What is the importance of the Appalachian Mountains in the novel, East Indian?

Tony spends time in the Appalachians while he is journeying westward with Walsh, Shuren, and Amoro. In some respects, the mountains function as a crucible for colonial fears about westward expansion and the Native American population; indeed, Tony finds the landscape at times harsh and unforgiving, and when Walsh is mysteriously killed he finds himself utterly alone in the world. At the same time, though, the mountains offer a wellspring of natural beauty that Tony has never seen the likes of before, and he is in awe of them from a physical and naturalist standpoint. Thus, the mountains serve as a microcosm of Tony's feeling about America in general: it is threatening and unknown, but also beautiful and full of possibility.