Litchfield enquirer., 1833-09-05


 rampant for a single place of security but the search Is vain. With an impossible barrier of rocks on one side and an inter- minable expanse of water on the other, a sudden storm upon the lake would as inev- itabIy assure destruction of the passenger in his frail canoe, as fhe were on the brink of the cataract of Niagara. The rock it. self is sandstone, which is disinlegrated by the continual action of the water with comparative facility. There are no bro- ken masses upon which the eye can rest and 6nd relief. The lake is SO deep, that these masses as they are torn from the pre- cipice, are concealed beneath its waterial- til it is reduced to sand. The actio14ot the waves has undermined every project- ing point; and there the immense preci- pice rests in caTerHs tn every direction. When we passed this immense fabric of nature; the wind was sill and the lake was calm. But cven the slightest motion ofthe waves, which in the most profound calm agitates these internal seas, swept through the deep caverHs with the noise of the dis- tant thunder, and died away upon the ear as it rolled forwafd tn the dark recesses iu- accessible to human observation. No sound more mechanically or more aWftif ev- CT vibrated upon hdinan nerves. 1t has left an impression which neither time nor distance can ever eGace. Resting in frail bark canoe upon the limpid waters of the lake, we seemed almost suspended in air, SO pellucid is the element upon which we foated. In gazing upon the towering bat- dement's which impended over us, and from which the smallest fragment would have destroyed us, we felt, and felt intensely, o0r own insigni6cance. No situation can be imagined more appalling to lhe courage, or more haInbling to the pride of man. We appeared like speck upon the face of the creation. Our whole party, Indians, and and voyagers, and soldiers, officers and servants, contemplated in mute astonish- ment the awful display of creative power, at whose base wa Hung; and no sound broke upon the ear to interrupt the cease- less roaring of the waters. No splendid cathedral, no temple built with hnman hands, no pomp of worship, could ever inn press the spectator with stch humility, and so strong conviction of the immense dis tance between him and the Almighty Arch itcct.
 -
 | WINNIPiSEOGEE.
 srhis ia:s1 :s- sl,A isaask- E ses.t;E,l sheets of water in thc world. It surro1n- ded by the highlands and mountains of g 1 most picturesque country, in the interior of the State of New Hampshire. The lake is about tweniy-two miles in length, and not far from eight miles in breadth the waters are deep, pure and sweet, supplied by .4pountain riffs and subjacent springs, and when drawn But few feet from the sur. face, cool and refreshing in the hottest sea- son of the year. The lake abounds in ex- cellent fish of all kinds common to northern waters. What adds greatly to the beauties of the lake are the numerous islands which i are scattered about in it, probably the tops of greatcr or smaller mouRtains, whose huge masses garni,e were but half ingnifed in the convulsions whieh in some early pc. riod of time, opened the abyss into whicE the surrounding waters flowed.
 These islands are generally well wood. ed, and many of them are susceptible O
 high culture. The last royal governor O
 New Hampshire had princely nia:ision ot the borders of this lake which was his ia.
 voiite summer residence. Winnipiseoget has been compared to Lake George; there is a similarity in the purity ofits waters, bu the former greatly exceeds the latter ir magnitude, covering nearly three times the square miles. There is also some resem. blance in the scenery that of Lake George is more wild and savage than that of Win nipiseogee, the latter is more romantic and diversified and from several points of ob- servation, vastly more extensive. The cir- cumjacent country embraces most intelli- gent, industrious and hardy race of mem
 This lake, and the neighboring waters, l were the favorite resorts of the Indians they spent their summer in fishing in them, and basked away on their banks their hours of ease, in the months when they rested from the chase. These children of the for- est had the most exquisite taste for rural scenery ]; their villages and small settle
 ments all prove the truth of this remark and the names they gave to favorite lakes, rivers and shores, were expressive. delicate and appropriate: OHIo. is saidto mean tht most beaatiful riuers; NAHANT the lover'! l scalk; WrNNrPIsEooEE, the smile of tks
 Great Spirit.
 All these translatioBs snayb be fancfnl, ,bu
 there cannot be a doubt that beautiful wa l'ters and favorite haunis, were named witI
 taste and imagination. The various tribes u r.L Tel sn naro 0ftnr d S,.Sva