Page:Early western travels, 1748-1846 (1907 Volume 4).djvu/175

 going through the vista which was open to the eye, we kept over to the left shore in the main channel, to the left of a small island, which is joined at low water by a semicircular sand bar to Massey's {147} island, a fine harbour being formed by the bar between the islands except in inundations of the river.

Massey's island is about two miles long, but it is very narrow. It belongs to two owners, it is very fertile and partly cultivated.

At four o'clock we passed the lower end of Massey's island, rowed over to the right shore, and landed at Manchester, a quarter of a mile lower down.

This town has been settled twelve years, but contains only ten dwelling houses, most delightfully situated on a high plain, commanding charming prospects of the river both above and below. It is a post town, and is only three miles distant from the great state road through the state of Ohio to Lexington in Kentucky; but it is a poor place, and not likely to improve, as its vicinity to Maysville, which is only twelve miles lower where the road crosses the river, prevents its being frequented by travellers.

We delayed but a few minutes at Manchester, and then proceeding, we passed Isaac creek with a wooden bridge over it, on the right, a mile below. A mile lower we saw on the left a very handsome farm house, an orchard and a fine farm; opposite to which on the right, the river hills approach close to the bank.

Two miles further we passed Crooked creek on the left, the hills now approaching on that side, and receding on the right, leaving a fine extensive bottom between them and the river.

Cabin creek on the left is a mile and a half below Crooked creek, and has a good farm and handsome farm house at its mouth.