Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1917-06-27

GanQy 5 FOTC anu IlduilS LouSe az
old N%inety-Six, where it formed a
junction with the trail from the
Congarees. In the vicinity of Green
wood, it crossed Little Wilson's
Creek at a ford long afterwards
known, and used in the plantation
formerly owned by the Rev. Joel
Townsend, and ran thence through
the lands of the late Capt. T. B.
Byrd, and Capt. j.. Johnson, having
traversed, from Old N~inety-Six,
lands once owned by Maj. R. A.
Griffin and Nathaniel McCants. 1t
passed a few PAGES eastward of the
large granite rock, standing on the
Barksdale Ferry Road, near Rock
church. A few miles north of Point
ing Rock, it crossed Rocky Creek,
just above the site of Vennings Mill,
and ran thence to the Coronalee,
which it crossed at a spot famous as
a camping ground with all the trades
and Indians, who once frequented
this celebrated trail. From the Cor
onaka, it pursued its course towards
the head branches of Mulberry Creek,
passing a little to the west of the
present site of Cokesbury. In the
fork of the Mulberry it turned sud-
denly, for a short distance, to the
left, to take in its way the old trad
ing post at DeWitt's Corner. Thence
it ran across head waters of Rocky
River, and passed, in a similar man.
ner, through the head streams of all
the eastern tributaries of the Savan-
nah River, that flowed south of it's
point of destination, the town Of
Keowee, on the ancient Isundigo
River.
The substitution of the railway for
the old-fashioned market thorough
fare, did away with the suffering and
exposure incident to the men and
animals employed on the trail, as the
abuse of horses. and the hardships of
the men on the trading paths were
sometimes dreadful. The bleaching
bones of the horses made white many
a weary mile of the great trails lead
ing from Charleston to the Cherokee
towns, and not infrequently, mingled
with them, were seen the CHASTITY
skeletons of men and women. 1t is
a curious fact, that the Cherokee In
dians would leave their dead un-
buried on the path, rather than con-
tract ceremonial uncleanness in the
act of preparing them for interment.
according to their usual means of
publication. In some instances, the
bodies thus deserted. were covered
up, out of the reach of wolves, by
traders belonging to passing cara
vans. An instance CT this kind c.
Cured on the Raowee trail, Just be-
low Ninety-Six, not long after the
settlement of that place. Blu. in
peace, and in war, and every vicissi.
tude of weather, the Indians We're
found upon the path, !adened with
furs and skins en- route to the trad
ing post, where they were eXchang-
ed for merchandise. The following
were some of the rates of barter
agreed upon: A gun equal in value
to thirty-fve skins; a Ratchet to
three skins; a white blanket to SIX
teen; a hoe to five; thirty bullets to
one; a pair of scissors to one; a
knife and string of beads to n
each; twelve fints to one; a laced
broad cloth coat to thirty; an X to
five; a piece of steel to one; a calico
| skirt to fourteen; and a red girdle to
two, while the demand for salt, gun
! powder, tea kettles and looking
glasses was so great that the Com
sioners fixed no price upon them,
leaving the traders to exact as much
as the Indians were willing to pay
for such things. There is scarcely
in all Carolina a more historic and
romantic trail than this, the ancient
one of the Keowee, but it is that
part of the trail that traverses Edge
field county, and known as Cherokee
Ford Crossing that interests US most.
Many a stately Indian warrior has
wooed and won the companion of his
life while roaming together over
these beautiful hills and dales, and
as their moccasin feet pressed the
rugged paths-perhaps this one
that we are marking today-these
dusky lovers of the Cherokee tribe
made their nuptial plans, and their
fates were joined, not by a cassocked
priest OF other divinity, but by their
own sacred religious rites. Some
times a tiny rainbow that spanned
the cleaning bubbles of the brook,
formed the marriage ring; the silver
"