lx 
MEMOIR OF 
immediate successors of the savages, and far below them 
in good sense and good manners, as well as comfortable 
accommodations. An engraved representation of one of 
their cabins would form a striking embellishment to the 
pages of the Portfolio , as a specimen of the first order of 
American architecture.” 
“ In the afternoon of the 15th, I entered Big Bone 
Creek, which being passable only about a quarter of a 
mile, I secured my boat, and left my baggage under the 
care of a decent family near, and set out on foot five 
miles through the woods for the Big Bone Lick, that 
great antediluvian rendezvous of the American elephants. 
This place, which lies ‘ far in the windings of a sheltered 
vale,’ afforded me a fund of amusement in shooting ducks 
and paroquets, (of which last I skinned twelve, and brought 
off two slightly wounded,) and in examining the ancient 
buffalo roads to this great licking place. Mr Colquhoun, 
the proprietor, was not at home; but his agent and 
manager entertained me as well as he was able, and was 
much amused with my enthusiasm. This place is a low 
valley, every where surrounded by high hills ; in the 
centre, by the side of the creek, is a quagmire of near an 
acre, from which, and another smaller one below, the 
chief part of these large bones have been taken ; at the 
latter places, I found numerous fragments of large bones 
lying scattered about. In pursuing a wounded duck across 
this quagmire, I had nearly deposited my carcass among 
the grand congregation of mammoths below, having sunk 
up to the middle, and had hard struggling to get out.” 
“ On Friday the 24th, I left my baggage with a 
merchant of the place [Louisville], to be forwarded by the 
first wagon, and set out on foot for Lexington, seventy- 
two miles distant. 
“ Walking here in wet weather is most execrable, and 
is like travelling on soft soap; a few days of warm 
weather hardens this again almost into stone. Want of 
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