PREFACE.
The writer of the following sheets, duing a residence in the western country for many years, has had occasion to visit several parts, to travel over a large portion of the State of Ohio, in different directions, and to descend the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, as far as New Orleans. In these excursions, opportunities continually occurred for observing, and collecting information respecting, those objects which are interesting to adventurers into a new country, and which may be gratifying to the curiosity of others. Minutes were made of the face of the country, soil, waters, natural productions, and of whatever appeared worthy of particular notice; either from his own observation, or from the information of others which he had reason to believe was authentic.
These notes were made with no other view than for his own satisfaction, and for communications to his friends. Solicitations, however, from a number of his
