two days at Cowe, and, in the mean time, having made
some excursions to places in its vicinity, Mr. Bartram proceeded on his
journey, and was accompanied, about fifteen miles, by his hospitable
friend, the trader. After this gentleman had left him, he was in the
midst of solitude, surrounded by dreary and trackless mountains; and,
for some time, he was unable to erase from his mind a notion that his
present situation in some degree resembled that of Nebuchadnezzar, when
expelled from the society of men, and constrained to roam in the
wilderness, there to herd and to feed with the beasts of the forest. He,
however, proceeded with all the alacrity which prudence would permit.
His present object was, at all events, to cross the Jore Mountains, said
to be the highest land in the Cherokee country. These he soon afterwards
began to ascend; and, at length, he accomplished one part of his arduous
task. From the most elevated peak of these mountains, he beheld, with
rapture and astonishment, a sublimely awful scene of magnificence, a
world of mountains piled upon mountains.

On the ensuing day, still proceeding in his journey westward, Mr.
Bartram, on descending from the heights, observed a company of Indians
on horseback. They rapidly approached him; and, under an impression that
one of them, who was at the head of the troop, was the emperor or grand
chief of the Cherokees, Mr. Bartram turned out of the path in token of
respect. In this supposition he was correct, and the compliment was
accepted, for the chief, with a cheerful smile, came up to him, and
placing his hand on his breast, then offered it to Mr. Bartram, and
heartily shook hands with him. The chief made enquiry respecting a
gentleman of Charleston, with whom he was acquainted, and afterwards
welcomed Mr. Bartram into his country, as a friend and brother. Being,
at this time, on a journey to Charleston, he shook hands with Mr.
Bartram, bade him heartily farewell, and then proceeded.

Describing the _Cherokee_ Indians, our traveller says that these people
construct their habitations in a square form, each building being only
one story high. The materials consist of logs or trunks of trees,
stripped of their bark, notched at the ends, fixed one upon another, and
afterwards plastered both inside and out, with clay well tempered with
dry grass; and the whole covered or roofed with the bark of the
chesnut-tree, or with broad shingles or wooden tiles. The principal
buildi