«И
C HARLES LA 14' MAN
Ashvillc, N. C.
June. IMS
I have just returned (rum an ex¬
cursion down the French Broad River
to Potion's warm Sprint?!, and the
neighboring curiosities, and I now
purpose to describe the "wonders 1
have seen." I he original Indian name
of the French Broad was Pse-li-co.
the meaning o( which I have not
been able to ascertain Its English
name was derived from a famous
hunter named French. It is one of the
principal tributaries of the Tennessee,
about one hundred miles long, from
one to two hundred yards wide, and,
taking its rise in the Blue Ridge near
the border of South Carolina, runs in
a northwestern direction. Judging of
Hot Springs . . . 100 Years Ago
Ttm it loniraa't mula, but the tram «ain't tbert
the whole, by a section of fifty miles,
lying westward of Ashvillc. it must be
considered one of the most beautiful
rivers in this beautiful land. In running
the distance above mentioned it has
a fall of nearly fifteen hundred feet,
and its bed seems to be entirely com¬
posed of solid rock. In depth it varies
from five to fifteen feet, and, gener¬
ally speaking, is quite clear, abound¬
ing in a great variety of plebeian fish.
Its shores arc particularly wild and
rocky, for the most pan nearly per¬
pendicular. varying from one to four
hundred feet in height, and. though
usually covered with vegetation, they
present frequent cliffs of granite, free¬
stone, and blue limestone, which actu¬
ally droop over the rushing waters and
present a most imposing appearance.
With regard to its botanical curiosities
it can safely be said that a more fruit¬
ful and interesting valley can nowhere
be found in the Union. Here we have
not only every variety of American
lorcst trees, but bushes- plants, flow¬
ers. and vines in the greatest profusion,
and of the most vigorous growth; many
of the grape vines, which weigh down
the mighty sycamore, scent to be long
enough, and strong enough, to link to¬
gether a hundred ships of war. When
it is remembered, too. that the air is
constantly heavy with the fragrance
of flowers, and tremulous with the
perpetual roar of the stream, it may be
readily imagined that a ride down the
French Broad is a unique pleasure.
Back of the river on cither side the
country is hilly and somewhat culti¬
vated, hut its immediate valley contains
nothing that smacks of civilization
but a turnpike road, and an occa¬
sional tavern. This road runs directly
along the water’s edge nearly the en¬
tire distance, and, on account of the
quantity of travel which passes over
it. is kepi in admirable repair. It is the
principal thoroughfare between Ten¬
nessee and South Carolina, and an
immense number of cattle, horses, and
hogs are annually driven over it to
the seaboard markets. Over ibis road
also quite a large amount of merchan¬
dise is constantly transported lor the
merchants of the interior, so that mam¬
moth wagons, with their eight and ten
horses, and their half-civilized team¬
sters. arc as plenty as bluckbcrrks.
and afford a romantic variety to the
stranger.
In riding down the French Broad.
I overtook a gentleman on horseback,
who accompanied ntc about twenty
miles. Immediately after live first salu¬
tation was passed, and he had ascer¬
tained that I was from the eastward,
he questioned me with regard to the
laiesi nr " s from China. I was sur¬
prised at the question, and after telling
him I had none to communicate, I
could not refrain from asking him
what was the secret of his interest in
that remote Empire He replied that
he resided on the French Broad, and
was a dealer in ginseng. I had heard
of the article before, and knew that
it was found in abundance throughout
this mountain region. My friend de¬
scribed it as a beautiful p.unt, with
one stent and sonic twenty leaves at
the top, and growing to the height
of eighteen incites, that portion of
it. however, which is prepared for
Traveler in 18 IS journeys dow n (lie valley
of Ihe French Itroad to old mineral springs
resort.
13
THE STATE.
Манси
26. 1955
