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 \%.S THREE YEARS 
 
 T R AVE L S, 
 
 THROUGH T'H'B^ 
 
 • r 
 
 Interior Parts of North-AmerIv^.^ 
 
 foR MORE THAN %, » 
 
 FIVE THOUSAND MI'LES, 
 
 CONTAINING, 
 
 An -Account of the great Lakes, and all the Lakes^ 
 Jflands, and Rivers, Catarads, Mountains, Minerals^ 
 Soil and Vegetable Produdions of the NorthWeJi 
 Regions of that vaji Continent; 
 
 W I T H A ' " 
 
 4 i 
 
 DESCRIPTIONo/t//^ BIRDS, BEASTS, REPTILES, 
 INSECTS, and FISHES peculiar to the COUNTRY. 
 
 TOGETHER WITH A CONCISE ^: jfx^ 
 
 HISTORY oft/je GENIUS, MANNERS, ^/»i 
 CUSTOMS of f//f INDIANS 
 
 inhabiting the Lands that lie adjacent to the Heads and to the 
 Wcftward of the great Rivar MiJ/lJfippi; . - 
 
 • A N D A N ^ 
 
 A* P P E N D I X, 
 
 Defer ibing the uncultivated Parts of America tl&t are th© 
 ^ moll proper for forming Settlements. 
 
 By Captain JONATHAN' CARVER^ 
 
 ' OF THE PROVINCIAL TROt)PS IN AMERICA, 
 
 d OR 
 
 .-»?"•. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 
 tRINTEO AND SOLD BY JOSEPH CRUKSHANK IN MARKET- STRBET> 
 AA'D ROBERT RELL, IN TI1IRD-STRE£Ta 
 
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 P R E S I D E N*T 
 
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 ROYAL SOCIETY. . 
 
 „-v ■ 
 
 SIR, 
 
 WHEN the Public are informed that 
 I have long had the Honour of your 
 
 Acquaintance- that my Defign in publiflT'.ng 
 
 - the following W'>rk has received your Sandlion 
 
 t% that the Compofition of it has flood the 
 
 Teft of your Judgment and that it is by 
 
 yotur PermifTion a Name fo defer vedly eminent 
 in the Literary World is prefixed to it^ I need 
 not be apprehenfive of its Succcfe^'^.as your 
 
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♦ DEDICATION, 
 
 im- 
 
 Patronage villi unqneftionably give them Al^ 
 
 furance of its Merit. 
 
 * 
 
 For this public Teflimony of your Favour, 
 in which I pride myfelf, accept, Sir, my moil 
 grateful Acknowledgments; and believe me t^ 
 be, with great Refped, 
 
 V. 
 
 Your obedient , 
 
 *'i 
 
 humble Servant, 
 
 
 J. CARVER, I 
 
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 I C. 
 
 THESECOND EDITION. 
 
 rlJ R favourable recsption this Work has met with, clatms the 
 Author's moji grntifid acknowledgments. A large edition hat- 
 ing run off in a few months, and the fnle appearing to be JUll wir 
 abated, a new imprej/ion is become fieceffary. On thitoccajion wax 
 he to conceal his feelings, and pafs over, in filence, a diJiinCiion fo 
 beneficial and flattering, he wotddjujlly incur the imputation of ingra- 
 titude. That he might not do this, he takes the (Opportunity, which 
 now prefcnts itfelf of conveying to the Public (though in terms inade- 
 quate to the warm emotions of his heart) the fenfe he entertains of their 
 favour I and thus tranfmits to them his thanks. '•*"=?. •. ■^„ 
 
 In this new edition, care has been taken to reRify thofe errofs which 
 have unavoidably proceeded from the hurry of the prefs^ and likewife 
 any incorreUnefs in the language that has found ilis way into it. 
 
 ■t ) *^ ■■'«'' - 
 
 The credibility of fume of the incidents related*'%n tfie following 
 pages, and fome of the flories introduced tierein, having' been quefti-^ 
 oned, particularly the prognojlication of the Indian prieji on the bankf 
 of Lake Superior, and the Jiory of the Indian and his rattle fnake, 
 the author thirds it neccffary to avail himfelf of the fame opportunity, 
 to dhdeavour to eradicate any impreffions that might have been made on 
 the minds of his readers, by the apparenl; [nxlirolmbility of thefe rela- 
 tions, '* ■ ' :^,. 
 
 ^ 
 
.vi 
 
 D D R E 
 
 S S. 
 
 tmntsifn hy luttml cmfis. "J'« Jttls Om amiH be ac. 
 
 * 
 
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 lu 
 
 f/«/'-^ ««3'm;w/w '^ ^'T'fi''''^^ their jpuir' "rl"yj'";^M' 
 *"^l^ explanations thp n„t J. i m ^- 
 
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 2^ 
 
 
 T N T R DUCT! 
 
 TIi'j An^Jior Jets out from Bojlon o;i his Ttavels, 
 Defcription of Fort Michillimdckinac, • - - 
 i f Fort Le Bay, 
 
 ————— the Green Bay, • « rf* 
 
 - ■ Lake Michi<rait, • *• 
 
 Arrives at the Town <f tlte IVimiebagoes 
 
 Excurjiou of the IVinmbagoes towards the Spauifh Settlcment^Sf 
 
 Defer ipt ion of ilu. Winnebago Lake, 
 
 Injlance of Refohaion of an Indian WomaUy - ' *y.. - 
 
 Defcription of ths Fox River, • - - - 
 
 Remarkable Story of a Rattle Snake, - - . • 
 
 The great 7W(i of the Saukies, - - • . 
 
 Upper Town of the Ottagaumiefy '- ^ - - •''*'♦ 
 
 Defcription of the Ou^onfin River, * - % 
 
 Lower Town of the Ottagatmies, or La Prairie Le Chien, 
 
 An Attack by fomc Indian Plunderers, "";..';,#■ . 
 
 Defcription of the Mijfijfippi from the Mo^h of the Ouifconjin to 
 Lake PelAfiy *- - .:-"a ; - • St 
 
 27 
 
 AS 
 
 3Q 
 
 31 
 ib. 
 
 '34 
 ib. 
 
 ib. 
 
 35 
 
 Lake Pepin, 
 
 Remarkable Ruins of an aticiei0f'Qrtificati9iU^ *■ 
 
 The River Bunds of the Naiulowejfte Indians, 
 
 jidventure with a Party of thcfe, (^nttji/uie of the^hipewayf. 
 
 .Jlr'. 
 
 ihi 
 37 
 
 ■ 3-a 
 
 i< 
 
 \. 
 
 .''it 
 
 ejihpttm 
 
Via 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 t 
 v! 
 
 ..^l 
 
 I 
 
 ^- f. 
 
 r 
 
 #' 
 
 % 
 
 Dcfcription of a remarkable Crjvtf, 
 
 Uncommon Behaviour «/ the Piince of the Jllnmbagoci ai the Falls 
 
 of St. Aithoii^t ' ■ - • ' 
 
 Dcfctiftm of the Falhy ... . 
 
 F.xtent ff the Author's TritvalSi 
 Ddfcriptioft of the River St. PicrrJ, 
 Sour(;es ff the Four great Rivers ^ iVoith Jvierica^ 
 
 ReJkStioiis on their AO'^'^^^h 
 
 The Naudoi\>eJJles of the Flaiiis^ with whom the Julhor wintered 
 in the Year 1766, 45 
 
 Tlie Author returns to the M^uth (f the River St. Pierre, 47 
 
 ./ccotmt if n violent Thunder florm^ - - •l^* 
 
 Speech made b>/ the Jnthor in a Council held hj the Natidoweffief 
 at the great Cave^ - - - - 48 
 
 Adventure with a Party ff Indians near Lake Pcpin^ - 5^ 
 
 Dffrription of the Country adjacent t9 the River St. Pierre , ' . 53 
 
 Account (if different Clays found near the Marble Rivtr, - - ib» 
 
 D(fcription of the Chipcway River^ • *' _.' • - ib. 
 
 F.xtraordinary EffeUs of a Hurricane^ . • • - - 54 
 
 The Author arrives at the Grand Portage on the Northwejl Bor- 
 ders of Lake Superior y - - - . - 5 S 
 
 Account of the Lakes lying farther to the North wrjl: Lake Bour- 
 bon, Lake irinnepetk, Lake Da Hois, Lake La Pluye, Red 
 Lake, (s^c. - - - - . - - >b. 
 
 Accatmt of a Nation of Indians fuppofrd to have been tributary to 
 the Mexican Kings, . - ^ - -■ 59 
 
 '•—• thejhining Mountains, - - - 60 
 
 Afingular Prediction of the Chief Priejl (f the Kdliflimes verifkd 61 
 
 Dtfcri[jtion of Lake Superior, 'jr^i 
 
 Story of the two Chipcways landing on the Iflvid of Mauropas, 
 
 Account of great Quantities of Copper Ore, . * ^ - 
 
 Defcription of the Falls of St. Marie, - *. " 
 
 • ' Lake Huron, '- <%^ \ > i t^'"%'\ ' 
 
 •• Saganatnn and Thunder B<i\^}, - ' 
 
 20 
 
 1 ^ 
 
 * 
 
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 40 
 
 ■ y/i 
 
 41 
 
 « 
 
 4^ 1 
 
 |9 
 
 43 
 
 ^H *" 
 
 44 
 
 9 - 
 
 lb. 
 
 ^B 
 
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 67 
 68 
 ib. 
 
 Extraordinary Pkenomenon in the Stj'afvhts of MicJiillimackinat,$, 70 
 Defcription of Lake St. Cliirc, ., • - • -; . ■ ' t"?* 
 
 ■» 
 
 -•!^ 
 
 i 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 i« 
 
 
 f at the Fails 
 
 40 
 
 - 42 
 43 
 
 44 
 ib. 
 
 Jior wintered 
 
 - 45 
 
 .•rrCy 47 
 
 ib. 
 
 Naudowcfficf 
 
 48 
 
 -* 51 
 
 '. 53 
 
 - ib. 
 
 - ib. 
 
 5V 
 thwejl Dor- 
 
 55 
 
 f^nke Ptmiv- 
 Pluye, Red 
 
 ■ ib. 
 
 tributary to 
 
 59 
 ■ 60 
 loes vcrijkd 6 1 
 
 ittropas, 65 
 
 67 
 
 - 68 
 
 ib. 
 
 
 ■v'* 
 
 
 ti.'fcrlptim of the River , Town^ and Fort of Detroit ^ * 71 
 
 Hemmliahle Rain at Detroit, • • • • 72 
 
 Attack of Fart Detroit by Pontine, - J* .' • . jb. 
 
 JUtfcript ion of Lake Erie, • - - • 77 
 
 — the River and Falis of Niagara, • • *" 'f^ 
 
 "' Lflt^a Ontario, • • » ' • . • lb» 
 
 .-■ ' — the Oniada Lake, Lake Chaviplain, and Lake 
 
 George, 79 
 
 Account of a TraB tf Land granted to Sir Fcrdinando Gorges, 
 
 and Captain John Mafon, - - . , . 80 
 
 The Authur's Motives for undertaking his Travels, | • 8X 
 
 « • 
 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 The Origin of the Indiant, • • 
 
 Sentiments of various Writers on this Point, 
 
 " Monfieur Charlevoix, 
 
 ■' ' James Adair, Efq; 
 
 • the Author of this Work, 
 
 Cvrroporation of the latter hy Do^or Robcrtfoii 
 
 V, 
 
 
 t 
 
 
 * 
 
 83 
 
 h 
 
 
 a 
 
 •• 
 
 84 
 
 ' 
 
 '• 
 
 
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 87 
 
 m 
 
 
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 91 
 
 m 
 
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 It 
 
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 -v 
 
 
 
 
 
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 C H A P T E il II. . 
 
 , * , --. f '^ 
 
 : ' > 
 
 0/ the Petfons, Drefs, (^c. of the Indians, 
 An AccoutH of thofe who have \Vritten on this SubjeS, 
 Dcfcription of the Perfons of \he Indians, "* - .* 
 — — — — — their Drefs, • - » . 
 
 the Drefs of the Ottagaumies, 
 the Drefs of the Naudowejpes, jjt 
 
 *=i 
 
 W If I M 
 
 15r/i(? Manner in which tiiey build their Tents and ftittrj- 
 Tlieir^imneftic Ut^ftls, ' - ,. f,.;., - 
 
 8 : CH 
 
 AP 
 
 - 97 
 ^ib. 
 
 • 99 
 100 
 
 ib. 
 
 102 
 
 ib. 
 
 Tea 
 
 ^1 
 
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 ^ 
 
 * CONTENTS 
 
 w 
 
 CHAPTER Iff. 
 
 
 ^- :^ 
 
 
 Of the Maimers, OuaUjicatms, ^c. of the Indians, 
 
 JP#fitt/wr Cttjloins of the Women^ • . « - 
 
 The drcumjpe& and Jloical Difpojttion of the M^n, 
 
 Their amazing Sagacity, - • 
 
 The Liberality of th Indians, and their Opinion rcfpe&ingMme;/ 107" 
 
 CHAPTER IV. ' 
 
 * 104 
 io5 
 
 Their Method of reckoning Time, ^c. 
 
 The Names by which they dijlinguijh the Months, 
 
 Tlteir Idea of tlte Ufe of Figures, 
 
 •^'■'i 
 
 ■m 
 
 CHAPTER V, 
 
 109 
 
 .If 
 m 
 
 #'"^ 
 
 0/ their Government, ^c. • 
 
 Their Divifjon into Tribes, 
 
 The Chiefs of their Bands, 
 
 The (Hembersjhat compofe their Councils,. 
 
 - ir^ 
 ih. 
 lit 
 11% 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Of their Feajls, --.-.. 
 Their ufunl Food, - ... . , 
 
 Their Manner of drej/lng aiid eating their ViUuals, 
 
 113 
 
 ib. 
 
 ib. 
 
 CHAPTER Vir. 
 
 Of their Dances, 
 
 J 
 
 The Manner in which they iancc, 
 TU Pipe orCjliimatti DanceX 
 
 The H^ar Dange, 
 
 -^ / 
 
 V 
 
 %f 
 
 i 
 
 '-r 
 
 114^ 
 
 IIS 
 tb. 
 
 ib. 
 
 m 
 

 4 
 
 m. - ifc. 
 
 * 104 
 
 io5 
 UngMonej 107' 
 
 109 
 
 ib. 
 lit 
 
 113" 
 ib. 
 
 ,■**.: 
 
 -*-r:. 
 
 I IS 
 Jb. 
 
 ib. 
 
 
 ^i 
 
 ■i:.fi- 
 
 Mil 
 
 
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 CONTENTS. 
 
 .#",•.• 
 .,#• 
 
 
 flte Pawwaw Dance, 
 
 ii<? 
 
 ^fi uncommon Almijfion into a Society amongjhe Naudowcjjtes, ib. 
 
 V/^t-' D lice of th" indiam on the Banks ofmMiJJtJfippU vefer- , 
 
 red to In the Journal, - - "/i - 
 
 Thu Dance of the Sacrifice, » . . - - 
 
 CHAPTER vrii.; 
 
 Of their Hunting, 
 
 7'heir Preparation before they fef out, . - - 
 
 Their Manner of hunting the Bear, - 
 
 , • Buffalo, Deer, (jc. 
 
 "■^;»i^^' ■ 
 
 ' .k 
 
 ■i7! 
 
 lit' 
 
 >v 
 
 — Beaver, 
 
 1221 
 
 ib. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 
 f 
 
 
 125 
 
 ib. 
 J 26 
 • 12S 
 
 0/ their Mmner of making War, ^c. 
 
 The Indian Weapons, - . . • 
 
 Their Mutivesfor making War, 
 
 Preparations b'efore they take the Field, 
 
 The Mannfr in whilh they folicit other Nations to become their 
 
 Auxiliaries^ ^ - . . . . . j^p 
 
 Their Manner of declaring War, - - - •• * 130 
 
 The Method of engaging their Enemies, * . ^ - - 231 
 
 ^n hiflance of the Efficacy of it in the Defeat of General Brad- 
 
 doBk, ' ... . ■ . - - ib. 
 
 ^ Detnil of the MaJJacre at Fa^t William-Henry in the Tear 1757, 1 32 
 
 Acutenefs and Alacrity of the Indians in pwfuing their Enemies, 137 
 
 Their Manner of Scalpijig, - - • - - ib. 
 
 The Manner in which they retreat a?id carry off their Prifcners, 138 
 
 A remarkable Indanc^ of Heroifm in a Female Prifonerf • 139 
 
 Treatment of their Prifonexs, *0-^^ f >■> • . ■•'» . J 40 
 
 The Origin of their felling Slaves, • - *>;*• • • J4f 
 
 «■ 
 
 *'':^- 
 
 *^ff^:m 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
 ■^,> 
 
 ■4tilfi 
 
^w 
 
 Til 
 
 C O N T E N T S^ 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 
 Of their Marnier of nUthg Peace, (^c. 
 
 Account of an Engagement between the Iroquois and the Ottagau- 
 mies and Saiikies, ...... 
 
 Manner in which the^ ccnduSi a Treaty of Peace, 
 
 Defcription of the Pipe of Peace, 
 
 — ^ -— Belts of Wampum, 
 
 
 V/: 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 Of their Games, . - - 
 The Game of the Ball, 
 
 — Rowl or Platter, 
 
 1 
 
 1' 
 
 il^. 
 
 f 
 
 148 
 
 
 149 
 
 
 isa 
 
 T 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 * 
 
 I1 
 
 • 
 
 4 
 
 X5a 
 
 
 151 
 
 
 ib. 
 
 ' 
 
 s ■ 
 
 * 
 
 f C H A P T E R 
 
 XII. 
 
 Of theitmMarriage Ceremonies, 1 53 
 
 The M4nner in vfhich the Tribes near Canada celebrate their Mar- 
 riages, - - - - - . J 53.- 
 
 The Fortn of Marriage among the NaudoweJJieSy • « 154^ 
 
 Their Manner of carrfmg on an Intrigue, % '% i^^- 
 
 Of the Indian Names I ^-^ « % « • 15$. 
 
 . .{■ CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 Of their Religion, - - • -, - » "■ • 
 Tlteir Ideas of a Supt erne Being, « • . , 
 
 > y • fiiticre State, . • • 
 
 Of their Priejls, ^ •«, •^*^ 1 .n 
 
 The Sentiments of Others on the religious Principles of the In- 
 
 dians oppojed,, 
 
 CHAP T E R XIV. 
 
 Of their Dijcofes, ^c, • - 
 
 The Complaints ti ^vhich thry are chiefly Juhje&, ^ 
 
 157 
 
 ib. 
 159 
 
 160 
 
 *? 161 
 
 Tht 
 
 ^. 
 
/^» 
 
 ^r 
 
 ^.^^ 
 
 7ie Ottagau- 
 
 151 
 
 ib. 
 
 - 152 
 
 their Mar- 
 in 
 
 i5i 
 
 '» 15$ 
 
 »5<5 
 
 • ^57 
 
 « » 4b. 
 
 • ib, 
 the In- 
 '■ 159 
 
 160 
 
 :i<5i 
 
 M^ 
 
 NTS. 
 
 xiit 
 
 ^le Manner in which they conjlruU their SweaHwig Smes, ♦ 16 1 
 The MctXbds in which they treat their ^if^fwm * * . ib, 
 
 /In extraordinary Itiftance of the Judgrtient ^'m Indian Woman 
 
 in a defperate Cafey ... . . i^^ 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 
 The Manner in which they treat their Dead, - • •164.^ 
 ^ Specimen of their Funeral Htir angiitis, • . • > ib.. 
 
 Their Method of burying the Dead, - - • l<5S^ 
 
 ^ fmgular Injlance of parental ^ffeUicn in a Naudowejfie JFoman, 166, 
 
 CHAPTER XVI.^ ''"^i^ 
 
 ^ concife CharaUer of the Indians, 
 
 "j^hdr perfonal and mental Oiialifications, 
 
 J'heir public Chara^er as Members of%Community, 
 
 ■ill 
 
 
 / r CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 Of their Language, Hieroglyphicks, l^c. 
 Of the Chipcway Tongue, - - 
 
 P^cfcriptive Specimen of their Hieroglyphicks, ^c. 
 Yocahulary of the Chipeway Language, ^ .. ; 
 
 f • Naudowefjie Language, * 
 
 CHAPTER XVIIL 
 
 Of the Beajls, Birds, F[fl:.es, Reptiles, and Infers, which are 
 
 found in the Ifiterior Parts of North America, ' ':io* 175», 
 
 167 
 
 1 63 
 
 I6flb . 
 
 i% 
 
 ■■■■ *. ' " 
 
 xr: ■->: 
 
 170 
 
 ib. 
 
 171 
 
 17a 
 
 1Z6. 
 
 
 BEASTS. - 
 
 The Tyger. The Bear, - • « ; » ,% ' 
 
 The Wolf TIte Fox, • . - '' ' . • 
 
 Dftgs. The Cat of the Mountain. The Buffalo, ''• 
 
 Tl? If^er. The Elh The Moofe, . . ^. 4,. 
 
 X79* 
 
 ib. 
 181 
 
 
xiV 
 
 CON TENTS, 
 
 :* It- 
 
 The CarraUu. Th: Carcajou. The Skunk, n 
 
 The Porcupine. The l^podehuck. The Racoon, 
 
 The Martin. The Mujquajb, S(iidrrdi; « 
 
 The Beaver, f • • '' ■ 
 
 The Otter. The 3fi;;*, . - r < 
 
 /./ • BIRDS. - 
 
 The Eagle. The Night Hmvk, • . • 
 
 Tlie Fijlj Hawk. The IVhippmvilU 
 
 The Owl. The Crane. Ducks. The Teal. The Lorn, 
 
 The Partridge, The Woodpecker. The Wood Pigeon, 
 
 The Blue Jay. The Wukon Bird, 
 
 The Blackbird. The RedbirJ, • , - . 
 
 The JVhetfaw. The King Bird. The Humming Bird, 
 
 " ' r FISHES. '. 
 
 ^TJv. 
 
 18? 
 
 183 
 
 18S 
 
 18? 
 
 188 
 
 ib. 
 
 - 185 
 19Q 
 
 ib. 
 
 - 191 
 
 it- 
 
 
 Tin Sturgeon. The Cut Fifb, 
 The Carp. Tiie Ch'ih, 
 
 ^■i>. > '^■ 
 
 SERPENTS. 
 
 The Rctple Sna^<e, 
 
 19^ 
 »93 
 
 193 
 
 The Long Black Snake. The Striped or Qarter Snake. Tiie 
 
 Water Snake. - - - -, - - - '95 
 
 The Hijfmg Snake. The Green Snake. The Tlmrn-tall Snake. 
 The SptcUed Snake. The Rii.^g Snake. The Iwo-lieaded 
 Snake. The Turtoife or Land Turtle, • - •■ ig(S 
 
 ^ ' ' ^L I Z A R D S. ' ' 
 
 Tho Swift Lizard. The- Slow Lizard. The Tree Toad, 196,197 
 
 '< 
 
 '« 
 
 V 
 
 INSECTS. 
 
 ..1 
 
 T'!! Silk Wur}n. The Tobacco Worm. The Bee, 
 
 Th? Lightning Bug or lire Fly. Th: Water Bug. 
 ed'Bug. L'jcujl, - . ' --.«•..,■'•. 
 
 The Horn- 
 
 CHAP- 
 
 m 
 
.1 
 
 l1- 
 
 - 18S 
 
 18? 
 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 XY 
 
 
 Pf the Trees, Shrubs, Roots, Herbs, Flowers, 
 
 TREES. 
 
 ■t93| 
 
 % 
 
 Loon, 
 
 on, 
 
 yd. 
 
 188 
 ib. 
 
 19Q 
 
 ib. 
 
 191 
 
 193 
 
 193 
 
 193 
 
 w^e. 7"//^ 
 
 »95 
 
 ■tail Snake. 
 Vwo-litadcd 
 
 19(5 
 
 ( ■ 
 
 >ad, 196, 
 
 '9? 
 
 The Oak. The Pine Tree, - - - I99 
 
 i7ic Mrt/)/t'. The 4h. The itemlock Tree, the ^afs or Uldte .;.r .■ 
 IVood, - - - - "-^ ' 
 
 200 
 
 201 
 
 7/« IVichpick or Suckwick. The Button IVood, • 
 
 NUT TREE S. 
 
 The Butter or Oil A'ut. The Beech Nv.t, 
 
 27/e Pecan Nut. The Hickory, t • 
 
 F R U I T TREES. * * 
 
 The Pine. The Mulberry' Tree. The Crab Aj-ple Tree. The 
 
 Plum Tree. The Cherrj Tree, - • - - 2C2 
 
 jfV/t? S-ivect Cum Tree, • • 
 
 2c:i 
 
 
 io3 
 
 
 SHRUBS. 
 
 mr *- 
 
 »* 
 
 ' ^ 
 
 •# .. ,»,■ 
 
 iThemUow. ShinlVoiuU - ' - '■■ - 503 
 
 77ii? Sapfras. The Prickly J(b. The Moofe Wood. The Spoon 
 IVood. The Elder, - - - 204 
 
 The Sh^-uh Oak. ' The Witch Hazle. The Myrtle JVnx Tree. 
 
 U'inter Green. The Fcyer Bujh. The Cranberry Bujh, 20$ 
 
 l^it Choak Berry, - - - yjj^ . • ,-£^l.:' 2c6 
 
 ROOTS and PLANTS. 
 
 Spikenard. SiZrfapariUa. Gi}iftnig, - • ♦ 2c6 
 
 Qold Thread. ' Salomm's Seal. Dmi's Mli. .Bkcd Root, - 207 
 
 ,'?*■• 
 
 \The Horn- 
 
 CHAP- 
 
 
 *9- 
 
 ^-.J,-' 
 
 -..JI E R B S. 
 
xvi C O N t E N T S* ,;„ y f ' 
 
 ti i. k B s. 
 
 Sanicle. RaKle Snal^c "Plantain, Poor Robins Plantain. Toai 
 plantain. Rack Liverwort. Gargit or Skoke. Skunk Cab- 
 bngti or Poke, - - . . . 20^ 
 
 IVake Robin. IVild Indigo. Cat Mint, - - ft05 
 
 FLOWERS, * 
 
 ib* 
 
 W 
 
 FARINACEOUS And LEGUMINOUS 
 
 ROOT S, Sec. 
 
 Maize or Indian Corn. Wild Rice^ 
 fieans. The S^napj - - * 
 
 210 
 211 
 
 i 
 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 - -■. . \ 
 
 Tlte Prshability of the interior Paris of North America becoming --s.' 
 Commercial Colonics, - - ■ • iii 
 
 The Means by which this might he cffo&cd. - - ib. 
 
 Tia^s of L'Vid pointed out, on which Colonies may^bo ejltblifhed 
 
 with the greatejl Advantage, - - - 2l1 
 
 Dijfertation on the Difcovcry of a North-wefl Paffagc, - 216 
 
 The mo[i certain Way of attaining it, - - • ib, 
 
 Plan propofed by Richard Whifivorth, Efq; for making an Attempt "\ 
 from a Quarter lilthcrto unexplored, • - - - 217 
 
 The Rcafm of its being pojlponcdy • g •- . ib* 
 
 %,^ 
 
 m 
 
 if 
 
 # '^^ , . -. 
 
 ^■^ i. 
 
 INTRO 
 
 m ... IE 
 
 
[ xvii 1 
 
 A^ 
 
 \iatft. Toaa 
 Skunk Cab- 
 
 2od 
 205 
 
 V h 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 ^ 
 
 - . - ib# 
 MINOUS 
 
 i 211 
 
 X. 
 
 ■ica becoming 
 
 bo ejiahllpsed 
 
 2l6 
 
 ib. 
 If 
 
 1^ an Attempt , 
 
 - 217 
 « ib< 
 
 NTRO 
 
 
 ^i 
 
 
 No foonef was the late War with France concluded, and 
 Peace eftablilTied by the Treaty of Verfailles in the Year 
 1763, than I began to confider (having rendered my 
 country Iconic fervices during the war) how I might continue 
 ftill ferviceable, and contribute, as much as lay in my power, 
 to make that vafl acquifition of territory, gained by Great-Bri- 
 tain, in North America advantageous to it. It appeared to mc 
 indilpenfably needful, that Government fhould be acquainted in 
 •he firfl: place with the true ftate of the dominions they were 
 now become polTelTed df. To this purpof^, I determined, as 
 the next proof of my zeal, to explore the moft unknown parts 
 of them, and to fpare no trouble or expence in acquiring a 
 knowledge that promifed to be fo ufeful to my countrymen. I 
 knew that many obftr.u<^ions would arife to my fcheme from the 
 want of good Maps and Charts ; for the French, whilft they re- 
 taified their power in North America, had taken every artful 
 method to keep all other nations, particularly the Englifh, in ig- 
 norance of the concerns of the interior parts of it : and to ac- 
 complilTi this defign with the greatei; certainty, they had publilhed 
 inaccurate maps and falfe accounts; calling the different nations 
 «f the Indians by nicknames they had given them, and not by 
 thofe really appertaining to them. Whether the intention of 
 the French in doing this, was to prevent thefe nations from be- 
 ing difcovered and traded with, or to conceal their difcourfe, 
 j^'hen they talked to each other of the Indian concerns, in their 
 prefence, I will not determine ; but whatfoever was the caufe 
 from which it arofe, it tended to millead. 
 
 As a proof that the Englilh had been greatly deceived by thefe 
 accounts, and that their knowledge relative to Canada had ufu- 
 ally been very confined;— before the conqueft of CroWn-Point in 
 1759, it had been efteemed an impregnable fortrefs; but no 
 fooiier was it taken, than we were convinced that it had acquir- 
 ed its greatell fecurity from talfe reports, given out by its pof- 
 feffors, and might have been battered down with a few four 
 pounders. Even its fltuation, which was reprefented to be fo 
 very advantageous, was found to owe its advantages to the fame 
 fource. It cannot be denied but that feme maps of thefe coun- 
 tries have been publifhed by the French with an appearance of 
 accuracy; but thefe areoffol'mall a fize and drawn on ib minute 
 afcale, that they are nearly inexplicable. The lources of the- 
 
 % 
 
 Miffiflippi^ 
 
 ..:-<J^ 
 
 ■:^ .-* ■ 
 
 -"m- 
 

 
 :' n 
 
 Mi(T;(Tif)pl, I can aflert from my own experience, are greatly 
 mifplaced; for when I had explored them, and compared their 
 fituation with the French Charts, I found thera very erroneoufly 
 reprefented, and am fatisficd that thefe were only copied from 
 the rude sketches of the Indians. 
 
 Even fo lately as/thcir evacuation of Canada they continued 
 their fchemes tofjleceive; leaving no traces by which anyknow- 
 Icdge might accrue to their conquerors : for though' they were 
 well acquainted with all the Lakes, particularly withLakc Supe- 
 rior, having conftantly a vcflel of confiderablc burthen thereo<i. 
 yet their plans of them are very incorreck. I difcovered many er- 
 rors in the defcriptions given therein of its iflands and bays, 
 during a progrefs of eleven hundred miles that I coafted it in 
 canoes. They likewife, on giving up the poircffion of them, 
 took care to leave the places tliey had occupied in the fame un- 
 cultivated flate they had found them,- at the fame time deftroy- 
 ihg all their naval force. I obferved myfelf part of the hulk of 
 a very large veflcl, burnt to the water's edge, juft at the open- 
 ing from the Straits of St. Marie's into the Lake. 
 
 Thefe difficulties, however, were not fufficient to deter me 
 from the undertaking, an(J I made preparations for fetting out. 
 What I chiefly had in view, after gaining a knowledge of the 
 manners, cuftoms, languages, foil, and natural produftions of 
 the different nations that inhabit the back of the Mifllllippi, was 
 to afccrtain the breadth of that vaft continent, which extends 
 from the Atlantic to the Pacinc Ocean, in its broadeft part be- 
 tween 43 and 46 degrees northern latitude. Had I been able 
 to accomplilli this, I intended to have propofed to government 
 to eftablilli a port in fome of thofe parts about the Straits of 
 Annian, which having been firft difcovered by Sir Francis Drake, 
 of courfe belong to the Englifh. This I am convinced would 
 greatly facilitate the difcovery of a NorthweftPalTage, or a com- 
 munication between Hudfon's Kay and the Pacific Ocean. An 
 event fo defirable, ' and which has been fo often fought for, but-. 
 Xvithout fuccefs. Befides this important end, a fettlement on 
 that extremity of America would anfwer many good purpofes, 
 and repay every expence the eilablifhment of it might occafion. 
 For it would not only difciofe new fources of trade, and pro- 
 mote many ufeful difcoveries, but would open a paflage for con- 
 veying intelligence to China, and the Englifli fettlements in the 
 Eaft Indies, with greater expedition than a tedious voyage by 
 (3fe Cape of Good Hope, or tlT| Straits of Magellan will allow of. 
 
 How far the advantages ariffng from fuch an enterprize may 
 extend, can only be afcertaincd by the favourable concurrence of 
 future events. But that the completion of the fcheme, I have 
 .had thajilionour of firft planning and attempting, will fome time 
 or other be effected, I make no doubt. From the unhappy divi- 
 lions that at prefent fubfirt between Great Britain and America, 
 it will probably be fome years before the attempt is repeated; 
 but whenever it is, and the execution of it carried on with pro- 
 - ...„ . P>"iety, 
 
 id I 
 
 ■t • 
 
 'i^- 
 
 ■■■»■ r 
 
 
 #! • 
 
cnce, are greatly 
 
 id compared their 
 
 very erroneouHy 
 
 only copied from 
 
 k they continued 
 which any know- 
 hough" they were 
 ^ with Lake Supe- 
 burthen thereo<i, 
 covered many er- 
 iflands and bays, 
 It I coafted it in 
 )(rcflion of them, 
 d in the fame un- 
 ime time deftroy- 
 irt of the hulk of 
 juft at the open- 
 
 icnt to deter tne 
 
 3 for fetting out. 
 
 knowledge of the 
 
 i\ produftions of 
 
 le MilTiflippi, was 
 
 t, which extends 
 
 broadeft part be- 
 
 Had I been able 
 
 to government 
 
 ut the Straits of 
 
 ir Friancis Drake, 
 
 convinced would 
 
 afTage, or acorfl- 
 
 ific Ocean. An 
 
 fought for, but -I 
 
 a fettlement on 
 
 good purpofes, 
 
 might occafion. 
 
 trade, and pro- 
 
 i paflage forcon- 
 
 cttlements in the 
 
 dious voyage by 
 
 llan will allow of. 
 
 enterprize may 
 
 e concurrence of 
 
 fcheme, I have 
 
 will fomc time 
 
 he unhappy divi- 
 
 in and America, 
 
 pt is repeated; 
 
 cd on with pro- 
 
 ; priety, 
 
 .iiL.m. 
 
 ir 
 
 m 
 
 ^^'$': 
 
 >S' 
 
 
 41 t tit ] 
 
 pffety, thofe who are Co fortunate as to fucceed, will reap, «- 
 clufive of the national advantages that muft enfue, emoluments 
 beyond their moft fanguine expeftations. And whilft their fpi- 
 rits are elated by their fuccefs, perhaps they may beftow fomc 
 commcndatioms and bleflings on the perfon that firft pointed out 
 to them the \fay. Thefe, though but a ihadowy recompence for 
 dll my toil, I Oiall receive with pieafure. 
 
 To what power or authority this new world will become de- 
 pendent, after it has arifen from its prefent uncultivated (late, 
 time alone can difcover. But as the feat of Empire from time 
 immemorial has been gradually progreflive towards the Weft, 
 there is no doubt but that at fomc future period, mighty king- 
 doms will emerge from thefe wildernefles, and ftately palaces 
 and folemn temples, with gilded fpircs reaching the skies, fup- 
 plant the Indian huts, whofc only decorations are the barba- 
 rous trophies of their vanquilhcd enemies. 
 
 As fome of the preceeding paflfages have already informed the 
 reader that the plan J had laid down for penetrating to the Pa- 
 cific Ocean, proved abortive, it is neceflary to add, that this pro- 
 ceeded not from its imprafticabilitji. (for the farther I went the 
 more convinced I was that it coulci certainly be accompUlTied) 
 but trom unforefeen difappointments. However, I proceeded 
 fo far, that I was able to make fuch difcoveries as will be ufeful 
 in any future attempt, and prove a good foundation for fome 
 more fortunate fucceffor to build upon. Thefe 1 fliall now la/ 
 before the public in the following pages; and am fatislied that 
 the greateft part of them have never been publilTied by any per- 
 fon that has hitherto treated of the interior nations of the In- 
 dians; particularly, the account 1 give of the Naudoweffies, and 
 the fituation of the heads of the four great rivers that take their 
 rife within a few leagues of each other, nearly about the centre 
 of this great continent; viz. The River Bourbon, which emp- 
 ties itfelf into Hudfon's Bay; thewatersof Saint Lawrence; the 
 Mifliflippi, and the River Oregon, or the River of th|^eft,that 
 falls into the Pacific Ocean, at the Straits of Annian. 
 
 The impediments that occafioned my returning, before I had 
 accomplifhed my purpofes, were thefe. On my arrival at Mt- 
 chillimackinac, the remoteft Englifli poll, in September 1766, I 
 applied to Mr. Rogers, who was then governor of it, to fur- 
 nilli me with a proper alFortment of goods, as prefents for the 
 Indians who inhabit the track i intended to purfue. He did this 
 only in part; but promiftd to ^pply me with fuch as werenecef- 
 fary, when I reached the Falls of Saint Anthony. I afterwards 
 learned that the governor fullilled his promifc in ordering the 
 goods to be delivered to me; butthofe to whole care he intrufted 
 them, inllead of conforming to his orders, difpofcd of them die' 
 where. 
 
 Difappointed in my expe6lations from this quarter, I thought 
 
 it necelTary to return to La Prairi^ Le Chien ; for it was impo{- 
 
 fjblc to proceed any further without prefents to enlure me a fa^ 
 
 .»- ........ , , voUtablA 
 
 
1 
 
 t w 1 
 
 vaurabte reception. This I did in the begi'oning of the pear 1 767, 
 and finding my progrefs to the weftwaid thus retarded, I deter- 
 mined to direct my courfe northward. I took this ftep with a 
 view of finding a communication from the Heads of the MiflV 
 flippi into Lake Superior, in order to meet, at the grand Por- 
 tage on the North-well fide of that lake, the traders that ufu- 
 ally come, about this feafon, from JVIicliillimackiivic. Ofthe(<e 
 I intended to piirghafe goods, and then to purine my journey 
 from that quarter l)y way of the lakes dePiuye, Dubois, and Ou- 
 nipique to the Heads of the river of the Weft, which, as I liave 
 faid before, tails into the Straits of Annian, the tcimination of 
 my intended progrefs. 
 
 I accoijipliihed the former part of my defign, and reached 
 Lake Superior in proper time; but unluckily the traders I met 
 there acquainted me, that they had no goods' to fpare; thofe 
 they had with them being barely fullicient to anfwer their own 
 demands in thefe remote parts. Thus difiippointed a lecond 
 time, 1 found myfelf obliged to return to the place from whence 
 I began my expedition, which I did after continuing fome Months 
 on the north and eaft borders of Lake Superior, and exploring 
 the bays and rivers that empty themfelves intg this large body 
 of water. 
 
 As it may be expefted that I fliould lay before the public the 
 reaibns that thefe difcoverics, of lb much importance to every 
 one who has any connections with Anierica-, have not been im- 
 parted to them before, notwithllanding they were made upwards 
 of ten years ago, I will give them to the world in a plain and 
 candid manner, and without mingling with them any complaints 
 on account of the ill treatment 1 have received. * * 
 
 On my arrival in England, 1 prefented a petition to hisMajef- 
 ty in council, praying for a reimburleiUfnt of thole fums I had 
 expended in the fervice of government. This was referred to 
 the Lords Commillioners of Trade and Plantations. Their Lord- 
 fhips from the tenor of it thought the intelligence 1 could give 
 of lb much importance to the natioi^ that they ordered me to 
 appear before the Board. This mellage I obeyed, and underwent 
 a long examination; much I believe to the fatisfaftion of every 
 Lord prcfent. When it was rinill^ed, 1 requeued to know wh^t 
 I Ihouid do with my papers ; without helitation the iirft Lord 
 replied. That I mightpubliih them whenever I pleafed. Incon- 
 ■fcquence of this permillion, I difpofed of them to a bookfeller : 
 but when they were nearly ready for ttee prelSi an order was if- 
 (ued (rom the council board, requiring me to deliver,, without 
 delay, into the .'lantation Office, all my Charts and Journals, 
 with every paper relative to the diicoveriesi had made. In or- 
 ^er to obey this command, 1 was obliged to r^-purchafe theip 
 from the booKfeller at a very great expence, and deliver them 
 up. This freih difbaricmcnt I endeavouicd to get annexed to 
 the account 1 had already delivered in," but the requeft was 4e- ' 
 ipiedme, notwjthilanduig i hud only acted, in the difpoial 9fn?y 
 
 , ,: •:■. :|- ' papers. 
 
 '«!.' 
 
>f the year 1 767, 
 jtarded, I dete?- 
 this ftep with a 
 ads of the MifT*- 
 ; the grand Por- 
 traders that iifu- 
 kiivic. Ofthe(fc 
 ilue iny journey 
 IXibois, and Oa- 
 vhich, as I have 
 e tcimination ol 
 
 ;n, and reached 
 le traders I inct 
 to fpare; thofe 
 jfvver their own 
 rtinted a lecond 
 ice from whence 
 ing fomeaonths 
 •, and exploring 
 this large body 
 
 e the pubh'c the 
 Drtance to c\(ij[y 
 .ve not been im- 
 c made iipwardi 
 d in a plain and 
 1 any complaints 
 
 ion to hisMajef- 
 
 liol'e funis 1 had 
 
 |vas referred to 
 
 IS. Their Lord- 
 
 |ce 1 could give 
 
 ordered me to 
 
 and underwent 
 
 adtion of every 
 
 to know whj^t 
 
 the iiift Lord 
 
 leafed In con- 
 
 a bookfeller : 
 
 n order was if- 
 
 liver, without 
 
 and Journals, 
 
 made. Jn or- 
 
 Ipurchafe theip 
 
 deliver them 
 
 ;et annexed to 
 
 |eque.ft was 4|?" 
 
 difpoia) fi>.f »ny 
 
 papers. 
 
 '■%' 
 
 i&:: 
 
 [ xxi 1 
 
 papers, conformably to the permiflion I had received from the 
 Board of Trade. This lofs, which amounted to a' very confi- 
 derable fum, I was obliged to bear, and to reft fatisficd with aa 
 indemnification for my other expences. 
 
 Thus fituated, my only expe(5lations arc from the favour of I 
 generous public; to whom 1 lluiU now comiiiunicace my plans, ' 
 journals, and obferyations, of which I luckiiv kept copies, when 
 I delivered the originals into Lhe Plantation OlKce. And this I 
 do the more readily, as 1 hear they are miflaid; and there is no 
 probability of their ever being publilTied. To thofe who are in- 
 terelk'd in the concerns of the interior parts of North America, 
 from the contiguity of their pofTenions, or commercial engage- 
 ments, they will be extremely ufcful, and fully repay the fum at 
 which they are purchafud. To thofe, who, from a laudable cu- 
 fiofity, wilTi to be acqainted with the manners and cuftoms of 
 every inhabitant of this globe, the accounts here given of the va- 
 rious nations that inhabit fo vaft a tradl of it, a country hitherto 
 almort unexplored, will furnifti an ample fund of amufemcnt and 
 gratifjj their moft curious expedations. And 1 Hatter myfelf they 
 will be as favourably received by the public, as defcriptions of 
 iilands, which afford no other entertainment than what arifcs 
 from their novelty; and difcoveries, that feem to promife very 
 few advantages tp this country, though acquired at an immenfe 
 cxpencc. 
 
 , To make the following work as comprehenfible and en- 
 tertaining as poffible, I lliall iirft give my readers an account 
 of the route I purfued over this immcnfe continent, and as I 
 pafs on, defcribe the number of inhabitants, the fituation of 
 the divers and lakes, and the produclions of the country. 
 Having done this, I l>iall treat, in diftinft chapters, of the man- 
 ners, cuftoms, and languages of the Indians and to complete 
 the whole, add a vocabulary of the words moftly in ufe among 
 thein- 
 
 Apd here it is necefTary to bcfpcak the candour of the Icarnod 
 part of my readers in the periifal of it, as it is the production of 
 a perfon unufed, from opppHte avocations, to literary purfuits, 
 He therefore begs they would not examine it with too critical an 
 eyej efpecially when he allures them that his attention has been 
 more employed on giving a juft defcription of a country that 
 promifes, in fomc future period, toJt>e an inexhauilibie Iburgc 
 of riches to that people who Ihall be fo fojt.i.'iarc as to pollefs 
 it, than on the ftyle or compofition; and muic cMicful to ren- 
 tier his language intelligible and explicit, than imoothandijorid. 
 
 ♦ . • r 
 
 ft*-- 
 
 • M:. ■ 
 
 VA. 
 
 ■■.}^' 
 
 .■el 
 
 
 
 A 
 
 m 
 
 
 as-- 
 
 .:;♦> 
 
0m 
 
 ■^^ 
 
 # 
 
 * 
 
 *-'i.fl-i 
 
 
 /♦• 
 
 M'- 
 
 •V-- .^ 
 
 /f 
 
 «^ 
 
 ■*>-■ 
 
 #H;. 
 
 >-^ . 
 
 fj^ t^ *'^ ' 
 
 * 
 
 ••^l.' 
 
 ip«»: 
 
 ..»■ ■ it' 
 
 #' 
 
 -t^ 
 
 % 
 
 * 
 
 i:^ 
 
 .^i 
 
 '¥*, 
 
 ^-•^ 
 
 •*s»- 
 
 *!*- 
 
 >'»" 
 
 
 ,'; r* 
 
 ■.1*». . - ■■«^!^-,: 
 
JOURpJaL op the TRAVELSi 
 
 . *# W I T H A 
 
 DESCRIPTION ^{ 
 
 ^ 
 
 O F T H B 
 
 COUNTRY, LAKES, &c. V * 
 
 
 u. 
 
 
 vn 
 
 5 
 
 IN June 1766, I fat out from Bofton, and proceeded \i^vtv§ p 
 of Albany and Niagara, to Michillimackinac; a fort nt% 
 ated between the Lakes Hurcji^^and Michigan, and diftant 
 from Bofton 1300 miles. This being the 4ittermoft of our fac- 
 tories towards the north-wefl, I confider^ it as the moA con- 
 venient place from whence I could begin my intended progre^s> 
 and enter at once into the regions I deflgned to explore. 
 
 Referring my readers to the publications already extant for 
 an account of thofe parts of North America, that, from lying ad- 
 jacent to the back fcttlements, have been frequently defcribed, 
 1 {hall coniine myfelf to a defcription of the more interior parts 
 of ft, which having been but feldom viflted, are confe^ently 
 but little known. In doing this, I (hall in no inKlan^^^Meed 
 the bounds of truth, or have recourfe to thofe ufelefs dpiex- 
 travagant exaggerations too often made ufe of by travelleh, to 
 excite the curiofity of the public, or to increafe their own im- 
 portance. Nor (hall I infert any obfervations, but fuch as I have 
 made myfelf, or, from the credibility of thofe by whom they 
 were related, am enabled to vouch for their authenticity. 
 
 Michillimackinac, from whence I began my travels, is a ftKt 
 compofed of a (Irong flockade, and is ufually defended by agar- 
 rifon of one hundred men. It contains about thirty houfes^ ono 
 of which belongs to the governor, and another to the commit 
 fary. Several traders alfo dwell within its fortifications, who 
 find it a convenient fituation to traffic with the neighbouring na- 
 tions. Michillimackinac, in the language of the Chipeway In- 
 dians, fignifies a Tortoife; and the place is fuppofed to receive 
 its name from an ifland, lying about fix or feven miles to the 
 north-eaft, withm fight of the fort, which has the appearai|ice 
 of that animal* 
 
 • ■ ^ ^^ During 
 
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 W3* 
 
 [Hi •> •-^i'--' 
 
 During the Indian war that followed foon after the comjucll 
 
 fit Cailada in the yeaf- 1^63, and which was carried on by an at- 
 
 , toy of confederate nations compofed of the Hiirons, Miamies, 
 
 Chipeways, Ottowaws, Pontowattimics, Miflidauges, and fome 
 
 other tribes, under the dircdtionof Pontiaq^' a celebrated Indian 
 
 %varrior, who had always been in the French int^rcft, it was 
 
 taken by furpiizc in the following manner; The Indians having 
 
 fettled their plan, drew near the foft, and began a garflie at ball, 
 
 ft paftimc miicii ufed among them, and not unlike tennis. In 
 
 the height of their game at which fome of the EnglilTi olHcers, 
 
 not fufpefting any deceit, flood looking on, they ftruck the ball, 
 
 r . as if by accidcnf, over the ilockadc; this they repeated two or 
 
 three fiimcs, to make the deception more complete; till at length, 
 
 hailing by this means lulled every fufpicion of thecentry at the 
 
 fouth gate, a party rulhed by him; and the reft foon following, 
 
 they took poffeilion of the fort, without meeting with any oppo- 
 
 fition. Having accdni^rliihed their defign, the Indians had the 
 
 humanity to fpare the lives of the greateft part of the garrifon 
 
 and traders, but they made them all prifoners, and carried them 
 
 ^'. ©ffifi. However fome time after they took them to Montreal, 
 
 * tvhere' they were redeemed at a good price. The fort aifo was 
 
 'given up again to the Engiiih at the peace made with Pontiac, 
 
 , by the commander of Detroit the year following. 
 
 Having here made the neceflary difpofitions for* purfuing my 
 
 travels, and obtained a credit from Mr. Rogers, the governor, 
 
 en fome EnglilTi and Canadian traders who were going to trade 
 
 CO the Mifliffippi, and received alfo from him'a promilc of a 
 
 frelli fupply of goods when I reached the falls of Saint Antho- 
 
 -fjBy^'I left the fort on tlie 3d of Septert^er, in company with 
 
 ' thefe traders. It was agfeed that they ihould furnilh me with 
 
 fuch goods as I might want, for prelents to the Indian chiefs, 
 
 tiuri^ my continuance with them, agreeable to the governor's 
 
 o^j^, But when I arrived at the extent of their route, I was 
 
 'to (^ other guides, and to depend on the goods the governot 
 
 had'pTomifed to fupply me with. 
 
 We accordingly fet ou^ together, and' ol^jtjbe i8th arrived at 
 
 Fort La Bay. This fort it fituated on the ibuthern extremity of 
 
 a bay in Lake Michigan, termed by the French the Bay of Pu- 
 
 tots; but which, fince the Englifli have gained poflcffion of att 
 
 Hiie fettlemcnts on this part of the continent, is called by them 
 
 ■^the Green Bay. The reafon of its being thus denominated^ is 
 
 •'■from its appearance; for on leaving Michillimackinac in the 
 
 fpring feafon, though the trees there have not even' put forth 
 
 their buds, yet you find the country around La Bay, notwith- 
 
 "ftanding the palTagc has not exceeded fourteen days, covered 
 
 with the fineft verdure, and vegetation as forward as it could 
 
 '^be were it dimmer. % '-' **"^ ''^■- "^ : ^ 
 
 This fort alfo is only furrounded by a {!ockade,*and being 
 
 much decayed is fcarcely defenfible againft fmall arms. It was 
 
 boilt by the French for the protetftion of their trade, fome time 
 
 n befor* 
 
 ■if' 
 
 ,^ 
 
before they weT#forced to relinquiih it; and when Canada and 
 its ilependeticies were furrendered to the Englifli, it was imme- 
 diately f arrifoned with an oflScer and thirtjr men. Thefe were 
 
 made prifoners by the Menomonies foon after the furprife of 
 
 nl 
 kept in repair fince. 
 
 MichiMmackinac, ana the fort has neither been garrifoned or 
 
 The bay is 0out ninety miles long, but differs much in its 
 breadth; being in fomc places only fifteen miles, in others from 
 twenty to thirty. It lies nearly from north-eaft to fouth-weft. 
 At the entrance of it from the lake area firing of iflands, extend- 
 ing from norf.ii to fouth, called the Grand Traverfe. Thefe are 
 about thirty miles in length, and ferve to facilitate the paffage 
 of canoes, as they fhelter them from the winds, which fome- 
 times come with violence acrofs the Lake. On the fide that lies 
 to the fouth-eafl is the nearefl and befl navigation. 
 
 The iflands of the Grand Traverfe are moiWy frtstftjcmd rocky. 
 Many of the rocks are of an amazing fize, and appear as if they 
 had been fafhioned by the hands ofartifts. On the largefl and 
 bcil of thefe iflands hands a town of the Ottowaws, at which I 
 found one of the moflconfiderable chiefs of that nation, who re- 
 ceived me with every honour he could poflibly fhow to a flran- 
 ger. But what 'appeared extremely fingular to me at the time, 
 and mufl: do {o to every perfon unacquainted with the cufloms 
 of the Indians, was the reception I met with on landing. As 
 our canoes approached the iTiore, and had reached within about 
 three fcore rods of it, the Indians began a feu-de-joy; in which 
 they fired their pieces loadtd with balls ; but at the fame time 
 they took care to difcharge them in fuch a manner as to fly a few 
 yards above our heads : during this they ran from one tree or 
 f^umpto another, fhouting and behaving as if they were in the 
 heat of battle. At lirft I was greatly furprifed, and was on the 
 point of ordering my attendants to return their fire, concluding 
 that their intentions were hoflile; but being undeceived by foiH» 
 of the traders, who informed me that this was their ufual method 
 of receiving the chiefs of other nations, I confidered it in its true 
 light, and was pleafed with the refpeft thus paid me. 
 
 I remained here one night. Among the prefents I made the 
 chiefs, were fome fpirituous liquors; with which they made 
 themfelves merry, and all joined in a dance, thatlarted thegreat- 
 clt part of the night. In the morning when I departed, the 
 chief attended me to the lliore, and, as foon as I had embarked, 
 offered up, in an audible voice, and with great folcmnity, afer- 
 \ ent prayer in my behalf. He prayed " that the Great Spirit 
 would favour me with a profperous voyage; that he would give 
 me an unclouded sky, and imooth waters, by day, and that f. 
 ]night lie down, by*night, on a beaver blanket, enjoying unin- 
 terrupted fleep, and pleafant dreams; and alfo that I might find 
 continual protection under the great pipe of peace." In this 
 manner he continued his petitions till I could no longer hear 
 them. * >■;>? --n --.. '\^.^r I ■ . - 
 
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 fk 
 
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 f-' 
 
 < I mud here obferve, that notwithftanding tMI inhabitants of* 
 Europe are apt to entertain horrid ideas of the ferocity of thcfc 
 favages, as they are termed, I received from every tribe of them 
 I . in the interior parts, the moil hofpitable and courteous treatment; 
 ^ ' and am convinced, that till they are condlininated by the ex- 
 ample and fpirituous liquors of their more refined neighbours, 
 .i. -- thej^/ctain this friendly and inofFcnfive condud towards ftran- 
 ^ gersV Their inveteracy and cruelty to their enemies I acknow- 
 ledge to be a great abatement of the favourable opinion I would 
 Willi to entertain of them; but this failing is hereditary, and 
 having received the fanftion of immemorial cui^om, has taken 
 too deep root in their minds to be ever extirpated. 
 
 Among this people I eat of a very uncommon kind of bread. 
 'JThe Indians, in general, ufe but little of this nutritious food : 
 •whilft their corn is in the milk, as they term it, that is, juft bc- 
 > fore it begins to ripen, tiiey illce off the kernels from the cob 
 to which they grow, and knead them into a pafte. This they 
 are enabled to do without the addition of any liquid, by tha 
 milk that flows from them ; and when it is efFefted, they parcel 
 it out into cakes, and inclofing them in leaves of the balTwood 
 tree, place them in hot embers, where they are foon baked. 
 And better flavoured bread I never eat in any country. 
 
 This placs is only a fmall village containing about twenty- 
 five houfes and fixty or fcventy warriors. I found nothing there 
 worthy of further remark. ^, 
 
 The land on the fouth-eafl: fide of the Green Bay is but very 
 indifferent, being overfpread with a heavy growth of hemlock, 
 pine, fpruce and fir trees. The communication between Lake 
 Michigan and the Green Bay has been reported by fome to be 
 imprafticable for the paflfage of any vcflels larger than capj^jes or 
 boats, on account of the iTioals that lie between the tflaftds 
 in the Grand Traverfe; but on founding it l/i;ound itifficicnt 
 depth fqfij^. vefll^l of fixty tons, and the breadth'proportionable. 
 
 The land adjoining to the bottom of this bay is very fertile, 
 the country In general level, and thepcrfpeftive view of it pleaf- 
 '^\ ing and extcnfive. 
 
 f' A few families live in the fort, which lies on the wefl:-fide of 
 
 the Fox-River, and oppofite to it, on the eaft-fide of its entrance, 
 are fome French fcttlers who cultivate the land, and appear to 
 ■ live very comfortably. 
 
 The Green Bay or Bay of Puants is one of thofS places to 
 f^ which the French, as I have mentioned in the introdnction, have 
 given nicknames. It is termed by the inhabitants of its coafts, 
 the Menomonie Bay ; but why the French have denominated it 
 _ ^ thePuan^or Stinking "^ay 1 know not. The reafon they them- 
 felves give for it is, that it was not with a v'kw to miflead ftran- 
 gers, but that by adopting this method they could converfewith 
 each ocher, concerning the Indians, in their prefence, without 
 being underftood by them. For it was remarked by the perfons 
 \yholiril traded among them, that when they were fpeaking to 
 
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 r 27 ] 
 
 each other aboiiTthem, and mentioned their proper name, they 
 Inftantly grew fiifpicious, and concluded that their vifiteis were 
 either fpeaklng ill of them, or plotting their deftruftion. To 
 remedy this they gay^e them fome other name. The only bad 
 confcqiience arifing from the praftice then introduced is, that 
 EngUlli and French Geographers, In their plans of the interior 
 partij of Aine|ica, give different names to the fame people|>j,and 
 thereby perplex thofc who have occafion to refer to them. 
 
 I^ake Michigan, of which the Green Bay is a part, is divided|» 
 on the north-eaft from Lake Huron by the Straits of Michilli^i' 
 mackinac; and is fituated between forty-two and forty-fix de- 
 grees of latitude, and between eighty-four and eighty-fcven de- 
 grees of weft-longitude. Its greateft length is two hundred and 
 eighty miles, its brjsadth about forty, and its circumference near- 
 ly fix hundred. There is a remarkable ftring of fmalliflands, be- 
 jtinning dver againft Askin's Farm, and running about thirty 
 miles fouth-weft into the Lake. Thefe are called the Beaver 
 Iflands. Their fituation is very pleafant, but the foil is bare. 
 However they afford a beautiful profpeft. 
 
 On the north-weft parts of this lake the waters branch out in- 
 to two bays. That which lies towards the north is the Bay of 
 Noquets, and the other the Green Bay juft defcribed. ** ' 
 
 The waters of this as well as the other great lakes are clear 
 and wholefome, and of fufBcient depth for the navigation of 
 large fhips. Half the fpace of the country that lies to the eaft, 
 and extends to Lake Huron, belongs to the Ottowaw Indians. 
 The line that divides their territories from the Chipeways, runs 
 nearly north and fouth, and reaches almoft from the fouthern 
 extpimity of this lake, acrofs the high lands» to Michillimacki- 
 nac^wthrough the centre of which it palTes. So that when thefe 
 two tribes happen to meet at the factory, they each encamp on 
 their own dominions, at a few yards dillance from the ftockade., ;-, 
 
 The country adjacent either to the e'aft or weft fid€ of this lake 
 is compofed but of an indifferent foil, except where fmall brooks 
 or rivers empty themfelves into it; on the banks of thefe it is 
 extremely fertile. Near the borders of the lake grow a great 
 number of fand cherries, which are not lefs remarkable for tlieir 
 jnanner of growth, than for their exquifite flavour. They grow 
 upon a fmall llirub, not more than four feet high, the boughs of 
 wnich arc fo loaded that they lie in clufters on the fand. As they 
 grow only on the fand, the warmth oi' which probably contri- 
 butes to 'bring them to fuch perfection; they are called by thci 
 French, cherries de fable, or fand cherries. The fize of them 
 does not exceed that of a fmall musket ball, but they are reckon- 
 ed faperior to any other fort for the purpofe of fteeping in fpi- 
 rits. There alfo grow around the lakegoofeberries, black cur- 
 rants, and an abundance of juniper, bearing great quantities of 
 berries of the Hncft fort. 
 
 Sumack likewife grows here in great plenty; the leaf of which, 
 f a^ered at Michueluut) when it tmns xQnif, is much cfteemed by 
 
 the 
 
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 >^' 
 
 
 
 4 t 28 1 
 
 the natives. They mix about an equal quantitf of it with their 
 tobacco, which caufes it to finoke picafantly. Near this lake, 
 and indeed about all the great lakes, is found a kind of willow, 
 te'rmed by the French, bois rouge, in Englifli red wood. Its 
 bark, when only of one year's growth, is of a fine fcarlet co- 
 lour, and appears very beautiful; but as it grows older, itchan^ 
 ^es into a mixture of grey and red. The ftalks of this fhrub 
 grow, many of them together, and rife to the hciljght of fix or 
 
 ight feet, the largeft not exceeding an inch diameter. The 
 
 ark being fcraped from the flicks, and dried and powdered, is 
 alfo mixed by the Indians with their tobacco, and is held by 
 them in the higheftellimation for their winter fmoaking. A weea 
 that grows near the great lakes, in rocky places, they ufe in the 
 fummer feafon. It is called by the Indian&j.tSegockimac, and 
 creeps like a vine oii the ground, fomctiniCT extending to eight 
 or ten feet, and bearing a leaf about the fize of fil>a|^ penny, 
 nearly round; it is of the fubftance and colour of the laurel, 
 and is, like the tree it refembles, an evergreen. Thefe leaves, 
 dried and powdered, they likewife mix with their tobacco; and, 
 ^ as faid before, , fmoak it only during the (ummer. By thefe 
 ^ three fuccedaneums the pipes of the Indians are well fupplieql 
 through every feafon of the year,' and as they are great flnoakers, 
 they are very careful in properly gathering and preparing them. 
 
 On the 20th of September I left the Green Bay, and proceed- 
 ed up Fox Hiver, ftill in company with the traders and fome In- 
 dians. On the 25th I arrived at the great town of the Wiffne- 
 bagoes, ^tuated on a fmall ifland, juil as you enter the eaft end 
 of Lake Winnebagoi Here the queen who f refided over this 
 tribe inftead of a Sachem, received me with great civility, mnd 
 entertained me in a very diftinguiihed manner, during th^jjfe^^ 
 days I continued with her. ^*.' 
 
 The day after my arrival I held a CQAincil with the chiefs, of 
 whom I asked permiffion |o pafs through their country, in my 
 •way to more remote nations, on bulincfs of importance. This 
 was readily granted me, the requeit being efteemed by them as 
 a great compliment paid to their tribe. The queen fat in tne 
 cofUitcil, but only asked a fi^w queftions, or gave fome trilling 
 direftions in matters relative to the ftate; for women are^never 
 allowed to fit in their councils, ex c-ept they happen to be invefted 
 witJf the fupreme authority, and then it is not cullomary for 
 them to make any formal fpceches as the chiefs do. She was •» 
 very ancient woman, fmall in llature, and not much diftinguilTicd 
 by her drefs fromfeveral young women that attended her. Thefe 
 her attendants fcemcd greatly plealed whenever I Ihowed any 
 tokens of refpecl to their queen, particularly when I faluted her, 
 which I frequently did to acquire her favour. On thefe occa- 
 fions the good old lady endeavoured to allugie a juvenile gaiety, 
 and by her finiles Ihowed Ihc was equally pleafed with the at- 
 tention J paid her. 
 
 The 
 
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 m 
 
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 m 
 
 'Zti 
 
 J. 
 
 The time I tarried here, I employed in making the beft obfer- 
 vations poflible on the country, and in collefting the moft cer- 
 tain inteilicsnce I could of the origin, language, and cuftoms of 
 this peoplw From thefe enquiries i iiave reafon to conclude, 
 that the Winneba^oes originally rcfidcd in fome of the provinces * 
 
 belonging to New Mexico ; and being driven from their native ^ 
 country, either by inteftine divifions, or by the extenfions hf, ^ 
 the Spaniih conquefts, they took refuge in thefe more northe?ii 
 parts about a century ago. 
 
 My reafon for adopting this fuppofition, are, firfl: from their 
 unalienable attachment to the Naudoweflie Indians (who, they 
 fay, gave them the earlieft fuccours during their emigration) ""ot- 
 withllanding their prefent refidcnce is more than fix hundred 
 miles dirtant from that people, «• 
 
 Secondly, that their dialed totally differs from every other 
 Indian nation yet difcovcred; it being a very uncouth guttural 
 jargon, which none of their neighbours will attempt to learn. 
 They converfewith other nations in the Chiptiway tongue, which 
 is the prevailing language throughout all the tribes, from the 
 Mohawks of Canada, to thofe who inhabit the borders of tlic 
 Miififlippi, and from the Hurons and Illinois to fifch a dwell 
 near Hudfon s Bay. 
 
 Thirdly, from their inveterate hatred to the Spaniards, ^ome 
 of them informed me that they had many excurfions to the fouth- 
 weft, which took up fevcral moons. An elderly chief more par- 
 ticularly acquainted me, that about forty- lix winters agp, hi 
 marched at the head of fifty warriors, toward the foiith-weft, 
 for three unoons. That during this expedition, whilft the/ 
 were crofling a plain, they difcovered a body of men on horfc- 
 back,0ho belonged to the Black People; lor fo they catt the 
 Spaniards. As foon as they perceived them, they proceeded 
 \Vith caution, and concealed themfelvestill night came on; when 
 they drew fo near as to be able to difcern the number and fitua- 
 tion of their enemies. Finding they were not able to cope with 
 fo great a fuperiority by day-light, they waited till they had re- 
 tired to relli when they rufficd upon them, and, after having 
 killed the greateil: part of the men, took eighty horfes loaded 
 with wl:)|it they termed white ftone. This I fuppofe to have 
 been filver, as he told me the horfes were ihodwith it, and that 
 their bridle* were ornamented with the fame. When they had ^4Sf 
 fatiatcd their revenge, they carried off their fpoil, and being got. 
 fo far as to be out of the reach of the Spaniards that had ef-. 
 caped their fury-, they left the ufelefs and ponderous burthen^ ^ 
 with which the horfes wete loaded, in the woods, and mount- 
 ing themfelves, in this manner returned to their friends. The 
 purty they had thus defeated, I conclude to be the caravan that 
 annually conveys to Mexico, the filver which the Spaniards 
 tirt€ in great quautities on the mountains lying near the heads of , 
 the Coleredo River: and the plains where the attack was made, 
 probably, fome they were obliged to pafs over in their way to 
 
 the 
 
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 to: 
 
 SlJJ'j 
 
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 tlie heads tt the River St. Fee, or Rio del Nord, wl|ich fails 111* 
 to the Giilph of Mexico, to tlie weft of the MilTiffippi. 
 
 The Wvunebagoes can raife about two -llundrci^. warriors. 
 Their town contains about fifty lioufes, which>ar,e ftrongly built 
 with palifadcs, and theilland on which it is fitoated nearly fifty 
 acres. It lies thirty-five miles, reckoning according tothecourfe 
 cfthe river, from the Green Bay. ' 
 
 The river, for about four or five miles fro|||i tlie bay, has a 
 gentle current ; after that fpacc, till you, arri!i^ at the Winne- 
 bago Lake, it is fuir of rocks and very rapid. At many places 
 we wete oblige J to land our canoes, and cany them a confider- 
 ahle way. Its breath, in general, from the Green Bay to the 
 Winnebago Lake, is between feventyand a hundred yardsV the 
 land oil its borders very good, and thinly wooded with hicke- 
 ry, oak, and hazel. > 
 
 The Winnebago Lake is about fifteen miles long from eaft to 
 weft, and fix miles wide. At its fouth-eaft cof ner, a river falls into 
 it that takes its rife near fome of the northern branches of the 
 Illinois River. This I called the Crocodile River, in confe- 
 quence of a ftory that prevails among the Indians, of their hav- 
 ing defhroyeid, in fome part of it, an animal, which from theif 
 defcription muft be a crocodile or a^i alligator. 
 
 Th» lahd adjacent to the Lake is very fertile, abounding with 
 grapes, plums, and other fruits, which grow fpontancoufly. 
 Jhe Winnebagoes raife on it a great quantity of Indian corn» 
 oeans, pumpkins, fqualTi, and watermelons, with fome tobacco. 
 The lake itfelf abounds with- filh, and in the fall of the year, 
 with gee fe, ducks, and teal. The latter, which rc*rt to it in 
 jp:eat nmnbers, are remarkably good and extremely fat, ajadare 
 much better flavoured than thofc that are founc| near the tea, as 
 ;5f«hey acquire their exccfl^ive fatnefs by feeding on the wild rice# 
 <irhich grow fo plentifully in thefe parts. -^ ... 
 
 Having made fome acceptable prefents to the good old queen, 
 and received her blelling, I left the town of the Winnebagoes 
 on the 29th of September, and about twelve miles from it ar- 
 lived at the place where the Fox River enters the Lake on the 
 north fide of it. We proceeded up this river, and on the 7th of 
 Oftober reached tlie great Carrying Place, which divides it 
 from^ the Oaifconfin*-^ 
 
 The Fox Rivery' from the Green Bt y to the Carrying Place, 
 Is about one hundred and eighty miie-^. From the Winnebago 
 Lake to the Carrying PlacQ the currci- is gentle, and the depth 
 ^cf it confiderable; notwithfianding which, it is in fome place? 
 )R-ith difficulty that cannoes can pafs, through the obfl;rucl:i9n^ 
 Ihey meet with from tlic rice rtalks, which are very large aifof 
 thick, and grow iKire in great abundance. The country arouij«| 
 it is very fertile and proper in the higheft degree for cultii'S- 
 "tion, excepting in folne places near the river, where it is rather-^ 
 loo low. it is in no part very woody, and yet can fupplyi^filf- , 
 ficieiit to anfwer she demands of any number ot inhabitants. Tfils 
 
•■ 
 
 [ 31 1 
 
 f$i 
 
 riv€r is the greateft refort for wild fowl of every ki'nci that I 
 met with i% the whole courfe of my travels; frequei^y the futt 
 would be oofciired by thein for fomc minutes together. 
 
 About forty ^ifees up this river, from the great town pf the 
 Witmebagoes, .{tands a fmaller town belonging t6 that nation. 
 
 Deer and kekts are very numerous in thefe parts, and a great 
 many beavers and Ql;her furs are taken on the ftrcanis that emp- 
 ty themfclves intft-ithis rfevcr. » 
 
 The river I ai^ treating of, is renwrkable for having been, 
 about eighty years ago, the refidence of the united bands of the 
 Ottigaumies and the Saukies, whom the-French had nicknametl, 
 according to their wonted cuiloffl, Des Sacs and Des Reynards, 
 the Sacks and the Foxes, of whom the following anecdote was 
 relaf&d to me by an Indian. 
 
 About fixty years ago, the French miilionaries and traders 
 having received many infults fromthcfe people, a party ofFrendi 
 and Indians, under the command (^'Captain Morand marched to 
 revenge their wrongs. The Captain fet out from the Green 
 Bay in the winter,' when they were unfufpicious of avifit of this 
 kind, and purfuing his route over the fnow to their villages, 
 whith lay about fifty miles up the Fox River, came upon them 
 by furprize. Unprepared as they were, he.found them an eafy 
 conqueft, and confequently killed or took prifoners the greatell 
 part of them. On the return of the French to the Green Bay, 
 one of the Indian chiefs in alliance with them, who had a con- 
 fiderablc band of the prifoners under his care, flopped to drink 
 at a brook ; in the mean time l^is companions went, on; which 
 being obferved by one of the women whom they, had made-cap- 
 tive, fhe fuddenla feized him with both her hands, wl^lft he 
 ftoopedtodrinlv, byancxquifitely fufceptible part, and htffd'him 
 faft till he expired on the fpot. As the chief, f'rom the extreme 
 torture he fuffered, was unable to cai|fout to his friends, or to 
 give any alarm, they palled on without knowing what had hap- 
 pened; and the woman having cut the bands of thofe of hcrfel- 
 low prifoners who were in the rear, withthcmmade her efcape. 
 This heroine was ever after treated hy her nation as their deli- 
 verer, and made a chicfcfs in her own right, with liberty to en- 
 tail the fame honour on her dcfcendants : an unufual diftinftion, 
 and permitted only on extraordinary occafions. 
 
 About twelve miles before I reached the Carrying Place^ I ob- 
 ferved feveral fmallmountainsvvhich extended quite to it. Thefe 
 indeed would only be eileemed as molehills when compared with 
 thofe on the back of the colonies, but as they were the firll I 
 had (ticn fince my leaving Niagara, a track of nearly eleven hund- 
 red ijiiles, 1 could not leave them unnoticed. 
 
 The Fox River, where it enters the Winnebago Lake, is 
 about fifty yards wide, but it gradually dccreafes to the Carry- 
 ing Place, where it is no more than five yards over, except in 
 ^|ew places where it widens into fmall lakes, though flill of a 
 
 er«ble depth. J cannot recoiled any thing clfe that is re- 
 
 markHbIc 
 
 ii-i 
 
 fl^ L i. 
 
markable in this rivcr;^'1except that it is fo ferpentine for five 
 Hiilea* as emly to g^ in that place one quarter of iMlle. * 
 
 The Carrying i^Stce between the Fox and Ouifcotnm Rivc|*is 
 in breadth not^ore than a mile and three (jtiiirters, thougS iii 
 fome maps it is fo delineated as to appear to betcn miles. And 
 here I cannot he!p remarking, that all the maps of tliefe parts, 
 I have ever fecn, are very erroneous. Thc-VlVers in general 
 are defer ibed asjunning in different dltcftioris from vi^hat they 
 really do; and iiiany branches of them, particularly of the Mif- 
 fiflippi, omitted. The diftances of places, likewise, are greatly 
 mifreprefented. Whether thi|^is done by the French geogra- 
 phers (for the Engli^Ti maps are all copied from theirs) thfough 
 dcfign, or for want ofajull knowledge of the country, I can- 
 not fay; but I am fatislicd that travellers who depend upon 
 them in the parts Ivifited, will find themfelves much at aiofs. 
 
 Near one half of the way, between the rivers, is a morafs 
 overgrown with a k!fv^ of long grafs, the reft of it a plain with 
 fome few oak and pine trees growing thereon, I obferved here 
 a great number of rattle-fnakes. Monf. Pinnifance, a French 
 trader, told me a remarkable flory concerning one of thefe rep- 
 tiles, of which, he faifl, he was an eye-witnefs. An Indian, be- 
 longing to the Menomonie nation, having tsken one of them, 
 found means to tame it; and when he had done this, treated it 
 as a Deity; calling it his Great Father, and carrying it with him 
 in a box wherever he went. This the Indian had done for fe- 
 veral fummers, when Monf. Pinnifance accidentalkr met with 
 him at this Carrying Place, juft<.as he was fetting cot for a win- 
 ter's hunt. The French gentleman was furprized, one day, to 
 tee thU Indian place the box which contained his god on the 
 ground, and opening the door give him his liberty ; telling him, 
 whilft he did it, to be liire and return by the time he himfelf 
 Ihould come back, whicffNvas to be in the month of May fol- 
 lowing. As this was but October, Monfieur told the Indian, 
 whofe fimpiicity afloniflied him, that he fimcied he might wait 
 Jong enough when May arrived, for the arrival of his great fa- 
 ther- The Indian was fo confident of his creature's obedience, 
 that he offered to lay the Frenchman a wager of two gallons of* 
 rum, that at the time appointed he would come and crawl into 
 his box. This was agreed on, and the fecond week in May fol- 
 lowing fixed for the^determination of the wager. At that peri- 
 od they both met there again; \^hen the Indian fet down his 
 box, and called for l|is great father. The fnake heard him not; 
 and the time being now expired, he ackowledged that he had 
 loft. However, without feeming to be difcouraged, he offered 
 to double the bett if his great father came not within two day* 
 more. This was further agreecl on; when behold on the fecond 
 day, about one o'clock, the fnake arrived, and, of his own ac- >' 
 cord crawled into the box, which was placed ready for hiiji. ; 
 The French gentleman vouched for the tr-ith of this ftory, aj&,^| 
 
 * from 
 
 ^ 
 
 r 
 
IIS own ac- 
 
 [33'] 
 
 from the i^counts I havtf often received o$ the docility of thofd 
 creatures, I fce no,reafon to doubt his veracity. 
 
 I Qbfcrved thi^ the main body of the Fox River came from 
 the fouth-wcft, that fl^jLtheOuifconfin from the north-eaft; and 
 alfo that fonie of 'thelmall branches of thefe two rivers, in de- 
 icending into them, (doubled, within a few feet of^each other, 
 a little to the fouth of tfte Carrying Place. That tWo fuch ri- 
 vers fhould take their rife fo near each other, and<aftcr running 
 fuch different co\irfcs, empty themfelvcs into the fea, at a diftance 
 fo amazing (for the former haviiig palFcd through feveral great 
 lakes, and run upwards of two TOoufand miles, falls infro the 
 Gulf of St. Lawrence, and the other, after joining the MilfiJSp- 
 pi, and having run an equal number of miles, difcmbogucs itfelf 
 into the Gulf of Mexico) is an inllance fcarcely to be met in 
 the cxtenfive continent of North-America. I had an opportu- 
 nity the year following, of making the fame obfervations on 
 the affinity of various head branches of the waters of the St. 
 Lawrence and the Mifliflippi to each othef j and now" bring them 
 as a proof, that the opinion of thofe geographers, whoalFert, 
 that rivers taking their rife fo near each other, niuft fpring from 
 the fame fource, is erroneous. For I perceived a vifibly dif-- 
 tin<ft fcparation in all of them, notwithitanding, in fome places, 
 they approached fo near, that I could Ijave ftcppcd from "pn^ to ' 
 the other. •.,- ' ■ ...'■, 
 
 _On the 8th of Ojtober we got our canoes into the Oiiifcoiifiil 
 River, which at this place is. more than a hundred y^xA^ wide; 
 and the next day arrived at the Great Town of the Saakies. This 
 is the largcft and beft built Indiari town I ever faw. It contains , 
 about ninety houfes, each large 'enough- for feveral familiesv 
 Thefe are built of hewn plank, neatly jointed, and covered with V 
 bark fo compaftly as to keep out the moll penetrating rains. Be- 
 fore the doors are placed comfortable llicds, in which the inhti- 
 bitants fit, when the weather will permit, and rmoakthei?;,^^. 
 The ftrccts are regular and fpacious; Co that it appeai^-^roTO 
 like a civilized town than the abode of lavages. The land ne^r 
 the town Is very good. In their plantations, which lie adja- 
 cent to their houfes, and which are neatly laid out, they raife 
 great quantities of Indian corn, beans, melons, &.c. fo that this 
 place is efteemed the bell market for traders to furnifh them- 
 felvcs with provifions, of any within eight hundred miles of it. 
 
 The Saukies can raife about three hundred warriors, who are ■ 
 generally employed every fummer in makingf^ncurfions into the 
 territories of the Illinois and Pawnee nations, from whence they 
 return with a great number of (laves. But thofe people fre- 
 quently retaliate, and, in their turn, deftroy many of the Sau- 
 ries, \vhich I judge to be the reafon that theyincreafe nofafter. 
 
 Whilll I ftaid here, 1 took a view of fome mountains that lie 
 ab^t fifteen miles to the fouthward, and abound in lead pre. 
 tifceuded on one of the higheit of Uiefe, and Jiad an exteUfive 
 
 g -.c^-;.v view 
 
 ■^^f 
 
 ^n 
 

 ^.■^ 
 
 .^■ 
 
 ^n 34 } 
 
 ^ view of the country. For many miles nothing %a? tp be feen 
 but IcfFcr mountains, which appeared at a diftance Itt^haycocks, 
 they heing free from trees. Only a few grgves of hickety, and 
 Aunted oaks, covered fume of the vaiUtt||;' 9tb plentiful i^ lead 
 here, that 1 faw large quantities of it ^j|^ aUout the ftreets in 
 the town belonging to the Saukics, and it feemed to be as^ood 
 as the produce of other countries. -iMtl^tf^' ..-''•» 
 
 On the loth of Odober we procccOT(i down jhc river, and 
 the next day reached the ihi} town of the Ottigaumies. This 
 town contained about fifty houfcs, but we found moft of them 
 defeited, on account of an epidemical dilbrder that had lately 
 raged among them, and carried off more than one half of the 
 inhabitants. The greater part of thofe who furvivedhad retired 
 into the woods, to avoid the contagion. 
 
 On the 15th we entered that extenfive river the Mifllflippi. 
 ^ f The Ouifconfin, from the Carrying Place to the -part where it 
 falls into the MiflifTippi, flows with a fmooth but llrong current; 
 the water of it is exceedingly clear, and through it you may per- 
 ceive a fine and Tandy bottom, tolerably ■"■ f^e from rocks. In it 
 are a few illands, the foil of which appciredtobe good, though 
 fomcwhat woody. The land near the river alfo feemed to be, 
 in general, excellent; but that at a diilance is very full of moun- 
 tains, where it is faid there are many lead mines. 
 
 About five miles from thejunftion of the rivers, I obferved 
 the ruins of a large town in ■ a very pleafing fituation. On en- 
 quiring of the neighbouring Indians why it was thus defcrted, I 
 was informed, that about th'-ty years ago, the Great Spirit hgd 
 appeared on the top of a pyi-amvd of rocks, which lay at alittle 
 diftance from it, towards the weft, and warned them to quit 
 tjieir habitations; for the land" on which they were built belong- 
 ed to him, and he hadoccalion for it. As a proof that he, who 
 gave them thefe orders was really the Great Spirit, he further 
 told them, that the grafs lliould immediately fpring up on thofe 
 very rocks from whence he now addrelfed them, which they 
 knew to be bare and barren. The Indians obeyed, and foon 
 after difcovered that this miraculous alteration had taken place. 
 They iTiewed me the fpot, but the growth of the grafs appeared 
 to be no ways fupernatural. I, apprehend this to have been a 
 llratagcm of the French or Spaniards to anfwer fomefelfifli viewj 
 but in what manner they effcfted their purpofes 1 know not. 
 
 This people, foon after their removal, buHt a town on the 
 hank of the MilTiflippi, near the mouth of the Ouifconfin, at a 
 place called by the French La Prairies les Chiens, which figni- 
 fies the Dog Flaihs; it is a large town, and contains about three 
 hundred families; the houfes are well built after the Indian 
 manner, and pleafantly fituated on a very rich foil, from which 
 they rait'e every neceflTary of life in great abundance. I/awher0 
 many horfes of a. good fize and lliape. This town is thegroiiit^ 
 mart where all the adjacent tribes, and even thofe "who inb^hMf 
 the moft remote branches of the Mifliflippi, annully aflTetpBiJF 
 . - Hhoyk 
 
 ;t 
 
 .r 
 
*«', 
 
 4 35 1 ■ 
 
 about th«l|^^<Jt1<( of May, bringing with them their furs m 
 difpofe Qr^#|hiB traders. But it is not always that they con- 
 ciudejhefrfate hjByti^this is determined by a general council of 
 tfie ffllefs, Avho e*>!ilBj%,whcther it would be more conducive to 
 their intereft, tp^fell^iHr goods at this place, or carry them on 
 toLouifiana, or Mi(^Umackinac. According to the dccifioii of 
 this council they eitln^^pioceed further, or return to' their'*dif- 
 fcrcnt homes. -''^ * '*'" • • /\-y 
 
 The Miimnppl, at the entrance of the Ouifconfin.near which 
 ftands a mountain of confiderable height, is about half a milj 
 over; but oppofite to the laft mentioned town it appears to bo 
 more than a mile ^ide, and full of iflands, the foil of which is 
 extraordinary rich, and but thinly wooded. 
 
 A little farther to the well, on the contrary fide, a fmall river 
 falls into the Mifliflippi, which the French qallLc Jaun Riviere, 
 or the Yellow River. Here the traders who had accompanied 
 me hitherto, took up ti.eir refidence for the winter. 1 thcii 
 bought a canoe, and with two fervants, one a French Canadian, 
 and the other a Mohawk of Canada, on the 19th proceeded up 
 the Mifliflippi. 
 
 About ten days after I had parted from the traders, I landed 
 as I ufually did every evening, and having pitched my tent, I 
 ordered my men, when night came on,^ to lay themfelvcs down 
 to fleep. By a light that J kept burning I then fat down to co- 
 py the minutes I had taken in the courfe of the prectfeding day.. 
 About ten o'clock, having jufl: linifhed my memorandums, 1 (iep4 
 ped out of my tent to fee what weather it was. As I cad nv/ 
 eyes towards the bank of the river, I thought I faw by the li^ht 
 oftheftars, which iTione bright, fomething that had the apfiteaf*- 
 anceofa herd of hearts coming down a defcent at fome diftaifice'^ , 
 whilft I was wondering what they could be, one of the numbeit 
 fuddenly fprung up, and difcovered to me the form Of a man. 
 Jn an inftant they were all on their legs, and I could count about 
 ten or twelve of them running towards me. I immediately re- 
 entered the tent, and having awakened my men, ordered them to 
 take their arms, and follow me. As myHrft apprehenfions were 
 for my canoe, I ran to the water's fide, and found a party of In- 
 dians (for fuch I now difcovered them to be) on the point of 
 plundering it. Before 1 reached them I commanded my men not 
 to fire till I had given the word, being unwilling to begin hofli- 
 lities unlefs occafion abfolutcly required. I accordingly advan- 
 ced with refolution, clofe to the points of their fpears, they 
 had no other weapons, and brandilliing my hanger, asked them 
 with a fl:ern voice, what they wanted? They were fiiaggered at 
 this, and perceiving they were like to meet with a warm recep- 
 tion, turned about and precipitately retreated. We purfued 
 them to ar)' adjacent wood, which they entered, and we faw flo 
 more of tfcem. However, for fear of their return, we watched 
 iltetJiateeljy during the remainder of the night. The neKt day my 
 fervid, ^ere under great apprehcnfions, and earne.ftly entreat- 
 ed 
 
 %• 
 
 \] 
 
 -n' 
 
 W 
 
«l 
 
 ':"'■ J.I 
 
 11 
 
 
 !i'-,'*ij 
 
 n*^.; 
 
 iS 
 
 ed mc to return to the traders wc had lately Idl. ^bt I told 
 them, that if they would not bo ertecmcd Qld women <% term of 
 the grcatcit reproach among the Iiidians) theymuft fellovvr mcj, 
 for i was determined tn puiuic my intendpl^routc, as anEr^flil^ 
 man, when once engaj^cd in an ad> cntiijip|wver, i^ctreated. On 
 this they got into the canoe, and I wa^d oil the ihorc to 
 guard tht.ni from any further attack. Th|i|)iftrty of Indians who 
 had thus intended to plunder uk', I afterwirds found to befomo 
 of thofe Ihaggiing bands, that, having been driven from among 
 the diiKoreiit tribes to which they belonged for. various crimes, 
 now alFociated thcmlelves together, and, livhig by plunder, 
 prove very troublefomc to travellers who pafs^this way ; nor arc 
 even Indians of every tribe fpared by them. Th(i traders 
 had before cautioned me to be upon my guard againll them, and 
 1 would repeat the fame caution to thofe whofe bulinei's might 
 call them into thefe pirrts. ,• 
 
 On the fail of November I arrived at Lake Pepin, wh'ch is 
 rather an extended part of the R;ver Miilillippi, that th^Ficnch 
 have thus denominated, about tv;o hundred miles from the Ouif- 
 confin. The JVliflillippi below this Lake fioite with a gentle cur- 
 rent, but the breadth oi it is very unccrtajjp, in fome places it 
 being upwards of a mile, in others not mo^ than a quarter. 
 This river has a range of mountains on cacfilide throughout the 
 whole of the way ; which in particuljur parts, approach near to 
 it, in others lie at a greater diftanc^. The land bef.wixt the 
 mountains, and ctn their (ides, is getierally covered with graf* 
 with a few groves of trees interfperfed, near which large droves 
 of deer and elk are frequently feen feeding. 
 
 In many places pyramids of rocks appeared, refembling old 
 ruinous towers; at others amazing precipices; and what is ve- 
 ry remarkable, whilll: thi5 fccne prefented itfelf on one fide, 
 the oppofite fid^ of the fame mountain was covered with the 
 fincfl herbage, which gradually afcended to its fummit. From 
 thence the moll beautiful and extenfive profpe6l that imaginati- 
 on can form opens to your view. Verdant plains, fruitful mea- 
 dows, numerous iflands, and all thefe abounding with avarietyof 
 trees that yield amazing quantities of fruit, without care or cul- 
 tivation; fuch as the nut- tree, the maple which produces fugar, 
 vines loaded with rich grapes, and plum-trees bending under 
 their blooming burdens, but above all, the line river i^owing 
 gently beneath, and reaching as far as the eye can extend, by 
 turns attract your admiration and excite your wonder. 
 
 The Lake is about twent/ miles long, and near fixinbreadth; 
 In fome places it is very deep, and abounds with various kinds 
 of filTi. Great numbers of fowl frequent alfo this Lake and ri- 
 vers adjacent; fuch as ftorks, fvvans, geefe, brants, and ducks: 
 and in the groves are found great plenty of turkeys and par- 
 tridges. On the plains are the largeft buffaloes of any in Ame- 
 rica, Here 1 obfervcd the ruins of a French faftory, wMie Jt 
 
 Jii. 
 
 Vi- 
 
 IS 
 
 'Ml 
 
N. 
 
 is raid Captain St. Pierre rcfidcd, and carried on a very ^reat 
 irade with the Naudowcfliesv bcfor&thc rcdudion of Canada. 
 
 About fixty miles below this Lake is a mountain remarkably 
 fitjwted; for it lhi\da by itCclf exaftly in tlic middle of the Ri- 
 ve'r, and ioolui asjf It had Hidden from the adjacent fliore into 
 the Aream. It caonot be termed an illand, as it rifes immedi- 
 ately from the fiirink of the water to a confiderabic hcij^ht. 
 Coth the Indians arid the French call it the Mountain in tlui Ri- 
 ver. 
 
 One day having landed on the ftore of the MifUflippi, fome 
 miles below Lake I\'pin, whilrt my attendants were preparing 
 jny dinner, I wrflked out to take a view of the adjacent coun- 
 try. I had not proceeded far, before I came to a line, level, 
 open plain, on which I perceived at a little diftance, a partial 
 elevation that had the appearance of an intrenchment. On a 
 nearer infpcftion I had greater realbn td fuppofe that it had 
 really been intended for this many centuries ago. Notwithftand- 
 'ing it was now covered with grafs, I could plainly difcern that 
 it had once been a breaft-work of about four feet'in height, ex- 
 tending the bell f>art of a mile, and fufficiently capacious to co- 
 ver five thoufand men'. Its form was fomewhat circular, and 
 its flanks reached to the River. Though much defaced by time, 
 every angle was diftinguilhable, and appeared as regular, and 
 fafhioned with as much military skill, as if planned by Vauban 
 himfelf. The ditch was not vifible, but I thought on examin- 
 ing more curioufly, that I could perceive there certainly' had 
 been ont. From its fituation alfo, I am convinceij that it muft 
 have been defigned fol- this purpofe. It fronted the country, 
 and the rear was covered by the River ; nor was there any rif- 
 ing ground for a confiderable way that commanded it; a few 
 ftraggling oaks were alone to be fctn near it. Jn many places, 
 fmall trads were worn acrofs it by the feet of the elks and deer, 
 and from the depth of the bed of earth by which it was cover- 
 ed, I was able to draw certain conclufions of its great anti- 
 quity. I examined all the angles and every part with great at- 
 tention, and have often blamed myfelf fince, for not encamping 
 on the fpot, and drawing an exact plan of it. To Aew that 
 this defcrntion is not the offspring of a heated imagination, or 
 the chim. ;il tale of a miftaken traveller, I find on enquiry 
 fmce my reiurn, that Monf. St, Pierre and feveral" traders have, 
 at different times, taken notice of fimilar appeariinces, on which 
 they have formed the fame conjectures, but without examining 
 them fo minutely as I did. How" a work of this kind could ex- 
 ift in a country that has hitherto (according to the general re- 
 ceived opinion) been the feat of war to untutored Indians alone, 
 whofe whole llock of military knowledge has only, till within 
 two centuries, amounted to drawing the bow, and whofe only 
 breaft-work even at prefent is the thicket, I know not. I have 
 given as exaft an account as poffible of this lingular appearance, 
 
 anfl 
 
of" 
 
 .. [ 38 1% 
 
 and lea^e to future explorers of thefe difta^ regions to diTco- 
 CiVet whether it is a produftion of nature or art." 
 
 Perhaps the hints I have here given might lead to amoreper- 
 feft inveftigation of it, and give us very different ideas of the 
 ancient ftate of realms that we at prefent beHevi tb have been 
 from the earlieft period only the habitations of favages. # , 
 
 The Mifllflippi, as far as the entrance of tlie River St. Croix, 
 thirty miles above Lake Pepin, is very full Of iflands,* fome of 
 which are of a confiderable length. On thefe, alfo, grow 
 ■ great numbers of the maple or fugar tree, and around them 
 vines loaded with grapes creeping to their very tops. From 
 the Lake upwards few mountains are to be feen, and thofe but 
 fmall. Near tl^ River St. Croix refide three bands of the 
 Naudcw'effie Indians, called the River Bands. ^ ***' * 
 
 This nation is compofed, at prefent, of eleven bands. They, 
 were originally twelve; but the Alfinipoils fome years ago re- 
 volting, and feparating themfelves from the others, there re- ^ 
 main only at this time eleven. Thofe I met here are termed 
 the Rivel Bands; becaufe they chiefly dwell near the banks of 
 this River: tlje other eight are generally diftlfiguilhed by the 
 title Naudoweffies of the Plains, and inhabitu country that lies 
 more to the weftward. The names of the fofmer are the Ne- 
 hogatawonahs, the Mawtawbauntowahs, and the Shahfweento- 
 wahs, and confift of about four hundred warriors. 
 
 A little before I met with thefe three bands, I fell in with a 
 party of the Mawtawbauntowahs, amounting to forty warriors 
 and their families. With thefe I refided a day or twaf during 
 which lime five or fix of their number, who had been out on 
 an excurflon, returned in great hafte, and acquainted their 
 companions that a large party of the Chipiway warriors, 
 ♦'itniough," as they exprclTed themfelves, " to fwallow them 
 *^' .all up," were clofe at their heels, and on the point of attack- 
 ing their little camp. The chiefs app'ied to me, and defired I 
 would put myfelf at their head, and lead them out to oppofe 
 their enemies. As I was a rtranger, and unwilling to excite the 
 anger of either nation, I knew not how to aft; and never found 
 myfelf in a greater dilemma. Had I refufed to aflift the Naudo- 
 weffies I Ihouid have drawn on myfelf their difpleafure, or had 
 I met the Chip^ways with hoftile intentions, I fhould have made 
 that people my foes, and had 1 been fortunate enough to have 
 cfcaped their arrows at this time, on fome future occafion 
 ihouid probably have experienced the fevcrityof their revenge. 
 In this extremity I chofe the middle courfe, and defired that 
 the Naudoweffies would fuffcr me to meet them, that I might 
 endeavour to 'avert their fury. To this they reluftantly aflent- 
 ed, being perfuaded, froin the inveteracy which had long pre- 
 vailed between them, that my remonftrances would be in vain. 
 
 Taking my Frenchman with me, who could fpeak their lan- 
 guage, I hallened towards the place where the Chipeways were 
 fuppofcd to be. The Naudoweilks during this kept at a dl- 
 
 t ftance 
 
 'ii>e» 
 
' *' [ 39 3 - 
 
 fiance behind. As I approached them with the pipe of peace, 
 a fmall party, of their chiefs, confifting of about eight or ten, 
 came in a friendly manner towards me; with whom, by the 
 means of my interpreter, I held a long converfation; therefiilt 
 of which was, that their rancour being by my perfuafions in fome 
 Djeafure mollified, they agreed to return back without accom- 
 plifliing their favage purpofes. During our difcourfc 1 could 
 perceive, as they lay fcattered about, that the party was very 
 .numerous, and many of them armed with muskets^. 
 
 Having happily fucceeded in my undertaking, I returned with- 
 out delay to theNaudoweflies, and defired they would inftantly 
 remove their camp to fome other part of the country, left their 
 enemies fhould repent of the promife they had given, and put 
 thehr intentions in execution. They accordingly follotved my 
 advice, and immediately prepared to ftrike their tents. Whilft 
 they were doing this, they loaded me with thanks ; and when I 
 had feenthem on board their Canoes I purfued my route. 
 
 To this adventure I was chiefly indebted for the friendly te-, 
 ception I afte.rwards met with from the Naudoweflies of thf 
 Plains, and for the refpeft and honours I receiv^ed during mjr 
 abode among them. And when I arrived many months after at 
 the Chipeway village, near the Ottowaw lakes, I found that my 
 fame bad reached that place before me. The chiefs received 
 me with great cordiality, and the elder part of them thanked 
 mh for the mifchief I had prevented. They informed me, that 
 the war between their nation and the Naudoweffies had conti- 
 nued wiiiQut interruption for more than forty winters. That 
 they had long wifhed to put an end to it, but this was general- 
 ly prevented by the young warriors of either nation, who could 
 not reftrain their ardour when they met. They faid, they 
 iTiould be happy if fome chief of the fame pacific difpofition as 
 myfelf, arid who poflefled an equal degree of refolution and 
 coolnefs, would fettle in the country between the two nations; 
 for by the interference of fuch a pcrfon, an accommodation, 
 which on their parts they fincerely defired, might be brought 
 about. As I did not meet any of t!ie Naudowelfics afterwards,. 
 I had not an opportunity ot forwarding fo good a work. 
 
 About thirty miles below the Falls of St. Anthony, at which I 
 arrived the tenth day after I left Lake Pepin, is a remarkable 
 cave of an amazing depth. The Indians term it Wakon-teebe, 
 that is, the Dwelling of the Great Spirit. The entrance into it 
 is about ten feet wide, the height of it live feet. The arch 
 within is near fifteen, feet high and about thirty feet broad. 
 The bottom of it confifts of fine clear land. About twenty feet 
 from the entrance begins a lake, the water of which is trafljijpa;- 
 rent, and extends to an unfearchable diftance; for the darkucfti 
 of the cave prevents all attempts to acquire a knowle»dge of it. 
 r threw a fmall pebble towards the interior parts of it with my 
 UJbRl^ft ^rength : 1 could hear that it fell into the water, an^: 
 iiofc\irjythftanaing it was of fo fmall a fize, it caufed an afti mi fil- 
 ing 
 
 ■W'' 
 
 ■^ C*.i)l 
 
#i 
 
 fng and horrible noife that reverberated through all thofe glod- 
 my regions, rfoiind m this cave many Indian hieroglyphicks, 
 which appeared very ancient, for time had nearly covered them 
 withmofs, fo that it was with difficulty I could trace them. 
 They were cut in a rude manner upon the infide of the walls, 
 which were compofed of a ftone fo extremely foft that it might 
 cafily be penetrated with a knife : a ilone every where to be 
 found near the Mifliflippi. The cave is only acceffible by af- 
 fcending a natrow, deep palTagc that lies near the brink of the* 
 liver. 
 
 At a little diftance from this dreary cavern h the burying- 
 place of feveral bands of the Naudoweflie Indians: though thef© 
 people have no fixed rcfidence, living In tents, and abiding but 
 a few months on one fpot, yet they always bring the bones of 
 their dead to this plape; which they take the opportunity of do- 
 ing when the chiefs meet to hold their councils, and to fettle 
 9II public affairs for the enfuing fuir.mer. 
 
 Ten miles below the Falls of St. Anthony the River St. Pierre, 
 called by the natives the Waddapawmenefotor, falls into the 
 JVflirullppi from tlie Weil:. It is not mentioned by Father Hen^ 
 nipin, although a large fair river': this omiflion I conclude, 
 muft have proceeded fromafmall ifland that is fituated exaftly 
 at its entrance, by which the fight of it is intercepted. I fhould 
 rot have difcovered this river myCelf, had I not taken a viei^v, 
 when I was fearching for it, from the high lands oppofite, 
 which rife to a great height. 
 
 Nearly over againft this river I was obliged to leav*fe my ca- 
 noe, on account of the ice, and travel by land to theFallsof St* 
 Anthony, where I arrived on the 17th of November. The 
 MifliiUppi from the St. IMerre to this place is rather more ra- 
 pid than 1 had hitherto found it, and without iflands of any con- 
 fideration. 
 
 Before 1 left my canoe I overtook a young prince of the 
 Winnebago Indians, who was going on an embafTy to fome of 
 the bands of the NaudowclCcs. Finding that I intended to 
 take a view of the Falls, he agreed to accompany me, his cu- 
 riofity having been often excited by tlie -accounts he had receiv- 
 ed from fome of his chiefs : he accordingly left his family (for 
 the Indians never travel without their houlTiolds^ at this place, 
 under the care of my Mohawk fervant, and we proceeded to- 
 gether by land, attended pnly by my Frenchman, to this cele- 
 brated place. 
 
 We could diftinftly hear the noife of the water full fifteen 
 miles before we reached the falls j and I was greatly pleafed 
 and furprizcd, v/hen I apjiroached this aftoniihing work of na- 
 ture: but I was not long at liberty to indulgfe thefe emotionsj 
 my actv:iitioii bcini^ culled off by the behaviour of my compa- 
 nion. 
 
 « The prince had no fooner gained the point that overlfK>kS 
 this V, oiuieiuil calca^Ci than' lie bejjan with an audible vofo to 
 
 ad^refs 
 
 .-'^v 
 
 i.*. 
 
addrels the Great Spirit, one of whofe places of refidence h* 
 imagined tiiis to be. He told liim that he had*comG a long 
 way to pay his adorations to him, and now would mal^Hm the 
 beft offerings in his power* He accordingly rirft threw his pipe 
 into the dream; then the roll that contained his tobacco j af- 
 ter thefe, the bracelets he wore on hi^ arms and Wrifls ; -next 
 an ornament that encircled his neck, compofed of jbeads and 
 wires; and at laft the ear-rings from his ears; in Ihort, he pre- 
 fented to his god every part of his drefs that was valuable i , 
 during this he frequently fmote his breaft with great violence, 
 threw his arms about, and appeared' to be much agitated. 
 
 All this while he continued his adorations and at length con- 
 cluded them with fervent petitions that the Great Spirit would 
 conrtantly afford us his prd||ftion on our travels, giving us sL 
 bright fun, a blue sky^ and clear untroubled waters : nor would 
 he leave the place till we had fmoaked together with my, pipQ 
 in honour of the Great Spirit. -^B*k ..^^'!f*%a;s}- 
 
 I was greatlyfcrprized at beholding an inftance of l^uch ele- 
 vated devotion in fo young an Indian, and inllead of ridiculing; 
 the ceremonies attending it, as I obferved my catholic ferv| 
 tacitly did, I looked on the prince with a greatel: degree ofe.^ 
 fpeft for thefe fincere proofs he gave of his piety; and I dot 
 not t)ut that his offerings and prayers were as acceptable to 
 the univerfal Parent of mankind, as if they had be^ made with 
 greater pomp, or in a confecrated place. • 
 
 Indeed, the whole condudl of tlis yoinig prince at onCQ 
 amazed and charmed me. During the few days we were toge- 
 ther his attention fccmcd totally to be employed in yielding me 
 «^ery affiftance in his power ; and even in fo iliort a time ho 
 gave me innumerable proofs of the moft generous and dilinterefted 
 friendlhip ; fo that on our return I parted from him with greit 
 reludance. Whilfl: I beheld the artlefs, yet engaging manne^ 
 of this unpoliflied favagc, I could not help drawing a compaf^ 
 fon between hiiti and fomc of the mure refined inhabitants oi 
 civilized countries, not much, I own, in favour of the latter^ 
 
 The Falls of St. Anthony received their name ^iom Fathcf 
 Louis Hennipin, a Frenclf miflionary, who travelled into thefe 
 parts '^bout the year 1680, and was the firft European ever feen 
 by the natives. This amazing body of waters, which are above 
 250 yards over, form amort plcafinjg cataradt; they fall perpen- 
 dicularly about thirty feet, and the rapids below, in the (pace 
 of 300 yards more, render the defcent conliderably greater ;„fo 
 that when viewed at a diftance they appear to be much high* 
 er than they really are. The above-mentioned traveller ht^t 
 laid tli€in down at above fixty feet; but he has made a greater 
 «rror in calculating the height of the lalls of Niagara; which 
 heafferti^to be 606 feet; whereas from latter obfervatiohs ac- 
 « c^rately made, it is well known th&t it docs not exceed i4oteec. 
 ' Bfctjhegood father 1 fear too b.ften had no oth6f Jt^uiidatipii 
 liwlla accounts tlian report, or, tit 1m;%^|. iligfit infpeftion- 
 
 4=- -!i,«" W .,■ ^ 
 
 i tV'",' 
 
 t a 
 
 «6j 1 
 
 
I 
 
 illfnini^ 
 
 In the middle of the Falls flands a finall ifland, about forty 
 feet b^oad and fomewhat longer, on which grow a few cragged 
 hemlocic and fpruce trees ; -and about half way between this 
 ifland and the eaftern iJhore is a rock, lying at the very edge of 
 the Fall, in an oblique pofition, that appeared to be about five 
 or fix feet broad, and thirty or forty long. Thefe Falls vary 
 much from all the others I have feen, as you may approach 
 clofe to them without findmg the leaft obftrufliion from any in- 
 tervening hill or precipice. 
 The country around them is extremely beautiful. It is. not 
 ■ an uninterrupted plain where the eye finds no relief, but com- 
 pofed of many gentle afcents, which in the fummer are covered 
 p, with the fineft verdure, and interfperfed with little groves, that 
 
 . give a pleafing variety to the profpeft. On the whole, when 
 '" the Falls are included, which may be feen at the dillancc of four 
 : miles, a more pleafing and pifturefque view cannot, I believe, 
 
 Y^ be found throughout the univerfe. I coujd hiive wiihed that I 
 
 V had happened to enjoy this glorious fight at € more feafonable 
 -ItBrie of the year, whil'lT: the trees and hillocks were clad in na- 
 ■^ fure's gayeft livery, as this mull have greatly added to the plea- 
 ;. Iftre I recefved ; however, even then it exceeded my warmed 
 expectations.' I have endeavoured to give the reader as jufl: an 
 idea of this enchanting fpot as polfible,* but all defcription, 
 whether of the pencil or the pen, muft fall infinitely Ihort of 
 the original. ^^ 
 
 At a little diftance bek)w the Falls ftands a fmall ifland, of 
 about an acre and an half, on which grow a great number of 
 oak trees, every branch of which, able to fupport the weigjhti 
 was full of eagles nefts. The reafon that this kind of birds re- 
 fort in fuch numbers to this fpot, is that they are here fecure 
 from the attacks either of man or heart, their retreat being 
 7 .guarded by the rapids, which the Indians never attempt to pafs. 
 Another reafon is, that they find a conftant fupply of food for 
 tbcmfelves and their young, from the animals and fiih which 
 are dailied to pieces by the falls, and driven on the adjacent 
 ihore. , . 
 
 ,:^: Having fatisfied my curiofity, as far as the eye of man can be 
 fttlified, I proceeded on, ftlU accompanied by my young friend, 
 till I had reached the River St. Francis, near fixty miles above 
 the Falls. To this river Father Hennipin gave the name of St. 
 Francis, and this was the extent of his travels, as well as mine, 
 towards the north-weft. As the feafon was fo advanced, 
 and the weather extremely cold, I was not able to make fo 
 '■ many obfervations on thefe parts ag I otherwife ihould have 
 done. * '^ • ""^ - ■■ •^'• 
 
 It might however, perhaps, be neceflary to obferve, that in 
 
 the little tour I made about the Falls, after travelling fourteen 
 
 • miles, by the fide of the Mifliffippi, I came to a nvei nearly 
 
 -' twenty yards wide, which ran from the north-eaft, calkd JUun^ 
 
 iliver. And on the aoth of Novenbei came to another lerdicd 
 
[ 43 1 
 
 Ooofe-River, about twelve yards wide. On the 2 ifl I arrived at 
 the St. Francis, which is about thirty yards wide. Here the^Mifli- 
 flippi itfelf grows narrow, being "not more than ninety yards 
 over; and appears to be chiefly compoM of fmall branch(is^ 
 The ice prevented me from noticing the depth of any of thefe 
 three rivers. • " .^ • .s.: 
 
 The country in fome places is hilly, but without large moun- 
 tains; and the land is tolerably good. I obfervcd here many 
 deer and carriboos, fome elk, with abundance of beavers, ot- 
 ters, and other furs. A little above this, to the north-eafl:, 
 are a number oT fmall lakes called the Thoufand Lakes ; the parts- 
 about which, though but little frequented, are the beft within 
 many miles for hunting, as the hunter never fails of returning 
 loaded beyond his expcftations. 
 
 The Milliflippi has never been explored higher up than the 
 River St. Francis, and only by Father Hennipin and myfeif thus 
 far. So that we are obliged folely to the Indians, for all the 
 intelligence we arc able to give relative to the more northern 
 parts. As this River is not navigable from the fea for veflTels 
 of any confiderable burthen, niuch^|iigher up than the Forks of 
 the Ohio, and even that is accomplilhed with great difficulty, 
 owing to the rapidity of the current, and the windings of the 
 river, thofe fettlements that may be made on the interior branches 
 of it, muft be indifputably fecure from the attacks of any ma- 
 ritime power. But at the fame time the fettlers will have the advan- 
 tage of being able to convey their produce to thefea-ports with 
 great facility, the current of the river from its fourpe to its en- 
 trance into the Gulph of Mexico, being extremely favourable 
 for doing this in fmall craft. This might alfo in time be facili- 
 cated by canals or ihorter cuts; and a communication -opened 
 by water with New York, Canada, &c. by way of ther lakes. 
 Xhe Forks of the Ohio are about nine hundred miles from the 
 mouth of the Miiliflippi, following the courfe of the river; 
 and the MeiTorie two hundred miles above thefe. From the 
 latter it is about twenty miles to the Illinois River, and froui 
 that to the Ouifconfin, which I have given an account pf about 
 eight hundred more. 
 
 On the 25th I returned to my canoe, which I had left at the 
 mouth of the River St. Pierre; and here I parted with regret 
 from my young friend the prince of the Winncbagoes. This 
 river being clear of ice by reafon of its fouthern fituation, I 
 found nothing to obitruft my paflTage. On the 28th, being ad- 
 vanced about forty miles, I arrived at a fmall branch that fell 
 into it from the north; to which, as it had no name that I could 
 diftinguifh it by, I gave my own. About forty miles higher up 
 I came to the Forks of Verd and Red Marble Rivers, which 
 Join at fome little diftance before they enter the 3t. Pierre. 
 
 The River St. Pierre, at its junction with the Mifllffippi, ia 
 jabout a hundred yards broad, and continues that breadth near^ 
 %»fl tbe way 1 failed upon it. It has a great depth of water. 
 
 
 i^*; 
 
 Idp ■ vifr 
 

 r ¥ ■> 
 
 [ H 1 
 
 $nd in fomc places runs very briskly. About fifty miles from Its 
 mduth are fomc rapids, an<i much higher up there are many 
 Others, I 
 
 * 1 proceeded up this river about two hundred miles o the 
 country of the Naudoweflies of the Plains, which lies a little 
 above the ji<orks formed by the Vcrd «nd Red Marble Rivers, 
 jufl: mentioned, where a branch from the fouth nearly joins the 
 iVIefforie River, By the accounts I received from the Indians, I 
 have reafon to believe that the River St. Pierre and the Meflb- 
 yie, thougti they enter the Mtfliilippi twelve hundred miles from 
 each other, take their rife in the fame neighbourhood; and this 
 ijjrithhi the fpace of a mile. 
 
 ''^^'he River St. Pierre's northern branch rifes from a number 
 of lakes near the ihining mountains; and itisfromfome^f thefc, 
 atfo, that a capital branch of the River Uourbon, which runs 
 into Hudfon s Bay, has its fources. ^ « 
 
 Frpm the intelligence 1 gained from the Naudoweflie Indians, 
 among whom I arrived the 7th of December, and whofe lan- 
 guage I perte6hly acquired during a refidcnce of five months ; 
 and alfo from the accounts l^afterwards obtained from the Afli- 
 nipoils, who fpeak the i'ame tongue, being a revolted band of 
 the Naudowclfics ; and from the Killiftlnocs, neighbours of the 
 Afllnipoils, who fpeak the Chipeway language, and inhabit the 
 heads of the River Bourbon ; I fay from tnefe nations, toge- 
 ther with my own obfervatious, I have learned that the four 
 moft capital rivers on the Continent of North America, viz. the 
 St. Lawrence, the Mifllflippi, the river Bourbon, and the Ore- 
 gon of the river of the Welt (a,s I hinted in my Intjoduftion) 
 j^ave their fources in the fame neighbourhood. The waters of 
 the three former are within thirty miles of each other j the lat- 
 ter, however, is rather farther weft. "'" * ' , V. 
 
 This fhews that thefe parts are the higheft lands in North 
 America; and it is an inftancc not to be paralleled on the other 
 three quarters of the globe, that four rivers of fuch magnitude 
 ihould take their rife together, .and each, after running fcparate 
 courfcs, difcharge their waters into different oceans at the di- 
 fl:ance of two thoufand miles from their fources. For in their 
 padage from thi$ fpot to the bay of St. Lawrence, caft, to the 
 bay of Mexico, Ibuth, to Hudfon's Bay, north, and to the bay 
 at the Straights of Annian, well:, each of thefe' iraverfe up- 
 wards of two thoufand miles. i -viV' 
 
 1 iTiall here give my Readers fuch rcficftions as occurred to 
 ine, when I had received this intercrting information, and had 
 by numberlefs enquiries, afcertained the truth of it; that is, as 
 far as it was pofTiblc to arrive at a certainty without a perfonaj 
 tnvclligation, 
 
 It is well known that the Colonics, particularly thofe of New^ 
 Englan4' and Canada, are greatly afiefted, about the time their 
 nvinter fets in, by a north-weft wind, which continues for CSV^' 
 lal WQttths, andicnckrs the cold much more intcnfe there tMa 
 
 "Ti l -"■^-* — -■^■-- -^■»-^^iMHir^'"«**''fr '■ " ■ "' ■ - ' "' * 
 
it is in the interior parts of America. This I can, from my 
 own knowledge, allert, as I found the winter, that I paflfed to 
 the weft\vard of the Mifliflippi, far from fcvcre,* and the north- 
 well: wind blowmg on thofc countries conliderably more tempe- 
 rate than I have often experienced it to be nearer the coaft. 
 And that this did not arife from an uncertainty of the feafons, 
 but was annually the cafe, I conclude, both from the fniall 
 quantity of fnow tiiat then fell, and a total difufcof fnowflioui; 
 by tLiefe Indians, without which none of the more callern nati- V 
 ens can poflibly travel during the winter. 
 
 As natural ifls obferve, that air refembles water in many rc- 
 fpcL^s, parPJcularly by often flowing in a compafl: body; and • 
 that 'this is generally remarked to be with the current of largo 
 llrcams, and feldom acrofs them, may not the winds that let 
 violently into the Hay of Mexico about the latter end of tho 
 ycai^ taJitc their courfe over the continent in the fame direftiou 
 as the Mifllilippi does; till meeting with the north winds (thai 
 from a limilar caufe blow up the Bourbon from Hudfon's Bay) 
 they are forced acrofs the great lakes, down the current of the 
 waters of the St. Lawrence, and united, commit thofe'ravages, 
 and occafion thofe fevcre winters, experienced in the before- 
 mentioned countries? During their progrefs over the lakes the/ 
 become expanded, and confcquently afFeft a greater traftirf land 
 ^han they othervvife would do. 
 
 :*•' According to my fcanty knowledge- of natural philofophy, 
 this does not appear improbable. Whether it is agreeable to 
 the law^s crtablilTied by naturalifts to account for the operations 
 ot that element, I know not. However, the defer iption here 
 given of the fituation of thcfc vaifl bodies of water, and their 
 near approach to each other, with my own undlgeilcd fuppofi- 
 tions of their eiYcd: on the winds, may prove perhaps, in ablck- 
 hands, the means of leading to many ufeful difcoverlcs. 
 
 On the 7th of December, 1 arrived (as I faid before) at the 
 iitmoft extent of my travels towards the wcil ; where I met 
 with a large party of the Naudoweflie Indians, among whom T 
 relided fevcn months. Thefe conrtitutcd a part of the eight 
 bands of the Naudoweflics of the Plains; and are termed the 
 Wawpeentowahs, the Tintons, the Afrahcootans, the Maw- 
 haws, and the Schians. The Other three bands, whole names 
 are the Schianefe, the Chongoulceton, and the Waddapawjc<yr^, 
 dwell higher up, to the well of the River St. Pierre, on plains 
 that, according to their account, are unbounded; and proba- 
 bly terminate on the coall of the Pacilic Ocean. The Naudo- 
 weflie nation, when united, confilts of more than two thoufajid- 
 warriors. 'I'hc Alfmipoils, wlvo revolted from* them, amount 
 » to about three hundred,' and leagued with the Killiilinoes, live 
 «^^Jn a continual Ihite of enmity with the other eleven bands. 
 
 As I iJtoceedcd up the River St. Pierre, and had nearly 
 
 ppached the place where thefe people w»j;e encamped, I obferv- 
 
 rp or thrcQcaiiocs coming down the Iheam; but no fooner 
 
 had 
 
n 
 
 m 
 
 [ 46 ] . 
 
 bad the Indians that were on board them difcovered us, fhaij 
 they rowed t6\vard the land, and leaping alhore with precipita- 
 tion, left their canoes to Hoat as the current drove them. In 
 a few minutes I perceived ibme others; who, as foorf as they 
 came in light, tbllowed, with equal Ipecd, the examj^le of their 
 «puntrymen. 
 
 I now thought it necefTary to proceed with* caution ; and there- 
 fore kept on .the nde of the river oppofite to that on which the 
 Indians had landed. However, I Hill continued my courfe, fa- 
 tiftiicd that the pipe of peace, which was rixed at the head of 
 my canoe, and the EnglilTx colours that were flying at the ftern, 
 would prove my fecurity. After rowing about half a mile far- 
 ther, in tUHiing a point, I difcovered a great number of tents, 
 and mdre than a thoufand Indians, at a little diltance from the 
 ihorc. Being now nearly oppofite to them, 1 ordered my inen 
 to pull direftly over, as 1 was willing to convince the Indians 
 by fuch a ll:ep, that I placed ibme conficience in them. 
 
 As foon as I had reached the land, two of the chiefs prefent- 
 cd their hands to me, and led me, amidl^ the aftoniilied multi- 
 tude, who had moll of them never feen a white man before, to 
 a ten|. Into this we entered, and according to the cuftom that 
 oniverfally prevails among every Indian nation, began to fmoke 
 the ptee of peace. We had not fat long before the crowd be- 
 came To great, both around, and upon the tent, that we were 
 in dai^er of being cruflied by its fall. On this we returned to 
 tlic plain, where, having gratified the curiofity of the common 
 people, their wonder abated, and ever alter they treated rae* 
 with great relpeft. 
 
 From t,he chiefs I met with the mofl; friendly and hofpitable 
 leception; which induced me, as the feafonwas fo far advanced, 
 fo take up my refidence among them during the winter. To 
 vender my ftay as comfortable as pollible, I lirft endeavoured to 
 learn their language. This I foon did, fo as to make myfelf 
 pcrtet^ly intelligible, having before acquired fome flight know- 
 ledge of the language of thofe Indians that live on the back of 
 the fettlements; and in confequence met with every accommo- 
 dation their manner of living would afFord. Nor did I want 
 lor fuch amufemcnts as tended to make fo long a period pafs 
 tJieerfulIy away. I frequently hunted with them; and at other 
 times beheld with pkafurc their recreations and paftimes, which 
 I Ihall defcribe hereafter. 
 
 Sometimes I fat with the chiefs, and whilfl we fmoked the 
 friendly pipe, entertained them, in return for the accounts they 
 gave me of their wars and excurfions, with a narrative of my 
 own adventures, and a defcription of all the battles fought be- 
 tween tiie Engliih and the French in America, in many of which 
 I had, a perfonal fhare. They always paid great attention t0> 
 my details, and asked mai^ pertinent queflions relair^e to t 
 European methods of making war. 
 
 I held thefe converfations witli them in a great jneafurg, t 
 
 h 
 
' accommo- 
 
 t 47 1 
 
 'ftocma from them fome information relative to the chief point 
 J4i:id conrtantly in view, that of gaining a knowledge of the 
 fituatioifand produce, both of their own cotmtry, and thofethat 
 lay to the welhvardof them. Nor was I difappointed in myde- 
 figns; fof I procured from them much ufeful intelligence. They 
 llkewife dicw for m'c plans of all the countries with which they 
 were acquainted; hut as I entertained no great Opinion of their 
 geographical knowledge, I placed not much dependence on them, 
 and therefore think it unn€ce(iary to give them to the public. 
 They draw with a piece of burnt coal, taken froih the hearth, 
 upon the infidc bark of the birch tree; whicK is as fmooth as 
 paper, and anfwcrs the fame purpofes, notwithftanding it is of 
 a yellow caft. Their sketches are made in a rude manner, but 
 they feem to give us as juft an idea of a country, although the 
 plan is not fo exaft, as more experienced draughtfraen could do. 
 
 I left the habitations of thefe hofpitable Indians the latter end 
 of April 1767; but did not part from them for feveral days, a? 
 I was accompanied on my journey by near three hundred of 
 ihem, among whom were many chiefs, to the mouth of the Ri- 
 ver St. Pierre. At this feafon, thefe bands anniiafllygo to^the 
 Great Cave, before mentioned, to hold a grand council wifijjfeail 
 the other bands; wherein they fettle their operations for 'titfe 
 tnfuing year. At the fame time they carry with thei^their dead 
 for interment, bound up in buffaloes skins. Befides thofe that 
 accompanied me, others were gone before, and the reft were 
 to follow. 
 
 Never did I travel with fo cheerful and h8f)py a company. 
 But their mirth met with a fudden and temporary allay from a 
 violent llorm that overtook fas one day on our palTage, We 
 had juft landed, and were preparing to fet up our tents for the 
 night, when a heavy cloud overfpread the heavens, andthemoft 
 dreadful thunder, lightning, and rain ifliied from it, that ever 
 1 beheld. 
 
 The Indians were greatly terrified, and ran to fuch ihelter 
 as they could find; for only a few tents were as yet erected. 
 Apprcheniive of the danger that might enfue from (landing near 
 any thing which could ferve for a condudor, as the cloud ap- 
 peared to contain fuch an uncommon quantity of eleftrical fluid, t 
 took my ftand as far as poflible from any covering ; chufmg rather 
 to be expofcd to the peltingsof theftorm, than to receive a fatal 
 ftroke. At this the Indians were greitly furprized, and drew 
 conclufions from it not unfavouralile to the opinion they alrea- 
 dy entertained of my refolutjon. \ et I acknowledge that I was 
 never more affefted ip jny life; for nothing fcarcely could ex- 
 ceed the terrific fccne. . '(fid peals of thunder were fo loud that 
 they fliook the earth; ancl thj lightning flalhed along the ground 
 in ftreams €kf fulphur ; fo that the Indian chiefs themfelves, al- 
 though their courage in war is ufually invincible, could not help 
 trembling at the horrid combuftion. As fqon as the ftorm was 
 they fioclicd around me, and inforaied me, that it was a 
 
 proof 
 
 '.» 
 
t^^ 
 
 r 48 1 \ ^ 
 
 proof of the anger rtf the evil fpirits, whom they wetc appttt- 
 lienfivc that they had hlf^hly otFendcd. 
 
 When wc arrived at the Great Cave, and the Indians had de- 
 |K>fited the remains of their dcceal'ed friends in the burial-place 
 that ftands adjacent to it, they ht-'ld their j-reat council, into 
 tvhich I was admitted, and at the fame time had the honour to 
 be inllalled or adopted a chief of their hands. On this occa- 
 fion 1 made the following I'pecch, which I inlert to give my 
 readers a fpecimcn of the langiiago%and manner in which it is 
 necelFary to dddrefs the Indians, fo as toen^a^e their attention, 
 and to render the fpeaker's cxpreflions conlonant to Xheir ideas. 
 it was delivered on the tirll day of May 1 767. 
 
 " My brothers, chiefs of the numerous and powerful Nau- 
 *• doweflles! I rejoice that through my long abode with you, I 
 •* can now fpeak to you (though after an Imperfeft manner) in 
 ** your own tongue, like one of your own children. I rejoice 
 •' alfo that 1 have had an opportunity fo frequently. to inform 
 ** you of the glory and power of the Great King that reigns 
 *•* over the E.iglilTi and other nations; who is dcfcendcd from 
 ** a very ancient race of I'overcigns, as old as the earth andwa- 
 ** ters; whofe feet Hand on two great illands, larger than any 
 " you have ever feen, amidll the greatelt waters in the world; 
 " whofe -ilead reaches to the fun, and whofe arms encircle the 
 ** whole earth. The number of whofe warriors are equal to the 
 " trees in the vallies, the Ilalks of rice in yonder marlTies, or 
 ** the blades of grafs on your great plains. Who has hundreds 
 " of canoes of Ws own, offnch amazing bignefs, that all the wa- 
 ** tcrs in your country would not futlice for one of than to 
 ** fwim in ; each of which have guns, not fmall like mine, which 
 " you fee before you, but of fuch magnitude, that an hundred 
 •^' of your ftoutell young men would with dilliculty be able to 
 *' carry one. And thefe are equally furprizing in their opera- 
 •' tion againft the great Kings enemies when engaged in battle; 
 *' the terror they carry with them your language wants words 
 ** to exprefs. You may remember the other day when wc were 
 ■ " encamping, at Wadawpawmenefotcr, the black clouds, the 
 *' wind, the tire, the ftupendous noife, the horrible cracks, . 
 " and the trembling of the earth, which then alarmed you, an^ 
 " gave you reafon to thinigyour gods were angry with you,' .nocj^ 
 unlike thefe are the warlike implements of the KngliiW when 
 they are righting thetbattles of their great King. ^. 
 ** Several of the chiefs of your bands have often told me, in 
 times pad, when I dwelt with you in your tents, that they 
 much wilhed to be counted among the chi^4t<^ an i allies of 
 the great King my mafter. You ujaiy remem^Jjmv often you 
 have defired me, when 1 return again to 
 acquaint the great King of yourgf>oddifpolitk 
 and his fubjeds, and that you 'wifted for 
 Knglilli to come among you. 
 •' i^eing nc/vv about ;© uKe in/ io^e of yon, and to return 
 
 "■^^ -^*.«;-<,v 'r ' ** !flf 
 
 cc 
 
 <c 
 tl 
 
 iountr^,* to 
 ^towards him 
 lers from the 
 
md to retuyn 
 
 C 49 ] .. ^ 
 
 « to my own country, a long way towards the rifing fun, I 
 »' again ask you to tell inc wlicthur you continue of the fatafli^ 
 ** mind as When I (poke to you in council laft winter; andas 
 *' there are now fevcral of your chiefs here, who came frotR' 
 *' the great plains towards the fetting of the fun, whom Ihuve 
 ** never fpoke with in council before, 1 ask you to let me know 
 *' if you are all willing to acknowledge yourfelves the children*" 
 «' of iny great mailer the King of the Eugiilh ajid other nati- 
 *' ons, as I fhall take the firft opportunity to acquaiixt him of 
 *' your defires and good intentions. 
 
 " I charge you not to give heed to bad. reports; for there 
 *' are wicked birds flying about among the neighbouring nati- 
 *' ons, who may whifper evil things in your ears againft the 
 *' Englifli> contrary to what J have told you; you mull: not be- 
 ** lieve th^m, for I have told you the truth. 
 
 " And as for the chiefs that are about to go to Michillimack- 
 " inac, 1 fliall take care to make for them and their fuite, a 
 *' ilraight road, fmooth waters, and a clear sky ; that they may 
 *' go there, and fmoke the pipe of Peace, and reil: fecure on a 
 " beaver blanket under the lliadc of the great tree of Peace. 
 *M''arewell!" * 
 
 To this fpeech I received the following anfwcr, from the 
 mouth of the principal chief: 
 
 " Good brother ! 1 am now about to fpeak to you with the 
 " mouths of thefe my bi others, ciiiefs of the eight bands of 
 " the powerful nation of the Naudoweflies. We believe and . 
 " are well fatisried in the truth of every thing you have told 
 " us about your great nation, and the Great King our greateft 
 *' father; ior whom we fpread this beaver blanket, that his 
 •' fatheily protection may ever relleafy and fafe amongll us his 
 *' children: your colours and your arms agree with the accounts 
 " you have given us about your great nation. We delire that 
 " when you return, you Will acquaint the Great King how 
 " much the Naudoweilics wilh to be counted among his good 
 ** children. 
 
 ** You may believe us when we tell you that we will not open 
 *' our ears to any who may dare to ipeak evil of ouj: Great Fa- 
 " ther the King of the Englilh and other .nations. ^'%4 
 " We thank you for what you have done for us in inaking 
 peace between the Naudowellies and the Chiptiways, and hope 
 when you raurn to us again, that you will complete this 
 good work; and quite difpelling the clouds that intervene^ 
 open the blue sky of peace, and caufe the bloody hatchet tp 
 be deep buried under the roots of the great tree of peace, • 
 " We wiili you to remember to reprefent to our Great Fa* 
 tlxer, how much we delire that traders may be fent to abide 
 ambng us, with fuch things as we need, that the hearts of 
 our young men, our wives, and children may be made glad. 
 And may peace fubfill between us, fo long as the fun. ^^ 
 
 G *' jJioOn> 
 
 ii 
 
 
■f 
 
 w 
 
 # '** moon, the eaitli, and the waters Ihall ^endure. Farc- 
 ■«* Weill" 
 
 ^^^(1 thoiif^fit it ncccfTary to caution the In4ians againrt giving 
 fed to any bad reports that may reach them from the neigh- 
 Jouring nations to tlic difadvantage of the KngUlli, as I had 
 heard, at different places tj-iroiigh which I palled, that emif- 
 farics were Hill employed by the French to detach thofe who 
 were friendly to the En:;h"l7i from their intcrcfl:. ■ And 1 faw, 
 inyfelf, feveral belts of AVainpinn that had been delivered for 
 this piirpofe to fome of the tribes 1 was among. On the de- 
 livery of each of thefe a Talk. was held, wherein the Indians 
 were told that the Eiglilli, who were but a petty people, had 
 llolen that country from their Great Father the king of France 
 whill!; he was alleep ; but that he would foon awake, and take 
 them again under his proteftion. Thefe 1 found were fent 
 from Canada by perfons who appeared to be well afFedled to- 
 wards the government under which they lived. 
 
 Whilll 1 tarried at the mouth of the River St. Pierre with 
 thefe friendly Indians, I endeavoured to gain intelligence whe- 
 ther any goods had been fent towards the Falls of St. Anthony 
 for my ufe, agreeable to the promife I had received from the 
 governor \v\.{in I left JVlichillimackinac. But tinding from fome 
 Indians, who palfcd by in their return from thofe parts, that 
 this agreement had not been fullilled, I was obliged to give up 
 all tlioughts of proceeding farther to the north-well by this route, 
 according to my original plan. I therefore returned to La Prai- 
 rie le Chien, where J procured as' many goods from the traders 
 I left there the precceding year as they could fpare. 
 
 As thefe however were not fufKcient to enable me to renew my 
 firll dcfign, 1 determined to endeavour to makemy wayacrofsthe 
 country of the Chipeways to Lake Superior; in hopes of meeting 
 attheGrand'Portage on the north Mc of it, the traders that annu- 
 ally go from Michillimackinac to the north-well ; of whom 1 doubt- 
 ed not but that I lliould be able to procure goods enough to an- 
 fwer my purpofe, and alfo to penetrate through thofe more 
 jiorthern parts to the Straights of Annian. 
 
 And I the mure readily returned to La Prairie le Chien, as I 
 could by that means the better fuUil the engagement I had made 
 to the party of Naudoweflies mentioned at the conclufion of my 
 fpeech. • 
 
 During my abode with this people, wilTiing to feciire them 
 entirely in the intcrefl: of the Englifli, I had adviled fpmc of 
 the chiefs to go to Michillimackinac, where they would have 
 an opportunity of trading, and of hearing the accounts that I 
 had entertained them with of" my countrymen, confirmed. At 
 the fame time I had furnilLed them with a recommendation to 
 the governor, and given them every diiedlloji neceifary i6t their 
 voyage. 
 
 chiefs, anil I 
 cnfuing fura-j 
 
 In confcquence of this, one of the principal 
 twenty-live of aii inferior rank, ugrccd to go the 
 
 i: 
 
* 9 
 
 with c 
 mouth 
 
 This they took an opportunity of doinp;, when they came 
 
 ' re(l of their hand to 
 of the River St. Pierre. 
 
 attend the f;r:ind 
 BcinK ohiified, 
 
 council at tho" 
 on account of 
 
 the difappointment I had jurt heen inibrmcd of, to return fo far 
 down tlie Miflifllppi, I could from thence the more ealily fet 
 llicm on their journey. 
 
 As the intermediate f)art» of this river are much frequented 
 
 by the Chipeways, with whom tlie Naudoweflies are continually 
 at war, they thought it more prudent, being hut a Imall party, 
 to take the advantage of the night, than to travel with me by 
 day; accordingly no fooner was the grand council broke up, 
 than I took a friendly leave of thefe people, from whom 1 had 
 received innumerable civilities, and purfued once more .my 
 voyage. 
 
 I reached the caftern fide of Lake Pepin the fame night; 
 where I went alTiore and encamped as ufual. The next morn- 
 ing, when I had proceeded fome miles farther, 1 perceived at 
 a dii^ance before me a fmoke, which denoted that fome Indians 
 were near; and in a lliort time difcovered ten or twelve tents 
 rot far from the bank of the river. As I was apprehenfivethat 
 this was a party of the Rovers I had before met with, I knew 
 not what courfe to purfue. My attendants perfuadcd me to en- 
 deavour to pafs by them on the oppofite fide of the river; but 
 as I had hitherto found that the befl: way to enfur^ a friendly re- 
 ception from the Indians, is to meet them boldly, and without 
 iliewing any tokens of fear, 1 would by no means content to 
 their propofal. Inftead of this I crolfed diredly over, and 
 landed in the midll of them, for by this time the greatcft part 
 of them were (landing on the iTiore. 
 
 The lirrt I accolled were Chipeways inhabiting near the Ot- 
 towaw Lakes; who received me with great cordiality, and iTiook 
 me by the hand in token of friendlliip. At fome little dillance 
 behind thefe Hood a chief remarkably tall- and well made, but 
 of fo ftern an afpeft, that the moH undaunted perfon could not 
 behold him without feeling fome degree of terror. He teemed 
 to have paffcd the meridian of life, and by the mode in which 
 he was painted and tatowed, I difcovered that he was of high 
 
 Kiank. However, I approfiched him in a courteous nwnner, 
 and expected to have met with the fame reception I had done 
 from the others: but to my great furprize, he with-held his 
 hand, and looking fiercely at me, faid in the Chipdway tongue, 
 ^ Cawin nifhifliin faganolTi," that is, *' The Englilh are no 
 •" good." As he had his tomahawk in his hand, 1 expefted that 
 this laconick fentence would have been tollowed by a blow; to 
 prevent which, I drew a pillol from my belt, and, holding [tin 
 a carelefs pofition, pafled clofe by him, to let him fee 1 was 
 not afraid of him. 
 I learned foon after from the other Indians, that this wa^a 
 
 |;!rf}ief, called by the French the .Grand Sautor or the Great Chi- 
 " ray Gliief, for they denominate the Chipeways Sautors. They 
 
 liKtwife 
 
 ^1 
 
 ^ 7i 
 
 
:f^ 
 
 ..#^ 
 
 Hkewife told me that he had been always a Heady friend to that 
 people, and when they delivered up Michillimackinac to the 
 Englifh on their evacuation of Canada, the Grand Sautor had 
 r-jfworn that he would ever remain the avowed enemy of its new 
 ^jofleflbrs, as the. territories on which the fort is built belong- 
 ed to him. 
 
 Finding him thus difpofpd, I took care to be conftantly upon 
 my guard wliiltl I (laid j but that hemightnotfuppoljel was dri- 
 ven away by his frowns, I took up my abode there for the night., 
 I pitched my tciii at fomc dilhince from the Indians, and had 
 no fooner laid myfelf down to reft, than I was awakened by my 
 French lervant. Having been alarmed by the found of ^Indian 
 mufic, he had run to the outfide of the tent, where he beheld a 
 party of the young lavages dancing towards us in an extraordi- 
 nary manner, each carrying in his hand a torch fixed on the top 
 of a long pole. But J iTiall deler iCnf further account of this un- 
 common entertainment, which at once furprized and alarmed 
 me till I treat of the Indian dances. 
 
 The next morning I continued my voyage, and before night 
 reached La Prarie le Chien; at which place the party of Nau- 
 doweflies foon overtook me. I^ot long after the Grand Sautor 
 alfo arrived, and before the Naudoweilics left that place to con- 
 tinue their journey to JMichillimackinac, he found means, in 
 •conjunftion with fome French traders from Louiliana, to draw 
 from me about ten of the Naudoweflie chiefs, whom he pre- 
 vailed upon to go towards thofe parts. 
 
 The remainder proceeded, according to iffy direftions, to the 
 Engliih fort; from whence 1 afterwards heard that they return- 
 ed to their own country without any unfortunate accident be- 
 falling them, and greatly pleated with the reception they had 
 met with. Whilll not more than half of thofe who went to the 
 fouthward, through the difference of that fouthern climate 
 from their own, lived to reach their abode. And fince 1 came 
 to England I have been informed, that the Grand Sautor having 
 rendered himfelf more and more difgultful to the Englilli, by 
 his inveterate enmity towards them, was at length Ilabbed in 
 his tent, as he encamped near Michillimackinac, by a trader to 
 whom I had related the foregoing ftory. 
 
 1 ihould have remarked, that whatever Indians happen to 
 meet at La Prairie le Chien the great mart to which all who 
 inhabit the adjacent countries refbrt, though the nations r,o 
 which they belong are at war with each other, yet they are 
 ^obliged to reftrain their enmity, and to forbear ail hollile afts 
 during their Hay there. This regulation has been long efta- 
 blillied among them for their mutual convenience, as without it 
 no trade couM be carried on. The lame rule is obferved alio 
 atthj Red Mountain (afterwards defcribed) from whence they 
 get the itone of which they make their pipes : thefe being in- 
 flifpenfable to the accommodation of every neighbouring tribe, 
 a fimilar relhidion becomes needful, and is of public utility. 
 
 M 
 
r 53 ]* 
 
 The River St. Pierre, which runs through the territories of 
 the Naudowellies, flows through a . moft , delightful country, 
 abounding with all the neceflfaries of life, that grow fpontane- 
 oufly ; and with a little cultivation it might be made to produce <^ ~ 
 even the luxuries of life. Wild rice grows hei^em great abun- 
 dance; and every part is filled with trees bending .mider their 
 loads of fruits, fiich as plums, grapes, and apptiiip the mea- 
 dows are covered with hops, and many forts of vegetables; 
 whilrt the ground is llored with ufcful roots, with angelica, 
 fpikenard, and ground-nuts as large as hens eggs. At a little 
 diftance from the fides of the river are eminences, from which 
 you have views that cannot be exceeded even by the moft beau- 
 tiful of thofe I have already defcrlbed,- amidlt thcle are delight- 
 ful groves, and fuch amazing quantities of maples, that thejp 
 would produce fugar fufficient for any number of inhabitants. 
 
 A little way from the mouth of this river, oh the north fide 
 of it, Hands a hill, one part of which, that towards the MiflS- 
 flippi, is compofed entirely of white ftonc, of the fame foft na- 
 ture as that 1 have before defcribcd ; for fuch, indeed, is all 
 the ftonc in this country. But what appears remarkable is, that 
 the colour of it is as white as the driven fnow. The outward 
 part of it was crumbled by tne wind and weather into heaps of 
 land, of which a beautiful compofition might be made ; or, I 
 am of opinion that, when properly treated, the Hone itfelf 
 would grow harder by time, and have a very noble effeft in 
 architecture. 
 
 Near that branch which Is termed the Marble River, is a 
 mountain, from whence the Indians get a fort of red ftone, out 
 of which they hew the bowls of their pipes. In fome of thefe 
 parts is found a black hard clay, or rather ftone, of which the 
 Naudowellies make their family utenfils. This country likewife 
 abounds with a milk-white clay, of which China ware might be 
 made equal in goodnefs to the Afiatlc; and alio with ^ ht^ 
 clay thatferves thelndians for paint, with this laftthey contrive, 
 by mixing it with the red ftone powdered, to paint themfelves oi. ^ 
 different colours. Thofe that can get the blue clay here mentioned, 
 paint thcmfelv.es very much with it,- particularly when they ^e 
 about to begin their fports and paftimes. It is alfoe'fteemedby 
 them a mark of peace, as it has a relemblanceof a blue sky, which 
 with them is a fymbol of it, and made ufe of in their fpeeches 
 as a figurative expreflion to denote peace. When they wiih to 
 fhew that their inclinations are pacific towards other ttibes, 
 they greatly ornament both themfelves and their belts with it 
 
 Having concluded my bufinefs at La Prairie le Chien, I pro-- 
 ceeded once more up the Mifliflippi, as far as the place where 
 the ChipjJway River enters it a little below Lake Pepin. Here, 
 having engaged an Indian pilot, I directed him to fteer towards 
 the Ottawaw Lakes, which lie near the head of this river. This 
 he did, and I arrived at them the beginning of July. 
 
 The Chipeway River, at its junftion with the Mifllffippi, is 
 about eighty yards wide, buds much wider as you advance In- 
 to 
 
% 
 
 . . [ « ] 
 
 to it. Near thirty miles up it feparates into two branches, and 
 I took n^.courfe through that which lies to the eaftwar3. 
 
 The cpuntry adjoining to the river, for about fixty miles, Is 
 very level, and on its banks lie fine meadows, wherei, larger 
 apoVjBs'e€- buffaloes and elks were feeding, than I had obferved . 
 In any 0^er part of my, travels. The track between the two 
 branches of this river is termed the Road of War between the 
 Chipqjvajp atid Naudowelfie Indians; ' ^,^^/ 
 
 The C(^try to the Falls is almoft without any timber, Indf 
 above th^'^lffiry Uneven and rugged, and clofely wooded with 
 pities, bea^h7«iiaple and birch. Here a moll: remarkable and 
 aftonifting fight jlrefented itfclf to^ my view. In a wood, on 
 ^e eaft of the river, which was about three quarters of a mile 
 in length, atttl in depth farther than my eye could reach, I ob- 
 ferved that every tree, many of which w^re more than llx feet 
 in circumference, was lying flat on the ground, torn up by the 
 roots. This appeared to have been done by fame extraordi- 
 nary hurricane, that came from the weft fonie years ago ; but 
 how many 1 could n,ot Icarh,, as I found no inhabitants near it, 
 of whom I could gain information. The country on the wefl 
 fide of the river, from being lefs woody, had efcapedin a great 
 meafure this havock, as only a few trees were blown down. 
 
 Near the heads of this river is a town of the Chipeways, 
 from whence it takes its name. It is fituated on each fide of 
 the river (which at this place is of no confiderable breadth) 
 and lies adjacent to the banks of a fmall lake. This town con* 
 tains about forty houfes, and can fend out upwards of one 
 hundred warriors, many of whom were iine ftout yoUng men. 
 Tlie Koufes of it are built after the Indian manner, and hJive 
 neat plantations^ behind them,* but the inhabitants, in general, 
 fe'jmed to be the nafticft people I had ever been among. I ob- 
 ferved that the women and children ind".lged thcmfelves in a 
 cuftom, which though common, in fome degree, throughout 
 evei'y Indian nation, appears to be, according to our ideas, of 
 the moft naufcous and indelicate nature; that of fearching each 
 ether's head, and eating the prey caught therein. 
 
 In July l.left this' town, and having crolfeda number of fmall 
 lakes and carrying places that intervened, came to a head 
 branch of the River St. Croix. This branch I dcfccndcd to a 
 fork, and then afccndcd another to its fource. On both thefe 
 rivers I difcovcrcd fcvcrai mines of virgin copper, which was 
 as pure as that found in any other country. 
 
 Here I came to a fmall brook, which my guide thought might 
 he joined at feme dirtance by ftrcams that would at length ren- 
 der it navigable. The water at tirlt was fo fcanty, that my ca- 
 noe would by no means fwim in it; but having flopped up fe- 
 veral old beaver dams, which had been broken down by the 
 hunters, I waij enabled to proceed for fome miles, till by the 
 conjunction of a few brooks, thefc aids became no longer 
 uccellary. In a Ihort time the water increafed to a molt ra- 
 
I 55 ] 
 
 pid river, which we defcended till it entered into Lake Supe- 
 rior. This river I named after a gentleman that defired to ac- 
 company me from the town of the Ottagaumies to the Carrying 
 Place on Lake Superior, Goddard's River. 
 
 To the weft of this is another fmall river, which alfo empties 
 itfelf into the Lake. This I termed Strawberry River, froni 
 the great number of ftrawberries of a good lize and flavour that 
 grew on its banks. 
 
 The country from the Ottawaw Lakes to Lake Superior is 
 in general very uneven and thickly covered with woods. The 
 foil in fome places is tolerably good, in others but indifferent, 
 fn the heads of the St. Croix and the Chipeways Rivers are cx^ 
 ceeding iine fturgeon. All the wildernefs between the Miffiflip- 
 pi and Lake Superior is called by the Indians the JMofchettoe 
 country, and I thought it nioft juftly named; for, it being thea 
 their feafon, I never faw or felt fo many of thofe infefts in my 
 life. 
 
 The latter end of July I arrived, after having coafted through 
 Weft Bay, at the Grand Portage, which lies on the north- 
 weft borders of Lake Superior. Here thofe who go on the 
 north-weft trade, to the Lakes De Pluye, Dubois, &g. carry 
 over their canoes and baggage about nine miles, till they come 
 to a number of fmall lakes, the waters of fome of which def- 
 cend into Lake Superior, and others into the River Bourbon. 
 Lake Superior from Weft Bay to this place is bounded by rocks, 
 except towards the fouth-wcft part of the Bay where I firft en- 
 tered it, there it was tolerably level. 
 
 At the Grand Portage is a fmall bay, before the entrance pf 
 which lies an ifland that intercepts the dreary and uninterrupted 
 view' over the Lake which otherwife would have prefented it- 
 felf, and makes the bay ferene and pleafant. Here I met a 
 large party of the Killiftinoe and Aflinipoil Indians, with their 
 refpedive kings and their families. They were come to tftjis 
 place in order to meet the traders from Michillimackinac, who 
 make this their road to the north-weft. From them I received 
 the following account of the Lakes that lie to the north-weft of 
 Lake Superior. 
 
 Lake Bourbon, the moft northern of thofe yet difcovered, 
 received its name from the French traders who accompanied a 
 party of Indians to Hudfon's Bay fome years ago ; and was thus 
 denominated by them in honour of the royal family of France. 
 It is compofed of the waters of the Bourbon River, which, as 
 I have before obferved, rifes a great way to the fouthward, 
 not far from the northern heads of the Mifliffippi. 
 
 This lake is about eighty miles in length, north and fouth, 
 and is nearly circular. It has no very large i Hands on it. The? 
 land on the eafternl|de is very good ; and to the fouth-weft there 
 are fome mountains; in many other parts there are barren 
 p|j*ins, bogs andmorafles. Its latitude is between iifty-two and 
 11%-four dcgree^norIh, and it lies nearly fouth-weft frotn Hud- 
 
 :^'' ^-^^ f0n*5 
 
[ 56 ] 
 
 fon's Bay. As through its northern fituation the weather there 
 "K^extremely cold, only a few annnals- are to be found in the 
 country that borders on it. They gave me but an indifferent 
 account either of the beafts, birds, or fillies. There are indeed 
 fome buffaloes of a fmall fizc. which arc fat and good about the 
 lifter end of fumnier, with a few moofe and carribboo deer; 
 however this deficiency is made up by the furs of every fort 
 that are to be met with in great plenty around the lake. The 
 timl:fcr growing here is chiefly fir, cedar, fpruce, and fome 
 maple. 
 
 Lake Winnepeek, or as the French write it Lac Ouinipique, 
 ;^?:^vhich lies nearefl to the foregoing, is compofcd of the fame 
 ''^ ^waters. It is in length about two hundred miles north artd 
 fouth; its breadth has never been properly afcertained, but is 
 fuppofed to be about one hundred miles in its widefVpart. This 
 lake is very full of iflands; thefe are, however, of no great 
 ift^nitude. Many conflderable rivers empty themfelves into it, 
 which, as yet, are not difiinguifhcd by anyn?nies. The waters 
 are floredwith iilli, fuch as trout and flurgeon, and alfo with 
 others of a fmaller kind peculiar to thefe lakes. 
 
 The land on the fouth-weft part of it is very ^ood, cfpecially 
 v^ about the entrance of a large branch of the River Bourbon, 
 which f^ows from the fouth-wert. On this river there is a fac- 
 tory that was built by the French, called Fort la Reine, to which 
 the traders from Michilliniuckinac rcfort to trade with the Afli- 
 jiipoils and Killiflinocs. To this place the Mahahs, who inha- 
 bit a country two hundred and fifty miles Ibuth-wefl, come alfo 
 to trade with them; and bring great quantities of Indian corn, 
 to exchange for knives, tomakawks, and other articles. Thofe 
 people are fuppofed to dwell on fome of the branches of the 
 River of the Wefl. 
 
 take Winnepeek has on the north-caft fome mountains, and 
 on the eafl many barren plains. The maple or fugar trcegrows 
 here in great plenty, and there is likcwitc gathered m amazing 
 quantity of rice, which proves that grain will fiourilli in thefe 
 northern climates as well as in warmer. Buffaloes, carriboo, 
 and moofe deer, are numerous in theie parts. The bufl'alocs 
 of this country differ from thofe that are found more to the 
 fouth only in fee; the former being much fmaller: jufl: as tho 
 black cattle of the northern parts of Great-Britain differ from 
 EngliiTi oxen. 
 
 On the waters that fall into this Lake, the neighbouring jiations 
 take great numbers ofcxcellent furs. Some of thefe thev carrvto 
 the fadories and fettlcments belonging to the Hudibn's Cay Com- 
 pany, fituated above the entrance of the Bourbon River; but 
 this they do v»'ith reluctance on feveral a<^ounts ; for fome of 
 the y\flinipoils and Killifrinoes, wiio ufi^ly traded with the 
 Company's fervants, told me, that if tl^ey ^ul'd be fure of aeon-* 
 ftant fupply of goods from MichillimackinoC, they would not 
 trade any where elfc. Tbey ihewed mg''fome qloth and other 
 
 * articles 
 
t 57 3 
 
 artides that they had purchafed at Hudfon'i Bay, with which 
 ttiey were much diiTatfsfied, thinking they had been greatly 
 impofed upon in the barter. 
 
 Allowing that their <accounts were true, I could not help jpin- 
 ing in*" their opioion. But this diflTatisfaftion might probably 
 proceed, in a great meafure, from the intrigues of the Canadian 
 trader? : for whilft the French were in poffeflion of Michilli- 
 inacl<ftac» having acquired a thorough knowledge ot the trade 
 of the north-weft countries, they were employed on that ac- 
 count, after the reduftion of Canada, by the Englifh traders 
 there, in the eftablifliment of this trade with which they were 
 themfelves quite unacquainted. One of the methods they took 
 to withdraw thefe Indians from their attachment to the Hudfon'« 
 Bay Company, and to engage their good opinion in behalf of 
 their new employers, was by depreciating on all occafions the 
 Company's goods, and magnifying the advantages that would 
 arife to them from trafficking entirely with the Canadian tra* 
 ders. In this they too well fucceeded, and from this, doubt* 
 lefs, did the diffatisfaflion the Adinipoils and Killiftin^«^s ex* 
 preflfed to me, partly proceed. But another reafon an ' ** 
 it ; and this was the length of their journey to the 
 Bay faftories, which, they informed me, took th' 
 months, during the fummer heats to go and retm 
 the fmallnefs of their canoes they could not carry mo. 
 third of the beavers they killed. So that it is not to b 
 ed at, that thefe Indians fliould wifh to have traders c 
 fide among them. It is true that the parts they i* 
 within the limits of the Hudfon's Bay territories; bu 
 pany muft be under the necelfity of winking at an ens, 
 ment of this kind, as the Indians would without doubt proteft 
 the traders v/ben among them. Befides, the paflports granted 
 to the traders that go from Michillimackinac give them liberty 
 to trade to the north-weft about Lake Superior; by which is. 
 meant Fort La Reine, Lake Winnepeek, or any other parts of 
 the waters of the Bourbon River, where the Couriers de Bois, 
 or Traders, may make it moft convenient to refide. 
 
 Lac dl fiois is commonly termed by the French in theii^ps, 
 or in Englifh the Lake of the Wood, is fo called from the miilti* 
 plicity of wood growing on its banks ; fuch as oaJis, pines, firs, 
 fpruce, &c. This Lake lies ftill higher upon a branch of the 
 River Bourbon, and nearly eaft from the fouth end of Lake Win- 
 nepecK. It is of great depth in fome places. Its length from 
 call to weft about feventy miles, and its greateft breadth about 
 forty miles. It has but few illaiids, and thefe of no great mag- 
 nitude. The fillies, fowls, and quadrupeds that are found near 
 it, vary but little from ithoCe of the Other two lakes. A few of 
 the Killiftinoe Indians fometimes enCamp on the borders of iC 
 to fiih and hunt. »f . ^^{t^- -/ % v 
 
 This Lake lies in the communication between take Superior, 
 and tlie Lakes Winnepeek and Bourbon. Its waters are noc« 
 
 ^ 
 
 #t" 
 
 ■ih 
 
>■-•* 
 
 t 58 1 
 
 efleemeJ quite Co pure ar> thofe of the other lakes, it having, in 
 many places, a muddy bottom. 
 
 Lac La Pluye, fo called by the French, in Englilh the Ratny 
 Lake, is fuppofed to have acquired this name from the fiift tra- 
 vellers, that paiTed over it, meeting with an uncommon deal of 
 rain ; or, as fome have affirmed, from a mill like rain, occa- 
 fioned by a perpendicular water-fall that empties itfclf into a 
 river which lies to the fouth-weft. ^i^ # 
 
 This Lake appears to be divided By an ifthmus, near the 
 middle, into two parts : the weil papc is called the Great Rainy 
 Lake, the eaft, the Little Rainy Lake, as being the leafl divi- 
 (lon. It lies a few miles farther to the eailward, on the fame 
 branch of the Bourbon, than the lafl-menttoned Lake. It is in 
 general very Ihallow in its depth. The broadeft part of it is 
 not more than twenty miles, its length, including both, about 
 three hundred miles. In the weft part the water is very clear and 
 good; and feme excellent fifh are taken in it. A great many 
 fowl refort here at the fall of the year. Moofe deer are to be 
 found in great plenty, and likewife thecarriboo; whofe skin 
 for breeches or gloves exceeds by far any other to be met with 
 in North-America. The land on the borders of this Lake is 
 efieemed in fome places very good, hut rather too thickly co- 
 vered with wood. Here rciidfi a confiderable band of the Chi- 
 p^ways. «^ 
 
 Eaftward from this Lake lie feveral fmall ones, which extend 
 in a vftring to the gr6at carrying place, and from thence into 
 Lake Superior. Between thcfe little Lakes are feveral carrying 
 places, which renders the trade to the north-weft difficult to ac- 
 compUlh, and exceedingly tedious, as it takes two years to 
 make one voyage from Michillimackinac to thefe parts. 
 
 Red Lake i? a comparatively fmall lake at the hiad of a branch 
 of the Bourbon River, which is called by fome Red River. Its 
 form i$ nearly round, and about fixty miles in circumference. 
 ft, On one fide of it is a tolerable large ifland, clofe by which 
 a fmall river enters. It bears almoft fouth-eaftboth from Lake 
 Winnepeek and from Lake du Bois. The parts adjacgnt are 
 very little known, or frequented, even by the favagdl' them- 
 felves. 
 
 Not far from this Lake, a little to the fouth-weft, is another 
 called White Bear Lake, which is nearly about the fize of the 
 iaft mentioned. The waters that compofe this Lake are the 
 nioft northern of any that fupply the iVIiffiflippi, and may be 
 Called with propriety its moft remote fource. It is fed by two 
 or three fmail rivers, or rather .large brooks. 
 
 A (cw miles from it, to the fouth-eaft, are a great number of 
 fmall lakes, none of which are more than ten miles in circum- 
 ference, that are called the Thoufand Lakes In the adjacent 
 country is j:eckoned the fineft hunting for furs of any on this 
 continent ; the Indians who hunt here feldom returning with- 
 i^uc having (h^ii canoes loaded as deep as they can fwim. 
 
 , / llavinfi . 
 
^:.*,:,. ■. I » 1 
 
 ^Having Juil before otifcrved that this Lake is the utirioft north- 
 em fource of the Mifliflippi, I ihall here further remark, that 
 before this river enters the Oulph of Mexico, It has not run 
 lefs, through all its meanderings, than three thoufand mites ; or, 
 in a flrait line from north to fouth, about twenty degrees, which 
 is nearly fourteen hundred Engliih miles. 
 
 Thefe Indians informed me, that to the north- well of Lake 
 Winnepeek lies another, whofe circumference vaftly exceeded 
 any they had given me an account of. Theydefcribe it as much 
 larger than Lake Superior. But as it appears to be fo far to 
 the nortU-weft, I fKould imagine that it was not a lake, but 
 rather the Archipelago or broken waters that form the com- 
 munication between Hudfon's Bay and the northern parts of 
 the Pacific Ocean. 1^ " ,.:<i. 
 
 There are an infinite niynber of fmall lakes, on the more 
 weftern parts of the weftern head-branches of the Miflifllppi, 
 as well between thefe and Lake Winnepeek, but none of them 
 are large enough to fuppofe either of them to be the laJie or 
 waters meant by the Indians. 
 
 They likewife informed me, that fome of the northern brandies 
 of the Meflforie and the fouthern branches of the St. Pierre have 
 a communication with each other, except for a mile ; ovcjf 
 which they carry their canoes. And by what I could learn from 
 them, this is the road they take when their "war parties make 
 their excurfionsupon the Pawnees and Pawnawnees, nations ift- 
 habitlng fome branches of the Meflbrie River. In the countr/, 
 belonging to thefe people it is faid, that Mandrakes are fre- 
 quently found, a fpecies of root refembling human beings of 
 both fexes ; and that thefe are more perfeft than fuch as are 
 difcovered about the Nile in Nether-Ethiopia. 
 
 A little to the north-weft of the heads of the Meffbrie and 
 the St. Pierre, the Indians further told me, that there was a 
 nation rather fnialler and whiter than the neighbouring txibes* 
 who cultivate the ground, and, ("as far as I could gather from 
 their exprcflions) in fome meafure, the arts. To this account 
 they added that fome of the nations, who inhabit thofe parts 
 that lie to the weft of the Shining Mountains, have gold fo 
 plenty among them that they make their moft common utenfils 
 of it. Thefe mountains (which I iliall defcribe more partftu- 
 larly hereafter) divide the waters that fall into the South Sea 
 from thofe that run into the Atlantic. « *" 
 
 The people dwelling near them are fuppofcd to be fome of 
 
 )e different tribes that were tributary to the Mexican kings, 
 md who fled from their native country, to feek an afylum in 
 thefe parts, about the time of the conqueft of Mexico by the 
 Jpaniards, more than two centuries ago. 
 
 As fome confirmation of this fuppoiition it is remarked, that 
 Ihey have chofen the moft interior parts for their retreat, being 
 (ilill prepofleffbd with a notion that the fea-coafts havjlbeen in- 
 filled ^ver fince with monfters vomiting fire» and hurliiig about 
 
 thunder 
 
 
 /J 
 
 '/•#//' 
 
J* 
 
 t to 1 
 
 thtm^ snd lightning; from wbofe bowels iflued men^ who, 
 yrith unfeen inHruments, or by the power of magick, killed the 
 barmlefE Indians at an aiftoniihing diilance. From fuch as thefe, 
 their fore-fathers (according to a tradition among them that 
 Hill remains unimpaired) fled to theretired abodes they now in- 
 habit. For as they found that the floating monfters, which had 
 thus terrified them could not approach the land, and that thofe 
 who had defccnded from their iidcs did not care to make excur- 
 fions to any confiderable diilance from them, they formed a re- 
 folution to betake themfelves to fome country, that lay far from 
 the fea-coalls, where only they could be fecure from fuch dia- 
 bolical enemies. They accordingly let out with their families, 
 and after a long peregrination, fettled themfelves near thefe 
 mountains, where they concluded they had found a place of 
 perfect fecurity. 
 
 The Winnebagoes, dwelling on the Fox River Cwhom I have 
 already treated of) are likewife fuppofed to be fome ftrolling 
 band from the Mexican countries. But they are able to give 
 'only an imperfeft account of their original refidence. They fay 
 they formerly came a great way from the weftward, and were 
 driven by wars to take refuge among the Naudoweffies ; but as 
 they are entirely ignorant of the arts, or of the value of gold, 
 it is rather to be fuppofed, that they were driven from their an- 
 cient fettlements by the above-mentioned emigrants, asthcypaf- 
 fed on towards their prefent habitation. 
 
 Thefe fuppofitions, however, may want confirmation; for 
 the fmaller tribes of Indians are fubjedl to fuch various altera- 
 tions in their places of abode, from the wars they are continu- 
 ally engaged in, that it is almoft' impoffible to afcertain, after 
 half a century, the original Otuation of any of them. 
 
 That range of mountains, of which the Shining Mountains 
 are a part, begin at Mexico, and continuing northward on the 
 back, or to the eaft of California, feparate the waters of thofe 
 numerous rivers that fail either into the Gulph of Mexico, or 
 the Gulph of California. From thence continuing their courfe 
 ftill northward, between the fources of the Mifliffippi and the 
 fivers that run into the South Sea, they appear to end in about 
 forty-feven or forty-eight degrees of north-latitude; where a 
 number of rivers arife, and empty themfelves either into the 
 South Sea, into Hudfon's Bay, or into the waters that commu- 
 jjicate between thefe two feas. 
 
 Among thefe mountains, thofe that lie to the weft of the ly- 
 vcr St. Pierre, are called the Shining Mountains, from an in 
 nice number of chryftal flones, of an amazing fize, with whic 
 they are covered, and which, when the fun fliines full upo 
 them, fparkle fo as to be feen at a very great diftance. 
 
 This extraordinary range of mountains is calculated to b, 
 more than three thoufand miles in length, without any very cor 
 fiderable intervals, which I believe furpalTes any thing of th 
 kind in the other (juaxters of the globe. Probably in futu| 
 
tges thejr may be found to contain more riches in their bowels* 
 than tficfe of Indoftan and Malabar, or that are produced 
 on the golden coalt of Guinea; nor will I except even the I'e- 
 ruvian mines. To the weft of thefe mountains, when explored 
 by future Coiumbufes or Raleighs, may be .found other lakes^ 
 rivers, and countries, full fraught with all the necelTaries or lux- 
 uries of life; and where future generations may find anafylum, 
 whether driven from their country by the ravages of lawlefs ty- 
 rants, or by religious perfecutions, or reluftantly leaving it to 
 remedy the inconveniences arifing l^roma fuperabundant increafe 
 of inhabitants ; whether, 1 fay, impelled by thefe, or allured by 
 hopes of commercial advantages, there is little doubt but their 
 expectations will be fully gratitied in thefe rich and unexhaulled 
 climes. 
 
 But to return to the Ailinipoils and Killiflinoes, whom I left 
 at the Grand Poita;;c, and from whom 1 received the foregoing 
 account of the lakes that lie to the north-weft of this place. 
 
 The traders we expected being later this feafon than ufual, 
 and our numbers very confiderable, for there were more than 
 three hundred of us, the Itock of provifions we had brought 
 with us was nearly exhaufted, and we waited with impatience 
 for their arrival. 
 
 One day, whilft we were all exprefllng our wiflies for this de- 
 firable event, and looking from an eminence in hopes of fee- 
 ing them come over the lake, the chief prieft belonging totbi^ 
 band of the Killiftinoes told us, that he would endeavour to 
 obtain a conference with the Great Spirit, and know from him 
 when the traders would arrive. 1 paid little attention to 
 this declaration, iuppoUng that it would be produftive of fome 
 juggling trick, juft fuliicieatly covered to deceive the ignorant 
 Indians. But the king of that tribe telling me that this was 
 chiefly undertaken by the prieft to alleviate my anxiety, and at. 
 the fame time to convince me how much intcr-eft he had w'th 
 the Great Spirit I thought it nececeflfary to reitrain my animad- 
 verfions on his defign. 
 
 The following evening was fixed opon for this fpiritual c6n- 
 ference. When every thing had been properly prepared, tho 
 king came to me and led me to a capacious Lenc, the covering 
 of which was drawn up, fo 4s to render what was tianfadting 
 within vifible to thofe who ftood without. We found the tent 
 furrounded by a great number of tlie Indians, but we readily 
 ;!5gained admiffion, and feated ourfelves on skins laid on tho 
 ' ;round for that purpofe. 
 
 In the center 1 obierved that there was a place of an oblong 
 [ftape, which was compofed of ftakes ftuci; in the gibund^ witli 
 intervals between, fo as to form a kind of chclt or coftin, large 
 ; enough to contain the body of a man. Theie were of a mid- 
 Ue fize, and placed at fuch a diftance from each-o^ri *^hai: 
 [whatever lay within them was -readily to be difceri*^ The 
 pfent was perfeflly illuminated by a great number of torches-mad^ 
 
 of 
 

 vlf lintsrs dtt from the pine or birch tree, which the Indians held 
 in their hands. 
 
 |n a few minutes the pried entered ; when an amazing large 
 elk's skin being fpread on the ground, juft at my feet, he laid 
 himfelf down upon it, after having ftript himfelf of every gar- 
 ment except that which he wore clofe about his middle. Being 
 now proftrate on his back, he lirll laid hold of one fide of the 
 skin, and folded it over him, and then the other; leaving only 
 his head uncovered. This was no fooncr done, than two of 
 the young men who flood by, took about forty yards of ftrong 
 cord, made alfo of an elk's hide, and rolled it tight round his 
 body, fo that he was completely fwathcd within the skin. Be- 
 ing thus bound up like an ICgyptian Mummy, one took him by the 
 heels, and the other by the head and lifted him over the pales 
 hito the inclofurc. I could alfo now difcern him as plain as I 
 had hitherto done, and I took care not to turn my eyes a mo- 
 ment from the objeft before me, that I might the more readily 
 ^eteft the artifice ; for fuch 1 doubted not but that it would 
 turn out to be. 
 ' The pried had not Iain in this fituation more than a few fc- 
 conds, when he began to mutter. This he continued to do for 
 fome time, and then by degrees grew louder and loudejf till at 
 length he fpoke articulately; however what he uttered was in 
 fuch a mixed jargon of the Chipeway, Ottowaw, and Killifti- 
 noe languages, that I could underftand but very little of it. 
 Having continued in this tone for a confiderable while, he at 
 laft exerted his voice to its utmort pitch, fometimes raving, and 
 fometimes praying, till he had worked himfelf into fuch an agi- 
 tation, that he foamed at his mouth. 
 
 After having remained near three quarters of an hour in the 
 place, and continued his vociferation with unabated vigor, he 
 fecmed.to be quite exhauUed, and remained fpeechlefs. JRutin 
 ari; inrtant he fprung upon his feet, notwithftanding at the time 
 be was put in, it appeared impolfible for him to move either hi* 
 legs or arms, and Ihaking off his covering, as quick as if the 
 bands with which it had been bound were burned afunder, he 
 begun to addrefs thofe who flood around, in a firm and audible 
 voice. " My brothers," faid he, " the Great Spirit has deign- 
 *' cd to hold a, Talk with his fervant at my carnefl requeft. He 
 " has not, indeed, told me when the per fons we cxpeft, will bo 
 <' here; but to-morr6w, foon after the fun has reached hi^ 
 ** highcft point in the heavens, a canoe will arrive, and the 
 ** people in that will inform us when the traders will come." 
 
 Having faid this, he pepped out of the fnclofure, -and after 
 he had put on his robes, 'diMiffed the affembly. I own I #^s 
 greatly aflonilhed at what I had feen; but as lobfeved that eve- 
 ry eye in the compainy was fixed on me with a view to difcov^r 
 my fentimcnts, I carefully concealed every emotion. 
 
 The next day the fun fHone 'bright, and long before noon all 
 the Indians were gathcwid together on the eminence that over^ 
 
 looki 
 
 wMMiHfciiMMail 
 
[ 63 Ir 
 
 looked the lake. The old king came to me and asked mc, whe- 
 ther I had fo much confidence in what the prieft had foretold^ 
 as to join his people on the hill, and wait for the completion of 
 it? I told him I was at a lofs what opinion to form of the 
 prcdiftion, but that I would readily attend him. On this wo 
 walked together to the place where the others were ailembled^. 
 Every eye was again fixed by turns on me and on the lake; when 
 juO as the fun had reached his zenith, agreeable to what the 
 pried had foretold, a canoe came round a point of land about 
 a league diflant. The Indians no fooner beheld it, than they 
 fet up an univcrfal fhout, and by their looks Teemed to triumph 
 in the inlcrefl their priefl thus evidently had with the GreaC 
 Spirit. 
 
 In lefs than an hour the canoe reached the fliore, when I at- 
 tended the king and chiefs to receive thofe who were onboard. 
 As foon as the men were landed, we walked all together to the 
 Kings tent, when, according to their invariable cuftom, we be- 
 gan to fmoke ; and this we did, notvvithftanding our impatience 
 to know the tidings they brought, without asking anyqucftions; 
 for the Indians arc tlie moll deliberate people in the worldji 
 However, after feme trivial conveiTation, the king enquired df 
 them, whether they had feen any thing of the. traders? The 
 inen replied, that they had parted from them a few days before, 
 and that they propi>fed being here the fccond day from thepre* 
 fent. They accordingly arrived at that time greatly to ou* fa- 
 tisfaftion, but more particularly fo to that of the Indians, who 
 found by this event the importance both of their prieft and of 
 their nation, greatly augmented in the fight of a ftranger. 
 
 This (lory I acknowledge appears to carry with it marks qf 
 great credulity in the relator. But no one is \^ tiniftured with 
 that weaknefs than myfelf. The circumftances of it, I own, are 
 of a very extraordinary nature ,• however, as I can vouch for 
 their being free from cither exaggeration or mifreprefentation, 
 being myfelf a cool and difpafllonate obferver of them all, l 
 ftought it necelTary to give them to the public. And this I do 
 without wiihing to millc;:d the jtidgment of my readers, or to 
 make any fuperftitious imprcflions on their minds, but leaving 
 Jhem to draw from it what concluOons they pleafe. 
 
 I have already obfcrved that the Aflinipoils. with a part of 
 whom I met here, are a revolted band of the Naudowellies ; 
 who on account of fomc real or imagir^ed grievances, for the 
 Indians in general arc very tenacious of their liberty, had fepa- 
 rated thenifelves from their countrymen, and fought for free- 
 dom* at the expence of their cafe. For the country they now 
 inhabit about the borders of Lake Wiimepeek, being much far- 
 ther north, is not near fo fertile oir a^eeaj^le as thac they have 
 xelinquiftied. They dill retain the language and manners of 
 their former alTociates. A.^.,. ^ • 
 
 The Killiftinoes, now the neighbours and allies of the AUni- 
 
 ils, for they alfo dwell ncoi the Came lake, aad on the wa* 
 
 tPtfi 
 
 W 
 % 
 
 «■ 
 
 
 
 IS 
 
 ■'iCTfe. 
 
'If' 
 
 )l». 
 
 h^'^ 
 
 H 6^ ] 
 
 tcrs of the River Bourbon, appear to have been originally t 
 tribe of the Chipdways, as they fpeak their language, though in 
 a different dialefl. Their nation conflds of about three or four 
 hundred warriors, and they feem to be a hardy brave people. 
 I have already given an account of their country when 1 treated 
 of Lake Wlnncpeek. As they refide within the limits Of Hud* 
 fon's Bay, they generally trade at the faftorics which belong to 
 that company, but, for the reafons mentioned before, they fre- 
 quently come to the place where I happened to join them, in 
 order to meet the traders from Michillimackinac. 
 
 The anxiety I had felt on account of the traders delay, was 
 not much alleviated by their arrival. 1 again found my expec- 
 tations difappointed, fori was not able to procure the goods I 
 Wanted from any of them. I was therefore obliged to give over 
 my defigns, and return to the place from whence I firft began my 
 cxtenfive circuit. I accordingly took leave of the old king of 
 the Killiftinoes, with the chiefs of both bands, and departed. 
 This prince was upwards of fixty years of age, tall and (lightly 
 made, but he carried himfelf very creft. He was of a cour- 
 teous, affable difpofition, and treated me, as did all the chiefs, 
 with great civility. 
 
 I obferved tliat this people ftill continued a cuftom, that ap- 
 peared to have been univerfal before any of them became ac- 
 quainted with the manners of the Europeans, that of compli- 
 menting ftrangers with the company of their wives; and this is 
 not only praftifed by the lower ranks, but by the chiefs them- 
 felves, who efteem it the greateft proof of courtefy they can 
 give a ftrangcr. 
 
 The beginning of Oftober, after having coafted round the 
 north and eaft borders of Lake Superior, I arrived at Cadot's 
 Fort, which adjoins to the Falls of St. Marie, and is fituated 
 near the fouth-weft corner of it. 
 
 t Lake Superior, formerly termed the Upper Lake from its 
 northern fituation, is fo called on account of its being fuperio| 
 in magnitude.to any'of the Lakes on that vart continent. Itmight 
 juftly be termed the Cafpian of America, and is fuppofed to be 
 the l?.vgeft body of frelh water on the globe. Its circumference, 
 according to the French charts, is about fifteen hundred miles; 
 but I believe, that if it was coafted roi'.nd, and the utmoft ex- 
 tent of every bay taken, it would exceed fixtcen hundred. 
 
 After I firll entered it from Goddard s River on the weft Bay, 
 I coafted near twelve hundred miles oi"the north andeaft fliores 
 of it, and obferved that the greateft part ot that extenfive tradl 
 was bounded by rocks and uneven ground. The water in gene- 
 ral appeared to lie on a^ed of rocks. ^ When it was calm, and 
 the fun ihonc bright, I could fit in my canoe, where the depth 
 was" upwards of fix fathoms, and plainly fee huge piles of Hone 
 at the bottom, of different fliapes, fome of which appeared as 
 If they were hewn. The water at this time was as pure and 
 tranfparcnt as air; and my canoe fccmed as if it hung fufpend| 1 
 
I <J } 
 
 c J in that element. It was impoflible to look attentively through 
 this limpid medium at the rocks below, without finding, before 
 matiy minutes were clapfed, your head fwiin, and your eyes no 
 longer able to behold the dazzling fcenc. 
 
 1 difcovered alfoliy accident another extraordinary proper- 
 ty in the waters of this lake. Though it was in the month of 
 July that I paired over it, and the furfa^ of the water, from 
 the heat of the fuperambient air, impregnated with no fmall 
 degree of warmth, yet on letting down a cup to the depth of 
 about a fathom, the water drawn from thence was fo exceflive- 
 ly cold, that it had the fame efFe^ when received into the mouth 
 as ice. 
 
 The fituation of this Lake is varioufly laid down ; but from 
 the moft exaft oblervations I could make, it lies between forty- 
 fix and Hfty degrees of north-latitude, and be':ween eighty-four 
 and ninety-three degrees of well longitude from the meridian of 
 London. 
 
 There are many iflands in this lake, two of which are very 
 large; and if the land of them is proper for cultivation, there 
 appears to be fufficient to form on each a confider able province; 
 cfpccially on Ific Royal, which cannot be lefs than an hundred 
 miles long, and in many places forty broad, fiut there is no 
 way at prefent of afcertaining the exafl length or breadth of ei- 
 ther. Even the French, who always kept a fmall fchoonet on 
 this lake, whilft they were in pofleilion of Canada, by which 
 they could have made this difcovery, have only acquired a flight 
 knowledge of the external parts of thefe iflands; at leaft they 
 have never publilTicd any account of the internal parts of them, 
 that I could get intelligence of. 
 
 Nor was I able to difcover from any of the converfations 
 which I held with the neighbouring Indians, that they had ever 
 made any fettlements on them, or even landed there in their 
 hunting excurfions. From what I could gather by their drf- 
 courle, they fuppofe them to have been, from their firft infor- 
 mation, the refidence of the Great Spirit ; and relate many ri- 
 diculous (lories of enchantment and magical tricks that had been 
 experienced by fuch as were obliged through ftrefs of weather 
 to take iTiclter on them. 
 
 One of the Chiptiway chiefs told me, that fome of their 
 people being once driven on the ifland of Mauropas, which lies 
 towards the north-eaft part of the lake, found on it large quan- 
 tities pf a heavy iTiining yellow fand, that from their defcrip- 
 tion mull have been gold dufl;. Being (Iruck with the beautifol 
 appearance of it, in the morning, when they re-entered cheii; 
 canoe, they attempted to bring fome away; but a fpirit of an 
 amazing lize, according to their account fixty teet in height, 
 ftrode in the water after them, and commanded them to deliver 
 [back what they had taken SAvay. Terrified at his gigantic fta- 
 itiire, and feeing that he had nearly overuken them, they were 
 [|lad to rellore their Ihining treafmc; Qn which tjiey \Vcre fuf- 
 
 I fcr€0 
 
 ^^ 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
^ 
 
 r 
 
 ( 66 3 
 
 fered to depart without further moleftation. Since this incident, 
 no Indian that has ever heard of it, will venture near the fame 
 haunted coaft. Befides this, they recounted to roe many ot^et 
 (lories of thefe i Hands, equally fabulous. 
 
 The country on the north and eaft parts of Lake Superior is 
 very mountainous and barren* The weather being intenfely cold 
 in the winter, and the fun having but little power in the fum- 
 racr, vegetation the»e is very flow; and confequently but little 
 fruit is to he found on its fliore. It however produces foihe 
 few fpecies in great abundance. VVhirtleberries of an uncom- 
 mon fize, and line flavour, grow on the mountains near the lake 
 in amazing quantities ; as do black currants and gooAerries in 
 the lame luxuriant manner. 
 
 Kut the fruit which exceeds all the others, is a berry refemb- 
 ling a raiberry in its manner of growth, but of a lighter red, 
 and much larger; its tafte is far more delicious than the fruit I 
 have coiiipaied it too, notwithftanding that it is fo highly ef- 
 teemed in Europe : it grows on a iTirub of the nature of a vine, 
 with leaves fimilar to thofe of the grape; and I am perfuaded 
 that was it tranfplanted into a warmer and more kindly climate, 
 it would prove a moft rare and delicious fruit. 
 
 Two very large rivers empty themfelves into this lake, On 
 the north and north-eaft fide ; one is called the Nipegon River, or, 
 as the French pronounce it, thiAllanipegon, which leads to a band 
 of the Chip^iways, inhabiting a lake of the fame name, and the 
 other is termed the Michipicooton River, the fource of which 
 is fituatcd towards James's Bay, from v/hence there is but a 
 ikon carriage to •another river, which empties itfelf into that 
 bay, at a fort belonging to the company. It was by thispaflage 
 that a party of French from Michillimackinac invaded the 
 fcttlements of that fociety in the reign of Queen Anne. Having 
 taken and deftroyed their forts, they brought the cannon which 
 they found in them to the lOi trcfs from whence they had ifllied; thefe 
 were fmall brafs pieces, and remain there to this prefent time; 
 having, through the ufual revolutions of fortune, returned to 
 the pofTcflion of their former matters. 
 
 Not far from the Nipegon is a Imall river, that juft before it 
 enters the lake, has a perpendicular fall from the top of a 
 mountain, of more thin fix hundred feet. Being very narrow, 
 it appears at a diliance like a white garter fulpended in the air. 
 ^' A few Indians inhabit round the eaftcrn borders of this lake, 
 fiippoi'ed to be the remains of the Algonkins, who formerly 
 polfefled this country, but who have been nearly extirpated by 
 iVie Iroquois of Canada. Lake Superior has near forty rivers 
 that fall into it, fome of which are of a confiderable fize. Orj 
 the iouth-fide of it is a remarkable point or cape, of about fix- 
 ty miles in lent^th, called Point Chegomegan. It might as pro- 
 perly be termed a peninfula, as it is neatly feparated from the 
 ' cofltinent, on the eaft lide, by a narrow bay that extewis from 
 call to well. Cunoes iiave but a ihort poiugc acrofs the itth- 
 
 inasi 
 
f «7 1 
 
 mus, whereas if thty coafl it round, the voyage is more than 
 an hundred miles. 
 
 About that diftance to the \reft of the cape juft defcribed, a 
 confiderable river falls into the lake, the head of which is com- 
 pofed of a great alTemblage of fmall ftreams. This river is remark- *;^ ^ 
 able for the abundance of virgin copper that is found on and 
 near its banks. A metal which is met with alfo in feverai other 
 places on this coaft. I obferved that many of the fmall iflands, 
 particularly thofe on the eaftern Ihorcs, were covered with 
 copper ore. They appeared like beds of copperas, of which 
 many tuns lay in a fmall fpace. 
 
 A company of adventurers from England began, foon after 
 the conquell of Canada, to bring away fome of this metal, but 
 the diftrafted fituation of affairs in America has obliged them to 
 relinquilli their fcheme. It might in future times bemade a ve- 
 ry advantageous trade, as the metal, which cofts nothing on the 
 fpot, and requires but little expence to get it on board, could 
 be conveyed in boats or canoes through the Falls of St. Marie, 
 to the IfleofSt. Joieph, which lies at the bottom of the Straights 
 near the entrance into Lake Huron j from thence it might be 
 put on board larger veffcls, and in them tranfported acrofs that 
 lake to the Falls of Niagara; there being carried by land acrofs 
 the Portage, it might be conveyed without much more obftruc- 
 tion to Quebec. The cheapnefs andeafe with which any qtia^rf- ■ 
 tity of it may be procured, will make up for the length of way 
 that is necelFary to tranfport it before it ''Waches the fea coaft, 
 and enable the proprietors to fend it to foreign markets on as 
 good terms as it can be exported from other countries. 
 
 Lake Superior abounds with a variety of fiih, the principal 
 and befl; are the trout and fturgeon, which may be caught at al- »• 
 moft any feafon in the greateft abundance. The trouts in ge- 
 ncral weigh about twelve pounds, but fome are caught that ex- 
 ceed fifty. Befides thefe, a fpecies of white filTi is takgn in great 
 quantities here, that referable a fhad in their i'hape,.:ytt they 
 are rather thicker, and lefs bony; they weigh about fourpf^ds 
 each, and are of a delicious talle. The beft way of catching 
 thcfc filh is with a net; but the trout might be taken at ail 
 times with the hook. There are likewife many forts of fmaller 
 filli in great plenty here, and which may be taken with eafe; 
 among thefe is a fort refembling a herring, that are generally ^^ 
 made ufe of as a bait for the trout. Very fmall crabs, not larger" 
 than half a crown piece, arc found both in this and Lake Mi- 
 chegan. 
 
 .. This Lake is as much afFeclcd by ftorras as the Atlantic Ocean; 
 the waves run as high, and are equally as dangerous to Ihips. 
 It difcharges its waters from the fouth-eail corner, through the 
 Straights of St. Marie. At the upper end of thefe Straights 
 Itands a fort c lat receives its name from them, commanded by 
 Monf. Cadot, a French Canadian, who being pioprietbr of the; 
 foil, is ftill pciiuitted to keep polTcflion of it. Near ihh fort 
 
 t 
 
 ^^b 
 
r <8 1 
 
 19 a very ftrong rapid, againft which, th<fugh it Is impoflibl« 
 for canoes to afcend, yet when conduced by careful pilots> they 
 might pafs down without danger. '' \« 
 
 Though Lake Superior, as I have before obferved, is fiip- 
 plied by near forty rivers, many of which are confiderable ones, 
 yet it does not appear that one tenth part of tfie waters which 
 are conveyed into it by thefe rivers, are carried off at this eva- 
 cuatipn. How fuch a fuperabundance of waters can be dif- 
 pofcdSJIs as it muft certainly be by fome means or other, with- 
 out which the circumference of the lake would be continually 
 enlarging, I know not : that it does not empty itlelf, as the Me. 
 diterranean fea is fuppofed to do, 6y an under current, which 
 perpetually counterafts that near the furface, is certain ; foy 
 the ftream which fails over the rock is not more than five or fir' 
 feet in depth, and the whole of it paffes^n'through the Straights 
 into the adjacent lake ; nor is it probable that fo great a quan- 
 tity can be abforbedby exhalations; confcquently they mulHind 
 a paflage through fome fubterranean cavities, deep, unfathom- 
 able, and never to be explored. 
 
 The Falls of St. Marie do not defcend perpendicularly as thofe 
 of Niagara or St. Anthony do, but confifl of a rapid which con- 
 tinues near three quarters of a mile, over which canoes well 
 piloted might pafs. 
 
 At the bottom of thefe Fails, Nature has formed a moft com- 
 'ihodious ftation for catching the fifli whicji are to be found there 
 in immenfe quantities. Perfons (landing on the rocks that lie 
 adjacent to it, may take-^ith dipping nets, about the months of 
 September and Oftober, the white filTi before mentioned; at 
 that feafon, (together with feveral other fpecies, they croud up 
 to this fpot in fuch amazing fKoals, that enough may be taken 
 to fupply, when properly cured, thoufandsof inhabitants through- 
 put the year. 
 
 The Straights of St. Mnrie are about forty miles long, bear- 
 ing fouth-eart, but varying much in their breadth. The current 
 between the Falls and Lake Huron is not fo rapid as might be 
 expefted, nor do they prevent the navigation of ihips of bur- 
 den as far up as the ifland of St. Jofeph. 
 
 It has been obferved by travellers that the entrance into Lake 
 Superior, from thefe Straights, affords one of thcmoftpleafinr, 
 profpefts in the world.. The place in which this might be view- 
 ed to the greateft advantage, is jufl at the opening of the lake, 
 from whence may be feen on the left, many beautiful little 
 iilands that extend a confiderable way before you; and on the 
 Tight, an agreeable fuccclfion of fmall points of land, that pro- 
 jetl a little way into the water, and contribute, with the iflands, 
 to render this delightful bafon (as it might be termed) calm and 
 fccure from the ravages of thofe tempeftuous winds by which 
 th adjoining lake is frequently troubled. 
 
 Lake Huron, into which you now enter from the Straight.'! 
 of St. Marie, is tiie ne.\t in magnitude to Lake Superior. It 
 
 lies 
 
* »# 
 
 » 
 
 t 69 V 
 
 lies between forty-two and forty-fix degrees of north latitude* 
 and feventy-nine and eigbty-fivc degrees of weft longitude. Its 
 Ihape is nearly triangular, and its circumfercnceaboutonethou- 
 land miles. .;^ .^v" i ^ 
 
 *0\\ the north fide of it lies an ifland that is remarkable For 
 being near an hundred miles in length, and no more than eight 
 miles broad. This iiland is known by the name of Manataulin, 
 which fignitjes a Place of Spirits, and is confidcred by the In- 
 dians as facrcd as thole already mentioned in Lake Superior. 
 
 About the middle of the fouth-wcfl: fide of this lake, is Sa- 
 ganaum Bay. The capes that feparate this bay from the lake, 
 are about eighteen miles di-ftant from each other; nearthemid- 
 dlci^of the intermediate fpace ftand avo iflands, which greatly 
 tcndtfj facilitate the paflage of canoes and fmall veflels, by af- 
 fording them iTiclter, as without this fecurity it would not be 
 prudent to venture acrofs fo wide a fea; and the coafl:ing roun4 
 the bay jivould make the voyage long and'tedious. This bay is 
 about eighty miles in length, and in general about eighteen or 
 twenty miles broad. 
 
 Nearly half way betv^'cen Saganaum Bay and the north-weft 
 corner of the Lhkc, lies another, which is termed Thunder 
 Bay. The Indians, who have frequented thefe parts from time 
 immemorial, and every European traveller that haspalfed through 
 it, iiave unanimoully agreed to call it by this name, on account 
 of the continual thunder they have always obferved here. The 
 bay is about nine miles broad, and the fame in length, and 
 whilft I was palling over it, which took me up near twenty-four 
 hours, it thundered and lightened during the greateil part of 
 the time to an excelfivc degree. 
 
 'There appeared to bo no vifible reafon for this that I could 
 difcover, nor is the cc.ntry in general fubjeft to thunder; thtf 
 hills that Hood around were not of a remarkable height, nei- 
 ther did the external parts of them feem to be covered witi: any 
 fulphureous rubrtancc. But as this phajnomenon muft originate 
 from fome natural caufe, 1 conjecture that the lliOres of the 
 bay, or the adjacent iuountains, are either impregnated with an 
 uncommon quantity of fulpliurcous matter, or contain fome me- 
 tal or mineral apt to attrai^ in a great degree, the dleftrical par- 
 ticles that are hourly borne over them by the palfant clouds. 
 But the iblution of this, and thofc other philofophical remarks 
 which cafually occur throughout ihcfe pages, I leave to the dif- 
 •tunjon of abler heads. 
 
 The iiOi iji Lake Huron arc much the fame as thofc in Lake 
 Superior. Some of the land on its banks is very fertile, and 
 proper for cultivation, but in other parts it is. fandy and barren. 
 The promontory that feparatcs this lake from Lake Michegan, 
 is compuhtd of a vail plain, upwards of one hundred miles long, 
 but varying in its breadth, being from ten to i;ftecn miles broad. 
 This tratt, as I have before obferved, is divided into almoll 
 «D etji^jil portion between the Ottowaw and Chipcw^y Indians. 
 
 At 
 
 I 
 
 ViSr*tr* 
 
f- 
 
 At the north-call corner this lake has a communication wltlj 
 Lake Michegan, by the Straits of Michillimackinac already de> 
 fcribcd. 
 
 I had like to have omitted a very extraordinary circumftance, 
 felative to thefe Straights. According to obfervations made^jy 
 the French, whilft they were in poflelTion of the fort; although 
 there is no diurnal flood or ebb to be perceived in thefe waters, 
 yet, from an exadl attention to their ftate, a periodical alterati- 
 on in them has been difcovcred. It was obferved that they 
 arofe by gradual, but almoft imperceptible degrees till they had 
 yeached the height of about three feet. This was accomplifhed 
 in feven years and a half; and in the fame fpace they as gently 
 decreafed, till they had reached their former fituation; fo that 
 in fifteen years they had completed this inexplicable revolu- 
 tion. 
 
 , At the time I was there, the truth of thefe obfervations could 
 not be confirmed by the EngliiTi, as they had then been only a 
 ffw years in poflfeflion of the fort; but they all agreed that fomc 
 alteration in the limits of the Straights was apparent. All chefc 
 lakes are fo afFefted by the winds, as fometimes to have the ap- 
 pearance of a tide, according as they happen to blow ; but this 
 is only temporary and partial. 
 
 A great number of the Chlpdway Indians livejcattered around 
 this Lake, particularly near Saganaum Bay. 0^ its banks are 
 found an amazing quantity of the fand ch«rries, and in the ad- 
 jacent country nearly the fame fruits as thofe that grow about 
 the other lakes. 
 
 From the Falls of St. Marie I leifurely" proceeded back to 
 Michillimackinac, and arrived there the beginning of Novem- 
 ber 1767, having been fourteen months on this extenfive tour, 
 travelled near four thoufand miles, and vifited twelve nations of 
 Indians lying to the weft and north of this place. The winter 
 fctting in foon after my arrival, I was obliged to tarry there 
 till the June following, the navigation over Lake Huron for 
 largp velTels not being open, on account of the ice, till that 
 time. Meeting here with fociable company, I pafled thefe 
 months very agreeably, and without finding the hours tedi- 
 ous. 
 
 ■ One of my chief amufements was that of filTiing for trouts. 
 Though the Straights were covered with ice, we found means 
 to make holes through it, and letting down (Irong lines of fif- 
 teen yards in length, to which were fixed three or four hooks 
 baited with the fmall fifli before defcribed, we frequently caught 
 two at a time of forty pounds weight each,- but the common 
 <ize is from ten to twenty pounds. Thefe are moft delicioiis 
 food. The method of prcferving them during the three months 
 the winter generally lafts, is by hanging them up in the air; and 
 ill one night they will be froz-jn fo hard that they will keep as 
 well as if they were cured with fait. 
 . ,-.. . . •Ihave 
 
icatiOB witij 
 : already cle> 
 
 :ircumftance, 
 ions made-by 
 rt; although 
 thefe waters, 
 lical alterati- 
 ed that they 
 ; till they had 
 accomplilhed 
 iiey as gently 
 ition ; fo that 
 :able revolu- 
 
 vations cauld 
 1 been, only a 
 reed that feme 
 nt. All thefc 
 ) have the ap- 
 )low; but this 
 
 attered around 
 its banks are 
 and in the ad- 
 it grow about 
 
 eded back to 
 
 bg of Novem- 
 
 jxtenfivc tour, 
 
 Ive nations of 
 
 The winter 
 
 o tarry there 
 
 ,e Huron for 
 
 ice, till that 
 
 pafled thefe 
 
 hours tecii- 
 
 ig for trouts. 
 J found means 
 Ig lines of fif- 
 Jr four hooks 
 [ucntly caught 
 
 the common 
 loft delicious 
 Ithree months 
 
 the air ; and 
 |will keep as 
 
 ♦ ll»ve 
 
 • I have only pointed out in the plan of my travels the cir- 
 cuit I made from my leaving Michillimackinac till I arrived agaia 
 at that fort. Thofe countries that lie nearer to the colonics have 
 bec:i fo often and fo minutely defer ibed, that any further ac- 
 count of them would be ufelefs. I fhall therefore only give my 
 Readers in the remainder of my journal, as I at firft propofed, 
 a defcription of the other great lakes of Canada, many ol' 
 which I have navigated over, and relate at the fame time a few 
 particular incidents that I truft will not be found inapplicable or 
 unentertaining. 
 
 In June 1768 I left Michillimackinac, and returned in the 
 Gladwyn Schooner, a veflel of about eighty tons burthen, over 
 LakeFIuronto Lake St. Claire, where we left thefliip, and pro- 
 ceeded in boats to Detroit. This lake is about ninety miles in 
 circumference, and by the way of Huron River, which runs 
 from the fouth corner of Lake Huron, receives the waters of the 
 three great lakes, Superior, Michegan, and Huron. Its form 
 is rather round, and in fome places it is deep enough for the 
 navigation of large veffels, but towards the middle of it there 
 is a bar of fand, which prevents thofe that are loaded from 
 palling over it. Such as are in ballaft only may find waCer 
 fufficient to carry them quite through i the cargoes, however, of 
 fuch as are freighted mail be taken out, and after being tranf- 
 pcrted acrofs the bar in boats, re-ihipped again. 
 
 The river that runs from Lake St. Claire to Lake Erie (or ra- 
 ther the Straight, for thus it might be termed from its name) 
 is called Detroit, which is in French, the Straight. It runs 
 nearly fouth, has a gentle current, and depth of water fuffici- 
 ient for iTiips of confiderable burthen. The town of Detroit is 
 fituated on the wertern banks of this river, about nine miles be 
 low Lake St. Claire. ':;■■' 
 
 Almoft oppollte on the eaftern fhore, is the village of the an- 
 cient Hurons : a tribe of Indians which have been treated of by 
 fo many writers, that adhering to the reftriftions I have laid 
 myfelf under of only defcribing places and people Utile known, 
 or incidents that have pafled unnoticed by others, I Ihall omit 
 giving a defcription of them. A milTionaryof the order of Car- 
 thufian Friars, by permiifion of the biihop of Canada, refides 
 among them. ' 
 
 The banks of the River Detroit, both above and belowthefc 
 towns, are* covered with fettlements that extend more than 
 twenty miles; the country being exceedingly fruitful, and pro- 
 per for the cultivation of wheat, Indian corn, oats and peas, 
 it has alfo many fpots of fine pailurage; but as the inhabitants, 
 who are chiefly French that fubmitted to the Engliih govern- 
 ment, after the conqueft of thefe parts by General Amherft, are 
 more attentive to the Indian trade than to farming, it is but 
 badly cultivated. 
 
 The town of Detroit contains upwards of one hundred houfes. 
 The ftrects are fpmewhat regular, and have a range of very con- 
 
 vcnicot 
 
 .^'. 
 
 W 
 
 \Mm 
 
[ 72 1 * 
 
 Tcnfenf and handrome barracks, with a fpaciouf parade at the 
 foiith end. On the weft fide lies the King's garden, belonging 
 to the governor, which is very well laid qiit and kept fn good 
 order. The fortifications of the town confift of a flrong ftock- 
 ade, made of round piles, fixed iinnly in the ground, and lined 
 with palifades. Thefc are defended by fome fmall ballions, on 
 which arc mounted a few indifferent cannon of an inconiiderablc 
 fize, juft (ufficicnt for it« defence aguinll the Indians, or an ene- 
 my not provided with artillery. 
 
 The garrifon, in time of peace, confifts of two hundred men, 
 commanded by a field officer, who atfts as chief magiftrate under 
 the governor of Canada. Mr. Turnbull, captain of the 6oth 
 regiment, or Royal Americans, was commandant when I hap- 
 pened to be there. This gentleman was dcfervedly efteemed 
 and rclpecled, both by the inhabitants and traders, for the pro- 
 priety of his conduft; and lam happy to have an opportunity 
 oi thus publickly making my acknowledgments to him for the 
 civilities I received from him during my llay. 
 
 In the year 1762, in the month of July, it rained on this town 
 and the parts adjacent, a fiilphurcous water of the colour and 
 confidence of ink ; fome of which being collected into bottles, 
 and wrote with appeared pcrfeftly intelligible on thepapcr, and 
 anfwered every purpofe of that ufoful liquid. . Soon after, the 
 Indian wars already fpokcn of, broke out in thcfe parts. Imean 
 not to fay that this incident was ominous of them, notv/ithftand- 
 ing it is well known that innumerable well attcllcd inftances of 
 extraordinary phoenomena happening before extraordinary 
 events, have been recorded in almoil every age by hiiloriansof 
 veracity; I only relate the circumdances as a fa6t of which I 
 was informed by many pcrfons of undoubted probity, and leave 
 my readers, as 1 have hiilicrto done, to drav/ their own con- 
 clufiorrs frora.it. '':..■ ' 
 
 Pontiac, under whom the party that fnrprized Fort ^Michilll- 
 faackinac, as related in the former part of this work, a(5ted, was 
 an cnterprizing chief or hcad-warfior of the IVIianics. During 
 the late war between the Englilli and the French, he had been a 
 l!cady friend to the latter, and continued his inveteracy to 
 the former, even after peace had been concluded between thcfe 
 two nations. , Unwilling to put nn end to the depredations he 
 had been lb long engaged in, he coUcftcd an army of confe- 
 derate Indians, confilting of the nations before enumerated, with 
 an intention to renew the war. However, indcad of openly 
 attacking the Englilli lettlemeiiL", he laid a fcheme for taking by 
 iurprize thofc forts on the extremities which they had lately 
 gained pt>Iicflion of. 
 
 How well the party he detached to take Fort Michillimacki- 
 nac fucceeded, the reader already knows. To get into his bands 
 Detroit, a place of greater confcquencc, and much better 
 guarded, required greater refolution, and more confummatc 
 art. He of cuurfc took the management of this expedition on 
 . . iiimfelfg 
 
[ 73 1 
 
 Wmfelf, and drew near it with the principal body of his troops. 
 He was however prevented from carrying his defigns into exe- 
 cution by an apparently trivial and unforefcen circumftance. On 
 I'uch does the fate of mighty Empires frequently depend ! 
 
 The town of Detroit, when Pontiac formed his plan, was gar- 
 rifoned by about three hundred men, commanded by Major 
 Gladwynv a gallant officer. As at that time every appearance 
 of war was at an end, and the Indians Teemed to be on a friend-* 
 ly footing, Pontiac approached the Fort, without exciting any 
 fufpicions in the breaft of the governor or the inhabitants. He 
 encamped at a little diilance from it, and fent to let the com- 
 mandant know that he was come to trade ; and being deHrous 
 of brightening the chain of peace between the Englilli and his 
 nation, defired that he and his chiefs might be admitted to hold 
 a council with him. The governor ftill unfufpicious, and not 
 in the lead doubting th<i fincerity of the Indians, granted their 
 general's requcA, and fixed on the next morning for their re- 
 ception. 
 
 The evening of that day, an Indian woman who had been em- 
 ployed by Major GUdwyn, to make him a pair of Indian (hoes, 
 out of curious elk-skin, brought them home. The Major was 
 fo pleafed with thetn, that, intending thefe as a prefent for a 
 fiiend, he ordered her to take the remainder back, and make 
 it into others for himfelf. He then direfted his fcrvant to pay 
 her tor thofe (he had done, and difmiffed her. The woman 
 went to the door that led to the ftreet, but no further; (ho 
 there loitered about as if fhe had not finilhed the bufinefs on 
 which Old came. A I'ervant at length obferved her, and asked 
 her why fhe itaid there ; fhe gave him, however, no anfwer. , 
 
 Some Ihort time after, the governor himfelf faw her; and en- 
 quired of his fervant what occafioned her Hay. Not being able 
 to get a fatisfaftory anlwcr, he ordered the womwi to be cal- 
 led in. When Ihe came into his prefence he defiwd to know 
 what was the reafon of her loitering about, and not haftening 
 home before the gates were Ihut, that Ihe miglit complete in 
 due time the wci'k he had given her to do. She told him, after 
 much hefitation, that as he had always behaved with great good- 
 nefs towards her, Ihe was unwilling to take away the remainder 
 of the skin, becaufe he put fo great a value upon it; and yec 
 had not bten able to prevail upon herfelf to tell him fo. Ho 
 then asked her, why Ihe was more reluftant to do fo now, than 
 fhe had been when fhe made the former pair. With increafod 
 relu^ance fhe answered, that ihe never fhould be able to bring 
 them back. 
 
 His curiofity being now excited, he infifted on her dliTclolin^ 
 tor him the fecret that leemed to be flruggling in her bofom fox 
 utterance. At lail, on receiving a promile that the intelligeioice 
 ihe was about to give him fhould not turn to her prejudice, and 
 that if it appeared to be beneticial fhe ihouldbcrt^tfiaxded fof it, 
 fhe informed him, that at the council t9 be hel^ wlih the 4i> 
 
 % 
 
.-#. 
 
 
 I 74 1 
 
 dians the following day, Pontiac and hi? chiefs Intended tomnr- 
 dcr him; and, after having maffacfed the garrifon and inhabi- 
 tants, to plunder the town. That for this purpofeall the chiefs 
 who were to be admitted into the council-room had cut their 
 guns lliort, fo that they could conceal them under their blan- 
 kets ; with which, at a fignal given by their general, on deliver- 
 ing the belt, they were ail to rife up, and inftantly to f5re on 
 ban and his attendants. Having effected this, they were imme- 
 diately to rufh into the town, where they would find themfelves 
 fupportcd by a great number of their warriors, that were to 
 come into it during the fitting of the council, under pretence of 
 trading, but privately armed in the fame manner. Having gain- 
 ed from the woman every neceffary particular relative to the 
 plot, and alfo the means by which fKe acquire! a knowledge of 
 them, he difmiflied her with injunftions of fecrecy, and a pro- 
 mife of fulfilling on his part with punftuality the engagements 
 he had entered into. . <. , 
 
 The intelligence the governor had juft received, gave him 
 great uneafincfs ; and he immediately confulted the officer who 
 was next to him in command on the fubjeft. But that gentle- 
 man confidering. the information as a ftory invented for fome 
 artful purpofes, advifed him to pay no attention to it. This 
 conclulion however had happily no weight with him. Bethought 
 it prudent to concKide it to be true, till he was convinced that 
 it was not fo; and therefore, without revealing his fufpicions 
 to any other perfon, he took every needful precaution that the 
 time would admit of He walked round the fort during the 
 whole night, and faw himfelf that every ccntinel was on duty, 
 and every weapon of defence in proper order. 
 
 As he traverfed the jamparts which lay neareft to the Indian 
 camp, he heard them in high feftivity, and, little imagining that 
 their plot was difcovcred, probably pleaiing themfelves with 
 the anticipation of their fuccefs. As foon as the morning 
 dawned, he ordered all the garrifon under arms; and then im- 
 parting iiis apprehenlions to a few of the principal officers, gave 
 them fuch directions as he thought neceffary. At the fame time 
 he fent round to all the traders, to inform them, that as it wg^s 
 cxpcfted a great number of Indians would enter the town thdt 
 day, who might be inclined to plunder, he defired they would 
 liave their arms ready, and repel every attempt of that kind. - 
 
 About ten o'clock, Pontiac and his chiefs arrived; and were 
 condufted to the council-chamber, where the governor and his 
 pj-incipal olHcers, each with pillols in their belts, awaited his 
 arrival. As ihc Indians palfed on, they could not help obferv- 
 i% that a greater number of troops than ufual were drawn up 
 on the parade, or marching about. No fooher were they erf- 
 tered, and feated on the skins prepared for them, than Pohti*c 
 aiked the governor on what occalion his young men, meaning 
 Che foldicrs, wtre thus drawn up, and parading the ftreets. He 
 .■ ».n^,rf^ *»'- -* »•■ •■-!- :%*. ,^ '-r .■'~^^- . ■ received 
 
 
 .■x'>i/K-t>'^..i^^.H 
 
if 
 
 >■»» 
 
 '*• 
 
 I 15 1^^ ,.v 
 
 received for anfwcr, that it was only* fhtfetided to keep tlielft 
 perfedl in their exercifc. 
 
 The Indian chief-warrior now began his fpeech, which con- 
 tained the ftrongcft profcflions of friendfliip and good-will to- 
 wards the Englilh; and when he came to the delivery of the 
 belt of wampum, the particular mode of which, according to 
 the woman's information, was to be the fignal for his chiefs to 
 lire, the governor and all his attendants drew their fwords half- 
 way out of their fcabbards; and the foldiers at the fame inlbnt 
 made a clattering with thci. arms before the doors, which had 
 been purpofely' left open. Pontiac, though one of the boldeft 
 of men, immediately turned pale, and'trembled; and inftead of 
 giving the belt in the manner propofed, delivered it according 
 to the ufual way. His chiefs, who had impatiently expeftcd 
 the fignal, looked at each other with aftoniflinient, but conti- 
 nued quiet, waiting the reliilt. 
 
 The governor in his turn made a fpeech; but inftead of 
 thanking the great warrior for the profcflions of friendihip he 
 had juft uttered, he accufcd him of being a traitor. He told 
 him that the Englift, who knew every thing, were convinced 
 of his treachery and villainous defigns ; and as a proof that 
 they were well acquainted with his moft fecret thoughts and 
 intentiojis, he ftepped towards the Indian chief that fat neareft 
 to him, and drawing afidc his blanket difcovered the Aortened 
 iirclock. This entirely difconcerted the Indians, and fruArated 
 their delign. 
 
 He then continued to tell them, that as he had given his word 
 at the time th^ defired an audience, that their perfons fliould 
 be fafe, he would hold his promife inviolable, though they fq 
 little deferved it. However he advifed them to make the beft 
 of their way out of the fort, left his young men, on bein^tac^i 
 quainted with their treacherous purpofes, Ihould cut every one 
 of them to pieces. 
 
 Pontiac endeavoured to contradifb the accufation, and to 
 make excufes for his fufpicious conduft; but the governor, fa* 
 tistied of the falfity of his proteftations, would not liften to 
 hifli. The Indians immediately left the fort, but inftead of be* 
 ing fenblile of the governor's generous behaviour, they threw 
 off the mask, and the next day made a regular attack up- 
 6n it. 
 
 Major Gladwyn has not cfcaped cenfure for this miftakcn le- 
 nity; for probably had he kept a few of the principal chiefs* 
 prifoners, whilit he had them in his powtr, he might have been 
 able to have brought the whole confederacy to terms, and have 
 brought the whole confederacy to terms, and have prevented a 
 war. But he atoned for this overiight, by the gallant defence 
 he made for more than a 'year, amidft a VAriety of difcou- 
 ragements. 
 
 During that period fome very fmart skirmiftes happened be- 
 
 tween the 
 
 bcfici^ 
 
 ers and the garrifon, of which the following 
 
 was 
 
 
 
 iP- 
 
t 7« 5 
 
 fras the prfneiptl and moft bloody : Captain Dehel, a brave of- 
 ficer, prevailed on the governor to give him the coinm|itid of 
 about two hundred men, and to permit him to attack mt ene- 
 my's camp. This being complied with, he fillled from the 
 town before day-break; but Pontiac, receiving from fome of 
 his fwift-footed warriors, who were conftantly employed in 
 watching the motions of the garrifon, timely jnteliigcncc of 
 their defign, he collcfted together the choiceft of his troops, 
 and met the detachment at fome diilance from his camp, near a 
 place fince called f>loody-Bridge. 
 
 As the Indians were vaftly fnperior in numbers to captain 
 Delzels party, he was foon over-powerfed and. driven back. 
 Being now nearly furrounded, he made a vigorous effort to re- 
 gain the bridge he had juft crofled, by which alone he could 
 tind a retreat; but in doing this he loft his life, and many of 
 Ins men fell with him. Howcsver, Major Rogers, the fecond 
 in command, affifted by Lieutenant Breham, found means to 
 draw off the fhattered remains of their little army, and coii- 
 dufted them into the fort. 
 
 Thus confiderably reduced, it was with difficulty the Majot 
 could defend the town ; notwithftanding which, he he)d out 
 againft the Indians till he was relieved, as after this they made 
 but few attacks on the place, and only continued to blockade 
 it. . 
 
 • The Gladwyn Schooner (that in which 1 afterwards took my 
 paiTage from Michillimackinac to Detroit, and which I fince learn 
 was loft with all her crew on Lake Eric, through the obftinacy 
 of the commander, who could not be prevailed upon to take in 
 fufficient ballaft) arrived about this time near the town with a 
 reinforcement and nccelTary Aipplies. But before this vefl'cl 
 could reach the place of its deftination, it<#as mofl vigoroully 
 attacked by a detachment from Pontiac's army. The Indians 
 furrounded it in their canoes, and made greut havock among 
 the crew. 
 
 At length the captain of the fchooncr, with a confiderable 
 number of his men being killed, and the favagcs beginning to 
 climb up the fides from every quarter, the Lieutenant ("Mr. Ja- 
 cobs, who afterwards commanded, and was loft in it) being de- 
 termined that the fi:ores fliould not fall into the enemy's hands, 
 and feeing no other alternative, ordered the gunner to fet fire to 
 the powder-room, and blow the ihip up. This order was on the 
 point of being executed, when a chief of the Hurons, whoun- 
 derftood the Englifh language, gave out to his friends the In- 
 tention of the commander. On receiving this intelligence, the 
 Indians hurried down the fides of the fhip with the grcateft pre- 
 cipitation, and got as far from it %s polTible; whilft the com- . 
 Blander immediately took'advantaffc of their confternation, and 
 arrived without any further obftxuftion at the town. ^. 
 
 This feafonable fupply gave the garrifon frefti fpirlts; and 
 Pontiac being now convinced that it would not be in his po^-^er 
 
r 77 1 
 
 ,1/ 
 
 ft 
 
 to reduce the place, prop o fed an accomroodatian; the govcta* 
 or wilhlnff as much to fict rid of fuch troubleromc enemies^ 
 who obilruclcd the wtercomTe of the traders with the iicif^h- 
 hoiiring nations, liftencd to his propofals, and having procured 
 advantageous tcflRS, agreed to a peace. The Indiaus foon-ftcr 
 feparated, anJ returned to their diflTcient provinces; nor liavc 
 they iuice thouglit proper to dilhiib, at Icaft in any great de- 
 gree, the tranquiUIty of thcfc parts. 
 
 Poutiac henceforward feeined to have laid afide the aniniofity 
 he had hitherto borne towards the Englilh, und apparently be- 
 came their zealous friend. To reward this new attactwincnt, 
 and to infure a contiituancc of it, fiovcrnment allowed him <i 
 handfoine penfion. But liis reftlcfs and intriguing fpirit would 
 not luffcr hiin to be grateful for this ;iilowancc, and Jiii conduft 
 at length grew fufpicious; fo that going, in the year 1767, to 
 hold a council in the country of the Illinois, a faithful Indian, 
 who was either coinmifljoncd by one of the Knglilli governors, 
 rir iniHgated by the love lie bore the KngliiTi nation, 'rttendci 
 him as a fpy; and being convinced from the fpeech Pontiacmade 
 in the council, that he llill retained his former prejudice.; againft 
 thuie for whom he now profeflTed a fiiendfliip. he plunged hij 
 Knllc into his heart, as loon as he had done Ipeaking, and laid 
 him dead on the fpot. But to return from this digreillon. 
 
 Lake Erie receives the waters by which it is fupplicJ from 
 the three great lakes, through the Straights of Detroit, that lia 
 at its nonli-weft corner. This lake is fituated between forty- 
 one and forty-three degrees of north latitude, and between fe- 
 venty-eight and eighty-three degrees of weft longitude. It is 
 near 300 miles long from eaft to weft, and about forty in its 
 broadeft part: and a remarkable long narrow point lies on its 
 north lide, that projeds for fevcral miles into the lake towards 
 the fouth-eall. 
 
 There are fevcral iflands near the weft end of it fo Infefted 
 with rattle-fnakes, .that it is very dangerous to land on them. 
 It is impolBuIc that' any place can produce a greater number of 
 all kind* of thefe reptiles than this does, particularly of thewa- 
 ter-fnake. The Lake is covered near the banks of the illands 
 with the large pond-lily; the leaves of which lie on the furfacc 
 of the water fo thick, as to cover it entirely for majiy acres to- 
 gether; and on each of thefe lay, when! paflcdover it, wreaths 
 of watcr-fnakes basking in the fun, which amoiinted to myriads. 
 
 The nioft remarkable of the dift'erent fpecies that infeft this 
 lake, is the hifling-fnake, which is of the fmall Ipecklcd kind, 
 and about eighteen inches long. When any thing approaches, 
 it flattens iti'elf in a moment, and its fpots, which are of vari- 
 ^ousdyes, become vifibly brighter through ra^e; at the fame 
 time it blow^-Jfom its mouth, with great force, a fubtiie wind, 
 that is reported to be of a naufeous fmell; aod if drawn in 
 with the breath oftpthe unwary traveller, \yill infallibly bring on 
 a lifeline, that in a few months muft prove mortal, there being 
 
# 
 
 '% 
 
 r 7« 1 
 
 m fcmedy yet difcovered which can counteraA-its baneful in* 
 fiucnce. 
 
 The Hones and pebbles on the fhorcs of this lake are moft of 
 them tinged, in a greater or lefs degree, with fpois that re- 
 fcmble brafs in their colour, but which are tfl a more fulphu- 
 leous nature. Small pieces, about the fize of hazle-nuts, of 
 the fame kinds of ore, are found on the fands that lie on its 
 banks, and under the water. 
 
 The navigation of this lake is efleemed more dangerous than 
 any of the others, on account of many high lands that lie on the 
 borders of it, and projeft into the water, in a perpendicular di- 
 jeftion for many miles together j fo thatwhenevcr fuddenftornis 
 arife, canoes and boats are frequently lo(^, as there is no place 
 for thera.to find a fliclter. 
 
 This Lake difcharges its waters at the north-eaft end, into 
 the River Niagara, which runs north and fouth, and is about 
 thirty-fix miles in length; from whence it falls into Lake Onta- 
 rio. Ac the entrance of this river, on its eaftern iliore, lies 
 Fort Niagara; and, about eighteen miles further up, thofe re- 
 markable Falls which are efteemed one of the moft extraordina- 
 ly produftions of nature at prefent known. 
 
 As thefe have been vifited by fo many travellers, and fo fre- 
 quently dcfcribed, I lliall omit giving a particular dcfcriptiqn of 
 ihem, and only obfervc, that the waters by which they are fiip- 
 plied, after taking their rifq near two thoutand miles to the 
 north-weft, and pafling through the Lakes Superior, Michegan, 
 Huron, and Erie, during which they have been receiving con- 
 ftant accumulations, at length rulh down a ftupendous precipice 
 of one hundred and forty feet perpendicular; and in a ftrong 
 K«apid, that extends to the diftance of eight or nine miles below, 
 fall nearly as much more : this River foon after eiftpties itfelf 
 into Lake Ontario. 
 
 The noife of thefe Falls may be heard an amazing way. I 
 could plainly diftinguilli them in a calm morning more than 
 twenty miles. Others have faid that at particular times, and 
 when the wind fits fair, the found of them reaches fifteen 
 leagues. 
 
 The land about the Falls is exceedingly hilly and uneven, but 
 the greateft part of that on the Niagara River is very good, 
 efpecially for grafs and pafturage. 
 
 Fort Niagara ftands nearly at the entrance of the weft end of 
 Lake Ontario, and on the eall part of the Straights of Niaga- 
 «a. It was taken from the French in the year J 759, by the 
 forces under the command of Sir William Johnfon, and at pre- 
 fent is defended by a confiderable garrifon. 
 
 Lake Ontario is the next, and leaft of the five great Lakes , 
 of Canada. Its fituation is between forty-three and forty-fiv«fe'r , 
 degrees of latitude, and between feventy-fix and feventy-nind 
 degrees of weft longitude. The form of it is nearly oval,^ it-i ^ 
 greate^l length being from north-eaft to fouth-weft, and in tnr*** V 
 
 tt- cumfexencc, 
 
« 1 ' l\ 
 
 t 79 ] 
 
 cumfcrcnce, about fix hundred n\ilcs. Near the fouth-eaft pare 
 it receives the waters of the Ofwego River, and on the north- 
 eaft difchargjgs iti'elf into the River Cataraqul. Not far from 
 the place where it iirues, Fort Frontcnac formerly ftood, which 
 was taken from the French during the laft war, in the year 1758, 
 by a fmall army of Provincials under Col. Bradftrcet. 
 
 At the entrance of Olwego river ftands a fort of the fame 
 name, garrifoned only at prefent by an inconfiderable party. 
 This fort was taken in the year 1756. by the French, when a 
 great part of the garrifon, which conHftcd of the late Shirley's 
 and Pepperii s regiments, were malFacred in cold blood by th{9 
 favages. .v ^.m,:. .: .. V, •, „•. /• jf^.'. 
 
 In Lake Ontario are taken many forts of fifli, among which 
 is the Ofwego Bals, of an excellent flavour, and weighijjg about 
 three or four pounds. There is alfo a fort called the Cathead 
 or Pout, which are in general very large, fomeof them weigh- 
 ing eight or ten pounds; and they areelleeraed a rare dilTi when 
 properly drefled. 
 
 On the north-weft part of this Lake, and to the fouth-eaftof 
 Lake Huron, is a tribe of Indians called Miflifauges, whofa 
 town is denominated Toronto, from the lake on which it lies; 
 but they arc not W{:ty numerous. The country about Lake On- 
 tario, efpecially the more north and eailern parts, is compofed 
 of good land, and in time may make very douriihing fettle* 
 inents. 
 
 The Oniada Lake, fituated near the head of the River Ofwe- 
 go, receives the waters of Wood-Creek, which takes its rife 
 not far from the Mohawks River. Thefe two lie fo adjacent 
 to each other, that a junftion is effefted by fluicesat Fort Stan- 
 wix, about twelve miles from the mouth of the former. This 
 lake is about thirty miles long from eaftto weft, and near fifteen 
 broad. The country around it belongs to the Oniada Indians. 
 
 Lake Champlain, the next in flze to Lake Ontario, and which 
 lies nearly eaft from it, is about eighty miles in length, north 
 and fouth, and in its broadcft part fourteen. It is well ftored 
 with fifh, and the lands that lie on ail the borders of it, or 
 about its rivers, very good. 
 
 Lake George, formerly called by the French Lake St. Sacra- 
 ment, lies to the fouth weft of the lafl-mentioned lake, and is 
 about thirty-rive miles long from north-eaft to Ibuth-weft, but 
 of no great breadth. The country around it is very mountai- 
 nous, but in thq vallies the land is tolerably good. 
 
 When thefe two lakes were firfl difcovered, they were known- 
 by no other name than that of the Iroquois Lakes ; and I be*, 
 lieve in the firft plans taken of thofe parts were fo denominated. 
 The Indians alio that were then called the Iroquois, are fhic^ 
 fcpown by the name of the Five Mohawk nations, and the|^- 
 hWks of Can^a. In the late war, the former, which comsf; 
 of the Onondagoes, the Oniadas, the Senecas, the Tufcarories, 
 md lioQndocki^fou^ht on the lide of the Englifh ; the latter, 
 
 which 
 
 r<*. 
 
 
 'i 
 
 t 
 
w 
 
 ♦. 
 
 ^$t^: 
 
 C 8a 1 
 
 tirhich arc called the Cohnawagliaus, and St. Francis ItidUne, 
 joiiK'd the French. >; 
 
 A valt trad of land that lies between t!ic two lal! mentioned 
 ■ lakes, and Luke Ontario, was granted in the year 1629, by the 
 Plymouth Company, under a patent they had received t'rori 
 King Jumcs I. to Sir Ferdinando Gorges, and to Captain Joim 
 Malbn, the head of that family, afterwards diitinguilhed from 
 others of tlie fume name by the Mafons of Connc<flicut. Tiie 
 coimtrics fpcciried in this grant are faid to begin ten miles from 
 the heads of the rivers that run from ths ealt and Ibuth into 
 Lake George and hake Champlain ; and continuing from tiici'e 
 in a direct line weftward, extend to the middle of Lake Qnta- 
 lio; from thence, being bounded by the Cataraqui, or river of 
 the Iroquois, they take their couife to Montreal, as far as Fori 
 .Sorrcll, which lies at the junction of this river with the Rich- 
 lieu; and from that point are inclofcd by the lali-mentioned ri- 
 ver till it returns back to the two lakes. 
 
 This immenle fpacc was granted, by the name of the Pro- 
 vince of Laconia, to the aforefaid gentlemen on fpeciiied con- 
 ditions, and under certain penalties,- but none of thcfeamouji:- 
 cd, in cafe of omilHon in the ful/illment of any part of them,^ 
 to forfeiture, a fine only could bo cxafted. 
 
 On account of the continual wars to which thefc parts hava 
 been fubjeiit, from their lituation between the fettlenients of the 
 Engli, the French, and the Indians, this grant has been futfcred 
 to lie dormant by the real proprietors. Notwithllanding which, 
 fcveral towns have been fettled fince the late war, on the bor- 
 ders of Lake Champlain, and grants made to dilVerent people 
 by the governor of New-Vork, of part of thclc territories, 
 wh'ch are now become annexed to tliat province. 
 
 There are a greai number of lakes on the north of Canada, 
 between Labrador, LaK;c Superior; and Iludfon's Bay, but 
 rhefe are comparatively fmall. As they lie ont of the track that 
 I puifued, I lliall only give a fummary account of them. The 
 moil weflcriy of thefe are the Lakes Nipifing and Tamifcaming. 
 The i'lrle lies at the head of the French River, and runs into 
 Lake Huron; the other on the Otfowaw River, which empties 
 kl'clf into the Cataraqui, at Montreal. Tliefe Laivcs are each 
 iibout one hundred miles in circumference. 
 
 The next is Lake Alillallin, on the head of Rupert's River, 
 th..c falls ."nto James's Kay. This La];e is fo irregular from the 
 large pointi; of land by which it is interlcded on every fide, 
 that it is dilh!ciilt either to del'cribe its lliape, or to afccrtaiu its 
 Ihic. it howev^cr appears on the whole to be more than two 
 hundred miles In circumfcrcjice. 
 
 Lake St. John, wiiich Is about eighty miles round, and of a 
 circular form, lijs on the .Sagiicnay River, directly north of Que- 
 Ixic, anu falls into the St. Lawrence, fomewhat north- call, of 
 chat city. Lake Manikouagone lies near the head of the Ulack 
 River, v/hich empties itfelf into the Sr. l^^u■reuce to the call-, 
 
 v/ard 
 
 
 wirrci 6\ 
 and is s 
 ^inckt! 
 number 
 ■ River t( 
 is uhn^c 
 Lakes H 
 
 The V 
 of twenl 
 count it 
 America 
 quantity 
 
 in 06 
 fr6m -ft ( 
 hig thic 1 
 ^s foon ; 
 biit for E 
 and to r€ 
 cution of 
 been obi 
 ed betwe 
 
 nij^s. s: 
 
 the count 
 foiirce of 
 ditrh fettl 
 ly rejoicd 
 an acqnif 
 I cannc 
 out expre 
 iibly prot 
 Jtcnd lb 1( 
 At the 
 tion, if I 
 of this w 
 in this ar 
 fined to t 
 the comm 
 tributed 
 
 The CO 
 improven 
 jnained, 
 explore tl 
 as a prep 
 manners, 
 tlicir ian^ 
 I confe 
 tions hav 
 who dene 
 rageujycl 
 r^Iity, mi 
 
'^'mt>'V 
 
 ■?■</' 
 
 •*-/,.. 
 
 ' [ 81 3 
 
 wirrd 6f the lart-meritiorted river, near lh,e -coaft of Labrador, 
 and is about fixty Infle's in circumference. Lake Pertibi, Lake ' 
 "Oi^incktagan,, Like Etchelaugon, and Lake I^aperiouagane, with a ' 
 number of other fmall lakes, lie near the heads of the Buftard 
 River to the north of the St. Lawrence. Many others, which it 
 is uhneceflfary to particularise h6rc, are affo found b'etwe'en the 
 Lakes Huron and Ontario. 
 
 The whole of thofe 1 ha\^eenutAera'ted,'aW6uhtfngtoupwaVdS 
 of twenty, "are within the limits of "Canada ; and from this ac« 
 count it might be deduced, that the northern parts of North- 
 America, through thefe numerous inland feas, contain a g'reitcx 
 quantity of water than any other quarter of the globe. . , 
 
 in Oftober 1768 I arrived at feofton, haVing been abfent 
 from ft oh this expediti'on two years and live months, and •'.dt-' 
 ing thiYtime travelfed hear feven thoufand miles. From thence, 
 iis foon as I hatl properly digcfled my Journal and Charts, X fet 
 Oiit for England, to communicate the difcoveries I had madev, 
 and to render them beneficial to the kingdom. But the profe- - 
 cation of my plans for reaping theft advantages have hitherto 
 been obllrutS^d by the unirappy diviliohs that have been foment^ 
 ed between Great-Britain and the Colonies by their mutual cn'e- 
 milbs. Should peace once more bereftored, 1 'doubt not but that 
 tlfe countries I have defcribed will prove a more abuhdar^t ' 
 fource of riches to this nation than either its Eall or Weft In- 
 Ainth fetrtlements; and I fhall not only pride myfelf, but fihcere^ 
 ly rejoice in being the means lOf pointing out to it fo valuable 
 an acqmfitfoo. 
 
 I cannot conclude the account of my extenlTve travels, with- 
 out expreffing my gratitude to that beneficent Being who invi- 
 libly protected me through thofe perils which unavoidably at- " 
 iciid lb long a tour among fierce and untutored faVages; 
 
 At the fame time let me not be accufed of vanity or prefumji-. 
 tion, it 1 declare that the motives alledged in the ihtroduftioii 
 of this work, were not the only ones that induced me to engage 
 in this arduous uruJer taking. My views were not folely con- 
 fined to the advantages that might accrue cithe^ to my(elf,^or 
 the community to which I belonged; but nobler purposes con- 
 tributed principally to urge me on. 
 
 The confined ftate, both With regard to civil iahd rellgibns 
 improvements, in which fo nlany of my fellow creatures re* 
 mained, aroufed within my bofom an irrefiftible inclination tb ' 
 explore the almoft unknown regions which they inhabited; and 
 as a preparatory ilep towards the introduction of more polilhed 
 manners, and more humane fentiments-, tti gain a knowledge of 
 their language, ciiftbms, and principles. 
 
 I confefs that fhs little benefit too many bf the Indian na- 
 tions have hitherto received from their intercourfe- with thofe 
 who denominate themfelves Chriftians, did not tend to encou- 
 rage my charitable purpofes; yet as many, though not ih*#genc- 
 r^Iityi might xeceive fome benefit from the Incrddu&ion aniong 
 
 L them 
 
 m 
 
 K 
 
 m 
 
■ » 
 
 tjjem of the polity and religion of the Europeans, withoiit tj> 
 taining only the errors or vices that from the depravity andper- 
 Verfion of their profeflbrs are unhappily attendant on thefe, I 
 l^etermlned to perfevere. 
 
 t Nor could I flatt(gr myfelf that I ihould be able to accom- 
 plifh alone this great defign ; however, I was willing to contri- 
 bute as much as lay in my power towards it. In all public un- 
 dertakings would every one do this, and furn"ih with alacrity 
 his particular ihare towards it, what ftupen.ous works might 
 Jlot be completed. 
 
 It is true that the Indians are not without fome fenfe of-reli- 
 gion, and fuch as proves that they worlhip the Great Creator, 
 with a degree of purity unknown to nations who have greater 
 opportunities of improvement; but their religious principles 
 are far from being fo faultlefs as defcribed by a learned writer, 
 or unmixed with opiiiions and ceremonies that greatly leflfcn 
 their excellency in this point. So that could the doftrines of 
 genuine and vital Chriftianity be introduced among them, pure 
 and untainted as it flowed from the lips of its Divine Inftitutor, 
 it would certainly tend to clear away that fuperftitious or ido- 
 latrous drofs by which the rationality of their religious tenets 
 are obfcured. Its mild and beneficent precepts would likewife 
 conduce to foften their implacable difpofitions, and to refine 
 their favage manners ; an event moll defirable ; and happy Ihall 
 I efteem myfelf if this publication fhall prove the means of point- 
 ing out the path by which falutary inftruftions may be conveyed 
 to them, and the converfion, though but of a few, be the con- 
 fequence. - ... ,. ..,.;& 
 
 W 
 
 '-.'* 
 
 Condufion of the J O U R N A I, ^i 
 
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'''^■'N^:v|T ,;:>"•"■ ''•■•^' 
 
 -*■■"' •■ '• . '^ 9 9 T H * 
 
 
 ORIGIN, MANNERS, CUSTOMS, 
 
 RELIGION AND LANGUAGE 
 
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 CHAPTER J. 
 0/ their Origin* 
 
 
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 TH E means by which America received its firft inhabiV 
 tants, have, fince the time of its difcovery by the Eu* 
 ropeans, been the fiibjefl of numberlefs difquifitions. 
 Was I to endeavour to collefl the different opinions and rea» 
 fonings on the various writers that have taken up the pen in de- 
 fence of their conjeftures, the enumeration would much exceed 
 ■ the bounds I have prefcribed myfelf, and oblige me to be leis 
 explicit on points of greater moment. 
 
 From the obfcurity in which this debate is enveloped, thro* 
 the total difufe of letters among every nation of Indians on this 
 cxtenfive continent, and the uncertainty of oral tradition at the 
 '' dliftanceof fo many ages, I fear, that even after the moft mi- 
 nute invciligatlon wc ih«in not be able to fettle it with any great 
 
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 degree of certainty. And this apprehenfion wilt receive addi- 
 tijpnal force, when it is confidered that the drverfity of language, 
 which is apparently diftinft bet^yeen mod of the Indians, tends 
 to, afcertaiii that this population was not efFefted from' one par- 
 ticular Country, but from feveral neighbouring ones,'- and qom^ 
 pleted at different periods. 
 
 Moft of thehiftorians or tlravellers that have treated on the 
 American Aborigines dii^agree in their fentiments relative to 
 them. Many of the ancients are fuppoied to have known that 
 this quarter of the globe not only exiftcd, but. alfp that it was 
 inhabited. Plato, in his Timaeus hns aflerted, tl^at beyond th« 
 ifland which he calls Atalantis, and whicjh according to his de- 
 fcription was fituated In the weftcrn Ocean, there were a great 
 number of other iflands, and behind thofc a vaft continent. 
 
 Otviedo, a celebrated SpanilTi author of a. much later date, 
 has made no fcruple to affirm that the Antilles are the famous 
 Hefperides fo often mentioned by the poets ; which are at length 
 reftored to the kings of Spain, thq defcendants of king fjefpe- 
 rus, who lived upwards of three thoufand years ago, and from 
 whom thefe iilands^ received their name. 
 
 • Two Qther Spaniards, the one, Father Gregorio Garcia, a 
 Dominican," the other^ Father, Jofeph De Acoila, a.Jefuft, have 
 written on the origin of the Americans. 
 
 The former, who had been employed in the. millions of Mex- 
 ico and I'eru, endeavoured to prove from the traditions of 
 the Mexicans, Peruvians^ and others, which he received on the 
 £pot, and from the y^ariety of chara6kers, cullcms, languages, 
 and religion obfervable in the different countries of the new 
 world, that different nations had contributed to the peopling 
 pf it. ' ■ " ' ' ' ' '■ 
 
 The latter, Father De Acofta, in his cxamination.of the means 
 fey which the firft Indians of America mjght have found a paf- 
 fage to that continent, difcredits the conclufions of thofe who, 
 have fuppofed it to be by fea, becaufe no ancient author has 
 made mention of the coinpafs : and concludes, that it nuift be 
 either by the north of Alia and Europe, which adjoin to each 
 Other, or by thofe regions that lie to the fouthward of the 
 Straights of Magellan. He alfo.rejefts the allertipns.of luch as 
 have advanced that it was peopled by the Hebrews. 
 
 John De I^aet, a FlemiiK writer, has controverted tlie opi- 
 nions of thefe Sp^nilli fathers, and of many others who hav(j 
 written on the fame fubjeft. The hypothefis he endeavours to 
 cftabljft, is, that Araeriea was certainly peopled by the Scythi- 
 ans or, Tartars; and that the tranfraigration of thefe people 
 happened foon after the difperfior^ of Noah's grandfons. He 
 undertakes to flipw, that the ipolt northern Americans have a 
 greater refemblance, not only In the features of their counte- 
 nances, i?ut alfo in their cohiplexion and manner of living, to 
 the Scythians, Tarta^, and Sainoeides, than to an/ other na- 
 
>' In smfwerto Grotiiis^who had afTcrted that fome of tlielbf^r* 
 wegians pafTcd into America l?y way of Greenland, and over a 
 vaft continent, he fays, that it is well known that Greenland 
 was not dlfcovercd till the year 964; and both Gomcra an4 
 Herrera inform us that the Chichimeqiies were fettled on the 
 Lake of Mexico in 721. He adds, that thefe favages, accordr 
 ing to the uniform tradition of the Mexicans who difpoireffed 
 them, came from the country fince called New Me;!cico, and 
 from the neighbourhood of California; confcqucntly North 
 America, mufl: have been inliahited many ages before it coul4 
 receive any inhabitants from Norway by way of Greenland, 
 
 It is no Icfs certain, he obferves, that the real Mexicans 
 founded their empire in 902, after having fubdued the Chichi- 
 meques, the Otomias, and other barbarous nations, who hjd 
 taken pofleflion of the country round the Lake of Mexico, an<J 
 each of whom fpoke a language peculiar to themfelves. The 
 real Rjlexicans are likewifs luppofcd to come from forae of the 
 countries. t;hat lie near California, and that they performed their 
 journey for the moft part by land^ of courfe they could nut 
 come from Norway. 
 
 De Laet further adds, that thpugh fome of the inhabitantsof 
 North America may have entered it from the north-wefl, yet, 
 as it is related by Pliny, and Ibmc other writers, that on many 
 of the illands near the weftern coaft of Africa, particularly oa 
 the Canaries, fome ancient edifices were feen, vl is highly pro- 
 bable from tneir being now deierted, that the inhabitants majr 
 bave paflcd over to America; the paifage being neither iov)^ 
 nor difficult. This migration, according to the calculation of 
 thofe authors, mull: have happened more than two thoufand 
 years ago, at a time when the Spaniards were much trouble 
 by the Carthaginians; from whom having obtained a knowledge 
 of navigation, and the conftrudion of ihips, they might have 
 retired to the Antilles, by the way of the weftcrii illcs, which 
 were exaclly half way on their voyage. 
 
 He thinks alfo that Great Britain, Ireland, and the Orcades 
 were extremely proper to admit of a.fimilar conjefture. As a 
 proof, he inferts thefollowing palTagefrom the hiftory of Wales, 
 written by Dr, David Powel, in the year 11 70. 
 
 Thishiftorian fays, that Madoc, of the fons of Prince Owoi 
 Gwynnith, being difgufted at the civil wars which broke out be- 
 tween his brothers, after the death of their father, fitted out 
 feveral veflfels, and having provided them with every thing ne- 
 ceflary for a long voyage, went ih queft of new lands to the 
 wertward of Ireland; there he difcovered very fertile coun- 
 tries, but deftitute of inhabitants , whdlfi landing part of his 
 ppople, he returned to Britain, where he raifednewleviis, and 
 afterwards tranfi jrted them to his colony. 
 
 The Flemjlh Author then returns to the Scythians, bct\\'cen 
 whom and the Americans he draws a Darallel. He oblcrvcs 
 that fcverul nations of them to the nprH) of the Cafpian Sea, 
 
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 le^ a ti^Jndering life; which, as well as many other of theff 
 citttoms, and way of living, agrees in many circumftances with 
 the Indians of America. And though the refemblances are not 
 abfolutely perfeft, yet the emigrants, even before they left their 
 Qwn country, differed from each other, and went not by the 
 Craie name. Their change of abode effefted what remained. 
 
 He further fays, that a fimilar likenefs exifts between feveral 
 American nations, and the Samceidcs who rtre fettled, according 
 to the Ruffian accounts, on the great River Oby. And it is 
 * itiore natural, continues he, to fuppofe that Colonies of thefe 
 nations pafTed over to America by croffing the icy fea on their 
 fledges, than for the Norwegians to travel all the way Grotius 
 ' has marked out for them. 
 
 This writer maizes many other remarks that are equally fen- 
 fible, and which appear to be juft; but he mtermixeswith thefc 
 fome that are not fo well founded. 
 
 Emanutl de Moraez, a Portugeiize, in his hiftory of Brazil, 
 aiierts, that America has been wholly peopled by the Carthagi- 
 nians and Ifraelites. He brings as a proof of thisafTertion, the 
 , difcoveries the former are known to have made at a great di- 
 ftance beyond the coaft of Africa. The progrefs of which* be- 
 ing put a flop to by the fenate of Carthage, thofe who happen- 
 ed to be then in the newly difcovered countries, being cut off 
 ^, from all commtimi cation with their countrymen, and deftitute 
 of many necelFaries of life, fell into a ftate of barbarifm. A» 
 to the Ifraelites, this author thinks that nothing but circumcifi- 
 tm is wanted in order to conftitute a perfect refemblance be- 
 tween them and the Brazilians. 
 
 George De Hornn, a learned Dutchman, has likev^'-ife written 
 on this fubjeft. He fets out with declaring, that he does not 
 believe it polBble America could have been peopled before the 
 flood, confidering the iTiort fpace of time which elapfed be- 
 tween the creation of the world and that memorable ei; cr^t. In 
 the next place be lays it down as a principle, that after the de- 
 luge, men and other terreftrial animals penetrated into that 
 country both by fea and by land ; fome through accident, and 
 fome from a formed dclign. That birds got thither by flight; 
 which they were enabled to do by refting on the rocks and 
 xflands that arc fcattercd about in the Ocean. ' ., 
 
 He further obferves, tl^at wild hearts may have found a free 
 paffage by land; and that it we do not meet with horfes or cat^ 
 tie, (to which he might have added elephants, camels, rhino- 
 ceros, and hearts of many other kinds) it is bccaufe thofe na- 
 tions that parted thither, were either not acquainted with their 
 ufe, or had no convenience to fupport them. 
 
 Having totally excluded many nations that others have admit- 
 ted as the probable firft fettlers of America, for which he gi\es 
 fubrtantial reafons, he fnppofes that it began to be peopled by 
 the oorthi and maintains, that the primitive colonies Tpread 
 
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 chemfclvcs by the means of the idhmus of Panama through th« 
 whole extent of the continent. I 
 
 He believes that the firft founders of the Indian Colonics 
 were Scythians. That the Phccnicians and Carthaginians after- 
 wards got footing in America acrofs the Atlantic Ocean, and. 
 the Chinese by way of the Pacific. And that other nations 
 might from time to time have landed there by one or other of 
 thefe ways, or might poflibly have been thrown on the coaft by 
 tampefts; fince, through the whole extent of that Continent, 
 both in its northern and fouthern parts, we meet with undoubt- * 
 cd marks of a mixture of the northern nations with thofe wiio 
 have come from other places. And laftly, that fome Jews and 
 Chriftians might have been carried there by fuch like events, 
 but that this muft have happened at a time when the whole of 
 the New World was already peopled. 
 
 After all, he acknowledges that great difficulties attend the 
 determination of the quellion. Thele, he fays, are occalioned 
 in the firil place by the imperfeft knowledge we have of the ex- 
 tremities of the globe, towards the north and fouth pole; and 
 in the next place to the havock which the Spaniards, the hrft ' 
 difcoverers of the new world, made among its moft ancieift 
 monuments; as witnefs the great double road betwixt Quito and 
 Cuzco, an undertaking fo Ihipendous, that even the moft mag- 
 niticent of thofe executed by the Romans, cannot be compared 
 to it. 
 
 He fuppofes alfo another migration of the Phoenicians, than 
 thofe already mentioned, to have taken place; and this was 
 during a three years voyage made by the Tyrian fleet in the fer- 
 vice of King Solomon. He alferts on the authority of Jofe- 
 phus, that the port at which this embarkation was made, lay 
 in the Mediterranean. The heet, he adds, went in queft of 
 elephants teeth and peacocks to the weftern Coaft of Africa, 
 which is Tarfilli; then to Ophir for gold, which is Haitt^, or 
 the ifland of Hifpaniola; and in the latter opinion he is (up- 
 ported by Columbus, who, when he difcovered that ifland, 
 thought h^ could trace the furnaces in which the gold was re- 
 fined. 
 
 To thefe migrations which preceded the Chriftian a:ra, he 
 adds many others of a later date from different nations, but 
 thefe I have not time to enumerate. For the fam-e reafon I am 
 obliged to pafs over numberlefs writers on this fiibjedt; and 
 Ihall content myfelf with only giving the fentiments of two or 
 three more. 
 
 The hrrt of thefe is Pierre De Charlevoix, a Frenchman, 
 who, in his journal of a voyage to North America, made fo 
 lately as the year 1720, has recapitulated the opinions of a va- 
 riety of authors on this head, to which he has fubjoined his 
 own conjedures. But the latter cannot without fome difficulty 
 te extfattc^, as they are fo interwoven with the pailages he 
 
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 ^Sts «tuoterf, that it requires much auenti'oh to difcriminaje 
 tbeiii. 
 
 He fccms to allow that Aitierica might have received its firft 
 irbabitants frrtin Tartary and iTyrcania. This he confiniis, by 
 tibfcrvini; that the lions and tigers which are found in the for- 
 fttei, niul!: have come from thofe countries, and wholt paflage 
 fervis for a j^roof that the two hemilphcres join to the north- 
 ward of Afia. He then draws a corroboration of tliis argu- 
 ment, from a ftory he fays he has often hctird related by Father 
 Croflon, a French Jcfuit, as an undoubted matter of faft. 
 • This father, after having hiboured fome time in the millions 
 of Nev^ Frlnce, pafTed over to thole of China. One day as he 
 was travelling in Tartary, he met a Huron woman whom he 
 had formerly known in Canada. He asked her by what adven- 
 ture Ihe had been carried into a country I'o diftant from her 
 own. She made anfwer, that having been taken in war, iTie 
 had been cond ifl'cd from nation to nation, till fte had reached 
 the place at which flie then was. 
 
 Monficur Charlevoix (ays further, that he had been alTurcd 
 another Jefuft, pafllrtg through Nantz, in his return from Chi- 
 na, had related much l\\ch another affair of a SpanifK woman 
 f»om Florida. She alio had been taken by certain Indians, ond 
 given to tlwfe of a more dillant country; and by thele again to 
 another nation, till having thus been fuccefll\ ely palTed from 
 country to country, and travelled through regions extremely 
 cold, iTie at laft found herfelf in Tartary. Here ilie had mar- 
 lied a Tartar, who had attended the conquerors in China-, where 
 flie was then fettled. 
 
 Heacknowledges as an allay to the probability of thefc ftories, 
 that thofe who had failed farthcil to the eaftward of Alia, by 
 purfuing the Coaft of Jellb or Kamtfchatka, have pretended that 
 they had perceived the extremity of this continent; and from 
 thence have concluded that there could notpoflibly be any com- 
 munication by land. But he adds that Francis Guella, a Spa- 
 Btard, is faid to have alTerted, that this reparation is no more 
 than a ftraight, about one hundred miles over, and that fom^ 
 late voyages of the Japonefe give grounds to think that this 
 ftraight is only a bay, above which there is paffage over land. 
 
 He goes on to oblerve, that though there are few wild hearts 
 to be met with in North America, except a kind of tigers with- 
 out fpots, which are found in the country of the Iroquoife, yet 
 towards the tropics there are lions and real tigers, which, not- 
 withftanding, might have come from Hyrcaniaand Tartary; for 
 as by advancing gradually fouthward they met with climates 
 jnore a.!;reeable to theit natures, they have in tipie abandoned 
 the no-rthern countries. 
 
 Htt quotes both Solinus and Piiny to prove that the Scythian 
 Anthro^)ophagi once depopulated a great extent of country, ais 
 far as the4>romontory Tabin; and alfo an author of later date, 
 Mark Pol, a Venetian, whv, he fays, tells us, that to thenorth- 
 
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 cart of China and Tartary there arc vaft uninhabited countricsv 
 wliich might be fuflicient to confirm any conjeflures concerning 
 the retreat of a great number of Scythians into America. 
 
 To this he adds, that we find in the ancients the names of 
 feme of thcfe nations. I'Uny fpeaks of the Tabians; Solinus 
 mentions the VpLilcans, who had for neighbours the Mairagctcs, 
 whom Pliny lince alfiires us to have entirely difappearcd. Am- 
 mianus Marcellijius cxprcfsly tells us, that the fear of the An- 
 thropophagi obh'ged feveral of thcinnabitantsof thofe countries 
 to take refuse clfewhere. From all thefe authorities MonHeur 
 Charlevoix concludes, that there is at lead room to conjefture 
 that more than one nation hi Amcyrica had a Scythian or Tarta- 
 rian original. 
 
 He iiniihes his remarks" on the authors he has quoted, by the 
 following obfervations: It appears to meti|at this controvcrfy 
 may be reduced to tlvj two follov.ing articles ; lirft, how the 
 new world might have been peopled; and fecoixily, by whom, 
 and by what means it has been peopled. 
 
 Nothing, he aflT^rts, may be more cafily anfwered than the 
 firft. •Amefica iriight have been peopled as the three other parts 
 of th'-vworld have been. Many difficulties have been formed 
 on this fubjccT;, which have been deemed infolvable, but which 
 , are far frt)m being fo. The inhabitants of both hemifpheres 
 * are certainly the dcfccndants of the fame father; the common 
 parent of mankind received an exprefs command from Heaven 
 to people the whole world, and accordingly it has been peopled. 
 
 To bring this about it was necelTitry to overcome all difficul- 
 ties that lay in the way, and they have been got over. Were 
 thefe difficulties greater with refpefl tu peopling the extremi- 
 ties of Ada, Africa, and Europe, or the tranfporting men into 
 the illands which lie at a coniiderable diftance from thpfe con* 
 tincnts, than to pafs over into America,? certainly iipt. 
 
 Navigation, which has arrived at fo great perfecfion within 
 thefe three or four centuries, might poflibly have been more 
 perfect in thofe early ages than at this day. Who can believe 
 ;liat Noah and his immediate defcendants knew lefs of this art 
 than we do.? That the builder and pilot of the largefi: iTiip that 
 ever was, a ffiip that was formed to traverfe an unbounded 
 ocean, and had fo many i"hoals and quick-fands to guard againlt, 
 fhould be ignorant of, or fliouid not have communicated to 
 thofe of his defcendants wi-jo furvivcd him, and by whofe means 
 he was to execute the order of the Great Creator; I fay, who 
 can believe he Ihould not have communicated to them the art 
 of failing upon an ocean, which was not only more calm and 
 pacific, but at the fame time confined within its ancient limits? 
 
 Admitting this, hov/ eafy is it to pafs, exclufive of the paflage 
 already defcribed, by land from the coaft of Africa to Brazil, 
 from the Canaries to the Wellern Illands, and from them to 
 the Antilles.? B'rom the Britiffi Illes, or the coart of France, to 
 Newfoundland, the palTagc is neither long nor difficult; I might 
 
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 f;u' ns imich of that from China to Japan; from Japan, or tfie' 
 Phillipuics, to the Iflcs Mariannes; and from thence to Mex- 
 ico. 
 
 There arc illands at a confiderablcdiftance from the continent 
 of Alia, where we have not been furprized to find inhabitants, 
 why then iTiouid we wonder to meet with people in America? 
 Nor can it be imagined that the grandfons of Noah, when they 
 were oblij^ed to fcparate, and fpread themfclvcs in conformity 
 to the defigns of God, over the whole earth, Ihoiild find it ah 
 I'oliitcly ImpofTlble to people almoft one half of it, 
 
 I have been more copious in my extracts from this author 
 than I intended, as his reafons appear to be folld, and many of 
 Jiis obfervations jurt. From this encomium, however, I mutt 
 exclude the florics he hp« introduced* of the Huron and Floridan 
 women, which I think I might venture to pronounce fabulous. 
 
 I iliall only add, to give my readers a more comprehenfivc 
 view of Monf. Charlevoix's diflertation, the method he pro- 
 pofcs to come at the truth of what we are in fearch of. 
 
 The only means by which this can be done, he fays, is by 
 comparing the languages of the Americans with the different na- 
 tions, from whence we might fuppofe they have peregrinated. 
 If we compare the former with thofe words that are confidered 
 as primitives, it might pofllbly fetus upon fome happy difcovery. 
 And this way of afcending to the original of nations, which is 
 by far the leaft equivocal, is notfo difficult as might be imagin- 
 ed. We have had, and .ftill have, travellers and mifHonarie.s 
 who have attained the languages that are fpoken in all the pro- 
 vinces of the new world ; it would only be neceflary to make a 
 collection of tiicir- grammars and vocabularies, and to collate 
 tbtm with the dead and liviug languages of the old world, that 
 pafs for originals, and the fimilarity might eallly be traced. 
 Even the different dialcfts, in fpite of the alterations they have 
 undergone, Hill retain enough of the mother tongue to furnilTi 
 coniiderable lights. 
 
 Any enqm'ry into the manners, cuftoms, religion, or tradi- 
 tions of the Ameiicaiis, in order to diicover by that means their 
 origin, he thinks would prove fallacious. A difquifition ofthat 
 kind, he obferves, is only capable of producing a falfe light, 
 more likely to dazzle, and to make us wander from the right 
 path, than to lead us with certainty to the point propofed. 
 
 Ancient traditions areefFaeed from the minds of fuch as either 
 ]i;ivc not, or for fevcral ag^s have been without thofe helps 
 tluit arc neceflary to prefervethcm. And in this (ituation is full 
 one half of the world. New events, and a new ar^'angement 
 o\' things, give rile to new traditions, which efface the former, 
 and arc rhcmfeives effaced in turn. After one'or two centuries 
 have palled, there no longer remain any traces of the firft tra- 
 ditions ; and thus we are involved in a ilate of uncertainty. 
 
 lie concludes with the following remarks, among many others. 
 Untuici'eca uceidents, tcmpells, and iliipwreeks, have certainly 
 
 contributed 
 
contributed to people every habitable part of the worUl : n?i(l 
 ought wc to wonder after this, .at perceiving certain rcfciu- 
 blanccs, both of pcrfons and manners between nations that are 
 inoll remote from each other, when we tind fuch a diflcrencc 
 between thofe that border on one another F As we arc dclHtiitti 
 of hiftorical monuments, there is nothing, I repeat it, but ;i 
 knowledge of the primitive languages that is capable of throw- 
 ing any light upon thefe clouds of impenetrable darknel's. 
 
 By this enquiry wc lliould at Icail be fatislied, among that 
 prodigious number of various nations inhabiting America, and 
 differing fo much in languages from each other, which are thofo 
 who make ufe of words totally and entirely different from tholb 
 of the old world, and who confcquently mufl be reckoned to have 
 paflfed over to America in the eariief): ages, and thofe who, from 
 theanalogy of their language with fuch as arc at prcfcnt ufed in 
 the three other parts of the globe, leave room to judge that 
 their migration has been m^re recent, and which ought to bo 
 attributed to iTiipwrecks, or to fomc accident limilar to thofe 
 which have been fpokcn of in the courfc of* this treatife. 
 
 I fhall only add the opinion of one author more, before Igive 
 .my own fentiments on the fubjeft, and that is of James Adair, 
 Kfq; who yefided forty years. among the Indians, and publilhcd 
 the hillory of them in the year 1772. In his learned and fyltc- 
 matical hiftory of thofe nations, inhabiting the weftern parts of 
 the moft fouthern of the American colonies; this gentleman 
 without hefitation pronounces that the American Aborigines are 
 dcfcended from the Ifraelites, either whilftthcy wereamaritimo* 
 power, or foon after their general captivity. 
 
 This defcent he endeavours to prove from their religious 
 rites, their civil and martial cuftoms, their marriages, their fu- 
 neral ceremonies, their manners, language, traditions, and 
 from a variety of other particulars. And fo complete is his 
 convidtion on this bead, that he fancies he finds a pcrfe(5l and 
 indifputable fimilitude in each. Through all thci'e 1 have not 
 time to follow hiui, and fliall therefore only give a few extracts 
 to iTiow on what foundation he builds his conjectures, and what 
 degree of credit he is entitled to on this point. 
 
 He begins with obferviag, that though fome have fuppofed 
 the Americans to be defccnded from the Chincfe, yet neither 
 their religion, laws, or culioms agree in the leaft with thofe of 
 the Chinefe,- which futKcicntly proves that they are not of this 
 line. Befides, as our bell: iTiips are now almofl: half a year in 
 failing for China (our author does not here recoUedl that this 
 is from a high northern latitude, acrofs the Line, andthcnbac!. 
 again greatly to the northward of it, and not direftly athwart 
 the Pacilic Ocean, for only one hundred and eleven degrees) or 
 from thence to Europe, it is very unlikely they iliould attcm^ t 
 fuch dangerous difcovcries, with their fuppofed imall veffeb, 
 againft rapid currents, and in dark and fickly Monfoons. - 
 
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 He further remarks, that this is more particularly improba- 
 ble, as there is reafon to believe that this nation was unac- 
 quainted with the ufe of the loadftone to direft their courfe. 
 
 China, he fays, is about eight thoufand miles diftant from the 
 American continent, which is twice as far as acrofs the Atlantic 
 Ocean. And we are not informed by any ancient writer of their 
 maritime skill, or fo much as any inclination that way, befides 
 fmall coafting voyages. The winds blow likewife, with little 
 variation from eaft to weft within the latitudes thirty and odd, 
 north and foiith, and therefore thefe could not drive them 
 on the American coaft, it lying direftly contrary to fuch a 
 ^ourfe. ' 
 
 Neither could perfons, according to this writer's account, 
 fail to America from the north by the way of Tartary or Anci- 
 ent Scythia; that, from its fituation, never having been or can 
 be a maritime power; and it is utterly imprafticable, he fays, 
 for any to coille'to America by fea from that quarter. Befides, 
 the remaining tvsfSQS of their r^eligious ceremonies, and civil and 
 martial ouftoms, arc. quite oppofite to the like veftiges of the 
 Old Scythians. 
 
 - Even in the moderate northern climates there is jiot to be 
 fecn the leaft trace of any ancient flately buildings, or of any 
 thick fettlements, assure uiid to remain in the lefs healthy regi- 
 ons of Peru and Mexico. And feveral of the Indian nations 
 affure us, that they crofTed the Milliflippi before they made 
 their prefent northern fettlements; which, connefted with the 
 former arguments, he concludes will fufficiently explode tliat 
 weak opinion of the American Aborigines being lineally de- 
 fcended from the Tartars or ancient Scythians. 
 
 Mr Adair's reafons for fuppofing that the Americans derive 
 their origin from the Jews are, '-*^ 
 
 Firft, becaufe they are divided into tribes, and have' chiefs 
 over them as the Ifraelites had. 
 
 Secondly, becaufe, as by a ftrift permanent divine precept, 
 the Hebrew nation were ordered to worlhip, at Jerufalem, 
 Jehovah the true and living God, fo do the Indians, ilil- 
 ing him Yohcwah. The ancient Heathens, he adds, it is 
 well known worlliippeda plurality of gods, but the Indians pay 
 their religious devoirs to the Great beneficent, iuprcme, holy 
 Spirit of Fire, who rcfides, as they think, above the clouds, 
 and on earth alfo with unpolluted people. They pay no ado- 
 ration to images, or to dead perfons, neither to the celeftial 
 luminaries, to evil fpirits, nor to any created beings what- 
 ever. 
 
 Thirdly, becaufe, agreeable to the theocracy or divine go- 
 vernment of lirael, the Indians think the Deity to be theimmC' 
 diate head of their ftate. ^ 
 
 Fourthly, becaufe, as the Jews believe in the miniftration 6%- 
 angels, the Indians atfo believe that the higher regions are ift- 
 habitcd by good fpirits. 
 
 > . Fifthly, 
 
 ■:r 
 
rtil- 
 
 it is 
 mspay 
 
 holy 
 clouds, 
 
 ado- 
 eleftial 
 what- 
 
 Fifthly, becaufe the Indian language and dialers appear to 
 bave the very idiom and genius of the Hebrew. Their words 
 and fentenccs being exprefllve, concife, emphatical, fonorous* 
 and bold,' and often, both in letters, and fignilication, are fy- ^ 
 nonimous with the Hebrew language. ^ 
 
 Sixthly, becaufe they count their time after the manner of the ; 
 Hebrews. 
 
 Seventhly, becaufe in conformity to, or after the manner of ,, 
 the Jews, they have their prophets, high-priefts, and other re- 
 ligious orders. 
 
 Eighthly, becaufe their* feftivals, fafts, and religious rites 
 have a great refemblance to thofe of the Hebrews. 
 
 Ninthly, becaufe the Indians, before they go to war, have 
 majiy preparatory ceremonies of purification and falling, like . 
 what is recorded of the Ifraelites. 
 
 Tenthly, becaufe the fame tafle for ornaments, and the , 
 fame kind, are made ufe of by the Indians, as by the He- 
 brews. 
 
 Thefe and many otber argunients of a fimijar nature, Mr. 
 Adair brings in fupport o^ his favourite fyftem; but I iTiould 
 imagine, that if the Indians are really derived from the He- 
 brews, among their religious ceremonies, on which he chiefly 
 feems to build his hypothefis, the prini^il, that of circuoici- 
 fion, Avould never have been laid afide, and its very remein-^ 
 brance obliterated. ^'Z 
 
 Thus numerous and diverfe are the opinions of thofe who 
 have hitherto written on this fubjefl! 1 iTiall not, however, 
 either endeavour to reconcile , them, or to point out the errors 
 of eaph, but proceed to give my own fentiments on the origin 
 of trfe Americans ; which are founded on conclufions drawn 
 froni the mod rational arguments of the writers I have menti- 
 oned, and from niy own obfervations ; the confiftency of thefe • 
 I ihall leave to the judgment of my Readers. 
 
 The better to introduce my conjeftures on this head, it is nc- 
 ceffa'ry Hrft to afcertain the diftances between America and thofe 
 parts of the habitable globe that approach nearefl to it. 
 
 The Continent of America, as far as we can judge from all 
 the refearches that have been made near the poles, appears to 
 be entirely fcparated from the other quarters of the world. 
 That part of Europe which approaches nearefltoit, is thecoaft 
 of Greenland, lying in about fcventy degrees of north latitude; 
 and which reaches within twelve degrees of the coaft of Labra- 
 dor, fituated on the north-eaft borders of this.corftinent. The 
 coaft of Guiniffis the neareft part of Africa; which 1^'about 
 eighteen hundred and fixty mil<?S north-eaft from the Brazils. 
 The moft eaftcrn coaft of Alia, which extends to the Korean 
 Sea on the north of China, projefts north-eaft through eaftcrn 
 Tartary and Kamfchatka to Siberia, in about fixty degrees of 
 north latitude. Towards which the weilern coafts of Ame- 
 rica, from California to the Straights of Annian, extend near- 
 
 *^'' 
 
 '^' 
 
 >i 
 
 % 
 
•,f 
 
 r 04 1 
 
 \y north-wcft, and lie in about forty-fix degrees of the fame 
 latitude. ^ 
 
 Whether the Continent ofr America ftretches any farther north 
 than,thefe ftraights, andjofnsto the eaftern parts of Afia, agres- 
 able to what has been aiferted by fome of the writers I have 
 quoted, or whether the lands that have been difcovered in the 
 intermediate parts are only an archipelago of illands, verging 
 towards the oppofite continent, is not yet afcertained. 
 
 It being, however, certain that there arc many confiderabic 
 iflands which lie between the extremities of Afia and America, 
 viz. Japon, Jefo or Jedfo, Gama's Land, Behring's Ifle, with 
 many others difcovered by Tfchirikow, and befides thcfe, from 
 tjfty degrees north there appearing to be a clufter of iflands that 
 reach as far as Siberia, it is probable from theit proximity to 
 America, that it received its iirft inhabitants from them. 
 
 This conclufion is the mod: rational I am able to draw, fup- 
 pofing that fince the Aborigines got footing on this continent, 
 no extraordinary or fudden change in the pofition or lurface of 
 it has taken place, from inundations, earthquakes, or any re- 
 volutions of the eartlkthat we are at prefdnt unacquainted with. 
 
 To me it appears highly improbable that it fhould have been 
 peopled from different quarters, acrcfs the Ocean, as others 
 have alTertcd. From the ilze of the Ihips made ufe of in thofe 
 early ages, and the ws&lt of the compafs, it cannot be fuppofed 
 that any maritime nation would by choice venture over the un- 
 fathomable ocean, in fcarch of diftant continents. Had this 
 however been attempted, or had America been iirlt 'accidental- 
 ly peopled from (hips freighted with paflengers of both fexes, 
 which were driven by flrong carter ly winds acrofs the Atlantic, 
 thefe fettlers miift have retained fome traces of the language of 
 the country from whence they mfgrated; and this fince the dif- 
 covery of it by the Europeans mull: have been made out. Ital- 
 fo appears extraordinary that feveral of thcfe 'accidental migra- 
 tions, as allowed by forne, and thefe from different parts, iTiould 
 have taken place. 
 
 Upon the whole, after the moft critical enquiries, and the 
 matured deliberation, I am of opinion, that America received 
 its firft inhabitants from the nortb-eafl, by way of the great 
 archipelago juft mentioned, and from thcfe alone. But this 
 might have been effected at different times, and from various 
 parts : from Tartary, China, Japon, or Kamfchatka, the inha- 
 bitants of thefe phRces refembling each other in colour, features, 
 and ihape; ^d who, before fome of them acquired a know- 
 ledge of'the arts and fciences, miglit have likewife refemblcd 
 each other in their manners, cM(loin|, religion, and languag**** 
 
 Th^ only difference between th^hinefe nation and the'l^r- 
 tars lies in the cultivated Hate of vne one, and the unpolifhed 
 fituation of the others. The forn|f/ have become a commer- 
 cial people, and dwell in houfes fo/'med into regular towns and 
 i<;ities;the, latter live chiefly in tents, and rove about in diffe- 
 -.'■ ■ >^.- , ' - rent 
 

 4k 
 
 [ 95 1 
 
 rent hords, without any fixed abode. Nor can the long and? 
 bloody wars thefe two nations hav»been engaged in, extermi- 
 nate their hereditary fimilitude. Theprefent family of the Chi- 
 nife. emperors is of Tartarian extradlion; and if they were not 
 fcnfible of fome claim befide that of conqueft, fo numerous a 
 people would fcarcely fit quiet under the dominion of ftrangers. 
 
 It it very evident that fome of the manners and cuftoms 
 of the American Indians referable thofe of the Tartar^; 
 and I make no doubt but that in fome future aera, and this is 
 not a very diftant one, it will be reduced to a certainty, that 
 during fome of the wars between the Tartars and the Chinefe, 
 a part of the inhabitants of the northern provinces were driven 
 from their native country, and took refuge in fome of the ifles 
 before-mentioned, and from thence fiound their way into America. 
 At different periods each nation might prove viftorious, and 
 the conquered by turns fly before their conquerors; and from 
 hence might arife the fimilitude of the Indians to all thefe 
 people, and thatanimofity which exifis between fo many of their 
 tribes. 
 
 It appears plainly to me that a great fimilarity between the 
 Indian and Chinefe is confpicuous in that particular cuftom of 
 lliaving or plucking off the hair, and leaving only a fmall tuft 
 on the crown of the head. This mode ia^^faid to have been en- 
 joined by the Tartarian emperors ontheir acceflion to the throne 
 of China, and confequently is a further proof that this cuftom 
 was in ufe among the Tartars; to whom as well as the Chinefe, 
 the Americans might be indebted for it. 
 
 Many words alfo are ufed both by the Chinefe and Indians, 
 which have a refemb lance to each other, not only in their found. 
 but their fignilication. The Chinefe call a flave, Ihungo; and 
 the Naudoweflie Indians, whofe language from their little inter- 
 courfe with the Europeans is the leaft corrupted, term a dog, 
 fljungulTi. The former denominate one fpecies of their tea, 
 fhoufong; the latter call their tobacco, fhoufaflau. Many other 
 of the words ufed by the Indians contain the fyllables che, chaw, 
 and chu, after the dialed!: of the Chinefe. 5 ■ 
 
 There probably might be found a fimilar connexion between 
 the language of*the Tartars and the American Aborigines, were 
 we as well acquainted with it as we are, from a commercial in- 
 tcrcourfc, with that of the Chinefe. .Afc ' V 
 
 I am confirmed in thefe conjedlures, by the accounts of Kam« 
 fchatka, publiflied a few years ago by order of the^lmprefs of 
 Ruilia. The author of which fays, that the fea which divides 
 that peninfula from America is full of iflands; and that the dif- 
 tance between Tfchukotskoi-Nofs. a promontory which li6s at 
 the eaftern extremity of that country, and the coaftof America, 
 is not more than two degrees and a half of a great circle. He 
 further fays, that there is the greateft reafon to fuppofe that 
 Alia and America once joined at this place, as the coalls of both 
 continents appear to havv botu broken into capes and bays, 
 
 whiclj 
 
 *n \ 
 
 ■•*n^:A 
 
 IM' 
 
[ 96 } 
 
 •which anfvver each other; more efpcciaflly as the inhabitants 
 of ihis part of both refembk each* other in their perlbns, ha- 
 bits, cuftoms, and food. ^Their language, indeed, he obferves, 
 does n*ft appear to be the fame, but then the inhabitants of 
 eath diHrift in Kamfchatka fpcak a language as different from 
 each other, as from that fpoken on the opposite coaft. Thefe 
 oblcrvations, to which he. adds, the fimiiarity'of the boats of 
 the inhabitants of each coaft, and a remark tliat the natives of 
 this part of America are wlioliy ftrangers to wine and tobacco, 
 which he looks upon as a proof that they have as yet had no 
 communication with the natives of Europe, he fays, amount to 
 little lefs than a demonftration that America was peopled from 
 this part of Afia. 
 
 The limits of my prefent undertaking will not permit me to 
 dwell any longer on this fubjcdt, or to enumerate any other 
 proofs in favour of my hypothefis. I am however fo thorough- 
 ly convinced of the certainly of it, awd fo defirous have I been 
 to obtain every teftimony which can be procured in its fupport, 
 that I once made an offer to a private fociety of gentlemen, who 
 were curious in fuch refearches, and to whom I had communi- 
 cated my fcntiitients on this point, that I would undertake a jour- 
 ney, on receiving fuch fupplies as were needful, through the 
 north-eall parts of Europe and Afia to the interior parts of 
 America, and from thence to England; making, as 1 proceeded, 
 fuch obfervations both on the languages and manners of the 
 people with whom 1 iTiould be convbrfant, as might tend to il- 
 luflrate the do6lrine I have here laid down, and to fatisfy the 
 curiofity of the learned or inquifitive; but as this propofal was 
 judged rather tQ require a national than a privete fupport, it was 
 not carried into execution. 
 
 I am happy to find, fince I formed the foregoing conclufions, 
 that they correfpond with the fentiments of that great and learn- 
 ed hirtorian Dodor Robertfon ; and though, with him, I ac- 
 knowledge that the invefligation, from its nature, is fo obfcure 
 and intricate, that the conjeftures I have made can only be con- 
 fidered as conjcftures, and not indifputable conclufions, yet they 
 carry with them a greater degree of probability than the fuppo- 
 litiohs of thofe who alTcrt that this continent w»s peopled from, 
 another quarter. -• 
 
 One of the Do6lor's quotations from the Journals of Behring 
 
 and Tfehirikow, who failed from Kamfchatka, about the year 
 1741, in (Uj^rt of the New World, appears to carry great weight 
 •f^ith it, am to afford our conclufions firm fupport : " Thefe 
 
 ** commanders having fiiaped their courfe towards the pafl, dif- 
 *' covered Ipd, which to them appeared to be part of the Ame- 
 " rican continent; and according to their obfervations, itfeems 
 ** to be fituated within a few degrees of the north-wefl coaftof 
 *' California. Ihey had there fome intercourfe with the inha- 
 *' bitants, who feemed to them to refemble the North-Ameri- 
 *' cans J as they prclented to the Ruffians the Calumet or Pipe 
 
 & 
 
F-'»l'»»,.^ , 
 
 • [ 97 3 ' ' 
 
 ** of Peace, which is a fymbol of fricndfliip unfverfa/ amon^ 
 ** the people of North America, and an ufage of arbitrary in- 
 " ftitution peculiar to them." \ 
 
 One of this incomparable writer'ii own arguments in fupport 
 of his hypothefis, is alfo urged with gfeat judgment, and ap- 
 pears to be nearly conclufive. He fays, " We may lay it down 
 *^ as a certain principle in this enquiry, that Ainerica was nut 
 *^ peopled by any nation of the ancient continent, which had 
 ** made confiderablc progrcfs in civilization. The inhabitants 
 '* of the New World were in a Hate 6f focicty fo extremely 
 **■ rude, as to be unacquainted' with ihofe arts which are the 
 ** firft elTays of human i<lgcnuity in its advance towards im- 
 ^* provcmcnt. Even iHe mofl cultivated nations of America 
 ** were Grangers to fnany of thofe fimple inventions, which 
 ^* were aimofl coeviil with fociety in other parts of the world, 
 *' and were known in the carliell periods of civil life. From 
 ** this it is manifeft that the tribes which originally migrated to 
 ** America, came off from nations which muft have been no 
 " lefs barbarous than their pofterity, at the time when they were 
 " firrt dlfcovered by the Kuropeans. If ever the ufe of iron 
 had been khown to the ravages of America, or to their pro- 
 genitors, if ever they bad employed a plough, a loom, or a 
 forge, the utility of thele inventions would have prefcrvcd 
 them, and it is impoffiblc that they iTjould have been aban- 
 doned or forfTottcii." v .' **-«-■•■* 
 
 li 
 
 li 
 
 a 
 
 ■h^i 
 
 » CHAPTER II. 
 
 t-' 
 
 0/ their Persons, Dress, 6r. 
 
 .-:?!- 
 
 FR O M the firft fettlement of the French in Canada, to the 
 conqucft of it by the Englifli in 1760, feveral of that 
 nation, who had travelled into the interior parts of North 
 America, either to trade with the Indians, or to endeavour to 
 make converts 'of them have publiihed accounts of their cu- 
 lloms, manners, &c. 
 
 The principal of thefe are Father Louis Hennipin, Monf. 
 Charlevoix, and the Baron Le Houtan. The tirft, many years 
 ago, publilTied fome very judicious remarks, which he was the 
 better enabled to do by the alfiitancche received from Jhe maps 
 and diaries of the unfortunate M. De la Salle, who was affaffinated 
 whilll: he was on his travels, by fome of his own party. That 
 gentleman's journals falling into Father Hennipin's hands, he was 
 enabl^fi by them to publiih many inCcreHing particulars relative 
 
 -v'-^^^ N 10 
 
 ■ .-"v,, 
 
' . [ 98 1 ' , . 
 
 to the Indians. But in fome refpefts he fell very ftort of ihat 
 knowledge which it w.ts in his power to have attained from his 
 long refidence among them. Nor was he always (as has been 
 already obferved) exad injiis calculations, or juil in the Intel- 
 li;;cnce he has given iis. * ,*^ 
 
 The- accounts publilTied by the other two, particularly thofe 
 of Charlevoix, are very erroneous in the geographical parts, 
 and mai^ of the ftories told by the Baron are mere delufi- 
 ons. 
 
 Some of the Jefuits, who heretofore travelled into thcfc 
 parts, have alfo written on this fubjecl; but as few, if any, 
 of their works have been tranflated into th^jpnglifh language, 
 the generality of Readers are not benefitedT>y them; and, in- 
 deed, had this been done, they would have reapeibut few ad- 
 vantages from them, as they have chiefly confined their oh- 
 fcivations to the religidus^principlcs of the favages, and the 
 ilcps taken for their converfion. 
 
 Since the conquell: of Canada, fome of our own countrymen, 
 who have lived among the Indians, and learned their language, 
 have publillied their obfervations ; however as their travels 
 have not extended to any of the interior parts I treat of, but 
 have only been made among the nations that border on our fct- 
 tlements, a knowledge of the genuine and uncontaminated cu- 
 iloms and manners of the Indians could not have'been acquired 
 by theln. 
 
 The fouthern tribes, and thofe that have held a conftant in- 
 lercourfe with the French or Englifh, cannot have preferv- 
 , ed their manners or their cuftoms in their original purity. 
 I'hey could not avoid acquiring the vices with the language of 
 ttniffe they converfed with ; and the frequent intoxications they 
 ,<^perienccd through the baneful juices introduced among them 
 by the Europeans, have completed a total alteration in their 
 charafters. 
 
 In fuch as thefe, a confufed medley of principles or ufagGs 
 are only to be obferved; their real and unpolluted cuftoms could 
 be feen among thofe nations alone that have held but little 
 communications with the provinces. Thefe I found in the 
 north- weft parts, and therefore flatter myfelf that I am able to 
 give a more juft account of the cuftoms and manners, of the In- 
 dians, in their ancient purity, than any that has been hitherto 
 publiftied. 1 have made obfervations pn thirty nations, and 
 though moft of thefe have differed in their languages, there has 
 appeared a great fimiliarity in their manners, and from thefe 
 have I endeavoured to extract the following remarks. 
 
 As I do not propofe to give a regular and connected fyftem 
 of Indian concerns, but only to relate fuch particulars of their 
 manners, cuftoms, &c. as I thought moft worthy of notice, 
 and which interfere as little as poflTible with the accounts given 
 by other writers, 1 muft beg my Readers to excufe their not be- 
 .,.«../ ': ■■ 'k arranse4 
 
 
 »* - 
 
• • t 99 1 
 
 arranged fyftcmaticall}^, or treated of in a more copious man* 
 ncr. 
 
 The Indian nations do not appear to me to difFer fo widely 
 in tlieir make, colour, or conftitution from eacli oihcr, as re- 
 prefentcd by fome writers. They are in general flight made, 
 rather tall and flrait, and you feldom fee any among tliem de- 
 formed ; their skin is of a re^dilli or copper colour; their eyes 
 are large and black, and their hair of the fama hue, but very 
 rarely is it curled; they have good teeth, and their breath is as 
 I'weet as the air they draw in; their cheek-bones rather raifed, 
 but more fo in the women than the men; the former are not 
 (juite fo tall as the European women, however you frequently 
 meet with good faces and agreeable perfons among them, al- 
 though they are more inclined to be fat than the other fex. 
 
 I Aall not enter into a particular enquiry whether the Indians 
 are indebted to nature, art, or the temperature of the climate for 
 the colour of their skin, nor lliall I quote any of the contradictory 
 accounts I have read on this fubjedl; I fhall only fay, that It ap- 
 pears tovme to be the tinftitre they received originally from the 
 hands of their Creator; but at what period the variation which 
 is at prefent vifible, both in the complexion and features of ma- 
 ny nations took place, at what time the European whitenefs, 
 the jetty hue of the African, or the copper call ofHhe Americaij 
 were given them; which was the origin^ colour of the liril in- 
 habitants of the earth, or which mighttTCefteemedthemoftper- 
 feft, I will not pretend to determiner 
 
 Many writers have affertcd, that the Indians, even at the. 
 matured period of their exiftence, are only furnifhed 
 with hair on their beads; and that notwithftanding the profu- 
 fion with which that part is covered, thofe parts which among 
 the inhabitants of other climates are ufually the feat of«this ex- 
 crcfcence, remain entirely free from it. Even Doftor Robertfon, 
 through their mirref)refcntations, has contributed to propagata 
 the error; and fuppofing the remark juHly founded, has drawn 
 feveral conclufions from it relative to the habit and temperature 
 of their bodies, which are confequently invalid. But from mi- 
 nute enquiries, and a curious infpection, I am able to declare, 
 (however refpeclable I may hold the authority of thcfe hiftorians 
 in other points) that their affertions arc erroneous, and pro- 
 ceeding from the want of a thorough knowledge of the cuftoms 
 of the Indians. " ♦ 
 
 After the age of puberty, their bodies, in their natural ftate, 
 are covered in the fame manner as thofe of the Europeans. The 
 men, indeed, efleem a beard very unbecoming, and take great 
 pains to get rid of it, nor is there any ever to be perceived on 
 their faces, except when they grow old, and become inatten- 
 tive to their appearance. Every crinous eiflorel'cence on the 
 other parts of. the body is held unfeemly by them, and both 
 fcxes employ much time in their extirpation. 
 
 V*. 
 
 % 
 
 .,^i ', .yS 
 
 w:^ 
 

 ■■ ( 
 
 *■-. 
 
 ■^ii'i 
 
 ' [ 100 J ♦ 
 
 The Naudowcflics, and the remote natfons, pluck them out 
 with bent pieces of hard wood, formed into a 'kind of nippers; 
 whilft thofe who have communication with Europeans procure 
 from them wire, which they twill into a fcreworM'orm; apply* 
 ing this to the part, they prefs the rings together, and with a 
 fuddcn twitch araw out all the hairs that are inclcfed between 
 them. ' 
 
 The men ofV*ery nation difTer in their drcfs very little from 
 each other, except thofe who trade with the Europeans; thel'c 
 exchange their furs for blankets, inirts and other apparcl^whiclT 
 they wear as much for ornament as nccefljty. The latter faflcn 
 by a girdle around their waifts about half a yard of broadcloth, 
 which covers the middle parts of their bodies. Thofe who 
 'wear IHirts never make them faft cither at the wrift or collar;^ 
 this would be a moft infufferablc confinement to them. They 
 throw their blanket loofc upon their ihouldors, and holding the 
 upper fide of it by the two corners, with a knife in one hand, 
 and a tobacco pouch, pipe, &c. in the other ; thus accoutred 
 they walk about in their villages or camps: but in their dances 
 <hey feldom wear this covering. 
 
 Thofe among the men who wifh to appear gayer than the 
 reft, pluck from their heads all the Iwir, except from a fpot ou 
 the top of it,*about the fize of a crown piece, where it is per- 
 mitted to grow to a confiderable length : on this arc faflened 
 plumes of feathers of various colours, with filvcr or ivory quills. 
 The manner of cutting and ornamenting this part of the head 
 diftinguiflies different nations from each other. 
 
 They paint their faces red and black, which they eftcem as 
 greatly ornamental. They alio paint thcmfelves when they go 
 to war; but the method they make ufc of on this occafion dif- 
 fers from that wherein tbcy ufe it merely as a decoration. 
 
 The young Indians, who arc" defirous of exccllirg their com- 
 panions in finery, flit the outward, rim of both their ears; at the 
 fame -time they take care not to fcparate them entirely, but 
 leave the flclTi thus cut, ftill untouched at both extremities : 
 aro^nd this fpongy fubftance, from the upper to the lower part, 
 they tMjk brafs wire, till the weight draws the amputated rim 
 into a bow of^ve or fix inches diameter, and drags it almoll 
 down to the fliQuldcr. This decoration is cftecmcd to be e.v 
 ceffively gay and becoming. 
 
 It is alio a common cullom among them to bore their nofes, 
 and wear in then pendants of diftcvcnt forts. I obferved that 
 fca fliells were much worn by thofe of the interior parts, and 
 reckoned very ornamental,* but how they procure them I could 
 not learn; probably lay their trallic with other nations nearer 
 the fca. 
 
 They go without any covering for the thigh, except tliat be- 
 fore fpoken of, round the middte, which reaches down half 
 way the thighs,- but they make for their legs a fart of Hocking,. 
 Either of skins or cloth: thefc arc Icwed as near to the i7ja|>e 
 ' , of 
 
t^f 
 
 Jt 
 
 of the icg as poffiblc, fo as to admit of being drawn on and off. 
 The edges of the ftuft' of which they are compofcd are left an- 
 nexed to the fcam, and hang loofe for about the breadth of 4 
 hand; and this part, which is phiccd on the outlidc of the Icgi 
 in generally ornamented by ihofe who have any communication 
 with Europeans, if of cloth, with ribands or lace, if of leather, 
 with embroidery and porcupine quills curioufly coloured. Stran"^ 
 gers who lumt among the Indians, in the parts wlwrc there is i 
 great deal of fnow, lind thefe ftockings much moic convenient 
 than any others. 
 
 Their ihoes are made of the skin of the deer, elk, or bufFar- 
 lo : thefc, after being Ibmctimcs drciTed according to. the Eu- 
 ropean manner, at others with the hair remaining on them, ars 
 cut into Ihoes, and fafhioned fo as to be eafy to the feet, and 
 convenient for walJiing. The edges round the uncle are deco- 
 rated with pieces of brafs or tin tixed around leather llrings. 
 , about an inch long, which being placed very thick, make a 
 cheerful tinkling noife cither when they walk or dance. 
 
 The women wear a covering, of fome kind or other from the 
 neck to ihc knees. Thofe who trade with the Europeans wear 
 a.linen garment, the famoas that ufcd by the men; the flapsof 
 which hang over the petticoat. Such as drcfs after their ancient 
 manner, make a kind of fhift with leather, which covers the 
 body but not the arms. Their petticoats are made either of 
 leather or cloth, and reach from the waifl to the knee. On 
 their legs they wear ftockings and flaoes,niadc and ornamented 
 »s thol'e of the men. 
 
 They differ from each other in the mode of drefRng their 
 hgads, each follov/ing thecullomof the nation or band to which 
 tlK.7 belong, and adhering to the form made ufc of by their au- 
 certors from time immemorial. 
 
 I remarked that molV of the females, who dwell on the caft 
 fide of the Miflidippi, decorate their heads by inclofing their 
 hair cither iii ribands, or in plates of filver; thelatter is only 
 made ule of by the higher ranks, as it is a coftly ornament. 
 The filver they ufe on this occafion is formed into thin^lates 
 of about four inches broad, in feveral of which they confine 
 their hair. That plate which is neareft thc.head is of a con- 
 fiderable width; the next narrower, and made fo as to pafs a 
 Uttle way under the other, and in this manner they faften into 
 each other, and gradually tapering, defcendto thewaift. The 
 hair of the Indian women bej^g ingeneral very long, this proves 
 an expenfive method. 
 
 ]iut the women that live to the weft of the MifCfflppi, viz. 
 the Naudowcllies, the Allinipoils, &c. divide their hair in the 
 middle of the head, and form it into two rolls, one againll 
 .each ear. Thefe rolls are about tl|ree inches long, and as 
 large as their wrills. They hang in a perpendicular attitudeat 
 the front of each car, and defcend as far as the lower part of 
 
 V 
 
( ro2 1 ' 'S 
 
 The nomcn of every nation generally place a fpot of pafnt, 
 about the fizc of a crown-piece, aj^ainll each earj fomeof them 
 ^tit pamt on their hair, and fomctinies a finallfpot in themiddlc 
 of the forehead. 
 
 The Indians, in general, pay a greater attention to their 
 drefs, and to the ornaments with which* they decorate their per- 
 ibns, than to the accommodation of their huts or tents. They 
 conftruft tho latter in the following fimpic and expeditious 
 manner. 
 
 Being provided with poles of a proper length, they faftcn two 
 of them acrofs, near their ends, with hands made of hark. 
 Having done this, they raife them up, and extend the bottom 
 of each as wide as they purpofe to make the area ot the tent: 
 they then ereft others of an equal height, and fix them fo 
 asiofupport tne two principal ones. On the whole they lay 
 skins of the elk or deer, fevved together, in quantity fuflicient 
 to cover the poles, and by lapping over to form the door. A 
 great number of skins are fometimcs required for this purpofe, 
 as fome of their tents are very capacious. That of thu chief 
 tvarrior of the Naudoweflles was at leaft forty feet in circum- 
 ference, and very commodious. 
 
 They obferve no regularity in fixing their tents when they 
 encamp, but place them ju ft as ft Ciiits thsir conveniency. 
 
 The huts alfo,, which thofe who ufe not tents, eredt when 
 they travel, for very few tribes have fixed abodes, or regular 
 towns, or villages, are equally fimple, and almoft as foon con- 
 flruftcd. 
 
 They frx fmall pliable poles in the ground, and bending them 
 till they meet at the top and form a fcmi-circlc, then lalh them 
 together. Thefe they cover with mats made of rulTics "platted, 
 or with birch bark, which they carry with them in their canoes 
 for this purpofe. 
 
 Thefe cabins have neither chimnies nor windows ; there Is 
 only a fmall aperture left in the middle of the roofs through 
 which the fmpke is difcharged, but as this is obliged to be (lop- 
 ped lAwhen it rains or fnows violently, the fmoke then proves 
 exceedingly troublefome. 
 
 They lie on skins, generally thofe of the bear, which are 
 placed in rows on the ground; and if the floor is not laige 
 enough to contain beds fuflicient for the accommodation oKhe 
 whole family, a frame is erefted about four or live feet from 
 the ground, in which the younger tpart of it fleep. 
 
 As the habitations of the Indians are thus rude, their do- 
 iTieflic utenfils are few in number, and plain in their formation. 
 The tools wherewith they falhion them are fo aukward and de- 
 fective, that it is not only impoflible to form them with any dfii? 
 gree of neatnefs or elegaifec, but the time required in the exe- 
 cution is fo confiderable, as to deter them from engaging in the 
 manufafture of fuch as are not abfoluteiy neccflary. 
 Tiie NaudowefCes aukQ the potb in which they boilthdr vie- 
 ^ ■ « t«als 
 
tiiols of the black clay or ftone mentioned 1n my journal i which 
 relilh the cfTcds of the tire, nearly as well as iron. When 
 they road, if it is a large joint, or a whole animal, fuch as a 
 beaver, they lix it as Europeans do, on a fpit made of a bard 
 wood, and placing the ends ontwo forked props, now and then 
 turn it. If the piece is fnialler they fpit it as before, and fixing 
 the fpit in an ercft but flantitig pofition, with the meat inclin- 
 ing toward!i*the lire, frequently change the fides, till every parj; 
 is fufficiently roaflcd. 
 ^ They make their dirties in which they ferve up their meat, 
 apd their bowls and pans, out of the knotty cxcrefcences of 
 the maple tree, or any other wood. They falTiion their fpoons 
 with a tolerable degree of neatnefs (as thefe require much lela 
 trouble than large utenfils) from a wood that is termed inAmo 
 rica Spoon Wood, and which greatly refembles bo« wood. 
 
 Every tribe are now poireilud ot knives, and ftecls to ftrlkc 
 fire" with. Thefe being fo cflcntially needful for the common 
 iifcsoflifc, thofe who have not an immediate communication 
 witit the European traders, purchafe them of fuch their neigh- 
 bours as are fituated nearer the ftJtlemcnts, and generally give 
 in exchange for them flaves. -. :• - . 
 
 ■'■^'iifi 
 
 CHAPTER Iir. » r 
 
 Of their Manners, Oualifications, ^V. 
 
 WHEN the Indian women fit down, they place themfelves 
 in a decent attitude, with their knees clofe together; 
 but from, being accii'ftomed to this pollure, they walk badly, 
 and appear to be lame. 
 
 They have no midwives amongft themy their climate, or feme 
 , peculiar happinefs in their conftitutions, rendering any aflift- 
 ance at that time unnecelTary. On thefe occafions they are con- 
 fined *ut a few hours from their ufual employmenrs, which are 
 commonly very laborious, as the men, who are remarkably in- 
 dolent, leave to them every Wind of drudgery; even ih their 
 hunting parties the former will not deign to bring home tb« 
 game, but fend their wives for it, though it lifes at a very cpn-'^ 
 fiderable diftance. 
 
 The women place their children foon after they are born on 
 boards fluffed with foft mofs, fuch as is found-}lV:-}nora{res or 
 meadows. The child is laid on its back in one of tht^fe kind of 
 cradles, and, being wrapped in skins or cloth to keep it warm, 
 is fecured in It by finail bent pieces of timber.. 
 
 ■-N.. ..-.•# To. 
 
I* » 
 
 TV 
 
 •' ( 104 1 
 
 To thefe machines they fallen ftrings, by which they hang 
 them to branches of trees ; or if they find not trees at hand, 
 turten them to a ftump or ftone, whilll they tranfai5l any needfcil 
 biifinefsf. In this pofition are the children kept forfomemonth«5» 
 When they arc taken out, the?' boys are fuffcred to go nakcd» 
 and the girk arc covered from the neck to the knees with a lliift 
 and a ihort petticoat. 
 
 • The Indian women are remarkably decent dining their men- 
 ftriial illnefs. Thofc nations that are moft remote from the 
 European fettlements, as the Naudowe/Hes, &c. are more par- 
 .Ctcnlarly' attentive to this point; though they all without excep- 
 tion adhere in foine degree to the fame cuftom. 
 
 In every camp or town there is an appiirtment appropriated 
 for their retirement at this time, to which both fingle and mar- 
 ried retreat, and feclude themfelves with the utmoft ftriftnefj 
 during this period from all fociety. Afterwards they purify 
 themfelves in running rtrcams, and return to their different em- 
 ployments. 
 
 The men on thefe occafions mod; carefully avoid holding any 
 communication with them; and the Naudowcflies arcfo rigidin 
 this obfervance, that they will not fufFer any belonging to them 
 to fetch fuch things as are nccelfary, even Hre, from tliefe fe- 
 male lunar retreats, though the want of them is attende<l with 
 the grcateft inconvenience. They are alfo fo fupcrftitious as to 
 think, if a pipe ftem cracks, which among them is madeofwood, 
 that the poflTeflbr has either lighted it at one of thefe polluted 
 fires, or held fome converfe with a woman during her retire- 
 ment, which is cfteemedby them moft difgraceful and wicked. 
 
 The Indians are extremely circumfpecl and deliberate in evc- 
 ly word and aftion; there is nothing that hurries them into any 
 intemperate warmth, but that inveteracy to their enemies, 
 Vrhich is rooted in every Indian heart, and never can be era- 
 dicated. In all other inrtances they are cool, and remarkably 
 cautious, takinj^ care not to betray on any account whatever 
 their emotions. If an Indian has difcovered that a friend is in 
 danger of being intercepted and cut of by one to whom he has 
 rendered himfelf obnoxious i he does not inform him in plain 
 and explicit terms of the danger he runs by purfuing the track 
 near which his enemy lies in wait for him, but he iirft cooly 
 asks him which way he is going that day; and having received 
 his anfwer, with the fame indifference telU him that he has 
 been informed that a dog lies? near the fpot, which might 
 probably do him a mifchief This hint proves fufficient; and his 
 friend avoids the danger with as much caution as if every defiga 
 and motion of his enemy had been pointed out to him. 
 
 This apathy often Ihews itfclf on occafions that would call 
 forth all the fervour of a fufceptible heart. If an Indian h^S 
 been abfent from his family and friends many months, either oil 
 a war or hunting party, when his wife and children meet him at 
 fome dillancc from his habitation, inllcad of the affedtionate fq 
 
C 105 1 
 
 fations that would naturally arife in the breaft of more refined . 
 beings, and be produftive of mutual congratulations, he conti- 
 nues his courfe without paying the leaft attention to thofe who 
 furround him, till he arrives at hjs honie. 
 
 He there (its down, and with the fume unconcern as if he 
 had not been abfent a day, fmokej'his pipe; thofe of his ac- 
 quaintance who have followed fcrim, do the famei and perhaps 
 it is feveral holirs before he relates to them the incidents which 
 have befallen him during hi* abfence, though perhaps he has 
 left a father, brother, or fbn on the field, whofe lofs he oughtf'"^ 
 to have lamented, or has been unfucccfsful in the undertaking 
 that called him from his home. : . * 
 
 Has an Indian befen engaged for feveral days in the chace, or on 
 any otherilborious expedition, and by accident continued thus 
 long without food, when he arrives at the hut or tent of a friend 
 where he knows hi? wants may fee immediately fupplied, betakes 
 tare not to iTiow the leall fymptoms of impatience, or to be- 
 tray the extreme hunger by which he is tortured; but on being 
 invited in, fits contentedly down, and fmokes his pipe with as 
 much compofure as if every appetite was allayed, and he was 
 perfeftly at eafe; he does the fame if among ftrangers. This 
 cuftom i$ ftriftlj^ adhered to by every tribe, as they efteem it a 
 proof of fortitude, and think the reverfe would intitle them to 
 the appellation of old women. ^^ _, 
 
 If you teli an Indian that his chiklren have greatly fignalized 
 themfeives againfian enemy, have taken many fcalps, and brought 
 home many prifoners, he does not appear to feel any extraor- 
 dinary plcafure on the occafion ; his anfwer generally is, " Ic 
 *' is well/' and he makes very little further enquiry about it. 
 On the contrary, if you inform him that his children are flainor 
 taken prifoners, he makes no complaints, he only replies, " Ic 
 " docs not fignify;" and probably, for fome time atleaft> asks 
 not how it happened. 
 
 This feeming indifference, however, does not proceed from 
 an eritire fuppreffion of the natural affeclions ; for notwithftand- 
 ing they are elleemed favages, I never faw among any other 
 people greater proofs of parental or filial tendernefs; and al- 
 though they meet their wiveb after a long abfence with the 
 ftoical indifference juft mentioned, they are not, in general, void 
 of conjugal affefition. 
 
 Another peculiarity is obfervable in their manner of paying 
 their vifits. If an Indian goes to vifit a particular perfon in 4 
 family, he mentions to whom his vifit is intended, and the reft 
 of the family immediately retiring to the other end of the hut 
 br tent, circ careful not to come near enough to interrupt themi 
 during the whole of the converfation. The fame method is 
 ■purfiled if a man goes to pay his rsfpefts to one of the oth^ 
 fex;! but then he nuift be careful not to let love be the fubjcftolE 
 M& olifcouile, whilil the day light remains. 
 
 O ■ The 
 
 
V 
 
 
 «s* 
 
 K'Ci 
 
 C 106 ] 
 
 The Indians clifcover an amazing fagacity, and acquire with 
 the greateft readinefs anything that depends upon the attentioft 
 of the mind. By experience and an acute obleivation, they 
 attain many perfeftions tb which Europeans are ftrangers. For 
 . inftance, they will crofs a foreft or a plain which is twotiundred 
 miles in breadth,, and reach with great exaflnefs the point at 
 which they intended to arrive, keeping during the whole ofthat 
 fpacc in a direct line, without any material deviations; and 
 this they will do with the fame eafe, whether the weather he 
 fair or cloudy. 
 
 With equal acutcnefs will they point to that part of the hea- 
 vens the fun is in, though it be intercepted by clouds or fogs. 
 Befides this, they are able to purfue with incredible facility tite 
 traces of man or bead, either on leaves or grafs ; sad on this 
 account it is with great difficulty a flying enemy efc^^es difco- 
 very. 
 
 They are indebted for thcfc talents not only to nature, but 
 to an extraordinary command of the intellcftual faculties, which 
 can only be acquired by an unremitted attention, and by long 
 experience. 
 
 They are in general very happy in a retentive memory ; they 
 can recapitulate every particular that has been treated of in 
 council, and remember the cxaft time when thefe were 'held. 
 Their belts of wampum preferve the fubftance of the treaties 
 they have concluded with the neighbouring tribes for ages back, 
 to which they will appeal, and refer with as much perfpicuity 
 and readinefs as Europeans can to their written records. 
 
 Every nation pays great rcfpeft to old age. The advice of 
 a father will feldom meet with any extraordinary attention from 
 the young Indians, probably they receive it with only a bare 
 aflent; but they will tremble before a grandfather, and fubmit 
 to his injunftion with the utmoft alacrity. The words of the 
 ancient part of their community are erteemed by the young as 
 oracles. If they take during their hunting parties any game 
 -that is reckoned by them uncommonly delicious, it is immedia- 
 tely prefented to the oldeft of their relations. ij-i* 
 
 They never fulfcr thenifelvcs to be overburdened with care, 
 but live in a ftate of perfect tranquillity and contentment. . Being 
 naturally indolent, if proviiion juft fufficicnt for their fubfiltencc 
 can be procured with little tfouble, and near at hand, they will 
 not'go far, or take any extraordinary pains for it, though by fo 
 „. doing they might acquire greater plenty, and of a more eftim- " 
 ■ able kind. 
 
 Having much leifiire time they indulge this indolence to 
 which they arc fo prone, by eating, drinking, or ilcepingj, an4 
 rambling about in their towns or camps. But when neaeffity 
 obliges rhem to take the ticld, cither to oppole an enemy, lor to 
 jlrocure themfclves food, they are alert and indefatigable. ^JVIa- 
 ny inftances of their activity, on thcfc oecalions, will be^iven 
 when I treat of their wars. »^ " f 
 
 .........v, 
 
r "7 1 
 
 "** 
 
 i-:, 
 
 ■■'Hi 
 
 * The infatuating fpirit of gaming is not confined to Europe ; 
 the Indians alfo feel the bewitching impulfe, and often loie 
 their arms, their apparel, and every thing they are poffelTed of. 
 In this Sife, however, they do not follow the example of more 
 relined gameflers, for they neither murmur nor repine; not a 
 fretful word efcapes them, but they bear the frowns of fortune 
 with aphilofophiccompofure. 
 
 The greateft blemilTi in their charaftej is that favage difpofi- 
 tion which impels them to treat their enemies with a fcverity 
 every other nation fhudders at. But if they are thus barba- 
 rous to thofe with whom they are at war, they are friendly, hof- 
 pitable, and humane in peace. It may with truth be faid of 
 them, that they are the word enemies, and the beft friends, of 
 any people in the M'hole world. 
 
 The Indians in general are ftrangers to the paffion of jealou- 
 fy; and brand a man with folly that is diftruftful of hii wife. 
 Among feme bands the very Idea is not known,* as the moft 
 abandoned of their young men very rarely attempt the virtue of 
 married women, laor do thefe often put themfelves in the way 
 of folicltation. Yet the Indian women m general ^are of au ' 
 amorous temperature, and before they are married arc not the 
 lefs efteeflSed for the indulgence of their paffions. 
 
 The Indians in their common ftate are ftrangers to all diftinc- 
 tion of property, -except in the articles of domeftic ufe, which 
 every one confiders as his own, and increafes as circumftances 
 admit. They are extremely liberal to each other, and fupply 
 the. deficiency of their friends with any fuperflulty of their own. 
 
 In dangers they readily give affiftance to thofe of their band, 
 who ftand in need of it, without any expedation of return, ex- 
 cept of thofe jufl: rewards that are always conferred by the In- 
 dians on merit. Governed by the plain and equitable laws of 
 nature, every one is rewarded folely according to his deferts ; 
 and their equality of condition, manners, and privileges, with 
 that conftant and fociable familiarity which prevails through- 
 out every Indian nation, animates them with a pure and truly pa* 
 triotic fpirit, that tends to the general good of the fociety to 
 which they belong. 
 
 If any of t^ir neijghbours are bereaved by death, or by an 
 enertiy of their children, thofe who are poflefled of the greateft 
 number of Haves, fupply the deficiency; and thefe are adopted 
 by them, and treated in every refpeft as if they really were 
 the children of the perfon to whom they are prefented. 
 
 The Indians, except thofe who live adjoining to the Europe- 
 an colonies, can lorm to themfelves no idea of the value of mo- 
 ney; they confider it, when they are made acquainted with the 
 ufes to which it is applied by other nations, as the fource of in- 
 numerable evils. Xo it they attribute all the mifchiefs that 
 are p'-evalent among Europeans, fuch as treachery, pliuidenng, 
 . dcvaftations, andmurdex. ^,*' -': 
 Wy,^ f .,..>_•• They 
 
 M- 
 
tot ] 
 
 , They efleem ft irwtional that one man (Jiould be poflefledof 
 a greater quantity than another, and are amazed that any honour 
 ihould be annexed to the poflTefllon of it. But that the want of 
 this ufeiefs metal (hould be the caufe of depriving pdrfons of 
 their liberty, and that on account of this partial diftribution of 
 it, great numbers fliould be immured within the dreary walls of 
 a prifon, cut off from that fociety of which they conftitute a 
 part, exceeds their belief. Nor do they /ail, on hearing this 
 part of the European fyftem of government related, to charge 
 the inftitutors of it with a total want of humanity, and to brand 
 them with the names ot favages and brutes.' 
 
 They fhew almoft an equal degree of indifference for thepro- 
 duftions of art. When any of thefe arc Ihcwn them, they fay, 
 ** It is pretty, I like to look at it," but are not inquifitive about 
 the conftruftion of it, neither can they form proper c onceptioiis 
 of its ufe. But if you tell them of a perfon who is able to run 
 with great agility, that is well^illed inhuming, can direftwitb 
 unerring aim a gun, or bend with eafe a bow, that can dex- 
 troufly work a canoe, underftands the art 6f war, is acquainted 
 with the fituation of a country, and can make his way. without 
 a guide, through an immenfe foreft, fubfifting during this on a 
 fmall quantity of provifions, they are in raptures ;-^ey liflen 
 with great attention to the pleafing tale, and beftow the highell 
 commendations on the hero of it. 
 
 'chapter IV. 
 
 ■4' f 
 
 #• 
 
 T^eir Method of reckoning Time, 6r. 
 
 «s. 
 
 r 
 
 
 CONSIDERING their ignorance of aftronpmy, time is 
 very rationally divided by the Indians. ^j^H^)^ in the in- 
 terior parts (and of thofe I would generally be underftood to 
 fpeak) count their years by winters ; or, as they exprefs them- 
 felves, by fnows. 
 
 Some nations among them reckon their years bylnoons, and 
 make them confift of twelve fynodicalor lunar months, obferv- 
 ing, when thirty moons have waned, to add a fupernumerary 
 one, which they term the loft moon ; and then begin to count 
 as before. They pay a great regard to the firft appearance of 
 every moon, and on the occaiion always repeat lome joyful 
 founds, ftretching at the fame time their hands towards it. 
 
 Every month has with them a name expreflive of its ff(ifon,| 
 tor inftance, they call the month of March (in which their y '^"^ 
 
C 109 1 
 
 generally begins at the firft New Moon after the vernal Equinox) 
 the Worm Month or Moon; bccaiife at this time the worms quit 
 their retreats in the bark of the trees, wood, &c, where they 
 have fhelfcered themfelves during the winter. 
 
 The month of April is termed by them the month of Plants. 
 May, the Month of Flowers. June, the Hot Moon. July, 
 the Buck Moon. Their reafon for thus denominating thete is 
 obvious. ^ 
 
 Auguft, the Sturgeon Moon; becaufe in this month they catch 
 great liuinbcrs of that fifh, 
 
 Septenibcr, the Corn Moon,- becaufe in that month they ga« 
 ther in iheir Indian corn. ..- ,/ n , . 
 
 Oftober, the Travelling Moon; as they, leave/ at this time 
 their villages, and travel towards the places where they intend 
 to hunt during the winter. 
 
 November, the Beaver Moon ; for in this month the beavers 
 begin to take ihelter in their houfes, having laid up a fufficient 
 (lore of provifions for the winter feafon. 
 
 December, the Hunting Moon, becaufe they employ tl^^month 
 in purfuit of 'their game. >• 
 
 January, the Cold Moon, as it generally freezes harder, aflijl 
 the cold is more intenfe in this than in any other month. 4< 
 
 February they call the Snow Moon, becaufe more fnow com- 
 monly falls during this month, than any other in the winter. 
 
 When the moon does not ihine they fay the moon is dead; 
 and fome call the three laft days of it the naked days. The 
 moon's nrtt appearance they term its coming to life again. 
 
 They make no divifion of weeks ; but days they count by fleeps ; 
 half days by pointing to the fun at noon; and quarters by the 
 rifing and the fetting of the fun; to exprefs which in their tra- 
 ditions they make ufe of very (ignificant hieroglyphicks. 
 
 The Indians are totally unskilled in geography as well as all 
 the other fciences, and yet, as I have before hinted, they draw 
 on their birch bark very exait charts or maps of the countries 
 with which they are acquainted. The latitude and longitude is 
 only wanting to make them tolerably complete. 
 
 Their fole knowledge in aftronomy confllls in being able t« 
 point out the pole-dar ; by which they regulate their courfe when 
 they travel in the night. • <"r, ..^i .< * —'a::'- 
 
 They reckon the dillance of places, not by miles or leagues, 
 but by a day s journey, which, according to the bell calculations 
 I could make,' appears to be about twenty Englifli miles, Thefe 
 they alfo divide into halves and quarters, and will demonftiate 
 them in their maps with great exadnefs, by the hieroglyphicks 
 juft mentioned, when they regulate in council their war parties, 
 or their moll dillant hunting excurfions. 
 
 They have no idea of arithmetic; and though they arc able 
 to count to any number, figures as well as letters appear mylle- 
 .|iou%(u them, and above their comprehenfion. 
 
 Duting 
 
 'it 1 
 
 %«?■ 
 
t no J * 
 
 During my abodie with the Naudoweflles, fome of th« chieft 
 obferving one day a draft of an eciipfe of the moon, in a book 
 of aftronomy which I held in my hand, they defired I would per- 
 mit them to look at it. Happening to give them the book ihut, 
 they began to count the leaves till they came to the place in 
 which the plate was. After they had viewed it, and asked ma- 
 ny queflions relative to it, I told them they needed not to have 
 taken fo much pains to find the leaf on which it was drawn, for 
 I could not only tell in an inftant the place, without counting 
 the leaves, but alfo how many preceded it. 
 ■ They feemed great'.y amazed at my alFertion, and begged that 
 I would demonftrate to them the pollibility of doing it. To this 
 purpofe I defired the chief that held the book, to open it at any 
 particular place, and juft ihewing me the page carefully to con- 
 ceal the edges of the leaves, fo that I might not be able to count 
 them. 
 
 t This he did with the greatefl: caution; notwithftanding which, 
 by looking at the folio, I told him, to his great furprize, the 
 number of leaves. He counted them regularly over, and dif- 
 covered that I was exaft. And when, after repeated trials, the 
 Indians found I could do it with great readinefs, and without 
 evfll erring in my calculation, they all feemed as much aftonilhed 
 as if I had raifed the dead. The only way they could account 
 for my knowledge, was by concluding that the book was a fpirit, 
 and whifpered me anfwers to whatever I demanded of it. 
 
 i'his circumftance, trifling as it might appear to thofe who are 
 lefs illiterate, contributed to increafe my confequence, and to 
 iaugment the favourable opinion they already entertained of me.^ 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 4 
 
 i>M i- 
 
 "*>. 
 > 
 
 ■•* 
 
 0/ their Government, ^c. 
 
 * * 
 
 >•) 
 
 EV )E R Y feparate body of Indians is divided into bands or 
 tribes ; which band or tribe forms a little community with 
 the nation to which it belongs. As the nation has fome parti- 
 cular fymbol by which it is diftinguilhed from others, fo each 
 tribe has a badge from which it is denoititnated ; as that of the 
 Eagle, the Panther, the Tiger, the Buffalo, &c. &c. One band 
 of the Naudoweflie is reprefented by a Snake, another a Tor- 
 toife, a third a Squirrel, a fourth a Wolf, and a fifth a Buffalo. 
 Throughout every nation they particularize thenifelves in the 
 fame manner, and the meaneftperfon among them will remember 
 bis lineal defcent, and diftlnguilh bimfelf by his refpeftfve %, 
 
I "I 1 . 
 
 > Did not many circumftances tend to confute the fuppolkion, 
 I Ihould be almoft induced to conclude from this diftinftion of 
 tribes, and the particular attachment of the Indians to them, 
 that they derive their origin, as fome have aflfertcd,' from the 
 Ifraelites. #> .: 
 
 Befidcs this, every nation diftinguifh themfelvcs by the man- 
 ner of conftruftlng their tents or huts. And fo well verfed avq 
 all the Indians in this diftinftion, that though there appears to 
 be no difference on the niceft obfervation made by an European, 
 yet they will immediately difcover, from the pofition of a pole 
 left in the ground, what nation has encamped on the fpot many 
 months before. 
 
 Every band has a chief who is termed the Great Chief or jthe 
 chief Warrior ; and who is chofen in confideration of his expe- 
 rience in war, and of his approved valour, to direct their mili- 
 tary operations, and to regulate all concerns belonging to that 
 departmjnt. But this chief is not confidcred as the head of the 
 rtatc; bolides the great warrior who is elefted for his war-like 
 qualifications, there is another who enjoys a pre-eminence as bi5? 
 hereditary right, and has the more immediate management of 
 their civil affairs. This chief might with greater propriety be 
 denominated the Sachem; whole alTent is ncccflary in all con- 
 veyances and treaties, to which he affixes the mark of the tribe 
 or nation. 
 
 Though thefe two areconfiderd as the heads of the band, and 
 the latter is ufually denominated their king, yet the Indians are 
 fenfible of neither civil or military fubordination. As every one 
 of them entertains a high opinion of his confequqnce, and is 
 extremely tenacious of his liberty, all injunftions thit carry with 
 them the appearance of a pofitive command, arc inftantly rc- 
 jecl:ed with icorn. 
 
 On this account, it is feldom that their leaders are fo indif- 
 creet as to give out any of their orders in a peremptory flile; a 
 bare hint from a chief that he thinks fuch a thing neceffary to be 
 done, inflantly aroufes an emulation among the inferior ranks, 
 and it is immediately executed with great alacrity. By this me- 
 thod the difguftful part of the command is evaded, and an au- 
 thority that falls little iliort of abfolute fway inftituted in its 
 room. 
 
 Among the Indians no vifible form of government is ef^ablilh* 
 ed; they allow of no fuch diftinction as magirtrate and fiibjeft, 
 every one appearing to enjoy an independence that cannot be- 
 eontrouled. The objeft of government among them is rather- 
 foreign than domeflic, for their attention fecms more to be em- 
 ployed in preferving fuch an union among the members of their 
 tribe as will enable them to watch the motions of their enemies, 
 'and to aft againft them with concert and vigour, shan to main- 
 tain interior order by any public regulations. If a fcheme that 
 appears to be of fervice to the community is propofcd by the 
 Chief, every one is an liberty to chuie whether he will ailiil in 
 1 1- carrying 
 
 '. i 
 
[ "i ] 
 
 carrying it on; for they have no coinpuirory laws that lay thcrt 
 under any reftritkions. If violence is committed, or blood is 
 ihed, the right of revcnging,thefe mifdemeanours are left to the 
 family of the injured; the chiefs alTunie neither the power of 
 inflifting or moderating the punifhment. 
 
 Some nations, where the dignity is hereditary, limit the fuc- 
 •eflion to the female line. On the death of a chief, his filler's 
 fon fomctimes fuccecds him in preference to his own fon; and 
 if he happens to have no filler, the nearefl female relation af- 
 fumes the dignity. This accounts for a woman being at the 
 head of the Winncbagoe nation, whicji, bcfbrc 1 was acquainted 
 with their laws, appeared flrange to me. 
 
 Each family has a right to appoint one of its chiefs to be an 
 afnilant to the principal chief, who watches over the intereft of 
 hi-s family, and without whofe confent nothing of a public na- 
 ture can be carried into execution. Thefe are generally chofcn 
 for their ability in fpeaking; and fuch only are permitted to make 
 .orations in their councils and general afFemblies. 
 
 In this body, with the hereditary chief at its head, the fu- 
 preme authority appears to be lodged; as by its determinati- 
 on every tranfaflion relative to their hunting, to their miiking 
 war or peace, and to all their public concerns are regulated. 
 Next to thefe, the body of warriors, which comprehends all 
 that are able bear arms, hold their rank. This divifion has fome- 
 limes at its head the chief of the nation, if he has figi5alized 
 himfelf by any renowned adlion, if not, fome chief that has 
 rendered himfelf famous. 
 
 In their councils, which are held by the foregoing members, 
 every affair of confequence is debated; and no enterprize of 
 ,« the leafl moment undertaken, unlels it there meets with the ge- 
 neral approbation of the chiefs. They commonly affemble in 
 a hut or tent appropriated to this purpofe, and being feated in a 
 circle on , the. ground, the eldell chief rifes and makes a 
 fpeech; when he has concluded, another gets up; and thus 
 iSey all fpeak, if neceffary by turns. 
 / On this occafion their language is nervous, and their manner 
 of expr^flion emphatical. Their flyle is adorned with images, 
 co'mparifons, and flrong metaphors, and is equal in allegories 
 to that of any of the eaftern nations. In all their fet fpeeches 
 they exprefs themfelves with much vehemence, but in common 
 difcourfe according to our ufual method of fpeech. 
 
 The young men are fufFered to be prefent at the councils, 
 though they are not allowed to make a fppech till they are re- 
 gularly admitted: they however liflen with great attention, and 
 to ihew that they both underfland, and approve of the refolu- 
 tions caken by the alTembled chiefs, they frequently exclaim,, 
 " That is right." " That is good." :-:%.:■:., 
 
 The cuflomary mode among all the ranks of (llprefling thefr 
 alTent, and which they repeat at theendof almoft every period, 
 is by urtering a kind of forcible afpiration, which founds like an 
 onion of the letters AH. CHAP- 
 
*? •. 
 
 
 t%3 1 
 
 ^-» ^* 
 
 IF 
 
 C HA P I^ E R* VL 
 
 0/ their F K X s T s. 
 
 MANf of the Indian nations neither make ufe of bread, 
 fait, or fpices; and fonic of them have never fecn or 
 tailed of either. TheNaiidovvcfllcsin particular have no bread, 
 nor any fubttitute for it. They cat the wild rice which grows 
 in great quantities in different parts of their territories ; but 
 they boil it and eat it alone. They alio eat the *fleih of the 
 hearts they kill, without having recourfe to any farinaceous 
 fubltance to abforb the groIFer particles of it. And even when 
 they confume the fugar which they have extraded from the maple 
 tree, they ufe it not to render fome other food palatable, but 
 generally eat it by itfelf. 
 
 Neither have they any idea of the ufe of milk, although they 
 might colleft great quantities from the buffalo or the elk; they 
 only confider it as proper for the nutriment of the young of 
 thefe hearts dui ing their tender ftate. I could not perceive 
 that any inconvcniency attended the total difufe of articles 
 cftecmed fo necelTary and nutricious by other nations, on thie 
 contrary, they are in general healthy and vigorous. 
 
 One dilh however, which anfwers nearly the fame purpofe a8 
 bread, is in ufe among the Ottagaumies, the Saukies, and the 
 more eartcrn nations, where Indian corn grows, which is not 
 only much eftecmed by them, but it is reckoned extremely palat- 
 able by all the Europeans who enter their dominions. This is 
 compofed of their unripe corn as before defcribed, and beans 
 in the fame ftate, boiled together with bear's flelli, the fat of 
 which moiftens the pulfe, and renders it beyond comparifon de- 
 iiclous. They call this food Succatofli. 
 
 The Indians are far from l»eing callibals, as they are faid to 
 be. All their vi(^uals are either roafted or boiled ; and thi^ 
 in the extreme. Their drink is generally the broth in which it 
 has been boiled. 
 
 Their food confifts of the fiefli of the bear, the buffalo, the 
 elk, the deer, the beaver, and the racoon ; which they prepare 
 in the manner juft mentioned. They ufually eat the flelh of the 
 deer which is naturally dry, with that of the bear which is fat 
 and juicy; and though the latter i.s extremely rich andlufclous, 
 it is never known to cloy. #. . , 
 
 i 
 
 I 9 
 
 .•*wc- 
 
 ^ 
 
 
■um 
 
 In the fpring of the year the Naudoweniefi cat the fnfidebarl; 
 of a Oirub, that ilicy gather in fomc part of their country; but 
 I could neither learn the name of it, or difcover from whence 
 they got it. It was of a brittle nature and eafily mafticated. 
 The tafte of it was very agreeable, and they faid it was ex- 
 tremely nouriiliing. In flavour it was not unlike the turnip, and 
 when received into the mouth refembled that root both in its 
 pulpous ancf frangible nature. 
 
 The lower ranks of the Indians are exceedingly nafty indrcf- 
 Ong their viftuals, but fome of the chiefs arc very neat and clean- 
 ly in their apparel, tents, and food. f 
 
 They commonly eat in large panics,' fo that their meals may 
 properly be termed feafts; and this they do without being 
 leftri^^ed to any fixed or regular hours, but juft as their appe- 
 tites re^iire, and convenience fuits. 
 
 They ufually dance cither before or after every meal ; and by 
 this cheerfulnefs probably render the Great Spirit, to whom 
 they confider thcmfelves as indebted for every good, a more 
 acceptable facritice than a formal and unanimated thankfgiving. 
 The men and women feafl apart : and each fex invite by turns 
 their companions, to partake with them of the food they 
 happen to have; but in their domellic way of living the men and 
 women eat together. 
 
 No people are more hofpitable, kind, and free than the Jn- 
 clians. They will readily fliare with any of their own tribe the 
 lalVpart of their provifions, and even with thofe of a different 
 nation, If they chance to come in when they are eating. Though 
 they do not keep one common flock, yet that community of 
 goods which is fo prevalent among them, and their generous 
 difpodtion, render it nearly of the fame cffe6t. 
 
 ^hen the chiefs are convened on any public bufinefs, they 
 always conclude with a feafl, a( which their feflivity and cheer- 
 fulnefs knows no limits. 
 
 
 <i$ 
 
 t. .. 
 
 CHAPTER VII.. 
 
 ■- ... ■ . '% 
 
 0/ their Dan ces. 
 
 
 ■' ■<• 
 
 m 
 
 DANCING is a favourite exercife among the Indians; 
 they never meet on any public occaflon, but this makes 
 a part of the entertainment. And when they are not engaged 
 in war or hunting, the youth of both fexes amufe themfelves !h 
 this manner every evening. ■ *'V 
 
 They always dance, as 1 have jiift obferved, at their feaft* 
 
 « 
 
^' 
 
 •V. 
 
 t '15 1 *■ ' / ' 
 
 In theft as well as all their other dances, every man rtfcs fa 
 his turn, and moves about with great freedom and boldnefs ; 
 finging as he does fo, the exploits of his anceftors. During 
 this the company, who are feated <ni the ground in a circle, 
 around the dancer, join with him in mariiing the cadence, by 
 an odd tone, which they utter all together, and which founds, 
 ** Hoh, heh, heh." Thefe notes, if they might be fo termed, 
 are articulated with a harOi accent, and Drained out with the 
 utiAofl force of their lungs ; fo that one would imagine their 
 ftrength muft be foSn exhaufted by it; inftcad of which, they * 
 repeat it with the fame violcncj: during the whole of their en- 
 tertainment. 
 
 The women, particularly tjiofe of the weftern nations, dance 
 very gracefully. They carry themfclves ereft, andwith Ifceir arms 
 hanging down clofe to their fides, move Hrft a few yards to the 
 right, and then back again to the left. Thisk movement they 
 perform without taking any fleps as an European would do, but 
 witl:i their feet conjoined, moving by turns their toes- and heels. 
 In this manner they glide with great agility to a certain didance, 
 and then return ; and let thofe who join in the dance be ever fo 
 numerous, they keep time fo exaftly with each other that no 
 ii)terruption enfues. During this, at dated periods, they mingle 
 their Ihrill voices, with the hoarfelt ones of the men, who fit 
 around (for it is to be obferved that the* fexes never intermix 
 in the fame dance) which, with the mufic of the drums and 
 chichicoes, make an agreeable harmony. '^ ■' 
 
 The Indians have feveral kinds of dances, which they ufe onr 
 different occafions, as the Pipe or Calumate Dance, the War 
 Dance, the Marriage Dance, and the Dance of the Sacrifice. 
 The movements in every one of thefe are difiHinfJi^r j but it is 
 almoll impofilibie to convey any idea of the points In which they 
 are unlike. 
 
 Different nations likewife vary in their manner of dancing. 
 The Chip^ways throw thcmfelves into a greater variety of at- 
 titudes than any other people; fometimes they hold their heads 
 ereft, at others they bend them almofl to the ground ; then re- 
 cline on one fide, and immediately after on the other. The 
 NaudowefJies cal|^ them'felves more upright, ftep firmer, and 
 move more g|ieefiilly. But they all accompany their dances- 
 with the difa^eable noife juft mentioned. 
 
 The Pipe Dance is the principal, md the mofl pleafing to, a 
 fpeftator of any of them, being the leaft frantic, and the move- 
 ment of it moft graceful. It is but on particular occafions that 
 it is ufed ; as when ambaffadors from an enemy arrive to treat 
 of peace, or when firangers of eminence pafs through their 
 territories. 
 *rhe'\Var Dance, which they ufe both before they fet out on 
 cHeir war parties, and on their return from them, ftrikes ter- 
 fflW tnttv^angersi Jtis performed, aa the others, amidfta cir- 
 *|^/of the waf«ors;^«yhief generally begins it, who moves ^_ 
 
 
■P' H "!* " " 
 
 rt-om the right to the left, finping at the fame time both h(s own 
 exploits, and thofe of his anccftors. When he has conchtded 
 his account of any *iiiteniorable aftion, he f»iveS a violent blow 
 with his war-club, againfta poftthat is tixcd»ln the ground, near 
 the center of the alfcinbly, for this purpofc. 
 
 Every one dances in his turn, and recapitulates thewondroui 
 " deeds of his family, till they all at laft join in the dance. Then 
 it becomes truly alarming to any flrangcr that happens to be ^\ 
 
 »"" amon^ them, as they throw thcmfelves into every horrible and 
 terrifying poHurc that can be imagined, rellearflng at the fame 
 time the parts they cxpcfl to ad againft their enemies in the 
 
 . field. During this they hold their Iharp knives in their hands, 
 with ivhich, as they whirl about,^they are every moment in " 
 
 ip danger of cutting each others throats; and did they not fhun 
 
 the threatened niifchief with inconceivable dexterity, it could 
 
 • not be avoided. By thefe motions they intend to reprefent the 
 
 •' manner In which they kill, fcalp, and take their prifoners. To • 
 heighten the fcene, they let up the f^me hideous yells, cries, 
 and war-hoops they ufe in time of aftion: fo that it is impof- 
 fible to conHder them in any other light than as an aflfembly 
 of demons. 
 
 , I have frequently joined in this dance with them, but it foon 
 ceafed to be an amufcnient to jne. as I could not lay afide my 
 apprehenHons of receiving fome dreadful wouud, that from the 
 violence of their geftures muft have proved mortal. 
 
 .flound that the nations tp the weftward of the Mifliflippii and 
 Od the borders of Lake Superior, dill continue to make ufe of 
 theTawwaw or Black Dance. The people of the colonies tell 
 a thoufand ridiculous flories of the Devil being raifed in this 
 dance by the Indians. But they allow that this was in former times, 
 and is now nearly e^tindl among thofe who live adjacent to the 
 European fettlements. However I difcovered that it was ftill 
 ^lcd in the interior parts; and though I did not aftually fee the 
 Devil raifed by it, I was witnefs to fottie fcenes that could on- 
 ly be performed byfuch as dealt with him, or were veiy expert * 
 ^nd dex.trous jugglers. ' fk' ^^^ *»► 
 
 Whilft I was aniong the Naudowcflies, a dance, which they 
 thustermed, was performed. Before the dapce began, one ©f 
 the Indians xvas admitted into a fociety which tlM|^ denominated 
 Wakon-Kitchewah, that is, the Friendly Society%f the Spirit. 
 IChis fociety is compofedjgl' perfons of both fexes, butfuchon- 
 #1y can be admitted into it ay are of unexceptionable charafter, and 
 
 ■ who receive the approbation of the whole body. To this ad- 
 miffion fucceeded the Pawwaw Dance (in which I faw nothing^ 
 tlaat could g^ive rife to the reports I bad heard) and the whole, ^ 
 according to their ufual cuftom, concluded with a grand f^ft. 
 
 The initiation being attended with fome very lingular, drculft- 
 ftances, which, as I have before obferved, muft be either the- 
 effect of magic, or of amazing dexterity, llhallgive aparticxilrtt 
 account of the whole procedure. It was performed at the time 0t 
 
 
 ty; ;i 
 tribu 
 granc 
 W] 
 of th( 
 in fori 
 quain 
 ted in 
 to the 
 any ol 
 No 
 the ce 
 him ; 
 ration 
 dian ai 
 him to 
 ceivc i 
 di rtanc 
 Thii, 
 the kn( 
 '■ voice, 
 fame 
 him,- 
 reilore 
 on, ho 
 vantage 
 point o 
 As ] 
 laft hii 
 diftortc 
 threw 
 fmall be 
 and he 
 eiiicf thi 
 ^ thea 
 

 \ 
 
 on- 
 
 le of 
 
 r 
 
 - r ^7 ! '• ; 
 
 the new moon, in a place appropriated to the 'purpofe, near the 
 €entre of their camp, that would contain about two hundred peo- 
 ple. Being a (Irangur, and on all occafions treated by them 
 with greut civility^. I was invited to fee the ceremony, and placed 
 dofe to the lails: of the inclofure. 
 
 • About twelve o'clock they began to affemble; when the fun 
 ihone bright, which they confidtred as a good omen, for they 
 never by choice hold any of their public meetings unlefs the sky 
 be clear and unclouded. A great number of chiefs firll appear- 
 ed, who were drellisd in their bell apparel; and after them cams 
 the head-warrior, clad in a long robe of rich furs, that trailed 
 on the ground, attended by a retinue of fifteen or twenty^ per- 
 fons, painted and drcU'ed in the gayell manner. Next followed 
 tlic wives of fuch as had been already admitted into the focie- 
 ty; and in the rear a confufed heap of the lower ranks, all con- 
 tributing as much as lay in their power to make the appearance 
 grand and fliowy. 
 
 When the alfembiy was featcd, and fllence proclaimed, one 
 of the principal chiefs arofe, and in a (hort butmafterly fpeech 
 informed his audieico of the occafion of their meeting. He ac- 
 quainted them that one of their young men wiflied to be admit- 
 ted into their fociety; and taking him by the hand prefentedhim 
 to their view, asking them, at the fame time, whether they had 
 any objcftion to his becoming one of their community. 
 
 No objeftion being made, the young candidate was placed in 
 the centre, and four of the chiefs took their ftations clofe to 
 him; after exhorting him, by turns, not to faint underthe ope- 
 ration he was about to go through, but to behave like an In- 
 dian and a man, two of them took hold of his arms, and caufed 
 him to kneel; another placed himfelf behind him, fo as to re- 
 ceive him when he fell, and the lafl; of the four retired to the 
 dirtance of about twelve feet from him ofSiftly in front. 
 
 This difpolition being completed, the chief that ftood before 
 the kneeling candidate, began to fpeak to hini.with an audible 
 voice. He told him that he him felt was now agitated by the 
 fame fpirit which he Ihould In a few moments communicate to, 
 him,- that it would ilrike him dead, but that he would inftantly be 
 reftored again .|o life; to this he added, that the communicati- 
 on, however terrifying, was a neceffary introduftion to the ad-/ 
 vantages enjoyed by the community into which Le was on the 
 point of being admitted.' . 4' '*W^'^'^ -^ jm 
 
 As he fpoke this, he appeared to be greatly agitated ; tiolp 
 laft his emotions became fo violent, that his coiuiten^arice was 
 didorted, and his whole frame con^vuli^ed. At ms jumiire he 
 threw fomething that appeared both in iTiape aiW colour like a 
 fmall bean, at the young man, which Teemed to enter his mouth, 
 and he inftantly fell as motionlefs as if he had been fliot. The 
 pliief that was placed behind him received him in his arms, and, 
 
 the affiftance c\f the other two, Is^id him ojn the ground to all 
 >^arancebereft»of lifg. .^^^■'' 
 
 Having 
 
a n t ary i 
 
 •■MOM 
 
 II I I mp ii 
 
 ■ «w n wi i c»^»w 
 
 ^* 
 
 •?'^ 
 
 #* I. 
 
 f Ii8 I 
 
 ^ ffsving done this, they immediately began to rub his limbs, 
 an<^ to (Irike him on the back, giving him fuch blows, as fecmed 
 more calculated to flill the quick, than to raife the dead. Du- 
 ring thefe extraordinary applications, the fpeaker continued )ms 
 harangue, defiring the fpeftators not to be furprizcd*, or to de- . 
 fpair of the young man's recovery, as his prefent inanimate fitu- 
 ation proceeded only from the forcible operation of the fpirit, 
 on faculties that had hitherto been unufed co Infpirations of this 
 kind. 
 
 The candidate lay feveral minutes without fenfe or motion; 
 
 ^A but at length, after receiving many violent blows, he began to 
 
 difcover fome fymptoms of returning life. Thefe, however,. 
 
 were attended with ftrong convulfions, and an apparent obftruq^- 
 
 tion in his throat. But they were foon at an end ; for having 
 
 difcharged from his mouth the bean, or whatever it was that the 
 
 chief had thrown at him, but which on the clofeft infpeftion I 
 
 . had not perceived to enter it, be foon after appeared to be to- 
 
 * lerably recovered. 
 
 This part of the ceremony being happily effefted, the ofHci* 
 ating chiefs difrobed him of the cloaths he had ufually worn, 
 and put on him a fet of apparel entirely new. When h? was 
 dnreffed, the fpeaker once more took him by the hand, and pre- 
 fentcd him to the fociety as a regular ind thoroughly initiated 
 member, exhorting them, at the fame time, to give him fuch 
 necel!kry affiAance, as being a young member, he might ftand 
 in need of. He then'alfo charged the newly elefted brother to 
 receive with humility, and to follow with punftuality the advice 
 of his elder brethren. 
 
 All thofe who had been admitted within the rails, now form- 
 y td Si circle around their new brother, and the mufic ftriking up, 
 the great chief fung a fong, celebrating as ufuai their martial 
 exploits. 
 
 The only mufic they make ufe of is a drum, 'which is compof- 
 vd of a piece of a hollow tree curioufiy wrought, and over one 
 end of which is ftrained a skin, this they beat with a iingle ftick, 
 and it gives a found that is far fron^ harmonious, but it juft fervcs 
 to beat time with. To this they fometimes add the cbiehicoe, 
 and in their war dances they likewife ufe a kind pf fife, formed 
 of a reed, which makes a inrill harlh noife. 
 
 The whole aflembly were by this time united, and the dance 
 b^pi; feveral fingers aflifted the mufic with their voices, and 
 tVP^umen joining in the chorus at certain intervals, they pro- 
 duced together a not unplcafing but favage harmony. This was 
 one of the moil agreeable entertainments I fav^vbifil 2 was 
 ainong them. 'J' 
 
 I coald not help laughing at a fingular childilli cudom I obferv- 
 ed they Introduced into this dance, and which v as the only one 
 that had the leaft appearance of conjuration. Woft of the mem- 
 bers carried in their hands tan otter or martin's skin, which be- 
 ing takc^ v/hols from the body, and filled wir^ wind, on being , 
 
 comprelTstf 
 
 •til 
 
 ance 
 were 
 rofe I 
 even 
 learnc 
 Afi 
 diOies 
 dog's 
 * feaftsi 
 purpol 
 provid 
 In t 
 they re 
 on the 
 of Kan 
 (before 
 reka^ i 
 hords I 
 beings, 
 and lea' 
 towardi 
 ows difti 
 poles, J 
 nearly i 
 pofition 
 I kno 
 edby^th 
 Pepin, c 
 When I 
 naked ' 
 the hanc 
 dancing 
 every te 
 cries. 
 
 When 
 
 without 
 
 fervcd 
 
 when th 
 
 of the w 
 
 1 doubte 
 
 had refu 
 
 as dear a 
 
 my chef 
 
 wen to k 
 
 Su^rd. 
 
» 
 
 
 r "9 1 * 
 
 comprefTcd made n fqueaking noife through a fmall piece of wood 
 organically formed and fixed in its mouth. When this inftrument 
 was prefcnted to the fa^of any of the company, and the found 
 emitted, the perfon roKiviflg it inftantly fell down to appear- 
 ance dead.^ Sometimes two or three, both men and women, 
 were on the ground together ; but immediately recovering, they 
 rofe up and joined again in the'dance. This feemed to afford, 
 even the chiefs themfelves, infinite diverfion. l afterwards 
 learned that thefe were their Dii Penates or Houfhoid Gods. 
 
 After feme houu fpcnt in this manner the feaft began; the 
 diflies being brought near me, I perceived that they confined of 
 dog's flefh; and I was informed that at all their public grand 
 feaills they nfever made ufe of any other kind of food. For this 
 purpofe, at the fe^il I am now fpeaking of, the new candidate 
 provides fat dogs, if they can be procured ^f any price. 
 
 In this cuftom of eating dog's flefli on particular occafions, 
 they refemble the inhabitants of fome of the countries that lie 
 on the north-eaft borders of Afia. The author of the account 
 of Kamfchatka, publilhed by order of the Emprefs of Riiflla 
 (before referred to) informs us, that the people inhabiting Ko- 
 teka^ a country north of Kamfchatka, who wander about in 
 hords like the Arabs, when they pay their worihip to the evil 
 beings, kill a rein-deer or a dog, the flefh of which they eat, 
 and leave the head and tongue flicking on a polf with the front 
 towards the eafl. Alfo that when they are afraid of any infed^i- 
 ous diilemper, they kill a dog, and winding the guts about two 
 poles, pafs between them. Thefe cufloms, in which they*4rc 
 nearly imitated by the Indians, feem to add flrength to my fup- 
 pofition, that America was firfl peopled from this quarter. 
 
 I know not under what clafs of dances to rank that perform- 
 ed by^the Indians who came to my tent when I landed near Lake 
 Pepin, on the banks of the MifUfiippi, as related in my J^tirnals. 
 When I looked out, as I there mentioned, I faw abouftwenty 
 naked young Indians, the mofl perfect in their fhape, and by far 
 the handfomeil of any I had ever feen, coming towards me, ,and 
 dancing as they approached, to the mufic of their drums. At 
 every ten or twelve yards they halted, and fet up their yells and 
 cries. 
 
 When they reached my tent, I asked them to come in ; wi^tbll, 
 without deigning to make me any anfwcr, they did. As 1 bb* 
 fcrved that tbiji were pamted red and black, as they ufually are 
 when they go againfl an enemy, and perceived that fome padjj^ 
 of the war-dance were intermixed with their other movemen^^ 
 1 doubted not but they wciq fet on by the Inimical chief who 
 had refufed my (alutation : I thelrefofe determined to fell my life 
 as dear as pofTible. To this purpofc, I received them fitting on 
 my chofi, with my gun and pif\ols befide me, and ordered my 
 raen to keep a watchful eye on them, aad to be alfo upon their 
 
 ^uard, - , • . 
 
 ^'^:?.— ^, ■^■i>^M:rik:^, :■> The 
 
 ^.' 
 
 ■ ■?* 
 
"',. The Indians being enteral, ^they continued their di^ljfk niter" 
 natcly, finging at the fameffme of their heroic exploltsi^tnd the 
 luperiorityof their race ov:er every ofefejr people; To^force 
 their language, though it was uncomiWOTily nervous andnbxpref- 
 flve, and fuch as would of itfelf have carried terror to the firm- 
 eft heart, at the end of every period Ifhcy flruck their war-clubs 
 . dgainft the poles of my tent, with fuch violence, that I expeft- 
 ed every moment- it would have tumbled upon us. As eacjp of 
 them, in dancing round, paflTed by me, they placed their Hght 
 hands over their eyes, and coming clofe to me, looked me 
 fteadily in the face, which I could not conftrue into a token :of 
 friendihip. My men gave themfelves up for loft, and I acknow- 
 ledge, for my own part, that I never found my apprchenfions 
 more tumultuous on any occafion. 
 
 When they had ^learly ended their dance, I prefcnted to them 
 the pipe of peace, but they would not receive it. I then, as 
 my lall refource, thought I would try what prpfents would do; 
 accordingly I took from my cheft fome ribands and trinkats, 
 which 1 laid before them. Thefe fcemed to ftagger their refo- 
 lutions, and to avert in fome degree their anger; for after hold- 
 ing a confutation together, they fat down on the ground, which 
 I confidered as a favourable omen. 
 
 Thus it proved, as in a fliort time they received the pipe of 
 .peace,, and lighting it, tirft prefentcd it to me, and then fmoak- 
 cd With it thdmfelves. Soon after they took up the prefents, 
 which had hitherto lain neglefted, and appearing to be greatly 
 pleafcd with them, departed in a friendly manner. And never 
 did I receive greater pieafure than at getting rid of fu^ch formid- 
 able guefts. 
 
 It was not ever in my power to gain a thorough knowledge 
 of the deljgns of my vifitors. I had fuiBcient realbn to conclude 
 that they were hoftile, and that their vifit, at fo late an hour, 
 was made through the inftigation of the Grand Sautor,**but I 
 was afterwards informed that it might be intended as a compli- 
 jnent which they ufually pay to the chiefs of every other nation 
 who happen to fall in with them, and that the circumftances in 
 their cohduft, which had appeared fo fufpicious to me, were 
 merely the effedls of their Vanity, and deiigned to tmprefs on 
 the minds of thofe whom they thus vifitcd an elevated opinion 
 of their valour and prowefs. In the morning before I continu* 
 ed my route, feveral of their wives brought me a prefent of 
 e fugar, for whom I found a few more ribands. 
 
 The Dance of the facritice is not fo denominated from their 
 offering up at the fame time a facriiice to any good or evil fpi- 
 rit, but is a dance to which the Naudowellies give that title 
 from being ufed when any public fortunate circumftance befals 
 them. Whilft I refided among them, a fine large deer accident- 
 ally ftrayed into the mid4le of their encampment, which th(^ 
 fopn deftroyed. As this happened juft at the new moon, i^y- 
 
 efteentef 
 
 
 ^f 
 
 W 
 
 «MMkiau>Mi|iMMwiMM*MMlia 
 
 <^HIMai*aa 
 
t I" 1 • . 
 
 eJ(eeme4 it a luck/ omenj ifhd ^4|pg roafted it whole, ever^ 
 one in the camp partookof it. After their feaft, they all joined 
 in a daflce, which the)^rnied, from its being fomewhat of « 
 religious nature^ ""a Dance of the facrifice. ' 
 
 i. .*: 
 
 f 
 
 CHAPTER VIII, 
 
 Of their Hunting. 
 
 ■F. -. 
 
 HUNTING is the principal occupation of the Indians; 
 they are trained to it from their earlieft youth, and it is 
 an exercife which is efteemed no lefs honourable than neceffary 
 towards their fubfiftence. A dextrous and refolute hunter is 
 h«?id nearly in as great eftiraation by them as a diilinguifhed war- 
 rior. Scarcely any device which the ingenuity of man has dif- 
 covered for enfnaring or dcftroying thofe animals that fupply 
 them with food, or. whofe skins are valuable to Europeaiis, is 
 unknown to them. 
 
 Whilft they are engaged in this e^^ercife, they (hake off the 
 indolence peculiar to their nature, and become aftive, perfi^ver- 
 ing, and indefatigable. They, are equally fagacious in iinding 
 their prey, and in the means they ufe to deftroy it. They dif- 
 cern the footfteps of the hearts they are in purfuit of, although 
 they are imperciptible to every other eye, and can follow them 
 wit|j cfertainty through the pathlefs foreft. 
 
 The beafts that the Indians hunt, both for their flefli On which 
 they fubfift, and for their skins, of which they either make their 
 apparel, or barter with the Europeans for neceflfarles, are the 
 buffalo, the cik, the deer, the moofe, carribboo, the bear, the 
 beaver, the otter, die martin, &Ci I defer giving a defcription^, 
 of thefe c^ieatures here, and ihall only at prefent treat of thekr^ ' 
 manner of hunting them. -''''- 
 
 The route they (hall take for this purpofe, and the parties 
 •that.lhall go on the different expeditions are fixed in their genifc • 
 ral councils which arc held fome time in the fummpr, when aft 
 the operations for the enfuing winter are concluded on. The 
 chief-warrior, whofe province it is to regulate their proceed- 
 ings on this occafion, with great folemnity iffues out an invita- 
 tion to thofe who choofe to attend him; for the Indians, as be- 
 fore obferved, acknowledge no fuperiority, nor have they any 
 idea of compulfion; and everyone that accepts it prepares him- 
 ifttf'by falling during feveral days. 
 
 '^i^. 
 
■ 
 
 
 la^ 1* 
 
 V The Indians do not faft |p fiime' other nations do, on the rich- 
 efl and inoll kixurioiis food, but they totally abftain from every 
 Kind either of vicluals or drink," ancM|||Lch is their patience and 
 rcfoliition, that the inoft extreme tnfrn could not oblige them 
 to talle a drop of uMter; yet amidft this fevere abrtincncc they 
 appear cheerful and happy. 
 
 The rcafons they give for thus fafting, arc, that it enables 
 them freely to dream, in which dreams they are informed where 
 they Ihall find the grsatcfl: plenty of game; and alfo that it averts 
 the difplcafure ot the evil fpirits, and induces them to be pro- 
 pitious. They J^fo on thefe occafions blacken tbofe parts of 
 tjicir bodies that are uncovered. 
 
 The faft beipg ended, and the place of hunting made known, 
 t^ic chief who is to conduct them, gives a grand feaft to tbofe 
 who are to form the different parties i of which none of them 
 dare to partake till they have bathed themfelves. At this feaft, 
 notwithflanding they have failed fo long, they eat with great 
 moderation; and the chief that prefides employs himfelf in re- 
 hearfing the feats of thofc who have been moft fuccefsful in the 
 bufinefs they are about to enter upon. They foon after fet out 
 on the march towards the place appointed, painted or rather 
 bedawbed with black, amidft the acclamations of all the people. 
 
 It is impoffible to defcribe their agility or perfeverance, whilft 
 they are in purfuit of their prey,- neither thickets, ditches, tor- 
 rents, pools, or rivers ftop them; they always go ftrait forward 
 in the moft direft line they pollibly can, and there are few of the 
 favage inhabitants of the woods that they cannot overtake. 
 
 When they hunt for bears, they endeavour to find out their 
 retreats J for, during the winter thefe animals conceal them- 
 felves in the hollow trunks of trees, or make themfelves holes 
 in the ground, where they continue without food, whilft the 
 fevere weather lafts. 
 
 When the Indians think they have arrived at a place where 
 thefe creatures ufually haunt, they form themfelves into a circle 
 ^according to their number, and moving onward, endeavour, as 
 they advance towards the centre, to difcovcr the retreats of their 
 prey. By this means, if any lie in the intermediate fpace, they 
 are fure of aroufing them, and bringing them down either with 
 their bows or their guns. The bears will take to flight at fight 
 of a man or a dog, and will only make refiftance when they are 
 extremely hungry, or after they are wounded. 
 * The Indian method of hunting the bufl'alo is by forming a 
 circle or a fquare, nearly in the fame manner as when they fearch 
 for the bear. Having taken their different ftations, they fet the 
 grafs, which at this time is rank and dry, on fire, and thefe ani- 
 mals, who are extremely fearful of that element, flying with 
 precipitaMon before it, great numbers are hcHuned in a fmall 
 compafs, and fcaiccly a fmgle one efcapes. 
 
 
 •* "■*?'> 
 *■■*■ 
 
 The 
 
 % 
 
 * *«n»« lii < ir| i i ' 
 
 ■Mi.mt 
 
 K^-^ 
 
They have dlffert?nt ways of hunting the elk, the deer, and 
 
 the cairibboo. Sometimes they feck them out in the woods, to 
 which they retire during^-thc fcverity of the cold, where they 
 are cafily fhot from behind the trees. In the more northern cli- 
 mates they take the advantage of the weather to dcftroy the elk; 
 when the fun has juft ftrength enough to melt the fnow, and the 
 froft in the night forms a kind of cruiV oh the furface, this crea- 
 ture being heavy, breaks it with his forked hoofs, and with 
 difficulty extricates himfelf from it: at this time therefore he is 
 foon overtaken and deftroyed. 
 
 Some nations have a method of hunting thefe animals which 
 is more cafily executed, and free from danger. The hunting 
 party divide themfclves into two bands, and choofing a fpot near 
 the borders of fome river, one party embarks on board their 
 canoes, whilft the other forming themfclves into a iemi-circle 
 on the land, the flanks of which reach the iTiore, let loofe their 
 dogs, and by this means roufe all the game that lies within thefe 
 bounds; they then drive them towards the river, into which 
 they no fooner enter, than the grcateil part of them arfi ijnme* 
 diately difpatchcd by thofe who remain in the canoes. *f .^ 
 
 Both the elk and the buffalo are very furious when they are 
 wounded, and will return fiercely on their purfuers, and tram- 
 ple them under their feet, if the hunter finds no means to com- 
 plete their deftru6lion, or fecks for fecurity in flight to fome ad- 
 jacent tree; by this method they are frequently avoided, and fo 
 tired with the purluit, that they voluntarily give it over. . 
 
 But the hunting in which the Indians, particularly thofe who 
 inhabit the northern parts, chiefly employ themfclves, and from 
 which they reap the greateft advantage, is the beaver htlnting. 
 The feafon for this is throughout the whole of the winter, from 
 November to April ; during which time the fur of thefe creatures 
 is in the grcateil perfection. A defcription of this extraordinary 
 anin||I, the conftruflion of their huts, and the regulations of 
 their almoll rational community, I fhall give in another place. 
 
 The hunters make ufe of feveral methods to deftroy them. 
 Thofe generally praflifed, are cither that of taking them in inares, 
 cutting through the ice, or opening their cauleways. 
 
 As the Qyas of thefe animals are very quick, and their hearing 
 exceedingly accute, great precaution is neceffai^ In approaching 
 their abodes ; for as they feldom go far from the water, and 
 their houfes are always built clofe to the fide of fome large ri- 
 ver or lake, or dams of their own conftrufting, upon the lealt 
 alarm they haftcn to the deepeft part of the water, and dive inv 
 mediately to the bottom ; as they do this they make a great npife 
 by beating the water with their tails, on purp.ofe to put the 
 whole fraternity on their guard. 
 
 They take them with fnarcs in the following manner ; though 
 the beavers ufually lay up a fufficient flore of provifign to ferve 
 for their fubfillence during the winter, they make from time to 
 time e^icurfions to the neighbouring woods to procure further 
 
 fuppUes 
 
 »■ :/■ 
 
 
 
f:*!f« 
 
 % [ 124 1 • 
 
 fupplles of food. The hunters having fdttft^ Q^t their haunts, 
 place a trap in their way, baited with fmall pieces of bark, or 
 young ihoots of trees, which the beaverhas no fooner laid hold 
 of, than a large log of wood falls upon him, and breaks his 
 back ; his enemies, who are upon the watch, foon appear, and 
 inftantly difpatch the helplefs animal. 
 
 At other times, when the ice on the rivers and lakes is about 
 half a foot thick, they make an opening through it with their 
 hatchets, to which the beavers will loon haften, on being dif- 
 turbed at their houfes, for a fupply of freih air. As their breath 
 occafions a confiderajjle motion in the waters, the hunter has 
 fulHcient notice of their approach, and methods are eafily taken 
 for knocking them on the head the moment they appear above 
 ^the (urface. 
 
 When the houfes of the beavers happen to be near a rivu- 
 let, they are more eafily deftroyed : the hunters then cut the ice, 
 jmdfpreading a net under it, break down the cabins ot the bea- 
 vers, who never fail to make towards the deepeft part, where 
 they are entangled and taken. But they muft not be fuffercd to 
 remain there long, as they would foon extricate themfelveswith 
 their teeth, which are well known to be cxceflively iharp and 
 ftrong. 
 
 The Indians take great care to hinder their dogs from touch- 
 ing the bones of the beavers. The reafons they give for thefe 
 precautions, are, firll, that the bones are fo exceffively hard, 
 that they fpoil the teeth of the dogs ; and, fecondly, that they 
 are apprehenfive they ihall fo exafperate the fpirits of the bea- 
 vers by this permiffion, as to render the next hunting feafon 
 ehfuccefsful. 
 
 The skins of thefe animals the hunters exchange with tho 
 Eitropeans for neceffaries, and as they arc more valued by the 
 latter than any other kind of furs, they pay the greateit attenti- 
 on to this'f|iecies of hunting. ^ 
 
 When the Indians deilroy bufFalos, elks, deer, &c. they ge- 
 ncraHy divide the flefli of fuch as they have taken among the 
 tribe to which they belong. But in hunting the beaver a few 
 families ufually unite and divide the fpoil between them. In- 
 deed, in the tirft ini^ance they generally pay fome attention in 
 the divifion to ifneir own families; but no jealoufies ormurmur- 
 ings are ever known to arife on account ot -nv apparent paiti- 
 ^ality. 
 
 Among the Naudoweflles, if a pcrfon ihoots a deer, buffalo, 
 &c. and it runs to a confiderable diflance before it drops, where 
 a perfon belonging to another tribe, being nearer, firft flicks a 
 knife into it, the game is confidcred as the property of the lat- 
 ter, notwithftanding it had been mortally wounded by the for- 
 mer. Though this cultom appears to be arbitrary and unjuft, 
 yet that people cheerfully lubmit to it. This decilion is, how- 
 ever, very different from that praftifed by the Indians on the 
 bjck of the colonies, where the firft pcrfon that hits it is enti- 
 tled to the beft Ihare. . . ir* 
 
 I****!* 
 
 J^^tM^^^^M^M^^^il^^^^^A^ 
 
 Tvn-'tmm^t'^'^^''- ■■f-«ft-<ft*«T--*- 
 
'■"'■ ¥•>, 
 
 I "S J 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 »f.. 
 
 Of their Manner of makmg War, 6 v. 
 
 ft- 
 
 ■..V . -v 
 ■* ■■ '■ * **?■' 
 
 ^T^ HE Indians begin to bear arms at the age of fifteen, and ' 
 X. lay them afide when they arrive at the age of fixty. Some 
 nations to the fouthward, I have been Informed, do not con- 
 tinue their military exercifes after they are lifty. 
 
 In every band or nation there is a feiecl number whoareftiled 
 the warriors, and who are always ready toad either oiTenfively 
 or defenfivcly, as occafion requires. Thefe are well armed, 
 bearing the weapons commonly in ufe among them, which vary 
 according to the fituation of their countries. Such as have an 
 intercourfe with the Europeans make ufe of tomahawks, Knives, 
 and lire-arms; but thofe whofe dwellings are fituated 19. the 
 welhvard of the Mifliffippi, and who have not an opportunity 
 of purchafing thefe kinds of weapons, ufe bows and arjF^v^s, and 
 alfo the Caif^ Tete or War-club. 
 
 The Indians that inhabit ftill farther to the weftward, a coun- 
 try which extends to the South Sea, ufe in fight a wari|fee in- 
 ftrument that is very uncommon. Having great plenty of horfes, 
 they always attack their enemies on horfeback, and encumber 
 themfelves with no other wcapop, than a (lone of a middUng 
 fize, curioully wrought, which they fallen by a firing, about a 
 yard and a half long, to their right arms, a little above' the el- 
 bo^ Thefe Hones they conveniently carry in their hands, till 
 they reach their enemies, and then fwinging them with great 
 dexterity^ as they ride full fpecd, never fail of doing execution. 
 The country which thefe tribes poffefs, aboundjiig with large 
 extenlive plains, thofe who attack them feldom return; as the 
 fwiftncfs of the horfes, on which they are mounted,, enables 
 them to overtake even the fleetelt of their invilders. t-j>,^v j,-:^ 
 
 The Naudowellies, who had been at war with this people, 
 informed me, that unlefs they found moralles or thickets to 
 which tliey could retire, they were fure of being cutjoNBT: to 
 prevent this they always took care whenever they madid^^an -on' 
 fet, to do it near fuch retreats as were impafTable forxavaltyj 
 they then having a great advantage over their enemies, whofp 
 weapons would not there reach them. 
 
 Some nations make ule of a javelin, pointed with bone, work- 
 
 ftd into different forms; but their Indian weapons in general 
 
 are bows and arrows, and the Ihort club alrjeady mentioned. 
 
 T^ie latter is made of a very hard wood, and the head of it 
 
 % laihioned 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^js^r #^ 
 
4^ 
 
 m 
 
 f^nitoned round like a ball, about three inches and a half dia- '•I 
 meter; in this rotund partis fixed an edge rcffembling tliat of 
 a tomahawk, either of ftcel or flint, whichever they can pro- 
 euro. 
 
 The dagger is peculiar to the Naudoweflle nation, and of an- 
 cient conflrutflion, but they can give no account how long it 
 lias been in ufc among thein. It was originalfcf made of flint or 
 bone, but fince they have had communication with the Euro- 
 pean traders, they have formed it of fteel. The length of it is 
 about ten inches, and that part clofc to the handle nearly three 
 mches broad. Its edges are keen, and it gradually tapers to- 
 wards a point. They wear it in a iTieath made of deer s leather, 
 neatly ornamented with porcupine quills; and it is ufualJy hung 
 by a firing, decorated in the fame manner, which reaches as 
 iow only as the breail:. This curious weapon is worn by a few 
 of the principal chiefs alone, and coniidered both as an ufcful 
 hittrument, and an ornamental badge of fuperiority. 
 
 1 obierved among the Naudoweilies a few targets or fhields 
 
 made of raw buffalo hides, and in the form of thofe ufed by the 
 
 .<*<" ancients. But as the number of thefe was fmall, and I could 
 
 > gain no intelligence of the aera in which they iirft were intro* 
 
 dueed among them, I fuppofe thofc I faw had defcended from 
 
 father to fon for many generations. 
 
 The reafons the Indians, give for making war againft one* ano- 
 ther, are much the fanw as thofe urged by more civilized nati- 
 ons for diflurbing the tranquillity of their neighbours. The 
 pleas of the former are however in general more rational and 
 juft, than fuch as are brought by Furopeans in vindication of 
 their proceedings. 
 V ^ Tl>e extenfion of empire, is feldom a motive with thefe peo- 
 ple .to invade, and to commit depredations on the territories of 
 tlK)fe who happen to dwell near them. To iecure the rights of 
 bunting within particular limits, to maintain the liberty of |>a(r- 
 ing through their accuftomed tracks, and to guard tnol'e lands 
 which thi^y confidcr from a long tenure as their own, agalnll 
 any infringcmont, arc the general caul'es of thofe dilTenfions that 
 fo often break out between the Indian nations, and which are 
 carried on with fo much animofity. 
 
 Though ftrang^rs to the idea of feparatc property, yet the 
 mofl uncultivated among them are well acquainted with the 
 yifjbts of their community to the domains they poliefs, and op- 
 pofe vdth vigour every encroachment on them. 
 
 Notwithilanding it is generally fuppofed that from their ter- 
 ritories being fo extenfive, the boundaries of them cannot be 
 al'certained, yet I am well aflTured that the U^its of each nati- 
 on in the interior parts are laid down in their rude plans with 
 great precilion. By theirs, a* I have before obferved,' was I 
 -.(enabled to regulate my own; and after the mofl exaft obfervat^* 
 Ijtts and enquiries found very few inttances io which they er« 
 
 Wd,^..^-v • ■. . .... - ....... -.;:, , -'' 
 
 «■«.'-»■ .v;. 
 
 m^ 
 
 mtm 
 
 JJiiMln 
 
ilf dia. ^ 
 ;hat of . 
 n pro- 
 of an- 
 long il 
 flint or 
 I Euro- 
 of it is 
 [y three 
 )ers to- 
 icather, 
 lly hung 
 ichcs as 
 >y a few 
 n ufcful 
 
 r Oilel4s 
 d by the 
 I could 
 re intro* 
 led from 
 
 Dne» ano- 
 itd nati- 
 5. The 
 onal and 
 cation of 
 
 icfe peo* 
 tories of 
 rights of 
 of fjaff- 
 e lands 
 againft 
 Rons that 
 lich are 
 
 the 
 the 
 and op- 
 
 yet 
 ftnth 
 
 their ter- 
 annot be 
 ach nati- 
 ans with 
 d,' was I 
 iblervat^. 
 they er» 
 
 s 4«ir: 
 
 •t t 127 ] ^ 
 
 ^ But Intereft Is" not cither the mod frequent or moft powerful 
 incentive to their making war on each other. The paflion of 
 revenge, which Is the dirtinguifhing char after i (lie of thefc peo- 
 ple, Is the moft general motive. Injuries are felt by them with 
 exquiiite fenfibility, and vengeance purfucd with unremitted ar- 
 dour. To this may be added, that natural excitation which 
 every Indian becomes fcnfible of as foon as he approaclics Uia 
 age of manhood to give proofs of his valour and prowefs. i" 
 As they are early polfeired with a notion that war ought to be 
 the chief bulincfs of their lives, that there is nothing more de- 
 firous than the reputation of being a great warrior, and that 
 the fcalps of their enemies, or a number of prifoners arc alone 
 to be efteemed valuable, it is not to be wondered at that the 
 younger Indians qire continually reftlefs and uneafy if their ar- , 
 dour is reprefUbd, and they are kept in a ftatc of inaftivity. 
 Either of thefe propenfities, the defire of revenge, or the gra- 
 tilication of an impulfe, that by degrees becomes habitual to 
 them, is fullrcicnt, frequently, to induce them to commit hofti- 
 lities on fome of the neighbouring nations. ' 
 
 When the chiefs fmd any occafion for making war, they en- 
 deavour to aroufe thefe habitudes, and by that means foonexcita 
 their warriors to take arms. To this purpofe they make ufe of . 
 their martial eloquence, nearly in the following words, which 
 never fails of proving efFeftual; " The bones of our deceafcd 
 ** countrymen He uncovered, they call out to us to revenge 
 ** their wrongs, and we mud fatisfy their requeft. Their fpi-^ 
 ** rits cry out againft us. They muft be appeafed. The genii, 
 " who arc the guardians of our honour, infpire us with a refo- 
 ** lution to feek the enemies of our murdered brothers. Let 
 *' us go and devour thofe by whom they were flain. Sit there- 
 " fore no longer inaiftivc, give way to the impulfe of your na- 
 ** tural valour, anoint your hair, paint your faces, till your 
 quivers, caufc the forulls to refound with your fongs, con* 
 fole the fpirits of the dead, and tell them they ihall be re^ 
 venged." ' ''^' "i- \ 
 
 Animated by thefe exhortations the warriors fnatch their 
 arms in a tranfport of fury, ling the fong of war, and burn 
 with impatience to imbrue their hands in the blood of their ene- 
 mies. 
 
 Sometimes private chiefs affemble fmall parties, and ma^ 
 excurlions agajnft thoic with whom they are at war, or fuch" ^ 
 have injured them. A fingle warrior, prompted by revenge or 
 a defire to Ihow his prowefs, will march unattended for feveral 
 hufi(S»4>d miles, to furprize and cut off a ftraggling party. 
 
 Thefe irregular failles, however, are not always approved 
 of by the elder chiefs, though they are often obliged to con- 
 spire at them; as in the inftance before given of the Naudo- 
 4jpeflie and Chlpiiway nations. e-r 
 
 ■ But when a war is national, and undertaken by the commu- 
 Blcy* their deliberations are formal and (low. The elders af- 
 
 fembl« 
 
 
 #.^ 
 
 ■ t T^ 
 
 
^ 
 
 fcmble in council, to which* all the head warrion ancf- young 
 men are admitted, where they deliver their opinions in folenm 
 fpecches, weighing with maturity the nature of the enterprizc 
 they are about to engage in, and balancing with great fagacity 
 "" the advantages or inconveniences that will arife from it. 
 '^■<i*: Their pritfrts are alio confulted on the fubiecl, and even, 
 fometimes, the advice of the inoft intelligent of their women is 
 asked. 
 
 If the determination be for war, they prepare for it with 
 much ceremony, 
 r The chief warrior of a nation does not on all occafions head 
 the war party himfelf, he frequently deputes a warrior of whofe 
 valour and prudence he has a good opinion. The perfon thus 
 fixed on being firft bedawbed with black, obferves a faft of fc- 
 veral days, during which he invokes the .Great Spirit, or de- 
 precates the anger of the evil ones, holding whilft it lafts no 
 converfe with any of his tribe. 
 X He is particularly careful at the fame t,: ;e to obferve his 
 dreams, for on thefe do they fuppofe their fuccefs will in a 
 great meafure depend; and from the firm perfuafion every In- 
 dian atluated by his own piefumptuous tlioughts is impreflcd 
 with, that he iTiail march forth to certain viflory, thele are 
 generally favourable to his wiftes. 
 
 After he has fafted as long as cuftom prefcribes, he afTcmblcs 
 the warriors, and holding a be't of wampum in his hand, thus 
 addreffes them: 
 ? " Brothers! by the fnfpiration of the Great Spirit I now 
 
 •* fpeak unto you, and by him am [prompted to carry into exe- 
 «* cution the intentions which I am about to difclofe to you. 
 ** The blood of our decealed brothers is not yet wiped awny; 
 ** their bodies are not y«t covered, and I am going to per- 
 ** form this duty to them." 
 
 Having then made known to them all the motives that induce 
 him to take up arms againfl: the nation with whom they are to 
 engage, he thus proceeds : " I have therefore refolved to 
 ** march through the war-path to furprize them. \Vc will eat 
 •' their flefh, and drink their blood; we will take fcalps, and 
 , ** make prifoners; and iTiould we perilli in this glorious enter- 
 ic -'," prize, we fliall not be forever hid in the duil, for this belt 
 » •* lliall be a recompence to him who buries the dead." Having 
 !,faid this, he lays the belt on the ground, and he who takes it 
 up declares himfelf his lieutenant, and is confidered as the fe- 
 cond in command ; this, however, is only done by fome dif- 
 tinguillied warrior who has a right, by the number of his fcalps, 
 to the port. -J 
 
 Though the Indians thus aflert that they will eat the flefh arii 
 drink the blood of their enemies, the threat is only to be con- 
 fidered as a figurative exprellion. Notwithftanding they fomt- 
 times devour the hearts of thofe they ilay, and drink thejr 
 blood, by way of bravado, or to gratify in a more complcW 
 
 maiinet 
 
 rftK^miiVtmanirt 
 
 kMM 
 
[ 129 -1 ' ■'' 
 
 manner their, revenge, yet they are not naturally anthropophagi, ' ; 
 nor ever fccii on the litih of men.. 
 
 'I'ho chief is now wailicii from his fahle covcrhig, anointed ' 
 with l)cai's fat, and paintci.i with their rod paint, In fuch figures 
 as will make hiin appo.annolt tcrrihlc to his enemies. He then 
 finj^s the war long, and ftiumcratcs his warlike a-'Uons. Hav- 
 ing done this he fixes his c^cs on the fun, and pays his adora- * 
 tions to the Great Spirit, in which he is accompanied by all the 
 warriors. 
 
 This ceremony is followed (Villi dances, fuch as I 'have be-' A'. 
 fore dcfcribed; and the whole Concludes with a lead, whi(;li ' . 
 ulually con litis of dogs tlelli. jJP 
 
 This feafl is held in the hut or tent of the chief warrior, td 
 which all thofe who intend tu accompany him in his expedition 
 fend their diHies to be filled; and during the feafl:, notwith- ' 
 {landing he has failed fo long, Wt fits compofedly with his pipo 
 in his month, and recounts the valorous deeds of his family. ■ ■ 
 
 As the liopes of having their wounds, llxould they receive 
 any, properly treated, and expeditiouily cured, mull be fome . ' 
 additional inducement to the warriors to cxporcLhcmfclves more 
 freely to Hanger, the priells, who are alio their doftors, pre- ^ . , 
 pare fuch niedecincs as will prove efficacious. With great ce- 4 ■ , 
 jcinony they carry various roots and plants, and pretend that JfY *» 
 they impart to them the power of healing. ':'-».. 
 
 Nobtwlthllanding this fuperflitious method of proceeding, it 
 is very certain that they have acquired a knowledge of many 
 plants and herbs that are of a medicinal quality, and which they 
 know how to u(e with great skill. 
 
 From the time the refolution of engaging in a war is taken, to 
 the departure of the warriors, the nights are fpent in fcftivity, 
 and their days in making the neediul preparations. 
 
 If it is thought necelfary by tlie nation going to war, to foli-, 
 clt the alliance of any-neighbouring tribe, they lix upon one of 
 their chiefs who fpeaks the language of that people well, and 
 who IS a good orator, and fend to ihem by him a belt of wam- 
 pum, on which js fpeci.ied the purport of theemhally in fi[Tures 
 thai every nation is well acquainted uiin. At the lame time he ' .' 
 carries with him a hatchet painted red. ;^:,'. 
 
 As foon as he reaches the camp or village, to which he is de- i 
 ftincd, he acquaints the chief of liie tribe.w,ith the general tenor H; 
 of his commiflion, who immediately allembies a council, to '•, 
 which the ambaiiador is invited. Tliere havin^g laid the hatchet 
 on the ground he holds the belt in hi^ hand, and enters more 
 minutely into the occalion of his embalTy. In his fpeech he in» 
 vites them to take up the hatchet, and as foon as he has^finiflied- 
 (peaking delivers the belt. , . 
 
 if his hearers are inclined to become auxiliaries to his nation, 
 a chief rteps forward and t^ikes up the hatchet, and they imme- 
 diattly efppufe with fpiric the caufe they have thus engaged ^0 
 fu^port. Bui if 01} iki'i applicacian neic^tier the ^elt oi hatphec 
 
 m.' 
 

 f »3o 1 
 
 » 
 
 ^ 
 
 are accepted, the emiflTary concludes that the people wbofb tf- 
 finance he folicits have already entered into an alliance with the 
 Foes of his nation, and returns with fpced to inform his couji- 
 trymcn of his ill fucccfs. 
 
 ' The manner in which the Indians declare war a^inft each 
 other, is by fending a flavc with a hatchet, thchandlcof which 
 is painted red, to the nation which they intend to break with; 
 and the melTenger, notwithftanding the danger to which he if 
 expofeii from the fudden fury of thofe whom he thus fcts at de- 
 fiance, executes hh commiffion with great fidelity. 
 
 Sometimes this tokcr^of defiance has fuchan inftantancoiis ef- 
 fert on thofe to whom it is prcfcnted, that in thcfirft tranfports 
 of their fury a fmall party will iiTue forth, without waiting for 
 the pcrmiflion of the eider chiefs, and flaying the firft of the 
 offending nation they meet, cut open the body and ftick a hatch. 
 ct of the fame kind as that thfcy have juft received; into the 
 heart of their flaughrered foe. Among the more icmdiic tribes 
 this is done with an arrow or fpcar, the end of which is paint- 
 ed red. And the more to exafperate, they difmember the body, 
 to fhow that they cftccui them not as men but as old women. 
 
 The Indians feldom take the field in large bodies, as fiich 
 numbers would require a greater degree of induflry to provide 
 for their {ubfiftcnce, during their tedious marches throiigh drea- 
 ry forerts, or long voyages over lakes and rivers, than they 
 would care to bellow. 
 
 Their armies are never encumbered w^ith baggage or milita- 
 ry ftores. Each warrior, befides his weapons, carries with hfm 
 only a mat, and whilft at a diftance from the frontiers of the 
 enemy fupports himfelf witli the game he kills or the fiih he 
 catches. 
 
 When they pafs through .a country where they have no ap- 
 prehenfions of meeting with an enemy, they ufe very little pre- 
 caution : fometimes there are fcarcely a dozen warriors left to- 
 gether, the reft being difperfed in purfuit of their game; but 
 though they fhould have roved to a very confiderable difliance 
 from the war-path, they are fure to arrive at the place of ren- 
 dezvous by the hour appointed. 
 
 They always pitch their tents long before fun-fet; and being 
 naturally prefumptuous, take very little care to guard againft 
 a furprize. They place great confidence in their Manitous, or 
 houllioki gods, which they always carry with them ; and being 
 perfuaded thaf they take upon them the ofiice of centinels, they 
 flecp very fecurely under their protcftion. 
 
 Thefe Manitous, as they are called by fome nations, but 
 which are termed Wakons, that is, fpirits, by the the Naudo- 
 wcfllcs, are nothing more than the otter and martins skins I 
 have already defcribed, for which, however, they have a great 
 .veneration. 
 
 After they have entered the enemies country, no people can 
 be more cautious and circumfpe^j tires are no longer lighted, 
 
 ^%i*Z.^ 
 
 WMH 
 
to more fliontlng is heard, nor the game sny longer purftied. 
 They arc not even pciinittcd to fpcak; but mul\ convey what- 
 ever they have to impart to each other by figns and motions. 
 
 They now proceed wholly by flratagcm and ainbufcadc. 
 Having difcovcred their enemies, they fend to reconnoitre 
 them; and a council is immediately held, during which they 
 fpcak only in whifpcrs, to contidcr of the intclhgcnce imparteJ 
 by thole who were fent out. 
 
 The attack is generally mndc juft before day- break, at which 
 period they fuppofe the foes to be in their foundcH ik-ep. 
 Throughout the whole of the preceding night they will lie flat 
 upon their fiices, without ftirring; and make their approaches 
 in tiie lame pollurc, creeping upon their hands and feet till they 
 are got vvithin bow-(hot ot thotc they have deftined to deltruc- 
 lion. On a figiial given by the chief warrior, to which the 
 whole body makes anfwer by the mod hideous yells, they all 
 ftait up,, and diCcharging their arrows in the (amc inftant, v/jth- 
 out giving their advcrfarie'^ time to recover from the cunfuiloo 
 into which they aic thrown, pour in upon them with their war- 
 dubs or tomahawks. 
 
 The IndLuns think tlK;re is little gfory to be acquired from 
 attacking their enemies openiy in the field; their greateU pride 
 is to furprife and deflroy. They feldom engage without amani- 
 feft api>earancc of advantage. -If they find the enemy on their 
 their guard, too Arongly entrenched, or fuperior in nimibers, 
 they retire, provided there is an opportunity of doing fo. And 
 they efleem it the greateft qualification of a chief warrior, to 
 be able to manage an attack, fo as to deffroy as many of the 
 enemy as pofCble, at the expencc of n. few men. 
 
 Sometimes they fecurc themlelvcs behind trees, hillocks, or 
 llones, and having given one or two roiiiids retire before they 
 are difcovered. Europeans, who aie unacquainted with this 
 method of fightiDg loo often find to their coil the dellruflive 
 efficacy of it. 
 
 General Braddock was one of this wnbappynninber. March- 
 ing in the year 1755, to attack Fort Du Quefne, he was inter;?>T 
 cepted by ; Tty of French and confederate Indians in their in- 
 tereil, who l. this infidious method of engaging found means 
 to defeat his army, which confiftcdof about two thoufand brave 
 and wcll-dircipliued troops. So fecurely were the Indiajw poll- 
 ed, that the Englifli fcarccly knew from whence or by whom 
 they were thus annoyed. During the whole of the engagement 
 the latter had fcarccly a fight of an enemy ; and were obliged 
 to retreat without the fatisfaftion of being able to take the leaft 
 degree of revenge for the havock made among them. The Ge- 
 neral paid for his temerity with his life, and was accompanied 
 in his fall by a great number of brave fellows,- wbilfl his invi- 
 fible enemies bad only two or three of their number wounded. 
 
 When the Indians fucceed in their filent approaches, and are 
 abl« to force the camp which they attack, a Icenc of horror 
 
 .-r 
 
 ■St '«■•.-.§( 
 
 ^; 
 
,t>-T>'v." ;^;.|' 
 
 [ 132 i 
 
 1^ 
 
 tfiat errceeds defcrfption, enfiies. The favage fiercenefs of thi 
 conquerors, and llie dcfperation of thi.' coriqucrcd, who well 
 know what they ha\^e to expcft iTiould they fill jilivc into the 
 hands of their afiailants, occafion the moi\ extraordinary exer- 
 tions on both lidcs.' The i\guie of the combatants all befmcar- 
 ed with black and red paint, and covered with the blood elf the 
 llain, their horrid yells, and ungovernable fury, arc not to be 
 conceived by thofe who have never croflcd the- Atlantic. 
 .■^. I have frequently been a fpeftator of them, and once bore a 
 part in a fimilar fcene. But what added to the horror of it was, 
 that I had not the confolation of being able to oppofc their 
 favage attacks. Every circnmfliance of the adr-cnturc Hill du-clls 
 on my remembrance, and enables me to defer i be with greater 
 perfpicuity the brutal Hercenefs of tlie Indians when they have 
 furprized or overpowered an enemy. 
 
 As a detail of the maffacre at I'ort William Henry In the year 
 1757, the fcene to wliich 1 refer, cannot appear foreign to the 
 defigii of this publicafiDn, but will fct ve to give my readers a 
 jull idea of the ferocity of this people, I ihall take the liberty 
 to infert it, apologizing at the fame time for the length of the 
 digreflion, and thofe egotifras which the relation renders un?.- 
 voidablc. ' 
 
 General Webb, who commanded the EnglilK army in North 
 Aihgrica, which Avas then encamped at Fort Edward, hav-ing in- 
 telligence that the French troops under Monf. Montcalm were 
 making fome movements towards Fort William Henry, he de- 
 tached a corps of Rbout fifteen hundred men, confining of En- 
 glilli and Provincials, to f^rengthen the garrifon. In this party 
 I went as a volunteer among the latter. 
 
 The apprchcnfions of rh& Englift General were not without 
 foundation; for the day after our frrival we fa\r Lake Gcor^^e 
 (jformerly Lake Sacrament) to Avhich it lies contiguous, cohered 
 with an immcnfe number of boats; and in a few hours we found 
 our lines attacked by the French General, who 'had ju/r landed 
 with eleven thoCifajid Regulars and Canadians and two thoufand 
 Indians. Colonel Monro, a brave oliictr, commanded in the 
 Fort, and had no more than two thoufand three himdred men 
 with him,' our detachment intluded. 
 
 With thele Ijc made a gallant defence, and probably would 
 have bt^en able at lal^ to preferve the Foit, had he been proper- 
 ly fupporLcd, and permitted to continirc liis elTorts. On every 
 fummon's to furrcnder fen t by the French General, who ofleicd 
 the moft honourable terms, "his anfwer repeatedly was, '1 hat he 
 yet found himfelf in a condition to repel the Uiofl \i[:oiors at- 
 tacks his befiegcrs wcrq able to make; and if he thoufiht hi^ 
 prelent force infufiicient, he could foon be fupplied with a 
 greater number from the adjacent army- 
 
 But the Colonel having acquainted General Webb with hi? 
 fjtaation, and defircd he wc!!id fend him (cmt frcfli troops, the 
 general difpatched a medcnger to him with a letter, U'hti ein he 
 
 informed 
 
/ 
 
 ^-;'^'^ 
 
 Informed hhi tlvit it was not in his power to afllft him, anj 
 therefore gave him orders to furrender up the Fort on the bcft 
 terms he could procure. This packet fell into the hands of tha. 
 French General, who immediately fent a flag of truce, delirinfi 
 a conference v.'ith the governor. «^ t 
 
 They accordingly met, attended only by a fmall guard, in the 
 centre between the lines ^ when Monf. Montcalm told the Colo- 
 nel, that he was come in perfon to demand pofTeflion of the 
 i'lMt, as it belonged to the King his mafter.^ The Colonel re- 
 plied, that he k'new not how that could be, lior fhould he fur- 
 lencior it up whilfl: it was in his power to defend it. 
 
 The. French General rejoined, at the fame time delivering the 
 pjickct into the Colonel's hand, ^' liythis authority do I make 
 *\ r'lv.' :cqiiilition." The brave Governor had no fooner read 
 the coiitenrs of it, and was convinced that fuch were the orders 
 of tlie commander in chief, and nor to be difobeyed, than ho 
 hung his head in lilence, and rtlu6lantly entered into a neg09l- 
 ation. "'^•" ■ 
 
 Inconfideration of the gallant defence thegarrifon had made, 
 they were to be permitted to march out with all the honours of 
 war, to be allowed covered waggons to tranfport their baggage 
 to Fort Edward, and a guard to proteft them from tliC fury of 
 the favages. ■ >. 
 
 The morning after the capitulation was figned, as foon as day 
 broke, the whole garrifon, now confifting of about two thou- 
 fand men, befides women and children, were drawn up within 
 the lines, and on the point of marching olF, when great nuin-' 
 bers of the Indians gathered about, and began to plunder. We 
 were at firft in hopes that this was their only view, and fuffered 
 them to proceed without oppofition. Indeed it was not in our 
 power to make any, had we been fo inclined; for though wo 
 were permitted to carry off our arms, yet we, were not allowed 
 a lingle round of ammunition. In thefe hopes however we were 
 riifappointcd: for prci'ently fome of them began to attack the 
 fick and wounded., when fuch as w§re not able to crawl into the 
 ranks, notvvithltanding they endeavoured to avert the fury of 
 their enemies by their ihrieks or groans, were foon difpatched. 
 
 Here we wcr^, fully in expcftation that the diflurbance would 
 have concluded; and our little army began to move; but in a 
 ftort time we faw the front diyiijon drU'en back, and difcovered 
 that we were entirely encircled by the favages. We expefted 
 every moment that the guard, which the French, by the articles 
 of capitulation, hp.d agreed to allow us, would have arrived, 
 and piit an end to our apprehenfions; but none appeared. The 
 iudians now bc./^an to Ikip everyone without exception of thelK-. 
 ^iiuj and cloaths, and thofe who made the leall; refiftance felt^ 
 the weight of their tomahawks. 
 
 ' J happened to be in the rear divifion, but it was not long be- 
 Ibre I Diared the fate of my companions. Three or four of the 
 Pn^vages bid i>oid of me, and whilil fome held their weapons 
 
 . ' \ *>vct 
 
fM 
 
 
 •rcT mjr head, tbe others foon difrobecl roe of btjt coat, waift* 
 
 coat, hat, and buckles^ omitting not to take fromnie ichat mo- 
 »ey I had in my pocket. As this wai tranfafted clofe by the 
 f aiTage that led from the lines on to the plain, near which » 
 Vfiench centinel was pofled, I ran to him and dainied his protec- 
 tioa; but he only called me an Englilh dog, and thrufl voa with 
 violence back again into the midfl of the Indians. 
 
 I now endeavoured to join a body of our trooprs that were 
 rtowded together at foioe dillancc; but innumerable were the 
 blows that were ihade at me with different weapons as I paiTed 
 ©nj luckily however the favages were fo clofe together, that 
 they could not ftrike at me without endangering each other* 
 Sfotwithllanding which one of them found means, to make a 
 thsuH at me with a ipear, which grazed n^ fide, and froua ano- 
 ther I received a wcvimd, with the fame kind of weapon, in my- 
 an^te; At length I gained the fpot where my countrymen ilood, 
 and forced m^yfclf into the midft of theme Bi»t before I got 
 thus far out of the hands of the Indians, the collar and wrift- 
 bands of my Qiitt were all that remained of it, and myf fleih waf 
 fcratched and torn in many places by their favage gripes. 
 
 £y this time the war-hoop was given, and the Indians bega» 
 to n^rder thoTe that were nearell to them without didinflion* 
 It is not in the power of words to give any tolerasble idea of the 
 l^rrid fcene that now errftlcd ; men, women, and children were 
 cfifpatched in the mod wanton and cruel manner, and immedi- 
 ately fcalped. Many of thefe favages drank the blood of thefr 
 viAiins, as it flov^ed warm from the fatal wound. 
 I We now perceived, thoAigh too late to avail us^ that we were 
 liptexpeft no relief from the French ; and that, co«trary to the 
 agreement they had fo lately figned to allow ua a fufficient force 
 to protefl us ftoni thefe hifuks, they tacitly permitted them ; 
 for I could plainly^ perceive the French officers walking about at 
 fbmbe diftance, difcourfing together with apparent unconcern. 
 iox the honour of human nature I would hope that this flagrant 
 bleach of every facred law, proceeded rather from the favage 
 difpofition of the Indians, which I acknowledge it is foioetimefi 
 alraoft impoffiWe to contvoul, and which might bow unexpefted- 
 £y have arrived,'to a pitch not eafily to be reftrained, than to 
 any premedilajcd defign in the French commander. An unpre- 
 judiced obferver would,«bowever, be apt to conclude, that a 
 body of ten thou fand chriftian troops, mod chriftian troops» 
 Juad it in tlieir powej to prevent the maffacre from becoming fo 
 general. But whatever was the caufe from which it arofe, the 
 coiifcquenccs of it were dreadful, and not lio be parallelled in 
 modern hillory. 
 
 As the circle in which I Hood rnclofed by this time was much 
 thinned, and death feemed to be approaching with hafty flr'de»> 
 it was propofcd by fome of the moft refolute to make one vi- 
 gorous effort, and endeavour to force our way thiough the fa- 
 vages, the only probable metliod of prcfeiviog ouk lives that 
 
 now 
 
 ^ % l>l l>i iv. 
 
 riHiifii 
 
 WH 
 
flow tematned. This, however defperate, wts rcfolred <on, 
 ^i about twenty of us fprung at once into the raidft of them. 
 
 fn a moment we were aU feparated, and what was the fate of 
 my companions I could , jt iearn tili fome months after, when 
 I found that only fix or fcven of thein cffeifled their defign. Ih« ' 
 tent only on mf own hazardous fituation, I endeavoured t9 
 make my way through my favage enemies in the beft wanner 
 pofllble. And I have often been aftoniflied fince, when I have 
 recoHefted with what compofure I took, as 1 did, every necef-* 
 fary ftep for my prefervation. Some 1 overturned, beir^ at 
 that time young and athletic, and others I pafTed by, dextroufljr 
 avoiding their weapons; till at laft two very ftout chiefs, of the 
 moft favage tribes, as I could diftinguilli by their drefs, whofe 
 (Irength I could not refill, laid hold of me by each arm, and 
 bfgan to force me through the crowd. 
 
 I now refigned myfelf to my fate, not doubting but that thqf 
 intended to difpatch me, and tlien to fatiate their vengeance 
 With my blood, as I found they were hurrying me towards a re- 
 tired fwamp that lay at fome diftance. But before we had got 
 many yards, an Englilh gentleman of fome diftinclion, as I could 
 difcover by his breeches, *the only covering he had on, which 
 were of fine fcarlet velvet, rufljed clofe by us. One of tka 
 the Indians inllantly relinquifted his bold, and fpringing on iSii* 
 new objefl, endeavoured to feize him as his prey; but thegei!« 
 tleoian being ftrong, threw him on the ground, and would pro- 
 bably have got away, had not he who held my other arm, qiiit- 
 ted me to affift his brother. I feized the opportunity, a»d haften- 
 ed away to join another party of Englilli troops that were yet 
 unbroken, and flood in a body at fome diftance. £ut before I 
 had taken many fteps, I haftily caft my eye towards the gentle* 
 man, and faw the Indian's tomahawk galh into his back, and 
 heard him utter his h& groan ; this added both to my fpeed and 
 dcfperation. 
 
 I had left this Ihocking fcene but a few yards, when a finebof 
 about twelve years of age, that had hitherto efcaped, came up 
 to me, and begged that I would let him lay hold of me, fo that 
 he might ftand fome chance of getting out of the hands of the 
 favages. i told him that I would give him every afliftance in ^ 
 my power, ana to this purpofe bid him lay hold; but in a fetr 
 moments he was torn from my fide, and by his (hrieks I jitdga 
 was foon demolilhed. I could not help forgetting my own 
 cares for a minute, to lament the fate of fo young a fufFerer; 
 but it wa$ utterly impoffible for me to take any methods to pre- 
 vent it. 
 
 I now got once more Into the midft of friends, but we were 
 unable to afford each other any fuccour. As this was the divi- 
 llon that had advanced the fur the ft from the fort, I thought 
 there might be a pofllbility (though but a very bare otte) of aiy 
 forcing my way through the outer ranks of the Indians, an« 
 getting Co a npighbouxin^ wood, which I perceived U fome dif- 
 
 /•' 
 
 *. . 
 
 \ 
 
•Rncc. r was ftlH encouraged to hope by the aImoftnliracuIoii5 
 piefcrvation I ha^ci aheacly experienced. 
 
 Nor were iny hopes In vain, or the efforts Imadeineffetlit.il. 
 Suffice it to fay, that 1 reached the weod; but by the time I 
 had penetrated a Httle way into It, my breath was fo exhaiiflied 
 that 1 threw myfelf into a brake, and lay for fomc minute?; ap- 
 parently at the lafl; gafp. At length I recovered the power of 
 lefpiration; but my apprehenfions returned with all their former 
 fofce, when I faw feveral favages pafs by, probably in purfuit 
 of 'me, at no very great diftancc. in this fituarion 1 knew not 
 whether it was better to proceed, or endeavour to concenl my- 
 felf where I lay, till night came on; fc.iring, howevu^, that they 
 would return the fame way, I thought it molt prudent to get 
 farther from the dreadful fcene of my part diltrelfcs. Accord- 
 ingly, ftriking into another part of the wood, I hailcned on as 
 fail as the briars and the iofs of one of my Ihoes would permit 
 jne; and after a How progrefs of fome hours, gained a hill 
 that overlooked the plain which I had juft left, frrm whence I 
 could Hifcern that the bloody ftorm Hi! I raged with unabated 
 fury. 
 
 But not to tire my readers, I iTialf only add, that after paf- 
 fuf; three days without fubfiftence, and enduring-the feverity of 
 the cold dews for three nights, I at length reached Fort Edward i 
 where with proper care my body foon recovered its wonted 
 ftrength, and my mind, as far as the recollertion of the late me- 
 lancholy events would permit, its ufual compoiuie. 
 
 .It was computed that fifteen hundred perfons were killed or 
 made prifoners by thefe lavages during this fatal day. Many 
 ^f the latter were carried off by them and never returned. A 
 few, through favoura|>le accidents, found their way back to 
 their native country,. ifter having experienced a long and fevere 
 captivity. ,>. ^ >*.% v^j*j;-..^ ...V 
 
 The brave Colonel Monro had haftened away, foon after the 
 confufion began, to the Frerich camp to endeavour to procure 
 the guard agreed by the llipulation; but his application proving 
 ineifeftual, he remained there till General Webb fent a party of 
 troops to demand and proted; him back to Fort Edward. But 
 thefe unhappy occurrences, which wou'd probably have been 
 prevented, had he been left to purfue his own plans, together 
 wijth the Iofs of fomany brave fellows, murdered in cold blood, 
 • to wliofe valour he' had been fq lately a wltnefs, made fuch an 
 iniprelfion on hiVmind, that he did not long furvive. He died 
 in about three months of a broken heart, and with truth- might 
 it be faid, that he was an honour to his country. 
 
 I mean not to point out the following circumilance as the im- 
 mediate judgment of heaven, and intended as an atonement for 
 this Daughter; but 1 cannot omit that very few of thole diffe- 
 rent tribes of Indians that fliared in it ever lived to return honfe. 
 The fraall-pox, by means of their communication with the Eu- 
 rope^^s, tpund its way among tlicm, and made an evjualhavoclc^ 
 
 '*^mK^:. 
 
f^- 
 
 ^'. 
 
 r 137 1 
 
 ad what they theirtfelves had done. The methods they piirfuet^ 
 on the firft attack of that malignant diforder, to abate the fever 
 attending it, rendered it fatal. Whilft their blood was in a ftate 
 of fermentation, and nature wals driving to throw out the pec- 
 cant matter', they checked her bperations by plunging into the< 
 water: the confequence Wit t^at they died by hundreds. Thej 
 few that furvived were transformed by it into h'id'eous objefts^' 
 afid bore with them to the grave deep indented itfafks of this 
 much-dreaded difeafe. 
 
 Monfieur Mon^tcalm fell foon aftei! oti the plaiin's of (Juebec. 
 
 That the unprovoked cruelty of this commanded was not ap* 
 proved of by the generality of his countrymen, I have fince beerf 
 convinced jpf by many proofs. One only however, which I receiv- 
 ed from a perfon who was witnefs to it, fhall I at prefent give, 
 A Canadian merchant, of fom'e confideration, having heard of 
 the furrender of the EnglilTi' fort, celebrated the fortunate event 
 vfith great rejoicings and hdfpitality, aecolrding to the cuftom 
 of that county ; butnof6oner did then'ews of themaffacrewhic!^,, 
 cnfued reach his ears, than he ptit afi imm-ediate l^op to the fef- 
 t' vity, and exclaimed in thef fevereft terms againft the inhumart 
 ^iormiflion; declaring at the fame time that thofe who had con-« 
 nived at it, had thereby drawn doWn, on that part ot their 
 king's dominions the vengeance of Heaven. To this he.a(|ipil» 
 that he nftich feared the total lofs of them would defervedlyMSi 
 the cohfequente. ifow truly this prediftion has bisen V^j" 
 we all knbw. 
 
 But to return— TK*ough the Indians" are negligent in guarding* 
 againft furprizes, they are alert and dextrous in furprizing their 
 enemies. To their cautfon and, perfeverance and dealing on 
 the ptrty they defignto attack, they add that admirable talent; 
 or rather Inftinftive qualification, I have already defcribed, of 
 tracing out thofe they are in purfuit of. 6n the fmobthefl: 
 grafs, on the hardeft earth, and even on the very ftbhes, will 
 they difcover the traces of an enemy, and by the fhap^ bf ther 
 foot fteps, and" the diftance between the prints, diftfngullh not^ 
 only whether it is a dan b"r woman who has palled that way> but,,,, 
 even the nation to which' they belbng. However incredible 1 
 this might appear, yet, from the many proofs I reteiv^d whilll 
 among them of their amazing fagacity in this point, I fee no 
 reafon to difcredit even thefe extraordinar/exertions bf it. # 
 
 When' they have overcome an enemy, and viftory is no loit-^" 
 ger doubtful, the conquerors firft difpatch all fuch as they think 
 they fliall not be able Co carry off without great troubley anct 
 then endeavour to take as many prifoners as poffible; after this 
 they return to fcalp thofe who" ate either dead, or too mucii 
 wounded to be taken with them. 
 
 At this bufinefs they are exceedingly expert. They feize the 
 head of the difabled pr dead enemy, and placing one of their 
 ffiet on the neck, twift their left hand in the hair; by thismeans^ 
 ftiving extended the sKin that covers the top of the head,- they 
 
 § draw 
 
 
 f> 
 
 >." 
 
 '^- 
 
# 
 
 - f,'; 
 
 J/ 
 
 t »38 1 
 
 draw out their fcalping knives, which are always kept in good^ 
 order for this cruel purpofe, and with a few dextrous ftrokes 
 take ofF the part that is termed the fcalp. They are fo exj ;.- 
 ditious in doing this, that the whole time required fcarcely ex- 
 ceeds a minute. Thefe they preferve as monuments of their 
 prowefs, and at the fame time as proo-fs pf the vengeance they 
 have inflifted on their enemies. 
 
 If two Indians feize in the fame inftant a prifoner, and feem 
 to have an equal claim, the contefl; between them is foon de- 
 cided; for to put a fpcedy end to any difpute that might arife, 
 the perfon that is apprehen/ive he fhall lofe his expefted re- 
 ward, immediately has recourfe to his tomahawk or war-club^ 
 and knocks on the head the unhappy caufe of their contention. 
 
 Having compleated their purpofes, a|i4made as much havock 
 as poflible, they immediately retire tow^ds their own country, 
 with the fpoil they have acquired, for ffilr of being purfued. 
 
 Should this be the cafe, they make ufe of many ftratagems to 
 elude the fearches of their purfuers. They fometimes fcatter 
 leaves, fand, or duft over the prints of their feet ; fometimes 
 tread in each others footftcps ; and fometimes lift their feet fo 
 high, and tread fo lightly, as not to make any impreflion on the 
 ground. But if they find all thefe precautions unavailing, ind 
 that they are near being overtaken, they firft difpatch and fcalp 
 their ptifonersy and then dividing, each endeavours to regain 
 his native country by a different route. This prevents all far- 
 ther purfuitj for their purfuers now defpairing, either of gra- 
 tifying their revenge, or of releafing, thofe of their friends who 
 were made captives, return home. 
 
 If the fuccefsful party is fo lucky as to make good their re- 
 treat unmoleftedj they hafteii with the greateft expedition to 
 reach a country where they may be perfeftly fecure; ^nd that 
 their wounded companions may not retard their flight, they car- 
 ry them by turns in litters, or if it is in the winter feafon draw 
 them on fledges. 
 
 Their litters are made iira rude manner of the branches of 
 trees. Their fledges confift of two fmall thin boards, about a 
 foot wide when joined, and near fix feet long. The fo^e-part 
 is turned up, and the fides are bordered with fmall Isands. 
 The Indians draw thefe carriages with great eafe, be they ever 
 fo much loaded, by means of a firing which paflTes round the 
 breafl:. This collar is called a Metump, and is in ufe through- 
 out America, both in the fettlements and the internal parts. 
 Thofe ufed in the latter are made of leather, and very curioufly 
 wrought. . , ."• *^.' 'i^4.* ' 
 
 The prl-foners during their march are guarded with the great- 
 eft care. During the day, if the journey is over land, they are 
 always held by fome of the viftorious party ,• if by water^ they 
 are' fattened to the canoe. In the night-time th^y are ftretched 
 along the ground quite naked, with their legs, arms, and neck 
 faflened to ho^ks fixed in the ground. £efides this, cords are 
 
 tied 
 
 'S^i, 
 
•^^ 
 
 .;,•> 
 
 t 139 1 
 
 tied to tlielr arms or legs, which are held by an Indian, who in- 
 ftantly awakes at the lead motion of them. 
 
 Notwithftanding fiich precautions are ufually taken by the 
 Indians, it is recorded in the annals of New England, that one 
 of the weaker fex, almoft alone, and unafllfted, found njeans to 
 elude the vigilance of a party of warriors, and not only to 
 make her efcape from them, but to revenge the caufe of her 
 <:ountrymen. 
 
 Some years ago, a fmall band of Canadian Indians, confifl- 
 ing of ten warriors attended by two of their wives, made an 
 Irruption into the back fettlements of New England. They 
 lurked for fome time in the vicinity of one of the moll exterior 
 towns, and at length, after having killed and fcalped feveral 
 people, found means to take prifoner a woman who had with 
 her a fon of about tw^clvc years of age. Being fatisfied with 
 the execution they had done, tliey retreated towards their na- 
 tive country, which lay at t^ree hundred miles diftance, and 
 carried off with them their two captives. 
 
 The fecond night of their retreat, the woman, whofe name, 
 if I n^iftake not, was Rowe, formed a refolution worthy of the 
 in^ft intrepid heroe. She thought fhe fliould be able to get 
 fifom her hands the manacles by which they were confined, and 
 determined if fhe did fo to make a defperate effort for the 
 recovery of her freedom. To this purpofe, when flie conclud- 
 ed that her conquerors were in their foundeft lleep, ihe. ftrove 
 to flip the cords from her hands. In this Ihe fucceeded'; and 
 cautioning her fon, whom they had fuffered to go unbound, ip 
 a whifper, againft being furprized at what fhe was about to do, 
 ihe removed to a diftance with great warinefs the defenfivctrea- 
 pons df the Indians, which lay by their fides. ■^- 
 
 Having done this, fhe put one of the tomahawks into the 
 hands of the boy, bidding him to follow her example; and tajk-, 
 ing another herfelf, fell upon the fleeping Indians,, feveral of 
 whom ihe inftantly difpatched. But her attempt was nearly 
 fruftrated by the imbecility of her fon, who wanting both ftrength 
 and refolution, made a feeble ftroke at one of them, which on* 
 ly ferved to awaken him,* fhe however fprung at the rifing war- 
 rior, and before he could recover his arms, made hinV fink un- 
 der the weight of her tomahawk ; and this fhe alternately did 
 to all the reft, except one of the women, who awoke in time, 
 and made her efcape. 
 
 The heroine then toojc off the fcalps of her vanquilhed efie^ 
 mies, and feizing'alfo thofe they were carrying away with then! 
 as proofs of their fuccefs, fhe returned in triumph to the town 
 from whence flie had fo lately been dragged, to the great afto- 
 nifhnient of her neighbours, who could fcarcely credit their 
 fenfe^s or the teftimonie3 #e bore of her amaxomai^ Iptr^pi* 
 
 dity. 
 
 ^^i*,.i^;^r tv'. . 
 
 During their march they oblige their prlfoftets to^^rfhg thfir 
 death-fong, which generally confifts of thefc or-fifjiUr fen* 
 
 • tences; 
 
 *,• 
 
 -\ 
 
 •»-■ \ 
 
 nu* V"' 
 
'' »■ 
 
 •«. 
 
 
 ( HO ] 
 
 rices: ^< I am going ^o die, Iain about to fu^en but I 
 will bear the fevered tortures my enemies can infli£l, witji 
 ^^ becoming fortitude. I will die like a brave man, and I {Tiali 
 ^* then go to join the chiefs that have fufFered on the fame ac- 
 •* count." Thefe fongs are continued with necelTary intervals, 
 until they reach the village or camp to which they are going. 
 
 When the warriors ^jre arrived withip hearing, they fet up 
 different cries, which communicates to their friend^ a genera) 
 biflory of the fuccefs of the expedition. The number of the 
 death-cries .they give, declares how ma^y of their own party 
 are Jofl; ; the nujnber of yr^jr-hoops, the number of prifoners 
 they have takep. 
 
 lit is di^icult to defcribe thefe cries, but the befl idea I can 
 iconvey pf them is, that the former confifts of the found Whoo, 
 ' Whpo, Whoop, which is continued in a long ihrill tone, near- 
 ly till the breath is exhaufted, ^nd then j^roken off with a fud- 
 pen elevation of the voice. Jhe latter of ^ loud pry, pf much 
 the fame kind, which is modulaped into notes by the hand be- 
 ing pla^^^d l^efore the mouth. Poth of them might be hear4 to 
 a very cpnficjerable 4i"ance. 
 
 Wttiift ^efe are uttering, the perfons to whom they are de- 
 figned to convey the intellegencQ, continue motionlefs and all 
 attention. When this ceremony is performed, the whole village 
 ilTue out to learn the particulars of the relation they have juf| 
 lieard in general terms, and according as the news prove mourn- 
 ful or t|ie pontrary, they anfwer by fo many acclamatiops o( 
 (Cries of laiDeQtatifJBf 
 
 Being by this time arriye(] at the village or camp, tjie women 
 and childrep ajrgi theijifelves with flicks and bludgeons, and 
 form themfelves iiitp two ranks, through which the prifoners 
 ar? obliged to pafs, The treatment they undergo before they 
 reach the extremity of the line, is very fevere. Sometimes 
 ^hey are (p beaten over the head and face, as to have fcarcejy 
 arny remains of life ; and happy would it be for them if by thisi 
 ufage an ^nd \y^s put to their wretched beings. But their 
 tormentprs take c^re that none of the blows they give prpve; 
 mortal, as they wiifh {o referve ^he uniferable fuffcrejs fpr piore 
 feverej infliftions. 
 
 After having undergone this introduflory difcipline, they are 
 ]bpund fiaiid and foot, whilfl the chiefs hold a council, in which 
 their fate is determined. Thofe who are decreed to be put tp 
 death by the ufual torments, aje delivered to the chief pf the 
 warriors;, fuch as are to' be fpared, are given into the hands 
 pf the chief of the nation : fo that in a fhprt time all the pri- 
 fonei-s may be afTured of their fatej as the fentence now pro- 
 nounced is irrevocable. The former they term being configned 
 to the houfe of death, the latter to the houfe of grace. • 
 
 Such captives as are pretty far advanced in life, andj have 
 ■"W acquired great honour by their war-like deeds, always atone 
 ipi* the bioo4 they have fpilt, by the tortures of tire. *rheir 
 
 ' luccefS 
 
 
 %^ 
 

 Ciicceft in var 1$ readily known by the Viae marks upon their 
 breafts an4 arms, which are as legible to the Indians as lettetl 
 arc to Europeans. 
 
 The manner in which thefe hieroglyphicks are made, is by 
 breaking the skin with the teeth of rilTi, or Iharpened flints, 
 dipped in a kind of ink made of the foot of pitch pine. Like 
 thofe of the ancient Pifts of Britain thefe are efteemcd ornar 
 ]7)ental; and at the fame time they (brve as regiflers of the he- 
 roic adlions of the warrior, who thus hears about him indeli- 
 ble marks of his valour. 
 
 The prifoners deftined tp death are foon led to the place of 
 execution, which is generally in the cpntre of the camp or vil- 
 lage; where, being ifript, and every part of their bodies black- 
 ened, the skin of a prow or raven is fixed on their heads. 
 They are tjfjen bound to a ftake, witji faggqts heaped around 
 them, and obliged, for the lail tiine, to fing their death-fong. 
 
 The warriors, for fuel? it is only whp commonly fuffer this 
 punilTiment, now perform in a more prolix manner this fad fo- 
 lemnity. They recount with an audible voice all the brave ani- 
 ons they have performed, and pride themfelves in (he number 
 ot enen)ies they have killed. In this rehearfsl they fpare not 
 even their (ormentors, but drive by every provoking tale they 
 can invent, to irritate and infult them. Sometimes this has the 
 defired efFedl, gnd the fufFerers are dilpatcl^ed fponer than they 
 otberwife would have been. 
 
 There are njany other ii^ethpds which ihq Indians makp ufo 
 of to put their prifoners to death, bu|; Hiefg ^re only QCca^ 
 iional; that of burning is moA generally i^fc{i. 
 . Whilft I was at the chief town of the Ottagaumics, an Illi- 
 nois Indian was brought in, who had been made priConer by 
 one of their war parties. I had then an opportunity of feeing 
 the cuftomary cruelties inflidted by thefe people on their cap- 
 tives, through the minuted part of their procefs. After the 
 previous deps necelTary to his condemnation, he was carried. 
 early in the morning, to a little di^ance froqi the town, where 
 Ije was bound to a tree. 
 
 Thig being done, all the bqys, whp amounted to a great num- 
 ber, as the place was populous, were permitted to amufe them- 
 felves with ihopting their arrows at the unhappy \n6tm. As 
 they were hone of them more than twelve years old, and were 
 placed at a confiderable didance, they had not drepgth to pe- 
 netrate to the vital parts, fpthat the poor wrench dood pierced 
 with arrows, and fuffsring the confequent agonies, .for more 
 than two days. 
 
 During this time he fung his warlike exploits. He recapitu- 
 lated every dratagem he had made ufe of to furprize his ene- 
 mies: he boaded of the quantity of fcalps he poiFeifed, and enu- 
 merated the prifoners he had taken. He then defcribed the dif- 
 ferent barbarous methods by which he had pu( the latter to 
 
 ^. 
 
 >'*' 
 
 if^-iSJrw 
 
..W|~f; 
 
 4 [ I4« 1 
 
 ^wtb, and fecmcd even then to receive inconceivable plcafurer 
 *4" from the recital of the horrid tale. 
 
 ', But he dwelt more particularly on the cruelties he had prac- 
 tifcd on fuch of the kindred of his prefent tormentors, as had 
 fallen into his hands ; endeavouring by thefe aggravated infults 
 to Induce them to increafehis tortures, that he might be able to 
 give greater proofs of fortitude. Even in the laft ttruggles of 
 life, when he was no longer able to vent in words the indig- 
 nant provocation his tongue would have uttered, a fmile o|^ 
 iningled fcorn and triumph fat on his countenance. , 
 
 This method of tormenting their enen\ies is confidered by the 
 Indfins as produftive of more than one beneficial confequence. 
 |t fatiates, in a greater degree, that diabolical tuft of revenge, 
 which is the predominant paflion in the breaft of every indivi- 
 «lual of every tribe, and it gives the growing warriors an early 
 propenlily to that cruelty and thirft for blood, which is fo ne- 
 ceffary a qualification fpr fuch as would be thoroughly skilled 
 in their favage art of war. 
 
 I have been informed, that an Indian who was under the 
 hands of his tormentors, had the audacity to tell them, that 
 they were ignorant old woman, and did not know hov to put 
 brave prifoners to deatlL He acquainted thetn that he had 
 heretol^ore taken fome of their warriors, and inftead of the tri- 
 vial punilliments they infli^e,d on him, he had devifed for them 
 the moft excruciating torments ; that having bound them to a 
 ftake, he had ftuck their bodies full of iharp fplinters of tur- 
 pentine wood, to which he then fet fire, and dancing aroun4 
 khcra enjoyed the agoni2ing pangs of the flaming viftims. 
 
 This bravado^ which carried with it a degree ot infult, that 
 even the accuftomed ear of an Indian could not liften to un- 
 moved, threw his tormentors ofF their guard, and lhortene4 
 the duration of his torments ; for one of the chiefs ran to him, 
 and ripping out his heart, flopped with it the mouth from which 
 had iflued fuch provoking language. 
 
 Innumerable are the ftories that may be told of the courage 
 and refolution of the Indians, who happen to be made prifo- 
 ners by their adverfaries. Many that I have heard are fo a- 
 flonifhing, that they feem to exceed the utmoft limits of credi- 
 bility; it is, however, certain that thefe favages are polTelTed 
 %vith many heroic qualities, and bear every fpecies of misfor- 
 tune with a degree of fortitude which has not been outdone by 
 any of the ancient Ijeroes of eitlier of Greece or Rome. 
 
 Notwithftanding thefe ads of feverity exercifed by the In-r 
 rfians towards thofe of t|ieir own fpecies, who fall into theif 
 hands, fome tribes of them have been remarked for their mo- 
 deration to fuch female prifoners, belonging to the Englifli co- 
 lonies as have happened to be taken by them. Women of great 
 beauty have frequently been carried ofF by them, and during a 
 march of three or four hundred miles, through their retired fO" 
 wfts, have hin by their fides without receiving any infuit, and 
 
 tbeif 
 
 "sr- 
 
 tr 
 
 . It 
 
[ U3 ] 
 
 their chaftlty has remained inviolate. Inflances have happened 
 where female captives, who have been pregnant at the time of 
 their being taken, have found the pangs of child-birth come 
 upon them In the mldft of folitary woods, and fa^ages their <»n- 
 ly companions ; yet from thefe, favages as they were, hava 
 they received every afliftance their fitiiation would admit of, 
 and been treated with a degree of delicacy and humanity they 
 little expefted. 
 
 'This forbearance^ itmuft be acknowledged dee? not proceect 
 altogether from their difpofitions, but Is only inlierent in thoftf 
 who have held fome communication with the French mifliopa- 
 yies. Without intending that their natural enemies, the Eng- 
 llfli, fliould enjoy the benefit of their labours, thcfe fathers have 
 taken great pains to inculcate on the minds of the Indians the 
 general principles of humanity, which has difFufeditfelf througli 
 their manners, and has proved of public utility. ^ 
 
 Thofe prlfoners that are confignedto the houfe of grace, an^ 
 fchefe are commonly the young men, women and children, await 
 the difpofal of the chiefs, who, after the execution of fuch a# 
 are condemned to die, hold a council for this purpofe. 
 
 A herald is fent round the village or camp, to give noticed 
 that fuch as have loft any relation in the late expedition, are de- ^ 
 fired to attend the diftribution which is about to take place. ' 
 Thofe women who have loft their fbns or huibands, are t, e- 
 rally fatisfiedin the firft place; after thefe, fuch as have bee 
 deprived of friends of a more remote degree of confanguiuity,? 
 or who choofe to adopt fome of the youth. 
 
 The divifion being made, which is done, as In other cafes^ 
 without the leaft difpute, thofe who have received any ftiare 
 lead them to their tents or huts ; and having unbound them, 
 wafh and drefs their wounds if they happen to have received 
 any ; they then cloath them, and give them the moft comfore- 
 able and refrefhing food their ftore will afford. ' 
 
 Whilft their new domefticks are feeding, they endeavour to 
 adminifter confolation to them; they tell them that as ihey aror 
 redeemed from death, they muft now be cheerful and happy; 
 and if they ferve them well, without murmuring or repining, no-' 
 t^ing fliall be wanting to make them fuch atonement for thelofs i 
 of their country and friends as circumftances will allow of. V^^^ 
 If any men are fpared, they are commonly given to the vi/T- ■ 
 dows that have loft their hufbands by the hand of the ciienivv 
 ihould there be any fuch, to whom, if they happen to provo^ 
 agreeable, they are foon married. But (hould the damebe othcr-'i 
 wife engaged, the life of him who falls to her lot is in great 
 danger ;- efpecially if Ihe fancies that her late hu&and wants a 
 flave in the country of fpirits, to which he is g^one. 
 
 When this is the cafe, a number of young men -take the de- 
 voted captive to lomc diftance, and difpatch him without atij^i;' 
 eeremony; after he has been fpared by the counci',^^y cou- 
 
 ^„iidei'- 
 
 
 '■**' 
 
 .■|r ,*"?*' 
 
 Il 
 
 - • -••: J... •»"-■▼—■ 
 
•f^ 
 
 r 144 1 • 
 
 flder him of loo little confequence to be entitled to the tormenf# 
 allotted to thofe who have been judged worthy of them. 
 
 The women are ufually diftribiitcd to the men, from whom 
 they do not faH of meeting with a favourable reception. The 
 boys and girls are taken into the familfes of fuch as have need 
 ^ of them, and are confidcred as flaves ; and it is not uncommon 
 J jhat they are fold in the fame capacity to the European traders, 
 ^ho come among them. , 
 
 i|K,The Indians have no idea of moderating the ravage^r of war, 
 vy fparing their ftrifoncrs, and entering into a negotiation witit 
 the band from whom they have been taken, for an exchange. 
 • Ail that are captivated by both parties, arc either put to death, 
 irdopted,' or made flaves of. And fo particular are every na- 
 tion in this refpeft, that if any of their tribe, even a warrior, 
 Olould be taken prifoner, and by chance be received into the 
 . houfe of grace, either as an adopted per f on or a flave, and 
 ihould afterwards make his efcape, they will bynomeansreceivc 
 bim, or acknowledge him as one of their band. 
 
 The condition of fach as are adopted differs not in any one 
 inftance from the children of the nation to which they now be- 
 long. They affume all the rights of thofe whofe places they 
 fuppl/r and frequently make no difficulty of going in the war- 
 partie^ ajfui-nft theif own countrymen', Shouki, however, any 
 of /riefe by chance make their efcape, and be afterwards rc- 
 t'A&Qn, they are efteemed as unnatural children and ungrateful 
 perfons, who have deferted and made war upon their parents 
 and benetaftors, and are treated with uncommon feverity. 
 
 That part of the prifoners which are confidered as flaves, 
 are generally diftributed among the chiefs ; who frequently make 
 prefents of fbme of them to the European governors of the out- 
 pofls, or to the fuperintendants or commiffaries of Indian-af 
 fairs. I have been informed that it was the Jefuits and F/ench' 
 miffionaries that firft occafioned the introdudlion of thefe un- 
 happy captives into the fettlements, and who by fo doing 
 laught the Indians that they were valuable. 
 
 Their views indeed were laudable, as they imagined that by 
 this method they fTiouId not only prevent much barbarity and 
 Uoodfhed, but find the opportunities of fpreading their religi- 
 on among them increaied. To this purpofe they encouraged 
 the traders to purchafe fuch flaves as they met with. «< 
 
 The good effects of this mode of proceeding was not how- 
 ever equal to the expeftations of thefe pious fathers. Inftead 
 of being the means of preventing cruelty and bloodlheiC i^ 
 only caufed the diflenfions between the Indian* nations t* be 
 carried on with a greater degree of violence, and with unre- 
 mitted ardour. The prize they fought for being no longer re- 
 venge or fame, but the acquirement of fpirituous liquors, for 
 v^hich their captives were to be exchanged, and of which al- 
 J^fl every nation is immoderately fond, they fought for their 
 
 enemies 
 
 *t 
 
C '45 1 
 
 enemies with unwonted alacrity, and were cjonftantly on tho 
 watch to furprize and carry them off. 
 
 It might Hill be faid that fewer of the captives arc tormented 
 * and put to death, fincc thefe expeftations of receiving fo va- 
 ,t able a confideration for them have been excited than there 
 ufually had been; but it does not appear that their aecuftomed 
 cruelty to the warriors they take, is in the lead abated; their 
 natural defirc of vengeance muft be gratified; they now only 
 become more afllduous in fccuring a greater number of young 
 prifoners, whilrt thofc who arc made captive in their defence 
 are tormented and put to death as before. 
 
 The miflionarlcs finding that contrary to their wiflics their 
 zeal had only Curved to increafe the fale of the noxious juices,, 
 applied to the Governor of Canada, in the year 1693, for a 
 prohibition of this baneful trade. An order was iflued accord- 
 ingly, but it could not put a total flop to it; the French Cou- 
 riers dc Bois were hardy enough to carry it on clandeftinely, 
 notwithftanding the penalty annexed to a breach of the prohi- 
 bition was a confiderable fine and imprifonment. 
 
 Some who were detefted in the profecution of it withdrew '' 
 into the Indian countries, where they intermarried with the na- ' 
 tlves, and underwent a voluntary banilTiment. Thefe, however, 
 being an abandoned and debauched fet, their coudu6l contri- ^ 
 buted very little either towards reforming the manners of their 
 new relations, or engaging them to entertain a favourable opi- 
 nionofthe religion they profeflTed. Thus did thefe indefati« 
 gable religious men fee their defigns in feme meafure oncemorc 
 i'ruftrated. 
 
 However, the emigration was produftive of an elFe6l which 
 turned out "to be beneficial to their nation. By the connexion 
 of thcfc refugees with the Iroquois, MiflifTjages, Hurons, Mia- 
 inics, Powtowottomies, Puants, Menomonies, Algonkins, &c. 
 and the conftant rcprefentations thefe various nations received 
 from ihcm of the power and grandeur of the French, to the ag- 
 grandizement of whofe monarch, notwithftanding their banilTi- 
 ment, they ftill retained their habitual inclination, the Indians 
 became inlenfibly prejudiced in favour of that people, and I am 
 pcrfuaded will take every opportunity of llicwing their attach- 
 ment to them. '^f^" 
 
 And this, even in dcfpite of the difgraceful cftimation they 
 miirt be held by them, fince they have been driven out of Ca- 
 nada; for the Indians confidcr every conquered people as in a 
 ftate of valFalagc to their cortquerors. After one nation has 
 iJnally fubdued another, and a conditional fubmiflion is agreed 
 (m, it is ciiftomary for the chiefs of the conquered, when they 
 /;» la council with their fubducrs, to wear petticoats, as ait ' 
 
 Ekno\v{ed;;c,;icnt that they are in a ftatc of fubjeflion, and 
 ol.ight to be ranked among the women. Their partiality to the ' 
 "frcnch has Jiov.'cver taken too deep root for time itfelf to era- 
 ^':atc it. .,^. ■...•.. .., 
 
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 ■* 4 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 0/ t/jeir Manner of making Peace, c!^r« 
 
 . HE wars that are carn'ed on between the Indian nations 
 JL are in general hereditary, and continue from age to age 
 with a few interruptions. If a peace becomes necclTary, the 
 principal care of both parties is to avoid the appearance of 
 making the firft advances. 
 
 When they treat with an enemy, relative to a fufpenfioa of 
 hoftilities, the chief who is commiflloned to undertake the ne- 
 gociation, if it is not brought about by the mediation of fomc 
 neighbouring band, abates nothing of his natural haughtinefs: 
 even when the affairs of his country are in the worft fituation, 
 he makes no conceflions, but endeavours to perfuade his adver- 
 farics that it is their intereft to put an end to the war. 
 
 Accidents fometimcs contribute to bring about a peace be- 
 tween nations that otherwife could not be prevailed on to liflen 
 to terms of accommodation. An inftance of this, which I heard 
 of in ahnoft every nation I palTed through, I fliall relate. 
 
 About eighty years ago, the Iroquois and Chiptiways, two 
 powerful nations, were at war with the Ottagaumies and Sau- 
 kies, who were much inferior to their advcrfarics both in num- 
 bers and ftrength. One winter near a thoufand of the former 
 made an excurfion from Lake Ontario, by way of Toronto, to- 
 wards the territories of their enemies. They coafted Lake Hu- 
 ron on its call and northern borders, till they arrived at the 
 ifland of St. Jofcph, "h'hich is fituated in the Straights of St, 
 IMarie. There they crofTed thcfe Straights upon tlie ice about 
 fifteen miles belo\'' the fulls, and continued their route ftill weft- 
 ward. As the ground was covered with fnow, to prevent adif- 
 covery of their numbers, they marched in a fmgle tile, treading 
 in each others Ibotil:cps. 
 
 Four Chipeway Indians, pafling that way, obfcrved this army, 
 and readily gucflcd from the direction of their march, and thej 
 precautions they took, both the country to which they wer 
 jbaftening, and their dcfigns. 
 
 Notwithftanding the nation to which they belonged was a 
 war with the Ottagaumies, and in alliance with their invaders,| 
 yet from, a principle which cannot be accounted for, they tooli 
 au iuiluiit iefulution to appri^y the foiuici: of their danger. 
 
To this piirpofe they haftened away with their ufual celerity, 
 and, taking a circuit to avoid difcovery, arrived at the hunting 
 grounds of the Ottagaumies, before fo large a body, moving 
 in fo cautious a manner, could de. There they found a party 
 of about four hundred warriors, fomc of which were Saukies, 
 whom they informed of the approach of their enemies. 
 
 The chiefs immediately collefted their whole force, and held 
 a council on the Heps that were to be taken for their defence." 
 As they were encumbered with their families, it was impoflible 
 that they could retreat in time,- they therefore determined to 
 choofe the moft advantageous fpot, and to give the Iroquois the 
 bed reception in their power- 
 Not far from the place where they then happened to be, ftooci 
 two fmail lakes, between which ran a narrow neck of land about 
 a mile in length, and only from twenty to forty yard^n breadth. 
 Concluding that the Iroquois intended to Jiafs through this de- 
 file, the united bands divided their little party into two bodies 
 of two hundred each. One of thefe took port at the extremity 
 of the pafs that lay nearslt to their hunting grounds, which 
 they immediately fortified with a breaft-work formed of pali- 
 fades; whilft the other body took a compafs round one of the 
 lakes, with a defign to hem their enemies in when they had en- 
 tered the defile. 
 
 Their ftratagem fuccecded; for no fooner had the whole of 
 the Iroquois entered the pafs, than, being provided with wood 
 for the purpofe, they formed a fimilar breall-work on the other 
 extremity, and thus enclofed their enemies. 
 
 The Iroquois foon perceived their fituatlon, and immediateljF 
 held a council on the meafures that were neceflary to be purfued 
 to extricate thcmfelvcs. Unluckily for them a thaw had juft 
 taken place, which had fo far dilFolved the ice as to render it 
 impaflibic, and yet there ftill remained fufficicnt to prevent them 
 from either palling over the lakes on rafts, or from fwimming 
 acrofs. In this dilemma it was agreed that they Ihould endea-i- 
 vour to force one of the bread- works,- but they foon found them 
 too well defended to effect their purpofe. : ? 
 
 Notwithftanding this difappointment, with the ufual compo- 
 fare and unapprchenfivenefs of Indians, they amufed themfclvcs 
 three or four days in filhing. By this time the ice being quite 
 diflblved, they made thcmfclves rafts, which they were enabled^, 
 to do by fome trees that fortunately grew on the fpot, and at*- 
 tempted to crofs one of the lakes. 
 
 They accordingly fet off before day-break; but the Ottagaw- 
 mics, who had been watchful of their motions, perceiving their 
 defign, detached one hundred and fifty men from each of their 
 parties, to oppofe their landing. Thefe three hundred march, 
 ed fo expeditioufly to the other fide of the lake, that they reach- 
 ed it before their opponents had gained the tlioto^ they being, 
 '^gtafded by their poles (licking in the mud. 
 
 ^* 
 
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 r^t 
 
 '0i 
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 t.i J 
 
 ^ 
 

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 ■■># 
 
 ■I 
 
 As ?dOn as the confederates arrived, they poured in a ver^ 
 heavy fire, both from their bows and mufquetry, on the Iro- 
 cjiiois, which greatly difconcerted them ; till the latter finding 
 their fituation defperate, leaped into the water, and fought their 
 way through their enemies. TJiis however they could not do 
 without lofing more than half their men. 
 
 After the Iroquois had landed, they made good their retreat, 
 but were obliged to leave their enemies mafters of the iield, 
 and in pofTeflion of all thbfurs they had taken during their win- 
 ter's hunt. Thus dearly did they pay for an unprovoked excur- 
 iion to fuch diftance from the route they ought to have purfued, 
 and to which they were only impelled by a fudden defire of cut- 
 ting off fomc of their ancient enemies. 
 
 But had they known their (Irength they might have deftroyed 
 every man |^f the party that oppofed them; which even at the 
 firft onfet was only inconfiderablc, and, when diminiflied by the 
 jffl:ion, totally unable to make any (land againft them. 
 
 The victorious bands rewarded the Chiptiways, who had been 
 the means of their fucccfs, with a iTiare of the fpoils. They 
 preflcd them to take any quantity they chofe of the richcfl of 
 the furs, and fent them under an efcort of fifty men, to their 
 own country. The difinterefted Chipeways, as the Indians in 
 general are feldom actuated by mercenary motives, for a confi- 
 derable time refufed thefe prefents, but were at length perfuad- 
 cd to accept of them. 
 
 The brave and well-concerted refiftance here made by the 
 Ottagaumies aud Saukies, aided by the mediation of the Chipe- 
 vvays, who laying afide on this occafion the animofity they had 
 fo long born, thofe people approved of the generous conduct of 
 their four chiefs, were together the means of elfefting a recon- 
 ciliation between thefe nations ; and in procefe of time united 
 them all in the batids of amity. 
 
 . And I believe that, all the Indians inhabiting that extcnfive 
 country, which lies between Quebec, the banksof the IVIifllflip- 
 pi north of the Ouifconfin, and the fcttlements belonging to 
 the Iludfon's Bay Company, arc at prefent in a (late of profound 
 peace. Whcn'their relllcrs dilpofitions will not iufter them to 
 remain inactive, thefe northern Indians feldom commit hoftili^ 
 ties on each other, but makeexciniionstothe foutlnvard, againft 
 the Cherokees, Choftahs, Chickfaws or Illinois. 
 
 Sometimes the Indians grow tired of a war which tbey have 
 carried on againll fome neighbouring nation for many yeafs 
 without much fucccfs, and in this cafe they feek for mediators 
 to begin a negotiation. Thei\: being obtained, the treaty is 
 thus conduced. 
 
 A number of their own chiefs, joined by thofe who have ac-. 
 cepted the friendly office, fet out together for the country ot 
 their enemies; fuch as are chofen for this purpofc, are chiefs 
 of the moft extcnfive abilities, and of the greate(l integrity^ 
 Xliey bear before them tljc Pipe of PcacC; Vvhich I need not 
 .^'* : inform 
 
 l\ ^ 
 
tnform my readers is of the fame nature as a Flag of Truce 
 among the European*, and is treated with the greateft refpeft 
 and veneration, even by the moft barbarous nations. I never 
 ^ heard of an inftance wiierein the bearers of this facred badge 
 of friendlTiip were ever treated difrefpeftfully, or its rights vior 
 lated. The Indians believe that the Great Spirit never fufFers 
 an infraflion of this kind to go unpuniihed. 
 
 Th& Pipe of Peace, which is termed by the French the Calu- 
 met, for what reafon I could never learn, is about four feet 
 Jong. The bowl of it is made of red marble, and the ftem of 
 it of a light wood, curioufly painted with hieroglyphicks in va- 
 rious colours, and adorned with feathers of the moft beautiful 
 birds ; but it is not in my power to convey an idea of the va- 
 rious tints and plcafing ornaments of this much efteemed In- 
 dian implement. 
 
 Every nation has a dilTerent method of decorating thefe pipes;' 
 and they can tell at firft fight to what band it belongs. It is ufed 
 as an introduclion to all treaties, and great ccrem.ony attendj^. 
 the ufe of it on thefe occafions. ^^.i 
 
 The afliftant or aid-du-camp of the great warrior, when thJi 
 chiefs are affembled and fcited, fills it with tobacco mixed with 
 the herbs before-mentioned, taking care at tiie fame time that 
 no part of it touches the ground. When it i§ filled, he takes a 
 coal that is thoroughly kindled, from a fire which is generally 
 kept burning in the midli; of the allcmbly, and places it on the 
 the tobacco. 
 
 As foon as it is fufliciently lighted, he throws off the coal. 
 He then turns the ftem of it towards the heavens, after this to*- , 
 wards the earth, and now holding it horizontally, moves him- 
 fclf round till he has compleated a circle: by the firft aftion he 
 Is fuppofed to prefcHt it to the Great Spirit, whofeaid is there- 
 by fupplicatcd; by the fecond, to avert any malicious interpo-/'.,;. 
 fitionofthe evil fpirits; and by the tliird to gain the protec-''' 
 tion of the fpirits inhabiting the ah', the earth, and the waters. 
 Having thus fecurcd the favour of thofe invifible agents, in 
 whofe povyer they fuppofe it is either to forward or obllruftthe 
 ilfue of their prefent deliberations, he prefents it to the here- 
 ditary chief, who having taken two or three whiffs, blows the 
 fmoak from his mouth firlt towards heaven, and then around 
 him upon the ground. 
 
 It is afterwards put in the fame manner into the mouths of the 
 ambaifadors or flr'angers, who obfcrvc the fame ceremony, y 
 then to the chief of Lhc warriors, and to all the other chiefs in-' '.- 
 turn, according to then- gradation. During this time the per-"?;; 
 fon who executes this honourable ofilcc holds the pipe llightly 
 in his hand, as if he feared to prcfs the facred infirument; nor 
 does any one prefume to touch it but with his lips. 
 
 When the chiefs who are intruftcd with the commilBon for mak- 
 ing pface, approach the town or camp to which they aregoing, 
 qhey begin to ling and dance the fong? and dances appropriated 
 
 to 
 
 yj-: 
 

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 m 
 
 t »sa 1 
 
 t"d tfiis occafion. Fy this time the adverfe party are apprlzcc^ 
 of their arrival, and diverting themfelves of their wonted en- 
 mity at the fight of the Pipe of Peace, invite them to the habi- 
 tation of the Great Chief, and furnifh them with every convc*.^ 
 jiiency during the ncgociation. * 
 
 A council is then held; and when the fpeeches and debates 
 are ended, if no obftruftions arife to put a flop to the treaty, 
 the painted hatchet is buried in the ground, as a memorial that 
 all animofities between the contending nations have ceafed, and 
 a peace taken place. Among the ruder bands, fuch as have no 
 communication with the Europeans, a war club, painted red, is 
 buried, inftead of the hatchet, 
 
 A belt of wampum is alfo given on this occafion, which ferves 
 as a ratification of the peace, and records to the latcft poftcri- 
 ty, by the hieroglyphicks into which the beads are formed, eve- 
 ry ftipulated article in the treaty. 
 
 Thefe belts are made of fhells found on the coafts of New 
 England and Virginia, which are fawed out into beads of an ob- 
 long form, about a quarter of an inchlong, and round like other 
 beads. Being llrung on leather firings, and fcveral of them 
 fcwed neatly together with iine finewy threads, they then com- 
 pote what is termed a belt of Wampum. 
 
 The ihells are generally of two colours, fome Vv-hitc and others 
 violet; but the latter are mors highly efteemed than the former. 
 They are held in as much eftimation by the Indians, as gold, 
 lilver, or precious ftones are by the Europeans. 
 
 The belts are compofed of ten, twelve, or a greater number 
 offtrings, according to the importance of the affair in agita- 
 tion, or the dignity of the perfon to whom it is prcfcntcd. On 
 more trifling occafions, firings of thefe beads are prcfented by 
 the chiefs to each other, and frc(iucntly worn by them aboulf 
 ch<;ir necks, as a valuable ornament, 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 Of their GAME S, 
 
 A 
 
 vS I have before obferved, the Indians are greatly addiacif 
 
 to gaming, and will even ftake, and lofe with compofurc, 
 
 all the valuables they are pofleffed of. They amufe themfelves 
 at fcveral forts of games, but the principal and moft efteemed 
 among them is that of the ball, which is not imlike the Euro- 
 pean game of tennis. , 
 
 
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 iilL^h ■ 
 
7".?^? I • 
 
 %. 
 
 'S 
 
 ; t 151 i 
 
 The balls they ufe ure rather larger than thofe made ufe of 
 at tennis, and are formed of a piece of deer-skin; which be* 
 Jng moiftened to render it fupple, is fluiFed hard with the hair 
 fif the fame creature, and fewcd with its finews. The balU 
 fticks are about three feet long, at the end of which there is 
 fixed a kind of racket, refcmbling the palm of the hand, and 
 fafhioned of thongs cut from a deer-skin. In thefe they catch 
 tlie ball, and throw it to a great diftance, if they are not pre- 
 vented by fome of the oppofite party, who fly to intercept 
 it. 
 
 This game is generally played by large companies, that fome- 
 times confift of more than three hundred,* and it is not uncom- 
 mon for different bands to play againfl: each other. 
 
 They begin by fixing two poles in the ground at about fix 
 hundred yards apart, and one of thefe goals belong to each par- 
 ty of the combatants. The ball is thrown up high in the cen- 
 tre of the ground, and in a direft line between the goals; to- 
 wards which each party endeavours to ftrike it, and which-ever 
 fide firfl: caufes it to reach their own goal, reckons towards tho 
 game. 
 
 J They are fo exceeding dextrous in this manly exercife, that 
 the ball is ufually kept flying in different direftions by the force 
 of the rackets, without touching the ground during the whole 
 contention; for they are not allowed to catch it with their 
 hands. They run with amazing velocity in purfuit of each 
 other, and when one is on the point of hurling it to a great 
 diftance, an antagonift overtakes him, and by a fudden ftroko 
 dallies down the ball. 
 
 The play with fo much vehemence that they frequently wound 
 cacli other, and fometimes a bone is broken; but notwithftand- 
 ing thefe accidents there never appears to be any fpite or wan- 
 ton exertions of ftrength to effeft them, nor do any difputeS 
 ever happen between the parties. 
 
 There is another game alfo in ufe among them worthy of re- 
 mark, and this is the game of the Bowl o| Platter. This game 
 is played between two perfons only. Each perfon has fix or 
 eight little bones not unlike a peach- ftone either in fize or Ihape, 
 except that they are quadrangular ; two of the fides of which 
 are couloured black, and the others white. Thefe they throw 
 up into the air, from whence they fall into a bowl or platter 
 placed underneath, and made to fpin round. 'ji^;; 
 
 According as thefe bones prefent the white or black fide up- 
 wards they reckon the game : he that happens to have the great- 
 eft number turn up of a fimilar colour, counts five points ; and 
 forty is the game. 
 
 The winning party keeps his place, and the lofer yields his to" 
 nother "wfho is appointed by one of the umpires ; for a whole 
 illage is fometimes concerned in the party, and at times one 
 juiid plays againft anothcri 
 
 paring 
 
 ,r. 
 
' T 'Si ] " 
 
 * During this play the Indians appeaf to be greatly agitated, 
 and at every decifiv^; throw fet up a hideous (hout. They make 
 a thoufand contortions, addrefling themfelves at the fame tiine 
 to the bones, and loading witli imprecations the evil fpirits tliiJ' 
 affift their fucccfsful antagonifts. 
 
 At this game fomc will lofe their apparel, all the moveables 
 of their cabins, and fometimcs even their liberty, notwith- 
 ftanding there are no people in the univerfc more jealous of the 
 Jattcr than the Indians are. 
 
 I 
 
 CHAPTER Xir. 
 
 4-. 
 
 I- 
 
 •f Of their Marriage Ceremonies, <6'C. 
 
 ■ ^T^ H E Indians allow of polygSmy, and perfons of everyj' 
 JL rank indulge themfelves in this point. The chiefs in par 
 ticular have a feraglio, which confifts of an uncertain number, 
 uuially from fix to twelve or fourteen. The lower ran'ks arc 
 permitted to take as many as there is a probability of their be- 
 ing able, with the children they may bear, to maintain. It is 
 not uncommon for an Indian to marry two fiftcrs; fomctimes, 
 if there happen to be more, the whole number; and notwith- 
 ilanding this (as it appears to civilized nations) unnaturai uni- ' 
 ; on, they all live in the greatcll harmony. 
 
 The younger wives are fubmiflivc to the elder; andthofewho 
 have no children, do fuch menial olficcs for thofc who arefer- 
 tile, as caufes their fituation to differ but little from a lliate of 
 fervitude. However they perform every injunction with thegrcat- 
 cft cheerfulncfs, in hopes of gaining thereby the affeftion of 
 their hufband, that they in their turns may have the happinefs 
 of becoming mothers, and be entitled to the rcfpecl attendant 
 on that flate. 
 
 It is not uncommon for an Indian, although he takes to him- 
 fclf fo many wives, to live in a Hate of continence with many 
 of them for feveral years. Such as arc not fo fortunate as to 
 gain the favour of their hufband, by their fubmiflive andpru-' 
 dent bcha^'iour, and by that means to lliare in his embraceaji 
 continue in their virgin Itatc during the whole of their lives, 
 uxcepc they happen to be prefented by him to fome rtmiigcr 
 chief, whofe abode among them will not admit ol his%i&rij>g 
 into a more lafting connedion. Jn this cafe they ful^it to the 
 injun!^tion of their hufband without murmuring, and are not dil- 
 pleafed at the temporary union. IJut if at any time it is known 
 that theyatake tljis liberty without iui\ receiving his confent, 
 
 they 
 
 /I 
 
 iSt 
 
1* o- 
 
 ' \4-1-'' 
 
 agitatcc 
 hey make 
 'ame tiiiw 
 pirits till,. 
 
 moveables 
 
 notwlth- 
 
 ms of the 
 
 i)'c. 
 
 ; of every' 
 iefs in par- 
 in number,! 
 r rariks aroi 
 (f their be- 
 tain. It is 
 fometimes, 
 id notwith- 
 latiirai uni- ' 
 
 dthofcwho 
 ho are fer- 
 \ a ftate of 
 1 the great- 
 iffeftion of 
 ; happinefs 
 attendant 
 
 |;es to hiai' . 
 Jv/ith man/ 
 lunate as to 
 le and prii- , 
 cmbrace«Si|^ 
 Itheir lives,'- 
 le iU|ngcr 
 ils%n«Jri»is 
 liijit to the 
 lire not dil- 
 fit is known 
 us content, 
 they 
 
 / 
 
 they are punlflied in the fame manner as if they had been guilty 
 of adultery. 
 
 This curtom is more prevalent among the nations which h'e 
 |q the interior parts, than among thofe that are nearer the fct» 
 fiSments, as the manners of the latter are rendered more coii.> 
 formable in fome points to thofe of the Europeans, by the in* 
 tercourfe they hold with them. 
 
 The Indian nations differ but little from each other in their • 
 marriage ceremonies, and Iefs in the manner of their divorces. 
 The tribes that inhabit the borders of Canada, make uie of the . 
 following cuftom. 
 
 When a young Indian has fixed his inclinations on one of the* 
 other fex, he endeavours to gain her confent, and if he fuc- 
 ceeds, it is never known that her parents ever obftruft their . 
 union. When every preliminary is agreed on, and the day ap- . 
 pointed, the friends and acquaintance of both parties alTemble 
 at the houfe or tent of the oldeft relation of the bridegroom, 
 wiiere .a feaft is prepared on the occalion. 
 
 The company who meet to aflift at the feftival are fometimes 
 very numerous,- they dance, they fing, and enter into every othei 
 diverfion ufually made ufe of on any of their public rejoicings. 
 
 When thefe are finiflied, all thofe who attended merely out ot 
 ceremony depart, and the bridegroom and bride are left alone 
 with three or four of the neareft and oldeft relations of eithei 
 fide; thofe of the bridegroom being men, thofe of the bridi;, 
 women. 
 
 Prefently the bride, attended by thefe few friends, having; 
 withdrawn herfelf for the purpofe, appears at one of thedoorji 
 of the houfe, and is led to the bridegrooiT^^vho ftands ready 
 to rec^ve her. Having ijow taken their ftation, on a mat placed 
 in the centre of the room, they lay hold of the extremities of a 
 wand, about four feet long, by which they continue fcparated, 
 whilrt the old men pronounce fome ihort harangues fuitable to 
 the occalion. 
 
 The married coitple after this make a puplic declaration of 
 the love ^nd regard they entertain for each otjicr, and ftill hold- 
 ing the rod between them, dance and ling. When'^ey hava 
 finiflied this part of the ceremony, they break the rod int6 a» 
 many pieces as there are witnclles prcfent, who each take a ' 
 piece, and preferve it with great care. 
 
 The bride is then reconducted out of the door at which llie ^ 
 entered, where her young companions wait to attend her to 
 hei father's houfe; there the bridegroom is obliged to fcek '" 
 l^tti and the marriage is confummatcd. Very often the wife re- 
 mains at her father's houfe till llie has a child, when flie packs . 
 up her appjrel, which is all the fortune flie is generally poffcf;,;! ..;"'. 
 fed of, ancf accompanies her hufband to his habitation. T\i^. 
 
 When f«om any diilike a icpiiriition takes place, for they are. 
 
 feldom kilown to quarrel, they generally give their friends a 
 
 ' few davs uoficc of their intention^', and fomctlmc's oifer rj^ioni 
 
 ^0 
 
 
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 w 
 
 to 
 
 
 M-:. 
 
to juflify Lhcir coik1ui51:. The witnefTcs who \rei'c prcrjnt attlva 
 inaniaji;e, meet on llicday ie<jiiclk'ci, at the hoiifeof the couple 
 tliat are about to feparatc, and brin;i;ui('^ with them ^ the pieces 
 •of rod which they had received at their nuptials, throw them 
 .« into the (ire, in the prefencc of all the parties. ^ 
 
 .^ This is the whole of the ceremony required, and the repara- 
 tion is carried on without any murmurings or ill-will between 
 the couple or their relations; and after a few months they are 
 at liberty to marry again. ' 
 
 When a marriage is thus diffolvcd, the children which have 
 been produced from it, are equally divided between them; and 
 as children arc cfleemed a trcafureby the Indians, if the number 
 happens to be odd, the woman is allowed to take the better half. 
 Though this cullom feems to encourage ficklenefs and fre- 
 quent fepa:»ations, yet there are many of the Indians who have 
 but one wife, and enjoy with her a (uite of connubial happinefs 
 not to be exceeded in more relincd focieties. There are alfo 
 -■ not a few inllances of women preferving an inviolable attach- 
 ment to their hufbands, except in the cafes beforemeiitioned, 
 which are not confickrfd as either a violation of their chartity 
 
 ^ or tidcllty. 
 
 Although I have faid that the Indian nations differ very little 
 from each other in their marriage ceremonies, there are fonw 
 exceptions. The Naudoweflies have a fingular method of cele- 
 brating their marriages, which feems to bear no refemblance to 
 tiiofe made ufe of by any pthcr nation I paded through. When one 
 •jof their young men has fixed on a young woman he approves of, 
 
 4v; be difcovers his pallion to her parents, who give him an invi- 
 
 ■ • tation to eomc ii||Alive with them in their tent. 
 
 He accordinglyaccepts the offer, and by fo doing engages to 
 relide in it for a whole year, in the character of amenit.1 fervant. 
 During this time he hunts, and brings all the game he kills 
 to the familyj by which means the father has an opportunity of 
 feeing whether he is able to provide for the fupport of .his 
 daughter and the children that might be the coi;?fequence of 
 
 •■ their union. This hov/ever is only done whilft they are young 
 men, and for their full wife, and not repeated like Jacob's fer- 
 
 - • vitudes. 
 
 When this period is expired, the marriage is folemnized af- 
 
 ' tcr the cullom of the country, in the foiiuwing manner : Three 
 or four of the oldell male relations oi the bridegroom, and as 
 many of the bride's, accomjiaiiy tr.c yoimg couple from their 
 rcfpcctive tents, to an open part in tlio centre of the camp. 
 
 The chiefs and warriors being hcie adembled to receive them, 
 a party of the latter are drawn up iii two ranks on each- lide of 
 the bride and bridegroom immediately on their '^fi'ivai^p'heir 
 • principal chief then acquaints the whole allembly ^i^p|e de- 
 iign of tlu'ir meeting, and tells them that the couple l^^i' them, 
 mentioning at the fame time their names, are conw to avow 
 publicly their intentions of living together as yjiii|vand wife. 
 
 :;f-i;- 
 
 •* 
 
 ..-:* 
 
"■*ildf^;. 
 
 
 W 
 
 V [155 ] 
 
 He theft asliS the two young pcoj^c alternately, whether they 
 dcfiro that the union might tai^c place. Having declared vvitli 
 an audible voice that tlTcy do fo, the warriors fix their arrows, 
 and difcharge them ovtfr the heads of tlie married pair; this 
 done, the chief pronounces them man and wife. 
 
 The bridegroom then turns round, and bending his body, 
 takes his wife on his back, in which m;;nner he carries heir 
 amidll the acclamations of the fpcilators to his tent. Tliis ce- 
 remony is fuccecded by the moft plentiful feall the new married 
 man can afford, and fongs and dances, according to the ufuul 
 cuiTom, conclude the feftival. •■ 
 
 Divorces happen fo fcldom among the Naudowcfllcs that I 
 had not an opportunity of learning how they are accompiiihcd. 
 
 Adultery is eilcenud by them a heinous crime, and puniihed 
 with the greatcil rigour. ' The hufband in thefe cales bites off 
 the v/ife s nofc, and a fcparation inflantly enfues. 1 faw an in- , 
 itancc wherein this mode of punillimcnt was inflifted, whilll I' 
 remained among them. The children, when this happens, are 
 diftributed according to the ufual cuftom obfci vcd by other na- 
 tions, that is, they are equally divided. 
 
 Among the Indian as well as European nations, there are 
 many that devote thcmfelves to pleafure, and notwitk.(1:anding 
 the accounts given by fomc modern writers of the frigidity ot an 
 Indian conilitution, become the zealous votaries of Venus. The 
 young warj^iors that arc thus difpofed, feldom want opportuni- 
 ties for gratifying their paflion ; and as tlic mode ufually foU 
 lowed on thefe occafions is rather lingular, 1 lliaU defcribc it. 
 ^£ When one of thefe young debauchees imagines from the be- 
 havi/our of the perfon he has chofen for his miftrel"s, that he 
 ftall not meet with any great obftruCtion to his fuit from her, 
 he purfues the following plan. 
 
 It has been already obfcrved, that the Indians acknowledge 
 no fuperiority, nor have they any ideas of fubordination, ex- 
 cept in the neceffary regulations of their war or hunting par- 
 ties; they confequenily live nearly in a ftatc of equality, pur- 
 fuant to the fiid principles of nature. The lover therefore is 
 not apprehenfive of any check or countroul in the accomplifl^- 
 ment of his purpoies, if l;e can find a convenient opportunity 
 for completing them. 
 
 As the Indians arealfo under no apprchenfion of robbers, or 
 fe;:rct enemies, they leave the doors of their tents or huts un- 
 faftencd during the night, as well as in the day. Two or thj-ec 
 hours after funfet, the Haves or old people cover over the lire, 
 that is generally burning in the midlls of their apartment, with 
 alhes, and retire to their repofe. 
 
 Wliilft darknefs thus prevails, and all is quiet, one of thefe 
 fons o||peafure, wrapped up clofely in hi,s blanket, to prevent 
 his be^ known, will^netimes enter the apartment of his in- 
 tended mirtrefs. Having lirft lighted at the fmothcrcd fire a 
 fmall fplint-er of wood, which anfwcrs thepurpofcof a match, 
 
 
 hv 
 

 ^ 
 
 -■■,■•. . * , , -"♦■'* .• 
 
 " ' ' * A ' 
 - - -> 9 
 
 [ i5<5 ] 
 
 he nppvoa.hcs the place whe^e fhe rcpofcs, and gently 4jiilIlnR 
 
 away the covering from the head, jogs her till (he awakes. If 
 
 Ihe then rifes up, and blows out the li(;ht, he needs no further 
 
 contirniation that his company is not difiigreeable; but if, after 
 
 •he has difcovered himfelf, ihe hides her head, and lakes no 
 
 f-iinotice of him, he might reft aflured that any further folitita- 
 
 ''*ti«)ns will prove vain, and that it is necclTary immediately for 
 
 hiui to retire. 
 
 During his flay he conceals the light as much as poflible fn 
 the hollow of his hands, and as the tents or rooms of the In- 
 dians are ufually large and capacious, he efcapes without de- 
 tection. It is faid that the young women who admit their lovers 
 cnthcfc occafions, take great caie, by an immediate application 
 to herbs, with the potent efficacy of which they are well ac- 
 quainted, to prevent the elFcfts of thcfe illicit amours from be- 
 coming vifible; for (houlU the natural confequcnccs enfue, they 
 miift forever remain immarried. * 
 
 The children of the Indians are always diflinguifhcd by the 
 name of the mother,* and if a woman marries feveral hufbands, 
 and has ilTue by each of them, they are all called after her. 
 The reafon they give for this is, that as their offspring are in- 
 debted to the father for their fouls, the invifiblc part of their 
 tifence, and to the mother for their corporeal and apparent 
 part, it is more rational that they fhould be diftinguillied by 
 the name of the latter, from whom they indubitably derive 
 their being, than by that of the father, to which a doubt might 
 fometlmes arife whether they arc juflly Intitled. 
 
 There arefome ceremonies made ule of by the Indians at the 
 impofition of the name, and it is confidered by them as a mat- 
 ter of great importance; but what thefe are I could never Icaru, 
 through the fecrecy obfcrved on the occafion. I only know 
 that it is ufually given when thi children have pafled the Itatc 
 of infancy. 
 
 Nothing can exceed the tcndcrnefs fliown by them to their 
 oft'spring; and a perfon cannot recommend himfelf to their fa. 
 vour by any method more certain, than by paying fome atten- 
 tion to the younger brar.chcs of their families. I can impute, 
 in fome meafurc, to the prcfcnts I made to the children of tliC 
 chiefs of the Naudowcflies, the hofpitable leccptlon 1 met 
 
 with when among them. 
 
 There is fome difficulty attends an explanation of the manner f! 
 in which the Indians dillinguiili ihemlclvcs from each other. 
 IJcfidcs the name of the animal by which every nation and tribfi 
 is denominated, there are others that are perfonal, aud which 
 tl'.c children receive ironi their mother. 
 
 The chiefs are ahb diltinguifhed by a name that has either 
 fomt;?" reference to their abiiiiies, or to thehieroglyphicj^a^ their 
 i^aniilJQSji and, thefe are acquired after t^y arrive at th^pge of 
 • ,iinanho(rd. Such as have fignalized tJuEmfelves either m tUfti^.^rj 
 \^2i- or bunt;: s parties, or aiepolleflcd of foixje emiiient^j^uiifi- " 
 " . . " * li(!ation>. 
 
 ^ 
 
9^ 
 
 • ♦ 
 
 y 4jiilIinR 
 akes. If 
 
 further 
 t if, uftcr 
 takes no 
 
 folitita- 
 iately for 
 
 loflible in 
 :)f the In- 
 ithout dc- 
 leir lovers 
 pplication 
 e well ac- 
 ;s from be- 
 in fiie, they 
 
 icd by the 
 
 1 hufbands, 
 after her. 
 
 ing arc in- 
 irt.of their 
 d apparent 
 guillicd by 
 ibly derive 
 (oubt might 
 
 ans at the 
 as a mat- 
 never learn, 
 only know 
 d the llatc 
 
 em to their 
 to their fa. 
 V)mc atten- 
 in impute, 
 dien of the 
 tion 1 met 
 
 the manner 
 each other. 
 )n and tribe 
 and which 
 
 has either 
 hiclsiat iheir 
 
 t tl^ge of 
 
 her in il«i%^ 
 iinent,j;iU'all- ' 
 ii^atiora> ..,, 
 
 I 157 1 
 
 fjcatioii, receive a name that fervcs to perpetuate the fame of 
 chefe aftlons, or to make their abilities confpicuous. 
 
 Thus the ^reut jvarrior of the Naudoweflies was named Ot- 
 fahtongoomlilTicah, that is, the Great Father of Snakes ; oitah 
 being in EngMlh father, longoom great, and liflicah a fnake.j 
 Another ehief was called Honahpawjatin, which means a fwiftt 
 runner over th» mountains. And when they adopted me a chief 
 among them, they named me Shebaygo, which fignifies a vvriter, 
 or a perfon that is curious in niaking hieroglyphicks, as ihcy 
 faw mc often writing. ^. 
 
 ■fiih^ 
 
 CHAPTER XIIL 
 
 0/ their Religion. • 
 
 IT is very difficult to attain a peifc(5l knowledge of the reli- 
 gious principles of the Indians. Their ceremonies and doc- 
 trines have been fo often ridiculed by the Europeans, that the|i.» 
 endeavour to conceal them; and if, after the greateft intimaxrjr^ 
 you dcfire any of them ^o explaiii to you their fyftem of reli- 
 gion, to pre\ ent your ridicule, they intermix with it many of 
 the tenets they have received from the French milTionaries, fo 
 that it is at hill: rendered an uninteUigible jargon, and not to be 
 depended upon. 
 
 Such as I could difcover among the Naudoweflies (for they 
 alfo were very referved in this }ioinL) I iliiill give my readers, 
 without paying any attention to the accounts of others. As the 
 religion of that people from their firuation appears to be totally 
 unadultcred with the fuperllitions of the church of Rome, we 
 iliall be able to gain from their religious cutionis a more perfe6l 
 Idea of the original tenets and ceremonies of the Indian.s in ge- 
 neral, than from thole of any nations that approach nearer to 
 the iettlements. 
 
 It is certain they acknowledge one Supreme Bein|f>.vbi- Giver 
 of Life, who prefidcs over all things. The Chipcways call this 
 Being Manitou, or JCitchi-Manitou; the Naudoweflies, Wakow 
 or Tongo Wakon, that isf the Great Spirit; and they look u}> 
 to him as the fource of good, from whom no evil can proceed. 
 They alfo believe in a bad I'piric, to whom they alcribc greut 
 power, and fuppofe that through his means all the evils whicli 
 befall mankind are inflicted. To him there! ore do they pray in 
 Iheir diftreffes, J:)egginj; that he would either avert their trou- 
 bles, or moderate thet^vhcn they are no longer avoidable. 
 ife*-iJ?cy fay that the Gre^t Spirit, who is iniinitely good, nei-" 
 th^jf'^j|jilies or is ablp to do any mifchief to mankind; but on 
 s ' "" ^-v .: .: -,. the 
 
 w 
 
 Jif^,. 
 
♦ t 
 
 •#- 
 
 ^ 'i^-, 
 
 r i3» T ..• 
 
 the contrary, that he fhowcrs dou-n on tlicm aft the blcfUnRK 
 they defervc; whereas the evil fpirlt is continually cniploy(.'d in 
 contriving how he may punifli the human race; and to do which 
 he is not only pofTcflcd of the will, but of tlie power. 
 # They hold alio that there are good (pirits of a lefTer degree, 
 who have their particular dep;n-tments, in which they are con- 
 flantly contributing to the happinefs of mortal. Thcfe they 
 fuppofc to prcfide over all the extraordinary produftions of na- 
 ture, fuch as thofe lakes, rivers, or mountains that are of an 
 uncommon magnitude; and likewife the hearts, birds, filliep, 
 and even vegetables, or rtones that exceed tb.e rcfc of ikc'n fpe- 
 cics in (ize or llngularity. To all of thefe they pay fome kind 
 of adoratiorL^,Xl(pS;When they arrive on the borders of Lake 
 Superior, on the banks of the MifliUlppI, or any other great 
 bodyot watcr^<i|lW|r prefent to the Spirit who r(;fidcs there fome 
 kind of oflx'rffig, as the prince of the Winnebagoes did v;hen 
 he attended me to the Falls of St. Anthony. 
 
 But at the fame time I fancy that the ideas they annex to tlic 
 word fpiiit, are very different from the conceptions more en- 
 lightened nations entertain of it. Tht-y appear to falTiion to 
 themfclves corporeal reprefentations of th'cir gods, and believe 
 them to be of a human form, though of a nature more excel- 
 lent than man. 
 
 Of the fame kind arc their fentimcnts relative to a futurity. 
 They doubt not but they iTiall exill in (ome fuUne ftate; they 
 however fancy that their employments there will be fimilar to 
 thofe they are engaged in here, without the labour and diflicul- 
 ty annexed to them in this period of their cxillcnce. % 
 
 They confequently cxpetltobe tranllated to a delightful coun- 
 try, where they iTiail always have a clear unclouded sky, and 
 enjoy a perpetual fpringj where the forefts will abound with 
 •game, and the lakes with (lili, which might be taken without 
 requiring a painful exertion of skill, or a laborious purfuit ; in 
 Ihort, that they ftall live for ever in regions of plenty, and en- 
 •joy every gratiiication they delight in here, in a greater degree. 
 
 To intclleclual pleafures they are ftrangers; nor are thde 
 included in their fchcme of happincis. But they expecl that 
 even thefe ar.imal pleafures will be proportioned and dirtribut- 
 td according to their merit,* the skilful hunter, the bold and 
 fuccefsful warrior, v/ill be entitled to a greater lliare than thofe 
 who through indolence or want of skill cannot boaft of any fupc- 
 riority over the connnon herd. 
 
 The prices of the Indians are at the fame time their pliyfi- 
 cians, and their conjurors; whilll they heal their wounds, op 
 cure their difeafcs, they interpret their dreams, give them pro- 
 tective charms, and fatisfy that defire which is fo pre\alent 
 anions them, of fcarching into futurity. ^ 
 
 How well they execute the latter gArt of their profeflienal 
 engagements, and the methods Ihey make ufe of on fome of thef^ 
 oecaiiuns, I have already Ihev/n in the exertions of. the pricftcf 
 
 "^-/- the 
 
 ■*. 
 
r n «,. » 
 
 • [ 159 ] ^ , . ^ • 
 
 the Killiftinocs, who was fortunate cnoiigli to'fiicocod In hlscx- 
 naordiiuiry atcciupt near I.akcSiipcrior. They rrt'(iiicntly are 
 liitcoisfiil likcwifc in adniinillcring the faluhrlous licrbs they 
 have accjuireil a knowledj^e of; Init that the ceremonies they 
 make life of diirins the achninillration of them contributes to 
 tlieir fiiccefs, I Ihall not take upon nie to alfcrt. 
 
 When any of the people are ill, the perfon who is inverted 
 witli this triple character of doilor, prieft, and magician, llts 
 by the patient djiy and night, rattling in his ears a goad fliell 
 filled with dry beans, called a Chichicoud', and making a difa- 
 greeable noife that cannot be well defcribcd. 
 
 This uncouth harmony one would imagine fliould difturb the 
 lick ptfrfon, and prevent the good efl'eds of the dodor's pre- 
 fcription; but on the contrary they believe that the method 
 made ufe of contributes to his recovery, by diverting from his 
 malignant purpofes the evil i'pirit who has inflicled the difor- 
 der; or at lealt that it will take oft' his attention, lb that he 
 lliall no(;»incrcare the malady. This they are credulous enough 
 to imagine he is conilantly on the watch to do, and would 
 carry his inveteracy to a fatal length if they did not thus charm 
 him. " . 
 
 I coidd not difcQver that they make ufe of any other religi- 
 ous ceremonies than thofe I have dcfcribed; indeed, on the ap- 
 pearance of the new moon they dance and fing; but it is not 
 evident that they pay that planet any adoration; they only fecm 
 to rejoice at the return of a luminary that makes the night cheer- 
 ful, and which ferves to light them on their way when they tra- 
 vel during the ab fence of the fun. 
 
 Notwithftanding Mr. Adair has afTerted that the nations 
 
 among whom he relided, obferve with very little variation all 
 
 ' the rites appointed by the Mofaic Law, 1 own I could never 
 
 difcovcr among thofe tribes that lie but a few degrees to the 
 
 north-well, the leaft traces of the Jewllli religion, except it be 
 
 adipitted that one particular female cullom and their divifion into 
 
 trifvjs, carry with them proofs fufiicientto eft abliili this aflxirtion. 
 
 The Jefuits and French miflionaries have alfo pretended that 
 
 the Indians had, when they lirft travelled into America, lome 
 
 notions, though thcfe were dark and confu(J?d, of the chriftiaii 
 
 inftitution; that they have been greatly agitated at the light of 
 
 ■ a crofs, and given proofs, by the impreftions made on them, 
 
 ' that they were not entirely unacquaint'.-d with the facred myfle- 
 
 ries of Chriftianity. I need not fay that thcfc are too glaring 
 
 abfurdities to be credited,* and could only receive their exiftence 
 
 «.fKOin the zeal of thofe fathers, who endeavoured at once to 
 
 giv^ the public a better opijiion of the fuccefs of their miftl- 
 
 ons, and to add fupport to tijc caufe they were engaged in. 
 
 The Indians appear to be in their religious principles, rude 
 
 and uninrtrufted. The doclrines they hold are few and limple, 
 
 und fiicK as have been generally impreffcd on tht; human mind, 
 
 by fome means or other^ in the moil ignoiant ages. TheyhoW^ 
 
 ... ■ • , . ••« cvs:: 
 
 • tt , --t ' ■. ., "im - - ■ - ' ■•. ^' 
 
 #' ' ■ w '•»•■!: ■^f • •■ 1 . _■*:, 
 
 /*v 
 
 'MM 
 
 ti^ 
 

 ^% 
 
 
 ♦. 
 
 [ 160 1 
 
 ever have hot deviated, as many other uncivilized nations, and 
 too many civilized ones have done, into idohitroiis ino'des^of 
 worfliip; they venerate indeed, and make offerings to the won- 
 derful parts of the creation, as I have before obferved ; but 
 whether thefe rites are perfoimed on account of the impreflion 
 fuch extraordinary apf earances make on them, or whether they 
 confider them as th^' peculiar charge, or the uluai places of re- 
 fidence of the invifible fpirits they acknowledge, 1 cannot po- 
 fitively determine. 
 
 The human mind in its uncultivated ftate is apt to afcribe the 
 extraordinary occurrences of nature, fuch as earthquakes, thun- 
 der, or hurricanes, to the interpofition of unfeen beings; the 
 troubles anddifarters alfo that are annexed to a favage fife, the 
 apprehenfions attendant on a precarious fubfiftcnce and thofc 
 numberlefs inconveniencies which man in his improved Hate 
 
 'has found means to remedy, are fuppofed to proceed from the 
 iriterpofition of evil fpirits; the favage confequcntly lives in 
 continual apprehenfions, of their unkind attacks, and to avert 
 them has recourfe to charms, to the fantaflic ceremonies of his 
 priert, or the powerful influence of his Manitous. Fear has of 
 courfe a greater (hare in his devotions than gratitude, and he 
 pays more attention to deprecating the wrath of the evil than 
 to fecuring the favour of the good beings. 
 
 The Indians, however, entertain thefe abfurditics in com- 
 mon with thofe of every part of the globe who have not been 
 illumined by that religion which only can difperfe the clouds of 
 
 ■fuperftition and ignorance, and they areas free from error as 
 4 people can be that has not been favoured with its inftructivc 
 doftrines. 
 
 C H A P T E 11. XIV. 
 
 Of their Diseases, i)'C 
 
 i'^\. 
 
 TU E Indians in genera! arc healthy, and fubjcLl but to 
 few diteaics, many of tliole that afflicl civilized nations, 
 and are the iinincdiatc conre(]uc!iccs of luxury or floth, being* 
 not known anjong theui; however, the limrdlhips anu fatigues 
 v.'hich they cndiu-e in luuiting or war, the inclemency of the 
 feafons to which they are continually expofed, but above all the> 
 extremes of hunger, and that voracioufnefs their long excurfi- 
 ons confequenfly rdbicct them to, cannot fail of impairing the 
 coulUtucion, aud brinjjinsj on dUordci's. 
 
 F . Pains 
 
 *i;^-.^ ^ 
 
^^ 
 
 iPr* 
 
 ons, and 
 nodes, of 
 the won- 
 ted; but 
 iipieflion 
 ither they 
 :es of ic- 
 innot po- 
 
 fcribe the 
 tes, thun- 
 ;ings; the 
 sfit'c, thti 
 and thofc 
 oved llatc 
 , from tho 
 ly lives in 
 Ito avert 
 nies of his 
 'ear has of 
 de, and he 
 c evil than 
 
 2S in corn- 
 re not been 
 c clouds of 
 m error as 
 inftruAivc 
 
 )jca but to 
 red nations, 
 (Hh, being" 
 nu fatigues 
 ;ncy 01 the 
 hove all the. 
 Mig cxcurfi- 
 pairing the 
 
 ■ il*j 
 
 • Pains and weaknefles in the ftomach and bread arc fometimcs 
 the refult of their long fafting, and confumptions of the exceiP 
 ive fatigue and violent exercifes they exp.ofe themfelvcs to from 
 their infancy, before they have ftrength fufficient to fupport 
 them. But the diforder to which they are moft fubjeft, is the 
 pleurify; for the removal of which, they apply their grand re- 
 medy and prefervative againft the generality of their complaints, 
 fweating. 
 
 The manner in which they conftruft their ftoves for this pur- 
 pofe is as follows : They fix feveral fmall poles in the ground, 
 the tops of which they twift together, fo as to form a rotunda : 
 this frame they cover with skins or blankets; and they lay them 
 on with:^ fo much nicety, that the air is kept from entering 
 through any crevice,- a fmall fpace being only left, juft fuffici- 
 ent to creep in at, which is immediately after clofed. In the 
 middle of this confined building they, place red hot ftones, on 
 which they pour water till a lleam aril'cs that produces a great 
 degree ofheat. 
 
 This caufes an inftantenous perfpiration, which they incrcafe 
 as theypleafe. Having continued in it for fome time, they imme- 
 diately hallen to the neared dream, and plunge in;othe water; 
 and, after bathing therein for about half a minute, they put on 
 their cloaths, fit down and fmoak with great compofure, tho- 
 roughly perfuaded that the remedy will prove efficacious. They 
 often make ufe of this fudoriferous method to refrefli themfelves, 
 or to prepare their minds for the management of any bufinef* 
 that requires uncomn|pn deliberation and fagacity. 
 
 They are likewife afflifted with the dropfy and paralytic com- 
 plaints, which, however, are but yety feldom known among' 
 them. As a remedy for thefe as well as for fevers they mak« 
 ufe of lotions and decofliio.ns, compofed of herbs, which th* 
 phyficians know perfeftly well how to compound and apply. 
 But they never truft to medicines alone; they always have re- 
 courfe likcwiie to fomt fupcrftitious ceremonies, withoutwhich 
 tliciv patients v/ould not think the phyfical preparations fuffici- 
 ently powerful. 
 
 With equal judgment they make ufe of fimples for the cure 
 of wounds, fraftures, or bruifes; and are able to extraft by 
 thefe, v/ithout incifion, fplinters, iron, or any fort of matter 
 by which the wound is caufed. In cures of this kind they arc 
 extremely dextrous, and complete them in much Icfs time than 
 might be cxp'^died from t!:cir mode of proceeding. 
 
 With the skin of a fnake, which thole reptiles annually flied, 
 thy will alfo extract fplinters. It is amazing to fee tlse fudden 
 efficacy of this applicatton, notwithftajiding there does not ap*^ 
 ^ear to be ihc leall moilturc remaining in it. 
 
 It has long '-Qcn a fubjcft of difpute, on what continent the 
 venereal difeafe liril received its dellruclivc power. This dread- 
 fvl malady is fuppofed to have originated in America, but the 
 literary conteft ftill remains undecided; to give fomc elucida- 
 
 X tioii 
 
 4'' 
 
 rM.. 
 
jtoi 
 
 \' 
 
 ■#. 
 
 '•fr.*' 
 
 'C ■• 
 
 i>: 
 
 [ 162 ] 
 
 tion to It i fhall remark, that as I could not difcover the Icaft 
 traces among the Naudowefll^s, with whom I rcfided fo long, 
 and was alfo informed that it was yet unknown among the more 
 ^\yeftej-n nations, I think I may venture to pronounce that it had 
 *not its origin in North America. Thofe nations that have any 
 coaimunication with the Europeans, or the fouthern tribes, are 
 greatly afflifted with it; but they have all of them acquired a 
 knowledge of fuch certain and expeditious remedies, that the 
 communication is not attended wfth any dangerous confequences. 
 
 Soon after I fct out on my travels, one of the traders whom 
 I accompanied, complained of a violent gonorrhcea, with all its 
 alarming fymptoms: this incrcafed to fuch a degree, that by 
 *the time we had reacfied the town of the Winncbagoes, he wa^s 
 unable to travel. Having made his complaint known to one of 
 the chiefs of that tribe, he told him not to be uneafy, for he 
 would engage that by following his advice, he fliould be able 
 In a few days to purfuc his journey, and in a little longer time 
 . be entirely free from his difordcr. 
 
 The chief had no fboner faid this than he prepared for him a 
 deCowlion of the bark of the roots of the prickly alTi, a tree 
 fcarccly known in England, but which grows in great plenty 
 throughout North America; by the ufe of which, in a few days 
 he was greatly recovered, and having received direftions how 
 "to prepare it, in a fortnight after his departure from this place 
 perceived that he was radically cured. 
 
 If from excelTTve excercife, or the extremes of heat or cold, 
 they are aflccled with pains in their limbs^or joints, they fcari- 
 fy the parts affefted. Thofe nations who have no commerce 
 , with Europeans do this with a iTiarp flint; and* it is furprizinf 
 <o fee how fine a point they have the dexterity to bring them ; 
 a lancet can fcarcely exceed in lliarpnefs the inftruments they 
 r.iake ufe of this unmalleable fubftancc. 
 
 They never can be convinced a perfon is ill, whilft he has an 
 appctitcj but when he rcjeds all kind of nourifhmcnt, they eon- 
 lidcr thei dlleafe as dangerous, and pay great attention' to it ; 
 Liid during the continuance of the diforder, the phyfician refufcs 
 bi^ patient no fort of food that he is defirous of. 
 
 '1 heir doiflors arc not only fuppofed to be skilled in the phy- 
 ilcd Lr'jatment of difeafcs ; but theconnnon people believe that 
 by the ccrcrr.ony of the Cliichicou(^ ufualiy made ufs? of, as be- 
 fore dcfcrlbed, they are able to gnin intelligence from the fpi- 
 liCb of the caufe of the complaints with which they are aflliclcd, 
 and iiie thereby the better enabled to find remedies for them, 
 'i'hey di'.Vover fomcthing fupcrnatiiral in all their difeafes, and 
 the phyfick adminillcred muft invariably be aided by thefe fit- 
 perllir.iui'jS. 
 
 .Sometimes a fick perfon fancier that his diforder arifesfrom 
 wiichcr;'.i"ii in (his cafe the piiyljci;;n or juggler is confultcd, 
 vvI)o, afrcr the ufiial preparations, gives his opinion on the llatr; 
 <it' the i.i:;\'sf:'^ iind freqwentlv find:; fom« uic«m«- for \m cur\| 
 
 •.."<¥^ 
 
Bat nctwithftanding the Indian phyficians always annex tliefe 
 i'uperftitious cereiTionies to their prefcriptions, it is very certain, 
 as 1 have aheady obferved, that they exercife their art by prin- 
 ciples which arc founded on the knowledge of fimples, and on 
 experience which they acquire by an indefatigable attention to 
 their operations. 
 
 The following ftory, which I received from a perfon of»un- 
 doubted credijt, proves that the Indians are not ppiy able tp 
 reafon with great acutenefs on the caufes and fyniptonis of ma« 
 ny of the diforders which aye attendant on human nature^ but 
 to apply with equal judgment proper remedies. - ,* '; 
 
 In Penobfcot, a fettlement in the province of Maini jji |ljp 
 north-eaft parts of New-England, the wife of a foldier wast'Sken 
 in labour, and notwithftanding every neceflary afliftance \va# 
 given her, could not be delivered. In this fituation llie re- 
 mained for two or three days, the perfons grounii her expefting 
 thajt the next pang would put an end to her cxiftence. 
 
 An Indian woman, who accidentally pafled by, heard the 
 groans of the unhappy fufFercr, and enquired from when*c^4Kfy' 
 proceeded. Being made acquainted with the defperate circiim- 
 ft.ances attending the cafe, fhe told the informant, that if iTie 
 might be permitted to fee the perfon, flie did not doubt but 
 that fl>e could be of great fervice to her. 
 
 The furgeon that had attended, and the midwife who jivas 
 then prefent, having given up every hope of preferving th^fr 
 patient, the Indian .woman was allowed to make ufe of any me- 
 thods (he thought proper. She accordingly took a handker- 
 chief, and bound it tight over the nofe and mouth of the wo- 
 nan; this immediately brought on a fufFocation; and from the 
 ruggles that confequ-^ntly enfued fhe was in a few feconds de- 
 livered. The moment this was atchieved, and time enough to 
 prevent any fatal effeft, the handkerchief was taken off. The 
 long fuffering patient thus happily relieved from her pains, 
 foon after perfcftly recovered, to the aftonilhmcnt of all thofe 
 who had been witnefs to her defperate fituation. 
 
 The reafon given by the Indian for this hazardous method of 
 proceeding was, that defperate diforders require defperate re- 
 medies ; that IS fhe obferved the exertions of nature were not 
 fufficiently forcible toefFeft thedefired confequence, iHe thought 
 it ncceffary to augment their force, which could only be done 
 by foiae mode that wa$ violent in Jil^ extreme. 
 
 
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 .fi'-^ -■»*. •^'t'w^'* 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 •?*-i 
 
 (Cy the Manner in nvhich they treat their 
 
 -■■"..-- •■' ■ Dead. , ^ . " f ^^^ 
 
 ^, . ■ . •■ -r fv ' - ■ ,'^*# 
 
 AN Indian meets death when it approaches him in his hut, 
 with the fame refolution he has often faced him in the 
 field. His indifference relative to this important article, which 
 is the fourcs of fo many apprehenfions to almoft every other 
 nation, is truly admirable. When his fate is pronounced by the 
 phyfician, and it remains no longer uncertain, he harangues 
 thofe about him with the greateft compofure. 
 
 If he is a chief and has a family, he makes a kind of funeral 
 oration, which he concludes by giving to his children fuch ad- 
 vice for the regulation of their conduft as he thinks neceffary. 
 He then takes leave of his friends,| and ifTues out orders for 
 the preparation of a feall, which is defigned to regale thofe of 
 his tribe that come to pronounce his eulogium. 
 
 After the breath is departed, the body is dreffed in the fame 
 attire it ufually wore whilft living, his face is painted, and he 
 feated in an ereA podure, on a mat or skin, placed in the 
 middle of the hut, with his weapons by his fide. His relations 
 being feated round, each harangues in turn the deceafod ; and if 
 he has been a great warrior, recounts his heroic aftions nearly 
 to the following purport, which in the Indian language is ex- 
 treipely poetical and pleafing ; 
 
 *^* You dill fit among us. Brother, your perfon retains its 
 ** ufual refemblance, and continues fimijar to ours, without any 
 vifible deficiency, except that it has loft the power of aftion. 
 But whither is that breath flown, which a few hours ago fent 
 up fmoke to the Great Spirit? Why are thofe lips filent, that 
 lately delivered to us exprefliive and pleafing laiiguage.? why 
 are thofe feet motionlefs^ that a Ihort time ago were fleeter 
 than the deer on yonder moKitains.J* why ufelefshang thofe 
 arms that could climb the talleil tree, or draw the tougheft 
 bow .? Alas ! cvei y part of that frame which we lately beheld 
 with admiration and wonder, is now become as inanimate as 
 it was three hundred winters ago. We will not, however, 
 bemoan thee as if thou \TOft for "ver loft to us, or that thy 
 name would be buried in oblivion; thy foul yet lives in the 
 great Country of Spirits, with thofe of thy Jiation that are 
 gone before thee; and though we are left behind to perpe- 
 tuate thy fume, wc fhall one day join thee. Aduated by the 
 
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 [ 165 1 * 
 
 *5 refpeft we bore thee whilft living, we now come to tender 
 ** to thee the laft aft of kindnefs it is in our power to bellow t 
 *' that thy body might not lie neglefted on the plain, and be-' 
 ** come a prey to the beads of the field, or the fowls of the 
 
 air, we will take care to lay it with thofeof thy predeceiTors 
 
 who are gone before thee; hoping at the fame lime, that thy 
 
 fpirit will feed with their fpirits, and he ready to receive 
 **,ours, when wealfolliall arrive at thegreat Country of Souls." 
 * 'In Ihort fpeeches fomewhat fimilar to this does every chief 
 fflelk the praifes of his departed friend. When they have fo 
 done, if they happen to be at a great diftauce from the place 
 of interment, appropriated to their tribe, and the perfon dies 
 during the winter feafon, they wrap the body in skins, and lay 
 it on a high flage built for this purpofe, or on the branches of 
 a large tree, till the fpring arrives. They then, after the man-, 
 ner defcribed in my journal, carry it, together with all thofe 
 belonging' to the fame nation, to the general burial place, where 
 it is interred with fomc other ceremonies that I could not dif- 
 cover. 
 
 When the Naudoweflies brought their dead for interment to 
 the great cave, I attempted to get an infight into the remaining 
 bttrial rites; but whether it was on account of thertench which 
 arofe from fo many bodies, the weather being then hot, or 
 whether they chofe to keep this part of their cuftoms fecret 
 trom me, I could not difcovcr; 1 found, however, that they 
 confidered my curiofity as ill-timed, and therefore I withdrew. - 
 
 After the interment, the band to which the perfon belongs, 
 take care to fix near the place fuch hieroglyphicks as Ihall Ihov/ 
 to future ages his merit and accompliihments. If any of thefe 
 people die in the fummer at a dillance from the burying-ground, 
 and they find it impoflible to remove the body before it putre- 
 fies, they burn the fleih from the bones, and preferving the lat-. 
 ter, bury them in the manner defcribed. ^ 
 
 As the Indians believe that the fouls of the deceafed cmpWy 
 themfelves In the fame manner in the country of fpirits, as they 
 did on earth, that they acquire their food by hunting, and have 
 there, alfo, enemies to contend with, they take care that they 
 do not enter thofe regions defencelefs and unprovided: they 
 confequently bury with them their bows, their arrows, and all 
 the other weapons ufed either in hunting or war. As they doubt 
 not but they will likewife have occafion both for the neccUaries 
 of life, and thofe things they efteem as ornaments, they ufu;.'.Iy 
 depofrt in their tombs fuch skins or ftutFs as they commonly 
 made their garments of, domertic utcnfils, and paint for orna- 
 menting their perfons. 
 
 The near relations of the deceafed lament his lofs with an 
 appearance of great forrow and anguiili ; they weep and hou-l, 
 and make ufe of many -contortions, as they lit in the hut or tent 
 around the body, when the iatervals between the piaifes of the 
 
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 chiefb wl!! permit. 
 
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 A One forir.ality in mourning for the dead amon?» the Naudo- 
 ^ellies is very different from any mode I obferved in the other 
 nations through which I paffcd. The men, to ihow how great 
 their forrow is, pierce the flefh of their arms, above the el- 
 bows, with arrows ; the fears of which I could perceive on 
 thofe of every rank, in a greater or I'efs degree ; and the wo- 
 men cut and gaih their legs with iharp broken flints> till the 
 blood flows very plentifully. 
 
 Whilft I remained among them, a couple whofe tent was ad- 
 jacent to mine, loft a fon of about four years of age. The psl* 
 lents were fo much affefted at the death of their favourite child, 
 that they purfued the ufual tqHimonies of grief with fuch un- 
 common rigour, as through the weight of forrow and lofs of 
 blood, to occafion the death of the father. The woman, who' 
 hiid hitherto been jnconfoiable, no fooner faw herlhusband ex- 
 pire, than ilie dried up her tears, and appeared cheerful and 
 Tcfigned. 
 
 As I knew not how to account for fo cxtraor4inary a tranf- 
 ition, I took an opportunity to ask her the reafon of it; tell- 
 ing her at the fame time, that I fliould have imagined the lofs 
 of her husband would rather have occafipncd an increafe of 
 grief, than fuch a fuddcn diminution of it. 
 
 She informed me, that as the child was fo young when it died, 
 and unable to fupport itfelf in*the country of fpirits, both iho 
 and her husband h3d been apprebenfive that its fituation would 
 be far from happy; but no fooner did ilie behold its father de- 
 part for the fame place, who not only loved the child with the 
 tendered alFeclion, but was a good hunter, and would be able 
 to provide plentifully for its fupport, than Ihe ccafcd to mourn. 
 She added, that llie now faw no reafon to continue her tearsi 
 as the child on whom llie doatcd, was happy under the care and 
 proteftion of a fond father, and fhe had only one wilTi that 
 T|mained nngratificd, which was that of being hcrfelf witU 
 them. 
 
 Exprcfljons fo replete with unalFefted tendcrnefs, and fenti- 
 ments that would have done honour to a Roman matron, mado 
 an imprcinon on my mind greatly in favour of the people to 
 whom iTie belonged, and tended not a little to counteraft the 
 prejudices I had hitherto entertained, in common with every, 
 other traveller, of Indian infenfibility and want of parental ten- 
 dernefs. 
 
 Mer fubfequent condufk confirmed the favourable opinion \ 
 h;id jiift imbibed; and convinced me, that, notwithftanding this 
 ;il>pjrent fufpenfion 6f her grief, lome particles of that reluft- 
 iincc, to be fcparated from a beloved relation, which is implant- 
 ed cither by nature or cuftom in every human heart, rtill lurked 
 in hers. I obferved that ilie went almort every evening to the 
 foot of the tree, on a branch of which the bodies of hei" 
 ■husband and child woe laid, and after cutting off a lock o^ 
 he: h-iir, y::u tj-.rcvin^ ii ou the groujjd, in a plaintive melan- 
 choly 
 
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 t 167 ] ' 
 
 choly fong bemoanei Its fate. A recapitulation of the aftion* 
 he might have performed, had his life been fpared, appeared to 
 be her favdlirlte theme ; and whilft flie foretold the fame that 
 would have attended an imitation of his father's virtues, her 
 grief fccmcd to be fufpended t » • " ■ 
 
 " If thou hadll continued with us, my dear Son," would flie 
 cry, *' how well would the bow have become thy hand, and 
 „ *' and hD\v fatal would thy arrows have proved to the enemies 
 " of our bands. Thou wouldft often have drank thjeir blood, and 
 
 eaten their fleih, and numerous flaves would have rewarded 
 
 thy toils. With a nervous arm wouldft thou have feizcd the 
 " wounded buffaloCi or have combated the fury of the enraged 
 *' bear. Thou wouldrthave overtaken the flying elk, and have 
 ** kept pace on the mountain's brow with the fleeted, deer. 
 •* What feats niighteft thoU not have performed, hadft thou 
 *' ftaid among us till age had gi'i^en thceftrength, and thy father 
 *' had inflructcd thee in every Indian accompliihment!,* In 
 terms like thefe did this uwtutored favage bewail the lofs of her 
 fon, and frequently would fhepafs thegreatell part of the nighn 
 in the affeftionate employ. 
 
 The Indians in general are very llrift In the obfervance of 
 their laws relative to mourning for their dead. In fome na- 
 tions they cut off their hair, blacken their faces, and fit in an 
 iereft pofture, with their heads clofely covered, and depriving 
 themfelves of every pleafure. This feverity is continued for 
 fever al months, and with fome relaxations the appearance ii 
 fometimes kept up for feveral yeats. I was told that When the 
 Naudoweflies recollefted any incidents of the lives of their deceaf- 
 l|cd relations, even after an interval of ttn years, they would bowl 
 i, fo as to be heard at a great diflance. They would fometimes 
 continue this proof of refpcft and affeftion for feveral hours ; 
 and if it happened that the ciiought occurred, and the noif«e 
 was begun towards the evening, chofe of theii" Uibe, wliO ax« 
 at hand would join with ihcui. ^ ..>,^^H 
 
 v' 
 
 4 
 
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 .1 
 
 :ii 
 
 * C H A p T E R XVI. 
 
 i4 conci/e Character of tbeluDiAUs, 
 
 THE charaflcr of tjie Indians, like that of other uncivilizsl 
 nations, is compofed of a mixture 6f ferocity and gentle- 
 nefs. Thev are at once guided by paflions and appetites, which 
 they hold in common with the fiercert beads that inhabit theif 
 woods, and are poflclled of virtu?? which do honour to huuuui 
 
 fiature. 
 
 I» 
 
 ..:i^^ 
 
« i [ 168 ) 
 
 » In the following enimatc I fliall endeavour to forget on the 
 one hand the prejudices of Europeans, who ufually annex 
 to the word Indian epithets that are difgraceful to human na'- 
 ture, and who view them in no other light than as ravages and 
 cannibaU; vvhiifl; with equal care I avoid any partiality towards 
 them, as fome mud naturally arife from the favourable recep* 
 ' tion I met with during my Hay among them. 
 
 At the fame time 1 Oiall confine my remarks to the nations 
 inhabiting only the wellern regions, fuch as the NaudowefHes, 
 the Ottaguamies, the Chipi^ways, the Winnebagoes, and the 
 Saukies; for as throughout that diverflty of climates, the extcn- 
 llve continent of America is compofed of, there are people of 
 different difpofitions and various characters, it would be incom- 
 • patible with my prefent undertaking to treat of all thefe, and 
 to give a general view of them as a conjunAive body. 
 
 That the Indians are of a cruel, revengeful, inexorable dif- 
 pofition, that they will watch whole days unmindful of the calls 
 of nature, and make their way through pathlefs, and almod un- 
 bounded woods, fubfifting only on the fcanty produce of them, 
 Co purfue and revenge themfelves of an enemy ; that they hear 
 immoved the piercing cries of fuch as unhappily fail into their 
 hands, and receive a diabolical pleafure from the tortures the/ 
 infliA on their prifoncrs, I readily grant; but let us look on 
 the reverfe of this terrifying ^pifture, and wc fliall find them 
 temperate both in their diet and potations (it mull be remem- 
 bered that I fpeak of thofe tribes who have little communica- 
 tion with Europeans) that they with-ftand, with unexampled 
 patience, the attacks of hunger, or the inclemency of the fea- 
 fons, and cftcem the gratification of their appetites but as a fc- 
 condary confideration. ^.^ ' 
 
 We ftall llkcwife fee them fecial and humane to thofe whom 
 they confider as their friends, and even to their adopted ene- 
 Qiies ; and ready to partake with them of the ijtH morfcl, or to 
 risk their lives in their defence. 
 
 In cbntradiftion to the report of many other travellers, all of 
 which have been tindured with prejudice, I canalTert, thatnot- 
 withflanding the apparent indifference with which an Indian 
 meets his wife and children after a long abfence, an indiflerence 
 proceeding rather from cuilom than infenflbility, he is not un- 
 mindful of the claims'either of connubial or parental tendernefs ; 
 the little ftory I have introduced in the preceeding chapter, of 
 the Naudoweflie woman lamenting her child^ and the immature 
 death of the father, will elucidate this -i^oint, and enfoice the 
 ;^j^aflertion much better than Che mod Hudied arguments I cai\^ 
 ^"makc ufe of. 
 
 Accuftomcd from their youth to innumerable hardlliips, they 
 foon become fuperior to a fenfe of danger, or the dread of 
 death ; and their fortitude, implanted by nature, and nurtured 
 by example, by precept aud accident, never experiences a ii]g- ' 
 Bienf s allay. ^ ^ - » 
 
 ^ - ., . ^ Thoujpp 
 
 -J^V'V^v'..:' 
 
 'mrn^z 
 
c 
 
 et on the 
 illy annex 
 mm an na'^ 
 IV ages and 
 y towards 
 l)le recep- 
 
 le nations 
 idowcffies, 
 , and the 
 the exten- 
 people of 
 1 be incom- 
 ihefe, and 
 
 :orable dif« 
 of the calls 
 I almoft un- 
 :e of them, 
 c they hear 
 [ into their 
 irtures they 
 us look on 
 I find them 
 be reniera- 
 tommunica- 
 mexampled 
 of the fea- 
 but as a fcr^, 
 
 hofe whom 
 [opted cne- 
 iifcl, or to 
 
 illers, all of 
 |t, thatnot- 
 an Indian 
 Indiflerence 
 is not un- 
 tendernefs ; 
 :haptGr, of ' 
 
 immature 
 Mifoice the 
 Mits I ca»\, 
 
 lllvips, tiiev 
 dread of 
 Id nurtured 
 liccs a iTU»-\ 
 
 Thou, 
 
 I 
 
 [ lC9 1 
 
 : Though flothful and inaftive vvhilrt tlieir (lore of prov'ilion 
 temains unexhauftcd, and their foes are at a diftancc, they are 
 indefatigable and per fevering in purfuit of their game, or in cir- 
 cumventing their enemies. 
 
 If they are artful and defignlng, and ready to take every ad- 
 vantage, if they are cool and deliberate in their councils, and . 
 cautious in the extreme either of difcovering their fentiments, r: 
 or of revealing a fccret, they might at the fame time boaft of 
 poifefling qualifications r^a more animated nature, of the faga- 
 city of a hoand, the penetrating fight of a lynx, the cunning of 
 the fox, the agility of a bounding roe, and the unconquerable 
 liercencfs of the tyger. 
 
 In thjir public charafters, as forming part of a community, 
 they poffefs an attachment for that band to which they belong, 
 unknown to the inhabitants of any other country. They com- 
 bine, as if the were aduated only by one foul, againft the ene- 
 mies of their nation, and banilh from their minds every confi' 
 deration oppofed to this. 
 
 They confult without unnecefl!*ary oppofition, or without giv- 
 ing way to the excitements of envy or ambition, on the mea- 
 fures necelTary to be purfued for the delhuflion of thofe who • 
 have drawn on lii.emfelvcs their difpleafuie. No fclfilli views 
 ever influence their advice, or obftruft their confultations. Nor 
 is it in the power of bribes or threats to diminiih the love they 
 bear their country. 
 
 The honour of their tribe, and the welfare of their nation, is 
 the firfl; and moll prcdominat emotion of their hearts; and from 
 hence proceed in a great mcafure all their virtues and their vices. 
 Aftuated by by this, they brave every danger, endure the moll 
 c.vjuifite torments, and, expire triumphing in their fortitude, 
 nek as a pcrlbnal qualification, but as a national charaftcriftic. 
 
 From thefc alfo flow that infatiable revenge towards thofe 
 with whom they are at war, and all the conlequent horrors that 
 difgrace their name. Their uncultivated mind, being incapable 
 of judging of the propriety of an action, in oppofition to their 
 paflions, which are totally infenfible to the controuls of rcafon 
 or humanity, they know not how to keep their fury within any 
 hounds, and confequcntly that courage and rcfolution, which 
 would otherwifc do them honour, degenerates into a favage 
 fer()citv. 
 
 liut this iTiort dilTertation mull fuffice ; the limits of my work 
 will not permit me to treat the fubjcct more copioufly, or to 
 purfue it with a logical regularity. The obfervations already 
 made by my readers on the pieceeding pages, will, I trull, ren- 
 der it unnecefiary ; as by them they will be enabled to form a 
 tolerably jull idea of the people I have been defcribing.^ Ex- 
 perience teaches, that anecdotes, and relations of particular 
 events, however trifling they might appear, enable us to form a 
 truer judgment of ths manners and culloins of u i";uplc, and are 
 -'■: X .. , much 
 
 ^"1 
 
 ■#i 
 
'^' 
 
 f t 
 
 [ 170 ] 
 
 much declaratory of their real ftatc, than the mofl fludied an;J 
 elaborate diCquintioii, withoiu thefc aids. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 0/ their Language, H i e r o g l y- 
 
 ^ P H I C K S, 6'^. 
 
 THE principal languages of the nsttives of North America? 
 may be divided into four clalVes, as they confift of fiich 
 as are made ufe of by the nations of the Iroquois towards the 
 eaftern parts of it. the Chiptiways or Algonldns to the north- 
 weft, tiie Naudowcllics to the weft, and the Cherokees, Chicka- 
 faws, &c. to the fouth. One or other of thefe four are ufed 
 by ail the Indians who inhabit the parts that lie between the 
 coaft ofLabfadorenorth, the Florida fouth, the Atlantic ocean 
 caft, and, as far as we can judge from tiie difcoveries hitherto 
 made, the Pacific Ocean on the weft. 
 
 But of all thefe, the Chipeway tongue appears to he the moft 
 prevailing; it being held in fuch ertccm, that the chiefs of eve- 
 ry tribe, dwelling about the great lakes, or to the weftward of 
 ihefc on the banks of the M;lliflipi)i, with ihofe as far fouth as 
 ihe Ohio, and as far north as Hudfon's Bay, confifting of more 
 than thirty difl'erent tribes, fpcak this language alone in their 
 councils, notwithftanding each has a peculiar one of tlieir own. 
 
 It will probably in time become univerfal among all the In- 
 dian nations, as none of them attempt to make cxcurfions to 
 any great diftancc, or arc confidcrcd as qualified to carry on any 
 negociation with a dlltant band, unlcfs they have acquired the 
 Chipeway tongue. 
 
 At prefent, befidcs the Chipdways, to whom it Is natural, 
 the Ottawaws, the Saiikies, the Otcagaumies, the Killiftinoes, 
 the Nipcgons, the bands about Lake Le Plcuve, and the re- 
 mains of the Algonkins, or Gens de Tcrre, all converfe in it, 
 with fome little variation of dialed,- but whether it be natural 
 to thefe nations, or acquired, I was not able to difcover. I 
 am however of opinion that the barbarous and uncouth dialed 
 of the Winnebagoes, the Menomonies, and many other tribes, 
 will become in time totally extinft, and this be adopted in its ftead. 
 
 The Chip(iway tongue is not incumbered with any tinneceffa- 
 ry tones or accents, neither are there any words in it that are 
 Uipcrfhious; it is alio ealy to pronounce, and much more co- 
 pious than any other Indian language. 
 
 As the Indians are unacquainted with the polite arts, or with 
 fhc ftienccs, and as they arc alfo ftrangcra to ceremony, orcom- 
 ....;. .-^ , ■ plimcut. 
 
 |)tff 
 with 
 manr 
 the r 
 want 
 I h 
 langu 
 able I 
 Th 
 found 
 cither 
 And e 
 vail ini 
 being 
 Chat li 
 the iTii 
 As t 
 ficult t 
 I have 
 Jier in 
 mit of. 
 Alth 
 ting, ye 
 lure, f( 
 commo 
 cither i 
 terpriz( 
 way, tc 
 adiftan 
 The 
 method 
 I can fr 
 Whei 
 River, 
 my guit 
 Ottawa! 
 ' fearing 
 nation a 
 and bef 
 fome mi 
 Hep 
 riv^r, 
 al fubft 
 the f/gu 
 the left 
 fent a N 
 of a dee 
 tured fti 
 in whicl 
 <iefigned 
 
 a 
 
 it 
 
■% 
 
 ^^m 
 
 d an<) 
 
 L Y- 
 
 Amcrlcal 
 of fuch 
 ards the 
 e north* 
 Chicka- 
 are ufed 
 ireen the 
 tic ocean 
 hitherto 
 
 I the moft 
 fs of eve- 
 flwavd of 
 
 fouth as 
 r of more 
 
 in their 
 iieir own. 
 the In- 
 uTions to 
 rry on any 
 iiired the 
 
 ; natural, 
 lliftinoes, ' 
 d the re- 
 nfe in it, 
 jc natural 
 fcover. I 
 ith dialett 
 ler tribes, 
 nitsftead. 
 dnneceffa- 
 it that are 
 more co- 
 
 ^s, or with 
 ly, or com- 
 pliment, 
 
 t I7r 1 
 
 |)1liKGnt, they neither have nor need an infinity of words where- 
 with to enibeililTi their difcourfe. Plain and iinpoliDiedTn their 
 manners, they only raaice ufe of fuch as ferve to denominate 
 the necefTaries or conveniences of life, and to c.xprefs tlieir 
 wants, which in a ftate of nature can be but few. 
 
 I have annexed hereto a fhort vocabulary of the Chip(5way 
 language, and another of that of the Naudowefltjs,' but am not 
 able to reduce them to the rules of grammar. 
 
 The latter is fpokcn in a foft accent, without any guttural 
 founds, fo that it may be learnt with facility, and is not diflicult 
 cither to be pronounced or written. It is nearly as copious 
 and cxpreflivc as the Chipdway tongue, and is the moft pre- 
 vailing language of any on the wellern banks of the Milliflippi; 
 being in ufe, according to their account, among all the nations 
 that lie to the north of the Meiruiic, and extend ab iar welt as 
 the lliores of the Pacific Ocean. 
 
 As the Indians are not acquainted with letters, it is very dif- 
 ficult to convey with precifion the exadl foimd of their word"; ; 
 I have however endeavoured to write them as near to the man- 
 ner in which they exprelFed, as fuch an uncertain mode will ad- 
 mit of. 
 
 Although the Indians cannot communicate their ideas by wri- 
 ting, yet they form certain hieroglyphicks, which, in feme mea- 
 • fure, ferve to perpetuate any extraordinary tranfadlion, or un- 
 common event. Thus when they are on their excurfions, and 
 cither intend to proceed, or have been on any remarkable en- 
 terprizc, they peel the bark from the trees which lie in their 
 way, to give intelligence to thofc parties that happen to be at 
 adiftance, of the path they muft purfue to overtake them. 
 
 The following inftance will convey a more perfeft idea of the 
 methods they make ufe of on this occafion, than any expreflions 
 I can frame. 
 
 When 1 left the Miiriflippi, and proceeded up the Chipcway 
 River, in my way to Lake Superior, as related in my Journal, 
 my guide, who was a chief of the Chipeways that dwgll.on the 
 Ottawaw Lake, near the heads of the river we had juft entered, 
 ^ fearing that fome parties of the Naudoweflies, with whom his 
 nation are perpetually at war, might accidentally fall in with us, 
 and before they were apprized of my being in company, do us 
 fomemifchief, he took the following llieps ; 
 
 He peeled the bark from a large tree, near the entrance 6f a 
 riv?r, and with wo.od-coal, mixed with bear's greafc, their ufu- 
 al fubftitute for ink, made in an uncouth, but expreflive manner, 
 the figure pf the town of the Ottagaumies. He then formed to 
 the left a man drelTed in skins, by which he intended t^o repre- 
 fent a Naudoweflic, with a line drawn from his mouth to that 
 of a deer, the fymbol of the Chipeways. After this he depic- 
 tured ftill farther to the left a canoe as proceeding up the river, 
 in which he'placed a mqn fitting with a hat on ; this figure was 
 (iefigned to reprefcnt an Engliiliman, or myfelf, andmyFrench- 
 
 "im 
 
 \w 
 
■ #• #' * 
 
 ^ [ 172 J / 
 
 man was drawn with a handkerchief tied round Ms head, \ni 
 rowing the canoe ; to thcfe he added fcveral other figniticant 
 emblems, among which the Pipe of Peace appeared painted on 
 the prow of the canoe. 
 
 The meaning he intended to convey to the Naudoweflies, and 
 which I doubt not appeared perfedly intelligible to them, was, 
 that one ol theChip^way chiefs had received a fpcech from fomo 
 Naudowcllic chiefs, at the town of the Ottagaumies, defiring 
 him to condu(5l the Englifliman, who had lately been among 
 them, up the Chipdway river ; and that they thereby required, 
 that the Chip6way, notwithftanding he was an avowed enemy, 
 lliould not be molcftcd by them on his paflage, as he had the 
 care of a pcrfon whom they cfteemed as one of their nation. 
 
 Some author^; have pretended that the Indians have armorial 
 bearings, which they blazon with great exaftnefs, and which 
 dillinguilTi one nation from another; but I never could obfcrve 
 any other arms among thvm than the fymbols already dcfcribcd. 
 
 '^'■ 
 
 A fhort VoCABULARV of the Chipe way 
 
 Language. 
 
 N, B, This people do not make ufe either of 
 , the confonants F or V. 
 
 «B 
 
 ^ 
 
 A 
 
 BOVE Spimink 
 Abandon Packiwr 
 
 Admirable 
 
 Afterwards 
 
 All 
 
 AUvays 
 
 Amifs 
 
 Arrive 
 
 Ax 
 
 Afhes 
 
 Aflift 
 
 Pllawah 
 
 Mipidach 
 
 Kokifmm 
 
 Kokali 
 
 Napitch 
 
 Tahuchin 
 
 /igacwet 
 
 Fingoe 
 
 Mawinewch 
 
 B 
 
 "^T 
 
 lk>' <^'' 
 
 Owentdwgan 
 
 Pakhite 
 
 Mdckwah 
 
 CO- pouch 3 
 Barrel 
 Beat 
 Bear, 
 Bear, a young 7 
 
 one 5 
 
 Beaver 
 Beaver's skin 
 Be, 6r to be 
 Beard 
 Becaiife 
 Believe 
 Belly 
 Black 
 Blood 
 Body 
 
 'jP 
 
 Makon 
 
 Amik 
 
 /Ipiminiqua 
 
 Tapaie 
 
 Mi/chiton 
 
 Mcwinch 
 
 Tilerimah --r.. 
 
 MiJJjemout 
 
 Markaute 
 
 Mijkow 
 
 Toe 
 
 Bottla 
 

 I 173 1 
 
 Bnttic Shijbigt 
 
 Brotlicr ^eonnis 
 
 f> randy or Rum S^uttawawbah 
 
 Bruad 
 Breech 
 Breeches 
 Buck 
 
 Canoo 
 Call 
 
 Chief, a 
 Carry 
 Child or Chil- 
 
 dren 
 Coat 
 
 Cold, I am 
 Come on 
 Come to 
 Comrade 
 Concerned 
 Co* 
 
 P'dboufbigan 
 Mifcouj'ab 
 Kipokitie Koujah 
 Wajhtnh 
 
 Cheman 
 Tefbenekaw 
 Okemavf 
 Petou 
 
 > Bobelofh 
 
 
 Capotcwian 
 
 Kckalch 
 
 Moppa 
 
 Pemotcha 
 
 Neechce 
 
 TallcmiJJi 
 
 Mdomin 
 
 Country 
 Courage 
 
 Cup 
 
 Emlawlawkcen 
 
 Tagwaivfnijfii 
 
 Olawgan 
 
 
 ■DancG 
 
 
 Dart 
 
 7Wgan • 
 
 Die, to 
 
 9wgan 
 
 Dilh 
 
 e 
 
 Dog 
 
 >ah 
 
 Dead 
 
 
 Devil or cvi 
 
 i 
 
 Spirit 
 
 
 Dog, a little 
 
 Nemeh 
 
 SheJJMwee 
 
 Nip 
 
 Mackoftn 
 
 Alim 
 
 Nccpoa 
 
 ^ MatcJio-Manitoti 
 
 one 5 ^''"'''* 
 
 Done, it is doncShiah 
 Do Tojhitoii 
 
 Doubtlcf:» Ontclatoubah 
 
 Drcfs the kettle Poutw ah 
 Drink Mlnihvah 
 
 Drunkeft OuiJ'qniba 
 
 k Chicking 
 
 ^" 
 
 Eart^ 
 
 Eat 
 
 Each 
 
 Engli(h 
 
 Enough 
 
 OwJJinS 
 Fnp^gik 
 Sagounojb 
 Mimilic * 
 
 Equal, or alike Tawbifeouch 
 
 Efteem 
 Eyes 
 
 Faft 
 Fall 
 Far ofF 
 
 Fat 
 
 Friend 
 
 Father 
 
 Nawpctelivicw 
 Wijkinkhit . 
 
 *.- •-»■, 
 
 Waliehie *- 
 
 v«* 
 
 lemc 
 Ponkifitv^^ 
 Watjaw 
 Pimmitee 
 Niconnis 
 Noofak 
 
 *'-V ♦ . 
 
 Few, or little Mamgir • 
 Fatigued Taukwiff! 
 
 Field fown Kittegaumic 
 Fire Scutta 
 
 Fire, to ftrike Scutceke 
 
 »v 
 
 Find 
 
 FiiTi 
 
 Fork 
 
 Formerly 
 
 Fort 
 
 Forward 
 
 French 
 
 Freeze, to 
 
 Freezes hard 
 
 Full 
 
 NantounawaW- 
 
 Kickon 
 
 Na[fai¥ohvott 
 
 Pirvcgo 
 
 (Vakaigon 
 
 Nopamnk 
 
 Nechtegoojh 
 
 Kilfm 
 
 Ki(fmMagat 
 
 MouAiiiet 
 
 Fuzce or Gun PtS/keJfigan 
 
 r.^ 
 
 .#.^^ 
 
 Great Spirit 3 
 Go by water Pimmijcm 
 Girl _ JcchvaJJInl -- 
 
 Give ■" ' jvrilaw • 
 Glafs, a minor fVawbtmo->\ ' 
 Good Cawlatch . 
 
 Good fornb-7 ;, 
 thing 5 ' 
 
 Govern Tiharimr^v 
 
 Gcncru!, 
 
 
 Malatal 
 
 «v.-- 
 
 ■^r .-. 
 
t 
 
 ^'■Itf 
 
 §' 
 
 Genera], Qr'Ar^v.;- n?- 
 Commander ^^'^^/"^^T'*' 
 
 in Chief 
 Grapes 
 Great 
 Greedy 
 
 Guts 
 
 , -Shoamin 
 Manatcu 
 SawfihvkiJJi 
 OUnvbiJb 
 
 JIare 
 Heart 
 
 Half 
 
 Hair, human 
 
 Hair of beads 
 
 Handfome 
 
 Have 
 
 Head 
 
 Heaven 
 
 Herb 
 
 Here 
 
 Hidden 
 
 Home 
 
 Honour 
 
 "ot ^ 
 
 Ho# 
 
 How many 
 
 Hunt 
 
 Hut, or Houfe 
 
 H 
 
 IVayvpoos 
 
 Michewah 
 
 Shmgaiirima'W- 
 
 Nau'bal 
 
 Lijfis 
 
 Pewal 
 
 Canoginne 
 
 Tcmdaulaw 
 
 OiiJlecouaH 
 
 Speminkakmn 
 
 Mejafk 
 
 ^couda 
 
 ]^e\nouch 
 
 Entayent 
 
 Mackawalaw 
 
 Akefbotta 
 
 Tawiie 
 
 Tawneinilik 
 
 Kewajfa 
 
 Wig-Waum 
 
 Indians 
 Iron '" 
 Ifland 
 
 Immediately 
 Indian Corn 
 Intire 
 Imr - 
 
 Ip.ylnawhak 
 Pewawbick 
 Minis 
 ' ll^ebatch 
 Mittawmin 
 Naw pilch 
 MawlawtiJJle 
 
 It 
 
 Co Tawieendo 
 
 i 
 
 -»•:: 
 
 Kettle ytkikons 
 
 King, or Chief Okemaw 
 Keep ,.v^..- Gamvcrimaw 
 Knife . Ti"'-;^ ,Mockomaii 
 
 
 174 ] '"t^^u-,^^ 
 
 Knife that isjl^ , 
 crooked ^(^ootawgan 
 
 Know 
 
 Thickerema)y 
 
 Lake 
 
 Laugh 
 
 Lazy 
 
 Lame 
 
 Leave » ■ 
 
 Letter 
 
 Life ^'-^ 
 
 Love 
 
 Long fince 
 
 Land Carriage 
 
 L,ofe 
 
 Lie down 
 
 Little 
 
 Kitchigawmink 
 
 Pawpi 
 
 Kittimi 
 
 Kikekate 
 
 Fockiton 
 
 Mawjignaugon 
 
 Nouchimomn 
 
 Satikie 
 
 Shawfhia 
 
 Cappata)\igon 
 
 Fackilaugue 
 
 IVeipemaw 
 
 lVaubep.Tee:\ 
 
 M 
 
 Meat 
 Much 
 Man 
 
 March, to go 
 Marry 
 Medicine ■ 
 Merchandize 
 Moon 
 Mortar to 
 pound in 
 Male 
 Milhcfs 
 
 U^eas ■ 
 
 Nibbila-w^ 
 
 y^UiJfmape 
 
 PimmouJJlii 
 
 IVeewin 
 
 Malkikic 
 
 Alokochigon 
 
 Debicoti 
 
 Poutawgon 
 
 Nape 
 N'eremoujtm 
 
 Needle 
 Near 
 Nation, 
 Never 
 Night 
 No 
 Nofc 
 Nothing 
 Not yet 
 Not at all 
 Nought good 
 for nothing 
 
 N 
 
 Shmvbonkiii 
 
 Pewitch 
 
 Irines 
 
 Cawikkcr.v 
 
 Dcbicot 
 
 Kaw ^» ^ 
 
 Toch W' 
 
 Kake^o 
 
 Kawmifchi 
 
 JKnptitch 
 
 2tf^ 
 
 j Malat 
 
 at 
 
 .Old 
 
 -'^. 
 
 <■■» ' 
 
 r^- 
 
m: 
 
 JijiW^ 
 
 •-*- 
 
 A^T 
 
 M-* ^.. 
 
 [ I7S 1 
 
 did 
 
 Kauwejhine 
 
 Otter 
 
 Nikkik 
 
 Other 
 
 Coutack 
 
 , p 
 
 *■ < 
 
 Pipe 
 
 Part, what tiart 
 Play ^V 
 
 Powder, gun, 
 
 or dull 
 Peace, to inak 
 Pray 
 i*ropcr 
 Prefently 
 Peninfula 
 
 Takmpee 
 Pad 
 
 "Pawlaimia 
 Snwfega 
 IVtbatch 
 MinnJjfm 
 
 Quick 
 
 Regard 
 
 Red 
 
 Rcfolve 
 
 Relation 
 
 Refpcft 
 
 Rain 
 
 Robe 
 
 River 
 
 Run, to 
 
 Sad 
 
 Sail m 
 
 Sack,. or Bag 
 
 Sea,# 
 
 Lalle 
 Shd^s 
 Ship,orIarg 
 
 iQanoc 
 Sorry 
 Spirit 
 Spoon 
 
 Kcgotck 
 
 R 
 
 Wmvbe-iHo 
 
 Mi/cow 
 
 TibcUndon 
 
 Towwemaw 
 
 Tawbawmica 
 
 Kiinmewan 
 
 Ockolaw 
 
 Si{>pim 
 
 ritckbos 
 
 TalimlJJiO 
 Pcmijcaw 
 Majkimot 
 y^gankitchigaw- 
 mink 
 daukijji'i 
 
 'tchi Ojcman 
 
 NiflottiJJls 
 
 Alaiiitoii 
 
 Midwon 
 
 Star 
 
 Steal 
 
 Stpckings 
 
 Strong 
 
 Sturgeon 
 
 Sun 
 
 Sword 
 
 Surprizing 
 
 See 
 
 Since 
 
 Shirt 
 
 Slave 
 
 Sleep 
 
 Sit down 
 
 Jlank ' • t 
 
 Kemautif0 
 
 Mittaus 
 
 MaJJjkauwah . 
 
 Lawmack 
 
 Kijfis 
 
 Simaugan 
 
 Etwah, Etwcih 
 
 IVawbemo 
 
 Mapcdoh 
 
 papawkwean 
 
 Nippee ■^i"*" 
 Mintepiit 
 
 Take 
 
 Teeth 
 
 That 
 
 There 
 
 This 
 
 Truly 
 
 Together 
 
 Tobacco 
 
 Tongue 
 
 Tired 
 
 Too little 
 
 Too much 
 
 Thank you 
 
 To-morrow 
 
 To-morrow 1 
 
 the day after 5 
 
 EmaUtiilah 
 
 Tibbit 
 
 Mawbah 
 
 JVatJaudebi 
 
 Maundah 
 
 Kikit ::■%., 
 
 Mcnvmawwefi 
 
 Semau 
 
 Oiiton # ' 
 
 Tawkonjle 
 
 OJaummangis 
 
 OJJaune 
 
 Megwatch ■ 
 
 li'^awbiink 
 
 Oufwawiulik 
 
 ^. 
 
 W 
 
 Warriora^ 
 Water 
 War 
 Way 
 Well then! 
 
 Semaugm^^if^ 
 
 NmauU '4**" 
 Mickon 
 Tauneendah \ 
 
 '4 
 
 *$ 
 
 Wiiat is that? Ji^awwcwin'^ 
 What now;'? *' (^lagoiiie T 
 Whence ' Taunippi 
 Where Tah 
 
 White Waiibe ■^" 
 
 \ 
 
 •iTri • »i o Qua<ronis 
 Who IS there ?<' ^^^^ ^ 
 
 Wind LQUtin 
 
 Maii- 
 
 Wintcj: 
 
# 
 
 I 176 1 
 
 winter 
 
 ■Pepoun 
 
 WoihiD 
 
 Jckwee 
 
 Wood 
 
 Mittic 
 
 Wotf 
 
 Mawhlngon 
 
 Vcfterday 
 Yet 
 Young 
 Yellow 
 
 •^ 
 
 Petchilawgo 
 jMiimewatcIt 
 tVifconekiJJi 
 
 The Numerical Terms of the Chipeways. 
 
 \M 
 
 'WHk 
 
 One 
 
 ijl^M 
 
 Two 
 
 mm 
 
 Three , 
 
 ■jjid^m 
 
 Four 
 
 '^H 
 
 Five 
 
 '^^^ 
 
 Six 
 
 J^^^BLw^ 
 
 Seven 
 
 iHJH 
 
 Eight 
 
 1^9 
 
 t^ine 
 
 > I^H^^^^BD 
 
 ; • Ten 
 
 
 Eleven 
 
 ' "^^H 
 
 Twenty 
 
 1 fl^l 
 
 Thirty 
 
 f ^H| 
 
 ' .f\ Forty 
 
 f '^9^^^l 
 
 !■ «' 
 
 1 '91 
 
 f 
 
 1 '^9B 
 
 '■ 
 
 ii H'i^Hi 
 
 f 
 
 
 PaJJjik 
 
 Ninch 
 
 Nijfou 
 
 Neau 
 
 Naratt 
 
 NingotttwaJJbu 
 
 NiuchowaJJou 
 
 Nijjowaffhu 
 Shongqlfou 
 
 Mittatijjou 
 
 Mittaujjmi Pajhik 
 
 Ninchtawnaw 
 
 Nijjou Mittawnaw 
 
 Neau Mittawiaw 
 
 Fifty 
 Sixty 
 
 Seventy 
 
 Eighty 
 
 Ninety 
 
 Hundred 
 
 Thoufand 
 
 Naran Mittawnaw 
 C Ningoiitwajfou Mit' 
 ^ tawnaw 
 < Ninchowajfou Mit- 
 \ tawiaw 
 C Nijfowqlfoti Mitt aw- 
 2, naw 
 
 ^Shongaffou Mittaw 
 \ naw 
 
 5 MittauJJou Mittaw- 
 t now 
 
 C MittauJJiti Mittau^- 
 4 fou A^ittawiKTw* 
 
 A Short VOCABULARY of the Naudo- 
 
 weilie Language, 
 
 M > -^ft 
 
 Axe 
 
 Benver 
 BulTalo 
 bad 
 Broach 
 Bear, a 
 
 jfpjpaiv 
 
 B *; 
 
 Chawhah 
 s Tawtongo 
 She j ah 
 
 Muzahootoo 
 irahkoujljcjah 
 
 IVaahtoh 
 
 Ma- hue: ah 
 
 Child, a Male Wechoakfch 
 Child, a Female HliachcckjeU 
 Cumc here Jccoo^oui^ure 
 
 Dead 
 Deer 
 Dog 
 
 Eat 
 
 Kars 
 Evci 
 Evil 
 
 iCcguJb 
 Tvhivioh 
 
 Skiugujhyi. 
 
 E # ^ 
 
 Echawmenaiv 
 
 EpJtike 
 
 She] ah 
 
 Fire 
 

 i 
 
 c 
 
 Fire < Paahtah 
 
 Father Otah 
 
 trench mm Neehteegujb 
 Falls of Water Owah Menah 
 Friend Kitckiwah 
 
 Good ^ 
 Give 
 Go SLWzy 
 
 Wojltah 
 
 jlccoo^eh 
 
 jiccoowab 
 
 177 ] 
 
 Moon 
 
 Mouth 
 
 Medal 
 
 Mine 
 
 Milk 
 
 No 
 
 Neat 
 
 God, or the i^^^^^^ 
 
 Great Spirit 
 Gun 
 Great 
 Gold 
 
 Oh! 
 
 Mitzah Wakon 
 
 Tonga 
 
 Muzakam 
 
 H 
 
 Hear Nookijhon 
 
 Horfe Slmetongo 
 
 Home, or do- 1 j/,^^ 
 
 Owceh 
 Keh 
 
 Muzah Otah 
 Me'wah 
 
 Etfawboh 
 
 N 
 
 Heyah 
 Jeejiinaw 
 
 o 
 
 Hopimyahle ! 
 
 r 
 
 -i' 
 
 *4 
 
 Pipe Slianuapaw 
 
 Pipe of Peace -^^^^""^^^w H^a* 
 kon 
 
 R 
 
 #' 
 
 mellic 
 Houfe 
 Heaven 
 
 Iron 
 I, or ni« 
 
 ^4 
 
 Teebee 
 Wojhta Tebee 
 
 Muzah ^% 
 Meoh ^ 
 
 King, 
 Kill 
 
 or Chief Otah 
 
 NeguJJjtauga^v 
 
 Little 
 Long 
 Lake 
 
 Love 
 
 i 
 
 Much 
 
 ^Xuie 
 
 ^ JeJiin 
 Tongoom ' 
 Tonga Meneh 
 Ehwalimcali 
 
 M • 
 Otah 
 
 Rain 
 
 Ring 
 
 Round 
 
 Smoke 
 Saltwater 
 See, to 
 Sleep 
 Snake '" 
 Sun 
 Spirit 
 
 Spirituous Li- 
 quors 
 Snow 
 Surprizing 
 Silver 
 
 Tobacco 
 Talk 
 Tree 
 I'hcrc 
 
 Owah Meneh 
 
 Muzamchu^Qh 
 
 Chupah 
 
 S 
 
 "^,.iW9i> , J^. 
 
 Shaweah 
 Menis Qtieah 
 EJhtaw 
 EJht^mo ; 
 
 Paahtah 
 PTakon 
 
 j Meneh Wakoii 
 
 Sinnee 
 
 Hopiniayars 
 
 ^uzahat^ 
 
 ^. 
 
 ■«*>.'■ 
 
 ShawJaJJm ' '■•" ■ 
 Owehchiti 
 Ochaw 
 DaihC' 
 
 % 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 n al 
 
 w 
 
'«m 
 
 Woman 
 Wonderful 
 Water 
 What 
 
 [ 178 1 
 
 't 
 
 W 
 
 Wlnmkcjah 
 JJopiniyare 
 Meneh 
 Taw so 
 
 Who is there? Tawgodache^ 
 Wicked liephatchta 
 
 $ 
 
 # 
 
 ^ % 
 
 You r -• Chee '*' 
 
 Young Ha\vpawiaw 
 
 You are good Wajhtah Chee 
 You are a Spirit ^aAom Chee 
 You are my 7 WaJJ.'tah Kitchi' 
 good Friend 3 "^vah Chee 
 No Good He'jah IVajhtah, 
 
 -» 
 
 Tbe Numerical Terms of the NaudoweJJks^ 
 
 !*■• 
 
 mw 
 
 i 
 
 k' 
 
 ■^.c.^1 
 
 «. 
 
 One 
 
 Two 
 
 Three 
 
 I'our 
 
 Fi\re 
 
 Six 
 
 Seven 
 
 Eight 
 
 Nine 
 
 Ten 
 
 Eleven 
 
 Twenty 
 
 Thirty 
 
 IVonchaw 
 
 Noompaw 
 
 Tav,>mone3 
 
 Tohoh 
 
 Sawbuttes 
 
 Shawco 
 
 Shawcopee 
 
 Shnhindohin 
 
 Nebochunganong 
 
 Wegochunganong 
 
 1 IVegochmgamng 
 
 5 Wonchayv 
 
 } Wegochungamng 
 
 5 Noompaw 
 
 7 Wcgochiinga7ioi)g 
 
 ^ • ICawmonee 
 
 7 IVegochingamng 
 
 7 Wegochunganong 
 5 Sawbuttee 
 7 Wegochunganong 
 5 Shawco ^ 
 7 lVegochimga7iong 
 3 Shawcopee 
 7 Wegochunganong 
 3 Shahindbhin 
 7 Wegochunganong 
 '"'3 Nebochunganong 
 Hundred Opohng 
 
 Thoufand^ ^^^'r'(«"^5^"^"5 
 
 Forty 
 
 Fifty 
 
 Sixty 
 
 Seventy 
 
 Eighty 
 
 Ninety 
 
 Opohng 
 
 «' 
 
 ^t. 
 
 To this fljort vocabulary of the Naudoweflle language, I iliall 
 adjoin a fpecimen of the manner in which they unite their words. 
 I have chofen for this purpofe a fliort fong, which they ling, 
 with fome kind of melody, though not with any appearance of 
 poetical mealure, when they fet out on their hunting expediti- 
 ons : and have given as near a tranflation as tlie difference of 
 the idioms will permit. 
 
 Meob accoowah ejhtaw paatah negufljto.wgaw flfejah menah. Tonga 
 Wakon mech wafJjta, paatah accoowah. HopUiijuhie oweeh accoo^ee 
 meoh, woJJ;ta patah otoh tvbinjoh msch tcebcc. 
 
 I will rife before the fun, and afcend yonder hill, to fee the 
 new light chafe away the vapours, and difperfe the clouds. 
 Great Spirit give me fuccefs. And ivhen the fun is gone, lend 
 me, oh moon, light fulficient to guide me with fafcty back to 
 my tent loadeii with dccil 
 
 \ 
 
 t 
 
 Cl^ AT 12 IV 
 
'i 
 
 i »7y } 
 
 -p- - ^!l 
 
 CHAPTER XVIIL *" 
 
 0/ the Beasts, Birds, Fishes, Reptiles, 
 ^«<^ Insects, ivhich are found in the inte- 
 porWarts of North America. 
 
 OF;. thefe I fhall, in the firft place, give a catalogue, and 
 afterwards a defcription of fuch only as are either pecu- 
 liar to this country, or which differ in fome material point from 
 thofe that are to be met with in other realms. 
 
 OF THE BEASTS. 
 
 ff. 
 
 menah. Tonga 
 e cweeh accoo^ce 
 
 The Tygcr, the Bear, Wolves, Foxes, Dogs, the Cat offiie 
 Mountain, the Wild Cat, the Buffalo, the Deer, the Elk, the 
 Moofe, the Carrabou, the Carcajou, the Skunk, the roicu- 
 pine, the Hedge-hog, the Wood-chuck, the Raccoon, the Mar- 
 ten, the Fifher, the Mirskquaw, Squirrels, Hares, Rabbits, the 
 Mole, tlie Weczel, the Moufe, tlie Dormoufe,. the Beaver, the 
 jj)tter, the Mink, and Bats. _ 
 
 The T Y G E R. The Tyger of America refemlles in 
 fliape thofe of Africa and Afia, ^bjdti is confidetably fmaller. 
 Nor does it appear to be fo fierce and ravenous as they are. 
 The colour of it is a darkilTi fallow, and it is entirely free from 
 fpots. I Caw one on an ifland in the Chipeway River, of which 
 I had a very good view, as it was at no great diftance from me. 
 It fat up on its hinder parts like a dog; and did not fcem either 
 to be apprehenfive of our approach, or to difcover any raven- 
 ous inclinations. It is however ve-ry feldom to be met with in 
 this part o.f the world. 
 
 Tne BEAR. Bears are very numerous on this continent, 
 but more particularly fo in the northern parts of it, and con- 
 tribute to furnifh both food and beds for almofl: every Indian 
 nation. Thofe of America differ in many rcfpects from thofe 
 either of Greenland or Ruflia, they being not only fomewhat 
 fmaller, but timorous and inoffenfive, unlefs they are pinched 
 by hunger, or fn-ating from a wound. The fight of a ntin 
 terrifies them; and a dog will put feveral to Uiglit. They are 
 extremely fond of grapes, and will climb to the top of thebigh- 
 eli trees in quell of them. This kind of food renders their flelli 
 <.'5cccflivcly rich and iinciy flavoured^ audit is confcquently pre- 
 ferred 
 
 St 
 
i 
 
 ■^■i 
 
 ># 
 
 
 I 
 
 'Si 
 
 raii 
 
 
 f 
 
 w^ 
 
 •f 
 
 ito ) 
 
 ferred by tHfe Indians and traders to that of any other animal. 
 The fat is very white, and befides being fweet and wholefome 
 is poflefled of one valuable quality, which is, that it never 
 cloys. The inhabitants of thefe parts conftantly anoint theiii- 
 felves with it, and to its efficacy they in a great meafure owe 
 their agility. The feafon for hunting the bear is during the 
 winter ; when they take up their abode in hollow trees, or make 
 themfelves dens in the roots of thofe that are blown down, the 
 entrance of which they flop up with branches of fir that lie 
 fcattered about. From thefe retreats it is faid they ftir not 
 whilft the weather continues fevere, and as it is well known 
 that they do not provide themfelves with food, they are fup- 
 pofed to be enabled by nature to fubfifl for fome months with- 
 out, and during this time to continue of the fame bulk. 
 
 The WOLF. The wolves of North America are much 
 lefs than thofe which are met with in other parts of the world. 
 They have, however, in common with the reft of their fpecies, 
 a wildneis in their looks, and a fiercenefs in their eyes i not- 
 withflanding which, they are far from being fo ravenous as the 
 European wolves, nor will they ever attack a man, except they 
 have accidentally fed on the flelli of thofe flain in battle. When 
 they herd together, as they often do in the winter, they make 
 a hideous and terrible noife. In thefe parts there are two kinds; 
 one of which is of a fallow colour, the other of a dun, inclin- 
 ing to a black. 
 
 The FOX. There are two forts of foxes in North .Arae- 
 r'ca, which differ only in their colour, one being of a reddilTi 
 brown, the other of a grey; thofe of the latter kind that are 
 Tr'-nd pear the river MiflilTippi, are extremely beautiful, their 
 hair being of a finefilver grey. 
 
 DOGS. The dogs employed by the Indians in hunting 
 appear to be ail of the fame fpecies; they carry tiieir ears ere^l:, 
 and greatly refemble a wolf about the head. They are exceed- 
 ingly ufcful to them in their hunting excurfions, and will attack 
 the fierced: of the game they are in purfuitof. They are alfo 
 remarkable for their fidelity to their mailers; but being ill fed 
 by them, are very troublerome in their huts (>r tents. 
 
 The CAT of the Mountain. This creature is in fhape 
 like a cat, only much larger. The hair or fur refcmbles alfo the 
 skin of that domeftic animal; the colour however differs, for 
 the former is of a reddil}i or orange call, but grows lighter 
 near the belly. The whole skin is beautified with black ipots 
 of different figures, of which thpfe on the back are long, and 
 thofe on the lower parts round. On the ears there arc black 
 ilripes. This creature is nearly as fierce as a leopard, but will 
 feldom attack a man. 
 
 '1 he B U F F A L O. This beaft, of which there arc 
 
 amazing numbers in thele parts, is 
 
 arger 
 
 than an ox, has lliort 
 
 blac;: iiorns, with a large beard under bis chin, and his head is 
 
 LO 
 
 
 .f V- 
 
 ::!ir, that 
 
 'to 
 
 it fails 
 
 over his eyes, and gives him a. 
 , ^^ frightful 
 
9 
 
 A * * 
 
 »^ frightful loolr: There is a bunch on his back which begins at 
 the haunches, and increafing gradually to the fliouldcrs, reaches 
 on to the neck. Both this excrefcence and its whole body are 
 covered with long hair, or rather wool, of a dun or moufe co- 
 lour, which is exceedingly valuable, efpecially that on the fore 
 part of the body. Its head is larger than a bull's, with a very 
 ihort neck ; the breaft is broad, and the body dccreafes towards 
 the buttocks. Thefe creatures will run away at the fight of a 
 , inan, and a whole herd will make off when they perceive a fin- 
 gle dog. The flefh of the buffalo Is excellent food, its hide 
 extremely ufeful, and the hair very proper for the manufafture 
 of various articles. 
 
 The DEER. There is but one fpccles of deer in North 
 America, and thefe are higher and of a flimmer make than thoie 
 in Europe. Their fhape is nearly the fame as the European, 
 their colour of a deep fallow, and their horns very large and 
 branching. This beaft is the fwiftcrt on the American plains^ 
 and they herd together as they do in other countries. * 
 
 The ELK greatly exceeds the deer in fize, being in bullc 
 equal to a horfe. Its body is iTiaped like that of a deer, only 
 its tail is remarkably lliort, being not more than three inches 
 long. The colour of its hair, which is grey, and not unlike 
 that of a camel, but of a more reddilh caft, is nearly three 
 inches in length, and as coarfe as that of a horfe. The horns 
 of this creature grow to a prodigious fize, extending fo wide 
 that two or three perfons might fit between them at the fame 
 time. They are not forked like thofc of a deer, but hayt^all 
 their teeth or branches on the outer edge. Nor does the form 
 of thofe of the elk refemble a deer's, the former being f^at, and 
 eight or ten inches broad, whereas the latter are round andcoii- 
 fiderably narrower. 1 hey iTied their horns every year in the 
 month of February, and by Auguft the new ones are nearly at-" 
 rived at their full growth. Notwirhftanding their fize, and the 
 means of defence nature has furniflied them with, they are *ds 
 timorous as a deer. Their skin is very ufeful, and will drcfs 
 as well as that of a buck. They feed on grals in tlic fummer, 
 and on mofs or buds in the winter. 
 
 The MOOSE is nearly about the fize of the elk, and the 
 liorns of it are almoll as enormous as that amimal's; the flciu 
 of them however are not quite I'o wide, and they branch on 
 both fides like thofe of a deer. This creature alfo iTieds them 
 every year. Though its hinder parts are vcryb;oad, its tail is not 
 above an .incii lo]]g. It has feet and legs like a camel; its 
 head is abou^ two leet long, its upper lip much larger than the 
 under, and thje nolh-ils of it are fo wide that a mjn might thrull 
 his hand into jthem a confiderable way. Tlie hair of the nioofc 
 
 , .'IS 
 
 is light grey, mixed with a blackifh red. It is very elaltic, for 
 though it be j beaten ever fo long, it will retain its original 
 ihape. The 
 aud vcxy nou 
 
 ficih is exceeding good food, ealy of digeltiun, 
 Tlic iiofe, or upper lip, which is hrgfi 
 
 and 
 
 
 ■;*)i 
 
 .ifliing. 
 
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 r 182 1 
 
 an(3loore from the f»um5, is eftcemcd a great delicacy,^ being of 
 a firm confiftence, between marrow aud grilHe, and wlien pro- 
 perly dreflfed, affords a rich and lufcioiis dllTi. Its hide is very 
 proper for leather, being thick and ftrong, yet foft and pliable. 
 Tiie pace of this creature is always a trot, wliich is fo expediti- 
 ous, that it is exceeded in fwifinefs but by few of its fellow 
 inhabitants of thefe woods. It is generally found in the forefls, 
 where it feeds on raofs and buds. Though this creature is of 
 the deer kind, it never herds as thofc do. Mod authors con- 
 found it with the elk, deer, or carrabou, but it is a fpecies to- 
 tally different, as might be difcovered by attending to the de- 
 fcrjption I have given of each. 
 
 The CARRABOU. This beaft is not near fo tall as thej 
 moofe, however it is fomething like it in iTiape, only rather 
 more heavy, and Inclining to the form of the afs. 1 he horns 
 of it arc not flat as thofe of the elk are, but round like thofe 
 of the deer,* they alfo meet nearer together at the extremities, 
 and bend more over the face, than either thofe of the elk or 
 nioofe. It partakes of the fwiftncfs of the deer, and is witli 
 difficulty overtaken by its purfuers. The fleljfi of it likewife \a 
 equally as good, the tongue particularly is in high eflcem. The 
 6kin being fmooth and free from veins, is as valuable aslTiamoy. 
 The CARCAJOU. This creature, which is of the cat kind, 
 is a terrible enemy to the preceding four fpecies of beafls. 'Hcs 
 cither comes upon them from fome concealment unpcrceived, 
 or climbs up into a tree, and taking his Itation On fome of thcj 
 branches, waits till one of them, driven by an extreme of heat 
 or cold, takes llielter under it; when he fattens upon his neck, 
 and opening the jugular vein, foon brings his prey to the ground. 
 This he is enabled to do by his long tail, with which he en- 
 circles the body of hi:s adverfary; and the only means they have 
 - to iliun their fate, is by flying immediately to the water ; by this 
 method, 'as the carcajou has a great diilike to that clement, ha 
 is fometimes got rid of before he can efFeft his purpofe. 
 
 The SKUNK. Thi» is the mort extraordinary animal that 
 the American woods produce. It is rather lefs than a pole cat, 
 ■and of the fame fpecies,* it i^ therefore often miftaken for that 
 creature, but it is very different from it in many points. Its 
 hair is long and lliining, variegated with large black and white 
 fpots, the former moflily on the Ihoulders and rump; its tail is 
 very bulTiy, like that of the fox, part lilack, and part white, 
 like its body; it lives chiefly in the woods and hedges; but its 
 extraordinary powers are only Iliewn when it is puiTued. As 
 foon as he finds himfelf in danger he ejefts, to a great dil^ance 
 from behind, a fmall flream of water, of fo fubtilc a nature, 
 sand at the fame time of fo powerful a fmell, that the air is taint- 
 ed with it for half a mile in circumference ; and ihis purfuers, 
 whether men or dogs, being almofl fulfocated with the flench, 
 arc obliged to give over the purfuit. On this a'ccount he is 
 cillcd by the French, Enfant du Dlable, the Child 'M the Devil ; 
 « ■ ; - ,* ) or 
 
It 
 
 ■A- J- '. 
 
 C 183 ] 
 
 t)t BetePiiante, the Stinking Bead. It is almoft impoflible t9 
 defcribe the noifomc efFcds of the liquid with which this crea- 
 ture is fupplicd by nature for its defence. If a drop of it fall.4 
 on youv, cloaths, they are rendered fo difagreeable that it ij> 
 Imi^ofllble ever after to wear them ; or if any of it enters your 
 eyelids, the pain becomes intolerable for a long time, and per- 
 haps at laft you lofeyour fight. The fmellof the 8kunk, though 
 thus to be dreaded, is not like that of a putrid carcafe, but a 
 ftrong foetid effluvia of musk, which difplcafes rather from its 
 penetrating' power than from its naufcoufnefs. It is notwith- 
 ftanding confidered as conducive to clear the head, and to raifu 
 the fpirlts. This water is fuppofed by naturalifts to belts urine ; 
 but I have diflc6ted many of them that I have llhot, and have 
 found within their bodicj, near the urinal veflcl, a iinall recep- 
 tacle of water, totally diflinft from the bladder which contained 
 the urine, and from which alone I am fatisriedthe horrid ftench 
 proceeds. After having taken out with great care the bag where- 
 in this water is lodged, I have frequently fed on them, and 
 have found them very fweet and good; but one drop emitted 
 taints not only the carcafe, but the whole houfe, and renders 
 every kind of provifions, that are in it, unfit for ufe. With 
 great jufticc therefore do the French give it fuch a diabolical 
 name. 
 
 The PORCUPINE. The body of an American porcupine is 
 in bulk about the fize of a fmall dog, but it is both iTiorter in 
 length, and not fo high from the ground. It varies very much 
 fromthofe of other countries both in its Oiape and the length of 
 its quills. The former is like that of a fox, except the head, 
 which is not fo lliarp and long, but refembles more that of a 
 rabbit. Its body is covered with hair of a dark brown, about 
 four inches long, great part of which are the thicknefs of a 
 ftraw, and arc ternied its quills. Thefe are white, with black 
 point^, hollow, and very Itrong, cfpecially thofe that grow on 
 the back. The quills ferve this crjp^ture for ofFcnfive and de- 
 fenfive w&apons, which he darts At his enemies, and if they 
 pierce the flclTi in the Icaft degree, they will fink quite into it, 
 and are not to be extraftcd without incifion. The Indians ufj 
 them for boring their cirs and nofes, to infert their pendant^ 
 and alfo by way of ornament to their ftockings, hair, &c. bc- 
 fides which they greativ clleem the fleft. 
 
 The WOOD-CHUCK is a ground animal of the fur kind, 
 about the fize of a martin, being nearly fifteen inches long; if 
 body however is rounder, and his legs lliorter; the fore-paws 
 of it are broad, and confiruftcd for thepurpofe of digging holes 
 in the ground, where it burrows like a rabit; its IV.r is of a 
 grey colour, on the reddilli cail:, and its flefli tolerable food. 
 
 The RACOON is fomewhat iefs in fize than a beaver, and its 
 feet and legs are like thofe of that creature, but fhort in pro- 
 portion to its body, v.'hich refembles that of a badger. Th-* 
 fliapc of its head is much like a fox'p, only the ears are iTiorter, 
 
 more 
 
 '•^^\ 
 
 % 
 
 Pi 
 
 
 
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 ♦*" 
 
 *'-«*^ 
 
 
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 7 
 
 more round and naked; and its hair is alfo fimilar to thar ani* 
 ina!'s, being thick, long, foft, and black at the ends. On its 
 face there is a broad ftripc that runs acrofs it, and includes the 
 eyes, which arc large. Its mu/.zic is black, and at the end 
 roundilh like that of a dog; the teeth arc alfo fimilar tothofeof 
 a dog in number and lliapc,* the tail is long and round, with an- 
 nular ftripcs on it like thofc of .;a cat; the feet have five long 
 flender toes, anncd with iTiarp claws, by which it is enabled to 
 climb up trees like a monkey, and to run to the very extremi- 
 ties of the boughs. It, makes ufe of its fore feet, in the man- 
 ner of hands, and feeds itfelf with them. The flefii of this crea- 
 ture is very good in the months of September and Oclobcr, 
 when fruit and nuts, on which it likes to feed, are plenty. 
 
 The MARTIN is rather larger than a fquirrel, and fome« 
 what of the fame make,- its legs and claws however arc confi- 
 derably iTiorter. Its ears are Ihort, broad, and roundifii, and 
 its eyes lliine in the night like thofe of a cat. The whole body 
 is covered with fur of a brownilTi fallow colour, and there are 
 fome in the more northern parts which are black," the skins of 
 ttie latter are of much greater value than the others. The tail 
 is covered with long hair, which makes it appear thicker than 
 it really is. Its flelTi is fometimes eaten, but is not in any great 
 clleem. 
 
 The MUSQUASH, or MUSK-RAT, is fo termed for the 
 cxqulfite musk which It affords. It appears to be a diminutive 
 of the beaver, being endowed with all the properties of that 
 lagacious animal, and wants nothing but fizeandftrength, being 
 not much bigger than a large rat of the Norway breed, to rival 
 the creature it fo much refembles. Was it not for its tail, 
 which is exaftly the fame as that of an European rat, the ftruc- 
 ture of their bodies is fo much alike, cfpecially the head, that 
 it might be taken for a fmall beaver. Like that creature it builds 
 itfelf a cabbin, but of a lefs perfeft conftruftion, and takes up 
 its abode near the fide of fpme piece of water. In the fpring 
 they leave their retreats, and in pairs fubfift on leaves and roots 
 till the fummer comes on, when they feed on ftrawberries, raf- 
 berries, and fuch other fruits as they caft reach. At the ap- 
 proach of winter they feparate, when each takes up its lodging 
 apart by itfelf in fome hollow of a tree, where they remain 
 quite unprovided with food, and there is the greatert reafon to 
 believe, fubfifl: without any till the return of fpring. 
 
 SQUIRRELS. There are five forts of fquirrels in America; 
 the red, the grey, the black, the variegated, and the flying. 
 The two former are exaiftly the fame as thoCe of Europe; the 
 black are fomcvvhat larger, and differ from them only in colour; 
 the variegated dUo refemble them in lliape and figure, but are 
 very beautiful, being finely fl:riped with white or grey, and 
 fometimes with red and black. The American flying fquirrel is 
 much lefs than the European, being not above five inches long, 
 and of a ruITct grey or alli- colour on the back, and white on the 
 
 under 
 
 
tr\-' 
 
 to thaf ani' 
 ids. On it^; 
 
 includes the 
 
 at the end 
 ir to thofe of 
 ind, with an- 
 ve five lon^; 
 is enabled to 
 cry extrcmi- 
 in the nian- 
 
 of this crca- 
 ind Oaobcr, 
 e plenty. 
 I, and fomc- 
 cr arc conli- 
 oundifh, and 
 ; whole body 
 ind there are 
 
 the 'skins of 
 irs.. The tail 
 
 thicker than 
 t in any great 
 
 rmed for the 
 
 a diminutive 
 
 irties of that 
 
 rength, being 
 
 reed, to rival 
 
 for its tail, 
 
 at, the ftruc- 
 
 lie head, that 
 
 laturc it builds 
 
 and takes up 
 
 n the fpring 
 
 ves and roots 
 
 berries, raf- 
 
 At the ap- 
 
 p its lodging 
 
 they remain 
 
 lert reafon to 
 
 • 
 
 in America ; 
 Id the flying. 
 I Europe; the 
 (ily in colour; 
 rure, but are 
 [r grey, and 
 ]g fquirrel is 
 inches long, 
 white on the 
 
 / 
 
 t Its 1 
 
 Under parts. It has black prominent eyes, like thofe of thtf 
 mottfe, with a long flat broad tail. By a membrane on each 
 fide which reaches from its fore to its hmd legs, this creature 
 is enabled to leap from one tree to another, even if they ftand 
 a confiderable diftancc apart ; this loofe skin, which it is en- 
 abled to ftretch out like a fail, and by which it is buoyed up, is 
 about two inches broad, and is covered with a fine hair or down. 
 It feeds upon the fame provlfions as the others, and is cafily 
 tamed. 
 
 The BEAVER. This creature has been fo often treated of, 
 and his uncommon abilities fo minutely defcribed, that any fur- 
 ther account of it will appear unnecelTary; however for thebc- 
 nelit of thofe of my readers who are not fo well acquainted with 
 the form and properties of this fagacious and uieful animal", I 
 (hall give a concilc defcription of it. The beaver is an amphi- 
 bious quadruped, which cauiiot live for any long time in the 
 water, and it is laid is even able to exift entirely without it, 
 pro>^ded it has the convenience of fometimes bathing itfelf. 
 The largeft beavers are nearly four feet in length, and about 
 fourteen or fifteen inches in breadth over the haunches ; they 
 weigh about fixty pounds. Its head Is like that of the otter, but 
 larger ; its fnout is pretty long, the eyes fmall, the ears fliort, round, 
 hairy on the outlide, and fmooth within, and its teeth very long ; 
 the under teeth (land out of their mouths about the breadth of 
 three fingers, and the upper half a finger, all of which are broad, 
 crooked, ftrong and iharp ; befides thofe teeth called the in- 
 cifors, which grow double, are fet very deep in their jaws, andi 
 bend like the edge of an axe, they have fixteen grinders, eight 
 on each fide, four above and four below, direftly oppofite to 
 each other. With the former they are able to cut down trees 
 of a confiderable fize, with the latter to break the hardcft fub- 
 ftances. Its legs are fhort, particularly the fore legs, which are 
 only four or five inches long, and not unlike thofe of a badger; 
 the toes of the fore-feet are fcparate, the nails placed obliquely, 
 and arc hollow like quills; but the hind feet are quite different, 
 and furnifhed with membranes between the toes. By this means 
 it can walk, though but llowly, and is able to fwim with as 
 much cafe as any other aquatic animal. The tail has fomewhat 
 in it that refcmbles a fifli, and feems to have no manner of re- 
 lation to the reft of the body, except the hind feet, all the other 
 parts being fimilar to thofe of land animals. The tail is co- 
 
 ivered with a skin furnillicd with f<^alcs, that arc joined together 
 by a pellicle; thcfe fcales arc about the thicknefs of parch- 
 ment, nearly a line and a half in length, and generally of a 
 hcxagonical figure, having fix corners; it is about eleven or 
 twelve inches in length, and broader in the middle, waere it is 
 four inches over, than either at the root or the extremity. It 
 is about two inches thick near the body, where it is almoft 
 round, and grows gradually thinner and flatter to the end. The 
 «olo«r of the beavei ii different according to the different cli- 
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 mites in which it is Tound. In the mod northern parts thcjf 
 arc generally quite black ; in more temperate, brown ; ihcir 
 colour becoming lighter and lighter as they approach towards 
 the fouth. The fur is of two forts all over the body, except 
 at the feet, where it is very fliort ; that which is the longcft is 
 generally in length about an inch, but on the back it fome- 
 times extends to two inches, gradually diminiOiing towards tire 
 head and tail. This part of the fur is harih, ooarfe, and fliin- 
 ing, and of little ufe; the other part confifts of a very thick 
 and fine down, fo foft that it feels almoft like ifilk, about three 
 quarters of an inch in length, and is what is commonly manu^ 
 faflured. Caflor, which is ufeful in medicine, is produced 
 from the body of this creature ; it was formerly believed to be 
 its tefticlcs, but later difcoveries have Ihown that it is con- 
 tained in four bags, fltuated in the lower belly. Two of which, 
 that are called the fuperior, from their being more elevated 
 than the otiiers, are filled with a foft refinous, adhefive matter* 
 mixed with fn>all fibres, greyifh without, and yellow within, of 
 a ftrong, difagreeable, and penetrating fcent, and very infiam- 
 mable. This is the true caftoreum; it hardens in the air, and 
 becomes brown, brittle, and friable. ' The inferior bags con- 
 tain an unfluous liquor like honey; the colour of which is a 
 pale yellow, and its odour fomewhat different from the other, 
 being rather weaker and more difagreeable; it however thickens 
 as it grows older, and at length becomes about the confiftcnce 
 of tallow. This has alfo its particular ufe in medicine; but it 
 is not fo valuable as the true caftoreum. 
 
 The ingenuity of thcfe creatures in building their cabins, and 
 in providing for their fubfiftcnce, is truly wonderful. When 
 they are about to chufe themfelvcs a habitation^ they afTemble 
 in companies fometimes of two or three hundred, and after ma- 
 ture deliberation lix on a place where plenty of proviflons, ani 
 all nccefTaries are to be found. Their houfes are always fltu- 
 ated in the water, and when they can find neither lake nor pond 
 adjacent, they endeavour to fupply the defeft by flopping the 
 current of fome brook or fmall river,^by means of a caufeway 
 or dam. For this purpofe they fet about felling of trees, and 
 they take care to chufe out thofe that grow above the place 
 where they intend to build, that theymight fwimdown with the 
 current. Having fixed on thofe that are proper, three or four 
 beavers placing themfelves round a large one, find means with 
 their ftrong teeth to bring it down. They alfb prudently con* 
 trive that it^fhall fall towards the water, that they may have the 
 Id's way to carry it. AftCr they have by a continuance of thc( 
 fame labour and induflry, cut it into proper lengths, they roll 
 thefe into the water, and navigate them towards the place wheri : 
 •thc7 are to be employed. Without entering more minutel|^,i<i - 
 to the meafures they piirfuc in the eonftruclion of their dams, i\ 
 WaU only remark, that having prepared a kind of niottar withf/ 
 ^ir feet; and hid it on with their uils,' which Uicy haid -befov^! 
 
 made{ 
 
 m 
 
 i»%- 
 
■[ 187 1 
 
 made ufe of to tranfport it to the place where it is icquifitev" 
 they conllrufb them with as much folidity and regularity as tho 
 raoft experienced workman could do. The formation of their 
 cabins is no lefs amazing. Thefe arc either built on piles i^ 
 the middle of the fmall lakes they have thus formed, on the 
 bank of a river, or at the extremity of fome point of land that 
 advances into a lake. The figure of them is round or oval, 
 and they are fafliioned with an ingenuity equal to their dams. 
 Two thirds of the edifice (lands above the water, and this part 
 is fufficiently capacious to contain eight or ten inhabitants. 
 Each beaver has his place afligned him, the floor of which he 
 curioufly ftrews with leaves, or imall branches of the pine tree, 
 fo as to fender it clean and comfortable ; and their cabins are 
 all fituated fo contiguous to each other, as to allow of an eaiy 
 communication. The winter never furprizes thele animals be- 
 fore their bufinefs is completed,* for by the latter end of Sep- 
 tember their houfes are finiflied, and their (lock of provifions 
 are generally laid in. Thefe confift of fmall pieces of wood 
 whofe texture is foft, fuch as the poplar, the afpin, or willow, 
 &c. which they lay up in piles, and difpofe g£ in fuch manner 
 as to preferve their moifture. Was I to enumerate every in- 
 ftance of fagacity that is to be difcovered in thefe animals, they 
 would fill a volume, and prove not only entertaining but in- 
 (Iruftive. 
 
 The OTTER. This creature alfo is amphibious, and great- 
 ly refembles a beaver, but is very different from it in many re- 
 fpefts. Its body is nearly as long as a beaver's, but confidera- 
 bly lefs in all its parts. The muzzle, eyes, and the form of the 
 head are nearly the fame, but the teeth are very unlike, for the 
 otter wants the large incifors or nippers that a beaver has ; in- 
 ftead of thefe, all his teeth, without any diftinftion, are fhaped 
 like thofe of a dog or wolf. The hair alio of the former is 
 not half fo long as that belonging to the latter, nor is the co- 
 lour of it exactly the fame, for the hair of an otter under the 
 neck, (lomach, and belly, is more greyiih than that of a bea- 
 ver, • and in many other refpefts it likewife varies. This animal, 
 which is met with in moll parts of the world, but in mucli 
 greater numbers in North America, is very mifchievous, and 
 when he is clofely purfued, will not only attack dogs but men. 
 
 It generally feeds upon filli, efpecially in the fummcr, but in 
 the winter is contented with the bark of trees, or the produce 
 of the fields. Its flefh both tafles and fmells of fifh, and is not 
 wholcfome food, though it is fometimes eaten through ne- 
 celTity. 
 
 The MINK is of the otter kind, and fubfifls in the fame man- 
 ner. In lliape and fizc it refembles a pole-cat, being equally 
 long and (lender. Its skin is blacker than that of an otter, or 
 almofl any other creature; *^ as black as a mink," being a pro- 
 verbial exprellion in America; it is not however fo valuable, 
 though this greatly depends on the fcafon in which it is tak- 
 en. 
 
 '.i*« 
 
w 
 
 r «M ) . 
 
 tn. Its tail {s roun(} like that ^f a fnake, but growing flattifli 
 towards the end, and is entirely without hair. An agreeable 
 musky fcent exhales from its body; and it is met with near tiie 
 fourccs df rivers, on whofe banisjt chiefly lives. ^^ 
 
 i. 
 
 OF THE BIRDS. 
 
 The Eagle, the Hawk, the Night Hawk, the Fi(h Hawk, the 
 Whipperwill, the Raven, the Crow, the Owl, parrots, the Pe- 
 lican, phe Crane, the Stork, the Cormorant, the Heron, the 
 Swan, the Goofe, Ducks, Teal, the Loon, the Water-Hen, the 
 Turkey, the Heath Cock, the Partridge, the Quail, Pigeons, the 
 Snipe, Larks, the Woodpecker, the Cuckoo, the Blue Jay, the 
 Swallow, the Wakon Bird, the Black Bird, the Red Bird, the 
 ThruA, the W|ietfaw, the Nightingale, the King Bird, the 
 Robin, the Wren, and the Humming Bird. 
 
 /'v 
 
 The EAGLE. There are only two forts of eagles in theCe 
 parts, the bald and the grey, which are much the fame in lize, 
 and fimilar to the fhape of thofe of other countries. 
 
 The NIGHT HAWK. This Bird is of the hawk fpecies, its 
 bill being crooked, its wings formed for fwiftncfs, and its {hape 
 nearly like that of the cotnaion hawk; but in iize it is conlider- 
 ably lefs, and in colour rather darker. It is fcarcely ever feca 
 but in the evening, when, at the approach of twilight, it flie« 
 about, and darts itfelf in wanton gambols at the head of the 
 belated traveller. Before a thunder-lTiower thefe birds are feen 
 at an amazing height in the air aUcmblcd together m great num- 
 bers, as fvvallows are obferved to do on the fame occalion. 
 
 The WHIPPERWILL, or, as it is* termed by the Indians, 
 the Muckawifs. This extraordinary bird is fomewhat like the 
 laft-mentioned in its Ihapc and colour, only it has fome whitifli 
 ftripes acrofs the wings, and like that is feldom ever fccn till 
 after fun-fct. It alfo is never met with but during the fpring 
 and fummcr months. As foon as the Indians are informed by 
 its notes of its return, they conclude that the froft is entirely 
 gone, in which they are feldom deceived; and on receiving this 
 affurance of milder weather, begin to fow their corn. It ac- 
 quires its name by the noife it makes, which to the pcopl"' of 
 the colonics founds like the name they give it, Whipper ..ill; 
 to an Indian car Mutk-a-wifs. The words, it is true, dre not 
 alike, but in this manner they ftrikc the imagination of each; 
 and the circumftancc is a proof that the fame founds, if they arc 
 not rendered certain by being reduced to the rulcii of orthogra- 
 
 piiy. 
 
 
 .feji*;-, 
 
^' I 189 1 
 
 phy, rfilght convey different Ideas to different people. As foon 
 as night comes on, thcfc birds will place thcmfclves on the 
 fences, flumps, or ftoncs that lie near feme hoiifc, and repeat 
 .'their melancholy notes without- any variation till midnight. The 
 Indians, and fome of the inhabitants of the back fcttlcmcnts, 
 think if this bird perches upon any houfe, that it betokens fome 
 milTiap to the inhabitants of it. 
 
 The FISH HAWK greatly rcfcmblcs the latter in its fhaptr. 
 and receives his name from his food, which is generally Wih; 
 ' it skims over the lakes and rivers, and fometimes 'fccms to lie 
 expanded on the water, as he hovers 10 clolo to it, and having 
 by fome attraftivc power drawn the filh within its reach, darts • 
 fuddcnly upon them. The clarm it makes ufc of is fuppofcd to 
 be an oil contained in a fmall*ag in the body, and which natilre 
 has by fome means or other fupplicd him with the power of ufin^ 
 for this purpofc; it is however very certain that any bait touclv 
 «d with a drop of the oil collc(5fced from this bird Is an irrefilli- 
 ble lure for all forts of filh, and infures the angler great fuccefs. 
 
 The OWL. The only fort of owls that is found on the 
 banks of the Miffiflippi is extremely beautiful in its plumage, 
 being of a line deep yellow or gold colour, pleafingly Ihadcd 
 and fpotted. 
 
 The CRANE. There is a kind of crane in thefe parts, which 
 is called by Father Hennepin a pelican, that is about the fize of 
 the European crane, of a greyilTi colour, and with long legs; 
 but this fpecies differs from all others in its bill, which is about ,... 
 twelve inches long, and one inch and half broad, of which 
 breadth it continues to the end, where it is blunted, and ioun<i 
 like a paddle^ its tongue is of the fame length. 
 
 DUCKS. Among a variety of wild ducks, the different fpc- 
 Cies of whjch amount to upwards of fcventy, 1 lliall coniine my 
 dcfcriptioii to one fort, that is, the wood duck, or, as the 
 French term it, Canard branchus. This fowl receives its nam6 
 from its frequenting the woods, and perching on ih# branches 
 of trees, which no other kind of water fowl (a charaftcriftic 
 that this dill preferves) is known to do. It is nearly of a fize 
 with other ducks; its plumage is beautifully variegated, and veiy 
 brilliant. The flelli ©f it alfo, as it feeds but little on lifli, is 
 linely fiavoured, and much fuperior to any other fort. 
 
 The TEAL. I have already remarked in my Journal, that 
 the teal found on the Fox River, and the head branches of the 
 Miffjfllppi, are perhaps not to be equalled for the fatnefs and 
 delicacy of thei«i»iiel'h by any other in the world. In coloui, 
 fhape, and fize they arc very little different from thofe found ia 
 other countries. 
 
 The LOON is a water fowl, fomcwhat lefs than a teal, and 
 is a fpecies of the dobchick. Its wings are iliort, aud its leg:; 
 an4 feet large in proportion to the body; the colour of it is a 
 ^ark brown, nearly approaching to black; ai]d as it feeds only 
 m fiih, the flclh of it is very ill flavoured. Thei'j M-d^ are-;. 
 
 c.>:ceed».'. 
 
 >%■■ 
 
 
T' 
 
 m 
 
 .;* 
 
 .4 
 
 *^:ccdingly nimble and expert at diving, fo that it is almoft inr-' 
 pofllble for one perfon to iTioot them, as they will dcxtroufly 
 avoid the iliot by diving before they reach them; fo that it re- 
 quireb three perfonsto kill one of them, and this can only be 
 done the moment it raifes his head out of the water as it returns 
 to the lurface after diving. It however only repays the trouble 
 taken to obtain it, by the excellent fport it afford*. 
 
 The PARTRIDGE. There are three forts ot partridges 
 here, the bjown, the red, and the black, the firft of which are 
 moft efteemcd. They are all much larger than the European 
 partridges, being nearly the fize of a hen pheafant,- their head 
 and eyes are alfo like that bird, and they have all long tails, 
 T\''h!ch they Ipread like a fan, but not ereft; but contrary to the 
 curtom of thcjfe in other countries, they will perch on the 
 branches of the poplar and black birch, on the buds of which 
 they feed early in the morning and in the twilight of the even- 
 ing during the winter months, ^hen they are eafily Ihot. 
 
 The WOOD PIGEON, is nearly the fame as ours, and there 
 is fuch prodigious quantities of them on the banks of the Mif- 
 fiffippi, that they will fomctimes darken the fun for feveral mi- 
 nutes, -m' ' ., 
 
 The WOODPECKEll. This is a \%ry beautiful bird ; there 
 Js one fortwhcfe feathers are a mixture of various colours; and 
 another that is brown all over the body, except the head and 
 tieck, which are of a line red. As this bird is fuppofed to make 
 a greater noifc than ordinary at particular times, it is conjcftur- 
 ed his cries then denote rain. 
 
 The BLUE JAY. This bird is fhaped nearly like the Euro- 
 pean jay, only that its tail is longer. On the top of its head 
 'i> a crell: of blue feathers, which is raifed or let down at pfea- 
 fure. The lower part 6f the neck behind, and thp back, arfe 
 of a purplifli colour, and tlic upper fides of the wings and tail, 
 as well as the lower part of the back and rump, are of a fine 
 b^e ; thd extremities of the wings are blackilli, faintly tinftur- 
 cd with dark blue on the edges, whilft the other parts of the 
 v/ing are barred acrofs with black in an elegant manner. Upon 
 the whole this bird can fcarccly be exceeded in beauty by any 
 . of the winged inhabitants of this or othftr climates. It has the 
 fame jetting motion that jays generally have, and its cry is far 
 more pleafing. 
 
 The WAKON BIRD, as it is termed by the Indians, appears 
 to be of the fame fpecics as the birds of paradile. The name 
 rbey have giv in it is cxprefllve of its fiiperior excellence, and 
 the veneration they have for it; the wakon bird being in their 
 language the bird of the Great Spirit. It is nearly the fize of a 
 fwallow, of a brown colour, Ihaded about the neck with a 
 brigfit green; the wings are of a darker brown than the body; 
 its tiil is tompofed of four or five feathers, which are throe 
 times as long as its body, and which are beautifully fhaded with 
 gvecn and purx^lc. It carries this fine Jength of plumage in they 
 
 fame \^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 \, 
 
^ i At 
 
 
 fame manntr as a peacock docs, but it is not known whether It 
 ever raifes it into the ereSt pofition that bird foinetipies docs, 
 ^evcr faw any of thefc birds in the colonies, but the Naudo- 
 ^Jppflic Indians caught feveral of them when I wasiin their coun- 
 try, and feemed to treat them as if they were of a fupcrior 
 rank to any other of the feathered race. 
 
 The BLACK BIRD. There are three forts of birds in North 
 America that bear this name; the firft is the common, or as it 
 is there termed, the crow blackbird, which is quite black, and 
 of the fime fize and fhape of thofe in Europe, but it has not 
 <hat melody in its notes which they have. In the month of 
 Eeptonber this fort fly In large flights, and do great mifchlef to 
 the Indian com, which Is at that time juft ripe. The fecond 
 fort is the red-wing, which is rather fmaller thito the fiift fpc- 
 cics, but like that it is black all over its body, except on the 
 lofirr rim of the wings, where it is of a fine bright full fcarlet. 
 It builds its neft, and chiefly reforts among the fmall bulTxes that 
 'grow in meadows and low fwampy places. It whiftles a few 
 notes, but Is not equal in Its fong to the European blackbird. 
 The third fort is of th6 fame fize as the latter, and is jet blaci; 
 like that, but all the upper part of the wing, j\\{^ below the 
 back, Is of a line clear white; as if nature intended to diverfify 
 the fpecies, and to atone for the want of a melodious pipe by 
 the beauty of its plumage; for this alio is deficient in its mufi- 
 cal powers. The beaks of every fort are of a full yellow, and 
 the females of each of a rufty black like the European. 
 
 The RED BIRD is about the fize of a fparrow, but with a 
 long tail, and is all over of a bright vermilion colour. I law 
 many of thorn about the Ottawaw Lakes, but I could not learn 
 that they Tung. I alio obferved in ibme other parts, i. bird of 
 much the fame make, that was quircly of a fine yellow. 
 
 The WHETSAW is of the cuckoo kind, being like tijat, a 
 folitary bird, and fcarcely ever fecn. in the fummer months 14;, 
 is heard In the groves, where it makcs^a noif*; like the iiling of 
 a faw ; from which it receives Its name. 
 
 The KING BIRD is like a fwallow, and feems to be of the 
 fame fpecies as the black martin or Avift. It is called the Kini: 
 Bir4,becaule it is able to mafter almoft every bird that flics. I 
 have often feen it bring down a hawk. 
 
 The HUMMING BIRD. This beautiful bird, which is tho^ 
 fnialleft ot the feathered inhabitants of the air,; is about tb|s 
 third part the fize of a wren, and is fhapcd extremely like i^ 
 Its legs, which are about an inch long, appear like two fmaii 
 needles, and its body is proportionable to them. Buf its plum,- 
 : age exceeds defcription. On its head it has a fmall tuft of <i 
 jetty Ihining black; the breaft of it is red, the belly white, thcr 
 back, wings, and tail of the fineft pale green; and fmall fpecks 
 of gold arc fcattered with inexpreilible grace over the whole : 
 l?efides this, an ahnolT; imperceptible down foftens the colours, 
 \sind produces the moft ^leafing Diadct;. With its bill, which is 
 
 .* ■ •* ' " ' 
 
 '^. 
 
 ■m 
 
 ^■■^ 
 
 '\ 
 
[ X5>2 1 
 
 of the fame diminutive CvAc a,'? the other parts of its body, it CK- 
 trafts fromilK Howcrs a moirturc which is its nouriflimcnt; over 
 fihcfc it hovcjTs h'kc a bee, but never h'ghts on them, moving at 
 the f;ime timtf its wings with fuch velocity that the motion «f 
 them is imperceptible; notwithftanding which they make a buift* 
 Cling noife, from whence it receives its name. 
 
 ? 
 
 Of the F I S li E S nvhich are \ found in the 
 ivaters of the MiJ/i//ij>pL *" 
 
 » ♦ 
 
 1 have aheady given a defcription of thofc that are taken l^ 
 
 '^ Che greac lakes. 
 
 •» . • • 
 
 The Sturgeon, the Pout or Cat Fifh, the Pike, the Carp, and 
 the Chub. 
 
 The STURGEON. The frefli water fturgeon is fliaped in 
 • no other refpeft like thofc taken near the fca, except in tlie 
 formation of its head and tail; which are fafhioned in the fame 
 manner, but the body is not fo angulated, nor are there {o ma- 
 ay horny fcalcs about it as on the latter. " Its length is general- 
 ly about two feet and a half or three feet long, but in circum- 
 ference not proportionable, being a flender filh. The flcfh is 
 exceedingly delicate and hni^ flavoured; I caught fome in the 
 head waters of the river St. Croix that far cxceededtrout. The 
 ^f' i manner of taking them is by watching them as they lie under the 
 V,j, banks in a clear ftream, and darting at them with a fifli-fpear ; 
 •^ for they will not take a bait. There is alfo in the Mifliffippi, 
 \ and there only, another fort than the fpecics I have defcribed, 
 which is fimilar to it in every refpcft, except that the upper 
 jaw extends fourteen or fifteen inches, beyond the under; this 
 extenfive jaw, which is of a griftly fubrtance, is three inches 
 V^ \and a half broad, and continues of that breadth, fomewhat in 
 y. )the fhape of an oar, to the end, which is flat. The fiefli of 
 ■/ /this fjlTi, however, is not to be compared with the other fort, 
 
 ,and is not fo much efleemed even by the Indians. i 
 
 ^ The CAT FISH. This lifli is about eighteen inches long; 
 of a brownifli colour and without fc^les. It has a large round 
 head, from whence it receives its name, on different parts of 
 which grow, three or four fl:rong (harp hollis about two inches 
 long. Its fins are alfo very bony and flrong, and without great 
 /care will pierce the hands of thofc who take thera. It weighs 
 
 w, ... ,.,, coa\}nQnljf 
 
 ««'■ 
 
 ■■^ 
 
t 193 1 
 
 commonly about five o; fix pounds ,• the fiefli of it is exceflivelj* 
 fat and lufcious, and greatly rcfcmbles that of an eel in its fla- 
 vour. 
 
 :* The CARP and CHUB are much the fame as thofe in England 
 fifid nearly Ibout the fame in fize. * 
 
 OF SERPENTS. 
 
 The Rattle Snake, the Long Black Snake, the Wall or Houfe \ 
 Adder, the Striped or Garter Snake, the Water Snake, the Hif* 
 finffSnake, the Green Snake, the Thorn-tail Snake, the Speck- 
 Icd^nake, the Ring Snake, the Two-headed Snake. 
 
 The RATTLE SNAKE. There appears to be two fpecics 
 of this reptile ; one of which is commonly termect the Black, 
 and the other the yellow; and of thefe the latter is generally 
 confidered as the largeft. At their full growth they are upwards 
 of five feet long, and the middle part of the body, at which it 
 is of the greateft bulk, meafures about nine inches round. From 
 that part it gradually decreafes both towards the head and the 
 tail. The neck is proportionably very fmall, and the head 
 broad and deprefled. Thefe are of a light brown colour, the 
 iris of the eye red, and all the upper part of the body brown, 
 mixed with a ruddy yellow, and chequered with many regular 
 lines of a deep black, gradually leading towards a gold colour. 
 In fliort the whole of this dangerous reptile is very beautiful, 
 and could it be viewed with lefs terror, fuch a variegated ar- 
 rangement of colours would be extremely pleafing. But thefe 
 are only to be feen in their higheft perfeftion at the time this 
 creature is animated by refentment; then every tint rulTies from 
 its fubcutaneous recefs, and gives the furface of the skin a 
 deeper (lain. The belly is of a palilli blue, which grows fuller 
 as it approaches the fides, and is at length intermixed with the 
 colour of the upper part. The rattle at its tail, from which ic 
 receives its name, is compofed of a firm, dry, callous, or hor- 
 ny fubftance of a light brown, and confills of a number of cells 
 which articulate one within another, like joints ; and which in- 
 creafc every year, and make known the age of the creature. 
 Thefe articulations being very loofe, the included points Itrike 
 againft the inner furface of the concave parts or rings into which 
 they are admitted, and as the fnake vibrates, or fliakes its tail, 
 makes a rattling noife. This alarm \t always gives when it is 
 apprehenfive of danger; and in an inftant after forms itfelf into 
 a fpiral wreath, in the centre of which appears the head ere(^, 
 and breathing forth vengeance againft eitlicr man or beaft that 
 . ' I*. Bb ftali 
 
 ♦f"' 
 
 
 s,;j,. 
 
 .i,Cii.'i>iS'..'^ 
 
1 I^'t 1 
 
 fl>all Hare to qpme near it. In thi.i attitude j-.c awaifs the np- 
 pro;u-h of I'li: cnciti'ics, raillinj^ his tail as he fees or hears them 
 fominj; oil. Hy this tiiivei^ intiinatioii, which heaven fceins to 
 htive provided as a means lo lountcract tlie mifchief' this vcne«> 
 niuiis reptile would otherwiie be perpetrator of, the unwary 
 fiaveller is apprized of his danger, and has an opportunity of 
 avoidiiTf^ it. It is Iiowsver to be obferved, that it neyer afts 
 otfenlivc'ly," ii neither piulues or flics from any thing that ap- 
 proaclie,-> it, but lies in tiie pofition delcribcd, rattling his tail 
 as if reludant to hurt. The teeth with wliich this ferpcnt ef- 
 fects his poifoncis purpol'es arc not thofe he mahes ufc of on 
 ordinary occafions, tlicy arc only two in number, very fmall 
 and iTiarp pointed, and lixed in a finewy fubftancc that lies near 
 the extremity of'the upper jaw, rcTemblinj; the claws of a cat; 
 at the root of each of thefe, wbicli might be extended, con- 
 tracked, or entirely hidden, as need requires, arc two fulfil 
 bladders which nature has fo conlhucled, that at the fame in- 
 llunt an infiHon is made by the teeth, a drop of a greenifh poi- 
 fonous liquid enters the wound, and taints ^vith its deflruflivc 
 quality the whole mafs of blood." In a motflent the unfortuntitc 
 virtini of its wrath feels a chilly tremor run through all his frame; 
 a fwelling immediately begins on the fpot where the teeth had 
 entered, which fprends by degrees over the whole body, and 
 produces on every, part of the skin the variegated hue of the 
 fnake. The bite of this reptile is more or lefs vcnemous, ac- 
 cording to tlie fcafon of the year in which it is given. In the 
 dog-dars it oi'ten proves inrtantiy mortal, and efpecialiy if the^ 
 woimd is made among the finews fituatcd in the back part of' 
 the leg, above the heel; but inthc fpring, in autumn, or during 
 a cool day which miglit happen in the fummer, its bad cfFedls 
 are to be prevented by the immediate application of proper re- 
 medico; and tlicfe Providence hasboimteoufly fupplied, bycauf- 
 ing the Rattle Snake Plantain, an approved antidote to the poi- 
 fon of this creature, to grow in great profufion where-cverthey 
 are to be met with. There are likcwife feveral other remedies 
 befides this, for the venom of its bite. A decodiion made of 
 the buds or bark of the white a£h, taken internally, prevents 
 it^' pernicious effecls. Salt is a newly difcovered remedy, and 
 if applied immediately to the part, or the wound be wafhcd 
 with brine, a cure might be allured. The fat of the reptile al- 
 fo rubbed on it is frequently found to be very efficacious. But 
 though the lives of the perfons who have been bitten might be 
 preferved by thefc, and their health in fome degree rcftored, 
 yet they annually experience a flight return of the dreadfttl fymp- 
 corns about the time they received the inflillation. However re- 
 markable it may appear it is certain, that though the venom of 
 this creature affccti^ in a greater or lefs degree all animated na- 
 ture, the hog is aii exception to tl:e rule, as that animal will ^ 
 readily dellroy them v.ithout dreading their poifonous fangs, 
 3Hd fattca oir^ioii^jle^. It h^^ bi^h oftoo obi^rved, and I 
 ^r- ■'■ ■^ . f.^/^- can 
 
 ^ 
 
t JP5 3 
 
 ran continw ' c obfcrvation, that the Rattle Snake !;; cliaru'd 
 with any harmonious foinuls, whether voc;iL4-)r f'nilriiuuMir;il ■ 1 
 have many times fccn them, even when liicy Ikivc hcai cnraaeJ 
 place tlicmfeivcs into aiiaening pofhirj, and continue iiumuvc- 
 ably attenilve and futccptiblc of dch'^'ht all the time the mulir 
 has lafled. I Ihould have lemarlvcd, that when the Rattle Snal-o 
 bites, it drops its under jaw, and liolding the upper jaw ercd, 
 throws itfelf in a curve hue, with f^rcat force, and a. quick as 
 lightning, on the object of its refeiumeiit. Jn a moment alter. 
 it returns*again to its defenfive pollure, having iljfenjrja^'cd it] 
 teeth from the wound with great celerity, by means of ilic po. 
 "fition in whiai it had placed its licad when it made the attacl.. 
 It never extends itfelf to a greater diftance than half its Icn^'tli 
 will reach, and though it fometimes repeats the blow two or 
 three times, it as often returns, with a fuddcn rebound to its 
 foriiTcr ftatc. 'I he IMack Ratflc Snake dilFcrs in no other re 
 fpcft 'from the yellow, than in being rather fmaller, and in the 
 variegation of its colours, which are exadly revcricd : one is 
 black where the other is yellow, and vice vcrfa. They are 
 equally venemous. It is not known how thefe creatures en "en 
 der; I have often found the eggs of feveral other fpccies of 
 the fnakc, but notwithftanding no one has taken more pains to 
 acquire a pcrfeft knowledge of every property of thefe reptile!^; 
 than myfelf, I never could difcover the manner in which they 
 bring forth their young. I once killed a female that had fe\ en- 
 ty young ones in its belly, but tiicle were perfectly formed, and 
 I fuw themjull before retire to the mouth of their mother, a.s il 
 place of fecurity, on my approach. The gall of this ferpery, 
 mixed with chalk, are 'formed into little balLs, and exported 
 from America, for medicinal purpofes. They are of the nariu e 
 of Gafcoign's powders, and are an excellent remedy for com- 
 plaints incident to children. The fleiT\ of the fnake alfo dried, 
 and made into broth, is much more nutritive than that ufvipeij., 
 and very efficacious againfl: confumptions. 
 
 The LONG BLACK SNAKE. Thefe arc alfo of two forts, 
 both of which are exaftly fimilar in iliape and fize, only the 
 belly of one is a light red, the other a faint blue; all the upper 
 parts of their bodies are bhitk and fcaly. They are generally 
 from fix to eight feet in length, and carry their heads, as they 
 crawl along, about a foot and an half from the ground. They 
 eafily climb the higheft tree, in purfuit of birds and fquirrels, 
 which are their chief food; and thefe, it is laid, they charm by 
 their looks, and render incapable of ei'caping from ihau. 
 Their appearance carries terror with it to thofe who are unac- 
 quainted with their inability to hurt, but they arc perfectly inof- 
 fenfive and free from venom. 
 
 The STRIPED or GARTER SNAKE is cxaaiy the famcas 
 that fpecies found in other climates. 
 
 The WATER SNAKE isijmch like the Rattle Sr-ake in Oiape 
 and fize, but is not endowll^dj|?ith the fume venoHiou.^ powers, 
 bcijjg (juite harmlcfs. «, i*Q^i! „. , % , - '^'^^ / 
 
t #« 1 
 
 • The lilSSWG SNAKE I have already particularly defcribc()^ 
 when I treated, In my Journal, of Lake Eric. 
 
 • The GkEEN SNAKE is about a foot and an half long, and 
 In colour fo near to grafs and herbs, that it cannot be difco- 
 vered as it lies on the ground ; happily however it is free from 
 vcnoin, otherwife it would do an infinite deal of mifchicf, us 
 thofc who pafs through the meadows, not being able to per* 
 ceive it, are deprived of the power 4of avoiding it. 
 
 The THORN-TAIL SNAKE. This reptileis found In many 
 parts of America, but it is very feldom to be feen. It is of 3 
 middle fize, and receives its name from a thorn^like dart in its 
 tail, with which it is faid to inflift a mortal wound. 
 
 The SPECKLED SNAKE is an aqueous reptile about two 
 feet and an half in length, but without venom. Its skin, which 
 is brownj^anal white with fome fpots of yellow in it, is ufed by 
 the Americans as a cover for the handles of whips, and it ren- 
 ders them very pleafing to the fight. 
 
 The RING SNAKE is about twelve inches long; the body 
 of it is entirely black, except a yellow ring which it has about 
 Its neck, and which appears like a narrow piece of ribband tied 
 around it. This odd reptile is frequently found in the bark of 
 trees, and among old logs. 
 
 The TWO-HEADED SNAKE. The only fnake of this kind 
 that was ever feen in America, was found about the year i76:j, 
 near Lake Champlain, by Mr. Park, a gentleman of New Eng- 
 land, and made a prefent to Lord Amherft. It was about a foot 
 long, and in iliape like the common fnake, but it was furnifhcd 
 with two heads exaftjy fimilar, which united at the neck. Whc^ 
 ther this was a diftinft fpecies of fnakes, and was able to pro- 
 pagate its likenefs, or whether it was«n accidental formation, 
 I know not. 
 
 The TORTOISE or LAND TURTLE. Thefliape of this 
 creature is fo well known that it is unneceflary to defcribe it. 
 There are feven or eight forts of them in America, fome of 
 which are beautifully variegated, even beyond defcription. Thq 
 fhells of many have fpots of red, green, and yellow in them» 
 and the chequer work is compofed of fmall fquares, curioufly 
 difpofed. The moft beautiful fort of thefe creatures arc the 
 fmalleft, and tht bite of them is faid to be venomous. 
 
 . tf^- 
 
 LIZARDS, &c. 
 
 1 fe 
 
 Though there are numerous kinds of this dafs of the animal 
 creation, in the country I treat of, I Ihall qply take notice of 
 two of thcm^ H^hicfe are teme# the Swift and the flow LI- 
 
 -'^ -. a^*.^ -''■ The* 
 
"^ 
 
 • t 1* V 
 
 The SWIFT LIZARD is about fix Inches long, nn^ has four 
 legs and a tail. Its body, which is blue, is prettily Drlpcd with 
 dark lines Ihadcd with yellow; but the end of the t*aH is totJilly 
 blue. It is fo remarkably agile, that in an inllant it is out of 
 fight, nor can its movement be perceived by the qiiickjjft eye; 
 fo that It might morcf juftly be faid to vanilli, than to run away. 
 This fpecies are fuppofcd to poifon tliofe they bite, but arc not 
 dangerous, as they nevci;. attack perlons that approach them, 
 chufing rather to get fuddenly out of their reach. 
 
 The SLOW LIZARD is of the fame fhape as the Swift, but 
 its colour is brown ; it is moreover of an oppofite difpolition. 
 being altogether as flow In its movements as the other is fwift. 
 It is remarkable that thefc lizards are extremely brittle, and will 
 break off near the tail as cafily as an icicle. 
 
 Among the reptiles of North America, there is a fpcclcs of 
 the toad termed the TREE TOAD, which is nearly of the fame 
 ihapc as the common fort, but fmallcr and with longer claws. 
 It is ufually found on trees, flicking clofe to the bark, or lying 
 in tHfe crevices of it; and fo nearly docs it refcmble the colour 
 of the tree to which it cleaves, that it is with difficulty dirtin- 
 guilTied from it. Thefe creatures are only heard during the 
 twilight of the morning and evening, or jufl before and after a 
 Jliower of rain, when they makea croaking noife fomewhat (hrV- 
 lerthan that of a frog, which might be heard to a great diffance. 
 They Infefl the woods in fuch numbers, that their refponfive 
 notes at thefe times make the air refound. It is only a fummer 
 ^iiimal, and never to be found during the winter. f 
 
 INSECTS. 
 
 The interior parts of North America abound with nearly tho 
 fame infers as are met with in the fame parallels of latitude ; 
 and the fpecies of them are fo numerous and diverfilied that 
 even a fuccinft defcription of the whole of them would fill a 
 volume; I ihall therefore confine myfelf to a few, which I be- 
 lieve are almofl peculiar to this country; the Silk Worm, the 
 Tobacco Worm, the Bee, the Lightning Bug, the Water Biv^, 
 and the Horned Bug. 
 
 The SILK WORM is nearly the fame as thofe of France and 
 Italy, but will not produce the fame quantity of lllk. 
 
 The TOJ^ACCO WORJ^ is a catterpillar of the fize and fi- 
 gure of a filk worm, it is of a fine fea-grecn colour, on its 
 rifmp it has a fling or horn near a quarter of an inch long. 
 
 The §EES, in America, principally lodge their honey in the 
 earth t^ fecure it from the ravages of Che bears, wlio are re- 
 markably fond of it. 
 
if" 
 
 ( #p8 1 
 
 The LIGHTNING WCG or FIRE FLY is about the fize of 
 a bee, but it is of the beetle kind, having like that infeft two 
 pair of wfegs the upper of #'hich are *of a firm texture, to 
 defcud it from danger. When it il'ics^ and the wings are ex- 
 panded, there is under thefe a kind of coat, conftrufted alfo 
 like wi^igs, which is luihinous,* and as the infeft palTcs on, caufes 
 all the hinder part of its body to appear like a bright fiery coal. 
 Having placed one of them on your hand, the under part only 
 ihines, and throws the light on the fpace beneath; but as foon 
 as it fprcads its upper wings to fly away, the whole body which 
 lies behind them appears illuminated all around. The light it 
 gives is not conftantly of the fame magnitude, even when it 
 flics i but fecms to depend on the expanfion or contradlion of 
 the luminous coat or wings, and is very different from that 
 emitted in a dark night by dry wood or fome kinds of fifli, it 
 having much more the appearance of real fire. They feem to 
 be fenfible of the power they are pofTefTed of, and to know the 
 moll fuitable time for exerting it, as in a very dark nigh: they 
 are much more numerous than ac any other time. They a^ on- 
 ly feen during the fummer months of June, July, and Augull, 
 and then at no other time but in the night. Whether from 
 their colour, which is a dusky brown, they arc not then difccrn- 
 ible, or from their retiring to holes and crevices,. I know not, 
 but they are never to be difcovered in the day. They chiefly 
 are feen in low fwampy land, and appear like inmimerable tran- 
 lient gleams of light. In dark nights when there is much light- 
 ning, without rain, they feem as if they willicd cither to imitate 
 or affift the flaflics ; for during the intervals, they are uncom- 
 monly agile, and endeavour to throw out every ray tlicy can col- 
 left. Notwithftanding this cff'ulgent appearance, thele infedts 
 are pcrfcftly harmlcfs; you may permit them to crawl upon your 
 hand, when five or Ox, if they freely exhibit their glow toge- 
 tlier, will enable you to read aimoft the fmallert print. 
 
 The WATER BUG is of a brown colour, about the fize of 
 a pea, and in iTiape nearly Oval ; it has many legs, by means of 
 ivhich it palles over the furfacc of the water with fuch incredi- 
 ble fwifcnefs, that it fcems to Aide or dart itfelf along. 
 
 The HORNED BUG, or, as it is fometimes termed, the 
 STAG BEETLE, is of a duslcy brown colour nearly approach- 
 ing to black, about an inch and an half long, and half an inch 
 broad. It has two large horns, which grow on each fide of 
 the head, and meet horizontally, and with thefe it pinches very 
 hard; they are branched like thofe of a ftag, from whence it 
 receives its name. They fly about in the evening, and prove 
 \ery troublcfome to thofe who are in the fields at that time. 
 
 I murt not omit that the LOCUST is a feptennial infeft, as 
 they arc only feen, a imall number of ftragglers excepted, eve- 
 ry feven years, when they infeft thefe parts, and the interior 
 colonies in large fwarms, and do, a great deal of qifchief. The 
 ycurs when they thus arrive are feominatcd the locuft years. 
 
 C H A P- 
 
I IS* 1 
 
 
 <r. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 i 
 
 0/* th Trees, Shrubs, Roots, Herb^, 
 
 Flowers, 6v. 
 
 # 
 
 I SHALL here obferve the fame method that I have purfucd 
 in the preceding chapter, and having given a lift of the 
 trees, &c. which arc natives of the interior parts of North 
 America, particularize fuch only as differ from the produce of 
 other countries, or, beinglittleknown,have not been dcfciIUed^ 
 
 !•'«- 
 
 OF TREES. 
 
 The Oak, the Pir.c Tree, the Mnple, the Afh, the IlcmlocI:, 
 the Bafs or White Wood, the Cedar, the Elm, the Birch, the 
 Fir, the Locull Tree, the Poplar, the Wickopick or Suckwick, 
 the Spruce, the Hornbeam, and the Button Wood Tree. : 
 
 The OAK. There are fevcral fort.^ of oaks in thefe part?; 
 the black, the white, the red, the yellow, the grey, the iwamp 
 oak, and the chefnut oak; the five former vary but little in their 
 external appearance, the fhape of the leaves, and the colour of 
 the bart being fo much alike, that they are fcarcely diftinguilh- 
 al)Ie; but the body of the tree when fawed difcovers the varia- 
 tion, which chiefly confifts in the colour of the wood, they be* 
 iag all very hard and proper for building. The fwamp oak dif- 
 fei-s materially from the oMiers both in the iTiape of the leaf, 
 which is fmaller, and in the bark, which is fmoothcr ; and like- 
 v/ifc as it grows only in a moifi gravelly foil. It ir, cfleemcd tlie 
 toughefl of all woods, being fo ftrong yet pliable, that it is of- 
 fen made ui'e of inltcad ot whalebone, and is equally fcrvice* 
 able,. Tlic chefnut oak-alCo is greatly diircrent from the other?, 
 priiticulariy in the fliape of the leaf, which much rcfemblcs that 
 of a chefniit-tree, and for this reafon is fo denominated. It i.s 
 nt'ithcr fo ftrong as the former fpecies, or fo |ough as the lat- 
 ter, but is of a nature proper to be fplit into rails for fences, 
 in which flate it will endure a confiderable time^ 
 
 The PINE TREE. That Ipecies of tlue pine tree peculiar 
 to this part of the continent is the white, the quality of which I 
 need not deliribe, :vs*the timber of it is fo well known under 
 
 ..^ . the 
 
 ,fJ 
 
 ■^ ■*, 
 

 ^^ 
 
 [ too ] 
 
 the name of deals. It gfows here in great plenty, to an amaz- 
 ing height and fize, and yields, an excellent turpentine, though 
 not in fuch quantities as thofein the northern parts of Europe. 
 
 The MAPLE, Of this tree there are two forts, the hard 
 and the foft, both of which yield a lufcioui: juice, From which 
 the Indians, by boiling, make very good fugar. The fap of 
 the former is much richer and fweeter than the latter, but the 
 foft produces a greater quantity. The wood of the hard maple 
 isVery beautifully veined and curled, and when wrought into 
 cabinets, tables, gunftocks, &c. is greatly valued. That of 
 the foft fort differs in its texture, wanting the variegated grain 
 of the hard; it alfo grows more flrait and free from branches, 
 and is more eafily fplit. , It likewifc may be diftinguiihed from 
 the hard, as this grows in meadows and low-lands, that on the 
 hills anij up-lands. The leaves are fliaped alike, but thofe of 
 the foft maple are much the largeft, and of a deeper green. 
 
 Tiic ASH. There arp fcvcral forts ot this tree in thefo 
 parts, but that to which I fliall confine my defcription, is the 
 yellow alli, which is only found near the head branches of the 
 Mifliflippi. This tree grows to an amaznig height, and the bo- 
 dy of it is fo lirm and found, that the French traders who go 
 into that country from Louifiana, to pur chafe furs-, make of 
 them periaguays; this they do by excavating them by iire, and 
 when they are compleated, convey in them the produce of their 
 trade to Nc'iv Orleans, where they find a good market both for 
 their vcflTels and cargoes. The wood of this tree greatly re- 
 fcmblcs that of the common alli; but it might be diftinguillied 
 from any other tree by its bark; the rofs or outfide bark being 
 near eight inciics thick, and indented with furrows more than 
 fix inches deep, which make thofe that are arrived to a great 
 bulk appear uncommonly rough; and by this peculiarity they 
 may be readily known. The rind or,J«fide bark is of the fame 
 thicknefs as that of other trees, but its colour is a fine bright 
 yellow, infomuch that if it is but flightly handled, it will leave 
 a ftain on the fingers, which cannot eafily be waflicd away; and 
 if in the fpring you peel off the bark, and touch the fap, which 
 then rifcs between that and the body of the tree, it will leave' 
 fo deep a tinfture that it will require three or four days to wear 
 it off. Many ufeful qualities belonging to this tree I doubt not^ 
 will be difcovered in timc^ bcfides it proving a valuable ac-* 
 quifition to the dyer. ' 
 
 The HEMLOCK TREE grows in every part of America, 
 in a greater or lefs degree. It is an ever-green of a very large 
 grov/th, and has leaves fomewhat like that of the yew; it is 
 however quire ufelcfs, and only an incumbrance to the ground, 
 the wood being of a very coarfe grain, and full of wind-lhakes 
 or cracks. 
 
 The BASS or WHITE WOOD is a tree of a middling fize. 
 and the whiteft and foftell wood that grows; when quite dry it 
 fwimo on the water like a cork; in the fcttlcments the turners 
 
 I 
 
 'J4f» 
 
 ^H^ 
 
 tha^ 
 
 as 
 
 tri( 
 
 nut I 
 
 of 
 
 ihell 
 
 Vai 
 
 fupj 
 
[ 201 ] /" 
 
 ^Tiake of it bowls, trenchers, and difhes, which weal- fmooth, 
 and will laft a long time; but when applied to any other pur- 
 pofc it is far from durable. 
 
 The WICKOPICK or SUCKWICK appears to be a fpecies 
 of the white wood, and is diilinguiflied from it by a peculiar 
 quality in the bark, which when pounded and moiftened with a 
 little water, inflantly becomes a matter of the confiflence and 
 nature of fize. With this the Indians pay their canoes, and it 
 greatly exceeds pitch, or any other material ufual'y appropriat- 
 ed to that purpofe; for belldes its adhefive quality, it is of lb 
 oily a nature, that the water cannot penetrate through it, and 
 its repelling power abates not for a confiderablc time. 
 
 The BUTTON WOOD is a tree of the Jargeft fize, and 
 might be diftinguiflied by its bark, which is quite fmooth and 
 prettily mottled. The wood is very proper for the ufe of ca- 
 binet-matters. It is covered with fmall hard burs, which fpring 
 from the branches, thafcappcar not unlike buttons, and from 
 Ihcfe, I believe, it receives its name. 
 
 NUT TREES/ 
 
 "th2 'Butter or Oil Nut, the Walnut, the Flazic Nut, the 
 Beech Nut, the Pecan Nut, the Chcfnut, the Hickory. 
 
 The BUTTER or OIL NUT. As no mention has been 
 made by any authors of this nut, I iTiall be the more particular 
 in my account of it. The tree grows in meadows where the 
 foil is rich and warm. The body of it feldom exceeds a yard in 
 circumference, is full of branches, the twigs of which arc iTiori* 
 and blunt, and its leaves refemble thofe of the walnut. The 
 nut has a fliell like that fruit, which when ripe is more furrow- 
 ed, and more eaffly craked ; £t is alfo much longer and larger than 
 ji walnut, and contains a greater quantity of kernel, which is 
 very oily, and of a rich iigreeable flavour. I am pcrfuadcd that 
 a much purer oil than that of olives might be extrafted from 
 tills nut. The hifide bark of this tree dyes a good purple; and 
 it is faid, varies in its fhade, being either darker or lighter, ac- 
 cording to the month in which it is gathered. 
 
 The BEECH NUT. Though this tree grows cxaftly like 
 that of the fame name in Europe, yet it produces nuts equally 
 as good as'chefnuts; on which bears, martins, fquirrcls, par- 
 tridges, turkies, and many other beails and birds feed. The 
 nut is contained, whilft growing, in an outfide cafe, like that: 
 of a chefnut, but qot fo prickly; and the coat of the inlide 
 ihell is alfo fmooth like that; only its form is nearly triangular. 
 Vaft quantities of them lie fcattcred about in the woods, and 
 fupply with food great numbers of the creatures jiili mciuloncd. 
 ■ *^' ^ Cc ' The 
 
 \ 
 
 '.:-m* 
 
 "V*y'- 
 
•1^ . 
 
 »!.' 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^ 
 r 
 
 ^^;: 
 
 rPi'f<m :••% 
 
 *y.- 
 
 3o2 
 
 
 •the leaves, which are white, continue on the trees during the 
 whole winter. A decoftion made of them is a certain and expe- 
 ditious cure for wounds which arife from burning or fcaldinft, as 
 well as a rellorative for tj^ofe members that are nipped by the 
 froft. > ^« ^ 
 
 The PECAN NUT is foihewhat of the walnut kind, but ra- 
 ther fmaller than a walnut, being about the fize of a middling 
 acorn, , and of an oval form; the ihell is eafily cracked, and the 
 kernel fhaped like that of a walnut. TWs tree grows chicfl/ 
 near the Illinois river. 4 
 
 The HICKORY is alfo of the walnuf kind, and bears a fruit 
 n^ly like that tree* There a^e fcveral forts of them, which 
 vajty only in the colour of the wood. Being of a very tough 
 natiu^, the wood rs generally ufed for the handles of axes, &c 
 It is'alfo very good tire-wood. 
 
 I . gar diftils from it. 
 
 and as it burns an excellent f«- 
 
 FRUIT TREES. 
 
 
 '.>• ■ *■■ 
 
 I need not to obferre that thefc^are all the fpontaneous pro- 
 duftioni of nature, which have never received the advantage* 
 oS ingrafting, tranfplanting, or manuring. „. 
 
 The Vine, the Mulberry Tree, the Crab Apple Tree, the 
 Plum Tree, the Clierry Tree> and the Sjv^eet Gum Tree. 
 
 The VINE is very commort here, and of three kinds; the 
 fir ft fort hardly deferves the name of a grape; the fecond 
 much refembles the Burgundy grape, and if expofed to the fun 
 ii good wine might be made from them. The third fort refem- 
 bles Zant currants, which are fo freqfuently ufed in cakes, &c. 
 in England, and if proper care was taken of them, would be 
 equal, if not fiiperior, to thofe of that country. 
 
 The MULBERRY TREE is of two, kinds, red and white, 
 and nearly of the fame fize of thofe of France ,and Italy, and 
 grow in fuch plenty, as to feed any quantity of filk worms 
 
 The CRAB APPLE TREE bears a fruit that is much 1 
 and better flavoured than thofe of Europe. 
 
 The PLUM TREE. There are two forts of plums in this 
 country, one a large fort of a purple caft on one fide, and red 
 on the reverfe, the fecond totally green, and much fmaller. 
 Both thefe arc of a good flavour, and are greatly efteemed by 
 the Indians, whole tafte is not refined, but who are fatt«fied 
 with the produftions of nature in their unimproved ftatl. 
 
 The CHERRY TREE. There are three forts of cherricK 
 in this country ; the black, the red, and the fand cherry ; thc^^. 
 iy,'Q i^^ex may with inore propriety he {ajiKed among the i}irubs. 
 
 larger 
 
 the 
 
 bail 
 
 baij 
 
 whi 
 
 pec 
 
 coll 
 
 the 
 
 ^yi- 
 
 "S^" 
 
«s the bufli that bears the fand cherries almoft creeps along 
 the ground, and the other rifes not above eight or ten feet in 
 height; however I (hall give an account of them all in this place. 
 Th« black cherries are about the fize of a currant, and hang in 
 dufters like grapes; the trees which tear them being very fruit- 
 ful, they are generally loaded, but t6tffruit is not good to eat, 
 however they give an agreeable flavour to brandy, and turn it 
 to the colour of claret. The red cherries grow in the greateft 
 profufion, and hang in bunches, like the black fort juft dcfcribed; 
 fo that the bufhes whith bear them appear at a diftance like fo- 
 lid bodies of red matter. Some people admire this fruit, but 
 they partake of the nature and tafle of alum, leaving adifagree- 
 able roughnefs in the throat, and being very aftringent. As I 
 have already defcribed the fand cherries, which greatly exceed 
 the two other forts, both in flavour and fize, I fliall give n6 
 further defcription of them. The wood of the black cherry 
 *tree is very ufeful, and w^rks well into cabinet ware. 
 ^ The SWEET GUM TME or LIQUIDAMBER (Copalm) 
 is not only extremely common, but it affords a balm, the vir- 
 tues of which are infinite. Its bark is black and hard, and its 
 wood fo tender and fouple, that when the tree is felled, you 
 may draw from the middle of it rods of five or fix feet in length. 
 It cannot be employed in building or furniture, as it warps con- 
 tinually. Its leaf is indente^with five points, like a ftar. This 
 balm is reckoned by the Indians to be an excellent fe]?rifuge, 
 ai|d it cures wounds in two or three days, ' 
 
 
 
 SHRUBS. 
 
 ■;-iiK 
 
 ♦- 
 
 Sh.mV:.^ 
 
 The Willow, Shin Wood, Shumack, SalTafras, the Prickly 
 Afli, Moofe Wood, Spoon Wood, Large Elder, Dwarf Elder, 
 Poifonous Elder, Juniper, Shrub Oak, Sweet Fern, the Laurel, 
 the Witch Hazle, the Myrtle Wax tree. Winter Green, the Fever 
 Bufh, the Cranberry BulTi, the Goofberry Bufli, the Currant . 
 Bulli, theWhirtle Berry, the Rafberry, the. Black Berry, and 
 the Choak Berry. 
 
 n . . -^ J. 
 
 The WILLOW. There a" feveral f^ecies of the willow, 
 the moft remarkable of which is a linall fort that grows on the 
 banks of the Mifliirippi, and fome other places adjacent. The 
 bark of this Ihrub fupplies the beaver with its winter foodj and 
 where the water has wafhed the foil from its roots, they ap- 
 pear to confift of fibres interwoven together like thread, the 
 colour of which is of an inexpreflible fine fcarlet; with this 
 the Indians tinge many of the ornamental parts of their drefs. 
 
 SHIN WOOD. This extraordinary iTirub grows in the for- 
 Ws, and rifing like a vine, runs near the ground for fix or eight 
 
 m. 
 
 si 
 
 f ^ .--A 
 
X i. 
 
 '7f/' 
 
 ,y. ., 
 
 •'# 
 
 i 
 
 • «v 
 
 -^*.. 
 
 f» 
 
 fe^, and then takes root again; in the fame manner taking"* 
 root, and fpringing up fucccffivelj^, one ftalk covers a large 
 fpace; this proves very troubtefomc to the hafty traveller, by 
 llriking againft his fliins, and entangling his legs ; from which 
 it has acquired its name./ 
 
 The SASSAFRAS is r%ood well known for its medicinal 
 qualities. It might with equal propriety be termed a tree as a 
 flirub, as it fometimes grows thirty feet high ; but in general it 
 does not reich higher than thofe of the ihrub kind. The leaves, 
 which yield an agreeable fragrance, arc liarge, and nearly fepa- 
 rated into three divifions. It bears a reddifh brown berry, of 
 the fize and Ihape of Pimento, and which is fometimes ufed in 
 the colonies as a fiibrtitute for ^hat fpice. The barj^ or roots 
 of this tree is infinitely fuperior to the wood for its iife in me- 
 dicine, and I am furprized it is fo feldom to be met with, a* 
 its effic;;cy is fo much greater. 
 
 The PRICKLY ASH is a ftrub that fometimes grows to the 
 height of ten or fifteen feet, and has a leaf exaftly refcmbling 
 that of an alTi, but it receives the epithet to its name from the 
 abundance of ihort thorns with which every branch is covered, 
 and which renders it very troublefome to thofe whopafs through 
 the fpot where they grow thick. It alfo bears afcarlet berry, 
 which, when ripe, has a fiery tafte, like pepper. The bark cjf 
 this tree, particularly the bark of the roots, is highly cftQemed 
 by the natives for its medicinal qualities. I have already men- 
 tioned one inftance of its efficacy, and there is no doubt but 
 that the decoflion of it will expeditioufly and radically rCQiove 
 all impurities of the blood. 
 
 The MOOSE WOOD grows about four feet high, and is 
 very full of branches ; but what renders it worth notice is its 
 bark, which is of fo ftrong and pliable a texture, that being 
 peeled oiF at any feafon, and tv/irted, makes equally^ as gooo 
 cordage as hemp. 
 
 The SPOON WOOD is a fpecies of the laurel, and the 
 wood when fa#ed refcmbles box wood. 
 
 The ELDER, commonly rermed the poifonous elder, nearly 
 refcmbles xhe other forts in its. leaves and branches, butitgrows 
 much ftraiter, and is only found in fwamps and moift foils. This 
 fhrub is endowed with a very extraordinary quality, that ren- 
 ders it poiionous to fome coijjfcutions, which it effefts if the 
 perfon only approaches within i few yards of it, whilfl others 
 may even chew the leaves or the rind without receiving the Icaft 
 detriment from them : the poifon however is not mortal, though 
 it operates v^ry violently on the infeftcd perfon, whofe body 
 and head fweil to an amazing fize, and are covered with erup- 
 tions, that at their height refemble the confluent fmall-pox. ki 
 it grows alfo in many of the provinces, the inhabitants cure its 
 venom by drinking fafFron tea, and anointing the cxtereal parts 
 (^with a mixture conipofed of cream and marih mallowiv 
 
 im^ 
 
 '*3^-. 
 
 r* 
 
 mfy 
 
 '■•« 
 
The SHRUB OAK is exaftly fimilar to the oak tree, bot^ 
 In its wood and leaves, and like that it bears an acorn, but it 
 never rifcs from the ground above four or five feet, growing 
 crooked and knotty. It is found chietly on a dry gravelly ibil. 
 
 The WITCH HA2LE grows very bulliy, about ten feet 
 high, and is covered early in May with numerous white blof- 
 foms.. When this fhrub is in bloom, the Indians eftcem it a 
 further indication that the frpft is entirely gone, and that they 
 might low their corn. It has been faid, that it is poflefled of 
 the power of attradling gold or filver, and that twigs of it arc 
 made ufc of to difcover where the veins of thefe metals lie hid; 
 but I am apprchenfive that this is only a fallacious Itory, and 
 not to bo depended on ; however that fuppofition has given it 
 the name of Witch Hazle. 
 
 The MYRTLE WAX TREE Is a fhrub about four or five 
 ' feet high, the leaves of which arc larger than thofe of the cora- 
 inon myrtle, but they fmell exaftly alike. It bears its fruit \n 
 bunches, like a nofcgay, rifing frqm the fame place in various 
 ftalks, about two inches long : at the end of each of thefe is a 
 little nut containing a kernel, which is wholly covered with a 
 gluey fubftance, which being boiled in water, Iwims on the fur- 
 face of it, and becomes a kind of green wax,- this is more va- 
 tluable than bees-wax, being of a more brittle nature, but mixed 
 with it makes a good candle, which, as it burns, fends l"orth an 
 agreeable fcent. 
 
 WINTER GllEKN. Thi^ is an cver-grecn, of the fpccies 
 of the myrtle, and is found on dry heaths ; the flowers of it are 
 whltCj and in the form of a rofe, but not larger than a filver 
 poiny; in the winter it is full of red berries, about the fize of 
 a floe, which are fmooth and round; thefe are preferved during 
 the feverc fealon by the fnow, and are at that time in the higheii 
 perfe<aion. The Indians eat thefe berries, eltecming them \||| 
 ry balfamic, and invigorating to the flomach. The people in^ 
 habiting the interior colonies fleep both I'prigs and berries in 
 beer, and ufe it as a diet drink for cleunfing the blood from fcoj|p 
 butic diljorders. 
 
 The FEVER RUSH grows about five or fix feet high; its 
 leaf is like that of a lilach, and it bears a reddilli berry of a fpi- 
 cy flavour. The (hilks of it are exceflively brittle. A decoc^ 
 tion of the buds or wood |tf|9n excellent febrifuge, and frojii 
 this valuable property it reOTves its name. It is an ancient In- 
 dian remedy for all inflammatory complaints, and likewil'o 
 much elleemcd on the fame account, by' the inhabitants of the 
 interior parts of the colonies. 
 
 The CRANBERRY BUSH. Though the fruit of this buffi 
 greatly refeinbles in fize and appearance that of the cominon 
 for|^. which grows on a finall vine, in morailes and bogs, vet 
 the bulb runs to the height of ten or twehe feet; but it is 
 very rarely to be met with. As the meadow cranberry, being 
 "* of a local growth, and liQuriihing only in liioiaircs, c.iiinot ho 
 
 s^ traiifplantcd 
 
 ^" 
 
 
 
 
 ♦.» 
 
* " f 2C6 ] ••' « % 
 
 *ranfplantcd or cultivated, the former, if removed at a ffropcr 
 
 »eafon, would be a valuable acquifitioii to the garden, and with 
 
 proper Tiurture prove equally as good, if not better. 
 
 The CHOAK BERRY. * The Ihrub thus termed by the na- 
 
 r tives grows about five or fix feet high, and bears a berry about 
 
 ■ the fizo of a floe, of a jet black, which contains fcA-eral fmall 
 
 feeds within the pulp. The juice of this fruit, though not of 
 
 • difagreeable flavour, is extremely tart, and leaves a rough- 
 
 nefi in the mouth and throat when eaten, that has gained it tho 
 
 name of choak berry. 
 
 ROOTS and PLANTS. 
 
 Elccampagne, Spikenard, Angelica, , Sarfaparilla, Ginfang, 
 Ground Nuts, Wild Potatoes, Liquorice, Snake Root, Gold 
 Thread, Solomon's Seal, Devil's Bit, Blood Root, Onions, 
 Garlick, Wild i'arfnips, Mandrakes, Hellebore White and Black. 
 
 SPIKENARD, vulgarly called in the colonics Pctty-Morrel. 
 This plant appears to be (!xa(ftly the fame as the Afiatick fpike- 
 nard, fo much valued by the ancients. It grows near the fide* 
 of brooks, in rocky places, and its ftem, which is about the fizc 
 ofagoofe quill, fprings up like that of anficlica, reaching abdut 
 a foot and an half from the ground. It bears bunches of ber- 
 ries in all refpcdls lik^ thofc of the elder, only rather larger. 
 Tbefe ate of fuch a balfamic nature, that when infufed in fpi- 
 rits, they make a moft palatable and reviving cordial. 
 
 .;^^ SARSAPARILLA. The root of this plant, which is the moft 
 '"fliyRiible part of it, is about the fize of a goofe quill, and runs 
 ihwfferent directions, twined and crooked to a great length in 
 the ground; from the principal ftcm of it fpring many fmallcr 
 #bres, all of which are though and flexible. From the root im- 
 mediately flioots a ftalk about a foot and an half long, which 
 t at the top branches into three ftcms ; each of thefe has three 
 leaves, much of the lliape and fize of a walnut leaf; and from 
 the fork ot each of the three fterns grows a bunch of bluifli 
 white flowers, rcfembling thofe (||thc fpikenard. Tiie bark of 
 . the roots, which alone ftiould beefed in medicine, is of a bit- 
 terilh flavour, but aromatic. It is defervedly eflccmcd for its 
 mcdicnial virtues, being a gentle fudoritic, and very powerful 
 in attenuating the blood when impeded by grofs humours. '*^>^ • 
 
 •,4, / GINSANG is a root that that was once fuppofcd to grow on- 
 ]y in Korea, trom whence it was ufually exported to Japan, 
 and by that means found its way to Europe; but it has been late- ' 
 ly difcovcred to be alfo a native of Ndrth America, where it 
 grows to as great perfection, and is equally valuable. Its root 
 is like a fmall carot, but not fo taper at the end; it it fometimcs 
 ■■k- ^ \ ^ ^ , divide ' 
 
 ■■' „-'■-■■:: ■^'•' ..,■'■" ' "" V, , ' .'-ISEi:' ;^:-'-* 
 
 *" !•«.■- * ' . --^ 
 
 ,.V 
 
* ' [ 207 i 
 
 divi'dcd into two or more branches, in all other refpefts it re- 
 fcmblcs larfaparilla in Its growth. The tafte of the root is bit- 
 tcrilTi. In the caftern parts of Aflait bears a great price, being 
 there confidered as a panacea, and is the laft refuge of the in- 
 habitants in all difordcrs. When chewed it certainly is a great 
 ftrengthcner of the ftomach. 
 
 GOLD THREAD. This is a plant of the fmall vine kind, 
 which grows in Iwampy places, and lies on the ground. The 
 roots fprcad themfelves juft under the furface of the morafs, 
 and arc eafily drawn up by handfuls. They rcfemble a large 
 entangled skain of thread, of a fine bright gold 'colour; and I 
 am pcrfuaded would yield a beautiful and permanent yellow dye. 
 It is alfo greatly eftecmed both by the Indians and colonifts as 
 a remedy tor any forAiefs in the mouth, but the tafle of it is 
 cxquilitely bitter. 
 
 SOLOMON'S SEAL is a plant that grows on the fides of 
 livers, and in rich meadow land. It rifes in the whole to about 
 three feet high, the ftalks being two feet, when the leaves be- 
 gin to fpread themfelves and reach a foot further. A part in 
 every root has an impreflion upon it about the fize of a fix- 
 pence, which appears as if it was made by a feal, and from 
 thefe it receives its name. It is greatly valued on account of its 
 being a fine purifier of the blood. 
 
 DEVIL'S BIT is another wild plant, which grows in the 
 fields, and receives its name from a print thatfcems to be made 
 by teeth in the rpots. The Indians fay that this was once 
 an univeifal jremedy for every diforder that human nature is in- 
 cident to; but fome of the evil fpirits envying mankind in the 
 poflcffion of fo efficacious a medicine gave the root a bite, which 
 deprived it of a great part of its virtue. 
 ' BLOOD ROOT. A fort of plantain that fprings out of th#^ 
 ground in fix or feven long rough leaves, the veins :of which* 
 are redj the root of it is like a fmall carrot, both in colour and 
 appearance," when broken, the infidc of it is of a deeper co- 
 lour than th'i outfide, and diftils feveral drops of juice that look 
 like blood.' This Is a ftrong emetic, but a very dangerous one. 
 
 '■W 
 
 A'i 
 
 ■■'i^*-- 
 
 m 
 
 H E fl B S. 
 
 
 ' Balm, Nettles, Cinque, Foil, Eyebright, Sanicle, Plantain," 
 Kattle Snake Plantain, Poor Robin's Plantain, Toad Plantain, 
 Alaiden Hair, Wild Dock, Rock Liverwort, Noble Liverwort, 
 Bloodwort, Wild Beans, Ground Ivy, Water Crcffes, Yarrow, 
 May Weed, Gargit, Skunk Cabbage or Poke, Wake Robin, Be- 
 tony, Scabious, Mullen, WildFeafe,Moure Ear, Wild Indigo, 
 Tobajcco, and Cat Mint, ., '' ' ' 
 
 SANICLE 
 
 ■^ 
 
 '1 ,Ai.t 
 
¥ 
 
 * SANICLE has a root which is thick towards the upper part, 
 and full of fmall fibres below ; the leaves of it arc broad, round- 
 ifli, hard, finooth, and of a fine lliiniiig green ; a ftalk rifos from 
 ihcfe to the height of a foot, which is quite linooth and free 
 from knots, and on the top of it arc fcveral fniail flowers of a, 
 rcddifli white, lliapcd like a wild rofe. A tea made of the root 
 is vulnerary and balfamic. 
 
 RATTLE SNAKE PLANTAIN. This ufeful herb is of the 
 plantain kind, and its leaves, which fprcad themfelvcs on tho 
 ground, are about one inch and an half wide, and five inches 
 long; from the centre of thefe arifes a fmall ftalk, nearly fix 
 inches long, which bearsa littlcwhiteflower; the root is about 
 the fize of a goofe quill, and much bent and divided into fcve- 
 ral branches. The leaves of this herb are more eificacious than 
 any other part of it for the bite of the reptile from which it rc- 
 'ccives its name; and being chewed and applied immediately to 
 the wound, and fome of the juice fwallowed, fcldom fails of 
 averting every dangerous fymptom. So convinced are the In- 
 dians of the power of this infallible antidote, that for a trifling 
 bribe of fpirituous liquor, they will at any time permit a rattle 
 fnakc to drive his fangs into their flefli. It is to be remarked 
 that during thofe months in which the bite of thefe creatures Is 
 moft venemous, that this remedy for it is in its^eateft perfec- 
 tion, and moft luxuriant in its growth. 
 
 POOR ROBIN'S PLANTAIN is of the fame fpecics as tho 
 laft/but more diminutive in every refpeft; it receives its name 
 from its fize, and the poor land on which it grows. It is a good 
 medicinal herb, and often adminiftered with fuccefs in fevers 
 and internal wcaknefl^es. 
 
 TOAD PLANTAIN rcfembles the common plaintain, only 
 ^it grows much ranker, and is thus denominated becaufc toads 
 4ove to harbour under it. 
 
 ROCK LIVERWORT is a fort of Liverwort that grows on 
 locks, and is of the nature of kelp or mofs. It is eftcemcd as 
 an excellent remedy againfl: declines. 
 
 GARGIT or SKOKE is a large kind of weed, the leaves of 
 which are about fix inches long, and two inches and an half 
 broad; they refemble thofe of fpinage in their colour and tex- 
 ture, but not in iliape. The root is very large, from which 
 fpring different ftalks that run eRght or ten feet high, and are 
 lull of red berries; thefe hang in clullers in the month of Sep- 
 tember, and arc generally called pigeon berries, as thole b^rds 
 then feed on them. When theleavesfiift fpring from theground,^; . 
 after being boiled, they are a nutritious and wholefome vege-|i^ 
 table, but when they are grown nearly to their full fizc, thej^5'«. 
 €cquirc a poilbnous quality. The roots applied to the handj^v,;? 
 or feet of a pcrfon afflicted with a fever, prove a very power- 
 ful abforbent. 
 
 SKUNK CABBAGE or POKE is an herb that grows in moift 
 aud fwampy places. The leaves of it are about a foot lo'^St ■ 
 
 "tis*. 
 
 ^- 
 
And fix inches broad, nearly oval, but rather pointed. Jhe 
 tools arc coropofed of great numbers of fibres, a lotion of 
 which is made ufe of by the people in the co'onies tor the euro 
 of the kch. There llTues a ftrong musky fmell from this herb, 
 fomething like the animal of the fame name before dcfcribed) 
 and on that account it is fo termed. 
 
 WAKE ROBIN is an herb that grows in fwrampy land^ ; its 
 root reftmbles a fmall turnip, and if tailed will greatly inflame 
 the tongue, and immediately convert it from its natural fhape 
 into a round hard fubllance; in which ftate it will continue for 
 fome time, and during this no other part of the mouth will be 
 affcfted. But when dried, It lofes its ^rlngent quality, and 
 becomes beneficial to mankind, for if grated into cold water, 
 and taken Internally, it is very good for all complaints of the 
 bowels. 
 
 WILD INDIGO is an herb of the fame fpecics as that from 
 whence indigo is made in the fouthern colonies. It grows in 
 one llalk to the height of five or fix inches from the ground, 
 when it divides into many branches, from which ilTuc a great 
 number of fmall hard bluilh leaves that fpread to a great breadth, 
 and among thefe it bears a yellow flower ; the juice of it has a 
 very difagreeable fcent. 
 
 CAT MINT has a woody root, divided into fcveral branches, 
 and it fends forth a Dalk about three feet high ; the leaves are 
 like thofe of the nettle or betony, and they have a ftrong fmell 
 of mint, with a biting acrid tafte; the floprers grow on the tops 
 of the branches, and are of a faint purple or whitilK colour. It 
 is called cat mint, becaufe it is faid that cats have an antipathy 
 to it, and will not let it grow. It has nearly the virtues o£ 
 common mint, ♦ r 
 
 FLOWERS. 
 
 
 
 
 
 Heart's Eafe, Mlies red and yellow. Pond Lilies, Cowfllps, 
 May Flowers, JelHimine, Honeyfiickles, Rock Honeyfuckles, 
 Roles red and white. Wild Hollyhock, Wild Pinks, GoIdenRod. 
 
 t- 
 
 1.' V— . 
 
 I fhall not enter into a minute defcriptionofthe flowers above 
 recited, but only juft obferve, that they much refemble thofe of 
 the fame name which grow in Europe, and are as beautiful in 
 colour, and as perfedl in odour, as they can be fuppofed to be 
 in their wild uncultivated ftate. - *« 
 
 
 -<^, 
 
 ...jl,-' .sji 
 
 * For an account of Tobacco, fee atrcatifc I have publirtied oa 
 tli6 cuUuie of «that plant. 
 
 -^■- ^ ' . j)i ■•--""*'• •■: FARINAt 
 
\^- 
 
 . i 
 
 V 
 
 -» t' 
 
 f aj» 1 
 
 
 ^'^ 
 
 • > 
 
 ..*.* 
 
 FARINACEOUS and LEGUMINOUS; 
 .^- /¥ .iM ROOTS, &c._ .% - 
 
 Maize or Ituiian Corn, Wild Ukc, Beans, the Sqiiaft), &c. - 
 
 MAI7R or INDIAN 
 high, on it ft.ilk J'ull of/onrfs, which is ftiff nnd I'olid, and when 
 
 CORN prows from fix to"tcn fccff 
 owns, 
 
 green, afx-Hindin^ with a iVcct jirice. Ihc Icarci, are Ukc thole 
 ol' the iccil, about two lest in length, and three or four inches 
 broad. The flowers which are produced at forte diflanccTronr 
 the fruit 6n the fume plant, grow like the cars of oats, antt 
 arc fomettincs white, yellow, or of a purple colour. The feeds 
 areas lar{»c as peas, and like them quite naked and fmooth, buff 
 of a roundilli furface, rather comprelfed. One fpikc generally 
 con fift.+ of about fix hundred grains, which are placed cloCel/ 
 together in rows to the number of cigfit or tffn, and fometimes- 
 twelve. This corn fs very wholeforae, cafy of digeftion, and 
 yields as good nouriflnnent as any other lort. After tfhe Indi- 
 ans have reduced it into meal by pounding it, they make cakc^ 
 of it, and bake them before the lire. I have already mentioned' 
 that fome nations eat it in cakes before it is rjpc, in which ftate 
 it is very agreeable to the palate, and extremely nutritive. 
 
 WILI> RIGE. This grain, which grows in the grcateft plen- 
 ty throughout the intdlTior parts of North Americn, is the mo(V 
 valuable of all the (pontaneous produdilions of t?hat country. Ex- 
 clufiveof its utility, a:« a fupply of food for thofe of the human' 
 fjiecics, whoiihihabit thi.? pan of the canJinent, and obtained 
 without any other trouble than thatof gathcring'itin, the f-.veeb*^' 
 ncfs and nutritious quality of it attrafts an intinit« number of 
 wild fowl of every kind, which flock from diftant climes, to en- 
 joy this rare rcpaft; and by it become inexpieflibly lat and de- 
 licious. In future pCTitKls it will be of great fervicc to the in- 
 fant colonies, as it will atiord them a prefent lupport, until \\\ 
 the courfe of cultivation other fuyplics may beproduced; where- 
 as ?n t'fioie realms which arc uot furnillied with this bounteous 
 j^Ift of nature, even if the chmatc is temperate and the foil good>> 
 the iirrt fe'tlcrs are ofrcu cxp"ofed ro great hardfliips from tlic 
 want of an immediate relburce for necellary food. This ufeful 
 ^rain grows in the water where it Is about two feet deep, and 
 where it iinds a rich muddy foil, 'i he flalka ®f it,, and the 
 branches or ears that bear the feed,,refc™bie oats both in their 
 appearance and manner of growing. Theftalksare full of joints, 
 and rife more than eight feet above the water. The natives ga-.* 
 ther the grain in the following manner : nearly about the timer," 
 That it begins to turn from its oiilky ftate and to ripen, theyrttrt 
 th^yir canoes intetlic midtVofk, Jind tying^bunches of it togethelTv' 
 jurt below the eats, with bark, Icaye it in thl« (itunrfon three or*"' 
 i»^.i wgCiiS ion^er, till it is nerfctlly riii*. About the latter end 
 
 
 h*-, ' ^i^ 
 
 *fljtf 
 
*-f 
 
 .^ I w 
 
 ^ f{ 211 SI ■ 
 
 of 5>epteinber they return fo the river, whene.ich family hiving 
 its fcparatc allotment, and bcin^ able to liilbnguifti^tlicir own 
 jiropc/iy by tije manner of taOcning the thcavcs, ^athcrjn the 
 portion that belongs to thciw. This they do by placing their 
 canoes clofc to the bunches of rice, in fuch pofitlon as to re- 
 ceive the grain when it falls, and then beat it out, with pieces * 
 of wDod formed for that purpofc. Having done this, ihcy dry 
 it witli*|!UDkc^ and afterwards tread or rub off thcoutfwehusi^; 
 when it is ftt for ufc they put it iito the skins of fawns, oi; 
 , yonnj; buffalos, taken off nearly whole foj* this purpofe,, and 
 fcwed into a f6rt of fack, wherein they prcfervc it till the rc- 
 turn.of their harvcft.* It has been the fubjcft of much fpccu- 
 lation, why this fpontancous g\ain is not found in any other re- 
 gions of America, or in thole countries fituatcd in the fame pa- 
 rallels of latitude, where the waters arc as apparently adapted^ 
 for its growth as in the climates I treat of. As for inlhncc,' 
 none of the countries that lie to the fouth and caft of the great 
 lakes, even from the provinces north of the Carollnas, to the 
 , evtremitics of I^abradorc, produce any of this grain. It is true 
 I found great quantities of it in the watered lands near Detroit, 
 between Lake Huron and t-^'ke Eriii, but on enquiry I learnc*d. 
 . tjiat it never arrived nearer to maturity than juft to blofToin,- af- 
 tt-'r which it appeared blighted, and died away. Tliis convinces 
 me that the north-wed wind, as I have before hinted, is much 
 i^iorc powcrlul in thefe than in the interior parts; and that it Is 
 more inimical to the fruits of the earth, after it has palfed over 
 the lakes, and become united with the wind which joins it from 
 tjic frozen regions of the north, tliali it is farther to the weft- 
 ward. 
 
 BEANS. Thtffe are nearly of the fame Ihape as the European , 
 beans, but arc not much larger than the fmallcll {\zq of them. ' 
 They arc boiled by the Indians, and eaten chiclly with bear's 
 ficl'h. 
 
 The SQUASH. They have alfo fcvcral fpecies of the ME- 
 LON or PUMPKIN, which by fame arc called fquaihes, and • 
 which fervc many nations partly as a fubflitute for bread. Of 
 thefe there is the round, the crane-neck, the Imall flat, and the 
 large oblong fquafh. The (mailer forts being boiled, arc eaten 
 during the fummer as vegetables ; and arc all of a plcafing fla- 
 V(nu-. The crane- neck, which greatly excels all the others, are 
 ufually hung up for a winter's llore, and in this manner might 
 tp prel'crvcd for fcvcral months. -^ _,..^ -, - ,r-;.,jp 
 
 m 
 
 !'t> 
 
 IS /i^ i 
 
 y \»i^. *i 
 
 tliry 
 
 
 
 appendix: 
 
 y^ 
 
 
 # 
 
 %. 
 
 .«.&■, 
 
 («?" 
 

 ( ai2 J 
 
 1- ' V U f 
 
 .t 
 
 A P P E N D I X. 
 
 
 THE countries that lie between the gv^t lakes asd River 
 Mifnflippi, and from thence routh\vard to Weft Florida, 
 although in the mid ft of alarge continent, and at a great dif- 
 tance from the fea, are JTo Htuated, that a comBiunication be* 
 tween them and other realms might conveniently be opened; 
 lify which means thofe empires or colonies that may hereafter be 
 $ founded or planted therein, will be rendered commercial ones. 
 The great River Mifliffippi, which runs through the whole of 
 them, will enable their inhabitants to eftablim an intercourfe 
 with foreign climeS, equally as well as the Euphrates, the Nile, 
 the Danube, or the Wolga do thofe people which dwell on 
 , their banks, and who have no other convenience for exporting 
 « the produce of their own country, or for importing thofe of 
 others, than boats and veflels of light burden : notwithftand- 
 ing which they have become powerful and opulent ftates. 
 The Miffiflippi, as 1 have before obferved, runs from north 
 ^^ to foutb, and paflfes through the moft fertile and temperate 
 part of North America, excluding only j,he extremities of it,.^ 
 which verge both on the torrid and frigid zones. Thus favour-* 
 ^ ably fituated, when once its banks are covered with inhabitants^ 
 ^^ they need not long be at a lofs for means to eftablifh an exten- 
 iive and profitable commerce. They will find the country to-, 
 wards the fouih almoft fpontaneoully producing filk, cotton^ 
 indigo,, and tobacco ; and the more northern parts, wine, oil, 
 beef, tallow, skins, buffalo-wool, and furs, with lead, copper, 
 iron, coals, lumber, corn, rice, and fruits, befldes earth and 
 barks for dying. 
 
 Thefe articles, with which it abounds even to profufion, may 
 be tranfported to the ocean through this river without greater 
 difficulty than that which att^ds^ the conveyance of merchan- 
 »• dize down fome of thofe I have juft mentioned. It is true that 
 the Miiliflippi being the boundary between the Engliih andSpa- 
 nifli fettlements, and the Spaniards in poffeffion of the iftouth 
 •of it, they may obflruft the paflTage of it, and greatly diihearten 
 thofe who make the firft attempts; yet when the advantages 
 that will certainly arife to fettlers are known, multitude* of ad- 
 venturers, allured by the profpeft of fuch abundant riches, will 
 flock to it, and eftabliih themfelvcs, though at the lexpcncc of 
 rivers of blood. 
 
 But fhould the nation that happens to be injaolTeflion of New 
 Orleans prove unfriendly to the internal fettflffs, they may find 
 a way into the Gulph of Mexico, by the River Iberville, which 
 empties itfelt from the Myfiflippi, after palling through Lake 
 Maurepas, into Lake^ ronchartrain ; which has a communica- 
 : ~\,' ■ '* * ■^^ V ... ^flpfflp-* tion 
 
'f 
 
 K t 213 ] 
 
 tton with the fca within the borders ©f Weft-FIorida. The 
 Jlivcr Iberville branches ofF from the MifTiflippi about eighty 
 miles above New Orleans, and though it is at prefentchoakeci ' 
 up in fome parts, it might at ah inconfiderable expcncc be made 
 navigable, fo as to anuvcr all thepurpofes propofcd. 
 
 Although the Englifh have acquired fince the lafl peace a 
 mo^'e extenfive knowledge of the interior parts than were ever 
 ^ obtained before, even by the French, yet many of ^hcir pro- 
 duftions ftill remain unknown. And though I was not deficient 
 cither in aflldujty or attention during the lihort time I rcmainc?4 
 in them, yet I muft acknowledge that the intelligence 1 gained 
 was not fo perfeft as I could wifli, and that it requires further 
 refearches to make the world thoroughly acquainted with the 
 real value of thefe long hidden realms. 
 
 The parts of the MifniTippi of which no furvcy have hitlicr^ 
 to been taken, amount to upwards of eight hundred miles, fol- 
 lowing ths courfe of the ftream, that is, from the Illinois to t!:e 
 Ouifconfin Rivers. Plans of fuch as reach from the Mifliflippi 
 to l^e Gulph of Mexico, have been delineated by feveral hands, 
 and I have the pleafure to find that anaftwa! furvey of the inter- 
 mediate parts of the Mifljffippi, between the Illinois River and 
 the fea,with the Ohio, Cherokee, and Ouabache Rivers, fakcj 
 on the fpot by a very ingenious Gentleman*, is now pabliJ7icd, 
 I flatter: myfelf that the obfervations therein contained, which 
 have been made by one whofe knowledge of the parts therein 
 defcribed was acquired by a perfonal inveftigation, aided by a, 
 folid judgment, will coiiiirm the remarks I have made, and piro- 
 jHOte the plan I am iierc recommending. 
 
 I fhall alfo here give a concife defcription of cach^bcginninj^, 
 according to the rule of geographers, with that whioi lies molt 
 to the north. 
 
 It is however necelTary to obferve, that before thefe fettle- 
 mcntfs can be eftablilTied, grants muft be procured in the raan-_ 
 ner cuftomary on fuch occafions, and the lands be purchafedof 
 thofe who have acquired a right to them by a long poffefTion; 
 but no greater difficulty will attend the completion of this point, 
 than the original founders of every colony on the continent met 
 with to obftruft their intentions ; and the number of Indiunti 
 " who inhabit thefe trafts being greatly inadequate to their extent, 
 it is not to be doubted, but they will readily give up for a re:;- 
 fonable confideration, territories that arc of little ufe to them; 
 or remove for the accommodation of their new neighbours, to 
 lartds at a greater dillance from the Miflifllppi, the navigation. 
 »# of whi-ch is not eflential to the welfare of their communities. 
 
 No. I. The country within thefe lines, from its fituation, 
 is colder than any of the others; yet I am convinced that ^^%Q 
 y air is much moro|tempcratc than in thofe p; evinces that lie in'^- 
 : , the 
 
 ♦ Thomas Hiitchins, Efq; Captain in his Majefty's <5otJi, «>r R^^^al 
 American Regiment of Fopt. v? • 
 
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 th<j fame degree of latitude to the eafl of it. The foil is excels 
 lent, and t'here is a great deal of land that is free from woods 
 in the parts adjoining to the Mifllllippi; whilft on the contia» 
 XY the northqjpaftern borders of it are wgell wooded. Towards 
 the heads of the River Saint Q-oix, rice grows in "great plenty, 
 an'd tiierc is abundance of copjfer. Though the falls of vSaint 
 Anthony are fituated at the fouth-cail corner of this divifioji, 
 yet that impediment will not totally obftrucH: the navigation, as 
 the River Sqint Croix, which runs through a great part of the 
 fouthern fide of it, inters the- Miflifllppi juft below the Falls, 
 and flows with fo gentle a current, that it affords a convcnicn?. 
 navigation for boats. This traft is about one hundred miles 
 from nortli-wcft to fouth-cafi;, ajid one hundred and twenty mi^Cj^ 
 from nnrth-eaft to fouth-wcll. 
 
 No. II. This trad, as } have aIrea(J'y dcfcribed it In my Jour- 
 nals, exceeds the highcft encomiums I can give it; notwith-^ 
 ftanding which it is entirely uninhabited, and the profufion of 
 blcflings that nature has ihowered on this heavenly fpot, return 
 uncnjoyed to the lap from whence they fprung. Lake Pepin, as 
 I have termed it after the French, lies within theic bounds ;*ut 
 the lake to which that name properly belongs is a little above ' 
 the River St. Ci'oix; however, as all the traders call the lower 
 lake by that name, I have fo denominated it, contrary 'to the 
 information I received from tiie Indians. This colony lying in 
 unequal angles, the dimenfions of it cannot be exactly given,' 
 but it appears to be on an average about one hundred and te% 
 miles long, and eighty broad. ' '. 
 
 No. III. The greatert pvt of this divifion is fituated on thq 
 Rfver OuiXconfin, which is navigable for boats about one hun- 
 dred and ^^ity miles, till it reaches the carrying place that di- 
 vides it froiiUhe Fox River. The land which is contained with- 
 in its-limits, is in fome parts mountainous, and in others confilh 
 of fertile meadows and line pallurage. It is furnitlied alfo with 
 a great deal of good tin^ber, and, as is generally the cafe on 
 the banks of the JVliflillippi and its branches, has much fine, 
 open, clear land, proper for cultivation. To thcfe arc adde4 
 an inexhauftible fund of rich^'s, in a number of lead mines wiiich 
 lie at a little diftunce from the Ouifconfin towards the fouth, 
 and appear to be uncommonly full of ore. Although the Sau-i 
 )vies and Ottagaumies inhabit 9. part of this traft, the whole of 
 the lands under their cultivation does not exceed three hundred 
 acres. It is iji length from eull: to weft about one hundred and 
 iifry milcsf and about eighty froni north to fouth. 
 
 No. IV. This colony confifts of lands of various denomi-^* 
 nations, fome of \vhlch are very good, and others very bad. 
 Tiic belt ib fituated on the borders of the Green Cay and the Fox 
 ^l^i'cr, where there are innumerable acres covered with fine. 
 jji'als, mort part of which grows to an allonilliing height. This 
 river will afford a good navigation lor boats throughout the 
 whole of its couife, which is about one hundred and eighty 
 _ • ' ■ ' -,; 't inilcii. 
 
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 i 215 1 
 
 mllciJ, except between the Winnchogo Lake, an.l tlic Grffcn 
 Bay; where there are fcveral carrjinf^-places hi the fpace of 
 thirty miles. The Fox River is rendered remarkable by the 
 abundance of rice that i^rows on its iTiores, Tind the almoft in- 
 finite numbers of wild fi)\vl that frequent its banks. The land 
 which lies near it appears to bevery fertile, and proniifes to pro- 
 duce a fufRcient fupply of all the neceflaries of life for any num- 
 ber of inhabitants. A communication might be opened by thof^ 
 who fhall fettle here, cither through the Green IJay, Lake Mi- 
 chigan, Lake Huron, Lake Eric, and Lake Ontario with Cana- 
 da, or by way of the Ouifconfm into the JMifliflippi. This di- 
 vifiqn is about one hundred and fixty miles long 'from north to 
 fouth, and one hundred and forty broad. 
 
 No. V. TItIs is an excellent traft of land, and, confidcrii^g 
 its interior fiUiation, has greater advantages than could be cx- 
 peftcd; for having the Mifliflippi on its weftern borders, anJ 
 the Illinois on its fouth-eaft, it has as free a navigation as moft 
 of the others. The hortlTcrn parts of it are fomcwhat moun- 
 tainous, bur it contains a great deal of clear land, the foil of 
 which is exc;;'lent, w itli-many fine fertile meadows, and not a few 
 rich mines. It is upwards of two hundred miles from north to 
 ibuth, and one hundred and fifty from eaft to weft. 
 
 No. VL This colony being (ituated upon the heads of the 
 Rivers Illinois and Ouabache, the former of which empties it- 
 felf immediately into the IVlifliflippi, and the latter into the f^mc' 
 river by means af the Ohio, will readily llnd a communication 
 with the Tea through thefe. Having alio the River Miamis 
 pafling through it, which runs into Lake Eric, an intercourlb 
 might be cdablilTied with Canada alfo by way of the- lakes, as 
 before pointed out. It contains a great deal of rich fertile land, 
 and though more inland than any of the others, v/ill be as va- 
 luable an acquifition as the bell: of them. From north, to fouth 
 it is about anc hundred and fixLy miles, from eaft to v/cft one 
 hundred and eighty. 
 
 No. VII. This divifion is not inferior to any of the fore- 
 going. Its northern borders lying adjacent to the Illinois river, 
 and its weitern to the MiffiiTippi, the lituation of it for ertab- 
 lllliirig a commercial intercourfe with foreign nations is very 
 ctiminodious. It abomids with all the necellaries of life, and is 
 about one hundred and fifty miles from north to fouth, and flx- 
 ty miles from cad to wefl; but the confines of it being more ir- 
 regular than the others, I cannot exa^^ly afcerta|n the dimen-- 
 fions of it. 
 
 No. Vin. This colony Kaving the River Ouabache running, 
 through the centre of it, and the Ohio for its fouthern bounda- 
 ry, will enjoy the advantages of a. free navigation. It extends 
 ^.bout one hundred and forty miles from north to fouth, and 
 erne hundred and thirty from call to well. 
 
 No. IX. X. and XI. being fimiUr in fituation, tmd furni/hcd 
 ivith nearly the fauw conveniencics as all the otbas, 1 fliaJi i^"- . 
 
 
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 ly give their dimenfions. No. IX. 13 about eighty miles each 
 way, but not cxaftiy fquare. No. X. is nearly in the falneforln^ 
 and about the fame extent. No. Xf. is much larger, being at* 
 leaft one l^unfdred and fifty miles from north to fouth, and one 
 hundred and forty from eafl to weft, as nearly as from jts irregu- 
 larity it is pollible to calculate. 
 
 After the defcription of this;delighlful country I have already 
 given, I need not repeat that all the fpots I have thus pointed 
 out as proper for colonization, abound not only with ths nc- 
 celTaries of life, being well ftored with rice, deer, buffalos, 
 bears, &c. but produce in equal abundance fuchas may be term- 
 ed luxuries, or at leaft thofe articles of commerce before re- 
 Tcited, which the inhabitants of it will have an opportunity of 
 exchanging for the needful produflions of other countries. 
 
 The dilcovery of a north-weft palTage to India has been the 
 fubjftt of innumerable difquifitions. Many efforts likewifehave 
 been made by way of Hudlbn's Bay, to penetrate into the Paci- 
 fic Ocean, though without luccefs. I (hall not therefore trou- 
 ble myfclf to enumerate the advantages that would refult from 
 this much wiflied-for difcovery, its utility being already too 
 wejl known to the commercial world to need any elucidation; I 
 iKall only confine myfelf to the methods that appear moft pro- 
 bable to enfure fucccfs to future adventurers. 
 
 The many attempts that have hitherto been made for this pur* 
 pofe, but which have all been rendered abortive, feem to have 
 turned the fpirit of making uleful rcfeaichcs into another chan- 
 nel, and this moft interefting one has ahnoft been given up as 
 imprai-licable; but, in my opinion, their failure rather proceeds 
 'from their being begun at an improper nlace, than from their 
 iiiipraclicability. 
 
 All navigators that have hitherto gone in fearch of this paf- 
 lage, have lirft cnteicd Hudlbn's Ijay ; the confequence of which 
 has been, that having fpent the leafon during which only thofc 
 teas are navigable, in exploring many of the numerous inlets 
 lying therein, and this uichuu: difcovering any opening, terri- 
 ticd at the approach of winter, they have haftened back for fear 
 of being fro/ en up, and confequentiy of being obliged to con- 
 tinue till tiie rcrturn of Innimer in thole bleak and dreary realms. 
 Even ilich a^ have perceived the coafts to enfold themfcives, 
 II' ui who have of couric enieriaincd hopes of fucceeding, have 
 been deterred from proiecuting tijeir voyage, left the winter 
 iiitjuld let in before they could reach a more temperate climate. 
 
 Thefe apprehenlions have dilcoaraged the boldeft adventurers, 
 froiii completing the expeditions in which they have engaged, 
 iUid fvulhated every attempt. Cut a.s it has been difcovered by 
 inch as have failed into the northern parts of the Pacific Ocean,^ 
 that there are many inlets which verge towards Iludfon's Bay," 
 'it is not to be doubted but that a palfagp might be made, out 
 from that quarter, "it" it be fought for at a proper feafon. And 
 fhould theC« exp(iita;ions be difappointed, the explorers would 
 
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 es each 
 neforinj 
 aeing at 
 and one 
 s irregur 
 
 already 
 
 pointed , 
 
 ths nc- 
 buffalos, 
 
 be tcrm- 
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 tunity of 
 ies. 
 
 been the^ 
 wifehave^ -, 
 the Paci- 
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 jfult from 
 ready too 
 idation; I 
 moft prO" 
 
 >r this pur- 
 im to have 
 )ther chan- 
 ivcn up as 
 X proceeds 
 from their 
 
 of this paf- 
 ce of which 
 
 only thole 
 cvous inlets 
 ining, terri- 
 )ack for fear 
 gcd to con- 
 ciiry realms. 
 
 thcmfclves, 
 
 icding, have 
 \ the winter 
 rate climate. • 
 kadventurers 
 ave engaged, 
 liicovered by 
 'acific Ocean, ^ 
 ludfon's Bay, 
 be made. out 
 feafon. And 
 plorcrs wouldj 
 ^ not 
 
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 > ^ t 217 1 
 
 Jiot be inlhe fame hazardous fituation with thofe ivho fct out 
 from Hudfon's Bay, for they will always be fure of a fafe re- 
 treat, through an open fea, to warmer regions, even after re- 
 peated difappoiht^Ticnts. And this confidence will enable them 
 to proceed with greater refolution, and probably be the means 
 of efFefting what too much circumfpe^lion or timidity has pre- 
 vented. 
 
 Thcfe reafons for alterfng the plan of enquiry after this con- 
 venient palTiige, carry with them fiich conviftion, that in the 
 year 1774 Richard Whitworth, fifq; member of parliament for 
 Stafford, a gentleman of an extenfive knowledge in geography, 
 of an aftive enterprifing difpofition, and whofe benevolent minii 
 is ever ready to promote the happinefs of individuals, or the 
 welfare of the public, from the reprefentations made to him of 
 the expediency of it by myfelf and others, intended to travel 
 acrofs the continent of America, that he might attempt to car- 
 ry a fcheme of this kind into execution. 
 
 He dcfigned to have purfued nearly the fame route that I did; 
 and after having built a fort at Lake Pepin, to have proceeded 
 up the River St. Pierre, and from thence up a branch of' the 
 River Meflbrie, till having difcovered the fource of the Oregau 
 or River of the Wert, on the other fide the fummit of the land.< 
 that divide the waters which run into the Gulph of Mexico 
 from thofe that fall into the Pacific Ocean, he would have failed 
 down that river to the place where it is faid to empty itfelf neac 
 the Straights of Annian. 
 
 Having there cftabliiTied another fettlement on fome fpot tha<: 
 appeared beft calculated for the fupport of his people, in the 
 neighbourhood of fome of the inlets wliich tend towards tlicj 
 north-eaft, he would from thence have begun his refcarchc,;. 
 This gentleman was to have been attended in the expedition hv* 
 Colonel Rogers, myfelf, and others, and to have taken out with 
 him a futlicient number of artiliccrs and mariners for building 
 the forts and velfels neceiTary on the occafion, and for navigat- 
 ing the latter,- in air not lefs than iifty or fixty men. The grant,-; 
 and other requfites fcrr this purpofe were even nearly complet- 
 ed, when the prefenf troubles in America began, which put a 
 Hop to an enterprise that promifed to be of inconceivable ad*^ 
 vantage to the Britilh dominions. v 
 
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