in the valleys. Deer are said to be very numerous
upon these mountains-several were seen by us.
We also observed seats erected in the branches
of the trees by the hunters, twenty feet in height,
being concealed stations for the purpose of shoot-
ing deer at the Salt Licks. We have also seen
several flocks of turkeys and pigeons in vast
numbers.

Travelled thirty miles upon the Alle-
ghany Mountains, and at night lodged at Smith's
Ordinary. We have to-day passed through land
heavily timbered, tolerably level, and said to be
rich and clear of stone; of this, the snow pre-
vented us from judging. We also crossed over that
part of the Alleghany ridge which divides the
eastern and western waters of our continent-
the streams all bearing a right hand direction:
Near this part of the mountain, our road led us
through the most beautiful and lofty forest of
spruce and pine I ever saw. This forest is call-
ed the Shades. The trees are generally from
108 to 180 feet in height, with a body not
more than 12 inches in diameter at the surface
of the earth.

We also forded one of the branches of the
Youghiogany river, called the Little Crossings.
The principal ridges which we passed are called
by the mountaineers the Back-bone Ridge, (from
its sharp elevation,) the Winding Ridge and the
Negro Mountain. On inquiring into the origin