Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1871-10-27
s"j From tho anderson Intolligencer.
Home Views.
.nH IS .l.,.l. ~ .E-r.----
NO. vi.

NO. VI.
The eNahantahala River and valley have
long been celebrated as peculiar and favored
haunt for sportsmcn and stock -raisers in Yves.
tcru North Carolina, but is little known out
side of that immediate locality. The river
rises souo ten or twelve miles from Clayton,
Ga, Bettis' creek making up from this side
of tho mountain, until it nearly reaches the
handspring of Nahantahala; but there is no
road, afid visitors arc forced to go by way of
Franklin, n. c., then take tho Turnpike to
wards Muy oily, making circuit of over forty
milcsywhpn if there was road graded across
the mountain up Bcttis creek this famous
fishing and hunting ground could be reached
in 'fiftccn miles from Clayton. -
This river, as We havc before stated, is so
cloEattd that its bed is really but q trough
bctWeSh, two n,ountains-tho level Of tho
Hiwasscc on one side, aud the little Tennes.
sec on the other, being hundreds of feet low.
cr For instance, in approaching the river
frenr Tho ,l1iwassee, you ascend by winding
road, it is true, tho Tusquitta Mountain, for
four long miles, attaining q great elevation
aboyee tho 'Hiwasscc, whilst the descent to
thS.Nahaptahal. is short and easy, and GER
tath1y not moro than one.half the elevation.
Then leaving the .Nahaktahaa, the ascent of
the mountains westornsside is shortand
caay,swhi!st to- reach the valley of tho little
Tennessee, at tho source of the Cartooiaja.
takcs'sovcn flohe and difficult miles. iIay.
ing NO means Of measurement but the eve
and distances, traycled, Of course no accurate
opihi6nl Athhsbe Expressed; but the strange
elevation Of, this stream is and has long been
noted by visitors and travellers The course
of the river is,thirty or forty miles long, with
out Cascades Or falls, but one continuous, rap
id essotnt " unt'l it emp,ies into the little
range of mountains, on both sides Of
this river, formed the great hunting aud fish
ing,grounds of tho Cherokee Indians, and is
yet more sparsely settled indeed, for many
miiebswith thousands of acres Of rich pnstu-
rage lands nota house is seen tho only sign
of,,visitation being shelter for, ,o,santers or
lick:logs for stock. Deer, bears ansINYildcots
nbo1Hnd, With, pheasants and quails for the
hinter,n ana the spcckled brook trout arc 80
plenty thRt;we fear to toll what was told to
usrrffty tosthree hundred in ono DAYS fish.
ing was, not unusual. The mountain GIRLS
mount their, ponies and ride up from Hiwas.
see and FfahkiIn, and actually fish on horse.
back, Tldtng down the shallow stream, whilst
tho harder race wade. 1t is not uncommon
whom you throw your fly into the stream for
several trout to strike, actually jumping clear
of the water. This delightful summer re.
treat Gan now be reached from Wahalla in
two aays' easy travel, and we hope, in another
season or two, from Clayton or Franklin.-
But She tcal lover Of these exciting sports
should not wait until railroad shall bring
its messy andpromiscous crowds, but should
60 now, and enjoy them in their present Sc.
yNor a colony Of Swiss or Scotch, we know
Of M place more desirable. The river of.
fofds,' towards its head, largo bodies of table
lands of great fertility, somo ten or twelve
thousand acres, which can now be purchased
atextremely low prices The native pastur-
ago dsi 50 fno!" that the stock raiser actually
outs tho hay, (wild pea-vines,) stacks it in
tho woods, and uses it for any cattle, colts
orsheep he may leave there during the win
t&J 'Fh4 timbsr;ia most plentiful and really
magniiicent-- hickory, poplar, birch, and
some spruce or Northern pine. Some ton or
twolve thousand acres of this rich, alluyial
land Coan now, as we are informed, be pur.
chased for one or two dollars per aoro What
aa opportunity for dairy and ohoeso purposes !;
but, underlying this roh soil, is the marvel.
GUS mihoral wealth, almost indigenous to this
dvers aHd |hdjaeent oountry--gold, silver, cop,
pet and iron, with marble of every hue,
dthoAg othcYs,,h flesh tinted variety, which
exactly RESEMBLES flesh and blood, and if used
for statuary, would represent the perfect hue
aud ,tintof tho human form. Besides, these
different varieties of tho marble contain gold
andt bother precious metals, confusing shc best
Of mincralogists.. The climate is unsurpas-
scd for health,apd vigor, with opportunities
for wealth, and exciting and plcasurable
spQrtsarsroly equaled in any country. The
inaSiojna, herbs and roots abound, especially
thab root, so priced In China that good speci.
mots4Wlll command fabulous prices and tho
sssg3E s%sb82g ''' dollar per pound (''""-
but, Mr.. Editor, wo feel almost ashamed
at tho NeaHr9 description of this marvellous
section 6f'Wdstern North Carolina. People
must, cove and see, for themselves that our
dpscriptiona is not exaggerated.
After few hours of delightful sport with
ahe trout in this celebrated river, having no
applianoebfoi booking, we left and oommono
cd tlio ASCENT of tho mountain Of the same
name. Wo met persons driving cattle to
maykeB 50 fat that they gould scarcely breathe
end wbna @od |hyAhefo wore hot thousands
Instead Of hundreds, for tho range is, or
seemed to US to DO, ilimitahle. The summit
,of this moantain, where the turnpike crosses
jsboyg,a yen,urkable elevation, in the size and
growth Of the trees, especially in tho height,