460 JOURNAL. [PART 111. 



the purpose, down the Ohio. We have, be 

 sides, a small skiff, to tow the ark and go 

 ashore occasionally. This ark, which would 

 stow away eight persons, close packed, is a 

 thing by no means pleasant to travel in, espe 

 cially at night. It is strong at bottom, but may 

 be compared to an orange-box, bowed over at 

 top, and so badly made as to admit a boy's 

 hand to steal the oranges : it is proof against 

 the river, but not against the rain. 



878. Just on going to push off the wharf, an 

 English officer stepped on board of us, with all 

 the curiosity imaginable. I at once took him 

 for a spy hired to way-lay travellers. He began 

 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 

 tiling 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 dif 

 ferent directions in its course, for about 200 

 miles. There is a curious contrast between the 

 waters which form this river: that of the AJIe- 



