FALLS OF THE PATGW'MAC. 135 
information,, in order to enable him to over¬ 
reach them in a bargain, or to make some 
speculation in land to their injury; the tra¬ 
veller then loses all patience at this disagree¬ 
able and prying disposition, and feels disposed 
to turn from them with disgust; still, how¬ 
ever, if he wishes to go through the country 
peaceably, and without quarreling at every 
place where he stops, it is absolutely necessary 
to answer some few of their questions. 
Having followed the highway as far as 
Montgomery court-house, which is about 
thirty miles from Frederic, 1 turned off along a 
bye road running through the woods, in or¬ 
der to see the great falls of Patowmac River. 
The view of them from the Maryland 'shore is 
very pleasing, but not so much so as that from 
the opposite side. Having readied the river 
therefore close to the Falls, I rode along through 
the woods, with which its banks are covered, 
for some distance higher up, to a place where 
there was a ferry, and where I crossed into 
Virginia. From the place where I landed to 
the Falls, which is a distance of about three 
miles, there is a wild romantic path running 
along the margin of the river, and winding 
at the same time round the base of a hip'll 
o 
hill covered with lofty trees and rocks. Near 
to the shore, almost the whole way, there are 
clusters of small inlands covered with trees. 
