CHAPTER VI.

General description of the north part of Illinois--various kinds of trees--prairies--excellent coal--government grant of land--unsurveyed land settled upon--pre-emption right--not subject to fever and ague--wild game--prairie wolves and mode of killing them--prairie rattle snakes, blackbirds and squirrels--manner of judging of a new country--anecdote of a Vermont emigrant--New-Hampshire emigrant--statements of settlers and landholders not always to be credited. 57