often visited by herds of deer, which swim from the main land to enjoy its fragrant herbage and luxuriant pas ture. The Wabash enters on the Indian or N.W. side. It is nine hundred and forty-nine miles from Pittsburg, and is one of the most considerable rivers between that town and the mouth of the Ohio. It is very beautiful, four hundred yards wide at its mouth, and three hundred at St. Vineconne's, which is one hundred miles above the mouth in a direct line. Within this space there are two small rapids which give very little obstruction to the navigation. In the spring and autumn it is passable for bateaux, drawing three feet water; four hundred and twelve miles to Ouiatona, a small French settlement on the West side of the river; and for large canoes. it is navigable for one hundred and ninety-seven miles further, to the Miami carrying-place, which is nine miles from the Miami village. This village stands on Miami River, which empties into the S.W. part of Lake Eric. The communication between Detroit and the Illinois and Indiana country, is up Miami River to Miami village; thence, by land, nine miles through a level country to the Wabash, and through the various branches of the Wabash to the respective places of distinction. A silver mine has been discovered. about twenty-eight miles above Ouiatonan, and salt-springs, lime, free-stone, blue, yellow and white clay, are found. in abundance on this river's banks. LETTER XXXI. Remarkable cave-Vengeance of the Illinois on the Kentuckyans-Wilson's gang—particular description of the cave-hyeroglyphics. Cave in the Rock. Ohio Bank, Sept. 1806. I HAD descended but twenty-two miles from the Wabash when I came to on the Indiana shore to examine a very grand and interesting natural curiosity. It is a cave in a rock which presents itself to view a little above the water when high, and close to the bank of the river, and is darkened by the shade of some Catalpa trees standing before the entrance, which adds much to the sublimity of its character. On each side the gently ascending copses of wood, and the extensive view of the water, profound, wide and transparent, tend to render the cave an object truly delightful and worthy of the most minute attention. I resolved to explore it, though it bore the reputation of being the residence of a band of robbers who for many years have infested the river. But I find the cavern at first became an object of terror and astonishment from having been the retreat of the remains of an Indian nation exasperated against the Americans, and resolved to put as many of them as possible to death, to revenge the injuries and insults they and their friends had experienced from them since their coming into the country. It was a party of the Illinois who adopted this fatal resolution, and who carried it on for several years with the most bloody effect, till a large party of Kentuckyans resolved to attack and endeavour to exterminate them. With this intent fifty well armed men descended to the cave and attacked the Illinois who were about double that number. Several fell on both sides, and the victory being doubtful till the Illinois, annoyed by the distance and length of the combat, rushed upon the enemy with lifted tomahawks and horrid cries and drove them to the mouth of the cave into which they entered, and made a long and terrible resistance. In* an instant the Illinois changed their mode: they cast up a heap of dry wood, reeds and cane, immediately before the entrance which they undoubtedly guarded, and setting fire to the piles, suffocated all those who had not resolution to rush through the flame and brave death in another effort with their successful enemy. Some had vigour to make this desperate attempt. It was fruitless. The life of one man alone was spared. The rest perished by the fire, or fell under the hatchet. The man, whose life was given him, was sent back to the Government of Kentucky with this mes |