Ixxx 
LIFE OF 
my skiff to a Kentucky boat, and, loading myself with my baggage, 
I groped my way through a swamp up to the town. The next 
day, I sold my skiff for exactly half what it cost me ; and the man 
who bought it wondered why I gave it such a droll Indian name, 
(the Ornithologist.) { Some old chief or warrior, I suppose ? ’ said 
he. This day, I walked down along shore to Shipping Port, to 
take a view of these celebrated Rapids ; but they fell far short of 
my expectation. I should have no hesitation in going down them 
in a skiff. The Falls of Oswego, in the state of New York, though 
on a smaller scale, are far more dangerous and formidable in 
appearance. Though the river was not high, I observed two arks 
and a barge run them with great ease and rapidity. The Ohio 
here is something more than a mile wide, with several islands inter- 
spersed ; the channel rocky, and the islands heaped with drift wood. 
The whole fall, in two miles, is less than twenty-four feet. The 
town of Louisville stands on a high second bank, and is about as 
large as Frankfort, having a number of good brick buildings and 
valuable shops. The situation would be as healthy as any on the 
river, but for the numerous swamps and ponds that intersect the 
woods in its neighbourhood. These, from their height above the 
river, might all be drained, and turned into cultivation ; but every 
man here is so intent on the immediate making of money, that 
they have neither time nor disposition for improvements, even 
where the article health is at stake. A man here told me, that 
last fall he had fourteen sick in his own family. On Friday the 24th, 
I left my baggage with a merchant of the place, to be forwarded 
by the first wagon ; and set out on foot for Lexington, seventy-two 
miles distant. I passed through Middleton and Shelbyville, both 
inconsiderable places. Nine-tenths of the country is in forest, the 
surface undulating into gentle eminences and declivities, between 
each of which generally runs a brook, over loose flags of limestone. 
The soil, by appearance, is of the richest sort. I observed immense 
fields of Indian corn ; high, excellent fences ; few grain fields ; 
many log-houses, and those of the meaner sort. I took notice of 
few apple orchards, but several very thriving peach ones. An 
appearance of slovenliness is but too general about their houses, 
barns, and barn-yards. Negroes are numerous ; cattle and horses 
lean, particularly the former, who appear as if struggling with 
