Swell beyond a certain height, it changes its course, and runs in opposition to its source and the many rivers which fall into it. Towawards the east end of the lake on the South side, there are Mountains of a great height, composed entirely of a fine Yellow sand, which extend into the interior of the country as far as the eye can reach: on some of them, that are nigh the lake, the tops of huge Pine Trees are seen, forcing themselves through their surfaces, which comparatively do not appear to be of more than eighty years standing; and on the same principle, nigh as many feet in height[.] [I]n the intermediate spaces betwixt the trees, not a shrub or root is to be seen, which is an evident demonstration, that this mass of sand has been detached from the main body by some great natural cause; as it would be absurd to imagine that vegetation could make its way through such a mass of unfertile matter: as a further proof of this hypothiesis, there is a small River that takes its course through the middle of these Sandy Deserts, whose waters are black coloured, its banks and soil are composed of Clay, and earth, which appears to be in its original Situation. eEven the Indians philosophize on the formation of this singular phenomenon; but in so ludicrous a manner as

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