INTRODUCTION.

In giving to the public the biography of a celebrated backwoodsman, a brief sketch of the country in which he resides will not be deemed irrelevant. I am aware that much has been written upon this subject; but it is a theme so fruitful in variety, that I hope, if I shall not be able to instruct, I shall at least entertain. The term "far off West" seems, from general usage, to apply only to that section of our country which lies between the Alleghany and Rocky mountains. In comparison with this vast region, other portions of the globe, which have delighted the world with the finest specimens of history, of poetry, of sculpture, and of painting, dwindle into insignificance with regard to magnitude. Here Fancy, in her playful flights, may call into being empires which have no existence; and though perhaps sober reason would now chide her fairy creations, yet the time will come, when they will only be looked upon with the conviction of truth.

Oft, while seated upon the margin of the Mississippi river-the greatest curiosity on our globe

have I indulged in thought, until my brain reeled with the multitude of images which crowded upon it. When I reflected on the vast region comprised in the phrase "far off West"-when I recollected that all the water which fell and accumulated between the Alleghany on the east, and the Rocky mountains on the west, (a section of country thousands of miles in extent,) sought, by the same outlet, its passage to the ocean-and when I beheld at my feet, that passage, in a narrow muddy stream, winding smoothly along, I was struck with astonishment. I thought it ought to boil, and dash, and foam, and fret its way, in hurried search of the ocean. Although the Mississippi receives tributaries which are navigable for several thousand miles, yet its size is not at all apparently increased. Irregular, though smooth, it forces its circuitous way along-yet restless, and ever changing its bed, as if to relieve itself from the accumulating weight of waters. Frequently does it narrow itself to within less than a quarter of a mile. Then how incalculable must be its depth! There are some portions of it very shallow; but there are others, where no bottom has ever yet been found; and could its waters be drained off, there would be left chasms into which the boldest would never dare look; and in whose depths myriads of animals would crawl and flutter, which have never yet known the light of day!

The "far off West" spreads before us every

variety of climate-every species of soil. One would be more disposed to look upon it as a creation of fancy, than as possessing an actual existence. Here, roam and play their sportive tricks, over verdant fields, innumerable animals, whose feet are crimsoned with fruit, which the gods themselves would eat. Here, roving over our prairies, the weary hunter may repose on beds of flowers which give the blush to all the enchantment of city gardens. Here, while I am now writing, apart from the busy hum of men, how the events of a few years rise up before me! The Past and Present both present themselves, and seek to gain my preference. The Past tells me that here, but a few years since, nature slept in primeval loveliness: her forests had never echoed to the sound of an axe; her rivers had never been disturbed by the noise of a steamboat; there was nothing to break in upon the stillness of evening, save the loud whoop of her children, the long howl of some hungry wolf, the wild scream of a famished panther, or the plaintive notes of some gentle turtle, weeping for one that's far away. "Yes," cried she, "here roamed my red men of the forest, free as the breezes which fanned their raven locks. Here, no bickerings disturbed their social intercourse-no right of property shed its baleful influence over their wild society-no white man was here to practise them in all the wiles of deception:-No-there was none. Here my young

daughters of the forest have led on the mazy dance -here, have luxuriated in all the delightful emotions of innocent love. Here, som Indian warrior may have wooed his dusky bride. My heart grows sick when I think of all that was lovely which has left me.”

"But," cries the Present, "the scene that I could sketch is still more beautiful. Though no long howl of the wolf now announces evening; though no famished panther wakes you at midnight-yet the repose of nature is now broken by music far more delightful. The noise of children just bursting out from school-the cheerful song of the milkmaid, as she performs her evening duties or the loud crack of some driver, as he forces his weary oxen to their stalls, now tells us of the close of day. Once, only a canoe danced lightly over your waters: now, floating palaces adorn them, which realize all the gorgeous tales of eastern fancy, and with all their beauty blend the power of the magic carpet

'Walk your waters like things of life,

And seem to dare the elements to strife.""

The West presents much variety. Some of our cities, in beauty and in all the fascinations of a polished society, vie with those of the East; while there are many portions where the wildness of nature and the first rudiments of society are struggling for the ascendency; and there are still many more, where nature yet reposes in her loveliest

form. The whole country spreads before us a field for speculation, only bounded by the limits of the human mind.

*

Every spot shows that it was once the abode of human beings, who are now lounging idly about in the vale of eternity-not so small as the degenerate race of modern days, but majestic in size, and capable, according to scripture command, of managing the various species of the mammoth tribe-even those that were ligniverous, whose ravenous appetite has clearly accounted for the want of timber on our great western prairies, and whose saliva, according to the MS. of a celebrated travelling antiquarian and great linguist, (which subsequent annotators seem to have overlooked) was of so subtle yet deadly a nature, that when applied to a tree, it immediately diffused itself throughout its roots, and killed, for all future ages, the power to germinate.

We must ever regret that the same ingenious traveller did not inform us of their mode of eating this timber; as henceforward it must be a matter of doubt. Was it corded up like steamboat wood, and in that manner devoured? Or did this animal, after the manner of the anaconda, render its food slippery by means of saliva, and swallow it whole? If this latter be the case, I am struck

* An Essay of much ingenuity and fancy, published in the West, accounts for the present existence of the prairies, by supposing the timber to have been all devoured by an animal of the mammoth tribe!

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