214 MEETING THREE MAROOTZEE. [1820. 
declivity, the steps of which were not so high as 
the first. From a fountain in the middle of the 
pass ran a clear and refreshing stream. The bed 
over which it flowed was entirely paved with 
rock, and appeared as well calculated to contain 
and conduct the water as if it had been hewn 
by human art and industry. 
We met three Marootzee men in the pass, who 
had left Kurreechane that day, on a hunting ex- 
cursion. The face of the principal man was 
covered with paint of a redder hue than I had 
seen used by any of the more southern nations. 
Their dog was so alarmed at our appearance, that 
he ran off immediately on our approach; and the 
man who went after him did not return while we 
halted. Leaving the pass, we entered a valley 
of considerable extent, surrounded by hills; 
through one opening between them we had a 
peep of the country beyond to the N. E., which I 
viewed with much interest, especially from know- 
ing, by report, the greatness of the population 
living in that direction, and from musing on the 
probable effects to which our journey might 
lead, both as it regarded the present and the ap- 
proaching world. 
In the middle of the valley, we found a river 
running to the eastward with considerable noise ; 
and which, from the depth and steepness of 
