Page:Early western travels, 1748-1846 V13.djvu/48

 of the secondary formation. Much of the Quercus Primos monticola (or mountain chesnut oak) presents itself on the mountain, together with the Magnolia acuminata and Sorbus americana or service-berry.

10th.] To-day I walked nine miles to Stoystown,[11] if a handful of houses like this deserves such an appellation. The declivity of the surface is much more gentle and inconsiderable than that which I had passed. Indications of coal were also apparent along the margin of the road. The valleys are now broader, and the soil of a better quality. The inhabitants, however, chiefly Irish, are indigent, and considerably deficient in prudence and cleanliness. I spent most part of the day in collecting seeds of the Magnolia acuminata.

11th.] To-day I proceeded 18 miles to the little hamlet of Liganier[12] lately begun, and passed through Loughlinstown, equally inconsiderable, except for dram shops, improperly called taverns, with which this road abounds. The turnpike is completed nearly throughout this distance, and also to Greensburgh. Towards evening I crossed the Laurel Mountain, and found abundantly on {16} its western declivity the Circæa alpina. In the valley on the eastern ascent I likewise saw the Betula glauca, and a profusion of the common Rhododendron, which gives the name of Laurel to this mountain. Indications of coal, and a continued declension in the dip of the strata are still obvious. The sandstone, which is almost the only rock I have seen throughout the course of the day, is remarkable for the absence of organic reliquiæ. In some places