among the trees, the explorer finds a great aisle which was once the ancient thoroughfare. Small trees and underbrush may impede the way, but no large trees—and less underbrush than elsewhere—will be found in the old-time track.
The bed of an Indian trail was very narrow, since made only by one traveler passing at a time. The trees and bushes encroached closely upon the path and it was generally impossible to see ahead more than a rod or two. There were, probably, no such vistas in the ancient forests as those now visible along our woodland roads. Surprises were easily achieved.
The narrowness of these early thoroughfares with heavy forests on either side combined to render such passage-ways frequently impassable. Zeisberger, who came westward as missionary for the Moravian Brethren, relates that much of the journey was accomplished on hands and knees—such was the impenetrable growth that choked the slender trails which were the only roads over the Alleghanies.[1]
- ↑ Cf. Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, vol. xviii., p. 29.
