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consequence of its enormous size. I much doubt indeed if there be any where in the habitable globe a natural cavern of more noble dimensions.

The whole country in the neighbourhood is full of smaller caves. In one of these was found, together with some curious ornaments, the Mummy of an Indian, preserved with gum and aromatic herbs. This mummy is at present in a Museum in the Eastern States. Mr. Ward does not blush to affirm, that he himself found it in a recess of the Mammoth Cave, though he received it from Mr. Miller on the express condition of his presenting it to the Boston Museum. This he took care not to do, until he had made a sum of money by exhibiting it, and was only prevented from selling it by the threats of the proprietors of the cavern.

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Within a quarter of a mile of Mr. Miller's house, I visited a cave not more than 100 yards long, which, from the great quantities of Brilliant Stalactite it contains, is called the "White Cave." The Stalactite assumes a thousand grotesque forms, such as those of the most beautiful drapery, and of the most curious Gothic sculpture. Indeed the cave would be a model for a fairy grot. In one part there is a basin of Stalactite into which a spring drops from the roof. It appears carved and ornamented with the most exquisite skill, and in form very much resembles one of those immense shells, placed in Catholic countries at the door of the church, to contain the holy water. So clear

and beautiful is the water of this basin, that it appeared not to reach within six inches of the brim; so that when under this impression I stooped down to drink, I found that I had miscalculated the distance. The water in reality reached to the edge, and Mr. Miller was much diverted at seeing me by mistake plunge my head into it.

There is abundance of game in the neighbourhood of the cave. The manner in which great numbers of wild turkeys are caught is very simple and curious. A Pen is made by placing roughhewn rails one above another, so as to form a vacant space, about six or eight feet long and as many broad, which is closed at the top by heavy rails laid across. A small trench is then dug for a yard or two on the outside and continued under the lowest rail into the interior. In this trench some Indian corn is strewed, and the turkeys, while employed in picking it up, advance with their head downwards into the Pen.

As soon as they find themselves in the enclosure, these stupid birds never think of stooping down, or they could walk out as easily as they walked in; but instead of this they try to force a way out at the top and sides, and continue jumping about in great alarm, till some one in the course of the day visits the Pen and secures them.

I have known as many as seven or eight caught within four and twenty hours in a single Pen.

CHAPTER XV.

1

SUGAR CAMP-CHILLICOTHE-INDIAN ANTIQUITIES.

UPON leaving Mr. Miller's I took the road to Frankfort, passing through the little towns (as they are called) of Newmarket, Lebanon, Perryville, Harrodsburgh and Lawrenceburgh. With the exception of Harrodsburgh all these are insignificant little villages, and, as I have mentioned before, are much upon the decline. The whole distance from the cavern to Frankfort is 130 miles; but, except to the agriculturist, the country through which the road passes is very uninteresting.

I staid a few days at Frankfort, and then began my return to the Eastward. At Lexington I found that preparations were making to celebrate the anniversary of the birth-day of Washington. Accordingly three orations were pronounced, one in the College, and two in the largest Church. I was much pleased with one of them; the others inclined greatly to bombast. The Volunteer corps of the town were called out, and fired a feu-dejoie, and the day terminated with a public dinner.

The birth-day of Washington, and the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, are the two great annual festivals of the United States. The latter however is the chief one; as on that

day in every town, village, or little community, one person is selected to read the Declaration of Independence, and to make a public speech; and the whole of the soldiery, militia, and independent companies assemble under arms and are inspected.

From Lexington I returned to Maysville; and as the river was scarcely navigable for steam-boats, on account of the loose ice that was floating down it, I determined to travel on horseback through the State of Ohio to Wheeling. Accordingly I crossed the river, and took the road to Chillicothe.

Owing to the breaking up of the winter frost, the roads were now so soft and muddy, that even by dint of riding from sun rise to sun set, I could only proceed about 24 miles a day.

On the second day after leaving Maysville, I stopped at a very comfortable tavern kept by a Mr. Willis, a very old man, who had been a soldier in the revolutionary war. He was one of those individuals who threw the tea into the sea at Boston; and he assured me, that the commonly received historical account of those persons that committed that act being disguised as Indians, was not true. I sat up till very late, being much entertained with his anecdotes concerning that interesting period.

I

may here remark, that the traveller, in crossing from Kentucky into Ohio, sees at once the marked difference between a slave and a free State; for though Ohio is by much the younger State, he will there find a far greater degree of

comfort and cleanliness, in both the interior and the exterior of the houses and taverns. This arises from the habits of industry necessary in a new State, where that moral pest Slavery is not tolerated.

very

Before arriving at Chillicothe I passed large sugar camp, and dismounted in order to drink some of the pleasant and refreshing juice which was running in great quantities from the holes bored in the trees.

In Ohio, as well as in most of the middle and western States, the sugar-maple (acer saccharinum) is found in abundance, and supplies the inhabitants with the greatest part of their sugar.

When the frosts of winter begin to break up, and when in consequence the sap rises, a number of families from each village or town, provide themselves with large iron kettles, and encamp in the woods wherever these trees are numerous. These places are called Sugar Camps. To procure the sugar a hole is bored in each tree, with a half-inch auger, to the depth of an inch and a half, or two inches. Into this hole is thrust a small piece of split elder, which serves as a spout, and is generally about two feet and a half from the ground. For a few hours in the middle of the day, when the sun shines and warms the air, the juice runs in considerable quantities into the wooden troughs placed to receive it. These, when full, are emptied into kettles, where the limpid juice is boiled down. A

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