The Indian Wars, 1784-1787 109 



often carried to the Eastern settlements at this period 

 when the commerce of the West was in its first in 

 fancy, and was as yet only struggling for an outlet 

 down the Mississippi. One of those who went into 

 this trade was Boone. Although no longer a real 

 leader in Kentucky life he still occupied quite a 

 prominent position, and served as a Representative 

 in the Virginia Legislature, 28 while his fame as a 

 hunter and explorer was now spread abroad in the 

 United States, and even in Europe. To travelers 

 and new-comers generally, he was always pointed 

 out as the first discoverer of Kentucky; and be 

 ing modest, self-contained, and self-reliant, he al 

 ways impressed them favorably. He spent most of 

 his time in hunting, trapping, and surveying land 

 warrants for men of means, being paid, for instance, 

 two shillings current money per acre for all the good 

 land he could enter on a ten-thousand acre Treasury 

 warrant. 29 He also traded up and down the Ohio 

 River at various places, such as Point Pleasant and 

 Limestone ; and at times combined keeping a tavern 

 with keeping a store. His accounts contain much 

 quaint information. Evidently his guests drank as 

 generously as they ate; he charges one four pounds 

 sixteen shillings for two months' board and two 

 pounds four shillings for liquor. He takes the note 

 of another for ninety-three gallons of cheap corn 

 whiskey. Whiskey cost sixpence a pint, and rum 



88 Draper's MSS., Boone MSS., from Bourbon Co. The 

 papers cover the years from 1784 on to '95. 

 49 Do., certificate of G. Imlay, 1784. 



