Page:Early western travels, 1748-1846 V13.djvu/41

 A JOURNEY INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE ARKANSA TERRITORY

CHAPTER I

Departure from Philadelphia—Geological remarks—Route through Harrisburgh and Carlisle to Cammel's-town—Loudon, and the adjacent mountain scenery—The North Mountain—Cove Mountain—Passage of the Juniata, and surrounding scenery—Bedford—Organic remains—The Alleghany Ridge—Stoy's-town—First indications of bituminous coal—Laurel Mountain—Greensburgh—Arrival at Pittsburgh; manufactures; scenery, and peculiar character of its coal-*mines.

On the morning of the second of October, 1818, I took my departure from Philadelphia in the mail stage, which arrived safely in Lancaster, sixty-three miles distant, a little after sun-set. Though always pleasingly amused by the incidents of travelling, and the delightful aspect of rude or rural nature, I could not at this time divert from my mind the most serious reflections on the magnitude and danger of the journey which now lay before me, and which was, indeed, of very uncertain issue.

{10} Scarcely any part of the United States presents a more beautiful succession of hill and dale, than that which succeeds between Philadelphia and Lancaster; the valley, however, of Chester county, including Downingston, exceeds every other, except the site of Lancaster, in fertility and rural picture. It is about twenty-five miles in length by one in breadth, and pursues from hence a north-east direction. The rock throughout this valley is calcareous, and the soil is consequently of a superior quality. This