Final answer:
A legal description of property using physical features is called a description by metes and bounds. It involves hiring a surveyor to inspect the land and write a description that includes local landmarks. This system created challenges in determining property lines.
Step-by-step explanation:
A legal description of property using physical features is called a description by metes and bounds. In this system, English settlers would hire a surveyor to inspect the land and write a description of the desired plot of land, which would include local landmarks like trees, boulders, or streams. This description constituted a legal claim to the land and was registered with government authorities. The shape and size of the land parcels were quite random, creating challenges in determining property lines demarcated by moveable objects.