emblems-the All-seeing eye, &c., the coat-of-arms of England, and other devices. On the lid is a representation of a Colonial hunter, with knee-breeches, queue, &c., taking aim with an old flint-lock gun at a startled deer, while in the distance are lying around specimens of the hunter's skill. The box was once captured by a noted Indian chief, and was regarded as a great curiosity by the Indians. It was afterward found on his dead body by the hunter who killed him. It is kept as an heirloom, having already descended through five generations, and is esteemed by the present possessor of tenfold more value than its weight in gold.

Three miles from the town of Barboursville, on the north bank of Cumberland River, are the remains of an ancient fortress, surrounded by a ditch enclosing about four acres of ground.

The Knob Licks, of Lincoln County, are numbered among the curiosities of Kentucky. The greatest height of these knobs is about two hundred feet, and the base of the highest some four hundred feet in diameter. These knobs are inter

sected with ravines, and destitute of vegetation.

In McCracken County silver ore in small quantities is said to have been found, and it is believed that lead ore abounds in this county.

At Mount Sterling, Montgomery County, was situated a considerable mound, from which the place derives its name. At the first settlement of this place there were trees growing on this mound as large as any in the surrounding forest. The mound was dug down some twenty-five years ago or more, and, interspersed with the human bones which were dug up, were found also many curious things, among which were two breast-plates, one of copper, and one of queensware, each about the size of a man's hand; large beads were found also, some of copper and others of ivory; also copper bracelets.

About five miles from Mount Sterling is another mound, near to what appears to have been an ancient intrenchment of square form. On the eastern side appears to have been a gateway, some twenty feet in width, and leading to a spring some thirty yards off. When the county was first settled by the

whites trees were growing in the intrenchment and on the banks as large as any in the forest which surrounded it.

In Garrard County, some twelve miles from the county-seat, on Paint Lick Creek, an area of ground of about ten acres is deeply indented with marks resembling the tracks of wagon wheels. They are yet plainly visible, and have been so ever since the settlement of the country by the whites, a period of more than eighty years. The place bears the name of White Lick.

In Nelson County there is stated to be a natural tunnel, of circular form, several feet in diameter. It begins at the eastern and terminates at the western declivity of the eminence on which the town of Bardstown, the county-seat, is situated.

CHAPTER VII.

Centennial Celebration at Camp Knox; Great Crowd in Attendance; Bountiful Repast; Speaking on the Occasion-Long Hunters, Visit of-Colonel James Knox-Doctor Walker-Christopher Gist-George CroughanColonel James Smith-John Findley-General George Washington visits Kentucky; Account of same-) -Boone and Knox-James Stewart-Green River-Friendship of an Indian-Mount Gilead-Skin-house BranchReturn of Long Hunters-Immense Immigration-Surveyors in the Country-Earliest Settlers in Green, Names of Cane Creek Fort-Indian Annoyances-Colonel William Whitley-Nickajack Towns; their Capture-Troubles ended in Southern Kentucky-Long Hunters revisit Kentucky-Encampment near Bowlinggreen-Names Cut upon Beech Trees-William Skaggs, Incidents of; his Death.

On the 4th day of July, 1870, a centennial celebration took place at Camp Knox, in Green County, of the first settlement of a camp ever established by the white man in all Southern Kentucky. A vast crowd of people had assembled on the occasion, young and old, male and female. The Masonic fraternity also turned out in great numbers, some five or six lodges of the county of Green and adjoining counties being represented, and leading in the grand procession. A bountiful repast had been provided for the assembled crowd, tastily spread upon long tables quadrangularly arranged, of which all partook to their heart's content when the speaking was concluded.

The writer on that occasion, by the particular request of the committee of invitation, had the honor of being one of the speakers, and as the subject of his remarks furnished some incidents intimately connected with the history of Kentucky. We give them here, omitting the portion relating to the day upon which the celebration took place, and so memorable in the history of our nation as a free and independent people.

He said: "The next incident of history which we propose to speak of as being worthy of commemoration, is the visit and encampment of a party called the Long Hunters, headed by Colonel James Knox, who, one hundred years ago, here, on this branch, which for sometimes afterward was known and called by the name of Skin-house Branch, and on this very ground where we now all stand in the enjoyment of such peace and great hilarity, pitched their tents. I have made considerable research of late into the history of the first settlement of Kentucky, but have nowhere been able to find any very de-. tailed account of the career of Colonel James Knox in Kentucky.

"We know that Dr. Walker visited the northeastern portion of Kentucky as early as 1750; and that Christopher Gist was sent out by what was called the Ohio Company on an exploring expedition in the year 1751, and descended the Ohio River to the Falls, where Louisville is now situated. In 1765 Colonel George Croughan, a British officer, descended the Ohio from Fort Pitt to a point below the Wabash, where he was encountered and taken prisoner by the Indians. In 1766 Colonel James Smith visited Kentucky; and in 1767 it was visited by John Findley, on a trading expedition. All these visits were obscure, and of but little importance. Somewhere between 1767 and 1770 General George Washington made a visit to Kentucky on a surveying expedition, and made surveys in what are now Greenup and Lawrence counties for one John Fry. The patent for these lands was issued by the Crown of Great Britain in 1772. Upon the beginning corner of one of those surveys General Washington cut the initials of his own name. One of the surveys was on Big Sandy River, and the other on Little Sandy. We have no very satisfactory account of this visit. We learn, however, from his will, made in the year 1790, that he owned five thousand acres of land in Kentucky, on Rough Creek, and that he disposed of the same by the will alluded to, valuing said lands at $10,000, or $2 per acre, and regarded it as being more valuable on account of the abundance of iron ore upon it. But the visits of Colonel Daniel Boone's party in 1769, and of Colonel

James Knox in 1770, were the first that were at all worthy of note or attention. Boone remained in the country about two years, traveling the northern and middle regions, and giving them considerable attention. The party under Knox came a year later, but remained two years also. Boone's party was. frequently harrassed by the Indians, and Boone himself taken prisoner; but he soon afterward made his escape and returned to his company, narrowly escaping with his life. One of his companions, by the name of James Stewart, was killed in a skirmish with the Indians. Knox's party, however, sustained no loss of which we have any account. It consisted of about forty stout hunters, from New River, Holston, and Clinch River, who united for an expedition west of the Cumberland Mountains. Nine of the company, led by Knox, reached the country south of the Kentucky River, and became acquainted with Green River and the lower part of the Cumberland, and from the time they were absent they obtained the name of Long Hunters. We learn from some of the descendants of the Long Hunters that when they reached this section the expedition numbered twenty-two men, with four horses, which carried their baggage and supplies. After crossing the Cumberland Mountains they moved in a southern direction until they came to Dix River. Proceeding on their journey, one or two of the hunters being in advance of the rest, met suddenly and unexpectedly in the forest a solitary Indian, who was at once recognized, they having seen him before at the lead mines on the Holston. The Indian was pleased at finding himself recognized, became very familiar, and gave the hunters, it is said, such directions as enabled them to find what is now called Green River. He told them that after crossing a certain number of ridges and streams of water, they would come to a river running west; crossing this river, and keeping it on their right, they would come to a valley called the Beech Woods, where they would find game in great abundance. They pursued the directions given by the Indian, and found all that he had told them to be true. Arriving in the valley of Beech Woods, they at once established the camp, on the very spot where the Christian Church at Mt. Gilead