300 Zoological Collections, Vertebrata, 



- Settlement of Kentucky. — The Virginians thronged towards the Ohio. An 

 Axe, a couple of horses, and a heavy rifle, with store of ammunition, were all 

 that were considered necessary for the equipment of the man, who, with his 

 family, removed to the new state, assured that, in that land of exuberant ferti- 

 lity, he could not fail to provide amply for all his wants. To have witnessed 

 the industry and perseverance of these emigrants, must at once have proved 

 the vigour of their minds. Regardless of the fatigue attending every move- 

 ment which they made, they pushed through an unexplored region of dark 

 and tangled forests, guiding themselves by the sun alone, and reposing at 

 night on the bare ground. Numberless streams they had to cross on rafts, 

 with their wives and children, their cattle and their luggage, often drifting to 

 considerable distances before they could effect a landing on the opposite 

 shores. Their cattle would often stray amid the rich pasturage of these 

 shores, and occasion a delay of several days. To these troubles add the 

 constantly impending danger of being murdered, while asleep in their 

 encampments, by the prowling and ruthless Indians ; while they had before 

 them a distance of hundreds of miles to be traversed, before they could 

 reach certain places of rendezvous called Stations. To encounter difficulties 

 like these must have required energies of no ordinary kind ; and the reward 

 which these veteran settlers enjoy was doubtless well merited. 



Some removed from the Atlantic shores to those of the Ohio in more 

 jeomfort and security. They had their wagons, their negroes, and their 

 families. Their way was cut through the woods by their own axemen, the 

 day before their advance, and when night overtook them, the hunters 

 attached to the party came to the place pitched upon for encamping, loaded 

 with the dainties of which the forest yielded an abundant supply, the 

 blazing light of a huge fire guiding their steps as they approached, and the 

 sounds of merriment that saluted their ears assuring them that all was well. 

 The flesh of the buffalo, the bear, and the deer, soon hung in large and 

 delicious steaks, in front of the embers ; the cakes already prepared were 

 deposited in their proper places, and, under the rich drippings of the juicy 

 roasts, were quickly baked. The wagons contained the bedding, and whilst 

 the horses which had drawn them were turned loose to feed on the luxuriant 

 undergrowth of the woods, some, perhaps, hoppled, but the greater number 

 merely with a light bell hung to their neck, to guide their owners in the 

 morning to the spot where they might have rambled, the party were enjoying 

 themselves after the fatigues of the day. 



In anticipation, all is pleasure ; and these migrating bands feasted in joyous 

 sociality, unapprehensive of any greater difficulties than those to be encoun- 

 tered in forcing their way through the pathless woods to the land of abun- 

 dance ; and although it took months to accomplish the journey, and a skirmish 

 now and then took place between them and the Indians, who sometimes 

 crept unperceived into their very camp, still did the Virginians cheerfully 

 proceed towards the western horizon, until the various groups all reached 

 the Ohio, when, struck with the beauty of that magnificent stream, they at 

 once commenced the task of clearing land, for the purpose of establishing a 

 permanent residence. 



Others, perhaps encumbered with too much luggage, preferred descending 

 the stream. They prepared arks pierced with port-holes, and glided on the 

 gentle current, more annoyed, however, than those who marched by land, by 

 the attacks of the Indians, who watched their motions. Many travellers 

 have described these boats, formerly called arks, but now named flat-boats. 

 But have they told you, kind reader, that, in those times, a boat thirty or 

 forty feet in length, by ten or twelve in breadth, was considered a stupendous 

 fabric ; that this boat contained men, women, and children, huddled together, 

 with horses, cattle, hogs, and poultry, for their companions, while the 

 remaining portion was crammed with vegetables and packages of seeds ? 

 The roof or deck of the boat was not unlike a farm-yard, being covered 



