the adventures-第1章

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The　Adventures　of　Colonel　Daniel　Boone



by　John　Filson






From　The　Discovery　and　Settlement　of　Kentucke

by　John　Filson







The　ADVENTURES　of　Col。　DANIEL　BOON；

containing　a　NARRATIVE　of　the　WARS　of　Kentucke。





Curiosity　is　natural　to　the　soul　of　man；　and　interesting　objects

have　a　powerful　influence　on　our　affections。　Let　these　influencing

powers　actuate；　by　the　permission　or　disposal　of　Providence；　from

selfish　or　social　views；　yet　in　time　the　mysterious　will　of　Heaven

is　unfolded；　and　we　behold　our　conduct；　from　whatsoever　motives

excited；　operating　to　answer　the　important　designs　of　heaven。　Thus

we　behold　Kentucke；　lately　an　howling　wilderness；　the　habitation　of

savages　and　wild　beasts；　become　a　fruitful　field；　this　region；　so

favourably　distinguished　by　nature；　now　become　the　habitation　of

civilization；　at　a　period　unparalleled　in　history；　in　the　midst　of

a　raging　war；　and　under　all　the　disadvantages　of　emigration　to　a

country　so　remote　from　the　inhabited　parts　of　the　continent。　Here；

where　the　hand　of　violence　shed　the　blood　of　the　innocent；　where

the　horrid　yells　of　savages；　and　the　groans　of　the　distressed；

sounded　in　our　ears；　we　now　hear　the　praises　and　adoration　of　our

Creator；　where　wretched　wigwams　stood；　the　miserable　abodes　of

savages；　we　behold　the　foundations　of　cities　laid；　that；　in　all

probability；　will　rival　the　glory　of　the　greatest　upon　earth。　And

we　view　Kentucke　situated　on　the　fertile　banks　of　the　great　Ohio；

rising　from　obscurity　to　shine　with　splendor；　equal　to　any　other　of

the　stars　of　the　American　hemisphere。



The　settling　of　this　region　well　deserves　a　place　in　history。

Most　of　the　memorable　events　I　have　myself　been　exercised　in；　and；

for　the　satisfaction　of　the　public；　will　briefly　relate　the

circumstances　of　my　adventures；　and　scenes　of　life；　from　my　first

movement　to　this　country　until　this　day。



It　was　on　the　first　of　May；　in　the　year　1769；　that　I　resigned　my

domestic　happiness　for　a　time；　and　left　my　family　and　peaceable

habitation　on　the　Yadkin　River；　in　North…Carolina；　to　wander

through　the　wilderness　of　America；　in　quest　of　the　country　of

Kentucke；　in　company　with　John　Finley；　John　Stewart；　Joseph　Holden；

James　Monay；　and　William　Cool。　We　proceeded　successfully；　and　after

a　long　and　fatiguing　journey　through　a　mountainous　wilderness；　in

a　westward　direction；　on　the　seventh　day　of　June　following；　we

found　ourselves　on　Red…River；　where　John　Finley　had　formerly　been

trading　with　the　Indians；　and；　from　the　top　of　an　eminence；　saw

with　pleasure　the　beautiful　level　of　Kentucke。　Here　let　me　observe；

that　for　some　time　we　had　experienced　the　most　uncomfortable

weather　as　a　prelibation　of　our　future　sufferings。　At　this　place　we

encamped；　and　made　a　shelter　to　defend　us　from　the　inclement

season；　and　began　to　hunt　and　reconnoitre　the　country。　We　found

every　where　abundance　of　wild　beasts　of　all　sorts；　through　this

vast　forest。　The　buffaloes　were　more　frequent　than　I　have　seen

cattle　in　the　settlements；　browzing　on　the　leaves　of　the　cane；　or

croping　the　herbage　on　those　extensive　plains；　fearless；　because

ignorant；　of　the　violence　of　man。　Sometimes　we　saw　hundreds　in　a

drove；　and　the　numbers　about　the　salt　springs　were　amazing。　In　this

forest；　the　habitation　of　beasts　of　every　kind　natural　to　America；

we　practised　hunting　with　great　success　until　the　twenty…second　day

of　December　following。



This　day　John　Stewart　and　I　had　a　pleasing　ramble；　but　fortune

changed　the　scene　in　the　close　of　it。　We　had　passed　through　a　great

forest　on　which　stood　myriads　of　trees；　some　gay　with　blossoms；

others　rich　with　fruits。　Nature　was　here　a　series　of　wonders；　and

a　fund　of　delight。　Here　she　displayed　her　ingenuity　and　industry　in

a　variety　of　flowers　and　fruits；　beautifully　coloured；　elegantly

shaped；　and　charmingly　flavoured；　and　we　were　diverted　with

innumerable　animals　presenting　themselves　perpetually　to　our

view。In　the　decline　of　the　day；　near　Kentucke　river；　as　we

ascended　the　brow　of　a　small　hill；　a　number　of　Indians　rushed　out

of　a　thick　cane…brake　upon　us；　and　made　us　prisoners。　The　time　of

our　sorrow　was　now　arrived；　and　the　scene　fully　opened。　The　Indians

plundered　us　of　what　we　had；　and　kept　us　in　confinement　seven　days；

treating　us　with　common　savage　usage。　During　this　time　we

discovered　no　uneasiness　or　desire　to　escape；　which　made　them　less

suspicious　of　us；　but　in　the　dead　of　night；　as　we　lay　in　a　thick

cane…brake　by　a　large　fire；　when　sleep　had　locked　up　their　senses；

my　situation　not　disposing　me　for　rest；　I　touched　my　companion　and

gently　awoke　him。　We　improved　this　favourable　opportunity；　and

departed；　leaving　them　to　take　their　rest；　and　speedily　directed

our　course　towards　our　old　camp；　but　found　it　plundered；　and　the

company　dispersed　and　gone　home。　About　this　time　my　brother；　Squire

Boon；　with　another　adventurer；　who　came　to　explore　the　country

shortly　after　us；　was　wandering　through　the　forest；　determined　to

find　me；　if　possible；　and　accidentally　found　our　camp。

Notwithstanding　the　unfortunate　circumstances　of　our　company；　and

our　dangerous　situation；　as　surrounded　with　hostile　savages；　our

meeting　so　fortunately　in　the　wilderness　made　us　reciprocally

sensible　of　the　utmost　satisfaction。　So　much　does　friendship

triumph　over　misfortune；　that　sorrows　and　sufferings　vanish　at　the

meeting　not　only　of　real　friends；　but　of　the　most　distant

acquaintances；　and　substitutes　happiness　in　their　room。



Soon　after　this；　my　companion　in　captivity；　John　Stewart；　was

killed　by　the　savages；　and　the　man　that　came　with　my　brother

returned　home　by　himself。　We　were　then　in　a　dangerous；　helpless

situation；　exposed　daily　to　perils　and　death　amongst　savages　and

wild　beasts；　not　a　white　man　in　the　country　but　ourselves。



Thus　situated；　many　hundred　miles　from　our　families　in　the

howling　wilderness；　I　believe　few　would　have　equally　enjoyed　the

happiness　we　experienced。　I　often　observed　to　my　brother；　You　see

now　how　little　nature　requires　to　be　satisfied。　Felicity；　the

companion　of　content；　is　rather　found　in　our　own　breasts　than　in

the　enjoyment　of　external　things；　And　I　firmly　believe　it　requires

but　a　little　philosophy　to　make　a　man　happy　in　whatsoever　state　he

is。　This　consists　in　a　full　resignation　to　the　will　of　Providence；

and　a　resigned　soul　finds　pleasure　in　a　path　strewed　with　briars

and　thorns。



We　continued　not　in　a　state　of　indolence；　but　hunted　every　day；

and　prepared　a　little　cottage　to　defend　us　from　the　Winter　storms。

We　remained　there　undisturbed　during　the　Winter；　and　on　the　first

day　of　May；　1770；　my　brother　returned　home　to　the　settlement　by

himself；　for　a　new　recruit　of　horses　and　ammunition；　leaving　me　by

myself；　without　bread；　salt　or　sugar；　without　company　of　my　fellow

creatures；　or　even　a　horse　or　dog。　I　confess　I　never　before　was

under　greater　necessity　of　exercising　philosophy　and　fortitude。　A

few　days　I　passed　uncomfortably。　The　idea　of　a　beloved　wife　and

family；　and　their　anxiety　upon　the　account　of　my　absence　and

exposed　situation；　made　sensible　impressions　on　my　heart。　A

thousand　dreadful　apprehensions　presented　themselves　to　my　view；

and　had　undoubtedly　disposed　me　to　melancholy；　if　further　indulged。



One　day　I　undertook　a　tour　through　the　country；　and　the　diversity

and　beauties　of　nature　I　met　with　in　this　charming　season；　expelled

every　gloomy　and　vexatious　thought。　Just　at　the　close　of　day　the

gentle　gales　retired；　and　left　the　place　to　the　disposal　of　a

profound　calm。　Not　a　breeze　shook　the　most　tremulous　leaf。　I　had

gained　the　summit　of　a　commanding　ridge；　and；　looking　round　with

astonishing　delight；　beheld　the　ample　plains；　the　beauteous　tracts

below。　On　the　other　hand；　I　surveyed　the　famous　river　Ohio　that

rolled　in　silent　dignity；　marking　the　western　boundary　of　Kentucke

with　inconceivable　grandeur。　At　a　vast　distance　I　beheld　the

mountains　lift　their　venerable　brows；