heads of Skillet
Fork of Little Wabash on its eastern side. Much of the land of second
quality, slightly undulating, about one third timbered,--some of the
prairie land level, and inclined to be wet.

MCDONOUGH.--Crooked creek and its branches water most of the
county. The eastern side, for 8 or 10 miles in width, is prairie,--the
western and middle parts suitably divided between prairie and forest
land; surface, moderately undulating; soil, very rich.

MCLEAN.--One third of the eastern, and a portion of the
northern side, is one vast prairie. The timber is beautifully arranged
in groves; the surface moderately undulating, and the soil dry and rich.
The head waters of the Sangamon, Mackinau, and the Vermillion of the
Illinois, are in this county. Its minerals are quarries of lime and
sandstone, and granite bowlders, scattered over the prairies.

MERCER.--Has the Mississippi on the west, and Pope and Edwards
rivers interior, along which are fine tracts of timber; in its middle
and eastern parts are extensive prairies; surface, generally undulating;
soil, rich.

MONROE.--Watered by Horse, Prairie de Long, and Fountain
creeks. The American bottom adjacent to the Mississippi is rich
alluvion, and divided into timber and prairie. On the bluffs are ravines
and sink-holes, with broken land. Further interior is a mixture of
timber and prairie. Abundance of limestone, coal, and some copper.

MONTGOMERY.--Watered by Shoal creek and branches, and Hurricane
Fork. Surface, high and undulating, and proportionably divided into
timber and prairie. Soil, second rate.

MORGAN.--A first rate county,--well proportioned into prairie
and forest lands,--much of the surface undulating; watered by the
Illinois river and Mauvaise-terre, Indian, Plum, Walnut, and Sandy
creeks, and heads of Apple creek. Coal, lime and freestone.

PEORIA.--Watered by the Illinois, Kickapoo, Copperas,
Senatchwine, and heads of Spoon river. Surface, moderately rolling, rich
soil, and proportionately divided into prairie and forest.

PERRY.--Streams; Big Beaucoup, and Little Muddy; one third
prairie, tolerably level, and second rate soil.

PIKE.--Besides Mississippi and Illinois, which wash two sides,
it has the Suycartee slough, running through its western border, and
navigable for steamboats, and a number of smaller creeks. The land and
surface various,--much of it excellent undulating soil,--some rich
alluvion, inundated at high water,--large tracts of t