Ixxx LIFE OF WILSON. 



with disgust on the being who uttered it. This same miscreant pronounced a 

 long prayer before supper, and immediately after called out, in a splutter of 

 oaths, for the pine splinters to be held to let the gentleman see. Such a far- 

 rago of lies, oaths, prayers and politeness, put me in a good humor in spite of 

 myself. The whole herd of this filthy kennel were in perpetual motion with 

 the itch ; so having procured a large fire to be made, under pretence of habit 

 I sought for the softest plank, placed my trunk and great coat at my head, 

 and stretched myself there till morning. I set out early and passed several 

 arks. A number of turkeys which I observed from time to time on the Indiana 

 shore, made me lose half the morning in search of them. On the Kentucky 

 shore I was also decoyed by the same temptations, but never could approach 

 near enough to shoot one of them. These afi'airs detained me so, that I was 

 dubious whether I should be able to reach Louisville that night. Night came 

 on, and I could hear nothing of the Falls ; about eight I first heard the roaring 

 of the Rapids, and as it increased I was every moment in hopes of seeing the 

 lights of Louisville ; but no lights appeared, and the noise seemed now within 

 less than half a mile of me. Seriously alarmed, lest I might be drawn into 

 the suction of the Falls, I cautiously coasted along shore, which was full of 

 snaga and sawyers, and at length, with great satisfaction, opened Bear-Grass 

 Creek, where I secured my skiff to a Kentucky boat, and loading myself with 

 my baggage, I groped my way through a swamp up to the town. The next 

 day I sold my skiif for exactly half what it cost me ; and the man who bought 

 it wondered why I gave it such a droll Indian name, (the Ornithologist,) 

 ' some old chief or warrior I suppose,' said he. This day I walked down along 

 shore to Shippingport, to take a view of these celebrated Rapids, but they fell 

 far short of my expectation. I should have no hesitation in going down them 

 in a skiff. The Falls of Oswego, in the State of New York, though on a 

 smaller scale, are far more dangerous and formidable in appearance. Though 

 the river was not high, I observed two arks and a barge run them with great 

 ease and rapidity. The Ohio here is something more than a mile wide, with 

 several islands interspersed ; the channel rocky, and the islands heaped with 

 drift wood. The whole fall in two miles is less than twenty-four feet. The 

 town of Louisville stands on a high second bank, and is about as large as 

 Frankford, having a number of good brick buildings and valuable shops. The 

 situation would be as healthy as any on the river, but for the numerous swamps 

 and ponds that intersect the woods in its neighborhood. These from their 

 height above the river might all be drained and turned into cultivation ; but 

 every man here is so intent on the immediate making of money, that they have 

 neither time nor disposition for improvements, even where the article health 

 is at stake. A man here told me that last fall he had fourteen sick in his own 

 family. On Friday the 24th, I left my baggage with a merchant of the place 

 to be forwarded by the first wagon, and set out on foot for Lexington, seventy- 

 two miles distant. I passed through Middletown and Shelbyville, both incon- 

 siderable places. Nine-tenths of the country is in forest; the surface undu- 

 lating into gentle eminences and declivities, between each of which generally 

 runs a brook, over loose flags of limestone. The soil, by appearance, is of the 

 richest sort. I observed immense fields of Indian corn, high excellent fences, 



