CONTENTS
I
The Western Steamboat-landing—Western Punctuality—An Accident—Human Suffering—Desolation of Bereavement—A Contrast—Sublimity—An Ohio Freshet—View of Louisville—Early History—The Ohio Falls—Corn Island—The Last Conflict [43]
II
The Early Morn—"Sleep no more!"—The Ohio—"La Belle Rivière!"—Ohio Islands—A Cluster at Sunset—"Ohio Hills"—The Emigrant's Clearing—Moonlight on the Ohio—A Sunset-scene—The Peaceful Ohio—The Gigantic Forest-trees—The Bottom-lands—Obstructions to Navigation—Classification—Removal—Dimensions of Snags—Peculiar difficulties on the Ohio—Leaning Trees—Stone Dams—A Full Survey—The Result [52]
III
An Arrest—Drift-wood—Ohio Scenery—Primitive River-craft—Early Scenes on the Western Waters—The Boatmen—Life and Character—Annus Mirabilis—The Steam-engine in the West—The Freshet—The Comet—The Earthquakes—The first Steamboat—The Pinelore—The Steam-engine—Prophecy of Darwin—Results—Sublimity—Villages—A new Geology—Rivers—Islands—Forests—The Wabash and its Banks—New Harmony—Site—Settlement—Edifices—Gardens—Owen and the "Social System"—Theory and Practice—Mental Independence—Dissension—Abandonment—Shawneetown—Early History—Settlement—Advancement—Site—United States' Salines—Ancient Pottery [59]
IV
Geology of the Mississippi Valley—Ohio Cliffs—The Iron Coffin—"Battery Rock"—"Rock-Inn-Cave"—Origin of Name—[x] A Visit—Outlines and Dimensions—The Indian Manito—Island opposite—The Freebooters—"The Outlaw"—The Counterfeiters—Their Fate—Ford and his Gang—Retributive Justice—"Tower Rock"—The Tradition—The Cave of Hieroglyphics—Islands—Golconda—The Cumberland—Aaron Burr's Island—Paducah—Name—Ruins of Fort Massac—The Legend—Wilkinsonville—The "Grand Chain"—Caledonia—A Storm—Sunset—"The Meeting of the Waters"—Characteristics of the Rivers—"Willow Point"—The place of Meeting—Disappointment—A Utopian City—America [70]