IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) t ^ /. /. Kp ^^ % :/, 1.0 I.I IttllS us 2.5 6" u& IIIIIM 1.8 11.25 i 1.4 i 1.6 V] v^ />< em,/\oy^ -> s^ v\ ^ €v 9t NOTES. Here, on the heiglits, where, suddenly arrayed. These hordes their last despairing effort made, &c. In this expedition against the hostile Indians, which was committed to the management of General Sullivan, and crowned with the most complete success, the only stand made by the savages was at this place, August 29th, 1799. After a short skirmish they were driven from this their last hold, and pursued beyond the Gennesse river. Forty of their towns, and upwards of 160,000 bushels of Indian corn were destroyed. The remnant of the tribes took refuge in Canada; and thus an immense extent of the the most fertile ^^ntry of the United States was laid open to the enterp||| of our active and industrious settlers. The white population of these parts of the State of New York, settled since, may be fairly estimat- ed at three times the number of all the Indians within five hundred miles of the place. Note 27— Page 44. Huge loaded arks rush down the boilino- tide. These vessels are constructed of oak and pine plank, and built in the form of a parrallelograra ; they are flat bottomed, and strongly floored ; and capable of contain- ing many thousand bushels of Wheat each ; sometimes droves ox oxen compose part of their cargoes. On ar- nving at their place of destination, and the cargo dispos- ed of, the arks are sold to the lumber dealers, and taken to pieces with littb trouble. NOtES. 93 >J ote 28— Page 44. Columbia's harbor shelters them at last. The town of Columbia, on the northeast bank of the Susquehanna, at Wright's ferry, ten miles from Lancas- ter, is the great depot for those immense stores of wheat, flour, lumber, &c., brought down the river for an extent of more than three hundred miles. The bridge which it is in contemplation to erect over the Susquehanna near this town, will be an additional source of prosperity to this thriving and populous pl?.ce. Note 29— Page 45. In two wide routes their waters seek the main ; Part through St* Lawrence meets the sea again, Part to the south pursues its wandering way, And rolls to Chesapeake's capaciJ^s Bay. In a matter of fact poem, such as this, I need hardly observe, that the above is literally true. The proprietor of part of this meadow, assured me, that with his spade he could, at pleasure, send the waters either into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, or the Chesapeake Bay. A species of salmon, common to the river Susquehanna and to Lake Ontario, has been frequently known to pass from from one to the other by this communication. NoteSO— Panre46. IT/M»rk ^r% i^\%m jV/%/4 XXViV bV 9»tv, h vvi»- ■ Mi: F2 #' 94 NOTES, Note 31— -Page 47. The half-burnt logs, and stakes erected near, Showed that the sugar camp once flourished here* In passing among these stately and noble trees, which grow here in great luxuriance, it is an object of regret to observe how unmercifully their trunks are cut and gash- ed with the axe ; many of these notches are so deep, that the trees have either been killed, or overthrown by the first storm of wind. It is well known that all this chop- ping is unnecessary ; and tliat a small auger-hole is e- qually efficient, nowise injurious to the tree, and may \)g done in one tenth part of the time. Note 32— Page 48. Surrounding hills this peaceful place inclose, And form a scene of sheltered sweet repose. This Indian town, Catharine, situated near the head of the Seneca Lake, in one of the most delightful and ro- mantic spots imaginable, contained a great number of houses, with large orchards and extensive corn fields, — It was totally destroyed in 1779, by tha troops under the command of General Sullivan, who, entering the place at night, found it nearly deserted of its inhabitants. One miserable old squaw alone remained, who, from extreme old age, was incapable of walking; and looked like'^the last survivor of the former age." The general ordered a hut to be erected for her, with provisions for her sub- sistence ; but she did not long survive the catastrophe of her nation. -..J. .„.-A'^*--" NOTES. -95 Note 33— Pagre 50. Through this sweet vale, that wooded liills inclose, A clear deep stream in glassy silence flows. Catharine's Creek, which forms the head waters of the Seneca Lake, and falls into its southern extremity. From this lake to the landing, a distance of ahcut five miles, the creek is navigable for large loaded boats. The country between this place and Newtown, on the Susquehanna, is generally level ; and the distance in a direct line, proba- bly not more than tv/enty miles. The practicability of uniting these two waters, by a canal, at a comparatively small expense, and the immense advantages that would result from the completion of such an undertaking, have long been evident to all those acqiminted with that part of the country. Note 34--Page 50. Gigantic walnuts, bare and blasted, rise And stretch their bleached arms midway to the skies. Some of these trees, owing to the richness of the soil^ grow to an extraordinary size. I measured one that was nearly thirty feet in circumference. Note 35— .Page 50. There sits the hawk. ^The fishing-hawk, or osprey; differing considerably from the bird of that name in Eu* rnnflk- 90 NOtfiS. Note 36— Page 51. The far famed canvass^backs— - These celebrated and justly esteemed ducks, appear to be the Anas Fertna of Liu. From the great abundancy of their favorite food, (the roots of the Valiseneria A- mericana,) in the tide waters of many of our large riv- ers, it is probable that their flesh is much more delicious here than in Europe. Note 37— Page 52. Plovers.— These were of various kinds; among which 1 found two species hitherto undescribed. Note38— Paore53. A fleet of ducks- The black-duck, Anas Persjnllaia, very numerous here. Note 39— Page 52. But now the Lake The Seneca Lake. This beautiful sheet of water is about forty miles long, by from one and a half to three miles in breadth. The shores are generally precipitous, consisting of a brittle blue slate, in which many eurious impressions of marine shells are perceivable. In a short search I found upwards of twenty. NOTES. 07 Note40^Page63. . Two snow while storks—— ^ Jrdca Ma of Lin. These are only summer birds } and Tery transient visitants in these northern regions. Notedl— Page 53. A hawk whose claws, white tail, and dappled breast, And eye his royal pedigree coiifest. The white tailed oaglc {Falcofukus,) so much sought after by the Indians of North America for its quill and tail feathers, with which they plume their arrows, orna- ment their calumet, and adorn their dresses. It inhabits from Hudson's Bay to Mexico. The claws and beak of this bird are of an extraordinary size. Note 4*3 — Page 54. Splendid summer ducks Called by some the wood-duck {Anas Sponm,) the most beautiful of its tribe in North America. They are easily tamed, and become very fiuniliar. About thirty- five years ago, a Mr. Nathan Nichols, who resided in Maryland, on the west side of Gunpowder river, succeed- ed completely in domesticating these ducks ; so that they bred and multiplied with him in great numbers. In their wild state they build in hollow trees, and fly directly in, without alighting at the entrance. G m^-^ 96 NOTES. Note 43— Paffe 59. Tho lake Cayuga— This lake is about thirty-oiglu miles long, and from two to three and four miles in breadth. It is nearly par- allel with, and about eight or ten miles east from tho Seneca lake. The bed of the former is said to be thirty or flirty feet lower than that of the latter, which flows in- to tho Cayuga nearly at its outlet, and fonns what is u- sually called Seneca River. The waters of both thew lakes are extremely clear and transparent; are much fro- quented by wild ducks, and contain abundance of various kinds of fish, particularly salmon, and also suckers of & very large size. Oiie of these last, which we purchased from a party of Indians encamped on the shore, measured upwards of two feet in length. Note 44— Page 61. O'er rocks and narrows— These are passes on the high steep sides of tha moun- tains overhanging the Susquehanna, and ip some placet will scarcely admit more than one person abreast. Note 45— Page 63. f^o^^ like dull stars the lighted bridge appear. This bridge extends across the lake, which at thi« n| imtut^ NOTES. 08 rora piir- the irtj I in- 3 u- fro- 0U8 fa sed red U about a mile in width. It is built of wood, is laid on two hundred and fiftGen trusties, each conwsting of three post9, connected by girths and braces. The posts are «unk to hard gravel, whicli is generally about thirty feet from the surface. The expense was twenty thousand dollars. Note 4G— Pagre 63. Here from the shore, low marshes wide expand, Where bare and bleak the little salt-works stand. This saline is about eight miles from the outlet of the lake. The wells are from fifteen to twenty feet deep, and the water is much stronger than that of the ocean. The proprietor informed me that he made about thirty-fivebush- els daily. 60 M Note 47— Page 65. The skunk's abhorred effluvia filled the room. The reader is not to imagine that this animal formed part of our i/apper's game. It is never seen in this par- ticular part of the country ; and the trappers take advan- tage of this circumstance to circumvent their prey. In the lower parts of the state, where this animal is abun- dant, there are people who collect the liquor with which Nature has supplied it for its defence. This is put into small yi^ds- sealed* nlaceji mouth downw^ds -7 r- 100 IfOTES. earth, and sold to tlie trappers. A drop or two of this precious aroma is put on or near the steel-traps after they are set, and the stranjre and extraordinary odor is said to decoy other animals to the spot. Our landlord himself being furnished with a bottle of this essence of skunk, and his traps profusely saturated with the same, produced the effect above mentioned. Note 48— Page 67. Fort Oswego. — ^This post was finally abandoned on the 28th of October, 1804, about a week before our visit there. Note 49— Page 69. Queenstown.— Thisplace lies on the Canada side of the Niagara river, seven miles below the falls. Note 50— Page 69. 8aw in the east the coming tempest lour, &c. Tliese storms are very frequent on this lake; and th« want of sufficient sea-room is also dangerous. A few- days previous to our arrival at Oswego, a British packet called the Speedy, with the judge advocate on board, the judges, witnesses, and an Indian prisoner, and others, to v«sv ausvuufc vi fcwcui.jr VK uiiny persons, lounaerea in a K0TE8. 101 Yiolent gale, and every soul perished. No part of the vMsel was afterwards found except the pump, which wt picked up» and earned to Quecnstown. Note 51— Page 71. There, high in air, the fortress full in view, &c. Fort Niagara, originally built in 1725, by the French, was held by the British from 1759 to 1796, when it wa» delivered up, with the rest of the western posts, to the United States. It lies on the north east point at the en- trance of Niagara river into lake Ontario ; and is a strong aud very important post. Note 52— Page 71. There o'er their fort, the British ensign flies. Fort George, built and occupied by the British sine© 1794, stands about a mile higher up the river than the A- merican garrison, on ground thirty or forty feet higher than that of the latter, and on the Canada side. Tho town of Newark is adjci.iing, containing about two bua- dred houses. Note 53-.Page 72* Now full in front the Ridge its height uprears. 7* Thia fiinirulaT ridffe commcncee about tho head of lak* 102 NOTES. Ontario, and ninningr jn an easterly direction, loses it- flelf in the country towards the Soncca lake. The plain, extendinor from its base northwardly to the shores of the lake, and is between two and three hundred feet lower than that extending from its top, south, to lake Erie. Note 54— Pago 73. ——Though five short miles ahead, AH sound was hushed and every whisper dead. This will appear almost incredible to those who have heard it asserted that the noise of the cataract is frequent- ly heard at the distance of forty miles. Both these facts, liowever are actually true, and depend entirely on tho state of the atmosphere and current of the air. Note 55— Page 74. Whence hurrying clouds of boiling smoke arose, &c. This train of black clouds extends along the heavens in the direction in which the wind blows, as far as tho •ye can reach, forming a very striking and majestic ai>. psarance. Note 56— Page 76. Till the tall ladder's tottering top appeared. This ladder was placed in a& almoet perpendicular do- - - ■ s KOTE«. ]03 it in, he r© t- h 6ition, not IcaniPfr on tlio brink; but fastened to a project- ing root, in such a manner that, on doscondi njr, tho steep was on our right hand, and a tremondous abyss, of a hun- dred and fifty feet deep, presented itself before us. Note 57 —Pago 77. -tromondous rocks werfj Bpread, Tliat from our foot in headlong fury iled. These rocks, being worn smootli by the perpetual ac- tion of tho water, and lying upon a steep declivity, com- posed of loose masses of smaller ones, were displaced at every pressure of the foot, so that masses larger than mill stones were easily lancheddown with a single kick, rendering it highly dangerous fer more than ono person to pass abreast. Note 53— Page 77. ——•'midst such clamor drowned. A few days before our arrival the body of a man wlvo had been drowned above the falls, was found below them, among the rocks. Finding it impossible from the staio of the body, and I may add the ladder, to raise it to the brink of the precipice, and there not being a particle of earth in the gulf to cover it, the people were at a loss how to dispose of it, until one of the company discovered a hollow gum log, into which the body was thrust, and tli# •ntrance barricaded with large stones. Note 5S— Page 77. VTiraif. J 04 NOTES. TiiO height of this fall is said lo be 154 feet The current above is much slower than in another part of the river near the falls, and the water drops here almost per- pendicularly, presenting the appearance of an iminenso white curtain of foam. NoleG0--Page78. i and at the Horse-shoe ends. These falls are twelve or fourteen feet lower than those of Fort Slusher on the American side; and the main body of the river rushes over at this place with indescribafel* Tiolonce and uproar. Noted— Page 78. One last grand object The Great Pitch. Of the general appearance of tbi« tremendous scene I find it altogether impossible for mo to give any adequate conception. Note 62— Page 79. M.,. While the whole monstrous mass and country round Shook as with horror at th' o'erwhelming sound ! This is literally true. In the house where we lodged, which is more tlian half a mile from the falls, the Tibni- tions of a fork, stuck in a board partition, were plainly <^)6eryable across the room. ^ I