FORT TOBACCO. 
■137 
the right, then gradually turning, precipitates 
itself down the Falls, and winds along at the 
foot of the rocks on which you stand with 
great velocity. The rocks are of a slate co¬ 
lour, and lie in strata; the surface of them in 
many places is glossy and sparkling. 
From hence I followed the course of the 
river downwards as far as George Town, 
where I again crossed it; and after passing 
through the federal city, proceeded along the 
Maryland shore of the river to Piscatoway, 
and afterwards to Port Tobacco, two small 
towns situated on creeks of their own name, 
which run into the Patowmac. In the neigh¬ 
bourhood of Piscatoway there are several very 
fine views of the Virginian shore ; Mount 
Vernon in particular appears- to great ad¬ 
vantage. 
I observed here great numbers of the poi¬ 
sonous vines which grow about the large trees, 
and are extremely like the common' grape vines.. 
If handled in the morning, when the branches 
are moist with the dew, they infallibly raise 
blisters on the hands, which it is sometimes dif¬ 
ficult to get rid of. 
Port Tobacco contains about eighty houses, 
most of which are of wood, and very poor; 
There is a large English episcopalian church 
on the border of the town, built of stone* 
which formerly was an ornament to the place* 
IQ ' 
