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xiv JOURNEY FROM
and we frequently saw, and passed close to large alligators,
wich generally appeared to be asleep, stretched on the half-
floating logs. Several were fired at together, must have been
each upwards of twelve feet long.
Natches is a pleasantly situated town, on rather a steep
hill, about half a mile from the landing place, where are
many stores and public houses. The boat remained here an
hours, and we ascended to the upper town, a considerable
place, with a town-house, and several good streets and well-
furnished shops, in which we purchases some books. This
place exports much cotton, and the planters are said to be
rich. It commands a fine prospect over the river and sur-
rounding country. It has been tried as a summer residence
by come of the inhabitants of New Orleans, but the scourges
of this part of America (fever and ague) extend their revages
for more than 1000 miles higher up. A partial elevation of
ground, in an unhealthy district, has been proved to be more
pernicious, than even the level itself. From hence, to the
junction of the Ohio, there is little to interest the stranger, ex-
cepting the diversity of wood and water. The ground rised in
some places, though with little variety, till you pass the junction
of the Ohio, 1253 miles for the sea. shortly after entering the
Ohio, the country begins to improve ; you perceive the ground
beginning to rise in the distance, and the bank occasionally
to rear into small hills, which show their strata of stone,
and rise into bluffs, projecting into the bends of the river,
shutting it in, so as to produce the effect of sailing on a suc-
cession of the finest lakes, throughmagnificent woods, which
momentarily changed their form, from the rapid motion of our
boats. It was now full moon, and these scenes viewed during
the clear noghts, were indescribably beautiful. The tenth
day brought us to the flourishing commercial town of Louis-
ville, in Kentucky, 1542 miles from the sea, consideres as
second only to Cincinnati, in the western states. It is situated
in the commencement of the health district, but was lately
visited. The streets are spacious and regular, the houses
mostly of brick, and the shops and stores large, and well filled
with merchandise. The falls of the Ohio, which are at this
place, excepting at high water, prevent large vessels from pass-
ing up ; we therefore left the Washington, and embarked in a
smaller vessel, above the falls. On our road up from Shipping-