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mountain, were chesnut, walnut, and hickory trees, sumac, some 
large-leaved linden trees, large pines, maples, and planes; the 
two latter kinds, however, were found in greater numbers in the 
valleys. Amid these mountains, with their lovely prospects, and 
this splendid vegetation, the mind feels itself exalted, and the 
heart strengthened. This enjoyment, however, of the traveller, 
is somewhat diminished by the bad roads, which appear to be 
neglected, although the payment of toll is not forgotten. 
After we descended Laurel hill, we rode several miles through 
a tolerably thick woods, and reached Ebensburg, where we 
changed horses for the first time. This is a small and handsomely 
situated place, of about three hundred inhabitants, appearing, 
however, rather to decrease than increase. Two miles from this 
place, lies a small and quite deserted village, called Beula, found¬ 
ed by Welchmen, who, however, dispersed, as they found it of 
no advantage to continue there. After leaving Ebensburg, and 
behind this place, we ascended the Alleghany mountains, the 
highest in this region. The highest point which we passed is 
called Blair’s Gap, and considered to be more than three thou¬ 
sand feet above the level of the sea. The turnpike, though ne¬ 
glected, is still well laid out, and the ascent of the mountain is 
by no means steep. These regions have a remarkable aspect, 
they consist of ridges, which adjoin each other, and are of a pris¬ 
matic form; the ridge above is perfectly level, and only thirty 
paces broad. When standing in front of such a ridge, one moun¬ 
tain appears as high and long as the other, which adjoins it. 
After leaving the Alleghany mountains, of whose vegetation 
the same remark might be made as of Laurel hill, we reached a 
lovely valley, where we found by the side of a creek, a large 
stone mill, and a group of good houses, Blair’s Gap post-office. 
We here again changed horses. This creek is .called Beaverdam 
creek, and empties into the Juniata, between Holly day sburg and 
Frankstown. The region near this stream is said to produce 
good iron, and, as was before remarked, much use is made at 
Harper’s Ferry of Juniata iron. At Frankstown we reached the 
Juniata, and passed the rest of the day on its shores. The road 
often ran close to the river. Here, as well as on the passage over 
the mountains, railings were altogether wanting on the turnpike, 
and the road often passes by the edge of deep precipices. When 
large wagons meet, a false step of a horse at these dangerous 
places would have led to our unavoidable destruction. The road 
is often cut out of the rock; we remarked at several places in the 
mountains, declivities, which seem to be strewed with pieces of 
rocks of different sizes in a very remarkable manner. 
Beyond Frankstown we came to a valley, which is formed on 
the right side by Lock mountain, and on the left by Brush moun 
