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 Mrs. Cushing described Mrs. B. as beautiful and highly accomplished, about thirty years of age, and mother of two infant sons now with her at Natchez.

{111} After passing an hour in this delightful spot, we left it with regret that such a terrestrial paradise should be deserted by an owner who had taste to blend judiciously the improvements of art with the beauties of nature. Its fertility will always ensure its cultivation, but without a Horace it must cease to be a Tivoli.

CHAPTER XVI

Little and Big Hockocking rivers—Belleville, and Mr. Wild's on Mr. Avery's large farm—Devil's hole—Shade river—Buffington's island—Neisanger's.

We dropped down the stream gently three miles, to the end of Blennerhasset's island, a little beyond which, on the Ohio shore, we observed a very good looking two story brick house, which as we had been informed, is an excellent tavern owned and kept by Mr. Miles, but we were not tempted to stop, as we had already breakfasted on bread and milk in our skiff. Two miles and a quarter below Miles's we passed Little Hockhocking river on the right. It is about twenty-five yards wide, and has a wooden bridge across it, and on its right bank is a large square roofed house, handsomely situated.

A mile and a half below Little Hockhocking, we saw on our right a remarkable cavern on the side of a craggy hill, and four miles lower, having passed Newbury and Mustapha's islands, the latter of which is above a mile in length, and partly cultivated, we came to big Hockhocking river on the right.[90] It is only about thirty yards wide at its mouth, nevertheless it is navigable for keels and other small craft