462 JOURNAL. [PART in. 



which they very cheerfully assist us. Much 

 diverted to see the nimbleness with which they 

 go on shore sometimes 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 [ 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 10th. Pass several fine coal mines> 

 which, like those at Pittsburgh, Steubenville, 

 Wheeling and other places, are not above 50 

 yards from the river and are upwards of 10 

 yards above high water. The river now becomes 

 more winding than we have hitherto found it. It 

 is sometimes so serpentine that it appears before 

 and behind like a continuation of lakes, and the 



