A &quot;Thousand-Mile IValk 



estingly sculptured, far more so than the grand 

 est architectural works of man. The finest of 

 the forests are usually found along their banks, 

 and in the multitude of falls and rapids the wil 

 derness finds a voice. Such a river is the Hi- 

 wassee, with its surface broken to a thousand 

 sparkling gems, and its forest walls vine- 

 draped and flowery as Eden. And how fine the 

 songs it sings! 



In Murphy [North Carolina] I was hailed 

 by the sheriff who could not determine by my 

 colors and rigging to what country or craft I 

 belonged. Since the war, every other stranger 

 in these lonely parts is supposed to be a crimi 

 nal, and all are objects of curiosity or appre 

 hensive concern. After a few minutes conver 

 sation with this chief man of Murphy I was 

 pronounced harmless, and invited to his house, 

 where for the first time since leaving home I 

 found a house decked with flowers and vines, 

 clean within and without, and stamped with 

 the comforts of culture and refinement in all 

 its arrangements. Striking contrast to the un- 

 [42] 



