Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-05-06
EDlroRg coRREspoNpENcE.
Lagnf, Plantqfion. HaSersEqm county, Gso,gis

Durlng my stay at DaDlonega heard a good deal
4 said about native wonder, called " Track Rock," "
which was reported 10 be some thirty miles off, on
the northwestern side ofihe Blue Ridge Mountains.
On revolving the information in my mind concluded that
this rock identical with which bad been mentioned
. me BY Professor JANIS JACKSON 81 the University Of
Georgia and also remembered that the Professor had shown
me specimen Of the rock he alluded to, which
tanned the imprint or impression Of human foot My curl
oy was Of course excited and resolved visit the natural
or artificial wonder made the pilgrimage foot and what
and heard OF peculiar interest the occasion the reader
viii find recorded in the present letter.
In accomplishing the trip 10 Track Rok and back again
70 this place two days On the first day walked only
twenty miles, having atried occasionally take pencil
sketch hear the birds, they actually filed the air with
melody, My course lay over very country, which
was entirely uncultyaed, excepting half dozen quiet
wales, which presented cheerful appearance The woods
generally composed Of oak and chestnut and destitute
- considerable extent of underground he soil was
posed OF clay and sand, and apparently fertile and clear
sparkling brooks nteseced the country and were the first
that had in Georgia had number Of extensive
mountain views, which beautiful than imposing
and among the birds tha, attracted my attention were the red
Bird nockug bird, quail lark, poke, wookpecke Jay, king
brd crow, blue bird and dove, together with large black
Bird having red head appaeny tic woodpecker genus
and another smaller bird, whose back vas of rich black
breast bright brown, with occasional white feather in its
wing, which fancied to be species Of robn Since these
were my companions may be readily imagined that plea
sanity the hours Of Thalaba went by
spent the night at place called sTesantee Ga" " in the
cabin OF poor farmer, where most HOSPITALITY enter.
tanned My host had family Of sons and three daugh
ter Of whom had teen out Of the wilderness
region Of Georgia Though The father was very intelligent
BY nature he told that he had received no educaton
aad could hardly read chapter the Bible, He informed
me- too that his chdEen but little better informed and
seemed deeply regret his inability give them the school
ing which he felt they needed. 81 have always desired
SAID ne, that could live on some public road, that my
gs might occasionally see civilized man. since it is fated
that they will with them in society" felt sorry
for the worthy man, and endeayored 10 direct his attention
from himself to the surrounding country He told me tho
mountains susceptible OF cultivation even to their sum
m and that the principal productions his farm were corn
wheat rye and potatoes also that the country abounded n
gau such deer, turkeys and bears and an occasional
panther Some OF the mountains he said covered with
hickory and peculiar kind Of oak, and that said noun
tlns gray squirrels very abundant The streams he
informed me, well supplied with large linnoscs by
which afterwards asceriainet he the brook trout
While conversing with my old friend, hour so before
sunset startled ty lie having Of his hounds and
looking up the road running hy his home we saw
ine-lookng doe coming towards is oh the run In lis terror
the poor made suddea turn and scaling garden
fence overaken by the dogs on spot near which the
wife of my host planning seeds when she Immediately
seized beanpoe and By single blow deprived the doe Of
life In very few moments her husband on the ground
and having put bis knife III throat Of the animal the
reenered their dwelling a. II nothing had happened
OF the order Of EVENT. This was the first deer
that knew 10 be killed By woman When took oc-
- H.. 4 or
Of them powerful runn.r flr he bad known him
= follow deer or three days aud lree nights Ha,ng in
view my future ranbes among the mountains questioned
ny companion about the snakes ef h r.on and after re-
marking that they every plenty Il continued as fol
lows " But Of al the snake stories you ever heard tel os
do not believe you heard Of . s1rt fgIt saw one
Monday week, between black acs. ard rattesnak
Il was in the road about mile from her, and when saw
themhe had the other BY the bak OF the head and
cong his body all around him. a. 10 squeeze him to
death The scufe pretty severe out the racer soon
killed The fellow with rales and killed the racer /, was
queer scmpe, and reckon you do oen zee the ike in
your county,"
should have obtained mites 1 information from
my host had not broken tooth commenced aching and hurried
me of 10 bed.
left The habta,on Of my mountain friend Immediately
after breakfast the following morning. all er repassed
that hoary threshold more"
On the following day passedthrough tia Blue Ridge and
visited the Mecca Of my pilgrimage and was-dapponted
was Iioted to il by neghboring noun,aineer who re
marked, Ths il Track Rock and lis d, great shakes after
all found il occupying unobtrus,c place by the road
side Is Of irregular form and quite SMOOTH rises gradu-
ally from he ground to the height Of peaps three feet and
i about twenty feet long by the be'a measurement
Is evidently covered with great variety ;racks including
those Of men, bears dogs and turkeys together with in
distinct impressions Of mans hand Some Of the impress
sions are half inch thick, while many q them appear 10
be almost entirely ciaced The rock seemed 10 be species
Of sate-coored soapsone. The conclusion 70 which have
arrived, after careful examination follows This rock is
located what Indian trai d having been
used by the Chero$ees resting place, il was pro-
badly their ingenuity which conceived aud executed the
Characters which puzzle the philosophy Of many men,
The scenery about Track Rock is remarkable for ts gram
deur, though you hardly the eye in any direction
without beholdng agreeable mountain auscape In re-
turning through Tesauee Gap and the valley below met
with adventures worh recording and will therefore con-
cude my present epis;le with paragraph concerning the
I plantation where am tarying.
The proprietor intelligent and worthy gentleman who
Fepued TO be the nabos this region re acquired por
ton Of bis wealth by digging gold u now chiefly ievdting
Himself to agriculture He complains II tie little advance.
men which The people Of Northern Georgia are making in the
arts Of hushandy, and thinks that would Be much better
!