In the Current of the Revolution 297 



tion of the land that alone bore lasting fruit, and 

 the settlement he founded was the first that con- 

 tained within itself the elements of permanence and 

 growth. 



Of course, as in every other settlement of inland 

 America, the especial point to be noticed is the in- 

 dividual initiative of the different settlers. Neither 

 the royal nor the provincial governments had any- 

 thing to do with the various colonies that were 

 planted almost simultaneously on the soil of Ken- 

 tucky. Each little band of pioneers had its own 

 leaders, and was stirred by its own motives. All 

 had heard, from different sources, of the beauty and 

 fertility of the land, and as the great danger from 

 the Indians was temporarily past, all alike went in to 

 take possession, not only acting without previous 

 agreement, but for the most part being even in ig- 

 norance of one another's designs. Yet the dangers 

 surrounding these new-formed and far-off settle- 

 ments were so numerous, and of such grave nature, 

 that they could hardly have proved permanent had it 

 not been for the comparatively well-organized settle- 

 ment of Boone, and for the temporary immunity 

 which Henderson's treaty purchased from the South- 

 ern Indians. 



The settlement of Kentucky 'was a much more 

 adventurous and hazardous proceeding than had 

 been the case with any previous westward extension 

 of population from the old colonies; because Ken- 

 tucky, instead of abutting on already settled dis- 

 tricts, was an island in the wilderness, separated by 



