Delaware State journal, advertiser and star. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1832-1833, 1833-07-16
THE WEST.

From one of GEORGE CATLIN's interest |
ing letters we make the following extract:
A journey of four thousand miles from the
Atlantic shore, regularly receding from the
centre of civilized society to the extreme wild
ness of natures original works, and back a
gain, opens book for many an interesting
tale to be sketched, and the mind which lives
but to relish the works of nature, reaps a re-
ward of much higher order than can arise
from the selfish expectations of pecuniary
Iemoluments. Notwithstanding all that has
been written and said, there is scarcely any
subject on which the knowing people of the
East are yet less informed and instructed
than on the character and amusements of
the West, by this mean the far Wtst'-the
country whose facinatons spread charm
over the mind almost dangerous to civilized
pursuits-people even not know the true de-
finition of the term 'West'-and where is its
location?-phantom like, it flies before us as
we travel, and our way is continually gilded
before us as we approach the setting sun.
In the commencement of my tour, seve-
raj of my travelling companions from the CT
ty of New York found themselves at fright
lful distance to the west, when we arrived at
Niagara Falls, and fastened back to amuse
their friends with the scenes of the West
al Buffalo steamboat was landing with four
hundred passengers, and twelve days out
: I'Where from9' From the West In the
rich State of Ohio Hundreds were selling
their farms, and going-to the West. II
the beautiful city of Cincinnatti people
said to me, our town has its best days, il
is not far enough to the West In st Lou
: is, my landlady assured me that would be
: Ipleased with her boarders, for they wer,
nearly all merchants from the West
asked--'whencc comes those steamboats,, la
den with pork, honey, hides, esc.'' From
the West whence those ponderous bar
of silver which those men have been for hour
: shouldering and putting on board that boat?
they come from the West. Where goes thi
: steamboat, so richly laden with dry goods
steam engines, &c. 9-she goes to jefferson
lcity-'Jefferson city. Where is thate' Fa
to the West.
'And where goes that boat laden down t
the gunnel, the Yellow Stone" She goes still
farther to the west-then said l, I'll go t.
the west Two thousand miles in her ant
we are at mouth of Yellow Stone-at tn,
; west. what! invoices, bills of lading, &C.
; a wholesale establishment so far to the west
!, And those strange looking, long haired gen
tlemen who havejust arrived and are relat
ing the adventure of their long and tedou
Journey, who are they" On, they are some
of our merchants just arrived from the west
Sand that eel-boat, that Macknaw boa
and that formidable caravan, all of which ar.
richly laden with guods?-These, sir, ar,
outfits for the west. Going to the west, ha |!
Then said l. I'll try it again. What for
here, too?' Oui, monsieur-or.i MONSIEUR
What distance are you West of Yellow Ston,
here" Comment? What distance-(stop
I-quel STANDARDIZATION, monsr. trois cent
: miles, monsr.-Ou parlez vous las IAN
glas" Non, monsr. Ispeaks de French an,
de Americana, mails je no parle pas Pan
! gia's' well, then, my good fellow, ! VIII