Ixxxvi 
LIFE OF 
shopkeepers trade from the mouth of Dick’s River, down to New 
Orleans, with the common productions of the country, — flour, 
hemp, tobacco, pork, corn, and whisky. I was now one hundred 
and eighty miles from Nashville, and, as I was informed, not a 
town or village on the whole route. Every day, however, was 
producing wonders, on the woods, by the progress of vegetation. 
The blossoms of the sassafras, dogweed, 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 Mulder’s 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 understood, 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 child before her ; then the 
mother, with one child behind her, and another at the breast ; ten 
or twelve colts brought up the rear, now and then picking herbage 
and trotting a-head. The father, a fresh good looking man, 
informed me that he was from Washington county, in Kentucky, 
and was going as far as Cumberland River ; he had two ropes fixed 
to the top of the wagon, one of which he guided himself, and the 
other was intrusted to his eldest son, to keep it from oversetting 
in ascending the mountain. The singular appearance of this 
moving group, the mingled music of the bells, and the shouting of 
the drivers, mixed with the echoes of the mountains, joined to the 
picturesque solitude of the place, and various reflections that 
hurried through my mind, interested me greatly ; and I kept com- 
pany with them for some time, to lend my assistance, if necessary. 
