2G8 Journal of Col. Croghan. 



rant of the country. These meadows bear fine wild grass, and wild 

 hemp ten or twelve feet high, which, if properly manufactured, 

 would prove as good, and answer all the purposes of the hemp 

 we cultivate. 



July 25th. We set out from this place (alter settling all mat- 

 ters happily with the natives) for the Miames, and travelled the 

 whole way through a fine, rich bottom, overgrown with wild 

 hemp, alongside the Ouabache, till we came to Eel River, where 

 we arrived the 27th. About six miles up this river is a small 

 village of the Twightwee, situated on a very delightful spot of 

 ground on the bank of the river. The Eel river heads near St. 

 Joseph's, and runs nearly parallel to the Miames, and at some few 

 miles distance from it, through a fine, pleasant country, and after 

 a course of about one hundred and eighty miles empties itself 

 into the Ouabache. 



28th, 29th, 30th and 31st. We travelled still along side the 

 Eel River, passing through fine clear woods, and some good mea- 

 dows, though not so large as those we passed some days before. 

 The country is more overgrown with woods, the soil is sufficiently 

 rich, and well watered with springs. 



August 1st. We arrived at the carrying place between the Ri- 

 ver Miames and the Ouabache, which is about nine miles long 

 in dry seasons, but not above half that length in freshes. The 

 head of the Ouabache is about forty miles from this place, and 

 after a course of about seven hundred and sixty miles from the 

 head spring, through one of the finest countries in the world, it 

 empties itself into the Ohio. The navigation from hence to Oui- 

 catanon, is very difficult in low water, on account of many ra- 

 pids and rifts; but in freshes, which generally happen in the spring 

 and fail, batteaux or canoes will pass, without difficulty, from 

 here to Ouicatanon in three days, which is about two hundred 

 and forty miles, and by land about two hundred and ten miles. 

 From Ouicatanon to Port Vincent, and thence to the Ohio, bat- 

 teaux and canoes may go at any season of the year. Through- 

 out the whole course of the Ouabache the banks are pretty high, 

 and in the river are a great many islands. Many shrubs and 

 trees are found here unknown to us. 



Within a mile of the Twightwee village, I was met by the 

 chiefs of that nation, who received us very kindly. The most 

 part of these Indians knew me, and conducted me to their village, 



