The long and tedious journey we had passed, through lonesome woods and over rugged ways, contributed not a little, perhaps, {27} to enhance the agreeableness of the prospect now before us. Certainly there is something very animating to the feelings, when a traveller, after traversing a region without culture, emerges from the depths of solitude, and comes out upon an open, pleasant, and cultivated country. For myself I must observe, that the novelty and beauty of the romantic prospects, to-*gether with the genial influence of the vernal season, were peculiarly reviving to my bodily frame for a long time weakened by sickness, and exhilarating to my mind worn down by anxiety and care.
We were now upon the banks of the Yohiogany River, which we crossed at Budd's ferry.[1]
The name of this river is spelt, by some writers Yohogany, and by others Yoxhiogeni; by General Braddock it was written Yaughyaughané;[2] but the common pronunciation is Yokagany, and the inhabitants in these parts call it "the Yok river." It rises from springs in the Alleghany mountain, which soon unite their streams in the valley, or, as it is called, "the great meadows," below. The point where the {28} north branch from the north-*ward, the little crossing from the southeast, and the great south branch, form a junction, three miles above Laurel
- ↑ The Old Glade Road, also locally known as the Jones's Mill Road, received legislative appropriations during the early part of the nineteenth century, and was quite as popular as its northern rival, the State Road. It crossed the Youghiogheny at what is now known as West Newton, Westmoreland County. The term Budd's Ferry is found upon a map of 1792; but in the early part of the century it was usually spoken of as Robbstown, from the name of the first proprietor. The road is now known as the "Wellersburg and West Newton plank."—Ed.
- ↑ Letter to Sir T. Robinson, June 5, 1755.—Harris.
