60 



one feet, in order to admit a column of water 

 three feet by twenty-four, at the lowest stage of 

 the river.* 



In passing down the Ohio, about forty miles 

 below the Wabash, a curious cave is seen in a 

 high bank, on the Indiana side. Its mouth opens 

 to the river, and when the water is high it nearly 

 flows into it. The entrance is an arch in a rock 

 about twenty-five feet high in the centre, eighty 

 feet wide at the base, and extending back from 

 the opening one hundred and eighty feet. The 

 mouth is darkened by several large trees growing 

 before it, which give it a gloomy and solemn ap- 

 pearance. Passengers usually visit it, and have 

 engraved on the sides within the mouth, a great 

 number of names, dates and other inscriptions. 

 Indian superstition and other fabulous stories 

 reported respecting this cave do not merit a 

 repetition. 



Further down the river, and within forty-six 

 miles of its mouth, is fort Massac, situated on a 

 high commanding bank, where a Lieutenant's 

 command is stationed. It wa& originally built by 

 the French. Here the land is rich and level, 

 consisting principally of natural meadow, with 



* In the Ohio Navigator a very accurate description is 

 given of the Rapids with an excellent map of the falls. From 

 this description the account of them here given, is principally 

 taken. To this very valuable work, the writer is indebted; 

 for many observations respecting the Ohio and Mississippi 

 rivers, and for much information in regard to the country 

 bordering upon them. 



