The Kentucky Gazette

Western Discoveries.

It is incredible what pains are taken at this day by more European nations than one to send enterprising travellers to explore the interior regions of America. Among which the British take the lead; and, forgetting the narrow insular limits that nature has assigned them, and the various checks they have experienced in the road to universal empire, on this continent, they are still projecting a tributary government in the pathless forests of interior America. A Mr. Stuart, said to be in the employ of the British court, has not long since returned from a four years travels through the hitherto unexplored regions to the westward. Taking his course west south-westerly from the posts on the lakes, he penetrated to the head of the Missouri and from thence due west to within about 200 miles of the shores of the Pacific ocean.

Nothing prevented his reaching the coast but inveterate war which had been for some years carried on with all the implacability of savage revenge, between the interior Indians and those towards the east coast parts. So great however, was the ardour of the enterprising, Mr. Stuart to attain his object (the exploring the continent from sea to sea) that he joined the interior indians in several battles against the shore Indians, all which coming short of his object, the procuring a peace, after some stay, he returned nearly by the route he pursued in going out—Our information adds that beyond the Missouri. Mr. Stuart met with many powerful nations of savages, in general, hospitable and courteous. The Indian nations he visited westward appeared to be a polished, civilized people, having regular built towns, and being in a state of society not far removed from the European, and only wanting the use of iron and steel to be perfectly so. They are always clad in skins, cut in an elegant manner, and in many respects preferable to the garments in use among the whites. Adjacent to these nations is a vast range of mountains, which may be called the Alleghany of the western parts of America and serves as a barrier against the too frequent incursions of the coast Indians, who entertain a mortal antipathy to the nations and tribes inhabiting the country eastward, beyond the mountains. [Nat. Gaz.]