145 
be seen, but there were very handsome black thorns in flower* 
On the meadows numerous cattle were grazing, we passed two 
with a great number of sheep, and hogs were always plenty; the 
breeding of cattle is carried on to a great extent; quantities of 
cheese and butter are made here for sale; the cattle are drove 
to the eastern states, or the meat is salted and sent to New 
Orleans. We observed a great many partridges of a large kind, 
which they call pheasants'* here; the forests abound with wild 
pigeons. We reached our lodging place, Pike’s tavern, about four 
o’clock in the afternoon. It is situated amidst meadowst and con¬ 
sists of two log-houses erected close behind each other, they re¬ 
semble those of the state of Georgia, differing only in being bet¬ 
ter suited for a colder climate, as the crevices are filled with clay. 
Our landlord only began his establishment five years ago; he 
came from Massachusetts. Towards evening we saw a fine 
drove of cattle belonging to him, and in which his fortune chiefly 
consisted. Next morning we left our abode where we had been 
better lodged than we had expected, and went twenty miles far¬ 
ther to Columbus. The road was worse than any I had ever met 
with, consisting generally of log causeways, which are badly as¬ 
sorted and have large holes between them. We were barbar¬ 
ously jolted about, and therefore I went more than half the way on 
foot; the soil principally consists of a black meadow ground, 
marshy, with little wood and less cultivated. It is said to be un¬ 
wholesome during the summer; the houses are scattered and in a 
bad condition. At one mile from Columbus, is a small place called 
Franklinton, having several brick houses and a court-house. Its 
increase was at one time promising, but Columbus prevents its 
future advancement. Columbus is situated on the high left bank 
of the Sciota; we forded this river, which was perilous, as the 
water ran into our carriage; there was a wooden bridge formerly 
between Franklinton and Columbus, but it was broken down a year 
ago; trees are growing very fast in the woods in the vicinity, butthe 
wood is without strength and becomes rotten as soon as it attains 
its growth, which makes it impossible to depend on the duration 
of wooden buildings. Columbus is the chief town of the state of 
Ohio, and contains about one thousand eight hundred inhabitants, 
and three churches; one Presbyterian, one Lutheran, and one 
Methodist. In the year 1812, there were nothing but forests, 
and in the same year the lots of the city with the wood were 
* [ Tetrao Umbellus , L.]— Trans. 
f These meadows are designated in America, by the name of prairies, 
and extend over large tracts of land in the western country; they are covered 
with high grass; trees grow very sparingly on them, while the surrounding 
forests exhibit the most beautiful trees; the soil of these prairies generally con¬ 
sists of turf-moor. 
VOL. II. 
19 
