292 KENTUCKY SPORTS. 



magnificent stream, they at once commenced the task of clearing lafnd, 

 for the purpose of establishing a permanent residence. 



Others, perhaps encumbered with too much luggage, preferred de- 

 scending the stream. They prepared a^A;* pierced with port-holes, and 

 glided on the gentle current, more annoyed, however, than those who 

 marched by land, by the attacks of the Indians, who watched their mo- 

 tions. Many travellers have described these boats, formerly called arA.?, 

 but now uavaedjlat-boats. But have they told you, kind reader, that in 

 those times a boat thirty or forty feet in length, by ten or twelve in 

 breadth, was considered a stupendous fabric ; that this boat contained 

 men, women and children, huddled together, with horses, cattle, hogs 

 and poultry for their companions, while the remaining portion was 

 crammed with vegetables and packages of seeds ? The roof or deck of 

 the boat was not unlike a farm-yard, being covered with hay, ploughs, 

 carts, waggons, and various agricultural implements, together with nu- 

 merous others, among which the spinning-wheels of the matrons were 

 conspicuous. Even the sides of the floating-mass were loaded with the 

 wheels of the different vehicles, which themselves lay on the roof. Have 

 they told you that these boats contained the little all of each family of 

 venturous emigrants, who, fearful of being discovered by the Indians 

 under night moved in darkness, groping their way from one part to 

 another of these floating habitations, denying themselves the comfort of 

 fire or light, lest the foe that watched them from the shore should 

 rush upon them and destroy them ? Have they told you that this boat 

 was used, after the tedious voyage was ended, as the first dwelling of 

 these new settlers ? No, kind reader, such things have not been related 

 to you before. The travellers who have visited our country, have had 

 other objects in view. 



I shall not describe the many massacres which took place among the 

 different parties of White and Red men, as the former moved down 

 the Ohio ; because I have never been very fond of battles, and indeed 

 have always wished that the world were more peaceably inclined than it 

 is ; and shall merely add, that, in one way or other, Kentucky was wrested 

 from the original owners of the soil. Let us, therefore, turn our atten- 

 tion to the sports stiU enjoyed in that now happy portion of the United 

 States. 



We have individuals in Kentucky, kind reader, that even there are 

 considered wonderful adepts in the management of the rifle. To drive 



