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Show 1836- 2837! Fogg's Far West 71 and are penetrated in many places by vast caverns. The region we were now approaching was a locality of these singular formations, and for miles before reaching it, as has been remarked, a change in scenery upon the eastern bank is observed. Instead of the rounded wooded summits of the " Ohio hills " sweeping beautifully away in the distance, huge, ponderous rocks, heaped up in ragged masses, " Pelion upon Ossa," are beheld rearing themselves abruptly from the stream, and expanding their Briarean arms in every direction. Some of these cliffs present a uniform, jointed surface, as if of masonry, resembling ancient edifices, and reminding the traveller of the giant ruins of man's creations in another hemisphere, while others appear just on the point of toppling into the river. Among this range of crags is said to hang an iron coffin, suspended, like Mohammed's, between heaven and earth. It contains the remains of a man of singular eccentricity, who, previous to his decease, gave orders that they should be deposited thus; and the gloomy object at the close of the year, when the trees are stripped of their foliage, may be perceived, it is said, high up among the rocks from the deck of the passing [ 42] steamer. This story probably owes its origin to an event of actual occurrence somewhat similar, at a cliff called by the river- pilots " Hanging Rock." M It is situated in the vicinity of " Blennerhasset's Island."* The first of these singular cliffs, called " Battery Rock," stretches along the river- bank for half a mile, presenting a uniform and perpendicular facade upward of eighty feet in height. The appearance is striking, standing, as it does, distinct from anything of a kindred character for miles M Hanging Rock is the name given to a high sandstone escarpment on the right bank of the river, three miles below Ironton, Ohio.- ED. * Blennerhasset's Island is two miks below Parkersburg, West Virginia. For its history, see Cuming's Tour, in our volume ivy p. 129, note 89.- ED. |