LIFE OF WILSON. 
CXXXVll 
quite night; and I passed the rest of the road in the dark, over a 
rocky country, abounding with springs, to Danville. This place 
stands on a slight eminence, and contains about eighty houses, 
chiefly log and frame buildings, disposed in two parallel streets, 
crossed by several others. It has two ropewalks and a woollen 
manufactory; also nine shops and three taverns. I observed a 
great many sheep feeding about here, amidst fields of excellent 
pasture. It is, however, but a dull place. A Roman Catholic 
chapel has been erected here, at the expense of one or two indivi- 
duals. The shopkeepers trade from the mouth of Dick’s river 
down to Neworleans, with the common productions of the country, 
flour, hemp, tobacco, pork, corn and whiskey. I was now 180 
miles from Nashville, and, as I was informed, not a town or village 
on the whole route. Every day, however, was producing wonders 
in the woods, by the progress of vegetation. The blossoms of the 
sassafras, dogwood, and red bud, contrasted with the deep green 
of the poplar and buckeye, enriched the scenery on every side ; 
while the voices of the feathered tribes, many of which were to me 
new and unknown, were continually engaging me in the pursuit. 
Emerging from the deep solitude of the forest, the rich green of the 
grain fields, the farm house and cabins embosomed amidst orchards 
of glowing purple and white, gave the sweetest relief to the eye. 
Not far from the foot of a high mountain, called Mulders Hill, I 
overtook one of those family caravans so common in this country, 
moving to the westward. The procession occupied a length of 
road, and had a formidable appearance, though as I afterwards un- 
derstood it was composed of the individuals of only a single family. 
In the front went a wagon drawn by four horses, driven by a negro, 
and filled with implements of agriculture ; another heavy loaded 
wagon, with six horses, followed, attended by two persons ; after 
which came a numerous and mingled group of horses, steers, cows, 
sheep, hogs, and calves with their bells ; next followed eight boys 
mounted double, also a negro wench with a white child before her; 
2 M 
VOL. IX. 
