SITUATION and BOUNDARIES.

KENTUCKE is situated, in its central part, near the latitude of 38° north, and 85° west longitude, and lying within the fifth cli­mate, its longest day is 14 hours 40 minutes. It is bounded on the north by great Sandy-creek; by the Ohio on the N. W. by North-Carolina on the south; and by the Cumberland moun­tain on the east, being upwards of 250 miles in length, and two hundred in breadth; and is at present divided into three counties, Lincoln, Fayette and Jefferson; of which Fayette and Jeffer­son are bounded by the Ohio, and the river Ken­tucke separates Fayette on its north side from the other two. There are at present eight towns laid off, and building; and more are proposed.

Louisville, at the Falls of Ohio, and Beards­town, are in Jefferson county; Harrodsburg, Danville, and Boons-burrow, in Lincoln coun­ty; Lexington, Lees-town, and Greenville, in Fayette county; the two last being on Kentuc­ke river. At these and many other places, on [Page 12] this and other rivers, inspecting-houses are esta­blished for Tobacco, which may be cultivated to great advantage; although not altogether the staple commodity of the country.

RIVERS.

THE beautiful river Ohio, bounds Kentucke in its whole length, being a mile and sometimes less in breadth, and is sufficient to carry boats of great burthen. Its general course is south 60 degrees west; and in its course it receives numbers of large and small rivers, which pay tribute to its glo­ry. The only disadvantage this fine river has, is a rapid, one mile and an half long, and one mile and a quarter broad, called the Falls of Ohio. In this place the river runs over a rocky bottom, and the descent is so gradual, that the fall does not probably in the whole exceed twenty feet. In some places we may observe it to fall a few feet. When the stream is low, empty boats only can pass and repass this ra­pid; their lading must be transported by land; but when high, boats of any burthen may pass in safety. Excepting this place, there is not a finer river in the world for navigation by boats. Besides this, Kentucke is watered by eight smal­ler rivers, and many large and small creeks, as may be easily seen in the map.

[Page 13]Licking River heading in the mountains with Cumberland River, and the North Branch of Kentucke, runs in a N. W. direction for up­wards of a hundred miles, collecting its silver streams from many branches, and is about one hundred yards broad at its mouth.

Red River heads and interlocks with the main branch of Licking, and flows in a S. West course into Kentucke River, being about sixty miles long, and sixty yards wide at its mouth.

The Kentucke River rises with three heads from a mountainous part of the Country. Its northern branch interlocks with Cumberland; runs half way in a western direction, and the other half N. westerly. It is amazingly crook­ed, upwards of two hundred miles in length, and about one hundred and fifty yards broad.

Elkhorn is a small river which empties itself into Kentucke in a N. W. by W. course; is about fifty miles long, and fifty yards broad at the mouth.

Dick's River joins the Kentucke in a N. West direction; is about forty-five miles long, and forty-five yards wide at its mouth. This river curiously heads and interlocks its branches with Salt River, Green River, and the waters [Page 14] of Rock-castle River.—Salt River rises at four different places near each other. The windings of this river are curious, rolling its streams round a spacious tract of fine land, and uniting almost fifteen miles before they approach the Ohio, and twenty miles below the Falls. It is amazingly crooked, runs a western course near ninety miles, and is about eighty yards wide at the mouth.

Green River interlocking with the heads of Dick's River, as mentioned above, is also a­mazingly crooked, keeps a western course for upwards of one hundred and fifty miles, and is about eighty yards wide at its mouth, which is about two hundred and twenty miles below the Falls.

Cumberland River, interlocks with the north­ern branch of Kentucke, as aforesaid, and rol­ling round the other arms of Kentucke, among the mountains, in a southern course for one hundred miles; then in a south western course for above one hundred miles; then in a south­ern and S. western course for about two hun­dred and fifty more, finds the Ohio, four hun­dred and thirteen miles below the Falls. At the settlements it is two hundred yards broad; and at its mouth three hundred, having pas­sed [Page 15] through North-Carolina in about half its course.

The Great Kenhawa, or New River, rises in North-Carolina, runs a northern, and N. West course for upwards of four hundred miles, and finds the Ohio four hundred miles above the Falls. It is about five hundred yards wide at its mouth. These two rivers are just mentioned, being beyond our limits. They run contrary courses, are exceeding large, and it is worth notice, that Clench, Holstein, Nolachuckey, and French-Broad rivers, take their rise between these two, or rather westward of New River, some of them rising and interlocking with it; and when they meet, form what is called the Tenese, or Cherokee River, which runs a west­ern course, and finds the Ohio twelve miles below Cumberland River. It is very large, and has spacious tracts of fine land.

These rivers are navigable for boats almost to their sources, without rapids, for the great­est part of the year. This country is ge­nerally level, and abounding with limestone, which usually lies about six feet deep, except in hollows, where streams run, where we find the rock in the bottom of the channel.

The springs and streams lessen in June, and [Page 16] continue low, hindering navigation, until No­vember, when the autumnal rains soon pre­pare the rivers for boats, and replenish the whole country with water; but although the streams decrease, yet there is always sufficient for domestic uses. There are many fine springs, that never fail; every farmer has a good one at least; and excellent wells may easily be dug.

NATURE of the SOIL.

THE country, in some parts, is nearly level; in others not so much so; in others again hilly, but moderately, and in such places there is most water. The levels are not like a carpet, but interspersed with small risings, and declivi­ties, which form a beautiful prospect. A great part of the soil is amazingly fertile; some not so good, and some poor. The inhabitants dis­tinguish its quality by first, second, and third rate lands; and scarcely any such thing as a marsh or swamp is to be found. There is a ridge, where Kentucke rises, nearly of the size of a mountain, which in the map we have represented as such.

All the land below the Great Kenhawa un­til we come near the waters of Licking River is broken, hilly, and generally poor; except in some valleys, and on Little and Big Sandy [Page 17] creeks, where there is some first rate land, but mostly second and third rate. It is said, that near this water is found a pure salt rock. Up­on the north branch of Licking, we find a great body of first rate land. This stream runs near­ly parallel to the Ohio for a considerable di­stance, and is about seven miles from the mouth of Limestone Creek, where is a fine harbour for boats coming down the Ohio, and now a common landing. It is sixty-five miles from Lexington, to which there is a large waggon road. The main branch of Licking, is about twenty-two miles from Limestone. On this stream we find some first, but mostly second and third rate lands, and towards its head something hilly. There we find the Blue Licks, two fine salt springs, where great plenty of salt may be made. Round these licks, the soil is poor for some distance, being much impregnat­ed with salt.

The southern branch of Licking, and all its other arms, as appears in the map, spread through a great body of first, and some second rate land, where there is abundance of cane, and some salt licks, and springs. On these seve­ral branches of Licking, are good mill-seats, and navigation to the Ohio, from the fork down to its mouth. The land is hilly, and generally [Page 18] poor, yet along the streams and in valleys we find some excellent land.

The Elkhorn lands are much esteemed, being situated in a bend of Kentucke River, of great extent, in which this little river, or rather large creek, rises. Here we find mostly first rate land, and near the Kentucke River second and third rate. This great tract is beautifully situ­ated, covered with cane, wild rye, and clover; and many of the streams afford fine mill seats.

The lands below the mouth of Elkhorn, up Eagle Creek, and towards the Ohio, are hilly and poor, except those contained in a great bend of the Ohio, opposite Great Miami, cut off, as appears in the map, by the Big-bone and Bank-lick creeks, interlocking, and run­ning separate courses. Here we find a great deal of good land, but something hilly.

On Kentucke River we find many fertile valleys, or bottoms along the river, especially towards its rise. There is good land also on Red River, but towards the heads of this, and Kentucke, the soil is broken; but even here, we find in valleys, and along streams, a great deal of fruitful land. Generally the soil within a mile or two of Kentucke River is of the third [Page 19] and fourth rates; from about that distance, as we leave it on either side, we approach good lands. The country through which it winds its course, for the most part, may be considered as level to its banks, or rather precipices; from the brow of which, we behold the river, three and sometimes four hundred feet deep, like a great canal For a more particular account of this, we refer the reader to where we treat of the cu­riosities of Kentucke.

Dick's River runs through a great body of first rate land, abounding every where with cane, and affords many excellent mill seats. Many mills are already built on this stream, some of which are represented in the map, and will have a plentiful supply of water in the dry­est seasons. The banks of this river, near its mouth, are similar to the banks of Kentucke. The several streams and branches of Salt River afford excellent mill seats. These roll them­selves through a great tract of excellent land, but the country from the junction of these waters, and some miles above towards the Ohio, which may be about twenty-five miles, is level and poor, and has abundance of ponds. For a considerable distance from the head of this river, the land is of the first quality, well situ­ated, and abounds with fine cane. Upon this, [Page 20] and Dick's River, the inhabitants are chiefly set­tled, it being the safest part of the country from the incursions of the Indians.

Green River, affords excellent mill seats, and a constant stream. This is allowed to be the best watered part of Kentucke. On its banks we find many fine bottoms, some first rate, but mostly second and third rate lands; and at some distance, many knobs, ridges, and broken poor land. Below a creek, called Sinking Creek, on this river, within fifty miles of Ohio, towards Salt River, a great territory begins, called Green River Barrens, extending to the Ohio. Most of this is very good land, and level. It has no timber, and little water, but affords excellent pasturage for cattle. On some parts of this river, we find abundance of cane, some salt licks, and sulphureous and bituminous springs. South of Green River, in the lands reserved for the continental, and state troops of Virginia, an exceeding valuable lead mine has lately been discovered. Iron ore is found on Rough Creek, a stream running into this river. That part of Cumberland River which is in the Kentucke country, traverses a hilly poor land, though in some parts we find good soil along its sides. The other rivers I mentioned (viz. Great Kenhawa, and Tenese) are not in the Kentucke country, and therefore do not come properly within my plan.

[Page 21]The reader, by casting his eye upon the map, and viewing round the heads of Licking, from the Ohio, and round the heads of Kentucke, Dick's River, and down Green River to the Ohio, may view, in that great compass of above one hundred miles square, the most extraordinary country that the sun enlightens with his celestial beams.

The Ohio River, the great reservoir of all the numerous rivers that flow into it from both sides, has many fine valleys along its sides; and we observe that opposite to each of them there is a hill; these hills and bottoms changing sides al­ternately. It only remains under this head to inform the reader, that there is a great body of first rate land near the Falls, or Rapids, called Bare-grass; and it will be sufficient just to men­tion that the country on the N. West side of the Ohio, some of the waters of which I have repre­sented in the map, is allowed by all travellers to be a most fertile, level country, and well wa­tered.

AIR AND CLIMATE.

THIS country is more temperate and healthy than the other settled parts of America. In Summer it wants the sandy heats which Virginia and Carolina experience, and receives a fine air [Page 22] from its rivers. In Winter, which at most only lasts three months, commonly two, and is but seldom severe, the people are safe in bad houses; and the beasts have a good supply without fodder. The Winter begins about Christmas, and ends about the first of March, at farthest does not exceed the middle of that month. Snow seldom falls deep or lies long. The west winds often bring storms, and the east winds clear the sky; but there is no steady rule of weather in that respect as in the northern states. The west winds are sometimes cold and nitrous. The Ohio running in that direction, and there being mountains on that quarter, the westerly winds by sweeping along their tops, in the cold regions of the air, and over a long tract of frozen water, collect cold in their course, and convey it over the Kentuc­ke country; but the weather is not so intensely severe as these winds bring with them in Pennsyl­vania. The air and seasons depend very much on the winds, as to heat and cold, dryness and moisture.

SOIL AND PRODUCE.

THE soil of Kentucke is of a loose, deep black mould, without sand, in the first rate lands about two or three feet deep, and exceeding lux­urious in all its productions. In some places the mould inclines to brown. In some the wood, as [Page 23] the natural consequence of too rich a soil, is of little value, appearing like dead timber and large stumps in a field lately cleared. These parts are not considerable. The country in general may be considered as well timbered, producing large trees of many kinds, and to be exceeded by no country in variety. Those which are peculiar to Kentucke are the sugar-tree, which grows in all parts in great plenty, and furnishes every family with plenty of excellent sugar. The honey-locust is curiously surrounded with large thorny spikes, bearing broad and long pods in form of peas, has a sweet taste, and makes excellent beer.

The coffee-tree greatly resembles the black oak, grows large, and also bears a pod, in which is enclosed good coffee. The pappa-tree does not grow to a great size, is a soft wood, bears a fine fruit much like a cucumber in shape and size, and tastes sweet. The cucumber-tree is small and soft, with remarkable leaves, bears a fruit much resembling that from which it is nam­ed. Black mulberry-trees are in abundance. The wild cherry-tree is here frequent, of a large size, and supplies the inhabitants with boards for all their buildings. Here also is the buck-eye, an exceeding soft wood, bearing a remarkable black fruit, and some other kinds of trees not common elsewhere. Here is great plenty of fine cane, on which the cattle feed, and grow fat. This plant [Page 24] in general grows from three to twelve feet high, of a hard substance, with joints at eight or ten inches distance along the stalk, from which proceed leaves resembling those of the willow. There are many cane brakes so thick and tall that it is difficult to pass through them. Where no cane grows there is a­bundance of wild-rye, clover, and buffalo-grass, covering vast tracts of country, and affording ex­cellent food for cattle. The fields are covered with abundance of wild herbage not common to other countries. The Shawanese sallad, wild let­tuce, and pepper-grass, and many more, as yet unknown to the inhabitants, but which, no doubt, have excellent virtues. Here are seen the finest crown-imperial in the world, the car­dinal flower, so much extolled for its scarlet co­lour; and all the year, excepting the three Winter months, the plains and valleys are adorned with variety of flowers of the most admirable beauty. Here is also found the tulip-bearing laurel-tree, or magnolia, which has an exquisite smell, and con­tinues to blossom and seed for several months together.

This country is richest on the higher lands, exceeding the finest low grounds in the settled parts of the continent. When cultivated it pro­duces in common fifty and sixty bushels per a­cre; and I have heard it affirmed by credible persons, that above one hundred bushels of good [Page 25] corn were produced from an acre in one season. The first rate land is too rich for wheat till it has been reduced by four or five years cultivation.

Col. Harrod, a gentleman of veracity in Ken­tucke, has lately experienced the production of small grain, and affirms, that he had thirty-five bushels of wheat, and fifty bushels of rye per a­cre.

I think in common the land will produce a­bout thirty bushels of wheat, and rye, upon a moderate computation, per acre; and this is the general opinion of the inhabitants. We may suppose that barley and oats will increase abun­dantly; as yet they have not been sufficiently tried. The soil is very favourable to flax and hemp, turnips, potatoes and cotton, which grow in abundance; and the second, third and fourth rate lands, are as proper for small grain. These accounts of such amazing fertility may, to some, appear incredible, but are certainly true. Every husbandman may have a good gar­den, or meadow, without water or manure, where he pleases. The soil, which is not of a thir­sty nature, is commonly well supplied with plen­tiful showers.

Iron ore and lead are found in abundance, but we do not hear of any silver or gold mine as yet dis­covered.

[Page 26]The western waters produce plenty of fish and fowl. The fish common to the waters of the Ohio are the buffalo-fish, of a large size, and the cat-fish sometimes exceeding one hundred weight. Salmons have been taken in Kentucke weighing thirty weight. The mullet, rock, perch, gar-fish, and eel, are here in plenty. It is said that there are no trouts in the western wa­ters. Suckers, sun-fish, and other hook-fish, are abundant; but no shad, or herrings. We may suppose with a degree of certainty, that there are large subterraneous aqueducts stored with fish, from whence fine springs arise in many parts pro­ducing fine hook-fish in variety. On these wa­ters, and especially on the Ohio, the geese and ducks are amazingly numerous.

The land fowls are turkeys, which are very frequent, pheasants, partridges, and ravens: The perraquet, a bird every way resembling a parrot, but much smaller; the ivory-bill wood-cock, of a whitish colour with a white plume, flies scream­ing exceeding sharp. It is asserted, that the bill of this bird is pure ivory, a circumstance very sin­gular in the plumy tribe. The great owl re­sembles its species in other parts, but is remark­ably different in its vociferation, sometimes mak­ing a strange, surprising noise, like a man in the most extreme danger and difficulty.

[Page 27]Serpents are not numerous, and are such as are to be found in other parts of the continent, ex­cept the bull, the horned and the mockason snakes. Swamps are rare, and consequently frogs and other reptiles, common to such places. There are no swarms of bees, except such as have been introduced by the present inhabitants.

QUADRUPEDS.

AMONG the native animals are the urus, or zorax, described by Cesar, which we call a buffa­lo, much resembling a large bull, of a great size, with a large head, thick short crooked horns, and broader in his forepart than behind. Upon his shoulder is a large lump of flesh, covered with a thick boss of long wool and curly hair, of a dark brown colour. They do not rise from the ground as our cattle, but spring up at once up­on their feet; are of a broad make and clumsy appearance, with short legs, but run fast, and turn not aside for any thing when chased, except a standing tree. They weigh from five to ten hundred weight, are excellent meat, supplying the inhabitants in many parts with beef, and their hides make good leather. I have heard a hunter assert, he saw above one thousand buffaloes at the Blue Licks at once; so nume­rous were they before the first settlers had wan­tonly sported away their lives. There still re­mains [Page 28] a great number in the exterior parts of the settlement. They feed upon cane and grass, as other cattle, and are innocent harmless crea­tures.

There are still to be found many deer, elks and bears, within the settlement, and many more on the borders of it. There are also panthers, wild­cats, and wolves.

The waters have plenty of beavers, otters, minks, and musk-rats: Nor are the animals common to other parts wanting, such as foxes, rabbits, squir­rels, racoons, ground-hogs, pole-cats, and op­possums. Most of the species of the domestic quadrupeds have been introduced since the settle­ment, such as horses, cows, sheep and hogs, which are prodigiously multiplied, suffered to run in the woods without a keeper, and only brought home when wanted.

INHABITANTS.

AN accurate account is kept of all the male inhabitants above the age of sixteen, who are rated towards the expences of the government by the name of Tithables; from which, by allowing that those so enrolled amount to a fourth part of the whole inhabitants, we may conclude that Kentucke contains, at present, upwards of thirty [Page 29] thousand souls: So amazingly rapid has been the settlement in a few years. Numbers are dai­ly arriving, and multitudes expected this Fall; which gives a well grounded expectation that the country will be exceedingly populous in a short time. The inhabitants, at present, have not ex­traordinary good houses, as usual in a newly settled country.

They are, in general, polite, humane, hospita­ble, and very complaisant. Being collected from different parts of the continent, they have a diversity of manners, customs and religions, which may in time perhaps be modified to one u­niform. As yet united to the State of Virginia, they are governed by her wholesome laws, which are virtuously executed, and with excellent deco­rum, Schools for education are formed, and a college is appointed by act of Assembly of Vir­ginia, to be founded under the conduct of trus­tees in Kentucke, and endowed with lands for its use. An excellent library is likewise bestow­ed upon this seminary, by the Rev. John Todd, of Virginia.

The Anabaptists were the first that promoted public worship in Kentucke; and the Presbyte­rians have formed three large congregations near Harrod's station, and have engaged the Rev. Da­vid Rice, of Virginia, to be their pastor. At [Page 30] Lexington, 35 miles from these, they have form­ed another large congregation, and invited the Rev. Mr. Rankin, of Virginia, to undertake that charge among them. At present there are no other religious societies formed, although several other sects have numerous adherents. But from these early movements it is hoped that Kentucke will eminently shine in learning and piety, which will fulfil the wish of every virtuous citizen.

CURIOSITIES.

AMONGST the natural curiosities of this country, the winding banks, or rather precipices of Kentucke, and Dick's Rivers, deserve the first place. The astonished eye there beholds almost every where three or four hundred feet of a so­lid perpendicular lime-stone rock; in some parts a fine white marble, either curiously arched, pil­lared or blocked up into fine building stones. These precipices, as was observed before, are like the sides of a deep trench, or canal; the land a­bove being level, except where creeks set in, and crowned with fine groves of red cedar. It is on­ly at particular places that this river can be cross­ed, one of which is worthy of admiration; a great road large enough for waggons made by buffaloes, sloping with an easy descent from the top to the bottom of a very large steep hill, at or near the river above Lees-town.

[Page 31]Caves are found in this country amazingly large; in some of which you may travel several miles under a fine limestone rock, supported by curious arches and pillars: In most of them runs a stream of water.

Near the head of Salt River a subterranean lake or large pond has lately been discovered. Col. Bowman says, that he and a companion tra­velled in one four hours till he luckily came to the mouth again. The same gentleman men­tions another which operates like an air furnace, and contains much sulphur. An adventurer in a­ny of these will have a perfect idea of primeval darkness.

There appear to be great natural stores of sulphur and salt in this country. A spring at Boonsburrow constantly emits sulphureous par­ticles, and near the same place is a salt spring. There is another sulphureous spring upon Four Mile Creek, a third upon Green River, and ma­ny others in different places, abounding with that useful mineral.

There are three springs or ponds of bitumen near Green River, which do not form a stream, but disgorge themselves into a common reservoir, and when used in lamps answer all the purposes of the finest oil.

[Page 32]There are different places abounding with cop­peras, easily procured, and in its present impure state sufficient for the use of the inhabitants; and when refined, equal to any in the world.

There is an allum bank on the south side of Cumberland River, situated at the bottom of a cliff of rocks projecting over it. In its present state it has the appearance and possesses the vir­tues of that mineral, and when purified is a beautiful allum.

Many fine salt springs, whose places appear in the map, constantly emit water which, being manufactured, affords great quantities of fine salt. At present there is but one, called Bullet's Lick, improved, and this affords salt sufficient for all Kentucke, and exports some to the Illinois. Salt sells at present for twenty shillings per bush­el; but as some other springs are beginning to be worked, no doubt that necessary article will soon be much cheaper. Drenne's-lick, the Big-bone, and the Blue-licks, send forth streams of salt water. The Nob-lick, and many others, do not produce water, but consist of clay mixed with salt particles: To these the cattle repair, and reduce high hills rather to valleys than plains. The amazing herds of Buffaloes which resort thi­ther, by their size and number, fill the traveller with amazement and terror, especially when he [Page 33] beholds the prodigious roads they have made from all quarters, as if leading to some populous city; the vast space of land around these springs desolat­ed as if by a ravaging enemy, and hills reduced to plains; for the land near those springs are chiefly hilly. These are truly curiosities, and the eye can scarcely be satisfied with admiring them.

A medicinal spring is found near the Big-bone Lick, which has perfectly cured the itch by once bathing; and experience in time may discover in it other virtues. There is another of like nature near Drennen's-Lick.

Near Lexington are to be seen curious sepul­chres, full of human skeletons, which are thus fa­bricated. First, on the ground are laid large broad stones; on these were placed the bodies, separated from each other by broad stones, covered with others, which serve as a basis for the next arrangement of bodies. In this order they are built, without mortar, growing still nar­rower to the height of a man. This method of burying appears to be totally different from that now practised by the Indians. For our conjec­tures on this subject we beg leave to refer to ap­pendix No. 3.—At a salt spring, near Ohio river, very large bones are found, far surpassing the size of any species of animals now in America. The head appears to have been about three [Page 34] feet long, the ribs seven, and the thigh bones a­bout four; one of which is reposited in the libra­ry in Philadelphia, and said to weigh seventy-eight pounds. The tusks are above a foot in length, the grinders about five inches square, and eight inches long. These bones have equally excited the amazement of the ignorant, and at­tracted the attention of the philosopher. Speci­mens of them have been sent both to France and England, where they have been examined with the greatest diligence, and found upon comparison to be remains of the same species of animals that produced those other fossil bones which have been discovered in Tartary, Chili, and several other places, both of the old and new continent. What animal this is, and by what means its ru­ins are found in regions so widely different, and where none such exists at present, is a question of more difficult decision. The ignorant and su­perstitious Tartars attribute them to a creature, whom they call Maimon, who, they say, usual­ly resides at the bottom of the rivers, and of whom they relate many marvellous stories; but as this is an assertion totally divested of proof, and even of probability, it has justly been reject­ed by the learned; and on the other hand it is certain, that no such amphibious quadruped ex­ists in our American waters. The bones them­selves bear a great resemblance to those of the e­lephant. There is no other terrestrial animal now [Page 35] known large enough to produce them. The tusks with which they are equally furnished, equally produce true ivory. These external resemblances have generally made superficial observers con­clude, that they could belong to no other than that prince of quadrupeds; and when they first drew the attention of the world, philosophers seem to have subscribed to the same opinion.— But if so, whence is it that the whole species has disappeared from America? An animal so laborious and so docile, that the industry of the Peruvians, which reduced to servitude and subjected to edu­cation species so vastly inferior in those qualities, as the Llama and the Paca, could never have over­looked the elephant, if he had been to be found in their country. Whence is it that these bones are found in climates where the elephant, a na­tive of the torrid zone, cannot even subsist in his wild state, and in a state of servitude will not propagate? These are difficulties sufficient to stagger credulity itself; and at length produced the enquiries of Dr. Hunter. That celebrated anatomist, having procured specimens from the Ohio, examined them with that accuracy for which he is so much distinguished. He discovered a considerable difference between the shape and structure of the bones, and those of the elephant. He observed from the form of the teeth, that they must have belonged to a carnivorous animal; whereas the habits of the elephant are foreign to [Page 36] such sustenance, and his jaws totally unprovided with the teeth necessary for its use: And from the whole he concluded to the satisfaction of natura­lists, that these bones belonged to a quadruped now unknown, and whose race is probably ex­tinct, unless it may be be found in the extensive continent of New Holland, whose recesses have not yet been pervaded by the curiosity or avidity of civilized man. Can then so great a link have p [...]ed from the chain of nature? Happy we that it has. How formidable an enemy to the human species, an animal as large as the elephant, the tyrant of the forests, perhaps the devourer of man! Nations, such as the Indians, must have been in perpetual alarm. The animosities among the various tribes must have been suspend­ed till the common enemy, who threatened the ve­ry existence of all, should be extirpated. To this circumstance we are probably indebted for a fact, which is perhaps singular in its kind, the ex­tinction of a whole race of animals from the sys­tem of nature.

RIGHTS OF LAND.

THE proprietors of the Kentucke lands ob­tain their patents from Virginia, and their rights are of three kinds, viz. Those which arise from military service, from settlement and pre-emp­tion, or from warrants from the treasury. The [Page 37] military rights are held by officers, or their repre­sentatives, as a reward for services done in one of the two last wars. The Settlement and pre-emp­tion rights arise from occupation. Every man who, before March, 1780, had remained in the country one year, or raised a crop of corn, was allowed to have a settlement of four hundred a­cres, and a pre-emption adjoining it of one thousand acres. Every man who had only built a cabbin, or made any improvement by him­self or others, was entitled to a pre-emption of one thousand acres where such improvement was made.

In March, 1780, the settlement and pre-emption rights ceased, and treasury war­rants were afterwards issued, authorizing their possessor to locate the quantity of land men­tioned in them, wherever it could be found vacant in Virginia.

The mode of procedure in these affairs may be instructive to the reader. After the entry is made in the land-office, there being one in each coun­ty, the person making the entry takes out a co­py of the location, and proceeds to survey when he pleases. The plot and certificate of such sur­vey must be returned to the office within three months after the survey is made, there to be re­corded; and a copy of the record must be taken [Page 38] out in twelve months, after the return of the sur­vey, and produced to the assistant register of the land-office in Kentucke, where it must lie six months, that prior locators may have time and opportunity to enter a caveat, and prove their bet­ter right. If no caveat is entered in that time, the plot and certificate are sent to the land-office at Richmond, in Virginia, and three months more are allowed to have the patent returned to the owner.

The validity of the right of Virginia to this extensive western territory has been disputed by some, but without reason. The western boun­dary of that state, by charter, restricted by the treaty of Paris, in 1763, is fixed upon the Ohio Ri­ver. She has purchased the soil from the Indi­ans, has first settled it, and established wholesome laws for the regulation and government of the in­habitants; and therefore we conclude, that the right of Virginia to Kentucke is as permanent as the independence of America.

TRADE OF KENTUCKE.

A CONVENIENT situation for com­merce is the grand hinge upon which the popu­lation, riches and happiness of every country greatly depends. I believe many conceive the si­tuation of Kentucke to be unfavourable in this respect. I confess when I first visited this country I [Page 39] was of the opinion of other misinformed men, that the best channel was from Philadelphia or Baltimore, by the way of Pittsburg▪ ^* and from thence down the Ohio; and upon account of the difficulties and expences attending this route, for which there is no remedy, that goods would ever be dear. This opinion I have since reprobated, as the effect of ignorance of the trade up the Mis­sissippi from New Orleans, or Mantchac, at the river or gut Iberville.

Those who are acquainted with America know the Mississippi and Ohio rivers to be the key to the northern parts of the western continent. These are the principal channels through which that extensive region, bathed by their waters, and enriched by the many streams they receive, communicate with the sea, and may truly be con­sidered as the great passage made by the Hand of Nature for a variety of valuable purposes, and principally to promote the happiness and benefit of mankind; amongst which, the conveyance of the produce of that immense and fertile country lying westward of the United States is not the least. A short description of these rivers, and some others flowing into them, are objects sub­mitted to the reader's attention, in order to form [Page 40] a just idea of the favourable commercial circum­stances of that important country.

The Ohio river begins at Pittsburg, 320 miles west of Philadelphia, being there formed by the junction of the Alleghany and Monangehela rivers, and running a winding course of S. 60° West, falls into the Mississippi 1074 miles, by the mean­ders of the river, below Pittsburg. The only obstruc­tion to navigation on this river are the Rapids, as described before under the description of the Kentucke rivers; but they are passed in safety when the stream is high.

The most remarkable branches composing the head waters of Ohio are Red-stone Creek, Cheat River, and Yochiaghany. These waters are na­vigable to a considerable distance above Pittsburg, from November until June, and the Ohio a month longer; but from great Kenhawa, which is one hundred and ninety-six miles and a half be­low Pittsburg, the stream is navigable most of the year. Down this river great quantities of goods are brought, and some are conveyed up the Ken­tucke rivers, others on horse-back or in waggons to the settled parts, and sold on an average at one hundred pounds per cent. advance.

The current of the Ohio descends about two miles an hour in autumn, and when the waters [Page 41] are high, about five miles. Those of the Ken­tucke rivers are much the same, and without ra­pids, and are of immense value to the country, affording fish and fowl, and transportation of the produce of the country to the best market. These rivers increase the Ohio more in depth than breadth. At its mouth it is not more than one and a half mile in width, and enters the Mississippi in a S. west direction with a slow cur­rent, and a fine channel. This great river, at the junction with the Ohio, runs in a S. east di­rection, and afterwards in a S. west, having been a little before joined by a greater river called Mis­souri,^* which runs in an eastward direction through Louisiana, and afterwards communicates to the Mississippi^‡ its own muddy and majes­tic appearance. From the mouth of the Ohio to New Orleans, a distance not exceeding 460 miles in a straight line, is about 856 by water. The depth is, in common, eight or ten fathoms until you approach its mouth, which empties itself by se­veral channels into the gulf of Mexico. Here the navigation is dangerous, on account of the many islands, sand-bars and logs, interspersed in its mouth, which is about twenty miles wide. [Page 42] This disadvantage may be remedied almost in the same manner that the stream was disconcerted. The conflict between the sea and this mighty ri­ver, which brings down with its stream great numbers of trees, mud, leaves, &c. causes them to subside and form shoals. One of these trees, stopped by its roots or branches, will soon be join­ed by thousands more, and so fixed, that no hu­man force is able to remove them. In time they are consolidated, every flood adds another layer to their height, forming islands, which at length are covered with shrubs, grass and cane, and for­cibly shift the bed of the river. In this manner we suppose most of the country on each side of the Mississippi, below the Iberville, to have been formed, by islands uniting to islands, which in a succession of time have greatly encroached on the sea, and produced an extensive tract of country. If some of the floating timber at the mouths of this river were moved into some of the channels, numbers more would incorporate with them; and the current being impeded in these, the whole force of the river uniting, one important chan­nel would forceably be opened, and sufficiently cleared, to admit of the most excellent naviga­tion.

About ninety-nine miles above Orleans is a fort, now called Mantchac by the Spaniards; formerly Fort Bute by the English, who built it. Near this is [Page 43] a large gut, formed by the Mississippi, on the east side, called Iberville; some have dignified it with the name of River, when the Mississippi, its source, is high. This is navigable at most not above four months in the year for the first ten miles; for three miles further it is from two to six feet in autumn, and from two to four fathoms the remaining part of the way to lake Maurepas, receiving in its course the river Amit, which is navigable for batteaux to a considerable distance.

Lake Maurepas is about ten miles in length, and seven in breadth; and there is a passage of seven miles between this and Lake Pontchar­train.

Lake Pontchartrain is about forty miles long, twenty-four broad, and eighteen feet deep. From this lake to the sea the channel is ten miles long, and three hundred yards wide; and the water deep enough to admit large vessels through these lakes, and their communications. This place, if attended to, might be of consequence to all the the western country, and to the commerce of West-Florida: For it may reasonably be suppos­ed, that the inhabitants and traders of the west­ern country would rather trade at this place than at New Orleans, if they could have as good re­turns for their peltry, and the produce of their soil, as it makes a cansiderable difference in their [Page 44] voyage, and saves labour, money and time. Ex­perience will doubtless produce considerable im­provements, and render the navigation of the Mississippi, either by these lakes, or New Orleans, nearly as cheap as any other. That the Mississip­pi can answer every valuable purpose of trade and commerce is proved already to a demonstration by experience.

I have reason to believe that the time is not far distant when New Orleans will be a great trading city, and perhaps another will be built near Mantchac, at Iberville, that may in time rival its glory.

A prodigious number of islands, some of which are of great extent, are interspersed in that migh­ty river; and the difficulty in ascending it in the Spring when the floods are high, is compensated by eddies or counter currents, which mostly run in the bends near the banks of the river with nearly equal velocity against the stream, and assist the ascending boats. This river is rapid in those parts which have clusters of islands, shoals and sand-banks; but the rapidity of these places will be no inconvenience to the newly invented me­chanical boats,^* it being their peculiar property to sail best in smart currents.

[Page 45]From New Orleans to the Falls of Ohio, bat­teaux, carrying about 40 tons, have been rowed by eighteen or twenty men in eight or ten weeks, which, at the extent, will not amount to more than five hundred pounds expence, which expe­rience has proved to be about one third of that from Philadelphia. It is highly probable that in time the distance will be exceedingly shortened by cuting a-cross bends of the river.

Charlevoix relates, that at Coupee or Cut-point, the river formerly made a great turn, and some Canadians, by deepening the channel of a small brook, diverted the waters of the river into it, The impetuosity of the stream was so violent, and the soil of so rich and loose a quality, that in a short time the point was entirely cut through, and the old channel left dry, except in inunda­tions, by which travellers save 14 leagues of their [Page 46] voyage. The new channel has been sounded with a line of thirty fathoms without finding bottom. When the distance is shortened, which I believe may readily be done, and the mechani­cal boats brought to their highest improvement, the expences of a voyage from New Orleans to the Falls of Ohio will be attended with incon­siderable expence. Now we know by experience that forty tons of goods cannot be taken to the Falls of Ohio from Philadelphia under sixteen hundred pounds expence; but by improve­ments on the Mississippi, with the conveniences of these boats, goods can be brought from New Orle­ans to the Falls for the tenth part of that expence; and if they are sold at one hundred pounds per cent. now, when brought from Philadelphia at expences so great, what may the merchant af­ford to sell his goods at, who brings them so much cheaper? Besides, the great advantages a­rising from the exporting of peltry, and coun­try produce, which never can be conveyed to the eastern ports to any advantage. It is evident al­so that the market from which they receive im­ports, must consequently receive their exports, which is the only return they can possibly make.

By stating the commerce of Kentucke in its proper terms, we find the expences such, that we conclude with propriety, that that country will [Page 47] be supplied with goods as cheap as if situated but forty miles from Philadelphia.

But perhaps it will be replied, New Orleans is in the possession of the Spaniards, who, whenever they please, may make use of that fort, and some others they have on the Mississippi, to prevent the navigation, and ruin the trade. The passage through Iberville is also subject to the Spaniards, and besides, inconvenient; that stream continu­ing so short a time, and in the most disadvantage­ous season.

I grant it will be absurd to expect a free navi­gation of the Mississippi whilst the Spaniards are in possession of New Orleans. To suppose it, is an idea calculated to impose only upon the weak. They may perhaps trade with us upon their own terms, while they think it consistent with their in­terest,^* but no friendship in trade exists when in­terest expires; therefore, when the western coun­try becomes populous and ripe for trade, sound policy tells us the Floridas must be ours too. Ac­cording to the articles of the Definitive Treaty, we are to have a free and unmolested navigation [Page 48] of the Mississippi; but experience teaches man­kind that treaties are not always to be depended on, the most solemn being broken. Hence we learn that no one should put much faith in any state; and the trade and commerce of the Mississippi River cannot be so well secured in any other possession as our own.

Although the Iberville only admits of a short and inconvenient navigation, yet if a commercial town were built there, it would be the center of the western trade; and a land carriage of ten or twelve miles would be counted no disadvantage to the merchant. Nay, I doubt not, that in time a canal will be broke through the gut of Iberville, which may divert the water of Mississippi that way, and render it a place of the greatest conse­quence in America; but this important period is reserved for futurity.