Ixxx LIFE OF WILSON. 



with disgust on tte 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 afiuirs 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 

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

 Creek, where I secured my skiiF 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 skiff 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 skiflF. 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 looseflags of limestone. The soil, by appearance, is of the 

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



