NORTH AMERICA 
359 
After parting with my late companion I went 
forward with all the alacrity that prudence would 
admit of, that I might as foon as poffible fee the 
end of my toil and hazard, being determined at 
all events to crofs the Jore mountain, faid to be the 
higheft land in the Cherokee country. 
After a gentle defcent, I entered on an extremely 
ftony narrow vale, through which coafted fwiftly a 
large creek, twelve or fifteen yards wide, roaring 
over a rocky bed, which I croffed with difficulty 
and danger, the ford being incommoded by {hel- 
ving rocks, full of holes and cliffs. After leaving 
this rocky creek, my path led me upon another 
narrow vale or glade, down which came in great 
hafte another noify brook, which I repeatedly croff- 
ed and recroffed, fometimes riding on narrow level 
graffy verges clofe to its banks ; ftill afcending, the 
vale gradually terminated, being fhut up by ftu- 
pendous rocky hills on each lide, leaving a very 
narrow gap or defile, towards which my road led 
me, afcending the fteep fides of the mountains ; 
when, after rifing feveral wearifome ajcents, and 
finding myfelf over-heated and tired, I halted at a 
little grafly lawn through which meandered a fweet 
rivulet. Here I turned my horfe to graze, and fat 
down to reft on a green bank juft beneath a high 
frowning promontory, or obtufe point of a ridge 
of the mountain yet above me, the friendly rivulet 
making a circuit by my feet ; and now a little reft- 
ed, I took out of my wallet fome bifcuitand cheefe, 
and a peace of neat’s tongue, compofmg myfelf to 
eafe and refrefhment ; when fuddenly appeared 
within a few yards, advancing towards me from 
behind the point, a flout likely young Indian fellow, 
armed with a rifle gun, and two dogs attending. 
