JOURNAL 



a talk about the Western countries, anxiously assuring us that we 

 need not hope to meet with such a thing as a respectable person 

 travel where we would. I told him I hoped in God I should see 

 no spy or informer, whether in plain clothes or regimentals, and 

 that of one thing I was certain, at any rate ; that I should find no 

 Sinecure placeman or pensioner in the Western country. 



879. The Ohio, at its commencement, is about 600 yards broad, 

 and continues running with nearly parallel sides, taking two or 

 three different directions in its course, for about 200 miles. There 

 is a curious contrast between the waters which form this river : 

 that of the Allegany is clear and transparent, that of the Monon- 

 gahela thick and muddy, and it is not for a considerable distance 

 that they entirely mingle. The sides of the river are beautiful ; 

 there are always rich bottom lands upon the banks, which are steep 

 and pretty high, varying in width from a few yards to a mile, and 

 skirted with steep hills varying also in height, overhanging with 

 fine timber. 



880. June fth. Floating down the Ohio, at the rate of four 

 miles an hour. Lightning, thunder, rain and hail pelting in upon 

 us. The hail-stones as large as English hazle-nuts. Stop at 

 Steubenville all night. A nice place ; has more stores than 

 taverns, which is a good sign. 



881. June 8th. Came to Wheeling at about 12 o clock. It is 

 a handsome place, and of considerable note. Stopped about an 

 hour. Found flour to be about 4 to 5 dollars a barrel ; fresh 

 beef 4 to 6 cents per lb., and other things (the produce of the 

 country) about the same proportion. Labourers wages, i dollar 

 a day. Fine coals here, and at Steubenville. 



882. June Qth. Two fine young men join us, one a carpenter 

 and the other a saddler, from Washington, in a skiff that they have 

 bought at Pittsburgh, and in which they are taking a journey of 

 about 700 miles down the river. We allow them to tie their skiff 

 to our ark, for which they very cheerfully assist us. Much 

 diverted to see the nimbleness with which they go on shore some 

 times with their rifles to shoot pigeons and squirrels. The 

 whole expences of these two young men in floating the 700 miles, 

 will be but 7 dollars each, including skiff and every thing else. 



883. This day pass Marietta, a good looking town at the mouth 

 of the Muskingham River. It is, however, like many other towns 

 on the Ohio, built on too low ground, and is subject to inundations. 

 Here I observe a contrivance of great ingenuity . There is a strong 

 rope put across the mouth of the river, opposite the town, fastened 

 to trees or large posts on each side ; upon this rope runs a pulley 

 or block, to which is attached a rope, and to the rope a ferry-boat, 

 which, by moving the helm first one way and then the other, is 

 propelled by the force of the water across the river backwards 

 or forwards. 



884. June loth. Pass several fine coal mines, which, like those 

 at Pittsburgh, Steubenville, Wheeling and other places, are not 



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