The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-08-12

| The Meissgsns.
We give to-day another amusing and eharac-
tensile sketch from letter OF our intelligent and
sprighty correspondent, soiouming at present in
one of the seldom-visited hooks hid away i'm our
mountains.
'You must know that within some ten miles
OF thus Owls nest, there is a watering place
known hereabouts as "Black-water Springs.' II
is situated in narrow gorge, scarcely half
mile wide, between Powel's Mountain and the
| Copper Ridge, and is, as you may suppose, al
most inaccessible. A hundred men could de-
fend tho pass against even a Xerxlan army
Now this gorge and the tops and sides of the adj
joining mountains are inhabited by a singular
species of the human animal called MuuSs-
EMS.
The legend of their history, which they care
fully preserve, is this A great many yeas ago,
these mountains were settled by society of Por-
tuguese Adventures, men and women-who
came nom the long shore parts OF Virginia, that
they might be freed from the restraints and draw
backs imposed upon themby any fom Of govern
ment. These people made themselves friendly
with the Indians, and freed, as they were, from
every kind Of social government, they uprooted
all conventional forms of society and lived in a
delightful Utopia Of their own creation, tramp-
ling upon the marriage relation, despisine all
forms Of religion and subsisting upon com. 1.-THE
only possible product of the soib and the game of
the woods These intemixed with the Indians, \
and subsequently their descendants, (after the
first advances Of the whites into this part of the
State) with the negroes and the whites, thus forn
ing the present race of Melungens, They are
tall, straight, welcomed people, of dark COD
per color, with Circassian features but woouy
heads and other similar appendages Of our negro.
They are privileged voters in the STATE in which
they live, and thus, you win perceive, are accred
tied citizens Of the Commonwealth. They are
brave but Quarrelsome; and are hospitabIe and
generous to strangers. They have no preachers
among them, and are almost without any knowl.
edge Of Supreme Being. They are maried by the
established forms, but husband and wifeseparate
at pleasure, without meeting with any reproach
OF disgrace from their friends. They are remark.
ably unchaste, and want of chastity on the nan
Of the females is no bar TO their marrying. They
have but little association with their neighbors.
carefully preserving their identity as a race. or
class, OF whatever you may call it; and are IN |
every respect, save that they are under the State
government, separate and distinct people Now
this is no travellers story. They are really what
tell you, without abating or setting down aught
in malice. They are behind their neighbors in
the arts. They use oxen instead of horses in
their agricultural attempts, and their implements
of husbandry are chiefly made by themselves of
wood. They are, without exception, poor and IL.
norant, but apparently happy.
Having thus given you a correct geographical
and scientific history of the people, will pro-
coed with my own adventures
The Doctor was, as usual, my compagnon de /
Ueydge, and we stopped at "Old vauiy's'' the
hostelne Of the vicinage. Old vaIdy is the
"ehief cook and bottle-washer'' of the Melung-
ems, and is really a very clever fellow; but his
hotel savors strongly Of that peculiar perfume
That one may find in the sleeping rooms OF our /
negro servants, especially on a close, warm.
summers evening. We arrived at vardy's in /
time for supper, and, that despatched, we went
TO the spring, where were assembled several /
rude log huts, and small spnnkling of "the
natives, together with fiddle and other prepara-
tons for dance. Shoes, stockings and coats
wee unknown hxunes among them,--at least
We them not.
The dance was engaged in with night hearty
good viii, and would have put to the blush the
tame steppings Of our beaux. Among the par
tcipants was a very tall, -boned damsel with
her two garments futtering readily in the amor
Gus night breeze, whose black eyes were lit upl
with an unusual fire, either from repeated visits
to the nearest hut, behind the door of which was
placed an open-mouthed stone jar of new.made
corn-whissy, and in which was a goupd, with
a deuce bit Of sugar at all, and no water nearer
than the spring. Nearest her on the night was a
lank, lantem-iawed, high checked, long-legged
fellow, who seemed similarly elevated. Now
these two, Jord. Bison, Chat was he) and Syl.
Vamin, chat was she), were destined to afford
the amusement Of the evening" for Jord in cutting
the Pgeon-wing, CHANGED to light from one of his
aerial flights right upon the ponderous pedal ap-
pendage Of Syl, compliment which this amia-
Die lady seemed in no way disposed 10 accept
kindly.
"Jord BIson," said the tender Syl, 'I'n
thank You to keep your damed hoofs of my Feet
"Oh, Jord's feet, are so tamal big he can't
manage 'em all by hisself," suggested some pa
cificator near by.
"He'll have to keep 'sm off me-" suggested
Syl, "or I'll shorten 'em for him.
snow look ye here. syl varmin,' - answered
lord, somewhat nettled at both remarks, al
didn't 60 to tread on your feet, bu, don \ want
you to bs cutting up any ruaiiss about it,
You're nothing buta cross-grainsi crIttsr any
how" ais 80
"And you're burned Mslungen.''
swell, IL lam, | amt Niger Msiusgss any
how--Pm Iadisa- MsIangsn, and that's more
AN you H. sss..s 1. ,...al.s sse,. -