16 MARYLAND.

MOUNTAINS.—In the western extremity,where
the state is very narrow, it is very mountainous,
being crossed by the various ridges of the Alle-
gany. The Blue mountain, and the South
mountain, the most eastern of the range, cross
the state some distance above Frederick.

SWAMPS.—Maryland divides the Cyprus
Swamp with the state of Delaware. It is twelve
miles long from north to south, and six miles
wide, containing nearly an area of 50,000 acres.
It is a high level bason situate upon the ridge
between the Chesapeake and Atlantic, and con-
tains a great variety of plants, trees, wild beasts
and reptiles.

MINERALOGY.— Iron ore of excellent quali-
ty, is plenty in many parts of the state, furnish-
ing materials for a number of iron works. Cop-
peras and Alum are manufactured on the Mag-
gothy river, near the Chesapeake bay; coal a-
bounds in the western district.

FACE OF THE COUNTRY—The lands upon
the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake, are low
and level, and in some places covered with
stagnant water. On the Western Shore, the
largest proportion of the land between the bay
and the first falls of the rivers, has been prc-
nounced level, and free from stones; but it is in-
tersected in many directions by hills cf consi-
derable elevation. From the first falls to the
Blue Rige, the country becomes more uneven,
then hilly, and finally mountainous. Proceeding
westward, it continues of the latter description