FROM CARLISLE TO THE OHIO 237 



common, but in the lower parts it has pretty well dis- 

 appeared. It grows in not too rich woods-earth in 

 mountain regions from Canada down to North and 

 South Carolina. Much is brought in to Fort Pitt. In- 

 dustrious people who went out for the purpose have 

 gathered as much as 60 pounds in one day. Three 

 pounds of the freshly gathered make only one pound 

 of the well dried ; which is sold by the gatherers for 

 one, one and a half, to two shillings Pensylv. Current, 

 commonly about a shilling sterling. The physicians in 

 America make no use of this root; and it is an article 

 of trade only with China, where the price is not so high 

 as it was, on account of the great adulteration. All 

 manner of similar roots were mixed in. The English 

 take very little of it. The taste of the fresh root is 

 very similar to that of our sweet-wood, or liquorice, 

 but is somewhat more aromatic. In these mountains 

 also are gathered many pounds of the Senega (Poly- 

 gala Senega, L.) and of the Virginia snake- root (Ari- 

 stolochia Serpent. L.) ; the pound, dried, sells for two, 

 two and a half, and three shillings Pensylv. Current. 



We breakfasted at a Captain's whither we had been 

 directed ; for along this road, and others like it in 

 America, one must not be deceived by the bare name 

 of taverns. The people keep tavern if they have any- 

 thing over and above what they need ; if not, the 

 traveller must look about for himself. The Captain 

 was not at all pleased that the neighborhood was be- 

 ginning to be so thickly settled. ' It spoils the hunt- 

 ing,' he said, ' makes quarrels ; and then they come and 

 want to collect taxes ; it is time some of us were leav- 

 ing and getting deeper into the country.' Hence we 

 supposed we should find a thickly settled region, but 



