258 The Winning of the West 



tlemen (living in the neighborhood of the tree), 

 who were then from fifty to seventy years old, assert 

 that the carving was on the tree when they were 

 boys, and that the tradition in the community was 

 that the inscription was on the tree when discovered 

 by the first permanent settlers. The posture of the 

 tree is "leaning," so that a "bar," or other animal, 

 could ascend it without difficulty. 



While the letters could be clearly traced when I 

 last looked at them, still because of the expansion 

 of the bark, it was difficult, and I heard old gentle- 

 men years ago remark upon the changed appear- 

 ance of the inscription from what it was when 

 they -first knew it. 



Boone certainly camped for a time under the 

 tree; the creek is named after him (has always been 

 known as Boone's Creek) ; the Civil District is 

 named after him, and the post-office also. True, 

 the story as to the carving is traditionary, but a man 

 had as well question in that community the authen- 

 ticity of "Holy Writ," as the fact that Boone carved 

 the inscription on that tree. 



I am very respectfully 



JOHN ALLISON. 



APPENDIX D TO CHAPTER VI 



The following copy of an original note of Boone's 

 was sent me by Judge John N.. Lea : 



July the 20", 1786. Sir, The Land has Been 

 Long Survayd and Not Knowing When the Money 



