Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1805-11-04

miles, and were 40 days out TO this place.
there are very few parts of the wefern
country adnire the land is either noun
:anious or low and aat, the high land is
healthy, and there i. excellent water, but
the manner in which it lies snakes it difi-
cult 70 cultivate. The low land is extrem-
ly fertile, all kinds of grain growing lux
riantly the water, however is intolerably
bad: The only tract of country which
ieems deiirable TO fettie in is Cumberland
traa, Gallatin, from which ! laR wrote
yos. There are vah numbers Of prairies in
this territory, they are level plains fiom
to Il miles lquare, fcarce afwitch to be
cut of them, grafs grows 20 great height;
early of morning, juf as the fun dawns-
from the eaitern hills, it gives the Praires a
beautiful appearance, and there being moth
ing but green grafs, diverGty of flowers,
with now and then little clrmP of oaks
the profpea is always piaurefque-always
beautiful or grand. This country is badly
watered-hence people are deferred from
fettling in the interior, and an act OF con-
grefs preventing havery, prevents emigrants,
particularly thofe of opuience 1t feems pro-
bable, that it will be years before there will
be refinement of manners, or that the arts
and fcicnce. viii aourilh h.re' But a man
who travels fhould leave off all his pre- iudi-
ces behind him, and not write his friend
any thing but what is correct. mutt do
the French the juitlce to fay, that believe
they are much more honef and Peaceablc
~ - hrD la1 kor
and who are molly idle and dilliPated. In
deed the Americans of this place ieem to
look upon ftranger as one whom they ihall
never fee again, and think themfelves priv
ilegcd 70 pluck him. This place (KafkaS)
was fettled two years before Philadelphia,
nd the frt bell ever imported into A
merica, have feen hanging in the Roman
church-although this place is now 70 def
oia5e, it was once fcttled by number of
French Of the firt character and fortune.
To fee the low itanding chimnies and
large buildings tumbling into ruins, ma kes
me feel comfortable regret, and mutt fill any
perfon Of lenfbility with awe. The only
tribe of Indians here are the Kikaikias, they
are about 90 in cumberland live in huts
in the fubsrbs. | have jult returned frem
feeling them, where | let a lquaw to make
me pair of mockafins. They can produce
about 40 or SO warriots-are fmall Indians
and feem to be in a miferable htuaricn.
On Tuefday lalt, Col. Hammond fst out
for St. Louis, leaving Mrs. Hammond at
Col. Edgar's-our Wagons and horfes are
about four miles out of town, at place
got to ref the negroes at, and to recruit the
horfes.
"Gen. Wilkinion paAed through here a
few days before our arrival and arrived
at St. Louis on the 4th init. The troops,
citizens, and (everal hundred Indians, were
drawn out and ftationed at the foet of a
high bridge, where the General had to pafs,
for to falute him on his arrival, with direc-
tiosS from the commanding officer, NOT to
FIRE falute till he had crofled the bridge.
But juf as the General and his efcort had
got OH the top Of a bridge 50 or 40 feet
high, they commenced fire, which togcth-
er with the yells of the Indians, threw the
General, corps, and the officers, sc. elcor-
ting him, into general confuiion fcyeral
but it is with pleafure that | learned 40
accident Of conltquence had happened.
g Loaf fugar IS cents per Ib.
8 Brown do. dol. per lbgq.
4" Tea and coffee none.
" It was with difficulty tliccitizens could
procure few Of thofe articles at St. Louis,
for the entertainment given Gen. Wilkin-
fon on his arrival they had to give one dol
lar pound for barrel of fugar. which
was all that was to be had in that CITY.
have not taacd tea or coffee for many weeks
paft. .-..
"Juft as was cloGng this letter, I re-
ceived accounts from colonel Hammond, at
St. Louis; he informs us he has rented
houle and intends being with us here to-
morrow. IL omitted mentioning to you,
that we are uear neishbor of Mr.. Bel,
formerly Of sour city, he is much diGatil-