Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1819-08-03

mai Oh MS kIuu III tue Known WoIiu. he
is derived from the old world, but instead
Of degenerating, has improved on the banks
OF the Columbia. Fineness of form, iull.
ness Of all the muscular parts, docility Of
spirit, capacity 10 sustain great fatigue, to
provide food for himself, and TO hunt down
the deer and the buffalo for his master,
are part of his characteristics. The
geology and the mineralogy of the country
will present enquiries Of great interest.
Different parts Of the region through which
the river flows, exhibit clays and earths Of
great fneness, and most uncommon COM
position, from the properties Of which the
river is supposed to derive its peculiar
qualities.
The Rocky Mountains have not yet
been examined. They are supposed to
contain minerals, precious stones, and
gold and silver ore. Ii is but of late they
have taken the name Of Rocky mountains,
name which imports nothing appropriate
or peculiar, as all mountains are rocky.
By all the old travellers, they are called
Shining Mountains, from an infinite
number Of chgystal stones, of an amazing
size, with which they are covered, and
which, when the sun shines full upon
them, sparkle so as to be seen at great
distance" Casuer. The same early
travellers gave it as their opinion, g that
in future ages these mountains might be
found TO contain more riches in their bow.
els than those Of Indostan aud Malabar, or
which are found on the golden coast of
Guinea, or in the mines of Peru
Military expedition to the Upper MIS-
souri,-It is supposed that Col. Atkinson's
regiment will leave Belle Fountaine in the
course Of this week. The expedition will
easily reach the Council Bluffs, distant
700 miles, 10 The mouth of August, where
it is Intended to winter. Repacking the
provisions, and the non-arrival of some OF
the steam boats. have alone prevented the
departure Of the expedition before this
time. The Calhoun has not arrived.
She is below in the river, and from de-
feet in her machinery, or in her manage
ment, makes wretched progress against
the current of the Mississippi. General
Jessup has returned from having seen her;
and ii is believed that Col. Atkinson will
not wait many days for her arrival.
WEIGH Indians.-It seems that society
in The state of New. York has sent out per.
sons to ascend the Missouri in search of
WEIGH Indians.
Mr.. Stoddart collected some years
ago, and embodied in his sketches OF
Louisiana, many loose reports and dis
jointed rumonrs on this subject. He
seemed to give credit to the belief of their
existence. Since his time, however, the
country supposed 10 be the place of their
residence, and ia fact every part of the
country in which they could reside, has
been explored. Every river, creek, and
branch, issuing from the Rocky Noun
tains, and flowing to the Mississippi or to
the Pacific ocean, has been examined
from its head to its source. There is no
exception from the confines of Mexico to
the arctic circle. British or American
traders have explored every part, have
visited every tribe of Indians, and have
not only aseertained where every nation
lives, but also know the tracts of the
country which are uninhabited. They
have found no such people as WEIGH
Indians;" and to go to the sources Of the
Missouri at the present day in search Of
such people, would seem as idle as going
to well known part Of South America in
search Of the Amazons. Enquirer.
Progress of Empire.-One of the last
mails brought us the first lumber of the
Missouri Intelligencer and Boon's Lick
Advertiser. 1t contains numerous adver
tisements, the evidence Of increasing pop
ulation. What think you, reader, of
newspaper at Boon's Lack, in the wilds Of
Missouri, 10 1919; where in 1909, there
was not, We believe, civilized being, ex-
cepting the eccentric character who gave
his name to the spot, who delighted 10
the dreary and awful solitude by which
he was surrounded, aud who has since
travelled farther into the wilderness, to
avoid society, and enjoy bis favorite life
OF hunter. The editor OF this paper
has been thought extravagant for having
asse rted, in private circle. bis belief,
that in less than century we should in
all probability have turnpike route from
Albany to the shores Of the Pacific! But
such consummation is not less to be ex
pected, than it was TO have been expected,
twenty years ago, that we should now see,
on the wild and distant theatre OF Boon's
hunting exploits, printing press difIusing
intelligence weekly among numerous
population albany Plough Boy.
Novel Improusments.--Among the pro-