Library of Congress Travels in America performed in 1806, for the purpose of exploring the rivers Alleghany, Monongahela, Ohio, and Mississippi, and ascertaining the produce and condition of their banks and vicinity. By Thomas Ashe, esq. ... TRAVELS IN AMERICA, PERFORMED IN 1806, For the Purpose of exploring the RIVERS ALLEGHANY, MONONGAHELA, OHIO, AND MISSISSIPPI, AND ASCERTAINING THE PRODUCE AND CONDITION OF THEIR BANKS AND VICINITY. BY THOMAS ASHE, ESQ. IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. 1. LC LONDON: PRINTED FOR RICHARD PHILLIPS, BRIDGE-STREET; By John Abraham, Clement's Lane. 1808. F333 A8 224612 15 PREFACE. Travels in America performed in 1806, for the purpose of exploring the rivers Alleghany, Monongahela, Ohio, and Mississippi, and ascertaining the produce and condition of their banks and vicinity. By Thomas Ashe, esq. ... http://www.loc.gov/resource/lhbtn.3028a Library of Congress IT is universally acknowledged, that no description of writing comprehends so much amusement and entertainment as well written accounts of voyages and travels, especially in countries little known. If the voyages of a Cook and his followers, exploratory of the South Sea Islands, and the travels of a Bruce, or a Park, in the interior regions of Africa, have merited and obtained celebrity, the work now presented to the public cannot but claim a similar merit. The western part of America, become interesting in every point of view, has been little known, and misrepresented by the few writers on the subject, led by motives of interest or traffic, and has not heretofore been exhibited in a satisfactory manner. Mr. Ashe, the author of the present work, and who has now returned to America, here gives an account every way satisfactory. With all the necessary acquirements, he went on an exploratory journey, with the sole view of examining this interesting IV country; and his researches, delivered in the familiar stile of letters, in which he carries the reader along with him, cannot fail to interest and inform the politician, the statesman, the philosopher, and antiquary. He explains the delusions that have been held up by fanciful or partial writers as to the country, by which so many individuals have been misled; he furnishes to the naturalist a variety of interesting information; and to the antiquary he presents objects of absolute astonishment; the Indian antiquities of the western world, here first brought forward to the public, must create admiration. It will be seen that the fallen race who now inhabit America are the successors of men who have been capable of architectural and other work, that would do honor to any people or any age; and the remarkable antiquities which he describes cannot but induce a still more minute enquiry and investigation of objects of so great importance. CONTENTS TO VOL. I. LETTER I. General character of the north-eastern States of America—of the middle States—the southern—Town of Pittsburg— Alleghany mountains— Lancaster — The Susquehanna — Harrisburg, Shippensburg, and Stratsburg — interesting account of a tavern and its Travels in America performed in 1806, for the purpose of exploring the rivers Alleghany, Monongahela, Ohio, and Mississippi, and ascertaining the produce and condition of their banks and vicinity. By Thomas Ashe, esq. ... http://www.loc.gov/resource/lhbtn.3028a Library of Congress occupiers—Bedford— Sublimity and horrors of a night passed in a forest— Thoughts on natural history— St. Pierre. LETTER II. Sun-rise in a deep valley—Breakfast at an inn—American forests generally free from under-wood—The Author kills a large bear in the forest: its deliberate precaution on being shot—An Indian camp: gradual expulsion of the Indians into the interior, and their approximate extermination —Grandeur and beautiful tints of an autumnal scene— Laurel- hill—Delightful vale leading to Pittsburg—Expences at the American inns—Comfort a term of very various application. LETTER III. Situation and description of Pittsburg—its manufactories, ship-building, and population —State of education here — Character and Persons of the Ladies—Religious sects— Shools—Market-house, and prices of provisions—Price of land—Amusements. LETTER IV. The subject of emigration from Britain considered—History of an emigrant farmer— Kentucky peopled by a puffing publication—Lord Selkirk's colonizations—District least pernicious for emigrants. ii LETTER V. Morgantown—The Monongahela River—Cheat River and George's Creek—New Geneva, and Greensburg—Brownsville— William's-port—Elizabeth town—Mackee's port and Braddock's defeat— An Indian fortified camp described— An interesting object discovered Travels in America performed in 1806, for the purpose of exploring the rivers Alleghany, Monongahela, Ohio, and Mississippi, and ascertaining the produce and condition of their banks and vicinity. By Thomas Ashe, esq. ... http://www.loc.gov/resource/lhbtn.3028a Library of Congress near it—Ancient Indian barrows, or burial-places—Remains of arms, utensils, and instruments. LETTER VI. Town of Erie— Description of the Alleghany River—Trade on it—Its rise and progress —Towns and other remarkable places in its course— Waterford, and journey thence to Meadville—Big-sugar-creek, and Franklin— Montgomer's falls—Ewalt's defeat—Freeport —Sandy-creek—The navigation of the Alleghany dangerous — Bituminous well— Alleged virtues of the water of the river— Onandargo Lake and salt-springs round it—Fondness of the animals here for salt—Buffalloes: interesting narrrative respecting the destruction of those animals—Destruction of deer—Birds frequenting the saline waters—Doves— Unhealthiness of the climate and cautions on that subject—The most salubrious situations —Details of the manner in which the commerce of the two rivers is conducted—Immense circuitous journey performed by those chiefly engaged in it—Every thing done without money—A store described, and its abuses—Anecdote. LETTER VII. Traces ofa general deluge—Other great natural phenomena, difficult to be accounted for—Peculiar wonders of the vegetable and of the fossil kingdom—List of native plants classed into medicinal, esculent, ornamental, and useful— Vegetable products of the earth—Important inquiries and suggestions concerning some of them— Abundance of vegetable and of mineral productions here, which might be turned to great account if properly explored—American warriors—statesmen, and debates in Congress—divines, lawyers, physicians, and iii philosophers—Buffon's assertion correct, that both man and inferior animals degenerate in America. LETTER VIII. Travels in America performed in 1806, for the purpose of exploring the rivers Alleghany, Monongahela, Ohio, and Mississippi, and ascertaining the produce and condition of their banks and vicinity. By Thomas Ashe, esq. ... http://www.loc.gov/resource/lhbtn.3028a Library of Congress General view of the River Ohio, and its beauties—its advantage —its cource—its islands —its depth and navigation—its obstructions might easily be removed—Advice to persons wishing to descend the Ohio. LETTER IX. Proper season to descend the Ohio—a Monongahela, or Kentucky boat described — Confluence of the Monongahela and Alleghany waters—Sublime scenery—Hamilton's island— Irwin's island—difficulties in the course—Hogs' and Crows' islands—Mactintosh's town—Warren's town—Young's town—Grape island—its inhabitants—cause and manner of their settlement—its grape-vines—George town—a spring producing an oil smilar to Seneca oil—experiments to discover its cause—deductions from them. LETTER X. Course of the Ohio to Stubenville—Custard island—Stubenville —Congress lands—Indian honorable confederacy—Insidious means of some ill disposed whites to possess the country and exterminate its inhabitants—the Indians become undeceived, and resume the great federal tomahawk—They put to death many of their cruel invaders, who place themselves under the protection of Congress, and receive its support— Events of an Indian war—Peace restored—its terms— Finesse of Congress to possess the Indian lands —Hence arose the North-west territory, now the Ohio State—The subject of Congress lands continued—nature of their sales, and price of these lands—their great profit to land- jobbers —increase of population of the State—a Dutch purchaser, his sentiments after experience. LETTER XI. Charlestown—Vicious taste in building to the river—copied from iv Philadelphia—its punishment—Navigation from Charlestown to Wheeling—this port-town described— Travels in America performed in 1806, for the purpose of exploring the rivers Alleghany, Monongahela, Ohio, and Mississippi, and ascertaining the produce and condition of their banks and vicinity. By Thomas Ashe, esq. ... http://www.loc.gov/resource/lhbtn.3028a Library of Congress its origin— sketch of the inhabitants and their propensities—a Virginian horse-race—a boxing-match—A ball and supper— the sequel—a pathetic story. LETTER XII. A mail coach road from Philadelphia to Lexington in Kentucky, seven hundred miles— accommodations on the road— enchanting valley and creeks—their origin—history of the first settlement of Cooandanaga by Irish emigrants—its judicious regulations—Mr. Fitzpatrick its head—manner of passing Sunday in this little republic—general situation of its inhabitants—Long Reach—Indian imitations of animals. LETTER XIII. Fogs—night and day currents, their variation, advantages and disadvantages —Indian practical philosophy—a sublime prospect—an interesting breakfast—settlement of the banks of Long Reach—description of them—passage to Marietta —a dangerous fall —Little