The lands on the Muskingum above Marietta 

 are rich, thickly settled and well cultivated. At 

 the distance of twelve miles is the town of Ad- 

 ams, and twenty-three miles, by water, is the 

 town of Waterford, within the purchase of the 

 Ohio company. At a small distance above this 

 purchase, the bottom lands are narrow, and the 

 hills are many of them steep, tufted with pine, 

 for about thirty miles. They then begin to re- 

 cede from the river, and bottoms increase in 

 width to Zanesville ,• at the distance of a few 

 miles west of the river the face of the country is 

 swelling hills, with a rich soil, and the growth 

 principally beach and oak. 



The hills on this river abound with coal, and 

 much of it of an excellent quality. It is said a 

 vein of coal has been found crossing the bed of 

 the river, remarkable for its purity. The pieces 

 of the coal have the appearance of varnish, 

 somewhat resembling japan, and when laid on 

 the fire, a kind of fusion is produced, which con- 

 tinues until it is consumed by evaporation, 

 without disagreeable smell, and deposits 

 scarcely any cinder or ashes. Coal has been 

 sold at Marietta at about three cents the bushel, 

 and is much used by the inhabitants for fuel, in 

 preference to wood, when wood can be pur- 

 chased at one dollar per cord. 



Descending the Ohio, at the distance. of ten 

 miles below Marietta is Bellepre. This beau- 

 tiful village is several miles in length, extending; 



