TRAVELS IM 
‘2 
of the flakes or lamina incredibly large, entire and 
tranfparent, and would ferve the purpofe of lights 
for windows very well, or for lanthorns ; and here 
appeared ftratar of black lead (ftibium). 
At length, after much toil and exercife, I was a 
little relieved by a narrow graflfy vale or lawn at the 
foot of this fteep defcent, through which courfed 
along a conflderable rapid brook, on whofe banks 
grew in great perfeflion the glorious Magnolia 
auriculata, together with the other confpicuous 
flowering and aromatic flirubs already mentioned ; 
and 1 obferved here in the rich bottoms near the 
creek, a new fpecies of Hydraftis, having very 
large finuated leaves and white flowers ; after this 
I continued feveral miles over ridges and grafly 
vales, watered with delightful rivulets. 
Next day proceeding on eight or ten miles, 
generally through fpacious high forefts and flowery 
lawns ; the foil prolific, being of an excellent qua- 
lity for agriculture; came near the banks of a large 
creek or river, where this high foreft ended on my 
left hand, the trees became more fcattered and in- 
fenfibly united with a grafly glade or lawn border- 
ing on the river ; on the oppofite bank of which 
appeared a very extenfive foreft, confiding entirely 
of the Hemlock fpruce (P. abies), almoft encircled 
by diftant ridges of lofty hills. 
Soon after eroding this large branch of the Ta~ 
nafe, I obferved, defeending the heights at fome 
diftance, a company of Indians, all well mounted 
on horfe back ; they came rapidly forward : on 
their nearer approach 1 obferved a chief at the head 
of the carravan, and apprehending him to be the 
Little Carpenter, emperor or grand chief of the 
Cherokees, 
