The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-06-06

III iornleu OI smaller mounds, covered viii tic de
brls of dark or brown sandstone, produced also by
mounds.
These elevations are in the direction of the block,
which are found on the side of the mountain, anC
bound the north of the plain where the petrfet
forest lies.
/ ing the soil seems to be entirely composed Of yellow
clay; and once on the summit, You see before you
towards the east, a plain slightly inclined to III,
south, extending in the distance, and covered with
backsh siones-there the petrfed forest begins
From this height, returning towards the southwes
and west are seen on the yellow SOIL (the clay before
mentioned, several hills Of conica FORM composed
of clay and cacareous earth, but the surface entirely
covered with the remains Of vitrifed sandstone.
On Superficial examination, these remains would BE-
taken for the craters of volcanoes, and their fag
ments Tor what had been elected from them; but they
are the results Of excavations similar to those or
the Red mountains.
The plain where the petri6ed wood is found
(where also are very small mounds of yitrifed sand
stone) extends from this place far the valley OF
Tyeh, which passes to the southeast the distance
of league and half.
| The most elevated point is at the west, and the
pieces become larger IN proportion as you advance;
the largest at the east Those in the best state
of preservation, those which most resemble icood
ns.piy hs,on, in the middle ofthe southern part.
The plain covered with these petrifactons is
bounded on the south by succession Of little hills
| ael to the mountain, which is at the north of the
plain. Here found also excavated blocks of
vitrifed sandstone.
Half way it is open, and leaves passage for the
rersant of the plain which loses itself in the valley
of Tyeh at the south.
In this place the small hills are composed of cal
careous earth and clay and upon each side there has
been sinking down, that the soil at the north is
inclined to the SOUTH while that at the south has
contrary inclination In the centre of the forest
several small hills Of clay and among the rest
at the northwest which is red the surface, is COM
sand; and all this part seems to have undergone the
action of fire.
Having made some excavations, l saw the soil Of
the forest consisted of calcareous sand on the sur
face, mixed with much rolled gravel and quartz peb-
bles; then stratum Of clay and cacareous earth,
which is found more at the south upon the reverse
of the mountain. There are many fossil bones and
shells of different periods in these strata. have
thought requisite to give these details TO show in
what manner the forest has been petrifed, and to
justify the opinion which shall subsequently give.
This is what remarked in examining the plain
where the petrified trees found. The lowest
parts are those where the trees best preserved in
the middle of the forest found those which have
retained the color of the wood and even of the bark
Some Of the pieces, at first sight, seem to be ,cood
neniy he,on. All the pieces the surface of the
soil, or half covered with sand. The parts which
into small fragments These petrfactions do not
exist under the surface of the earth.
The petrifactons of the eastern and western parts
are of black color and in siliceous state. Under
the mounds they found in small pieces scattered
on the surface
The trees lie in every direction. They are scat-
tered at different distances The largest thirty
metres (39 37-100 inches) long. Almost all are
straight, and you them entire. Having dug near
the trunks Of many of them, have found, in few
places, some fragments Of roots but it is probable
if no more can be found, that the parts which are
under the sand are wasted away.
The trees lying the earth are separated in sec
lions, as column formed of many pieces would be,
if it had fallen. There are some which have strong
branches and some which are knotted.
In the parts broken perpendicularly along the
trunk we see distinctly the different layers of albt-
men which enables us to ascertain the age of the
trees. BY the bark the contour and the form of the
tree, recognise the fir tree, the oak the sycamore
and fig; date trees, but flaceous pieces, as
the wood of the palm tree, intersected by knots as
the bamboo, and resembling very much the interior
of the trunk of the banana tree.
Many of these fragments, although the trunk is
straight, have little edge, or rim, which makes me
think they bamboos* still more, as many of them
are hollow. This kind would be colossal, for there
are some nearly tico feet in diameter A popularity
is, that the petrifacton Of the greater part of the
trees towards the stump is of different kind from
the rest. There observe the action of fire; many
are vitrifed, and many fragments resemble fire
brands recently taken from furnace; the ends are
ca,bonissd, but also petrifed. This forest presents
the appearance Of wood which had been set on
FIRE, and where the trees, whose trunks entire,
had fallen from the ncion of the surrounding heat,
without having been entirely consumed.
In the northeastern part of the forest where are
the little mounds covered with clay and sand, (men-
toned before,) we find many petrifed trees, and
many of the roots, which are converted into beaut-
full yeiio,c jasper. -g
In the assures Of these fragments there is white
concretion resembling chalcedony, and / took some
large pieces from several parts of the stumps of the
trees; and found, also, on this mound, stump of
tree which had every appearance of being decayed,
and Its cavities petrfaction enough like beehive
to be mistaken for it--smilar to those which are
seen in forests. The cells of the insect, and the in
sect ITSELF covered with wax, distinctly visible
Some fruits, resembling almonds, Dangoes, and the
fruit of the fan palm, were also there. These fruits
hollow and their interior partitions covered
with powder Of red oehre. On the petrifed wood,
ncrustaions of quartz pebbles, and sandstone, are
formed; and there is also to be seen modern sand
stone upon several trunks.
! have in my possession piece Of petriied
wood, in breaking which, found, in very
compact part, and in the heart of the tree
a globuar mass resembling birds egg
This geode was empty, formed of white quartz
and in the wood is a trace Of the same material
And suppose that it is the sap of the tree petri-
fed around the air, which it contains, although
have found tree still standing (Which i,co feet
high,) the marks of whose roots were prolonged in
a sandy soil. Notwithstanding all my researches,
could not collect a sufficient number of facts to
prove that these trees had been petrifed as they
stood. But in another forest, composed entirely Of
date trees, which is at hro days journey from the
west OF the Naron lakes, observed several trunks
from s'r to eight feet in height, which were still
standing.
what made me suppose that these trees had been
petrhed standing, was the manner in which thew lie
broken, which is exactly the effect which mass of
stone OF this size and shape would have in falling;
more especially, as | remarked that many of these
trees have been burnt at their trunks and roots
which could not be explained if their roots had not
been all turned to the fire, they (he trees) lie in
different directions. This effect could not have
taken place, excepting when they were standing
and the fire commencing below, spread itself in
wardy In this place, the action Of interior fire is
seen, which is proved by the mounds of vitrfed
ad.1.As a