONNECTICUT river, into which these streams fall, forms the eastern boundary of the state. The original Indian name, which it still

bears, signifies the long river.* This river has its source in a ridge of mountains, which extend northeasterly to the gulph of St. Lawrence. The head of its northwestern branch, is about twenty five miles beyond the latitude of forty five degrees; and so far it has been surveyed. When it first enters the state, it is about ten rods wide; and in the course of sixty miles increases in its width to twenty four rods. Its course between Vermont and Newhampshire, a distance of two hundred miles, is southwesterly; from thence to its mouth, the course is more southerly. After running about four hundred miles through the country, and receiving a great number of other streams and rivers, it discharges itself into the ocean at Seabrook.--~ With respect to its length, utility, and beauty, this is one of the finest rivers in the eastern states. In the months of April or May, it overflows its banks; and for a length of three hundred miles, forms and fertilizes a vast tract of rich meadow. Vessels of eighty or one hundred tons, go up this river as far as Hartford in Connecticut, fifty miles from its mouth. It is navigable for boats, three hundred miles further, except the falls which the states of Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, are now making navigable by locks. While it increases the richness, and serves to transport the produce, by its perpetual majestic movement through an

The names which the original inhabitants assigned to our moun tains, plains, and valleys, are mostly lost. Many of our rivers, bays, and falls of water, are yet known by their ancient Indian names. On account of their originality, antiquity, signification, singularity, and sound, these names ought to be carefully preserved. In every respect they are far preferable to the unmeaning application, and constant repetition of an improper English name.