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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 32 X 1 2 3 4 5 6 H Di THREE YEARS TRAVELS .■ THROUGK THB INTERIOR PARTS OF NORTH-AMERICA, FOR MORE THAN FIVE THOUSAND MILES ; CONTAINIKO An Account of the great Lakes, and all the Lakes, Islands," and Rivers, Cataracts, Mountains, Minerals, Soil, and Vegetable Productions of the North-West Regions of that vaft Continent; w I T H A DESCRIPTION OF THE BIRDS, BEASTS, REPTILES, INSECTS, and FISHES PECULIA \ TO THE COUNTRY. TOGETHER WITH A CONCrsB HISTORY OF THE GENIUS, MANNERS, and CUSTOMS OF THE INDIANS INHABITING THE LANDS THAT LIB ADJACENT TO THE HEADS; AND TO THE WESTWARD I OF THE GREAT RIVER MISSISSIPPI; A N O A N • APPENDIX, Describing the uncultivated parts of AMERICA thaI' ARE THE MOST PROPER FOR FORMING SETTLEMENTS. By Captain JONATHAN CARVER, OF THE PROVINCIAL TROOPS IN AMERICA. EDINBURGH: Published by JAMES KEY.. f<()f. X^'^CV To JOSEPH BANKS, E% PRESIDENT " , , OF THE, ROTAL SOCIETT. ' , S I R, "When the Public are inform^ ed that I have long had the Honour of your Acquaintance— that my defign in publifliing the following Work has received your Sanaion— that the Com- pofuion of it has ftood the Teft of your Judgment — and that it is by your Per- miffion, a Name'fo defer vedly eminent _ ^^^^jjj, ^ TTWiiu 1,9 prensea to it. ff IV DEDICATION. I need not be apprehenfive of its Suc- Ccfs; as your Patronage will unquef- tionably give them AfTurance of its Merit. For this Public Teftimony of your Fa- vour, in which I pride myfelf, accept. Sir, my mod grateful Acknowledgments ; and believe me to be, with great Refpcdl:, Your obedient^ •'''■• ■■ ■ ■ ^ • ..1 . • Humble Servant, J. QAIIVER. AN A D D R E S S #.. T O TH E P U B L I C. ♦' 1 HE favourable reception this Work has met with, claims the Author's moft grateful acknow- ledgments. A large edition having run off inTfew months, and the [ale appearing to be ftill unabat,^^ a new impreffion is become neceflary. On this or cafion, was he to conceal his feelings, and oafs over m fi ence a diftinaion ib beneficial fndflS^^^^ wou d juftly mcur the imputation of ingratit^u'de! That he might not do this, he takes the opportunhv iTc rthoH r^'^ "/^»5 of conveying to'Ve pT ic (though m terms inadequate to the warm emo, tions ofh.s heart,) the fenfe he entertains of S favour; and thus tranfmits to them his thanks. rn this new edition, care has been taken to reftJAr thofe errors which have unavoidabrprocS cZt"f"'W^' P'^^^' ^»d lifcewifranytn^ comanefsm the language that has found itsVay thltu'^^^^^ °^ ^^"^ °^ '^^ ''^^^^^ related in the fpUowing pages, and fome of the ftories intri? VI A D D n 2 s Gf . dtctd thettm, havmpr been queftroned, particularlir' the prognofticaticn of the Indian prlcft onThe" # ^f Lake Superior, and the Hory of the Indian rnH atifhtf f1%^'? ^"''°^ 'hinks'^ne^fl^r/'^o ' ?n J. A' °^ ':^^ ^'""^ opportunity, to endeavour fo eradicate a«y impreffic^s that miVht have been made on the minds of his readers, by the /pLre " improbabihty of thefe relations. ^ '"^ /PP"^^' pen^e^" n!;!''''"''' ^' ^'' '"'^^'^ " i"^ «« « hap- pened. Being an eye-witnefs to the whole tranf jaion, (and, he flatters himfelf, at the thne free creduhty,) he was confequently able to defcribe evcrv circumftance inmutely and impartially. This he has mean; t V^T' ^"^^^"^"^ ^« '-ount for ^^l means by^ which it was accomplifted. Whether . the predTftion was the refult of prior obfervadons from which certain confequences were exncfted^ foi ow by the fagadous p7ieft, and Z To't^pLtio^ . of It merely accidental; or whether he was really endowed with fupernatural powers, the narrator left to the judgment of his readeVs ; whofe cSln, he fuppofes. varied according as the mental facS of each were difpofed to admit or rejed fafts har cannot be accounted for by natural caufes. hvT^I^'^P^'^^ tattle fnafce was related to him^ by a French gentleman of undoubted veracity ; and ^ere he readers of this Work as thoroughly ac^aint- ed with thel.gac.ty and inflinaive pfoceedirgs oF that ammaJ, as he «. thty would be as well afftrred wh ?h r^ f "• H' ^"" ^^^'^^^ *hat thofe fnak« ^hich have furvived through the fummer the acci! dents reptiles are hable to, periodically retire to the .Avoods, at the appfoadh of winter ; where each fa! curious obfervers have, remarked) take poffeflion of tbc cavity « had occupied.ihe preceding year. A^ ADDRES-^ ^ foon as the feafon is propitious, enlivened by the mv.gorating rays of the fun, they Lave thele re- treats and maice thdr way to the fame fpot, though ever fo diftaiit, on which they haJ before found fub- IHtence, and the means of propajrating their fpecies. JJoes If then require any extraqrdinary exertions of the mmd to beheve, that one of thefe regular crea- tiires afrer having been kindly trrated by its maiter. fliou d return to the box, in which it had ufually been fupphed M-uh food, and had met with a comfortable abode and that nearly about the time the Indian, *rom former experiments, was able to euefs at It certamiy does not ; nor will the liberal and ingenious doubt the truth of a (lory fo well authenticK^ed be- caufe the circumftances appear extraordinary in a .country where the fubj.dl of it is fcarcely known. Thefe explanations the author hopes will fuffice to convmce his readers, that he has not, as travel- Jers are fometimes fuppofed to do, amufed them .^ith improbable tales, or wifted to acquire impor- tance by making his adventures favour of the mar- cveiious. « 'w '- • b:.;;;^:;: C O N T E N T S. Introduction, . .^ The Author fets out from Bofton on his Travels, ii Dcfcnption of Fort Michillimackinac, Fort La Bay - the Green Bay, Lake Michigati, 3* 33 34 46 42 43 45 46 47 49 50 ib. Arrives at the lowrt of the Winnebaeoes Excurfion of the Winnebagoes towards the Spa- nifh Settlements, . . Defcription of the Winnebago Lake " - Inftance of rcfolution of an Indian Woman. Defcription of the Fox Rive% - Remarkable ftory of a Pattle We, " , 1 he great Town of the Saukies, Upper Town of the Ottagai-mies, pefcriprion of the Ouifconfin River les^Lnlenf '^ ''"T"™^^^' °'' ^^ P"-- An attack by fome Indian Plunde'rers. " . {l Pefcripnon of the Mifliffippi from the mouth of ^ the Ouifconfin to Lake Pepin, —- — — Lake Pepin, Pefcripiion of a renj arkable Cave, 54 ib. 55 57 ib. 60 :m :.-K J ^ CONTENTS. Uncommon behaviour of the Prince of the Win- nebagoes at the Fails of St Anthonv Befcnption of the Falls, ^"^nony. Extent of the Author's Travels, * . Uefcription of the River St Pierre Sources^of the four great Rivets of North Ame- 55fl\^'0"s on their Affinirv, The Naudoweflics of the PJains, with whom the Author vvm.ered in the vear 1766 -The autnc^^returnsxo.he Mouth of the River Account of a violent Thunder Sform ^'tyThlv'^^'^i"^^^^'" ' Councilheld Pepin, ^ ^"^''"^ "^^^ ^ake ""'Te R^vef ''"' ""'^"^^ '°""^ "-^' ^^^ Mar. Befcriptjon of 'the Chipeway River Extraordinary efFeds of a Hurricane The Author arrives at the Grand Portage o"n the North-weft borders of Lake Supenor Tft ;'t "^'^ ^l^"^ ^"^^^- to Sorth. l^ake Du Bo,s, La|ee U Pluye, Red Lake) Account of a nation of Indians fuppjfed to have been tributary to the Mexican Kings, — ~ the fhinmg Mountains, ! T ?!;F^^^'^'^« °f 'he Chief Prieft of the _ Kilhftinoes verified, Defcription of Lake Superior, (Account of great quantities of Copper Ore, 62 6; ib. 68 70 lb. 74 80 82 84 85 87 ib. 94 96 97 103 'I 105 107 the Win- ly, 62 67 th Ame- ib. 68 hom the e River 73 lb. cil held ave, 74 r Lake .. 80 2 River 82 e Mar- 83 - . 84 H on the ', 87 ^or:th- speek. Lake, ib. \ ) have the th£ ^05 107 Content si ibefcription of the li'alls of St Marit, ' - Lake Huron, Saganaum and Thunder Bays, Extraordinary pho^nomenon in' the Straits of Michillimackinac, Defcription of Lake St Claire, • — the River, Town and Fort of Detroit, Remarkable rain at l>etroit. Attack of Fort Detroit by Pontiac, Defcription of Lake Erie, the River and Falls of Niagara, i-ake Ontario and Lake Oneida,-' ■^ Lake Champlain and Lake George, Account of a trad of land gr ed to Sir Fcrdi- , "ando Gorges, and Captain John Mafon, f he Author's Motives for undertaking his Tra- vels, - - - . si lop I 110 III 112 114 114 116 iiy 126' 127 128 129 133^ CHAPTER L The origin of the Indians, Sentiments of various Writers on this point, — — Monfieur Charlevoix, James Adair, Efqj the Author of this Work, ^35 142 148 '52 Corroboration of the latter by Dr Robertfon, I58 CHAPTER 11: Of the perfons, drefs, &c. of the Indians, 160 An account ot thofe who have written on this Subje ' 5 ; 284 "Fi- G o N T E nrs. CHAPTER XVl. ^ A concife charaOer of the Indians, - 2BB Their perfonal and mental C^alifications, - 289 Their public Character as Members of a Com*. munity, « - - . apd CHAPTER XVII. Of their Language; Hieroglyphics, &c. - 293 Of t^e Chipeway Tongue, - - ib. Defcriptive Specimen of their Hieroglyphics,- &c. - - - . - 295" Vocabulary of the Chipeway Language, 298- Naudoweffie Language, 30& M CHAPTER XVin. Of the Beafts, Birds, Fifties, Reptiles; and In- feds, which are found in the Interior Pans of North-America, - - 314} BEASTS. the Tiger. The Bear. - - 315 The Wolf. The Fox. Dogs. The Cat of the Mountain, - - - 316 The Buffalo. The Deer. The Elk, - 317 TheMoofe. The Carraboo, - - 318 The Carcajou. The Skunk, - - 319 The Porcupine, - -; - - 32 1 The Wood-chuck. The Racoon. The Marten. The Mufquafh, - - - 322 Squirrels. The Beaver, - - 3*4 rrit._ r\..,. rrL- nyr:_i_ ^^o CONTENTS. »TK Cora* 289 phics,' 293 ib. 29^ 29a 30» d In- Parts 31^ of the [artem 316 318 3^9 32t 322 3*4 BIRDS. The Eagle. The Night-Hawk. Tne Whip- perwill, - - - - 325 the Fifli-flawk. The Owl. The Crane, 331 Ducks. The Teal. The Loon. The Partridge, 332 The Wood Pigeon. The Woodpecker. The ' Blue Jay. The Wakon Bird, - 333 The Black Bird. The Red Bird. The Whet- fe\tr, - - - - 3^^ The King Bird. The Hamming Bird, ib. F I S H £ S. The Sturgeon, - - - ^^g the Cat Fifli. The Carp. The Chub, -" 337 SERPENTS. The Rattle Sq^ike, - _ . ^-g The Long Black Snake. The Striped or Gar- ter Snake, - - . • oj;i The Water Snake. The Hiffing Snake. The Green Snake, - - . 342 The Thorn-tail Snake. The Speckled Snake. The Ring Snake. The two-headed Snake. The Tortoife or Land Tiirtre, - 343 L I Z A R D S. The Swift Lizard. The Slow LJ^rnM Th. IreeToad, J44 ^via CONTENTS. INSECTS. ^' Bee ^ThTV .?^Tobacco Worm. The Tk «7 i"^ ^'g^tning Buff or Fire FIv The Water Bug. The hof ned^Bug. Locuft, |,'7^ CHAPTER XIX. Of th^ Trees, Shrubs, Roots, Herbs, Flowers, '■•■■■-- 348 TREES. The Oak, - . . The Pine Tree. The Manle tKo aiu " '^* TheHemlock TreeVK^^^ 349 ^^WickopickorSuckwick. The Buttoi 351 352 25$ NUT TREES. The Butter or Oil Nut. The Beech Nut. The Pecan Nut. The Hickory, . FRUIT TREES. The Vine, The MuUberry Tree. The Crab Apple Tree ^^^ CONTENTS. ^ SHRUBS. n. The ocuft, 347 owers. The The Prickly Aft. The Moofe Wood. The Spoon Wood. The Elder. . -.^ The Shrub Oak. The Witch Hazel. The Mvr- TK v^ ^'t? P^^*' '^'"'^'' Green. . ..g The Fever Buft. The Cranberry Buft. The ^^ Ghoak Berry, . . ^^^ ROOTS AND PLANTS. Spikenard. Sarfaparilla. Ginefen? ./: G"'" Thread, slmon's S J. geWl's Bit; ^^^ Blood Root, - ^ ' - - 361 HERBS. Sanicle. Rattle Snake Plantain, ./r Poor Robin's Plantain. Toad Plantain.'" Rock ^ ^ Liverwort. Gargit or Skoke. Skunk Cab- WM T^^.°' ^°h^' ^^^« Robin, - ,6. Wild Indigo. Cat Mint. . ^^^ FLOWERS, , ' - 365 FARINACEOUS and LEGUMINOUS ROOTS, &c. Maize or Indian Corn. Wild Rice -,/;/: Peans. The Squafh, . ""^'^V , 3^6 J"/ CONTENTS. APPENDIX. The Probability of rhe interior parts of Norlh- Amcrica becoming Commercial Colonies, 371 The Means by which this might be effected, 372 Trads of land pointed out, on which Colonies may be eftablifhed with the greateft Ad- vantage, . - - 374 Diflertaiion on the Difcovery of the North- weft Paflage, - - 378 The moft certain way of attaining it. - ib. Plan propofed by Richard Whitworth Efq; for making an Attempt trom a Quarter hitherto unexplored, - 379 The Reafon of its being poftponcd, • 38^ i I "-I 1 INTRODUCTION. J\ O fooner was the late war with France •concliKJed, and peace eflablKhed by the treaty of Verfailles in the year 1763, than I began fo confider , (having rendered my country fome fervices during rthe war) how I might continue ftill jferviccable, and contribute, as much as lay In my power, to m; kc that vafl: acquifitipn of territory, gained by Great- Britain in North-America, advantageous to it. It appeared to me indifpenfibly needful, that Govern- jnent fhould be acquainted, in the firft place, with the true ftare of the dominion they were now be- come pofleffed of. To this purppfe, ' determined, ^s 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 ny countrymen. I knew that many obftrudions would arife to my fcheme from the want of good maps and charts ; for the French, \yhiUt they retained' their power in North-Amcriira, had taken every artful method to keep all other nations, particularly the £ng!ifh, in ignorance of the (;on- fcerns of the interior parts of it : ^nd to accomplifli this defign with the greater certainty, they had pub- lifhed inaccurate maps and falfe accAunts j calling the different nations^ of the Indians by nicknames they had given them, and not by thofe really apper- taining to^them. Whether the intention of the French in doing this, was to prevei^t thefe nations from being difcovered and traded with, or to con- D '■■■*S*«w»t»*.-J«'»« *» INTRODUCTION. ceal their tfi'fcourfe vihpn #h- . n i f^etern^ine , but wSev " it th'elT; ' "''I "^' 't aroie, it tended to miflead """' '"'''"'' ceited?;thef:tct^fs"^^'5 \^ been greatly de- ed ;— before the connZa rW "" ''^^V confm- it had been efteem^H^ ^. °^^'-°«'n Point in 1750. nofoonerwafirtTkeVth^r^^"^^ « had acquired L .^^a T ''''' ?"^'""d '^'"' ports, given out Vi ' ' V^^""^^ ^"^ f'^'fe re: been battered down w ^ a^few w' '"'^ T'^"^^ '^^^^ Its fituation, -hich wa/i"et;,P;^ ^^^'^ advantageous, wan fn.,nj . P"'"".™ 'o be fo very n>»ps of thefe coun rie t fubfift between robably be fome i bur whenever ■ on with prp- to fucceed, wilt 'tages thatmuft ft fangiiine ex- are eJated by ow fome com* :rfon who firflr e, though but » I ihall receive ' ew world will 1 from its pre- can difcover. e immemorial irds the weft, ^uture period, thefc wilder- temples, with mt the Indian •arbarous tro*- have already laid down for ed abortivcy ed, not from ■nr, the more ' be accom- INTRODUCTION. is |>liflied), but from unforefeen difappoihtments. How- ever, I proceeded fo far, that 1 was able to make fuch difcoveries as will be ufeful in any future at- tempt, and prove a good foundation for fome more fortunate fucceflbr to- build upon. Thefe I fliall now lay before the public in the following pages; and am fatisfied that the greateft part of them have never been publifh6d by any perfon that has hi^ therto treated of the interior nations of the Indians j particularly, the account I 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 conti- nent J viz; The river Bourbon, which empties itfelf into Hudfon's Bay ;, the Waters of Saint Lawrence? the Mifliffippi, and the River Oregan, or the River of the Weft, that falls into the Pacific Ocean, at the Straits of Annian. the impediments that cfcczCiotied my return, be- fore I had ,accomplifhed my purpofes, were thefe. Gn iiiv arrival at Michfllimackinac, the remdteft Enghlhpoft, in, September 1766, I applied to Mr Rogers, who was then governor of it, to furnifli ma with a proper aflbrtmcnt of goods, as prcfents for the Indians who inhabit the traft I intended to purfue* Ik did this only in part j but promifed to lupply me with fuch as were neceflarv^ when l' reached the falls of Saint Anthony. I afterwards learned that the governor fulfilled his promife in ordermg the goods to be delivered to me ; but thofe to whole care he intrufted them, inftead of conform- mg to his orders, difpofed of them clfewhere, Difappointed in my expeaations from this quar. ' tcr, I thought it neceflary to return to La Prairie 1^ Chieh ; tor it was impoffible to proceed any fur- ther without prefents to enfure me a favourable re- 16 INTRODUCTION. retarded, I determined to direft my courfe nor.h ward. I took thi. ftep with a ^iLTlZ'' commtimcation from the heads of the MffiffiL .mo Lake St^perior, in order to meet a, U^fS' Portage. on the north-weft fide of thaf l»l/ !k trader, that ufually come, about t i feaf™ fr^m M.ch,I|,„ackmac. Of thefe I intended to purchafe goods, and then to purfue my journey from that quarter, by „ay of the lakes du Pluye. Dubois Weft ZT'' t" '"'•'"''^ of theRi^erof^e Weft whtch, as I have faid before, falls into he P^fe^""""' "'«'"'»i»»'i» of m/intndel I accomplilhed"the former part of mvdefi dwell within its fot nfications ^ho find it a convenient fituat on to mffic wuh the neighbouring nations. Michiliimac! ^mac, m the language of the Chipeway Indians figmfies a^ Tortoife ; and the placV is^upS to receive ,rs name from an iifend, lying abom Z fL h"J.''r 'V^^' north-eaft. within fight of ^le fori, which has the appearante of that animaL During the Indian war that foHowed f^on after the concert of Canada, in the y«ar 1763, and which was earned on by an army of confederate naTion^ compofed of the Hurons, Miamies, Chipeway s,' Ottowaws, Pon'towatt*mies, Miffiflauges, and fome other .nbe^, under the direaion of Pontlac, a ce! ebrated Indian warrior, who had always been in the French mterea,,it was taken by furprife in- Che following m^ner : The Indians having fettled their plaij, drew near the fort, and began a game at ball, a paftime much ufed among them, and not> unlike tenms. In the ^height of their game, at ^hich fome of tUtj Englifh officers, not Mpe^ing '# CARVEk'9 travels'. ^j' any deceit, ftood looking on, they ftru'ck the ball,' as if by accident, over the itockade ; this they re- f)eated two or three times, to make the deception more complete ; till at length, having by this means- lulled every fufpicion of the centry at thefouth gate i party rufhcd by him ; and the reft foon following' they took poffeffion of the fort, without meetin-r With any Oppofition. Having accomplifhed 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 off. However, fome time after they took them to Montreal, where they were redeemed at a good price. The fort alfo was given up again to the £n- ghlh at the peace made with Pontiac, by the com'- mandcr of Detroit the year following. Having here made the neceffary dlfpofition for purfumg my travels, and obtaining a credit froni Mr Rogers, »he governor, on fome Englifli and !SS?J?"" *''^?"'' "^^^ "^"^ going" to trade on the M^iffipi, and received alfo from him a promife of a frefii fupply of goods when I reached the fails of Samt Anthony, 1 left the fort on the jd of Sep- tember, in (Company with thefe traders. It was agreed that they fliould fitrnift m€ with fuch goods as T might want, for prefents to the Iiidian chiefs, dunng my comihuanee with them, agreeable to the governor's orders. But when I arrived at the extene of their route, I was to find other guides, and to de- pend on the goods the governor had promiled to lupply me with. ' , We accordingly fet out together, and on the i8th arrived at Fort La Bay. This fort is fituat.d on the louthern extremity of a bay in Lake Michiiran, termed by the French, the Bay of Puants ; but wfiicn, hnce the Enelifh hnvp anin/^/i ,^r^(r.n:r.r. ^c ^n. ail 34 CARVER'aTRAVELS. t -hough >he „.e, ,her. have Z even Zln^tl This fort is alfo only furrounded by a ftockade and bemg much decayed, h Icarcely defLfib 1 ,S imallarms. It was built bv the Fm/h f u S^edf "f x'^- '- '.»>^ b o/r. ; i^rXn !? ■•ehnqu.fli ,t ; and ,rhen Canada and Its dependencies were furrendered to the Enelifh ^ ^as .™n,ed.a,ely garrifoned with an officer anfttty men. ihefe were made prifoners by the Menomo pal tee ""'" """ ^""f™''' "" Ctn "e- • The bay is about ninety miles lone, but differ. much in us 'breadth ; being i„ fome pfcces only fif •een miles, in others fromlwenty tolhirty. 7lS nearly from nor.h.eaft to fomh-weft. At the en trance of,, from the lake are a firing of iflandT iraverle. Thefe are about thirty miles in lemrth &it"V°''f"'' l"" ?=>%' of canoe:? asThey ftelter them from the winds, which fometimes come with violence acrofs the Lake. On The^de na:y;i:n."'' /""'''-'''' ''•''--«'^»abel rJtlf'"^'^^ ""n^ ^""^ Traverfe are moftly fmall and rocky. Many of the rocks are of an amazing fue, and appear as if they had been falU- VELS. continent, Is called' ;afon of its being pearance; for on le ipring feafon, en put forth their Dund La Bay, not- xceeded fourteen lure, and vegcta- . : ii fummer. 1 by a nockade, defenfibic ^igainft. Fjnch for the inie before they tien Canada and o the Enghfli, it officer and thirty 3y the Menomo- !liniackinac,. and nor kept in re- '"8, but differs : pkces only fif- ) thirty. It Hes I. At the en- ring of iflands, led the Grand liles in length, :anoes, as they ich fometrmes On the fide leareft and bef! "fe are moftly ks are of an lad beenfafhi" CARVER'S TRAVELS. 33 pned by the hands of artlfts. On the fargeft and beft of thcfe iflands ftands a town of the Ottawaws, at ^vhich I found one of the moll: confiderable |chje/sof that nation, who received me with every honour he could poflibly ftiow to a ftrangcr. But what appeared extremely fingular to me at the time, ^u^ ^a^ ^° ^° ^° ^^^7 P"^°" unacquainted with the cuftoms of the Indians, was the reception I met with on landing. As our canoes approached the ihore, and had reached within about threescore rods jofit, the Indians began a feu-de-jove ; in which they I fired their pieces loa3ed with balls but at the fame time they took care to dif^harge ihem in fuch a^ manner as to fly a few yards above our heads : during this they ran from one tree or ftump to another Ihouting and behaving as if they were in the heat of bat:!e. At firft I was greatly furprifed, and was on the pomt of ordering my attendants to return their Jire, cordudmg that their intentions were hoflile - but beu-ig undeceived by fome of the traders, who intormed me that this was the ufual method of re- ceiving the chefs of other nations, I confidered it in Its true light, and -was pleafed with the refpeft thus paid me. , < f ^ T 1"?";^ '""^.^""^ ''"^ ?'Sht. Among the prefents I made the chiefs, were fome fpirituousdiquors. with which they made themfelves merry, and all joined in a dance, that lafted the greateft part of the night. In the morning when I departed, the chief attended me to the fhore, and, as foon as I had embarked, ofFeied up m an audible voice, and with great fo- leninity a fervent prayer in my behalL He prayed 1 hat the great fpirit would favour me with a prof- perous voyage ^ that he would give me an unclouded lie down, by night, on a bdaver blanket, enjoying pnmterrupted fleep,.and nleafant dre.m.. ani lit t $6 CARVER', TRAVEL-S, .' that I might find continual protcdion uncUr fU «rcat pine of nparp '» T« .k- ^^'"''^"'O" unucr the 1.1. A/ .K.,;"j': ™,"E.'rc""- contaminated by the exzmZ LaT' • '' ^^^.^^ *'*= 1 heir inveteracy and crueltv m fh^.v . "^angers, knowledge .o b^ , ,r:A\V'Z Ct^'r: roo, in theirmmi, ,p be eafily'ex^pSl;™ "'"'"» kindTb?eId''''rh?l„!.-'''- "^ • "'^ """"""or. oa^iU„o.b4iLTe''::;fbn/Z?;,r;e: 1 . } VEI„S, eflion under the >ncr he continu€4 h«r them, twithnanding the entertain horrid g«s. as they are e of them in the e and courteous at, till they are fpiritous liquors they retain thi^ ^ardg flrangers. r enemies, I jc- ofthe favoura- n of them j but g received the ta|?en too deep wtedp ery uncommoff wraJ, ufe but their corn is in : before it be- nels from the I th^m into a ''ithout the ad- lat flows froni ?a/cel it out inr diRruaion. To remedy this they gave FnS Tit P'"''^^'^^ then introduced is, that Enghfh and French geographers, in their plais of hemteriorpans of America, gave different names to the fame people, and thereby perplex thofe who have, occafion to rtfer to them, ^. Lake Michigan, of which the Green Bay is a part IS divided on the north-eaft from Lake Huron bv the Straits of MichiMimackinac ; and is fituat^ be- tween forty-tuo and forty-fix degrees of 'latitude and between eighty-four 'and eigVfeven Set' dred and eighty miles, its breadth tbout forty, and Its circumference nearly fix hundred. Th^re is a remarkable ftring of fmall iflands, beginning. oveJ againft Afkin's farm, and running about thirtf muS ^.aver li ar^ds. Their fituation is very pleafant branch out into two bays. That which lies towards the north ,s the bay of Noquet^, and the other the Green Bay juft defcribed. Y the waters of this as well as the other great ^1 T u^^' ^."^ wholefome, and 6f fufficient depth for the navigation of large fhips. Half the pace of the country that lies to the eaft, and ex. tends to Lake Huron, belongs to the Gttowaw In. f»^"iV. J^'^ '»ne that divides their territories from the Chigeways, runs nearly north and fouth, and j-eaches almoft from the fouii!ern extremity of this ake, acrofs the high lands, to MichiUimackinac, through the .centre of which it pafles. So that wherl V E LS. ly this they gave y bad confequence itroduced is, that in their plans of e different names erplex thofe who een Bay is a part. Lake Huron by nd is fituated be- rees of 'latitude, ity-feven degrees gth is two hun- about forty, and sd. Th^re is a beginning over bout thirty miles are called the ' very pleafant, r afford a beauti- lake the waters lich lies towards d the other the he other great id of fufficient lips. Half the : eaft, and ex- : Ottowaw In^ territories from nd fouth, and remity of this chillimackinac. So thatwhea CAHVER's TRAVELS. 39 t4, '-if.l fhefe two tribes happen to meet at the fadory, they each encamp on their own dominions, at a few yards diftance from the ftockade. The country adjacent either to the eafl or weft fide 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 ex- tremely fertile. Near the borders of the lake grow a great number of fand cherries, which are not lefs remarkable for their manner of growrh, than for their exquifite flavour They grow upon a fmall Jhrub, not more than four feet high, the bouehs ot which are fo loaded that they lie in clufters on the fand. As they grow only on the fand, the warmth of which probably contributes, to brin? them to fuch perfedion, they are called by the ^rench, cherries de fable, or fand cherries. The Jize of them does not exceed that of a fmall mulket I)all; but they are reckoned fuperior to any other fort for the purpofe of fteeping in fpirits. There alio grow around the lake, goofberries, black cur- rants, and an abundance of juniper, bearing great quantities of berries of the fineft fort. Jumack likewife grows here in great plenty; be leaf of which, gathered at Michaelmas, when it turns red, is much efteemed by the natives. They mix about an equal quantity of it with their tobac- CO which caufes it to fmoke pleafamly. Near this iake and indeed about all the great lakes, is found ,n Fn ?l T' *'T'^ ^y the French, bois rouge, ^eb.t ' l"^' """"f^ ^'' ^"'^' ^h^« only of one v!rv J v^' V^^ ^"" fcarlet colour, and appears r^.-vf '" "r ' """^ ^' '' g''*^^^ °' J^^ 'f changes into ^mixture of grey and red. The (lalks of this "eigin or hx or eto-ht f^pr th^ u n. _ •• - --_... — i,j. ^ -- - J' '{jtss. iiUi CAtCVUiiig 40 CARVER'S TRAVELS. and powdered the? ft Ir ?^'^ ''"''• ''"«'' bacco ; "nd « Si /' !"'? "'"'' 'heir to- rummer. By .hefe Tl!'f'"°''f" "-'Hnring ,he foaof the year;%rd asS ^tvfeat'rm\''^- they are verv car^fni ;« «. ^ great ImokerSj paring them! ' '" ^'"^^^ S^^eting and p^e! and^Vote^.^^ tf tt^;L''^-^G- nay. «.u din" fmalf -rni^n °f '"= Wintlebagie"' end of Lake WnnebatoH ''°\ '""'•''' "« the^^.h;''?'' *^r ?^ "'"'' I he'd a coundi with ^■ionl onTuSr3'il",^an"c7 'VT'' """"« inem as a great compliment paid to their trih/ Ihe queen fat i„ .he council. bSt only aft:d atw VELS. ing fcraped from ed, is alfo mixed 0, and is held by their winter fmok- 'e great lakes, in immer feafon. It imac, and creeps iiies extending to af about the fi^e it is of the fub- is, like the tree efe leaves, dried c with their to- t only during the leums, the pipes rough every fea, • great fmokers," ^thering and pre- the Green Bay, ^iil in company • On the 25th 2 Winnebagoes, u enter the eaft the queen, who achem, received ed me in a very ir days I conti, a council with tniflion to pafs o more remote This was rea- J efteemed by to their tribe, ly afked a few CARVER'S TRAVELS. 4« queftions, or gave fome trifling diredions in matters relative to the ftate ; for women are never allowed to fit in their councils, except they happen to be inverted with the fupreme authority, and then it is not cuftomary for them to make any formal fpeeches as the chiefs do. She was a very ancient woman, fmall in ftature, and not much diftinguifli- ed by her drefs from feveral young women that at- tended her, Thefe her attendants feemed greatly pleafed whenever I fhowed any tokens of refpeft to Iheir queen, particularly when I faluted her, which I frequently did to acquire her favour. On thefe occafions the good old lady endeavoured to afTume a juvenile gjiety, and by her fmiles, fhowed ihe was equally pleafed with the attention! paid her. The time I rcfided here, I employed in making Jhe beft obfervations poflible on the country, and m colleftrng the moft certain intelligence I could. oi the origin, language, and cuftoms of this people. J^'^u^xt^ enquiries I ha.ve reafon to conclude, that the Winnebagoes originally refided in fome. of the provinces belonging to New Mexico, and being driven from their native country, either by inteftine divihons or by the extenfion of the Spanifh con- quefts, they took refuge in thefe more northern pan s about a century ago. Myreafons for adopting this fappofition. ' are, iMrlt from their unalienable attachment to the Naudoweffie Indians (who, they fay, gave them the earlieft fuccours durmg . their emigration,) notwith- rtandmg t^eir prefem refidence is more than fix hundred miles diftant from that people. JrTnfjl^' l^'.- '^''' ^'^^'^^ *°*^"y ^»ff^" f'^^n every other Indian natioi yet difcovered ; beine a^yery uncouth, gmtural jargon, which none of ff'cir neignuuurs wiii attempt to learp. They con., 42 CARVER'S TRAVELS. rT ??K r P^^'^'ng language throughout all IhV- vf^K-^T '^' ^°^^^^« ^'f Canada! to hofe • v^ho inhabit the borders of the Miffiffippi, 'and from Ln's B^ar^ and Illinois to fuch as dw'eflC HuT m^Tdl'% '■'■'""/V'- i-I'Merate hatred to the Spa- niards. Some of them informed me that thev had many excurfions to the fouth-weft, which took un ZZlTT'- 1;" *""'^ '"''f more par dculariS hrmartdTt' tt'heTo'f K^ •*'■""' =S°' the fouth-weft, fo three „1S?^ Tha',°?' ■°'""S' longed to the Black people; for fo thev «» thZ Spaniards. As foon as they perceiveSm ,h proceeded with caution, and'S Ld themVe*:! enemLs F n?" "'l" """"■'*• »"'' ''«•«"''" "f 'heir fo «S" , f -^ •""? """ "« ^W^ 'o ™pe with .heJ,^id:Sh':4"ii«:^^"hn';e-^Xrof erm^d"' "r^^'shty horfes loaded lith ^hft they mver, as he to d roe the horfes were Ihod with it ?al wk'""' .""■'"'^ were ornathented with tie ?=T,-'^ ^''f". ''i''' •'^'^ '^''^"d 'heir revenKe they carried off their fpoil, and being got fo fo 4s to be trirt "'' T'"? ?' ">= Sp»niar5s^ha, had efcaped their fury, they left the ufelefs and ponderous bur den wuh which the horfes were loaded Tn ,h»" r^rn^/r^.h"'- 7'"«. •"V"'.''*"' 'nts'.;"an defZd r 'n ^f ""''': ?^ Pafty they hsd thus conveys to Mexico the filver whi-h (he Spaniards LS. 'peway tongue, hroughout all inada, to thofe ippi, and from vtll near Hud- sd to the Spa- that they had hich took up 5 particularly winters ago, iors, towards t during this a plain, they ick, who be- they call the 1 them, they I themfelves * near as to ition of their o cope with y waited fill ufhed upon ateft part of i.what they • have been lod with it, !d with the yenge, they "ar as to be lad efcaped ierous bur- ed, in the lis manner r h'ad thus It annually , ■ Spaniards C A R V E R ' s" T R A V fi L S. 45 find in great quantities on the mountains lying near the heads of the Coleredo River : and the plaiiw where the attack was made, probably, they were obliged to pafs over in their way to the heads of the River St Fee, or Rio del Nord, which falls into the Gulf of Mexico, to the weft of the Mifliflippi. The Winnebagoes can raife about two hundred •warriors. Their town contains about fifty hbufes, which are ftrongly built with pallifades, and the ifland on which it is fituated, nearly fifty acres. It lies thirty-five miies, reckoning according to the courfe of the river, from the Green Bay. The river, for about four or five miles from the bay, has a gentle current j after that fpace, till you arrive at the Winnebago Lake, it is fn\T of rocks and very rapid. At many places we were ob- liged to land our canoes, and carry them a conw fici^rable way. Irs breadth, in general, from the Green Bay to the Winnebago Lake, is between feventy and a hundred yards; the land on its bor^ ders very good, and thinly wooded with hickory oak, and hazel. ' The Winnebago Lake is about fifteen miles ronsr from eaft to weft, and fix miles wide. At its fouth- eaft corner, a river falls into it that takes its rife near fom^ of the northern branches of the Illinois River. This I called the Crocodile River, in con- lequence of a ftory that prevails among the Indians, ot their haying, deftroyed, in fome part of it, an ani- mal, which from their defcription muft be a croco- aile or an aligator. The land adjacent to the Lake is very fertile, abounding with grapes, plumbs, and other fruits. 44 <:arver», travels. Taife Vr« ^P°"^^"^°"?y- The Wmnebagoes nnr! t- r ei^^f quantity of Indian corn tens better flavoured than thofe thar^rl'f^ j ^ fta, as .hey acqaire"hr„c CfttnThv"/",."''' on the wild rice..wb1ch gro^Xpfe^l^^iiteg »d "/ ',"' ^'"""'.'Soes on • he .9th of I'eptember the; *e '^'tS.""'''*""' ■'. ""ved at the^Q The Fox River, from the Green Bay to the «, ^'■'gPi'«.« about «ne hundred" „d^e4htVmne; From the Wmnebago lake to (h.- cai^yinj Sace ■ difficulty that fantf Jai'p s *.^"1, t'^^„ru;'* - proper in the highcl? degree f,^ «Son t^L" r^ , r J- ' '° "° !>"■' »ery woody, and vet can fupply fuffictent to anfwer thp demands of any" „m nll°M'"/1""?"- '^'' "'" « 'he greatT/rrfort *h^^. r' f '"">' "»''• *« I ■»*' »- h ih the 2^ obfcuZ h':"J "r''/ frequemly ,hefun4"dd be obfcuted by them for feme minutes together. CARVER'S TRAVELS. 45 , About forty miles up this river, from the great > town of the Winnebagoes, (lands a fmaller town belonging to that nation. Deer and bears are very numerous in thele parts, and a great manj beavers, and other furs are taken on the ftreams that empty themfeives into this river. : The river I am treating of, is remarkable for hav- ing been, about eighty years ago, the refidence of the united bands of the Ottigaumies and the Saukies whom the French had. nicknamed, according to their wonted cuftom, Des Sacs and Des Reynards, the Sacks and the Foxes, of whom the followintr anecdote was related to me by an Indian. •' ^^^^} ^'f y y"""* ^^°' ^^^ ^^ench miflionaries and traders havmg received many infuits from f'^efe people, a party of French and Indians, under the command of- Captain Morand, marched to revenue their wrongs. The Captain fet out from the Green iiay in the winter, wheh they were unfufpicious of a vifit of this kind, and purfuing his route over the mow to itheir villages, which lay about fifty miles yp the Fox River, came upon them by furprife. Unprepared as they were, he found them an cafy conqueH, and confequently killed of took prifoners the greateftpart of them. On the return of the French to the Green Bay, one of the Indian chiefs in alliance with them, who had a confiderable band of he prifoners under his care, flopped to drink at a fvhTh 'k'" '^^ J"/^^ time his companions went on : Sv h ^""^ ^^^"■'''^. ^y °"^ °f ^he women whom iTv i -r'', H^'f'' -^^^''^ ^' ^«°P^d ^o drink; • by^n exquifitely fufceptible part, and hdd him faft ' till he expired on the fnor. As the chief, from the G ■ ^ CARVER'S travels: extreme tor ure he fuftered, was unable to call cuff' to his fr.ends or to give any alarm, they paflbd on WH^^out knowing what had happened ; a^nd the wo^ man having cut the bands ofThofe if her felbw Jicape. Ihis heroine was ever after treated bv her nanon as their deliverer, and made a ch efefs in herown right with liberty to entail the fi^e lonoir on her de cendants ; an unnfual diainaiorandper muted only oa extraordinary occafions. ^ ^ About twelve miles before I reached the carrying place I obferved feveral fmall" mountains which ex! tended qmce to it Thefe indeed would ohly be efteemed as molehills, when compared with Lfe Tr(^A^Tf V"' '''T''' b"^ ^« they w r thb lirit I had feen fmce my leaving Niagara a track of rnot'ict:" '""'"' °^""' I could'n"t^:a;"t^^^ The Fox River, where it enters the Winnebago Lake, I, ab6ut fifty yards wide, but it gradual yd^e! r'hfnfi '° '^' ""^'"S place, where it i. no more than nve yards over, except in a few places where it widens into mall lakes, though ftill^of a confide able depth. I capnot recollect any thing elfe that L remarkable in this river, except tLt itl fo f 'pL^! rJ^'' v^''^'""^' ^'"'f ^"^'^^^^ the Fox and Ouif. confin Rivers, is in breadth not more than a mile and three quarters, though in fome maps it is fo de- > r^n'f w'. ''' 'PP?' '" ^' ^^" "^'l^^- And here I- parts, I have ever feen. are very erroneous. Ihe rivers m general are ddcribed as running in different diredions from what they really dpf and man^ -iK. ■■%<,' ible to call oulf" they pafled on I ; and the wo- of her fellow- thern made her ter treated by de a chiefefs iii' )e fame honour dtion, and pfer- is. d the carrying lins which ex-^ would only be ed with thofe they were the ara, a track of lot leave then*' e Winnebaga gradually de- it Is no more laces where it )f a confider- ig elfe that is I is fo ferpen- that place one 3X and Ouif- e than a mile ps it is fo de- And here I- laps of thefe neous. Ihe g in different J and many CARVER'sTRAVETS. 4r s branches of them, particularly of the Miffiffippi omitted. The diftances of places, fikewife, are ereat' ly mifreprcfented. Whether this i^ done by the irench geographers (for the Ejiojiih maps are all copied from theirs) through defign', or for waru of a juit knowledge of the country, 1 cannot fay; but I am fatisfied that travellers who depend upon them in the parts I vili^ed, will fir^d themil^lyes much at a lofs. Near one half of the way, . between the rivers, is a morafs overgrown with a kind of long grafs, the reft of It a plain with fome few oak and pine trees growmg thereon.- I pbferved here a greaf number of ratt e.fnakes. Monf. Pinnifance, a French tra- der told me a remarkable ftory concernincr one of thefe repti es of which he faid he was an eye-wit. nefs. An Indian, belonging to the Menoraonie na- tion, having taken one of them, found means to ■ S"?f '^' ^!}^ ^H".^' ^'^ '^""^ ''^'s, treated it as a Deity calling It his Great Father, and carrying it with him, in a box, wherever he went. This the i>"inniLM T ^'n f«^^^«'/""i'«ers. when Monf. f'lnnifance accidentally met vyith him at his carrying place, juft as he was fetting off for a winter's hunt! . Ihe l^rench gentleman was furprifed, one day to fee the Indian place the box which contained his god' on the ground, and opening the door, give him His return by the time hehimfelf fhould comeback Thi" "'V° ^Ai? '!!' "»°"^^ ^f ^'^y followTng A3 his was but Oaober, Monfieur told the Indian whofe fimphcity aftonifhed him, that he fancied he a ;tro/h-r^ 'TI"" "^^" ^^^y ^^^ved, for the arrival of h,g great father. The Indian was fo con- IayThe°y:rr"'"' ""'^'''T' ''^^ ^^ '^'^""o iflio his bo.N. rhis was agreed on, and the fecond 48 CARVER'S TRAVELS. week in May following, fixed for the determination of the wager. At that period they both met there again ; when the Indian fet down his box, and called for his great father. The fnake heard him not ; and tlw time being now expired, he acknowledged that he had loft. However, without feeming to be, difcouraged, he offered to double the bet, if his great father came not within two days more. This was further agreed on ; when behold, on the fecond day, about one o'clock, the fnake arrived, and, of his own accord, crawled into the box, which was placed ready for him. The French gentleman vouche4 for the truth of this ftory, and from the accounts I have often received of the docility of thofe crea- tures, I fee no reafon to doubt of its. veracity. I obferved that the main body of the Fox River came from the fouth-weft, that of the Ouifconfm from the north-eaft ; and alfo that fome of the fmall branches of thefe two rivers, in defcending into them, doubled within a few feet of each other, a little to the fouth of the carrying place. That two Rich ihould take their rife fo near each other, and after running different courfes, empty themfelves into the fea, .at a diftance fo amazing (for the former hav- ing palTed through feveral great lakes, at)d run up- \yards of two thoufand miles, falls into the Gulf of St Lawrerce, and the other, after joining the Mif- fiffippi, and having run an equal nuniber of miles, difemboguesitfelf into the Gulf of Mexico), is an inftance fcarcely to be met with in the extenfive conti- nent of North- America., I had an opportunity, the year following, of making the fame obfervations on the affinity of various head branches of the waters of the St Lawrence and the Mifiidippi, to each other ; . and now bring them as a proof, that the opinion of thofe geographers who alTert, that rivers taking their nfa fo near each other, muft fpring from the fame ELS. e determination both met there i box, and called leard him not ; e acknowledged It feeming to bev the bet, if his »ys more. This 1, on the fecond •ived,9nd, of his hich was "placed leman vouche4 m the accounts of thofe crea- i.veracity. the Fox River the Ouifconfin >me of thefmali idingintothem^ her, a little to rhat two fuch ther, and after rifelves into the le former hav- s, and run up- to the Gulf of )ining the Mif- imber of miles, VIexico), is an extenfiveconti- pportunity, the sbfervations on )f the waters of to each other ; the opinion o^ its taking their from the fame CARVE R'8 TRAVELS. 49 I fource, is erroneous. For I perceived a vifibly dif- tintt feparation in all of them, notwithftanding, in fome places, they approached fo near, that I could httVe Aepped from the one to the, other. On the 8th of Odober wc got our canoes into the , Ouifconfin River, which at thjs place is more than a hundred yards wide ; and the next day arrived at rhe great town of the Saukjes. This is the largeft and bed built Indian town I ever faw. It contains about ninety houfes, each large enough for feveral families. Thefe are built of hewn plank, neatly jointed, and covered with' bark fo compaflly as to Keep out the moft penetrating rafns. Before the doors are placed comfortable (beds, in which the in- habitant's fit when the weather will permit, and fmoke their pipes. The ftreets are regular and fpa- cious ; to that it appears more like a civilized town, than the abode of favages. The land near the town is very good. In their plantations, which lie ad- jacent to their houfes, and which are neatly laid out, they raife great quantities of Indian corn, beans, me- lons, &c. fo that this place is efteemed the beft mar- ket for traders to furnifli themfelves with provifions- of any within eight hundred miles of it. The Saukies can raife about three hundred war- riors, who are generally employed every fummer in makmg incurfions into the territories of the Illinois and Pawnee nations, from whence they return with a great number of flaves. But thofe people frequent- ly retaliate, and, in their turn, deftroy many of the Saukies, which I judge to be the teafon that they mcreafe no falter. ' Whilft I {laid here, I took a view of fome moun- tams that lie about fifteen miles to the fouthward, and abound in lead ore. I afcended one of the 59 CARVER'S TRAVELS. ml highefl of thefe, and had an exrenf.ve vJ.o, e t. X raw l„ge^:";:^^e,'of f lyt^'ab: flT '"■" the town belonciiur to th. T"^^°o"t/ne Greets m be a. good . .ge v;.i';: o^J^is :ol-.',[r " ■- of an epidemical diLder\htT^\^^ .i..d, i..j™« ,.,;'X"s;'t !,l"'r contagion. » ^° ^^°*" the of It IS exceed ndv desr an^ »k u •' ^^^^^ . K:^; rfS^r 5S,;;c^ '„',"' '/"">' y^?" ^K". 'he Great Spirit had an feared on the .„p of a pyramid of rocics! whi^ laj VELS. ifive view of th? ? was to be ijen red at a diftance n trees. Only a Jd oaks, covered 8 lead here, that •out the ftreets in and it feemed to countries. eeded down the firft town of the bout fifty houfe«, fed, on account ad lately raged than one half of f thofe wholur- , to avoid the Jnfive river the ^ the carrying the Mifliflippi, ent ; the water fh it you may ably free from : foil of which ewhat woody. be, \n gene- is very full of re many lead CARVER'* TRAVELS. i« of the rivers, "j in a very ^e neighbour- was informed, spirit had ap- s, which la|^ 4t a little diflance from it, towards the well, and warned them to quit their habitations ; for the land I on which they were built belonged to him, and he had occafion for it. As a proof that he, who gave them thefe orders, was really the Great Spirit, he further told them, that the grafs fhould immediately fpring up on thofe very rocks from whence he now addrelfed them, which they knew to be bare and bar-en. The Indians obeyed, and foon after dif- . covered that this miraculous alteration had taken place. They fhewed me the fpot, but the growih of the grafs appeared to be no wife fupernatural.* I apprehend this to have been a ftratagem of the French or Spaniards, to anfwer fome felfilh view ; but in what manner they eifeded their purpofe, I know not. r r » This people, foon after occafion abfolutely required. I accordingly advanced^^v.th refolution,clofe to the points of their ng my hanger, afked them with a ftern voice, what hey wanted ? They were ftaggered at this, and per ce.v.ng they were like to meet with a ^arm re- cepnon, turned about and precipitately retreated. We purfued theni to an adjacent wood, which they entered, and we faw no more of them. Howe^. tor fear of their return, w« watched alternately dur mg the remamder of the night. The next day my fervants were under great apprehenfions, and ear- neilly entreated me to return to the traders we had lately left. But I told rhem, that if they would not , be efteemed old women, (a term of the greateft re- proach among the Indians) they muft follow me • for I was detezmm^d to purfue my intended route, i an Enghfhman, when once engaged in an adventure. T/WTa"^' ?"n:^'' '^''y S°^ ^"^° *he canoe and I^alked on the fhore to guard them from any intended o plunder me, I afterwards found to be fome of thofe ftraggh.ig bands, that having been driveA from among the different tribes to which thev belonged, for various crimes, now aflbclated them- felves together, and, jiving by plunder, prove very troublefome to travellers who pafs thi« way ; ni are even IndJans of every tribe fpared by them. The traders had before cautioned me to be upon my guard agamft them, and I would repeat the fame caution to thofe whofe bufmefs might call them into iiiwie parts. H 54 CARVER'S TRAVELS. On the ift of November I arrived at Lake Pepiiv which is rather an extended part of the river Mlf- f^lFippi, that the French have thus denominated, but two hundred miles from the Quifconfin. The Miffiifippi below this lake flows with a gentle cur- rent, but the breadth of it is very uncertain, in fome places it being upwards of a mile, in others not more than a quarter. This river has a range of mountains on each fide throughout the whole of the way J which in particular parts approach near to it, in others lis at a greater diftance. The land betwixt the mountains, and on their fides, is ge- nially covered with grafs, with a few groves of trees interfperfed, near which, large droves' of deer and elk are frequently feen feeding. In maiiy places pyramids of rocks appeared, re- fembling old ruinous towers ; at others amazing precipices; and what is very remarkable, whilft this 'icene prefented itfelf.onone fide, the oppofite fide of the fame mountain was covered with the fineil herbage, which gradually afeended to its fummit. From thence the mod beautiful and ex- tenfive profped that imagination can form„ opens to your view. Verdant plains, fruitful meadows, numerous iflands, and all thefe abounding wiih a va- riety of trees that yield amazing quantities of fruit, without care or cultivation ; fuch as the nuf-tree; the maple which produces fugar, vines loaded with rich grapes, and plum-trees bending under their blooming burdens ; but above all, the fine river flow- ing gently beneath, and reaching as far as the eye can extend, by turns attraft your admiration, and excite your wonder. The Lake is about twenty miles long, and near fix in breadth j in fome. places it is very deep, and abounds with various kinds of fifli. Great num- rkable, whilfl: CARVER'S TRAVELS. 55 i^ers of fowl frequent alfo this Lake and the rivers ac^-cent j fuch as ftorks, fwaiis, geefe, brants, and ducks: and in the groves are found great pienty of turkeys and partridges. On the plains are the largeft buffaloes of any in America. Here I ob- ferved the rums of a French faaory, where it is faid Captain St Pierre refided, and carried oa a very great trade with the Naudoweffies, before the reduc- Hon ot Canada. About fixty miles below this Lake k a noun- tain remarkably fituated ; for it ihnds by itfelf •?S J^n-;f/^'r "^'^1'^ of the river, and looks a^if It had ilidden from the adjacent ihore into the ftre?!n. It cannot be termed an ifland, as it rifcs immedi- f:Jhf°"V ,' r^T °/ '^"^ ''''''' '« « confiderable heignt. Roti the Indians and the French call it the IVfoRiMik?,. m the river. . . fiffippi. fome miles below Lake Pepin, whiUt mv attendants were preparing my dinner, I walked out to take a view of the adjacent country. I had not proceeded far before I came to a fine! leve^ cpe^ plam on which I perceived, at a little diftance a par" nal elevation that had the uppearance of an iutren^ch- ment. On a nearer infpedion, 1 had greater reafon to fuppofe that K had really been intended for this nianv centuries ago Notwithftahding it was now covered with grafs, I could plainly difcern that it had once been a breaft-work of about four feet in height, extending the beft part of a mile, and fuffi- ciently capacious^ to cover five thoufand m«i.. Its form was fomewhat circular, :.nd its flanks reached to the river 1 hough much defaced by time, every TnffT ^'?*"S";«^^ble. and appeared as r^gul' r! and famioned ^uh.as much military ikill, 1,. if planned by Vauban himfelf. The ditch w'as no 56 CARVER'S TRAVELS. vifible, but I thought, on examining morecurioufly, that I could perceive there certainly had been one^ ^rom Its iituation alfo, I am convinced that it mud iiave been defigned for this purpofe. It fronted the country, and the rear was covered by the river- nor was there any rifing ground for a confiderable way, that commanded it ; a few ftraggline oaks were alone to be feen near it. Jn many places ImaH trads were worn acrofs it by the feet of the elks and deer, and from the uepth of the bed of earth by which it was covered, i was able to draw certain conclufions of its great antiquitv. I exa- mined all the angles, and every part with great at- tention, and have often blamed myfelffince, for not encamping on the fpot, and drawing an exad plan of It. To fhew that this defcription'is not the pttspring of a heated imagination, or the chimerical tale of a raiftaken traveller, I find on enquiry, fmce my return, that Monf. St Pierre and feveral tra. ders, have, at diiferent times, taken notice of (imi- iar appearances, on which they have formed the fame conjedures, but without examining them fo minutely as I did. Hbw a work of this kind could exilt in a country that has hitherto (according to the general received opinion) been the feat of war to untutored Indians alone, whofe whole ftock of mili- tary knowledge has only, till within two centuries amounted to drawing the bow, and whofe only breaft-vTOrk, even at prefent, is the thicket, I know not. I have given as exaa an account as' polhble of this fingular appearance, apd I leave to tuture explorers of thefe diltai^t regions, to difcover whethrj- it is a produdion of nature or art. Perhaps the hints I have here ' given, might lead to a more perfed inveftigation of it, and give up very different ideas of the ancient (late of realms CARVER'S TRAVELS. 57 ate of realms lihat 've at prcfent believe to have been from the carlielt period the only habitation of favages. ^ The Miffiffippi, as far as the entrance of the river St Croix, thirty miles above Lake Pepin is very full of illands ; fome of which are of a con - Aderable length. On thefe alfo grow great num. bers of the maple or fugar tree, and around them, vmes loaded with grapes, creeping to theirfvery tops. From the lake upwards, few mountains are to be feen, and thofe but fmall. Near the river St ^ Croix, refide three bands of the Naudowefne Indians, called the Hiver B^ds. This nation is compofed, at prefent, of eleven bancTS. They were originally twelve ; but the Affi- nipoils, fome years ago, revblting, and feparating rhemfelves from the others, there remain oniv at this time eleven. Thofe I met here are termed' the River Bands, becaufe they chiefly dwell near the ^f "'^r^f 'J^f "ver : The other ei^ht are generally diftingmfhsd by the title, Naudoweffies of the plains, and inhabit a country that lies more to the weft- ward. The nimes of the former are the Nehoga- tawonahs, the Mawtawbauntowahs, and the Shah- fweentowas, and coiifill of about four hundred warriors. A little before I met with thefe three bands, I tell in with 3. party of the Mawtawbauntowahs "mounting to forty warriors and thei.*- families. With iljeie I refided a day or two, during which time hve or hx of their number who had been out on an exairOon, returned in great hafte, and acquainted their companions, that a large party of the Chine- vvay warriors, « enough," as they expreffed them- iclves -to fwallow them all up," were clofe at U\tiv heeis, and on the point of attack'ng their little ' 5« f ' CARVER'S TRAVELS. m camp The chiefs applied to me, and defired T o oppofe ,he,r enemies. As I was a ftranger and imwilhug, a excite the anger of either nation T knew not now to aft, .nd Lver fouid myfe fTn a ^oweffies, I fhould have drawn on myfelf tHdr du" mt^a^ons, I fliould have made that people mv foes - would be in v^" ' ""' "''' «W«^anc« ro!?t^l"^ fy Frenchman with me, who coulrl i'lere^thTrl"^^"^^^' '^^^^"^^ towaVdlthe pla 3 AT f ^"t^^'P^^^ys were fuppofed to be Th- ^^ I approached them with the pipe of nea« a (rpm party of their chiefs, confifting of abmit nie wuh whom, by the means of my interpTeter I held a long converfation ; the refult of which wal' that their rancour being bv mvDerfuafion/jn > ' meafuremoilihed, they^.g^eeTtrretu'rhlck wi"h' »hL? i u ''°"''^ perceive, as they lay fcattered CARVER'S TRAVELS. J9 defired they would inftantly remove their camp to feme other part of the country, left their enemies fliould repent of the promife ihey had given, and put, their intentions in execution. They accord- ingly followed my advice, and immediately pre- pared to ftrike their tents. Whilft they were doinjr this, they loaded me with thanks ; and when I had feen them on board their canoes, I po-rfued my route. , To this adventure I was chiefly indebted for the friendly reception I afterwards met with from thfc Naudoweflies of the plains, and for the refped and honours I received during my abode among them. And when I arrived many months after at the Chi- peway village, near the Ottowaw lakes, I found that my fame had reached thar place before me. The chief received me with grear cordiaHty,* and the elder part of them thanked me for the mifchief I had prevented; They informed me, that the war between their nation and the NaudoweiTies haJ^^n- tinued without interruption for more than forty'win- ters. That they had long wiflred to put an end to ir, but this Was generally prevented by the young war- * nors of either nation, who could not reftrain their ardour when they met. They faid they /hould be happy if fome chief, of the fame pacific difpofition as my^eff, and who pofleiTed an equal degree of re- folution and eoolnefs, would fettle in the country between the two nations j for by the interference of fucha perfon, an accommodation, which on their parts they fincerely defireJ, might be brought about. As I did not meet aay of the Naudoweflies after- wards, I had not an opportunity of forwanling fo good a work. About thirty miles below the Falls of St An- fhony, at which I arrived the tenth day after I left -#' 6o CARVER', TRAVELS. ^!^X %l' '/^.^cmarBble cave of an amazing depth. The Indians term u Wakon-teebe, that is, he Dwelhng. of ;he Great Spirit. The entrance mo u^s about ten feet wide, the height of it five leet. Ihe arch wi.hm is near fifteen feet hieh, and about thrrty feet bro=d. The bottom of it confifts of fine clear fand. Abou: twenty feet from the en- trance begms a lake, the water of which is tranfpa- rent, and extends to an unfearchable diflance j for The darknefs of the cave prevents ail attempts to ac quire a knowledge of it. I threw a fmall pebble towards the mte-ior parts of it, with my utmon: ftrength : I could hear that it fell into the water, and notwitliftandmg it was of fo fmall a fize, it caufed an aftonil-hmg and horrible noife, that reverberated .through all thofe gloomy regions. I found in this cave many Ind.an hieroglyphics, which appeared very ancient, for time had nearly covered them with mols, fo that It was with diiBculty I could trace them Ihey were cut in a rude manner, upon the infide of the walls, which were compofed of a ftone fo ex- tremdy foft that it might eafily be penetrated with ;/ "'^5 5 .^ ^°ne every where to be found near the MiflilTippi. The cave is only acceffible by afcend- ing a narrow, fleep paffage, that lies near the brink of the river. n ^ At a little diftance from this dreary cavern, is the burymg.place of feveral bands of the Naudoweffie Indians : though thefe people have no fixed rel^- dence, living in tentg, and abiding but a few months on one ipot, yet they always bring the bones of their dead to this place; which they take the op- portunity of doing when the chiefs meet to hold their councils, and to fettle all public affairs for the en- luing fummer. CARVER»i TRAVELS. 61 ; Ten miles belpw the Falls of St Anthony, the River St Pierre, called by the natives the Wadda- pawmenefotor, falls into the Mifliffippi from the weft. It is not mentioned by Father Hennipin, although a large,. fair river; this omiffion,Iconclude, rauft have proteeded from a fmall ifland that is fituated exadly at its entrance, by which the fight of it is intercepted. I fliould not have difcovered this river myfelf, had I not taken a view, when I was fearchinj^ for it, from the high lajids oppofite, which rife to a great height. ** ; Nearly oyer againft this river I" was obliged to Iqave n^y daiioe, on account of the ice, and travel by Jand to the Falls of St Anthony, where I arrived on the 17th of November. The Mifliffippi from the St • Pierre to this place, is rather more rapid than I -had hitherto found it, and without illandsof any confide- ratipn. Beforelleft my canoe, I overtook a young prmn;!* of phe ;Winnebago .Indians, who was going oh an emlf&ffy to-fpme pf the bands of the Naudo^s^ies. ^mdmg that Hntended to take" a vie>v of the Falls he agreed to accompany me, his curiofity having been,pfren ^xcitefl by t};e accounts he had received trom.fome.of,his chiefs: he accordingly left his fa-' nnly (for the Indians never traVel without their houf- bolds ) at this place, Under the care of my Mohawk ItTvant, and we proceeded together by land, attend- ed only by my Frenchman, to thi^ celebrated place. r ^ could ,diftinaiy hear the noife of the water JuU fiheen,miles before we reached the falls ; and I was greatly pleafed and furprifed, when I ap- proachedthis aftonifhing work of nature ; but I was not long at hberty tpir^dulge thefe emotions, my at- tention being called pfF by the behaviour of my ' Coiiipanion, ' " x 6z CARVED', .TRAVELS'! 1 he prince had no fooner gained the point that' ovetlooks rh.s uonderful cafcade, than he beRau wuh an audible voice to addrei: the Great Spirit, one of whofe places of refidence he Imagined this ta , ,^e toFd hmi, that he had come a loritr way to ^u ^ u '/L^"^^''.^'""' '■' '"''"' ^"^ now would make him the beft offering in his power. He accordingly firft threw his pipe into the ftream ; then the ron that contamed h.s tobacco; after thefe the bracelets he tvoreon bs ^rms and wrifts ; next an ofnament that ^I!^"' I'^/i"! "^'^' compofed of beads and wires ; and at lafl: the ear-rings from his ears ; in ftiort, he prefented to hrs god, every part of his drefs that was valuable : during this he frequently fmote his'brealt with great violence, threw his arms about, and ap». peared to be much agitated. All this while he continued his adorations, and at length conchded them with fervent petitions that the Great Spirit would conftantly afford us his nrotec- fion on our travels, giving us a b.ight fun. a blue «cy^nd clear and untroubled waters : nor would he iea^ the place till we had fmoked togethw with my pipe, m honour of the Great Spirit. • I was greatly furprifed at beholdihg ail inftance of fuch elevated devotion in fo young an Indian, and initead of ridiculing the ceremonies attending it, as 1 oblerved my catholic fervant taeitly did, I looked on the prince with a greater degree df refpeft for thelelmcere proofs he gave of his piety j and I doubt not but that his offerings and prayers were as accept- able to the univerfal Parent of mankind, as if they had been made with greater pprtip, or in a confe- crated place. Indeed, the whole condud bf this yoiing prince at once amazed and charmed me. During the few led the point that ?, than he began the Great Spirit, J imagined this ta me s long way to ' would make him e accordingly firft hen the coti that : the bracelets he art ofnament that eads and Ivires ; ars ; in fliort, he his drefs that was f fmote his brealt s about, and ap- dorationsi, and at petitions that the d us his jjrotec- ight fun, a blue rs : noi* would he togethtr with my *ig an inftance of an Indian, and attending it, as ly did, I looked e 6f refpeft for sty ; and I doubt 5 w^re as accept- ikind, as if they or in a confe- is yoiing prince During the few CARVER' 8 TRAVELS. «3 days we were together, his attention fccmed totally to be employed in yieltling me every aflift^nce ia his power ; ;ind even in fo fliort a time, he gave me innumerable proofs of >he mo/l generous and difin- lerefted friendfliip ; [o that on our return I pnrted from him with great reluftance. Whilft I beheld the artlcfs, yet engaging ^nanner of this unpolilhed favage, I could not help drawing a comparifon ber tween him and fomeof the more refined inhabitants of civilized countries, j}pt much, I oyvn, ]n favour of the latter. The Falls of St Anthony received their name from Father Louis Hennepin, a French miflionary, who trav-lled into thefe parts about the year 1680, and \yas the firft European ever feen by the natives. This amazing body of waters, which are above 250 yards over, fcrm a moft pleafing cataradl ; they fall perpendicularly about thirty feet, and the rapids below, in the fpace of 300 yards more, render the defcent confiderably greater j fo that when viewed at a diftance, they app^ir to be much higher than they really are. The above-n.entioned traveller has laid them down at above fixty feer ; but he had made a greater error in calculating :he height of the Falls of Niagara, which he alferts to be 600 feet ; ' whereas, from later ohfervations accurately made, it is well l^nown that ihey do not exceed 140 'ftet. But the good father I fear too ofteh had no other foun- datiqn for his aqccjunts, than report, or, at belt, a flight infpedion. In the middle of the Falls flands a fmnfl ifland, about forty feet broad, ami fomdwhai longer, on which grow a few cragged hemlock and fpruce trees, and about half way between this ifland and the eaft- ern fliorc is a, rock, lying at the very edge of th their fources. JFor in their paffagt from thi&fpoti to the JJay of St Lawrence, eaft ; to the Bay of Mexico^ fouth ; to Hudfon's Bay, .north ; and io the bay 0.1 the Straits of Annian, well, each of thefe uaverfe .up.wai?da of two thoufand miles. I ihall here give my readers fuch reflexions as occurred to me, when I had received this imereft- ing information, and had by nuroberlefs enquiries, afcertained the tRuth of it ; that is, as far as it was poffibie to arrive at a iertaioty, without a perfonal iijveltigatioiJ. ft is well known t'lat the Colonies, particularly thofe of New-England and Canada, are greatly affedted, about the time their winter fets in, by a jjiorth-weft wind, which continues for feveral months, and renders the cold much more intenfe there than it is in the interior parts of Atnerica. This I can, ELS; oils, wJbp fpsafc the heaiiis of tbe ati\Ith them ; and at other un^s b( iield with pleafure their recreations and ps'iimcs, wh?ch I (liiiU defer (be hereafter. Sometimes I fat "ivith ihe cM, 3r>J vvhilft wc 1^ ^X^ \m fmoked the friendly pij e, entertained' theiii, in return fo' the accoimts they gave tne of their wars and excuri'ions, with a harrative of my own adven- tures, ;iud a defcrlption of all the bi>iiles foug't be tween the Englifli and Fi.;nch m America, iii' jnany «^f which I had a perlona! fliR'e, They ^ 'way^; paid great attention to my details, and a^l^ed i.iany per- dnent quelMons relative tc the European methods ox making war. I Iield thefe converfations v;ith them in a grea( meafure to procure from them fome information i-elative to the chief point I hs^d ponftantly in view, that of gaining a knowledge of the fituation and produce, bbth of their own country, and thofe that lay to the weftward of them. Nor was I difapp6inred in my defigns ; for I procured from them much ufe^ JFul intelligence. They likewife drew for me plans of all thp countries with which, they were acquainted ; but as I entertained no great opinion ^ their geo- graphical knowledge, 1 placed not much depen- dence on them, and therefore think it unnecefTary to give them to the public. They draw with a piece of burnt coal, taken from the hedrth, upon the infide of the birch tree, which is as fmooth as paper, and aufwers the fame purpofes, not- withftanding it is of a yellow caft. Their fketches are made in a rude manner, but they feem to give as juft an idea of a country, although the plan •is not fo exaft as more experi need draughtfmen fould do. CARVER'S TRAVELS. 7J ar> j whilft \%c I left the habitation of thefe hofpitable rndians the latter end of April if 67 ; but did uot part from them for feveral days, as I was accompanied on my journey by near three hundred of them, among whom werq many chiefs, to the mouth of the river St Pierre. At this feafon, thefe bands annually go to the Great Cave, before mentioned, to hold a grand council with all the other bands ; wherein they fettle their operations for the enfuing year. At the fame time they carry with them their deau, for interment, bound up in buffaloes Ikins. Befides thofe that accompanied me, others were gone before, and the jrell were to followt ' Never did I travel with fo cheerful and happy a company. But their mirth met with a fudden and temporary allay from a violent florm that overtook ps one day on our paflage. We had juft landed, and were preparing to fet up our tents for the night, when a heavy cloud overfpread the heavens, and the mort dreadful thunder, lightning and raiu iffued from it, that ever I beheld. The Indians were greatly terrified, and ran to fuch flielter as they could find ; for only a few tents were as yet ere£led. - Apprehefifive of the oanger- that might enfue from (landing near any thing which could ferye as a conductor, as the cloud appeared to contain fuch an uncommon quantity of elearical fluid, I took my ftand as far as poflihle from any covering; chufing rather to be expofed to the peltings of the (form, than receive a fatal (Iroke. At this the Indians were greatly furprifed, and drew conclufions from it not unfavourable to the opinion they already entertained of ray refolution. Yet I acknowledge that I was never more^ aiFeded in my life j for nothing fcarcely could exceed the ferrihcfcene. Tl^e peals ^f thunder were fo loud t T4 CARVE R'5 TRAVELS. that they fhook the earth ; and the lightning flafhed Indian chiefs hemfelves, although . their courage in war is ufually invincible, could not help trem- bhngat the horrid combuftion. As foon as the itorm was over, they flocked around me, and in- formed me. that it was a proof of the anger of the Tad highi; otZt' ""^ ''''''-''''' '''' ^'^y ^iZ^hV^ ^"r^ V^^ ^''^' ^^^^' «"d the In- dians had depofited the remains of their deceafed they held their gre.t council, into which I was ad* Sf'/ 5' '^V'"'" ''•"" ^^^ the honour to be inftalled or adopted a chief of their bands. On this tolfr '"''^S the following fpeech, which I inferr, to give my readers a fpecimen of the language and manner m which ,t is neceflary to addrefs the Indi. ans, lo as to engage thei^ attention, and to render the fpeaker s expreffion confonant to their ideas; It was delivered on the firft day of May ,76;. ' ZnLu"f'''^f''' ^ ^^j«'" '^'' through^ my - Jo"^ abode with you, I can now fpeak to you « fnn°"^ ru'' ^" 'TP'^^^-^ manneO in yourown « a^fo^thir T H °"Vf y°"f °^n children. I rejoice » folfnl tu '", °PP°""""x fo frequently " Kh^JtZ r" ""^ '^' ^t^y '"'^ power of the great - fn.? who "5"r °T.*^" ^"Slift and other nati- ons who isdefcended from a very ancient race of fovere.gns as o,d as the earth' tmd xv£ters j ^ any you have everfeen, ain dft the grcateft waters 'Mhe world ; whofe head reaches I the fu^ "4 • ^ h^r cf S/"''' -^^ '^^ -hole earth J. the num- A, ber cf whofe warriors are equal to the trees yi the J, VELS. ■ lightning flafiied )huf ; fo that the h . their courage not help trem- As foon as the nd me, and in- he anger of the ienfive that they ive, and the In- f their deceafed Is adjacent to it, I'hich I was ad- le honour to be bands. On this I, which I inferr, e language and Idrefs the Indi- 1, and to render to their ideas; ^ay 1767. ■ erous and pow- at through my fpeak to you ) in your, own iren. I rejoice y fo frequently wer of the great and other nati- y ancient race I «nd waters J ds, larger than grca.teft waters to the fun, ancj thjjhe num- he trees yi the 1 CARVER'S TRAVELS. 7S <( c< <( It « (( «c (( proteftion may ever reft eafy and *•■ fafe amt ^ us UiS children : your colours and your " arms agree with the accounts j ;U have given us *' about your great nation. We defire ^hat when vou E tS. came from the "the fun, whom I before, I afk 'you iling to acknow- my great mailer ler nations, as I acquaint him of to bad reports : about among the ay whifper evil Inghlh, contrary nu(t nor believe th. about to go to ire to make for \, f. looth waters, go there, and ;ft feeure on a )f the g ' tree llovving anfwer, lief : t to fpea!; to you lers, chiefs of the jn of the Nau ;vell farisfied in e told us about lug, our greateft beaver blanket, ;?er reft eafy and olours and your have given us e. that when vou CARVER'S TRAVELS. tJ i" return, you will acquaint the great King how I" much the Naudowclfies wifh to be count( 1 among j*' his good children. " You may believe us when we tell you, that we will not open our ears to any who may dare to f fpeak evil of our great father the king of theEng. lifli and other nations. *^ We thank you for What you have done for us in making peace between the Naudoweflies and the Chipeways, and hope, when you return to us again, that you will comp' ' this good work; and quite difpelling the clouds that intervene, open the blue Cky of peace, and caufe the bloody hatchet to be deep buried under the roots of the great tree of peace. '* We wifli you to remember to reptefent to our *• great father, how much we defire that traders may ' be fent to abide among us, with fuch things as we ^ed, that the hearts of our young men, our wives, uk d our children may be made glad. And may peac' bfift between us, fo long as the fun, the mooii, be earth, and the waters ihall indure. »' Farewell !" t thftught (f necefi*ary to caution the Indians againft (iving heed t6 any bad repc rts that may reach them from the neighbouring nations, to the difadvantage )ftheEngli{h, as I had heard, at: different places ^hrough " hich I pafTed, that emifl'aries were ftill egi- )toyed by thr French to detach thofe who were friendly to the Engiilh from their intereft. And I |aw, myfelf, feveral belts of wampum that had been Ifelivered for this purpofe to foue of the tribes I was ' [among. On the delivery of each of ihcfe, a Talk ?» carvUr', travels. jyas held, wherein the In4ians were wid that the Enff- Jiih, who vferc but ^ pet^y people, had ftolen that eountry from the.r great father the king of France, whilft he was afleep ; but that he would foon awake and take them a^ain under his protcaion. Thefe I fund were fent from Canada, by perfons who ap^ peared to be well affet^d towards the government under which they lived. • Whilft I tarried at the mouth of the River Sr. Pierre, with thefe friendly Indians. I endeavoured to gam intelligence whether any goods had been fent tpwards the Falls of St. Anthony for my ufe, agree- able to the promife I had re-eived from the go- vernor when I left Michillimackinac. But finding from foine Inaians. who pafled by in their return fnimJS ? P"''* Kp'' 1^'' «.S^««"^ent had not been fulfilled, I was obliged to give up aH thoughts of proceeding further to the north-weft by this route aqcordmg to my original plan. I therefore returned to La Praine le Chien, where I procure^ as many goods from the traders 1 left there the preceding year, as they qoujd fpare. ^ ctcuu.g A» ti?fc, however, were not fufficient to enable me to renew my firft defign. I determined to endea- vour to make my way acrofs the country of the ehipeways to Lake Superior ; in hopes if meet- ijg at the Grand Portage m the north fide of it, he traders that annually go from Michillimackinac ?ft ^''V^Z^^ '* °^ ^^^"* * ^°"b*^d not but that 1 IhoulQ be^able to procure goods enough toanfwer ray purpofe, and alfo to penetrate through thofe more norfhevn part* to the Straits of Annian. V And I the mow readily returned to La Prairie le t.ftiefl, as I could b; that means the better fulfil th«> C A R V E R ' J T^R A V E L S. 7^ «i!|iragement I had made to the pany of Naudowef- fies mentioned at the condulion of my fpeech. During ray abode with this people, wifhing to fe- ^ure them entirely in the intereft of the Englifh, I had advifed fome of the chiefs to go to Michillii mackmac, where they would have an opportunity of trading, and of hearing the accounts that I had en- tertained them with of my countrymen, confirmed. At the fame time I had furnished them with a recora- wendation to the governor, and given them every direction neceiTary for tl^eir voyage. In confequenceofthis, one of the principal chiefs and twenty-five of an inferior fank» agreed to 20 the enfuing fummer. This they took an opportu- nity of doing when they came with the reft of their ^nd to attend the ^rahd council at the mouth of the Hiver St. Pieri-e Being obliged, on account of the dirappointment I had juft been informed of, to re. turn fo far down the Miffiffippi, I couid fVoti thetice the more eafily kt then^ on their journey. As the intermediate parts of this river are itmch frequented by the Chipeways, with whom the Nau- doweffies are commualiy at war, they thought it more prudent bemg but aftnall party, to take the advantage of the night, than to travel with me by day; accordingly, po fooner was the grand council b oke up, than I took a friendly leave of thefe pel pie from wham I had received innumerable civili- ties, and purfued vTnce more my voyage. ni Jhrwtl '1' ""^''Jl ^'^' "^ ^^^^ P^P'« ^he fame . rLn Z •'^'"' f"'"'' ^"'^ eneaf.,ped as ufual.- further I perceived at a d..ff ance before me, a fmoke • which denoted tha. fooie Indians wep near, aTdTn.. 8e CARVER'S TRAVELS. that this was a party of the rovers I had before met with, 1 knew not what courfe to purfue. My att6n, dants perfuaded me to endeavour to pafs by them on the opp^nte fide of the river ; but as I had hitherto tound that the beft way to enfure a friendly recep- tionfroni the Indians, is to meet thern boldly, and Without fhewing any tokens of fear, I would by no .means xonfent to this propofal. Inftead of this, I crofled^ direaiy over, and landed in the midft of them, for by this time the greateft part of thqm wer6 itanding on the Ihore. ThefirftI accofted were Chipeways inhabitin^j near the Ottowaw Lake ; who received me with great cordiahty, and fhook me by ihe hand in token of friendfliip. At fome little diftance behind thefe Itood a chief remarkably tall and well made, but of lo Item an afpea, that the moft undaunted perfon could not behold him without feeling fome degree of terror He feemed to have paffed the meridian of lite, and by the mode in which he was painted and tatowedj I difcovered that he was of high rank; How- ever, I approached him in a courteous manner, and expected to have met, with the fame reception I had •11 ,^"i!.'^^ ''^i'^'* ' ^"'' ^° «^y great furprife, he withheld his hand, and looking fiercely at me, faid, in the €hipeway tongue, *' Cawin nifliifhin faganofh," hat is, " Ihe Enghfh are no good." As he had his tomahawk in his hand, I expefted that this laconic . lenteiice would have been followed with a blow -to prevent which, I drew a piftol from my belt, and ho dmg It m a carelefs pofition, paffed clofe by him' to let him fee I was not afraid of him. I learned foon after from the other Indians, that this wa^ a chief, called by the French the ' Grand s. nts, not far ipprehenfive before met My atten- by them on lad hitherto ndly rccep- boidiy, and 3uld by no d of this, I ^e midft of thqm w^re inhabiting 1 me with id in token ehind thefe idCi but of ted perfon me degree Deridian of linted and nk; How- inner, and tion I had rprifci he me, faidi faganofli," le had his h laconic blow ;■ to belt, and, e by him. ans, that e Grand CARVERis TRAVELS. ' 3^ 5!autor, or the great Chipeway Chief, for they de- nominate the Chipeway, Sautors. They likewife iold me that he had been always a fteady friend to ^hat people, and when they delivered up Michilli- niackijiac to the Englifli on their evacuation of Ca- nada, the Grand Sautor had fworn that he would ever remain the avowed enemy of its new poffeflbrs as the territories on which the fort is built belonged to him. - Finding- him thus difpofed, I took care to be con- ftantly on my guard whilft J ftaid ; but that he might not fuppofe I was driven away by his frowns, J took up my abode there for, the night. I pitched my tent at fome diftance from' the Indians, and had no foqner laid myfelf down to reft, than I was awakened by my IVencth fervant.: Having been - alarmed by the found of Indian mufic, he had ruri to the outfide of the tent, where he beheld a party of the young favages dancing towards us in an extra- ordinary manner, each carrying in his hand a torch fixed on the top of ilong pole. But I fliall defer any further account ^of this uncommon entertain- ' nient, which at once furprifed and alarmed me, till 1 treat of the Indian dances. The next morning I continued my voyage, and oetore night reached La Prairie le Chien ; at which piace the party of Naudoweffies foon o^rertook me. ^ot long after the Grand Sautor alfo arrived, and before the Naudoweflies, left that place to continue their journey to Michillimackinac, he found means, in conjundion with fome French traders from Loui- fiafm, to drfw from me about ten oftheNaudo, weffie chiefs, whom he prevailed upon to go towards fhofe parts. • ' ■/ %■ ' l'»t i%U' Bi CARVER'S TRAVELS. • Thereniainder proceeded, according to my di. Without any unfortunate accident befalling thenZ Lifh^'^'h^wf^"^'^ ^"^ '^' ^^'^^P"-" they ha< m^ tT^l 7 H ""'. "^r *^^" ^^'f °f »hofe who wTn fonh . ']-^''''^.' ^^""""^^ ^'^^ ^'ff^^^ce of that. abode tTr" ^T ''^''^ °^"* '^^^^ ^° r^a^h the r , abode. And fince I came to England 1 have been informed, that the Grand Sauto^ having render 3 hinifeH more and more difeudful to the TnS l/n«rftredn-^"""y ^°^^^^^ them, waft; d^^H^L l '? ^'' ''"'' ^' ^^ encamped near Mi- I fliould have remarked, that whatevef Indiana happen to meet at La Prairie le Ghien the r^^^? relort, though the nations to which they belonv/ lik. ^» CARVER'S TRAVELS. If mi A If owing that their accounts were true, I could not heip joining in their opinion. Bi t this diffatisfac- tion might probably proceed, in :•, gieat meafure, uTa u^ intrigues of the Canadian traders: for whi (t the French were in pollcflion o( Michilli- mackmac, having acquired a thorough knowledge ot the trade of the north-wefl countries, they were employed on- that account, after the reduaion of Canada, by the Englifli traders there, in the efla- blifhment of this trade, with which they were ihern- ielves quite unacquainted. One of the methods they took to withdraw thofe Indians from their attach- ment to theHudfon's Bay Company, and to engace their good opinion in behalf of their n^w 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 Ca- nadian traders. In this they too well fucceeded. ?i • '^. ^^"' ^""briefs, did the diiratisfacl-ion the Aflinipoils and KiUifHnoes exprelFed to me, part- 1} proceed. But another reafon augmented it j and ^hsi, wa^ the length of their journey to the Hudfbn's bay fadtones, which, they informed me, took thera v.p three months, during tlie fummer heats, to go and iaurn, and, from the fmallnefs of their canoes, they could not carry more than a third of the'beavers they killed So that it is not to be wondered at, that thefe Indians fhould wifh to have traders come to refide among them. It is true that the parts they inhabit are within the limits of the HudfonVBay ter- ritories ; but the Company muft be under thenecef- ity of wrnking j^t an encroachment of this kind, as the Indians would without doubt proted the traders when among them. Befides, the paflports granted to the traders that go from Michillimackinac, give them liberty to trade to the north-weft about Lake buperior J by which is meant Fort La Reine,' Lake Winnepeek, or any other parts of the waters of the ue, I could not this diflatisfac- ;ieat meafure, traders : for of Michllli- ^h knowledge es, they were ; redudion of 2, in the efta- 7 were ihem- methuds they their attach- and to engage iw employers, le Company's s that would with the Ca,- ;11 fucceeded, tisfaclJon the to me, part- ented it j and the Hudfon's ?, took thern, its, to go and canoes, they f the beavers wondered at, traders come he parts they onVBayter- . ter the necef- his kind, as \ the traders lorts granted :kinac, give about Lake [ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 672-4503 ^^ (V \\ ^9) V % ..^ %J^^ \%^- '^ f ^i CARVER'S TjlA-VELS, Bourbon, than the lafl mentioned Lake. It is in general very (hallow in its depth.' The broadeft part of it is no more than twenty miles ; its length including both about three hundred miles. In the weft part the water is very clear and good j and feme excellent fiih are taken in it. A great many fowl refort here in the fall of the year. Moofe deer are to be found in great plenty, and likewife the car- riboo, whofe fkin for breeches or gloves exceeds by far any other to be met witii in Nprtlf America. The land on the borders of this lake is efteemed, in fome places, very good, but rather too thickly covered with wood. , Here refide a confiderable band of the Chipeways. iLaftward from this lake lie feveral fmall ones,' ^hich extend in a ftring to the great carrying place, and from thence into Lake Superior. Between thefe little lakes are feveral carrying places, which ren- der the trade to the north-weft difficult to accom- plifh, and exceeding tedious, as it takes two ytars to make one voyage from Mkhillimackinac to thefe parts. Red Lake is a comparatively fmall lake, at the head of a branch of the Bourbon River, which is called by fome Red River. Its form is nearly round, and about fixty miles in circumference. On one fide of it is a tolerable large ifland, clofe by which a fmall river enters. It bears almoft fouth-eaft both from Lake Winnepeek and from Lalce du Bois. The parts adjacent are very little known or fre- quented, even by the favages themfelves. 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 laft mentioned. The waters that compofe this lake are the moft northern of any CARVER'S TRAVELS. 93 that fupplythe Miffiflippi, and tnay be called, with propriety its mofl remote fource. It is fed by two or ibree firiail rivers, or rather large brooks. , ATewmiJes from it, to the fouth-paftj are a great J^umber of fmall lakes, none of which are more than un miles m circumference, that are caUed the Ahc^ulandLakes. In the adjacent country is reck- oned the fineft hunting for furs of any oh this conti- nent ; the Indian* who hunt here feldom returning wuhout having their canoes loaded is deep as they can fwiml » *^ ' .^Having juft before obferved that this lake i^ the.utmoft northerri fource of the Miffifflppi, t iOall here further .remark, that before this rivet fntersjhc^Gult of Mexico, it has not run left, through all Its meandermgs, than three thoufand billies J or, m i ftraighi line from north to fduth, aboutjwe^ty degrees, which is nearly foutieen huri- dred Englifli miles. Thefe .Indians infotnied me, that to the tiottk- welt_cf Lake Winnepeek lies another, whofe cir- CMmference vaftly exceeded, any they had given me aii account of: They defcribe it as much larset than Lake Superior. But ks it appears to be (0 far ?oih€ north-weft, I fliould imagine that it ^^s riot a lake, but rather the Archipelagoj or broken vaters_that form the commuhication betweeh Hud- jon 8 Bay arid the northern parts of the Pacific Ucean. \ -^ there arc an infinite 'number of fmall lakes 00 ' f u'"°i"f.]J^^^^'"" P^"^ °^ ^^e weftern head-branches or the Miffiffippi^ as well as between thcfe and I^ke winnepeek, but none of them are large enough to N ^ • f+ CARVER'S TRAVELS. fuppofe either of them to be the like or water*- meaDt by the Indians. They likewife informed me, that fome of the northern branches of the Mefforie and the fouthern branches of the St. Pierre have a eommunication with each other, except for a mile, over which they carry t?herr canoes^. And by what I couU learn from them, this 13 the road they take when ^eir war paniea make their excurfions upon the Pawnees and Pawnawnees, nations inhabiting fome branches oi the Mefforie river. In the country belonging to tbefe people, it is faid, that mandrakes are frequently found* a fpecies of root refembling hun^an beings of both fexei : and that thefe are more perfea than fuch as arje difcovered about the Nile in Nether Ethiopia. A little to the north-weft of the heads of the Mef- forie and St. Pierre^ the Indians further told me, that there was a nation rather fmaller and whiter than the neighbouring tribes, who cultivate the ground, and (,as far as I could gather from their cxpreffions) in fome rtieafure, the arts. '^ ♦his account they added, tijat fome of the natic /ho inhabit thofe parts that lie to the weft of the Shming Moumaios, have gold fo plenty among them, that they make their moft common utenfils of it. Thefe mountains (which I (hall defcribe more particu- larly hereafter) divide the waters that fall into the South Sea, from thofe that run into the At- lantic. The people dwelling near them are fuppofed to be fome of the different tribes that were tributary to the Mexican Kings, and who fled from their na- tive country, to feek an afylum in thefe parts, about CAREER'S TRAVEtS., 95 the time of the conqueft of Mexico by the Spaniards more than two centuries ago. t As fome confirmation of this fuppofiiion, it is remarked, that they have chofen the moft interior parts for their retreat, being ftill prepoffeffed with a notion that the fea-coafts have been infeiied ever fince with monfte'rs vomiting fire, and hurling about •thunder and lightning } frx)m whofe bowels iffued men, who, with unfeen inftnmients, or by the power of magic, killed the harmlefs Indians at an aftonifting diftance. From fuch as thefe, their fore-fathers (according, to a tradition among theai < that ftill remains unimpaired) fled to the retired - abodes they now inhabit. For as they found that the floating monfters, which had thu& terrified them fpuld not approach the land, and that thofe who had defcended from their fidfis did not care to make excurfions to any confiderable diftance from them, they formed a refolution to betake themfdves to fome country, that lay far from the fea-coafts where only they could be fecure from fuch diaboli! cal enemies. They accordingly fet out with therr families, and, after a long peregrination, fettled themfelves near thefe mountains; where they con- cluded they had found a place of perfed fecurity. The Winnebagoes, dwelling on the Fox River (whom I have already treated of,) are likewife fup, pofed to be fome ftrolling band from the Mexican countries. But they are able to give only an im- perfed account -of their original refidence. They fay they formerly came a great- way from the weft- ward, and were driven by wars to take refuge among the Naudoweflies ; but as they are entirely Ignorant of the arts, or of the value of gold, it is ra- ther to be fuppofed, that they were driven from fheir ancient fetrlements by the above mentioned ' 96 CARVER'S TRAVELS. emigrants, as they paflre4 on towards their prefent habitation. • . . ^ . Thefe fuppofitions, however, may wanf confir- .ination; for the fmaller tribes of Indians are fub- je<9t to iuch various aheratiohs in their places of abode, from the wars they are continually engaged in, that it is almotl impoffible to afcertain, afteij half a century, the original fituation of any of them., That range of mountains, of which the Shining Mountains are a part, begins at Mexico, and col - tinuing northward, on the back or to the eaft of Ca- lifornia, feparate the waters of thofe numerous rivers that Fall eh her into the Gulf of Mexico, or the Gulf of California. From thence continuing their courfe l^ill northward, between the foprces of the Miffiflippi and the rivers^ that run iptb the South ^ea,. they appear to did in about forty-feven or' forty-eight degrees of north latitude • where a number of rivers arife, an4 empty themfelves either into the South Sea, into Hiadfon's Bay, or into the waters ?ha< communicate between thefe tv^o feas, ' ' " ' Among thefe mountains, thofe that lie to the Veft of the river St Pierre, are called the Shih~^ itig Mountains, from an Infinite number of chry(la\ itones, of an amazing ^ze, with which they are;' covered, and which, when the fun fhihes full iipoii them, fparkle fo as to b? feen at a very grea^ diftance. ■ ■ - '■- ■■■.... . . ^ •, , . .,■ This extraordinary range of mountains is calcu- lated to be more than three thoufand miles in length, without any very confiderable intervals, which t believe furpaffes any thing of the kind in the other (quarters of the globe. Probably in future ages, they may be found to contain more riches in their bowels^ CARVER'S TRAVELS. 97 than thofe of Indpilan and Malabar, of that are pro- duced on the golden coall of Guinea j nor will I except even the Peruvian mines'. To the weft of thefe mountains, when explored by future Colum- bufes or Raleighs, may be foi^nd other lakes, ri- vejTS* and conhtries, fraqght with all the necef- faries or luxuries of life; and where future genera- tions may find ari afylum. whethei' driven from their country' by the ' ravages of lawlefs tyrants, or by religious perfecUtibns, or yeludlantly leaving it to remedy the incohveni'encies arijing from a fupera- bundant increafe of inhabitants; whether, I fay. impelled by thefe, or allured by hopes of commer- cial advantages, there is little doubt but their ex- pedations will be fully gratified in thefe rich and unexhauf^ed climes. ' ' ' ' * But to return to the Affinipoils and KillUlinoe?* whom J. left at the Grand Portage, jind froni whom I received the' foregoing- account of the lakes tKat He to the north- weft of this place. ' ' ' The traders we ejfp^fted being later jhis feafon than ufual, ^nd our numbers very confiderabte, for there were niore than three hundred of us^the ftocfc of provifions we had brought with us was nearly exhaufted, an(J we waited with impatience for their ^srrival, ' . ' ' :. ' ■ ' *' " *' ' ■ "' ' " -' ■ 't' ■■ ■ .. • .-. ■ ■ ' One d^y, MAilft we were expreffing our wi(he« for this defirawe €vent, and looking from an emi- jDence in hopes of feeing fhem come over the lake, the chief prieft belonging to the band of the KiU iiftinoes, told us, that he would endeavour to ob- tain a conference with the Great Spirit, and know from him when the traders would arrive. I paid jittle attention to this declaration, fuppoling that p would be produftive of fome juggling trick, juft s/» CARVER'S TRAVELS. fufficiently covered to deceive the ignorant IndU ans. But the king of that tribe telling me that this was undertaken by the prieft chiefly to alleviate Illy anxiety, and at the fame time to convince me how much intereft he had with the Great Spirit, I thought it neceffury to -ertrain my animadverfioni on his deHgn. The following eveniri^ was fixed upon for thij fpiriiual conference. When every thing haJ been properly prepared, the king came to me and led' me to a capacious tent, the covering of which was drawn up, fo as to render what was tranfading within, vilible to thofe who "Rood without. We found the tent furroimded by a great number of the Indians, but we readily gained admiflion, and feated ourfelves on fkins laid on the ground for that pur- pofe. . Ih the center I obferved that there was a place o£ an oblong (hape, which was cornpofed of flakes ftuck in the ground, with intervals between, fo as to fortn a kind of <;heft or coffin, large enough to contain the body of a (Pim. Thefe were of a mid- dle fize, and placed at fuch a di/l^nce from each other, that whatever jay between them was readily to be difcerned. The tent was perfeflly illuminated by a great number of torches made of fplinters cut from the pine or birch tree, which the Indians held in their haads. In a few minutes the prieft entered; when ai\ amazing large elk's ikin being fpread on the ground juft at my feet, he laid himfelf down upon it, after having ftript himfelf of every garment, except that which he wore clofe about the middle. %Being now proftrate on his back, he firft laid' hold oC-one fide of the fkiq and folded it over him, and then the other ; CARVER'S TRAVELS. $0 leaving only his head uncovered. This was ho fooner done, than one of the young men who ftooA by, took about forty yards of ftrong cord, made aJfo of an elk's hide, and rolled it tight rotmd his body, fo that he was completely fwathed within «the ftin. Being thus bound up like an Egyptian mum- my, one took him by the heels, and rhe other by the head, and lifted him over the pales into the tsnclofure. I could alfo now behold him as plain as I had hitherto done, and I took care not to turn my eyes a moment from the objeft before ifte, that I might the more readily deteft the artifice j for fuch I doubted not it would turn out to be. The prieft had not Iain in this fituation more than a few feconds, when he began to mutter. This he contmued to do for fome time, and then by degrees grew louder and louder, till at length he Ipoke articulately; however, what he uttered was in fuch t.fj!!?.^^ i^''8'o" o^ ^^^ .Chipeway, Ottawiw, and KiMiftmoe languages, that I could underftand but Very little of it. Having continued in this tone fot a confiderable while, he at laft exerted his voice to us utmoft pitch, fomeiimes raving, and fometimes praying, till he had worked hfmfelf into fuch an agi- tation, that he foamed at the mouth. After having remained neat three quarters of ift hour in the place, and continued his vociferation ^ith unabated vigour, he feeraed to be quite ex-. haufted, and remained fpeecHleis. But m an inftant he fprungupon bis feet, notwithftanding at the time he was put in, it appeared impoffible for him m move either his legs or arms, and (baking off his covermg, as quick as if the Mds with which it had been bound were burned afunder, he began to ad- drefe thofe who ftood around, in a firm and audible voice. "' Mv brothers'* hu\ h» '« the r,^"^*. 160 (:ARVER's TRAVEt^. I !• •^ Spirit has deigned to hold A Talk with bis fervatif; •* at my earneft rtqueft. He has not, indeed, told *•, me when the perfons we expeA wi|l be here ; biit •*|tc»-«norrow; ioon after the fun hai reached his *• higheft point iii the heavens, a canoe will arrive, ** whofe people will iftfbi^m Us wheft the traded' "will ix>aie:* ' ' Having iaid f SiV , ic fteppcd' oiitt o( tie inclcfure, and, after he had put on his robes, dlfmifled the aflem-' bly. I own t was greatly, aftoniflied at what 1 haf lecn ; but as 1 obferved that every eye ii^ the conr- pdny was ^xed on tile with a v/ew todifcpvermv fefltittientij, I caifcfulTy concealed every enrotioh. ■ ■ . ,, ,. , • ,, ' . , I' . , f ■ , - • 'i • The nckt day the fiin {hone bright, arid^o.rig be/ ibre noon all the Indians were gathered together ort the eminence that overlooked the lake. The old king came to me, and alked mie wliethii- I had fu piuch confidence in what the priefthaci* foretold, as to join his people on the iiilf, and waif ior the com- pletioii of it ? Itold^ijiin,^ was at a lofs what opinigi to fofia of the predi^ion, but ijiiat I ^ii^oul*' readily attend him* Oii this we walked together tb thd place where tlie otliers wftrc affembled. Every eye was again fixed by torni oh m^ and tin tlV^ lake^ when juft as the fpn Had reached his zebrer feci, and much larger ; its tafte is far more delicious than the fruit I have compared It to, notwithftandihg that it is fo highly efteemed in Europe : it grows on a (hrub of the nature of a vine, with leaves iimilar to thofe of the grape j and I am perluaded that was it tranfplanted into a warmer and more kindly climate, it would prove a mofl rare and delicious fruit. Two very large rivers empty themfelves into this Jake, on the north and north eaft fide; one is called the Nipegon River, or, as the French pronounce it, Allanipegon, which leads to a band of the Chipeways, inhabiting a lake of the fame name> and the other is termed the Michipicootoii River, the fource of which ic fituated towards James's Ray, from whence there is but a (hort carriage to another river, which empties itfelf into that bay, at a fort belonging to Uie Company. It was by this paflage that a party of French from Michillimackinac invaded the fettle^ ments of that fociety in the reign of qiieen Anne. Havmg taken and deftroyed their forts, they brought the cannon which they found in them to the fortrefs from whence they had iffued ; thefe were fmall brafs pieces, and remain there to the prefenr time ; hav- ing, through the ufual revolutions of fortune, re- turned to the poffeflion of their former mafters. Not far from the Nipegon is a fmall river, that, jult before it enters the lake, has a perpendicular fall from the top of a mountain, of more than fix hun- dred feet. Being very narrow, it appears at a dif- tance like a .^'hite garter fufpended in the air. A few Indians inhabit found the eaftem borders ot this lake, fuppofed to be the remains of the Al- gonkins, who formerly poffefled this country, but who hare been nearly extirpated by the Iroqiiois o( CARVER'S TR/vELS. ^97 Canada. ^ Lake Superior has near forty rivers that fall into it, fome of which are of confiderable fize. On the fouth fide of it is a remarkable point or cape, of about fixty miles in length, called Point Chego- megan. It might as properly be termed a peninfula, as ir IS nearly feparated from the continent, on the eaft fide, by a narrow bay that extends from eaft to weft. Ganoes have but a fhort portage acrofs the ifthmus, whereas, if they coaft it round, the voyage is nvjre than an hundred miles. About that dlftance to the weft of the cape jufl defcribed, a confiderable river falls into the lake, the head of which is compofed of a great afiemblage of fmall ftreams. This river is remarkable for the abundance of virgin copper that is found on and near Its banks : A metal which is met with alfo in feveral other places on this coaft, I obferved that many of the fmall iflands, particularly thofe on the eafteT? ftores, were covered with copper ore. They ap- peared like beds of copperas, of which many tons iay in a fmall place. A company of adventurers from England began, foon after the conqueft of Canada, to bring away fome of this metal, but the diftraded fituation of affairs in America, has obliged them to relinquifii their fcherae. It might in future times be mad:e r, very advantageous trade, as the metal, which cofts nothing on the fpot, and requires but little expenc$ to get it on board, could be conveved in boats qx canoes through the Falls of St. JVIarie, to the Ifle of St. Jofeph, which lies at the bottom of the Straits near the entrance into Lake Huron ; from thence it might be pu^ on board larger veflfels, and m them tranfported a<:rofs that lake to the Falls of Niagara ; then bemg C3;:ried by land acrofs m Portage, i| might be conveved without much mnrp nKftruAion loS CARVER'S TRAVEL 1 to Quebec. The cheapnefs and eafe with which any quantity of it may be procured, will make up for the length of way that is neceflary to franfport it before it reaches the fea coaft, and enable the pro* prietors 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 fifh, the J)rincipal and befl are the trout and fturgeon, which may be caught at almoft any feafon in the greatest abundance. The trouts in general weigh about twelve pounds, but fome ire caught that exceed fifty. Befides thtfe, a fpecies of white fifh is taken in great quantities here, that refemble a (had in their (hapej but they are rather thicker, and lefs bony ; they weigh about four poiands each, and are of a delicious tafte. The bed way of catching thefe fifh is with a net ; but the trout might be taken at all times with the hook. There are likewife many forts of fmallei' fifh in great plenty here, and which may be taken with eafe ; among thefe is a fort refembling a herring, that are generally made ufeof as a bait for thetroui\ Very fmall crabs, net larger than a half crown' piece, are found both in this and Lake Michigan. This lake is as much affefted by florms as the Atlantic Ocean ; the waves run as high, and are equally as dangerous to fhips. It difcharges its wa- ters from the fouth-eaft corner, through the Straits' of St. Marie. At the upper end of thefe Straits Hands a fort that receives its name from them, com- manded by Monf. Cadot, a French Canadian, who being proprietor of the fori, is ftill permitted to keep poflTefTion of it. Near this fort is a very ftrong rapid river, againft which, though it h impofTible for canoes to afcend, yet when conduced by careful pilots, they may pafs down without danger. CARVER'S TRAVELS. ifg ^ Though Lake Superior, as I have before obferved, IS fupplied by near forty rivers, many of which are conliJerableones^ yet it does not appear that onai tenth part of the waters which are conveyed into it by thcfe rivers, are carried off at this evacuation, l^ow fuch a fuperabu^dance of waters can be difpo- ied of, as It niuil certainly be by foms means or " other, without which the circumference of the lake would be continually enlarging. I know not : that it does not empty itfdf, as, the Mediterranean fea is" luppolcd to do, by an under current, which per- petually counterads that near the furface, is cer- tain ; for the ilrcaiu that paaes over the rock is not more than five, or fix feet in depth, and the v/hole of It paifes on through the llraits into the adjacent iake; nor is u probable that i'o great a quantity can be ablorbed by exhalations ; confequentiy they muft find a paffage through fome fubterranean cavities,' deep, unfathomable, and never tt> be explored. The Fails of St Marie do not defcend perpendi- cularly, as thofe of Niagara or St. Anthony do, but confilt of a rapid which continues near three quar- ters, of a mile, over which canoes well piloted m'ic'ht pais; ' ^ • At the bottom of thefe Falls, Nature has' formed a nioft commodious ftation.for caiching the fifh ^•hich are to be found there in 'immenfe. 5uamities. prions Itandirig on the rocks that lieadJAcent to ic may take, with dipping nets, about the nforiths of JSeptember and Oclober, 'the white filh before men- tioned ; at that fealbn, together with leveral other fp^^cres, they crowd up? to this fpot in fuch ama^iing lhoals,^that enough . may. bd taken to fupply, when propeny cured, ;,hoyra:id§ of inlrabitanfs throu^houc the year. ' ^. .•)•'.'' ■ ^^ ■'•■: - r V * 110 CARVER'S TRAVELS. The Straits of St Marie are about forty mileJ long, bearing fouth-eaft, but varying much in theii' breadth. The current between the Falls and Lake Huron is not fo rapid as might be expeded, nor do they prevent the navigation of fhips of burden as far up as the ifland of St Jofeph. It has been obferved by travellers that the entrance into Lake Suprior, from thefe Straits, affords one of the moft pleaijng profpe£ts in the world. The place in which this might be viewed to the greateft advantage, is ju(t at the opening of the lake, from whence may be feen on the left, many beautiful lit- tle iflands, that extend a confiderable way before you ; arid on the right, an agreeable fucceffion of imall points of land, that projeft a little way into the water, and contribute, -with the fmall iiiands, to render this delightful bafon (as it might be termed) calm and fecure from the ravages of thofe tempef- tuous winds by which the adjoining lake k fre- quently troubled. Lake Huron, into which you now enter from the Straits of St Marie, is the next in magnitude to Lake Superior. It lies between forty-two and forty-fix degrees of north latitude, and feventy-nine and eigh- ty-five degrees of weft longitude. Its fhape is nearly triangular, and its circumference about one thoufand miles. On the north fide of it lies an ifland, that is re- markable for being near an hundred rtiiles in length, and no more than eight miles broad. This ifland is known by the name of Manataulin, which figni- fies a Place of Spirits, and is confidered by the In- dians as facred as thofe already mentioned in Lake Superior. CARVER'S TRAVEL5. Ml About the middle of the fouth-wefl: fide of this lake is Saganaum Bay. The capes thar feparate this bay from the l^ke are eighteen, miles diftant from each other ; near the middle of the intermediate fpace ftands two iflands, which greatly tend to faci- litate the paflage of canoes and fmail veflels, by affording them fhelter, as without this fecurity it >vould not be prudent to venture acrofs fo wide a fea ; and the coafl,ing round the bay would make the voyage long and tedious. This bay i? about eighty miles in lengrh, and in general about eighteen or twenty miles broad. Nearly half way between Saganaum Bay and the north-weft corner of the lake, lies another, which IS termed Thunder Bay. The Indians, who have frequented thefe parts from time immemorial, and every European traveller that had pafTed through it, have unj^nimoufly 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 leiigth ; and whilft I was pafling over it, which took me up near twenty-four hours, it thundered and lightened during the greateft part of the time to an exceilive degree, ^ . There appeared to be nq vifible reqfon for this, that I could difcover, nor is the country in general fubjea; to thunder ; the hills that ftood around ware not of a remarkable height, neither did the externa] parts of them feem to be covered with any fulphurous fubftance. But as this phcenomenon ipuft originate from fome natural caufe, I conjedure that the fliores of the bay, or the adjacent mountains, are either im- pregnated with an uncommon quantity of fulphurous matter, or contain fome metal or mineral apt to at- tract in a' great degree the eledrical particles that fre hourly borne over them by the pafling clouds. 112 C A R V E R's TRAVELS. But thefoliition of this, and thofe other philnfnplilcal remarks which cafualiy occur throughout ihcfe pages, I leave to the uifcullion of abler heads. The fifh in Lake Huron are much the fame tis thofe 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 promon- tory that feparates this lake from Lake Michigan, is compofed of a vaft plain, upwards of one hundred miles long, but varying in its breadth, l>eing from ten to fifteen miles broad. This trad, as 1 have before obferved, is divided into almoO: an equal por- tion between the Ottawaw and Chipeway Indians. At the north-eaft corner this lake has a communi- cation with Lake TTichignn, by the Straits of Michil- limackinac already dcfcribed. , I had like to have omitted a very extraordinary circumflance, relative to thefe Straits. Accordint^ to obfervation made by the French, whiUl they were in polFefTibn of the fort, although there is no diur- nal flood QT ebb to be perceived in thefe waters, yer, from an exad attention to their ftate, a periodical alteration in them has been difcovered. It was ob- ferved that they rofe by gradual, but almoft imper- ceptible degrees, till they had reached the height of about three feet. This \yas accomplifhed in feven years and a haif. and in the fame fpacethey ns gen- tly decreafed, till they had reached their former fitua- tion ; To that in fifreen years they had completed this inexplicable revolution. At the time I was there, the truth of thefe obfeN rations could not be confirmted by the Englifh, as they had then been only a fe'sv years in pofiefiion of the iort, but they all agreed that fomc alteration in the limits of the Straits was apparent. All thdtj CARVER'S TRAVELS. 1X3 JaJlvCS nre fo affefled by !he winds, as fometimes to have the appearance of a tide, according as they happen to blow; but this is only temporary and partial. A parent number of the Chipeway Indians live fcatrered around' this lake, particularly near Sa^a- nautn Bay. On its banks are found an amazing quantity of the fand cherries, and in the adjacent country nearly the fame fruit, as thofe that grow about the other lakes. From the Falls of St Marie I letfurely proceeded hack to Michilliiuackinac, and arrived there the beginning of November 1767, having been fouteen inonths on this extenfive tour, travelling near four thoufand miles, and vifited twelve nations of In- dians, lying to the weft and north of this place. The winter fetting in foon after my arrival, I was obliged to tarry there till June following, the navi- gation over Lake Huron ior large veflcis not be- ing open, on account of the ice, till that time. Meeting here with fpciable campany^ I paflfed thefe tnonths very agreeably, and without finding the hours tedious. One of my chief amufements wag that of lifhing for trouts. Though the Straits were covered with ice, we found means to make holes through it, and letting down ftrong lines of fifteen yards in length, to which were fixed three or four hooks baited with the fmall fifii before defcribed^ we frequently caught two at a time of forty pounds weight each ; but the common fir<^ is from ten to twenty pounds. Thefe aremo't delicious food. The method of preferving them durlng'the three months the winter general!/ lalls, is by hanging them up in the air j and in one .114 CARVER'S TRAVELS. night thiy will be frozen fo hard that they will keep as well as if they were cured with ialt. I have only pointed out in the plan of my travels the circuit I made from my leaving Michillimacki- nac till I arrived again at that fort. Thofe countries that lie nearer to the colonies have been fo often and fo minutely defcribed, that any further account of them would be ufelefs. I fliali therefore only give my readers, in th^e remainder of my journal, as 1 at firlt propoled, a defcription of the other great lakes of Canada, many ot which I have navigated over, and relate at the fame time a few particular incidents, that I trull will not be found inapplicable or unentertaining. In June 1768 I left Michillimackinac, and re- turned in the Gladwyn Schooner, a veFel of abou^ eighty tons burthen, over Lake Huron to Lake St Clair, where wq left the (hip, and proceeded 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, Supe- rior, Michigan, and Huron. Its form is rather round, and in feme places it is deep enough for the navigation of large veflels, but tow^ard? the middle of it there is a bar of fand, 'vhich prevents thofe that 'ire loaded from pafling r ver it. Such as are in ballaft Drily may find water Sufficient to carry them quite through ; the cargoes,, however, of fuch as are freighted muft be taken out, and after being tranf- pprted acrofs the bar in boats, re-fhipped again. The river that runs from Lake St Clair to Lake Erie (or rather the Strait, for thus it might be. termed from its nanfc) is called Detroit, which is in French, the Strait. It runs nearly fouth, has a gen- CARVER'S TRAVELS. »«5 tie current, and depth of water fuflicient for fhips of confidcrable burthen. The town of Detroit is fituated on the weltern banks of this river, about nine miles below Lake St. Clair. Almoft oppofite, on the eaftcrn fliore, is the vil- lage of the ancient Hurons : a tribe of Indians which have been treated of by fo many writers, that ad- hering to the reftriaions I have laid myfelf under of only defcribing places and people little known, or incidents that have pafled unnoticed by others, I (hall omit giving a defcription of them. A miffionary of the order. of Garthufian Fri?^s, by permiflion of the Bifhop of Canada, refides amone them. ° The banks of the river Detroit, both above and below thefe towns, are covered with fettlements that extend more than twenty miles ; the country being exceedingly fruitful, and proper for the culti- vation of wheat, Indian com, oats, and peafe. It has alfo many fpots of fine pafturage ; but as the inhabitants, who are chiefly French that fubmitied to the Englifh government, ufter the conqueft of thefe parts by General Amherft, are more attentive to the Indian trade ihan to farming, it is but badly cultivated. The town of Detroit contains upwards of one hundred houfes. The ftreets are fomewhat regular, and have a range of very convenient and handfome barracks, with a fpacioys parade at the fouth end. On the well lide lies the king's garden, belonging to the governor, which is very well laid out, and kept in good order. The fortifications of the town confift of a flrong ftockade, made of- round piles fixed firmly in the ground, and lined with pali- fadcs. Thefe are defended by fome fmall baftions,' lie CA RV£F', TR/ VELS. on which are. mounted a few iiulifferent cannon of an ino^nliiiirahle iizc, juft I'unicieht tor its defence ag^infi the Indian^ or an enemy not provided with artillery. " The i^rirrifon, in time of peace, conlifb of two hundred men, commaniled by a field otlicer, who acts as chief mauilhate under the governor of Oa. nada. Mr lurnbull, captain of the 6oth regiment, or Royal Americans, was commandant when I hap- pened to be there. This gentleman was deftrvedly elleemed and reipeded, both by the inhabitants and traders, for the propriety of his conduct ; and I am happy to have an opportunity of thus publicly niak- ing iny acknowledgments to him for the civilities I received from him during my Itay. In the year 1762, in the. month of July, it rained on this town and the parts adjacent, a fulphureous water df the colour and confilfence of ink ; feme of which being collected into bottles and wrote with, appeared perfettly intelligible on the pap^v, and anfwered every purpofe of jhat ufeful liquid. Soon after, the Indian wars already fpoken of, broke out in thefe parts. I mean not to fay that this incident w^3 ominous of them, notwiihftanding it is well known that innumerable well attelted inftaiices of extraordinary phaenomena happening before extraor- diiiary events, have been recorded in almcll every .ag\i by hiitorians of veracity ; I only relate the cir- cuniftance as a fact, of which I was informed by many perfons of undoubted probity, and leave m) readers, as I have hitherto done, to draw their ov ■•. conclufions from it. Pontiac, undler whom the party that furprifed 4. ort ' »ichi!limackinac, as related in the former part of this "iJr, aded, was an enterprifmg chi^f o^ CARVER'i TRAVELS. »»7 head warrior of the Miamies. During the late war between the Englifn and ihc French, hr had, been a fttady friend to the latter, and continued his inve- teracy to the former even after peace had been concluded between thofe two nations. Unwillin^j to put an end to the depredations he had been fo long engaged in, lu colleaed an army of confede- rate Indians, ccnil fling of the nations before enu- merated, with Ail intrt/uion to renew the war. How- ever, Inlt^.Kl of ipenly attacking the Englift fettle- incnts, he -aid fchcme for laking by furprife thofa forts on the extremities which they had lately gained pofiuliun of. How well the party he detached to take Fort Michillimackinax: fucceeded, the reader already kno^ys. To get into his hands Detroit, a place of greater confequence, and much better guarded, re- quired greater refolution, and more oonfummate art. He of courfe took the management of this expedition on himfelf, and drew near it with the prmcipal body of his troops. He was, however, prevented from carrying his defigns into exeoition, by an apparently trivial and-unforefeen circumflancci On fuch does the fate of mighty empires frequently depend t The town of Detroit, when Pontiac formed his plan, was garrifoned, by about three hundred men, commanded by Major Gladwyn, a gallant officer. As at that time every appearance of war was at ai^ end, >nd the^r 'ians feemed to be on a friendly foot* ing, :'ojjtiac'approached the fort, withotJi exciting nny fufpicions in the breaft of the governor or the jnliabitants. He encamped at a little difUnce from it„and fent ta let the commandant know that he was come to trade J and being defirous of brightening ii8 CARVER'S TRAVEL i^. the chain, of peace between the EngHfh and his ri'^J a fubtile wind, that is reported to^be of a naufeous fmell ; and if drawn in by the breath x)f the unwary traveller, will infallibly bring on a decline, that in R iz6 CARVER'S TRAVELS. a few months mufl: provemortal, there being no re- alty yet difcovered which can counteratl its bane- full influence. The ftones and pebbles on the fhores of this lake are moft of them tinged, in a greater or lefs degree, with ipots thist refenible brafs in their colour, but which are of a more fulphureous nature. Small pieces, about the (ize of hazle-nuts, of the fame kinds of ore, are found on the fands that lie on vs banks, and under the water. V » The navigation of this lake is efteemed more dan- gerous than any of the others, on account of many high lands that lie on the borders of it, and projedt into the water, in a perpendicular diredion, for many miles together; fo that 'whenever fudden ftorms arife, canoes and boats are frequently loft, as there is no place for them to find a fhelter. This lake dJfcharges its waters at the north-eaft ■ ends into the- River Niagara, which runs north and fouth, and is about thirty- fix miles in length, from whence it falls into lake Ontario. At the entrance of this river, on its eaffern (here, lies Fort Niagara j and, about eighteen miles farther up, thofe remark- able Falls, which are efteemed one of the moft ex- traordinary produdtions of nature at prefent known. As thefe have bee*i vifited by fo many travellers, and fo frequently defcribed, 1 fhall omit giving a particular defcription of them, and only obferve, that the waters by which they are fupplied, after taking their rife near two thoufand miles to the north-weft, and pafTmg through the Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, and Erie, during which they have been receiving confiant accuuHilations, at length rufh down a ftupendous precipice of one hundred and CARVER'S TRAVELS. "7 . forty feet perpendicular ; and in a ftrong rapid, that extends to the dKhnce of eight or nine miles below, fall nearly as much more ; this river foon after empties itfelf into Lake Ontario. The noife of thefe Falls may be heard an amaz- ing way. I could plainly diftinguifti thtnn in a caini morning more than, twenty miles. Others have faid, that at particular times, ami when the wind fits fair, the found of them reache? fifteen leagues. The land about the Fall is exceedingly hilly and uneven, but the greateft part of that on the Niagara River is very good, efpecially for grals and pafturage. Fort Niagara ftands nearly at the entrance of the weft end of Lake Ontario, and on the ealt part of the Straits of Niagara. It was taken from the French in the year 1759, by the forces under the command of Sir William Johnfon, and at prefent 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- five degrees of latitude, and be- tween feventy-fix and feventy-nine degrees of weft longitude. The form of it is nearly oval, its greatelt length being from north-eaft to fourh-iveft, and in circumference, about fix hundred miles. Near the fouth-eaft part it receives tiie waters of the Ofwego river, and on the north eaft difcharges itfelf into the River Cataraqui. Not far from ihe place where it ' ifiues. Fort Frontenac formerly Hood, which was taken from the French during the laft war, in the year 1758, by a fmali army of Provincials under Colonel Brddftreer. I2t CARVER'S TRAVELS. At the entrance of Ofwegn River ftands a fort of the fame name, garrifontd a; prefent only by an in- confiderable party. The fort v.-as taken ifi the year 1756, by the Ftench, wh'jn a great part of the gar- rifo.n, which confilted of the late Shirley's and Pep- peril's regiments, were nicrffacred in cold blood by the favages. In -Lake Ontario are taken raarty forts of fifli, among' which is the Ofwego Bafs, of an excellent fliivour, and weighing ab9ut three or four pounds. There is alfo a fort called the Cat- head or Pout, which are in general very large, fome of them , weighing eight or ten pounds, and they are efteenied a rare difh when properly drefled. On the north-wefl part of this Lake, and to the ^ fouth-feaft of Lake Huron, is a tribe of Indians called Miflifauges, whofe town is denominated Toronto, from the lake on which it lies ; but they are not very numerous. The country about Lake Ontario^ ef- pecially the more north and eaftern pans, is com- pofed of good land, and in time may nuke very flourilhing fettlements. The Onaida Lake, fituated near the head of the Rivef Ofwego, 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 jundion is efFe(5ted by fluices at Fort Stanwix, about twelve miles from the mouth of the former. This lake is about thirty miles long om eaft to weft, and near fifteen broad. The country around it be- longs to the Onaida Indians. Lake Champlain, the next in fize to Lake On- tario, and which lies nearly eafi: from it, is about eighty miles' in length, north and fouth, and in its CARVER'S TRAVELS. "> broadefl part fourteen. It is well ftored with fifli, and the lands that lie on all the borders of ir, and al>out its rivers, very good. Lake George, formerly called by the French Lake St Sacrament, lies to the fouth weft of the iaft mentioned lake, and is about thirty-five mile* long from north-eaft to fouth-weft, but of nc great breadtii. The country arotmd it is very mountaia- Qus, but in the vaiiies the land is tolerably good. ^hen thefe two lakes were firfl difcovered, they . were known by no other name than that of the Iro- qjuois Lakes ; arrd I believe in the firil ^Isra takea of ihofe parts, were fo denominated. The Indians alfo that were then called the Iroquois, are fmce known by the name of the Five Mowhawk nations', a»d the Mowhawks of Canada. In the late war, the former, which contilled of the Onondagoes, the Onaidas, thi; Seneeas, the Tufcarories,, and Iioon>. docks, fcaght on the fide of the Englifti : The latter, which are ca lied the Cohnawaghaj^s, aiid St Francis Indians, joiried the French, A vaft traft of land that lies between the two lafli mentioned lakes and Ontario, was granted in the year 1629, by the Plymouth Company, under a patent they had received from King James I. to Sir Ferdinando Gorges, and to Captain John Ma- fon, the head of that family, afterwards diltinguiflied from others of the fajne name, by the Mafons of Connefticut, The countries fpecified in this grant are faid to begin ten miles from the heads of the rivers that run from the eaft and fouth into Lake George and Lake Champlain; and continuing from thefe in a direct line weftward, extend to the mid- dle of Lake Ontario : from thence, being bounded j>y the Cat^raqm, or river of the Iroquois, they take »30 C A R V E R's TRAVELS. their courfe to Montreal, as far as Fort Sorrel, which lies rtT tlie juiicUon f)f this river with the Richelieu j and frorii that point are cnclofed by the laft men- tioned river till it returns back to the two lakes. This immenfe fpace was granted by the name of the Province of Laconia, to the aforefaid gentleman, on fpccified conditions and under certain penalties ; but none of tht-fe amounted, in cafe of omiflion in , the fulfiment of any part of them, to forfeiture j a fine only could be exaded. On account of the continual wars to which thefe parts have been fubjta, from their fituaticn between the fcttlements of the Englifli, the French, and iTie Indians, this grant has been, fuff^red to lie dormant by the real proprietors. Noiwithrtanding which, feveral towns have been fettled fince the late war, ' on the borders of Lake Champlain, and granis made to different people by the governor of New- York, of part of thefe territories, which are now become annexed to that province, There are a great number of lakes on the north of Canada, between Labradorj' Lake S'uperior, and Hudfon's Bay, but thefe are comparatively fmall. As they lie out of the trad that 1 purfued, 1 (hall only give a fummary account of them. The molt wef- terly of thefe are the Lakes Nipifmg and Tamifcam- ing. The firfl: lies at the head of the French River, and ruiis into Lake Huron ; the other on the Otta- waw River, which empties ijfelf into the Cataraqui • at Montreal. Thefe lakes are each about one hun- dred ^miles in circumference. The next is Lake Miftaflin, on the head of Ru^ part's Hiver, that falls into James's Bay. This lake is fo irregular from the large points of land by. CA RVER'i TRAVELS. iji ivfiich it is interfeaed on every fide, that it is diffi- cult either to defcribe its fh.vpe, or to afccrtain its iize. It however appears on the whole to be more than two hundred miles h» circumference. Lake St John, vhich is about eighty miles round, and of a circular form, lies on the Saguenay River, direftly north of Quebec, and falls into the St Lawrence, fomewhat north-eall of that city. Lake Manikouagone lies near the head of the Black River, which empties itfelf into the St Lawrence to the eaftward of the lad mentioned river, near the coaft of Labrador, and is ^bout fixty miles in cir- cumference. Lake Pertibi, Lake Wincktagan, Lake Etchelaugon, and Lake Papenouagane, with a num- ber of other fmall lakes, lie near the heads of the Buftard River to the north of the St Lawrence. Many others, which it is unneceflary to parti- cularize here, are alfo found between the Lakes Huron and Ontario. ^ The whole of thofe I have enumerated, amount- ing to upwards of twenty, are within the limits of Canada ; and from this account it might be deduced, that the northern parts of North America, through thefe numerous inland Teas, contain a greater quan- tity of water than any other quarter of the globe. In Oaober 1768 I arrived at Boflon, having been abfent from it on this expedition two years and five months, and during that time travelled near feven thoufand miles. From thence, as loon as I had pro- perly digefted my Jourjial and Charts, I fet out for England to communicate the difcoveries I had made, and to render them beneficial to the kingdom. But the profecutionof my plans for reaping ij^fe advan- ym 132 CARVER'S TRAVELS. tages has hitherto been obftruQed by the unhappy divifions that have been fomented between Great Britain and her Colonies by their mutual enemies. Should peace once more be reftored, I dottbt not but that the countries I have defcribed will prove a more abundant fource of riches to this nation, than either its Eaft or Weft Indian fettlements ; and ( fhall not only pride myfelf, but fincerely rejoice in bei;ig the means pf pointing out to it fo valuable aii acquifition. I cSnnot conclude the account of my extenfive tra- vels, without expTeffing,my gratitude to that bene- ficent Being, who invifibly protefted me through thofe perils which unavoidably attend fo long- a tour among fierce and untutored favages. At the fame time, let me not be accufed of vanity or prefumption, if I declare that the motives alledged in the introdudion of this work, were not the only ones that iridu'ced me to engage in this arduous un- dertaking. My views were not folely confined to the advantages that might accrue either to myfelf, or the community to which I belonged ; but nobler purpofes contributed principally to urge me on. The confined ftate, both with regard to civil and religious improvements, in which fo many of my fellow creatures remained, aroufed within my bo- fom an irrefiftible inclination to explore the almoft unknown regions which they inhabited ; and as a preparatory ftep towards the introduction pf more polilhed manners, and more humane fentiments, to gain a knowledge of their language, cuftoms, and principles. I confefs that the little benefit too many of the Indian nations have hitherto received from their in- CARVER'S TRAVELS. m terrourfe with thofe vpho denominate themfelves Chriftians, did not tend to encourage my.charirable purpofes ; yet as many, though not the generality, might receive feme benefit from the introdudion among them of the polity and religion of the fluro- peans, without retaining only the errors or vices that from the depravity and perverfion of their profeflors are unhappily attendant on thefe, I determined to perfevere. Nor could I flatter myfelf that I fhould be able to acco'mplifli alone this great defign ; however, I was willing to contribute as much as lay in my power towards, it. In all public undertakings would every one do this, and furnifli with alacrity his particular fhare towards it, what ftupendous works might not be completed. ; It is true that the Indians are not without fome fenfe of religion, and fuch as proves that they wor- fhip the Great Creator with a degree of purity un- known 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 opinions and ceremonies that greatly leflen their excellency in this point. So that could the doftrines of genuine and vital Chrif- tianity be introduced among them, pure and un- tainted, as it flowed from the mouth of its Divine In- ftitutor, it would certainly tend to clear away that fuperftitious or idolatrous drofs by which the ratio- nality of their religious tenets are obfcured. Its mild and beneficent precepts wouldf likewife conduce to foften their implacable difpofitions, and to refine their favage manners ; an event moll defireable ; and happy fliall I elteem myfelf, if this publication (hall S »34 CARVER'S TRAVELS. prove the means of pointing out the path by whicK' falutary inftrudions may be conveyed to them, and the converfion, though but of a few, be the con- fequence. Conclusion of the JOURNAL, &c. "1 I OF THE fORIGIN, MANNERS, CUSTOMS, RELIGION, AND LANGUAGE OF THE INDIANS, ;ij CHAPTER I, Of their Origin, Ti . HE means by which America received its firft inhabitants, have, fince the time of its dif- covery by the Europeans, been the fubjedl of num- beriefs difquifitions. Was I to endeavour to coileft the different opinions and reafonings of the various writers that have taken up the pen in defence of their conjedures, the enumeration would much ex- ceed the bounds I have prefcribed to myfelf, and ob^ lige me to be iefs explicit on points of greater mo- ment. t From the obfcurity in which xkm debate is enve- loped, through the total difufe of fetters among every nation of Indians on this extenfive continent, and the uncertainty of oral tradition at the diltance of fo many ages, I fear, that even after the moit minute inveftigation, we fhall not be able to fettle it with any great degree of certainty. And this appreien- fion will receive additional fprce, when it is confi- ■'i 136 CARVER'S TRAVELS. dered that the diverfity of language^ which is appa- rently diltina between moll of ihe Indians, tends to afccrtdin that this populiition was not^effcacd from one particular country, but from feveral ntigh- bouring ones, and completed at diifcrent periods. Mi)ft of the hiftorlans or travellers that . have treated on the American Aborigines, difagree in their lentimems relative to them Many of the an- cients are fuppofcd to have known that this quarter of the globe mtt only exiled, but alfo that it was in- habited. Plaro in his Timsus has alTerted, that beyond the ifland which 'he calls Aialantis, and which, according to his dtlcription, was fuuated in the Weftern Ocean, there were a great number of of.her iflands, and behind ihofe a vafl: continent. Oviedo, a celebrated Spanifli author of a much later date, has made no icruple 10 affiim that the Antilles are the famous Hefperides fo, often menti- oned by the poets ; which are at length reftored to the kings of Spain, the defcendants of king Hefpe- rus, who lived upwards of three thoufand years ago, and from whom thefe iflands received their names. Two other Spaniards, the one, Father Gregorip Garcia, a Dominican, the other. Father Joieph De Acofta, a Jcfuit, have written on the origin of the Atnericans. The former wl^o had been employed in the rnifTi- ons of iVIexico and Peru, endeavoured to prove from the traditions of the Mexicans, Peruvians, and others, which be received on the fpot, and from the variety of chara6lers, cuftoms, languages, and reli- gion oblervable in the different conntries of the New World, that different nations had contributed to the ir\ »-\ 1 1 n rr r»r V& 2t>« CARVER'S TRAVELS. 137 The latter, Father De Acofla, in his examinatioa of the means by which the firit Indians of America might have iound a paflage to that continent, dif- credits the conclufions cf thofe who have I'uppofed it to be by-fea, becaufe no ancient author has made mention of the compafs : and concludes, that it muft be either by the north of Afia and Europe, which adjoin to each other, or by thofe regions that lie to the fouthward of the ilraits of Magellan. He alfo rejeds the aflertion of fuch as have advanced that it was peopled by the Hebrews, '■'.■'*'.'■ John de Laet, a Flemifh writer, has contraverted the opinion of thefe Spanifli fathers, and of many others who have written on the fame fubjecl. The hypothecs he endeavours to eftablifh, is, that Ame- rica was certainly peopled by the Scythians or Tar- tars : and that the tranfmigration of thefe people happened fone after the difperfion of Noah's grand- fons. He undertakes to fhow, that the moft nor- thern Americans have a greater refemblance, not only in the features of their countenances, but alfo in their complexion and manner of living, to the Scythians, Tartars, and Samoeides, than to any other nations. In anfwer to Grotius, who had afferted that fome of the Norwegians palTed into America by the way of Greenland, and over a vafl continent, he fays, that it is well known that Greenland was not difco- Vered till the year 964 ; and both Gomera and Her- rera informs us, that the Chichimiques were fettled on the Lake of Mexico in 72 1. He adds, that thefe favages, according to the uniform tradition of the Mexicans who difpolTefled them, came from the country fince called New Mexico, and from the neighbourhood of California ; confequently North- America muft have been inhabited many ages before i3« CARVER'S TRAVELS. it coutd receive any inhabitants from Norway by way of Greenland. > It is no lefs certain, he obferves, that the real Mexicans founded their empire in 902, after having fubdued the Chichimeques, the Otomias, and other barbarous nations, who had taken pofleffion of the country around the Lake of Mexico, and each of whom fpoke a language peculiar to themfelves. The real Mexicans are likewife fuppofed to come from fome of the countries that lie near California, and that they performed their journey for the moft part by land ; of courfe they could not come from Norway. ' De Laet further adds, that though fome of thv, inhabitants of North-America, may have entered it from the north-weft, yet, as it is related by Pliny, and fome other writers, that on many of the iflands near the weftern coafl: of Africa, particularly on the Canaries, fome ancient edifices were feen, it is high- ly probable, from their being now deferted, that the inhabitants may have pafled over to America ; the paffage being neither long nor difficult. This mi- gration, according to the calculation of thofe authors, muft have happened more than two thoufand years ago, at a time when the Spaniards were much trou- bled by the Carthaginians; from whom having ob- tained a knowledge of navigation, and the conliriic- tion of fhips, they might have retired to the Antil- les, by the way of the weftern iues, which were ex- ailiy half way on ilaeir voyage. He thinks alio that Great-Britain, Ireland, and the Orcades were extremely proper to admit of a fimiiar conjedure. As a proof, he afferts the fol- lowing paflage ficm the hiftory of Wales, written by Dr Ihvid Powel, in the year 11 70. 'R CARVER'S TRAVELS. »39 This hiftorian fays, that Madoc, one of the fens 6f Prince Owen Gwynnith, being difgufted at the civil wars which broke out between his brothers, after the death of their father, fitted out feveral vef- fels, and having provided them with every thing necelTary for a long voyage, went in queft of new- lands to the weftward of Ireland ; there he difco- vered very fertile countries, but deftitute of inhabi- tants ; when landing part of his people, he returned to Britaian, where he raifed new Jevies, and after- wards tranfported them to his colony. The Flemifb author then returns to the Scythians, between whom and the Americans he draws a pa- rallel. He obferves, that feveral nations of them to the north of the Cafpian Sea, led a wandering life ; which, as well as many other of their cuf- toms, and way of living, agrees in many circum- ftances with the Indians of America. And though the refemblances are not abfolutely perfed, yet the emigrants, even before they left their 'own country, difiered from each other, and went not by the fame name. Their change of abode effeded what remained. Ji.e further fays, that a fimilar likenefs exifts between feveral American nations, and the Samcei- des who are fettled, according to the Ruffian ac- counts, on the great River Oby. And it is more natural, continues he, to fuppofe that colonies of their nations pafled 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 makes many other remarks that are equally fenfible, and which appeared to be juft j but (J40 CARVER'S TRAVELS. he intermixes with thefe, fome tliat are not fo well founded. Emanuel de Moraze, a Portuguere, in this hiHo- ry of Brazil, aflerts, that America has been wholly peopled by the Carthaginians and Ifraelites. He brings as a proof of this aflertion, the difcoveries the former are known to have made at a great dif- tance beyond the coaft of Africa. The progrefs of which being put a Uop to by the fenafe of Canthage, thofe who happened to be them in the newly dif- covered countries, being cut of from all communi- cation with their countrymen, and deftitute of many neceflaries of life, fell into a Hate of barbarifm. As to the Ifraelites, this author thinks that nothing but circumcifion is wanted in order to confritute a per- fed refemblance between them and the Brazilians. George De Huron, a learned Dutchman, has like- wife written on the fubjeft. He fets out wnh de- claring, that he does not btlieve it poflible America could have been peopled before the flood, confider- ing the ihort fpace of tim§ which elapfed betweeii the creation of the world arid that memorable event. In the next place, he lays it down as a principle, that after the deluge, men, and other terredial animals, penetrated into that country both by the fea and by land ; fome through* accident, and fome from a form- ed defign. That birds got thither by flight ; which they were enabled to do by refting on the rocks and iflands that are fcattered about in the Ocean. He further obferves, that wild beafl:s may have found a free paflage by land ; and that if we do not meet with horfes or cattle (to which he might have added elephants, camels, rhinoceros, and hearts of many other kinds) it is becaufe thofe nations that paflTed t life, or Havii have ad rica, foi pofes th maintaii felves by the who ; He b Colonies and Can acrofs th of the Pi time to thefe wa the coaft tent of fouthern mixture come fro and Chri like even time wh« peopled. . r After ; attend tl he fays, s perfeft ki globe, to the next the firft c its mod ; double r taking fo W *! CARVER'j TRAVELS. «4» pafled thither, were either not acquainted with their ufe, or had no convenien:e.to fupport them. Having totally excluded many nations that others have admitted as the probable firit fettlers of Ame- rica, for which he gives fubrtantial reafons, he fup- pofes that it began to be peopled in the north j and maintains, that the primitive colonies fpread them- felves by the means of the idhmus of Panama through the whole extent of the continent. He believes that the firft founders of the Indian Colonies were Scythians : That the Phoenicians and Carthaginians afterwards got footing in America acrofs the Atlantic Ocean, and the Chinefe by way of the Pacific : And that other nations might from Ume to time have landed there by one or other of thefe ways, or might poflibly have been thrown on thecoaft by tempefts ; lince, through the whole ex- tent of that Continent, both in its northern and fouthern parts^ we meet with undoubted marks of a mixture of the northern- nations with thofe who have, come from other places. jTnd laftly, that feme Jews and Chriftiat-s might have been carried thereby 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 queftion. Thefe, he fays, are occafioned in the firft place by the im- perfeft knowledge we have of the extremities of the globe, towards the north and fouth pole ; and in the next place to the havock which the Spaniards, the firft difcoverers of the New World, made among its mod ancient moiiuments ; as witnefs the great double road betwixt Quito and Cuzco, an under- taking fo ftupendous, that even the moft raagBifi- T - -42 CARVER'8 TRAVELS. cent of thofe executed by the Romans cannot be compared to it. . ' He fuppofes alfo another migration of the Phoe- nicians, than thole already mentioned, to have taken place ; and this was during a three years voyage made by the Tyrian fleet in the fervice of King So- lomon. He alTerts on the authoiity of Jofephus, that the port at which this embarkation was made, lay in the Mediterranean. The fleet, he adds, went in queft of elephants' teeth and peacocks, to the wefiern coaft of Africa, which is Tarfliifli ; then to Ophir for gold, which is Haite, or the ifland of Hifpanioln ; and in the latter opinion he is fupported by Columbps, who, when he difcovered that ifland, thought he could trace the furnaces in which the gold was refined. To thefe migrations which preceded the Chrif- tian aera, he adds many others of a later date, from different nations, but thefe I have not time to enu- merate. For the fame reafon I am obliged to pafs over numberlefs writers on this fubjeft ; and Ihall content myfelf with only giving the lentimeats of two { r three more. , The firil of thefe is Pierre De Charlevoix, a Frenchman, who, in his jorrnal of a voyage to* North- America, made fo lately as the year 1720, .has recapitulated the opinion of a variety of authors on this head, to which he has fubjoined his own con- jedures. But the latter cannot without fome diffi- culty be extraded, as they are fo interwoven with the palTages he has quoted, that it requires tnuch attention to difcriminale ihejfn. He feeras to allow that America might have re- ceived its full inhabitants irom Tartary and Hyrca- •uia, 1 and tyg have a. ferve fo the nor boratior has oftei Jefuit, a This the miflj China, he met knoua i lure /he from hei taken in to natior then waf Monfi been afTi in his r< another , She alfo given to thefe ag; fucceffive veiled th found he Tartar, ^ where fh< He acl of thefe i to the ez jeflb or i^ CARVER'S TRAVELS. 143 nia. This he confirms, by obferving that the lions and tygc/3, which are found in the former, mult have come from thofe countries, and whofe pafTages ferve for a proof that the two he.T.ifpheres join to the iiorthward of Afia. He then draws a corro- boration of this arcTument, from a flory he fays he has often heard related by Father Grollon, a French Jefuit, as an undoubted matter of fdd. This father, after havinfj laboured f >me time in the miflions of New France, pafled over to thofe of China.' One day as he was travelling in Tartary, he met a Huron woman whom he had formerly knovfc.i in Canada. He a(ked ha by what adven- ture (he had been carried into a country fo dKtant from her own. She made anfv/er, that having been taken in war, (he had been conducted from nation to nation, lill fhe had rcach;:d the place at which fhe then was. Monfieur Charlevoix fays further, that he had been aflured a', other Jefuit, pafling through Nantz, in his return from China, had related much fuch another affair of a Spanifb woman from Florida. ,She alfo had. been taken by certain Indians, and given to thofe of a more dillant country; and by thefe again to another nation, till havi.ng thus been fucceflively pafled from country to country, and tra- velled through regions extrcrnEly cold, ihe at laft found herfelf in Tartary. Here llie had married a Tartar, who had attended the conquerors in China, where fhe was then fettled. He acknowledges, as an ally to the probabilitv of thefe ftories, that thofe who had failed fartheit to the eaftward of Afia, by purfuing the coaft of jeffo or Kamfchatka, have pretended that they had - »44 CARVER'i TRAVELS. perceived the extremity of this continent ; and from thence have concluded thnt there could not poflibly be any communication by land. But he adds, that Francis Guella, a Spaniard, is faid to have afli^rted, that this reparation is no mor- than a llrait, about one hundred miles over, and that fome late voyages of the Japanefe give gr;>und to think that this itrait is only a bay, above wh.ch there is a paflage over land. He goes on to obfcrve, that though there are few wild beafts to be met with in North- America, except a kind of tygers without fpots, which are found in the country of the Iroquoife, yet towards the tropics there are lions and real tygers, which, notwithftanding, might have come from llyrcania and Tartary ;, for as by advancing gradually fouth- ward they met with climates more agreeable to their natures, they have in time abandoned the northern countries. He quotes both Solinus and Pliny to prove that the Scythian Anthropophagi once depopulated a great extent of country, as far as the promontory Tabin ; and alfo an author of later date, Mark Pol; a Venetian, who, he fays, tells us, that to the north- eaft of China and Tartary there are vaft uninhabited countries, which might be fufficient to confirm any conjeftures concerning the retreat of a great number of Scythians into Amenca. To this He adds, that we find in the ancients the names of fome of thefe nations. Pliny fpeaks of the Tabians ; Siolinus mentions the Apuleans, who had for neighbours the Maflagetes, whom Pliny fmce aflures us to have entirely difappeared. Am* mianus Marcellinus exprefsly tells us, that the fear of the Anthropophagi obliged feveral of the inhabit CARVER'. TRAVELS. »4Jf .tants of thofe countries to take refuge elfewhere. From all thefe authorities, Monfieur Charlevoix con- cludes, ihat there is at lead room to conjedlure that more than one nation in America had the Scythian or Tartarian original. He finiflies his remarks on the authors he has quoted, by the following obfervations : It appears to. ^e that this controverfy may b6 reduced to the two following articles ; firft, how the new world might have been peopled ; and fecondly, by whom, and by what means it has been peopled* Nothing, he aflerts, may be more eafily anfwcred than the firft. America might have been peopled as the three other parts of the world have been. Many difficulties have been formed on this fubjeft, which have been deemed infolvable, but which are far from being fo. The inhabitants of both hemif- pheres are certainly the defcendants of the fame fa- ther ; the common parent of mankind received an exprefs command from heaven, to people he whole world, and accordingly it has teen p pled. To bring this about, it was neceflary to overcome all difficulties that lay in the way, and they have been got over. Were thefe difficulties greater with re- fpea to peopling the extremt ies of Afia, Africa, and Kurope, or the tranfporting men into the iflands which lie at confideraf le diftance from thofe conti- nents, than to pafs over into America ? certainly not. Navigation, ^which has arrived at fo great per- feftion within thefe three or four centuries, might poffibly have been more perfefl: in thofe early ages than at this day. Who can believe that Noah and his immediate defcendants knew Icfs of that art than we do ? That the builder and pilot of the Urged fhip 146 CARVER'S TRAVELS. that ever was, a fiiip that was formed to traverfe an, unbounded ocean, and had fo many fhoaU and qnicfc- fands to guard againft, (hould be ignorant of, or ihould not have communicated to thofe of his de- fcendants who furvived him, and by whofe me^ns he was to execute the ordei of the Qreat Creator ; I fay, who can believe he (hould not have communi- cated to them the an 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, how eafy is it to pafs, excliifivc of the pallage already dafcribed, by land from the coaft of Africa to Braj&i!, from the Canaries to the IVeftern Iflands, and from them to the Antilles? From the Britift Mcsor the coaft of f ranee, to Newfoundland, the paflTage is neither long nor diffi- cult ; I might fay as ntuch of that from China to "Ja- fxm^ from Japan, or the Philippines, to the iffes of Mariannes j and from thence to Mexico. Thete are iflands at ^ confiderable diftance frorn the continent of Aiia, where we have not been fur- prifed to find inhabitants ; why then ihouid we won- der to meet with people in America ! Nor can it be imagined that the grandfons of Noah, when they were obliged to ftparate, and fpread themfelves in •conformity to' the defigns of God over the whole a, he fays, is about eight ihoufand miles Jif- tant 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 ikill,or fo much as any inclination that way, beffdes fmall coaiting voyages. The winds blow likewife, with little variation, from eaft to weft within the la- titudes thirty and odd, north and fouth, and there- fo-e thefe could not drive them on the American coafl, it lying diredly contrary to fuch a courfe. Neither could perfons, according to this writer's sccount, fail to America from the north by the way . of Tartary or ancient Scythia; that, from its fitua- tion, never having been, or can be a maritime power ; and it is utterly imprafticable, he fays, for any^o come to America by fea from that quarter. Befides, the remaining traces of their religious ceremonies, and civil and martial cuftoms, are quite oppofite to the like vcftiges of the old Scythians. Eveii in the moderate northern climates there is not to be feen the leall trace of any ancient ftately buildings, or of any thick fettlements, as are faid to remain in the lefs healthy regions of t'eru and Mexico. And feveral of the Indian nations aflure us, that they crolfed the Miffiilippi before they made' their prefent northern fettlements : which, con- r.eded with the former arguments, he concludes will lufliciently explode that weak opinion of the American Aborigines being lineally delcended fronv the Tairars or ancient Scythians. CARVEK's TRAVELS. x^i Mr Adair's reafons for fuppofing that 'the Ameri- cans derive their origin from the Jews are, Firft, becaufe -they are divided into tribes, and ^chiefs over them, as the Ifraelites had. ^ Secondly, becaufe, as by a ftrift, permanent, di- vme precept, the Hebrew nation were ordered to worfhip, at Jerufalem, Jehovah the true and living Ood, fo do the Indians, (lili„g him Yohewah. The -ancient Heatbens, he adds, it is well known, wor- Ihipped a phirality of gods ; but the Indians pay their religious devotions to the great, beneficent,Tu- preme, holy Spirit of Fire, who refides, as they think, above the clouds, and on earth alfo with unpolluted people. 1 hey pay no adoration to images, or to- <1ead_perfons, neither to the celellial luminaries, to «vil Ipints, nor. to any created beings whatever. Thirdly, becaufe, agreeable to the theocracy or ^ ^vme government of Ifrael, the Indians think the Ueity to be the immediate head of their ftate. Fourthly,r becaufe, as the Jews believe in the niiniftration of angels, the Indians alfo believe that rbe higher regions are inhabited by good fpirits. Fifthly, becaufe, the Indian language and dialers appear to have the very idioms and genius of the Hebrew. Their words and fentences being ex- preflive, concife, emphatical, fonorous, and bold : and otten, both in letters and fionifications, are fy- nonyrnouswith the Hebrew language. Sixthly becaufe they, count their time after the inanner of the HeDrcvvs. • . «^ CARVER'S TRAVELS. Seventhly, becaufe, in conformity to, or after the manner of the Jews, they have their prophets, high- prielts, and other religious orders. . Eighthly, becaufe their feftivals, fafts, and reli- gious rites have a great refemblan'ce to ihofe of the Hebrews. Ninthly, becaufe the Indians, before they go to war, have many preparatory ceremonies of piirifi- cation and falling, like what is recorded of the U- raclites. • Tenthly, becaufe the fame tafle for ornaments, and the fame kind, are made ufe of by the Indians, as by the Hebrews. , Thefe, and many other arguments of a fimilar na- ture, Mr Adair brings in fupport of his favourite fyftem ; but 1 fhould imagine, that if the Indians are really derived from the Hebrews, among their reli- gious ceremonies, on which he feeras chiefly to build* his hypothefis, the principal, that of circumcifion,- would never have been laid ^fide, and its very re- metnbrance obliterated. ' Thus numerous and diverfe are the opinions of thofe who have hitherto written onthefubjed! I fhall not, however, either endeavour to reconcile theni, or to point out the errors of each, but proceed to give my own fentiments on the origin of the Americans ; which are founded on concluiions drawn from the moft rational arguments of the writers I have mentioned, and from my own obfervations ; the confiftency of thefe I (hall leave to the judgment of my readers. CARVER'S TRAVELS. '5? The better to introduce my conjeftures on this head, it is necelTary firft to afcertain the diftances between America and thole parts of the habitable globe that approach neareft 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 feparated from the other quarters of the world. That part of Europe ■Which approaches nearelt to it, is thecoaft of Green- land, lying in about leventy degrees of north lati- tude, and which reaches within twelve degrees of the coaft of Labrador, fituated on the north-eaft bor- ders of this continent. The coaft of Guinea is the neareft part of Africa, which lies about eighteen hundred and fixty miles north-eaft from the Brazils, The moft eaftem coaft of Afia, which extends to the Korean Sea on the north of China, projeds north- eaft through eaftern Tartary and Kamchatka to Si- beria, in about fixty degrees of north latitude. To- wards which, the weftern coafts.of America, from California to the Straits cf Annian, extend nearly north- weft, and lie in about forty-fix degrees of the lame latitude. Whether the Continent of America ftretches any farther north than thefe ftraits, and joins to the eaf- tern parts of Afia, agreeable to what has been aflert- ed by fome of the writers I have quoted, or whether the lands that have been difcovered in the interme- diate parts are only an archipelago of iflands, verg- ing towards the oppofite continent, is not yet afcer- tained. , It being, however, certain that there are many confiderable iflands which lie between the extremities of Afia and America, viz. Japan, Jeffo, or Jedfo, Gama's Land, Behring's Ifle, with many others dif. 1J4 CARVER'S TRAVELS. covered by Tfchirikow. and befides thefe, front fifty degrees norm there appearing to be a clufter of iflands that reach as far as Siberia, it is probable, from their proximity to America, that it received its tirlt inhabitants from them. This conclulion is the mod rational I am able to draw, fuppofing that fince the Aborigines got foot- ing on this continent, no extraordinary or fudden change in the pofition or furface of it has taken place, from inundations, earthquakes, or any re- volutions of the earth that we are at prefent unac- quainted with. . . To me it appears highly improbable that it fhould have been peopled from different quarters, acrofs the Ocean, as others ' have alferied. From the fize of the lliips made ufe of in thofe early ages, and the want of the compafs, it cannot be fuppofed that any maritime nation would by choice venture over the unfathomable ocean, in fearch of diftant continents. Had this however been attenipted, or had America becii firft accidentally peopled from fhips freighted with palTengers of both fexes, which were driven by a ftrong eafterly wind acrols the At- lantic, thefe fettlers rnuft have retained fome traces of the language of the country from whence they migrated ; and fince the difcovery of it by the Eu- ropeans muft have been made out. It alfo^ appears extrordmary that feveral of thefe accidental migra- tions, as allowed by fome, and thefe from different parts, fhould have taken place. Upon the whole, after the moft critical enqui- ries, and the matureft deliberation, 1 am of opinion, that America received its firfl inhabitants from the -orth-eaftbythewayofthegreat archipelago iuft .nentioned, and from thefe alone. But this migh^ CARVER'S TRAVELS. ,5^ have been effefted at different times, and from va- rious parts : from Tartary, China, Japan, or Kamf- chatka, the inhabitant* of thefe places refemblinfr each other m colour, features,, and fliape, and who before fome of them acquired a knowledge of the arts and fcienccs, might have likewife refembled each other m their manners, cuftoras, religion, and language. • The only difference between the Chinefe nation and the lartars, lies in the cultivated ftatq of the one, and the unpolifhed fituation of the other. The former have become a commercial people, and dwell m houfes formed into regular towns and cities • -the latter live chiefiy in tents, and rove about in dif' ferent hordes, without any fixed abode. Nor can the long and bloody wars thefe two nations have been engaged in, exterminate their hereditary fimi- :iitude. The prefent family of the Chinefe emperors IS of Tartarian extradioa ; and if they were not fen- fible of fome claim befides that of conquelf, fo nu- merous a people would fcarcely fit quiet under the dominion of flrangers. • It is very evident,, that fome of the manners and cultoms of the American Indians refefnble .thofe of the Tartars j and I make no doubt but that in fome future sera, and that not a very diilant one, it will be reduced to a certainty, that during fome of the vvars between the Tartars and the Chinefe, a part of the inhabitants of the northern provinces were driv- en from their native country, and 'took refuge in fome of th« ifles before-mentioned, and from thence found their way into America. At different period--ngIand; making, as I proceeded, fuch gbferva- i5« CARVER'! TRAVELS. tions both on the languages and manners of the peo- ple with whom I (hould be converfant,as might tend to illuftrate the doftrine I have here laid down, and to fatisfy the ciiriofity of the learned or inquilitlve ; but as this propofal w.u; judged rather to require a «a: jnal than a private lupport, it was not carried into execution. I am happy to find, fmce I formed the foregoing concludons, that they correfpond with the fenii- ments of that great and learned hiftorian, Dr Robertfon ; and though with him, I acknowledge that the invefligation, from its nature, is fo obfcure and intricate, that the conjedures I have made can only be confidered as conjeftures, and not indifpu- table conclufions, yet they carry with th^m a grea- ter degree of probability than the fuppofuions of thofe who ailert that this continent was peopled from another quarter. , One of the Doflor's quotations from the'Journala of Behring and Tfchirikow, who failed from Kamf- chaika, about the year 1741, in queft of the New World, appears to carry great weight with it, and to afford our conclufions firm fupport : " Thefe com- " manders having fhaped their courfe towards the " eaft, difcovered land, which to them appeared to " be part of the American continent ; and accor- " ding to their obfervations, it feems to be fituated " within a few degrees of the North-weft coaft of " California. They had there fome intercoufe with " the inhabitants, who feemed to them to refemble " the Norjth-Americans ; as they reprefented to the " Ruffians the Calumet or Pipe of Peace, which is •* a fymbol pf friendlhip univerfal among the people <' of North-America, and an ufage of arbitrary in- " (litution peculiar to them." CARVER'S TRAVELS. •5f One of this incomparable writer's own arguments in fupport of his hypoihefis, is alio urged with great judgment, and appears to be nearly conclulive. He fays, " We may lay it down as a certain principle in this enquiry, that America was not peo- pled by any nation of the ancient continent, which had made confiderable progrefs in civilization. The inhabitants of the N<;w World were in a ftate of fociety fo extremely rut^e, as to be un- acquainted with thofe arts which are the firft ef- fays of human ingenuity in its advance trVi'-'.rds improvement. Even the mofl cultivater natic.T,» of America were ftrangers to many of i icA; i\nr pie inventions, which were almoft cot -ai with fociety in other parts of the world, am. v?cr;^ known in the earlieft periods of human life, i-rom this it is manifeft that the tribes which originally emigrated to America, cam^ off from nations " which muft have been no lefs barbarous than their poflerity, at the time when they were firft dif- covered by the Europeans. If ever the ufe of iron had been known to. the favages of America, or to their progenitors, if ever they had employed a plough, a loom, or a forge, the utility of thefe inventions would have preferved them, and it is impoflible that they Ihould have been abandoned or forgotten." « « <( (( <( « (( (C (I i( ti (( « (( (C c< '. The edges round the ancle are de- corated with pieces of brafs or tin fixed ar6und lea- ther firings, about an inch long, which being placed very thick, make a cheerful tinkling noife either when they walk or dance. , . The women wear a covering of fome kind or ether from the neck to the knees. Thofe who u&i^s with the Europeans wear a linen garment, the fame as that ufed by the men j the flaps of which hang over their petticoat. Such as drefs after their ancient manner, make a kind of fliift with leather, which covers the body but not the arms. Their petticoats are made either of leather or cloth, and rcar.h from the waift to the knee. On iheir legs they wear ftockings and flioes, made and ornamented as thofe of the men. They differ from each other in the modie of dref- fing their heads, each following the cuftom of the nation or band lo which they belong, and adhering oofe fof which is ly orna- ion with :e, ir or i'lls, ra- ong tlui ^ leal of fivenient eer, clis, dreffed firs with loes, and nvenient are de«> und lea- g placed « either kind or 5fe who tient, the >f which ler their leather. Their )th, and heir legs amented of dref- 1 of the idhcriog i CARVER'S TRAVELS. ^^y to the form made ufeofby their anceftors from time iinaemonal. f I reniavked that mort of the females, who dwell on the eaufideof the MKnffipi. decorate thet heads by ^clofing their hair either in ribbands, o^ln P ates of i, ver ; the latter is only made ufe of by tlS h.gher ranks, as it is a coaiy ornament. The filver they ufe c; this occafion. is formed into thin plates cA abcit four inches broad, in feveral of which thev confine tbe.r ha.r The plate which is neareft the -..^d IS of a confiderable width j the next narrower and made fo as to pafs a little way under the other' and in this maiiner they faften into each other, and gradually tapenng, defcend to the waift. The hair ot the Indian women being in general very long, this proves an expenfive method. '^'K»tni$ But the women that live to the weft of the Miilif fipp. VIZ. the Naudoweffies, the AOinipoils, &c. d -' vide their hair m the middle of their head, and form Smr.hr '-T'P"^'''^^^^' Thefe rolls wrift. Th K '"'-'= '^"S' '"'^ ^^ '^^Se as their Z f )^^ ^u'"^ '" ^ perpendicular attitude at mrr f'^^ "^'^ "'' '"^ '^"^'^'"^ ^' ^^' ^« ^^e lower P4ri or It. The women of every nation generally placeafpot of pamt, about the fize of a crown-piece, aS each ear ; fome of them put paint on their haif and fometimes a fmali fpot in the middle of the foreh 'ad- tbel^d/j^f '"';i '" ^ ■ f '''' P'>^ ' Sweater attention to heir drcfs, and to the ornaments with which thev ofX1r\'^^'' P''^^'"'' !ll'" '° the accommodation the following iimple and expeditious manner. 168 CARVER'S TRAVELS. Being provided with poles of a proper length, they faften two of them acrofs, near their ends, with bands made of bark. Having done this, they raife ' them up, and extend the bottom of each as wide as they propofe to make the area of the tent : they then ere£l others of an equal height, and fix them fo as to fupport the two principal ones. On the whole they lay ikirts of the elk or deer, fewed together, in quantity fufficieht to coyer the poles, and by lap- ping over to form the door. A great number of ikins are fometimes required for this purpofe, as ibme of their tents are very capacious^ That of the thief warrior of the Naudoweflies was at Jeaft forty feet in circumference, and very commodious. They obferve no regularity in fixing their tents when they encamp, but place them as it fuits their conveniency. . .... The hut alfo, which thofe who ufe not tents erefl when they travel, for very few tribes have fix- ed abodes, or regular towns, or villages, are equally fimple, and almoft as foon conftru£ted. They fix fmall pliable poles in the ground, and , bending them till they meet at the top and form a femi-circle, then la0i them together^. Thefe they ctver with mats made of riiflies plaited, or with birch bark, which they carry with them in their canoes for that purpofe. Thefe cabins have neither chimnies nor wiuaows ; there is only a fmall aperture left in the middle of the roof, through which the fmoke is difcharged, but as this is obliged to be flopped up when it rains or fnows violently, the fmoke then proves exceed- ingly iroublefome. ,' CARVER'S TRAVEJLS. 169 They lie on flcins, generally thofe of the bear, which are placed in rows on the ground j and if the floor is not large enough to contain beds fufficient for the accomnfiodation of the whole family, a frame is ereded about four or five feet from the ground, in which the younger part of it fleep. As the habitations of the Indians are thus rude, their domeftic utenfils are few in number, and plain m their formation. The tools wherewith they faftiion them are fo aukward and defeftiye, that it is not only impoflible to form them with any degree of neatnefs or elegance, but the time required in the execution is fo confiderable, as to deter them from engaging in the manufafture of fuch as are not abfolutely necef-i fary. The Naudoweflies make the pots in which they boil their visuals of the black clay or ftone mention- . ed in 'my journal ; which refifts the effeds of fire, nearly as weil as iron. When they roaft, if it is a large joint, or a whole animal, fuch as a beaver, they fix it as Europeans do, on a fpit made of hard wood, and placing the ends on two forked props, now and then turn it. If the piece is fmaller, they fplit it as before, and fixing the fpit in an ereft but flantino- pofition, with the meat inclining towards the fire) frequently change the fides, tiU every part is fuf, ficently roafted. ^^ : They make their difhes in which they ferve up their meat, and their bowls arid pans, out of the knotty excrefcences of the maple-tree, or any other wood. They fafliion their fpoons with a tolerable degree,of neatnefs (as thcfe require much lefs trouble than large utenfils) from a wood that is termed in America Spoon Wood, and which, greatly refembles box-wood. '. ' ■■' . ' M ^^ J 70 CARVER'S TRAVELS. Every tribe wc now poflefled of knives and fleels to ftrike fire with. Thjfe bein?: fo elTentially need- ful for the common ufcfj uj iiic, ;' nfe who have not an immediate com ;-:.♦; A^ith the European traders, purchafe thcr\ vi fuch of their ncighboiirB as are fituated ne;?^ v the fettlements, and generally give in exchange lor them flaves. -r* ^^i CARVER'* TRAVELS. t>t fi^H AFTER Iir, Of their Manners, ^li/lcations , ^c. yV HEN the Indian women fit down, they place themfelves in a decent attitude, with their knees cJoie together ; but from being ace iftottied '^ this polture, they walk badly, and appear to be lame. They have no midwives among them, their cli- mate, or fome peculiar happinefs in their conftitu- tions, rendering afliftanre at that time unnecefiary. un thefe ocrafions they are confined but a few hours trom their uU U employmems, which are common- iy very labonc as the men, who are remarkable mdolent, leave to them every kind of drudgery; even in their hun ^ parties the former will not deign to brmg h .,ie the -ame, but fend their wives ot It, though It lies at d ^ confiderable diftance. The women place their children foon after they are born on boards ftufFed with foft mofs, fuch as is *ound in moralfes or meadows. The child is laid on Its back inone of this kind of cradles, and be- ing wrapped m flcins or cloth to keep it warm, is lecured m it by fmall bent pieces of timber. To thefe machines they faflen (Irings, by which they hang them to branches of trees ; or if they ^nd not trees at h^nd, faften .them to a ftump or Itone,, while they tranfadt any needful bufinefs. In JT« CARVER'S TRAVELS; this poTition are the children kept for fome months, when they are taken out, the boys are fufFered to go naked, and the girls are covered from the neck to the knees with a fhift and a fliort petticoat. The Indian women a j remarkably decent durinpj their menftrual illnefs. Thofe nations that are moft remote from the European fettlcments, as the Nau- dowefllcs, &c. are more particularly attentive to this point ; though they all without exception ad- here in fdme degree to the fame cuftom. In every camp or town there is ah apartment ap- propriated for their retirement at this time, to which both finale and married retreat, and feclude them- felves with the utmoft ftri£lnefs during this period froip all fociety. Afterwards they purify themfelves in running ftreaftis, and return to their different em- ployments.' The men on thefe occafions mod carefully avoid holding any communication with them j and the Naudoweffies are fo rigid in this dbfervance, that they will not fuffer any belonging to them to fetch fuch things as are neceflary, even fife, from thefe female lunar retreats, though the want is attended y^ith the greafeft inconvenience. . They are alfo fo fuperftitious as to think, if a pipe ftem cracks, which Among them is made of wood, that the poffeflbr has either lighted it at one of thefe polluted fires, or held fome converfe with a woman during her retire- ment, .which is eftieemed by them moft difgraceful and wicked. The Indians are extremely circumfpeft and deK- berate in every word and adtion ; there is nothing that hurries them into any intemperate warmth, but that inveteracy to their enemies, which is rooted in CARVER'S TRAVELS. ' ,^3 In all other .nUances they are cool, and remarkably cautious, taking care not to betray, on any account whatever, their emotions. Jf an Indian has difco nnT l^Vl""^ '' '" ^'"8" °f ^^J"g intercepted nnd cut oft, by one to whom he has rendered him- ielf obnoxious, he does not inform him in plain and exphcu terms of the danger he runs by purfu" ing the trad near which his enemy lies in wait for hnn, but he firft coolly afks him which way heil RO.ng that day ; and havinc? received his anfwer wHh the fame indifference tells him that he has been .nbrmed that a dog hes near the fpot, which might probably do h.m a mifchief. This hint proves iff! ^ic.ent.; arid his friend avoids the danger wihag much caution as ,f every defign and motion of his enemy had been pointed out to him. This apathy often fliews itfelf on occafions th^^ would call forth all the fervour of a fufc'e^tible hear If an Indian has been abfent from his family and friends many months, either on a war or hunting p.rty when his wife or children meet him Hlf d ft^nce from h,s habitation, inftead of the affeftioT- ate fenfations that would naturally arife in the breTfl: of more refined bemgs, and be produOive of mutual .wTh'", T"'' ^^.^°""""" his courfe without pay- ing the leaft attention to thofe who furround him till he arrives at his home. ' «, i?V^'''.^'' 1'''^"' '"^ ^"^ '^'^^^^ unconcern tlofl nf If "'' ^''" '^^^"^ " ^^y' f'"°J^-« his pipe ; t^ K r "^"'/"^'"'^ ^ho have followed him! he r.l!. T V'"^ ri^'^P^ " '' ^^^^^^' horr. before L^ to them the incidents which have hefallea h.m during h,s absence, though perhaps he has left a fether, brother, or fon on the field, whofe U «74 GARVER»s TRAVELS. he ought to have lamented, or has been unfuc- cefsful in the undertaking that called him from his home. Has an Indian been engaged for feveral days In the thace, or on any other laborious expedidon, and by accident continued thus long without food, when he arrives at the hut or tent of a frrend, where he knows his wants may be immediately fupplied, hie takes care not to fhow the leaft fymptoms of impa- tience, or to betray the extreme hunger by which he is tortured ; but on being invited in, fits conten- tedly down, and fmokes his pipe with as much com- pofure as if every appetite was allayed, and he was perfeaiy at eafe ; he does the fame if among ftran- gers. This cuftom is ftriaJy adhered to by each tribe, as they efteem it a proof of fbrthude, and thmk the reverfe would entitle them to the appella- tion of old women. If you fell an Indian that his children have greatly fignalized themfelves againft an enemy, have taken many fcalps, and brought home many prifoners, he dots not appear to feel any extraordinary pleafure on the occafion j his anfwer generally is, « it is well," and he makes very little further enquiry about i't. On the contrary, if you inform him that his children are flam or taken prifoners, he makes no complaints ; he only replies, « It does not fignify," and probably, tor fome time at leaft, aflvs not how it happened. This feeming indifference, however, does not pro^ ^ceed from an intire fuppreiiion of natural affedions ; for notwithftanding they are efteemed favages, I ne- ver faw among any other people greater proofs of parental or filial tendernefs ; and althocgb they meet their wives after a long abfence with the (iQical in- CARVER'S TRAVELS. ,7^ difference juft mentioned, they are not, in general, void of conjugal affedion, ' s > Another peculiarity is obfervable in their manner of paying their vifits. If an Indian goes to vffit a particular perfon in a family, he mentions to whom his vifit is intended, and the reft of the family imme- diately retiring to the other end of the hut or tent are careful not to come near enough to interrupt them during the whole of their coaverfation. The fame method is purfued if a man goes to pay his re- ipeds to one of the other fex: but then he muft be "uMa ' ."°V° ^^^ ^°''^ ^^ '^'^ ^"^J^*^"^ of his difcourfe, whillt the day light remains. The Indians difcover-an amazing fagacity, and ac- quire with the greater readinefs any thing that de- pends upon the attention of the mind. By expe- rience and an acute obfervatioH,.they attain many perfedions to which Europeans are grangers. For inftance they will crofs a forelt or a plain which is two hundred m.lcs m breadth, and reach with great ex- adnefs the point at which tiiey intended to arrive keeping during ihe whole of that fpace in a direft hue withoiu any material deviations ; and this thev >|II do with the Tame eafe, whether the weather be tair or cloudy, . -With equal acutenefs they will point to that pan of the neavens the fun is in, though it be intercept- ed by cloud* or fogs. Befides this, they are able to purfue with mcredibJe facility the trace? of man or beaft, either on leaves or grafs ; and on this account difcovery!^^'''' '•^^''^'^ ' ^^''? -^"^y-fcapes They are indebted for thefe talents notonlv to na- ture, bat to an extraordinary command of the intei- i 176 CARVER'S TRAVELS. leaual 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 exaft 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 appeals, and refer with as much perfpicuity and readinefs as Europeans can to their written records. Every nation pays great refped to old age. The advice of a father will feldom meet with any extra- ordinary attention from the young Indians, proba- bly they receive it with only a bare afient ^ but they will tremble before a grandfather, and fubmit to nis mjunaions with the utmoll alacrity. The words of the ancient part of the community are elteemed by the young as oracles. If they take during their hunting parties any game that is reckoned by them uncommonly delicious, it is immediately prefented to the eldelt of their relations. They never fuiFer themfelves to be overburdened With care, but live in a ftate of perfed tranquility and contentment. Bemg naturally indolent, if pro- vifions jud fufficient for ^eir fubfiftence can be procured with little trouble, and near at hand, they yvill not go far, or take any extraordinary pains for If, though by fo doing they might acquire greater plenty, and of a more eftimabie kind. Having much leifure time, they indulge this in- dolence to which they are fo prone, by eating, drmking, or fleeping, and rambling about in their towns or camps. But when neceffity obliges them CARVER'S TRAVELS. m jtned to take the field, either to oppofe an enemy, or to procure ^herofelves food, they are alert and indefatigable. Many in(tances of their adivity, on ihefe occarions, will be given when I treat of their wars. The infatuating fpirit of gaming is not confined to Europe ; the Indians alfo feel the bewitching im- pulfe, and often lofe their arms, their apparel, and every thing they are poflefled of. In this cafe, however, they do not follow the example of more. refined gamefters, for they n-nher murmur nor re-' pine ; not a fretful word efcapes them, but they bear the frowns of fortune witn a philofophic com- pofure. The greatefl blemifh in their charader is that favage difpofition which impels them to treat their enemies with a feverity every other nation fhudders at. But if they are thus barbarous to thofe with whom they are at war, they are friendly, hofpi- table, and humane in peace. It may with truth be faid of them, that they are the worft enemies, and the befl: friends, of any people in the whole ^.TOrld. The Indians In general are ftrangers to the paffion of jealoufy ; and brand a man with folly that is diftruftful of his wife. Among feme bands, the very idea is not known j as the moft abandoned of their young men very rarely attempt the virtue of married women, nor do thefe often put themfelves in the- way of folicitation. Yet the Indian women in ge- neral are of an amorous temperature, and before they are married, are not the lefs efteemed for the indulgence of their paffions. %1» CARVER'S TRAVELS. n^?A. 1"^ m their common ftate are ftrangers to all cliftinaion of property, except in the articles ot domeftic ufe, which every one confiders as his own, and increafes as circumflances admit. They are extremely liberal to each other, and fupply the dehciency of their friends with any fuperfluity of uieir own. ....■> t j In dangers they readily give affiftance to thofe of their band who ftand in need of it, without any expedation of return, except of thofe iuft rewards that, are always conferred by the Indians on merit. . ^^, 9u \%X^% IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) 1.0 I.I 'frillM iiM 1.25 III 1.4 II 2.0 1.6 Photographic Sciences Corporation .V ^^^ c\ \ 6^ '<&'• 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 %io 'Wis.:} I^^ CARVER'S TRAVELS. • {?agiftratc and fubjeft, every one appearing fo enjoy. dfl independence that cannot be conxrolkd. Ihe obje^ of government among them is rather foreign than domeltic, for their attention feems more to be employed in preferving fuch an union among the members of their tribe as will enable them to watch the motions of their enemies, and to acl againfl: thera with concert and vigoyr, than to maintain interior order by any public reguh^tiona. If a fchems that appears to be of fervice to the.community ispropof- ed by the chief, every ofie is at liberty to choole whether he will aflift in carrying it on ; for they have no compuifory laws that lay them under any reftric- tions. If violence is committed, or blood is fhed;, the right of revenging- thefe mifdemeanors is left ,to Jhe famiiy of the injured : The chiefs affume neither the power, of intliding or moderating the piinifli- ment. , ■I ^ Some nations, where the dignity is hereditary, limit the fucceflion Tb the female line. On the d^ath of a chief, his fifter's fon foraetimes fucceeds him in preference to his own fon ; and if he happens to have no fifter; the nearefl: fetnale relation affumes the dignity. This accounts for a woman being at the head of the Winnebago nation, which, before I was acquainted with their laws, appeared ftrange to me. Eacti iaiBJIy has a right to appoint one of its chiefs to be an affiftant to the principal chief, who watches over the intereft of his family, and without whofe confent nothing of a public nature can be carried in- to execution. Thefe are generally chofeft for their ability in fpeaking; and fuch only are permitted to make orations in their councils and general affem- blies. ' . CARVER'S TRAVELS. >87 In tliis body, with fbe hereditary chief at its head the fupreme authority appears to be lodged ; as bV its determination every tranfaaion relative to their hunting, to their making war or peace, and to all their public concerns, is rej^^ulated. Next to thefe, the body of warriors, which comprehends all that are able to bear arms, hold their rank. This divi- iion has fometimes at its head the chief-of the nation, if he has fignalized himfelf by any renowned adion* if not, fome chief that has rendered himfelf famous.' • In their councils, which nr^ held by the foregoing- members, every affair of confequence is debated*^ and no enterprife of the leaft moment undertaken' unlefs it there meets with the general approbation of the chiefs. They commonly alfemble in a hut or tent appropriated to this purpofe, and being feat- ed m a • circle cjn the ground, .the eldeft chief riies and makes a fpeech ; when he has concluded, ano- ther gets up ; and thus they all fpeak, if neceffSry^ by turns. /% On this occafion their language is nervous, and their manner of expreilion emphatical. Their fliile is adorned with iniages, comparifons, and ftrong metaphors, and is equal in allegories to that of any of the eartern 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 prelent at the councils, though they are not allowed to make a fpeech till they are regularly admitted ; they how^ ever hHen with great attention, and to fhow that they both underltand, and approve of the refolutions taken by vthe alfembled chiefs, they frequently claim, " That is right," '' That is good." ex- # z88 CARVER'S TRAVELS. The cuflomary mode among all the ranks of ck- prefling their aflent, and which they repeat at the end of almoft every period, is by uttering a kind of forcible afpiration, which founds like an union of |he letters OAH. ;*'■ *PAiiVER'$ travels: IS9 CHAPTER .VI. Of their Feajis. Cti IVl ANY of the Indian nations neither make !ufe of bread, fait, or fpices j and fome of thein have never feen or tailed of either. I'he Naiidoweffies in particular have no bread, nor any fubftitute for it. They eat the wjld rice which grows in great quan- tities in different parts of their territories : but they boil it and eat it alone. They alfoea't theflefhof the, hearts they kill, without having'rccourft to any fari- naceous fubftance to abforb the grofTer partictes of it. And even when they confume the fugar which theyJiave extraded from the maple »ree, they ufe it not to render fome other food i>ahtabl€, but gene- rally eat it by itfelf, Neither have they any idea of the ufe of milk, al- tho\ig\\ they might collea great quantries from the buffalo or the elk ; they only confider it as proper lor the nutriment of the young of thefe beafts during their tender ftate. I could not perceive that any in- conveni^jncy attended the total difufe of articles elleemed fo neceffary and nutritious by other na- tions, on the contrary, they are in general healthy and vigorous. - . One, difli however, which anfwers nearly the fame purpofe as bread, is in ufe amone the Ot- B b 190 CARVER'S TRAVELS. tagaumies, the Saukies, and the more eaftern na- tions, where Indian corn grows, which is liot only much eltceniod by them, but it is reckoned ex- tremely palatable 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 fltlh, the fat of which moiftens the pulfe, and renders it beyond compari- foji delicious. They call this food Succatofli. The Indians are far from being cannibals^as 'hey are faid to be. AH 'their victuals are either roafted or boiled ; and this in the extreme. Their drink is generally the broth in whiqh it has been boiled. Their food confiHs of the flefli'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 flefli of the deer, which is na- turally dry, with that of the bear; which is fat and- juicy ; and though the latter is extremely rich and Jufcious, it is never known to ^loy. In the fpring of the year, the Naudoweflies eat the iniide bark of a (hrub, that th-ey gather in fome part of the country ; but I could neither leam the naoie 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 extremely nourifliing. In -flavour it, was not unlike the turnip, and when received into the mouth, refembled that root both in its pulpy and frangi- ble nature. I The lower ranks of the Indians are exceedingly nafty in drelling their victuals, but fome of the chiefs are very neat and cleanly in their apparel, terns and jood. ..CARVER'S TRAVELS. ij^y They commonly eat in large parties, fo that their meals may properly be termed feafts ; and this they do without being reftriaed to any fixed or regular hours, but ju(t as their appetites require, and con^ venience fuits. . - • They ufually datice either before or after every meal j and by this cheerfulnefs probably render the Great Spirit, to whom they confider themfelves as mdebted for every good, a more acceptable facrifice than a formal and unanimated thankfgiving. The men and women feafl: apart : and each fex invite by turns their companions, to partake with them qf the food they Jiappen to have ; but in their domeftic way of living the men and ^vomen gat together. No people are- more hofpitable, kind, and free than the Indians. They will readily fiiare with any of their own tribe the laft part of their provifions, and even with thofe of a different nation, if they chance to cuine in when , they are eaung.- Though they dp not keep one common ftock, yet that com- raunity of goods which is fo prevalent among them, and their generous difpofition, render it nearly of the fame effe(fl. When the chiefs are convened on any public bu^ finefs, they always conclude with a feafl, at which their feftiviry and cheerfulnefs know no limit. -#• J9» •CARVER'S TRAVELS; ■til ■ CHAPTER VIL Of their Dances, JL/ANCFNTG is a favourite exerclfe among' the Indians ; rhey never meet on any public ocea- iion, but this makes a part of the entertainment. And when they are not engaged in war or huntings the youth of both fexes amufe therafelves in this malnner every evening. They ahvays dance, as I have juft obferved, at their feaAs. In thefe, as well as all their other dances, every man rifes in bis turn, and moves about with great freedom and < boldnefs ; finging all the while, the exploits of his aneeflors. During this the com- pany, who are feated on the ground in a cirqle around the dancer, join with him in making the ca- deiice, by an odd tone, which they utter all together, and which founds, '* Heh, heh, heh." Thefe notes, if they might be fo termed, are articulated with a harfti accent, and ftrained out with the utmoft force ot their lungs : fo that one would imagine their ftrength mufl be foon exhaufted .by it ; inftead of which, they repeat it with the fame violence duting the whole of the entertainment. CARVER'S TKAVELff. »$S^ ^ The women, particularly thofe of the weftern na- tions, dance very gracefully. They carry themfelves ereft, and with their arms hanging down clofe to their fides, move lirJl a few yards to the right, and then baclc again to the left. This movement they perform without taking any fleps as an European would do, but with their feet conjoined, moving by turns their toes and heels. In this manner they glide with great agility to a certain diftance, and then return ; and let thofe who join in the dance be ever ib numerous, they keep time fo cxacflly with each other that no interruption enfues. During this, at ftated periods, they mingle their ihrill voi(;es witU the hoarfer ones of the men, who lit round (for it is to be obferved that the fcx-^s never intermix in the fame dance) which, with the mufic of the drums and chikicoes, make an agreeable hermony. The Indians have feveral kinds of dances, which they ufe on different occafions, as the Pipe or Calu- met Dance, the War Dance, the Marriage Dance, and the Dance of the Sacrifice. The movements in every one of thefe are diflimilar ; but it is almoft impolTible to convey any idea of the points in which they are unlike. Different nations likewife vary in their manner of dancing. The Chipeways throw themfelves into a greater variety of attitudes than any other people ; fometmies they hold their heads ered, at others they bend them altnofl: to the ground ; then recline on one fide, and immediately after on the other. The Naudoweflies carry themfelves more upright, ftep firmer, and move more gracefully. But they all accompany their dances with the difagreeable noife juft mentioned. i 94 CARVER'S TRAVELS/ > TIk x'ipe Dance is the principal, and the mnft pleafingtoa fpedlator of any of them, being the lead frantic, and the movemenc of it more graceful. It is but on particular occafions that it is .ufed ; as when ambafladoTs from an enemy arrive to treat of peace, or when llrangers of eminence pafs through their territories. • The War Dance, which they life both before they fet out on their war parties, and on their return from them, ftrikes terror into flrangers. It is performed, as the others, amidfl a circle of the warriors • a chief generally begins it, who moves from the right to the left, finging at the fame time both his own exploits, and thofe of his anceftors. Wheri he has concluded his account of any memorable adion, he gives a vio- lent blow with his war-club, againft a poft that is • fixed in the ground, near the centre of the aflembly, for this purpofe; Every one dances in his turn, and recapitulates the wondrous deeds of his family, till they all at lafl join in the dance. Then it becomes truly alarming to any ftranger that happens to, be among them, as they throw themfelves in every horrible and terrifying poaure that can be inxagined, rehearfingat the fame time the part thty expeft to aft againfl: their ene- mies in the field. During this they hold their Iharp knives, in their hands, with which, as they whirl about, they are every moment in danger of cutting each other's throats ; and did they not fhun the threa- tened mifchief with inconceivable dexterity, it could not be, avoided. By thefe motions they mean to re- prefent the manner in which they kill, fcalp, and take their prifoiiers. To heighten the fcene, they fet up the fame hideous yells, cries, and war-whoops they ufe in tiraeof aaion : fo that it is impoffible to con- CARVER'S TRAVELS. >9S fidcr them in ariy other light than as an alTembly of demons. - -' I have frequently joined in this dance with them, but It foon ceaied to be an amulement to me, as I ccp'd not lay afide my apprehenlions of receivinir fome dreadful wound, that from the violence of tlieir geltures mult have proved mortal. urU?""? '^^^^ ^^^ '^^^'^"^ ^° ^^9 weftward of the Miiliflippi, and on the borders of Lake Superior (iiH continue to make uTe of the Pawwaw or Black iJance. i he people of the colonies tell a thoufand ridiculous ftories of the Devil btirfg raifed in this dance by the Indians. Butjhey allow that this was in former times, and is now nearly extin^ amon;j thofe who live adjacent to the European fettlementi! liowever, I difcovered that it was ftill ufed in the ^ interior parts ; and though I did not aduaily fee the Devil raifed by it, I was witnefs to fome fcenes, that could only be performed by fuch as dealt with him, " or were very expert and dextrous jugglers. Whilft I was among the Naudoweffies, a dance which they thus termed, was performed. Before the daiTce began, one of the Indians was admitted into a focieiy which they denominated' Wakon- Kitchewah, that is, the Friendly Society of the ^ Jpirit. Ihis fociety is compofed o, , jrfons of both lexes, but fuch only can be admittea .nto it as are of unexceptionable charader, and who receive the ap- probation of the whole body. To, this admiffion lucceeded the Pawwaw Dance (in which I faw no- thing that could give rife to the reports I had heard) and the whole, according to their ufual cuftom, con- cluded with a grand fcaft. - iij6 CARVE i\'« TRAVELS. The initiation beinc; attended with fome very fin- gular circumlUnccs, which, as 1 have before ob- fervcd, njufl be either the cffedt of maj^ic, or of amazing dexterity, I ihall give a particular account of the whole procedure, ft was pcrhMincd at the time of the new moon, in a place appropriated to the purpofe, near the center of their camp, that would contain about two hundred people. Being h flrangcr, and on all occafions treated by them with great civility, I was invited to fee the ceremony, and placed clofe to the rails of the iiiclofure. About twelve o'clock they began to aflemblc; when the lun (hone bright, which they conlidered as a good omen, for they never by choice hold any of their public meetings unlefs the fky be clear and unclouded. A great number of chiefs firft appeared, who were drefli:d in their beft apparel ; and after them came the head-warrior, clad ir a long robe of rich furs, that trailed on the ground, attended by a retinue of fifteen or twenty perfons, painted and drefTed in the gayeft manner. Next followed the wives of fuch as had been already admitted into the lociety ; and in the rear a confufed heap of the lower ranks, all contributed as much as lay in their power to make the appearance grand and ihowy. When the aflembly was feated, and fiknce pro- claimed, one of the principal chiefs arofe, and in a fliort but mafterly fpeech, informed his audience of the cccafion of their meeting. He acquainted them that one of their young men wiihed to be admitted into their fociety ; and taking him by the hand, pre- fented him to their view, a -'^.:ing them, at the fame time, whether they had any objection to his becom- ing one of their community. No objSdion being made, the young candidate was placed in the centre, and four of the chiefs took CARVER'. TRAVELS. ,„ to hi,. ir,h \u;,^t ^oi^'^'fe 17^" '".'"''^ himfelf was now a,; med bv ,he r "A™ "''" ''= |.eco(rary ineroduflion ,o' .iT^JZ llt^ycTl^ hi, hi! *"' "n°""ns b«.m= fo violent that his countenance was diftorted, and hi7wS .0 all appearancrbereftTnife "'"' ™ ""^ S™™"* his'ir;ls^t":„'ft;i,;'&!f -'y H« to r„b ,"icl.,.haaraifeThe''rj.t;tr.h:re"'l;;^! 198 CARVER'S TRAVELS. ordinary applications, the fpeaker continued his ha- rangAje, defiring the fpedators not to be furpriled, or to delpair of the young man's recovery, as his prefent inanimate fituation proceeded only from the forcible operation of the fpirit; on faculties that had hitherto been unufed to infpirations of this kind. The candidate lay feveral minutes without fenfe or motion ; but at length after receiving inany vio- lent blows, he began to difcover fome fymptortis of returning life. Thefe, however, were attended with ftrong convulfions, and an apparent obftruftion in his throat. But they were foon at an end j for hav- ing difcharged from his mouth the bean, or what- ever it was that the chief had thrown at him, but which on the clofeft infpeftion I had not perceived to enter it, he foon after appeared to be tolerably recovered. This part of the ceremony being happily effefled, the officiating chiefs difrobed him of the clothes" he had ufually worn, and put on him a fet of apparel entirely new. When he was drefled, the fpeaker once more took hini by the hand, and prefented^ him to the fociety as a regular and thoroughly initiated member, exhorting them, at the fame time, to give him fuch neceflary affiftance, as being a young mem- ber, he might (land in need of. He then alfo charg- ed the newly elefted brother to receive with humili- ty, and "to follow with punduality, the advice of his elder brethren. All thofe who had been admitted within the rails, now formed a circle around their new brother, and the mufic ftriking up, the great chief fung a fong, celebrating as ufual their martial exploits. his ha- rprifed, as his om the hat had kind. )ut fenfe any vio- tortis of led with Sion in for hav- r what- lim, but lerceived :olerably effe£i:ed, 3thes' he f apparel fpeaker med him initiated , to give ig mem- fo charg- \ humiR- ice of his the rails, her, and ; a fong, CARVER'S TRAVELS. i^g ^ The onljr mufic they make ufe of is a drum, which IS compofed of a piece of a Hollow tree curioufly wrought, and over one end of which is (trained a 1km ; this they beat with a fingle ftick, and it gives a found that is far from being harmonious, but it jiKt ierves to beat time with. To this they fonie- times add the chiehicoe, and in their war dances they hkewife ufe a kind of fife, formed of a reed, which makes a ihrill harfh noife. The whole affembly were by this time united, and ^".^'^jnce began ; feveral fingers afliited the mufic with their voice, and the women joining in the cho- rus at certain intervals, they produced f ether a not unpleafing, but favage harmony. Thi. .vas one ot the molt agreeable entertainments I faw whilft I was among them. I could not help laughing at a fingular childiOi cultoni 1 obferved they introduced into this dance, and which was the only one that had the leaft ap- pearance of conjuratfon. Moft of the members ear- ned in their hands an otter or mdrten's ikin, which being taken whole from the body, and filled with wmd, on being comprelTed, made a fqueaking noife through a fmall piece of wood organically formed and fixed in it? mouth. When this.indrument was jsrefented to the face of any of the company, and the iound emitted, the perfon receiving it inltantly fell down to appearance dead. Sometimes twp or three, both men and women, were on the ground together •' but immediately recovering, they rofe up and joined iigamm the dance. This feemed to aflbrd even the chiefs themfelves infinite diverfion. I afterwards learned that thefe were their Dii Penates or Houfe- hold Gods. abo CARVER'S TRAVELS. After fome hours fpent in this manner, the fea(i began ; the diflies being brought near me, I per- ceived they confifted of dog's flelh ; and I was in- formed that at all their public grand feafts they ne- ver made u(e of any other kind of food. For this purpofe, at the feait 1 am now fpeaking of, the new candidate provides fat dogs, if they can be procured ar any price. In this curtom of eating dog's flefh on partfcular occafions, they refemble the inhabitants of fome of the countries that lie on the north-eafl: borders of Afia. I'he author of the account of Kamfchatka, publiflied by order of the Emprefs of Ruffia, (before referred to) informs us, that the people inhabiting Koreka, a country north of Kamfchatka, who wan- der about in hordes like the Arabs,, when they pay their worfhip 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 pole with the front towards the ea(t. Alfo that when they are afraid of any infedious diflemper, they kill a dog, and winding the guts- about two poles, pafs between them. Thefe cuftoms, in which they are nearly imi- tated by the Indians, ieem to add ftrength to my fuppofition, that America was firfl: peopled from this quarter. I know not under what clafs of dances to rank that performed by the Indians who came to my tent when I landed near Lake Pepin, on the banks of the Miffiffippi, as related in my Jciirnal. When I look- ed our, "s I there mentioned, I faw about twenty naked young Indians, the moft perfeft in their Ihape, and by far the handfomefl: of any I had ever feen* coming towards me, and dancing as they approached^ to the muiic of their drums. At every ten or twelve yards they halted, and fet up their yells and cries. CARVER'S T VELS. • ,01 When they reached my tent, I afked them to come thL^U^ ' without deigning to make me any anfwer, they d.d As I obferved that they were painted red and black, as they ufually are when they ^o ajjainft an enemy, and perceived that fomeparts of the war- dance were intermixed with their other movements, I doubted not but they were fet on by the inimica chief who had refufed my falutation : I therefore de- termmed to fell my life as dear as poffible. To this purpole, I received them fitting on my cheft, with ny gun and p./lols befide me. and ordered my men thcir'?uar7'' '^^ °'' ^^'"'' '"'^ '° ^' alfo upon ^ The Indians being entered, they continued their dance alternately, finging at the fame time of their iieroic exploits, and the fuperiority of their race over every other people. To enforce their language, though It was uncommonly nervous and exp?effive and fuch as wouldofitfelf have carried terror t. .he hrmeft heart, at the end of every period they (truck the r war-clubs againft the poles of my tent, with S y' m'',' '^'' ^ ^""^'^^'^ ''''y "^^^«^^nt it would have tumbled upon us. As each of them, in danc- ing round, paired by me, they placed their right hands over their eyes, and coming clofe to me, lock- ed me ftead.ly m the face, which I could not con- Irue into a token of friendfhip. My men gave themfelves up for loft, and I acknowledge, for my own part, that I never found my apprehenlions more tumultuous on any occafion. men they had nearly ended their dance, I pre- fented to them i he pipe of peace, but they would not receive it I ,*en, as my lad refource, thought I would try what prefenfs would do ; accordingly I °h^H k"J "'^ '^^^ ^'""'' "^^^"^^ ^"^ ^""kets, which 1 laid before them, Thefe feemed to itagger their iot CARVER'S TRAVELS. ■ fefolution, and to avert in fomfe degree their anger ; for after holding a confuhation together, they fat down on the ground, which I confidered as a favour- able omen. Thijs it proved, as" in a flioft time they received the pipe of peace, and lighting it, firft prefented it to me, and then fmoaked with it themfelves. Soon after they took up the prefents, which had hitherto Iain negle6ted, and appearing to be greatly pleafed with them, departed in a friendly manner. And never did I receive greater pleafure than at getting rid of fuch formidable gucfts. It was not ever in my power to gain a thorough knowledge of the defigns of my vifitors. 1 had luf- ficient reafon 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 t ■was afterwards informed that it might be intended as ii compliment which they ufually pay to the chiefs of every other nation who happen to fall in with them^ and that the circumflances in their condudl:, which had appealed fo fufpicious to me^ were merely the efFefts of their vanity, and dcfigned to imprefs on the minds of thofe whom they thus vifitcd, an devated opinion of their valour and prowefs. In the^ morning before I continued my route, feveral t)f their wives brought me a prefent of fome fugar, for whom I found a few more ribbands. The dance of the facrifice is not fo denominated from their ofFerifig up at the fame time a facrifice to any good or evil fpirit, but is a dance to which the Naudoweflies give that title from being ufed when any public fortunate circumftance befals them. Whilft I refided among them, a fine laige deer accidentally ftrayed into the middle of their CARVER'S TRAVELS. aoj ir anger ; they fat a favour- received ^fented it s. Soon hitherto Y pleafed T. And t getting encampment, which they foon deftrpyed. As this happened juft at the new moon, they efteemed it a lucky omen ; and having roafled it whole, every one in the camp partook of it. After their feaft, they all joined in a dance, which they' termed, from its being fomewhat of a religious nature, a dance of the facrifice. horough had luf- hoftile, as made r ; but I ended as le chiefs in with condudl, e merely imprefs itcd, an efs. In Bveral t)f gar, for minated facrifice which ng ufed ; befals le laige of their S04,. CARVER'S TRAVELS. CHAPTER VIII, Of their Hunting. H -. -UNTING is the principal occunation of tbe Indians ; they are trained to it from thei'r earlieft youth, and it is an exercife which is efleemed no lefs honourable than necefTary towards their fubfiftence. A dextrous and reColute hunter is held nearly in as great eftimation by them as a dillinguifhed war- rior. Scarcely any device which the ingenuity of man has difcovered for enfnaring ox deftroying thofe animals that fijpply them with foocj, or whofe fkins are valuable to Europeans, is unknown to them. Whiift they are engaged in this exercife, they fliake ctt the indolence peculiar to their nature, and be- come adtive, perfevering, and indefatigable. They are equally fagacious in finding their prey, and in the means they ufe to deftroy it. They difcern the tootfteps of the beads they are in purfuit of al- though they are impercep{ible to every other eye, \th T^ ft° *^^"* ^"^ certainty through the path- The beafts that the Indians hunt, both for their flefh on which they fubfift, and for their ftins, of which they either make their apparel, or barter with the Europeji^ for nqceflaries, are the buffalo, the ?lk, the deerj th^ moofe, carribboo, the bear, the peaver, the otter, the marten, &c. I defer giving CARVER', TRAVELS. ,<^ a defcription of thefe creatures here, and fliall only at prefent treat of their manner of hunting them. - The ronre they fhall take for this purnnfe, and the parties that fhall go on the different expeditions, are hxed in their general councils, which are held fome time m the f.immer, when all the operations for the enfumg winter are concluded on. The chief war- nor, whofe province is to regulate their proceed- ings ori this occafion, with great foleranity iflues out an invitation to thofe who choofe to attend him ; for the .ndians, as before obferved, acknowledge no fiiperiority, nor have they any idea of compuifion ; and every one that accepts it prepares himfelf by raiting during -feveral days. The Indians do not faft, 93 feme other nations do, from thericheft and moft luxurious food, but they tol tally abflam from every kind either of viduals or drink ; and fuch is their patience and refolution. that he moft extreme thir ft could not oblige them to tafte a drop of water ; yet amidft this fevere ab- Itinence they appear cheerful and happy. .nli^ ?K*^''"'. ^^? ^'-1 ^""^ '^"' f^^'"^ ^^-' that it enables them freely to dream, in which dreams they are mformed where they fliall find the greateft plenty of game ; and alfo, that it averts the difpleafure of the evil fpirits and mdqces them to be propitious. They alfo on thefe occaf^ons blacken tl)ofe parts of theiV bodies that are uncovered. .ZK^""^ ^''"? ^"u'^; '"'^ '^' P^^" o^' hunting made known, the chief who is to conduft them, gives a grand feaft to thofe whp are to »m the dif- erent parties ; of which none'o'f them dare to par- take till they have bathed t^emfelves. At this feaft. Dd • ftQ6 C A R V E R'8 TRAVELS. notwithftandinp they have fafted fo long, they eat y^ith great moderation ; and the chief that prefides employs himfeJf in rehearfing the feats of thofe who have been raoft 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 acclama- tions of all the people. It is impoffibh to defcribe their agillfy or perfeve- rance, whilft they are in purfuit of their prey j neither Ithickets, ditches, torrents, pools, or rivers flop them ; they always go ftraight forward in the mofl: direct line they poflibly can, and there are few of the fa- vage inhabitants of the woods that they cannot over- take,. When they hunt for bears, they endeavour tp find out their retreats ; for, during the winter, thefe animals conceal themfelves in the hollow trunks of trees, or make themfelv/s holes in the ground, whj^re they continue wijthopt food, wjulft th,e fevcre wea^ ther 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 to- wards the centre, to difcover the retreats of their prey. By this means, if any lie in the intermediate fpace, they arc 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 makerefiftance when they art extreme- ly hungry, or after they lare wounded. The Indian method of hunting the buffalo is by forming a circle or a fquare, nearly in the fame CARVER'i TRAVELS. io/ TJtlnV' "Ji-I" ^^^y,%^ch fo' the bear. Havintf taken their drfferem ftations. they fet the grafs, which at h.s time is rarik and dry, on ftre, and th;fe ani- mals, who are extremely feafrful of that element, flying with precipitation before it, great numbers are on^efca er ^ <=o«»Pafs. and fcarcely a fingl© They have different ways of hunting the elk, the ^eer, and the caribboo. Sometimes they feek them behind the trees. In the morenbrthern climateg they take the advantage of the weather to deftroy melt the fnow, and the froft in the night forms a kind of cruft on the furface, this creature being heavy, breaks ,t willr his forked hoofs.'and with dif^ ficulty extricates himfelf from it ; at this time there, rore he is foon overtaken and deftroyed. Some nations have a method of hunting thefe animajs, which re more eafily executed, and free from danger. The hunting party divide themfeives mto two^ bands, and chbofmg a fpot near the bor- ders of the fanie river, one party embarks on board their canoes, whrift tht others forming themfeives in- to a ferni-circte on the land, tlie flanks of which mch the (hbre let Idofe their dogs, and by this means roqfe all the game that lies within thefe bounds nhey thtn drive them towards the river, in- to which they no fooner enter, than the greateft part of them are immediately difpatched by thofe Who remain in the Canoes. Both the elk and buffalo are Very f'urious when they are wounded, and will turn fiercely on their pur- iaers, and trample them under their feet, if the hue. so8 CARVER'S TRAVELS. ter tinds no means to complete their deftruftlon, or does not feek for fucurity in flight to fome adjacent tree; by this method they arc freqtiently avoided, ?nd fo tired with the purfuit, that they voluntarily give it over. But the hunting in which the Indians, particularly thofe who inhabit the northern parts, chieHy employ ihemfelvcs, and from which they reap the greatelt advantage, is the beaver hunting. The feafon for this ig throughout the whole of the winter, from November to April ; during which time the fur of thefe creatures is in the greateft perfeftibn. A de- fcription of this extraordinary animal, the conftruc- lion of their huts, and the regulations of their almoil rational community, I (hall give in another plact. The hunters make ufe of feveral methods to de- Uroy them. Thofe generally pradifed, are either that of taking them in fnares, cutting through the ke, or opening their caufeway*. . As the eyes of thefe animals arc vci'y qiiick, and 4heir hearing exceedingly acute, great precaution is neceflary in approaching their abodes ; for as they jfeldom go far from the water, and their houfes are always built clofe to the fide of fpme large river or .lake, or dams of their o^/n conft ..ding, upon the leaft alarm they hafter to the deepefl part of the water, and dive immf aiately to the bottom ; as they do this, they make a great noife by beating the wa- ter with their tails, on purpofe to put the whole fra- •tiemity on their guard. , They take them with fnares in the following manoer : though the beavers ufually lay up a fufli- cient ftore of provifion to ferve for their fubfiftence during the winter^ they make from time to time excur- CARVER '• TRAVELS. tc^ flofts to the neighbouring woods to procure further fupplies of food. The hunters having found out their haunts, place a trap in their way, baited with fmail pieces of bark, or young flioots of trees, which the beaver has no fooner laid hold of, ;han a large log of wood falls upon him and breaks his back; his enemies, who are upon the watch, foon appear and inlUntly difpatch the hdptefs animal. At other times, when the ice on the rivers and lakes is about half a foot thick, they make an open- ing through it with their hatchets, to which the beaver will foon haften, on being difturbed at their houfes, for a fupply of frefti air. As their breath occafions a confiderable motion in the water, th*. hunter has fufticient notice of their approach, and incthods are eafily taken for knocking them on the head the moment they appear above the furface. When the houfe of the ibeaver happens to be near a rivulet, they are more eafily deftroyed : the hun- ters then cut the ice, and fpreading a net under it, break down the cabins of the beavers, who never fail to make towards the deepefl: part, where they are entangled and taken. But they muft not befuF- fered to remain there long, as they would foon tx- tricate themfelves with their teeth, which are well known to be exceflively Iharp and Itrong. The Indians take great care to hinder their dogs from touching the bones of the beav^iS. The rca- fons they give for thefe precautions, are, firft, that the bones are fo exceffively hard, that they fpoil the teetli of their dogs : and, fecondly, that they are apprehenfive they {hall fo exafperate the fpirits of the beavers by this permiflion, as to render the next hunting feafon uafoccefsful. >t« CARVER»f TRAVELS* '^Uh'i *?" °^ the/e aninrtaU, the huflters cxchan^je ^ith tbe Europeans for iiecrrJiHes, and as they are more valued by .he latter than .n'y other kn^d if of humhlgr^ ^'^ ''"^*^ ^'^'"•^^ ^° '^'^' fP-" When the Indians deftroy buffaloes, elks, deer &c. they generally divide the flefh of fnch as they have taken among the tribe to which they belong! unite and d.v.de the fpoil between them. Indeed^ in he firft inftance they generally pay fome attentioS lies or murmurings are ever known to arife on ac- count of any apparent partiality. huff,r"f '^^^«'?^°^e^". if aperfon (hoots a deer, tt!\^'' *"^ I' '""' ^° * confiderable diftance before ,t drops, where a perfon belonging to ano her tribe being nearer, firft flicks a knife into it ■ the Sl'„5?n -f I'^/r*^*' P'°^^«y °^ '^' larter.'not. former T»? " ^l.been nin.ully wounded b^ the former. 1 hough this cuftoiii appears to be arbitrary ««/Jil?K °k''t^^^*^^^' ^^'y different from tha praaifed by the Indians on the back of the colonies Sr^ic! '^'^"'^ '^'' ^"^ " ^^ entitled to the CARVER', TRAVELS. Ill CHAPTER IX. Of their mam?r / making War, ^c. rt rcc ' ^^ Indians begin to bear arms at the age a httecn, and lay them aficje when they arrive at f 'iC age of fixty. Spme nations to the fouthward, I have been informed, do not continue their military exercjfes after they are fifty. ' ' Jn every band or nation there is a felcft number who are ftiled the warriors, and who are always rea- dy to aa either ofienfivcly or defenfively, as occafion requires. Thefe are well ^rmed, bearing the wea- pons comn.only in uf^ among them, which vary ac- cordmg to the fituation of their countries. Such as have an mtercoarfe with thd Europeans make ufe of tomahawks, knives, and ftre-arms j but thofe whofe dwellings are fituated to the weftward of the Miffiffip. pi, and who have not an opportunity of pqrchafing thefe kinds of weapons, ufe bows and arrows, and alfo the CaiTe Tete or War-Club, The Indians that inhabit ftill further to the weft- ward, a country which extends to the South Sea, ufe m fight, r warlike inftrumenf that is vei^ uncommon, .lavmg great plenty of horfes, they always attack their enemies on horfeback, ancl encumber themfelves F»th no other weapon, than a (lone of a middle fize, curioufiy wrought, which they faften by a firing, about a yard and a half long, to their right arms, a little rbove the elbow. Thefe ftones they couvc^i- 21? CARVER'S TRAVELS. ently carry in their hands, till they reach their ene- mies, and then fwinging them witii great dexterity, as they ride fuUfpeed, ntverfail of doing execution. The country which thefe trib£S pofTefs, abounding with iarge extenfive plains, thofe v\ho attack them feldom return ; as the fwiftnefs of the horfes, on ■which they are mounted, enables them to overtake even the fleetefl: of their invaders. ' The Naudoweflies, ^yho had been at war with this people, informed me, that unlefs they found moraf- fes or thickets to which they could retire, they were fure of being cut off: to prevent this, they always look car6, whenever they made an onfet, to do it near fuch retreats as were impaflhble to cavalry; they then having a great advantage over their enemies, whofe weapons could iiot thdre reach thein. Some nations make ufe of a javelin, pointed with bone, worked Into different forms ; but their Indian weapons in general are bows and arrows, and the ihort club already mentipned. The latter is made of a very hard wood, and the head of it fafhioned round like a ball, about three inches and a half dia- meter ; in this rotund part is fixed an edge refeni- bling that of a tomahawk, either of fteel or flint, whichfoever they can procure. The dagger is peculiar to the Naudoweffie nation, and of ancient conftrudion, but they can give no ac- count how long it has been in ufe among them. It Was originally made of flint or bone, but fince they have had communication T^ith the European trad;fers, they have formed it of fteel. The length of it is about ten inches, and that part clofe to the handle near^ Jy three inches broad. Irs edges "are keen, and it gra- dually tapers towards a point. They v The Indians feldom take the field in Targe bodies,' as fuch numbers would require a greater degree or induftry to provide for their fubfijlence, during their tedious marches through dreary forelts, or long voyages over lakes and rivers, than they would care to beftow. Their armies are hever encumbered wfth baggage or military ftores. Each warrior, befides his wea- pons, carries with him only a mat, and whilft at a diftance from the frontiers of the enemy, fupports hirafelf with the game he kills or the fifli he catches. When they pafs tlirough a country where they have no apprehenfions of meeting with an enemy, they ufe very little precaution : fometinles there are fcarcely a dozen warriors left, together, the reft be- ing difperfed in purfuit of their game ; but though they fliould have roved to a very confiderable diftance from the war-path, they are fure to arrive at the place of rendezvous by the hour appointed. They always pitch their tents long before fun-fet ; and being naturally pre/umptuous, take very little CARVER*, TRAVELS. aat care to guard againft a furprife. They place great confidence ,n their Manitous. or houfehold lods; I^JaA^^ ^'"^ays carry with them j and beingV- fuaded that they take upon them the office of cen- tinei8, they fleep very fecurely under their protec fJ!'f!^f-T'* '' ^^^^ "*"" ^^"'^^^ by ''ort^e na. Kr*L M ^i^'^'^ "« *<=^"»«<* Waken?, that is fpirits, ^LT^k"""^ ^i""' ^ '^^^^ ^'■"«Jy defcribed, for which, however, they have a great veneration. ^ After they have entered the enemy's country, no people can be more cautious and circumfped ; fires are no longer hghted. no more fhouting i heard, nor the game any longer purfued. They are not eveji permitted to fpeak ; but muft convey v^haieyer they have to impart to each other by figns and motions. ' °^ buS'lj «^t.P^^^^^^.?'^"y by ftratagem and am. bufcade. KaviDg difcovered their enemies, they ?i I ri ' during which they fpeak only in whifpers. ^re 1'^ «ntt;lligence imparted by thofe'irho T^ attack is gen^raHy made juft before day- break, at which period they fuppofe their foes to be ij their foimdeft fleep. Throughout the whole of the i>receding ni^t they will lie flat upon their faces, without ftifting; and make their approaches m the fame pofture, creeping upon their hands and teet, till they are got within bowffiot of t«iofe thev have deftined to deftruftion. On a fignal given by the chief warrior, to which the whole body make* ' ■ ■ F -f »Z4 CARVERS* TRAVELS,' anfwer by the moft hideous yells, they all ftart up, arjd difcharfTJng their arrows in the fame indanr, v/iihout giving their adverlaries time to recover from the confufion into which they are thrown, pour in upon them with their war-clubs or tomahawks. The Indians think there is little glory to be ac- quired from attacking ihtir enemies openly in the field ; their greatelt pride is to furprife and deflroy. They feldorn engage without a manifell appearance of advantage. If they find the enemy on then- guard, too ftrongly entrenched, or fuperior in numbers, they retire, provided there is an opportunity of doing fo. And they efteem it -the greateft qualification of a chief warrior, to be able to manage an attack, fo as to deftroy as many of the enemy as poflible, at the expence of a few men. Sometimes they fecure themfelves behind trees, hillocks, or flones, and having given one or two rounds, retire before they are difcovered. Euro- peans, who are unacquainted with t-hio method of fighting, too often find to their coft the deftruftive efficacy of it. General Braddock was one of this unhappy num- ber.' Marching, in the year 1755, to attack Fort Du Quefne, he was intercepted by a party of l>ench and confederate Indians in their interell, who by this infidious method of engaging, found means to defeat his army,, which confifted oi about two thoufand brave and well difciplined troops. So fecurely were the Indians pofted, that the Englift fcarcely knew from whence or by whom tl y were thus annoyed. During the whole of the engagement^ the latter had fcarcely a light of an enemy ; and were obliged to retreat,'without the fatisfaftion of being able to take the leart degree of-revtnge for the havock made '# CARVER'S TRAVELS. tti3 ^^^"?. ^^^^P"- The General paid for his romerity with his hfe, and was accompanied in his fall by a great number of brave felltms ; whiHl his invifible enemies had only two or three of their number wounded. When the Indians fuccecd it) their filent ap- proaches, and are able to force the camp which they at-ack, a kene of horror that exceeds defcription, enfues. Ihe favage fiercenefs of the conquerors, and the defperation of the conquered, who well know what they have to exped ftiould they, fall ' ahvc; mto the hands of the alFailants, occafi, - the niol,\ extraordinary exertions on both fides. The li^uve of the combatants, .all hefmeared with black and red paint, Jind covered with the biood of the flam, thoij- horrid yellt,, and ungovernable fury, are not to be conceived by ihofe whohave never croflcd the Atlantic. ^ I have frequently teen a fpeftator of them, and once bore a part m a fimilar fcene. But what ad- oed to the horror of it was, that I had not the con- lolation of beirig able to oppofe their favage attacks. Ji^very circumaance of the adventure (liJl dwells- on my remembrance, and enables me to defcrlbe with greatek^perfpicuity rhe brutal fiercenefs of the In, dians, when they have furprifed cr overpowered an enemy. _ As a detail of the mafTicre at Fort William Henry m the year 1757, the fcene to which I refer, can- not appear foreign to the defign of this publication, but will ferve to give my readers a juft idea of the ferocity of this people, 1 Ihall take the liberty to in- fert It, apologizing at the fame time for the length of the digreflion, and thofe egotifms which the relation renders unavoidaJDie. ' 1)1 i 324 CARVER** TRAVELS. General Webb, who commanded the En;;lifh army in North-America, which was then encamped at Fort Edward, having intelligence that the French troops under Monf. Montcalm were making fome movements towards Fort William Henry, he de- tached a corps of about fifteen hundred men, con. fiftiiig of Englifh and Provincials, to (trengthen the garrifon. In this party I went as a volunteer among the latter. The apprehcnfions of the Knglifh General were not without foundation ; for the day after our arrival ve faw Lake George (formerly Lake: Sacrament; to which it lies contiguous, covered with an immenfe number of boats j and in a few hours we found our lines attacked by the French General, who h^d jull landed with eleven thoufand Regulars and Cana- dians, and two thoqfand Indians. Colonel Monro, a brave officer, commanded in the Fort, and had no more than two thoufand three hundred men with him, our detachment included. Wie permitted to march out with all the honours of war, to be allowed cd. vered waggons to iranfport their baggage to Fort Edward, and a guard to protect them from the fury of the favages. The morning after the capitulation was figned, as (oon as day broke, the whole garrifon, now con- fj fling of about two thoufand men, befides women and children, were drawn up within the lines, and on the point of marching off, when great numbers of the Indians gathered about, and began to plunder. S26 CARVER'S TRAVELS. We were at firfl in hopes that ihis was their oniy view, and fufFered them to proceed without oppo- fitioh. Indee truly this prediclion has been' verified, wc well know. But to return — Though the Indian? are negligent in guarding againlt furprifes, they are alert and dex- trous in furpriiing their enemies. To their caution and perfeverance in ftealing on the party they defign to attack, they add that admirable talent, or rather inftinaive qualification I have already defcribed, of tracing out thofe they are in.purfuit of. On the fmoothel): grafs, on the hardeft earth, and even on the very ilones, will they difcover the traces of an -J lis coun- CAKVER's TRAVEL^ ^3r enemy, and by the (hape of the footfteps, and the' dift&nce between the prints, diftinguifh not only whether it is a man or a woman who has pafled that way, but even the nation to which they hdontr. However incredible this might appear, yet from the many proofs I received whilft among them of their amazing fagacity in this point, I fee no reafon to difcredit even thefe extraordinary exertions of It. When they have ^overcome an, enemy, and vic- tory is no longer doubtful, the conquerors firft dif-^ patch all fuch as they think they (hail not be able to carry off without great trouble, and then endeavour to take as many prifoners as poffible ; after this they return to fcalp thofe who are either dead, or too much wounded to be taken with them. At this bufmefs they are exceedingly expert. They feize the head of the difabled or dead enemy, and placing one of their feet on the neck, twift their left hand in the hair ; by this means having extended the fkin that covers the top of the head, they draw out their fcaiping knives, which are always kept in good order for this cruel purpofe, and with a few dextrous fkrokes take off the part that is ttrmed the fcalp. They are fo expeditious in do- ing this, that the whole time required fcarcefy ex- ceeds a minute. Thefe they preferve as monuments of their prowefs, and likewife as proofs of theven- . geance they have inflifted on their enemies. If two Indians ferze in the hme inflant a prifoner, and feem to have an equal claim, the contell betweei* them is foon decided ; for to put a fpeedy end to any difpute that .might arife, the perfon that is ap- prehenlive h6 {hall lofe his expeded reward, ini- mediately has rccourfe to his tomahawk or war-club. ^34 6arver!s travels. and knocks on the head the unhappy caufe of their contention. Having- completed their purpofes. and made as much havock as poffiblc, they immediately retire' towards their own country, with the fpoil they have acquired, for fear of being purfued. Should this be the cafe, they make ufe of many flra- tagems to elude the fearches of their purfuers.. They fometimes fcatter leaves, fand, or duft over the prints of their feet ; fomerimes tread in each other's Jootfteps ; and fometimes lift their feet fo high, and tread fo hghtly, as not to make any impreffion on the ground. But if they find all thefe precautions un- T^^^h '^r *\^^ ^^fy ^'^ "^*'' ^^'"S overtaken, they firft difpatch and fcalp their prifoners, and then dividing, each endeavours to regain his native coun- try by a different route. This prevents all further pur- luit ; for their purfuers now defpairing, either of gra- tifying their revenge, or of -relcafing thofe of their iriends who were made captives, return home. If the fuccefsful party is fo lucky as to make good their retreat uniiiolefted, they haften with the great- «Pf d«ion to reach a country where they may be perfeaiy fecure ; and that their wounded companions may not retard their flight, they carry them by turns m litters, or if it is in the winter feafon, dravi! them on fledges. , - Their litters- are made in a rude manner of the branches of tr^es. Their fledges confift of two Imall thin boards, about a foot wide when joined, and Aear fix feet long. The fore-part is turned up, and the fides are bordered with fmall bands. The In- dians draw thefe carriages with great eafe, be they ever fo much loaded, by means of a firing which fi CARVER', TRAVELS. 93$ pafTes round tue breaft. This collar is called a MetL'mp, and is in ufe throughout Am.- ica, both in the lettlements and the internal parts. Thofe ufed in the latter are made of leather, and very curiouflv wrought. ■' ' The prlfor^ers during their march are guarded with the greateft care. During the day, if the jour- ney is over land, they are always held by feme of the vidorious party ; if by water, they are fattened to the canoe. In the night time they are ftretched along the ground quite naked, with their legs. arms, and neck faftened to hooks fixed in the ground! Befidesthis, cords are tied to their arms or less ^hich are held by an -Indian, who inftamly awakes at the leaft motion of them. Notwithftanding fuch precautions are ufually tal ken by the Indians, it is recorded in the annals of New.England, that one of the weaker fex, almoft alone, and unaffifted, found means to elude the vigi- lance of a party of warriors, and not ofUy to make her efcape from them, but to revenge: the caufe of ner countrymen, Sr^me years ago a fmall band of Canadian Indians, conhitmg often warriors, attended by two of their wives, made an irruption into the back fettJements of New.England. They lurked for fome time in the vicinity of one of the moft exterior towns, and at length, after having killed and fcalped feveral peo- pie, found means to take prifoner a woman who had with her a fon of -about twelve years of age. Beine f^tisfied with the execution they had done, they re! treated towards their native country, which lay at three hundred miles diftance, and carried off with tnem their two captives, \ ■ 3^6 CARVER'S TRAVELS. The fecond night of their retreat, the woman, .whofe name, if I niifliike not, was Rowe, formed a refolution worthy of the moft intrepid hero. She thought (he (hould be able to get from her hands the manacles by which they were confined, and de- termmed if (he did (o to make a defperate eifort for the recovery of her freedom. To this purpofe, when Ihe concluded that her conquerors were in their founded fleep, file drove to flip the cords from her hands. In this fhe fucceeded ; and cautioning her ion, whom they had fuffered to go unbound, in a whifper, againft being furprifed at what flie was about to do, ftie removed to a diftance, with great warinefs, the defenfive weapons of the Indians Vhich lay by their fid^s, ' ^ Having done this, (he put one of the tomahawk? into th J hands of the boy,, bidding him to follow her example : and taking another herfelf, fell upon the lleeping Indians, feveral of whom ftie inftantly dif- patched. ^ut her attempt w^s nearly frullrated by the imbecility of her fon, who wanting both ftrength and refolution, made a feeble llroke at one of them, which only ferved to awaken him ; fhe however fprung at the riling warrior, and before he could re- cover his arms, made him fink under the weight of her tomahawk ; and this fhe alternately did to all . ihe reft, except one of the women who awoke in time, and made her efcape. The heroine then took off the fcalps of her van- quiflied enemies, and feizing alfo thofe they were carrying away with them as proofs of their fuccefs, ihe returned in triumph to the town from whence fhe had fo lately been dragged, to the great aaonifh- ment of her neighbours, who could fcarcely credit their fenfes, cr the teftimonies fhe bore of her Ama- zonian intrepidity. CARVER', TRAVELS. '}^ •• ace °uiT" "Th" 1 '""""' <■»«"'" on The r!!^: account. Thefe fonss are continued with necef* exp.dmon. I he number of the death-crics thw give declare how many of their own party are loft^ It is difficult to deiaibe thefs cries, but the belt If ,h T^'r,"!"'™ "•"»' 'h= former connfts of the found Whoo, Whoo, Whoop, *hTch L iT~lS \'°d"^,h"'"'ri^" """' 'iU the breath IS exnai'.ted, and then broken off with a fudden elevation of the voice. The latter is a loud -cry of much the fame kind, which is modulated Sto Both of them might be heard to a confiderable dif- Whim thefe are uttering, the perfons fo\hom they are defigned to convey the intelligence cominu^ motionlefs and all attention. When^thi iereln" ' IS performed the whole village iff ue out to learn °he particulars of the relation they have iufl heard In ee ' neral terms, and according as t'he nt wi prots lo Jn^" . H h -'i' «;■ *ja CARVER'S TRAVELS. ful or the contrary, they anfwer by fo many accla- ■ mations or cries of lamentation. Being by this time arrived nt the village or camp, the women and children arm themfelves with flicks and bludgeons, and form themfelves into two ranks, through which the prifoners are obliged to pafs. The treatment they undergo before they reach tha extremity of the line, is very fevere. Sometimes they are fo Eiaten over the head and face, as tp "• have fcarcely ar.y lemains of life ; and happy would it be for them if by this ufage an end was put t,o their wretched beings. But their tormentors take care that none of the blows they give prove mortal, as they wifli to referve the miferable fuffcrers for more fbvere iiiflidions. '* " After having undergone this introdudlory ^fcl- pline, they are bound hand and foot, whilft the chiefs hold a council in v;hich their fate is determined. Thofe who are decreed to be put to death by the ufual torments, are delivered to the chief of the war- riors J fuch as are to be fpared, are given into the hands of the chief of the nation : fo tnat ia a (hort time all the prifoners may beaffured of their fate, as the fentence now pronounced is irrevocable. The former they term being eonfigned to the houfe of death, the latter to the houfe of griace. Such captives as are pretty far advanced in life, and have acquired great honour bv their warlike deeds, always ntone for the blood they have fpilt, by the tortures of fire. Their fuc^efs in war is rea- dily known by the blue marks upon their breads and arms, which are as legible to the Indians as iet- fers are to Europeans. The manner in which thefe hi^-oglyphics are wade, is by breaking the fkia with the teeth of fiih, ly accla- or camp, ith flicko vo ranks, to pafs. each th(t imetimes ce, as tp py would it to their ake care lortal, as for more ry cJifcI- hilft the ermined. I by the the war- into the I a (hort r fate, as le. The houfe of 1 in life, warlike ive fpilt, ir is rea- : breafts ns as let- ihics are iiofafh, CARVER', TRAVELS. ,^5^ cr ftarpened flints, dipped in a kind of ink made of the foot of pitch pme. Like thofe of the ancien P.d8 of Britain, thefe are efleemed ornamental ; and fni . Ki ^, "^^'J'"' "^^"^ ^'^"s l^^rs about him indelible marks of his valour. The prifoners deftined to death are foon led to tntfeTft ^^^^""^"'..r'^'^h is generally in the centre of tile xrnmp or village; where, being ftript and every part of their bodies blackened, the S o a crow^or raven is fi.ed on their heads. They ^re then bound to a (lake, with faggots heaped 1:^1 A;"!' ''''-'' ^^ ''' '^« "-> - H The warriors, for fuch it is only who commonly j uffer this puni/hment, now performed in a morTpJo^ hK manner this fad folemnity. They recount S an audible voice air the brave adions they have per- formed, and pride themfelves in the number of ene mies they have killed. In this rehearFal they fpare not even their tormentors, but ftrive, by everVpro! vok,ngtaktheycan^i„vent,toirr;: ' and^'^Llt them. Sometimes this has th elireu effeft and . the fufferers are difpatched r aer than they othe.^ Wife would have been. I ^ There are many other methods which the Indians make ufe of to put their prifoners to death, buuhefe ralVuLr^'"*'^ ^'" °'^"^"'^^ '^ ™°^ g-- been mjde pnfoner by one of their war-parties. I had t^n an opportunity of feeing the cuftomarv cruelties inflifted by thefe people on their captTvesI 34° CARVE R's TRAVELS, ^. through the minuteft part of their procefs. Afcer the previous fteps necclTary to this condemnation, he was carried, early in the morning, to a' little diftance from the town, where he was bound to u tree. This being done, all the boys, who arpounted to a great number, as the place was populous, were permitted to amufe themfelves with fhooting their arrows at the unhappy viaim. As there were none of therii more than twelve years old, and were plac- ed at a confiderable dittance, they had not flrengtb to penetrate to the vital pans, fo that the poor wretch flood pierced with arrows, and fufFering the conle- quent agonies, for more, than two days. During this time he fung his warlike exploits, He recapitulated every flratagem he had made ufe of to furprife his enemies : He boafted of the quan- tity of fcalps he poffefled, and enumerated the pri- foners he had taken. lie then xiefcribed the diffe- rent barbarous methods by which he had put the lat- ter to death, and feemed even then to receive incon- ceivable pleafure from the recital of the horrid tale. But he dwelt more particularly on the cruelties he had praaiced on fuch of the kindred of his prefent tormentors, as had fallen into his hands ; endeavour- ing by thefe aggravated infults to induce them to mcreafe his tortures, th^t he might be able to give greater proofs, of fortitude. Even in the laft ftrug- gles of life, when he was no longer able to vent in words the indignant provocation his tongue would have uttered, a fmile of mingled fcorn and triumph fat on his coumenance. 5. After jmnation, > a' little Lind to u Dunted to us, were ing their /ere none ifere plac- ilrength or wretch le conie- exploits. made ufe ihequan- the pri- the diffe- it the lat- ve incon- e horrid uehi^s he is prefent ideavour- them to e to give ift ftrug- to vent ► tongue ;orii and CARVER'S TRAVELS. 241 This method of tormenting their enemies is con- fidered by the Indians as produdive of more than one beneficial confequence. It fatiates,'in a greater degree, that diabolicar luft of revenge, which is the predominant, paffion in the br«aft of every in- dividual of every tribe, and it gives the growing warriors an early propenfity to that cruelty and thirft for blood, which is fo neceflary a qualification for fuch as would be t^ioroughly fldlled in their fa- vage art of war. I have been informed, that an Indian, who was tindcT the hands of his tormentors, had the audacity to tell them, that they were ignorant old women, and did not know how to puf brave prifoners to death. He acquainted them that he had heretofore taken fome of their warriors, and inftead of the tri. vial punlfhments they infliaed on him, he had de- vifed for them the moft excruciating torments ; that havmg bound them to a flake, he had ftuck their bodies full of fharp fpHnters of turpentine wood, to which he then fet fire, and dancing around them, enjoyed the , agonizing pangs of the flaming viaims. This bravado, which carried with it a degree of infulr, that even the accuftomed ear of an Indian could not liften to unmoved, threw his tormentors oft their guard, and fhortoned the duration of his torments ; for one of the chiefs ran to him, and ripc ping out his heart, (lopped with it the mouth from which had iffued fuch provoking language. ■ I Innumerable are the ftories that may be told of the courage and refolution of the Indians, who hap- pen to be made prifoners by their adverfaries. Many that I have heard are fo aftonifliing, that they feem to exceed the utmoft limits of credibility ; it is, however, certain that thefefavagcs are poflelTed witl^ ?4» CARVER'S TRAVELSi many heroic qualities, and bear every fpecies of misfortune with a degree of fortitude which has not been outdone by any of the ancient heroes either of Greece or of Rome. Notwithflanding thefe ads of feverity exercifed by the Indians towards thofe of their own fpeeies, who fall into their hands, fome tribes of them have been remarked for their moderation to fuch female prifoners, belonging to the Englifh colonies, 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, thro' their retired forerts, have lam by iheir fides without deceiving any infuli, and theic chaftity has remained inviolate. Inftances 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 midft of folitary woods, and favages their only (iompaniorts ; yet from thefei favages as they were, have they received every af- fiftance their fituation would admit of, and been treated with a degree of delicncy and Ijumanity they little expeded. . • ' This forbearance, it muft be acknowledged, does not proceed altogether from their difpofition, but is only inherent in thofe who have'held fome commu- nication with the French miffionaries. Without in- tending that their jiatural enemies, the Englifh, (hould enjoy tne benefit of their labours, thefe lathers have taken great pains to inculcate on the minds of the Indians the general principles of humanity, which has diffufed itfelf through their manners, and has proved of public utility. '. ' Thofe prifoners that are configned to the houfe of grace, and thefe are commonly the young mfin, wo^ CARVER'S TRAVELS. 24^ men, and children, await the difpofal of the chiefs, who, after the execution of fuch as are condemned to die, hold a council for this purpofel A herald is fent round the village or camp, to give^ notice that fuch as have loft any relations in the late expedition, are defired to attend the diftribution which is about to take 'place. Thofe v^omen who have lolt their fons or hufbands, are generally fatis-- fied in the firft place ; afte. thefe, fuch as have been deprived of friends of a more rempte degree of con- fanguinity, or who choofe to adopt Tome of the youth. The dlvifion being* made, which is done, as in bthei cafes, without the leaft difpute, thofe who- have received any fliare, lead them to their tents or huts ; and having uubcund iiem, wafh and drefs their wounds, if they b , n to have received any ; they then clothe then^ U5 give tliem the moft comfor- table and refr^ihmg Jood their ftore will afford. Whilft their new domeftics are feeding, fhey en- deavour to adminifter confolation to them ; they tell, them that as they are redeemed from death, they mirft now be cheerful and happy ; and if they ferve theiti well, without murmuring or repining, nothing ihall be wanting to make them fuch atonement for the lofs of their country and friendsas circumltanccs ' will allow of. , . If any men are fpared, they are commonly given to the widows that have loft their huibands by the hand of the enemy, fhould there be any fuch, to whom, if they happen to prove agreeable, they are foor. married. But (hould the dame be otherwife engaged, the life of him who falls to her lot is in great danger j efpetially if fhe fancies that her late *4* CARVER'S TRAVELS. hufband wants a flave in the country of fpirits, to "which he is gone. I ' • t * ■ ' When this is the cafe^ a number of young men take the devoted captive to fome diftance, and dif- patch him without any ceremony ; after he has been fpared b the council, they confider him of too little confequence to be entitled to the torments allored to thofe who have been judged worthy of them. The women are ufually diftributed to the men, from wb6m they do not fail of meeting with a fa- yourable reception. The boys and girls are taken mto the fan.xlies of fuch as have need of thfim, and are confidered as ilaves ; and it is not uncommon that they are fold in the fame capacity to the, Euro- pean traders thai come among them. The Indians have no idea of moderating the ra- vages of war, by fparing their prifoners, and entering mto a negociation with the band from whom they have been taken for an exchange. All that are captivated by both parties, are cither put to death, adopted, or made Ilaves of. And fo particular are every nation in this refped, that if any of their tribe even a warrior, fhould be taken prifoner, and by chance be received into the houfe of grace, either as an adopted perfon or a flave, and fliould afterwards make his efcape, they will by no means receive him^ or acknowledge him as one of their band. ^ The condition of fuch as are adopted differs not m any one inftance from the children of the nation to which they now belong. They affume all the Tights of thofe wbofe places thev Aipply, and fre- quently make no difficulty of going in the war par- ties againft their own countrymen. Should, how- everj any of thefe by chance make their efcape. ; CARVER'S TRAVELS, . ,^^ and be afterwards retaken, tl^v are ed^^r^.A f/fl„ « , "''' "" "P™ ""=■' P=^«n>^ and bene! *aaors, and are treated with utic.mmon fevcity «,h^f b^neraiiy diltributed amontj the chiefs- •«ho f equently make prefents of fotn? of them 'to the European governors of the out-poft, or m ih^ fupermtendants pr commiffaries of Indian affair! r have beet, mformed^K,t it was the Jrfuit and French ' miiBonarte. that firft occafioned the introduflion of bvt dnln'"''/ 'Y'T '"'""'^ fatlementrand who ' by fodotng taught the Indians that .hey'vvere vl!. Their views indeed were IWn/inKi^ . ,o ♦:, • gined that by this methTdlheX^J no. ol""'- vent much barbarity and blooYihed but 6^ 1 "aders to purchafe^'^cK a's fhe^y^ ^ll '"'■ „ J'" g°'"^ «*as of this mode of proceediw we-B greater degree of violence, and wi h un ^tt!^ ar" ' ^^i^fc.^:^^d^::r?dLi--?-- .0 furprife and carry them off" ^ °" """ ''*"'' ^ J 346 CAR\ E'R's TRAVELS. ¥■% ■ It might (lill be-faid that fewer of the captives are tormented and put to death, fmce thele expectations df receiving ip valuably a confideration for them have been excited, than there ufually had been; but it does not appear that their accufton^ed cruelty to> the warriors they take', is in the lead abated ; their natural defire of vengeance mult be gratified j they now only become more afliduous in fecuririg a greater number of young prifoners, whilfl thofe who are made captive iit their defence, are tormented anct put to death as before. The miffionaVies finding, that, contrary to their wiflies, their zeal had only ferved te iricreafe the fale of the noxious juices, applied ro the governor of Canada, in the year'1693, for a prohibition of this baneful trade. An order was ilfued accordingly, but it could not put a total flop t,o it; the French Couriers de Bois were hardy enough to carry it on clandeftin'ely, .notwithftanding the penalty annexed to a breach of the prohibition was a confiderable fine and imprironment.; ' , Some who were detefied in the profecution of it, withdrew into the Indian countries, where, they in- termarried with the natives, and underwent a volun- tary banifhment. Thefe, however, being an aban- doned and debauched fet, their conduft contributed very little either towards reforming the manners of their new relations,, or ngaging ^hem to entertain a favourable opinion#f the religion they profeffed. Thus did thefe-indefatigable teligious men feo their defigns in fome meafure once more fruUrated. However, the en-igration was produdive of an efFecl which turned out to be, beneficial to their na- tion. By the connedion of thefe refugees with the Jroquois, Miflifiauges, Hurons, Miamies, Powto- CARVER'S TRAVELS. 247 )tives are ectations ibr them een ; but :ruelty to^ :d ; thtir id ; they curing a hofe who jrmented to their re the fale r'ernor cf )n of this ordingly, le French arry it on annexed tifiderable ion or ic, i. they in- t a volun- an aban- )ntributed lanners of entertain profeffed. 1 I'eo their ited. wottomies, Puants, Menomonies, Algonklns, &c. and the conftant reprefentations thefe various na- tions received from them of the powei* and grandeur of the French, to the aggrandifement , of whofe jnonarch, notwithlianding their banifhment, they ftill retained their habitual inclinations, the Indians became infenfibly prejudiced in favour of that peo- ple, and I am perfuaded will take every opportunity of Ihewing their attachment to them. And this evert in defpite of the difgi'aceful edi- mation they muft be held by them, fince they have been driven out of Canada ; for the Indians confider every conquered people as in a ftate of vaiTalage to their conquerors. After one nation has finally fub- dued another, and a cdnditional fubmiflion is agreed on, it is cullomary for the chiefs of the Conquered, when they lit in council with their fubduers, to wear petticoats, as an acknowledgment that they, are in a ftate of fubjedion, and ought to be ranked'among the women, : Their partiality to the French has however taken too deep root for time itfelf to era- dicate it. . '■t ive of an ) their na- s with the rs, Powto- / 248- CARVER', TRAVELS. CHAPTER X, Of their manner of making Peace, hfc. 1 HE wars that, are carried on between the Indian nations are in general hereditary, and con- tinue from age to age with ^ tew interruptions. If a peace becomes neceflary, the principal care of both parties is to avoid the appearance of making the nrlt advances, '^ . When they treat with ari enemy, relative to a fuf- penfion of hoftilities, the chief who is commiffion- ed to unuatake the negociation, if it is not brought about by the ftiediation of fome neighbouring-band abates nothing of his natural haughiinefs ; even when the affairs of his country are in the worft fitu- ation, he makes no donceflions; but endeavours to perfuade his adverfaries that it is their intereft to put an end to the war. - , W ■ ' • . ' , ' Accidents fometim'es Contribute to bring about a peace between nations that otherwife could not be prevailed on to liften to terms of accommodation. An inftance of this, which I heard of in almoft eve- ry nation I palTed -through, I iliall relate. ^'een the nd con- ons. If of both ting the tea fuf- mlffion- brought gl)and, s - even irft fitu- ours to I to put about a not be idation. oil eve- CARVER'3 TRAVELS. '. " ,49 About eighty years ago,- the Iroquois and Chipe- ways, two powerful nations, were at war with the Ot agaum.es apd Saukies, who were much inferior to. their adverfanes both in numbers and ftreneth. One winter near a thoufand of the former made an excurfion from Lake Ontario, by way of Toronto, towards the terntorie^of their enemies. They coafU cd Lake Huron 09 itseaft and northern borders till tl fn^^r V^ ^'^ tc" V/ ^' J^^^P^' vvhich is nt ' ated m the Straus of Sc Marie.- There thev crofled thefe Straits upon the .ce. about fifteen miles below the falls, andcontmued riieir route ftill weitward. As the ground was covered with fnow,-to prevent a We, treading m each others foptfteps. ^Four Chipeway Indians, paffing that way, obferv- ed this army, and readily guefled from the direflion 6f their march, and the precautions they took, both defiT''^''^ ^"^ "" '^'^ "^"'^ '''^^"'"S ^"'^ ^^^^^ Notwithftanding the nation to which they beloncr-" wtrtLVrTn ' 7'^ '^' 0«agaumies, and in alliance wuh their invaders, yet from a principle which can- npt be accoumed for, they took an inftant refolu- tion to appnfe the former of their danger. To this purpofe they haftened away with their Sfual celerjty, and, takmg a circuit to avoid difcovery, arrived at I^^J'^'Ta^ ^'''^'}^' ?^ '^^ Omg,,,mks, before fo large a body, moving ,n fo cautious a manner, could hL I •' '/ ^°"".'^ ^ P'^'^y °f ^^^"» ^ouv hun- dred warriors -fome of whom were Saukies, whom they mformed'of the approach of their enemies. 1 fJ^^ chiefs immediately colleded their wiiole torce, and held a council on the fteps that were to be taken for their defence. As they were encumbered **i f. 950 CARVER'S TRAVELS. with their families, it was impofllble that they coulJ retreat in time ; they therefore determined to choofe the mefl: advantageous fpot, and to give the Iro- quois the befl; reception in their power. Not far from the place where they then happened to be, flood two fmall lakes, between which ran a narrow neck of land about a mile in length, and only from twenty to forty yards in breadth. Con- cluding ^hat the Iroquois intended to pals through this defile, the united bands divided their little party into two bodies of two hunt! red each. One of thefe took port at the extremity of the pafs that lay neareft to their hunting grounds, which they immediately fortified with a bread- work formed of palifades ; whilft the other body took a compafs round one of the lakes, with a defign to hem their enemies in when they had entered the defile. . Their ftratagerti fucceeded ; for nofoonerhad the whole of the Iroquois entered the pafs, tharl, being provided with wood for the purpofe, tjiey formed a fimilar breaft-work on the other extremity, and thus enclofed their enemies. The Iroquois foon perceived their fituatiori, and immediately held a council on the meafures that were neceflary to be purfued to extricate themfelves. Unluckily for them, a thaw had juft taken place, which had fo far dilTolved the ice as to render it im- faffable, and yet there ftill remained fufficlent to pre- ' vent them from either paffing over the. lake on rafts, or from fwimming acrofs. In this dilemma it was agreed that they Ihould endeavour to force one of the breaft-works ; but they foon found them too well defended to effedl their purpofe. CARVER'S TRAVELS. 35» Notwlthftanding this difappointment, with the ufual compcl'ure and unapprehenfivenefs of Indians, they amufed themfelves three or four days in fifliiog. By this time the ice being quite dillblved, they made tkemfelves raits-, which they were enabled to do by fome trees that fortunately grew on the fpot, and at- leniptcd to pafs one of the lakes. They accordingly fet off before day-break ; but the Ottagaumies, v/ho had been watchful of their mo- tions, perceiving their defign, detached one hundred and fifty men from each of their parties, to oppofe ihfcir landing, Thefe three hundred marched fo expeditioufly to the other fide of the Ipke, tha^ they reached it before their opponents had gained the fhore, they being retarded by their poles flicking in the mud. in As foon as the confederates arrived, they poured a very, heavy fire, both from their bfws and miifquetry, on the Iroquois, which greatly difcon- certed them; till the htter finding their filuation defpprate, leaped into the water, and fought their way through their enemies. This however they could not do without loting more than half their men. ' . After the Iroquois had landed, they made good their retreat, but were obliged to leave ilieir ene- niies iTiafters of the field, and in pofTeffion of all the furs they had taken during their , winter's hunt. Thus dearly did they pay for an unprovoked ex- curfion to fuch a diitance from the rout they ought to have purfued, and to which they were only im- pelled by a fudden defire of cutting off fome of their Jineient enemies. ^« CARVER', TRAVELS. But had they known thtir ftrength, they mbht have dearoyed every man of the party that oppofed them; uh.ch even at the firft dnlet was only incon- ulerable, and when diminilhcd by the adion, total- Jy unuble to make any (land a^^ainft them. The yiaorlous bajids rewarded the Chipeways who had been the means of their fuccefs, with a Oiare of ^he fpoils. They prefTtd them to take any quantity tht-y chofe of the richeit of the furs, and . lent them under an efcortoPfmy men to their own , country. 1 he difinrer.fted Chipeways, as the In- dians m general arefddom aduated.by mercenary motives, tor a condderable while refufed thefe pre- lems, but were at length perfuaded to accept of The brave and well concerted refinance here made by the Ottagaumies and Saukies, aided by the medi- ation ot the Uhipeways, who laying afide on this oc- cafion theammofity theyhad folong borne thofe peo- pJe, approved of the generous conduft of their four chiefs, were together the means of cffefting a recon- ciliation between thefe nations, and in procefs of time united them all ui the band? of amity. And I believe that all the Indians inhabiting that extenfive country which lies between Quebec" the banks of the Mifliffippi north of the Ouikonfin and the fettlenients belonging to the Hudfon's Bay com- pany, are at prefent m a flate of profound peace When their reflkfs difpof.tions will not fuffer ^hem to reniain inaaive, thefe northern Indians feldom fr rJ ur''"'^'''!?' aeainfttheCherokees, Choc- tahs^ Chickfaws, or Illinois. CARVER»i TRAVELS. m Sometimes the Indians grow tired of a war which they have carried dn a^ainll fome neighbouring na- tion for many yciirs wiih much fucceis, and in thia cale they feek for mediators to begin a negociation. liiefe bemg ubtamed, the treaty is thus conduced : A number of their own chiefs, joined by thofc who have accepted the frieadly office, fct out toge- ther for the country of their enemies ; fuch as are chofen for this purpofe, are chiefs of the moft ex- tenhve abdities, and of the greateft integrity. They bear before them the Pine of Peace, which I need not mform my readers is of the far .. ^^mc as a flac of truce among the European,, and ^^ treated wuh the greateft relpe^ and venerir; n, cv<- by the moft barbarous nations. I never he id oV an in^ ftance wherein the bearers of this f; c.i uadge of triendlhip were ever treated difrefpeelfully, or its rights violated. The Indians believe that the Great Spirit never fuffers an infraftion of this Icind to eo unpuniiped. ^ The Pipe of P^ce, which is termed by the French the Calumet, for what reaibn I could never learn, is about four feet long. The bowl of it is made of red marble, and the ftem of it of a light wood, curiouf- ly p4imed with hieroglyphics in various colours, and adorned with feathers of the moft beautiful hijds ; but It IS not in my power to convey an idea of the various tints and pleafmg ornaments qf this much eiteemed Indian implement. ^ Every nation has a diff'erent method of decoratintr thefe pipes, and they can tell at firft light to what band it belongs. It is ufed as an introduaion to all treaties, and great ceremony attends the ufe of it on thefe Qccafions. Kk - 25+ CARVER'S. T RAVEL Sr The afiiflant or aid-de-camp of the great warrior^ when the chiefs are aflfembled and feated, fills" \i with tobacco mixfed with the herbs before mentioned, taking care at the fame time that no part of it touche$ the ground. When it is filled, he takes a coal that is thoroughly kindled, from a fire which is general- ly kept burning in the midft of the alTembly, and places it on the tobacco. fuffi( f? itly lighted, he throws the coal. He then turns the ftem of it towards the heavens, after this towards the earth, and now hold- ing it horizontally, moves himfelf round till he has completed a circle ; by the firft aftion he is fuppofed to prefent it to the Great Spirit, whofe aid is thereby jfiipplicated ; by t"he fecond, to avert any tnalicious interpofition of the e^il fpirits ; and^ by the third, to gain the protection of the fpirits inhabiting the air, the earth, and the waters. Having thus fecured the favour.of thofe invifible agents, in whofe power they fuppofe it is either to forward of obftrudT: the ilTu'e of their prefent deliberations, he prefents it to the hereditary chief, who having taken two or three whiffs, blows the fnoke from his mouth firft to- wards heaven, and then around him upon the ground. It is afterwards ^ut in the fame manner into the mouths of the ambaflTadors or ftrangers, who obfeive the fame ceremony, then to the chief of the warri- ors, and to all the other chiefs in turn, according to their gradation. During this time the perfon who executes this honourable office holds the pipe flightiy in his hand, as if he feared to prefs the facred in- ftrument ; nor does ar?" one prefume to touch it but with his lips. . When the chiefs who are intrufted with the com-' miffion foi making peace, approach the town or CARVER'S TRAVELS. '5S wzTTior^ , fills- if ntioned, touche$ :oal that general- )ly, and rows of? ards the 3W hold- 1 he has fuppofed i thereby lalicious third, to the air, ured the jver they :he iflu'e it to the ar three firft to- ground, into the ) obfei ve e wani- irding to fon who e flight ly icred in- ch it but the com-' town or camp to which they are going, they begin to fing and dance the fongs and dances appropriated to this occafion. By this tune the advcrfe party are apprifed of their arrivaJ, and, at the fight of the Pipe of Peace, diverting themfelves of their wonted enmity, invite them to the habitation of the Great Chief, and fuYniflb them with every convehiency during the negociation. A council is then held ; and when the fpeeches and debates are ended, if no obftrudions arife to put a ilop to the treaty, the painted hatchet, is buried in the ground, as a memorial that all animolities between the contending nations have ceafed, and a peace taken place. Among the -ruder bands, fuch as have no communicatiou with the Europeans, a war-chib, painted red, is buried, inftead of the hatchet k ■ - " A belt of wampum is alfo given on this occafion, which ferves as a ratification of the peace, and re- cords to the lateft pofterity, by the hieroglyphics into which the beads are formed, every Itipulatsd article in the treaty. Thefe belts are rnade of fliells tound on the coafis of New-England and Virginia, which are fawed out into beads of an oblong form, about a quarter of an inch long, and round like other beads. Being (trung •on leather ftrings, and feveral of them fcwed neatly together with fine finewy threads, they then compofe what is termed a belt of wampum. The fliells sre generally of two colours, fome white and others violet ; but the latter are- more highly efteemed than the Jbrmer. They are held in as much ellimationby the Indians, as gold, filver, or precious ftoncs, are by the Europeans. i 2^6 carver»s travels. The belts are compofed of ten, twelve, or a greater number of firings, according to the impor- tance of the affair in agitation, or the dignity of the perfon to whom it is prefetlted. On more trifling occafions, firings of thefe bends are prefented by the chiefs to each other, and frequently worn by them about their necks, as a valuable ornameht. '.-:'» - ■ ' ^ ■ • ■ k CAILVER's TRAVELS. ^n CHAPTER XL Of their Games. A= S I have before obfenred, the Indians art? greatly addi£ted to gaming, and will even ftake, and lore with compoiiire, all the valuables they arc poflelTed of. They amufe theinfelves at feveral forts of games, biit the principal and moft cfteemed among them is that of the ball, which is not unlike the European game of tennis. • The balls thoy ufe are rather larger than thofe made ufe of at tennis, and are formed of a piece of deer-fktn ; which being moiftened to render it fup- ple, is fluffed hard with the hair of t'n^ fame crea- ture, and fewed with its finews. The ball-fticks are about three feet- long, at the end of which th^re is fixed a kind of. racket, refembling the palm of the; hand, and faftiioned of thongs cut from a rieer-ikin. In thefe they catch the ball, and throw it to a great diftance, if they are not prevented by fome of ihe oppofite party, who fly to intercept it. This game is generally played by large compa- nies, that lometimes coniift of more than three hun- dred ; and it is not uncommon for difierent bands to play againlt each other. 3^8 C A R V E R'8 TRAVELS. They begin by fixing twd poles in the ground, at abou* fix hundred yards apart, and one of thefe goals belong to each party of the combitants. The ball is thrown up high in the centre of the ground, and in a direft line between the goals ; towards which each party endeavours to ftrike it, and whichfoever fide fir ft 'caufes it to. reach their own goal, reckons towards the game. They are fo exceeding dextrous in this manly cx- ercife, that the ball is ufually kept flying in different diredions by the force of rhe rackets, without touch- ing 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 aniiagonift overtakes him, and by a fudden fl:roke dafhes down the ball. They r>lay with fo much vehemence that they frequently wound each other, and fometimes a bone is brcfcen ; but notwithftanding thefe accidents, there never appears to be any fpite or wanton exertions of ftrength to effect them, nor do any difputes ever happen between the parties. There is another game alfo in ufe among them WO' thy of remark, and this is the game of the Bowl or Platter. This game is played between two per- fons only. Each perfon has fix or eight little bones, not unlike. a peach-ftone either in fize or Ihape, ex- cept they are quadrangular ; two of the'fidesot which are coloured 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. According as thefe bones prefent the white or jjlack fide upwards, they reckon the game ; he that CARVER'S TRAVELS. 4 happens to havt the greateft number turn up of a fimilar colour, counts five points j and forty is the game. The winning party keeps his place, and the lofer yields his to another who is appointed by one of the umpires ; for a whole village is fometimes concerned in the party, and at tiroes one band plays againft another. During this play» the Indians appear to be greatly agitated, and at every decifive throw fet up a hideous fhout. They make a thoufand contortions, addref- fing themfelves at the fame time to the bones, and •loading with imprecations the evil fpirits that affilfe their fuccefsful antagonifts. At this game fome will lofe their apparel, all the moveables of their cabins, and fometimes even their liberty ; notwithftanding there are no people in the univerfe more jealous of the latter than the Indians are. iG» CARVEKU TRAVELS. CHAPTER XH. dj their Manisge Cerempnm, t^c. r-i"'j JL HE Indians a^ow of polygamy, and per- Ibns of ev<;(y j: ak indulge themfelves in this point* The chiefs tv i>i».rs:kuiar have a feiagjio, whicb eon- M$ of an liftcenairi number, ufually from iijc to twelve Qx tovrieen. The lower ranks are perputte^ to take as maay as there is a probability of theit being able, -with the children they may bear, to mainuin. It is not uncommon for an Indian to marry two fif- ters; fometimes, if there happen to be more, the whole number; and notwithftanding this (as it ap- pears to civilized nations) unnatural union, they ail live in the greateft harmony. The younger wives are fubmlflive to ths elder ; and thofe who have no children, do fuch menial offices for thofe who are fertile, as caufes their fitu- ation to differ but little from a ftate of fervitude/ However, they perform every injunftion with the greateft cheerfulnefs, in hopes of gaining thereby the affedion of their hufband, that they in their turns may have the happinefs of becoming mothers, and be entitled to the refped attendant on that ftate. and per- is point. »cb con- (n lijc to en>utted eir bfiing nainuin. two fif. ore, the as it ap- they all 2 elder; menial heir fitu- jrvitudej vith the reby the ir turns 2rs, and late. CARVER'S travels; fefit It is not uncommon for an Indian, ahhoufrh he t^kes to h.mlelj fo many wives, to iiv; in a life of contmence with many of them for feveral vears fr u^' Tu"" u """^^' ^' ^° K^'" ^he favour of lutrhufband by their fubmilTiveaLd prudent be- tav our, and by that means to flure in his embracer, ct ...finue ,n their virgin (late during the whole of him.to fome ftranger chief, whofe abode amon^ them wiU not admit of his entering into a more kS ':om..^a.on. In this cafe, they fubmit to the injui^! rnr^f \ r^ "^^"1 ^'"'^^"^ murmuriug, and are ^ot difpleafed with the temporary union. But if af any tune it is known that they take this liberty withi out firft receiving I.is confent, they are punifted in he lame manner as if they had been guilty of adul- fery» ■ ' ' ' This cuftom is more pre^'aIent among the nations which he mto the interior parts, than among thofe hat are nearer the fettiements, as the manners of the atter are rendered more conformable in fome points to thofe of the Europeans, by the intercourfe they hold with them. ' ^ TbelndiaTi nations differ but little from each other in their marriage ceremonies, an^ lefs in the manner of their divorces. The tribes that inhabit the bor- ders of Canada, make ufe of the following cuftom. . When a young Indian has fixed his inclination* on one of the other fex, he endeavours to gain her confent, and if he fucceeds, it is never known that her parents ever obftrufl their union. When ev^ry preliminary is agreed on, and the day appointed'r the Iriends and acquaintance of both parties affemble, at the houfe or tent of the oldeft relation of the LI aSt CARVER'S TRAVELS. bridegroom, where a feaft is prepared on the occa- fion. ■ • The company who meet to aflift at the feftival are foinetimes very numerous ; they dnnce, they fmg, and enter into every other diveriion ulualiy made ule of on any of their public rejoicings. ' When thefe are finifhed, all thofe v/ho attended merely out of ceremony depart, and the bVidegroom and bride are left alone, with three or four of the nearell and oldefl: relations of either fide ; thofe of the bridegroom being men, a-nd thofe of the bride, women. Pr^fently the bride, attended by thefe few friends, having withdrawn herfelf for the purpofe, appears It one of the doors of the houfe, and is led to the bridegroom, who ftands ready to receive her. Hav- ing now taken their ftation, on a mat placed on the centre of the rt)om, they lay hold of the extremities of a wand, about three feet long, by which they conti- nue feparated, whilft the old men pronounce fome fhort harangues fuitable to the occafion. The married couple after this make a public de- claration of the love and regard they entertain for each oth^r, and ftiU holding the |-od between ther^> dance and fing. - When they have finifhed this part of the ceremony, they break the rod into as many pieces as there are witneffes prefent, who each take a piece, and preferye it with great care. The bride is then reconducted out of the door at which flie entered, where her young companions wait to attend her to her father's houfe ; there the bridegroom is obliged to feek her, and the marriage' h confummated. Very often the wife remains at CARVER'S TRAVELS. atf3 her father's houfe till (he has a child, when flie packs up her apparel, which is all the fortune fhe is gene- rally poffelfed of, and accompanies her hufband to his habitation. When from any diflike afeparation takes place, tor they are feldom known to quarrel, they gene- rally give their friends a few days notice of their in- tentions, and fometimes offer reafons to juftify their conduft. The wiinefles who were prefent at the niarnage, meet on the day requefted, at the houfe of the couple that are about to feparate, and bringing with them the pieces of rod which they had receiv- cd at their nuptials, throw them into the fire, in the prefence of all the parties. This is thd whole of the ceremony required, and the reparation is carried on without any murmur- ings or ill-will between the couple or their relations ; and after a few months they are at liberty to marry again. . ' When 9 marriage is thiiTs diflblved, the children, which have been produced from it, are equally di- vided between them; and as children are efteemed a treafure by the Indians, if the number happens to be odd, the woman is allowed to take the better half; Though this cuftom feems to encourage fickle- nefs and frequent feparations, yet there are many ' of the Indians who ha-e but one wife, and enjoy with her a fliate of connubial happinefs not to be exceeded in more refined focieties. There are alfo not a few inftances of women preferving an inviolar ble attachment to their hulbands, except in the cafes before-mentioned, which are not confidered as either a violation of their chaftity or fidelity. 26^ C A R. V E R' 8 TRAVELS. Although I have faid that the Indian nations differ very little from each other in their marriage ceremo- nies, there are fome exceptions. The Naudoweffies have a lingular w^hry] of celebrating their marri- ages, which fe» no refemblance to thofe .made ufe c! ly m^) .er nation I pafled through. When one of iheir young men has fixed on a young woman b. approves of, he difovers his paffion to her parents, who give him an invitation to coni^ and live with them in their tent. He accordingly accepts the offer, and by fo doing engages to refide in it for a whole year, in the charac- ter of a menial fervant. During this time he hunts, aiA.i brings all the game he kills to the family; by •wifch means the father has an opportunity of feeing vhether he is able to provide for the fupport of his daughter and ihe children that might be the confe- quence of their union. This however is otily done whilft tlioy are youQg men, and for their firll wife, and not repeated like Jacob's "^rvitudes. . When this period is expired, the marriage is fo- lemnizcL' after the cuftom >f. the country, in the fol- lowing manner: Three or tour of the oldeft male relations of the bridegroom, and as many of the bride's, 2ccoi pany the young couj^e from their ref- pedive tents, to an c^:3n part in the centre o:f the camp. The chiefs and warriors, being here aiBembled to receive them, a party of the latter are drawn up into two ranks on e- .1 de of the h^^de and I degrooni immediately on i.hcir arrival. Th,?ir principal chiefs then acquaint the whole Tsmbly with the defign of their meeting, and =ells thetn ihat the couple before them, mt nir ^ at the fame time their names, are come av publicly their in- CARVER'S TRAVELS. i6i tentions of living together as man and wife. He then aflcs the two young people alternately, whe- ther they defire that tli- union might take place. Having declared with an audible voice that they do fo, the warriors, lix their arrows^ and difcharge then. over the heads of the married pair j this done, the 'hief pronounces them man and wife. The bridegroom then turns round, and bending his body, takes his wife on his back, in which man- ner he carries her amidft th ; acclamations of the fpeftators to his tent. The ceremony is fucceeded by the moft plentiful feaft the new married man can aflforc! and fpngs and dances, according to the ufual cuftcm, conclude the feilival. Divorces happen fo feldom among the Naudowef- fies, thc-r I had not an opportunity of learning how they are accompliihed. Adulf ; ry is efl aemed by them a heinous crime, and pum^'ed with the greateft rigour. The hulband in thefe % bites off the wife's nofe, and a feparation inftant.^ ^nfues. I faw an inftance wherein this mode of punifhi; nt was inflided, whilft I remained among them. i , children, when this happens, are diftri- buted accordir ?o the ufual cuftom obferved by other nations, . is, they are equally divided. Among the Indian as well as European nations, there are many that devote thcmfelves to pleafure, and notwithlbnding the accounts gi .en by fome mo- dern writers, of the iiigidity of an Indian conftitu- tion, become the zealous votaries of Venus. The young warriors that are thus difpcfed, feldom want opportunities for gratifying their paiSon; and as the mode ufually foH.oweu on thefe occafions is rather Jfingular, I Ihall defcribe it. im tARVER'o TRAVELS. When one of thefe young debauchees imagined, from the behaviour of the perfon he has cholen foV his millrefs, that he fhall not meet with any great obftrudion to his fuit from her, he purlucs the foU lowing plan. It has been alrcaxly obfervcd, that the Indians acknowledge n fuperiority, nor have (hey any ideas of fubordination, except in the neceflury regulations of their war or hunting parties} they confcquently live nearly in a itate of equality, purfuiint to the firi't prmciples of nature. The lover therefore is not ap- preheniive of any check or controul in the accom- plifhment of his purpofes, if he can find a conveni- ent opportunity for compleating them. As the Indians are alfo under no apprehenfion of robbers, or fecrec enemies, they leave the doors of their tents or huts unfaltened during the night, as well as in the day. Two or three hours after funfet, the flaves or old people cover over the fire, that is generally burning in the midft of their dpartmenr, with aflies, and retire to their repofe. Whilft darknefs thus prevails, and all is quiet, one of thefe fons of pleafure, wrapped up clofely in his blanket, to prevent his being known, will fome- times enter the apartment of his intended miftreff/. Having firft lighted at the fmothered fire a fmall fplinter of wood, which anfwers the purpofe of a match, he approaches the place where flie repofes, and gently pulling away the covering from the head, jogs her till (he awakes. If Ihe then rifes up, and blows out the light, he needs no further connrma- tion that his company is not difagreeable ; but if, after he has difcovered himfelf, (he hides her head, and takes no notice of him, he might reft allured CARVER' I TRAVELS. 257 that any further folicitations will prove vain, and that it is ncceflary immediately tor him to retire. During this flay he conceals the light as much as podible in the hollow of his hand, and as the tents or rooms of the Indians are ufually large ancf capaci- ous, he efcapes without detedion. It is fiaid that the young women who admit their lovers on thefeocca- lions, rake great care, by an immediate application to herbs, with the potent efficacy of which they are well acquainted, to prevent the effeds of thefe illicit amours from becoming vifible ; for fhould the natu- ral confequences enfue, they muft forever remain lunmarried. The children of the Indians are always diftin- guifli2d by the name of the mother : and if a woman marries feveral huibands, and has iffue by each of them, they are all called after her. The reafon they give for this is, that as their offspring are indebted to the father for their fouls, the invilible part of their effence, and to the mother for their corporeal and apparent part, it is more rational that they fhould be diflinguiflied by the name of the latter, from whom they indubitably derive their being, than by that of the father, to which a doubt might fometimes arife whether they are juftiy entitled'. , There are fome ceremonies made ufe of by the Indians at the impofition of the name, and it isifcon-t, Udered by them as a matter of great importance ;. ' but what fhefe are I could never learn, through the lecrecy obferved on the occafion. I only know that it is ufually given when the children have palled the (late of infancy. Nothing can exceed the iendcrr.su fhewn by thetn, »to their offspring j and a perfon cannot recomraen4 268 CARVER'S TRAVELS. himfdf to their favour by any metliod more certain than by paying fome attention to the younger bran- ches of their families. I can impute, in fome raea- lure, to the prefents I made to the children of the chiefs of the Naudoweflies. the hofpitable reception I met with when araonir o There is fome difficulty attends an explanation of the manner in which the Indians diitinguifh them- felves from each other. Befides the name of the animal by wbich every nation and tribe is det?omi- nated, there are others that are perfonai, and which the children receive from their mother. The chiefs are alfo diftinguiflied by a name that has either fome reference to their .biiitJes, or to the hieroglyphic of their families ; and thefe are ac- quired after they arrive at the age ot manhood. &uch as have fignalized themfelves either in their ^•ar or hunting parties,,or are poffefled of fome emi- nent qualification, receive a name that ferves to per- petuate the [ame of their adions, or to make their abilities confpicuous. Thusthegreat warrior of the Naudoweflies was named Ottahtongoomliftcah, that is, the Great Fal ther of Snakes : ottah being in Englifli father, ton- goom great and liflicah a fnake. Another chief was called Honahpawjatin, which means afwift run- ner over the mountains. And when they adopted "^l.^c^'^^^mong thtm, they named me Shebaygo. which figrirfies a writer, or a perfo^ that is curious in making hieroglyphics, as they faw me often wri- fMJg. , . CARVER'S TRAVELS. 269 i CHAPTER Xlir. Of tbe'ir Religiott, IT Is very difficult to attain a perfea know- ;iedjre of the relioious principles of the Indians. Their ceremonies and doclrincs have been fo often 4-idiculod by the Europeans, that they endeavoiir to conceal ther.i ; and if, after the greateft intimacy, you defire any of them to explain to you their fyftem of religion, to prevant your tidicule, they intermix with it many of the tenets they, have received from the Fren-ch iniflionaries, fo that it is at !a(l rendered an unintelligible jargon, and not to be depended upon. Such as I couM difcover among theNaudoweflles ffor.they alfo were very referved in this point,) I fliall givv my reader,s, without paying any attention to the acc-..nt3 of others. As the religion of that peo- ple, fr-'tn^hfirfituation appears to be totally unadul- terated with the fuperltitions of the church of Rome, wc (hall- be able to gain from their religious cuftoms a more perfed idea of the original tenets and cere, monies of the Indians in general, than ^Komthofeof any nations that approach nearer to th^ fettlemcnis. It is certain they acknowledge one Supreme Be- ing, or Giver of Life, who preliJes over all things. Mm ^ A^ iyo CARVER'S TRAVELS, The Chipeways call this beinjj Manitou, or Kltchl Manitou ; the Naudoweffies, Wakon or Tongo- Wakon, that is, the Great Spirit ; and they look up to him as the fource of good, from whom no evil can proceed. They alfo believe in a bad fpirir to whom they afcribe great power, and fuppofe that through his means all the evils which befal mankind are inflifted. To him, therefore, do they pray m their dilhefles, begging that he would either avert their troubles, or moderate them when they are no longer avoidable. They fay that the Great Spirit, who is infinitely ^ good, neither wilhes nor is able to do any mifchief to mankind ; but on the contrary, that he fhower^ down on them all the bleffings they deferve ; whereas the evil fpirlt is continually employed in contrivinn- how he may punifli the human race ; and to do which he is not only poflefTed of thevTiU, but of the power. They hold alfo that there are good fpirit^ of a lef- fer degree, who have their particular departtfients, m which they are conflantly contributing to the hap- piaefs of mortals. Thefe they fuppofe to prefide over all the extraordinary produdions of nature, fuch as thofe lakes, rivers, or mountains that are of an uncommon magnitude ; and likewife the beafts, oirds, fifties, and even vegetables, or ftones that exceed the reft of their fpecies in fizfi or fingularity. To, all of thefe they pay fome kind of adoration. Ihus, when they .nve at the borders of Lake Su- perior, on the banks of the Milliflippi, or any other great body of water, they prefent to the Spirit who fefides there fome kind of offering, as the prince o^ the Winnebagoes did when he attended me to the Falls of St Anthony. CARVER'S TRAVELS. a7X But at the fame time I fancy that the ideas they annex to the word fpirit, are very different from the conceptions more enlightened nations entertain of it. They appear to fafhion to themfelves corporeal re- prefentations of iheir gods, and believe them to be of a humali form, though of a nature more excel- lent than man. Of the fame kind are their fentiments relative to a futurity. They doubt not but they fliall exift in fome future ftate ; they however fancy that their employments there will be. fimilar to thofe they are engaged in here, without the labour and difficulties annexed to them in this period of their ^xillence. ^ Theyconfequently expeft to be tranflated to a de- lightful country, where they lliall always have a clear unclouded fky, and enjoy a perpetual fpring ; where the forelts will abound with game, and the lakes with fjfh, which might be taken without a painful exer- tion of Ikill, or a laborious purfuit j in fhort, that they fliall live for ever in regions of plenty, dnd en- joy every gratification they delight in here, in a greater degree. To intelleftual pleafures they are flrangers ; nor are thefe included in their fcherae of happinefs. But they expeft that even thefe animal pleafures will be proportioned and difhibuted according to their me- -rit J the fkilful hunter, the bold arfd fuccefsful war- rior, will be entitled to a greater fhare than thofe. who through ignorance or want of Ikill cannot boad of any fuperiority over the common herd. The priefls of the Indians are at the fame time tiieir phyficians, and their conjurers; whilil they heal their wounds or cure their difeafes, they inter- pret their^dreams, give therii proteaive charms, and w «7* C A R V E R's TRAVELS." fatisfy that defire that is fo prevalent among them, of I'earching into futurity. How well they execute the latter part of their profefiional engagements, and the methods they make ufeof on fome of thefe occafions, I have already ihewn in the exertion of the prieft of the Killifti- noes, who was fortunate enough to fucceed in his extraordinary attempt near Lake Superior. They frequently are fuccefsful likewife in adminiftering the faluhrious herbs they have acquired a knowledge ef ; but that the ceremonies they make ufe of during the adminiftration of them contributes to their fuc- cefs, I ihal^ not take upon me to aflert. ^ When any of the people are ill, the perfon who IS mveftcd with this triple charafter of dodor, prieft, and magician, fits by the patient day and night, rat- thng m his ears a, gourd Ihell filled with dry beans, called a Ghichicoue, and making a difagreeable noife that cannot be well defcribed. ^ This uncouth harmony one would imagine fhonld difturb the firk perlon, and prevent the good effeds of the dontaneous perfpiration. whii a they incrcafe as they pleafe. Having contii^ued in it for fornc runt, tliey immediarely haftcn to the reareit ftrcttm, and piuni^e into the warrr ; and, after bathing therein for abcut half a minute, they put on their clothes, I. Jown and f moke with great compofiire, thotdughi) perfuad.td that the remedy will prove eificacious. Thiy often make ufe of this fudoriferous method to refreih themfelves, or to prepare !heir minds for the management of any bufintfs that requires uncommon deliberation and fagacity. They are likewife afllided with the dropfy and paralytic c-'mplainrs, which, however, are but very feldom known among them. As u remedy for thefe as well as for fevers, they make ufe of lotions and decoftions, compofed of'^igrbs, which the phyficians know perfectly well how to compound and apply. But tiiey never truft to medicines alone ; they always have recourfe likewife to fome fuperftitious ceremonies, without which their pa- tients would not think the phyfical preparations fuf- ficiently powerful. ^ CARVER'S TRAVELS. 7TJ f With equal judgment they m^ike ufe of fimples for the cure of wounds, fraftures, or bruifes ; and are able to extrad by thefe, without incilion, fpiin- ters, iron, or any other fort of . ^,tter by which the wound is caufed. In cures or ihis kind they are extremely, dextrous,, and conijilete them in much lefs time than might be expected from their mode of proceeding. With the fkin of a fnake, which thcfe reptiles an- nually (bed, rhey will alfa extrad fplinters. It is amazing to fee the fudden effi;!.Tcy of this appHca- tion, notwithftanding there does not appear to be ihe leaft moidurc remaining in it. ^ Jt has long been a fubjeft of difpute,on what con- tinent the venereal difeafe firfl: received its dellruc- tive power. This dreadful malady is fuppofed to" have originated in America, but the literary contelt ftill remains undecided, l o give fome elucidation to it, I (hall remark, that as I could not difcover the leaft traces among the Naudoweflies, with whom I refided fo long, and was alfo informed that it was yet unknown among the more weftern nations, I think 1 may venture to pronounce that it had not its origin in North-America. Thofe nations that have any communication with the Europeans, or the fou- tncrn tribes, are greatly inflidted with it; but they, have all of them acquired a knowledge of fuch cer- tain and expeditious remedies, that the communica- tiori is not attended with any dangerous confequences. Soon after I fet out on my travels, one of the tra- ders, whom I accompanied, complained of a violent gonorrhiva, with all its alarminj^: fymptoms : this increafed to fuch a degree, that fey the time we had reacheU the town pf the Winnebagoes, he was una' N n 278 CARVER'S TRAVEL $. ble to travel. Having made bis complaint known to one of d. chiefs of that tribe, he told him not to be uneafy, lor h^ would engage that by followin.' Jiis advice, he fhould be able in a fe'w days tc purlue his journey, and in a litile longer time be emirelv iree from his diforder. The chief had no foonerfaid this, than he prepar- ed for h.m a decoftion of the bark of the roots of the prickly afh, a tree fcarcely known in England, but which grows m great plenty throughout North- America ; by the ufe of which, in a few days he was greatly recovered, and having rtceived diredinns ; how to prepare it, in a fortnight after his departure from this place, he perceived that he was radically cured. ^ If from excefTive exercife, or the extremes of heat or cold, they are affeded with pains in their limbs or joints they fcahfy theparts affeaed. Thofe nations who have no commerce with Europeans do this with a n.arp flint j and it is furprifmg to fee to how nne a r they have the dexterity to bring them • a Ian ;,,j Icarceiy exceed in fharpnefs the inftru- meni. uv.y make of this unmalleabre fubftance. They never can be convinced a perfon is ill whiUt he has an appetite; but when he rekas n» Kind of nourifliment, they conlid#r the difeafe as dangerous, and pay great attention to it ; and dur- ing the continuance of the diforder, the phyfician re- fufcs his patient no fort of food that he" is defirous Of. • '^'^"*';^°'^"i's are not only fuppofed to be fkilled in the phyfical treatment of tlifeafes, but the com- jnon people believe, that by the ceremony of the Chi- chicoue ufually made- ufe of, as before defcribed, CARVER'. TRAVELS. 879 they are able to gain intelligence from the fpirits, of the caufe of the complaints with which ihey aie aflliaed, and are thereby the better enabled 4o find remedies for them. They difcover fomethin? fu- pernatural in all their difeafes, and the phyfic ad- inir.i/tered mdft invariably be aided by thefe fuoer- Ititions. *^ Sometimes a Tick perfon fancies that his diforder arifes from witchcraft ; in this cafe the phyfician or juggler IS confulted, who, after the ufunl prer tibns, gives his opinion on the (tate of the dilc and fjcquently finds fome meahs for his cure. But notwithftanding the Indian phyficians always annex thefe fuperftitioirs ceremonies to their prefcriptions It IS very certain, as I have already obferved, that they exercile their art by principles which are found- ed on the knowledge of fimples, and on experience, which they acquire by an indefatigable attention to tneir operations. The following ftory, which I received from a perfon of undoubted credit, proves that the Indians are not only able to reafon with great acutenefs on the caufes and fymptoms of many of the diforders which are attendant on human nature, but to apply with equal judgment proper remedies. In Penobfcot, a fettlement in tha province of Main,in the north-e?(V parts of New-England, 'the wite oi a foldier was taken in labour, and notwith- ' Itanding every neceflary aOiftance was given her. could not be delivered. In this fituation fhe r«- inamed for two or three days, the perfons around her expedmg that the next pang would put an end to her exmence. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I |45 IIIIM IIIIM 1^ 1^ III '' 1^ lil ^'^ 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 = — ^ 6" - ► Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 v^ vV 28o carvHr's travels. An Indian woman, who accidentally palTed by heard the groans of the unhappy iufferer, and el- »r"^ !T ^K^u'^ !^^y proceeded. Being made acq^nted with the defperare circumftances attend- ing the cafe, fhe told the informant, that if fhe JT'^uV P5"'i''e^ 'o ^^ee the perfon, ihe did not doubt ^ut that fte ihould be of great fervice to hir. The furgeon that had attended, and the midwife ^ho was then preCent, having given up every hope of preferving their patient, the Indian woman was allowed to make ufe of any methods (he thought proper. She accordingly took a handkerchief, and bound It light ever the nofe and mouth of the wo- man : this immediately brought on a fuffocation : and from the ftruggles that confequently enfued, fte was m a few feconds delivered. Th* moment this fatal effea, the handkerchief wa» tal^n off. The long.fuffenng patient thus happily ielieved from her pains, loon after perfeftly recovered, to the afton.fhment of all thofe who had been witnefs to her defperate fituat^on. The reafon given by the Indian for this hazardous method of proceeding wa?, that defperate diforders rcqu're defperate remedies ; that as (he obferved the exertions of nature were not fufficiently forcible to ettett the defired confequence, fhe thought it necef- lary to augment their force, which could only be aone by fome mode that was violent in the extreme. CARVER'S TRAVELS. a^i CHAPTER XV. Of the manner in which they treat their Dead. Ai ^ .N Indian meets death when it approaches him in his hut, with the fame refolution he has often faced him in the field. His indiflPerence relative to this important article, which is the fource of fo many »ppr|henfions to almoft every other nation, is truly admirable. When his fate is pronounced by the phylician, and it remains no longer uncertain, he harangues thofe about him with the greateft cora- pofure. 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 advice for the regulation of their condudl as he thinks neceffary. He then takes leave of his friends, and iflues out oi'ders for the preparation of a feaft, which is defigned to regale thofe of his tribe that come to pronounce his ei*- logium. • After the breath is departed, the body is drefled in the famie attire it ufually wore whilft living, his face is painted, and he feated in an ered pofture on a mat or ikin, placed in the middle of the hut, with his weapons by his fide. His relations being feated i«* tARVER's TkAVELS: round, each harangues in turn the deceafed ; and if he has been a great warrior, recounts his heroic theTndiaTr'^ '' the following purport, whicUn ^he^Indian language is extremely poetical and plea- " You ftill fTt among us. Brother ; your perfon ;; re ams its ufuai refemblance, and cVntinues^Hn^ « h.MrT^'l'^ri'^""' '"y "^'5^'' deficiency, except li that breath flown, which a few hours ago fent fi em. that lately ddivered to Os expreflive and pleafing language ? why are thofe feet mmionlefs that a fhort time ago were fleeter than the deer on H / ";°"":.^'"J •' ^^^y "felefs hang thofe arms hat eould chmb the talleft tree, or draw the v^k'^ ^r ^^'' ■ '"''y P«« ^f that frame Jhich we lately beheld with admiratio'n and w'.^! der, IS now become as inanimate as it was three ^^ bemoan thee as if thou waft for eVer loft to m' « ^Vj^V^y "?"^e would be buried in oblivion; wnh thofeof thy natidn that are gone befo- *hee- and though we are left behind to perpe' thV fame, we ffiall one day join thee. Adumed by therefpeft we bore thee whilft living, we no^ ^^ come to render to thee the laft aft of kindnefs it IS in our power to beftow : that the body mi;jht ' tTth'r^i''^'/r 't P'^'"' ^^^ 1^"°-- «>ey to the hearts of the field, or the. fowls of the ai/ we will take care to lay it with thofe of thy pre-' deceflbrs who are gone before thee ; hopin/at the fame time, that thy fpirit will fee^ with their !if"lt' II .^^ ""^^^^y '^ ^^"^^« «""' w^en we alio ihall arrivij at the great Country of Souls.'* <« Ci <( (( cc iipns of particular events, however trifling they 292 CARVER'S TRAVELS. might appear, enable us to form a truer judgment of the manners ^nd cufloms of a people, and are much more declaratory of their real ftate, than the moil lludied and elaborate difquifition, without thefe ?iids. ».i.'« ■■ n-^ti^mf' I udgment and are than the out thefc CARVER'S TRAVELS. «93. CHAPTER XVII. Of their Language^ Hieroglyphics, ^e. TVT I f .^ pnncipal languages of the natives of JNorth-Amenca may be divided into four clafles as they confift of fuch as are made ufe of by the nations ot the Iroquois towards the eaftern parts of it, the Chipeways or Algonkins to the north-weft, the Naudoweffies to the weft, and the Cherokees, Chic- kafaws, &c. to the fouth. One or other of thefe four are ufed by all the Indians who inhabit the parts that he between the coaft of Labrador north, the Jt-Ioridas fouth, the Atlantic Ocean eaft, and, as far as we can judge from the difcoveries hitherto made, the Pacific Ocean on the weft. But of all thefe, the Chipeway tongue appears to be the moft prevailing j it being held in fuch elteem,that the chiefs of every tribe, dwelling about the great lakes, or to the weftward of thefe on the banks^of the Mifliflippi, with thofe as far fouth as the Ohio, and as far north as Hudfon's Bay, con- lilting of more than thirty different tribes, fpeak this language alone in their councils, notwlthftand- ing each has a peculiar one of their own. -- r #• 3$4 CARVER'S TRAVELS. It will probably in time become univerfal among all the Indian nations, as none of them attempt to make excurfions to any great dittance, or are con- fidered as qualified to carry on any negociation with a diftant band, unlefs they have acquired the Chipe- way tongue. At prefent, befides ♦he Chipeways, to whom it is natural, the Oitawaws, Saukies, the Ottagau- mies, the Killiftinoes, the Nipegons, the bands about Lake Le Pluye, and the remains of the Al- gonkiiis, or Gens de Terre, e'l converfe in it, with iows little variation of dialed j but whether it be natural to ihofe 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 be- come in time totally extind, and this be adopted in its ftead. The Chipeway tongue is not encumbered with any unneceflary tones or accents, neither are there any words In it that are fuperfluous ; it is alfo eafy to pronounce, and much more copious than any other Indian language. As the Indians are tinacquainted "wirh the polite arts, or with the fciences, and as they are ftrangers to ceremony, or compliment, they neither have nor need an infinity of words wherewith to embellifh their difcourfe. Plain and unpoliihed in their man- ners, they only make ufe of fuch as ferve to deno- minate the neceflaries or conveniences of life, and to exprefs their wants, which rn a ftaie of nature can be but few. I have annexed hereto a (hbrt vocabulary of the Chipeway language, and another of that of the Nau- CARVE? s TRAVEI.S, 2,9^ doweflies, but am not abJe to reduce them to the rules of grammar. The latter is fpoken in a foft accent, without any guttural founds, fo that it may be learnt with faci- lity, and is not difficult either to be pronounced or written. It is nearly as copious and expreffive 35 the Chipeway tongue, and is the moft prevailinj? lariAuageofany on theweltern banks of the Mif- fiflippi J being in ufe, according ro their account, among all the nations that lie to the north of the Meflbrie, and extend as far weft as the fhores of th*- racHic Ocean. * As the Indians are not acquainted with letters, it is very difficult to convey with precifion the exaft found of their words ; I have however end,eavoured to write them as near to the manner in which they are exprefled, as fuch an uncertain mode will ad- mit of. Although the Indians cannot communicate their Ideas by writing, yet they form certain hieroglyphics, which, in fome meafure, ferve to perpetuate any extraordinary tranfadion, or uncommon event. •Thus, when they are on their excurfions, and either intend to proceed, or have been on any remarkable enterprife, they peel the bark from the trees which lie in their way, to give intelligence to tho'e parties that happen to be at a diftance, of the path they rauft purfue to overtake them. ^ The following inftance will convey a more perfed idea of the methods they make ufe of on this' occ^- - fion, than any expreflion I can frame. ' When I left the Miffiflippi, and proceeded up the Chipeway River, in my way to Lake Superior, ^s iO^ CARVER'i TRAVELS. related in my Journal, my guide, who was a chief ot the Chipeways that dweli on the Ottawaw Lake, near the heads of the river we had juft entered, iearmg that feme parties of the Naudoweffies, with whom this nation is perpetuaUy at war, might ac- cidentally fal in with us, and before they were ap. prifed of my being in company, do usfome mifchief. he took the following fteps. He peeled the bark from a large tree, near the entrance of a river, and with wood.coal, mixed with beJir s greafe, the ufual fubftitute for ink, made in an uncouth but expreflive manner, the figure of the town of the Ottagaumies. He then formed to the left a man drefled in fkins, by which he intended to reprefent a Naudoweffie, with a line drawn from his mouth to that of a deer, the fymboi of the Chi- peways. After this he depided (till further to the Jett a canoe as proceeding up the river, in which he ^ placed a man fitting with a hat on ; this figure was defigned to reprefent an Englifhman, or myfelf; and my Frenchman was dr&wn with a handkerchief tied round his head, and rowing the canoe; to • thefe he added feveral other fignificant emblems, among which the Pipe of Pea^e appeared painted on the prow of the canoe. ' The meaiiing he intended to convey to the Nau- doweffies, and which I doubt not appeared perfedly intelligible to them, was, that one of the Chipeway chiefs had received a fpeech from fome Naudoweffie chiefs, at the town of the Ottagaumies, defiring him to condua the Lnglifhman, who had lately been among them, up the Chipeway river ; and that they thereby required, that the Chipeway, not-withftand- ing he was an avowed enemy, ffionld not be mo- lefted by them on his paflage, as he had the care of a perfon whom they efteemed as one of theirnation. s a chief iw Lake» entered, ies, with light ac- were ap- mifchief, CARVERS TRAVtt9. m Some authors have pretended that the Indians have armorial bearings, which they blazon with great exaftnefs, and which diflinguifh one nation trora another ; but I never could obferve any other arms among them than the fymbols already defcribed, ' lear thei ?ed with made in igure of >rmed to intended ivn from he Chi- r to the /hich he ^ ;urc was myfelf ; kerchief loe ; to ' nblems, painted ->y-WMii#*MMi -. T, ie Nau- >erfedly lipeway iowcffie ng him ly been lat they :h(laod- be mo- cafe of nation. ^ CARVER'S TRAVELS, ^ A Jhort Vocabulary of the Chipeway Language* K B, This people do not make ufe either of the confonants F, or F. Above Abandon Admirable Afterwards All Always Amifs Arrive Axe Alhes ■'' ^flift Ball Bag, or tobacco-pouch Barrel Beat Bear Bear, a young one - Beaver Beaver's ikin Be, or to be Spimink JPacktton Pilawah Mipidacb Kokinum Kokali Napitch Takouchin Agacwet Pingoe Mawinewab B Alew'm Cafpetawgan Owentowgan Fakhite Mackwah , Makon Amik Apminiqua Tap ate CARVEBL'i TRAVELS! *9^ jay it of the Beard fiecaufe Believe Belly Black Blood Body Bottle Brother Brandy or Rum Bread Breech Breeches Buck Mi/chiton Mewmch Tilerima Mijhemout Markaute Mijkow Toe Shijhego Neconnis Scuttawaivbah Pabaujhigan M'ifcoufah Kipokitie Koufah Wajketch Canoe Call Chief, a Carry , Child or Children Coat Cold, I am Come on Come to , Comrade Concerned Corn Covering, or a Blanket Country Courage Cup Dance Dart ChemaH Tejhenekaiti Ckemaw Peton Bobelojhin Capotewain Kekalch '' Moppa Pemotcha Neechee Tallemiffi Melomin Wawbewim '• Endawlaivkefn Tagwawmiffi Olaivgan t> Nemeh Sbejhik'wee ULr 50O CARVER'S TRAVELS. Die, to Difli Dog Dead Devil, or evil Spirit Dog, a little one Done, it is done Do Doubtlefs Drefs the kettle Driok Drunken Duck Nip Mackoan jiltm ISeepo . Matcho' Man'itoti Alemon Shiah Tojhiion ' > Ontclatoubab Poutwab Minikwah Oui/quiba Chickhip Earth Dat Each Englifli Enough Equal, or alike Erteem Eyes Aukwin Owijftne Papegik Sagaumfli Mimilic Tawbifcoucb Nawpetellmaw Wijkinkhie Fail fall Far off Fat Friend Father Few, or little Fatigued Field fown Fire Waliebic Ponkifin Wat/aw Pimmitlee Niconnis Noofah Maungis TaukwiJJi' Kittegaumlc Scutta Hare Heart Hate Half CARVER'8 TRAVELS. Fire, to ftrike Find Fifh Fork Formerly Fort Forward French Freeze, to Freezes hard Full Fufee or Guni JOI Scutecke Ncintounawaw Kickon ^affawokwot Pirwego Wakaigon . Nechtcgoofh Kijftn Magat Moufkinet Pajkejtgan G God, or. the Great Spirit Go by water Girl Give , Glafs, a mirror Good Good for nothing Govern General, or Command- 1 der in Chief J Grapes Great Greedy Guts H Hare Heart Hate Half Kitchl Manitou Pimmi/caw jfeckwqffin Millaw Wawbemo Cawlatch JMalatal Tibarimaw Kitchi Okiviaw Simauganijh Shoamin Manatou ■ Saivfawkiffi Olawbijh . Wawpoos Mkhcwah Sbingaurimaw 'tiowbal Q-q 3of CARVER' s TRAVEL* Hair, human Lifts Hair of beafts- Pcwal Handfome Canogime Have Tamiaulaiv Head Oujiecouan Heaven Speminkakwin Herb M'cjajk Here Jlconda Hidden Kemouch Home Entayent Ht)pour Mackdivalaio Hot ' AkePjotta How Tawne How many Tawnemilik Hunt KcwHjfa Hut, or houfe Wig Waum , i yhinawbah 1 Indians Iron Pewawbick . Ifland Minis Immediatefly" Webatch Indian Corn Mittaivmin ' Intirely Nawpitch Impoftor MawlawtiJJie It might be fo Tawneendo • ' K Kettle . Jckikom King, or Chief Okemaw Keep Ganwerimav) Knife Mockoman Knife that is crooked Cootawgon . KAow Thickeremavy ,CARVER's TRAVELS. 3Q? Lake Kitchtgawmink Laugh Patvpi Lazy Kittimi Lame Kikckate Leave Pockiton Letter Maw/ij^naugpn Life Nouc/jimowin Love Saukie Long fince , SbawJIiia Lofe Hackilau^^ue Land Carriage Cappataivgon Lie down Weepemaw Little '. .Waubajheea M Meat • Weas Much Nibbifaw Man j^llijjinape March, to go Pimmoujfte Marry We^'win Medicine Mafkikk Merchandife Alokochigon . Moon Debkot 'Mortar, to pound in Poutaivgon ' Male ■" ' , Nape Miftrefs Neremcuftn ■ N ■ . Needle Shawbonkin Near . Pewitch Never Night No Nofe Nothing Not yet Not at all CARVER'S TRAVELS. Irinee Cawikkaw Debicot Kaw 7ocb Kakego Kuwmifchi Kngufcb J^'ougnt, good for nothing Ma/atat Old Otter Other o Kauwejhine Ntkkik Coutack Pipe- Vaxx, what part Flay Powder, Gun, or duft Peace, to make Pray Proper Prefently Peninfula Quick Regard Red Refolve llelation , Poagnn Tawnapee Packeigo Pingo Pecacotiche Tawlaimia Sawfega Wcbatch M'mniJJtn Kegotck R Wawbomo Mifcow ' Tibelindon Towwemaw Refpcft Rain Robe River Run, to CARVER 'f TRAVELS. Tawba-jumua Kimmcvan Ockolaw Sippim Fitcbcbot 30; Sad Sail S ck, irBag Sea, or large Lake Shoes Ship, or large Canoe Sorry Spirit Spoon Star Steal Stockings Strong Sturgeon Sun Sword ' ~ Surprifing See Since Shirt Slave Sleep Sit down ' s TalimiJJie Pemifcaw Majkimot Agankitchtgawmlnk Maukyjin Kitchi Chetnan Nifcottijfte Manitou Mickwon Alank Kematitin Mittaus Majhkamvah Lawmack Kijfts , Simaugan Etivah, Etwab Wawbemo Mapedoch Papawkwean Wackan Nippee Mintepin Take Teeth That' Emaundab Tibbit Mawbab 3c6 CARVER»< TRAVELS. There ■ Wat fail deb i This - Maundab Truly K.kit . Together Mawmawwee Tobacco Semau Tongue Outon Tired ^awkonfie Too little (jfaummangis Too much Ojfaune Thank you I^U^wcitch To-morrow Wawhunk To-morrow, the day after Oufwawbunk w Warriors, Semauganaujfj Water , mbi War ^ antauhaulavj Way ^ \t^lckon Well then ! ■ ^ auneendah ! What is th'jt ? Wawwfwin ? What now ? ^agonie ? Whence Taunippi Where' ' Tab White Waube Who is there? ^agonie Maubah ? Wind Loutin Winter Pepoun Woman Ickwee Wood Mttic Wolf Mawbingon - Y Yefterday Petchilaivgo Yet AUnniwatch Young . Wifconnekiffi ^ Yellow Wazz» CARVER'S TRAVELS. ^7 The Numerical Terms of the Chipeways, One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten Eleven Twenty Thirty Forty Fifty Sixty Seventy Eighty Ninety Hundred ' Thoufand Pajhik hlivch Nifou Nedu Naran h'tngoulwaffou JSHnchowaffou '^ijfowajfou iihongauffou Mittaujpju Mittaujfou PaJhlk i^'mchtaivnaw J>^iJfQU Mittawnaw Neou Miitawnaiv Nrtraw Mittawvaw '^ingoutwciffau Mit- tawna . '^inchowajfou Mit- tawnaw l^iJJowafouMiltaw- ? naw y Shongajfou MHiaw-'? naw S Miitaiiffou Mitttiw-'l naw 5 MittaiiJfowMittauf' 7 fou Mittawnaw > io3 CARVER', TRAVELS. A ihort Vocabulary of the Naudoweffie Lari-' . guage. Axe Beaver, Buff'aio Bad Broach Bear, a B AJhpait) Chawhah Tawtongo Sbejah Muzahooioo Wahkonjhejati Canois Cold Child, a Male Child, a Female Come here Bead Deer Dog D Waahtoh Mechuetah Wechoakfeh Whacheekfeh Accooyouiyare Negujh Shungujh Eat £ars Echaiumenaw Eyes Evil CARVE R's TRAVELS. Shejah 5«f Fire Father Frenchman Falls of Water Friend Good Give Go away Paahtah Otah Neehieegujh Oiuah Menah Kitchiwah G Wojhtah ^ccooyeh Accowah God, or the Great Spirit Wakon Gun Great Gold Hear Horfe Home, or domeftic Houfe Heaven Iron I, or me *■ King, or Chief Kill Muzah Wakon Tonga Muzaham H Nookijhon ShuetongQ Shuah Teebee Wojhtah Teebee I Muzah ' Meoh K Otah Negujhtaugaiv Rr I HQ CARVER'S TRAVELS. Little Long Lake Love yejin Tongoom Tonga Meneb Ehwahmeah M Much More Moon Mouth Medal Mine Milk Otah Otcnah Oweeh Eeh Muzah Otah . Mewah Etfawboh N No Near- Ueyah Jeejiinaw Oh! Q Hoftniyachie t Pipe Pipe cf Peace Shanuapaw Shanuapaw Wako» Rain Ring Round R Owah Meneh Muzamohupab Chupah CARVER'S TRAVELS. 3^^ Smoke Salt water See, to Sleep Snake Sun i Spirit Spirituous Liquors Snow Surpriling Silver S Shaweab Menis ^eab EJhiaw EJhteemo OmliJJjcaw Paahtah Wakon Meneh Wakon Sinnee Hopiniayare Muzabam Tobacco Talk Tree There Shawfaffaw Oivehchin Ochaw Dache w Woman Wonderful Water What Who is there ? Wicked Winnokejab Hopiniyare Meneh Tdwgo Tay;godacbe ? Heyahatchta You Young Chee Hawpawnaw I 512 CARVER'S TRAVELS. Wajhtab Chee Wakon Chee You are good You are a fpirit „,. ' You are my good friend ^^'^'^^ Kitchiwaln ^ogood HeyahWaJhtah The Numerical Terms of the Naudoweffics. One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten Eleven Twenty Thirty Forty Fifty Sixty Seventy Eighty Ninety Hundred Thoufand Wonchaw T^oompay^ Tawmonee - Tobob SawbuUee Shawcoo Shawcopee Shahindohin Nebochunganong Wegochunganong Wegochunganong Wegochunganong Wegochunganong Wegochunganong Wegochunganong Wegochunganong Wegochunganong Wegochunganong Wegochunganong. Opohng Wevochi Wonchaw. ^oompaw Tawmonee Toboh SawbuUee Shawcoo Shawcopee Shahindohin Nebochunganong egochunganong Opohng To this Mn vocabulary of the Naudoweflie Ian- guage I fliall adjoin a fpecimen of the manner in which they unite iheir words. I have chofen for CARVER'S TRAVEL 5. 5»3 this purpofe a (hort fong, which they fing, with fome kind of melody, though not without any ap- pearance of poetical meafure, when they fet out on their hunting expeditions ; and have given as near a tranflation as the difference of the idioms will permit. • Meoh accowah ejhtaiv paatah ne^vjhiawga'wjhejab menah. Tonga Wakon meoh ivojhta^ -paatah accoowah. Hopiniyahie oweeh accooyee meoh, wcjhta patah otah iohinjoh meoh tcebee. I will rife before the fun, and afcend yonder hill, to fee the new light chafe away the vapours and dif- perfe the clouds. Great Spirit, give me fuccefs. And when the fun is gone, lend me, oh moon, light fufficient to guide pe with fafety back to my tent ladeji with deer I • ' ii <:&S„ J»* CARVER'S TRAVELS. CHAPTER XVIII. Of the Bcap, Birds, FiJJjcs, Reptiles, and hfcas, ivhich arejound in the Interior Parts of North- jimeriiia, » vJf thefe I fliall, in the firft place, give a catalogue and afterwards a defcription of fuch onlv as are either peculiar to this country, or which differ in iome material point from thofe that are to be met with m other realms. OF THE BEASTS. The Tiger, the Bear, Wolves, Foxes, Dogs. the Cat of the Mountam. the Wild Cat, the Buffalo the Deer, the Elk, the Moofe, the Carraboo, the Carcajou, the Skunk, the Porcupine, the Hedge- Hog the Woodchuck, the' Racoon, the Martin, K-f I^^'IV \^' ^^"^q^afh, Squirrels, Hares, RaS- bjts, the Mole the Weafel, the Moufe. the Dor- Moufe, the Beaver, the Otter, the Mink, and CARVER'S TRAVELS. S»J ^ The TIGER. The Tiger of America refembles m (hape thofe of Africa and Alia, but is confider- ably fn^aller. Nor does it appear to be fo fierce and ravenous as they are. The colour of it is a dark- ifli fallow, and it is entirely free from fpots. I faw one en an ifland in theChipevvay Rivtr, of which I had a very good view, as it was at no great didance from me. It far up on its hinder parts like a dog ; and did not feem either to be apprehenfive of our approach, or to difcover any ravenous inclinations. It is however very fcldom lo be met with in this part of .the world. The BEAR. Bears are very numerous on this continent, but more particularly fo in the northern parts of it, and contribute to furnifh both food and beds for almoft every Indian nation. Tho(e of America differ in many refpeds from thofe either o* Greenland or Ruflia, they being not only fomewhat fmaller, but timorous and inoffenfive, unlcfs they are pinched by hunger, or fmarting from a wound. The fight of a man terrifies ihem ; and a dog will put feveral to flight. They are extremely fond of grapes, and will climb to the top of the higheft trees in quell of them. This kind of food renders their flelh excelfively rich, and finely flavoured ; and it is confequently preferred by the Indians and traders to that of any other animal. The fat is very white, and befides being fweet and wholefome, is polFefled of one valuable quality, which is, that it never cloys. The inhabitants of thefe parts conftantly anoint themfclves with it, and to its efficacy they in a great meafure owe their agility. Tne fcalon for hunting the bear is during the winter ; when they take up their abode in hollow trees, or make themfclves dens in the roots of thofe that are blown down, the entrance of which rhey Hop up with branches of fir that lie fcattered about. From thefe retreats it is s»« CA RVER»s TRAVELS. faid they rtir not while the weather continues fevere amfas It is well known that they do not provide themftlves with food, they are fuppofed to be enab- led by nature to fubfift for fome ijionths without it 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 com- mon With the reft of their fpecies, a wildnef. in their looks, and a fiercenefs in their eyes ; notwith- ftanding 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 fielh ot thofe flam in battle. When they herd together as they often do m the winter, they make a hideous and terrible noife. In thefe parts there are t*o kinds ; one of which is of a fallow colour, the other ot a dun, inclining to a black. The FOX. There are two fort of foxes in North- America, which differ only in their colour, one be- ing of a reddifh brown, the other, oi i. grey : thofe tll^^ ^^."^"^ ^'""^ '^^^ "^ f°y"d near the river Mifliffippi are extreiBely beautiful, their hair beinc 01 a hne filver grey. ' ° DOGS. The dogs employed by the Indians in hunting appear to be all of the fame fpecies ; thev carry their ears ereft, and greatly refemble a wolf about^ the head. They are exceedingly ufeful to them in their hunting excurfions, and will attack the -nercelt of the game they are in purfuit of. They arc alfo remarkable for their fidelity to their mafters ; but beiBg ill fed by them, are very troublefome in their huts or tents. g les fevere, t provide, be enab- 'ithout it, le bulk. ■America in other in coin- Idnefs in notwith- ravenous attack a the fiefh ogethtr^ hideous are tA'o he other North- one be- ; thofe e river r being lans in J they a wolf bful to ick the ley arc afters j •me in t CARVER'S TRAVELS. * 317 n The CAT of the Mountain. This creature is in Ihape ike a car, only much larger. The hair or fur re embJes alfo the Ikin of that domeftick animal : the colour however differs, for the former is of a red- •I'u ''*■ "';''"K« "^*' *^"f grows lighter near the belly Ihe whole Ikin is beautified with black fpots of dif- ferent figures, of which thofe on the back are long and thofe on the lower parts round. On the ears there are black ftripes. 'Ihis creature is nearly as herce as a leopard, but will feldom attack a man. The BUFFALO. This beaft, of which there arc amazing numbers in thofe parts, is larger han an ox, has Ihort black horns, with a large bean, under his chn : and his head is fofull of hair, that ii falls over his eyes, and gives him a frightful look. There is a bunch on his back which begins at the haunches and incre-^fing gradually to the ftouiders, reaches on to the neck. Both this excrefcence and its whole body are covered with long hair, or rather wool, of a dun or raoule colour, which is exceedingly v?lu- flble, efpecially,that on the fore part of the body, i^is head is larger than a bull's, with a very ihort neck ; the breall is broad, and the body decreafes towards the buttocks. Thefe creatures will run away at the fight of a man, and a whole herd will make oft when they perceive a fingle dog. The «eih of the bufl'alo is excellent food, its hide ex- tremely ufeful, and the hair very proper for the nianufadure of various articles. ^ The DEER. There is but one fpccies of deer in North-America, and ;here are higher and of a llnnmer make than thofe in Europe. Their fliape IS nearly the fame as the European, their colour of a deep fallow, and their horns' very large and branch- ing. lh;s beall is the Anftell on the American S f 3*B CARVER'S TRAVELS. plains, and. they herd together as they do in other coiintrjtis. ^ The ELK .nrrearly exceeds the deer in fize, bcine in bulk equal to a horle. Its body is flnped like that of a dftr, only its tail is remarkably (horr, be- ing not more thaw three inclics long. I'he colour of Its hair, which is grey, and not unlike that of a camel, but of a more reodifli caff, is nearly three inches in length, and as coarfe as that of a iiorfe. Ihe horns of this creature grow to a prodi;^ious fize extending fo wide that two or three perfons might- fit between them at the fame time. They are not forked like thofe of a iker, but have all their reeth or l^ranches on the outer edge. Nor does the form of thofe of the Elk refen^.ble a deer's, the former be- mg flat, and eight or ten inches broad, whereas the latter are romd and conliderably narrower. They Ihed their horns every year in the month of Febru- ary, and by Auguft their new ones are nearly arrived at their full growth. Notwithffanding their fize, and the means of defence nature has furnifhed them' with, they are as timorous as a deer. Their fkin is very ufeful, and vvilfdrefs as well as that of a buck. Ihey feed on grafs in the fummer, and on mofs or buds in the winter. The MOOSE is nearly about the fize of the elk and the horns of it are almolt as enormous as that animals; the ffem of them, however, is not quite 10 wide, and they branch on both fides like thofe of a deer; this creature alfoflieds them every year. 1 hough Its hi.uler parts are very broad, its tail is not above an inch long. It has feet and legs like a camel ; its head is about two feet long, its upper iip much larger than the under, and the noftrils of It are fo wide that a man might thrull his hand into them a confiderable way. The hair of the moofe is CARVE R's TR WVLS. V9 light gr^y, mixed with a blackfh red.. If is very eiafUc, for th(nu;h if be beaten ever fo long, it wiil retain Irs original fhape. The flcfh is exceeding pood fond, eafy o digeftjon, and very nourilhincr. The nofc, or upper lip. which is hirge and loofe from the gums, is efleemtd a great dchcacy, bring of a firm onfiftence, between marrow and grillle, and when properl- drtfTeu, affords a rich and lufci- ous ('ifh. Its hide- is very proper for Icther, bting thick and (trmg, yet loft and pliable. The pace of this creature is always a trot, which is To e\pcditi. ous, that it is exceeded in fuifrnels but by few of its fellow inhabitants of thefe woods. It is gereralfy found in the forelts. v\ here it feeds on mofs and buds. J hough this creature is of the deer kind, it never herds as thofe do. Molt authors confound it with ' the elk, deer, or carraboo, but it is a fpecies totally different, as might be difcovered by attending to the defcripiion 1 have given of each. The CARRABOO. This beafl is not near fo tall as the nioofe ; however, it is fomething like it in Ihape, only rather more heavy, and inclining to the form of the afs. The horns of it are not flat, as thofe of the elk are, but round like thofe of the deer ; thcv aifo meet nearer together at the e.xtremities, and bend more over the face than either thofe of the elk or moole. It partakes of the fwiftnefs of the deer and IS with difficulty overtaken by its purfuers. The llelhofit is hkewife equally as good, the to-nguc pit-ticulariy is m high elleem. The fkin being fniooth and free from veins, is as valuable as fliamoy. The CARCAJOU. This cre.fure, ',vMrh is of the cat Ivjnd, is a terrible enemy to the preceding f'>ur fpecies of beafls. He either comes upon thein Irom fome concealment unperceived, or climbs up into a tree, and taking his ftation on fome of the 320 CARVER'S TRAVEI,S. branches waits till one of them, driven t)y an ex- , treme of heat or cold, takes (belter under it j v.-hen he fallens upon hisneci^, 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 his adverfary ; and the only means they have to ftum their fate, is by flying immedi- ately to the water ; by this method, as the carcajou has a great diflike to that element, he is fometimes got rid of before he can efTed his purpofe. The SKUNK. This is the molt extraordinary animal that the American woods produce. It is ra- ther lefs than a pole-cat, and of the fame fpecies ; It is therefore often mi/faken for that creature, but It is very diflerent from it in many points. Its hair is long and fhining, variegated with large black and white fpots, the former inoftly on the fhoulders and rump ; iis tail is very bufhy, like that of the fox, part black, and part white like its body ; it lives chiefly in the woods and hedges ; but its extraordinary pow- ers are only fhewn when it is purfued. As foon as he finds himfelf in danger, he ejeds to a great dif- tance from behind, a fmaU ftream of water, of fo fubtile a nature, ^nd at the fame time of (o powerful a fmell, that the air is tainted with it for half a mile in circumference; and his purfuers, whether men or dogs, being almoft fuffocated with the ftench, are obliged to give over the purfuit. On this, account he is called by the French^ Enfant du Diable, the Child of the Devil ; or Bete Puante, the Stinking Beaft. It is almofl impoflible to defcribe the noi- fome effeds of the liquid with which this creature is fupplied by nalure for its defence. If a drop of it falls an your clothes, they are rendered fo difagree- able that it is impoflible ever after to wear them ; or if any. of it enters your eyelids, tfie pain becomes in- tolerable fof a long time, and perhaps at lafl ioie CARVER'S TRAVELS. 3»i your fight. The fmell of the (kunk, though thus to be dreaded, is not like t+iat of a putrid carcafe, but a ftrnng foetid effluvia of muft:, which difpleafes rather from its penetrating power than from its nau- feoufnefs. It is notwithltanding confidered as con- ducive to clear the head, and to raife the fpiriis. This water is fuppofed by naturalifts to be its urine : biit I have difledted many of them that I have fhot, and have found within their bodies, near the urinal velFel, a fmall receptacle of water, totally diftin£t from the bladder which contained the urine, and from which alone I am fatisfied the horrid flench proceeds. After having taken out with .great care the bag n-herein this water is lodged, I have fre- quently fed on them, and have found them very fweet and good ; but one drop emitted, taints not only the carcafe, but the whole houfe, an4 renders every kind of provijions, that are in it, unlit for ufe. With great juftice therefore do the French give it fuch '.i diabolical name* The PORCUPINE. The body of an Ameri- can porcupine is in bulk about the fize of a fmall dog, but it is both fhorter in length, and not fo high from the ground. If varies very much from thofe of other countries both in its Ihape and the length of its quills. The former is like that of a fox, except the head, which is not fo fharp and long, but refenibles more that of a rabbit. Its body is covered with hair of a dark brown, about four in- ches long, great part of which are the thicknefs of a Itraw, and are termed its quills. Thefe are white, with black points, hollow and very Itrong, efpeci- ally ^hofe that grow on the back. The quills ferve this creature for offenfive and defeufive weapons, which he darts at his enemies, and if they pierce the flefh in the lead degree, they will fink quite into it, and are "not to be exiraded without incifion. n $2Z CARVER'S TRAVELS. The Indians ufe them for boring their ears and nofes, to infert their pendants, and alfo by way of orna- ment to their ftockings, hair, &c. befides which they greatly efteera the flefh. The WOOD CHUCK the fur kind, about rhe nearly fifteen inches long ; i der, and its legs ihorter ; broad, and conitruoted for holes in the ground, where its fur is of a g'rey colour, its flefh tolerable food. is a ground animal of fize of a marten, bein^ ts body however is roun- fhe fore- paws of it are the purpofe of digging it burrows like a rabbit; on the reddiih cad, and The RACOON ip fomewhat lefs in fize than a beaver, and its feet and legs are like thofe of that creature, but fliort in proportion to its body, which refembles that of a badger. The fliape of its head IS much like a fox's, only the ears a^e ihorter, more round and naked ; ancj its hair is alfo fimilar to that animal's, being thick, long, foft, and black at the ends. On its face there is a broad ftripe that runs acrofs it, and includes the eyes, which are large. Its rhuz^le is black, and at the end roundiih like that of a dog; the teeth are alfo iuniiar to thofe of a dog in number and ftiape ; the tail IS long and round, with annular ftripes on it like thofe of a cat ; the feet have five long flen- der toes, armed with (harp claws, by which it is enabled to climb up trees like a monkey, and to run to the very extremities of the boughs. It makes r J . .",^r ^^^^^-fee^ 'n the manner of hands, and feeds itfelf with them. The flefli of this creature IS very good m the months of September and Oc- tober, when fruit and nuts, on which it likes to feed, 9re plenty. CARVER'S TRAVELS. $*3 The MARTEN is rarher larger than a fquirrel, and fomewhat of the fame make ; its legs and claws, however, are confiderably fliorter. Its ears are fhort, broad, and roundifh, and its eyes (hine in. the nighr like thofe of a cat. The whole body is covered with fur of a brownifh fallow colour, and there are fome in the more northern parts which are black ; the (kins of the latter are of much grea- ter value than the other. The tail is covered with long hair, which makes it appear thicker than it really is. Its flefli is fometimes eaten, but is not in any great efteem. The MUSqUASFT, cr MUSK-RAT, is fo termed for the exquifite muflc which it affords. It appears to be a diminutive of the beaver, being endowed with all the properties of that fagacious animal, and wants nothing but fize and ftrength, being not much bigger than a large rat of the Nor- way breed, to rival the creature it fo much refem- bles. Was it not for its tail, which is exaftty the fame as that of an European rat, the llrudure of t;heir bodies is fo much alike, efpecially the head, that it might be taken for a fmall beaver. Like that creature it builds itfelf a cabin, but of a lefs perfed conftrudion, and takes Up its abode near the fide of fome 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, rafberries, and fuch other fruits as they can reach. At the approach 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 greateft reafon to believe, fiibfift without any till the return of fpring. 3*4 CARVER'S TRAVELS. , SQUIRRELS. There are five forts of fquirrds m America ; the red, the grey, the black, the va- negated and the flying. The two former are exaaiy the fame as thofe of Europe j the black are fomevvhat larger, and differ from them only in colour ; the variegated alfo refemble them in fhapc and hgure, but are very beautiful, being finely itripped with white^ or grey, and fometimes with red and black. 1 he -American flying fquirrel is much lefs than the European, being not above five inches long and of a ruflet grey or afh-colour on the back, and white on the under parts. It has black promment eyes, like thofe of the moufe, with ajong.^flat, broad tail. By a membrane on -each fide, which reaches from its fore to its hind legs, this creature is enabled to leap from one tree to another, even if they ftand 5 confiderable diftance apart ; this loofe fkin, which it is enabled to Aretch out hke a fail, and by which h is buoyed up, is about two inches broad, and is covered with a fine h^ir or down. It feeds upon the fame provifions as the others, and is eafily tamed. . t J/'h ^^^^A^- '^^'^ creature has been fo often treated of, ^nd his uncommon abilities fo minutely defcnbed, that any further account of it will appear unneceflary ;. however, for the benefit of thcife of mv readers who are not fo well acquainted with the nn™ f",^ P';??^;*'^^ of this fagacious and ufeful ?nimal, I fhall give a concife dcfcription of it. The beaveris an amphibious quadruped, whibh cannot ve tor any long time in th« water, and it is faid hY.'V '° '-'^ entirely without it, provided It has the convenience of fometimes bathing, itfelf. inH r^ .^'^''^" are nearly four feet in length, and about fourteen or fifteen inches in breadth over he^j^frl k' '^7 T^^ about fixty pounds. Irs head IS hke that ot the otter, but larger j its fnout CARVER'S TRAVELS. 3«S IS pretty long, the eyes fmall, the ears fhort, round, hairy on the outfide, and fmooth within, and its teeth very long j the under teeth ftand out of their mouths about the breadth of three fingers, and the upper half a finger, all of which are broad crooked, ftrong and fharp ; befides thofe teeth called the incifors, which grow double, are -fet very deep in their jaws, and bend like the edge of an axe, they have fixteen grinders, eight on each "de, four above and four below, diredly oppofite to each other. With the former they are able to cut down trees of aconfiderable fize, with the latter to break the hardeft fubftances. Its legs are fhort particularly the fore-legs, which are only four or live inches long, and not unlikp thofe of a badger ; the toes of the fore-feet arefeparate, the nails placed obliquely, and are hollow like quills ; but the hind feet are quit dilFerent, and furnifted with mem- branes between the toes. By this means it can walk, though but flowly, and is able to fwim uith as much cafe as any other aquatic animal. The tail has fomewhat in it that refenibles a fi(h, and feems to have no manner of relation to the reft of the body, except the hind feet, all the other pans being fimilar to thofe of land animals. The tail is covered with a Ikin furniihed with fcales, that are joined together by a pellicle ; the fcales are about the thrcknefs of parchment, nearly a line and a half in length, and generally of a hexagonical figure, having fix corners ; it is about eleven or twelve inches in length, and broader in the middle, where 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 gra- dually thinner and flatter to the end. The colour of the beaver is different according to the different climates in which it is found. In the mofl ftoiihern T t 52^ CARVER'S TRAVELS. parts they are generally quite black ; in more tem- perate, brown j their colour becoming lighter and lighter as they approach towards the fouth. The iur is of two forts all over the body, except at the feet, where it is very lliort ; that which is the longeft IS generally in length about an inch, but on the back It fometimes extends to two inches, gradually di- minifliing towards the head and tail. This part of the fur is harfli, coarfe, and fliining, and of little ufe : the other part confifts of a very thick and fine down, fo foft that it feels almoft like iilk, about three quarters of an inch in length, and is what is Commonly manufaaured. Caltor, which is ufeful in medicine, is produced from the body of this creature ; it was formerly believed to be its tcfticles, but later difcoveries have fliown that it is contained in four bags, fituated in the lower bei'v. Two of which, that are called the fuperior, from their being more elevated than the others, are filled with a foft, refinous, adhefive matter, mixed with fmall fibres, greyifh without, and yellow within, of a ftrong, difagreeable and penetrating ftent, and very in- flammable. This is th« true caftoreum : it hardens in the air, and becomes brown, brittle, and friabl-e. The inferior bags contain an uniluous lit^uor like honey ; the colour oi which is a pale yellow, and its odour fomewhat different from the other, being rather weaker and more difagreeable ; it however thickens as it grc A's older, and at length becomes about the confidence of tallow. This has alfo its particular ufe in medicine j but it is not fo valuable as the true caftoreum. The ingenuity of thefe creatures In building their cabins, and in providir^g for their fubfiftence, is truly wonderful. When they are about to choofe them- ielves a habitation, they affemble in companies fometimes of two or three hundred, and after mature CARVER'S TRAVELS. 3>7 deliberation, fix on a place where plenty of pro- vifions and all neceflliries are to be found. Their houfes are always fituated in the water, and when they can find neither lake nor pond adjacent, they endeavour to fupply the defetl: by flopping the cur- rent of fome brook or final I river by means of a <:aufeway or dam. For this purpofe they fet about felling of trees, and they take care to choofe out thofe that grow about the place where they intend to build, that they may fwim down with the current. Having fixed upon thofe that are proper, three or four beavers placing themfelves round a large one, iind means with their ftrong teeth to bring it down. They alfo prudently contrive that it fhall fall towards the water, that they may have the lefs way to carry it. After they have by a continuance of the fame labour and induftry, cut it into proper lengths, they Toll thefe into the water, and navigate them towards the place where they are to be employed. Without entering more minutely into the meafures they pur- fue in the conftrudlion of their dams, I ihall only remark, that having prepared a kind of mortar with their feet, and laid it on with their tails, which they had before made ufe of to tranfport it to the place where it is requifite, they conflruft them with as much folidity and regularity as the mod experien- ced workmen could do. The formation of their cabins is no lefs amazing. Thefe are either built on piles in the middle of the fmaU lakes they have thus formed, on the bank of a river, or at the ex- tremity of fome point of land that advances into a lake. The figure of them is round or oval, and they are fafhioned with an ingenuity equal to their dams. Two thirds of the edifice Hand above the water, and this part is futliciently capacious to con- tain eight or ten inhabitants. Each beaver has his place afligned him, the floor of which he curioufiy 32fi CARVER'S TRAVELS. ftrews with leaves, or fmall branches of the pine-tree, fo as to render it clean and comfortable ; and their cabins are all fituated fo contiguous to each other, as to allow of an eafy communrcation. The win! ter never furprifes thefe animals before their bufmefs is completed J for by the latter end of September their houfes are finifhed, and .their (took of provi- fions is generally laid in. Thefe confift of fmall pieces of wood, whpfe texture is foft, fuch as the poplar, the afpin, or willow, &c. which they lay up n piles, and difpofe in fuch a manner as to preferve their moifture. ^ Was I to enumerate every inftance of fagacity that is to be difcovered in thefe animals, they would fill a volume, and prove not only enter- taining but inftruaive. The OTTER. This creature alfo is amphibi- ous, and greatly refembles a beaver, but is very different from it m many refpefts. Its body is near- iy as long a^ a beaver's, but confiderably lefs in all Its parts. The muzzle, eyes, and the form of the head, are nearly the fame, but the teeth are very pers that the beaver has; inftead of thefe, all h^ teeth, without any diftindion, are fhaped like thofe of a dog or wolf. The hair alfo of the former ,s not half fo long as that belonging to the latter, nor IS the colour of it exadly the fame, ^n^ K^i • °^ ^" °"^' "°^«*" th« ne'^k, ftomach, and belly, is more greyifh than that of a beaver, and in many other refpeds it likewife varies! Ihis animal, which is met with in moft parts of tne world, but in much greater numbers in North- America, IS very mifchievous, and when he is clolely purfued, will not only attack dogs but >CA RVER's TRAVELS. 329 It generally feeds upon fifh, e'*^ecially in the funimer, bat in the winter is contented with the fl II u J^^'^'a' """-'^^ P''°^"" <^f the fields. Its flefh both taites and fmells of fifli, and is not whole- lome food, though it is fometimes eaten through neceffity. 9 The MINK is of the otter kind, and fubfifts in the fame manner. In fhape and fize, it refembles a pole-cat, being equally long and flender. Its flcin IS blacker than that of an otter, or almoft any other "Tf^ ' " 3j, black as a mink," being a pro- verbia expreflion in America ; it is not, however, fo valuable thoMgh this greatly depends on the feafon in which it is taken. Its tail is round lik then denote rain. The BLUE JAY. This bird is (Haped nearly like the Europca . jay, only thjt its tail is longer. On the top of its head is a crert of blue feathers, which is raif'd or let down at pleafure. The lower part of the neck behind, and the back, are of a purplifli colour, and the upper (rdes of the win^s and tail, as well as the lower part 6f the back and ' rump, are of a fine blue ; the extremities of th ; wings are blackifli, faintly tindured with dark blue on the edges, whilft the other pans of the wing are U u 1^ 334 CARVER^s travels; barred acrofs with black in an elegant manner. Upon the whole, this bird can fcarcely be exceeded in beauty by any of the winged inhabitants of this or other chmates.. It has the fame jetting motion that jays generally have, and its cry is far more picafing. . The WAKON BIRD, as it Is termed by the Indians, appears to be of the fame fpecie^ as the birds of paradife. The name they have given it is expreffive of its fuperior excellence, and the vene- ration 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 brovvn colour, ihaded about the neck with a bright green ; the yings are of a darker brown than the body ; its tail is compofed of four or five feathers, "which are three times as long as its body, and which are beauiifuJly ihaded with green and purple. It carries this fine length of plumage in the fame manner as a peagock does, but it is not known whether it ever raifes it into the erea pofition that bird fometimes does. I never faw any of thefe birds in the colonies, but the Nandoweilie Indians caught feveralofthem when I was in their country, and feemed to treat them as if they were of a fuperior rank to any other or the feathered race. The BLACKBIRD. 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 fame lize and fhape of thofe in Europe, but it has not that melody in its notes which they have. In the* month of September this fort fly' in large flights, and do great niifchief to the Indian corn, which is at that time juft ripe. The fecond fort is the red- Wing, which 's rather fmaller than the firft fpccies. CARVER'S TRAVELS. 335 but like it is black all over its body, except on tiie lower rim of the wings, where it is a fine, bright, full fcarlet. It builds its neft, and chiefly reforts among the fmall bullies that grow in meadows . and low, fwampy phcps. It whiftles a few notes, but is not equal in its fong to the European black- bird. The third fort is of the fame fize as the lat- ter, and is jet black hke 'that, but all the upper part of the wing, juft below the back, is of a fine, clear white ; as if nature intended to diverfify the fpecies, and to atone for the want of a melo/iious pipe by the beauty of its plumage ; for this sdfo is cjeficienr in its mufical 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 favv many of them about the Ottawaw Lakes, but I could not learn that they fung. I alfo obferved, in fome other parts, a bird of much the fame make, that was entirely of a fine yellow. ^ . _ The WHETS AW is of the Cuckoo kind, being, like that, a foUtary bird, and fcarcely ever feen. In the fummer monrhs it is beard in the groves, where it makes a noife like the filing of a faw ; from .which it receives its name. The KING BIRD is like a fwallow, and feems tobe-cf the fame fpecies as the black marten or fwift. It is called the King Bird^ becaufe it is able to mafter almbft every bird that flies. I have oftea feen it bring down a hawk. The HUMMING BIRD,. This beautiful bird, which is the fmallefl: of the feathered inhabitants oP 33^ CARVER'S travels: and IS fliaped extremely like it'. Its legs which are about an inch long, appear like two fmall needles, aad Its body IS proportionable to them. But its . plumage exceeds defcription. . On its head it has a • i "JK^'l^.^'^yj.^'"'"^ ^'^^^'^J the bread of it thl't f Y^ ''^"'' '^' ^^'^' ^'"?«' «»d tail of the fineft pale green j and fmall Ipecks of gold are fca tered wHh inexprefllble grace over the^hole : befides this, an almoft imperceptible down foftens With Its bili, which is of the fame diminutive fize as the other parts of its body, k extrads from the Wrs a moifture which is its nouriihment ; over d^efe it hovers hke a bee, but never lights on them, TTk^'L'^' ^'^' T'''' «"*nRs>^thfuchvelo: aty that the motion of them is imperceptible ; not- ^.thftanding which they make a humming noife, from Avhence It receives its name. * Of the FISHES tvfnth are found m the t^aters of the Mijiffipfu -^ I have already given a defcription of tbofe {hat are taken )q the great lak^s. ^The Sturgeon, the Fout or Cat Fifli, the Pike, the Carp, and the Chub. ^ . Thfe STURGEON. The freft water fturgeon isfhaped m no other refpeft like thofe taken near t|ie iea, excepVin the formation of its head and tail, which are fafhioned in the fame manner, but the body IS not fo angolated, nor ate there lb many hori^y fca es about it as on the latter. Its length IS generally about two feet and a half or three feet JoiJg, but in circumference not proportionable, be- CARVER' 8 TRAVELS. 337 hig a flender fifli. The flefh is exceedingly delicate and finely flavoured ; I caught fome in the head wa- ters ot the riv«r St Croix that fat exceeded trout. The manner of taking them is by watehing them' as they lye under the banks in a cear llream, and darting at them with a fifli-fpear ; for they will not take a bait. 'J here is aifo in tho Miffiffippi, and there only, another fort than the fpecies I have dcf- cribed, which is iimilar to it in every refpeft; ex- cept that the upper jaw extends fourteen or fifteen inches beyond the under ; this extenfive jaw, which is of a griftly fubftance, is three inches and a half broad, and continues of that breadth, fomewhat in the (hape of an oar, to the end, which is flat. The iiefli of this fifti, howe\fer, is not to be compared with the other fort, ^^nd is not fo much efteemed even by the India >. ^ TheCA' 'JFl This fifli is about eighteen inches long, pf a brownifli colour, and without fcales. It has a large round head, from whence it i-eceiVes its name, on different parts of which grow three or four ftrong, fharp horns about two inches Jong. Its fins are alfo very bory and ftrong, and without great care will piercf. the hands of thofe wbo take them. It \v;e'ghs commonly abom five or fix pounds ; theflefli of it is exceedingly fat and lufcious, and greatly refipnibles that of an eel in its flavour. the CARP and CHUB are much the fame as thofe in England, and nearly about the fame in fize. OF SERPENTS. The Rattk Snake, the Long Black Sn^ke, the tne striped or oartcr bnake, Wail yr xicuic ilaaer 339 CARVER»sTRA\ELS. the Water Snake, the Hiflinp^ Snake, the Greerf 5nake, the Thorn-tail Snake, the Speckled Snakes the Ring Snake, the Two-headed Snake. nri > RATTLE SNAKE. There appears to be ^wo fpecies of this reptile ) one of which is com- monly termed, the Black, and the other the Yellow ; and of thefe the latter is generally confidered as the largeft. .At their Tall growth they are 'ipwards of five feet long, and the middle part of the body, at which it is of the greatefl: bulk, meafures about nine inchep round. From that part it gradually decrea- fes both tow?irds the head and the tail. The neck is proportionably ^ery fmall, and the head broad and depfeffed." Thefe are bf a light brown colour, the iris of the eye red, and all the upper part of the body brown, mixed with a ruddy yelldw, and che- quered with many regular lines of a deep black, gradually fhading towards a gold colour. In fhort, the whole of this dangerous reptile is very beautiful, and could it be viev/ed with lefs terror, fuch a va- riegated afrangement of colours would be extremely plcafing. But thefe are only to be feen in their higheft.perfedion at the time this creature is auin- mated by refentment ; then every tint ruihes frotn its fubcutaneous recefs, and gives the furfaf e of the fkin a deeper (lain. The belly is of a palifh 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 it receives its name, is compofed of a firm, dry, callous, or horny fuSftance, of a Jight brown, and confifts of a number of cells which articulate one within another, like joints; and which increafe every year, and' make known the age of the creature. Thefe arti- culations being very Igofe, the included points ftrike againft the inner furnace of the concave part^ or rings into which they are admitted, and G A R V E R's T R A V E L S. . 335 as the fnake vibrates, or fhakes its tail, makes a rattling noife. This alarm is always given when it is apprehenlive of danger j and in an inftant af- ter forms itfeif into a fpiral wreath j in the cen- tre of which appears the head ereft, and breath- ing forth vengeance agairtft either man or beaft that (hall dare to come near it. In this altitude he awaits the approach of his enemies, raetling his tail as he fees orhears them coming on. By this time- ly intimation, which heaven feems to have provided as a means to counteraft the mifchief this venomous reptile would oiherwifc be the perpetrator of, the unwary traveller is apprifed of his danger, and has: an opportunity of avoiding it. It is however to be obferved, that it never ads ofFenlively ; it neither purfues nor flies from any thing that approaches it, but lies in the pofltion defcribed, rattling his tail, as if reluftant to hurt. The teeth with which this ferpent effeds his poifonous purpofes, are not thofe he makes ufe of on ordinary occafions ; they are only two in number, very fmall and {harp pointed, and fixed in a fmewy fubftance that lies near the ex- tremity of the upper jaw, refembling the claws of a S0t ; at the roof of each of thefe, which might be extended, contradsd, or entirely ' hidden, as neec* requires, are two fmall bladders, which nature has fo conftrufted, that at the' fame inftant an incifion, is mjide by the teeth, a drop of a greenifli, poifo- nous liquid enters the wound, and taints with its deftrudive quality the whole mafs of blood. In a moment the unfortunate victim of its wrath feels a chilly tremor riin through all his frame ; a fwelling^ immediately begins on the fpot where the teeth had entered, whicn fpreads by degrees over the whole body,, and produces on every part of the Ikin the variegated hue of the fnake. The bite of this rep- tile is more or lefs venomous, according to the fea- fon of the year in which it is civen. In tne dojc- i 3^ CARVER'S TRAVELS. ^ays It often proves iiiftanrly mortal, and efpeciaHy if the wound is made among the. finews fituated in the back part of the leg, above the heel ; but in the fprinpj, in autumn, or during a cool day, which might happen in the fu.nmer, its bad effeas are to be prevented by the immediate application of proper remedies ; and thefe Providence has bounteoufly fup- plied, by cauling the Rattle Snake Plantain, an ap- proved antidote to th? poilon of thi^, creature, to grow in great profufioti wherevet ihey are to be met ■with. There are likewife feveral other remedies be- lides this, for the venom of its bite. A decoaion made of the buds or bark of the white afh, taken in- ternally, prevents its pernicious effeds. Salt is a new- ly difcovered remedy, and if applied immediately to the part, or the wound be waflied with brine, a cure might be aflured. The fat of the reptile allb rub- bed on it, is frequently found to be very efficacious. But though the lives of the perfons who have been bitten might be preferved by thefe, and their health in fome degree reltored, yet they annually experi- ence a flight return of the dreadful fymptoms about the time they received the , inftillation. However remarkable it may appear, it is certain, that thoii the venom of this creature affeds, in a greater _ left degree, all animated nature, the hog is an ex- ception to the ruli?, as that animal will readily cle- Itroy them, without dreading their poifonous fangs, and fatten on their fiefli. It has been often obferved, and 1 can affirm the obfervatiobj that the Rattle Snake is charmed with any harmonious founds, whe- ther vocal or inilrumental ; I have many tines feen them, even when they have bsen enraged, place themfelves in a liftening pofture, and continue im- moveably attentive and fufceptible of delight all the time the mufic has laRed. I fliould have remarked, that when the Rattle Snake bites, it drops its under jaw, and holding the upper jaw,erea, thiows itfelf GARVER'5 TRAVELS. 3^, ture having difcngaged its teeth from the wouird !'".''.B,«" celerity, by means of the pofitbn in which ,t had placed its head when u madeCrack ^" nSrim': "^f" I Sf"'" tiftance than half peats the'bl! T'"'' \"'' "'?"«■'' " ''''"«"">« «- »l^h , r 5i ? "' '?'« ""'^«' « ^s "ffw returns with a fudden rebound to its former flat/ Th! Black Rattle Snake differs in no other refDea f-m the Y.|,„„ .ban in being rather fina ler td in °h" vanatton of Its colours, which are exaaiy "everfed cne IS black where the other is yeilow'^^ i„d vTce verfa Ihey are equally venomous. It isnot known the eggs of feveral other fpecies of the fiiake h„, rotwithttanding no one has taken more pains ''o ac qutre a perfeS knowledge of eyery properitof diefe reptiles than myfelf, I never could dif^ovlr ,he manner in which they bring forth their youn„ 1 them ,uft before retire to the mouth of thdr mother as a place of fecunty, on my approach. TheTa U- of the ferpent, mixed with chalk, are formed mto purpoles. rhey are of the nature of Gafcoien's powders, and are an excellent remedy for rompTalnts incident to children. The (left, of^hb ftaTe' ?fo fumVfon's."'"""^' ""'■"' ^«'-''°- =g»'-Oft con! tvDlr^^?^ BUCKJSNAKE, thefe are alfo of two iorts, both of which IS exaftly fimilar in flnoe and (ize, only the belly of the one'^is a l^L Ted, tKe 34» CARVER'S TRAVELS. other a faint blue ; all the upper parts of their bo- dies are black and fcaly. They are in general from fix to eight feet in length, and carry their heads, as they crawl along, about a foot and a half from ih^ ground. They eafily climb the llighell trees in pur- . fuit of birds and fquirrels, which are their chielfood^ and thefe, it is faid, they charm by their looks, and render incapable of efcaping from them. Their ap- pearance carries terror with it to thofe who are un- acquainted with their inability to hurt, but they are perfedly inofFenfive and free from venom.' The STRIPED or GARTER SNAKE is exaa- ly the fame as the fpecies found in other cli- mates. The WATER SNARi: is much like the Rattle Snake in fliape and fize, but is not endowed with the fame venomous powers, being quite hamilefs. The HISSING SNAKE I have already partis . cularly defcribed, when 1 treated, in my journal, of Lake Erie. The GREEN SNAKE Is about a foot ahd an half long, and in colour fo near to grafs and herbs, that it cannot be difcovered as it lies on the ground ; happily, however, it is free from venom, otherwife it would do an infinite deal of mifchief, as thofe who pafs through the meadows, not being able to per- ceive ,it, are deprived of the power of avoiding 'it. - , • ■ .. ,;• The THORN-TAIL SNAKE. This reptile is found in many parts of Atiierica, but is very feldoni to be feen. It is of a middle fize, and receives its name from a thorn-like dart in its tail, with which it is faid to inflid a mortal wound. CARVER»s TRAVELS. 343 The SPECKLED SNAKE is an aqueous reptile. j>bout two feet and a half in length, but without venom. Its fkin, which is brown and white, with fome fpots of yellpw in it, is ufed by the Americans as a cover for the handles bf whips, and it renders tht;m 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 round it. 1'his odd reptile is Irequeiiily found in the bark «.f trees, and among old logs. > The TWO-HEADED SNAKE. The only fnake of this kind that was ever ktn in America, was found abour the year 1762, near Lake Champlain, by Mr Park, a gentleman of New-England, and made a prefcnt to Lbrd Amherft. It was about a foot fong, and in fhape like the common fnake, but if was furniftied with two heads exad^ly fimilar, which united at the neck. Whether this was a'dif- tindl fpecies of fnakes, and was able to propagate its likenefs, or whether it was an accidental formation,' I know not. The TORTOISE or LAND TURTLE. The fhape of this creature is fo well known that it is un- jieceffary to defcribe it. There are feven or eight forts of them in America, fome of which are beuu-' rifully variegated, even beyond defcription. The iliells of many have fpots of r.?d. green, and yellow in them, and the chequer work is compofed of fmall fcjuhres curioufly dlfpoled. The molt beautiful fort of thefe creatures are the fmalleft, and the bite of them is faid to be venomous. 544 CARVER'S travel! LIZARDS, Sif^. » Though there are numerous kinds of this clafs of the animal creation, in Hie country I treat of, I (hall only take notice of two of them ; which are termed the Swift and the Slow Lizard. The SWIFT LIZARD is about fix inches long, and has four legs and -a tail. Its iDody, which is blue, is prettily (Iriped with dark lines fhaded with yellow ; but the end of the tail is totally blue. It is fo remarkable agile, that in an inflant it m out of fight, nor can its movements be perceived by the quickeft eye; fo that it might more juftly be.faid to vanifh, than to run away. This fpecies are fuppofed to poifon thofe they bite, but are not dangerous, as they never attack perfons that approach them, choof- Jng rather to get fuddenly out of their reach; The SLOW LIZARD is of the fame fhane as the Swift, but its colour is brown ; it is moreover of an oppofite difpofirion, being altogether as flow in Its movements as the other is fwift. It is remarka- • ble that thefe lizards are extremely brittle, and will break off near the tail as eafily as an icicle! Among the reptiles of North-AjT>erica, there is a fpecies of the toad, termed the TREE TOAD, which is nearly the fame fhape as the common fort, but fmaller and with longer claws. Ic is ufually found on trees, Aicking clofe to the bark, or lying in the crevices of it ; and fo nearly does it referable the colour of the tree to which it cleaves, that it^is with ■difficulty diftinguifhed from it. Thefe creatures are enly heard during, the twilight of the morning and evening, or juft before and after a (hower of rain, CARVER'S TRAVELS. 345 tvhen they make a croaking noife fomewhat fhriller than that of a frog, which might be heard to a great diftance. They infeft the woods in fuch numbers, that their refponfive notes at thefe times make the air refound. It is only a fummer animal, and never to be found during the winter. . INSECTS. The interior parts of North-America abound with nearly the fame infefts as are met with in the Oime parallels of latitude ; and the fpecies of them are fo numerous and diveriified, that even a fuccind defcrip- tion of the whole of them would fill a volume ; I {hall therefore confine myfelf to a few, which I believe are almoft peculiar to this country ; the Silk Worm, the Tobacco Worm, the Bee, the Lightning Bug, the Water Bug, and the Horned Bug. The SILK WORM is nearly the fame as thofeof France and Italy, but will not produce the fame quantity of filk. The TOBACCO WORM is a caterpillar of the fize and figure of a filk worm ; it is of a line fea green colour, on its rump it has a Iting or horn near a quarter of an inch long. / The Bees in America principally lodge their honey in the earth, to fecure it from the ravages of the bears, who are remarkably fond of it. The LIGHTNING BUG or FIRE FLY is about the fizfe of a bee, but -it is of the beetle kind, having like that infeft two pair of wings, the upper of which are of a firm texture, to defend it from danger. When TIWI 546 CARVER'S TRAVELS. It flies, and the wings are expanded, there is under thele a kind pf coat, conftruaed alfo like wings, which is luminous ; and as the infed palTes 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 ft.ines, and throws the light on the fpace beneath ; but as foon as it fpreads Jts 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 lame magnitude, even when it flies ; but feems to depend on the expanfion or contraaion of the luminous coat or wings, and is very different from that emit- ted in a dark night by dry wood or fomc kinds of n(h. It having much more the appeara.ce of real fire. They feem to be fenfible of the power they are poflefled of, and to know the moft fuitable time for exerting it, as in a very dark night they are much more numerous than at any other time. They are only feen during the fummer months of June, July, and Auguft, and then at no other time but in the night. Whether from their colour, which is a dulky brown, they are not then difcernible, 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 innumerable tranfient gleams of light. In dark nights, when there is much lightning with- out rain, they feem as if they wiflied either to iu^i- tate or afiift the flaflies ; for during the intervals, they are uncommonly agile, and endeavour to throw out every ray they can colleft. Notwithflanding this effulgent appearance, thefe infeds are perfeftly harmlefs ; you may permit them to crawl upon your hand, when five or fix, if they freely exhibit their glow together, will enable you to read almoft the fmallefl: prinf. CARVER'S TRAVELS. 347 The WATER BUG is of a brown colour, about the iize oi a pea, and in fha.pe nearly oval ; it has many legs, by means of which, it paffes over the furface of the water with fuch incredible fwiftnels, that it leenis to Aide or dart itfelf along. The HORNED BUG, or, as it is fometimes termed, the STAG BEETLE, is of a dulky brown colour, nearly approaching to black, about an »nc^ 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 branche*^ '^ thofe of a ftag, from whence it receives its^.ame; They fly about in the evening, and prove v ry trcul ;fome to thofe who are in the fields at thati^iui^. I muft not omit that the LOCUST is a Tepten- nial infed, as they are only feen, a fmall number of ftragglers excepted, every feven years, when they infeit thefe parts and the interior colonies in large fwarms, and do a great deal of mifchief. The years when they thus arrive are denominated the locuft years. ' »w«*pB«*W^w- 548 CARVER'S TRAVEL^: ^( CHAPTER XIX. Of the Trees, Shrubs,' Roots, Herbs, Floivers, ^c.. I *h.t fh, ^^^^^^ ^^'5''^ ,obferve the fame method ih^t I have puriued m the preceding chapter, and having given a lift of ,he trees, 5cc. which are na- tives of the interior parts of North- America, par. ticulanze fuch bnly as differ from the produce of OF TREE S» ^■s: tJu f^\ *^' J^'"' ^''^* '^^ Maple, the Afh, rt^e Hemlock the Baf. or White Wood, the See"'the%^'T' ^'l, ^t^'/'^^ ^'^ '^^^^Lo^uft' the Sorur. ^? i '^t W'^J^^P'^k or. Suckwick, the Spruce, the Horn-beam, and tht Button Wood fT.P^ ^^^* J''^'"^ "® ^^^'^"^ ^»"s of oaks in velowTh:' '^' "t^'l^ '^' ^^''^ ^he red, the oak the five former vary but little in their external appearance, the ftape of the leaves, and the colour CARVER'S TRAVELS. 3^ of the hark being fo much alike, that they are fcarcely diftinguifhable J but the body of the tree ^vhen rawed difcovers the variation, whi h chiefl! confifts m the colour of the wood, they being all very hard, and proper for building. The fwLp oak differs materially from the others, both i3 Aape of the leaf, which is fmalier, and In the ba k! v/h,ch js fmpother ; and likewife as it grows only ia a nio,(t, gravelly foil. It is erteemed^he tougheft often IT^ ' ^^yo^^ong yet ph'able, that it is often made ufe of mftead of whalebone, and is equally ferv.ceable. The chefnut oakalfo is greatly- d.fferem from the others, particularly in the^fhape ot the leaf, which much refembles that of the chef- nut-tree,^and for this reafon it is fo denominater Itisiieitherfortrongasthe former fpecies, nor io tough as the latter, but is of a nature proper to be Iplitmto rails for fences, in which ftate it will &- dure a conliderable time. The PINE TREE. That /pedes of the pirffe tree peculiar to this part of the continent is thtf _ white, the ciuality of whicTi Ineed not defcribe, as . the nmoer ot it is fo well known under the name of - hliJu. A^T' ^^'! ^" F^^' P*"»^y- ^° ^'^ amazing ^A -^"r '?"* y^''^' "" ^^""^"^ turpentine, though not 111 fuch quantities as thofe in the nor- thern parts of Europe. ^H.'?^^^^^,^•^ P^'^'' '''' ^here are two fort., ■he hard and the foft, boih of which yield a lufciou.- ju.ce, from which the Indians, by boiling, make , richer and fweeter than the latter, but the foft pro- duces a greater quantity. The wood of the hard- maple IS very beautifully veined and curLd, and when wrought into cabinets, tables, gunflocks, &c. Yy 350 CARVER'S TRAVELS. is greatly valued. That of the foft fort differs iif Its texture, \vantirg the variegated grain of the hard } it alfo grows niore ftraight and free from branches, and is more eafily fplit. It likewife may be diftinguifhed from the hard, as this grows in meadows and low lands, that on the hilis and up- lands. The leaves are fhaped alike, but thofe of the foft maple are much the krgeft, and of a deep- er green. The ASH. There are feveral forts of this tree in thefe parts, but that to which I fhall confine my defcripticn, is the yellow afh, which is only found near the head branches of the Miffiffippi. This tree grows to an amazing height, and the body of it is fo firm and foufid, that the Fi?nch traders who go into that country from Louifiana, to purchafe furs, make of them periaguays ; this they do by excavating them by fire, and when they are com- pleted, convey in iheiii the produce of th^ir trade to New-Orleans, where they find a good market both for their veflels aljd cargoes. The wood of this tree greatly refembles that of the common afh ; but it might be diftinguifhed from any other tree by its bark ; the rofs or out-iide bark being near eight inches thick, and indented with furrows more than fiz 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 infide 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 flighrly handled, it will ]. ve a ftain on the fingers, which cannot eafily be walhed away ; and ii in the fpring you peel cff thebaik, and touch the fap, which then arifes between that and the body of the tree, it will leave fo deep a tindure that it will require three or four days to wear it off. Many ufefui qualities belong- CARVER'S TRAVELS. ^-r ing to this Sree I doubt not will be discovered in time, befides its proving a valuable acquiudoo lo the dyer. The HEMLOCK TREE grows in every oart of America, in a greater or lefs degree. It is an ever- green of a verr large growth, and has leaves fome- what hice that of yew ; it is however quite ufelefs, and only an incumbrance to the ground, the wood bemg of a very courfe grain, and full of wind-ifcakes or cracks. The BASS or WHITE WOOD is a tree of 3 middling fize, and the whiteft and fofteft wood that grows ; when quite dry, it fwims on the water lil:e a cork j m the fetilements the turners make of it bowls, trenchers, and dlfhes which wear I'rnooih, and will laa a long time ; but when applied to any other purpofe, it is f^r ftom durable. The WICKOFICK or SUCKWICK appears to be a fpecies of the white wood, and is diftinguifiied froiji It by a pecii'iar quality in the bark, which when pounded, and raoiilened mm a little water, inftantly becomes s. matter of the confiftence and' nature of fjze. With thits the Indians pay their canoes, and it greatly exceeds pitch, or any other material ufuaUy appropriated ro that pur- pofe j for befides its adhefive quality, it is of h oily a nature, that the water cannot penetrate ?'irough it, and its repelling power abates not for a confide- Table time. The BUTTON WOOD is a tree of the largeft Jize, and might be diftinguinied by its bark, which " IS quite fmooth and prettily mottled. The wood is very proper for the ufe of cabinet-makers. Iris covered with fraall hard burs, which fpring from M 35* CAilVER»s TRAVELS. its bjanches, that appear not unlike buttons, and from thefe I believe it receives its name. NUT TREES. \ The Butter or Oil Nut, the Walnut, the Hazle Nut, the Beech Nut, the Pecan Nut, the Chefnut, the Hickory. The BUTTER or OIL NUT. As no mention hasbeen made by any authors of this nut, 1 fliall be the more patticuiar in my account of it. The tfee 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 are Ihort and blunt, and its leaves refenible tbnfe of the walnut. The nut has a fhell like that fruit, which when ripe is more furrowed, and more eafily cracked J it is alfo much longer and larger than a walnut, and contains a greater quantity of kernel, which is very oily; and of a rich agreeable flavour, lam perfuaded that a much purer oil than that of olives, might be extraded from this nut. The mfide bark of this tree dyes a good purple ; and it is faid, varies in its fhade, being either darker or lighter, according to the month in which . it is ga- thered. ■ .= '• .. ,v . :• ■: . . ^ The BEECH NUT. Though this tree grows exaaiy like that of the fame name in Europe, yet It produces nuts equally as good as chefruts ; on Ivhich bears, martens, fquirrels, partridges, turkeys, and many other bealts and birds feed. The nut is contained, wbilft growing, in an cutfide ckle, like that of a chefnut, but not fo prickly j and the coat ©f the infide ihell is alfo fmooth like that j only its CARVER'S TRAVELS. 353 P form IS nearly triangular, Vaft quantities of them He fcattered about in the woods, and fupplu with food Rreat numbers of the creatures juft mentioned. Ihe leaves, which are white, continue on the trees durmg the whole winter. A decoaio.n made of them IS a certam and expeditious cure for wounds which anfe from burning or fcalding, as well as a reftora- tive for thofe members that are nipped by the froft. The PECAN NUT is fomewhat of the walnut kind, but rather fmaller than a walnut, being about the fize of a middling acorn, and of an ova! form ; the fhell IS eafijy cracked, and the kernel ftaped like that of a walnut. This tree grows chiefly near the llnnois River. ^ The HICKORY is alfoof the walnut kind, and bears a fruit nearly hke that tree. There are feveral lo^ts of them, which vary only in the colour of the vvood. Being of a very tough nature, the wood is generally ufed for the handles of axes, &c. It is alfo very good fire, wood, and as it burns, an excel- lent fugar diftils from it. FRUIT TREES, I need lot obferve that thefe are all the fpon- taneous produftions of nature, which have never received the advantages of ingrafting, tranfplantinff, or manuring. ' o' The Vine, the Mulberry Tree, the Crab Apple Tree, the Phim Tree,, the Cherry iVee, and (he &weet Gum Tree. . h '^l 354 CARVER'S TRAVELS, The VINE is very comn>on here, and of three . nds ; the firft fort hardly deferves the name of a grape j the fecond niuth refembles the Burguvuly grape, and if expoki to the fun, a good wine might! be made from theiii The third fort referable!; Z-ii'-M pirrants, which are fo frequently ufed in cakes, &c« in England, and if proper care was t; t en c; rhem, would be equal, If not fuptriar, to ;hofe of ihat country. The MULBERRY TREE is of two kindj?, red and vhite, and nearlv of the forae mt'oi thofe of France and italy> and grow in fuch pU t.ty, as tc •feed any quantity of filk worms. The CRAB APPLE TREE bears a fVuit that is nvdch !iir-f r and better flavoiired than thoKc of Eu- rupg;. The PLUM TREE. There are two forts of plums in this country, one a large fort of a pui'ple c;ift on one fide, and red on the reverfe, the fecond totaliy green, and much fmaller. Both thefe are of a good flavour, and are greatly efteemed by the In- dians, whofe tafte is not refined, but who are fatis- iied with the productions of nature in their unim- proved Hate. The CHERRY TREE. There are three forts of cherries in this country ; the black, the red, and the fand cherry ; the two latter may with more pro- priety be ranked among the flirubs, as 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 fhall give an account of them all in this place. The black cherries are about the fize of a currant, and hang in clufters like f^r^-pes ; |he ire^s which bear them being very fruitf. hey CARVER'S TRAVELS. tfi are generally loaded, but the fruit 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 defcribed ; fo that the bufhes which bear them appear at a diftance like folid bo- dies of red matter. Some people admire this fruit, but they partake of the nature and tafte of allum, leaving a difagreeable ronghnefs 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 lize, I fliall give.no further defcription of rhem. The wood of the black cherry tree is very ufeful, and works well into cabi- net ware. The SWEET GUM TREE, or LIQUID AM- BER, (Copalm) is not only extremely common, but it affords a balm, the virtues of which are infi- nite. Its bark is black and hard, and irs wood fo tender and fupple, that when the tree is felled, you may draw from' the middle of it rods oJ five or fix feet in length. It cannot be employed in building or furniture, as it warps continually. Irs leaf is in- dented with five points, like a fl:ar. This balm is reckoned by the Indians to bsan excellent febrifuge, and it cures wounds in two or three days. SHRUBS. The Willow, Shin Wood, Shumack, SaflTafras, the Prickly Afli, Moofe Wood, Spoon Wood, Large Ei- der, Dwarf Elder, Poifonoos Elder, Juniper, Shrub Oak, Sweet Fern, the Laurel, the Witch Hazle, the Myrtle Wax Tree, Winter Green, the Fever Bufli, the Cranberry Bufii, the Goofberry Bufli, f3$ CARVER'S TRAVELS.. '^ the Currant Bufh, the Whortle Berry, the RaC berry, the Black Berry, and the Choak Berry. The WILLOW. There are feveral fpecies of the willow, the moft remarkable of which is a fmaJl fort that grows on the banks of the Miffiflippi, and iome oth^r places adjacent. The bark of this fhrub fuophes the beaver with its winter food j and where the water has waflied the foil from its roots, they appear to confift of fibres interwoven together like thread, the colour of which is of an inexprelfibly fine fcarlet ; with this the Indians tinge many of the ■ ornamental parts, of their dr^fs. ^ SHIN WOOD. This extrao.-dinary fhrub grows in the forefts, and rifin^ like a vine, runs near the ground for frx or eight feet, and then takes root again ; m the fame manner taking root and fprinr, ing up fucceffively, one ftalk covers a large fpace : this proves very troubleforae to the hafty traveller, by ftriking agamft his fhins, -and entangling his legs ; from which it has acquired its name. The SASSAFRAS is a word well known for it? tnedicmal qualities. It might with equal propriety be termed a tree as a fhrub. as it fometimes grows thirty feet high ; but in general it does not reach higher than thofe of the fhrub kind. The lea'co- which yield an agreeable fragrance, are large, and nearly feparated into three divifions. . It bears a .reddifh brown berry, of the fize and fhape of Pi. mento, and which is fometimes ufed in the colonies as a fubftittite for that fpice. The bark or-rdots .otthis tree is infinitely fuperior to the wood for it^ nfe in medicine, and I am furprifed it is fa feldom t(J be met with, as its efficacy is fo much greater. CARVER'S TRAVELS. 357 The PRICKLY ASH is a fhrub that fometimes grows to the height of ten or fifteen feet, and has a leaf exadly refembltng that of an afli, but it re- ceives the epithet to its name from the abundance of fhort thorns with which every branch is covered, and which renders it very troiiblefome to thofe who pafs through the fpot where they grow thick. It alfo bears a fcarlet berry, which, when ripe, has a fiery tafte, h'ke pepper. The bark of this tree, particularly the bark of tbe roots, is highly ef- teemed by the natives for its medicinal qualifies. I have already mentioned one inltance of its eflicacy, and there is no doubt but that the decoclion of it will expeditioufly ^nd radically remove all impurities of the blood. The MOOSE WOOD grows about four feefhigli, and is very full of branches ; but what renders it worth notice is its bark, which is of fo (Irong and pliable a texture, that being peeled ofFat any fea- fon, and twifted, makes equally as good cordage as hemp. The SPOON WOOD is a fpecles of the laurel, and the wood when fawed refembles the box wood. The ELDER, commonly termed the poifonous elder, nearly refembles the other forts i(i its leaves and branches, but it grows much ftraighter, and is only found in fwamps and moill foils. This fhrub IS endowed with a very extraordinary quality, that renders it poifonous to fome conllitutions, which It aftecls if the perfon only approaches within a few yai.d of it, whilft others may even chew the leaves or the rind, without receiving the leaft detriment froai them ; the poifon however is not mortal, though it operates very violently on the infecled perfon whof'j Z z ^^■^'■' CARVER'S TRAVELS. body and head fvvell to an amazing fize, and are covered with eruptions, that at their height refem- ble the confluent fmall pox. As it grows alfo in many of the provinces, the inhabitants cure its ve- nom by ...i»'iUrir. x...fron tea, and anointing the extern.: pard, wial a mixture compoled of cream and marlh mallows. The SHRUB OAK is exadiy fimilar to the oak tree, both in its wood ^nf^ I- -ves, and like that, bears an acorn, but iv ..c»^er nies fro:.i tho ground above four or five feet, growing crooked andkngtty. it is found chiefly on a dry, gravelly foil. The WITCH HAZLE grows very bufhy, about ten feet high, and is covered early in iVIay with numerous white blofToms. When this fhrub is in bloom, the Indians efteem it a further indica- tion that the froft is entirely gone, and that they might fow their corn. It has been faid, that it is poffsfled of the power of attrading gold and fil-er, and that twigs of a are made ufe of to difco/er where the veins of thefe metals lie hid ; but I am apprchenfive that this i only a fallacious ftory, and not to be depended on ; however, that fuppofuion hrs given it the name of Witch Hazle. The MYRTLL WAX TREE is a flirub about four or five feet hiorh, the eaves of which are larger than thol^ f th. comm a myrtk, but they fmcll exaaiy alike. It bears its fruit in bunches, like a nofegay, rifinT from the fame place in various (talks, about two i.ichcs long : at the end ol each of thefe IS a httle nut containing a kernel, which i^ wholly covered with a gluey fubftr ' j, rvhich being boiled m water, fwiuis on tl furface of it, and becomes a kmd of green wax ; t^ is are valuable than bees »vax, being of a m. br... 2 nature, but mi.\ed CARVER'S TRAVELS. 359 with it makes a good candle, which, as it burns, fends forth an agreeable fcent. WINTER GREEN. This is an evergreen, of the fpecies of the myrtle, and is found on dry heaths ; the flowers of it are white, and in the form of a rofe, but not larger than a filver penny ; in the winter it IS full of red berries, about the fize of a floe, which are fmoofh and round j thefe are preferved during the kvert leafon by the fnow, and are at that time in the highefl perfedion. Tiie Indians eat thefe berries, elteemin^r them very balfamic, and invigo- rating to the flomach. The people inhabiting the interior colonies deep both thr fprigs and berries in beer, and ufe it as a diet drinJi for cleanfing the blood from fcorbutic diforders. The FEVER BUSH grows about five or fix feet high ; its leaf is like that of a lilach, and it bears a reddifli berry of a fpicy flavour. The ftalks of it are exceflively brittle. A decoflion of the bu or wood is an excellent febrifuge, and from this v-'uable property it receives its name. It is an ar t Indian remedy for all inflammatory com- plaints, and Hkewife much efteemed on the fame account, by inhabitants of the interior parts of the colonies. The CRANBERRY BUSH. Though the fruit of this bufti greatly refembles in {\ze and appearance that of the common fort, whi< u grows on a fmall vine, in moraflles and bogs, yet the bufti runs to the height of ten or twelve feet ; but it is very rarely to be met with. As the meadow cranberry, being of a local growth, and flourifliing only in moraflTes, cannot be tranfplanted or cultivated, the former, if removed at a proper fea*bn, would be, a 3^0 CARVER', TRAVELSr ■ valuable acqulfition to the garden, and with proper nurture prove tqually as good, if not better. The CIIOAK BERRY. The (hrub tlius term- ed by the natives grows about five or fix feet hieh and bears a berry about the fizc of a floe, of a jet black, whicf contains feveral fmall feeds uithin the pu!p. The juice of this fruit, though not of a dif- agreeable flavour, is extremely tart, and leaves :t roughnefs m the mouth and throat when eaten, that has gained it the name of choak berry. JIOOTSandPLANTS. Elecampagne, Spikenard, Angelica, Sarfapa- riUa, Gmfeng, Ground Nuts, Wild Potatoes, Li- quorice, Snake Root, Gold Thread, Solomon's Seal, Devirs Bite, Blood Root, Onions, Garlick Wild Parfnip, Mandrakes, Hellebore White and Black. es SI^IKENARD, vulgarly caWe"a in the colon!.. Petty-Morrel. This plant appears to be exaftly the fame as the Afiatic fpikenard, fo much valued by the ancients. It grows near the fides of brooks m rocky places, arid its ftem, which is about the fize of a goofe quill, fprings up like that of angelica, reaching about afoot and an half from the ground! It bears bunches of berries in all refpefts like thofe of the elder, only rather larger. Thefe are of fuch a balfamic nature, that when infufed in fpirits, they make a moft palatable and reviving cordial, SARSAPARILLA. The root of this plant, which IS the moft eftimable part of ft, is about the fize of a goofe quill, and runs in different diredions. CARVER'i TRAVELS. 86i twined and crooked to a f^reat length in the ground ; from the principal (lem of it fpring many fmaller iihres, all of which are tough and tlexible. From the roots inuuedlately flioots a ftalk about a foot and an half long, which at the top branches into three items ; each of thefe has three leaves, much of the fliape and fize of a walnut leaf ; and from the fork of each of the three ftems grows a bunch of bluifli white flowers, refenU)ling thofe of the fpikcnard. The bark of the roots, which alone fhould be ufecl in medicine, is of a bitterifli flavour, but aromatic, being a gentle fudorific, and very powerful in at- tenuating the blood when impeded by grofs hu- mours. GINSENG is a root that was once fuppofed to grow only in Korea, from whence it was ufually exported to Japan, and by that means found its way into Europe ; but it has been lately difeoverecl to be alfo a native of North-America, where it ^rows to as great perfedion, and is equally valua- ble. Its root is like a fmall carrot, but not fo taper at the end ; it is fometimes divided into two or more branches ; in all other refpeds it refembles farfapa- riila in its growth. The tafte of the root is bitter- ifli. In the eaflern parts of Afia it bears a great price, being there confidered as a panacea, and is the lad refuge of the inhabitants in all diforders ; when chewed, it certainly is a great ftrengthener of the ftomach. COLD THREAD. This is a plant of the fmall vine kind, which grows in the fwampy places, and lies on the ground. The roots fpread themfelves ju(t under the furface of the morafs, and are ^afily drawn upby handfulls. They rcfembia a large entangled Ikein of thread, of a fine Dright gold colour ; and I 3^'i CARVER'S TRAVELS. am perfuaded would yield a beautiful and permanent yellow dye. It is alfo greatly efteemid both by the Indians and colonifts, as a remedy for any forenefs in the mouth, but the tafte of it is exquifitely bit- icr* SOLOMON'S SEAL is a plant that grows on the fides of r;vers, and m rich meadow land. It rifes m the whole to about three feet high, the ftalks be- ing two feet, when the leaves begin to fpread them- felves and reach a foot farther. A part in every root has an impreflion upon it about the fize of a lixpence, which appears as if it were made by a feal and from thefe it receives its name. It is greatly va' ked^on account of its being . fine purifier of the DEVIL'S BITE is another wild plant, which grows m the fields, and receives its name from a print that feems to be made by the teeth in the roots. Ihe Indians fay that this was once an univerfal re^ medy for every diforder that human nature is inci- ' dent to J but fome of the evil fpirits envying man- kind the pofTeffion of fo efficacious a medicine, cave the root a bite, which deprived it of a great part of BLOOD ROOT. A fort of plantain that fprings out of the ground in fix or feven long rough leaves, the veins of which are red ; the root of it is like a fmail carrot, both m colour and appearance ; when broken, the infide of it is of a deeper colour than the outfide,anddiftils;everaI drops of juice that look like blood. 1 his IS a ftrcng emetic, but a very dan- gerous one. '' CARVER'S TRAVELS. 3^3 HERBS. Balm, Nettles, Cinque Foil, Eyebright, Sanicle, Plantain, Rattle Snake Plantain, Poor Robin's Plantain, Toad Planiain, Maiden Hair, Wild Dock, Rock Liverwort, Noble Liverwort, Bloodwort, Wild Beans, Ground Ivy, Water Crefles, Yarrow, May W^eed, Gargit, Skunk Cabbage or Poke, Wake Robin, Betony, Scabious Mullen, Wild Peafe, Moufe Ear, Wild Indigo, Tobacco, and Cat Mint. SANICLE has a root which is thick towards the upper part, and full of finall fibres below; the leavfis of it are broad, rognclifti, hard, fniooth, and of a fine fhining green ; a (talk rifes from thefe two to the height of a foot, which is quite fmooth and free from knots, and on the top of it are feveral fmall flowers of a reddifli white, (haped like a wild role. A tea made of the root is vulnerary and balfaniic. RATTLE SNAKE PLANTAIN. This ufe- ful herb is of the plantain kind, and its leaves, which fpread themfelves on the ground, are about one inch and an half wide, and five inches long ; IVini the centre of thefe arifes a fmall flalk, nearly fix inches long, which bears a little white flov^er ; the root is about the fize of a goofe quill, and much bent and divided into feveral branches. The leaves of this herb are more efficacious than any other part of it for the bite of the reptile from which it receives its name ; and being chewed and applied immediately to the wound, and fome of the juice fwallowed, fel- dom fails of averting very dangerous fymptoms. So convinced are the Indians of the power of this in- fallible antidotw, that for a trifling bribe of fpiritu- ■364 CARVER'S TRAVELS. OU3 liquor, they will at anytime permit a rattle- fnake to drive its fangs into their fleOi. It is to be remarked that during thole months in which the biteotthefe creatures is mnft venomous, this re. medy is m its greateft perfedion, and moil luxuri- ant in Its growth. POOR ROBIN'S PLANTAIN is of the fame fpecies as the laf oats, and are fometimes white, yellow, or of a pur- ple colour. The feeds are as large as peafe, and like ihem quite naked and fmooth, but of a round! fli Surface, rather comprefled. One fpike generally confifts of about fix hundred grains, which are placed clofely together in rows to the number of eight or ten, and fometimes twelve. This corn is very wholefome, eafy of digeflion, and yields as good nourifliment as any other fort. After the In- dians have reduced it into meal by pounding it, they make cakes of it, and bake them before the fire. I have already mentioned that fome nations eat it in cakes before it is ripe, in which (late it is very agreeable to the palate, and extremely nutritive. "WILD RICE. This grain, which grows in the greatell plenty throughout the interior parts of North-America, is the moft valuable of all the fpontaneous productions of that country. Exclufive of its utility as a fupply of food for thofe of the hu- man fpecies who inhabit this part of the continent, and obtained without any other trouble than *hat of gathering it in, the fweetnefs and nutritious quality of it attract an infinite number of wild fowl of every kind, which flock from diilant climes, to enjoy this rare repaft ; and by it become inexpreffibly fat and delicious. In future periods it will be of gieat fer- vice to the infant colonies, as it will afford them a prefent fupport, until, in the courfe of cultivation, other fupplies may be produced ; whereas in thofe realms which are not furnifiied with this bounteous gift of nature, even if the climate is temperate and the foil good, the firfl: fettlers are often expofed to great hardfhips from the want of an immediate re- fource for neceflary food. This ufeful grain grows in the water where it is about two feet deep, and where it finds a rich, muddy foil. The ftaiks of it, and the branches or ears that bear the feed, re- 3« CARVER'S TRAVELS. femble oats both m their appearance and mauner of growing. The ftalhs are full of joints, and r" fe more than eight feet above the water. The natives gather the grain in the following manner : Near y ftate and to ripen, they run their canoes into the jnidft of It, and tying bunches of it together, jufl below the ears, with bark, leave it in this fituation three or four weeks longer till it is perfedly ripe. About the latter end of September ihey return^to he river, when each family having its feparate al° • property by the manner of faftening the (heaves they do by placing their canoes clofe to the bundles It falls and then beat it cut with pieces of wood formed for that purpofe. Having Sone this, they dry u with fmoKe, and afterwards' tread or rub off the outfide hufk J when it is fit for ufe, they r^ut it into the ikins of fawns, or young buff bes^ ^^ken fo«"n;r'\"'°If ''' ''l^ PU^Pofe,'and fei'd' into" for of fack, wherein they preferve It till the return of their harveft It has been the fubjecl of much fpeculation, why this fpontaneous grain is not found ries fituated in the fame parallels of latitude, whe"e the waters are as apparently adapted for its growth as m the climate I treat of. As for inftnnce! none of the countries that he to the fouth and eaft of the great lakes, even from the provinces north of the Sv oS '° -^^ '^^^^^r^hies of Labradore, produce Hu on n/r ^r ''"^^ "'"' ^^^^°'^ ^^^^^^n Lake k nev.r^ ^'^' ^"'' ^"' °»^"^I»^iry I learned that fom .f. t T""'"' '° "'''""^y ^han juft to blof- IwT; Th- '^' '' "^'P'^''^^ ^^'^^^''^^ ^"d died fway. This convinces me that the north-weft wind '^ CARVER'S TRAVELS. 3^5) as I have before hinted, is much raore powerful in thefe than in the interior parts ; and that it is more inimical to the fruits of the earth, after it has pafled over the lakes, and become united with the wind which joins it from the frozen regions of the north, than it is further weftward. BEANS. Thefe are nearly of the fame fhape as the European beans, but are not much larger than the fmalled fize of them. They are boiled by the Indians, and eaten chiefly with bears fliefh. The SQUASH. They have alfo feveral fpecies of the MEi.ON or PUMKIN, which by fome are called fqualhes, and which ferve many nations partly as a fubltitute for bread. Of thefe there is the round, the crane neck, the fmall flat, and the large oblong fquafh. The fraaller forts being boiled, are eaten during the fummer as vegetables ; and are all of a pleafing flavour. The crane-neck, which greatly excels all the others, are uCually hung up for a win- ter's ffore,,and in this manner might be preferved (or feveral months. APPENDIX, Ti HE countries that lie between the great lakes and River Miffiffippi, and from thence fouth- ward to Weft Florida, ahhough in the midft of a large continent, and at a great diftance from the fea, are fo fituated, that a communication between them and other reaiir.j might conveniently be opened ; by which means thofe empires or colonies that may hereafter be founded or planted therein, will be rendered commercial ones. The great Ri- ver Miffiflippi, which runs through the whole of them, will enable their inhabitants to eftabliih 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 thole of others, than boats and veflTels of light bur- den : notwithftanding which, they have become powerful and opulent ftates. The Miffiffippi, as I have before obferved, runs from north to fouth, and pafles through the moft fertile and temperate part of North- America, ex- cluding only the extremities of it, which verge both on the torrid and frigid zones. Thus favourably iituated, when once its banks are covered with in- habitants, they need not long be at a lofs for means to ellabUlh an extenlive and profitable commerce. They will find the country towards the fouth almoft fpontaneoufly producing filk, cotton, indl~o, and tobacco J and the more northern parts, wine, oil, %>v 37» APPENDIX. beef, tallow, (kins, buffalo-wool, and furs; with lead, copper, iron, coals, lumber, corn, rice, and "uits, befides earth and barks for dying. Thefe articles, with which it abounds even to profufion, may be tranfported to the ocean rhrouoh this river, without greater difficulty ihan that which attends the conveyance of merchandize down fome Ji !j?^^*^ \ have juft mentioned. It is frue that the Miffiflippi being the boundary between the Englifli and Spanifh fettlements, and the Spaniards in pofTef- lion of the mouth of it, they may obftrud the palfage of It, and greatly dilhearten thofe who make the nrft attempts ; yet when the advantages that will certainly arife to fettlers, are known, multitudes of adventurers, allured by, the profpeft of fuch abun- dant riches, will flock to it, and eftablifh the'mfelves, though at the expence of rivers of blood. But fhould the nation that happens to be in pof- feffion of New Orleans prove unfriendly to the in- ternal fe trs, they may find a way into the Gulf of Mexico, by the river Iberville, which empties itfelf rrop? ih^ Miffiffippi, after paffing through Lake Maur