J7K 



PREFACE. 



The writer of the following sheets, duing 

 a residence in the western country for many 

 years, has had occasion to visit several 

 parts, to travel over a large portion of the 

 State of Ohio, in different directions, and 

 to descend the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, 

 as far as New Orleans. In these excur- 

 sions, opportunities continually occurred 

 for observing,, and collecting information 

 respecting, those objects which are inter- 

 esting to adventurers into a new country, 

 and which may be gratifying to the curios 

 ity of others. Minutes were made of the 

 face of the country, soil, waters, natural 

 productions, and of whatever appeared 

 worthy of particular notice ; either from 

 his own observation, or from the informa- 

 tion of others which he had reason to be- 

 lieve was authentic. 



These notes were made with no other 

 view than for his own satisfaction, and for 

 communications to his friends. Solicita- 

 tions, however, from a number of his 



