Page:Early western travels, 1748-1846 (1907 Volume 4).djvu/269



Doe run—Blue river—Wheatley's—Conversation with Wheatley about the Indians—Squire Tobin's—Horse machinery boat.

May 12.—At six A. M. proceeded down the river, and seven miles from Shippingport, passed Sullivan's ferry, from whence a road is traced one hundred and twenty miles to Post Vincennes, the capital of Indiana.[172] The current of the Ohio now carried us five miles an hour, passing settlements on the right every mile with a range of picturesque hills behind them.

Twenty-five miles from the falls, we passed Salt river, about eighty yards wide, on the left, with some neat settlements on each side of it, and also on the opposite bank of the Ohio, which latter bank is overhung by some very high rocky precipices. Twelve miles further on the left, we stopped at Doe run to purchase necessaries. This is a small creek, but has a thriving little settlement of half a dozen families on its {237} banks. The price of provisions is here as we had found it generally, viz. Butter 12-1/2 cents per lb. eggs 6-1/4 cents per dozen, milk 6-1/4 cents per quart, fowls 12-1/2 cents each, and turkies in proportion to their size from 25 to 50 cents each. At half past six, P. M. we passed Buck creek on the right, five miles from Doe run, and half a mile lower on the same side, we stopped and moored at an excellent landing under a house on the bank.

May 13th, at dawn of day we went on, passing at two miles and a half, on the right, a very remarkable rocky cliff overhanging a cabin and small settlement. We passed Indian creek and two islands in twelve miles more, and then came to Blue river, on the right, fifty yards wide.