, 1855-01-06
FTors the 9Th Volume o. Bancr us History.
ID lNlEL 30 DNf.,

ID lNlE:. 30 )Nf..
In his peaceful habiiat.on on the bank
of the Yhdkin RIVER in North Carolina
Daniel Boone, the lluStr.ous hunter, haC
heard Finley, trader, so memorable al
he pioneer, describes tract of land wes
Of Virginia us the Richest in North Ameri
ca or IN the world In May, 1863, leaving
his VIE an offspring, having Finley as hi,
pilot and four Others MS his compan,ons
the Young man of about three and twent,
wandered through the wilderness of Amer
icn. "in quest OF the country of Kentucky
known to the sLvagrs MS "thc Dark and
B.oody Ground" the middle Ground, he,
tween the subjects of the FIVE Nations aud
the CherOkces After n lonsand fatigue.
ing journey through monnt lin ranges, the
party fOund themselves in June Oh the Red
River. trihut Try of the Kentucky, and
from the top OF an cm.nence surveyed with
delight the beautiful plain that stretched
to the northwest. Here they Luilt their
shelter and began 10 reconnO,tcr and 10
hunt. All the kinds Of wild beasts that
were natural TO Amer,ca-the stately elk.
the iim.d deer, the panther aud the wolf
cOnched among the canes, or rOlmed over
the rich grlsSeswhich, even beneath the
hi, keSt shade, sprung up laxuriantIy out
Of the generous sol. The buffalOes cropped
feall ssly the heritage or browSed on the
leaves Of the reed. aud were more frequent
than cattle IN The settlements Of Carolina
her,lSmen Sometimes there were hun
dre,Is in drove, aud ronnd the salt hcks
their number vas amAzing.
The snmmcr in which for the first time n
party Of white men enjoyed the hrlliancy
Of nature near anl in the valley Of the FIX
horn. passed away in the occupations Of
exploring parties and the chase. But one
by one, BONES companions dropped of,
I'LL lac was left alone with john Stewart.
They jointly found nnceasing delight in the
wonders Of the forest, ill one evening ar
Kenu'ky river. they were taken PRISONERS
ly u baud Of Indians, wanderers Ike them
selves. They escaped and were joined by
Bonne'S brother. so that when Stewart was
soon after killed hy sLvagcs, the first vic-
tim among the hecatomh Of white men slain
by them in their desperate batlleing for
the lovely hunting ground, Boone still had
his brother TO share wi h him the dangers
and attractions Of the wilderness, the bu.ld-
ing aud occnpyiag the first cottage in Ken
tncky.
In the spring of l77O, that brother re-
turned TO the settlements for horses and
supplies of ammunit.Ons, leaving the re-
nowned hunter 'hy himself without bread,
0r salt. or snynr. or even horse or dog,
The idea of beloved wife, anxious for
his safety, tingcd his thoughts with sadness
but otherwise the cheerful, meditaive man,
careless Of wealth, knowing the use Of the
rifle, not the plough, of a strong. robust
frame, in the vigorous health of early man.
hood, ignorant of hooks bu' versed in the
forest aud forest liz , ever fond of tracking
the deer on foot, away from men, yet in his
disposition, humane, generous nnd gentle,
was happy in the uninterrupted succession
'of sylvan pleasures
One calm summers evening as he climbed
a commanding ridge, and looked out upon
the remote venerable Mountains and the
nearer ample plains, and caught glimpse
in the distance Of the Ohio. which bounded
the land Of his Affections with majestic gran
leur, his heart exulted in the region he had
discovered AN things were still Not
breeze so mnch aS shook Il leaf He kin
died fire near fountain OF sweet water,
and fenstcd Oh the LON Of n buck. lie was
no more alone than hee among flowers.
but conlmunrd familiurly with the whole
universe of f.. Nature was his intimate,
mud Ms the ro lming wO01Sinan leaned con.
lilingly on her bosom, she responded 10 his
intelligence.
For him he rocks and the fountains the
leaf and the blades Of grass had life the
cooling air laden with the Will perfume,
came TO him as friend; the dewy morning
wrapped him nis embrace; the rees stool
up glor,onsly round about him us so many
myriuds OF companions. All forms wore
he character OF design or perl. But how
could he he afraid Triumphiug over
danger he knew no fear. Tie perpetual
bowling of the wolves by night round his
cottage or his bivouac in the brake, was
his diversion aud by day he had joy in
Surveying the various specie of animals tha
surrounded him. He loved the solitude
bette than the lowered city or the hum ol
business.
Near the end of July, l770, his faithful
brother came back to meet him at the old
camp. Shortly After they proceeded to
Cumberland river, giving naules to the DIFF
ferent waters and be then returned TO his