Journal of Col. Croghan. 259 



ing to the melting of the snows. This day we passed by ten fine 

 islands, though the greatest part of them are small. They lay 

 much higher out of the water than the mainland, and of course 

 less subject to be flooded by the freshes. At night we encamped 

 near an Indian village. The general course of the river from the 

 Two Creeks to Fat Meat Creek inclines to the south-west. 



18th. At 6 o'clock, A. M. we set oif in our batteaux ; the 

 country on both sides of the river appears delightful ; the hills 

 are several miles from the river banks, and consequently the 

 bottoms large ; the soil, timber, and banks of the river, much like 

 those we have before described ; about fifty miles below the Fat 

 Meat Creek, we enter the long reach, where the river runs a 

 straight course for twenty miles, and makes a delightful prospect; 

 the banks continue high ; the country on both sides, level, rich, 

 and well watered. At the lower end of the reach we encamped. 

 This day we passed nine islands, some of which are large, and 

 lay high out of the water. 



19th. We decamped at six in the morning, and sailed to a place 

 called the Three Islands, being about fifteen miles from our last 

 encampment ; here the highlands come close to the river banks, 

 and the bottoms for the most part — till we come to the Mus- 

 kingum (or Elk) river — are but narrow : this river empties itself 

 into the Ohio about fifteen miles below the Three Islands ; the 

 banks of the river continue steep, and the country is level for 

 several miles back from the river. The course of the river from 

 Fat Meat Creek to Elk River, is about south-west and by south. 

 We proceeded down the river about fifteen miles, to the mouth 

 of Little Conhawa River, with little or no alteration in the face 

 of the country ; here we encamped in a fine rich bottom, after 

 having passed fourteen islands, some of them large, and mostly 

 lying high out of the water. Here buffaloes, bears, turkeys, with 

 all other kinds of wild game are extremely plenty. A good hunter, 

 without much fatigue to himself, could here supply daily one 

 hundred men with meat. The course of the Ohio, from Elk River 

 to Little Conhawa, is about south. 



20th. At six in the morning we embarked in our boats, and 

 proceeded down to the mouth of Hochocken or Bottle River, 

 where we were obliged to encamp, having a strong head wind 

 against us. We made but twenty miles this day, and passed by 

 five very fine islands; the country the whole way being rich 



