rounded up into steep hills, unusually smooth and regular in outline. From the plain they appear as great circular cavities scooped out as if by a giant's hand. There are also several of these depressions to the westward and southward of Legg's Hill. Deep Pond occupies one of them, being of small circumference, but 28 feet in depth.

Why the cavities were called "Dungeons" we cannot imagine, unless it was from the circumstance that they sometimes imprison small pools of water which collect at the bottom from the drainage of their grass-grown sides. The geologist considers them to be Diluvial Depressions, caused by the action of running water, perhaps in combination with the movement of vast blocks of ice. Similar depressions and corresponding elevations are common in various parts of the State. They are found in Barnstable, Plymouth, Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester, and Middlesex counties. In the town of Truro they are so numerous, that Prof. Hitchcock compares the aspect of the country to the appearance of a "chopped sea,' where the waves dash against each other in contrary directions. The hills there are sometimes 200 feet high, with corresponding cavi

ties.

Prof. Hitchcock considers that these re

markable forms were originated by running water, which agency alone could give them their peculiar characteristics. But he can hardly believe that they are attributable solely to the action of water, unless it was poured over the surface with a power and a violence vastly exceeding anything now witnessed. He suggests that ice was also an agent in this work; and a fact noticed in the Deerfield meadows, strengthens his supposition. It was noticed that when these meadows were overflowed by the spring floods, blocks of ice remained in fixed positions, so that the water eddying about among them, formed cavities in the ground similar to these, sometimes four or five feet deep. "Let us suppose (he says) that large blocks of ice were arrested by some narrow gorge, and as the diluvial waters subsided,

they settled down upon the diluvium that had accumulated. The current would now be compelled to follow many a devious course among the irregular blocks. Its velocity, also, would in some places be much increased; and a natural effect would be, that it would wear away the gravel and sand around some of the blocks of ice. They would be gradually undermined and settle down; and perhaps cavities as deep as we now witness, might be scooped out.”

These forces, he suggests, operating upon a grand scale, caused such hollows as these Dungeons, which form the most striking feature in the Forest River landscape. The theory, he admits, is not without difficulties, but it is certainly worthy of examination.

The Forest River was called by the Indians Mash ab e quash, and remains of the works of that people are still observed in this vicinity. The most interesting of these remains of the former lords of our soil, is an old Indian Fort, the outlines of which are observable on the summit of a hill overlooking the Forest River Plain. It is the only thing of the kind in this vicinity. The hill which the Fort occupies, stands at the intersection of the Lynn road, with a new cross-road recently built. A new school-house stands within a stone's throw of the spot. This small defence was mentioned as an "old Indian Fort," in the County Records, as early as 1658. It is nearly circular in form, and about 30 feet in diameter within the ditch which surrounded it. It is a great curiosity, and well worth a visit.

Not far from here, half a mile to the northward, is a great deposite of shells, marking the former seat of Indian habitation. It is at the head of Throgmorton's Cove, which makes in from Salem Harbor near the Forest River Mills, and is just east of Pine Grove. This cove commemorates John Throgmorton, one of the early settlers of the town. He came over with Roger Williams in the ship Lyon in 1630, and settled in Salem with his pastor, and was granted land here. He had the honor of being excommunicated with Williams from

the Salem Church, and went with him to Rhode Island. Throgmorton was one of those of whom Hugh Peters wrote, that "these wholly refused to hear the church, denying it and all the churches in the Bay to be true churches, and, except two, all re-baptized."

The monstrous heap of half-decayed and broken clam shells at Throgmorton's Cove, Fenders it certain that this charming and seeluded spot was often visited by the Indians as a favorite fishing-place, or a sort of aboriginal summer watering-place. The shells now remain as when cast aside by the Indian families, who must have devoured shell-fish in immense quantities. Some thirty cords have been taken away as manure, but yet a great collection remains. Following up the valley

to the South, in the direction of the Fort, fre

quent traces of shell deposites are noticed. Fragments of the peculiar kind of stone of which Indian arrow-heads were made, are also frequently seen. We observe, also, frequent rings of Barberry bushes, whose circular mode of growth Mr. Gregory thinks indicates the site of a wigwam. One instance of this occurs on the eastern slope near the summit of the great hill behind the Forest River Lead Factory. Shells are also observable here in the soil. Indeed the whole Forest River section abounds in Indian relics, which are turned up very frequently by the plow. This great plain must have been an Indian roving place for many long years.

Details of Indian life within our limits wo do not possess. The few facts which have been handed down by tradition and history, concerning the tribe located here when our fathers arrived, give us no clear and definite idea of their numbers or character. We only obtain an impression that there were a few straggling families, the prey of stronger tribes. In earlier times, and probably not long before the settlement, we may believe that the Naum

*Mr. J. J. H. Gregory, of Marblehead, who has given great attention to Indian relics, and is an authority upon the subject.

kengs were more numerous and perhaps more efficient. But as we actually know nothing of this, we must leave it to our imaginations, when we visit the ancient Indian localities, to supply the facts of Indian life, which must make up the romance of the spot.

mains, we here leave also the topic of this paAnd as we leave the subject of Indian reand in an off-hand manner, some of the inciper. Our purpose has been to collect briefly, dents which group themselves around the chief their historic associations or their present aspoints of our local scenery, when we think of pects. Yet we have not attempted to sketch of interest connected with either of them.— fully the history, the scenery, or other matters The object has been simply to mention such of a conversation upon either of the sections things as would naturally fall into the current noticed, and conversation never wholly satisfies either the converser or the conversee.

The civil history of Salem is full of interest, and rich in materials illustrative of nearly evcry social, political, and religious change which has occurred in Massachusetts since the foundation of the Colony; and this history has happily been well preserved in written and printed records. The natural history of Salem is also copious and various, and yields constant delight and instruction to its students, and even its desultory reader. Nature is everywhere rich in facts and phenomena of the highest and most beautiful significance; and whenever a Gilbert White or a Miss Cooper records the life of nature, in some quiet, unobtrusive town, the whole world is pleased and surprised to know that one small spot contains so much to wonder at and admire. Happily for our neighborhood the Institute observes and preserves its natural history; and though no one has yet written it in a book with that simplicity and grace which mark the naturalist of Selbourne, yet we often have detached portions of it in living speech, in the familiar and delightful conversations of the first Vice-President of the Institute (Rev. John

Joln Coleman, 4 mo, 1665.

Inventory of estate of John Coleman; amount 8, 12, 0. Returned by Peter Duncan. List of debts and charges, Allowed in Court, 27, 4, 1665.

7. 10, 3.

Rlc'd Windowe, 4 mo., 1665. Will of Rich'd Windowe, of Gloucester, 2 May, 1665, mentions daughter Ann, (Rich'd Gedney to have the sword and belt he traineth with), (Anthony Bennet, son-in-law, to have the great bible which was his father's), Eliz. Bennet his dau. in law. Sarah Davis to have his fowling piece and shot-moulds. Wife Bridget, James Travis, app'ts Wm. Haskell, sr., James Stevens and Jacob Davis of Gloucester, to be overseers. Proved 27, 4, 1665.

Inventory of above estate amount 211, 19, 6, taken by Philip Stanwood, John Davis, and Wm. Sargent, 26 4 mo., 1665.

Jno. Slater, 4 mo., 1665.

Inventory of estate of John Slater, jr., taken 18 May, 1665, by Wm. Pitt, John Peach, and John Codner; amount 50, 15, 0.

Capt. George Corwin, and Eliz'h Slater, relict of above John, app'd adm's of his estate, 27 4 mo, 1665.

Jona. Witt, 4 mo., 1665.

Inventory of estate of Jona. Witt, of Lynn, deceased, taken 30 11 mo., 1664, by Oliver Parchis and Thomas; amount 54, 19, 0, allowed; mentions his father Darian.

Mary Witt, relict of John, is appt'd adm'x 27, 4, 1665.

Rob't Moulton, 9 mo., 1665. Will of Rob't Moulton, sr., of Salem, dated 5 Sept. 1665, his wife ex'x; son Robert, daughter Abigaile, son Samuel to enjoy all his land within Reading bounds, butting on Ipswich River, 16 acres more or less, dau. Hannah, £20 in neat cattle when she is married, two younger sons, John and Joseph, two younger daughters, Miriam & Mary.

Witness: Henry Bartholomew, George Gardner, and Sam'l Gardner. Proved 28, 9, 1665. Inventory of above estate taken 3, 8, 1665

by Samuel Gardner, Job Swimmerton, jr., amount 294 10 0; a list of debts, 20 12 04, allowed 28, 9, '65.

Andrew Hodges, Mar. 1666.

Will of Andrew Hodges of Ipswich, dated Oct. 11, 1665, mentions his beloved wife, he give £5 to the custody of Cambridge for the good of some fellow, Henry Bennet £5, Goodwife Walden 40s, Mary Quitter 40s, Mr. Cobbit, 40s, cousin Esther Birdly, she to be administrator, and Dea. Thomas Knowlton and Theophilus Wilson, overseers. Probated 27, 1, 1666.

1665, by Robert Lord and Jacob Foster, Inventory of above estate taken 16 Jan., amounting 226, 19-allowed 27 Mar., 1666.

Rich'd Window, June, 1666.

Petition of Bridget. widow of Ric'd Window of Gloucester, wherein she mentions that

she lived with her husband after they were married 7 years; that when he died he left estate valued at £212, which were by some person got away from the petitioner that she had nothing to support her, and whereas one James James Stephens, one of the overseers of the will of her husband, confesseth that he (by word of mouth) left her one cow, yet she has not got that either; therefore she ptition that the Court will see to the case, that the estate be regularly divided. May 23, 1666.

may

John Farrington, June, 1666. Inventory of John Farrington, taken May 14, 1666, by John Hathorne and Joseph Jenks, amounting to 243, 6, 6, returned by the widow, 27, 4, 1666.

Humphrey Gilbert, June, 1666.

The deposition Ellen Hathorne, aged 25 yrs, who testifies to a gift to Hannah Gilbert by her mother on her death bed.

The depos. of the wife of Wm. Grave to the

same.

The deposition of Eliz❜h Hutton to the same, and to the giving of the same gift by Humphrey Gilbert on his sick bed.