Page:Early western travels, 1748-1846 (1907 Volume 8).djvu/270

 ones to its source, which is within seven miles of the Cayahoga. The Muskingum presents a gentle appearance, and near its banks there are valuable salt springs, and considerable quantities of coal and free stone.

The town of Marietta is situated on the east of the junction of the Ohio and Muskingum.[111] Its position is pleasant; but it has a deserted aspect, and is rapidly declining. It is not true, that the Muskingum is not subject to inundations. All the banks of the western river are, more or less, exposed to freshets; and this circumstance considerably lessens the value of the lands and buildings upon them. At the mouth of the Muskingum stands Fort Harmer.

The Hockhocking is rather smaller than the Muskingum, and is situated about twenty-five miles below the latter.[112] On the banks of this river are quarries of free stone, iron and lead mines, pit-coal, and salt springs. There are some fine lands on both of these rivers.

The town of Athens lies on the Hockhocking, about forty miles from the Ohio. It is pleasantly situated, and is the seat of the Ohio University.

The River Scioto is even larger than the Muskingum. It is navigable nearly two hundred miles, and is connected with the river Sandusky, which enters Lake Erie, by a portage of four miles. On the Scioto, about one hundred miles from the Ohio, is the town of Chilicothe.[113] This place is the seat of government. Not far from the Scioto, are salt

Hulbert, "Indian Thoroughfares of Ohio," in Ohio Archæological and Historical Society Publications, volume viii.—]
 * [Footnote: these two streams in 1898, followed almost exactly this old portage trail. See