THE DIVIIJING IJNE (J5 



deliberated which way it might be most proper to return. We had at first 

 intended to cross over at the foot of the mountains to the liead of James 

 river, that we might be able to describe that natural boundary so far. But, 

 on second thoughts, we found many good reasons against that laudable de- 

 sign, such as the wealcness of our horses, the scantiness of our bread, and the 

 near approach of winter. We had cause to believe the way might be full 

 of hills, and the farther we went towards the north, the more danger there 

 would be of snow. Such considerations as these determined us at last to 

 make the best of our way back upon the line, which was the straightest, and 

 consequently the shortest way to the inhabitants. We knew the worst of 

 our course, and were sure of a beaten path all the way, while we were totally 

 ignorant what difficulties and dangers the other course might be attended 

 with. So prudence got the better for once of curiosity, and the itch for 

 new discoveries gave place to self-preservation. Our inclination was the 

 stronger to cross over according to the course of the mountains, that we 

 might find out whether James river and Appomattox river head there, or 

 run quite through them. It is certain that Potomac passes in a large stream 

 through i\i^ main ledge, and. then divides ij;self into two considerable rivers. 

 That which stretches aw-ay to the northward is called Cohungaroota,* and 

 that which flows to the south-west, hath the name of Sharantow. The course 

 of this last stream is near parrallel to the Blue Ridge of mountains, at the dis- 

 tance only of about three or four miles* Though how far it may continue 

 that course has not yet been sufficiently discovered, but some woodsmen pre- 

 tend to say it runs as far as the source of Roanoke ; nay, they are so very 

 particular as to tell us that Roanoke, Sharantow, and another wide branch of 

 Mississippi, all head in one and the same mountain. What dependence there 

 may be upon this conjectural geography, I will not pretend to say, though it is 

 certain that Sharantow keeps close to the mountains, as far as we are 

 acquainted with its tendency. We are likewise assured that the south branch 

 of James river, within less than twenty miles east of the main ledge, makes 

 an elbow, and runs due south-west, which is parallel with the mountains on 

 this side. But how far it stretches that way, before it returns, is not yet cer- 

 tainly known, no more than where it takes its rise. 



In the mean time it is strange that our woodsmen have not had curiosity 

 enough to inform themselves more exactly of these particulars, and it is 

 stranger still that the government has never thought it worth the expense of 

 making an accurate survey of the mountains, that we might be masters of 

 that natural fortification before the French, who in some places have settle- 

 ments not very distant from it. It therefore concerns his majesty's service 

 very nearly, and the safety of his subjects in this part of the world, to take 

 possession of so important a barrier in time, lest our good friends, the French, 

 and the Indians, through their means, prove a perpetual annoyance to these 

 colonies. Another reason to invite us to secure this great ledge of mountains 

 is, the probability that very valuable mines may be discovered there. Nor 

 would it be at all extravagant to hope for silver mines, among the rest, be- 

 cause part of these mountains lie exactly in the same parallel, as well as 

 upon the same continent with New Mexico, and the mines of St. Barb. 



28th. W^e ha ] given orders for the horses to be brought up early, but the 

 likelihood of more rain prevented our being over-hasty in decamping. Nor 

 were we out in our conjectures, for about ten o'clock it began to fall very 

 plentifully. Our commis.sioner's pain began now to abate, as the swelling 

 increased. He made an excellent figure for a mountaineer, with one boot of 



* Which by a late survey has been found to extend above two hundred miles before it 

 reaches its source, in a mountain, from whence Allegany, one of the branches of Missis- 

 sippi, takes its rise, and runs south-west, as this river does south-east. 



