TRAVELS THROUGH NORTH AMERICA : 
state of Teiiassee going towards Philadelphia 
and Baltimore* and with many others going 
in a contrary direction* to explore*" as they 
call it* that is* to search for lands conveniently 
situated for new settlements in the western 
country. The people all travel on horseback* 
with pistols and swords* and a large blanket 
folded up under their saddle* which last they 
use for sleeping in when obliged to pass the 
night in the woods. There is but little occa- 
sion for amis now that peace has been made 
with the Indians; but formerly it used to be 
a very serious undertaking to go by this route, 
to Kentucky* and travellers were always obliged 
to go forty or fifty in a party* and well pre¬ 
prepared for defence. It would be still danger* 
ous for any person to venture singly; but if 
five or six travel together* they are perfectly 
secure. There are bouses now scattered along 
nearly the whole way from Fincastle to Lex¬ 
ington -in Kentucky* so that it is not necessary 
to sleep more than two or three nights in the 
woods in going there. Of all the uncouth hu¬ 
man beings I met with in America, these peo¬ 
ple Loin the western, country were the most 
$o ; their curiosity was boundless. Frequently 
have I been stopped abruptly by one of them 
ip a solitary part of the road* and in such a 
manner* that had it been in another country, 
i should have imagined it was a highwayman 
