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32X

•

THREE YEARS

TRAVELS

THROUGH THE

INTERIOR PARTS

O F

NORTH-AMERICA,

FOR MORE THAN

FIVE THOUSAND MILES;

CONTAINING

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 vast Con tinent j

WITH A

DESCRIPTION OF the BIRDS, BEASTS,
REPTILES, INSECTS, and FISHES

PECULIAR TO THE COUNTRY.
TOGETHER WITH A CSNCISS

HISTORY OF THE GENIUS, MANNERS, and CUSTOMS

OF THE INDIANS INHABITING THE LANDS THAT LIB
A0JACENT lO THE HEADS AND TO THE WESTWARD
OP THE GREAT RIVER MISSISSIPPI;

A N D A N

APPENDIX,

Describing THE uncultivated parts of AMERICA that

ARE THE MOST PROPER FOR FORMING SETTLEMENTS.

i^sm

By Captain JONATHAN CARVER,

OP the PROVINCIAL TROOPS IN AMERICA.

PHILADELPHIA:
PuBLiSHio BY KfiV & SIMPSON i~i796.

.'>'>

war

JOSEPH B A N K S, £9/

PRESIDENT

O F T H E

ROYAL SOCIETY.

S I R,

When the Public are in-
formed that I have long had the Ho-
nor of your Acquaintance — that my
defign in publilhing the following
Work has received your Sanftion — -
that the Compofition of it has flood
the Teft of your Judgment — and that
it is by your Permiflion, a Name fo
defervedly eminent in (he Literary
World is prefixed to it, I need not

DEDICATION.

be apprehenfive of its Succefs; as your
Patronage will unqueftionably give
them Affurance of its Merit.

For this public ? eftim^ny of your
Favor, in which I pride myfelf, ac-
cept, Sir, my moll grateful Acknow-
ledgments ; and believe me to be,
with great Refpe£l,

Your obedient,

humble Servant,

J. CARVER.

A N

ADDRESS

T O T H E

U B L I C.

JL HE favorable reception this Work has
met with, claims the Author's moft grateful ac-
knowledgments. A large edition having run ofiF
in a few months, and the fale appearing to be ftill
unabated, a new impreffion is become neceflary.
On this occafion was he to conceal his feelings, and
pafs over in filence, a diftindlion fo beneficial and
flattering, he would juftly incur the imputation of
ingratitude. That he might not do this, he takes
the opportunity, which now prefents itfelf, of con-
veying to the Public (though in terms inadequate
to the warm amotions of his heart) the fenfe he en-
tertains of their favorj and thus tranfmits to them
his thanks.

In this new edition, care has been taken toredify
thofe errors vjrhich have unavoidably proceeded
from the hurry of the prefs, and liktwife any in-
correflncfs in the language that has found its way
into it.

The credibility offomeofthe incidents related in
the following pages, and fome of the ftories intro-
duced therein, having been queftioned, particularly

ADDRESS.

>*.

£•'*'

the ; rognnflication of the Indian pricft on the banks
nf Lake Siincrio* and the ftory of the Indian and
his rattle inakc,^'tlie author thinks it ncccflary to
avail himfclf of the fame opportunity, to endeavour
to eradicate any impreflions that might have been
made on the minds of his readers, by the apparent
improbability of thefe relations.

As to the former, he has related it jiifl: as It hap-
peneci. Being an eye-witnefs to the whole tranf-
adioi\ (and, he flatters himfelf, at the time, free
from every trace of fceptical obftinacy or enthufiaftic
credulity) he v/as-confcqucndy able todefcribe every
circumltance minutely and impartinlly. This he has
done ; but without endeavouring; to account for the
means by which it was accompli (lied. Whether
the predi(5lion was the refult of prior obfervations,
from which certain confequences were expecfled to
follow by the fagacious prieft:, and the completion
ff it merely accidental i or whether he was really
endowed with fupernatural powers, the narrator left
to the judgment of his readers; wliofe conclufions,
he fuppofes, varied according as the mental faculties
of ench were difpofed to admit or rejei^t fad:s that
cannot be accounted for by natural caufes.

The (lory of the rattle fnake was re^-^ted to him
hy a French gentleman of undoubted veracity; and
were the rciidors of this work as thoroughly acquaint-
ed with the fagacity, and in(]:ih«5bive proceedings of
that animal, as he is, they would be as well aflTured
of the truth of it. It is vvell known that thofe fiiakes
which have furvived through the fum:ner the acci-
dents reptiles are liable to, periodically retire to the
woods, at the approach of winter; where each (as
curious obfervers have remarked) take poneflion of
the cavity it had occupied the preceding year. As
ii)on as the frafon i? propitious, enlivened by the

^ h 7 y-

ADDRESS.

vil

invigorating rays of the fun, they leave thefc re-
treats, and make their way to the fame fpor,
though ever fo diftant, on which they before had
found fubfiftencc, and the means of propagating their
ipecies. Does it then require any extraordinary
exertions of the mind to believe, that one of thefc
regular creatures, after having been kindly treated
by its mafter, Ihould return to the box, in which it
had ufually been fupplied with food, and had met
v^ith a comfortable abode, and that nearly about the
time the Indian, from former experiments, was able
to guefs at. It certainly does not; nor will the li-
beral and ingenious doubt the truth of a (lory fo well
authenticated, becaufe the circumftances appear ex-
traordinary in a country where the fubjedt of it is
fcarccly known.

Thefc explanations the author hopes will fuffice
to convince his readers, that he has not, as travel-
lers arc fometimes fuppofed to do, amufcd them
with improbable tales, or wifhed to acquire im-
portance by making his adventures favor of the
marvellous.

CONTENTS.

NTRODUCTION, . i

The Author fcts out from Bofton on his Travels, 1 1
Dcfcription of Fort Michillimackinac, 12

— — Fort La Bay - - 13

" the Green Bay, - 14

■ Lake Michigan - 18

Arrives at the Town of the Winnebagocs, 20

Excurfion of the Winnebagoes towards the Spa-

nilla Settlements - -21

Dcfcription of the Winnebago Lake, - 23

Inflance of rcfolution of an Indian Woman 25

Dcfcription of the Fox River, - 26

Remarkable ilory of a Rattle Snake, " 27

The great Town of the Saukics, - 29

Upper Town of the Ottagaumicf, • 30

Dcfcription of the Ouifconfin River, - ib.

Lower Town qf the Octagaumies, or. La Prairies

Les Chiens, - - "3^

An attack by fomc Indian Plunderers, » 32

Dcfcription of the MiiTiflippi from th^ Mouth of

the Ouifconfin to LaRc Pepiu, - 34

« — Lake Pepin ^ - ib.

Remarkable Ruins of an ancient Fortification 35
The River Ba.ids of the Naudoweflie Indians, 37
Adventure with a party of thcfe, and fomc of the

Chcpeways, - - ib.

Pcfcripiion of a remarkable Cave, * 40

CONTENTS.

F Vl

Uncommon behaviour of the Prince of the Win-

nebagocs at the Falls of St. Anthony, 4%

Dcfcription of the Falls, r 43

Extent q{ the Auvhcr's Travels, - 45

Defcription of the R.iver St. Pierre, - 47

Sources of the Four great Rivers of North Ame-
rica, - T ib,
Rcfle6tions on their Affinity, - 48
The Naudo we flies' of the Plains, with whom the

Author wintered in the year 1766, 50

The Author returns to the Mouth of the River

St. Pierre, - - $3

Accountof a violent Thunder ftorm, ibJ

Speech made by the Author in a Council held by

the Naudoweflics at the great Cave, 54

Adventure with a Party of Indians near Lake

Pepin, - - 60

Defcription of the Cmmtry adjacent to the River

St. Pierre, - - 62

Account of different Clays found near the Marble

River, ; i*^. ;:l - 6;^

Defcription of the Chipeway River - 64

Extraordinary effects of a Hurricane, - 6§

The Author arrived at the Grand Portage on the

North-wefl borders of Lake Superior, 67

Account of the Lakes lying further to the North-
weft : Lake Bourbon, Lake Winnepcek,
Lake Du Boi$, Lake La Piuye, Red Lake,
&c. - - ib.

Account of a nation of Indians fuppofed to have
been tributary to the Mexican Kings, 74

■ the fhining Mountains, - 76

A fingular prediction of the Chief Priefl of the

Killiflinoes verified, - 77

Defcription of Lake Superior, - 83

Story of the two Chipeways landing on the Ifland

ofMaurepas, - 85

Account of great quantities of Copper Ore, 87

CONTENTS.

Defcription of the Falls of St. Marie,
■ Lake Huron,

Saganaum and Thunder Bays,

89
90

Extraordinary phcenomcnon in the Straits of Mi-

chillimackinac, - - 92

Defcription of Lake Sf.. Claire, ' - 94

— — the River, Town and Fort of Detroit, ^^

Remarkable rain at Detroitj - 96

Attack of Fort Detroit by Pontiac, 97

DefcriptioD of Lake Erie, •- 105

— ■^— the River and Falls of Niagara, 106

' Lake Ontario and Lake Oniada, 107

— Lake Champlain, and Lake George, 108

Acsount of a traft of land granted to Sir Ferdi-

nando Gorges, and Captain John Mafon, 109
The Author's Motives for undertaking his Tra-
vels, - - 112

CHAPTER I.

The origin of the Indians, - 115

Sentiments of various Writers on this point, 1 16

' Monfieur Charlevoix, - 122

James Adair, Efq. - 128

the Author of this Work, - 132

Corroboracicn of the latter by Dr. Robertfon 138

CHAPTER II.

Of the perfons, drefs, &c. of the Indians, 140

An account of thofc who have written pn this

Subjed, - - ib.
Defcription of the perfons of the Indians, 142
their Drefs, - 144

*^'.:,

9'-c ■;

' I

tfONTE^JTS.

the Drefs of the Ottagaumics,
the Drefs of the Naudowcifies,

The manner in which they build their tents and
huts, 148

Their domeftic utenfils, • 149

CHAPTER m.

Of the manner^ qualifications, &c. of the Indi-
ans, 151
Peculiar cuftotiis of the women, - i^z
The circumfpe6b and iloical difpoiition of the

men, - - 153

Their amazing fagacity, * 155

The liberality of the Indians, and their opinion

rcfpeding money, * 158

CHAPTER IV.

Their method of reckoning time, &c» 160

The names of which they didinguiih the months, ib.
Their idea of the ufe of figures, * . .162

CHAPTER V.

Of their government, &c. - 164

Their divifion into tribes, - ib.

The Chiefs of their bands, - 165

The members that compofe their councils, 167

«ONTENTS.

3U^

CHAPTER VI.

Of their feafts, • • 169

Their ufual food , • - ib.

Their manner of dreffing and eating their visu-
als, * - 17^

CHAPTER VII.

172
ib.

Of their dances, * -

The manner in which they dance.

The pipe or calumet dance, - ^74

The war dance, - •« ib.

The Paw w aw dance, - 175

An uncommon admiflion into a fociety among

the Naudowe flies, - ib.

The dance of the Indians on the banks of the

Mifllflippi, referred to in the Journal, 180

The dance ot the facrifice, - 184

CHAPTER Vm.

Of their Hunting, - - - 184

Their Preparation before they fct out, 185

Their manner of hunting che Bear, - 186

' — Buffaloe, Deer, &c. ib.

■ Beaver^ - 188

CHAPTER IX.

Of their Manner of making War, &c.

191

iAt

CONTENTS.

The Indian Weapons, - - i^i

Their Motives for making War, - 193

Preparations before they take the Field, 1 95

The Manner in which they folicit other Nations

to become their Auxiliaries, . - 198

Their Manner of declaring War, - - 199
The Method of engaging their Enemies, 201

An Inftance of the Efficacy of it in the Defeat of

General Braddock, - - 202

A detail of the Maffacre at Fort William Henry

in the Year 1757, - - 203

Acutenefs and Alacrity of the Indians in the pur-

fuing their Enemies, - - 212

Their manner of Scalping, - - 21 J

The manner in which they retreat, and carry off

their Prifoners, - - 214

A remarkable Inftance of Heroifm in a Female

Prifoner, - - - 215

Treatment of their Prifoner, - - 2 1 S

The Origin of their felling Slaves, - 225

■ CHAPTER X.

Of their Manner of making Peace &c. 228

Account of an Engagement between the Iro-
quois and the Ottagaumies and Saukies, 229
Manner in which they condudl a Treaty of Peace, 233
Defcription of the Pipe of Peace, - ib.

. — , Belts of Wampum, 235

CHAPTER XI.

Of their Games,

The Game of the Ball,

— Bowl or Plarter,

237
ib.

232

CONTENTS.

itions

at of
[cnry

19!
193

198
199

201

202

203

epur-

rry

off

212
213

:male

214

215
21S

225

228
Ire-
nes, 229
'cace, 233
ib.

235

237
ib.

238

CHAPTER XII.

Of their Marriage Ceremonies, - 240

The Manner in which the Tribes near Canada

celebrate their Marriages, - . 241

The Form of Marriage among the Naudowcflies, 244
Their Manner of carrying on an Intrigue, 246

Of the Indian Names, -.• - 248

CHAPTER XIIL

Of their Religion,

Their Ideas of a Supreme Being,

1 — Future State,

249
ib.

251
ib.

Of their Priefts, - ". . " .

The Sentiments of others on the religious Prin-
ciples of the Indians oppofed, ^ - 253

CHAPTER XIV.

•o:

Of their Difeafes, &c. - - 255

The Complaints to which they are chiefly fubjeft, ib.
The Manner in which they conftrudt their Sweat-
ing Stoves, - - 256
The methods in which they treat their difeafes, 257
An extraordinary Inftance of the Judgment of an

Indian Woman, in a defperate Cafe, 259

CHAPTER XV.

The manner in which they treat their Dead, 261

A Specimen of their Funeral Harangues, 262

Their method of burying their Dead, - 263

A fingular Inftance of parental Affedion in a

Naudoweffic Womati, - - 264

rvi CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XVI.

A concife Charafter of che Indians, - 268

Their perfonal and mental Qualifications, 269

Their public Gharaftcr as Members of 4 Com-
mynity, - - - 270

CHAPTER XVII.

Of their Language, Hieroglyphics, &c. 273

Of the Chipe way Tongue, - - ib.
Dcfcriptivc Specimen of their Hieroglyphics,

&c. 275

Vocabulary of the Chipeway Language, 278

> ■ ■■ Nagdowcific Language, 2S8

CHAPTER XVm.

Of tb" Beafts, Birds, Fiflies, Reptiles, and In-
Icdbs, which are found in the Interior parts
of North-America, * - 294

BEASTS.

The Tiger. The Bear, -. - 295

The Wolf The Fox. Dogs. The Cat of the

Mountain, - - 296

The Buffalo. The Deer. The Elk, - 297

The Moofe. The Carraboo, - 298

The Carcajou. The Shunk, - 299

The Porcupine, - - ^ 301

The Wood-chuck. The Racoon. The Marten.

The Mufquafh, r - 302

Squirrels. The Braver, r ^ 304

The Otter. The Mink, - - 308

CONTENTS.

fiCVIl

BIRDS.

The Eagle. The Night Hawk. The Whip-

perwill, - - . J09

The Fifh Hawk. The Owl. The Crane, 311

Ducks. The Teal. The Loon. The Partridge, 312
The Wood Pigeon. The Woodpecker. The

Blue Jay. The Wakon Bird, - 313

The Black Bird. The Red Bird. ThcWhctfaw, 315
The King Bird. The Humming Bird, - ib.

FISHES.

The Sturgeon,

The Cat Fifh. The Carp. The Chub,

316
317

SERPENTS.

The Rattle Snake, - - 318

The Long Black Snake. The Striped or Gar-
ter Snake. - -• - 321

The Water Snake. The Hiffing Snake. The

Green Snake, - - - 322

The Thorn- tail Snake. The Speckled Snake.
The Ring Snake. The two-headed Snake.
The Tortoife or Land Turtle, r 323

LIZARDS.

The Swift Lizard. The Slow Lizard. The
Tree Toad, - ». - 324

XVIU

CONTENTS.

INSECTS.

The Silk Worm. The Tobacco Worm. The

Bee. The Lightning Bug or Fire Fly, 325;
The Water Bug. The Horned Bug. Locuft, 327

•>.

CHAPTER XIX.

Of the Trees, Shrubs, Roots, Herbs, Flow-
ers, &c. - - - 328

TREES.

The Oak, ... ib.

The Pine Tree;, The Maple. The Afh, 329

The Hemlock Tree. ' The Bafs or White Wood.
TJie Wickopick or Suckvvick. The Button
Wood, - - - „ 33.1^

N U T T R E E S.

The Butter or Oil Nut. The Beech Nut,
Ths Pecan Nut. The Hickory,

332
333

j 3i; i.

FRUIT TREES.

The Vine ... 234-

The Mulberry Tree. The Crab Apple Tree.
The Plum Tree. The Cherry Tree. The
Sweet Gum Tj-ee, - - ib.

CONTENTS.

ate

SHRUBS.

The Willow. Shin Wood. The Saflafras, 3^6

The Prickly A(h. The Moofc Wood. The

Spood Wood. The Elder, - 337

The Shrub Oak. The Witch Hazel. The Myr-
tle Wax Tree. Winter Green, 338

The Fever Bulh. The Cranberry Bufh. The
Choak Berry, - - 339

ROOTS AND PLANTS.

Spikenard. Sarfaparilla. Ginfang,. - 346

Gold Thread. Solomon's Seal. DeviPs Bit.
Blood Root, - - 341

HERBS.

Sanicle. Rattle Snake Plantain, - 343

Poor Robin's Plantain. Toad Plantain. Rock
Liverwort. GargitorSkoke. Skunk Cab-
bage or Poke. Wake Robin, - 344
Wild Indigo. Cat Mint, 9 * - 345
FLOWERS, - - . 346

FARINACEOUS and LEGUMINOUS
ROOTS, &c.

Maize or Indian Corn. Wild Rice,
Beans. The Squafli,

ib,
349

snf

CONTENTS.

APPENDIX.

The Probability of the interior parts of North-
America becoming Commercial Colonies, 351

The Means by which this might be efFcdted, 352

Tradbs of land pointed out, on which Colonies
may be eftablifhed with the greateft Ad-
vantage, - . - - 354

Diflcrtation on the Difcovery of the North-weft
Paffage, - - 358

The moft certain way of attaining it, ib.

Planpropofed by Richard Whiteworth, Efq.
for making an Attempt from a Quarter hi-
therto unexplored, - 352

The Reafon of its being poftponed, - 360

>,»

INTRODUCTION.

i^ O fooncr was the late war with France
concluded, and peace cftablifticd by the treaty of
Verfailles in the year 1763, than I began to confider
(having rendered my country fome fervices during
the war) how I might continue (IHl ferviceable, and
contribute, as much as lay in my power, to make
that vaft acquifition of territory, gained by Great-
Britain in North-America, advantageous to it. It
appeared to me indifpenfably needful, that govern-
ment fhould be acquainted, in the firll place, with
the true (late of the dominions they were now be-
come pofieffed of To this purpofe, I determined,
as the next proof of my zeal, to explore the moll
unknown parts of them, and to fpare no trouble ©r
cxpence in acquiring a knowledge that promifed to
be fo ufeful to my countrymen. I knew that many
obftru6lions would arifc tomy Icheme from the want
of good maps and charts j for the French, whilfl:
they retained thsir power in North-America, had
taken every artful method to keep all other nations,
particularly the Englilh, in ignorance of the con-
cerns of the interior parts of it : and to accemplilh
this defign with the greater certainty, they had pub-
lifhed inaccurate maps and falfe accounts; 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 prevent thefe nations
from being difcovered and traded with, or to con-

. A

I N r R O D U C T I O N.

ccal tl:cir ciircouiTf, vvlicn iht-y talknl to tach othcf
ofil.c Iiivlian c( nurns in lIk ii j.iticnn-, 1 will not
clcttrr..iiu'i Lut vslijcll ivtr v.a^ the caiilc iiuin v.l.ich*
it aiolc, it ttntlcd to iiiiiiriid.

Ar> ii proof that rl;e I'-rolHh liad been greatly c!c-
ccivt\l l)y tlic fo hccomus, an.i that their Inovvlcilgc
1 dative to Canada i....l ufu.iliy lifcn very conhii-
fdi— i)ttbre tiic foi.qutil oi Ciown-i'oiiu in 1759,
ic had bttD ifltcii.td an in pic^^nabic tcitieisi luit
no foont r was it taktn, than \vc wtri- ctinvincfd that
it had acqiiirtd its girattll Itcurity fr( m falfc re-
ports, [liven out by its poflclllr:., and n.ight have
been battered down with a few four pounders. Even
i!s fituacion, which was reprcfcntcd to be fo very
advantageous, was found to owe its advantages to
the fame fource. It cannot be denied but that fome
inap'Sof thcic countries Lave been publiflied by the
French witli an appt'arance of accuracy; but thefe
are of io fmall a fize, and drawn on fo. minute a fcale,
that they are nearly inexplicable. The fourccs of
the JVlifiifii| pi, I can aiTert from my own cxpcri-
<;ncc, are greatly mifplaced i fcr v.hcn I had explored
them, and compared tlieir fituation w^ith the French,
charts, I found them very erroneoufiy reprcfented^
and am fatistied that thefe were only copied from the
rude fketchti, of the Indians.

Even fo lately as their evacuation of Canada, they
continued their fchenies to tleceivej leaving no tra-
ces by which. acy knowledge might accrue to their
conquerors; fc: though they were well acquainted
with all the lakes, particulaily with lake Superior,
having co.iftantiy a vef.el of confiderable burthen
therc( n, yet tlieir plans of them are veiy incorrect.
\ difcovercd n)any errors in the cifcriptions given
therein of its illands and bays, during a progrefs of
tKven hunuicd miles that I coafted i: ia cinoes^

I N T R O D U C T 1 O N.

»'i

They llkewifc, on givinp;iip ihc pofil fPions of t^fr.i,
took care to leave the plates ihiy hail occnpicil,
in the iamc unculr.iv.itcil llarc they had foui.d rhcni;
at tlu' lame time drllroying all their naval force. I
oblervcil myfclf part (4'ihe hulk ota vety lar<:;e vcf-
iVl, burnt to the watei 's etig'*, jiiit at the opcninf]^
f.om the Straits of St. Marie intc» the Lake.

Tlxrfe difficulties, however, were nor i'ufllcicnt tv'>
deter me from the uiuiertakinjr, and I made prepa-
rations for fettinj^out. Wh.itl ci. icily had in view,
after gaining a knovvledge of the manners, culloms,
languages, U;il, arvd natural produ-^lifuis of the dif-
ferent nations that inliabit the back of the Mifiifiippi,
was to afcertain thj breat'th of that vail continent,
which extends from the Atlantic to the Pacific
Ocean, in its broaded part between 43 and 46 de-
grees northern latitude. Had I been able toaccom-
plilh this, I intended to have propofed to govern-
ment to cllablilh a poll in feme of thofe parts about
the Straits of Annian, which, having been firft dif-
covered by Sir Francis Drake, of courfc belong
to the Englilh. This I am convinced would greatly
facilitate the difcovery of a north weft pafiage, or a
communication between Hudfon's Bay and the Pa-
citic Ocean. An event fodefirable, and v/hich has
been fo often fought for, but without fucccfs. Be-
fides this important end, a feitlcment on that extre-
mity of America would anfwer many good pur-
pofcs, and repay every expence the cllabliniment of
it might occafion. For it would not only difciofe
nrw fources of trade, and pri^mote many wCciXA
difcoveries, but v/ould open apafPage for conveying
intellio-ence to China, and the Englilh fcttkments
In the Eait Indies, with greater expedition than a
tedious voyage by the C.ipe of Good Hope, or the
§tr3its of Magellan will allow of.

I N T R O D U C 1' I O N.

How far the advantages arifing from fuch an cn-
tcrprizc may extend, can only be afcertained by
the favorable concurrence of future events But
that the completion of the fcheme, I have had the
honor of firft planning and attempting, will fomc
time or other be effeded, I make no doubt. From
the unhappy divifions that at prefent fubfift between
Great-Britain and America, it will probably be loine
years before the attempt is repeated j but whenever
it is, and the execution of it carried on with pro-
priety, thofe who are fo fortunate as to fuccced, will
reap, exclufive of the national advantages that muft
enfue, emoluments beyond their moft languinc ex-
pe6lations. And whilll their fpirits are elated by
their fuccffs, perhaps they may bellow fome com-
mendations and bieiTmgs on the perfon who firft
pointed out to them the way. Thefe, though but
a fhadowy recompence for all my toil, I fhall receive
with pleafure.

To what power or authority this new world will
become dependant, after it has arifen from its pre-
sent uncultivated ftate, time alone can difcover.
But as the feat of empire from time immemorial
has been gradually progrelTive towards the weft,
there is no doubt but that at fome future period,
mighty kingdoms will emerge from thefe wiidcr-
neffes, and ftateiy palaces and folemn temples, with
gilded fpires reaching the Ikies, fupplant the Indian
huts, whofe only decorations are the barbarous tro-
phies of their vanquifhed enemies.

As fome of the preceding paflages have already
informed the reader that the plan I had laid down for
penetrating to the Pacific Ocean, proved abortive,
it is neceiiary to add, that this proceeded not from
its impracticability (for the further I went the more
convinced I was that it could certainly be accom-

INTRODUCTION.

h an cn-
ained by
It? But
e had the
will fomc
It. From
t between
T be I'oine
whenever
with pro-
ceed, will
that muft
guinc ex-
elated by
jme com-
who firft
hough but
all receive

vorld will
m Its pre-

difcover.
imcmoria!
the weft,
•e period,
e wiidcr-
plcs, with

le Indian
arous tro-

e already
3 down for
abortive,
not from
: the more
e accom-

pliftied) but from unforefccndifappointments. Hnv - .
ever, I proceeded fo far, that I v/as able to make
fuch difcovcries as will be ufcful in any future at-
tempt, and prove a good foundation for fome more
fortunate fucceflbr to build upon. Thefe I Ihall
now lay bcfcre the public in the following pages;
and am fatisfied that the greatefl part of them have
never been publifhed by any pcrfon that has hi-
therto treated of the interior nations of the Indians;
particularly, the account I give of the Naudowcffies,
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; viz. The river Bourbon, which empties itfelf
into Hudfon's Bay; the waters of Saint Lawrence;
the MiiTilTippi, and the River Oregan, or the River
of the weft, that falls into the Pacific Ocean, at the
Straits of Annian,

The Impediments that occafioned my return, be-
fore I had accompliftied my purpofes, were thefe.
On my arrival at Michillimackinac, the remoteft
Englifh poft, in September 1766, I applied to Mr.
Rogers, who was then governor of it, to furnifh me
wiuh a proper afibrtmcnt of goods, as prefents for
the Indians who inhabit the track 1 intended to
* purfue. He did this only in part; but promifed to
fupply me with fuch as weie neccfiary, when I
reached the Falls of Saint Anthony. I afterwards
learned that the governor fulfilled his promife in
ordering the goods to be delivered to me ; but thofe
to whole care he intrufted them, inftead of conform-
ing to his orders, difpofed of them elfewhcre.

Difappointed in my expectations from this quar-
ter, I thought it neceffary to return to La Prairie
Le Chien; for it v^ras impoftlble to proceed any fur-
*ther without prefents to enfure me a favorably re-

INTRODUCTION.

ceptlon. This I did in tlie beginning of the year
17 jy, and tiiiding my progrcfs to the welhvard thus
rtL irded, I determined to dire(!il my courfe north-
ward. I took tins Hep with a view of finding a
C(.ir,n u rication from the heads of the Miflifllppi,
in;-' Lake Superior, in order to meet, at the grand
P .fcige on the north-vvtft fide of that lake, the
tra.h r.s that ufually comr, about this feafon, from
MirhiiJimackinac. Of thefe I intended to purchafe
goods, and then to purliie my journey from that
quarter, by way of the lakes du Pluye, Dubois,
aiid Ounipique to the heads of the liver of the
v/eft, which, as I have faid before^ falls inco the
Straits of Annian, the teimination of my intended
progrefs.

I acccmpliilied the former part of my defign, and
reached Lake Superior in prop'*r time; but unluc-
kily the traders I met the'e, acquainted me that they
had no goods to fpare -, thofe they had with them
being barely fufficient to anfwer their own demands
in thrfe remote p:.rts. Thus difappointed a fecond
time, I found myfelf obliged to return to the place
from whence 1 began my expedition, which I did
after continuing fome months on the north and eafl:
borders of Lake Superior, and exploring th.e bays
an.i rivers that empty themklve5 into this large body

of water.

As it may be expe6led that I fliould lay before
the public the rcafons that thefe difoveries, offo
jm'ich importance to everyone' who has any con-
ne-^tioos with America, have not been imparted to
thrin before, notwithilandlng they v/cre made up-
wards of ten years ago, I will give them to the world
in a plain and candid manner, and without mingling
with them any complaints on account of the ill treat-
n)ent I have received.

INTRODUCTION.

Vll'

On my arrival in England, I preftntfd a petition
to his majeily in council, praying tcr a iciniburfc-
ment of thole funis 1 had cxj-cndcd in tlie fervice
of government. This was rcicrrcd to the lords com-
niilhoners of tiadc and plantatic.-nc. 1 htir icrdlhips
from the tenor of ic thought the inteijioence 1 coukl
give, of i'o much in.p;)rtance to tlic nation, that
ihey ordered me to appear before the board. This
meifage I obeyed, and underwent a long examina-
tion j much I believe to the i'ani'a(^l:ion of every
lordprefcnt. \V lien it was finilLe'J, 1 rcquefied to
l;now what I fiiould do with my p-apcrs; v/ithouc
liefication the firll lord replied, liiai I mi^i^iii: pnb-
liih them whenever I plcafed. In confcquence of
this permilTion, 1 difpolcJ of them to a bookfciler;
but when they were nearly ready fjr the prefs, an
order was iffued from the council board, requiring
me to deliver, witliouc delay, into the plantation
office, all my charts and journals, v/ith every paper
relative to the difcoveries I had made. In order to
obey this command, I was obliged to re-purchafc
them from the bookfciler at a very great expence,
and deliver them up. This fiefii cifbii-fcment I
endeavoured to get annexed to the account I had al-
ready delivered in; but the requeil was denied nie,
notVr'irhllanding 1 had only acted, in the difpofal of
my papers, confomiably to the permiflion I had-
r-cceived from the board of trade. This lofs, which
amounted to a vtry confiderabie fiim., I was obliged'
to bear, and to rclL faiiii^hed with an indemnincation
for my other expencrs.

Thus fituatcd, my only expcftations are ficm
the favor of a generous public; to whom I fiiall now
communicate my ph^ins, journals, and cbfervations,
of which I luchiiy kep.t copies, v/jien I delivered the
originals into tliC [.lactation office. And this 1 do
the moi c itadiiv,. as I hear thcv are' ir.iiiaivl ; and

'*]

v£i

INTRODUCTION.

¥"

'■ft '

there is no probability of their ever being publilhcd.
To t ho fe who arc intereftcd in the concerns of the
interior parts of North-America, from the conti-
guity of their pofleflions^ or commercial cngage-
raencs, they will be extremely ufeful, and fully re-
pay the fum at which they are purchafcd. To thofe,
who, from a laudable curiofity, wifh to be acquaint-
ed With the manners and cuftoms of every inhabitant
of this globe, the accounts here given of the various-
nations that inhabit fo vaft a tradl of it, a country
hitherto almoll unexplored, will furnifh an ample
fund of amufement, and gratify their moft curious
expe6tations. And I flatter myfclf they will be as
favorably received by the public, as defcriptions of
iflands, which afford no other entertainment than
what arilcs from their novelty; and difcovcries,
that fcem to promife very few advantages to this
country, though acquired at an immenfe expence.

To make the following work as comprehenfible
and entertaining as poflible, I fliall firft give my
readers an account of the route I purfued over this
immenfe continent, and as I pafs on, defcribe the
niiuiber of inhabitants, the fituation of the rivers
and lakes, and the productions of the country.
Having done this, I fhall treat, in diftindt chapters,
of tlie manners, cuftoms, and languages of the In-
dians, and to complete the whole, add a vocabulary
of the words moftly in ufe among them.

And here it is necefiary to befpeak the candor of
the learned part of my readers in the perufalofit,
as it is the produdion of a perfon unufed, from op-
pofite avocations, to literary purfuits. He therefore
begs they would not examine it with too critical an
eye; efpeciully when he afiurcs them that his atten-
tion has been more employed on giving a juft dcf-'
criptionof a country that promifts, in fome future

INTRODUCTION.

period, to be an inexhauftible fource of riches to
that people who Ihall be fo fortunate as to DofTefs it,
than on the ftyle or compofition j and more careful
to render his language intelligible and explicit, than
fmooth and florid.

JOURNAL

OF THE

TRAVELS,

WITH A

DESCRIPTION

OF THE

COUNTRY, LAKES, &c.

JLn June 1766, I fet out from Bofton, and
proceeded by way of Albany and Niagara, to Mi-
chillimackinac i a fort fituated between the Lakes
Huron and Michigan, and diftant from Bofton 1300
miles. This being the uttermoft of our factories
towards the north-weft, J confidered it as the moft
convenient place from whence I could be^in my in-
tended progrefs, and enter at once into the regions I
defigned to explore.

Referring my readers to the publications already
extant for an account of thofe parts of North- Ame-
rica, that, from lying adjacent to the back fettle-
ments, have been frequently defcribed, I (hall con-
liacmyfeifto adefcriptionof the more interior parts

♦carver's travels.

of it, which, having been but feldom vifitcd, arc
confequcntly but little known. In doing this, I (hall
in no inftance exceed the bounds of truth, or have
recourfe to thofc ufelcfs and extravagant exaggera-
tions too often made ufe of by travellers, to excite
the curiofity of the public, or to iticreafe their own
importance. Nor Ihall I infcrt any obfervations,
but fuch as I have made myfelf, or from the credi-
bility of thofe by whom they were related, am ena-
bled to vouch for their authenticity.

Michillimackinac, from whence I began my tra-
vels, is a fort compofed of a ftrong ftockade, and
is ufually defended by a garrifon of one hundred
men. It contains about thirty houfes, one of which
belongs to the governor, and another to the com-
miflary. Several traders alfo dwell within its for-
tifications, who find it a convenient fituation to
traffic with the neighbouring nations. Michillimac^
kinac, in the language of the Chipeway Indiansj,
fignifies a Tortoifej and the place is fuppofed
to receive its name from an ifland, lying about fix
or feven miles to north-eap-, within fight of the
fort, which has the appearance of that animal.

During the Indian war that followed foon after
theconqueft of Canada in the year 1763, and which
was carried on by an army of confederate nations,
compofed of the Hurons, Miamies, Chipeways,
Qtcowaws, Pontpwattimies, Miffiffauges, and fome
other tribes, under the direftion of Pontiac, a ce-,
lebrated Indian warrior, who had always been in
the French intcrcft, it was taken by furprize in
the following manner: The Indians having fettled
their plan, drew near the fort, and began a game
at ball, a paftime much ufed among them, and not
unlike tennis. In the height of their game, at.
which feme of the Englifh officers, not fufpefting

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

»J

any deceit, ftood looking on, they ftruck the ball,
as if by accident, over the ftockadc j this they re-
peated two or three time, to make the deception
more complete i till at length, having by this means
lulled every fufpicion of the centry at the fouth gate,
a party ruihed by him > and the reft foon following,
they took poflcflTion of the fort, without meeting
with any oppofition. Having accompliflicd 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 En-
glifh at the peace made with Pontiac, by the com-
jnander of Detroit the year following.

Having here made the necelfary difpofitions for
purfuing my travels, and obtained a credit from
Mr. Rogers, the governor, on fome Englifh and
Canadian traders, who were going to trade on the
Miffiflippi, and received alfo from him a promife of
a frefli fupply of goods when I reached the falls of
Saint Anthony, I left the fort on the 3d of Sep-
tember, in company with thefe traders. It was
agreed that they Ihould furnifli me with fuch goods
as I might want, for prefents to the Indian chiefs,
during my continuance with them, agreeable to tlie
governor's order. But when I arrived at the extent
of their route, I vvas to find other guides, and to de-
pend on the goods the governor had promifed to
fupply me with.

We accordingly fet out together, and on the i8th
arrived at Fort La Ray. This fort is fituated on the
fouchern extremity of a bay in Lake Michigan,
termed by the French, the bay of Piiants ; but
which fir^ce the Englifli have gained poffeiiiun of all

C A R V E R*s TRAVELS.

the fettlemcnts on this part of the continent, is called
by chcnj, the Green Bay. The realbn of its being
thus denominated, is from its appearance j for on
leaving Michillimackinac in the fprinc feafon,
though the trees there have not even put forth their
buds, yet you find the country around La Bay, not-
vvithftanding the pafTage has not exceeded fourteen
days, covered with the fineft verdure, and vegeta-
tion as forward as it could be were it fummcr.

This fort is alfo only furrnunded by a ftockade,
and being much decayed, is fcarcely dcfenfible againft
fmall arms. It was built by the French for the
protedlion of their trade, fome time before they were
forced to relinquifh it j and when Canada and its de-
pendencies were furrendered to the Englifli, it was
immcdiattly garrifoned with ar officer and thirty
men. Thefe wtre made prifoners by tlie Menomo-
nies foon after the furprife of Michillimackinac, and
the fort has neitlier been garrifoned nor kept in repair
fmce.

The bay is about ninety miles long, but differs
much i^i its breadth j being in fome places only fif-
teen miles, in orhers from twenty to thirty. It lies
nearly from north-caft to fouch wefl. Ac the en-
trance of it from the lake are a llring of iflands,
extending from north to fouth, called the Grand
Traverfe. Thefe are about thirty miles in length,
and ferve to facilitate the paffage ^f canoes, as they
iheker them from the winds, which fometimes
come with violence acrofs the Lake. On the fid€
that lie:s to the fouth-eafl: is the nsareft and bell na-
vigation.

The iflands of the Grand Traverfe are moflly
fmall and rocky. Many of the rocks are of an
amazing fize, and appear as if they jiad been fafhi-

e A R V £ R's T R A V E t S. f;

oncd by the hands of artifts. On the largeft: and bcfi
of thcfc iflands ftands a town of the Ottawaws,
at which I found one of the nnoft confiderablc
chiefs of that natron, who received me with every
honour he could poflibly (how to a ft ranger. But
what appeared extremely lingular to me at the time,
and muft do fo to every perfon 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 threefcore rods
of it, the Indians began a fcu-de-joy ; in which they
fired their pieces loaded with balls j but at the fame
time they took care to difcharge them in fuch a
manner as to fly a few yards above our heads : during
this they ran from one tree or ftump to another,
lliouting and behaving as if they were in the heat of
battle. At firft I was greatly furprifed, and was on
the pomt of ordering my attendants to return their
fire, concluding that their intentions were hoftilc ;
but being undeceived by fome of the traders, who
informed me that this was their ufual method of re-
ceiving th'c chiefs of orther nations, I confidcred it in
its true light, and was plcafed with the refpc6t thuij
paid me.

I fcitiained here one night. Among the prefcnts
I made the chiefs, were fome fpirituous liquors i with
which they made themfelves merry, and all joined
in a dance, that Lifted the greateft part of the night.
In the morning when I departed, the chief attended
me to the ftiore, and, as foon as I had embarked,
offered Up, in an audible voice, and with great fo-
lemnity, a fervent prayer in my behalf. He prayed
" that the great fpirit would favor me with a prof-
perous voyage j that he would give me an unclouded
fky, and fmooth waters, by ddy, and that I might
lie down, by night, on a beaver blanket, enjoying
uninterrupted fleep, and pleafant dreams; and alfo

CARVEA's TRAVELS.

i 'I

that I might find continual protcdliou under the great
pipe of peace." In this manner he continued his
petitions till 1 could no longer hear them.

I muft here obferve, that notwithftanding the
inhabitants of Europe are apt to entertain horrid
ideas of the ferociiy of thefc favagcs, as they arc
termed, I received from every tribe of them in th«5
interior parts, the moft hofpitable and courteous
treatment i and am convinced, that till they arc
contaminated by the example, and fpirituous liquors
of their more refined neighbours, they retain this
friendly and inoffcnfive condudb towards ftrangers.
Their inveteracy and cruelty to their enemies, I
acknowledge to be a great abatement of the favora-
ble opinion I would wifh to entertain of them; buc
this failing is hereditary, and having received the
fanftion of immemorial cuftom, has taken too deep
root in their minds to be eafily extirpated.

Among this people I eat of a very uncommon
kind of bread. The Indians, in general, ufe but
little of this nutritious food: whilft their corn is in
the milk, as they term it, that is, juft before it be-
gins to ripen, they (lice ofl^ the kernels from the
cob to which they grow, and knead them into a,
pafte. This they are enabled co do without the ad-
dition of any liquid, by the milk that flows from
them i and when it is efi^efted, they parcel it out into
cakes, and enclofing them in leaves of the baflwood
tree, place them in hot embers; where they are foon
baked. And better flavored bread I never eat in
any country.

This place is only a fmall village containing about
twenty-five houfes and fixty or fcventy warri-
ors. I found nothing there worthy of further re-
mark.

CARVER'* T R A VsE L S.

»7

The land on the fouth-eaft fide of the Green Bay,
ts but very indifferent, being overfprcad with a
heavy growth of hemlock, pine, fpruce, and fir
trees. The communication between Lake Michi-
gan and the Green Bay, has been reported by lomc
to be impracticable for the paflagc ot any vcffels lar-
ger than canoes or boats, on account of the fhoalg
that lie between the iflands in the Grand Traverfc;
but on founding it I found fufficicnt depth for a
vefTcl of fixty tons, and the breadth proportionable^

The land adjoining to the bottom of this bay is
very fertile, the country Sn general level, and th<.
perfpcCtivc view of it pleafing and cxtcnfivcrf

A few families live in the fort, which lies oft thej
weft fide of the Fox River, anid oppofite to it, on
the eaft fide of its entrance^ are fome French fet-
tlers who cultivate the land, and appear to live very*
comfortably.

The Green Bay or Bay of Piiants is one of thofe!
places lo which the French, as I have mentioned
in the introdudion, have given nicknames. It is
termed by the inhabitants of its coafts, the Mf no-
monie Bay; but why the French have denominated
it the Puan'c or Stinking Bay, I know not. The
reafon they themfelves gave for it is, that it was not
with a view to miflead ftrangers, but that by adopt-
ing this method, they could converfe with each
other concerning the Indians, in their prefents,
without being underftood by them. For it was re-
marked by the perfons who firft tra^ded among them,
that when they were fpeaking to each other about
them, and mentioned their proper names, they
inftantly grew fufpicious, and concluded that their
vifitors were cither fpeaking ill of them, or plotv

C A R V E R ' 3 TRAVELS.

ting their deftruftion. To remedy this they gave
tiitm lomc other name. 'I'he only bad confcqucnce
ariiing from the pra61:icc then introduced is, that
Engiiih and French geographers, in their plans of
the Interior parts of America, give different names
to the fame people, and thereby perplex thofc who
have oecafion to refer to them.

Lake Michigan, of which the Green Bay is a party
is divided on the north-eaft from Lake Huron by
the Straits of Michiilimackir.aci and is fuuated be-
tween forty-two and furty-fix degrees of latitude,,
and between eighty- four and eighty-fcven degrees
ci wefc. longitude, its greateft length is two hun-
dred and eighty miles, its breadth al:)out forty, and
its circumference nearly fix hundred. There is a-
rernarkable llring of fmall iflands, beginning over
againft Afkin'sfarm, and running about thirty miles
fouth-weft into the Lake. Thefe are called the
Beaver Ifiands. ^"heir fituation is very pleafant,
but the foil is bare. However they afford a beauti-
ful prolpc<ft. *

On the north-weft parts of this lake the waters
branch out into two bays. That which lies towards
the north is the Bay of Noquets., and the other the
Green Bay juR defcribed.

The waiters of this as well as the other great
lakes are clear and wholefome, and of fufiicient
depth for the navigation of large Ihips. Half the
fp?.'"'^' of the country that lies to the eaft, and ex-
tends to Lake Huron, belonos to the Ottowaw In-
dians. The line that divides their territories from
the Chipeways, runs nearly north and fouth, and
reaches almoft from the fouthern extremicy of this
lake, acrofs the high lands, to Michillimackinac,
through the centire of which it paffes. So that when

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

thefe two tribes happen to meet at tlie ta6tory> they
each encamp on tiieir own dominions, at a few yardi
duhnce from the iiockade.

The country adjacent either to tl>e eafi: or weifi:
fide of this lake, is cornpofcd but of an indilfercn:
foil, except where fmall brooks or jivexs empty
thenirdves into it^ on the banks of tlicfe it is ex-
tremely fertiitr. Near the borders of the lake grow
a rr^at number of land cherries, which are not lefs
remarkable for their manner of growth, than for
their exquifite flavor. They grow upon a fmall
fhrub, not more than four feet high, the boughs
of which are (o loaded that they lie in cluHcrs oh
the fand. As they grow only on the fand, the
warmth of which probably contributes to bring
fhem to fuch periedlion; they are called by the
French, cherries dc fable, or fand cherries. The
fize of them docs not exceed that of a fmall mufket
ball, but they are reckcned fuperior to any other
fort for the purpofe of ftceping in fpirits. There
alfo grow around the lake, goofeberries, black cur-^
rants, afltl an abundance of juniper, bearing great
-quantities of berries of the fineft fort.

Sumack likcwife grows here in ^reat pknty-j
the leaf of which, gathered at Michaelmas, whc-n i:
turns red, is much efbeemed by the natives.. They
mix about an equal quantity of it with their tobac^
CO, wiiich caufes it to fmoke plcafandy. Near this
lake, and indeed about all the great i.ikf s, is found
a kind of willow, termed by the French, bcis rouge,
in Englilh, red wood. It. baric, wnen only of one
years growth, is of a line fcariei: coiour, ana appears
.'f^ry beautiful; but jis it grows oLUr, is: changes into
a mixture of i2;rev and red. Tlie Itaiks of this
forub grow many of them together, and rife to the
iieight of fix or eight feet, the largeit not exceeding

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

^n inch diameter. The bark being fcraped from
fhe fticks, and dried and powdered, is alio mixed
by the Indians with their tobacco, and is held by
them in the higheft eftimation for their winter fmok-
jng. A weed that grows near the great lakes, in
rocky places; they ufe in the fummer fcafon. It
is called by the Indians, Segockimac, and creeps
Jike a vine on the ground, fometimes extending to
eight or ten feet, and bearing a leaf about the fize
of a filver penny, nearly round j it is of the fub-
ftance and colour of the laurel, and is, like the tree
it refembles, an evergreen. Thefe leaves, dried
and powdered, they likcwifc mix with their lo-
baceoj and as faid before, fmoke it only during the
fummer. By thefe three fuccedaneums, the pipes
of the Indians arc well fupplied through every fea-
fon of the year; and as they are great fmokers,
they are very careful in properly gathering and pre-
paring them.

On the 20th of September I left the Green Bay,
and proceeded up Fox River, ftill in company
with the traders and fome Indians. On the 25th
I arrived at the great town of the Winnebagoes,
fituated on a fmall ifland, juft as you enter the eaft
end of Lake Winnebago. Here the queen who
prelided over this tribe inftead of a Sachem, received
me with great civility, and entertained me in a very
jdiftinguifhed manner, during the four days I conti-
fiued with her.

The day after my arrival I held a council with
the chiefs, of whom I alked permiiTion to pafs
through their country, in my way to more remote
nations, on bufinefs of importance. This was rea-
dily granted me, the requeft being eftecmed by
them as a great compliment paid to their tribe.
The queen f4t in the council, but only afked a few

CARVETl's TRAVELS.

lore remote
lis was rea-

queftions, or gave fomc trifling dircftions in matters
relative to the fiatc ; for women are never allowed
to fit hi their councils, except they happen to be
inyeited wich the fuprcme authority, and then it
is not cuftomary for them to make any formal
fpccches as the chiefs do. She was a very ancient
woman, fmall in Itaturc, and not much diftinguifti-
ed by her drefs from feveral young women that at-
tended her. Thefe her attendants feemed greatly
plcaltd whenever I fhowed any tokens of refpedt to
their queen, particularly when I falutcd her, which
I frequently did to acquire her favour. On thefe
occafionii the good old lady endeavoured to afTume
a juvenile oraiety, and by her fmiles Ihowed fhe
was equally pleafedwith the attention I paid her.

The time I tarried here, I employed in making
the beft obfervations polTible on the country, and
in colle<5ling the moil certain intelligence I could,
of the origin, language, and culloms of this people.
From thefe enquiries I have reafon to conclude,
tliat the Winnebagoes originally refided in fome of
the provinces belonging to New Mexico, and being
driven from their native country, either by inteftinc
divifions, or by the extenfions of the Spanifh con-
quells, they took refuge in thefe more northern
parts about a century ago.

My reafons for adopting this fuppofition, are,
Firft, from their unalienable attachment to the
Nsudowelfie Indians (who, they fay, gave them the
earliell fuccors during their emigration) noiwith-
ftanding their prefent refidcnce is more than fix
hundred miles dillant from that people.

Secondly, that their dialed totally differs from
every other Indian nation yet difcovered; it being
A very uncouth, guttural jargon, which none of
their neighbours will attempt to learn. They con-

T.2

CARVE R's TRAVELS.

verfe with other nations in the Chipeway tongue,
which is the prevailing language throughout all
the tribes, from the Mohawks of Canada, to thofc
who inhabit the borders of the Mifliflippi, and from
the Hurons and Illinois to fuch as dwell near liud-
fon's Bay.

Thirdly, from their inveterate hatred to the Spa-
niards. Some of them informed me that they had
many cxcurfionsf to the fouth-weft, which took up
feveral moons. An elderly chief more particularly
acquainted nie, that about forty- fix winters ago,
he marched at the head of fifty warriors, towards
the fou'h- weft, for three moons. That during this
expedition, whilft they were crofling a plain, they
difcovered a body of men on horfeback, who be-
longed to the Black People ; for fo they call the
Spaniards. As foon as they perceived them, they
proceeded with caution, and concealed themfclves
till night came onj when they drew fo near as to be
be able to difcern the number and fituation of their
enemies. Finding they were not able to cope with
fo great a fuperiority by day-light, they waited till
they had retired to reft; when they ruflied upon
them, and, after having killed the greateft part of
the men, took eighty horfes loaded with what they
termed whicc ftone. This I fuppofe to have been
filver, as he told mc the horfes were Ihod with it,
and that their bridles were ornamented with the
lam?*. When they had fatiatcd their revenge, they
carried off their fpoil, and being got fo far as to be
out of the reach of the Spaniards that had efcaped
their fury, they left the ulclcfs and ponderous bur-
then, widi vvhich the horfes were loaded, in the
woods, and mounting themfelves, in this manner
returned to their friends. The party they had thus
defeated, I conclude to be the caravan that annually
conveys to Mexico, the filvcr which the Spaniards^

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

find in great quantities on the mountains lying near
the heads of the Coleredo River : and the plains
where the attack was made, probably, fome they
were obliged to pafs over in their way to the head*
of the River St. Fee, or Rio del Nord, which
falls into the Gulf of Mexico, to the weft of the
Miffiffippi.

The Winnebagoes can raifc about two hundred
warriors. Their town contains about fifty houfesy
which are ftrongly built with pallifades, and the
ifland on which it is fituated, nearly fifty acres. It
lies thirty -five miles, 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; after that fpace, till yoir
arrive at the Winnebago Lake, it is full of rocks
and very rapid. At many places we were ob-
liged to land our canoes, and carry them a con-
fiderable way. Its breadth, in general, from the
Green Bay to the Winnebago Lake, is between^
fcventy 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 lo»g
from eaft to weft, and fix miles wide. At its fouth-
eaft corner, a river fails into it that takes its rife
near fome of the northern branches of the Illinois
River. This I called the Crocodile Kiver, in con-
fequence ofafl:ory that prevails among the Indians,
of their having dcftroyed, in fome part of it, an ani-
mal, which from their dcfcription mull: be a croco-'
dilc or an alligator.

The land adjacent to the Lake is very f?rtile,-
abounding with grapes, plumbs, and other fruits,.

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

which grow fpontancoufly. The Winncbagocs
raifc on it a great quantity of Indian corn, bcansy
pumpkins, fquafhcs, a::d water melons, with fome
tobacco. The Lake itfelf abounds wich fifh, and in
the fall of the year, with geefe, ducks, and teal.
The latter, which refort to it in great numbers, are
remarkably good and extremely fat, and are much
better flavored than thofe that are found near the fea,
as they acquire their exceflive fatnefs by feeding en
the wild rice, which grows fo plentifully in thefc
parts.

Having made fome acceptable prefents to the
good old queen, and received her blefllng, I left the
town of the Winnebagoes on the 29th of September,
and about twelve miles from k, arrived at the place
were the Fox River enters the Lake on the north
fide of it. We proceeded up this river, and on the
7th of Odlober reached the great carrying place,
which divides k from the Ouifconfin.

The Fox River, from the Green B^y to the Car-
rying Place, is about one hundred and eighty miles.
From the Winnebago Lake to the Carrying place the
current is gentle, and the depth of it confiderable ;
notwithftanding which, it is in fome places with
difficulty that canoes can pafs though the obftrudi-
ons they meet with from the rice ftalks, which are
very large and thick, and grow here in great abun-
dance. The country around it is very fertile, and
proper in the higheft degree for cultivation, except-
ing in fome places near the river, where it is rather
too low. It is in no part very woody, and yet can
fupply fufficient to anfwer the demands of any num-
ber of inhabitants. This river is the greateft reform,
of wild fowl of every kind, that I met with in the
whole courfe of my travels j frequently the fun would
be obfcured by them for fom.e minutes together.

C A R V E R's TRAVELS,

About forty miles up this riyer, from the great
town of the Winnebagocs, ftftnd? a fimallc;? town be*-
longing to that nation.

Deer and bears arc very numerous in thefe p?.rt^,
and a great many beavers and other furs are taken
on the ftrcams that empty themfclves into tiiis river.

The river J 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
tjieir wonted cuftom, Dcs Sacs and Des Reynards,
the Sacks and the Foxes, of whom thp foliowipg
anecdote was related to me by an Indian,

About Hxty years ago, the French miflionarie^
9Jid traders having received many infults from thefe
people, a party of French and Indians, under the
command of captain Morand marched to revenge
their wrongs. The captain fet out from the Green
Bay in the winter, when thp y were unfufpicious of
a vifit of this kind, and purfuipg his route over the
fnow to their villages, which lay about fifty ipiles
up the Fox River, came upon them by furprife.
Unprepared a$ they were, he found them an eafy
conqueft, and confcqucntly killed or pok prifoners
the grcateft part of thcnj. On thp return of the
French to the Green Bay, one of tl>e Indiaq chiefs in
alliance with them, who had a confiderablc band of
the prifoners under his care, ftoppcd to drink at a
brook ; in the mean time his conjpanicns went on :
which being obferved by one of the wonien whom
they had made captive, fiae fuddenly ieized him
with both her hands, whilft he ftooped to drink,
by an cxquifitely fufceptible part, and held him faft
|i}l )ie expired on the fpoF. As th^ chief f^rom the

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

extreme torture he fuffered, was unable to call out
to his friends, or to give any alarm, they pafled on
without knowing what had happened ; nnd the wo-
man having cut the bands of thofe of her fellow
prifontTS who were in the rear, with them made her
efcape. This heroine was ever after treated by
her nation as their deliverer, and made a chiefefs in
her own right, with liberty to entail the fame honor
on her defcendants ; an unufual diftin6lion, and per-
mitted only on extraordinary occafions.

About twelve miles before I reached the Carrying
Place, I obfervedfev^ral fmall mountains vi^hich ex-
tended quite to it. Thefe indeed would only be
cfteemed as, molehills, when compared with thafe
on the back of the colonies, but as they were the
firft I had feen fince my leaving Niagara, a track of
nearly eleven hundred miles, I could not Icgve them
unnoticed.

The Fox River, where it enters the Winnebago
. Lake, is about fifty yards wide, but it gradually dc-
creafes to the Carrying Place, where it is no more
than five yards over, except in a few places where it
widens into fmall lakes, though ftill of a confidera-
ble depth. I cannot recolleft any thing elfe that is
remarkable in this river, except that it is fo Terpen-
tine for five miles, as only to_gain in that place one
quarter of a mile. v .*

The Carrying Pkce betwcrn the 'Fox awil Ouif-
confin Rivers is in breadth not more than a mile
and three quarters, though in fame maps it is fo de-
lineated as to appear to be ten miles. And here I
cannot help remarking, that the maps oi thefe
parts, I have ever feen, are very erroneous. The
rivers in general are defcribed as^runningin different
fjjrcdions from what they really do i and many

CARVE R's TRAVELS.

«7

branches ofthcm, particularly of the MilTiflippi,
omitted. The diftanccs of pla€es,likcwifc, arc great-
ly mifrcprercnted. Whether this is done by the
French geographers (for the Englilh maps are all
copied from theirs) through defign, or for want of a
juft knowledge of the country, I cannot fay ; but I
am faiisficd that travellers who depend upon them in
the parts I vifited, will find thcmfelves much at alofs.

Near one half of the way, between the rivers, is
a marais overgrown with a kind of long grafs, the
reft of it a plain with fome few oak and pin« trees
growing thereon. lobfcrved here a great number
of rattlc-fnakes. Monf. Pinnifance, a French tra-
der, told me a remarkable ftory conccrniog one of
thefe reptiles, of which he faid, he was an eye-wit-
nefs. An Indian, belongmg to the Menoiiponic na-
tion, having taken one of them, found means to
tame it j and when he had done this, treated it as a
Deity j calling it his Great Father, and carrying ic
with himj in a box, wherever he went. This the
Indian had done for feveral fummers, when Monff-
Pinnifance accidently met with him at his carrying
place, juft as he was ietting ofFfor a winter's hunt.
The French gentleman was fupprifed, one day, to
fee the Indian place the box which contained his god,
on theground, and opening the door, give him his
liberty J telling him, whilft he did it, to be fure and
return by the time he himfelf fhould come back^
which was to be in the moath of May following. As
this was but Qdober, Monficur told the Indian,
whofe fimplicky aftonilhcd him, that he fancied he
might wait long enough when May arrived, for the
arrival of his great father. The Indian was fo con-
fident of his creat«rt€'s obedici?ce, ^hsLt he offered ta
lay the Frenchman a wager of^ two gallons of rum,
that at the time appointed'he ^^ould come and crawl
iotohis box. This was- agreed on, and the fccond

CAftVER's TRAVELS.

week in May following, fixed for the determination
of the wager. At that period they both met there
again j when the Indian let down his box, and called
fcr his great father. The fnake heard him not ;
and the time being now expired, he acknowledged
that he had loft. However, without fecming 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 cnc o'clock, the fnake arrived, and, of his
own accord crawled into the box, which was plac-
ed ready for him. The French gentleman vouched
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 his veracity.

I obfervcd that the main body of the Fox River
came from the fouth-weft, that of the Ouifconfin
from the north-eaft j addalfo that fomc of the fmall
branches of thefe two rivcrs,in dcfccnding into them,
doubled, within a few feet of each other, a little to
the fouth of the Carrying Place. That two fuch
Ihould take their rife foneareach other, and after run-
ning different courfcs, empty themfelves into the
fca, at a diftance fo amazing (for the former hav-
ing paffed through fcvcral great lakes, and run up-
wards of two thoufand miles, falls into the Gulf of
St. Lawrence, and the other, after joining the Mif-
fiflippi, and having run an eqwal number of miles,
difcmbogues itfelf into the Gulf of Mexico ) is an
inftahce fcarcely to be met in the extenfive conti-
nent of North- America. I had an apportunity the
year following, of making the fame obfcrvations on
the affinity of various head branches of the waters of
the St. Lawrence and the MiffilTippi, to each other j
and now bring them as a proaf, that the opinion of
thofe geographers who affcrt, that rivers taking their
rife fo near each other, mirft fpring from the fame

CARVE R»s TRAVELS.

fourcc, is erroneous. For I perceived a vifibly dif-
flinA reparation in all of them, notwithftandng, in
fomc places, they approached fo near, that I could
have Kepped from the one to the other.

On the 8th of Oftober we got our canoes into the
Ouifconfm River, which at this place is more than
a hundred yards wide ; and the next day arrived at
the Great Town of the Saukies. 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 compa(5tly as to
keep out the moil: penetrating rains. Before the
doors are placed comfortable iheds, in which the in-
habitants fit, when the weather will permit, and
fmoke their pipes. The ftreets are regular and fpa-
cious ; fo that it appears more like a civilized town,
than the abode or lavages. 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. io that this place is efteemcd the bcft mar-
ket for traders to furnilh themfclves 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
making incurfions into the territories of the Illinois
and Pawnee nations, from whence they return with a
great number of flavcs. But thofe people frequent-
ly retaliate, and in their turn, cicftroy many of the
Saukies, which I judge to be the reafon that they
increafe n6 fafter.

:r^r.

Whiift I (laid here, I took a view of feme moun-
tains that lie about fifteen miles to the fouthward,
and abound in lead ore. I afcended on one of the

s«

CARVE R's TRAVELS.

Iiighcft' of thefc, and had an cxtcnfivc view of the
country. For many miles nothing was to be (ecn
hut leder mountains, which appeared at a di(V&ncc
like haycoclcs, they being free from trees. Only a
few groves of hickory, and ftunccd oaks, covered
fomc of the valUcs. So plentiful is lead here, that
I faw large quantities of it lying about the ftreets in
the town belonging to the Saukics, and itfccmcd to
be as good as the produce of other councrics.

On the loth of Oftober we proceeded down the
river, and the next day reached the firft town of the
Octigaumies. This town contained about fifty houfes,
but we found mofl of them deferted, on account
of an epidemical diforder that had lately raged
among them, and carried off more than one half of
the inhabitants.^ The greater part ofthofe who fur-
vived, had retired into the woods, to avoid the con-
tagion.

On the 15th, we entered that extenfive river the
Miflifijppi. The Ouifconfm, from the Carrying
Place to the part where it falls into the MIlTiflippi,
flows with a fmooth, but ftrong current ; the water
of it is exceedingly clear, and through it you may
perceive a fine and fandy bottom, tolerably free
from rocks. In it are a few iflands, the foil of which
appeared to be good, though fomewhat woody.
The land near the river alfo ftemed to be, in gene-
ral, excellent j but that at a diftancc is very full, of
mountains, where it is iaid there are many lead
mines.

About five miles from the junftio<n of the rivers,
I obferved the ruins cfa large town, in a very
pleafing fituation. On enquiring of the neighbour-
ing Indians, why it was thus dcfijrtedjl was- imarmicd,
that abotit thirty years ago, the Great Spirit had ap-
peared on the top of a pyramid- of rocks, vrhichlay

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

at a little diftancc from it, towards the wefl:,- and
warncc^ them to quit their habitations j for the land
on which thty were built belonged to !iim, andiic
had occafion for it. As a proot that he, who gave
thctn thefc orders was, really tl-»c Great Spirit, he
iurdicr told them that, thegrafslhould imnifdiatcly
fpring up on thpfc very rocks from wiiencf he now
addrcfled them, which they knew to be bare and
barren. The Indians obeyed, and foon after dif-
covercd that this miraculous alteration liad taken
place. They fhcwed me the fpot, but the growth of
the grafs appeared to be no way fupcrnatural. I
apprehend this to have been a ftratagcm of the
French or Spaniards, to anfwcr fome felfifh view ;
but in what manner they cffedcd their purpofes I
know not.

This people, foon after their removal, built a
lown on the bank of r\e Mifliffippi, near the mouth
of theOuifconfin, at a place called by the French La
Prairies les Ch icns, which fignifics the Dog Plains j
it is a large town, and contains about three hundred
families i the houfcs are well built after the Indian
manner, and pleafantly fituated on a very rich foil,
from which they raifc every ncceffary of life in great
abundance. Ifawhere many horfes of a good fize
and fhape. This town is the great mart where all
the adjacent tribes, and even thofe who inh.ibic the
moil remote branches of tlie MiffifTippi, annually
aflemble about the latter end of May, bringing with
them their furs to difpofe of to the traders. But it
is not always that they conclude their faie here j
thisis jdetcrmiricd by a general council of the chiefs,
who Gonfult whetJierit would be more conducive to
their in tcrcft, to fell their. goodsat this i)lacc,.or car-
ry them on taLouiliana, or MichHiimiickinac. Ac-
cc iing to the dccifion of this council, they either
prccccd further, jor return to their different hoii>cs.

CARVER'S TRAVELS

The MifTifllppi, at the entrance of the Ouifconfin,
near which Itands a mountain of confiderable
height, is about half a mile over i but oppofite to
the Ja(l mentioned town it appears to be more than
a mile wide, and full of ifljinds, the foil ofwhich is
extraordinary rich, and but thinly wooded.

A little further to the weft, on the contrary fide,
a fmall river falls into the Mifliflippi, which the
French call Le Jaun Riviere, or the Yellow River.
Here the tri:ders who had accompanied me hither-
to, took up their rcfidence for the winter. I then
bought 3 canoe, and with two fervants, one a French
Canadian, and the other a Mohawk of Canada, on
thie 1 9th proceeded up the Miffiffippi.

About ten days after I had parted from the trad-
ers, 1 landed as 1 ufually did, every evening, an4
having pitched my tent, I ordered my men, when
night came on, to lay themfelves down to fleep. By
a light that I kept burning I then fat down to copy
the minutes I had taken in cht courfe of the pre-
ceding day. About ten o'clock, having juft finifh-r
ed my memorandums, I fteppcd out of my tent to
fee what weather it was. As I caft my eyes to-
wards the bank of the river, I thought I faw by the
light of the ftars, which Ihone bright, fomething that
had the appearance of a herd of beafts, coming down
a defcent at fome diftance j whilft I was wonder-
ing what they could be, one of the number fuddenly
fprung up, and difcovered to me the form of a man.
In an inftant they were all on their legs, and I could
count about ten or twelve of them running towards
me. I immediately re-entered the tent, and having
awakened my men, ordered them to take their arms,
and follow me. As my firft apprehenfions were for
roy canoe, I ran to the water's fide, and found a party

€ A R V E R's TRAVELS.

of Indians (for fuch I now diicovered them to be)
on the point of plundering it. Before I reached
them, I commanded my men not to fire till I had
given the word, being unwilling to begin hofl-ilities
iinlefs occafion abfoiutely required. I accordingly
advanced with rcfolution, clofe to the points of their
fpears, they had no other -rveapons, and brandifh-
ing my hanger, afl<ed then with a ftern voice, what
they wanted? They wcie ftaggercd at this, and
perceiving they were like to meec with a warm re-
ception, turned about and precipitately retreated.
We purfued them to an adjacent wood, which they
entered, and we faw no more of them. However,
for fear of their return, we watched alternately dur-
ing the remainder of the night. The next day my
fervants were under great apprehenfions, and ear-
neftly entreated me to return to the traders we had
lately left. But I told them, that if they would not
be eftcemed old women (a term of the greateft re-
proach among the Indians) they muft follow me j for
i was determined to purfue my intended route, as an
Englifhman, when once engaged in an adventure,
never retreated. On this they got into the canoe,
and I walked cin the fhorc to guard them from any
further attack. The party of Indians who had thus
intended to plunder me, I afterwards found to be
fome of thofe ftraggling bands, that having been
, driven from among the different tribes to which they
belonged, for various crimes, now affociated thcm-
felves together, aqd, living by plunder, prove very
troublefome to travellers who pafs this way^ nor
are even Indians of every tribe fpared by them. The
traders had before cautioned me to be upon my
guard againft them, and I would repeat the fame
caution to thofe whofc buiincfs might call then! iqt^
thcfe parts.

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

n
\

On the I ft of November I arrived at Lake P«pin,
which is rather an extended part of the river Mif-
fiflippi, that the French have thus denominated,
but two hundred miles from the Ouifconfm. The
MifTiflippi below this lake, flows with a gentle cur-
rent, but the breadth of it is very uncertain, in
feme 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 5 which in particular parts approach near
to it, in others lie at a greater diftance. The land
betwixt the mountains, and on their fides, is ge-
nerally covered with grafs, with a few groves of
trees interfperfed, near which, large droves of deer
0nd elk arc frequently fcen feeding.

In many places pyramids of rocks appeared, re-
ff^mbling old ruinous towers; at others amazing
precipices; and what is very remarkable, whillt
this fcene prefented itfelf on one fide, the oppofite
fide of the fame mountain ^vas covered with the
nneft herbage, which gradually afcended to its
i'ummit. From thence the rnoft beautiful and ex-
tenfive profpe6t that imagination can form, opens
to your view. Verdant plains, fruitful meadows,
nunlerous iflands, and all thefc abounding with a va-
riety of trees that yield amazing quantities of fruit,
without care or cultivation; fuch as the nut-tree,
the maple whicfi produces fugar, vines loaded with
rich grapes, and pjum-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 attrad yOur admiration and
excite your wonder!

The Lake is about twenty miles long, and near
fix in breadth ; in fome places it is very deep, and
abounds with various kinds of fifh. Great num-

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

bers of fowl frequent alfo this Lake and the rivers
adjacent J fuch as fto; ks, fwans, geefe, brants, and
ducks: and in the groves are found great plenty
of turkeys and partridges. On^the plains are the
largeft buffaloes of any in America. Here I ob-
ferved the ruins of a French faftory, where it is faid
captain St. Pierre refided, and carried on a very
great trade with the Naudowcflies, before the reduc-
tion of Canada.

About fixty miles below this Lake is a moun-
tain remarkably fituatedj for it flands by itfelf
exactly in the middle of the river, and looks as if
it had Hidden from the adjacent Ihore into the (trcam.
It cannot be termed an ifland, as it rifes immedk-
diately from the brink of the water to aconfidcrable
height. Both the Indians and the French call it
the Mountain in the river.

jreat num-

One day having landed on the Ihore of the Mif-
fiffippi, fome miles below Lake Pepin, whilft my
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, level, open
plain, on which I perceived at a little diftance, a par-
tial elevation that had the appearance of an intrench-
ment. On a nearer infpeftion I had greater reafon
to fuppofe that it had really been intended for this
many centuries ago, Notwithftanding it was now
covered with grafs, I could plainly difcern that ic
had once been a breaft-work of about four feet in
height, extending the belt part of a mile, and fufH-
ciently capacious to cover five thoufand men. Its
form was fomewhat circular, and its flanks reached
to the river. Though much defaced by time, every
angle was diftinguifhablc, and appeared as regular,
and falhioned with as much military ikill, as if
planned by Vauban himfelf. The ditch was not

St \

j6 G A R V E R'5 T R A V E L S.

vifible, but I thought on examining more cm'ioudyj,
that I could perceive there certainly had been one.
From its fituation alfo, I am convinced that it muft
have 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 llraggling oaks
were alone to be feen near it. In many place*
ImaJl trads were worn acrofs it by the feet of the
elks and deer, and from the depth of the bed of
earth by which it was covered, I was able to draw
c-rtain conclufions of its great antiquity. I exa-
mined all the angles, and every part with great at-
tention, and have often blamed myfclf fmce, for
not encamping on the fpot, and drawing an cxa6t
plan of it. To fhew that this defcription is not the
offspring of a heated imagination, or the chimerical
tale of a miitaken traveller, I find on enquiry fincc
my return, that Monf. St. Pierre and feveral tra-
ders, have, at different times, taken notice of limi-
lar appearances, on which they have formed the
fame conjedures, but without examining them fo
minutely as I did. How a work of this kind could
cxift in a country that has hitherto (according to the
general received opinion) been the feat of war to
untutored Indians alone, whofc whole Hock of mili-
tary knowledge has only, till within two centuries,
amounted to drawing the bow, and whofe only
breaft-work, even at prefent, is the thicket, I
know not. I have given as exad an account as
poffible, of this Angular appearance, and leave to
future explorers of thefe diftant regioas, to difcover,
whether it is a produdion of nature or art.

Perhaps the hints I have here given, might
lead to a more pcrfed invelligation of it, and give
up very different ideas of the ancient ftate of realms

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

tliac we at prefent believe to have been from the
carlicll period only the habitadons of lavages.

The MiflTiffippi, as far as the entrance of the
river. St. Croix j thirty miles above Lake Pepin,
is very full of iflands i fome of which are of a con-
fiderable length. On thefe alfo, grow great num-
bers of the maple or fugar tree, and around them,
vines loaded with grapes, creeping to their very
tops. From the Lake upwards, few mountains are
to be feen, and thofe but fmail. Near the river
^Si. Croix, relide three bands of the Naudoweflle
Indians, called the River Bands.

This nation is compofed, at prefent, of eleven
bands. They were originally twelve j but the AfTi-
nipoils fome years ago, revolting, and fcparating
themfelves from the others, there remain only ac
this time eleven. Thofe I met here are termed the
River Bands; becaufe they chiefly dwell near the
banks of this River : the other eight are generally
diftinguiflied by the title, NaudoweSies of the Plains,
and inhabit a country that lies more to the v/eft-
ward. The names of the former are the Nehoyja-
tawonahs, the Mawtawbauntowahs, and the Shah-
fweentowahs, and confift of about four hundred
warriors.

A little before I met with thefe three bands, I
fell in with a party of the Mawtawbauntov/ahs,
amounting to forty warriors and their families. With
thefe I refided a day or two, during which time
five or fix of their number who had been out on an
txcurfion, returned in great haftc, and acquainted
their companions that a large party of the Chipe-
way warriors, "enough," as they exp re fifed them-
felves, " to fwallow them all up," were clofc at
their heels., and on the point of attcking their little

CARVER s TRAVELS.

E' ''I

caiv.p. The chiefs applied :o me, and dcfired I
would put myfelf at their head, and lead them out
to oppofe their enemies. As I was a ftranger, and
unwilling to excite the anger of cither nation, I
knew not how toadtj and never found myfelf in a
greater dilemma. Had Ircfufedto a.Tift the Nau-
doweflics I fhould have drawn on myfelf their dif-
pleafurc, or had I met the Chipeways with hoftijc
intentions, I Ihould have made that people my foes,
and had I been fortunate enough to have cfcaped
their arrov/s at this time, on fome future occafion
fhould probably have experienced the feverity of
their revenge. In this extremity I chofe the middle
courfe, and dcfircd that the Naudoweflies would
fufFer me to meet them, that I might endeavour to
avert their fury. To this they reluctantly aflfcnted,
being perfuaded, from the inveteracy which had long
prevailed between them, that my rcmonfttanccs
would be in vain.

Taking my Frenchman with me, who could
fpeak their language, I haftencd towards the place
where the Chipeways were fuppofed to be. The
Naudoweflies, during this, kept at a diftancc be-
hind. As I approached them with the pipe of peace,
a fmall party of their chiefs, confifting of about
eight or ten, came in a friendly manner towards
me ; with whom, by the means of my interpreter,
I held a long converfation j the refult of which was,
that their rancor being by my perfuafions in fome
meafure mollified, they agreed to return back, with-
out accomplifhing their favagc purpofes. During
our difcourfe I could perceive, as they lay fcattered
about, that the party was very numerous, and many
of them armed with mulkets.

Having happily fucceeded in my undertaking, I
returned without delay to the Naudoweflies, and

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

dcfired Aey would inftantly remove their camp to
feme other part of the country, left their enemies
fhould repent of the promife they had given, and
put their intentions in execution. They accord-
ingly followed my advice, and immediately pre-
pared to ftrikc their tents. Whilft they \%erc doin-;
this, they loaded me with thanks ; and when I
hadfcen them on board their canoes, I purlutd my
route.

To this adventure I was chiefly indebted for the
friendly reception I afterwards met with from the
Naudoweflics of the Plains, and for the rcfpccl and
honors I received during my abode among thenr.
And when 1 arrived many months after at the Clii-
peway village, near the Ottowaw lakes, I found i hat
my fame had reached that place before me. The
chief received me with great cordiality, and the
elder part of them thanked mc for the mifchie/ 1
had prevented. They informed me, that the war
between their nation and the Naudoweffies had con-
tinued without interruption for more than forty win-
ters. That they had long wifhed to put an end to it,
but this was generally prevented by the young war-
riors of cither nation, who could not reftrain their
ardor when they met. They faid, they Ihould be
happy if fome chief of the fame pacific difpofition,
as myfelf, and who poflfeffed an equal degree of re-
folution and coolnefs, would fettle in the country
between the two nations; for by the interference ^^f
fuch a perlbn, an accommodation, which on their
parts they fincerdy defired, might be brought about.
As I did not meet any of the Naudoweffies after-
wards, I had not an opportunity of forwarding ihi
good a work.

About thirty miles below the Fails of St. An-
thony, at which I arrived the tenth day after I left

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

Lake Pepin, Is a remarkable cave of i?n ama2ing
depth. The Indians term it Wakon-teebc, that is,
the Dwelling of the Great Spirit. The entrance
into it is about ten feet wide, the height of it five
feet. The arch within is near fifteen feet high and
about thirty feet broad. The bottom of ic confifts
of line clear fand. About twenty feet from the en-
trance begins a lake, the water of which is tranfpa-
rent,and extends to an unfearchablediftancc j for the
darknefs of the cave prevents all attempts to ac-
quire a knowledge of it. I chrew a fmall pebble to-
wards the interior parts of is, with my utmoft
ftrength : I could hear that it fell into the water, and
notwithflanding it was of fo fmall a fize, it caufed
an aflonilhing and horrible noife, that reverberated
through all thofe gloomy regions. I found in this
cave many Indiaf^Jiieroglyphics, which appeared
very ancient, for time had nearly covered them with
mofs,fo that it was with difficulty! could trace them.
They were cut in a rude manner, upon the infide of
the walls, which were compofed of a ftonp fo ex-
tremely foft that it might eafily be penetrated with
a knife ; a ftonc every where to be found near the
MiflHTippi. The cave is only accefiible by afcend-
ing a narrow, ftcep paffage, that lies near the brink.
of the river.

At a little diftance from this dreary cavern, is the
burying-place of feveral bandsof the Naudoweflie
Indians : though thefe people have no fixed fefi-
dence, living in rents, and abiding but a few months
on one fpot, yet they always bring the bones of their
dead to this place ; which they take the opportunity
of doing when the chiefs meet to hold their coun-
cils, and to fettle all public affairs for the cnfuing
fummer.

Ten miles below the Falls oF St. Anthony, the

CARVE R's TRAVELS.

River St. Pierre, called by the natives the Wadcla-
pawmenefotor, falls into the Miffiflippi from the weft.
It is not mentioned by Father Hennipin, although a
large, fair river j this omiffion I conclude, mufthave
proceeded from afmall ifland that is fituated exadly
at its entrance, by which the fight of it intercepted.
I rtiould not have difcovered this river myfelf, had
I not taken a view, when I was fcarching for it, from
the high lands oppofite, which rife to a great
height.

Nearly over againft this river I was obliged to
leave my canoe, on account of the ice, and travel by
land to the Falls of St. Anthony, where I arrived on
the lyih of November. The Midiflfippi from the St.
Pierre to this place, is rather more rapid than I had
hitherto foundit, and without iflandsofany confidc-
ration.

Before I left my canoe I overtook a young prince
of the Winnebago Indians, who was going on an
cmbafly to fomc of the bands of the Naudoweflies.
Finding that I intended to take a view of th*e Falls,
he agreed to accompany me, his curiofity having
been often excited by the accounts he had received
from fome of his chiefs : he accordingly left his fa-
mily (for the Indians never travel without their houf-
holds) at this place, under the care of my Mohawk
fervant, and we proceeded together by land attend-
ed only by my Frenchman, to this celebrated place.

yVc could diftinflly hear the noife of the water
full fifteen miles before we reached the fails ; and
I was greatly pleafcd and furprifed, when I ap-
proached this aftonifiiing work ofnature j but I was
not long at liberty to indulge thefe emotions, my at-
tention being called off by the behaviour ofmy com-
panion.

CARVER'S TRAVEL .-:.

The Pnncc had no fuontr gamed the point that
overlooks this wonderful cafcadc, than he began
^vith an audible voice to addrefs the Great Spirit,
one of whofe plactL of rcf-dencc he imagined this to
be. He told him that he had come a hng way to
})ay Iiis adorations to him, and now would make him
the hcfl offering in hi*: power. He accordingly firft:
threw his pipe into the flrcam -, then the roll that
t'Ontained his tobacco j after thefe, the bracelets he
wore on his arms and wrifis ; next an ornament that
encircled his neck, compofed of beads and wires i
andatlcill the tar-rings from his ears ; in ihort, he
prefented to his p;od, every part of his drefs that was
valuabk : during tJiis he frequently fmote his breafl
with great violence, threw his arms about, and ap-
peared to be much agitated.

All this while he continued his adorations, and ac
length concluded th m with fervent petitions that the
' Gtcat Spirit would conitantly aiford us his protec-
tion on our travels, giving us a bright fun, a blue
il<y, and clear, untroubled waters : nor would he
leave the place till we had finoked together with my
pipe, in honor of the Gi-eat Spirit.

I was g'-eatly furprifcd at beholding an inftance of
fuch elevated devotion in fo young an Indian, and
inftead of ridiculing the ceremonies attending it, as
lobfcrvfd my catholic fervani tacitydid, I looked
on the prince with a greater degree of refpcft for
thefe fmctre proofs he gave of his piety -, and 1 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 pomp, or in a confe-
crated place.

Indeed, the whole condud of this young prince
at once pnazed and charmed me. During the few

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

days wc were together, his attention leemcd totally
to be employed in yielding me every alliltancc iii
his power ; and even in fo Ihort a time, he j.ive me
innumerable proofs of the moft generous and difin-
tercftcd friendlhip j fo that on our return I parted
from him with great reluflancf. WhiUl I bt-held
the artlefs, yet engaging manners of this unpolilhed
Civage, I could not help drawing a co.Tjparilbn be-
tween him and fome of the more refined inhabitants
o^ civilized countries, not much, I own, in favor of
the latter.

The Falls of St. Anthony received their name
from Father Louis Hennipin, a French mifTionary,
who travelled into thefe parts about the year 1680,
and was the firft European ever fcen by the natives.
This amazing body of waters, which are above 250
yards over, form a moft pleafing catarad: j they fall
perpendicularly about thirty feet, and the rapids
bel'ow, in the fpacc of 300 yards more, render the
defccnt confiderably greater ; fo that v^hen viewed
at a diftance, they appear to be much higher than
they really are. The above-mentioned traveller has
laid them down at above fixty feet; but he had
made a greater error in calculating the height of the
Falls of Niagara; which he aflferts to be 600 feet >
whereas from later obfervations accurately made, it
is well known that it does not exceed 140 feet. But
the good father 1 fear too often had no other found -
dation for his accounts, than report, or, ^t beft, a
flight infpedtion.

In the middle of the Falls ftands a fmali iOand,
about forcy feet broild and fomewhat longer, on
which grow a few cragged hemlock and fpruce trees;
and about half way between this ifland and the eaft-
crn fhore is a rock, lyiug at the very edge of th^
Fall, in an oblique pofiticn that apnei^red to be*

C A R V E R's TRAVELS.

about five or fix feet broad, and thirty or forty long.
Thdc Falls vary much from all the others I have
fccn, as you may approach clofc to them without
liruling tlie Icaft obftrudion from any intervening hill
or precipice.

The country around them is extremely beautiful.
It is not an uninterrupted plain, where the eye finds,
no relief, but compofcd of many gentle afcents,
v/hich in the fummer arc covered with the fined
verdure, and interfperfed with little groves, that
giveapleafing variety to the profpe(!!l. On the whole,
wlien the Fvills arc included, which may be feen at
the dirtance of four miles, a m( re pleafing and pic*
turel'que view cannot, I believe, be found through-
out the univerfe. I could have wifhed that I had
happened to enjoy thi?; glorious fight at a more fea-
fonablc time of the year, wlnlit the trees and hillocks
were clad in nature's gayeft livery, as this muft
have greatly added to the pleafure I received j how-
ever, even then itexceeded my warmed expectations.
I have endeavoured to give the reader as jud an idea
of this enchanting fpot, as pofliblc j but all defcrip-
tion, whether of the pencil or the pen, mud fall in-
finitely fliortof the original.

At a little didance below the Falls dands a fmall
ifland, of about an acre and an half, on which grow a
great number of oak trees, every branch of which,
able to fupport the weijrht, was full of eagles* neds.
The reafon that this kind of birds refort in fuch
numbers to this fpot, is, that they are here fecurc
frt)m the attacks either of man or bead, their retreat
bcinjy guarded by the rapids, which the Indiang
never attempt to pafs. Another reafon is, that they
find a conltant fupply of food for themfclves and
their youn^, from the animals and fifli which are

CARVER'S TRAVELS. 45

daflied to pieces by the Falls, and driven on the ad-
jacent Ihorc.

Having fatisficd my ruriofity, as far as the eye of
man can be fatisfied, I proceeded on, Hill accom-
panied by my young friend, till I had reached the
River St. Francis, near fixty miles above the Falls.
To this river Father Hennipin gave the name of St.
Francis, and this was the extent of his travels, as
well as mine, towards the north-well. As the feafon
wasfo advanced, and the weather extremely cold, I
was not able to make fo many obfervations on thcfc
parts as I otherwifc Ihould have done.

It might however, perhaps, be ncceflary to ob-
ferve, that in the little tour I made about the Falls,
after travelling fourteen miles, by the fide of the Mif-
fiflippi, I came to a river nearly twenty yards
wide, which ran from the north eaft, called Rum
River. And on the 2Qth of November came tQ
another termed Goofc River, about twelve yards
wide. On the 21ft I arrived at the St. Francis,
which is about thirty yards wide. Here the MiflilTippi
itfelf grows narrow, being not more than ninety
yards over j and appears to be chiefly pompofed of
fmall branches. The ice prevented me from noticing
the depth ofanyof thefe tlirce rivers.

The country in fome places is hilly, but without
large mountains ; and the land is tolerably good. I
obferved here many deer and carriboos, fome elk,
with abundance of beavers, otters, and otherfurs. A
little above this, to the north eaft, are a number of
fmall lakes called the Thoufand Lakes j the parts
about which, though but little frequented, are the
beft within many miles, for hunting, as the hunter
never fails of returning loaded beyond his expedla-
tions. ,

46 CARVER'S TRAVELS.

The Miffiflippi has never been explored higher
up than the River St. Francis, and only by Father
Hennipin and myfelf thus fan So that we are
obliged folely to the Indians, for all the intelligence
we arc able to give relative to the more northern
parts. As this River is not navigable from thcv fea
for veffels of any confidcrablc burthen, much higher
up than the Forks of the Ohio, and even that is ac-
complifhed with great difficulty, owing to the ra-
pidity of the current, and the winding of the river;
thofe fettlemcnts that may be made on the interior
banches of it, muft be indifputably fecure from the
attacks of any maritime power. But at the fame
time the fettlers will have the advantage of being
able to convey their produce to the fea-ports, with
great facility, the current of the river from its fource
to its entrance into the Gulf of Mexico, being ex-
tremely favorable fordoing this in fmall craft. This
might alfo in time be facilitated by canals or fhorter
cuts i and a communication opened by water with
New- York, Canada, &c. by way of the lakes. The
Forks of the Ohio are about nine hundred miles
from the mouth of the MifTilTippi, following the
courfe of the river ; and the MelTorie two hundred
miles above thele. From the latter it is about twenty
miles to the Illinois River, and from that to the Ou-
ifconfm, which I have given an account of, about
eight hundred more.

On the ^5th I returned to my canoe, which I had
left at the mouth of the River St. Pierre j and here
I parted with regret from my young friend, the
prince of the Winnebagoes. This river being clear of
ice, by reafon of its fouthern fituation, I found no-
thing to obftru61: my palTagc. On the 28th, being
advanced about forty miles, I arrived at a fmall
branch that fell into it from the north i to which, as
ir had no name that I ceuld diflinguilh it by, I gave

C A R V E R*s TRAVELS.

I had
here
, the
ar of
no-

my own. About forty miles higher up I came to
the Forks of Verd and Ked Marble Rivers, which
join at fome little diftancc before they enter the
St. Pierre.

The River St. Pierre, at its jundion with the
Mifliflippi, is about a hundred yards broad, and
continues that breadth nearly all the way I failed
upon it. It has a great depth of water, and in fomc
places runs very brifkly. About fifty miles from its
mouth are fome rapids, and n^uch higher up there
are many others.

I proceeded upon this river about two hundred
miles to the country of the Naudowcffies of the
Plains, which lies a little above the Forks formed by
the Verd and Red Marble Rivers, juft mentioned,
where a branch from the fouth nearly joins the Mef-
fori River. By the accounts I received from the
Indians, I have re afon to believe that the River St.
Pierre and the Meflbri, though they enter the Mif-
fiffippi twelve hundred miles from each other, take
their rife in the fame neighborhood -, and this within
the fpace ofa mile.

The River St. Pierre's northern branch rifes from
a numb'-r of lakes near the fhining mountains j and
it is from fome of thefe, alfo, that a capital branch of
the River Bourbon, which runs intoHudfon's Bay,
has its fourccs.

From the intelligence I gained from the Nau-
dowcffie Indians, among whom I arrived on the 7th
of December, and whofe language I perfectly ac-
quired during a refidencc of fiye months i and alfo
from the accounts I afterwards obtained from the
Affinipoils, who fpeak the fame tongue, being a re-
volted band of the Naudov/c flies -, and from the Kil-

4t CARVER'S TRAVELS.

liiiinocs, neighbours of the Aflinipoils, who fpcak
the Chipcway language, and inhabit the heads of the
River Bourbon ; I fay from thefe nations, together
with my ow" obfervations, I have learned that the
four mod c .^ital rivers on the Continent of North-
America, viz. the St. Lawrence, the Miffiffippi, the
river Bourbon, and the Oregon or the river ot the
Weft (as I hinted in my Introduftion) have their
fources in the fame neighbourhood. The waters of
the three former are within thirty miles of each
other i the latter, however is rather further weft.

This fhews that thefe parts are the higheft lands
in North- America; and it is an inftance not to be
paralled on the other three quarters of the globe,
that four rivers of fuch magnitude (hould take their
rife together, and each, after running feparatc cour-
les, difchargcd their waters into different oceans at
the diftancc of two thoufand miles from their fources.
For in their paflage from this fpot to the bay of St.
Lawrence, eaft; to the Bay ot Mexico, fouth; to
Hudfon's Bay, north j and to the bay at the Straits
ofAnnian, weft, each of thefe travcrfe upwards of
two thoufand miles.

I (hall here give my readers fuch rcfle6lions as
occurred to me, when I had received this intercft-
ing information, and had by numberlefs enquiries,
afcertained the truth of it ; that is, as far as it was
poffible to arrive at a certainty without a pcrfonal
invcftigation.

It is well known that the Colonies, paiticularly
thofe of New-England and Canada, are greatly
afFcdcd, about the time their winter fcts in, by a
north-weft wind, which continues for fe vcral months,
and renders the cold much more intenfe there than
it is in the interior parts of America. This I can.

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

4§

from my own knowledge, alTerr, as I found the
winter, that I palled to the weflward of the Mif-
fifllppi, far from fcvere -, and the north-well wind
blowing on thofe countries confiderably more tem-
perate than I have often experienced it to be nearer
the coaft. And that this did not arife from an un-
certainty of the feafons, but was annually the cafe^
I conclude, both from the fmall quantity of fnow
that then fell, and a total difufe of fnow fhoes
by thefe Indians, without which none of the more
eallern nations can poflibly travel during the win-
ter. .

As naturalills obferve, that air refembles water
in many refpefts, particularly by often flowing in a
compad bodyi and that this is generally remarked
to be with the current of large ilreams, and feldom
acrofs them, may not the winds that fct viclently
into the Bay of Mexico about the latter end of the
year, take rheir courfe over the continent in the fame
direction as the Miffiflippi does j till meeting the north
winds (that from a fimilar caufe blow up the Bourbon
from Hudfon's Bay) they are forced acrofs the great
lakes, down the current of the waters of the St.
Lawrence, and united, commit thofe ravages, and
occafion thofe fevere winters, experienced in the
before-mentioned countries ? During their progrefs
over the lakes they become expanded, and confe-
quently affed: a greater trad of land than they other-
wife would do.

According to my fcanty knowledge of natural
philofophy, this c Des not appear improbable. Whe-
ther it is agreeabk to the laws ellablillied by natu-
ralifts to account lor the operations of that element,
I know not. However, the dcfcription here given
of the fituatvon of thefe vail bodies of water, and
their near approach to each other, with my own

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

undigefted fuppoficions of their cfFcft on the winds,
may prove perhaps, in abler hands, the means of
leading to many uleful difcoveries.

On the 7th of December, I arrived (as I faid be-
fore) at the utmoft extent of my travels towards the
wcftj where I met with a large party of the Nau-
doweffie Indians, among whom irefidedfeven months.
Thefe conftituted a part of the eight bands of the
Naudoweflics of the Plains ; and are termed the Waw-
peentcwahs, the Tintons, the Afrahcootans, the
Mawhaws, andthe Schians. The other three bands,
whofc names are, the Schianefe, the Chongoufce-
ton, and the Waddapawjeftin, dwell higher up,
to the weft of the river St. Pierre, on plains that,
according to their account, are unbounded j and pro-
bably terminate on the coaft of the Pacific Ocean.
The Naudoweflie nation, wh«n united, confifts of
more than two thoufand warriors. The Affinipoils,
who revolted from them, amount to about three
hundred i and leagued with the Killiftinoes, live in a
eontinualftate of enmity with the other eleven bands.

As I proceeded up the river St. Pierre, and had
nearly reached the place where thefe people were
encamped, I obferved two or three canoes coming
down the ftream j but no fooner had the Indians
chat were on board them, difcovered us, than they
rowed towards the land, and leaping alhore with
precipitation, left their canoes to float as the current
drove them. In a few minutes I perceived fomc
others j who. as foon as they came In fight, fol-
lowed, with equal fpecd, the example of their coun-
trymen.

I now thought it neceflary to proceed with cau-
tion; and therefore kept on the fide of the river
oppofite to that on which the Indians had landed.

^j A R V 5 ^'s T R A V E I. S.

$»

However, I ftill continueii my courfc, facisfied that
the pipe of peace, which was fixed at the head of
my canoe, and the Englilh colours that were flying
at the i\eraj would prove my fecurity. After rowing
about half a mile further, in turning a point, I dil-
covered a great number of tents, and more than a
thoufand Indians, at a little diftance from the iho-^.
3eing now nearly oppofice to them, I ordered my
men to pull directly over, as I was willing to con-
yince the Indians by fuch a ftep, that I placed feme
confidence in them.

As foon as I had reached the land, two of the
chiefs prefented their hands to me, and led me,
amidll the aftonifhing multituJe, who had mod of
them never feen a white man before, to a tent.
Into this we entered, and accordin<^ to the cullom
that univerfally prevails among every Indian nation,
began to frnoke the pipe of peace. We had not
Idt long before the crowd became fo great, both
around, and upon the tent, that we were in danger
of being cruflied by its fall. Qn this we returned
to the plain, where, having gratified the curio-
fity of the common people, their wonder abated
and eyer after they treated me vyith great rcfped.

From the chiefs J met with the moft friendly and
hofpitable reception j which induced me, as the
feafon was fo far advanced, to take up my refidence
among them during the winter. To render my
Hay as comfortable as poifible, I firft endeavoured
to learn their language. This I fooq d'd, fo as to
make myfelf perfectly intelligible, having before
acquired Ibme flight knowledge of the language of
thofe Indians that live on the back of the fettlcments;
and in confequence met with every accommodatioh
their manner of living would afford. Nor did I
yf^nt for fuch amufements as tended to make fo

2ft

C A R V E R'3 TRAVELS.

long a period pafs cheerfully away. I frequently
hunted with them; and at other time beheld with
pleafure their recreations and paftimes, which T fhall
defcribe herertfter.

Sometimes I ^;t with the chii.'fs, and whild we
fmpked the friendly pipe, entertained them, in
return for the account:] thev p-ave me of their wars
and excurfions, with a narrative of my own adven-
tures, 2nd a dcfcription of ?11 the battles fought be-
ivveen the Englifli and French in America, in many
of which I had a pcrfonal fiiare. They alvayspaid
great attention to my details, and afkcd many per-
tinent queftions relative to the European methods
of making war.

I held thefe converfations with them in a jrreat
mcafure to procure from them fome information
relative to the chief point I had condantly in view,
that of gaining a knowledge of the fituation and
produce, both of their own country, and thofe that
lay to the weftward of them. Nor was I difappointcd
inmydefigns; fori procured from them much ufe-
ful intelligence. They likewife drew for me plans
of all the countries with which they were acquainted^
but as I entertained no great opinion of their geo-
graphical knov/ledge, I placed not much depen-
dence on them, and therefore think it unneceflkry
to give them to the public. They draw with a
piece of burnt coal, taken H-opi the hearth, upon
jche infide bark of the birch tree ; which is as fmooth
as paper, and anfwers the fame purpofes, not-
withftanding it is of a yellow caft. Their llcetches
are matie in a rude manner, but they feem to give
us as juft an idea of a country, although the plan
is not fo exa<ft, as more experienced draughtfmej]
poiild do. , , .

CARVE R's TRAVELS.

•53

I left the habitations of thefe hofpitabic Indians
the latter end of April 1767; but did not part from
them -for fcvcral days, as I wao accompanied on my
journey by near three hundred of them, among whom
were 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 cnfuing year. At the fame time
they carry with them their dead, for interment,
bound up in buffaloes' fldns. Befides thofe that
accompanied me, others were gone before, and the
reft were to follow.

rrreat

uff-

plans

Intedj

geo-

Never did I travel with fo cheerful and happy a
company. But their mirth met with a Hidden and
temporary allay from a violent ftorm that overtook
us one day on our paflage. We had jurt landed,
and were preparing to fet up our tents for the night,
when a heavy cloud ovcrfpread the heavens, and
the moft dreadful thunder, lightning, and rain iffued
from it, that ever I beheld.

The Indians were greatly terrified, and ran to
fuch flicker as they could find ; for only a few tents
were as yet eredled. Apprchenfive of the danger
that might enfue from ftanding near any thing
which could ferve for a condu61:or, as the cloud
appeared to contain fuch an uncommon quantity
of eledtrical fluid, 1 took my ftand as far as pofllble
from any covering; chufing rather to be expofed
to the peltings of the fliorm, than to receive a fatal
ftroke. At tl/is the Indians were greatly furprifed,
and drew conclufions from it not unfavorable to the
opinion they already entertained of my refolution.
Yet I acknowledge that I was never more afl^edled
in my life ; for nothing fcarcely could exceed the
terrific fcene, The peals of thunder were fo lout?

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

that they (hook the earth; and the lightning flafhed
along the ground in flreams of fulphur; ih that the
Indian chiefs themfeivcs, althoujrh their courage
in war is ufually invincible, could not help tremb-
ling at the horrid combuftion. As foon as the
ftorm was over, they Hocked around me, and in-
formed me, that it was a proof of the anger of the
evil fpirits, whom they were apprehenfivc that they
had highly offended.

Wht v; rrivcd at the Great Cave, and t!ie In-
dians ha;; ifpor'ted the remains of their deceafcd
friends in ;j ol'^'iI place that ftands adjacent to it,
they held their gie^t council, into which I was ad-
mitted, and ar the fame time had the honor to be
inftalled or adopted a chief of their bands. On this
occafion I made the following fpeech, which I infcrt,
to give my readers a fpecimen of the language and
manner in which it i^ neceffary to addrefs the Indi-
ans, fo as to engage their attention, and to render
the fpeaker's expreffion confonant to their ideas. It
was delivered on the firft day of May 1767.

5' My brothers, chiefs of the numerous andpow-
" erful Nctudoweffies ! I rejoice that through my
" long abode with you, I can now fpeak to you
'* (though after an imperfefl manner) in your own
*' tongue, like one of your own children. I rejoice
^* aifo that 1 have had an opportunity fo frequently
." to inform you of the glory and power of the Great
" King that reigns over the Englifli and other nati-
*' onsj who is defcended from a very ancient race
" of fovereigns, as pld as the earth and waters;
<" whofe feet (land on two great iflands, larger than
f any you have ever feen, amidft the grcatcft waters
" in the world; whofe head reaches to the fun, and
*' whofe arms encircle the whole earth; the num-
f * ber of whofe warriors arc equal to the trees in th^e

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

a
tt
ti
((
f(
<(

(C
(C
(C

il
(t
it

vallics, the ftalks of rice in yonder marlhes, or
the blades of grafs on your great plains : who has
hundreds of canoes of his own, of fuch amazing
bignefs, that all the waters in your coirmry would
not fuffice for one of them to fwim in; each of
which have guns, not fmall like mine, which ycii
fee before you, but of fuch magnitude, that an
hundred of your ftouteft young men would with
difficulty be able to carry one. And thefe are
equally furprifing in their operation againft the
great king'a er^mies when engaged in battle ; the
terror they carry with them, your language wants
words to exprefs. You may remember the other
day when we were encamping at Wadawp^
menefotor, the black clouds, the wind, the hit,
the ftupendous noifc, the horrible cracks, anu ^\*
trembling of the earth, which then alarme ^ Ov ,
and gave you reafon to think your god^ w^ic
angry with youj not unlike thefe are the - -li'-.c
implements of the Englifli, when they are nght-
ing the battles of their great king.

t(
f<
<(
cc
cc
cc
cc

" Several of the chiefs of your bands have often
told me, in times paft, when I dwelt with you
in your tents, that they much wiflicd to be counted
among the children and allies of the great king
my mafter. You may remember how often you ,
have defircd me, when I returned again to my
own country, to acquaint the great king of your
good difpofition towards him and his fubjedts, and
that you wiihcd for traders from the Englifh to
come among you.

" Being now about to take my leave of you, and
to return to my own country, along way towards
the rifing fun, I again aik you to tell me whether
you continue of the fame mind as when I fpoke to
** you in council laft winter j and as there are now

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

" fcvcral of your chiefs here, who came from the
" great plains towards the fetting of the fun, whom I
" have never fpokc with in council before, I afk you
" to let me know if you arc all willing to acknow-
" ledge yourfclves the children of my great mafter
" the King of the Englifh and other nations, as f
" Ihall take the firft oj)portunity to acquaint him of
" your dcfires and good intentions.

" I charge you not to give heed to bad reports ;
" for there are wicked birds flying about among the
" neighbouring nations, who may whifper evil
** things in your ears againft the Englifh, contrary
" to what I have told you ; you muft not believe
" them, for I have told you the truth.

" And as for the chiefs that are about to go to
" Michillimackinac, I fhall take rare to make for
'■' them and their fuit, a ftraight road, fmooth waters,
" and a clear fkyj that they may go there, and
" fmoke the pipe of peace, and reft fecure on a
" beaver blanket under the Ihade of the great tree
" of peace. Farewell ! '*

To this fpeech I received the following anfwer,
from the mouth of the principal chief:

((

{C
(C
(C

cc
fc

i
(C

*' Good brother ! I am now about to fpeak to you
with the mouths of thefe my brothers, chiefs of the
eight bands of the powerful nation of the Nau-

dowcflies. We believe and are well fatisfied in
the truth of every thing you have told us about
your great nation, and the great king our greateft
father ; for whom we fpread this beaver blanket,
that his fatherly protection may ever relt eafy and
fafe amongft us his children: your colours and your
arms agree with the accounts you have given us
about your great nation. We defire that when you

C A R V E R»s TRAVELS.

*' return, you will acquaint the great king how
" much the Naudoweflies wilh t. be counted among
" his good ciiildrcn.

" You may believe us when we tell you that we
" will not optn our ears to any who may dare to
" fpeak. evil ot" our great father the king of the Eng-
*' lilh and other nations.

** We thank you for what you done for us in mak-
" ing peace between the Naudoweflies and the Chipc-
" ways, and hope when you return to us again, that
" you will complete this good work ; and quite
" difpelling the clouds that intervene, open the blue
** fky 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 reprefent to our
" great father, how muchwedefire that traders may
" be fenc to abide among us with fuch things as w^e
** need, that the hearts of our young men, our
" wives, and children may be made glad. And may
" peace fubfift between us, fo long as the fun, the
" moon, the earth, and the waters (hall indure.
" Farewell !"

I thought it neceflary to caution the Indians againft
giving heed to any bad reports that may reach them
from the neighbouring nations, to the difadvantage
of th'- Englifli, as I had heard, at different places
through which I palTed that ^^miflaries were ftill em-
ployed by the French to detach thofe who were
friendly to the Englilh, from their intereft. And I
faw, myfelf, feveral belts of Wampum that had been
delivered for this purpofe to fome of the tribes I was
among. Qn the delivery of each of thefc, a Talk

e ,^ R V E R's TRAVELS.

was held, wherein the Indians were told thatthe Eng-
lifli, who were but a petty people, had Hole n that
country from their great father the king of Francej
whillt he was aflcep j but that he would foon awake,
and take them again under his protection. Thcle
I found were fcntfrom Canada, by perfons who ap-
peared to be well alfeded towards the government
under whic!i they hved.

Whilft I tarried at the mouth of the River St.
Pierre, with thefe friendly Indians, I endeavoured to
gain intelligence whether any goods had been fent
towards the Falls of St. Anthony for my ufe, agree-
able to the promife I had received from the go-
vernor when I left Michillimackinac. But finding
from fome Indians, who paflcd by in their return
from thofe parts, that this agreement had not been
fulfilled, I was obliged to give up all thoughts of
proceed! r)g further Co the north-weft by this route,
according to my original plan. I therefore returned
to La Prairie le Chicn, where I procured as many
goods from the traders I left there the preceding
ye^r, a$ they could fparc*

As thefe, however, were not fufficient to enable
me to renew my firft defign I determined to endea-
vour to mak e my way acrofs the country of the
Chipeways to Lake Superior -, in hopes of meet-
ing at the Grand Portage on the north fide of it,
the traders that annua]ly go frotn MichiUimackinac
to the north weft j of whprn I doubted not but that
I Ihould be able to prp(f^)re goods enough to anfwcr
my purpofe, and alfo to penetrate through thofe
iriore liorthern parts to the 3tr^it$ of Annian.

A,nd I the more readily re turn<4 to La Prairiq Ic
Chkn, s^s I cqlu14 by. ija^p, na^an^ the btctttr fulfijl tho

G A R V E R's t R A V E I. S.

engagement I had made to the party of NaudoWfef-
fics mentioned at tlie conclufion ofmy fpecch.

During my nbode with this f^ctoi-kie, wifh/mg to fc-
cure them entirely in the inutreft of the Englifh, I
had advifcd fomc of the chiefs to go to Michilli-
inackinac, where they vraM have an opportunity
of trading, and of lirarin^ij the accounts thi.t I had en-
tertained them with of my countrymen, confirmed.
At the fame time I had furniih»?d them with £t reconi-
aiendationt6 the governor, and giver) **them every
direction necelfary for their voyage.

In confequence of this, one of the principal chiefs,
and twenty-five of an inferior rank, agreed to go
the enfuing fummer. This they took an opportu-
nity of doing when they came with tht rcfl: of thei!-
band tt) attend the%fhtiddOuncil at the mouth ofthfe
River St. Pierre, mmg obliged, oh account of the
difappoirttfhent I had jwft been informed of, to re--
turn fo far down the jViifT.fijppi, J could from thenc^
tiic more eafil^ fetthemort thtir journey.

As th€ interrtiedlate p^rts of this Hver are much
frequented by the Chipev/ays, with whom the Nau-
doweffles are continually at war, th^y thought it
more prudent, being but a fmall party, to take thfc
advantage of the night, than to travel AVith me by-
Hay ; accordingly no riSfiner was the* grind couricrl
broke up, than I todk a friendly leave of thefc peo-
ple, ffOrrt whom i had received innumerable civiH?
ties, ahd pur fued oripti ihgre t^y voyage,

I reached the c'aftcrn fide of Lake Pepin the (^rtt^
night, where I went alhore aild encarhped as uftitrL
The next morning, when I had proceeded fome miles
further, I perceived at a diftance before' me, a frhoke,
which derioted that fonie Indians w'ere rtear j apd in

.6p

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

a ftiort time difcovered ten or twelve tents, not far
from the bank of the river. As I whs apprehenfive
that this was a party of the Rovers I had before met
with, I knew not what courfe to purfuc. My atten-
dants perfuaded me to L'ndeavour to pafs by them on
the oppofite fide of the river ; but as I had hithertp
found that the beft way to enfure a friendly recep-
.tion from the Indians, is to meet them boldly, and
without ihevv^ing any tokens of fear, I v;ould by no
rnenns confent to their propofal. Infcead of this I
craflTed diycSily over, and landed in the midil of
them, for by this time tlie greateft part of them were
ilanding on the fliore.

The firft I accofted were .Chipeways inhabiting
near the Qttowaw Lakes ; who received me with
great cordiality, and (hook me by the hand in token
"of friendlhip. At fome littlc'^iitance behind thefe
ilood a chief remarkably pll anitfVell made, but of
fo ftern an afped, that the molt undaunted perfon
could not behold him without feelins: fome deoree
of terror. He leeraed to haye palled the meridian
of life, and by the mode in which he was painted and
tatowed, I difcovered that he was pfhigh rank. How-
ever, I approached him in a courteous manner, and
expefted to have met with the fame reception I had
done frorh the other ; but to my great furprife, he
withheld hishand, and looking fiercely q.t me, faid,
in the Chipeway tongu*^, "Cj^fifin nifhifliin faganofh,'*
that is, *' The J^nglifhare no good," A« he had his
pmahawk in his hand, lexpeded that this laconic
fentence would haye been followed by a blow; to
pt.-,rent which, I drew a piftol from my belt, and,
holding it in a carelefs pofition, pafied clofe by him,
to let him fee I vi^as not afraid of him.

I learned foon after from the other Indians, that
%b\s was a chief, called by che French, the Granc)

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

3autor, or the Great Chipcwa.y Chief, for they de-
nominate the Chipeway, Sautors. They likewife
told me that he had been always a fteady friend to
that people, and when they delivered up Michilli-
mackinac to the Englilh on their evacuation of Ca-
nada, the Gr?nd Sautor ha(J fworn that he would ever
remain the avowed enemy of its new pofleflbrs, a$
the territories on which the fort is built belonged
to him.

Finding him thus difpofed, I took care to be con-
flantly upon my guard whilft I ftaid j but that he
might not fuppofe I was driven away by his frowns,
1 took up my abode there for the night, I pitched
my tent at fome diftance from the Indians, and had
no fooner laid myfelf down to reft, than 1 was
awakened by my jFrench fervant. Having been
alarmed by the found of Indian mufic, he had run
to the outfide of the tent, where he beheld a party of
the young favages dancing towards us in an extra-
ordinary manner, each carrying in his hand a torch
jfixed on the top of a long pole. But I fhall defer
any further account of this uncommon entertain-
ment, which at once furprifed and alarmed nie, till
I treat of the Indian dances, »

The next morning I continued my voyage, and
before night reached La Pfairic leChienjat which
place the party of NaudowelHes foon overtook me.
Not long after the Grand Sautor alfo arrived, and
beior; the Naudoweflies left that place to continue
their journey to Michillimackinac, he found means,
in conjunftion wjth fome French traders from Loui-
fiana, to draw from me about ten of the Naudoweflie
chiefs, whom he prevailed upon to go towards thole
parts.

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

The remainder proceeded, according to my di-
redions, to the Englifh fort ; from whence I after-
wards heard that they returned to their own country
viihout any iinfortunate accident befalling them,
and greatly pleafed with the reception they had met
with. Whilft not more than half of thole who went
to the fouthward, through the difference of that
fouthern climate from their own, lived to reach their
abode. And fince I came to En2:land I have been
inforrned, that the Grand Sautor having rendered
himfelf more and more dilguftful to the Englifh,
by his inveterate enmity towards them, was at
length dabbed in his tent, as he encamped near Mi-
chillimackinac, by a trader to whom I had related
the foregoing ftory.

I Ihould have remarked, that wh.atevcr Indians
happen to meet at La Prairie Ic Chien, the great
mart to which all who inhabit the adjacent countries
rcforr, though the nations to which they belong
are at war with each other, yet they are obliged to
reftrain their enmicy, and to forbear all hoftile a€ls
during their ftay there. This regulation has been
long eftablillied among them for their mutual con-
veniences, as without it no trade coukt be carried
on. The fame rule is obferved alfo at the Heel
Mountain (afterwards defcribed) from whence they
get the ftone of which they make their pipes: thefe
being indifpcnfable to the accommodation o^ every
neighbouring tribe, a fimilar reftri6!iofi becomes
needful, and is of public utility.

The river St. Pierre, wrhich runs through the
territories of the Naudoweflics, flows through a
mo(t delightful country, abounding with all the ne-
celfaries cf life, that grow fpontaneoufly; and with
a little cultivation it might be made to produce even
the luxuries of life. Wild rice grows here in great

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

abundance -, and every part is filled with trees bend-
ing under their loads of fruits, fuch as plums,
grapes, andaprplesj the meadows r.re covered with
hops, and many forts of vegetables j whilft the
ground is ftored with ufeful roots, with angelica,
ipikenard, and ground-nuts as large as hens' eggs.
At a little diftance from the fides of the river are
eminences, from which you have views that cannot
be exceeded even by the moll beautiful of thole I
have already defcribed j amidil thcfe are delightful
groves, and fuch amazing quantities of maples, that
they would produce fugar fufficient for any number
of inhabitants.

A little way from the mouth of this river, on the
north fide of it, ftands a hill, one part of which,
that towards the Miffiflippi, is compofed entirely af
white ftone, of the fame foft nature as that 1 have
before defcribed i for fuch, indeed, is all the ftone
in this country. But what appears remarkable, is>
that the colour of it is as white as the'driven fnow.
The outv/ard part of it was crumbled by the wind
and weather into heaps of fand, of which a beautiful
compofition might be made; or, I am of opinion
that, when properly treated, the ftone itfelf would
grow harder by time, and Ijave a very noble effeft
in architedure.

Near that branch which is termed the Marble
River, is a mountain, from whence the Indians gee
a fort of red ftone, out of which they hew the bowls-
of their pipes. In fome of thefe parts is found a
black, hard clay, or rather ftone, of which the
Naudoweflies make their family utenfils. This-
country likewife abounds with a milk-white clay,,
of which China ware might be made equal in good -
nt^{sL to the Afiatic j and alfo with a blue clay thai:
ferves the Indians^ for paint, with this la ft they con-

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

trivc, by mixing it with the red flone powdered,
to paint themfelves of different colours. Thofe that
cangetthe blueclay here mentioned, paint themfelves
very much with itj particularly when they arc about
to begin their fports and paftimes. It is alfo efteemed
by them a mark of peace, as it has a referablance
of a blue fky, which with them is a fymbol of it,
and made ufe of in their fpeeches as a figurative
cxprelfion to denote peace. When they wifh to
fhew that their inclinations are pacific towards other
tribes, they greatly ornament both themfelves and
their belts with it.

Having concluded my bufinefs at La Prairi :• Ic
Chien, I proceeded once more up the Miffiflippi,
as far as the place where the Chipeway River 'inters
it a little below Lake Pepin. Here, having en-
gaged an Indian pilot, I direded him to fteer tov/.; ^ ds
the Ottawaw Lakes, which lie near the head of < jis
river. This he did, and I arrived at theni r.b^ oe •

gmnw.gof July.

The Chipeway River, at its jund'c i ,vkH i;he
Miiriffippi, is about eighty yards wiJe, but is much
wider as you advaiicc into it. Near thirty miles
up it feparates into mo br, .-"ches, and I took my
courfe through tliat which )ic£ lo the eailward.

The country adjoining to the river, for about
fixty miles, is very level, and on its banks lie
fine meadows, where larger droves of buffaloes ami
elks were feeding, than I had obferved in any other
part of my travels. The track between the two
branches of this river is termed the Road of war
between the Chipeway and Naudowcffie Indians.

The country to the Falls is almoft without any
timber, and ajove that very uneven and rugged.

CARVER. TRAVELS. 6^

and clofcly wooded with pines, beaich, maple, and
birch. Here a moll remarkable and 'aftonifhing
fight preiented itfclf to my view. In a wood, on
the call of the river, which was about three quarters
of a mile in length, and in depth further than my
eye could reach, I obfcrved that every tree, many
of v/hich were more than fix feet in circumference,
was lying fiat on the ground, torn up by the roots.
This appeared to have been done by fome extraor-
dinary hurricane, that came from the wefl fame
years agoj but how many I could not learn, as 1
found no inhabitants near it, of whom I could
gain information. The country on the weft fide
of the river, from, being lefs v/oody, had efcaped in
a great meafure this havoc, as only a few trees were
blown down.

Near the heads of this river. Is a town of the Chi-
pcways, from whence it takes its name. It is ficuated
on each fide of the river (which at this place is of no
confiderable breadth) and lies adjacent to the banks of
a fmall lake. This town contains about forty houfes,
and can fend out upwards of one hundred warriors,
many of whom were fine, ftout young men. The
houfes of it are built after the Indian manner, and
have neat plantations behind them j but the inhab'-
tants, in general, fsemed to be the nafticft people
I had ever been among. I obfcrved that thewo' ca
and children indulged thcmfelves in a cuftom, ^ .ch
though common, in fome degree, throughout cry
Indian nation, appears to be, according to our leas,
of the moft nauicous and indelicate nature; .lat of
fcarching each other's head, and eating t-^c prey
caught therein.

In July I left this town, and having crofHrd a
number of fmali lakes and carrying Dlaces that inter-

CARVER'S TRAVELS

vcnedj came to a head branch of the river St.
Croix. This branch I defcended to a fork, and
then afccnded another to its fource. On both thefe
rivers 1 difcovered feveral mines of virgin cop-
per, which was as pure aa that found in any other
country.

Here 1 came to a fmall brook, which my guide
thought might be joined at fome diftance by flreartis
that would at length render it navigable. The
water at firft was fo fcanty, that my canoe jv'ould
by no means fwim in itj but having flopped up
feveral old beaver dams, which had been broken
down by the hunters, I was enabled to proceed for
fome miles, till by the conjundion of a few brooks.,
thefe aids became no longer necefiary. In a fhort
time the water incrcafed to a moft rapid river, which
we defcfiidcd till it entered 'nto Lake Superior.
This river I named after a gentleman that defired
to accompany me from the town of the Ottagau-
mies to the Carrying Place on Lake Superior, God-
dard's -liver.

To the weft of this is another linall river, which
alfo empties itfelf into the Lake. This I termed
Strawberry River, from the great number of
flrawberrics of a good hze and liavor that grew on
its banks.

The country from the Ottowaw ^ ikes to Lake
Superior, is in general very uneven and thickly
covered with woods. The foil in fome places is
tolerably good, in others but indifl^erent. In the
heads of the St. Croix ard the Chipeway Rivers arc
exceeding fine fturjveon. All tiie wilderncfs be-
tween the Miffitfippi and Lake Superior is called
by the Indians, the Mofchettoe Country, and I
thought it moll juilly named j for,«it being then

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

their fcafon, I never law or felt fo man/ of thofc
in feds in my life.

The latter end ^f July I arrived, after having
coafted through Well Bay, at tlie Grand Portage,
which lies on the north-weft borders of Lake Su-
perior. Here thofe who go on the north -weft
trade, to the Lakes De Pluye, Dubois, &c. carry
over their canoes and baggage about nine miles,
till ihcy come to a number of fmall lakes, the wa-
ters of fome of which deicend into Lake Superior,
and others into the river Bourbon. Lake Supe-
rior from Weft Bay to this pi ice is bounded by
rocks, except towards the fouth-weft part of the
Bay where I firft entered it^ there it was tolerably
level.

At the grafid Portage is a fmall bay, before the
entrance of which lies an iQaiid that intercepts the
dreary and uninterrupted view over kc Lake,
which otherwife would have prefentea itfclf, and
makes tlie bay ferene and pleafant. Here I met a
large party of the Killifiinoe and Alunipoil Indians,
with their refpc6live kings and their families. They
were come to this place in order to meet the traders
from Michillimackinac, who make this their road,
to the north-weft. From them I received the fol-
lowing account of the Lakes that lie to i;he north-
weft of Lake Superior.

Lake Bourbon, the moft northern of thofe yet
difcovered, received its name from the French tra-
ders who accompanied a party of Iniians to Hud-r,
fon's Bay fome years ago^ and was thus denomi-
nated by them in honor of the royal family of France..
Jt is compofed of the Vv'iiters of the B-iurbon River,
which, as I have before obferved, riils a great wa^

CARVE R's TRAVELS.

to the fouthward, not far from the norchern heads
of the Miiriflippi. ^

This lake is about eighty miles in length, north
and fouth, and is nearly circular. It has no very
large iflands on it. The land on the eallcrn fide is
very good] and to the fouth- weft there are fome
mountains i in many other parts there arc barren
plains^ bogs, and moralles. Its latitude is between
fifty-two and tifty-four degrees north, and it lies
nearly fouth-w>eft from Hudfon's Bay. As through
its northern fituation the weather there is extremely
cold, only a few animals are to be found in the
country that borders on it. They gave me but an
indifferent account: cither of the beafts, birds, or
fifhes. There are indeed fome bufFaloe> of a fmall
fize, which are fat and good about the latter end of
fummcr, with a (ew moofe and carriboo deer : who-
ever, this deficiency is made up by the furs of every
fort that are to be met with in great plenty around
the lake. The timber growing here is chiefly fir,
ceder, fpruce, and fome maple.

Lake Winncpeck, or as the French write it, Lac
Ouinipique which lies neareft to the foregoing, is
compofed of the lame waters. It is in length about
two hundred miles north and fouth ; its breadth has
never been properly afcertained, but is fuppofed to
be about one hundred miles in its wideft part. This
lake is very full of iflands ; thefe, are however,of no
great magnitude. Many confiderable rivers empty
theinfelves into it, which, as yet arenotdiftinguifhed
by any names. The waters are ftored v/ich filb, fuch
as trout and fturgcon, and alfo with others of a
fmallcr kind peculiar to thefe lakes.

The land on the fouth-weft part of it is very
good, eipccially about the entrance of a large branch
pf the River iJourbor.j 'vvhich flow3 from the fouth-

C A R V E R's TRAVELS.

ha-

ve ry

inch

)Uth •

weft. On this river there is a factory that was built
by the French, called Fort la Reine, to which the
traders from Micliillimackinac refort to trade with
the Aflinipolis and Killiftinoes. To this place the
Mahahs, who inhabit a country two hundred and
fifty miles fouth-well come alfo to trade with them j
and bring great quantities o^ Indian corn, to ex-
change for knives, tomahawks, and other articles.
Thofe people are fuppoled to dwell on fome of the
branches of the River of the Welt,

Lake Winnepeck has on the north-eafl: fome
mountains, and on the eaft many barren plains. The
maple or fugar tree grows here in grear plenty, and
there is likewife gathered an amazing quantity of
rice, which proves that grain will ftourifh in thefe
northern climates as well as in warmer. Buffaloes,
carriboo, and moofe deer, are numerous in thefe
parts. The buffaloes of this country differ from
thofe that are found more to the fouth onlv in fize ;
the former being much fmaller -, juft as the black
cattle of the northern parts of Great Britain differ
from Englilli oxen.

On the waters th-it fall into this Lake, the neigh-
bouring nations take great numbers of excellent furs.
Some of thefe they carry to the factories and fettle-
ments belonging to the Hudfon's Bay Company^
fituated above the entrance of the Bourbon River;
but this they do with relu6lance, on feveral accotints;
for ibme of the Aifinipoils and Killiftinoes, who
ufualiy traded with the Company's fervants, told
me, that if they could be fure of a conitant fiipply of
goods from Michlliirnackinac, they would not trade
any where elfe. They fliewed me fome cloth and
other articles that they had purchafed at Hudfon*s
Bay, with which they were much difiatisfied, think-
ing they had been f^reatlyjmpofed upon in the barter.

^ CARVER'S TRAVELS.

Allowing that their accoiinrsv/crc true, I could not
help joining in their opinion. But this diliutisfac-
ti )n might probably proceed, in a great meal'^rc,
from the intrigues of the Canadian traders : for
whiilt the French v/ere in poflellion of Micliilli-
jnacki.iAc, having acquired a thorough knowledge
of the trade of the north-well countries, they were
employed on that account, after the reduction of
Canada, by the Englifli traders there, in the cfta-
blilhinent of this trade with which they were them-
fclves quite unacquainted. One of the methods they
took to withdraw thefe Indians from their attach-
ment to the Hudfon's Bay Company, and to engage
their good opinion m behalf of their new employers,
was by depreciating on all occafions the Company's
goods, and mngnitying the advantages that would
arifc to them from trafficing entirely with the Ca-
nadian traders, In this they too well fucce«jded,
and from this, doubtlefs, did the diflatisfadlion the
Affinipoils and Killiftinocs expreffed to me, part-
ly proceed. But snother rcafon augmented it j and
this was the length of their journey to the Hudfon's
Bay fa61:ories, which, they informed me, took them
up three months, during the fummer heats to go and
return, and from the fmallnefs o( 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 ladiaas fhouldwiih to have traders come
to rcfide among them. It is true that the parts they
inhabit arc v/ithin the limits of the Hudfon's Bay ter-
ritories i but the Company mull be under the necef-
fity of winking at an encroachment of this kind, as
the Indians would without doubt protect the traders
Vx/hcn among them. Bcfides, the paflporrs granted
to the tradeis that go from Michiilimackinac give
them liberty to trade to the north-weft about Lake
Superior; by whi^h is meant Fort La Heine, Lake
Winnepe'^^k, or any other parts of the waters of the

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

-71

Lake

of the

Bourbon River, where the Couriers de Bois, or Tra-
ders, may make ic moll convenient to relide.

Luc du Bois, as commonly termed by the
French in their maps, or in Englifli the Lake of the
Wood, is fo called from the multiplicity of wood
growing on its banks j fuch as oaks, pines, Hrs,
fpruce, &c. This Lake lies Hill higher upon a
branch of the River Bourbon, and nearly eall from
the fouth end of Lake Winnrpeck. Ic is of great
depth in fome places. Its length from eaft to vvefc
about fevcnty miles, and its greatcft breadth about
forty miles. It has but few illands, and thefe of no
great magnitude. The fiflies, fowls, and quadrupcd'j
that are found near it, vary but little from thofc of
the other two lakes. A few of the Killillinoe In-
dians fometimes encamp on the borders of it to Hfli
and hunt.

This Lake lies in the communication between
Lake Superior, and the Lakes Winnepeek and Bour-
bon. Its waters are not eftcemcd quite fo pure as
thofe of the other lakes, it having, in many places, a
muddy bottom.

Lac La Pluye fo called by the French, in Englifli
the Rainy Lake, is fuppofed to have acquired
this name from the firft travellers, that pafled over it,
meeting with an uncommon deal of rain ; or as fome
have affirmed, from a mift: like rain, occafioncd by
a perpendicular water-fall rhat empties itfelf into a
river which lies to the fouth-wel)^.

ThisLake appears to be divided by ani(lhmus,near
the middle, into two parts : the weft part is called
the Great Rainy Lake, the eail, the Little Rainy
Lake, as being the leaft divifion. It lies a few miles
further to the caftward, on the fame branch of the

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CARVERS TRAVELS

Bourbon, than the laft mentioned Lake. Ic is lit
gcncal very (hallow in its depth. The broadcft
part of ic is not more than twenty miles j its length,
including both about three hundred miles. In the
weft part the water is very clear and good j and fomc
excellent fifh arc taken in it. A great many fowl
refort here in the fall of the year. Moofe deer arc
to be found in great plenty, and likewifc the car-
riboo ; whofc fkin for breeches or gloves exceeds by
far any other to be met with in North-America.
The land on the borders of this Lake is efteemed,
in fomc places, very good, but rather too thickly
covered with wood. Here refide a confidcrablc
band of the Chipeways.

Eaftward from this Lake He feveral fmall ones,
which extend in a ftring to the great carrying place,
and from thence into Lake Superior. Betw:;cn thefc
little Lakes are feveral carrying places, which ren-
ders the trade to the north- weft difficult r.o accom-
plifh, and exceeding tedious, as it takes two years to
make one voyage from Michillimackinac to thefc
parts.

Red Lake is a comparatively fmall lake, at the
head of a branch of the Bourbon River, which is
called by fomc 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 liver enters. It bears almoft fouth-caft both
from Lake Winnepeek and from Lake du Bois.
The parts adjacent arc very little known or fre-
quented, even by the favagcs themfelvcs.

Not far from this Lake, allttlc to the fouth-wrfr, is
another, called White Bear Lake, which is nearly
about the lizc cfthe laft mentioned. The wnrers
that compGif^ this Lake are the moft nofthern of any

C A R V E R*s TRAVELS.

that fupply the Miffiffippi, and may be called with.
propriety its mod remote Iburcc. It is fed by tv/o.
or three I'mall rivers, or rather large brooks.

A few miles from it, to the fouth call, arc a great
number of fmall lakes, none of which are more than
ten miles in circumference, that are called the
Thoufand Lakes, Jn the adjacent country is reck-
oned the fincft hunting for furs of any on this conti-
nent i the Indians who hunt here, feldom returning
without having their canoes loaded as deep as they
can fwim.

Having juft before obferved that this Lake is.
the utmoft northern foufcc of the MifliiTippi, I
ihall here further remark, that before this river
enters the Gulf of Mexico, it has not run Iefs»
through all its meanderings, than three thoufand
miles i or, in a flraight line from north to i(:>uth,
about twenty degrees, which is nearly fourtwa hun-
dred Engliih miles.

Thcfe Indians informed me, that to the north-'
weft of Lake Winnepeck lies another, whofe cir-
cumference vaftiy exceeded any they had given mc
an account of. Thcj? defcribc it as much larger
than Lake Superior. But as it appears to. be. fa fan
to the north-weft; J ftiould imagine that it was noc
a lake, buc rather the Archipelago, or broken
waters that form the communication between^ Hud-
fon's Bay and. the northern parts of the Pacllic
Ocean.

There arc an infinite number of fmall lakes, on
the more weftern parts of the weftcrn head-branches
of the Mifliftippi, as well between chefe and Lake
Winnepeck, but none of them are large. enoAigh tQ

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

fuppofc either of them to be the lake or waters
meant by the Indians.

They likewife informed me, that fomc of the
northern branches of the Meflbrie and the fouthcrn
branches of the St. Pierre have a communication-
with each other, except for a milci over which
they carry their canoes. And by what I could
learn from them, this is the road they take when
their war parties make their - cxcurfions upon the
Pawnees and Pawnawnees, nations inhabiting fomc
branches of the Meflbrie River. In the country
belonging to thefe people it is faid, that Mandrakes
are frequently found, a fpecics- of root refembling
human beings of both fcxes: and that thefe are more
perfcd than fuch as are 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 v/hiter
than the neighbouring tribes, who cultivate the
ground, and (as far as I could , gather from their
cxprefiions) in fome mcafure, the arts. To this
account they added that fome of the nations who
inhabit thofe parts that lie to the weft of the Shining
Mountains, have gold fo plenty among them that
they make their moft common utenfils of it. Thefe
mountains (which I fhall defcribc 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 arc fuppofed to
be fome of the different tribes that were tributary
to the Mexican kings, and who fled from their na-
|iyc country, to feek an afylum in thefe parts, about

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

the time of the conqueft of Mexico by the Spaniards,
more than two centuries ago.

As fome confirmation of thi« fuppofition, it is
remarked, that they have chofen the moft interior
parts of their retreat, being ftill prcpoflcffcd with a
notion that the fca-coafts have been infefted ever
fince with monfters vomiting fire, and hurling about
thunder and lightning; from whofe bowels iffucd
men, who, with unfeen inftruments, or by the
power of magic, killed the harmlefs Indians at an
aftonifhing diftance. From fuch as thcfe, their
fore-fathers (according to a tradition among them
that ftill remains unimpaired) fled to the retired
abodes they now inhabit. For as they found that
the floating monfl:crs, which had thus terrified them
could not approach the land, and that thofc who had
defcended from their fides did not care to make
excurfions to any confiderable diftance from them,
they formed a refolution to betake themfelves to
fome country, that lay far from the fea-coafts,
where only they could be fecure from fuch diabolical
enemies. They accordingly fct out with their fami-
lies, and after a long peregrination, fettled them-
felves near thefe mountains, where they concluded
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-
perfect 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
their ancient fcttlcments by the above-mentioned

C A R V E R * 8 TRAVELS.

emigrants, as they palTed on towards their prefenc
habitation.

Thcfc fuppofitions, however, may want confir-
mationj ibr the fmallcr tribes of Indians arc fub-
je6b to fuch various alterations in their places of
abode, from the wars they are continually engaged
in, that it is almoft impoffible to afccrtain, after
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 con-
tinuing northward on the back or to the eaft of Ca-
lifornia, feparate the waters of thofc numerous rivers
that fall either into the Gulf of Mexico, or the Gulf
of California. From thence continuing their courfe
ftill northward, between the fourcesofthe Miflifllppi
and the rivers that run into the South Sea, they
appear to end in about forty-feven or forty-eight
degrees of north latitude; where a number of rivers
ar/e, and empty themfelvcs either into the South
Sea, into Hudfon's Bay, or into the waters that
communicate between thefc two feas.

Among thefe mountains^^ thoie that lie to the
weft of the river St. Pierre, are called the Shin-
ing mountains, from an infinite number of chryftal
ftones, of an amazing fizc with which they arc
covered, and which, when the fun fhines full upon
them, fparkle fo as to be fccn at a very great dif-
tance.

This -extraordinary range of mountains is calcu-
lated to be more than three thoufand miles in length,
without any very confiderable intervals, which I
believe furfp^ifles any thing of the kind in the other
quarters of the iglobc. Probably in future ages they
may be found to contain more riches in their bowels,

CARVE R*« TRAVELS. 77

than thofc of Indoftan and Malabar, or that are pro-
duced on the golden coaft of Guinea.; ncr will I
except even the Peruvian mineii. To the weft of
thcfc mountains, when explored by future Colum-
bufes or Raleighs, may be found other lakes, ri-
vers, and countries, full fraught with all the necef-
faries or luxuries of life i and where future genera-
tions may find an afylum, whether driven from their
country by the ravages of lawlefs tyrants, or by
religious perfecutions, or reluctantly leaving it to
remedy the inconveniencics arifing 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-
pectations will be fully gratified in thefe rich and
unexhaufted climes.

But to return to the Affinipoils and Killiftinoes,
whom I left at the Grand Portage, and from whom
I received the foregoing account of the lakes that lie
to che north- weft of this place.

The traders we expected being later this feafon
than ufual, and our numbers very confiderable, for
there were more than three htindred of us, the ftock
of provifions we had brought with us was nearly
exhaufted, and we waited with impatience for their
arrival.

One day, whilft we were all exprefling our wiflics
for this defirable event, and looking from an emi-
nence in hopes of feeing them come over the lake,
the chief prieft belonging to the band o( the Xil-
Kftinoes, told us, chat he would endeavour to ob-
tain a conference with the Great Spirir, and know
frooii him when the traders would arrive. I paid
littk attention «o this declaration, fuppofmg that
it would be pxoduflive of fome juggling trick, juft

7«

CARVE A*s TRAVELS.

. fufficicntly covered to deceive the ignorant Indi-
ans. But the king of that tribe telling me that this
was chiefly undertaken by the prieft, to alleviate
my anxiety, and at the fame time to convince mc
how much intereft he had with the Great Spirit, I
thought it neccffary to retrain my animadverfions
on his defign.

The following evening was fixed upon for this
fpiritaal conference. When every thing had been
properly prepared, the king came to mc and led
me to a capacious tent, the covering of which was
drawn up, fo as to render what was tranfadbing
within, vifible to thofe who ftood without. Wc
found the tent furrounded by a great number of the
Indians, but we readily gained admifllon, and feated
ourfelves on ikins laid on the ground for that pur-
pofc.

In the center I obferved that there was a place of
an oblong fhape, which was compofed of ftakes
ftuck in the ground, with intervals between, fo as
to form a kind of cheft or coffin, large enough to
contain the body of a man. Thefc were of a mid-
dle fize, and placed at fuch a diftance from eaeh
other, that whatever lay within them was readily to
be difcerned. The tent was perfedlly illuminated
by a great number of torches made of fplinters cut
from the pine or birch tree, which the Indians held
in their hands.

In a few minutes the prieft entered; when an
amazing large elk's ikin being fpread on the ground
jufl: at my feet, he laid himfelf down upon it^ after
having ftripc' himfelf of every garment except that
which he wore clofe about his middle. Being now
proftrate on his back, he firft laid hold of one Tide of
the ikin, and folded it over him, and then the ether;

CARVE R»s TRAVELS.

leaving only his head uncovered. This was no
fooner done, than two of the young men who Hood
by, took about forty yards of ftrong cord, made
alfo of an elk's hide, and rolled it tight round his
body, fo that he was completely fwathcd within the
fkin. Being thus bound up like an Egyptian Mum<
my, one took him by the heels, and the other by
the head, and lifted him over the pales into the
enclofurc. I could alfo now difcern him as plain
ns I had hitherto done, and I took care not to turn
my eyes a moment from the objedt before me, that
i might the more readily deteft the artifice j for
fiich I doubted not but that it vfould turn out to be.

The pried had not lain in this fituatlon more than
a few fcconds, when he began to mutter. This he
continued to do for fome time, and then^by degrees
grew louder and louder, jtjU at length he fpoke
articulately; however, what he uttered was in fuch
a mixed jargon of the Chipeway, Ottawaw, and
Killiftinoe languages, that I could underftand but
very little of it. Having continued in this tone for
a confiderable while, he at laft exerted his voice to
its utmoft pitch, fometimes raving, and fometimes
praying, till he had worked himfelfinto fuch an agi-
tation, that he foamed at his mouth.

After having remained near three quarters of an
hour in the place, and continued his vociferatioa
with unabated vigor, he fcemed to be quite ex-
haufted, and remained fpcechlefs. But in an inftant
he fprung upon his feet, notwithftanding at the time
lie was put in, it appeared impoHible for him to
move either his legs or arms, and (baking off his
covering, as quick as if the bands witn which it had
been bound were burned afunder, he began to ad-
duds thofe who ftood around, in a firm and audible
voice, " My brothers/' faid he, ** the Grej^t

•• CARVER'S TRAVELS.

*' Spirit has deigned to hold a Talk with his fervant,
" at my earnefl: rcqucft. He has not, indeed, told
" me ^hcn the pcrfons we expert, will be here j but
*' to«morrow,foon after the fun has reached his high-
*' eft point in the heavens, a canoe will arrive, and
"' the people in that will inform us when the traders
** will come."

Having faidthis, he ftepped our of the enclofure,
and after he had put on his robes, difmiflcd the aflfem-
bly. I own I was greatly aftoniflied at what I had
fcen } but as lobfcrvcd that every eye in the com-
pany was fixed on me with a view to difcover my
lentimcnts, I carefully concealed every emotion.

The next day the fun Ihonc bright, and long be-
fore noon all the Indians were gathered together on
the eminence that overlooked the lake. The old
king came to me and afkcd me whether I had fo
much confidence in what the prieft had foretold, as
to join his people on the hill, and wait for the com-
pletion of it ? I told him I was at a lofs what opmion
to form of the prcdidion, but that I would readily
attend him. On this we walked together to the
place where the others were aifembled. Every cyt
was a^ain fixed by turns on me and on the lake j
when juft as the fun had reached his zenith, agreeable
to what the pried had foretold, a canoe came round
a point of land about a league diftant. The Indians
no fooner beheld it, than they fet up an univerfal
/hour, and by their looks feemed to triumph in the
intereft their prieft thus evidently had with the
Great Spirit.

In lefs than an hour the canoe reached the fhore
when I attended the king and chiefs to receive thofe
who were on board. As foon as the men were,
landed^ we walked $U1 together to the king's tent^

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

when according t their invariable cuftom, we began
to fmoke i and this we did, notwithftanding our im-
patience to know the tidings they brought withouc
afking any queftions j for the Indians arc the mod
deliberate people in the world. However, after
fomctrivialconverfation, the king enquired of them,
whether they had feen any thing of the traders? The
men replied, that they had parted from them a few
days before, and that they propofcd being here the
fecond day from the prefent. They accordingly ar-
rived at that time greatly to our fatisfaftion, but
more particularly fo to that of the Indians, who
found by this event the importance both of their
pried and of their nation, greatly augmented in the
fight of a ftranger.

This ftory I acknowledge appears to carry with it
marks of great credulity in th^* relater. But no one
is lefs tindbured with that weaknefs than myfclf. The
circumftances of it, I own, are of a very extraordinary
nature ; however, as I can vouch for their being free
from either exaggeration or mifreprefcntation, being
myfelf a cool and difpaffionate obfcrvcr of them all
I thought it neceflary to give them to the public.
And this I do v/ithout wiftiing to miflead the judg-
ment of my readers, or to make any fuperftitious
im.preffions on their minds, but leaving them to
draw from it what conclufions they pleafc.

I have already obferved that the Ailinipoils, with
a part of whom I met here, are a revolted band of
the Naudoweffies j who on account of fome real or
imagined grievances, for the Indians in general are
very tenacious of their liberty, had faparated them-
felvcs from their countrymen, and fought for free-
dom at the expence of their eafe. For the country
they now inhabit about the b^ders of Lake Winnc-

CARVE RS 1" R A V E L 3.

peck, being much further north, is not near fo fertile
or agreeable as that they have relinquiflicd. They
ftill retain the language and manners of their former
aiTociates.

The KilliRinoes, now the neighbours and allies of
the AfTinipoils, for they alfo dwell near the fame
lake, and on the waters of the river Bourbon, ap-
pear to have been originally a tribe of the Chipe-
ways, as they fpcak their language, though in a dif«
ferent dialcdh Their nation confifts of about ♦"hrec
or four hundred warriors, and they feem to be a
hardy, brave people. I have already given an ac-
count of their country when I treated of Lake Win-
nepeek. As they refidc within the limits of Hud-
fon's Bay, they generally trade at the factories which
belong to that company, bat^ for the reafons men-
tioned before, they frequently come to the place
where I happened to join them, in order to meet th€
traders from Michillimackinac.

The anxiety I had felt on account of the traders' de-
lay, was not much alleviated by their arrival. I again
found my expectations difappointed, for I was not
able to procure the goods I wanted from any of them.
I was therefore obliged to give over my defigns,
and return to the place from whence I firft began
my extenfive circuit. I accordingly took leave of
the old king of the Killiftinoes, with the chiefs of
both bands, and departed. This prince was up-
wards of fixty years of age, tall and (lightly made,
but he carried himfelf very eredt. He was of a
courteous, affable difpofition, and treated me, as did

all the chiefs, with great civility.

* I

1 obferved that this people ftill continued a cuf-
tom, that appeared to have been univerfal before
any of them became acquainted with the manners of
the Eufiopeans, that of complimenting flrang^rs

C A R V F. R»s T R A V E L S. S|

with the r^Tipany of their wives ; and this ii not only
pra6tifcd ».., '. ^ lower ranks, but by thr cliirfs them-
fclves, who cftecm it thcgrcatcll proof of courtfoy
they can give a ft ranker.

The beginning of O^ober, afcer having cor»(leci
round the north and caft borders of Lake Siipcriour.
I arrived at Cadot's Fort, which adjoins to the Falls
of St. Marie, and is fituated near the fouth-welt
corner of it.

Lake Superior, formerly termed the Upper
Lake, from its northern fituation, is fo called on ac-
count of its being fupcrior in magnitude to any of
the Lakes on that vaft continent. It might juftly
be termed the Cafpian of America, and is fuppofed
to be the largcft body of frefli water on the globp.
Its circumference, according to the French charts,
is about fifteen hundred miles ; but I believe, that
if it was coaftcd round, and the ytmoft extent of
every bay taken, it would exceed fixtcen hundred.

After I firft entered it from Goddar*s River on the
weft Bay, I coafted near twelve hundred miles of the
north and eaft ftiorcs of it, and obferved that the
greateft part of that cxtenfivc tra6t was bounded by
rocks and uneven ground. The water in genera^
appeared to lie on a bed of rocks. When it was
calm, and the fun ftione bright, I could fit in my
canoe, where the depth was upwards of fix fathoms,
jand plainly fee huge piles of ^onc at the bottom, «f
different fhapes, fome of which appeared as if they
were hewn. The water at this time was as pure and
tranfparent as air ; and my canoe feemed as if it*
hung fufpendcd m that element. It was impcflible
to look attentively through this limpid medium at
the rocks below, without finding, before many mi-
DTLites were elapfed, your head fwim, and your eyes
no longer able to behold the dazzling fcene.

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

I diicovered alfo by accident another extraor-
dinary property in the waters of this lake. Though
it was in the rr>onth of July that I pafTcd over it, and
the furfacc of the w? tcr, fi cm the heat of the fu-
pcrambient air, impregnated with no fmall degree of
warnuh, ycc on letting down a cup to the depth of
about a fathom, the water drawn from thence wasfo
cxceffively cold, that it had the fame effe^l when
received into the mouth as ice.

The fituation of this lake is varioufly laid down;
but from the moft cxadt obfervations I could make,
it lies between forty fix and fifty degrees of north
latitude, and between eighty-four and ninety diree
degrees of weft longiiide, from the meridian at
London.

There are many iflands in this lake, two of which
are very large j and if the land of them is proper for
cultivation, there appears to be fufficient to form on
each a confiderable province j cfpecially on Iflc
Royal, which cannot be lefs than an hundred miles
long, and in many places forty broad. But there is
no way at prefcnt of afcertaining the cxadl: length or
breadth of cither. Even the French, who always
kept a fmall fchooner on this lake, whilft they were
in pofleffion of Canada, by which they could have
made this difcovcry, have only acquired a flight
knowledge of the external parts of thcfc iflands j at
leafl: they have ne^^r publiftied an/ account of the
internal part*; o^them, that I could get intelligence of.

Nor was I able to difcover from any of the convcr-
' fations which I held wi'h the neighbouring Indians,
that they had ever made any Tettlements on them, or
even landed there in their hunting excurfions. From
what I could gather by their difcourfe, they fuppole
them to have been, from their firfl: formation the

C A R V E R's TRAVELS.

refidcncc of the Great Spirit ;and relate many ridi-
culous (tones of enehantment and magical tricks that
had been experienced by fuch as were obliged
through ftrefs of weather to take Ihelter on them.

One of the Chipcway chiefs told me, that fome of
their people being once driven on the ifland of Mau-
repas, which lies towards the north-eaft part of the
lake, found on it large quantities of heavy, fhining,
yellow fand, that from their delciiption muft have
been gold duft. Being ftruck with the beautiful ap-
pearance of it, in the morning, when they re-entered
their canoe, they attempted to bring fome away j
but a fpirit of an amazing fize, according to their ac-
count, fixty feet in height, ftrode in the water after
them, and commanded them to deliver back what
they had taken away. Terrified at his gigantic ftature,
and feeing that he had nearly overtaken them, they
were glad to reftore their fhiningtreafure ; on which
they were fuffered to depart without further molefta-
tion. Since this incident no Indian that has ever
heard of it will venture near the fame haunted coaft.
Befides this, they recounted to m£ many other
ftoriesofthefe iflands, equally fabulous.

The country on the north and eaft parts of Lake
Superior is very mountainous and barren. The
weather being intenfely cold in the winter, and the
fun having but little power in the fummer, vegeta-
tion there is very flow j and confequently but little
fruit is to be fcund on its fhore. It however pro-
duces fome few fpecies in great abundance.
Whortleberries of an uncommo'i fize and fine flavor,
grow on the mountains near the lake in amazing
quantities i as do black currants and goofberries in
the fame luxuriant manner.

But the fruit which exceeds all the others, is a
berry refembling arafbcrry in its manner of growth,

CARVE R's TRAVELS.

but of a lighter red, and much larger j its taftc is
far more delicious than the fruit I have compared it
to, notwithttanding that it is lb highly eftctmed in
Europe : it grows on a (hrub of the nature of a vine,
with leaves fimilar to thofe of the grape ; and I am
perfuaded that was it tranfplanted into a warmer and
more kindly climate, it would prove a mod rare and
delicious fruit.

Two very largcrivers empty themfclves into this
lake, on the north and north-eaft fide j 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 Michipicooton River, the fource of
which is fituated towards James's Bay, from whence
there is but a Ihort carriage to another river, which
empties itfclf into that bay, at a fort belonging to
the company. It was by this paflage that a party of
French from Michillimackinac invaded the fettle-
ments of that fociety in the reign of Queen Anne.
Having taken and deftroyed their forts, they brought
the cannon which they found in them to the fortrefs
from whence they had ifluedj thefe were fmall brafs
pieces, and remain there to this prefent time j hav-
ing, through the ufual revolutions of fortune, re-
turned to the pofleflion of their former matters.

Not far from the Nipegon is a fmali river, that
juft 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 ajdif-
tance like a white garter fufpendec* in the air.

A few Indians inhabit round the eaftern borders
of this lake, fuppofed to be the remains of the Al-
gonkins, who formerly poffeffed this country, but
who have been nearly extirpated by the Iroquois of

CARVER'S TRAVELS. $f

Canada. Lake Superior has near forty rivers that
fall into it, fome of which arc of confidcrablc 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 it is nearly fcparated* from the continent, on the
eaft fide, by a narrow bay that extends from eaft to
weft. Canoes have but a ihort portage acrofs the
ifthmus, whereas if they coaft it round, the voyage
is more than an hundred miles.

About that diftance to the weft of the cape juft
defcribed, a confiderable river falls into the lake,
the head of which is compofed of a great aifemblagc
of fmallftreams. This river is remarkable for the
abundance of virgin copper that is found on and near
ns banks. A metal which is met with alfo in feveral
other places on this coaft. I obferved that many of
the fmall iflands, particularl)^thofe on the eaftern
fliores, were covered with copper ore. They ap-
peared like beds of copperas, of which many tons
lay in a fmall fpace.

A company of adventurers from England began,
foon after the conqueft of Canada, to bring away
fome of this metal, but the diftradtcd fituation of
affairs in America has obliged them to relinquilh'
their fcheme. It might in future times be made a
very advantageous trade, as the metal, which cofts
nothing on the fpot, and requires but litrlc expence
to get it on board, could be conveved in boats of
canoes through the Falls ©f St. Marie, to the Ifle of
St. Jofcph, which lies at the bottom of the Straits
near the entrance into Lake Huron j from thence it
might be put on board larger vefTels, and in them
tranfported acrofs that lake to the Falls of Niagara;
there being carried by land acrofs the Portage, it
might be conveyed without much more obftrudion

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

to Quebec. The chcapnefs and eafe with which
any quantity of it may be procured, will make up
for the length of way that is neccflary to tranfport 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
principal and bcft are the trout and fturgeon, which
may be caught at almoft any feafon in the greatcft
abundance. The trouts in generiii weigh about
twelve pounds, but fome are caught that exceed fifty.
Befides thefe, a fpecies of white fifh is taken in great
quantities here, that refemble a fhad in their fhape,
but they are rather thicker, and lefs boncy; they
weigh about four pounds each, and are of a delicious
tafte. The beft way of catching thefe fifh is with a
net; but the trout might be taken at all times with
the hook. There ar^likewife many forts of fmaller
fifh in great plenty here, and which may be taken
with eafe j among thefe is a fort refcmbling a herring,
that are generally made ufe of as a bait for the trout.
Very fmall crabs, not larger than half a crown
piece, are found both in this and Lake Michigan.

This Lake is as much afFeded by ftorms as the
Atlantic Ocean j 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
(lands a fort that receives its name from them, com-
manded by Monf. Cadot, a French Canadian, who
being proprietor of the foil, is flill permitted to
keep pofTcfTion of it. Near this fort is a very ftrong
rapid, againft which, though it is impoflible for
canoes to afcend, yet when conduced by careful pi-
lots, thry might pafs down without danger.

C A R V E R's TRAVELS.

Though Lake Superior, as I have before obfervcd,
is fupplicd by near torty rivers, many of which arc
confiderablc ones ; ycc it does not appear that one
tenth part of the waters which ^re conveyed into it
by thefe rivers, are carried off at this evacuation.
How fuch a fuperabuod^nce of waters can be difpo-
fed of, as it muft certainly be by fome means or
other, without which the circumference of the lake
would be continually enlarging, I know not: that sc
docs not empty iticlf, a$ d^e Mediterranean fea is
fuppofcd to do, by an under ciirrent, which pcr/-
petually counteradts that near the furface^ is cer-
tain j for the dream which falls over thejrock isaoc
more than five or fix feet in depth, and the whole df
it pafi*cs on through the S traits into the adjac&n^
lake i nor is itprobabk that fo greait a quantity can
be abforbed by exhalations ; confequeiitly they mufb
find a pa^Tage thrx)ugh fome fubterranean cavities^
deep, luifachomable, an4 Jiever to be explored.

The Falls of St. Marie do not defcend perpendi^
cularly as thofe of Niagara or St. Anthony do, but
contfift of a rapid which continues near three quar-
ters of a mile, over which canoes well|>iloted might
pals.

At the bottom of thefe Falls, Natwe has formed,
a mod .commodious itation for catching the tiih
which are to be found there in immenfe quantities,
[prions ftanding on the rocks that lie adjacent to it,
f^7 if,'ake with dipping nets, about the months of
>pp5>^abcr and Odober, the white fiih behove men-
t'ior^d ; at that feafan, together wich feveral other
species, they crowd up to this fpot in fuch "amazing
ihoals, that .enough may be taken to fupply, when
properly cured, ttnoufan^s of inbabitancs throughout
the year.

M ^

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

. The Straits cf St. Marie arc about forty miles
long, bearing fouth-caft, but varying much in their
brtajth. The current between the Falls and Lake

iHuron is not Co rapid as might be expefted, nor do
they prevent the navigation of lliips of burden as far
up as the ifland of St. Jofcph.

It has been obferved by travellers that the entrance
.into Lake Superior, from thefe Straits, affords one
of the moft pleafing profpedls in the werld. The
place in which this might be viewed to the greateft
advantage, is juft at the opening of the lake, from
whence may be fcen on the left, many beautiful lit-
tle iflands that extend a confiderable way before
youi and on the right, an agreeable fucceffio;i ot
fmall points of land, that projedl a little way into the
water, and contribute, with the iflands, to render
^^his delightful bafon (as it might be termed) calm
and ft.curc from the ravages of tliofe tempeftuous
winds by which the adjoining lake is frequently
troubled. ,

Lakt Huron, into which you now enter from the
Straits of St. Marie, is the next in magnitude to
Lake Superior. Ic lies between forty two-and forty-
fix degrees of north latitude, and feventy-nine and
$:ightyi-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 i^ rev
markable for being near an hundred miles in Iength,\
und no more than eight miles broad. This ifland is \^
known by the n^^me of Manataulin, which fignifies
a Place of Spirits, and is confidered by the Indians
tis facrcd as thofe already mentioned^ in Lake Su-
perior.

CARVER'S travels; 91

About the middle of the fbuth-wcft fide of this
Jake, is Saganaum Bay. The capes that fcparate
this bay from the lake, are eighteen miles dillant
from each other; near the middle of the intermediate
fpace ftands two iflands, which greatly tcn(J to faci-
litate the paflage of canoes and fmall vclTcls, by
affording them fhelter, as without this fccurity it
would not be prudent to venture acrofs fo wide a
fea i and the coafting round the bay would make the
voyage long and tedious. This bay is about eighty
miles in lengdi and in general about eighteen or twen-
ty 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 paffed through it,
have unanimoufly agreed to call it by this nahie, on
account of the continual thunder they have always
©bferved here. The bay is about nine miles broad,
and the fame in length, and whilft I was paffing over
it, which took me up near twenty-four hours, it
thundered and lightened during the greateft part of
the time to an exceflive degree.

There appeared *to be no vifible reafon for this,
that I could difcover, nor is the country in general
fubjed to thunder j the hills that ftood around were
not of a remarkable height, neither did the external
parts of them feem to be covered with any fulphurous
fubftance, But as this phasnomenon muft originate
from fome natural caufe, 1 conjedure that the fhores
of the bay, or the adjacent mountains are either im-
pregnated with an uncommon quantity of fdphurous.
matter, or contain fome metal or mineral apt to at-
tract in a great degree, the eledrical particles that
^rc hourly borne over them by the paffant cloi^4^^

gm C A R V B %'8 TRAVELS.

Bat the folution of this, and thofe othcrphilofophLal
remarks which cafoally occur throughout thefe pages,
I leave to the difcuifion of abler heads.

The fifli in Lake Huron are much the fame as
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 pro-
montory that feparates this lake from Lake Michi-
gan, is compofed of a valt plain, upwards of one
hundred miles long, but varying in its breadth,
being from ten to fifteen miles broad. This traft,
as I have before obferved, is divided into almoft an
equal portion between the Ottawaw and Chipeway
Indians. At the north eatl corner this lake has a
communication with Lake Michigan, by the Scraits
<bfMichillimackinac already defcribed.

I had like to have omitted 4 very extraordinary
circumftance, relative to thcfe Straits. According
to obfervation, made by the French, whilft they
trcre in poirefTion of the fort j although there is no
diurnal flood or ebb to be perceived in thefe waters,-
yet, from an txsi€t attention to their ftate, a periodi-
cal alteration in them has been difcovered. It was
obferved that they arofe by gradual, but almoft im-
perceptible degrees till they had reached the height
of about three feet. This was accomplilhed in fe-
ven years and a halfj and in the fame fpace they as
gently dec reafcd, till they had reached their former
liruationj fo that in fifteen years they had completed
this ixexplicablc revolution.

At the time I was |here, the truth of thcfe obfer-
varions could not be confirmed by the Englilh, as
they had then been only a few years in poffeffion of
|he forti but they all agreed that fome alteration in
the limits of the Straits was apparent. All thcfe

C A R V E R'l TRAVELS.

IS no

Itkes are fo afFc6bed by the winds, as fometimes to
have the appearance of a tide, according as they
happen to blowj but this is only temporary and par-
tial.

A great number of the Chipeway Indians live
fcattered around this lake, particularly near Saga-
naum 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 Icifurely proceeded
back to Michillimackinac, and arrived there the
beginning of November 1767, having been four-
teen months on this extenfive tour, travelled near
four thoufand miles, and vifited twelve nations of
Indians lying to the weft and north of this place.
The winter fetting in foon after my arrival, I was
obliged to tarry there till June following, the navi«
gation over Lake Huron for large veffcls not being
open, on account of the ice, tiU that time. Meet-
ing here with fociablc company, I paffed thefc
^lonths very agreeably, and without finding the
hours tedious.

Ope of my chief amufements was that of fifhing
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 lengthy
to which were fixed three or four hooks baited with
the fmall filh before defcribed, we frequently caught
two at a time of forty pounds weight eachj but the
common fizc is from ten to twenty pounds. Thefc
arc moft delicious food. The method of preferving
them during the three months the winter generally
lafts, is by hanging them up in' the air; and in one

CARVER'i TRAVELS.

night they will be frozen fo hard that they will keep
as well as if they were cored with fait.

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 Co often and
fo minutely dcfcribed, that any further account
of them would be ufclcfs. I Ihall therefore only
give my readers in the remainder of my journal, as
I at firft propofed, a defcription of the other great
lakes of Canada, many of which J have navigated
over, and relate at the fame time a few particular
incidents that I trull will not J3e found inapplicable
or unentcrtaining.

In June 1768 I left Michillimackinac, and re-
turned in the Gladwyn Schooner, a veffel of about
eighty tons burthen, over Lake Huron to Lake St.
Claire, where we left the fhip, and proceeded in
boats to Detroit. This lake is about ninety miles
in circumference, and by the way of Huron Rivejr,
which runs from the fouch corner of Lake Huron,
receives the waters of the three great lakes, Supe-
rior, Michigan, and Huron. Irs form is rather
round, and in fomc places it is deep enough for the
navigation of large vclTcls, but towards the middle
of it there is a barof fand, which prevents thofc that;
are loaded from palling over i:. Such as are in bal-
Jaft only may Hnd water fufficient to carry them
quite through; the cargoes, however, offuchasare
freighted muft be taken out, and after being tranf-r
ported a^rofs the bar in boats, re-lhipped again.

The river that runs from Lake St. Claire to Lake
Erie (or rather the Strait, for thus it might be
termed from its name) is called Detroit,' which is in
French, the Strait. It runs nearly fouthj has a gen,-.

CARVE R»s TRAVELS.

tie current, and depth of water fufHcu-nt for (hips
of confiderable burthen. The town oi Detroit is
fituatcd on the wcftern banks of this river, about
nine miles below Lake St. Claire.

Almoft oppofitc on the eaftern fhorc, 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 rcftriftions 1 have laid myfelf under
of only defcribing places and people little known,
or incidents that have paffcd unnoticed by others,
I (hall omit giving a defcription of them. A
minionary of tlie order of Carthufian Friars, by
pcrmiflion of the bilhop of Canada, refidcs among
them.

The banks of the River Detroit, both above and
below thcfc towns, arc covered with fettlemcnts
that extend more than twenty miles j the country
being exceedingly fruitful, and proper for the cul-'
tivation of wheat, Indian corn, oats, and peas.
It has, alfo many fpots of fine pafturagci but as the
inhabitants, who are chiefly French that fubmitted
to the Englilh government, after the conqueft of
thefe parts by General Amherft, arc more attentive
to the Indian trade than to farming, it is but badly
cultivated.

The town of Detroit contains upwards of one
hundred houfes. The ftreets are fomewhat regular,
and have a range of very convenient and handfomc
barracks, with a fpacious parade at the Ibuth end.
On the weft fide lies the king's garden, belonging
to the governor, which is very v;ell laid out, and
kept in good order. The fortifications of the town
confift of a ftrong ftockade, made of round piles,
fixed firmly in the ground, and lined with pali-
lades. Thefe are defended by fume fmall b:\ftions,

f0 C A R V E R's TRAVELS.'

on which are mounted a few indiilerenc cannon of
an inconfidcrable iize, juil fufficienc for its defence
againd the Indians, or an enemy not provided with
artiJlcry,

The garrifon, in time of peace, confids of two
hundred men, commanded by a field oHicer, who
adls as chief magifh'atc under the governor of Ca-
nada. Mr. TurnbuU, captain of the 6och regiment,
of Royal Americans, was commandant when I hap-
pened to be there. This gcndeman was defcrvedly
cftcemcd and refpefccd, both by the inhabitants and
traders, for the propriety of his condu6b ; and I am
happy to have an opporcunity of tlius publicly mak-
ing my acknowledgments to him for the civilities I
received from him during my ftay.

In the year 1762, in the month of July, it rained
on this town and the parts adjacent, a fulphureous
water of the colour and confidence of ink; fbooe of
which being colle£bed into bottles, and wrote with,
appeared per^ftly intelligible on the paper, and
anfwered every purpofe of that ufeful liquid. Soon
after, the Indian wars already ipoken of, broke out
in thefe parts. I mean not to fay that diis incident
was ommous of them, notwithftanding it is well
known that innumerable well attciled inibmces of
extraordinary phsenomcna happening before extra-
ordinary events, have been recorded in almoft^vcry
age by hiftorians of veracity i 1 only relate the cir-
cumftance as a ^^, of which I was informed by
many perfons of undoubted probity, and leave my
readers, as I have hitherto done, to draw their own
conclufions from it.

Pontiac, under whom the party that furprifed
FortMichillimackinac, as related in the former part
of this work, aded, was an cntcrpriiing chief or

C A R V E R • 1 TRAVELS.

hcad-warriorof the Miamics. During the late war
between the Englilh and the French, he had been
a (teady friend to the latter, and continued his inve^
tcracy to the former, even after peace had been
concluded between thcfe two nations. Unwilling
to put an end to the depredations he had been fo
long engaged in, he colle(5ted an army of confede-
rate Indians, confiding of the nations before enu-
merated, with an intention to renew the war. How-
ever, inftead of openly attacking the Englifh fettlf-
ments, he laid a fcheme for taking by furprifc thofc
forts on the extrcmitieii which ihcy had lately gained
poficffion oi\

How well the party he detached to take Fore
Michillimackinac fucceeded, the reader already
knows. To get into his hands Detroit, a place of
greater confccjuence, and much better guarded, re-
quired greater refolution, and more confummatc
art. He of cburfe took the management of this
expedition on himfelf, and drew near it with the
principal body of his troops. He was, however,
prevented from carrying his defigns into execution,
by an* apparently trivial and unforefecn circumftancc.
On fuch does the fate of mighty empires frequently
depend !

•

The town of Detroit, when Ponriac formed his
plan, was garrifoned by about three hundred men,
commanded by Major Gladwyn, a sallant officer.
As at that time every appearance of war was at an
end, and the Indians fecmed to be on a friendly foot-
ing, Pontiac approached the Fort, without exciting
any fufpicions in the bread of the governor or the
inhabitants. He encamped at a little didance from
it, and fent to let the commandant know that he was
come to trade -, and being de&rous of brighteninf

C A R V E R'8 TRAVELS.

the chain of peace betwen the Englifh and his na-
tion, dcfired that he and his chiefs might be admit-
ted to hold a council iviih him. The governor ftill
unfofpicious, and not in the Icaft doubting the fm-
cerity of the Indians, granted their general's requeft,
and fixed on the next morning for their reception.

The evening of that day, an Indian woman who
had been employed by Major Gladwyn, to m?ke
him a pair of Indian fhoes, out of curious elk-(kin,
brought them home. The Major was fo pleafed
with them, that, intending thefe as a prefent for a
friend", he ordered her to take the remainder back,
and make it into others for himfelf. He then di-
rc6led his fervant to pay her for thofe fhc had done,
and difmiflcd her. The woitian went to the door
that led tv> the ftrect, but no further j (he there loi-
tered about asif fhe had not finifhed the bufinefs on
which fhe came. A fervant at length obferved her,
and afked her why fhe ftaid there ; fhe gave him,
however, no anfwer.

Some fliort time after, the governor himfelf faw
her J and enquired of his fervant M^hat occafioned her
llay. Not being able te get a fatisfaftory anfwer,
he ordered the woman to be called in. When Ihc
came into his prefence he defired to know what was
the rcafon of her loitering about, and not hailtning
home before the gates w^erc fhut, that fhe might
complete in due time the work he had given her
to do. She told him, after much hefitation, that as
he had always behaved with great goodnefs towards
her, Ihe was unwilling to take away the remainder
of the fkin, bccaufe he put fo great a value upon it;
and yet had not been able to prevail upon herfelf to
tell hifti fo. He then alked her, why fhe was more
rcludlant to do fo now, than fhe had been when fhc
rtladc the former par. With encrcafed rcludancc

C A R V E R's TRAVELS.

Ihe a;ifwcred, that flic never fliould be able to bring
fhem back.

His curiofity being now excited, he infilled on
her difclofing to him the fecret that fecmcd to br
ilrugghng in her bofom for utterance. At laf*, on
receiving a promife that the intelligence (he was
about to give him fliould not turn to her prejudice,
and that if it appeared to bft beneficial, flic fliouidbc
rewarded for it, flie informed him, that at thecoi^n-
cil to be held with the Indians the following day,
Pontiac and his chiefs intended to murder hinij and,
after having niairacred the garrifon and inhabitants,
to plunder the town. That for this purpofe all the
chiefs who were to be admitted into the council-room,
had cut their gunsfliort, fo that they could conceal
them under their blankets; with which, at a fignal
given by their general, on delivering the belt, they
were all to rife up, and inltantly to fire on him and
his attendants. Haying eflPefted this, they Vvcre
immediately to rufh. into the town, where they would
find themfelves fupported by a great number of their
warriors, that were to come into it during the fitting
of the council, under pretence of trading, but pri-
vately arm^d in the fame manner. Having gained
trom the women every neceffary particular relative
to the plot, and alfo of the means by which flic ac-
quired a knowledge of them, he difmilfed her with
injunftions of fccrecy, and r, promife of fulfilling on
his part with punctuality, the engagements he had
entered int9.

The intelligence the governor had juft received,
gave him great uneafincfsj and he immediately c6n -
iiiltcd the officer who was not next to him in com-
mand, on the fubjeft. But that gentleman confi-
dering the information as a fl:ory invented for iome
artful purpofes, advifed him to pay no attention tq

lOO

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

it. This conclufion, however, had happily no
weight with him. He thought it prudent to conclude
it to be true, till he was convinced that it was not
foj and therefore, without revealing his fqfpicions
to any other perfon, he took every needful precau-
tion that the time would admit of. He walked round
the fort during the whole night, and faw himfelf
that every ccntinel was on duty, and every weapon
of defence in proper order.

As we traverfed the ramparts, which lay ncarcfl:
to the Indian camp, he heard them in high fcftivity,
and, little imagining that their plot was difcovered,
probably pleafing thcnifclves with the anticipation
of their fuccefs. As foon as the morning dawned,
he ordered all the garrifon under arms j and then
imparting hi§ apprehenfions to a few of the principal
officers, gave them fuch dircdions as he thought ne-
ceffary. At the fame time he fent round to all the
traders, to inform them, that as it was expcded a
great number of Indians would enter the town that
day, whp might be inclined to plunder, he defired
they would have their arms ready, and repel every
attempt of that kind.

About ten o'clock, Pontiac and his chiefs arrivedj
and were conduced to the council-chamber, where
the governor and his principal officers, each with
piftols in their belts, awaited his arrival. As the
Indians palled on, they could not help obferving
that a greater number of troops than ufual were
drawn up on the parade, or marching about. No
fooner were they entered, and feated on the Ikins
prepared for them, than Pontiac afked the governor
on what occafion his young men, meaning the fol-
dicrs, were thus drawn up, and parading the (treets.
He received fo^anfwer, that it was only intended to
keep them perfciSt in their cxercife.

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

t«t

The Indian chief-warrior now began his fpeech,
which contained the ftrongcfl: profclfions of friendfhip
and good-will towards the Englifhj and when he
came to the delivery of the belt of wampum, the
particular mode of which, according to the woman's
mfotmation, was to be the fignal for his chiefs to
fire, the governor and all his attendants drew their
fwords halfway out of their fcabbardsj and the fol-
dicrs at the fame inftant made a clattering with their
:irms before the doors, which had been purpofely
left open. Pontiac, though one of the boldcft of
men, immediately turned pale, and trembled j and
inftead of giving the belt in the manner propofed,
delivered it according to the ufual way. His chiefs,
who had impatiently expeftcd the fignal, looked ac
each other with allonifliment, but continued quiet,
ly ailing the refult.

The governor in his turn made a fpeech; but in-
ftead of thanking the great warrior for the profeffions
pf friendfhip he had juft iittered, he accufed him of
being a traitor. He told him that the Engliih, who
knew every thing, were convinced of his treachery
and villainous dcfignsi and as a proof that they were
well acquainted with his moft fccret thoughts and
intentions, he ftepped towards the Indian chief that
fat ncareft to him, and drawing afide his blanket,
difcovered the fhortcncd firelock. This entirely
difconcerted the Indians, and fruftrated their de-
fign.

He then continued to tell them, that as he had
given his word at the time they dcfircd an audience,
that their perfons fhould be fafe, he would hold his
promife inviolable, though they fo little deforved it.
However, he advifed them to make the beft of
their way out of the fort, left his young men on being

Tos

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

acquainted with their treacherous purpofcs, fhoul4
cut every one of them to pieces.

Pontiac endeavoured to contradi6t the accufation,
and to make excufes for his fufpicious conduct i but
the governor, fatisfied of the falfity of his protefta-
tion, would not liftcn to him. The Indians imme-
diately left the fort, but inftead of being fenfiblc of
the governor's generous behaviour, they threw off
the ma(k, and tlie next day made a regui:.r attack
upon it.

Major Giadwyn has not efcapcd cenfure for this
miitaken lenity i for probably had he kept a few of
the principal chiefs priibners, whilft he had them in
his power, he might have been able to have brought
the whole confederacy to terms, and have prevented
a war. But he atoned for this overfight, by the gal-
lant defence he made for more than a year, amidft ^
variety of difcouragements,

During that period fome very fmart (kirmifhes
happened between the befiegers and the garrifon, of
which the following was the principal and mod
bloody : Captain Delzcl, a brave officer, prevailed
on the governor to give him the command of about
two hundred men, and to permit him to attack the
enemy's camp. This being complied with, he fallied
from the town before day-break j but Pontiac, re-
ceiving from fome of his fwift-footed warriors, who
were conftantly employed in watching the motion of
the garrifon, timely intelligence of theif dcfign, he
coUcded together the choiceft of his troops, and met
the detachment at fome dill^nce from his camp,
near a place fince called Bloody-Bridge.

As the Indians were vaftly fupcrior in nurpbers to
captain Dflael's party, he was foon over-powered

C A R V E R»s TRAVELS.

»03

and driven back. Being now nearly furrounded, he
made a vigorous effort to regain the bridge he had
juft croflcd, by which alone he could find a retreat;
but in doing this he loft his life, and many of his men
fell with him. However, major Rogers, the fecond
in command, afiiftcd by Lieutenant Breham, found
means to draw off the fhattcred remains of their lit-
tle army, and conduflcd them into the fort.

Thus confidcrably reduced, it was with difficulty
the major could defend the town; notwithfcand-
ing which, he held out againft the Indians till
he was relieved, as after this they made but few
attacks on the place, and only continued to block-
ade it.

The Gladwyn fchooner (that in which I after-
wards took my paffage from Michillimackinac to
Detroit, and which I fincc learn was loft: with all her
crew, on Lake Erie, through the obftinacy of the
commander, who could not be prevailed upon to
take in fufficient ballaft) arrived about this time,
near the town, with a reinforcement, and neceffary
fupplies. But before this vcffel could reach the
place of its deftinaiion, it was moft vigoroufly at-
tacked by a detachment from Pontiac's army. The
Indians furrounded it in their canoes, and made great
havoc among the crew.

At length the captain of the fchooner, with a
confiderable number of his men being killed, and
the favages beginning to climb up the fides from
every quarter, the lieutenant (M. Jacobs, who af-
terwards commanded, and was loft in it) being de-
termined that the ftores ftiould not fall into the ene-
my's hands, and feeing no other alternative, order-
ed the gunner to fet fire to the powder-room, and
blow the ftiip up. This order was on the point of

104

CARVE R's TRAVELS.

being executed, when a chief of the Hurons, who
iinderftood the Engliih . lauguagc, gave out to his
friends the intention of the commander. On re-
cicving this intelligence, the Indians hurried down
the fide of the Ihip with the greatcft precipitation,
and got as far from it; as pofliblc ; whilft the com-
mander immediately took advantage of their con-
llernation, and arrived witliouc any further obftruc-
tion at the town.

This feafonable fupply gave the garrifon frelh
fpirits i and Pontiac being now convinced that it
would not be in his power to reduce the place, pro-
pofed an accommodation j the governor wifhcd as
much to get rid of fuch troublefome enemies, who
obftrufted the intercourfe of the traders with the
neighbouring nations, liftened to his propofals, and
having procured advantageous terms, agreed to a
peace. The Indians foon after feparated, and re-
turned to their different provinces j nor have they
fmce thought proper to ^ifturb, at lead in any
great degree, the tranquility of thefc parts.

Pontiac henceforward fcemed to have laid afidc
the animofity he had hitherto borne towards the
Englifh, and apparently became their zealous friend.
To reward this new attachment, and to infure a cOn -
tinuance of it, government allowed him ahandfomc
penfion. But his refllefs and intriguing fpirit would
not fufFer him to be grateful for this allowance, and
his conduct at length grew fufpicious ; fo that going,
in the year 1767, to hold a council in the country of
the Illinois, a faithful Indian, who was either com-
miffioned by one of the Englifh governors, or in-
ftigated by the love he bore the Englifh nation, at-
tended him as a fpy; and being convinced from the
fpeech Pontiac made in the council, that he flill re-
tained his former prejudices aguinfl thofe for whom
he now profefTed a friend fhip, he plunged his knife

CARVE R's TRAVELS.

105

into his heart, as foon as he had done fpeaking, and
kid him dead on the fpot. But to return from this
digteflion.

Lake Eric receives thc.watcrs by which it is fup-
plied from the three great lakes, through the Straits
of Detroit, that lie at its north-weft oerner. This
lake is fituated between forty-one and forty-three
degrees of north latitude, and between feventy-eighr
and eighty-three degrees of weft -longitude. It is
near three hundred miles long from eaft to weft, and
about forty in its broadeft part : and a remarkable
long narrow point lies on its north fide, that projefts
for fevcral miles intotbe lake towards the fouth-eaft.

There are fevcral iflands near the weft end of it fo
infefted with rattle- fnakes, that it is very dangerous
to land on them. It is impoflible that any place
can produce a greater number of all kinds of thefe
reptiles than this does, particularly of the water-
fnake. The lake is covered near the banks of the
iflands with the large pond-lily; the leaves of whichlie
on the furface of the water fo thick, as to cover it
entirely for many acresjtogether j and on each of thefe
lay, when I paflTed over it, wreaths of water-fnakes
baflcing in the fun, which amounted to myriads.

The moft remarkable of the different fpecies, that
infeft this lake, is the hilTmg-fnake, which is of the
fmall (peckled kind, and about eight inches long.
When any thing approaches, it flattens itfelf in a mo-
ment, and its fpots, which are of various dyes be-
come vifibly brighter through rage j at the fame time
it blows from its mouth, with great force, a fubtilc
wind, that is reported to be of a naufeous fmell ; and
if drawn in with the breath of the unwary traveller,
will infallibly bring on a decline, that in a few

1C36

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

months muft prove mortal, there being no remedy
yet difcovered which can countcraft its baneful in-
fluence.

The Hones nnd pebbled on the fhores of this lake
. zT^ mcil of them tinged, in a greater or lefs degree^
with fpots that fcftmble brafs in their colour, but
whifh Hre of a morfe fulphufeous iiature. Small
pieces, about the flze of hazle-nuts, of the fame
kinds of ore, are found on the fands that lie on its
banks, and under the waten

Tiic navigation of this lake is eftcemcd more
dangerous than any of the others, on accoKint of
many high lands that lie on the borders of it, and
project into the water, in a perpendicular diredfcion
for many miles together j fo that whenever fudden
ftorms arife, canoes and boats are frequently loft, as
thtre is no place for them to find a fhelter.

This lake difcharges its waters at the iiorth-eaft
ends into thie River Niagara, which runs north and
fouth, and is about thirty fix miles in length j from
whence it falls into Lake Ontario. At the entrance
of this riv6r, on its eaftern fllore, lies Fort Niagara j
and, about eighteen miles further up, thofe remark-
able Falls which are cfteemed one of the moll ex- >
traordinaryprodudions of nature at prefcnt known.

As thefe have been vifited by fb many travellers,
and lb frequchtly defcribed, 1 Ihall omit giving a
partic:utar defcription of thetn, and only obferve, that
the "waters by which they are fupplied, after taking
their rife hear two thoufand miles to the north-
weft, and pafling through the Lakes SUperior,Michi-
gan, Huron, and Eire, during which they have been
*receivihg conftaht accumulations, at length rulh
down a ftupcndous precipice of one hundred and

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

forty feet perpendicular j and in a ftron^ rapid, that
extends to the diftancc of eight or nine miks below,
fall nearly as miich more : this river foon afic^
empties itfclf into Lake Ontario.

The noife of thefe Falls may be lieard an amaz-
ing way. I could plainly diftinguilh them in a calm
piorning more than twenty miles. Others have
laid that at particular times, and when the wind fit§
fair, the found of them reaches 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, cfpecially for grafs an4
paflurage.

Fort Niagara ftands nearly at the entrance of the
weft end of Lake Ontario, and on the eaft part of the
Straits of Niagara. It w^s taken from the French
in the year 1759, by the forces under the command
of Sir Williarn Johnfon, and atprefcn^is defended
by a confideralbje garrifoh.

Lak« Ontario is the next and leaft of the fiyc
great lakes of Canada. Its fituation is bet\^een forty
three and forty- five degrees of latitude, and be-
tween feventy-fix and fevehty-nine degrees of weft
longitude. The fottii of it is nearly oval, its greatefi;
length being frpiti riOrth-eiaft to fouth-wc^, and in
circumference, abotit fix hundred miles^ Near the
fouth-eaft part it receives the waters oftheOfwego
Rivcr,and on the iibrth-eaft difcharges itfetf into the
River Cataraqui. Not far from the place where it
iiTues, Fort Frontenac formerly ftgod, which was
taken from the French during the laft war, Irt the
year 1758, by a fmall army of Provincials underCoj.
Pradftrcct.

io8

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

At the entrance of Ofwcgo River ftands a fort of
the fame name, garrifoncd only at prefcnt by qn in-
confiderable party. This fort was taken in the year
1756, by the French, when a great part of the gar-
rifon, which confided of the late Shirley's and Pep-
peril's regiments, were maiTacred in cold blood by
the favages.

In Lake Ontario are taken many forts of fifli,
among which is the Ofwcgo Bafs, of an excellent
flavour, and weighing about thue or four pounds.
There is alfo a lort called the Cat- head or Pout,
which are in general very large, fome of them
weighing eight or ten pounds , and they are efteemed
a rare difh when properly dreflcd^

On thenorth-weftpartof this Lake, and to the
fouth-eaft 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, efr
pecially the more north and caftern parts, is compofed
of good land, and intin^e may make v^ry flourifh-
ing fettlcments.

The Oniada Lake, fituated near the head of the
River Ofwego, receives the waters of Wood-Creek,
which .takes its rife not far from the Mohawk's
River. Thefe two lie fo adjacent to each other,
that a junftion is effeded by fluices at fort Stanwix,
about twelve miles from the mouth of the former.
This lake is about thirty miles long from call to weft-,
and near fifteen broad. The country around it be-
longs to the Oniada Indians.

Lake Champlain, the next in fize to Lake On-
tario, and which lies nearly eaft from it is about
eighty miles ia length, north and fouth, and in its

CARVER'S TRAVELS. So^

biToadcft part fourteen. It is well ftorcd with fifli,
and the lands that He on all the borders of it^ and
about its rivers, very good.

Lake George, formerly called by the French
Lake St. Sacrament, lies to the fouth-well of the
laft mentioned lake, and is about thirty-five miles
long from north- e a ft tofouth-weft, but of no great
breadth. The country around it is very mountain-
ous, but in the^allies the land is tolerably good.

When thefe two lakes were firft difcovered, they
were known by no other name than that of the Iro-
quois Lakes -, and I believe in the firft plans taken
of thofc parts, were fo denominated. The Indians
alfo that were then called the Iroquois, are fincc
known by the name of the Five Mowhawk nations,
and the Mowhawks of Canada. In the late tvar, the
former, which confift of the Onondagoes, the
Oniadas, the Senccas,the Tufcarories,andIroondocks,
fought on the fide of the Englifh : the latter which
are called the Cohnawaghans, and St. Francis In-
dians, joined the Frenchi.

A vaft traft of land that lies between the two laft
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 Gorgesj and to Captain John Ma-
fon, the head of that family, afterwards diftinguilhed
from others of the fame name, by the Mafons of
Connefticut. The countries fpecificd in this grant
are faid to begin ten miles from the heads or the.
rivers that run from the eaft and fouth into Lake
George and Lake Champlain ; and continuing frbm
thefe in a direft line weftward, extend to the mid-
dle of Lake Ontario ; from thence, being bounded
by tfic Cataraqui, or river of the Iroquois, they take

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

their courfc to Montreal, as far as Fort Sorrell, which
lies at the junftion of this river with the Richlieu j
and from that point arc cnclofcd by the laft men-
tioned river till it returns back to the two lakes*

This immenfc fpacc was granted by the name of
the Province of Laconia, to the afore faid gentleman,
on fpecified conditions, and under certain penalties ;
but none of thefe amounted in cafe of omilfion in
the fulfilment of any part of them, to forfeiture, a
line only could be exadbed. <#

On account of the continual wars to which thefe
parts have been fubjeft, from their fituation between
the fcttlcmcnts of the Engiifli, the French, and the
Indians, this grant has been fuffered to lie dormant
by the real proprietors. Notwithftanding which,
fcveral towns have been fettled fincc the late war,
on the borders of Lake Champlain^ and grants made
to different people by the governor of New- York, of
part of thefe territories, which arc now become an^
ncxedto that province.

There arc & great number of lakes on the north
of Canada, between Labrador, Lake Superior, and
Hudfon'sBay, but thefe are comparatively fmall.
As they lie out of the track th.uApurfued,! fhallonly
give a fummary account of them, The moft wes-
terly of thefe are the Lakes Nipifing and Tamifcam-
ing. The firft lies at the head t)f the French River,
and runs into Lake Huron j the other on the Otta-
waw River, which empties itfelfinto the Cartaraqui
at Montreal. Thefe lakes are each about one hun-
dred miles in circumference..

The next is Lake Miftafiln, on the head of Ru-
pert's Rjver, that falls into James's Bay. This Lake
is fo irregular from the large points of land by

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

which It is intcrfcftcd on every fide, that it is diffi-
cult cither to defcribe its fliape^ or to afcertain its
fizc. It however appears on the whole to be more
than two hundred miles in circumference*

Lake St. John, which is about eighty miles
round, and of a circular form, lies on the S^iguenay
River, dirc6tly north of Quebec, and falls Into the
St. Lawrence, fomewhat north-caft of that city.
Lake Manikouagone lies near the head of the Black
River, which empties itfelf into the St. Lawrence to
theeaflward of the laft mentioned river, near the coaft
of Labrador, and is about lixty miles in circumfe-
rence. Lake Pertibi, Lake Wmcktagan, Lake Et-
chelaugon, 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 bttween the Lakes
Huron and Ontario.

' *

The whole of thofe I have enumerated, amount-
ing to upwards of twenty, arc within the limits of
Canada; and from this account it might be deduced,
that the northern parts of North- America, thrcugli
theic numerous inland feas, contain a greater quan-
tity of wa;er than any other quarter of the globe.

In October 1768 I arrived at Bofton, having bcea
abfent from it on this expedition two years and five
months, and during that time travelled »iear fevcn
thoufand miles. From thence, as ^oon as I had pro-
perly digeftcd my Journal and Charts, I fet out for
England to communics'i che difcoveriesi had made,
and to render therr. beneficial to the kingdom. But
the profecutionofn^ plans for reaping thcfe advan-
tages has hitherto been obftrudcd by the unhappy

112

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

divifions that have been fomented between Great-
Britain and her Colonies by their mutual enemies.
Should peace once more be reftorcd, I doubt not
but that the countries I have defcribed will prove a
more abundant fource of riches to this nation, than
cither its Eaft or Weft- Indian fettlcments j and I
fhall not only pride myfelf, but fincerely rejoice in
being the means of pointing out to it fo valuable an
acquifition.

I cannot conclude the account of my extcnfive tra-
vels, without expreffing my gratitude to that bene-
ficent Being who invifibly proteded 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 alleged
in the introdudbion of this work, were not the only
ones that induced 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 i byt nobler
purpofes contributed principally to urge me on. .

The confined ftate, both with regard to civil and
religious improvements, in which lo many of my
fellow-creatures re^iaihed, aroufed within my bo-
fom an irrefiftible inclination to explore the almoft
unknown regions which they inhabited j and as^ a
preparatory ftep towards the introdudion of more
polifhed 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-
tcrcourfe with thofc who dei^minate thcmfelves

mmmmmmm

e A k V fe R»5 fk A V E L S.

Chrillians, did not tend to encourage my charitable
purpofesi yet as many, though nor the generality,
might receive fome benefit from the introdtiftiort
amon^ therr. of the polity and religion of the Euro-
peans, without retaining only the errors or vices that
from the depravity and perverfion of their profeffors
are unhappily attendant on thefc, I determined t6
prefcVere*

Kor could I flatter myfelf that 1 fhoiild be able
to accomplilh alone this great defigns however, I
was willing. tp contr|bi^e as much as lay in my power
towards it* Iii all pumic undertakings wo'uld every
one do this, and furnifh with alacrity his particul?,t
Ihare towards it, what flupendous works might not
be completed.

It is true that the Indians arc not tvithout fome
fenfe of religion, and fuch as proves that they wor-
Ihip the Great Creator with a degree of purity un-
known to nations who have greater opportunities
of improvement} but rheir religious principles arc
far from being fo faultlels as defcribed by a learned
writer, or unmixed with opinions and ceremonies
that greatly leilen their excellency in this point. So
that could the doctrines of genuine and vital Chrif-
tianity be introduced among them, pure and un-
tainted, as it flowed from the lips of its Divine In-
ftitutor, it would certainly tend to clear away chat
^ fuperftitious or idolatrous drofs by which the ratio-
nality .of their religious tenets are obfcured. Its
mild and beneficent precepts Mrould like wife conduce
to foftcn their implacable difpofitions, and to refine
their favags manners; an event moft defirablej and
nappy fhall I efteem myfclf, if this publication Ihall
prove the means of pointi;>g out the path. by which

g A K V E |L'5 t R A V ^ t^.

fi^lutary inftrw^tions m^y. be cor^vfsycd to them, and
the cqqvcrfation, though but of a fcw^ be the coji^
fequencc.

COKCLUSIOM

PI T»£ JOURNAL, &c.

:-,rriC

rap

■«iP(p*#>

-1^-...: ... - ■ 1

.iSm.

O F T H U

ORIGIN, MANNERS, CUSTOMS,
RELIGION, AND LANGUAGE

tt F THE

I N D I A N S,

CHAPTER. L
Of their Origin,

JL HE means by which America received
its firft inhabitants, have, fince the time of its dif-
covery by the Europeans, been the fubjeft of num-
berleft difquifitions, Was I to endeavour to collect
the different opinions and reafonings' of the various
writers that have taken up the pen in defence of their
conjectures, the enumeration would much exceed
the bounds I have prefcribed to myfelf, and oblige
me to be lefs explicit oxk points of greater mo^
mcnt.

From the ohfcurity in which this debate is enve-
loped, through the total difufe of letters among every
nation of Indians on this extenfive continent, and
the uncertainty of oral tradition at the diftance of fo
many ages, Ifeari thalj even after the moft minute
invcftigation^ we fhall not be able to fettle it with
Txny great degree of certalntyv And this apprehen-
fio(i will receive additionajl forcc^ when it is confi-*

ii6

C A R V E R»5 TRAVELS.

dered that the diverfity of language, which is appa-
rently diftin(5l between mod of" the Indians, tend?
to alcert^iin that this population was not cfFedlcd from
one particular countiyj butvfrom feveral nieghbour-r
ing ones, and completed at different periods.

Moft of the the hiflorians or travellers that have
treated on the American Aborigines, difagree in
their fentimcnts relative to them. Many of che an-
cients are fuppofed to have knovvn that this quarter
pfthe globe not only exifted, but alfo that it was in-
habited. Plato in his Timjtus has affcrted, that
beyond the ifland which he calls Atalantis, and
Avhich, according to his defcription, was fituated in
the Weftern Ocean, there were a great number of
other iflands, and behind thofe a vaft continent.

Oviedo, a- celebrated Spanilli author of a much
later date, has made no fcruple to affirm that the
^^ntillcs arp the fj^mous Hefperides io often menti-
oned by the poets j which are at length reftored tQ
the kings of Spain* the defceridants of king Hcfpe-
rus, who 'ived upwards of three thoufand years
ago, ?.^d from whom thcfe iflands received their
names.

Two other Spaniards, the one. Father Gregorio
Garcia, a Dominican, the other. Father Jofeph De
Acofta, a Jefuit, have written on the origin of the
Americans.

The former whp had been employed in the miffi-
ons of Mexico and Peru, endeavoured to prove
from the traditions of the Tvitxicans, Peruvians, and
others, which he received en the fpot, and from the
variety of charadters, cuftoms, languages, aj:id reli-
,«.>;icn obfervable in the different countries of the New
World, that different nations had contributed to the,
pecpliijg of it.

CARVE R»8 TRAVELS,

'»7

The latter. Father Dc Acofta, in his examination
of the means by which the firft Indians of America
might have found a paffage to that continent, dif-
credits the conclufions of thofc who have fuppofed
it to be byfea, becaufe no ancient author has made
mention of the compafs : and concludes, that it muft
be cither by the north of Afia and Europe, which
adjoin to ^ach other, or by thofe regions that lie to
the fc!ith^rd of the Straits of Magellan. He alfo
rejeds the aflrrtions of fuch as have advanced ihat it
was peopled by the Hebrews.

John de Laet, a Flemifli writer, has controverted
the opinions of thefe Spanilh fathers, and of many
others who have written on the fame fubjeft. The
hypothefis 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 foon after the difperfion of Noah's grand-
fons. He undertakes to Ihow, 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
S'cythians, Tartars, and Samceides, than to any
other nations.

In anfwer to Grotius, who had aflerted that fomc
of the Norwegians paffed into America by way of
Greenland, and over a vaft continent, he fays, that
it is well known that Greenland was not difcovered
till the year 964; and both Gomera and Herrera in-
form us that the Chichimeques were fettled on the
Lake of Mexico in yai. He adds, that thefe fava-
ges, according to the uniform tradition of the Mex-
icans who difpoficfled them, came from the coun-
try fince called New Mexico, and from the neigh-
bourhood of California; confequently North- Ame-
][ica muft have been inhabited rpany ages before it

I1«

CARVE R'» TRAVEL 1

could receive any inhabitants from Norway by way
of Greenland,

It is no kfs certain, he obfcrves, that t\it real
Mexicans founded thcrr empire in 9021, after having
fubdued the Chichimeques, the Ocomias, and other
barbarous nations, who had taken pofle^Sori of the
country round the I^ake of Mexico, and, <ach of
■whom fpoke a langua^ pccuHar to thtftifelvcs.
The real Mexicans are Hkewife fappofcd to come
from fomc of the countries that lie near California,
and that they performed their journey for the molt
part by land j of courfe they could not come from
Norway. . .

De Naet further adds, that though fomc of th«
inhabitants of North-Amcricai may have entered it
from the ¥^orth-weft, yet, as it is related by Pliny^j
and fome other writers, that on many of the iflands
near the wcftem coaft of Africa, particularly on the
Canaries, ibme ancient edifices were fecn, it is highly
probably from their being now deferted, that the in-
habitants may have paffedovc-r to America; the paf-r
fage being neither long nor difficult. This migra-
tion, according to the calculation of thole authors,
mull have happened more than two thoufand years
ago, at a time v/hen the Spaniards were much trou-
bled by the Carthaginians J from whom having ob-
tained a knowledge of navigation, andthc conlrruc-
tion of fhips, they might have retired to the Antil-
les, by' the way of the weflcm ifleSi which were
e-xaflly halfway on- their voyage^

He thinks alfb that Grcat^ Britain, Ireland, anc^
the Orcades were extremely proper to admit of a,
fimilar conjedure. As a proof, he inserts the fol-
lowing paifage from the hiftory of Wales, written
by Dr. David Powel, in the year 1170.^

•mmnfff^mmmifi^

anc^

of a,

fol-

itten

C A R V E R'f T R A Y E L S, A19

This hiilorian fay^, thit Mddoc, one of the fbns
of Prince Owen Gwynnith, being difgufted at th«
civil wars which broke out between his brothers,
after the death of their father, iitted out fevcral Vef-
fels, and having provided them with every thing
ncceffary for a long voyage, went in qucft of new-
lands to the weflward, of Ireland ,r there he diico^
vered very fertile a>antrie$> but de{litut« of irihabi-*
tants } when landing part of his people, he returned
to Britain, where he raiied new levies, and afcer-
wards- traniported them to his coWny.

The Fliemiih author then returns to the Scythians^
between, whom aiod the Americans be drawn a pa-
rallel.. He observes that fever al nations of them to
the north o€ the Cafpian Sea, led: a wandering
lifej which, as well as many other of their cuf-
toms, and way of living, agrees in many circuirt*
fiances with ^he Indians, of America. And. though
the nefemblances aee not abfolutaly perfe;^ yec
the emigcantB, even; beioEe t-hey left theii: owi^
coumry, differed from, each Ok&her, and- went hoc
by the^me name. Thei^ change o£ abode eiF«6bed
what remained.

. He fliKther lays, thac a< fimilar likenefs' exifts
between fevcrai American nations, and the Samoei-
des who are fiitded, according to the Ruffian ac-
counts, on the gr^pat Rivei; Oby. And it i^ more
natural, continues he, to fuppofe that Colonies of
their nations, paffcd ov^rtp America by croffing
the icy fea on their *^ edges, than for the Norwegians
to tmveL all' the vva^ Grotius^ has) marked out for
them.

This writer makes m^ny other remarks that: are
equally fenfiblc, and which appear ta be ji^ ; buc

129

CARVE R'8 TRAVELS.

he intermixes wich thefe^ fome that are not fo well
founded.

Emanuel de Moracz, a Portuguc'fc, in this hifto-
ry of Brazil, alTerts, that America has been wholly
peopled by the Carthaginians and Ifraelites. He
brings as a proof of this alTertion, the difcoveries
the former arc known to have made at a great dif-
tance beyond the coaft of Africa. The progrefs of
which being put a ftop to by the. fenate of Carthage,
thofe who happened to be them in the. newly dif-
covered countries, being cut off from all communi-
cation with their countrymen, and deftitute of many
neceflaries of life, fell into a ftate of barbarifm. As
to the Ifraelites, this author thinks that nothins; but
circumcifion is wanted in order to conftitute a per-
fect reiemblance between them and the Brazilians.

' George De Hwron, a learnied Dutchmani has like-
wife written on the fubjeft. He fets out with de-
claring, that he does not believe it poffible America
could have been peopled before the flood, confider-
ing the fliort fpace of time which elapfed bet^veen
the creation of the world and that memorable event.
In the next place he lays it down as a principle, that
after the deluge, men and other terreftrial animals
penetrated into that country both by the fea and by
land i fome through accident, and fome from a form-
ed dcfign. That birds got thither by flight } wh?ch
they were enabled to do by reeling on the rocks and
iflands that are fcattered about in the Ocean.

He further obferves^ that wild beafts may have
found a free paflage by land and that if we do not
meet with horfcs or cattle f .vhich he might have
added elephants, camels, rhinoceros, and beafts of
many other kinds) it is bccaufe thofe nations that

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

121

paffed thither, were either not acquainted with their
ufe, or had no convenience to fupport them.

Having totally excluded many nations that others
have admitted as the probable firft fettlers of Ame-
rica, for which he gives fubftantiai rcafons, he fup-
pofes tLatit began to be peopled by the north j and
maintains, that the primitive colonies fprcad them-
felves by the means of the ifthmus ofPanama through
the whole extent of the continent.

Kc believes that the firft founders of the Indian
Colonies were Scythians. That tl^ Phoenicians
and Carthaginians afterwards got footing in America
acrofs the Atlantic Ocean, and the Chinefc by way
of the Pacific. And that other nations might from
time to time have landed there by one or other of
thefe ways, or might poffibly have been thrown on
the coaft by tempefts : fince, through the whole ck-
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. And laftly, thatfome Jews
and Chriftians might have been carried there by fucii
like events, but that this muft have happened at a
time when the whole of the New World was already
peopled.

Afttr all, he acknowleges that great difficulties
attend the determination of the queftion. Thefe,
he fays, are occafioned in the firft place by the im-
perfed knowledge we have of the extremities of the
globe, towards the north and fouth pole ; and in
the next place to the havoc which the Spaniards,
the firft difcoverers of the New World, made among
its moft ancient rtionuments; as witnefs the great
double road betwix^ Quito and Cuzco, an under-
taking fo ftupendous, that even the moft raagnifi-

122

C A R V E I^'8 TRAVELS.

cent of thofc executed by the Romans, cannot be
compared to it.

He fuppoics alfo another migration of the Phoe-
nicians, than thofe already mentioned, to have taken
place; and this was during a three years voyage
made by the Tyrian fleet in the fervicc of King So-
lomon. He aflcrts on the authority 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
weftern Goaft of Africa, which is Tarfhifhj then to
Ophir for gold, which is Haite, or the ifland of
Hifpaniolaj and in the latter opinion he is fupported
by Columbus, who, when he difcovered that ifland,
thought he could trace the furnaces in which the gold
was refined* 111

To thefe migrations which preceded the Chrif-
tian asra, he adds many others of a later date, from
difl^erent 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 fh all
content myfelf with only giving the Tentiments of
two or three more*

The firfl: of thefe is Pierre De Charlevoix, a
Frenchman, who, in his journal of a voyage to
North-America, made Co 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 extracted, as they arc fo interwoven with
the pafTagcs he has quoted, that it requires much at-
tention to difcriminate them.

He feems to allow that America might have rcr
ccivcd its firfl inhabitants from Tartary and Hyrca-

CARVE R's TRAVELS.

I2J

nia. This he confirms, by obfcrving that the lioni
and tigers whicli are found in the former, miiit
have come from thofe countries, and whofc paflages
fcrves for a proof that the two hcmifpheres join to
jhe northward of Afia. He then draws a corro-
boration of this argument, from a ftory he fays he
has often heard related by Father Grollon, a Frencli
Jcfuit, as an undoubted matter of fad.

This father after having laboured fome time in
the miflfions of New France, pafTed over to thofe of
China. One day as he was travelling in Tartary,
he met a Huron woman whom he had formerly
known in Canada. He alked her by what adven-
ture Ihe had been carried into a country fo diftant
from her own. She made anfwer, that having been
taken in war, (he had been conduced from nation to
nation, till lljc had reached the place at which lli^
then was,

Monfieur Charlevoix fays further, that he had
been affured another Jcfuit, palling through Nantz,
in his return from China, had related much fuch
another affair of a Spanifti woman from Florida,
She alfo had been taken by certain Indians, and
given to thofe of a more diftant country; a4id by
thefe again to another nation, till having thus been
lucceflively paflcd from country to country, and tra-
velled through regions extremely cold, fhe at laft
found herfelt in Tartary. Here Ihe had married a
Tartar, who had attended the conquerors in China,
where fhc was thpn fettled.

He acknowledges as an allay to the probability
of thefe ftories, that thofe who had failed fartheft
to the caftward of Afia, by purfuing the coaft of
Jcflb or Kamfchatka, h^vc pretended that they h^i

"♦

CARVE il's TRAVELS.

perceived the extremity of this continent •, and from
thence have concluded that there could not poffibly
be any communication by land. But he adds that
Francis Guella, a Spaniard, is faid to have aflcrted,
that this reparation is no more than a llrait, about
one hundred miles over, and thac fome late voyages
of the Japanefe give ground to think that this ftrait
is only a bay, above which there is paflagc over
land.

He goes on to obfcrve, that though there are
few wild beads to be met with in North-America,
except a kind of tigers without fpots, which are
found in the country of the Iroquoife, yet towards
the tropics there arc lions and real tigers, which,
notwithltanding, might have come from Hyrcania
and Tartary i 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
Tabinj and alfo an author of later date, Mark Pol,
a Venetian, whoj he fays, tells us, that to the north-
caft of China and Tartary there are vaft uninhabited
countries, which might be fufRcient to confirm any
conje6tures concerning the retreatof a great number
of Scythians into America.

To this he adds, that we find in the ancients the
names of fome of thefe nations. Pliny fpeaks of
the Tabiansj Solinus mentions the Apuleans, who
had for neighbours the Maflagetes, whom Pliny
fmce affures us to have entirely difappeared. Am-
mianus Marcellinus exprefsly tells us, that the fear
of the Anthropophagi obliged fevcral of the inhabi-

CARVER

TRAVELS.

«»S

tants of thofc countries to take refuge clfewhcre.
From all thefc authorities Monfieur Charlevoix con-
cludes, that there is at lealb room to conjecture that
more than one nation in America had the Scythian
or Tartarian original.

He finillics his remarks on the authors he has
quoted, by the following obfervations : It appears to
me that this controverly may be reduced to the
two foUo'vnng articles -, firft, how the new world
might have been peopled j and fccondly, by whom,
and by what means it has been peopled.

Nothing, he alfcrts, may be more cafily 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 fubjedV,
which have been deemed infolvable, but which arc
far from being fo. Th * inhabitants of both hemif-
phe res are certainly the defcendants of the fame fa-
ther } the common parent of mankind received an
cxprefs command from Heaven to people the whole
world, and accordingly it has been peopled.

To bring this about it was neccflary to overcome
all difficulties that lay in the way, and they have
been got over. VV^ere thefc difficulties greater with
refpeft to peopling the extremities of Afia, Africa,
and Europe, or the tranfporting men into the iflands
which lie at confiderable diftance from thofe con-
tinents, than to pafs over into America? certainly not.

Navigation, which has arrived at fo great per-
feftion within thefc three or four centuries, might •
poffibly have been more perfect in thofc early ages
than at this day. Who can believe that Noah and
I'i immediate defcendajits knew Icfs of this art than
wr do ? That the builder and pilot of the largeft (hip

126

CARVER'S TRAVEL S.

that ever was, a fliip that was formed to travcrfc
an unbounded ocean, ^nd had fo many fhoals and
quick-fands to guard againft, Ihould be ignorant of,
or Ihould not have commuicated to thofe of his de-
fcendantswho furvivcd him, and by whofc means he
was to execute the order of the Great Creator j I fay,
who can believe he fliould not have communicated
to them the art of failing upon an ocean, which was
notonly more calm and pacific, but at the fame time
confined within its ancient limits ?

Admitting this, how eafy is it to pafs, cxclufive
of the paflfage iilready defcribed, by land from the
coaft of Africa to Brazil, from the Canaries to the
Weftern Iflands, and from them to the Antilles ?
From the Britifli Ifles or the coaft of France, ^i
Newfoundland, the paflage i" neither long nor diffi-
cult i I might fay as much of that from China to
Japan j from Japan, or the Philippines, to the liles
Mariannes j and from thence to Mexico,

There are iHands at a con(ider?.ble diftance from
the continent of Afia, where we have not been fur-
prifed to find inhabitants, why then fhould we won-
der to meet with people in America ! Nor can it
be imagined that the grandfons of Noah, when they
were obliged to feparate, and fpread themfelves in
conformity to the defigns of God, over the whole,
earth, ihould find it abfolutely impoffible to people
slmoft one half of it.

I have been more copious in my cxtradbs from this
author than I intended, as his reafons appears to be
folid, and many of his obfervations juft. From this
encomium, however, I muft exclude the ftories he
has introduced of the Huron and Floridan women,
which I think I might venture to pronounce
fabulous,

carver's travels.

,127

I fhall only add, to give my readers a more com-
prehc;lfive view of Monfieur Charlevoix's diffcr-
tation, the method he propofes to come at the truth
of what we are in feach of.

The only means by which this can be done, he
fays is by comparing the language 01 the Ameri-
cans with the different nations, from whence wc
might fuppofe they have peregrinated. If we com-
pare the former with thofe words that are confidcred
as primitives, it might poffibly fet us upon fomc
happy difcovery. And this way of afcending to the
original of nations, which is by far the lead equivo-
cal, is not fo difficult as might be imagined, Wc
have had, and ftill have, travellers and miffionaries
who have attained the languages that are fpoken in
all the provinces of the new world j it would only
be neccflary to make a colledion of their grammars
and vocabularies, and to collate them with the dead
and living languages of the old world, that pafs for
originals, and the fimilarity might eafiiy be traced.
Even the different dialefts, in fpite of the alterations
they have undergone, ftill retain enough of the
mother tongue to furrtifh confiderablc lights.

Any enquiry into the manners, cuftoms, religion, or
traditions of the Americans, in order to difcover by
that means their cigin, he thinks would prove fal-
lacious. A difquifition of that kind, he obferves, is
only capable of producing a falfe light, more likely
to dazzle, and to make us wander from the right
path, than to lead us with certainty to the point
propofcd.

Andient traditions are ecraced from the minds of
fuch as either have not, or for feveral ages have
been without thofe helps that arc necefTary to pre-
ferve them. And in this fitu;ition is full one half of

128

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

the world. New events, and a new arrangement
of things, give rife to new traditions, which efface
the former, and are themfelves effaced in turn. Af-
ter one or two centuries have paffed, there no
longer remains any traces of the firft traditions j and
thus we are involved in a ftate of uncertainty.

He concludes with the following remarks, among
many others. Unforefeen accidents, tempefts, and
lhipwrecks,have certainly contributed to people every
habitable part of the world : and ought we to won-
der after this, at perceiving certain rcfemblances,
both ofpcrfonsand manners between nations that arc
moft remote from each other, when we find fuch a
difference between thofc that border on one another ?
As we are deftitute of hiftorical monur^ents, there is
nothing, I repeat it, but a knowledge . *' the primitive
languages that is capable of throwing any light
upon thefe clouds of impenetrable darknefs.

- By this enquiry we fhould at leaft be fatisfied,
among that prodigious number of various nations
inhabiting America, and differing fo much in lan-
guages from each othc, ' /hich are thofe who make
ufe of words totally and entirely different from thofe
of the old world, and who confequently muft be
reckoned to have paffed over to America in the
carlieft ages, and thofe who from the analogy of
their language with fuch as are at prefent ufed in the
three other parts of the globe, leave room to judge
that their migration has been more recent, and which
ought to be attributed to Ihipwrccks, or to fome ac
cident fimilar to thofc which have been Ipoken of in
the courfe of this treatife.

I Ihallonly add the opinion of one author more,
before I give my own fenthncnts onthefubjc<5t,and
that is of James Adair,Efq. who rcfidcd forty years

CARVE R's TRAVELS.

129

among the Indians, and publifhed the hiftory of
them in the year 1772. In his learned and iyftema-
tical hiilory of thofe nations, inhabiting the wcftern
parts of the moft fouthern of the American colo-
nies; this gentleman without hefitation pronoun-
ces that the American Aborigines are defcendcd
from the Ifraelitcs, ,°ithcr whilft they were a ma-
ritime power, or Iboh after their general capti-;
vity.

This defcent he endeavours to prove from their
religious rites, their civil and martial cuftoms, their
marriages, their funeral ceremonies, their manners,
language, traditions, and from a variety of other
particulars. And fo complete is his conyi6tion on
this head, that he fancies he finds a perfe<5t and
indifputable fimilitude in each. Through all thcfc
I have not time to follow him, and fhall therefore
only give a few cxtrafts to ihow on what foundation
he builds his conjedures, and what degree of credit
he is entitled to on this point.

He begins with obferving, that though fome have
fuppofed the Americans to be defcended from the
Chinefe, _ yet neither their religion, laws, nor cuf-
toms agree in the leaft: vi'ith thofe of the Chinefe j
which fufficiently proves that they arc not of this
line. Befides, as our beft fhips are now almoft half
a year in failing for China (our author does not here
recolle«5l that this is from a high northern latitude,
acrofs the Line, and then back again greatly to the
northward of it, and not diredly athwart the Pacific
Ocean, for only one hundred and eleven degrees)
or from thence to Europe, it is very unlikely they
fhould attempt fuch dangerous difcoveries, with
their fuppofed fmall veflels, againlt rapid currents,
and in dark aad fickly Monfoons.

«>.

I^O

C A R V E R*s TRAVELS.

Kc further remarks, that this is more particularly
improbable, as there is reafon to believe that this
nation was unacquainted with the ufc of the loadftonc
10 dire(5t their courlc.

Chini, he lays, is about eight thoufand miles dif-
tant from the American continent, which is twice as
far as acrofs the Atlantic Ocean. And wc arc not
informed by any ancient writer of their maritime
Ikill, or fo much as any inclination that way, befides
fmall coafting voyages. The winds blow likcwife,
■with little variation from caft to weft within the la-
titudes thirty and odd> north and fouth, and there-
fore thefe could not drive them on the American
coaft, it lying diredly contrary to fuch.a courfc.

Neither could perfons, according to this writer's
account, 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 j
and it is utterly imprafticable, he fays, for any to
come to America by fca from that quarter. Belides,
the remaining traces of their religious ceremonies,
and civil and martial cuftoms, are quite oppofite to
the like vcftiges of the Old Scythians.

Even in the moderate northern climates there is
hot to be fccn the leaft trace of any ancient ftately
buildings, or of any thick fcttlements, as are faid
to remain in the lefs healthy regions of Peru and
Mexico. And feveral of the Indian nations affure us,
that they croifed the Miflifilppi before they made
their prefent northern fcttlements : which, con-
ne6tcd with the former arguments, he concludes will
fufficiently explode that weak opinion of the Ameri-
can Aborigines being lineally defcendcd from the
Tartars or ancient Scythians.

CARVE R's TRAVELS.

Jfji

Mr. Adair's rcafons 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 ftridt, permanent, di-
vine precept, the Hebrew nation were ordered to
worfhip, at Jerufalem, Jehovah the true and living
God, fo do the Indians lliiino; him Yohcwah. The
ancient Heathens, he adds, it is well known, wor-
ihipped a plurality of gods, but the Indians pay
their religious devoirs to the Great, beneficient, fu-
preme, holy Spirit of Fire, who refides, as they think,
above the clouds, and on earth alfo with unpolluted
people. They pay no adoration to images, or to
dead perfons, neither to the celeflial luminaries, to
evil fpirits, nor to any created beings whatever.

Thirdly, becaufe, agreeable to the theocracy or
divine government of Ifrael, the Indians think the
Deity to be the immediate head of their ftatc.

Fourthly, becaufe, as the Jews believe in the
miniftration of angels, the Indians alfo believe that
the higher regions are inhabited by good fpirits.

Fifthly, becaufe, the Indian language and di|,k(5ls
appear to have the very idoms and genius of the
Hebrew. Their words and fentences being cx-
prefljve, concife, emphatical, fonorous, and bold ;
and often, both in letters, and fignifications, arc
fynonymous with the Hebrew language.

Sixthly, becaufe, they count their time after the
manner of the Hebrews,

Sevenrly, becaufe in conformity to, or after the

>3«

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

manner of the Jews, they hav th'eirprophcts,high-
prielts, and other religious orders.

Eighthly, becaufe their feflivals, fafls, and reli-
gious rites have a great refcniblancc to thole of the
Hebrews,

Ninthly, becaufe the Indians, before they go to
war, have many preparatory ceremonies of purifi-
catiou and fading, like whac is recorded of the If-
raelites.

Tcnthly, becaufe the fame tAixe for ornaments,
and the fame kind, are made ufe of by the Indians,
as by the Hcbre\vs.

Thefe and many other arguments of a fimilar na-
ture, Mr. Adair, brings in fupp(rrt of his favourite
fyftemibuilfliouldimagine,that if the Indians are real-
ly derived from the Hebrews, among their religious
ceremonies, on which he chiefly feems to build his
hypothcfis, the principal, that of circumcifion, would
never have been laid afide, and its very remem-
brance obliterated.

Thus numerous and diverfe are the opir^ions of
thofc who have hitherto written on the fubje6l ! I
jhail^ot however, either endeavour to reconcile,
them, or to point out the errors of each, but proceed
to give my own fcntiments on the origin of the
Americans i which are founded on conclusions drawn
from the mod rational arc;uments of the writers I
have mentioned, and from my own obfervations ; the
confiftency of diefe I fliail leave to the judgement of
jjiy readers.

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

The better to introduce my conjc6lures on this
head, it is neccffary firft to afccr rain the diftanccs
between America and tKofe parts ot the habitable
globe that approach neareft to it.

The Continent of Amrrica, as far as we can judge
from all the refearches that have been made near the
poles, appears to be entirely fcparated from the
other quarters of the world. That part of Europe
which approaches neareft to it, is the coaft of Green-
land, lying in about feventy 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 j which lies abojut eighteen
hundred and fixty miles north-eaft from the Brazils.
The moft eaftern coaft of Afia which extends to
the Korean Sea onthenorthofChina projeftj north-
eaft through eaftern Tartaryand Kamfchatka to Si-
beria, in about fixty degrees of north latitude. To-
wards which the weftern coafts of America, from
California to the Straits of Annian, extend nearly
north-weft, and lie in about forty-fix degrees of the
fame latitude.

Whether the Continent of America ftretches any
farther north than thefeftraits, and joins to the ea,f-
tcrn parts of Afia, agreeable to what has been aflfert-
ed by feme of the writers I have quoted, or whether
the lands that have been difcoveredin the interme-
diate parts are only an archipelago of iflands, vergi \g
towards the oppofite continent, is not yet afcer-
tained.

It being, however, certain that there arc many
confiderable iflands which lie between the extremities
of Afia and America, viz. Japan JeflTo or Jedfo,
G Nina's Land, Behring's Ifle, with many others d\(^

»34

CARVE R'3 TRAVELS.

1^*

covered by Tfchirikow, and bcfides thefe, from
fifty degrees north there appearing to bt a clufttr of
iflands 0ac reach as far as Siberia^ it is probable
from their proximity to America, that it received its
firil inhabitants from them.

This conclufion is the mbft rational I an? able to
draw, fuppofing that fmcc the Aborigines got foot-
ing on this continent, no extraordinary or fudden
ciiangc in the pofition or furfacc of it has taken
place, from inundations, earthquakes, or any re-
volutions of the earth that we are at prcfent unac-
quainted with.

To me it appears highly improbable that it fhould
have been peopled from different quarters, acrofs
the Ocean, as others have alferted. From the
fizc of the fhips made uic 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 attempted, or
had America been firft accidentally peopled from
ihips freighted with paffengers ofbothfexes, which
were driven by llrong eafterly winds acrofs the At-
lantic, thefe fettlers muft have re<-:iined fome traces
of the language of the country from whence they
migrated, and this iince the difcovery of it by thJe
Europeans muft have been made out. It alfo appears
extra^ordinary that feveral of thefe accidental migra-
tions, as allowed by fome, and thefe from different
parts, fhould have taken plaee.

Upon the whole,' after the moft critical enqui-
ries, and the maturcft deliberation, 1 am of opinion,
that America received its firft inhabitants from the
north -eaf?-, by way of the great archipelago juft
n>cntioned, and from thefe alone. But this might

carver's travels.

CRighc

have been cffc6bcd at diffiircnt times, and from
various parts: from Tartary, China, Japan, or
Kamfchatka, the inhabitants of thefe places re-
fembhng each other in colour, features, and (hapcj
and who, before fome of them acquired a know-
ledge of the arts and fciences, might have likewift
refembled each other in their manners, cuiloms,
religion, and language.

The only difference between the Chincfe nation
and the Tartars lies in the cultivated ftate of the
one, and the unpoliflicd fituation of the others. The
former have become a commercial people, and
dwell in houfes formed into regular towns and cities j
the latter live chiefly in tents, and rove about in
different hordes, without any fixed abode. Nor can
the long and bloody wars thefe two riatiolis have
been engaged in, exterminate their hereditary fimi-
litude. The prefent family of the Chinefe emperors
is of Tartarian extradftionj and if they were notfenfi-
ble of fome claim befide that of conqueft, fo nume-
rous a people would fcarcely fit quiet under the
dominion of flrangef^.

It is very evident that fome of the manners and
cuftoms of the American Indians refemble thofe of
the Tartars; and I make no doubt but that in fome
future aei*a, and this is not a very difVant one, it will
be reduced to a certainty, that during f^Drne of the
wars between the Tartars and the Chinefe, a part of
the inhabitants of the northern provinces were driven
from their native country, and took refuge in fome
of the ifles before- mentioned, and from thence
found rheir way into America.* At different periods
each nation might prove viftorious, and the con-
quered by turns fly before their conquerors; and
from hence might rife the iimilitude of the Indieas

Ij6

CARVER'S TRAVKLS.

•ii^

to all thclc people, and that animofity which cxifts
between fo many of their tribes.

It appears plilnly to me that a great fimilarity be-
tween the Indians and Chincfc is confpicuous in that
particular cuftom of (having or plucking off the
hair, and leaving only a fmall turf on the crown of
the head, This mode is faid to have been enjoined
by the Tartarian emperors on their acceflion to the
throne of China, and confequently is a farther proof
that this cuftom was in the ufe among th« Tartars ;
to whom as well as the Chinefc, the Americans might
be indebted for it.

Many words alfo are ui'ed both by the Chincfe
a'-.d Indians, which have a rcfemblance to each other,
not pniy in their found, but their fignification. The
Chinefe call a flave, fhungoj and the Naudoweffie
Indians, whofe language, from their little intcr-
courfc with the Europeans, is the le?.ft corrupted,
term a dog, Ihungnfh/ Th»j former denominate
one fpecies of the'r tea, /houfong} the latter call
their tobacco, fhoufaflau. Many other of the words
ufed by the Indians contain the fyllables che^ cnaw,
and chui after the dialedt of the Chinefe.

There probably might be found a fimilar connec-
tion between the language of the Tartars and the
American Aborigines, were we as well acquainted
with it as we arc, from a commercial intercourfe,
with that of the Chinefe.

I am confirmed in tLefe conjectures, by the ac-
counts of Kamfchac!;*, publilhed a few years ago
by order of the Emprefs of Ruflia. The author of
which faysj that the fca which divides that peninfula
from America is full of iflands : and that the diftance
between Tfchukotlkoi-Nofs, a promontory which

CARVER 's TRAVELS.

«37

exids

lies at the eaftcrn extremity of that qountry, and the
coaft of America, is not more than two degrees and
a half of a great circle. He further fays, that there
is the greateft reafon to fuppofc that Afia and Ame-
rica once joined at this place, as the coafls of both
continents appear to have been broken into rapes
and bays, which anfwer each others more efpcci-
ally as the inhabitants of this part of both refem-
ble each other in their perfons, habits, cuftoms,
and food. Their language, indeed, he obferves,
tioes not appear to be the fame, but then the inha-
bitants of each diftrifl: in Kamfchatka fpeak a lan-
guage as different from each other, < s from that
fpoken on the oppofite coaft. Thefc obfcrvations,
to Y/hich he adds, the fimiliarity of the boats of the
inhabitants of each coaft, and a remark that the na-,
tives of this part of America are wholly ftrangers to
wine and tobacco, which he looks upon as a proof
that they have as yet had no communication with the
natives of Europe, he fays, amount to little Icfs than
a demooftration that America was peopled from this
part of Afia.

The limits of my prefent undertaking will not
permit me to dwell any lohger on this fubjcdt, or to
cnuqierate any other proofs in favour of my hypo-
thefis. I am, however, fo thoroughly convinced
of the certainty of it, and fo dcfirous have I been to
obtain every teftimony which can be procured in its
fupport, that I once made an offer to a private fo-
ciety of gentlemen, who Were curious in fuch re-
fearches, and to whom I had communicated my fen-
timents on this point, that I would undertake a jour-
ney, on receiving fuch fupplies as were needful,
through the north-eaft part of Europe and Afia to
the interior parts of Americ^^ and from thence to
England; making, as I proceeded, fuch obfcrva-

«3«

C A ft V E R's T ft A V E L S.

tions both on the languages and manners of the people
with whom I fhould be converfant, as might tend to
illuftrate the dodtrine I have here laid down, and to
fiitisfy the curiofity of the learned or inquifitive j
but as this propofal was judged rather to require a
national than a private lupport, it was not carried
into execution.

1 am happy to find, fince I formed the foregoing
tonclufions, that they correfpond with the fenti-
tnents of that great and learned hiftorian, doiftor
Robertfonj and though with him, I acknowledge
that the inveftigation, from its nature, is fo obfcure
and intricate, that the conjectures I have made can
tonly be confidcred as conjectures, and not indifpu*
table conclufions, yet they carry with them a grea-
ter degree of probability than the fuppolitions of
thofe who affcrt that this continent was peopled from
another quarter.

One of the Doft or *s quotations from the Jour-
nals of Behring and Tfchirikow, who failed from
Kamfchatka, about the year 1741, inqueftofthe
New World, appears to carry great weight with it,
and to afford our conclufions firmfupport: " Thefe
commanders having Ihaped their courfe towards
theeafl, difcovercd land, which to them appeared
to be part of the American continents and ac-
cording to their obfervations, it fcems to be fitu
ated withiir a few degrees of the north- weft coail
of California.- They had there fome intercourfe
with the inhabitants, who feemed to them to re-
femble the North-Ameriv':ans> as they prefented
to the P'jflians th€ Calumet or Pipe of Peace,
which is a fymbol o{ friendfhip univerfal among
the people of North- America, and an ufage of
arbitrary inflitutioft peculiar to them.**

((

cc
it
i<
«

C A R V E R'8 TRAVELS. 139

One of this incomparable writer's own arguments
infupport of his hypothefis, is alio urged with great
judgment, and appears to be nearly conclufivc. 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 New World were in a
" ftate of fociety fo extremely rude, as to be un-
acquainted with thofe arts which are the firft ef-
fays of human ingenuity in its advance towards
improvement. Even the moft cultivated nations
*' of America were ftrangers to many of thofe fim-
plc inventions, which were almofl coeval with
lociety in other parts of the world, and were
known in the earlieft periods of civil life. From
" this it is manifeil that the tribes which originally
" migrated to America, came off from nations
" which muft have been no lefs barbarous than their
pofterity, at the time when they were firft dif-
covered by the Europeans. If ever the ufc 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 utiKty of thefe
** inventions would have prefervcd them, and it is
'* impoflible that they fhould have been abandoned
f^ or forgotten,"

€t

<€

140

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

P H A P T E R II.

Of their Perjonsy Brefsy C^c.

jt* ROM the firft fettlement of the Frencii
in Canada, to the conqueft of it by the Engjifh in
1760, feveral of that nation, who had travelled into
the interior parts of North- ALuerica, either to trade
with the Indians, or to endeavour to make convert?
of them, have publifhcd accounts of their cuftoms,
manners, &c.

The pripcipj^l pf tl;iefe a^re Father Louis Henni-
pin, Monf. Charlevoix, and the Baron Le Ronton.
The firft, many years ago, publiflied fome very
judicious remarks, which he w^s the better enabled
to do by the affiftance he received from the maps
and diaries of the unfortunate M. De la Salle, who
was alTaflinated whilft he was on his travels, by fonic
of his own party. That gentleman's journals falling
into Father Hcnnipin's hands, he was enabled by
them to J)ublifh many intcrcfting particulars relative
to the Indians. But in fome refpeCts he fell very
Ihort of that knowledge which it was in his power
to have attained from his long refidencc among them.
Nor was he always (as has been already obferved)
exaft in his calculations, or juft in the intelligence hq
Ihas given us.

The accounts publifhcd by the other two, parti-
cularly thofc of Charlevoix, are very erroneous in

C A R V E R»s T R A V E L S.

141

die geographical parts, and many of the ftorics told
by the Baron arc mere delufions.

Some of the Jefuits, who heretofore travelled into
thefe parts, have alfo written on this fubjeft; but
as few, if any, of their works have been tranflated
into the Englifh language, the generality of readers
are not benefited by them ; and, indeed* had this
been done, they would have reaped but few ad-
vantages from them, as they have chiefly confined
their obfervations to the religious principles of the
favagcs, and the fteps taken for their converfion.

Since the conqueft of Canada, fome of our own
countrymen, who have lived among the Indians,
and learned their language, have publifhed their
obfervations; however as their travels have not
extended to any of the interior parts I treat of,
but have only been made among the nations that
border on our fettle ments, a knowledge of the
genuine and uncontaminated cuftoms and man-
ners of the Indians could not have been acquired by
them.

The fouth'ern tribes, and thofe that have held a
conftant intercourfe with the French or Englifh,
cannot have preferved their manners or their cuftoms
in their original purity. They could not avoid
acquiring the vices with the language of thofe they
convcrfed witli ; and the frequent intoxications' they
experienced through the baneful juices introduced
among them by the Europeans, have completed a
total alteration in their characters.

In fuch as thefc, a confufed medley of principles
.cr ufages are only to be obferved ; their real and
unpolluted cuftoms could be fcen among thofe na-
tions alone that have held but little communication

H»

C A R V E R's TRAVELS.

:;*ith the provinces. Thefe I found in the north-
weft parts, and therefore flatter myfelf that I am
able to give a more juft account of the cuftoms and
manners of the Indians, in their ancient purity, than
any that h ; been hitherto publifhcd. I have nadc
oblcrvations on thirty nations, and though moft of
thefe have difFcrcd in tljieir languages, there h.^s ap-
peared a gFeat fimilarity in their manners, and
from thefe have I endeavoured to extra<^ the follow-
ing remarks.

As I do not propofc to give a regular and con-
nected fyftem of Indian concerns, but only to re-
late fuch particulars of their manners, cuftoms, &c.
as I thought moft worthy of notice, and which in-
terfere as little as poflible with the accounts given
by other writers, I mu^t beg my readers to excufc
their not being arranged fyftematically, or treated
of in a more copious manner.

The Indian nations do not appear to me to differ
fa widely in their make, colour, or conftitution
from each other, as reprefented by fome writers.
They are in general flight made, rather tall and
ftraight, ^nd you feldom fee any among them de-
formed} their (kin is of a reddiih or copper colour;
their eyes ar^ large and black, and thfir h^ir of the
fame hue, but very rarely is it curled i they have
good teeth, and their breath is as fweet as the air
they draw ipj their cheek-bones rather raifed, but
more fo ifi the women than the ipei^ j and the for-
mer arc not qyite fo tall as the purppcan women,
however you frequently ineet with good facc$ and
agreeable perfons among them, although they are
more inclined to be fat than the other fex.

I (hall not enter into a particular enquiry whether
jthc Indians arc indebted to nature, art| or the tern-

CARVE R's TRAVE L S.

«43

pcrdture of the cHraatc for the colour of their (kin,
norfhall I quote any of the contradi6tory accounts I
have read oh this fubjeft j I fhall only fay, that it ap-
peals to nic to be the finfture they received Of igi-
nally from the hands of their creator; but at what
period the variation which is at prefent vifible, both
in the complexion and features of many nations took
place, at what time the European whitenefs, the
jetty hue of tht African, or the copper caft of the
American were given them; which was the original
colour of the firft inhabitants of the earth, or which
might be efteemed the moft pcrfed, I will not pre-
tend to determine.

Many writers have afferted, that the Indians,
even at the matureft period of theit* exiftence, arc
only furnifhed with hair on their heads j and that
notwithftanding the profufion with which that part
is covered, thdfe parts which among the inhabitants
of other climates are ufually the feat of this cxcrcf-
cence, remain entirely free from it. Even Doctor
Robertfon, through their mifreprefentations, hits
contributed to propagate the error i and fuppofing
the rernark juftly founded, has drawn feveral con-
clufions from it relative to the habit anfl tempera-
ture of their bodies, which are confcquently inva-
lid. But from minute enquiries, and a curious in-
fpeftion, lam auiic to declare (however refpeftablie
I may hold the authority of thefe hiftorians in other
points) that their affertions ape erroneous, and pro-
ceeding from the want of a thorough knowledge of
the cuftoms of the Indians.

After the age of "puberty, their bodies, in their
natural ftate, are covered in the fame manner as
thofe of the Europeans. The men, indeed, cfteem
a beard very unbecoming, and take great pains to
get rid of it, nor is there any ever to be pcrceivrd

»44

CARVE R's TRAVELS.

on their faces, except when they grow old, and
become inattentive to their appearance. Every
crinofe efflorefcence on the other parts of the body
is held unfeemly by them, and both fexes employ
much time in their extirpation.

The Naudowcfltcs, and the remote nations, pluck
them out with bent pieces of hard vyood, formed
into a kind of nippers; whilft thofe who have^ com-
munication with Europeans procure from them wire,
which they twift into a fcrew or worm; applying
this to the part, they prcfs the rings together* and
with a fudden twitch draw out all the hairs that arc
inclofed between them.

The men of every nation differ in their drefs very
little from each other, except thofe who trade with
the Europeans -, thefe exchange their furs for blan-
kets, Ihirts, and other apparel, which they wear as
much for ornament as neceffity. The latter fatten
by a girdle around their waifts about half a yard of
broad cloth, which covers the middle parts of their
bodies. Thofe who wear fliirts never make them
faft either at the wriil or collar; this would be a
moft infufFerable confinement to them. They throw
their blanket loofe upon their ihoulders, and hold-
ing the upper fide of it by the two corners, with a
knife in one hand, and a tobacco pouch, pipe, &c.
in the other; thus accoutred they walk about in
their villages or camps; but in their dances they
fcldom wear this covering.

Thofe among the men who wifh to appear gayer
than the reft, pluck from their heads all the hair,
except from a fpoc on the top of it, about the fize of
a crown piece, where it is permitted to grow to a
confiderable length : on this are fattened plumes of
feathers of various colours, with filvcr or ivory

CARVE R*s TRAVELS.

»45

quills. The manner of cutting and ornamenting
this part of the head diftinguiihes different nations
from each other.

They paint their faces red and black, which they
cfteem as greatly ornamental. They alfo paint
themfelves when they go to war ; but the method
they make ufe of on this occafion differs from that
wherein they ufe it merely as a decoration.

The young Indians, who are dclirous of excelling
their companions in finery, flit the outward rim
of both their ears ; at the fame time they take
care not to fcparatc them crrircly, but leave the
fleih thus cut, Hill untouched at both extremities :
itround this fpongy fubftance, from the upper to the
lower part, they twift brafs wire, till the weight
draws the amputated rim into a bow of five or fix
inches diameter, and drags it almod down to the
Ihoulder. This decoration is eftetmed to be excef-
fively gay and becoming.

It is alfo a common cuftom among them to bore
their nofes, and wear in them pendants of different
forts. I obferved that fea (hells were much worn by
thofe of the interior parts, and reckoned very orna-
mental ; but how they procure them I could not
learn j probably by their traffic with other nationj
nearer the fea.

They go without any covering for the thigh, ex-
cept that before fpoken of, round the middle, which
reaches down halfway the thighs j but they maki
for their legs a fort of Hocking, either of Ikins or
cloth ; thefe are fewed as near to the (hape of the leg
as poffible, fo as to admit of being drawn on and of^.
The edges of the ftuiF of which they arc c^mpofcd

146

CARVER'S

TRAVELS.

are left annexed to the feam, and hang loofe for
about t.ie breadth of a hand j and this part which is
placed on the outfide of the leg, is generally orna-
mented by thofe who have any communication with
Europeans, if of cloth with ribands or lace, if of
leather, with ciiiLroidery and porcupine quills cu-
rioufly coloured. Stangers who hunt among the In-
dians, in tlie parts where there is a great deal of fnow,
find thefe ftockings much more convenient than any
others.

Their flioes are made of the ikin of the deer, elk,
or buffalo : thefe, after being Ibmetimcs drefied
according to the European manner, at others with
the hair remaining on them, are cut into fhoes, and
fafhioned fo as to be eafy to the feet, and convenient
for walking. The edges round the ancle arc de-
corated with pieces of brafs or tin fixed around lea-
ther itrings, 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
6ther from the neck to the knees. Thofe who
trade with the Europeans wear a linen garment, the
fame as that ufed by the menj the flaps of which
hang over the petticoat. Such as drefs after their
ancient manner, make a kind of fhift with leather,
v\'hich covers the body but not the arms. Their
petticoats are made either of leather qr cloth, and
reach from the waift to the knee. On their legs
they wear ftockings and fhoes, made and ornamented
as thofe of the men,

^ TheydlfTcr from each other in the mode of drcf-
fing their heads, each fcUow^ing the cuflom of the
nation or band to which tliey belong, and adhering

ft.

CARVE R»s TRAVELS. 147

to the form made uie ofbv their ance(lors from time
immemorial.

I remarked that mod of the females, who dwell
on the eaft fide of the MiffiJippi, decorate their
heads by inclofing their hair cither in riband:, or in
plates of filv^i'j the latter is only made ufe of by the
higher ranks, as it is a coftly ornament. The filver
they ufe on this occafion, is formed into thin plates
of about four inches broad, in feveral of which they
confine their hair. That plate which is neareft the
head is of a confiderable width i the next narrower,
and m^de fo as to pafs a little way under the other,
and in this manner they fallen into each other, and
gradually tapering, defccnd to the waift. The hair
of the Indian women being in general very long, this
proves an expenfive method.

But the women that live to the weft of the Mlflir-
fipoi, viz. the Naudoweflies, the Affinipoils, &c. di-.
vide their hair in the middle of their head, and form
it into two rolls, one againft each ear. Thefe rolls
are about three inches long, and as large as their
wrifts. They hang in a perpendicular attitude ac
the front of each ear, anddefcend ^s far as the lower
part of it,

The women of every nation generally place a fpot
of paint, about the fize of a crown-piece, againft
each ear j fome of them put paint on their hair, and
fometimes a fmall fpot in the middle of the forehead.

The Indians, in general, pay a greater attention to
their drefs, and to the ornanKnts with which they
decorate their perfons, than to the j^ccommodatior^
pf their huts or tents. They ccnftrud the latter in
Xht following fimplc and expeditious manner..

lf«

CARVE K*i TRAVELS.

a& «

Being provided with poles of a proper length,
they I'aften two of them acrofs, near their ends, with
bands made of bark. Having done this, they raifc
them up, and extend the bottom cf each as wide as
they propofe to make the area of the tent : they then
cred others of an equal hf ight, and fix them fo as
to fupport the two principal ones. On the whole
they lay fkinsof the tlk or deer, fev^ed together, in
quantity fufficieiit to cover the poles, and by lap-
ping over tc form the door. A great number of
{kins 4f0 'f ui'times required for this purpofe, as
lome o! Hc:jr : -nts are very capacious. That of the
chief wa, ^ r oft'ie Naudoweffies was at leaft forty
feet in circumfciviie, and very commodious.

They obferve ik> regularity in fixing their tents
when they encamp, but place them juil ^s it fuita
their convcniency.

The huts alfo, which,, thofe who uCc not tents,
credl when they travel, for very few tribes have fix-
ed abodes, or regular towns, or villages, arc equally
fimple, and almoft as foon conftrudted.

They fix fmalF pliable poles in the ground, and
bending them till they meet at the top and form a
fe mi-circle, then lalh them together. Thefe they
cover with mats madeofrufhes platted, or with birch
bark, which they carry with them m their canoes
for that purpofe.

Thefe cabins have neither chimnies nor windows ;
there is only a fmall aperture left in the middle of the
roofs through which the fmoke is difcharged, but as
this is obliged to be flopped up when it rains orfnows
violently, the finoke then proves exceedingly trouble-
fpme.

C A R V E R's TRAVELS.

They lie on (kins, generally thfofe of the bear,
which are placed in rows on the ground ; and if the
floor is not large enough to contain beds fufficient
for the accommodation of the whole family, a frame
is ere^e'* about four or fire feet from the ground in
which the younger part of it fleep.

As the habitations of the Indians are thus rude,
their domedic utenfils are few in number, and plain
in their formation. 1 he tools wherewith they faftiion
them are fo aukward and defeftive, that it is not only
impoflible to form them with any degree of neatncfs
or elegance, but the time required in the execution
is fo conficierable, as to deter them from engagir ^ 'n
the manufafture of fuch as are not abfolutely iicci
fary.

The Naudoweflies make the pots in which hty
boil their visuals of the black clay or ftone ^ri'lon-
ed in my journal : which refifls the effeds or fire,
nearly as well 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 a hardwood,
and placing the ends on two forked props, now and
then turn it. If the piece is fmalJer they fplit it as
before, and fixing the fpit in an eredi but flanting po-
fition, with the meat inclining towards the fire, fre-
quently change the fides, till every part is fufficicntly
roaftedf

They make their diflies in which they ferve up
their meat; and their bowls and pans, out of the
knotty excrelences of the maple-tree, or any other
wood. They falhion their fpoons with a tolerable
degrecof ncatnefs(as thefe require much lefs trouble
than large utenfils) from a !,wcod that is termed in
America Spoon Wood, and which greatly rcfembie^
box wood.

ISO

CARVE R's TRAVELS.

Every tribe arcnowpoflcflcd of knives, and ftcels
toftrikc fire with, Thcfe being (o cflcntialiy need-
ful for the common ufcs of life, thofe who have not
an immediate comoiunication with the European
traders, purchafe themof fuch of their neighbours as
are fituated nearer the fettlements,and generally give
in exchange for them ilavcs.

) ,

CARVE R's TRAVELS..

i?i

fi H A t» T E R III.

Of their Manners, Salifications, i^c*

Vv HEN the Indian women fit down, they place
thcmfclves in a decent attitude, with their knees
clofe together ; but from being accuftomed to this
pofture, 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 affiftance at that time unneceffary.
On thefe occafions they are confined but a few hours
from their ufual employments, which are common-
ly very laborious, as the men who are remarkable
indolent, leave to them every kind of drudgery ;
even in their hunting parties the former will not
deign to bring home the game, but fend their wives
for it, though it lies at a very confiderable diftance.

The women place their children foon after they
are born on boards ftufFed with foft mofs, fuch as is
found in morafles or meadows. The child is laid
on its back in one of this kind of cradles, and be-
ing wrapped in Ikins or cloth to keep it warm, is
fecured in it by fmall bent pieces of timber.

To thefe machines they fallen ftrings, by which
they hang them to branches of trees : or if they
find not trees at hand, faften them to a (lump or
ftone, whilft they tranfad any needful bufmefs. In

ija

^C A R V E R's TRAVELS.

this pofuion arc the children kept for fomc months,
when they are taken out, the boys arc fufFcrcd to
go naked, and the girls are covered from the neck
to the knees with a Ihift and a ihort petticoat.

The Indian women arc remarkably decent during
their menilrual illnefs. thofe nations that are mcit
remote from the European fcttlcments, as the Nau-
doweflit!s, &c. are more particularly attentive to this
point i though they all without exception adhere in
fome degree to the fame cuflom.

In every camp or town there is an apartment .ap-
propriated for their retirement at this time, to which
both fingle and married retreat, and fcclude them-
felvcs with the utmoft ftriftncfs during this period
fronii all focicty. Afterwards they purify themlelvcs
in ri\nning ftreams, and return to their different cm-
ployriients.

The men on thefe occafions moft carefully avoid
holding any communication with them i and the
Naudowefiies are fo rigid in this obfervance, that
they will not fufFer any belonging to them to fetch
fuch things as are neceffary, even fire, from thefc
female lunar retreats though the want is attended
with the greateft inconvenience. They are alfo fo
fuperftitious as to think, if a pipe ftem cracksj which
among them is made of wood, that the poflcfiTor ha$
either lighted it at one of thefe polluted fires, or
held fome converfc with a woman during her retire-
ment, which is elleemed by them moft difgraceful
and wicked.

The Indians are extremely circumlpcft and deli-
berate in every word and aftion ; there is nothing
that hurries them into any intemperate warmth, but
that inveteracy to taeir enemies, v/hich is rooted in

months,
'crcd to
he neck

t during
irc moifc
ic Nau-
to this
here in

ent.ap-
) which
' them-
pcriod
Tilelves
nt em-

f avoid
id the
c, that
3 fetch
thcfe
tended
alfo fo
which
or ha$
cs, or
ctire-
aceful

deii-
thing
► buc
ed in

CARVER '« TRAVEL^.

»5J

ir^try Indian heart, and never can be eradicated,
tn all other indances they are cool, and remarkably
cautious, taking care not to betray on any accounc
whatever, cheir emotions. If an Indian has difco-
ycred that a friend is in danger of being intercepted
and cutoff by one to whom he has rendered himfelf
obnoxious; he does not inform him in plain and
eJEplicic terms of the danger he runs by purfuing the
tfack nc^r which his enemy |ies in wait fpr him,
but he Hril coolly aiks him which Way he is going
that day ; and havinff received his anfwer, with the
famclndifferenic teffs him that he has been informed
that A dog lies near th<; fpot, ^hich might Jjrobably
dd him a mifchief. This hint proves fufficient} and
his friend avoids the danger with as much caution
k if every defign and motion of his enemy had been
i^ointed out to him.

..This apathy often fhci^s itfclf on occafions that
^ouldxall forth all the fervor of a fufceptible heart.
If an Indian has been abfent from his family and
friends many months, either on a war or hunting
party,, when, his wife and children meet him at feme
pittance frbrh his habitation, iiiftcad of the affcc*.
tionate fenfations that would naturally arife in the
bread: of more rcfijied beings, and be produdivc
of mutual congratulations^ h^ continues his courfc
without paying the leaft attention to thcrffl Who fur-
round hinri, till he arrives at his home.

He there fits down, and with the fame unconcern
as if he had hot been abfent. a day, fmok^s his pipej
thofc oi' Kis acquaintance who have foUpWcd him,
do the fame j and perhaps it is fcveral hours beford,
he relates to them the incidents which have befallen^
him during his aljfence, though perhaps he has hfi
a father, brother, or /ion en ch« ticld, whofc bii

CARVER'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 chacc, or on any other laborious expedition, and
by accident fcontinucd thus long without food, when
he arrives at the hut or tent of a friend where he
knows his wants may be immediately fupplied, he
takes care not to Ihew the leaft fymptoms of impa-
tienccj or to betray the extreme hunger by which he
is tortured j but on being invited in^ fits contentedly
down, and fmokes his pipe with as much compo-
furc as if every appetite was allayed, and he was per-
feftly at eafe j he does the fame if among ftrangers.
This cuftom is ftridly adhered to by every tribe, as
they efteem it a proof of fortitude, and think the re-
Verfe would entitle them to the applanation of old
women*

If yoii tell an Indian that his childpen have greatly
fignalized themfclves againft an enemy, have taken
many fcalps, and brought home many prifoners, he
does not appear to feel any extraordinary pleafure on
the occafionj his anfwer generally is, "It is well,"
and he makes very little further enquiry about it.
On the contrary, if you inform him that his children
are flain or taken prifoners, he makes no complaints,
he only replies, , " It does not fignify ," and probably,
for fome time at leafl, alks not how it happened.

This fceming indifference, however, does not pro-
ceed from an entire fuppreffionof n:itural affe^lioncj
fc otwithttanding they are tftcemed favages, I ne-
ver faw among any other people greater proofs of
parental or filial tendcrnels -, and although they meet
th©ir wir'.s after a long abi'ence with the ftoical in-

C A R V E R "^ s travels;

»5S

old

difference jufl: mentioned, they are not, in general;
void of conjugal alFedion.

Another peculiarity is obfervable in their manner
of p?*ying their vifits. If an Indian goes to vifit 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 converfation. The
fame method is purfued if a man goes to pay his re-
fpedts to one of the other fex : but then he muft be
careful not to let love be the fubjed of his difcou^fe,
whilft the day light remains.

The Indians difcovcr an amazing fagacity, and ac-
quire with the greateft readinefs any thing that de-
pends upon the attention of the mind. By expe-
rience and an acute obfervation, they attain many
perfc6lions to which Europeans are ftrangers. For
inftance, they willcrofsa foreft or aplain which is two
hundred miles in breadth, and reach with great exaft-
ncfs the point at which they intended to arrive, keep-
ing during rhe whole of that fpace in a d'lrtd: line,
without any material deviations; and this they will
do with the fame cale, whether the weather be fair
pr cloudy.

With equal acutenefs they will point to that part
of the heavens the fun is in, though it be intercepted
by clouds or fogs. Befides this, they are able to
j;arfue with incredible facility the traces of man or
beaft, either on leaves or grafs j and on this accounc
it is with great difficulty a flying cn?my efcapes dif-
covery.

They are indebted for thefe talents not only to na^
tivre, but to ag extraordinary command of the iiitel'

l5^

CARVER'S TRAVRi$.

Icftual faculties, which can only be acquired by an
unremitted attention, and by U ig experience.

They arc in general very happy in a retentive
memory i they can recapitulate every particular that
hf.s been treated of in council, and remember the
exadt time when thefe were held. Their belts of
•wampum preferve the fubftance of the treaties they
have concluded 'iyith the neighbouring tribes for
ages back, to which they will appeal, and refer with
as much pcrfpicuicy and readincfs- as f^urOpeans caq
to their wiitten Records.

Every nation pays great refpcd to old age. I'hc
advice of a father will fcldom meet with any extra-
ordinary attention from the young Indians, proba-
bly they receive it with only a bare affent; but they
Will tremble before a grandfather, and fubmit to
his injundjoii witji the ucmoil alacfity. The words
ofrhe ancient part of their community are efteemcd
by the young as oracles. Jf they take during their
hunting parties any garnc that is reckoned by them
uncommonly delicious, it is imcnediately prefented
tp the cldeft of the i|r relations. ; '

They never fuffer themfelves to be overburdened
with care, but live in a (late of perfed tranquility
and contentment. Being naturally indolent, ifpro-
fifions jutt fufficient for their fubfiftence ran be
procured with little trouble, and near at hand, they
will not go far, or take any extraordinary paini* for
it, though by lb doing they might acquire greater
plenty, and of a pore efiimable kind.

Having much leifiire time they indulge this in-
dolence to which they are fo prone, by eating,
drinking, or fleeping, and rambling about in their
towns or camps. But when ncceHity obliges thcru

to take the f^rld, either to oppofc an enemy, or
b procure thcmfclves food, they are alert anU
indefatigable. Many inftances of their activity,
on thefc occafions, will be given when I treat of
their wars,

The infatuating fpirit of gaming is not confined
to Europe i the Indians alfo feel' the bewitching im-
pulfe, and often lofe their arms, their apparel, and
every thing they arc poffeiTed of. Jn this cafe^
however, they do not follow the example of more
refined gameficrs, for they neither murmur nor re-
pine; not a fretful word cfcapes them, but they
bear the frowns of fortune with a philofophic com^
pofure.

The greateft blemifh in their character is that
fiivage difpofition which impels them to treat their
enemies with a fcverity every other nation fliudders
at. But if they are thus barbarous to thofe with
whom they are at w?;, they are friendly, hofpi^
t^ble, and humane in peace. It may wifh truth
be faid of them, that they are the worft enemies,
and the bed friends, of any people in the whole
world.

The Indians in general are ftrangers to the paflion
of jcaloufyi and brand a man with folly that is
diftruftful of his wife. Among fome bands the very
idea is not known; ^s the moll abandoned of their
young men very rarely attempt the virtue of married
women, nor do thcfe often put themfelves in the
w^ay of folicitation. Yet the Indijin women in ge-
neral are of an amorous temperature, and bemre
they are married are not the Icfs efteemed for the
indulgence of their paflfions.

15^

CARVER 's TRAVELS.

The Indians in their common ftate are ftrangers
to all diftindion of property, except in the articles
of domellic ufe, ,which every one confiders as hi^
own, and increafes as circumftanccs admit. They,
arc extremely liberal to each other, and fupply the
deficiency of their friends with any fuperfluity of
their own.

In dangers they readily give sfliftancc to thofe of
their band, who f^and in need of it, without any
cxpcdlation of return, except of thofe juft rewards
thai; are always conferred by the Indians on merit.
Governed by the plain and eqviitj^bk laws of nature,
every one is rewarded folely according to his de-
fcrtsi and their equality of condition, manners ;ind
privileges, with thatconftant and fociable familiarity
which prevails throughout every Indian nation. anU
mates them with a pure and truly patriotic i'pirit,
thac tends to the general good of the foqiety to vl, >.*J\
they belong.

If -'DV of their neighbours are bereaved byJeath>
or by an enemy of theii children thofe vvi arc
pofTefTed of the greateft number off!i^.;., f"p )ly
the deficiency i and thefe are adoptee by them, and
treated in every r^';.'i'^as if they really were the
children of the perlca to -^hom they arc pre-
fentcd. '■ '

The Indians, except thofe who Uve adjoininpj
to the European colonies, can form to thernfclveV
no idea of the value of money j they confider it,
when they are made acquainted with the ufes to
which it is applied by other nations, as the fource
of innumerable evils. To it they attribute all the
mifchiefs that are prevalent among Europeans, fuck
as treachery, plundering, devaftations, and mur-^
der.

CARVER'. TRAVELS.

1^9

They eftetm it irrational that one man fliouid be
jpofieired of a greater quantity than another, and arc
amazed that any honor fhould be annexed to the pof-
fcflion of it. But that the ^vant of thjs iifclefs metal
fhould be the caiife cf depriving perfons of their li-
berty, and that on account of this partial diftribution
of it, great number fhould be immured within the
dreary walls of a prifonj cut off from thit focit-ty
of which they conflitutc a part, exceeds their be-
lief. Nor do they fail, on hearing this part of the
European fyftem of government related, to charge
the inftitutors of it with a total want of humanity,
and to brand them with the names of favages and
brutes.

They fhew almofl an equkl degree of induTerejice
for the produ6tions of art. When any of thefe arc
fhewn them, they fay, " It is pretty, I like to look
at it," but are not inquifitive about the conllfu(5tion
of it, neither can they form proper conceptions of
its ufc. But if you tell them of a perfon who Is able
to run ivith great agility, that is well fkillcd in hunt-
ing, can dire6l with unerring aim a gun, or bend
with eafe a bow, that can dextrouily work a canoe,
linderdands the art of war, is acquainted with the
fituation of a country, and can make his way wiui-
out a guide, through an inimenfe forefl, fublidin^-
during this on a fmali quantity of proviiion? they
are in raptures; they lifVtn with great atte • ^n to
the pleafing tale, and beftoVv the highcft cc men-
tations on the hero of it.

t Jk v< \

E R*s

T K AV B L S.

CHAPTER iV.

fbcir Method of reckoning Time, Ucl

GoNSIpERtNCi their ignorance of af-
tfonomy, time is very rationally divided by the
Indians. Thofe in the interior parts (and of thofc I
Would generally be underftood to fpeak) count their
j:ears by winters -, or, as they exprefs themfelvcs;
byfriows.

Some nations among therii reckon their years by
fAoons, and make them coniiA of twelve fynodicaf
6r lunar months, obferving, when thirty moons have
w^.ncd, to add a fupernumerary one, which they
term the loft moon -, and ir.en begin . to count as
before. They pay a great regard to the tirft ap^
pearance of every moon, and on the occafion always;
fepeat fome joyful founds, ftretching at the famci
lime their hands towards it.

Every month has with them & name exprcflive of
hs feafon; for inftance, they call the month of
March (in which their year generally begins at the
lifft New-Moon after the vernal Equinox) the Worm'
Mionth or Moonj becaufe at this time the worms
^uit their retreats in the bark of the trees, woodJ
&:c. where they have Oieltered themfelves during'
the winter.

The monthof April is termed by them the month
of Plants. May, the month of Ficwcrs. June,

CARVE R»s TRAVELS,

t6l

the Hot Moon. July, the Buck Moon. Their
fcafon for thus dcnominacing thefe is obvious.

'AuguP:,the Sturgeon Moon; bccaufe in this month
they catch great numbers of that fifli.

September, the Corn Moon; becaufe in that
month they gather in their Indian corn.

0(51tober, the Travelling Moon; as ^hey leave at
this ti'me their villages, and travel towards the places
where they intend to hunt during the winter.

November, the Beaver Moon j for in this month
the beavers begin to take fhelter in their houfes,
having laid up a fufficient ftorc of provifions for the
winter feafon.

December, the Hunting Moon, becaufe they
employ this month in purfuit of their game.

January, the Cold Moon, as it gen .illy freezes
harder, and the cold is t|iore intenfe in this than in
any other month.

February, they call the Snow Moon, becaufe
more fnow commonly fails during this month^ than
any other in the winter.

When the moon does not (hine. they fay the Moc|^
is deadi and fome call the three laft days of it the
naked days. The Moon's firft appearance they term
its coming to life again.

They make no d'lvifion of weeks; but days they
count by fleeps; half days by pointing to the fun a?
nouni and quarters by the rifmg and letting of thy

!•«

CARVEIl's TRAVELS.

fun : to exprcfs which in their traditions they make
ufc of very figniticant hieroglyphics.

The Indians are totally unfkilled in geography as
well as all the other fciences, and yet, as 1 have be-
fore hinted, they draw on their birch bark very cxaft
charts or maps of the countries with which they are
acquainted. The latitude and longitude is only
wanting to make them tolerably complete.

Their fole knowledge in aftronomy confifls in
being able to point out the the pole-ftarj by which
they regulate their courfe when they travel in the
^ight.

They reckon the diftancc of places, not by miles
or leagues, but by a day's journey, which, accord-
ing to the beft calculations I could make, appears to
^be about twer.ty Englilh miles. Thefe they aifo di-
vide into halves and .quarters, and will demonltrate
thtmin their maps with great cxadnefs, by the hie-
jToglyphics juft mentioned, wlien they regulate in
.council their war parties^ or their nvoft diftant hunt-
ing cxcuriions.

They have no idea of arithmetic -, and though they
are able to count to any number, figures as well as
letters appear myllcrious to them, and above their
comprehtnfion.

During my abode with the NaudoweHies, fome
pf the chiefs obferving one day a draft of an cclipfe
of the moon, in a book of altronomy wliich I held in
i»iy hand, they defired I would permit them to look
at it. Happening to give them the book (hut, they
began to count the leaves till they came to the place
in which the plate wa>. After they had viewed it,
andafked many quellion^ relative to it, I tcld them

CARVE R *8 TRAVELS.

i6|

they need not to have taken fo much pains to find
the leaf on which it was drawn, for I could not o \y
tell in an inftant the place, without counting the
leaves, but alfo how many preceded it.

They feemed greatly amazed at my afleriion, and
begged that I would demonftrate to them fr.f {> m-
fibility of doing it. To this purpcfe I defined the
chief that held the book, to (pen it at any particiJjr
place, and juft Ihcwing me the page carefully to
conceal the edges of the leaves, fo that I might net
be able to count them.

This he did with the greateft caution; notwith-
ftanding which, by looking at the folio, I told him,
to his great furprife, the number of leaves. He
counted them regularly over, and difcovcred that I
was exad. And when, after repeated trials, the
Indians found I-could do it with great readinefs, and
without ever erring in my calculation, they all feemed
as much aftonilhed as if I had raifed the dt ad. The
only way they could account for my knowledge,
was by concluding that the book was a fpirit, and
whifpercd me anfwers to whatever Idemanaed of it.

This circumftancc, trifling as it might appear to
thofe who are lefs illiterate, contributed to increafe
my confequence, and to augment the favorable opi-
nion ^hey already entertained of me*

;.J.

t<$4

CARVER '« TRAVE L S,

CHAPTER V.

Of their Covernment, C^c.

Jtl, VERY ftperate body of Indians is divided
into bands or tribes; which band or tribe forms a
Jittle community with the nation to which it belongs.
As the nation has feme particular fymbol by whiela
it is diftinguiihed from others, fo each tribe has a
badge from which it is denominated; as that of the
Eagle, the Panther, the Tiger, the Buffalo, &c.
&c. One band of the Naudowtffics is reprefented
by a Snake, another a Tortoife, a third a Squirrel,
a fourth a Wolf, and a fifth a Buffalo. Throughout
every nation they particularife themfelves in the fame
manner, and the meaneft perfon among them will
remember his lineal defcent, and diftinguilh himfclf
by his refpedivc family.

Did not many circumftances tend to confute the
fuppofition, I lliould be almoft induced to conclude
from this dillinftion of tribes, and the particular
attachment of the Indians to them, that they derive
their origin, as fomc have afTertcd, from the Ifrae-
lites.

Befides this, every nation diftinguifh themfelves
by the manner cf con{\ru6ling their tents or huts.
And fo v/ell yerfed are all the Indians in this diftinc-
tion, that though there appears to be no difference
on the niceft obfervation made by an European,
yet they will immediately difcover, from the pofuion

CARVE R's TRAVELS.

I6s

of* a pole left in the ground, what nation has en-
camped on the fpot many months before.

Every band has a chief who is termed the Great
Chief or the chief Warrior j and who is chofen in
confidcration of his experieiice in war, and of his
approved valour, to dirc£t their military operations,
and to regulate all concerns belonging to that de-
partment. But this chief is not confidercd as the
head of the (late i be fides the great warrior who is •
clefted for his war-like qualifications, there is ano-
ther who enjoys a pre-eminence as his hereditary
right, and has the more immediate management of
their civil affairs. This chief might with greater
propriety be denominated the Sachem; whofe afTent
is neceflary in all convt-yances and treaties, to which
he affixes the mark of the tribe or nation.

Though thefe two are confidered as the heads of
the band, and the latter i. ufually denoninated their
king, yet the Indians are fenfible of neither civil or
military fubordination. As everyone of them enter-,
tains a high opinion of his confequence, and is ex-
tremely tenacious of his liberty, all injundtions that
carry with them the appearance of a pofitivc com-
mand, are inftantly rejc<5ted with fcorn.

On this account, it is feldom that their leaders
are fo indifcreet as to give out any of their orders in
a peremptory ftilej a bare hint from a chief that he
thinks fuch a thing neceflary to be done, inftantly
aroufes an emulation amonp; the inferior ranks, and.
it is immediately executed with great alacrity. By
this method the difguftful part of the command is
evaded, and an authoiicy that falls little Ihort of ab-
folute fway inftituted in its room.

Among the Indians no vifible form of government
is cilabliflied ; tliey allow of no fuch diftindlion as

IMAO£ EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

1.0

I.I

11.25

I^|2j8 |25

|jo ^^" H^H

^ IM |2.2

140

Photographic

Sciences

Corporation

23 WIST MAIN STREeT

WIBSTM.N.Y. MS80

(716)t73-4S03

t#«

CARVER'S TRA^VRLS,

magiftratc and fubjc<a, every one appearing to enjoy
an independence that cannot be controlled. The
objedk of government among them is rather foreign
than domcftic, for their attention feejms more to be
cniployed in preferving fuch an union among the
members of their tribe as will enable them to watch
the motions of their enemies,and to a£t again ft them
"with concert and vigour, than to maintain interior
order by any public regulations. If a fcheme that
appears to be offcrvice to the community is propof-
cd by the chief, every one is at liberty to choofc
whether he will affift in carrying it on j for they have
no compulfory laws that lay them under any rcftric-
tions. If violence is committed, or blood is llied,
the right of revenging thefe mifdemeanors is left to
the family of the injured : the chiefs affume neither
the power ofinflt€ting or moderating the punifh-
ment.

Some nationsj where the dignity is hereditary,
liirit the fucceffion to the female line. On the death
of a chief, his fiftcr's fon fometimes fuccccds him in
jn-cfcrenje to his own fon j and if he happens to
have no filler, the neareft female 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.

Each family has a right to appoint one of its chiefs '
to be an aflTdant to the principal cheif, who watches *
over the intereft of his family, and without whofe
confcnt nothing of a public nature can be carried into
execution; Thefe are generally chofen for their
ability in fpeaking j and fuch only are permitted t^
make orations in their councils and general affem-
.blics.

C A R V E R»8 TRAVELS.

'i6y

In this body, with the hereditary chief at its head,
the fuprcmc authority appears to be lodged j as by-
its determination every tranfaftion relative to their
hunting, to their making war o r peace, and to all theiir
public concerns arc regulated. Next to thcfe, tht
body of warriors, which comprehends all tha: are
able to bear arms, hold their rank. This divition
hasfomctimcs atitshead the cheifofthe nation, if he
has fignalized himlelf by any renowned action, if not,
fome chief that has rendered himfelf famous.

In their councils, which are held by the foregoing
members, every atFair of confcquence is debated i
and nockiterprize of the leaft moment undertaken,
unlcfs it there meets with the general approbation
of the chiefs. They commo nly affemblc in a hut or
tent appropriated to this purpofe, and being feated
in a circle on the ground, the eldetl chief rifcs and
makes a fpeech j when he has concluded, another
gets up ; and thus they all fpcak, if neceflary by
turns.

On this occafion their language is nervous, and
their manner of exprtrfli m emphatical. Their ftile
is adorned with images, comparifons, and ftrong
metaphors, and is equal in allegories to that of any
of the eaftern nations. In all their fct fpeeches they
exprefs themfelves with much vehemence, but in
common difcourfe according to our uiual method of
fpeech.

The young men are fuffered to be prefent at the
councils, though they are not allowed to make a
fpeech till they are regularly admitted : they how-
ever liften with great attention, and to Ihow that
they both undcrftand, and approve of the refoluciona
taken by the aflcmbled chiefs, they frequently ex-
claim, " That is right." « That is good."

168

C A R V E R»i TRAVELS.

THc cuftomary mode among all the ranks of ex»
prcifing their alTcnt, and which they repeat ac the
end of almoft every period is by uttering a kind of
forcible afpiration> which founds like an union of the
letters OAH.

CARVE R*s TRAVELS.

i6^

CHAPTER Vr.

Of their Feaflf

JVjLaNY of the Indian nations neither make
ue of bread, fait, or Ipices -, and fomc of them have
never fccn or tailed of either. The Naudoweflies in
particular have no bread, nor any fubftitute for it.
They eat the wild rice which grows in great quan-
tities in different parts of their territories : but they
boil it and eat it alone. They alfo eat the flelh of the
beafts they kill, without having recourfe to any fari-
naceous fubftance to abforb the grofTer particles of
it. And even when they confume the fugar which
they have extradtcd from the maple tree, they ufe it
not to render fome other f.:)od palatable^ but gene-
rally eat it by itfclf. .

Neither have they any idr.a of the ufe of milk, al-
though they mieht collcfb great quantities from, the
buffalo or the elk ; they only confider it as proper
for the nutriment of the young of thefe beads during
their tender (late. I could not perceive that any in-
conveniency attended the total difufe of articles
eftecmed fo ncccffary and nutritious by other na-
tions, on the contrary, they are in general healthy and
vigorous.

One difh however, which anf\ycrs nearly the
fame purpofe as bread, is in ufe among the Ot-

'yd CARVER'S TRAVELS.

tagaumics, the Saukies, and the more eaftcrn na-
tions, where Indian corn grows, which is not only
firjuch cftcemed by them, but it is reckoned ex-
tremely palatable by air 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 flefh, the fat of which
moiftcns thepulfc, and renders it beyond comparifon
delicious. I'hey call this food Succatolh.

The Indians arc far from being Cannibals, as they
are faid to be. All their vidluals are cither roalled
or boiled j and this in the extreme. Their drink is
generally the broth in which it has been boiled*

Their food confifts of the flefli of the bear, tjvc'
buffalo, the elk, the deer, the beaver, and the racoon;
which they prepare in the manner juft me;ltioned.
They ufually eat the flefh of the deer whi^h is na-
turally dry,- with that of the bear which is fat and
juicy J and though the latter is extremely rich and
lufcious, it is never known to cloy.

In the fpring of the year the Naudowef-
fies, eat the infide bark, of a fhrub, that they
gather in fome part of their country j but I could
neither learn the name of it, or difcover from
■whence they got it. It was of a brittle nature and
cafily mafticated. The taile of it was very agreea-
ble, and they faid it was extremely nourifhing. In
flavour it was not unlike the turnip, and when re-
ceived into the mouth refembled that root both in its
pulpous and frangible nature.

The lower ranks of the Indians are exceedingly
nafly in dreffing their vi61:uals, but fome of the chiefs
are very neat and cleanly in their apparel, tents and
food.

C-ARVER*s TRAVELS.

r. 171

They commonly eat in large parties, fo that their
meals may properly be termed fcafts j and this they
<lo without being reftridted to any Bxed or regulai-
hours, butjuft as their appetites require, and con-
venience fuits.

'■f

They ufually dance either before or after every
meal i and by this cheerfulnefs probably render the
Great Spirit, to whom they cofnfider thcmfclves as
indebted for every good, ^ mpre. acceptable facrificc
than a formal and unanimatcd thankfgiving. T^e
men and women feaft apart : and each lex invite by
turns their companions, to partake with them. of the
feod they happen to hav^ ; but in their ^omeilic
way of living the men and women cat pgecher.

No people arc more hofpitaWe, kind, and free
than the Indians. They will readily ftvire with any
of their own tribe the laft pare of th(eir provifions,
and even with thofc ofji different nation, if they
chance to come in when they arc eating. Though
they do not keep one common ftock, yet that com-
munity of goods which is fo prevalent among them,
^nd their generous difpofition, render it nearly of the
famccffeS,

When the chiefs are convened on any public bu-
finefs, they always conclude with a feaft, at whicl^
their fcftivity and cheerfulnefs knov^ no limit.

L»I<

17 »

P A R V E R's T I?. A V E L S.

CHAPTER VUi

Of iheir Dances,

JLJANCING is a favourite cxercifc among
the Indians -, they never meet on any public occa-
fion, but, this makes a part of the entertainment.
And when they ar^ not engaged in war or hunting,
the youth of both fcxcs amufe (hen^felyes, in this
i|ianner every evenings

* They always ds^nce, as I have juft obfervcd, at
their feails. In (hefe a^ well as all their other dances,
every m^n rifcs in his turn, and moves about with
great freedom and boldnefs j finging as he does fo,
the exploits of his anceitois, Pur ing this the com-
pany, who 9re feated on (he ground in a circle^
around |he dancer, join with him in making the gar
dcnce, by an odd tone, which they utter all together,
and which founds, ^* Heh, hch, hch." Thcfc notes,
jf they might be fo termed, are articulated with a
harfh accent, and ftrajr^ed out with the utmcft force
of their Jungs : fo that one would imagine their
ftrcngth muft be foon exhaufted by it j ipftead of
which, they repeat it with the fame violence during
the whole of their entertainment

CARVE R»8 TRAVELS.

173

The women, particularly tliofe of the weftcrn na-
tions, dance very gracefully. They carry thcmfclvcs
creft, and with their arms hanging down clofe to
their fides, movc*firfta few yards to the right, and
then back again to the left. This movement they
perform without taking any fteps 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 j and let thofe who join in the dance be ever
fo numerous, they keep time fo exadlly with each
other that no interruption cnfues. During this, at
ftated periods, they mingle their Ihrill voices, with
the hoarfer ones at the men, who fit around (for it
is to be obferved that the fexes never intermix in the
fame dance) which, with the mufic of the drums and
chickicoes, make an agreeable harmony.

The Lndians have feveral kinds of dances, which
they ufc on different occafions, as the Pipe or Calu-
met Dance, the War Dance, the Marriage Dance,
and the Dance of the SacriFce. The movements in
every one of thefe are diifimilar j but it is almoft
impofiible to convey any idea of the points in which
they arc unlike*

Different nations likewife vary in their manner of
dancing, The Chiprways throw themfelvcs into a
greater variety of attitudes than any other peopk j
k)metimes they hold their lieada creft, at others they
bend them almoft to the ground ; then recline on one
fide, and immediately after on the other. The
Naudbweflies carry themfelves more upright, ftep
firmer, and more more gracefully. But they all
accompany their Jattce* with the difagrccablc noifc
juft mentioned.

J74 C A R V ft R*8 T R A V E L S.

The i*ipc Dance is the prineipal, and the mod
plcafing to a fpcftator of any of them, being the lead
franticj and the movement of it moft graceful. It
is but on particular occafions that it is ufed ; as
when ambaffadors from an enemy arrive to treat of
peace, or when ftrangers of eminence pafs through
their territories.

The War Dance, which they ufe both before
they fet out on their war parties, s^nd on their return
from them, ftrikes terror into ftrangers. It is per-
formed, as the others, amidft a circle of the war-
riors i a chief generally begins it who moves from
the right to the left, fmging at the fame time both
his own exploits, and thole of his anceftors. When
he has concluded his account of any memorable ac-
tion, he gives a violent blow with his war-club,
againft a poft that is fixed in the ground, near the
centre of the aflcmbly, for this purpofe.

Every one dances in his turn, and recapitulates the
wondrous deeds of his family, till they all at laft join
in the dance. Then it becomes truly alarming to
any ftrgnger that happens to be among them, as
they throw themfelves in every horrible and terrifving
pofture that can be imagined, rchearfing at the fame
time the parts they expeA to adt againft their ene-
mies in the field. During this they hold their (harp
knives in their hands^ with which, as they whirl
about,they are every |iion|ent in danger ofcuttingeach
other's throats -, and didthev not fhun the threatened
mifchief with inconceivable dexterity, it could not be
avoided. By thefc motions they inten4 to repre-
fent the manner in which they kill, fcalp, and take
their prifoners. To heighten the fcene, they fet up
the fame hedious yells, cries, and war-whoops they
ufc in time of adlion : fo that it is impoflible to con-

CARVE R's TRAVELS.

«7$

fider them in any other light than as an aflfembly of
demons.

I have frequently joined in this dance with them,
but it foon ceafed to be an amufement to me, as I
could not lay afide my apprehenfions of receiving
fome dreadful wound, that from the violence of their
geftures muft have proved mortal.

I found that the nations to the weftward of the
Mifliffippi, and on the borders of Lake Superior, dill
continue to make ufe of the Pawwaw or Black
Dance. The people of the colonies tell a thoufand
ridiculous (lories of the Devil being raifcd in this
dance by the Indians. But they allow that this was
in former times, and is now nearly extinft among
thofe who live adjacent to the European feti? :ments.
However I difcovered that it was ftill ufed in ihe
interior parts ; and though I did not actually fee the
Devil raifed by it, I was witnefs to fome fcenes, that
could only be performed by fuch as dealt with him,
or wefc very expert and dextrous jugglers.

Whilft 1 was among the Naudoweffies, a dance
which they thus termed was performed. Before
the dance began, one of the Indians was admitted
ittto a fociety which they denominated WaTcon-
Kitchewah, that is, the Friendly- Society of the
Spirit. This fociety is compofed of perfonsof both
fcxcs, but fuch only can be admitted into it as arc of
unexceptionable character, and who receive the ap-
probation of the whole bo^y. To this admiflioR
fucceeded 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 /eaft.

II<

C A R V E R*s TRAVELS.

The initiation being attended with fome very fm-
ffiilar circumllances, which, as I have before ob-
fcrved, muft be either the efFedk of magic, or of
^nazing dexterity, I fhall give a particular account
of the whole procedure. It wa^ performed at the
time of the new moon, in a place appropriated to
the purpofe, near the centre of their camp, that
would contain about two hundred people. Beine a
(Iranger, 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 inclofure.

About twelve o'clock they began to alfemblej
when the fun (hone bright, which they confidered
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 Brft appeared,
who were dreHcd in their beft apparel; and after
them came the head-warrior, clad in a long robe of
rich furs, that trailed on the ground, attended by a
retinue of fifteen or twenty perfons, painted and
dreffed in the gayeft manner. Next followed the
wives of fuch as had been already admitted into the
focietyi and in the rear a confufed heap of the lower
ranks, all contributing as much as lay in their power
to n>ak,e the appearance grand and fhowy.

When the affembiy was feated, and filencc pro-
claimed, one of the principil chiefs arofe, and in a
fhort but mafterly fpccch informed his audience of
the occafion of their meeting. He acquainted them
that one of their young Aien wiflhcd to be admitted
into their fociety; and taking him by the hand pre-
fcnted him to their view, afkine them, at the fame
time, whether they had any objedion to his becom-
ing one of their community.

No objeftion being made, the young candidate
was placed in the centre^ and four of the chiefs took

CARVER 'J TRAVELS.

^77

their (lations clofc to I • after exhorting him, by
tarns, not ro faint under t le operation he was about
to go through, but to behave like an Indian and a
man, two of them took hold of his arms, and caufed
him to kneel i another placed himfelf behind him,
fo as to receive him when he fell, and the laft of the
four retired to the diftancc of about twelve feet from
him exadtly in front.

This difpofi'tion being completed, the chief that
flood before the kneeling candidate, began to fpeik
to him with an audible voice. He told him that he
hirinfelf Wasnow agitated by the f?mc fpirit which
he ihbuld in a feW moments cotnmiinicatetb him;
that.it would (Irike him dead, but that he would in-
(bnt'iy be reftored again to life', xt this hie added j
that the communication however terrifyiii^, was k
necefTary introdu^ion to the advantages enjoyed bjr
the community into which he was on the point of be-
ing aditiitted.

As he fpoke this; he Appeared to be greatly agi-
tated j till at lad his emotions became fo violent,
that his countenance was diftorted, and his whole
frame convulfed. At this junfture he threw fome-
thihg that appeared both in ihdpe and cblbur like a
fmall bean, ar the young man, which feemed to en-
ter hh mouth, and he inftantly fell a$ motibnliefs as
if he had been (hot. The chief that was t)iaced be-
hihd him received him in his arms, and, by the
ailiiilance of the other two, laid him on the ground
to all appearance bereft of life.

Having done this, they immediately began to ruB
his limbs, and to (Irikc him on the back, giving hifA
fuch blowsi as fccmcd more calculated to ftill thi
quick, than to raife^thc dead. During thcfc extra-

178

C A R V E R's TRAVELS.

--i#'

m^-''-'

L'>^

ordinary applications, the fpcaker continued his ha-
rangue, dcfiring the ipedators not to be furprifcd,
or to defpair of the ycimg man's recovery, as his
prefcnt inanimate fituarion proceeded only from the
forcible operation of the fpirit, on faculties that had
hitherto been unufed to infpirations of this kind.

The candidate lay fevcral minutes without fenfc
or motion ; but at length, after receiving many vio-
lent blows, he began to difcbvcr fome fymptoms of
returning life. Thefe, however, were attended with
:(lrong convulfions, and an apparent obftrudtion in
iiis throat. But they were foon at an end; for hav-
ing difcharged from his mouth the bean, or what-
ever it was that the chief had thrown at hiin» but
which on the clofeft infpe6l ion I had not perceived
to enti r it, he foon after appeared to be tolerably
lecoyeied.

This part of the ceremory being happily efFefted,
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 dreflcd, the fpeakcr
cnce more took him by the hand, and prefcnted him
to the fociety as a regular and thoroughly initialed
siiember, exhorting them, at the fame time, to give
him fuch necefiary affiftance, as being a young mem-
ber, he might (land in need of. He then alfo charged
the newly elefted brother to receive with humility,
and to follow with pun6tuality the advice of his elder
brethren.

■•'■ '

Ail tliofe who had been admitted within the rails,
now formed a circlue around their new brother, and
the mufic ftriking up, the great chief fung a fong,
celebrating as ufual their martial exploits.

CARVE R's TRAVELS.

179

The only mufic they make ufe of is d drum, which
is compcfed of a pit ce of a hollow tree curioufly
wrought, and over one end of which is drained a
flcin, this thty beat \\ ith a fmgle ftick, and it gives
a found that is far from harmonious, bu: it juft fcrves
to beat time wiih. To this they foniiitimes add
the chichicoe, and in their war dances they likcwifc
ufe a kind of fife, formed of a reed, which makes a
Ihrill harfh noife.

'The whole affembly were by this time united, and
the dance began; fevcral fingers affifted the mufic
with their voice, and the women joining in the cho-
rus at certain intervals, they produced together a
not unpleafing but favage harmony. This was one
of the moft agreeable entertainments I faw whilft I
was among them.

I could not help laughing at a fingular childifti
cuftom I obferved they introduced into this dance,
and which was the only one that had the lead ap-
pearance of conjuration. Moft of the members car-
ried in their hands an otter or marten's fkin, v/hich
being taken whole from the body, and filled with
wind, on being compreflTed made a fqueaking noife
through a Imall piece of wood organically formed
and fixed in its mouth. When this inftrument was
prefented to the face of any of the company, and the
found emitted, the peri^jn receiving it inftantly fell
down to appearance dead. Sometimes two or threfj,.
both men and women, were on the grjund toge-
ther; but immediately recovering, they rofe up and
joined again in the dance. This feemed to alford,
even the chiefs themfelves, infinite diverfion. I
afterwards learned that thefc were their Dii Penates
or Houfehold Gods,

l8o

'"ARVER** TRAVELS.

After fon^c hours fpcnt in this manner the feaft
began} the dishes being brought near me, I per-
ceived that they confiftcd of dog's flefh; and I was
informed that at all their public grand feafts they ne-
ver made ufc of any other kind of food. For this
purpofc, at the fealt I am now fpeaking of, the new-
candidate provides fat dogs, if they can be procqrcd,
at any price.

In this cuftora of eating dog*s flefli on particular
occafions, they rcfemble the inhabitants of fonjc of
the countries that lie on the north-eaft borders of
Afia. The author of the account of Kamfchatka,
publifhed 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 worfliip to the evil beings, kill a rein-deer or
a dog, the nefh of which they eat, and leave the
head and tongue flicking on a pole with the front to-
wards the ealt. Alfo that when they are afraid of
any infedious diftemper, they kill a dog, and wind-
ing the guts about two poles, pafs between them.
Thefecuftoms, in which they arc nearly imitated
by the Indians, feem to. add ftrength to my fuppo-
fition, that America was firft peopled f^rom 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
M ifliffippi, as related in my Journal. When I look-
ed but, as I there mentioned, I faw about twenty
naked young Indians, the moft perfeft in their Ihape,
ahd by far the handfomeft- of any I had ever fecn,
coming towards me, and dancing as they approached,
\o the mufic of their drums. At every ten or twelve
yards they halted, and fet up their yells and cries.

CARVE

R'«

TRAVEL Ss

Iff

When th?y reached my tent, Ia(kcdthe;n to coipc
in; which, without deigning to make me any anf^tir,
they di^. As. I obfervcd that they, were painted red
and black, as they ufually are when they.go againil
an enemy, and perceived that fome parts of the war-
dance were intermixed with their pther movements,
I doubted not but they were fct on by the inimical
chief who had refufed my falutation : I thcreiqrc de-
termined to fcll:my life as dear as poflTible. Xo this
purpofc, I; received them fitting on my cheft, with
my gun and piftols be fide me, and orderpd my men
to keep a.wAtchfu] eye on them, and to be; alfo upon
their guard.

The Indians being entered, they continued their
dance alternately, finging at the fame time of their
heroic exploits, and the fuperioricy of their race over
every other people. To enforce their language*
thpM^h it was uncommonly nervous and exprefiivc,
and fuch as would of itfelf have carried tfrrior to the
firmed heart, at the end of every period they ftruck
their war- clubs againfl: the poles of my tent, with
fuch violence, thati cxpeftcd every moment it would
havp tumbled upon us. As each of them, in danc-
ing round, palfed by. me, they placed their right
hands oyer their eyes, and coming clofe to me, lookr
ed me fte.adily in the face, which I could not con-
ftrup, into a token of friendfliip. My men gave
thepifelvea up for.lofl:, and I acknowledge, for my
own part, that I never found my apprehcnfior." more
tumultuous on any occafion.

When they had nearly ended their dance, Ipre-
fented to them the pipe of peace, but they would
not receive it. I then, as my laft refource, thought
I would try what prefents would do; accordingly I
took from my cheft fome ribands and trinkets, which
I laid before them* Thefc feemed to ftagger their

t8»

C A R V E R's TRAVELS.

rcfolutions, and to avert in Tome degree their anger;
for after holding a confultation together, they fat
down on the ground, which I confidered as a favor-
able omen.

Thus it proved, as in a Ihort time they received
the pipe of peace, and lighting it, firft prefented it
to me, and then fmoked with it themfclves. Soon
after they took up the prcfcnts, which had hitherto
lain negfefted, 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. I had fuf-
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 j but I
was afterwards informed that it might be intended as
a compliment which they ufually pay to the chiefs
of every other nation who happen to fall in with
them, and that the circumftances in their condudt,
which had appeared fo fufpicious to me, were merely
the effeds of their vanity, and defigned to imprefs .
on the minds of thofe whom they thus vifited an
elevated opinion of their valor and prowefs. In the
morning before I continued my route, feveral of
their wives brought me a prefent of fomc fugar, for
whom I found a kw more ribands.

The dance of the facrifice is not fo denominated
from their offering up at the fame time a facrifice
to any good or evil fpirit, but is a dance to which
the Naudowefiics g've that title from being ufed
when any public fortunate circumftance befals
them. Whilft I refided among them, a fine large
deer accidentally IVrayed into the rpiddle of their

G A R V E R*s TRAVELS.

i»l

encampment, which they foon deflroyed. As this
happened jull at the new moon, they eftcemed it a
lucky omen; and having roafted it whole, every
one in the camp partook of it. After their ftarf,
they all joined n a dance, which they termed, from
its being fomewhat of a religious nature, a dance of
the facrificc.

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

CHAPTER VIII.

Of their Hunting,

J[j[UNTINGis the principal occupation
of the Indians they are trained to it from their carlicft
youth, and it is an cxercife which is afteemrd no lefs
honorable than necelTary towards their fubfiftence.
A dexterous and refolute hunter is held nearly in
as great eilimation by them as a diftinguiflied war-
Scarcely any device which the ingenuity of

nor.

man has difcovered for enfnaringor deftroying thofe
animals that fupply them with food, or whofe (kins
are valuable to Eur oeans, is unknown to them.

Whilft they are engaged in this exercife they (hake
off the indolence peculiar to their nature, and be-
conie adbive, perfevering, and indefatigable. They
are equally fagacious in finding their prey, and in
the means they ufe to deftroy it. They difccrn the
footfteps of the beafts they are in purfuit of, al-
though they are imperceptible to every other eye,
and can follow them with certainty through the path-
lefs foreft.
I

The beafts that the Indians hunt, both for their
flelh on which they fubfift, and for their Ikins, of
which they either make their apparel, or barter with
the Europeans for neceffaries, are the buffalo, the
elk^thc deer, the moofe, carribboo, the bear, the
beaver, the otter, the marten, &c. I defer giving

CARVER'S T R A V'E L S.

•I
f

l8f , '

jiW-

a defcription of thcfe creatures here, and fliall only
at prefent treat of their manner of hunting them.

The route they fliall take for this purpofe, andtho
parties that fliall go on the different expeditions arc
fixed in their general councils, which are held fomc
time in the fummer, when all the operations for the
enfuing winter are concluded on. Tiic chief-war-
rior, whofe province it i j to regulate their proceed-
ings on this occafion, with great folcrtinity iffues out
an invitation to thofe who ehoofe to attend him j
for the Indians, as before obferved, acknowledg;e no
fuperiority, nor have they any idea of eompulfion ;
and every one that accepts it prepares himfelf by
fafl:ing during fcveral days.

The Indians do notfifl: as fome other nations do,
on the richeft and moft luxurious food> btit they to-
tally abftain from every kind either of viduals or
drink ; and fuch is their patience and refolution, that
the moft extreme thirft could not oblige them to
tafteadrop of water; yet amidft this f:;vcre ab-
ftinence they appear cheerful and happy.

The reafons they gi\^c for thus faftiilg, are, that it
enables them freely to dream, in whichdrcams they
are informed where they fliall find the greateft plenty
of game i and alfo that it averts the difpleafurc of the
evil fpirits, and induces them to be propitious. They
alfo on thefe o<;cafions blacken thofe parts of their
bodies that are uncQvered.

The faft being ended, and the place of hunting
made known, the chief who is to condud them,
gives a grani fead to thofe whg are to form the dif*
lercnc parties j of which non^ of them dare to. par-
take till they have bathed themfqlvq^. At this flJift,

A a

>Ji

i86

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

liotwithftandrng they have failed fo long, they eat
with great moderation ; and the chief that prefides
employs himfelf in rehearfmg the feats of thofe who
have been moil fucccfsful in the bufinefs they are
about to enter upon. They foon after fet out on
the march towards the place appointed, painted or
rather bcdawbcd wich black, amidft the acclama-
tions of all the people.

It is impoffible to clcfcribe their agility or perfevc-
rance, whilft they are in purfuit of their prey j neither
thickets, ditches, torrents, pools, or rivers ftop them;
they always go ftraight forward in the moll dired
line they poffibly 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 to
find out their retreats j for, during the winter, thefe
aniinals conceal themfelves in the hollow trunks of
trees, or make themfelves holes in the ground, where
they coFitinuc without food, whilll the fev ere weather
lafts.

' When the Indians think they have arrived at a
place where thefe creatures ufually haunt, they form
themfelves into a circle according to their number,
and moving onward, endeavour, as they advance to-
wards the centre, to difcover the retreats of their
prey. Bythi? means, ifanyliein the intermediate
fpace, ihcy are fure of aroufmg them, and bringing
them down either with their bows or their guns. The
be;rs willtakc to flight at light of a man or a dog,
and will only make rcfillance when they arc ex*
' tremtly hungry, or after thtyaie wounded.

The Indian method of hunting the buffalo is by
forming a circle or a. fqt'arc, nearly in the fame

CARVER •« TRAVELS.

I«7

manner arf when they fearch for the bear. Having
taken their different ftations, they ftt the grafs, which
at this time is rank and dry^ on Bre, and thefe ani-
mals, who arc extremely fearful of that clement,
flying with precipitation before it, great numbers arc
hemmed in a fmall compafs, and fcarcely a fi glc
one cfcapes.

They have different ways of hunting the elk, the
deer, and the carribboo. Sometimes they feck them
out in the woods, to which they ^etirc during the
feverity of the cold, where they are eafily fhot front
behind the trees. In the more northern climates
they take the advantage of the weather to deftroy
the elk } when the fun has jull Itrength enough to
melt the fnow, and the froft in the night forms a
kind of cruft on the furface, this creature being
heavy, breaks it with his forked hoofs, and with dit'-
ficulty extricates himfelf from it : at this time there-
fore he is foon overtaken and deftroyed.

Some nations have made a method of hunting
thefe animals which is more eafily executed, and free
from danger. The hunting party divide themfelves
into two bands^ and choofing a fpot near the bor-
ders of fame river, one party embarks on beard
their canoes, whilfl the other forming themfelves in-
to a fcmi-circlc, on the land, the flanks of which
reach the fhore, let loofc their dogs, and by
this means roufe all the game that lies within thefe
bounds J they then drive them towards the river, in^
to which they no fooncr enter, than the greateft
part of them are immediately difpatchcd by thofe
who remain in the canoes.

Both the elk and buffalo are very fu^,iouitwhen they
arc wounded, and will return fiercely kMijthcinpmv
fuers, and trample them under their fcfft> if'the£iia*»

Ill

C A R V E R»8 TRAVELS.

ter finds no means to complete their deftru6lion, or
does not feek for fecurity in flight to fome adjacent
tree ; by this method they arc frequently avoided,
and 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, chiefly employ
the mfdves, and from which they reap the greattft
advantage, is the beaver hunting. The feafon for
this is throughout the whole of the winter, from
November to April } duiing which time the fur of
thefe creatures is in the greatcft perfe6tion. A de-
Icription of this extraordinary animal, the confl:ruc-
tion of their huts, and the regulations of their almoll
rational community, I (hall give in a^nother place.

The hunters make ufc of feveral methods to de-
ftrny them. Thofe generally praiftifed, arc either
that of taking them in fnares, cutting through the
ice, or opening their caufeways.

As the eyes of thefe animals arc Very quick, and
their hearing exceedingly acute, great precaution lis
neccflary in approaching their abodes j for as they
feldom go far from the water, and their houfes are al-
ways built clofe to the fide of fomc large river or
lake, or dams of their own coiiftrufting, upon the
lead alarm they hafl:en to the d::epeft part of the
water, and dive immediately to the bottom ; as they
d^o this they make a great noife by beating the water
with their tails, on purpofc to put thtf whole fraternity
on their guard.

They take them with fnares in the following
tnaoneii i/thoiigh the beavers ufually lay up a fuffi-
iaaqtiftdrericrf" provifion tofervc for' their fubfiflencc
crpah^tche winKcr,thcyniake from time to time excur-

C A R V E R»s T R A V E L S- :^

fions 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 fmall
pieces of bark, or young Ihoots of tree?, which the
beaver has no fooner laid hold of, than a large log of
wood falls upon him, and breaks his back j his ene-
mies, who are upon the watch, foon appear^, and in-
flantly difpatch the helpkfs animal.

V ■ ■ -

At other tines, 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
beavers will foon haften, on being difturbed at their
houfes, for a fupply of frcfh air. As their breath
occafions a confiderable motion in the water, the
hunter has fufficient notice of their approach, and
.methods ^re eafily taken for knocking them on the

head the moment they appear above the furface.

.... ,1 ■

When the houfeof the beavefs happen 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, T^here chey are
entangled and taken. But they mud not be fufFered
to remain there long, as they would foon extricate
themfeives with their teeth, which are weil known to
be exceflively fharp and ftrong.

The Indians take great care to hinder their dogs
from touching the bones of the beavers. The rea-
fons they give for thefe precautions, are, firft, that
the bones are fo exceflively hard, that they fpoil the
teeth of their dogs : and, fecondly, that they are
apprehenfive they fhall fo exafperate the fpirits of
the beavers by this permiffion, as to render the next
hunting feafon unfuccefsful.

I90

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

The (kins of thefe animals thw hunters exchange
\vith the Europeansr for necefTarics, and as they are
more valued by the latter than any other kind»<of
furs, they pay the greateft attention to this fpecies
of hunting.

When the Indians deftroy buffaloes, elks, deer,
&c. they generally divide the fiefh of fu(h as they
have taken among the tribe to which they belong.
But in huntir^g the beaver a few families ufually
unite and divide the fpoil between them. Indeed, in
the iiril inftance they generally pay fome attention
in the divifion to thtir own families : but no jealou-
fies or murmuring* are ever known to arife on ac-
count of any apparent partiality.

Among the NaudowefTies, if a perfon (hoots a deer,
buffaloe, &c. and it runs to a confiderable diflance
before it drops, where a perfon belonging to another
tribe, being nearer, f. . fl iik ks a knife into it, the
game is confidered as the property of the Ijitter, not-
withflanding it had been mcrtally wounded by the
former. Though this cuilom appears to be. arbitrary
and unjud, yet that people cheerfully fubmit to it.
This decifion is, however, very different from that
pra6tifed by the Indians on the back of the colonies,
where the firfl perfon that hits it is entitled to the
beft fhare. i

fc* *

CARVER'j TRAVELS.

191

CHAPTER IX.

Of their manner of making ll^ar^ t^c.

HE Indians begin to bear arms at the age
of fifteen, and lay them afide when they arrive at the
age of fixty. Some nations to the fouthward, I have
been informed, do not continue their military exer-
cifes after they are fifty.

In every band or nation there is a Teleft number
who are ftiled the wa- riors, and who are always rea-
dy to aft eitlver oflfenfively or defenfively, as occafion
requires. Thefe are well armed, bearing the wea-
pons commonly in ufe among them, which vary ac-
cording to the fituation of their countries. Such as
have an intercourfe with the Europeans make ufe of
tomahawks, knives, and fire-arms ; but thofe whofe
dwellings are fituated to the weflward of the Mifliffip-
pi, and who have not an opportunity of purchafing
thefe kinds of weapons, ufe bows and arrows, and,
alfo the Gaffe Tete or War-Club.

The Indians that inhabit ftill further to the weft-
ward, a country which extends to the South Sea, ufe
in fight, a warlike inftrument that is very uncom-
mon. Havipg great plenty of hgrfes they always at-
tack their enemies on horfeback, and encumber
themfelves with no other weapon, than a ftone of a
middling fize, curioufly wrought, which they faften
ly a firing, about a yard and a half long, to their
right arms', a little above the elbow, Thefe flones

192

C A R V E R'3 TRAVELS.

they conveniently carry in their hands, till they
reach their enemies, and then fvvinging them with
great dexterity, as they ride full fpeed, never fail of
doing execution. The country which thefe tribes
poffefs, abounding with large extenfive plains, thofe
who attack them feldom return ; as the fwiftnefs of
the horfes, on which they are mounted, enables them
to overtake even the fleeted of their invaders.

The Naudovveflies, who had been at war with this
people, informed me, that unlefs they found moraf-
fesor thickets to which they could retire, they were
fure of being cut off: to prevent this they always
took care whenever they ma le an onl'et, to do it ntar
fuch retreats as were impaffable for cavalry, they
then having a great advantage over their enemies,
whofe weapons would not there reach them.

Some nations make ufe of a javelin, pointed with
bone, worked into different forms j but their Indian
weapons m general are bows and arrows, and the
Jliort club already mentioned. The latter is made
of a very hard wood, and the head of it falhioned
round like a ball, about three inches and a half dia-
meter ; in this rotund part is fixed an edge refem-
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 ufc among them. It
was originally made of flint or bone, but fince they
Iiave had communication with the European traders,
they have formed it of fl:efl. The length of it is about
ten inches, and that part clofe to the handle nearly
th.reeinches bioad. Its edges are keen, and it gradu-
ally tap(?rs towards a point. They wear it in a
Ihcath made of dire: '3 leather, re.tt!v ornamented

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

193

with porcupine quills -, and it is ufually Kung by a
ftring, decorated in the fame manner, which reaches
as lov/ only as the breaft. This curious weapon is
worn by a few of the principal chiefs alone, anH
confidercd both as an ufcful intlrument, and an or-
namental badge of fuperiority.

lobferved among the NaudowefTies a few targets
or ihicld? made of raw buffalo hides, and in the form
of thofe ufed by the ancients. But as the mumber
of thefe was fmall, and I could not gain no intelli-
gence of the aera in which they firft were introduced
amon^ them. I fuppofe thofe I faw had defcended
from father to fon for many generations.

The reafons the Indians give for making war
againft one another, are much the fam£ as thofe
urged by more civilized nations, for difturbingthe
tranquillity of their neighbours. The pleas of the
former arc however in general more rational and
juft, than fuch as are brought by Europeans in vin-
dication of their proceedings.

The extenfion of empire is feldom a motive with
thefe people to invade, and to commit depredations
on the territories of thofe who happen to dwell near
them. To fecure the rights of hunting within par-
ticular limits, to maintain the liberty of palling
through their accuftomed tracks, and to guard thofe
lands which theyconfider from a long tenure as their
own, againft any infringement, are the general caufes
of thofe diffcnfions that fo often break out between
the Indian nations, and which^are carried on with fo
much animofity.

Though ftrangers to the idea of feparatc property
yet the mo/l uncultivated among them are well ac-

Bb^

*"■

194

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

quaintcd with the rights of their community to the
domains they poffers, and oppofe with vigor every
encroachment on them.

Notwithflanding it is generally fuppofed that from
their territories being Co extenfive, the boundaries of
them cannot be aiccrtained, yet I am well affured
that the limits of each nation in the interior parts are
laid down in their rude plans with great precifion.
By theirs, as I have before obferved, was I enabled
to regulate my ownj and after the moft cxaft ob-
fervations and inquiries found very few inftanccs in
which they erred.

But intered is not either the moft frequent or
moft powerful incentive to their making war on
each other. The pafiion of revenge, which is the
diftinguifhing charafleriftic of thefc people, is the
moft general motive. Injuries are felt by them
with exquifite fenfibility, and vengeance' purfued
with unremitted ardor. To this may be added,
that natural excitation which every Indian becomes
fenfible of as foon as he approaches the age of
manhood to give proofs of his valour and prowefs.

As they are early poflcffed with a notion that war
ought to be the chief bufmefs of their lives, that
there is nothing more defiroiis than the reputation
of being a great warrior, and that the fcalps of their
enemies, or a number of prilbners are alone to be
efteemed valuable, it is not to be wondered at that
the younger Indians are continually reftlefs and un-
cafy if their ardor is reprefled, and they are kept in
a (late of inaftivity. Either of thefe propenfities,
the defire of revenge, or the gratification of an im-
pulfe, thatby degrees becomes habitual to them, is
fufficient, frequently, to induce them to commie
hoftilities on fome of the neighbouring nations*

f CARVER'S TRAVfeLS.

;95

When the chiefs find any occafion for making
war, they endeavour to aroyfe thcfc habitudes, and
by that means foon excite their warriors to take
arms. To this purpofe they make ufe of their mar-
tial eloquence, nearly in the following words, v;hich
never fails of proving efFe<^ual J ** The bones of our
" deceafed countrymen lie uncovered, they call out
to us to revenge their wrongs, and we mud fa-
tisfy their requrrft. Their fpirits cry out againft
us. They muft be appeafed. The genii, v^hp
arc the guardians of our honor, infpire us with
" arefolutioft to feek the enemies of our murdered
brothers. Let us go and devour thofe by whorn
they were flain. Sit therefore no longer inadlivc,
give way to the impulfe of your natural valor,
anoint your hair, paint your faces, fill your qui-
vers, caufe the forefts torefoundwith your fongs,
confole the fpirits of the (dead,, and tell them they
fhall be revenged.'*

<t
<C
CC

Animated by thefe exhortations the warrior^
fnatch their arms in a tranfport of fury, fing the fong
of war, and burn with impatience to imbrue their
hands in the blood of their enemies.

Sometimes private chiefs alTemble fmall parties,
and make excurfions againft thofe with whom thty
are at war, or fuch as have injured them. A fingle
warrior, prompted by revenge or a defire to fliow
his prowefs, will march unattended for feveral hun-
dred miles, to furprifc and cut off a ftraggling party.

Thefe irregular fallies however, are not always
approved of by the elder chiefs, though they are
often obliged to connive at them; as in the iniiaiice
before given of the Naudoweffie and Chipev/ay
nations.

1^6

C A R V E R»s T R A V E-L S.

But when a war is national, and undertaken by
the cummunity, their deliberations are formal and
flow. The elders airembie in council, to which all
the head warriors and young men are admitted,
where they deliver their opinions in folemn fpeeches,
v/cighing with mat^jrity the nature of the enterprife
they are about to engage in, and balancing, with
great fagaciry the advantages or inconveniences that;
-will arife fi'om it. • ,

Tlieir pr lefts are alfo confulted on the fubjeft,
and even, fometimcs, the advice of the moft intel-
ligent of their women is afked.

If the determination be for war, they prepare for
it with much ceremony.

The chief warrior of a nation does not on all oci.
rafions head the war party himfelf, he frequently
deputes a warrior of whofe valor and prudence he has
a good opinion. The perfon thus fixed on being
tirft bedawbed with black, obferves a fail of feveral
days, during which he invokes the Great Spirit, or
deprecates the anger of the evil ones, holding whilfl:
it lafls no converfe with any of his tribe.

He is particularly careful ait the fame time tP ob-
ferve his dreams, for on thefe do they fuppofe their
iiaccefs will in a great meafure depend j and from the
firm perfuafion every Indian aduated by his own
prefumptuous thoughts is impreflcd with, that he
fhall march forth to certain vi^hory, thefc arc gene-
rally favorable to bis wilhes.

After he has failed as long as cuftom prcfcribcs,
lie affemblcs the warriors, and holding a belt of
wampum in his hand, thus addreffes them;

CARVE R*s TRAVELS.

^97

" Brothers ! by the infpiration of the Great Spi-
rit I now fpeak unto you, and by him 2m I
prompted to carry into execution the intentions
which I am about to difclofe to you. The blood
" of our deceafed brothers is not yet wiped away;
their bodies arc not yet covered, and I am going
to perform this duty to them. *'

((

ti
tt

Having then made known to them all the motives
that induce him to take up arms againft the nation
with whom they afre to engage, he fhus proceeds;
I have therefore refolved to march through the
war-path to furprife them. We will eat their
flefh, and drink their blood j we will take fcalps,
and make prifoners; and ihould we perifti in this
glorious enterprife, we ihall not be for ever hid
in theduft, for this belt lliall be a recompenfc to
to. him who buries the dead." Having faid this,
he lays the belt on the ground, and he who takes it
up declares himfelf his lieutenant, and is confidered
as the fecond in commands this, however, is only
done by fome diftinguilhed warrior who has a right
by thie number of his fcalps, to the poft.

Though the Indians thus aflert that they will eat
the flefli and drink the blood of their enemies, the
threat is only to be confidered as a figurr.tivc expref-
fion. Notwithftanding they fometimcs devour the
hearts of thofe they flay, and drink their bood, by
way of bravado, or to gratify in a more complete
manner their revenge, yet they are not naturally
anthropophagi, nor ever feed on the flelh of men.

The chief is now waflied from his fable covering,
anointed with bear's fat, and painted with their red
jpaint, in fuch figures as will make him appear moft
terrible to his enemies. He then fings the war fc ng,
^Wi enumerates his warlike anions. Having done

198

CARVE R*$ TRAVELS.

this he fixes his eyes on the fun, and pays his adora-
tions to the Great Spirit, in which he is accompa-
nied by all the warriors.

This ceremony is followed with dances, fuch as I
have before defcribcdi and the v/hole concludes with
a fcafl, which ufually confifts of dog's flclh.

This feaft is held in the hut or tent of the chief
warrior, to which all thofe who intend to accom-
pany him in his expedition fend their diflies to be
filled; and during the feaft, notwithftanding he has
fafted fo long, he fits compofcdly with his pipe in
his mouth, and recounts the valorous deeds of his
family.

As the hopes of having their wounds, fliouldthey
receive any, properly treated, and cxpeditioufly
cured, muft be fomc additional inducement to the
warriors to expofe themfelves more freely to danger,
the priefts, who are alfo their dodtors, prepare fuch
medicines as will prove efficacious. With great ce-
remony they carry various roots and plants, and pre-
tend that they impart to them the power of healing.

Notwithftanding this fuperftitious method of pro-
ceeding, it h very certain they have acquired a
knowledge of many plants and herbs that are of a
medicinal quality, and which they know how to ufe
with great (kill.

From the time the refolution of engaging in a
war is taken, to the departure of the warriors, the
nights are fpent in feftivity, and their days in mak-
ing the needful preparations.

If it is thought necefTary by the nation going to
war, to folicit the alliance of any neighbouring

CARVE R's TRAVELS.

199

in a

, the

mak-

tribe, they fix upon one of their chiefs who fpeaks
the language of that people well, and who is a good
orator, and fend to them by him a belt of wampum,
on which is fpecified the purport of the embaffy in
figures that every nation is well acquainted with.
At the fame time he carries with him a hatchet
painted red.

As foon as he reaches the camp or village to which
he is deftined, he acquaints the chief of the tribe
with the general tenor of his commiffion, who im-
mediately affembles a council, to which the ambaf-*
fadoris invited. There having laid the hatchet on
the ground he holds the belt in his hand, and enters
more minutely into the occafion of his embaify.
In his fpeech he invites them to take up the hatchet,
and as foon as he has finished fpeaking delivers the
belt.

If his hearers are inclined to become auxiliaries to
his nation, a chief fteps forward and takes up the
hatchet, and they immediately efpoufe with fpirit
the caufe they have thus engaged to fupport. But
if on this application neither the belt or hatchet arc
accepted, the emiflary concludes that the people
whofe afliftance he folicits have already entered into
an alliance with the foes of his nation, and returns
with fpeed to inform his countrymen of his ill fuc-
ccfs.

The manner in which the Indians declare war
againft each other, is by fending a flave with a
hatchet, the handle of which is painted red, to the
nation which they intend to break with; and the
mcffenger, notwithftanding the danger to which he
is expofcd from the fudden fury of thole whom he
thus fets at defiance, executes his commiffion with
great fidelity.

200

^.CARVER'S TRAVELS.

Sometimes this token of defiance has fuch an in-
ilantaneous cffeft on thofc to whom it is prefehted
that in the firft tranfports of their fury a fmall party
will iflue forth, without waiting for the permiflion
of the elder chiefs, and flaying the firft of the offend-
ing nation they meet, cut open the body and flick
a hatchet of the fame kind as that they have jufl re-
ceived, into the heart of their flaughtereu foe.
Among the more remote tribes this is done with an
arrow or fpear, the end of which is painted red.
And the more to exafperatc, they dilmember the
body, to fhew that they efteem them not as men
but as old women.

The Indians feldom take the field in large bodies,
as fuch numbers would require a greater degree of
induflry to provide for their fubfiflence, during their
tedious marches through dreary forefts, or long
voyages over lakes and rivers, than they would care
to beftow.

Their armies arc never encumbered with baggage
or military flores. Each warrior, befides his wea-
pons, carries with him only a mat, and whilfl at a
diflance from the frontiers of the enemy fupports
himftrlf with the game he kills or the fifh he catches.

When they pafs through a country where they
have n6 apprehcnfions of meeting with an enemy,
they ufe very little precaution : fometimes there are
fcarcely a dozen warriors left together, the refl be-
ing difperftfd in purfuit of their game j but though
they fhouldhave roved to avery confiderable diftance
from the war-parth, they are fure to arrive at the
place of rendezvous by the hour appointed.

They always pitch their tents long before fun-fctj
and^ being naturally prcfumptuous, take very little

.»

t #'■

CARVER'S T R A \^ E L S.

lot

long

they

ca.c to guard againft a furprife. They place great
confidence in their Manitoiis, or houfehold gods,
which they alwaj^s carry with them; and being per-
fuadcd that they take upon them the office ot'ccn-
tinels, they llecp very fecurely under their pro-
tedlion. '

Thefe Manitous, as they arc called by fomc na-
tions, but which are termed Wakons, that is, fpi-
rits, by the Naudoweflies, are nothing more than
the otter and marten fkins I have r.lready delbribedy
for which, however, they have a great veneration^

After they have entered the enemy's country,
no people can be more cautious and circumfpeftj
fires are no longer lighted, no more fhouting is
heard, nor the game any longer purfued. They
arc not even permitted to fpeak; but mufl: convey
whatever they have to impart to each other by figns
and motions.

They now proceed wholly by ftrafagcm and artt-
bufcade. Having difcovered their enemiesy they
fend to reconnoitre them; and a council is immedi-'
ately held, during which they fpeak only in whifpersy
to Gonfider of the intelligence imparted by thofe who
were fent out.

The attack is generally made juft before day
break, at which period they fuppofe their foes to be
in their foundeft fleep. Throughout the whole of
the preceding n?ghr they will lie flat upon their
faces, without ftirring; and make their approaches'
in the fame pofiure, creeping upon their hands and-
feet till they they are got within bowihot of thofc
they have deftined to deitrudlon. On a fignal given
hy the chief warrior, to which the whole body makes-

202

C A R V E R's TRAVELS.

anfwer by the moft hideous yells, they all ftart up^.
and difcharging their arrows in the fame inftant,^
without giving their advcrfaries time to recover from
the confufion into which they are thrown, pour in
upon them widi their war-clubs or tomahawks.

The Indians think there is little glory to be ac-
quired from attacking their enemies openly in the
field ; their greateft pride is to furprife and deftroy.
They A Idom engage without a manifeft appearance
of advantage. If they find the enemy on their guard,,
too ftrongly entrenched, or fuperior in numbers, they
retire, provided their is an opportunity of doing fo.
And they eftecm 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 poffible, al the
expence of a few men.

Sometimes they fecure themfelves behind trees,
hillocks, or ftones, and having given one or two
rounds retire before they are difcovered. Europeans,
who are unacquainted with this method of fighting
too cficn find to their coft the deftrudive efficacy
ofit..

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 French
and confederate Indians in their intereft, who by this
infidious method of engaging found means to defeat
his army, which confifted of about two thoufand
brave and well difciplined troops. So fecurely were
the Indians pofted, that the Englifti fcarcely knew
from whence or whcm they were thus annoyed.
During the whole of the engagement, the latter had
fcarcely a fight of an enemy ; and were obliged to-
retreat without the fatisfadion of beins: able to take
the leaft degree of revenge for the havoc made

CARVER'S T R A V E I. S.

ii.Z

among them. The General paid for his rciiifrity
with his life, and \v.is accom})anied in his fall by a
great number of brave fellows ; whilfl his invifii)]^
enemies had only two or three of their number
.wounded.

When the Indians fucceed in their- fjKnt ap-
proaches, and arc able to force the camp wliich they
attack, a fcene of horror that exceeds defcription,
enfucs. The Hivage fiercenefs of the conquerors,
and the defperation of the conquered, who well
know what they have to expefb lliould they fall
alive into the hands of their aflailants, occafion the
moft extraordinary exertions on both fides. Tiie
figure of the combatants all befmeared with black
and red paint, and covered with the blood of the
flain, their horrid yells, and ungovernable fury are
not to be conceived by thofe who have never troflitd
the Atlantic.

I have frequently been a fpe6tator of them, and
■once bore a part in a fimilar fcene. But wRat ad-
ded to the horror of it was, that I had not the con-
folation of being able to oppofe their favage attacks.
Every circumftance of the adventure ftill dwells on
my remembrance, and enables me to defcribe with
greater perfpicuity the brutal fiercenefs of the In-
dians when they have furprifed or overpowered an
enemy.

As a detail of the mafiacre at Fort William Henry
in the year 1757, the fcene to which I refer, can-
not appear foreign to the defign of this publications,
but will ferve to give my readers a juft idea of the
ferocity of this people, I Ihall take the liberty to in-
fert it, apologizing at the ilmie time for the length of
the diorreflion, and thofe et^otifms v/hich the relation
lenders unavoidable, . ».

t^\

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

General Webb, who commanded the Englini
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 Heniy, he de-
tached a corps of about fifteen hundred men, con-
fiding of Knglifh and Provincials, to ftrengthen the
garrifon. In this party I went as a volunteer among
the latter.

The apprehenfions of the EnglilTi General were
not withou: foundation ; for the day after our arrival
we faw Lake George (formerly Lake Sacrament) to
which it lies ccnticuous, covered with an immenfe
number of boats; and in a few hours we found our
Jincs attacked by the French General, who had jufl:
landed with eleven thoufand Regulars and Cana.
dians,and two thoufand Indians. Colonel Monro,
a brave officer, commanded in the Fort, and had no
more than two thoufand three hundred men with
Jiim, our detachment included.

With thefe he made a gallant defence, and pro-
bably would have been able at lad to pref^rve the
Fort, had he been properly fupported, and ^v^rmit-
ted to continue his efforts. On every fummons to
furrender fent by the French General, who offered
the moft honorable terms, his anfwer repeatedlyjwas,
That he yet found himfelf in a condition to repel
the moil vigorous attacks his befiegers were able to
make J and if he thought his prefent force infuffi-
cient, he could foonbe fupplied with a greater num^
ter from the adjacent army.

But the Colonel having acquainted General Webb

*wich his fituation, and defired he would fend hin>

fome frefh troops, the Geneial difpatcheda meffen-

jrer to him with ^ letter, wherein he informed hiiT^

CARVE R'8 TRAVELS.

205

that it was not in his power to afTid him, and there-
fore gave him orders to furrender up the Fort on
the bcft terms he could procure. This packet fell
into the hands of the French General, who imme-
diately fcnt a flag of truce, defiring a conference with
the governor.

They accordingly met, attended only by a fmall
guard, in the centre between the lines -, when Monf.
Montcalm told the Colonel, that he was come in
perfon to demand poff-ffion of the Fort, as it belong-
ed to the King his mafter. The Colonel replied,
that he knew not how that could be, nor fhould he
furrender it up whilft it was in his power to de-
fend it. ,

The French General rejoined, at the fame time
delivering the packet into the Colonel's hand, " By
*^ this authority do I make the requifition." The
brave Governor had no fooner read the contents of
it, and was convinced that fuch were the orders of
the cammander in chief, and not to be difobeyed,
than he hung his head in filence, and relu6bantly
entered into a negociation.

In confideration of the gallant defence the garrifon
had made, they were to be permitted to march out
with all the honors of war, to be allowed covered
waggons to tranfport their baggage to Fort Edward,
and a guard to proteft them &om the fury of the fa-
vages.

The morning after the capitulation was figned,
as foon as day broke, the whole garrifon, now con-
fiding of about two thoufand men, befides women
and children, were drawn up withint the lines, and
on the point of marching off*, when great numbers
p( the Indians gathered about, and began to plunder.

'zo6

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

We were at firfl: in hopes that this was their only
view, and fuffered them to proceed without oppo-
fition. Indeed it was not in oui power to make
any, had we been fo inclined ; for though we were
permitted to carry off our arms, yet we were not
allowed a fingle round of ammunition. In thefe hopes
however we were difappointed : for prefently fome
of them began to attack thefick and wounded, when
fuch as were not able to crawl into the ranks, not-
withftanding th^y endeavoured to avert the fury of
their enemies by their fhrieks or groans, were foon
difpatched.

Here wc were fully in expedlation that the dif-
turbance wouldhave concluded j and our little army
began to move ; but in a fhort time we faw the front
divifion driven back, and difsovered that we were
entirely encircled by the favages. We expelled
every moment that the guaril, which the French, by
the articles of capitulation, had agreed to allow us,
would have arrived, and put an end to our appre-
henfions ; but none appeared. The Indians now
began to ftrip every one without exception of their
arms and clothes, and thofe who made the lead re-
fiftance felt the weight of their tomahawks.

I happened to be in the rear divifion, but it was
nor long before I Ihared the fate of my companions.
Three or four of the favages laid hold of me, and
whilft fome held their weapons over my head, the
others foon difrobed me of my coat, waiftcoat, hat
and buckles, omitting not to take from me what
money I had in my pocket. As this was tranfadled
clofe by the pafTage that led from the lines on to the
plain, near which a French centinel waspofled, Iran
to him and claimed his proteftion ; but he only
called mean Eno-Iifli doo;, and thrufl: me with vio-
lence back again into the midil of the Indians.

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

2oy

I now endeavoured to join a body of our troops that
^ere crowded together at fomc diftance: but innu-
merable were the blowc that were made at me with
different weapons as I pafled onj luckily however
the favages were fo clofe together, that they could
not ftrike at me without endangering each other.
Notwithstanding which one of them found means to
make a thruft at me with a fpear, which grazed my
fide, and from another I received a wound, with the
fame kind of weapon, in my ankle. At length I
gained the fpot where my countrymen ftood, and
forced myfelfinto the midft of them. But before I
got thus far out of the hands of the Indians, the col-
lar and wriftbands of my fhirt were all that remained
of it, and my flelli was fcratched and torn in many
places by their favage gripes.

By this time the war whoop was given, and the
Indians began to murder thofe that were neareft to
them without diftinftion. It is not in the power of
words to give any tolerable idea c^ the horrid fcenc
that now enfucdi men, women, and children were
difpacched in the moll wanton and cruel manner,
and immediately fcalped. Many of thcfe favages
drank the blood of their vi6tims, as it flowed warm
from the fatal wound.

We now perceived, though too late to avail usf
that we were to exped no relief from the French ;
and that, contrary to the agreement they had fo
lately figned to allow us a fufficient force to proted
us from thefe infults, they tacitly permitted them ;
for I could plainly perceive the French officers walk-
ing about at fomc diftance, difcourfing tof,ether
with apparent unconcern. For the honor of human
nature I would hope that this flagrant breach of eve-
ry facred law, proceeded rather from the flwage dii-
pofition of the Indiims, which I acknowledge it is

#5.'^

2o8

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

fomctimes almoft impoffible to control, and whicfi
might now iinexpcdediy have arrived to a pitch not
ealily to be rcftrained, than to any premeditated de-
fign in the French commander. An unprejudiced
obferver would, however, be apt to conclude, that
a body of ten thoufand chriftian troops, moft chrif-
tian troops, had it in their power to prevent the
maflacre from becoming fo general. But whatever
was the caufe from which it arofe, the confequences
of it were dreadful, and not to be paralleled in mo-
dern hiftory.

As the circle in which I (tood inclofed by this
time was much thinned, and death feemed to be
approaching with hafty ftrides, it was propofed by
fome of the moft refolute to make one vigorous effort,
and endeavour to force our way through the favages,
the only probable method of preferving our lives
that now remained. This, however defperatc, was
refolvcd on, and about twenty of us fprung at once
into the midft of them.

In a moment we were all feparated, and what was
the fate of my companions I could not learn till fome
months after, when I found that only fix or feven of
them efFedted their defign. Intent only on my own
hazardous fituation, I endeavoured to make my way
through my favage enemies in the beft manner pof-
fible. And I have often been aftonilhed fince, when
I have rccoUeded with what compofure I took, as
I did, every necefTary ftep for my prefervation.
Some I overturned, being at that time young and
athletic, and others I pafTed by, dextroufly avoiding
their weapons ; till at laft two very ftout chiefs, of
the mol^ favage tribes, as I could diftinguiHi by their
dref*, whofe fircngth I could not refift, laid hold
' of me by each arm, and began to force me th4"ough
the crowd.

'}*, ♦»..

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

iocf

' I now rcfigned myfclf to my fate, not doubting
but that tlicy intended to difpatch me, and then to
fatiate their vengeance with my blood, as I found
they were hurrying me towards a retired fwamp that
lay at fomc diftance. But before we had got many-
yards, an Englilh gentleman of fome diftinftion, as
I could difcover by his breeches, the only covering
he had on, which were of fine fcarlet velvet, ruflied
clofc by us. One of the Indians inftantly relinquilhcd
his hold, and fpringing on this new obje6t, endea-
voured to feize him as his prey; but the gentleman
being ftrong, threw him on the ground, and would
probably have got away, had not he who held my
other arm, quitted me to alTift his brother. I feizcd
the opportunity, and haftcned away to join another
party of Englifh troops that were yet unbroken,
and ftood in a body at Ibme diftance. But before I
had taken many fteps, I haftily caft my eye towards
the gentleman, and Taw the Indian's tomahawk galh
into his backj and heard him utter his laft groanj
this added both to my fpeed and .dcfperation.

I had left this fhocking fcene but a few yards,
when a fine boy about twelve years of age, thac had
hitherto cfcaped, came up to me, and begged that I
would let him lay hold of me, fo that he might
ftand fome chance of getting out of phe hands of the
favages. I told him that I would give him every
affiftance in my power, and to this purpofe bid him
lay hold; but in a few moments he was torn from
my fide, and by his Ihrieksljudge was foon demo-
lifhed. I could not help forgetting my own cares
for* a minute, to lament the fate of fo young a fuf-
fereri but it was utterly impcffible for me to take
any methods to prevent it.

I now got once more into the midft of friends, but
wc were unable to afford each other any fuccour.

Ddv.

I«

C A R V E R's TRAVELS.

As this was the divifion that had advanced the
furtheft from the fort, I thought there might be a
pofiibility (though but a bare one) of my forcing my
way through the outer ranks of the Indians, and
getting to a neighbouring wood, which I perceived
ac fome diftance. I was ftill encouraged to hope by
the almoft miraculous prefcrvation I had alread)^'
experienced.

Nor were my hopes in vain, or the efforts I made
ineffedtual. Suffice to fay, that I reached the wood^
but by the time I had penetrated a little way into it,
iny breath was fo exhauftcd that I threw myfelf into
^ break, and lay for fome niinutcs apparently at the
laft gafp. At length I recovered the power of refpi-
ration j but my apprehenfions returned with all their
former force, when I faw fevcral favages pafs by,
probably in purfuit of me, at no very great diftance.
In this fituation I knew not whether it was better
to proceed, or endeavour to conceal myfelf where t
lay, till night came on j fearing, however, that they
would return the fame way, I thought it moft pru-
dent to get further from the dreadful fcene of my
diftrelTes. Accordingly, Itriking into another part
of the wood, I haftened on as faft as the briers and
the lofs of cne of my flioes would permit me; and
after a flow progrefs of fome hours, gained a hill
that overlooked the plain which I hadjuft left, from
whence I coukl difcern that the bloody ftorm ftill
raged with unabated fury.

But not to t jre my readers, I fhall only add, that
after paffing three days without fubfiftence, and en-
during the ievcrity of the cold dews for three nights,
I at length reached Fort Edward i where with pro-
per care my body foc/i recovered its wonted ftrcngth,
and my mind, as far as the recolkdion of the late
melancholy <svcnts would permit, its ufual compofure.

CARVER'S TRA>-ELS.

H»»».

It wag computed that fifteen hundred pcrfons were
killed or made priibncrs by thefe favages duriirg-
this fatal day. Many of the latter were carried off
by them and never returiied. A few, through fa-
vorable accidentSj found their way back to their
native country, after having cxperieyccd a long and
fevcre captivity.

The biave Colonel Monro had haftened away,
foon after the confufion began, to tiie French camp
to endeavour to procure the guard agreed by the fti-
pulationj but his application proving ineffedual, he
refrained there till General Wc.bb fcnt a party of
troops to demand and protedt him back to Fore
Edward. But thefe unhappy concurrences, which
would probably have be^n prevented, had he been
left to purfue his own plans, together with the lof^
of fa many brave fellows, murdered in cold blood,
to whofe valor he had been fo lately, a witnefs, madp
fuch an impreffion on Ixis mind, that he did not long
furvivc. He died in about three months of a broken
hcsLvt, and with truth might it b^ faid, that he was
an honor to his country.

I mean not to point out the fv^Uowing circum-
ftance as the immediate judgment of Ivcaven, and
intended as an atonement for this Haughteri but I
cannot omit that very few of thofe different tribes of
Indians that fliared in it ever lived to return home.
The fmall-pox, by means of their communication
with the Europeans, found its way among them,
and made an equal havoc to what they themfelves
had done. The methods they purfued on the firft
attack of that malignant difordcr, to abate the fever
attending it, rendered it fjital. Whfilft their blood
was in a ftatc of fcrmcntatiop, and nature wasftriv-
ingto throw out the peccant matter, they checked
}ier operations by plunging into the w^tcr: the ^on-

ax?

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

ffqucnce was thit they died by hundreds. The
^^w that furvivcd were transformed by it into hideous
objefts, and bore with them to the grave deep-in-
dci^ced marks of this much^dreaded difcafe.

Monfieqr Montcalm fpU foon after on the plains
of Quebec.

Thijit ]the unprovoked cruelty of this commander
jsyas not approved of by the gerieralicy of his coun-
trymen^ I have lincc been convinced of by many
proofs. One only, however, which I received
from a perfon 3»vho was witnefs to it, fhall I at pre-
fent give. A Canadian merchant, of fome confi-
deration, having heard of the furrchder of the Eng^
lifh fort, celebriated the fortunate event with great
rejoicings and hofpitality, according to the cuftohi
of that country j but no fooner did the news of the
maflacre which enfued reach his ears, than he put
an immediate ftop to the feilivity, and exclaimed in
the fevereft terms againft the inhuman permiffion j
declaring at the fame tjme that thofe whc had con-
nived at it, had thereby drawn down, on that part
of their king's dominions the vengeance of Heaven.
.To this hp added, that he much Sared the total Ibfs
of them would dcfervedly be the confequence. How
truly this predi(5lion has been verified wc well
know. '

But to return — Though the Indians are negligent in
guarding againft furprifcs, they are alert and dextrous
jn furprifirig their enemies. To their caution and
perfeverance in fteajing on the party they defign to
iirtack, they add that admirable talent, or rather
»nftin61:ive qualifiGation I have already dcfcribed,
of tracing oot thofe they are in purfuit of. Oh the
jfmoorheft grafs, oh the hardeft earth, and even on
j:hc very ftones, will they difcover the traces of ah

C A R V E R's TRAVELS.

413

itii>

rous

ind

ther

)cd,

I the

ewemy, and by the (hapc of the foot ftcps, and the
diftancc between the prints, didiriguifh not only
whether it is a man or a woman who has paflcd that
way, but even the nation to which they belong.
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 vie-
tory is no longer doubtful, the conquerors firft dif-
patch all fuch as they think they fliall not be able to
carry off without great trouble, and then endeavour
to take as many prifoners as pollible ; after this they
return to fc^lp thofe who arc either dead, or too
puch wounded p be taken with them.

At this bufinefs they are exceedingly expert. They
feize the head of the difablcd 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 flop of their head, they
draw out their fcalping knives, which are always
kept in good order for this cruel purpofe, and with
^a hw dextrous ftrokes take off the part that ii
^termed the fcalp. They are fo expeditious in do-
ing this, that the whole time required fcarcely cx-
izeeds a -minute. Thefe they prefcrve as monuments
of their prdwcfs, and at the fame time as proofs of
the vengeance they have infli^ed on their enemies.

If two Indians feize in the fame inftant a prifoner,'
andfeem to have an equal claim, the conteft between
them is foon decided; for to put a fpeedy 'end to
apy difpute that might arifc, the pefon that is ap-
prehenlive he fhall lofe his cxpe(5led reward, im-
^jcdiately has recojurfc to his tomahawk or war- club,

C A Jl V E R's T JR A V EL S.

ancj knocks on the head the unhappy caufc of their
contention.

Having completed their purpofes, and made as
much havoc as poflible, they immediately retire
towards thier own country, with the fpoil they have
acquired, for fear of being purfued.

Should this be the cafe, they make of many ftra-
tagems to elude the fearches of their purfuers. They
fometimes fqatter leaves, fands, or duft over the
prints of their feet j fometimes tread in each other's
footfteps J and fometimes lift their feet fo high, and
tread fo lightly, as not to make any impreffion on the
ground, gut if they find all thefe precautions un-
availing, and that they are near being overtaken,
they firftdifpatch and fcalp their prifoners, and then
dividing,each endeavours to regain his native country
by a different route. This prevents all further purfuits
for their purfuers now defpairing, cither of grati-
fying their revenge, or of releafing thofe of their
friends who were made captives, return home.

If t|)e fuccefsful party is fo lucky as to make good
their retreat unmolefted, they haften with the great-
eft expedition to reach a country where they may be
perfectly fecure j and that their wounded companions
may not retard their flight, they carry them by turns
in litters, or if it is in the winter feafon draw them
on fledge*.

Their Jitters are made in a rude manner of the
branches 'of trees. Their fledges confift of two
fmall thin boards, about a foot wide when joined, and
hear fix feet long. The fore-part is turn ' 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 ftring which
paflets round the breaft. This collar is called a

CARVER »i TRAVELS.

SI5

the

two

and

In-

they

^hicK

:d a

Metump, and is inufe throughout 'America, both in
the fcttlemcnts and the internal pares. Thofe ufed
in the latter arc made of leather, and very curioufly
wrought*

The prifoners during their march are guarded
•with the greatcft care- During the day, if the jour-
ney is over land, they are always held by fomc of the
victorious party j if by water, they arc fattened to
the canoe. In the night-time they are flrctched
along the ground quite naked, with their legs, arms,^
and neck fattened to hooks fixed in the grounds B^-
fides this, cords are tied to their arms or legs, which
are held by an Indian^ who inttantly awakes at the
leaft motion of them.

Notwithttanding fuch precautions are ufually taken
by the Indians, it is recorded in the annals of New-
England that one of the weaker fex, almott alone, and
unattitted found means to elud« the vigilance of a
party of warriors^ and not only to make her efcapc
from them, but to revenge the caufc of her country*-
men.

Some years ago ^ fiiiaU band of Canadian Indians,con«
fitting of ten warriors attended by two of their wivcs^
made an irruption into the back fcttlemcnts of New*
England. They lurked for fome time in the vicinity
of one themoft cxteripr towns, and at length, after
having killed and fcalped feveral people, found
means to take prifoner a woman who had with her
a fon of about twelve years of age. Being fatisficdwith
the execution they haid done, they retreated tov'?rds
their native country, which lay at three hundred
miles diftanccj and carried of with them their tw^
taptives.

li6

CARVER »« TRAVELS.

The fecond night of their retreat, the woman,
whofe name, if I miftake not, was Rowe, formed a
refolution worthy of the moft intrepid hero. She
thought (he fhould be able to get from her hands
the manacles by which they were confined, and de-
termined if (he did fo to make a defpcrate effort for
the recovery of her freedom. To this purpofe, when
Ihc concluded thit her conquerors were in their
foundcft fleep, (he ftrove to flip the cords from her
hands. In this fhe fucceeded ; and cautioning her fon,
whom they had fufFered to go unbound, in a whifpcr,
againft being furprifed at what flic was about to do,
ihe removed to a diftance with great warinefs the
dcfenfivc weapons of the Indians, which lay by their
fides. .

Having done this, flie put one of the tomahawks
into the hands of the boy, bidding him to follow her
example : and taking another herfelf, fell upon the
fleeping Indians, feveral of whom flie infhmtly dif-
patched. But her attempt was nearly fruftrated by
the imbecility of her fon, who wanting both ftrength
and refolution, made a feeble ftroke at one of them,
which only ferved to awaken him ; flie however
Sprung at the rifing warrior, and before he could re-
cover his arms, made him fink under the weight of
her tomahawk ; and this flie alternately did to all the
refl:, 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 fucccfs,
flie returned in triumph to the town from whence
flie had fo lately been dragged, to the great aft:onifli-
ment of her neighbours, who could fcarcely credit
their fenfes, or the tcftimonics flic bore of her Ama-
zonian intrepidity.

^ C A R V E R'» TRAVELS.

a'7

€t

During their march they oblige their prifoncrs to
fing their dcath-fong, which gtncrally confifts of
thefc or fimilar fentcnces: ** I am going to die, I
" am about to fufferi but I will bear the fcvcrcft

tortures rny enemies can inflidb, with becoming
' fortitude. I will die like a brave man, and I iliall

then go to join the chiefs that have fuffered on the
" fame account.'* Thefe fongs are continued with
neceflary intervals, until they reach the village or
camp to which they are going,

. When the warriors are arrived within hearing,
they fct up different cries, which communicates to "^
their friends a general hidory of the fuccefs of the
ejjpcdition. The number of the death-cries they
give, declarc-how many of their own party are loft ;
the number of war-whoops, the number of prifoners
they have taken.

It is difficult to defcribe thefe cries, but the bcft
ideal can convey of them is, that the fortner confifts ,
of the found Whoo, Whoo, Whoop, which i^
continued in a long (hrill tone, nearly till the breath
is exhaufted, and then broken oif with a fuddci\
elevation of the voice. The latter is a loud cry,
of much the fame kind, which is modulated into
notes by the hand being pla(;e4 before the mouth.
Both of them might be heard t^g a very confiderabl(j*'
dift^nce.

Whilft thefe are uttering, the perfons to whom
they are defigned to convey the inteiligence, con-
tinue motionlefs and all attention. When this ce-
remony is performed, the whole village iffue out ta
learn the particulars of the relation they have juft
heard in general terms, and according a» the news

2l8

C A R V E R's T R A V ELS.

prove mournful or the contrary, they anfwcr by Co
many acclamations or cries of lamentation.

Being by this time arrived at the village or camp,
the women and children arm themfelves with (licks
and I lu igfons, and form themfelves into two ranks,
througli v/hich the prifoners are obliged to pafs.
The treatment they undergo before they reach thtf
extremity of tlie line, is very fevere. Sometimes
they are fo beaten over the head and face, as to
have fcarcely any remains of life i and happy would
it be for them if by this ufagc an end was put to their
,wretched beings. ' But their tormentors take care
that none of the blows they give provt mortal, as
they wifh to referve the miferablc fuffcrers for more
fevere inflidlions.

After having undergone this introductory difci-
pline, they are bound hand and foot, whilft the
chiefs hold a council in which their fate is determined.
Thofc who are decreed to be put to death by the
ufual torments, are delivered to the chief of the
ivarriorsj fuch as arc to be fpared, are given into
the hands of the chief of the nation : fo that in a
fliort time all the prifoners may be affured of their
fate, as the fentence now pronounced is irrevocable.
The former they term being configned to the houfe
of death, the latter to the houfe of grace.

Such captives as are pretty far advanced in life,
and have acquired great honor by their warlike
deeds, always atone for the blood they have fpilt,
by the tortures of fire. Their fuccefs in war is rea-
dily known by the blue inarks upon their breads and
arms, which are as legible to the Indians as letters
are to EuRopcans.

The manner in- which thefe hieroglyphics are
made, is by breaking the fkin with the teeth of fi(h,

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

•«f

are
ffiOi,

or (harpened flints, clipped in a kind of ink made of
the loot of pitch pine. Like thofc of the ancient
Pidts of Britain thefc are cllcemed ornamental ; and
at the fame time they ferve as regillers of the heroic
anions of the warrior, who thus bears about him
indelible marks of his valor.

* The prifoners deftincd to death arc foon led to
the place gf execution, which is generally in the
centre of the camp or village; where, being ftript,
and every part of their bodies blackened, the fkin
of a crow or raven is fixed on their heads. They
are then bound to a ftake, with faggots heaped
around them, and obliged, for the laft time, to fmg
their death-fong.

The warriors, for fuch it ii only who commonly
fufFer this punifliment, now per brm in a more pro-
lix manner this fad folemnity. They Recount with
an audible voice all the brave adllons they have per-
formed, and pride themfclvesin the number of ene-
mies they have killed. In this rehearfai.they fpare
not even their tormentors, but drive by every pro-
voking tale they can invent, to irritate and infult
them. Sometimes this has the defired effe(ft, and
the fufFercrs are difpatched fooner than they other-
wife would have been, . '

There are many other methods which the Indians
make ufc of to put their prifoners to death, but thefe
are only occafionalj that of burning is moft gen,e-
i:ally ufed.

Whilft I was at the chief town of the Ottagau-
niies, an Illinois Indian was brought in, who had
been made prifoner by one of their war-parties. I
had then au opportunity of feeing the cuftomary
cruelties infiidicd by thefe people on their captivesj^

iZ2l)

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

through the minuteft part of their procefs. After
the previous fteps nccefiary to this condemnation,
he was carried, early in the Homing, to a little
diilrincc from the town, where he was bound to a
tree.

This being done, all the boys, who amounted
to a great number, as the place was populous, were
permitted to amufe themfelves with (hooting their
arrows at the unhappy viftim. As there were none
of them more than twelve years old, and were
placed at a confidcrable diftance, they had not
Ibength to penetrate to the vital parts, fo that the
poor Wretch ftood pierced with arrows, and fufFer-
ing the confequent agonies, for more than two days.

During this time fie fung his warlike exploits.
He recapitulated every ftratagem he had made ufe
of to furprifc his enemies: he bonded of the quan-
tity of fcalps he polTeifed, and enumerated the pri-
soners he had taken. He then defcribed the different
barbarous methods by which he had put the latter
to death, and fcemed even then to receive incon-
ceivable pleafure from the recital of the horrid
tale.

But he dwelt more particularly on the cruelties he
Jiad pradtifed on fuch of the kindred ot his prefent
tormentors, as had fallen into his hands; endeavour-
ing by thcfe aggravated infults to induce them to
incrcafe his tortures, that he might be able to give
greater proofs of fortitude. Even in the laft drug-
gles of life, when he was no longer able to vent in
v/ords the indignant provocation his tongue would
have uttered, a fmile of mingled fcorn and triumph
fat on his countenance,

C A R V R R's TRAVELS.

221

This method of tormenting their enemies is con-
fidcred by the Indians as produdtive of more than
one beneficial confequence. It fatiates, in a greater
degree, that diabolical luit of revenge, which 'S
the predominant paflion in the bread of cvp:/ in-
dividual of every tribe, and it • gives the growing
warriors an early propenficy to that cruelty and
thirft for blood, which is fo neceflary a qualification
for fuch as would be thoroughly (killed in their fa-
vage art of war.

I have been informed, that an Indian who was
under the hands of his tormentors, had the audacity
to tell them, that they were ignorant old women,
and did not know how to put brave prifoners to
death. He acquainted them that he had heretofore
taken fomc of their warriors, and inftead of the tri-
vial punilhments they infiided on him, he had de-
vifed for them the moft excruciating torments j that
having bound them to a ftake, he had ftuck their
bodies full of Iharp fplinters of turpefltinc wood, to
which he then fet fire, and dancing around them
enjoyed the agonizing pangs of the flaming vi6bim.

This bravado, which carried with it a degree of
infult, that even the accuftomed ear of an Indian
couldnot liften to unmoveu, threw his tormentors
off their guard, and fhortened the duration of his
torments i for one of the chiefs ran to him, and rip-
ping out his l>eart, (topped with it the mouth from
which had iflfued fuch provoking language.

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 adverfarics. Many
that I have heard are fo aftonilhing, that they feem
to exceed the iitmo(t limits of credibility j it is,
however, certain that thefe favages are pofftffcd with

■•K

tzz

CARVE R»3 TRAVELS.

jnany heroic qualities, and bare every fpecies of
misfortune with a degree of fortitude which has not
been outdone by any of the ancient heroes cither of
Greece or of Rom^.

Notwithftanding thefe afts of feverity exercifed
by the Indians towards thofe of their own fpecies,
who fall into their hands, fome tribes of them have
been remarked for their moderation to fuch female
prifoners, belonging to the Englifli colonies as have
happened to be taken by them. Womtn of great
beauty have frequently been carried offby them, and
, during a march of three or four hundred miles, thro'
their retired forcfts, have lain by their fideis without
receiving any infult, and tl?eir chaftity has remained
inviolate. Inftat^ces have happened where fem. \c
.captives, who have been pregnant at the time cf
.their being taken, have found the pangs of child-
birth come upon them in the midft of folitary woods,
and favages their only companions j yet from thefe,
favages as they were, have they received every af-
fiftance their fituation would admit of, and been
treated with a degree of delicacy ajid humanity they
little expeded.

This forbearance, it mufi: be acknowledged, does
not proceed altogether from their difpofition, but is
only inherent in thofe who have held fome commu-»
ni^cation with the French miffionaries. Without in^
tending that their natural enemies, the Englifh, fhould
enjoy the benefit of their labours, thefe fathers 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 ha?
proved of public utility.

Thofe prifoners that are configned to the houfe of
grc^ce, and thefe are commonly the young men, wQ-»

C A R V E R*s T R A V E L S.

»2J

men, and children, await the difpofal of the chiefs,
who, after the execution of fuch as arc condemned
to die, hold a council for this purpofc.

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
v/hich is about to take place. Thofe women who
have loft their fcjns or hufbands, are generally latis-
fied in the fiift place j after thefc, fuch as have been
deprived of friends of a more remote degree of con-
fan^jini:y, or who choofe to adopt fomc of the
youth.

The divifion being made, which is done, as in
other cafes, without the leaft difpute, thofe who have
received any fharc, lead them to their tents or huts j
and having unbound them, walh and drefs their'
wounds if they happen to have received any j they
then clothe them, and give them the moft comfor-
table and refrefhing food their ftorc \^iil afford.

Whilft their new domeftics are feeding, they en-
deavour to adminifter confolation to them ; they tell
them that as they are redeemed from death, they
muft now be cheerful and happy y and if they fcrve
them well, without murmuring or repining, nothing
Ihall be wanting to make them fuch atonement for
the lofs of their country and friends as circumftanccs
will allow of.

If any men are fpared, they are commonly given
to the widows that have loft their huft^ands by the
hand of the enemy, ftiould there be any fuch, to
whom, if they happen to prove agreeable, they are
foon married. But fliould the dame be otherwife
engaged, the life of him who falls to her lot i^ in
great danger; efpeciajly if fiie fancies that her late

224

C A R V.E R's TRAVEL S.

hufb^nd wants a flave in the country of fpirits, to
which he is gone.

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 by the council, they confidcr him of too little
confequence to be entitled to the torments allotted
to thofe who have beenjudged worthy of them.

The women are ufually diftributed to the men,
from whom they do not fail of meeting with a fa-
vourable reception. The boys and girls are taken
into the families of fuch as have need of them, and
are confidered as flaves -, and it is not uncommon
th.it they are fold in the fame capacity to the Euro-
pean traders who come among them.

The Indians have no idea of moderating the rava-
ges of war, by fparing their prifoners, and entering
into a negociation with the band from whom they
have been taken, for an exchange. All that are
captivated by both parties, are either put to death,
adopted, or made flaves of. And fo particular arc
every nation in this refpe<5t, 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 ihould 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
in any one inftance from the children of the nation
to which they now belong. They aflume all the
rights of thole whofe places they fupply, and fre-
quently make no difficulty of going in the war-par-
ties againfl their own countrymen. Should, how-
ever, any of thefe by chance muke their efcape,

CARVER' 3 TRAVELS.

lis

aad be afterwards retaken, they arc cftecmcd as
unnatural children and ungrateful perfons, who have
defcrted and made war upon their parents and bene-
fadlors, and are treated with uncommon feverity.

That part of the prifoners which are confidered ai
flaves, are generally diftributed among the cliiefs i
who frequently make prefents of fome of them to
the European governors of the out-pofts, or to the
fuperintendants or commiffaries of Indian affairs. I
havebeen informed thatit was the jefu its and French
miflionaries that firft occafioned the introdudtion of
thefe unhappy captives into the fettlements, and who
by fo doing taught the Indians that they vi^erc va-
luable.

Their views indeed were laudable, as they ima-
gined that by this method they ihouldnot only pre-
vent much barbarity and bloodfhed, but find th^
opportunities of fpreading their religion among them
increafed. To this purpofe they encouraged the
traders to purchafe fuch flaves as they met with.

The good efFeds of this mode of proceeding were
not however equal to the expeftations of thefe pioui
fathers. Inftead oi' being the means of preventing
cruelty and bloodfhed, it only caufed the difTentions
between the Indian nations to be carried on* with a
greater degree of violence, and with unremitted ar-
dor. The prize they fought forbeingnolonger revenge
or fame, but the acquirement of fpirituous liquors,for
which their captives were to be exchanged, and of
which almofl every nation is immoderately forid>
they fought for their enemies with unwonted alacrity,
and were conflantly on the watck to furprife and
carry them off.

' F.' ■

zzS

CARVER'S TRAVEL&

It might ftill be faid that fewer of the captives are
tormented and put to death, fince thcfc expectations
of receiving fo valuable a confideration for them
have been excited than there ufualiy had been } but
it does not appear that there accumftomed cruelty
to the warriors they take, is in the lead abated j their
natural defire of vengeance muft be gratified j they
now only become more affiduous in fccuring a
greater number of young prifonersi whilft thofewho
are made captive in their defence, arc tormented
and put to death as before.

The miffionaries finding, that contrary to their
wifhes, their zeal had only fcrved to increafe the fale
of the noxious juices, applied to the governor of Ca-
nada, in the year 1693, for a prohibition of this
b^eful trade. An order was iffued accordingly,
but it could not put a total flop to it ; the French
Gouriefs de Bois were hardy enough to carry it on
clandeftinely notwithftanding the penalty annexed
to a breach of the prohibition was a cohfiderabic fine
and imprironmeht.

Some who were dctedtcd in the profecution of
it, withdrew into the Indian countries, where they
intermarried with the natives, and underwent a vo-
luntary banilhment. Thefc however, being an aban-
doned and debauched fet, their conduct contributed
very little either towards reforming the manners of
their new relations, or engaging them to entertain a
favourable opinion of the religion they profeffed*
Thus did thefe indefatigable, religious men, fee
their defigns in fome mcafure once more fruftrated.

However^ the emigration was productive of an
cffedt which turned out to be beneficial to their na-
tion. By the connexion of thefe refugees with the
Iroquois, Mifljffiiages, Hurons, Miamies, Powto*

an
na*
the
■^to«

C A R V E R»s TRAVELS.

227

wottomics, Puants, Mcnomonics, Algonkins, &c.
and the conftant rcprcfcntations thcfc various na-
tions received from them of the power and grandeur
of the French, to the aggrandiferaent of whofc
monarch, notwithllanding their banifhment, they
ftill retained their habitual inclination, the Indians
became infenfibly prejudiced in favor of that peo-
ple, and I am perfuadcd will take every opportunity
of Ihcwing their attachment to them.

And this even in defpite of the difgracefui cfti-
mation they muft be held by them, (ince they have
been driven out of Canada -, for the Indians confider
every conquered people as in a (late of. vaflalage to
their conquerors . After one nation has finally fub-
dued another, and a conditional fubmiHion is agreed
on, it is cuftomary for the chiefs of the conquered,
when they fit in council with their fubduers, to
wear petticoats, as an acknowledgment that they ajre
in a ftate of fubjcdion, and ought to be ranked
among the women. Their partiality to the French
has however taken too deep root for time itfelf to
eradicate it.

998

CARVE g's TRAVELS,

p H A P T E R X.

Pf their Manner of making Peace, (f?i.

JL he wars that are carried on between the
Indian natibijs are in general hereditary, and con-
tinue from age to age with a few interruptions. If
a peace becomes neceflary, the principal care of both
parties is to avoid the appearance of making thefirft
advances.

When they treat with an enemy, relative to a
fufpenfion of hoftilities, the chief who is commiffion-
cd to undertake the ncgociation, if itis not broi'^ht
about by the mediation of fome neighbouring band,
abates, nothing of his natural haughtinefs : even
when the affairs of his country are in the worft fitu-
ation, he makes no concefTions, but endeavours to
perfuade his adverfarics that it is their intereft to put
ian end to the war.

Accidents fomctimes contribute to bring about a
peace between nations that othcrwifc could not be
prevailed on to liften to terms of accommodation.
An inftance of this, which I heard of in almoft every
haticn I palfed through, I fhall relate.

CARVE R's TRAVELS.

229

About eighty years ago,the Iroquois and Chipeways,
two powert'ul nations, were at war with the Otta-
gaumies and Saukies, who were much inferior to
their adverfaries both in numbers and ftrength. One
winter near a thoufand of the former made an excur-
fion from Lake Ontario, by way of Toronto, to-
wards the territories of their enemies. They coaft-
ed Lake Huron on its eaft and northern borders, till
they arrived at the ifland of St. Jofeph, which is (itu-
ated in the Straits of St. Marie. There they crofled
thcfe Straits upon the ice, about fifteen miles below
the falls, and continued their route ftill weftward.
Af the ground was covered with fnow, to prevent a
difcoveryof their numbers, they marched in a fingle
file, treading in each others foofteps.

Four Chipeway Indians, pafling that way, obferv-
f d this army, and readily gueffcd from the direftion
of their march, and the precautions they took, both
the country to which they were haftening, and their
defiojns.

Notwithftanding the nation to which they belong-
ed was at war with the Ottagaumies, and in alliance
with their invaders, yet from a principle which can-
not be accounted for, they took an inftant refolu-
tion to apprifc the former of the danger. To this
purpofe they haftened away with their ufual celerity,
and, taking a circuit to avoid difcovery, arrived ar
the hunting grounds of the Ottagaumies, before io
large a body, moving in fo cautious a manner, could
do. There they found a party of about four hun-
dred warriors, fome of which were Saukies, whom
they informed of the approach of their enemies.

The chiefs immediately collcded their whole
force, and held a council on the fteps that were to be
jtaken for their defence. As thev were encumbered

230

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

with their families, it was impoflible that they could
retreat in time ; they therefore determined tochoofe
the moft advantageous fpoi, and to give the Iroquois
the bell 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 that the Iroquois intended to pafs through
this defile, the united bands divided their little party
into two bodies of two hundred each. Oneofthefe
took pod at the extremity of the pafs that lay neareft
to their hunting grounds, which they immediately
fortified with a brcaft-work formed of palifades i
whilit 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 llratagem fucceeded i for no fooiicr had the
whole of the Iroquois entered the pafs, than, being
provided with wood for the purpofe, they formed a
limilar breafl-work on the other extremity, and thus
cnclofed their enemies.

The Iroquois foon perceived their fituation, and
immediately held a council on the meafures that were
necelTary to be purfucd to extricate themfclves.
Unluckily for them a thaw had jufl taken place,
which had fo far dilTolved the ice as to render it im-
paiTable, and yet there ftill remained fufficient to pre-
vent them from either pafTmg ovei the4akes on rafts,
or from fwimming acrofs. In tliii^ dilemma it was
agreed that they ihould endeavour to force one of
the breaft- works i but they foon found them too well
defeiidcd to aiFedl their purpofe.

CARVE R's TRAVELS.

231

Notwithibanding this dirappoinrment, with the
ufual compofurc and unapprehenfivenefs of Indians,
they amufed thcmfclvcs three or four days in
fifhing. By this time the ice being quite dif-
folved, they made thcmfelves rafts, which they
were enabled to do by fome trees that fortunately
grew on the fpot, and attempted to crofs one of the
lakes.

They accordingly fet off before day-break but the
Ottagaumies, who had been watchful of their mo-
tions, perceiving their defign, detached one hun-
dred and fifty men from each of their parties, to op-
pofe their landing. Thcfe three hundred marched
fo cxpeditioufly to the other fide of the lake,
that they reached it before their opponents had
gained the Ihore, they being retarded by their poles
llicking in the mud.

As f«on as the confederates arrived, they poured
in a very heavy fire, both from their bows and
mufquetry, on the Iroquois, which greatly difcon-
certed them ; till the latter finding their fituation
defpcrate, leaped into the water, and fought their
way through their enemies. This however they
could not do without lofing more than half their
men.

After the Iroquois had landed, they made good
their retreat, but were obliged to leave their ene-
mies mafters of the field, and in poflfeffion of all the
furs they had taken during their winter's hunt.
Thus dearly did they pay for an unprovoked cx-
curfion to fuch a diftance from the route they ought
to have purfued, and to which they were only im-
pelled by a fuddcn defirc of cutting off fome of their
ancient enemies.

«3»

CARVE R's TRAVELS.

But had they known their ftrcngth, they might
have dcftroycd every man of the party thatoppofed
them J which even at the firft onfct was only incon^
fiderable, and, when diminilhcd by the a6Hon, to-
tally, unable to make any (land againft them.

The viftorious bands rewarded the Chi{*ways,
who had been the means of their fuccefs, with a
Ihare of the fpoils. They preffcd them to take any
quantity they chofe of the richeft of the furs, and
fent them under an efcort of fifty, men, to their own
country. The difinterefted Chipeways, as the In-
dians in general arc fcldom a<5tuated by merrmary
motives, for a confiderable time refufcd ihefe pre-
fcnts, but were at length pcrfuaded ro except of
them.

»r

The brave and well concerted refiftancc here
made by the Ottagaumies and Saukies, aided by the
mediation of the Chipeways, who laying afide on
this occafion the animofity they had fo long borne
thofe people, approved of the generous condu(^ of
their four chiefs, were together the means of effedb-
ing a reconciliation between thefe nations i and in
procefs of time united them all in the bands of amity.

And 1 believe that all the Indians inhabiting that
cxtenfive country which lies between Quebec, the
banks of the MiffiflTippi north of the Ouifconfin, and
the fettlements belonging to the Hudfon*s Bay com-
pany, are at prefent in a ftate of profotmd peace.
When their reftlefs difpofitions will not fufFer them
to remain inadivc, thefe northern Indians feldom
commit hoftilities on each other, but make excurfi-
ons to the fouthward, againft the Chcrokccs, Chee-
tahs, Chickfaws, or Illinois,

CARVE R»j TRAVELS.

*2I

and

Sometimes the Indians grow tired of a war which
they have carried on againlt fome neighbouring na-
tion for many years with much fuccefs, and in this
cafe they feek for mediators to begin a negociation,
Thefe being obtained, the treaty is thus conducted :

A number of iheir own chiefs, joined by thofc
who have accepted the friendly office, fet out toge-
ther for the country of their enemies j fuch as are
chofen for this purpofc, are chiefs of the moft cx-
tenfive abilities, and of the greatcft integrity. They
bear before them the Pipe of Peace^ which I need
not inform my readers is of the fame nature as a Flag
of Truce among the Europeans, and is treated with
the greateft refpcd and veneration, even by the moft
barbarous nations. I never heard of an inftance
wherein the bearers of this facr^d bridge of friendlhip
, were ever treated difrefpeftfully, or its rights violat-
ed. The Indians believe that the Great Spirit ne-
ver fuffers an infradion of this kind to go unpu<
niihed.

' The Pipe of Peace which is termed by the French
the Calumet, for what rcafon I could never learuf
is about four feet long. The bowl . of it is made of
red marble, and the ftem of it of a light wood,
curioufly painted with hieroglyphics in various co-
lours, and adorned with feathers, of the moft beau-
tiful birds i but it is not in my power to convey an
idea of the various tints and plcafing ornaments of
this much eftecmed Indian implement/

Every nation has a different method of decorating
thefe pipes, and they can tell at firft fight to whac
band it belongs. Ic is ufed as an introduflion to all
treaties, and great ceremony attends. the ufc ofic on
thefe oc^afions.

*«

C A R V E R's TRAVELS.

The alTiftant or aid-du-camp of the great warridf,
when the chiefs arc afiemblcd and featcd) fills ic
with tobacco mixed with the herbs before m*^ntioried>
taking care at the fame time that no part of it touches
the ground. When it is filled, he takes a coll
that is thoroughly kindled, from a fire which is ge-
nerally kept burning in the midft of the affembly,
and places it on the tobacco.

Aii foon as it is fufficiently lighted, he throws ofF
the coal. He then turns the ftem of it towards the
heaven*, after this towards the earth, and now hold-
ing it horizontally, moves himfelf round till he has
completed a circle 5 by the firft aftioh he is fuppofed
to prcfent it to the Great Spirit, whofe aid is thereby
funnlirsted; by the fecond, to avert any malicious
interpofition of the evil fpiritSi and by tht tliird to
gain the proteftion of the fpirits inhabiting the air,
the earth, and the waters. Having thus fecured
the favor of thbfe invifiblc agents, in whoic power
they fuppofe it is either to forward or obftrudt the
iffue of their prefent deliberations, he prefents it to
the hereditary chief, who having taken two or three
whifFs, blows the fmoke from his mouth firft towards
heaven, and then around him Upon thegrotHnd.

It is afterwards put in the fame manner into the
mouths of the ambafladors or ftrangers. Who obferve
the fame ceremony, then to the chief of the warri-
ors, and to ail the ether chiefs in turn, according to
their gradation. During this time the pcrfon who
executes this honorable office holds the pipe (lightly
in his hand, as if he feared to prefs the facrcd in-
ftrument; nor docs any one prefume to touch it but
with his lips.

When the chiefs who arc intrufted with the com-
miffion for making peace, approached the town or

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

a^5

camp to which they arc going, tlicy begin to fing
and dance the fongs and danccu appropriaie i to this
occafion. By this time the adverlc party arc apprifed
of their arrival, and, at the fight of the Pipe of
Peace, divcfting thcmfelves of their wonted enmity
invite them to the habitpiiun of the Great Chief,
and furnifh them with every conv^nicncy during the
negociation.

A council is then held; and when the fpeeches
and debates are ended, if no obftruftions arife to
put a ftop to the treaty, the painted hatchet is buried
m the ground, as a memorial chat all animofities
between the contending nations have ceafed, and a
peace taken place. Among the ruder bands, fuch
as have no communication with the Europeans, a
war-club, painted red, is buried, initead of the
hatchet.

A belt of wampum is alfo given on this occafior,
which fcfves as a ratification of the peace, and re-
cords to the htell poiterity, by the hieroglyphics
into which the beads are iormed, every ftipuiated
article in the treaty.

Thefe belts are made of (hells found on the coafts
of New-England and Virginia, which are fawed out
into beads of an obiong fcrm, about a quarter of an
inch long, and round like other bei^Is. Being ftrung
on leather Itrings, and feveral ot them fevved neatly
together with fine fmewy threads, they then compoli:
what is termed a belt of Wampum^

The (hells are generally of two colours, fome
white and others viokt; but the latter arc more
highly efleemed than the former. They are held
in as much ellimadonby the Indians, as gold, filver^w
QT precious ilgn^s^ are by the Euiopcans^

256

C A R V E R's T R A V E X. S.

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 ot the
perfon to whom it is p Rented. Oh more trifling
pccafions, firings of thelii beads arc prefented by the
chiefs to each other, and frequently worn by them
abqpt their necks, as a valuable ornamcnc.

CARVER'a TRAVEI^S.

*|7

C H A P T E R XI.

Of their Games,

S I have before obferved, the Indians are
greatly addifted to gaming, and will even flake^
and lofe with compofiire, all the valuables they are
poflefled of. They amufe themfelves at fevcral
forts of games, but tht principal and moft efteemed
among them is that of the ball, which is not unlike
the European game of tennis.

The balls they ufe are rather larger than thofc
made ufe of at tennis, "and are formed of a piece of
deer- (kin; which being moiftcned to render it fup-
plc, is ilufFed hard with the hair of the fame crea-
ture, aod fewed with its r'ncws. The ball-fticks
are about three feet long, at the end of which there
is fixed a kind of racket, refcmblin^ the palm of the
hand, and fafhioncd of thongs cut from a 4€;er-fkin.
In thefe they catch the ball, and throw it to a great
diftance, if they are not prevented by fome of the
oppofite party, who fly to intercept it.

This game is generally played by large compa-
nies, that fomctimes confift of more than three hun-
dred i and it is not uncommon for different bands to
play againft each other,

t38

CARVE R's TRAVELS.

W *

They bcgii by fixing two poles in the ground at
about fix hundred yards apart, and one of thefc
goals belong to each party of the combatants. The
ball is thrown up high in the centre' of the ground>
and in a dired line between the goals j towards which
each party endeavours to fl:rikc it, and whichfoevcr
fide firft caufes it to reach their own goal, reckons
towards the game.

They are fo exceeding dextrous in this manly ex-
ercife, that the ball is ufually kept flying in different
direftions by the force of the rackets, without touch-
ing the ground during thci whole contention i for
they are not allowed to catch it with their hands.
They run with amazing velocity in pWfuit of each
other, and wfien one is on the point of hurling it to
4 great diftance^ an antagonift overtakes him, and
by 4 fudden ftroke daihes down the ball.

They play with fo much vehemence' that they
frequently wound each other, and fometimes a bone
is broken j but notwithftanding thefe accidents there
never appears to be any fpite or wanton exertions of
ftrcngth to efFed them, noc do any difpytes ever
happen between the parties.

There is another game alio in ufe among them
t7orthy 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 pcach-ftonc either in fize orlhape, except
they are quadrangular; two of the fides of which are
coloured black, and the others white. Thefe they
throw up into the air, from whence they f:ill into a
bowl or platter placed under-neath, and macu^ to
fpin round.

According as thefe bones prcfcnt the white or
black fide upwards ^hey reckon the game> he that

them
Bowl

C A R V E R 's T R A V E L S.

happens to have the greatcft number turn up of a
fimilar colour, counts five points; and forty is the
game. ^

The winning party keeps his place, and the lofer*
yields his to another who is appointed by one of the
umpires; for a whole village is fometimes concerned
in the party, and at times one band plays againd:
another.

During this play the Indians appear to be greatly
agitated, and at every decifive throw fetup a hideous
ihout. They make a thoufand contortions^ addref-
fmg themfciyes at the fame time to the bones, and
loading with imprecations the evil fpirits that aflifl:
their fuccefsful antagonifts.

At this game fome will lofe their apparel, al! the
xftov^ables of their cabins, and fometimes even their
liberty; notwithftanding there arc no people in the
uni^erfe more jealous of jix Utter than the Indians
ace.

except
ch ar<?
: they
nto a
lae to

ute or
that

«l^

CA 5 Y E R's T R A V^ E LS.

CHAPTER XIL

Of their Marriage Ceremonies y i£c.

JL H E Indians allow of polygamy, and per-
fons of every rank indulge themfelves in this point.
The chiefs in particular have a feraglio, which con-
fifts of an uncertain number, ufually from fix .to
twelve or fourteen. The lower ranks are permitted
to take as many as there is a probability of their being
able, with the children they may bear, to maintain.
It is not uncommon for an Indian to marry two fif-
tersi fomecimes, if there happen to be more, the
whole number i and notwithftanding this (asitappears
to civilized nations) unnatural union, they all live in
the greateft harmony. '^

The younger wives are fubmiflive to the 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 injundion with the
greateft cheerfulnefs, in hopes of gaining thereby the
affedlion of their hufband, that they in their turns
may have the happinefs of becoming mothers, and
be entitled to the rcfpcd attendant on that ftate.

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

It is not uncommon for an Indian, although he
takes to himfelf fo many wives, to live in a ftate of
continence with many of them for fcveral years.
Such as are not fo fortunate as to gain the favor of
their huiband, by their fubmiflive and prudent be-
haviour, and by that means to fliarc in his embrace^
continue in their vir[Mn ftate during the whole of
their lives, except they happen to be prefented by
him to fome ftrahger Chief, whofe abode among them
will not admit of his entering into a morelafting
connexion. In this cafe they fubmit to the injunc*
tion of their hufband without murmuring, and are
not difpleafed at the temporary union. But if at
any time it is known that they take this liberty with-
out firft receiving his confent, they are punifhed
in the fame manner as if they had been guilty of
adultery.

This cuftom is more prevalent among the nations
which lie into the interior parts, than among thofe
that are nearer the fcttlemcnts, as the manners of the
latter are rendered more conformable in fome points
to thofe of the Europeans^ by the intercourfc they
hold with them*

The Indian nations differ but little from each other
in their marriage ceremonies, and 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 inclinations
en one of the other fex, he endeavours to gain her
confent, and if he fucceeds, it is never known that
her parents ever obftrudt their union. When evcrf
preliminary is agreed on, and the day appointed,
the friends and acquaintance of both parties aflemble
at the houfe or ten: of the oldeft relation pf the

*4*

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

bridegroom, where a fcaft is prepared on the oc*
cafion*

The company who meet to affift at the fcftival
are fomctimcs very numerous; they dance, they
fmg, and enter into cv^ery other diverhon ufually
made ufe of on any of their public rejoicings.

When thefc are finifhed, all thofe who attended
merely out of ceremc y dr -t, and the bridegroom
and bride are left aloike with three or four of the
neareft and oldeft relati >n:i a' either fide; thofe of
the bridegroom being men, anj hofc of the bridc>
Women. ^

Prefently the bride, attended by thefe few friends,
having withdrawn herfclf for the purpofe, appears
at one of tnc doors of the houfe, and is led to the
bridgroom, who ftands ready to receive her. Plav-
ing now taken their ftation, on a mat placed in the
centre of the room, they lay hold of the extremities
of a wand, about four feet long, by which they con-
tinue feparated, whilft the old men pronounce
fome fhort harangues fuitablc to the occafion.

The married couple after this make a public de»
claration of the love and regard they entertain for
each other, and ftill holding the rod between them,
dance and fing. When they have finilhed this part
of the ceremony, they break the rod into as many
pieces as there are witneffcs prefent, who each take
a piece, and preferve it with great care*

* The bride is then recondiifted out of the door at
which Ihe 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
is confummated. very often the wife remains at

CARVE R»s TRAVELS,

*43

her father's houfc till fhc has a child, when (he packs
up her apparel, which is all the fortune ihe is genct
rally pollened of, and accompanies her hulband to
his habitation.

When from any diflikc a feparation takes place^
for they arc fcldom known to quarrel, they gene-
rally give their friends a few days notice of their in-
tentions, and fometimes offer reafons to juftify their
condu6t. The witnculr who were prcfent at the
marriage, 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 received
»t their nuptials, throw them into the fire, in the
prcfencc of all the parties,

This is the whole of the ceremony required, and
the feparation is carried on without any murmur-
ings or ill-will between the couple or their relations;,
and after a few months they arc a.% liberty to marry
again.

When a marriage is thus. dilTolved, the children
which have been produced from it, are equally' di-.
vided between them J and as children are efteeme4
a trcafure by the Indians, if the number happens to
be odd, the wom^n is allowed to take the better
half.

Though this cuftom fcems to encourage fickle-,
nefs and frequent feparations, yet there are many
of the Indians who have but one wife, and enjoy
with her a fta;c of connubial happinefs not to b^
exceeded in more refined focieties^ There are alf<]^
not a few inftances of women preferving an inviola-.
ble attachment to their h^lbands^ except in the cafes
beforementioncd, which are not confidcreci as either:
5^ yioUtionof their Qhaftityor fidelityt

»44

C A R V E R's TRAVELS.

Although I have faid that the Indian naiions diffci'
vcrv iittlc from each other in their niarria2;c ceremo-
there are fome exceptions. Tiic Naudoweflies

nies,

have a Angular method of celebrating their marri-
ages, which fcems to bear no rcfcmblance to thofc
made ufe of by any other nation I paffed through.
When one of their young men has fixed en a young
woman he approves of, he difcovcrs his paiTion to
her parents, who give him an invitation to come 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,
and brings all the game he kills to the family j by
which means the father has an opportunity of feeing
whether he is able to provide for the fupport of his
daughter and the children that might be the confe-
querhce of their union. This however is only done
whilft they are young men, and for their firft wife,
^nd not repeated like Jacob's fcrvitudes.

When this period is expired, the marriage is fo-
lemnized after the cuftomof the sountry, in the fol-
lowing manner : Three or four of the oldeft male
relations of the bridegroom, and as many of the
bride's, accompany the young couple from their ref-
pedive tents, to an open part i^ the centre of the
camp.

The chiefs and warriors, being here aflTembled to
receive them, a party of the latter are drawn up into
two ranks on each fide of the bride and bridegroom
immediately on their arrival. Their principal
chiefs then acquaints the whole affembly with the
defiga of their qieeting, and tells them that the
couple before them, mentioning at the fame time
^heir names, are come to avow publicly their iH«

CARVE R'« TRAVELS.

245

tendons of living together as man and vtu \ He
then afks the two young people alternately, whe-
ther they dcfire that the union might take place.
Having declared with an audible voice that they do
fo, the warriors fix their arrows, and difcharge them
over the heads of the married pair; this done, the
chief pronounces them man and wife.

The bridegroom then turns round, and bending
his body, takes his wife on hisback, in which man-
ner he carries her amidft the acclamations of the
fpeftators to his tent. The ceremony is fucccedcd by
the moll plentiful fcaft the new married man can
afford, and fongs and dances, according to the ufual
pujlom, conclude the fcftival.

Divorces happen fo feldom among the Naiidowef-
iies, that I had not an opportunity of learning how
ichey are accomplilhed.

Adultery is efteemed by them a heinous crime, and
punifhcd with the greatcft rigor. The hulband in
thefe cafes bites ofFthe wife's nofe, and a feparatifen
inftantly enfucs. I faw an inftance wherein this mode
of punilhment was inflifled, whilft I remained among
them. The children, when this happens, are diftri-
buted according to the ufual cuftom obferved by
pthtr nations, that is, they are equally divided.

Among the Indian as well as European nations,
^here are many thatde vote thcmfelves to pleafure, and
notwithftanding the accounts given by fome modern
writers of the frigidity of an Indian conftitution, be-
come the zealous votaries of Venus. The young
warriors that arc thus difpofed, feldom want oppor-
tunities for gratifying their paffion j and as the mode
ufualy followed on thefe oc^afions is rather Angular,
} ihalldefcribe it.

4^ CARVER'S TRAVELS.

When one of thtfe young debauchees imagine^
from the behaviour of the pcrfon he has chofen for
his miftrefs, that he fliall not meet with any great
obftruftion to his fyit from her, he purfucs the fol-
lowing plan.

It has been already obferveJ, that the Indiani
acknowledge no fuperiority, nor have they any ideas
of fubordination, except in the necelTary regulations
ofthciiwaror hunting parties; they confequently
\ive nearly in a ftatc ofcqualiry, purfuant to the firft;
principles of nature. The lover therefore is not ap-
prehenfive of any check or control in the accom-
plilhment of his purpofes, if he can find a convcni*
cnt opportunity for completing them.

As the Indians are alfo under no apprehenfion of
robbers, or fecret enemies, they leave the doors of
their tents or huts unfaflened during the night, as
■well as in the day. Two or three hours after furifet,
the flaves or old people cover over the fire, that is
generally burning in the midft of their apartment,
"with a£hes, and retire to their repofe.

Whilfl; darknefs thus prevails, and all b quiet,^
©ne of thefe fons of pleafure, wrapped up clofely in
his blanket, to pre vent his being kaown, will fome-
timcs enter the apartment of his intended miftrefs..
Haying firft, lighted at the fmothered fire a fmall
fplinter of wood, which anfwers the purpofc of a
match, he approaches the place where ftie repofcs,
and gently pulling away the covering froni the head,^
logs her till ftie awakes. If Ihe then rifes up, an4
blows out the light, he needs no further confirma-
tion that his company is not difagpeeable j but if,
after he has difcovered himfelf, flie hides her head>
and takes no notice of him^ h^ flight ?cft aflur^di

C A R V £ R't TRAVELS.

and^
ma-

It if,,
ead,.

that any further folicitations will prove vain, and
chit it is nccciTary immediately for him to retire.

During his Hay he conceals the light as much a^
poflTible in the huUow of his hands, and as the tents
or rooms of the Indians are ufually large and capaci-
ous, he efcapes without detection. It is faid that the
young women who admit their lovers on thefe occa>
(ions, take great care, by an immediate application
to herbs, with the potent efficacy of which they are
well acquainted, to prevent the effcdts of thefe illicit
amours from becoming vifible j for fhould the natu-
ral confcquences enfue, they muft for ever remain

unmarried.

■ t

The children of the Indians are always diftin-
guilhed by the name of the mother : and if a woman
marries feveral hulbands, and has iffue by each of
them, they are all called after her. The rcafon they
give for this is, that as their offspring are indebted
to the father for their fouls, the invifible part of
their effence, and to the mother for their corporeal
and apparent part, it is more rational that they
fhould be diftinguilhed 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 juflly entitled.

There arj fome ceremonies made lift of by the
Indians at the impofition of the name, and it is con-
fidcred by them as a matter of great importance j
but what thefe are I could never learn, through the
fecrecy obferved on the occafion* I only know that
it is ufually given when the children have paffed the
Hate of infancyi

Nothing can exceed the tenderncfs fhewn by them
to their offspring ; and a perfon cannot recommend

f4«

C A R V E R*s TRAVELS.

himfelf to their favour by any method more ccrtalri>
than by paying fome attention to the younger bran-
ches of their families. I can impute, in fome mea-
fure, to the prefents I made to the children of the
chiefs of the Naudowtflies, the hofpitable reception
I met with when among them*

There is fome difficulty attends an explanation of
the manner in which the Indians diftinguifh them-
lelves from each other. Bcfides the name of the
animal by which every nation and tribe is denomi-
nated, there are others that are perfonal, and which
the children receive from their mother*

The chiefs are alfo diftinguifhed by a name that
has either fome reference to their abilities, or to the
hieroglyphic of their families j and thcfe are ac-*
quired after they arrive at the age of manhood.
Such as have fignalized themfelves either in their
war or hunting parties, or arc poflfefTed of fome emi-
nent qualification, receive a name that fcrves to per-
petuate the fame of their adions or to make their
abilities confpicuous^

Thus the great warrior of the NaudowelBes was
named Ottahtongoomlifhcah, that is, the Great Fa-
ther of Snakes : ottah being in Englifh father, ton-
goom great, and lilhcah a fnake. Anoth'er chief
was called Honahpawjatin, which means a fwift run-
ner over the mountains. And when they adopted
me a chief among them, they named me Shebaygoy
vhich fignifies a writer, or a perfon that is curious
in making hierCj,./phics, as they faw me often wri-
ting.

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

CHAPTER Xlli.

Of their Religion.

^T is very difficult to attain a perfc6l know-
ledge of the religious principles or the Indians.
Their ceremonies and doctrines have been fo often
ridiculed by the Europeans^ that they endeavour to
conceal them ; and if, after the greateft intimacy,
you defire any of them to explain to you their fyftem
of religion, to prevent your ridicule, they intermix
with it many of the tenets they have received from
the French miflionaries, fo that it is at laft rendered
an unintelligible jargon and not to be depended
upon.

Such as I could difcover among the Naudoweffies
(for they alfo were very referved in this point) I ihall
give my readers, without paying any attention to
the accounts of others. As the religion of that peo-
ple from thcii iT':uation appears to be totally unadul-
terated with the fuperftitions of the church of Rome,
we (hall be able to gain from their religious cuftoms
a more perfect idea of the original tenets and cere-
monies of the Indians in general, than from thofe of
any nations that approach nearer to the fettlements.

It is certain they acknov/ledge one Supreme Be-
ing, or Giver of Life, who prcfides over all things.

I i

fcijfe

CARVE kU T R A V E L 1

The Chipeways call this Being Manitou, or Kitchi
Manitoui the Naudoweflies, Wakon or Tongo*
Wakon, that i^, the Great Spirit j and thty look
up to hiiii as the fourcc of good, from whom no
evil can proceed. They alfo believe in a bad fpirit,
to whom they afcribe great power, and fuppofe
that through his means all the evils which bcfal man-
kind are inflicflcd. To him therefore do they pray
in their diftreffes, begging that he would cithe r avert
their troubles, or moderate them when they are no
longer avoidable.

They fay that the Great Spirit, who is infinitely
good neither wilhes or is able to do any mifchief to
mankind; but on the contrary, that he Ihowers
down on them all the blefijngs they defcrvc j whereas
the evil fpirit is continually employed in contriving
how he may punijfh the human race j and to do which
he is not only poflefled of the will^ but of the power.

They hold alfo that there are good fpirits of a lef-
fer degree, who have their particular departments,
in which they are conftantly contributing to the hap-
pinefs of mortals. Thefe they fuppofe to prefide over
all the extraordinary produdlons of nature, fuch as
thofe lakes, rivers, or mountains that arc of an un-
common magnitude j and-likewife the beafts, birds,
filhes, and even vegetables, or ftones that exceed
the reft of their fpccies in fize or fmgularity- To all
of thefe tJiey pay fome kind of adoration. Thus
when they arrive on the borders of Lake Superior,
on the banks of the Mifiifllppi, or any other great
body of water, they prefent to the Spirit who refides
tliere fome kind of offering, as the prince of the
Winnebagoes did when he attended me to the Falls
of St. Anthony.

CARVE R's TRAVELS.

25 <

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 faihion to themfelves corpo-
real reprefentations of their gods, and believe them
to be of a human form, though of a nature more
excellent than man.

Of the fame kind arc their fentiments relative to 4
futurity. They doubt not but they fhall exill in
fome future (latei they however fancy that their
employments there will be fimilar to thofe they arc
engaged in here, without the labor and difficulties
annexed to them in this period of their exigence.

They confcqucntly expedl to be tranfl-.ted to ^
delightful country, where they Ihall always have a
clxjar unclouded Iky, and enjoy a perpetual fpring ;
where the forefts v/ill abound with game, and the
lakes with fifh, which might be taken without a
painful exertion of Ikill, or a laborious purfuit j in
,fhort, that they fhall live for ever in regions of
plenty, and enjoy every gratification they delight in
here, in a greater degree.

To intellcdual pleafures they are ftrangers j nor
are thefc included in their fchcme of happinefs. But
they expc£k that even thefc animal pleafures will be
proportioned and diftributed according to their meritj
the fkilful hunter, the bold and fuccefaful warrior,
will be entitled to a greater fhare than thofe who
through indolence or want of flcill cannot boaft of
any fuperioity over the common herd.

The priefts of the Indians are at the fame, time
their phyficians, and their conjurers i whilil they
heal their wounds or cure their difeafcs, they inter-
pret their dreams, give them protedive charms, txnd,

tSZ

CARVER»s TRAVELS.

■'^

farisfy that dcfire which is fo prevalent among them,
of fearching into futurity.

How well they execute the latter part of their
profeflional engagements, and the methods they
make ufe of on fome of thefe occafions, I have al-
ready {hewn in the exertions of the prieft of the
Killiftinocs, who was fortunate enough to fucceed
in his extraordinary attempt near Lake Superior.
They frequently are fucceilful like«vife in adminif-
tering the falubrious herbs they have acquired a
knowledge ofj but that the ceremonies they make
ufe of during the adminiftration of them contri-
butes to their fuccefs, I fhall not take upon me to
alTert.

When any of the people are ill, the pi:rfon who
is inverted with this triple charafter of doftor, prieft,
and magician, fits by the patient day and night, rat-
tling in his ears a gc,u/d-lnell filled with dry be;^ns,
called a Chichicoue, and ipakingadifagreeable noiiv*
f hat cannot be well dcfcribed.

This uncouth harmony one woula i/ragine fhould

ffedis

OOCi

difturb the fick perfon, and prevent rhe
of the dodor's prefeription ; but on tS^- contrary
they believe that the method made ufe of contributes
to his recovery, by diverting from his malignant
purpofes the evil fpirit who has inflidlied the difor-
der; or at leaft that it will take off his attention,
fo that he fnall not increafe the malady. This
they arc credulous enough to imagine he is con-
ftantly on the watch to do, and would caryy his in-
veterricy to a fatal length if they did, not thus charm
him.

pth

ifcover that ti.ey make ufe of any
erciionies than thofe I- have def-

e A R V E R's TRAVELS.

«53

cribcdj indeed, on the appearance of the new-
moon they dance and fingj but it is not evident that
they pay that planet any adoration j they only feem
to rejoice at the return of a luminary that makes the
night cheerful, and which fervcs to light them on
their way when they travel during the abfence of
the fun.

Notwithdanding Mr. Adair has aflerted that the
nations among whom he refided, obferve with
very little variation all the rites appointed by
the Mofaic Law. I own I could never difcover
among thofe tribes that lie but a few degrees to the
north-weft, the leaft traces of the Jewiih religion,
except it be admitted that one particular female
cuftom and their divifion into tribes, carry with'
them proofs fufficient to cftablilh this aflertion.

The Jefuits and French miffionaries have alfo
pretended that the Indians had, when they firft tra-
velled into America, fome notions, though thefc
were dark and confufed, of the chriftian inftitution;
jhat they have been greatly agitated at the fight of a
crofs, and given proofs, by the imprtffions made
Oil them, that they were not entirely unacquainted
with the facred myfteries of Chriftianity. I need
not fay that thefe are too glaring abfurdities to be
credited, and could only receive their exiftence from
the zeal of thofe fathers, who endeavoured at once
to give the public a better opinion of the fuccefs of
their miffions, and to add fupport to the caufe they
yi^ere engaged in.

The Indians appear to be in their religious prin-
ciples, rude and uninftrudled. The do6trint:s they
hold are few and fimple, and fuch a^ have been ge-
jitrally imprfflcd on the human mind, by fome

»S4

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

means or other, in the moft ignorant ages. They
however have not deviated, as many other uncivi-
lized nations, and too many civilized ones have
done, into idolatrous modes of worfhipi they ve-
nerate indeed, and make offerings to the wonderful
parts of the creation, as I have before obfervedj but
whether thefe rites are performed on account of the
impreflion fiich extraordinary appearances make on
them, or w^hether they confidcr them as the pecu-
liar charge, or the ufual places of refidence of the
invifible fpirits they acknowledge, I cannot pofi-
tively determine.

The human mind in its uncultivated ftate is apt
to afcribe the extraordinary occurrences of nature,
fuch as earthquakes, thunder, or hurricanes, to the
interpofirion of unfcen beings; the troubles and dif-
ailcrs aUb that are annexed to a favage life, the ap-
prehenlions atcendmt on a precarious fubfiftcncc
and thofe numbe-lefs inconveniences which man in
his improved ILue has found means to ren;_dy, are
fuppoled to proceed from the interpofition of evil
fpirits J the favage confequently lives in continual
apprehenfions of their unkind attacks, and to avert
them has recourfe to charms, to the fantaftic cere-
monies of his pneft, or the powerful influence of
his Manitous. Fear has of courfu a greater fharc in
his devotions than gratirude, and he pays more at-
tenticTi to deprecating the wrath of the evil than to
I'Xuring the favor of the good beings.

The Indians, however, entertain thefe abfurdities
in common with thofe of every part of the globe
who have not been illumined by that religion which
only tan difperfe the clouds of fuperftition and ig-
norance, and they are as free from error a i a people
can be that has not been favored with its inn:ru6livc
doflrines.

CARVE R'i TRAVELS.

aS5

CHAPTER XIV.

Of their Dijeafis^ t^c.

at-

g-
)lc

Ivc

HE Indians in general arc healthy, and

fubjedt but to few difeafes, many of thofe that afflift
civilized nations, and are the immediate confc-
quences of luxury or floth, being not known among
themi however, the hardfhips and fatigues which
they endure in hunting or war, the inclemency of
the feafons to which they are continually expofed,
but above all the extremes of hunger, and that vora-
cioufnefs their long excurfions confequently fubjed:
them to, cannot fail of impairing the conilitution,
and bringing on difordcrs.

Pains and weaknefles in the ftomach and bread
are fomet-imes the refult of their long falling, and
confumptions of the exceflivc fatigue and violent
cxercifes they expofe themfelves to from their in-
fancy, before they have fufficient ftrcngth to fup-
port them. But the diforder to which they are ix'oft
fubje6i:, is the pleurify; for the removal of which,
they apply their grand remedy and prefervative
againft the generality of their complaints, fweat-
!ng.

2^6

(CARVER'S TRAVELS.

The manner in which they conftrudl their ftovcs for
this purpofe is as follows : They fix feveral fmall poles
in the ground, the tops of which they twift together,
fo as to form a rotunda: this frame they cover with
ikins or blankets; and they lay them on with fo
much nicety, that the air is kept from entering
through any crevice j a fmall fpace being only left,
juft fufficient to creep in at, which is immediately
after clofed. In the middle of this confined building
they place red hot ftone, on which they pour water
till a fte. I arifes that produces a great degree of
heat.

This caufes an inftantaneous perfpiration, which
they increafe as they pleafe. Having continued in
it for fome time, they immediately haften to the
neareft ftream, arid plunge into the water j and,
after bathing therein for about half a minute, they
put on their clothes, fit down and fmoke with great
compofure, thoroughly perfuadcd that the remedy
will prove efficacious. They often make ufe of this
fudoriferous method to refrefli thcmfelves, or to
prepare their minds for the management of any
bufinefs that reqiires uncommon deliberation and
fagacity.

They are likewife afflidted with the dropfy and
paralytic complaints, which, however, arc but very
feldom known among them. A3 a remedy for
thefc as well as for fevers they make ufe of lotions
and decodlions, compofed of herbs, which the
phyficians know perfc£Wy well how to compound
and apply. But they never truft to medicines alone;
they always have recourfe likewife to fome lupcr<
ftitious ceremonies, without which their patients
would not think the phyfical preparations fufficicntly
powerful.

CARVE R's TRAVELS.

*5f

any
and

and

With equal judgment they make ufe of fimples
for the cure of wounds, frajftures, or bruifes; and
are able to extradt by thefc, without incifion, fplin-
ters, iron, or any other Ibrt of matter by which the
wound is caufed. In cures of this kind they are
extremely dextrous, and complete them in much Icfs
time than might be expefted from their mode of
proceeding.

With the fkin of a fnake, which thofe reptiles
annually Ihcd, they will alfo extrad fplinters. It is
amazing to fee the fudden efficacy of this application>
noLvvithftanding there does not appear to be the leaft
moiflure remaining in it.

It has long been a fubjeft of difpute, on what
continent the venereal difeafe firft received its de-
ftructive powen This dreadful malady is fuppofed
to have originated in America, but the literary con-
tcft ftill remains undecided j to give fome elucidation
to it I ihall remark, that as I could not difcover the
leaft traces among the Naudoweffies, with whom I
rcfided fo long, and was alfo informed that it was yet
unknown among the more weftern nations, I think
I may venture to pronounce that it had not its origin
in North-America. Thofe nations that have any
communication with the Europeans, or the fouthern
tribes, are greatly affli£ted with itj but they have
all of them acquired a knowledge of fuch certain
and expeditious remedies, that the communication
is not attended with any dangerous confequences.

Soon after Ifet out on my travels, one of the tra-
ders whom I accompanied, complained of a violent
gonorrhoea, with ail its alarming fymptoms : this
increafed to fuch a degree, that by the time we had
reached the town of the Winnebagoes, he was una-

K k

'S»

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

ble to travel. Having made his complaint known
to one of the chiefs of that tribe, he told him not
to be iineafy, for he would engage that by following
his advice, he Ihould be able in a few days to purfue
)ii3 journey, and in a little longer time be entirely
free from his difordcr.

The thief had no fooncr faid this than he prepared
for him a dcco6lion of the bark of the roots of the
prickly a(h, a tree fcarcely known in England, but
which grows in great plenty throughout North-
America j by the ufe of which, in a few days he
was greatly recovered, and having received direc^li-
ons how to prepare it, in a fortnight after his de-
parture from this place perceived that he was radi-
cally cured.

If from exceflive exercife, or the extremes of heat
or cold, they are afFed:ed with pains in their limbs or
joints, they fcarify the parts aflfcdled. Thofc nati-
ons who hava' no commerce with Europeans do this
with a fharp flint; and it is furprifing to fee to how
fine a point they have the dexterity to bring them;
a lancet can fcarcely exceed in fharpnefs the inilru-
ments they make of this unmalleable fubftance.

They never can be convinced a perfon is ill,
whilft he has an appetite ; but when he rejects all
kind of nourifliment, they conlider the difeafe as
dangerous, and pay great attention to it; and dur-
ing the continuance of the diforder, the phyfician
refufes his patienc no fort of food that he is defi-
rous of.

Their doctors arc not only fuppofed to be (killed
in the phyfical treatment of difeafes; but the com-
mon people believe that by the ceremony of the Chi-
chicoue ufually made ufc of, as before defcribed.

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

259

they are able to gain intelligence from the fpirits, of
the cauie of the complaints with which tht-y arc
afflidled, and are thereby the better enabled to tint
remedies for them. I'hey difcover fomething fu-
pernatural in all their difeafes, and the phyfic
adminidered mull invariably be aided by thelc l"u-
perditions.

Sometimes a fick perfon fancies that his diforder
arifes from witchcraft j in this cafe the phyfician or
juggler is confulted, who, after the ufual prepara-
tions, gives his opinion on the Hate of the difeai'e,
and frequently finds fome means for his cure. But
notwithftanding the Indian phyficiaiis always annex
thefe fuperllitious ceremonies to their prefcriptions,
it is very certain, as I have already obferved, that
they exercife their art by principles which are founded
on the knowledge of fimples, and on experience,
which they acquire by an indefatigable attention to
their operations. ^^ -

The following ftory, which I received from a
perfon of undoubted credit, proves that the Indians
are not only able to reafon with great acutenefs on
iht caufcs 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 the province of
Main, in the north- eaft parts of New-England, the
wife of a foldier was taken in labor, and notwith-
ftanding every neceflavy affiftance was given her,
could not be delivered. In this fituation fhe re-
mained for two or three days, the perfons around
her expeding that the next pang would put an end to
her exiftence.

IMACE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

1.0

I.I

125

■A&12.8

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p5 III 1.4 |||.6

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PhotDgrajJuc

Sciences

Corporation

'^'^*^ ^

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23 WIST MAIN STtin

WIBSTER.N.Y. 145M

(716) 172-4503

25CJ

CARVER '8 TRAVELS.

An Indian woman, who accidently pafTed by,
heard the groans of the unhappy fufferert and enquired
from whence they proceeded. Being made acquainted
with the defperate circumftances attending the cafe,
fhc told the informant, that if Ihe might be permit-
ted to fee the perfon, fhe did not doubt but that (lie
ihouUl be of great fcrvice to her.

The furgeon that had attended, and thp midwife
who was then prefent, having given up every hope
of preierying their patient, the Indian woman was
allowed to make ufe of any methods fhc thought pro-
per. She accordingly took a handkerchief, and
bound it tight over the nofe and mouth of the wo-
man: this immediately brought on a fufFocation;
and from the ftruggles that confequcntly enfued, fhe
was in a few feconds delivered. The moment this
was aphieved, and time enough to prevent any
fatal efFeft, the handkerchief was taken off. The
long-fuffering patient thus happily relieved from
her painF, foon after perfectly recovered, to the
aftonifhment of all thbfc who had been witnefs to
her defperate fTtuation.

The reafon given by the Indian for this hazardous
method of proceeding was, that defperate diforders
require defperate remedies} that as fhe obferved the
exertions of nature were not fufficiently forcible tp
efFefl; the defired confequence, fhe though^ it ne-
cefTary to augment their force, which could only be
done by fome mode that was violent in the extreme.

'*•%

CARVE R'» TRAVELS.

il6i

CHAPTER XV.

Of the Mann^ in 'which they treat their Bead,

./\N Indian meets death when it approaches
him in his hut^ with the fame refolution he has often
faced him in the field. His indifference relative to
this important article, which is the fource of fo
many apprchenfions to almoft every other nation, is
truly admirable. When his fate is pronounced by
(he phyfician, and it remains no longer uncertain,
he harangues thofc about him with the greateft com-
pofurc.

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
conduct as he thinks neceffary. He then takes
Jcave of his friends, and iflfues out orders for the
preparation of a feafl, which is defigned to regale
thofe of his tribip that come lo pronounce his eu-
iogium.

After the breath is departed, the body is drefTed
in the fame attire it ufually wore whilfl living, his
face is painted, and he feated in an ered poflure on
a mat or fkin, placed in the middle of the hut, with
weapons by his fide. His relations being feated

962

CARVER'. TRAVELS.

round, each harangues in turn the dcccafedj and if
he has been a great warrior, recounts his heroic
adions nearly to the following purport, which in
the Indian language is extremely poetical and plca«
fing:

" You dill fit among us. Brother, your perfon
" retains its ufual refemblance, and continues fimi-
" lar to ours, without any vifible deficiency, except
that it has loft the power of aftion. But whither
is that breath flown, which a few hours ago fenc
up fmoke to the Great Spirit ? Why are thofe lips
** filcnt, that lately delivered to us expreffive and
** pleafing language ? why are thofe feet mptionlcfs,
" thataftiorttime ago were fleeter than the deer on
•* yonder mountains ? why ufclefs hang thofe arms
*• that could climb the tallcft tree, or draw the
tougheft bow ? Alas ! every part of that frame
which we lately beheld with admiration and won-
" der, is now become as inanimate as it was three
" hundred winters ago. We will not, however,
** bemoan thee as if thou waft for ever loft to us,
" or that thy name would be buried in oblivion;
" thy foul yet lives in the great Country of Spirits,
" with thofe of thy nation that are gone before thee;
•' and though we are left behind to perpetuate thy
*' fame, we Ihall one day join thee. Actuated by
" the refpeft we bore thee whilft living, we now
" come to tender to thee the laft a£t of kindnefe k
is in our power to beftow : that thy ibody might
not lie ncgledted on the plain, and become a prey
" to the beafts of the field, or the fowls of the air,
we will take care to lay it with thofe of thy prc-
deceflTors who are gone before thee; hoping at the
fame time, that thy fpirit will feed with their
fpirits, and be ready to receive ours, when we
f alfo (hall arrive at the great Country of Souls."

cc
cc
cc

€1

CARVER 's TRAVELS.

263

In Ihort fpccchcs fomewhat fimilar to this does
every chief fpcak the praifes of his departed friend.
When they have fo done, if they happen to be at a
great diftancc from the place of interment, appro-
priated to their tribe, and the perfon dies during the
winter feafon, they wrap the body in ikins, and lay
it on SI high ftage built for this purpofe, or on the
branches of a large tree, till the fpring arrives. They
then, after the manner defcribed in my journal, carry
it, together with all thofe belonging to the fame
nation, to the general burial-place, where it is in-
terred with fome ether ceremonies that I could not
difcover.

When the Naudoweffics brought their dead for
interment to the great cave, I attempted to get an
infight into the remaining burial rites j but whether
it was on account of the ftcnch which arofc from fo
many bodies, the weather being then hot, or whe-
ther they chofe to keep this part of their cuftoms
fecret from me, I could not difcover ; I found, how-
ever, that they confidercd my curiofity as ill timed,
and therefore I withdrew.

After the interment, the band to which the perfon
belongs, take care to fix near the place fuch hiero-
glyphics as fliall fliew to future ages his merit and
accomplifhments. If any of thefe people die in the
fummer, at a diftancc frorti the burying-ground,
and they find it impoffible to remove the body before
it putrefies, they burn the flefh from the bones, and
preferving the latter, bury them in the manner de-
fcribed.

As the Indians believe that the fouls of the deceaf-
cd employ themfclves in the fame manner in the
country of fpirits, as they did on earth, that they
acquire their food by hunting, and have there, alfo.

264

CARVE ll's TRAVELS.

enemies to contend with, they take care that they
do not enter thofe regions defencclcis and unprovi-
ded : they confcquently bury with them their bows,
their arrows, and all the other weapons ufed either
in hunting or war. As they doubt not but they will
like wile have occafion both for the ncceflaries of
life, and thofe things they efteem as ornaments, they
ufually depofit in their tombs fuch fkins or fluffs as
they commonly made their garments of, domeflic
uteftfils, and paint for ornamenting their perfons.

The near relations of the deceafed lament his lofs
with an appearance of great forrow and anguilh j
they weep and howl, and make ufe of many contor-
tions, as they fit in the hut or tent around the body,
when the intervals between the praifes of the chiefs
will permit.

One formality in mourning for the dead among
the NaudowefTies is very different from any mode I
obferved in the other nations through which I pafTed.
The men, to fhew how great their forrow is, pierce
the flefh of their arms, above the elbows, with ar-
rows i the fears of which I could perceive on thofe
of every rank, in a greater or Icfs degree j and the
women cut and gafh their legs with fharp broken
flints, till the blood flows very plentifully.

Whilfl I remained amongfl them, a couple whofe
tents was adjacent to mine, lofl a fon of about four
years of age. The parents were fo much affedted at
the death of their favorite child, that they purfued
the ufual teflimonies of grief with fuch uncommon
rigor, as through the weight of fbrrow and lofs of
blood, to occafion the death of the father. The
woman who had hitherto been inconfolable, no
fooner faw her hufband expire, than the dried up her
tears, and appeared cheerful and rcfigncd.

CAkVfeit»3TkAvfiLs. idj

As i knew not how to account for fo extraordi-
nary a cranfition, I took an opportunity to a(k hct
the rcafon of it -, telling her at the fame time, tnat I
(hould have imagined the lofs of her hufband would
rather have occanoned an increafc of grief, than fuch
a fudden diminution of it^

She informed jne, that as the child was fo young
when it diedj and unable to fupport itfclf in the
country of fpirits, both fhe and her hufband had
been apprehenfive that ks ficuation would be far from
happy J but no fooner did fhe behold its father de-
part for the fame placei who not only loved th6
-child with the tendered affcdion, but was a good
hunter, iand would be able to provide plentifully for
its fupport, than fhe ceafed to mourn; She added^
that flie now faw no reafon to continue her tears, as
-the child on whom fhe doted, was happy under the
care and protection of a fond father, and Ihc had
-only one wifh that remained ungratified, which was
•that of being herfelf v/ich them*

Expreflions ifo replete with unaffcfted te^dernefsj
md fendments that would have done honour to A
'Roman matron^ made an impreflion on my inind
greatly in favor of the people td whom Ihe belongcd>
find tended not a little to counteraA the prejudices I
had hitherto entertamcd, in common with every
Dther traveller, of Indian infcnfibility and want of
parental .tenderneis*

Met fubfequcrtt condufk cdnfirflied the favorable
Opinion! had juft imbibed i and convinced me* thatj
hotwithftanding this apparent fufpenfion of her grief,
fome particles of that reluftancei to be fcparated
from a beloved rdationj which is implantcti eitheff
by nature or ewftom in every human heart, fttU

i^&

CARVE R»4 TRAVELS.

lurked in hers. I obfcrvcd that fhc went almoft
every evening to the foot of the tree, on a branch
of which the bodies of her hulband and child were
laid, and after cutting ofif a lock of her hair, and
throwing it on the ground^ in a plaintive, melancholy
fong bemoaned its fate. . A recapitulation of the
adtions he might have performed, had his little li^e
been feared, appeared to be hex favorite thehit ,
and whilft Ihe foretold the fame that would have at-
tended an imitation of his father's virtues^ her grief
fccmcd to be fufpended ;■ ■ '

" If thoti hadft continued with us> my dear Son,"
would Ihc cry, " how well would the bow have be-
come thy hand, and how fatal would thy arrows
have proved to the enemies of our bands. Thou
wouldft often have drank their bloody and eaten
their flclhj and numerous flaves would have re-
warded thy toils. With a nervous arm wouldft
thou have fcized the wounded buffaloes or have
combated the fury of the enraged bear. . Thou
wouldft have overtaken the flying elk, and have
kept pace on the mountain's brow with the fleet-
eft deer. What feats mighteft thou not have per-
"' formed, hadft thou ftaid among us till age had
" given thee ftrehgth, and thy father had inftrufted
** thee in every Indian accomplifhmtnt !" In terms
like thefe did this untutored favage bewail the lofs
of her fon, and frequently would i"he pafs the greateft
part of the night in the afi^edlionatc employ.

The Indians in general arc very ftrid in the ob-
fervancc of their laws relative to mourning for theii*
dead; In fomc rJMiions thty cut oflf their hair, blacken
their faccs^ and fit in an ere6t poftufCi with <hcif
heads clofeiy covered^ and depriving themfelves of
every pleafurei This feverity is continued for fe-
deral months, ajUii l^ith/ome relajcations the appear-

<€

C A R V E R»$ T R A V E t $,

(^ncc is fomctimcs kept up for fcvcral years. I was
pld ths^c when the Naudoweiries recolledled any in-
cidents of the lives of their dcccafed relations, even
after an interval of ten years, they would howl fo as
to be heard at a great dillance. They would fomtt
limes continue this proofof rcfpedt and afFcftion for
feveral hours ; and if it happened that the though^
occurred, and the noifc was begun towards the even-
ing, thofc of their Uil?c who are at |;iand \voul4 joir^

t(S«

OARVEK*a TRAVEL Si,

CHAPTER XVI.

A concije CharaSler of the Indians,

JL he character of the Indians, like that of
ether uncivilized nations, is compofcd of a mixture
of ferocity and gentlencfs. They arc at once guided
by paifions and appetites, v;hich they hold in com-
mon with the liercdft beads that inhabit their woods,
^nd arc poirefled of virtues which do honour to hu«
man nature.

In the following cftimatc I fhall endeavor to forget
on the one hand the prejudices of Europeans, who
ufually annex to the word Indian, epithets that are
difgraceful to human nature, a^d who view them in
no other light than asfavages and cannibals; whilll:
with equal care I avoid any partiality towards them,-
as fome rnuft naturally arife from the favorable re-
ception I met with during my ftay among them.

At the fame time I fliall confine my repiarks to the
nations inhabiting only the weftern regions, fuch as
the Naudoweflies, the Ottagaumies, the Chipeways,
the Winnebagoes, and the Saukies i for as throughout
that diverfity of climates, the cxtenfivc continent of
Arncrica is compofcd of, there are people of diffe-

»•

C A R V E R*» T R A V E L S. 269

rent difpoficions and various charafters, it would be
incompatible with my prefent undertaking to treat
of all thefe, and to give a general view of them as a
conjunctive body.

That the Indians are of a cruel, revengeful, in-
exorable difpofition, that they will watch whole days
unmindful of the calls of nature, and make their
way through pathlefs, and almoll unbounded woods,
fubfifting only on the fcanty produce of them, to
purfue and revenge themfelvcs of an enemy ; that
they hear unmoved the piercing cries of fuch as
unhappily fall into their hands, and receive a diabo-
lical pleafure from the tortures they infli^ on their
prifoners, I readily grant } but let us look on the rc-
verfe of this terrifyinjg pidlure, and we (hall find
them temperate both m their diet and potations (it
muft be remembered that I fpeak of thofc tribes
who have little communication with Europeans) that
they withftand, with unexampled patience, the at-
tacks of hunger, or the inclemency of the feafons,
and efteem the gratification of their appetites but
as a fecondary confideration.

We ihall likewifc fee them focial and humane to
thofe whom they confider as their friends, and even
(o their adopted enemies ; and ready to partake
with them ot the laft morfel, or to rifle their lives
jn their defence.

In contradi(5l:ion to the report of many other tra-
vellers all of which have been tinfbured with pre-
judice, I can alTert, that notwithftanding the appa*
rent indifference with which an Indian meets hia
wife and children after a long abfence, an indiffe-
rence proceeding rather from cuftom than inlcnfibi-
Jity, he is not unmindful of the claims either of con-
nubial or parental tendernefs j the little ftory I have

CARVE R'« TRAVELS.

*7^

introduced in the preceding chapter, of the Naudo-
weffic woman lamenting her child, and the immature
death of the father, will elucidate thb point, and
enforce the afTrrtion much better than th<; niolt ftur
died arguments ] can make ufe of.

•

Accuftomed from their youth to innumerable^
hardlhips, they foon become fuperior to a fenfc of
danger, or the dread of death ; and their fortitude,
implanted by nature, and nurtured by example, by
precept and accident, never experience^ a moment's
*Hay,

Though (lothful and ina<51:ivc whilft their ftore of
provifions remains unexhaufted, and their foes are at
a didance, jthey are indefatigable and perfevering
in purfuit of their game, or in circumventing their
enemies*

If they are artful and defigning, and ready to take
every advantage, if they are cool and deliberate in
their councils, and cautious in the extreme either of
difcovering their fentiments, or of revealing a fccret,
they might at the fame time boad of poHTefllng qua*
HBcations of a more animated nature, of the faga^
city of a hound, the penetrating fight of a lynx,
the cunning of the fo:^, the agility of 2^ bounding
roe* and the unconquerable fiercenefs of the tiger,

In their public eharaders, as forming part of a
community, they polTefs an aetachment; for that band
to which they belong, unknown- to the inbabitanti
of any other country. They combine, as if they were
aftuated only by one foul, againfl: the enemies of
their nation, and banifh from t|ieir minds every
€onfider?ition oppofed to thi§,

CARVER'i TRAVEL*.

fi^

Yhcy confulc without ^--ccffary oppoHtioni ot
without giving way to the v».. cements of envy or
Ambition, on the meafures neceflary to be purfucd
for the dc(lru£bion of ihofc who have drawn on them-
fclves their difpleafure. No fclfifli views ever in-
fluence their advice, or obftrufb their confulcati-
ons. Nor is ic in the power of bribes or threats to
diminifh the love they bear their country.

The honor of their tribe, and the welfare of their
hatioh, is the tirft and mod predominant emotion
of their hearts, and from hence proceed in a great
meafure all their viitucs and their vices. Adudted
by this, they brave every danger^ endure the moft
exquifite torments, and expire triumphing in their
fortitude, not as a perfonal qualification^ but as a
national chaiaderidic.

From thefe alfo Aow that infatlable revenge to*
Wards thofe with whom they arc at war, and all the
confcquent horror^ that difgrace their name. Their
Uncultivated mind being incapable of judging of
the propriety of an aiftion, in oppofitittn to their
J)aflions, which are totally infenfible to the controls
of reafonor humanity, they know not how to keep
their fury within any bounds, and confcqUently that
courage and rcfclution, which would otherwifc do
them honor, degenerates into a favage ferocity.

Butth^-^ (hort diiTertation tnuft fufficc: the limits
of my work will not permit me to treat the fubjc6fc
hiore copioufly, or to purfue it with a logical regu-
larity. The obfcrvations already made by my rea-
ders on the preceding pages, will, I truft, render it
Unneccflaryj as by them they will be enabled to form
a tolerably juft idea of the people I have been def-
fcribing. Experience teaches, that anecdotes, and
delations of particular events^ however trifling thejr

' ♦*

*7*

CARVE R's T R A VEL 1

might appear, enable us to form a truer judgtlietlf
of the manners and cuftoms of a people, and are
much more declaratory of their real (late, than the
moft ftudied and elaborate tiirr^uificion, without thefe
ftids«

9ARV£R'i TRAVELS.

373

CHAPTER XViI.

Of their Language^ Hieroglyphics, ^t.

HE principal languages of the natives of
North- Aide rica may be divided into four clafTes, as
they conftft of fuch as are made ufe of by the nations
of the Iroquois towards the eaftcrn parts of it, the
Ch'peways pr Algonkins to the north-weft, the
Naudowelflies to the weft, and the Cherokees, Chic-
kafaws, &c. to the fouth. One or other of thefc
four arc ufed by all the Indians who inhabit the parts
that lie between the coaft of Labrador north, the
Floridas ibuth, the Atlantic Ocean eaft, and, as
far as we can judge from the difcoveries hitherto
made, the Pacific Ocean on the weft.

But of aU thef?, the Chipeway tongue appears
to be the moft prevailing; it being held in fuch
cfteem, that the chiefs of every tribe, dwelling about
the great lakes, or to the weftward of thefc on the
banks of the Mifliifippi, with thofe as far fouth as
the Ohio, and as far north as Hudfon's Bay, cx,ti-
fiftingof rnorc than thirty different tribes, Ipeak
this language alone in their councils, notwithftand-
ing each has ^ peculiar one of their own.

Mm :

374?

C A R V E R ' s T R A V E L «>

It will probably in time become univcrfal among
all the Indian natl ns, as none of them attempt to
riiakexxcurfions to any great diftance, or are con-
fiderca as qualified to carry on any negociation with
a diftant band, vinkfs they have acquired the Chipe-
Xvay tongue.

At prefent, befiJes the Chipeways, to whom it
is natural, the Ottawaws, Saukies, the Ottagau-
mies, tli€ Ktlliftinocs, the Nipegons, iht bands
Lbout Lake Le Pluyc, and the remains of the Al-
gonkins, or Gen$ de Terre, all eonverfe in it, with
fome little variation of dialed j but whether it be
natural to thofe nations, or acquired, I was not
<ble to difcover. I am however of opinion that the
barbarous and uncouth dialed: of the Winncbagoes,
l9ie Menomonies, and many other tribes, will be-
come in time totally extinft, and this be adopted
in its ftead.

The Chipeway tongue is not encumbered with
any unnecclfary tones or accents, neither are there
any words in it that are fuperfluousj itisalfoeafy
to pronounce, and much more copious than any
tther Indian language.

As the Indians are unacquainted with the polite
arts, or with the fciences, and as they are ftrangers
to^^cercmony, or compliment, they neither have nor
need an infinity of words wherewith ix) embellifb,
their difcourfe. Plain and unpoliflied in their man-
ners, they only make ufe of fuch as ferve to deno-
minate the neceflaries or conveniencies of life, and
to exprefs their wants, which in a ftate of nature can'
be but few. , j

I have annexed hereto a fhort vocabulary of the
Ghipcway language, and another of that of the Nau-

C A R V E R's TRAVELS.

ST?

doweilies, but am not able to reduce them to the
rules of grammar.

The latter is fpokcn in a foft accent, without any
guttural founds, fo that it may be learnt with faci-
lity, and is not difficult either to be pronounced or
written. It is nearly as copious and exprcflive as
the Chipeway tongue, and is the mod prevailing
language of any on the weftern banks of the Mil-
iiffippij being in ufe, according to their account,
among all the nations that lie to the north of the
Meflbrie, and extend as far weft as the fhores of the
Pacific Ocean.

As the Indians are not acquainted with letters^
it is very difficult to convey with precifion the exa<5l
found of their words; I have however endeavoured
to write them as near to the manner in which they
are exprcffed, 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 tranfadiouj 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 thofe parties
that happen to be at a diftance, of the path they
muft purfue to overtake them.

The following inftance will convey a more perfect
idea of the methods they make ufe of on this occa-
fion, than any expreffions I can frame. .

When I left th.% Miffiffippi, and proceeded up the
sCaipcway River, in my way to Lake Superior, gs.

?76

C A R V E R»s T R A V E L S.

related in my Journal, my guide, who was a chief
of the Chipeways that dwell on the Ottawaw Lake,
near the heads of the river we had juft entered
fearing that fome parties of the Naudoweffies, with
whom his nation are perpetually at war, might ac-
cidentally fall in with us, and before they were ap-
prifed of my being in company, do us fome 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
bear's greafc, their ufual fubftitute for inks made in
an uncouth, but expreflive manner, the figure of
the town of the Ottagaumics. He then formed to
the left a man drefled in flcins, by which Ke intended
to reprefent a Naudowcflie, with a line drawn from
his mouth to that of a deer, the fymbol of the Chi-
peways. After this he depiftured ftill further to the
left 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 Englifliman, or myfelf,
and my Frenchman was drawn with a handkerchief
tied round his head, and rowing the canoe ; to thefe
he added feveral other fignificant emblems, among
which the Pipe of Peace appeared painted on the
prow of the canoe.

The meaning he intended to convey to the Nau-
dowcffi<^s, and which I doubt not appeared perfeftly
intelligible to them, was, that one of the Chipeway
chiefs had received a fpeech from fome Naudowelfie
phiefs, at the town of the Ottagaumies, defiring him
to condud the Englifhman, who had lately been
among them, up the Chipeway river j and that they
thereby required, thai the Chipeway, notwithftand-
ing he was an avowed enemy, Ihould not be mo-
le (ted by them on his pafTige, as he had the care of
fi perfon tfhom they cftecmed as one of their nation.

CARVER'S TRAVEtS.

«77

Some authors have pretended that the Indians have
armorial bearings, which they blazon with great
cxaAnefsi, and which diftii^ifh one natvon from
another; but I never could'Obferve any other arms
among them than the fymbols already defcribed.

*j#

«7t

CARVER '« TRAVKLS.

A Jbort VocA.Bi^ARY of the Chipeway

Language,

TV. B, This people do not make ufc cither of the

confonants F. or V,

••«

-tiLBOVE
Abandon

Spimink
Packiton

Admirable

Pilawah

Afterwards
All

Mipidacb
Kokinum

Always

Amifs

Arrive

Kokali

Napitch

Takouchin

Axe

Afhes
Affift

Ball

Agacwet

Pingoe

Mawinewab

Alewin

Bag, or tobacco-pouch

Barrel

Beat

Cafpetawgan
' Owentowgan
Pakhite

Bear

Mackwah

Bear, a young one
Beaver ^

Makon
Amik

Beaver's fkin .
Be> or to be

Apiminique
Tapaie

CARVE R'l TRAVELS.

Beard

Mi/chiton

Bccaufc

Mewinch

Believe

Tilerimab

Belly

Mijhemout

Black

Markaute

Blood

Mijkow

Body

Toe

Bottle

Sbijhego

Brother

Neconnis

Brandy or Rum

rcuttawawbab

Bread

Pahaujhigan

Breech

Mifcoufab

Breeches

Kipokitie Koufab

Buck

Wajkgtch

-♦

Canoe

Cbeman

Call

Tejhenekaw

Chief, a

0\emaw

Carry

Peton

Child or Children

Bobelojhin

Coat

Capotewian

Cold, I am

Kekalcb

Come on

Moppa

Come to

Pemotcija

Comrade

Neechee

Concerned

Tallemifi

Corn

Melomin

Covering, or a Blanket

JVawbewion

Country

Endawlawkeen

Courage

Tagwawmiffi

Cup

Olawgan

V). ^f, .

.•

Dance

Nemeb

©art i

Sbejhikwte

*7>.

Ai«

CARVER U TRAVELS.

Die, to

Dilh

Dog

Dead

DcVU or evil Spirit

Dog, a little one

Done, it b done

Doubtlefs

Drcfs the kettle

Drink

Drunken

Duck

Nip

mackoan

AUm

Neepo

MatchO'Mankm

Alemon

Shtah

Tojhiton

OntclaioubiA

Poutwab

Minikwab

Ouifquiba

Cbickhip

Earth ^

Eat

Each

Englifh

Enough

iBqual, or alike

Eftcem

Eyes

Aukwin

Owiffine

Papegik

Sagaunojh

Mimlic

Tawhifcoucb

Nawpetelimaix)

Wijkinkbie

Faft

FaU

Far off

Fat

Friend

Father

Few, or little

Fatigued

Field fown

Fire

fyaliehic

Ptmkifin

Watjaw •

Pimmittee

Niconnis

Noofab

Maungis

Taukwiffi

Kittegaumk

Smtta

CARVER'S tRAVfiLS.

t'irc, to ftrikc

Scutecks

Find

Nantotinawav)

Filh

Kkkon

Fork

Najfaivokwot

Formerly

Pirwego

Fort

fVakaigcn

Forward

Nopawink

French

I^echtegoojh

Freeze, to

Freezes hard

Kfffm Magnt

Full

Mcit/kinet

Fufce or Gurt

Pajkejfigan

God, or the Great Spifit

Kitchi Manitcfi

Go by water

Pimmifcaw

Girl

Jeckwaffin

Give

Millwd!)

Glafs, a mirror

Wawbemo

iGood

Cawlatih

Good for nothing

Malatal

Govern

Tibarimaw

General, or Comman- 7
der in Chief J

Kitchi OkimcCtx:

Simaugamjlo

Grapes

Shcamin

Great

Manatou

Greedy

ScwJawkiJ/i

Guts

Olazvbijh

Hare

JVawpcos

Heart

Micbewab

Hate

Shingaiirimct^

Half

Ncwbal

^i\

i%^

t C A R V E R*8

T R A V E L g.

Hair, human

Lifts

Hair of beads

Pewal

Handfomc

Canoginne

Have

Tandaulaw

Head

Ouftecouan

Heaven

Speminkakwin

Herb

Mejajk

Here

Aconda

Hidden

Kemouch

Home

Entayent

Honor

Mackawalaw

Hot

Akejhotta

How

Tawne

How many-

Tawnemilik

Hunt

^ Kewajfa

Hut, or Houfc

Wig IVaum

Indians

IJhinawbah

Iron

Pewawbick

IHand

Minis

Immediately

PFebatch

Indian Corn

Mitfawmin

Intircly

Nawpitcb

Impoftor

MawlawtiJIie

It might be fo

, Tawneendo

kettle

Ackikons

King, or Chief

Okemaw

Keep

Ganwerimaw

Knife

Mockoman

Knife that is crooked

Cootawgon

Know

Thickeremaii^

CARVE R's TRAVELS,

98)

Lake

Kitcbigawmink

Laugl>

Pawpt

Lazy

Kitttimi

Lame

Kikekate

I^cave

Pockiton

Letter

'M.awftgnaugon

Life

Nouchimotuin

Love

Saukie

Long fince

Shawjhia

Land Carriage

Cappatawgon

Lofe

flackilaugue

Lie down

Weepemaw

t^ittle

^aubejheen

Meat

mas

Much

Nibbilam

Man

Allijfmape

March, to go

^immoujfit

Marry

Weewin

Medicine

Majkikic

Merchandife

AlokochigQik

Moon

T>ebicot

Mortar to pound ii^

Poutawgo^

Male

J^ape

Miftrefs

J^eremoujit^

Needle

Shawbonkia,

ff^^r

P^itch

CARVE R»f TRAVELS.

Nation

Never

Night

Nofc

Nothing

Not yet

Not at all

Npyght, good for nothing

Irinee

Cawikkaw

Bebicct

Ka'uj

Toch

Kakego

Kawmifchi

Kagutcb

Malatat

Old

Otter
Qther

Xawwcjhins.

Nikkik

CcHtack

Pipe

Poagatf.

Part, what part

fawn^pes

Play

Packeigo

Powder, gun, or

duft

Pingo

Peace, to make

Pecacctiche

Pray

Tawlaipiia

Proper

Sawfega

Prelently

Webatch

PcninfuU

Minniffin

Quick

R
Regard
Red
Refolve
l^elatioa

J^egoUk

JVawbotfiQ,
Mifccw
Tibelindon
Tozvwemaw

CARVER* I TRAVELS.

a«5

Rcfpcft

Tawbawmica

Rain

Kimmewan

Robe

Ockolaw

River

Sippim

Run, to

Pitchebci

Sad

7'alimiffle

Sail

Pemifcaw

Sack, or Bag

Majkimot

Sea, or large Lake

Aganhtchigaiumink

Shoes

Maukiffin «

Ship, or large Car^pc

Kitchi Cheman

Sorry

Nifcottiffte

Spirit

Manitou

Spoon

Mickwon

Star

Jllank

Steal

Kemautin

Stockings

Mittaus

Strong

Majhkauwdb

Sturgeon

Lawmack

Sun

Kiffis

Sword

Simaugan

Surprifing

Etwahy Etwah

See

Wawbemo

Since

Mapedob

Shirt

Papawkwean

Slave

JVackan

Sleep

Nippee

Sit down

Mifiiepm

Take

Emaundah

Teeth

Tibbit

That

Mawbab

a$6

There
This
Truly
Together

CARVER»s TRAVELS,

Watjaudehi

Maundah

Kikit

Mawmawwet
Semau
Outcn
Tawkcnfie
' O/aummangis
OJfaune
Meg-watch
Wawhunk
Qujwawbmk

Tobacco

Tongue

Tired

Too little

Too much

Thank you

To-morrow

'^o- morrow the day after

Warriors.

Water

War

Way

Well then !

What is that ?

What now ?

Whence

Where

White

Who is there ?

Wind

Winter

Woman

Wood

Wolf

Svmauganaufi

Nebki

Nantaubaula"^

M.icko?i

Tauneendah !

IVawwewm ?

^agonie ?

7aunippi

Tab

Wauhe

^agonie yiaubah ?

Loiitin

Pepoun

Icktuee

Mittic

Maivbingon

Yeflerday
X et

Young
■yellow

Petchilawgo
Minnewatck
WifconnekiJI\

C A R V E R »s T R A V B L Sj 287

*rhe Numerical Terms of the Chipeways.

One
Two

Three
JFour

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twenty

Thirty

Forty

Fifty

Sixty

Seventy

Eighty

Ninety

Hundred

*rhoufand

Pajhik
Ninch
Nijjou
Neau
NaraH

•NingcutWiiJfGU
Ninchowajfcu
NiJJlwaJfou
Shongajfcu
MittaujJGU
Mittaujfou P^JhLk
Ninchtawnaw
Nijfou Mittawnaw
Neau yiittawnaw
Naran NLiitawnaw
Ningout7vaJfcuyi.it- 7

tawnaw j

Ninchcwajfou M//-7

tawnaw 3

Nijfowajfcu M/V- 7

tawnaw J

Shongajfou Mittaw- 7

naw 3

MittauffouMittaw- 7

naiv 3

Mittaujfow M/V/«-7

ujfou Mittawnc/w 3

iSS

CARVER'3 TRAVEtd.

A Ihort Vocabulary of the Naudowcltie

Language.

Axe

AJhpavs

Beaver
Buffalo
Bad
Broach
Bear, a

Chawbah
Tawtongd
Shejah

Muzahootob .
fVahkonJhejah

Canoe

Cold

Child, a Male

Child, a Female

Come here

TVaahtoh

yiechuetah

tVechoakJeh

JVhacheekfeh

Accooyouiyari

Dead
Deer
Doaf-

Negttjb

Tchhjoh

Shimgiifb

Eat
Ears

Echazvv:emiu
Ncokah

C A K V B R's t R A V E L S.

EVes

EJhttke

Evil

Shejab

•

Fire

Paahtab

Father

Otah

Frenchman

Neehteegtifh

Falls of Water

Onvah Menah

Friend

KUchi'vaoh

Good

Wojhtdh

Give

Accooyeh

Go away *

j^ccoovjah

God, or the Great Spirit

Waken

Gun

Muzah Wakofi

Great

Tongo

Gold

Muzaham

i%^

Hear

Horfc

Home, or domeftie

Houfe

Heaven

Nookijhon
Shueton^d
Shuab
Teebee
Wojhtah Teehee

Iron
I, or me

-> •

Muzah
Meoh

King, or Chief
Kin

Otah
Negujhtauga^

ago C A R V E It's T R A V E L S.

Little
Long
Lake
Love

Jeftin
Tongoom
Tongo 'bAeneh
Ehwabmeab

Much

Moon

Mouth

Medal

Mine

Milk

Otab

Otenav»

Oweeb

Feb

Muzab OtaB

Mewab

Etfaiubob

Near

tieyab
Jeeftinova

Oh!

Hopiniyabiel

Pipe

Pipe of Peace

Sbanuapa-w
Sbanuapav) Wahn

Rain
Ring *
Round

O-wab Meneh

Muzamcbupab

Chupab

CARVE R'. TRAVELS.

Smoke

Sbaweab

Salt Water

Menis ^eah

Sec, to

EJhtd'ijj

Sleep

EJhteemo

Snake

OmUfhcavx

SUR

Paabtab

Spirit

fFakm

Spirituous Liquors

Meneb Haakon

Snow

Sinnee

Surprifing

Hopiniayare

{Silver

Muzabatn

Tobacco

Sbatujajfaw

Talk

Owehcbin

Tree

Ocbaiu

There

Dacbe

Woman

fVinnokejab

Wonderful

Hopiniyare

Water

Meneb

What

Taiugo

Who is there ?

Tawgodacbe?

Wicked

Heyabatcbta

You

Cbee

Young

HawfavJtiav)

4i>

2g2

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

You are good ' Wajhtah Chee
You are a Spirit JVakon Chee

You are my good friend ^^^f ^^^^'^^^ I

"^o gooci Hey ah Wajhtah

The Numerical Terms of the Naudowc flies.

One

fVonchavj

Two

Noompaii)

Three ,

Tawtnonee

Four

Toboh

Five

Sa-whiittee

Six

Sha-wcoo

Seven

Shav^copee

Eight

Shahindohin

Nine

Nebochuhganong

Ten

Wegochungamng

Eleven

Wegochunganong IVoncha^ ,

Twenty

IVegochunganong Noempaiu

Thirty

Wegochunganong Tawmnee

Forty

Wegochunganong Toboh

tifty

Wegochunganong Sa-wbuttee

Sixty

Wegochunganong Shaiuco

Seventy

Wegochunganong Shaiucopee *

Eighty

Wegochunganong Shahindohin

Ninety

Wegochunganong ]Vebochungano.:g

Hundred

Opohng .

Thoufand

Wegochunganong Opohng

To this ihort vocabulary of the Naudoweflle lan-
guage I fhall adjoin a fpecimen of the manner in
which they unite their words. I have chof<?n for

,CARVER'$ TRAVELS.

*93

this purpofc a Ihort fong, whirH they fmg, with
fome kind of melody, though not with any appear^
apce of poetical meafurc, when they fet ou^on
their hunting expeditions; and have given as near
a tranflation as the difference of the idioms will
permit.

Meoh accooitiah ejhtaw paatah nrgu/ktawga-w Jhejab
menah, Tongo fVakon meoh viojhtay paatah accocwah,
Hopiniyahie oweeh accooyee mpoh, wojhfa patah otah tO"
hinjoh meoh teebee^

\ will rife before the fun, and afcend yonder hill,
to fee the new light chafe away the vapors, and dif-
pcrfe the clouds. Great Spirit, give me fuccefs.
And when the fun is gone, lend me, oh moon,,
light fufficient to guide me with fafety back to my
tent loaden with deer !

29i

CARVE R»8 TRAVELS.

CHAPTER XVIIL

Of the BeaftSi Birds, Fijhes, Reptiles, and TnjeSls^
vjhich are found in the interior Parts of Nortb-^
America.

vJ'F thefc I lliali, in the firft place, give a
catalogue, and afterwards a defcription of fuch only
as are either peculiar to this country, or which differ
in fome material point from thofe that arc to be met
with in oth( r realms.

OF THE BEASTS.

The Tiger, the Bear, Wolves, Foxes, Dogs,
the Cat of the Mountain, the Wild Cat, the Buffalo,
the Deer, the Elk, the Moofe, the Carraboo, the
Carcajou, the Skunk, the Porcupine, the HedgCT
hog, the Woodchuck, the Racoon, the Marten,
the Fifher, the Mufquafh, Squirrels, Hares, Rab-
bits, the Mole, the Weafel, the Moufe, the Dor-
moufe, the Beaver, the Otter, the Mink, and
Bats.

• »

CARVE R*s TRAVELS.

295

The TIGER. The Tiger of America rcfemblcs
in fhape ^hofc of Africa and Afia, but is confide-
rably fmaller. Nor docs it appear to be fo fierce
and revenoua as they are. The colour of it is a dark-
ifh fallow, and it is entirely free from fpots, I faw
one on an ifland in the Chipeway River, of which I
had a very good view, as it was at no great diftance
from me. It fat up on its hinder parts like a dog ;
and did not fcem either to be apprehenfive of ourap-
proach, or to difcover any ravenous inclinations.
It is however very feldom to be met with in this
part of the world.

The BEAR. Bears arc very numerous on this
continent, but more particularly fo in the northern
parts of it, and contribute to furniih both food and
beds for almoft every Indian nation. Thofe of
America differ in many refpe£ts from thofe either of
Greenland or Ruffia, they being not only fomewhat
fmaller, but timorous and inoffenfive, unlefs they
are pinched by hunger, or fmarting from a wound.
The fight of a man terrifies them j 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 queft of them. This kind of food renders their •
flefh exceffivcly rich, and finely flavored j and it is
confequently perferred by the Indians and traders to
that of any other animal. The fat is very white,
and befides beirtg fweet and wholefome, ispoflefled of
one valuable quality, which is, that it never cloys.
The inhabitants of thefe parts conftantly anoint
thcmfelves, with it, and to its efficacy they in a great
meafure owe their agility. The feafon for hunting
the bear is during the winter ; when they take up
their abode in hollow trees, or make themfclves
dens in the roots of thofe that are blown down, the
entrance of which they flop up with branches of fir
that lie fcattered about. From thefe retreats it is

CARVE R^ TRAVELS.

faid they ftir not whilft the weather continues fevere/
and as it is well known that they do not provide thcm-
felves with food, they are fiippofed to be enabled
by nature to fubfift for fomc months without, and
during this time to continue of the fame bulk.

The WOLF* The wolves of North America
are much Icfs than thofe which are met with in other
parrs of the world. They have however, in com-
mon with the reft of their fpecies, a wildnefs in
their looks, and a fierccnefs in their eyes ; hotwith-
ftanding which, they are far from being fo ravenous
as the European wolves, nor will they ever atrack a
man, except they have accidentally fed on the flefh
of thofe flam in battle. When they herd together,
as they cfcen do in the winter, they make a hideous
and terrible noife. In thefe parts there are two
kinds } one of which is of a fallow colour, the other
of a dun, inclining to a black.

The FOX. There are two fofts of foxes in North-
America, which differ only in their colour, one be-
ing of a reddilh brown, the other of a grey j thofe
of the latter kina that are found near the river
Miffiffippi, are extremely beautiful, their hair being
of a tine lilver grey^

DOGS. The dogs employed by the Indians in
hunting appear to be all of the fame fpecies i they
carry their ears ereft, and greatly refemblc a wolf
about the head. They are exceedingly ufeful to
them in their hunting excurfions, and will attack the
tierccft of the game they are in purfuit of. They arc
alfo remarkable for their fidelity to their matters ;
but being ill fed by them, are very troublefome ir^
their huts or tents*

CA&VER's TRAVELS.

i$7

The CAT of the Mountain. This creature is in
fhapc like a cat, only much Jarger. The hair or
fur refemblcs alfo the ikin of that domcftic animal;
the colour howc vet* differs, for the former is of a
reddifh or orange cad, but grows lighter near the
belly. The whole fkin is beautified with black fpot»
of different figures, of which thofc on the back arc
long, and thofe on the lower parts round. On the
ears there are black (Iripes; This creature is nearly
as fierce as a leopard, but will fcldom attack a man.

The BUFFALO. This beaft, of which there
are amazing numbers in thefc parts, is larger than
an ox, has fhort black horns, with a large beard
under his chin, and his head is fo full of hair, thac
it falls over his eyes^ and gives him a frightful look.'
There is a bunch on his back which begins at the
haunches, and increafing gradually to the Ihouldcrs,
reaches on to the neck. Both this excrefccnce and
its whole body are covered with long hair, or ra-
ther wool, of a dun or moufc colour, which is ex-
ceedingly valuable, efpecially that on the fore part
of the body. Its head is larger than a bull's^ with a^
very fhort neck ; the bread is broad, and the body
decreafcs towards the butrocks. Thele creatures?
will run away at the fight of a man, and d whole
herd will make off when they perceive a fingle dog."
The fiefli of the buffalo is excellent food, its hide
extremely ufclul, and the harr very proper for thd
manufadturc of various articles.

The DEER. There is but one fpecies of deer
in Norch-Americaj and thefe are higher and of a
flimmer make than thofe in Europe. Their Ihape
is ne.'.riy the fame as the European, their colour of
ii deep fallow, and their horns vtiy large and branch-
ino-. This be^ff is the fwifteft on the AmerTcaR

-jiit/llMF'^

iy9

C A R V E R's TRAVELS.

plains, and they herd together as they do in other
countries.

The ELK greatly exceeds the deer in fizc, being
in bulk cciual to a horfe. Its body is (hapcd like
that of a deer, only its tail is remarkably (hort, be-
ing not more than three inches long. The colour
of its hair, which is grey, and not unlike that of a
camel, but of a more rcddifli caft, is nearly three
inches in length, and as coarfc as that of a horfe.
rhc horns of this creature grow to a prodigious fize,
extending fo wide that two or three perlons might
fit between them at the fame time. They are not
forked like thofc of a deer, but have all their teeth
or branches on the outer edge. Nor does the form
of thofe of the elk refemble a dcer*s, the former be-
ing flat, and eight or ten inches broad, whereas the
latter are round and confiderably irarrower. They
Ihed their horns every year in the month of Febru-
ary, and by Auguft the new ones arc nearly arrived
at their full growth. Notwithftanding their fize,
and the means of defence nature has furnifhed them
with, they are as timorous as a deer. Their (kin is
very ufefijl, and will drefs as well as that of a buck.
They 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 almoft as enormous as that
animal's -, the ftem of them, however, is not quite
fo wide, and they branch on both fides like thofe of
a deer ; this creature alfo fheds them every year.
Though its hinder parts are very broad, its tail is
not above an inch long. It has feet and legs like a
camel j its head is about two feet long, its upper lip
much larger than the under, and the noftrils of it
are (o wide that a man might thruft his hand into
them a cORfiderable way. The hair ©f the moofe is

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

299

light grey, mixed with a blackifli red. Ic is very
claftic, for though it be beaten ever fo long, it will
retain its origin.d fliape. The flelh is cxccedinn;
good food, eafy of digcftion, and yery nourifliing.
The nofc, or upper lip, which is large and loofe
from the gums, is efteemed a great delicacy, being
of* a firm confillence, between marrow and griftle,
and when properly drefled, affbrds a rich and lufci-
ous dilh. Its hvde is very proper for leather, being
thick and ftrong, yetfoft and pliable. The pace of
this creature is always a trot, which is fo expediti-
ous, that it is exx:ecdcd in fwiftnefs but by few of its
fellow inhabitants of thefe woods. It is generally
found in the forcfts, where it feeds on mofs and buds.
Thoiigh this creature is of the deer kind, it never
herds as thofc do. Moft authors confound it with
the elk, deer, or carraboo, but it is a fpecies totally
different, as might be difcovered by attending to the
/defcription I have given of each.

The CARRABOO. This bead is not near fc
tall as the moofe, however it is fomething like it in
fliape, only rather more heavy, and inclining to th^
form of the afs. The horns of it are not flat as thofe
of the elk are, but round like thofe of the deer j they
alfo meet nearer together at the extremities, and
bend more over the face than cither thofe of the elk
or moofe. It partakes of the fwiftnefs of the deer,
and is with difficulty overtaken by its purfuers. The
flefli of it is likewife equally as goojd, the tongue
, particularly is in high eftcem. The Ikin being fmooth
and free from veins, is as valuable as fiiamoy.

The CARCAJOU. The creature, which is of
the cat kind, is a terrible enemy to the preceding
four fpecies of beafts. He either comes upon them
from Ibme concealment unperceived, or climbs yp
into a tree, and taking his flation on feme of the

.._^«llt0if

300

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

branches, waits till one of them, driven by an ex-
treme; of heat or cold, takes fhclter under ic ; when
he fallens upon his neck, and opening the jugular
vein, foon brings his prey to the ground. This he
is enabled to do by his long tail, with which he en-
circle the body of his adverlary ; and the only means
they have to fliun their fate, is by flying immedi-
ately to the waterj by this method, as the carcajou
has a gre^t diflikc to that element, he is fometimes
got rid of before he can effedt his purpofe.

The SKUNK. This is the mod 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 miftaken for that cr iture, but
it is very defFerent from it in many points. Its hair
is long and Ihining, variegated with large black and
.\^hite fpc^s, the former moftly on the Ibouiders and
rumpi it tail is very bulhy, like that of the fox, part
black, and part white like its body j it lives chieily
in the woods and hedges ; but its extraordinary pow-
ers are only ihewn when it is purfued. As foon as
he finds himfelf in danger, he ejeds, to a great dif-
tance from behind, a fmall ftream of water, of fo
fubtile a nature, and at the fame time of fo powerful
a fmcll, that the air is tainted with it for half a mile
in circumference J and his purfuers, whether men or
dogs, being almoft fuffocated with the flench, 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 B.^te Puante, the Stinking
Bead, It is almafl impollible to defcribe the noi-
fome efFeds of the liquid with which this .creature is
Supplied by nat,ure for its defence. If a drop of it
falls .on your clothes, they are rendered fo disagree-
able that i? is impofHble ever after to wear them j or
if any of it enters your eyelids, the pain becomes in-
,t9lerable for a long time, and perhaps at laft lofe

C A R V E R's TRAVELS.

3or

your fight. The fmcll of the ikunk, though thus
to be dreaded, is not like that of a putrid carcafc,
but a ftrong foetid effluvia of mufk, which difpleafes
rather from its penetrating power than from its niu-
feoLifnefs. It is notwithflanding confidered as con-
ducive to clear the head, and to raifc the fpirits.
This water is fuppofcd by nuturalifts to be its urine:
but I have uilTeiSted many of them that I have ftioc^
and have found within their bodies, near the urinal
vcilci, a fmail reccptaric of water, totally diitin^
from the bladder which contained the urine, an4
from which alone I am fatisfied the horrid ftench
proceeds. After having taken out with great care
the bag wherein this water is lodged, I have fre-
quently fed on them, and have found them very
Iweet and good j but one drop emitted, taints not
only the carcafe, but the whole houfe, and renders
every kind of provifions, that arc in it, unfit for
ufc. With great judice therefore do the French
give it fuch a diabolical name.

The PORCUPINE. The body cf an Ameri-
can porcupine is in bulk abouk the fize ot n fmall
dog, but it is both fhorter in length, and not fo
high from the ground. It varies very much from
thofc of other countries both in its fhape and the
length of its quills. The former is like that of a fox,
except the head, which is not fo Iharp and long,
but refemblcs 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 thicknefsofa
ftraw, and are termed its quills. Thefe are white,
with black points, hollow and very ftrong, e(pcci-
ally thofe that grow on the back. The quills fcrvc
this creature for ofT^nfive and defenfive weapons,
which he darts at his enemies, and if they pierce
the flefh in the leaft degree, they will fink quite into
it, and arc not to be extra«5ted without incifion.

302

CARVE R»8 TRAVELS.

The Indians ufe them for boring their ears and Hofcs,
to infert their pendants, and alfo by way of orna-
ment to their ftockings, hair, &c. befides which
they greatly eftecm the flefh.

The WOOD-CHUCK is a ground animal of
the fur kind, about the fize of a marten, being
nearly fifteen inches longi its body however is roun-
der, and its legs Ihorter j the fore-paws of it are
broad, and sonftruded for the purpofe of digging
holes in the ground, where it burrows like a rabbit;
its fur is of a grey colour, on the reddilh caft, and
its flefh tolerable food.

The RACOON is fomewhat lefe in fize than a
beaver, and its feet and legs are like thofe of that
creature, but fiiort in proportion to its bodv, which
refembles that of a badger. The fhapc or its head
is mucli like a fox's, only the ears are fhorter,
more round and naked j and 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 flripe
that runs acrofs it, and includes the eyes, which
are large. Its muzzle is black, and at the end
roundifh like that of a dogj the teeth are alfo
fimilar to thofe of a dog in number and fhapej 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 fharp claws, by which it is
enabled to climb up trees like a monkey, and to
run to the very extremities of the bougbs. It makes
ufe of its fore- feet, in the manner of hands, and
feeds itfclf wich them. The flefli of this creature
is very good in the months of September and Oct
tober> when fruit and nuts,, on which it likes to
feed, are plenty. •

CARVE R's TRAVELS.

505

The MARTEN is rather larger than a fquirrtl,
and fomewhatof the fame make; its legs and claws,
however, are confiderably fhorter. Its ears are
Ihort, broad, and roundifn, and its eyes fhine in
the night like thofe of a cat. The whole body is
covered with fur of a brownifh fallow colour, and
tticre are fome in the more northern parts which
are black j the fkins of the latter arc 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 cfteem.

The MUSQUASH, or MUSK-RAT, is fo
termed for the exquifite mufk 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 cxa6bly the
fame as that of an European rat, the ftru6lure of
their 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
perfe<5t conftruftion, and takes up its abode near
the fide of fome piece of w^atcr. 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, ralberries, 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 fogd, and there is
the greateft reafon to believe, fubfift without any
till the return of fpring.

J«4

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

SQUIRRELS. There arc five forts of fquirrek
in Americas the red, the grey, the black, the va-
riegated, and the flying. The two former arc
cxafUy the fame as thofc of Europe ; the black are
fbmewhat larger, and differ from them only in
colour i the variegated alfo refcmble them in (hape
and figure, but are very beautiful, being finely
ftriped with v/hite or grey, and fometiines with
red and black. The American flying fquirrel is
much lefs than the European, being not above five
inches long, and of a ruflet grey or afli -colour
on the back, and white on the under parts. It
has black prominent eyes, like thofe of the moufe,
with a long, fiat, 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 (land a confiderable diftance
apart ; this loofe fkin, which it is enabled to (trctch
out like a fail, and by which it is buoyed up, is
about two inches broad, and is covered with a fine
hair or down. It feeds upon the fame provificns as
the others, and is eafily tamed.

The BEAVER. This creature has been fa often
treated of^ and his uncommon abilities fo minutely
dcfcribed, that any further account of it will appear
unneccflaryj however for the benefit of thofe of my
readers who are not fo w^ll acquainted with the
form and properties of this fagacious and ufeful
animal, I fhall give a concife dcfcription of it. The
beaver is an amphibious quadruped, which cannot
live for any long time in the water, and k is faid
is even able to cxift entirely without it, provided
it has the convenience of fometimes bathing itfelf.
The largeft beavers are nearly four feet in length,
and about fourteen or fifteen inches in breadth over
the haunches i they weigh about fixty pounds. Its
head is like that of the otter, but largerj its fnout

C A R V E il's t Tv A V £ L J5.

3^5

is pretty long, the eyes fmall, the cars fhort, roiindi
hairy on the ouifidc, and fmooth within, and its
teeth very longj} the under teeth ftand out of their
mouths about the breadth of three fingers, and
the upper half a finger, all of which arc broadj
crooked, ftrong, ana fharp; Belides thofe teetll
called the incifors, which gt-ow double, are fet
very deep in their jaws, and bend like the edge of
an axe, they have fixtcen grinders, eight on each
fide, four above and four belowj dircftly oppofitc
to each other. With the former they are able t6
cut down trees of a confiderabfe fize; with the latter
to break the hardeft fubftanccs. Its legs arc, fhort;
particularly the fore-legs, which arc only foiii^ or
five inches long, and not unlike thdfe of a badger ;
the toes of the fore-feet arefeparatej the nails placed
obliqUelyi and ire hollow like quills j bUt the hind
feet are quite diiferent, and furhifhed with mem-
branes between the toes. By this means ic caii
walk though but Howly, and is able to Iwim ^vith
as much cafe as any other aquitic animal; The
tail has fomewhat in it that refenibles a fillip and,
feems to have no manner of relation to the reft of
the body, except the hind feet; all the other parts
being fimilar to thole of land animals. The tail is
covered with a Ikin furnilhed with fcales, that:
are joined together by a pellicle ; rheir fcales arc
slbout the thicknefs of parchment, nearly a line and
a half in length, and generally of a licxdgonical
figure; havi.'ig fix cot-nersj it is about eleven or
twelve inches in length, and broader in the middle,
where it is four inches over, than cither at the rocc
Or the exiremitv. It is about two inches thick near
the body, where it is almoft roUnd, and grows gra-
dually thinner and flitter to the end. The colour
of the beaver is different according to the difl^:reriC
climates in which it is found. In the moft northcrri

5o6

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

parts they are generally quite black j in more tem-
perate, brown; their colour beconing lighter and
lighter a:, they appronch towards the fouth. The
fur is of two Ibrts ail over the body, except ?t the
feet, where it is very iliort j that which is the longeft
is generally in length about an inch, but on the back
it fomctimes extends to two inches, gradually di-
mini thing towards the head and tail. This part of
tlie fur is harfhi coarfe, and fliining, and of little
ufej the other part confifts of a very thick and tine
down,, fo f©ft that it feels almoft likfc filk, about
three quarters of an inch in length, and is what is
commonly manufadlurcd. Caftor, which is ufeful
in medicine, is produced from the body of this
creature j it was formerly believed to be its tefticles,
but later difcoveries have fliown that it is contained
in four bags, fituated ih the lower belly. Two of
which, that are called the fuperior, from their being
more elevated than the others, are filled with a foft,
refmous, adhefive matter, mixed with fmall fibres^
greyifh without, and yellow within, of a ftrong^
difagreeable, and penetrating fcent, and very in-
flammable. This is the true caftor*ium: it hardens
in the air, and becomes brown, brittle, and friable;
The inferior bags contain an iiniftuous liquor like
honey i the colour of which is a pale fellow, and
its odor foinewhat different fiom the other, being
rather weaker ai ' more difagreeable, it however
thickens as it grows older, and at length becomes
about the confifience 6( tallow. This has alfo its
particular ufe in medicine j but it is not fo valuable
as the true eaftoreum.>

Th'^ ingehuity of thefe creatures in building their
Cabins, and in providing for their fubfiftence, is truly
Wdndcrfiil. When they are about to coofe them-
felvcs ix habitation, they aflemble in companies
f&metimes of two or ihtee hundred, and after mature

CARVE R's TRAVELS.

307

deliberation fix on n place where plenty of pro^
yifions and all necelTaries are to be found. Their
houfes arc always fituated in the water, and when
they can find neither lake nop pond adjacent, they
endeavour to fupply the defed by flopping the cur-
rent of fome brook or fmall river by means of a caufe^
way or dam, For this purpofc they i'ct about fell-
ing of trees, and they take care to choofe out thofe
that grow above the place where they intend to build,
that they may fwim down with, the current. Hav-
ing fixed on thofe t-hat are proper, three or foi'r
beavers placing themfelves round a large one, find
means with their ftrong teeth to bring it down.
They alfo prudently contrive that it iliallfall towards
the water, that they may have the lefs way to carry
it. After they have by a continuance of the fame
labor and induftry, cut it into proper lengths, they
roll 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 conftru6tion of their dams, I fhall only
remark, that having prepared a kind of mortar with
their feet> and laid it on with their tails, which they
had before made uiie of to tranfport it to the place
where it is requifite, they conftru6l them with as
much foiidity and regularity as the molt experi-
enced workmen could do. The formation of
their cabins is no Icfs amazing. Thefeare either
built on piles in the middle of the fmall lakes
they have thus formed, on the bank of a river,
or at the extremity of fome point of land that ad-
vances into a \ake. The figure of th jm is round or
oval, and they, are fafhioned with an ingenuity equal
to their dams. Two thirds of the ediJice ftan-d above
the water, and this part is fufliciently capacious to.
gonta,in eight or ten inhabitants. Each beayer has,
lliis place affigned him, the floor of which he curi^
Quily ftrevys with leaves, or fmall, branches of tli^

CARVER'S TRAVE^t^a.

pinc-trcc, (o as to render it clean and comfortable;
and their cabins are all fituated fo contiguous to
each other, as to allow of an eafy communication.
The winter never furprifes thefe animals before their
bufincfs is completed i for by the latter end of Sep-
tember their houfes are tinifhcd, and their (lock of
provifions is generally laid in. Thefe confift of
fmall pieces of wood whole texture is foft, fuch as
the ppjjlar, ' the afpin, or willow, &c. which they
lay up in piles, arid difpofe of in fuch maner as to
prcfervc their moifture.' Was I to enumerate every
mftance of fagacity that is to be difcovered in thefe
animals, they would fill a volume, and prove no^
on y entertaining but inftru6l:ivc.

The OTTER, This creature alfo is amphibi-
ous, and greatly refembles a beaver, but is very
diftererit from it m many refpefts. Its body is nearly
as long as a bcayer's, but confiderably l^fs in all its
parts, '" The fnuzzie, eyes, and the foi^m of the
jiead are' nearly the f^me, but the teeth are very
unlike, for the otter wants the large incifors or nip-
pers that a beaver has i inftead of thefe, all his
teeth, without any diftin(5bion, are Ihaped like
thofe pf ^ dog or wolf. The hair alfo of the
former is not half fo long as that belonging to
the latter, ^or is thie colour of it exadtly the fame,
for the Ijiair of an otter under the heck, flomach,^
and belly, is tnore greyifh than that of a, beaver,
and in niany other refpefts it likewife varies.
This animal, which is met with in moft parts of
^he Wofid, but in much greater numbers in North-
iVmerica, is very mifchievous, and when he is
clofely purfucd, will not only attack dogs brt
men. •

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

309.

It generally feeds upon filh, efpecially in the
fummcr, but in the winter is contented with the
bark of trees, or the produce of the fields. Its
flefh both taftes and fmells offifh, and is not whole-
feme food, though it is fomctimcs eaten through
nccelTity.

The MINK is of the otter kind, and fubfifts in
the fame manner. In fhape and fize it rcfemblcs a
pole-cat, being equally long and flender. Its fkin
IS blacker than that of m otter, or a^moft any othei*
creature; ** as black as a mink," being a pro-
verbial expreffion in America j it is not however
fo valuable, though this greatly depends on the
ieafon in which it is taken. Its tail is round like
that of a fnakc, but growing flattifh towards the
end, and is entirely without hair. An agreeable
mufky fcent exhales from its body; and it is met
with near the four^es p/ rivers, on whofe banks it
chiefly lives,

OF THE BIRPS.

The Eagle, the Hawk, the Night Hawk, the
Fifli Hawk, the WhipperwiHj the Raven, the Crow,
the Owl, Parrots, the Pelican, the Crane, the Stork,
the Cormorant, the Heron, the Swan, the Goofe,
Ducks, Teal, the Loon, the Water-Hen, the Tur-
key, the Heath Cock, the Partridge, the Quail, Pi-
geons, the Snipe, Larks, the Woodpecker, the Cuc-
koo, the Blue Jay, the Swallow, the Wakon Bird,
the Black Bird, the Red Bird, the Thrufh, the Whet-
faw, the Nightingale, the King Birdj the Robin, the
Yfren, and the Humming Bird.

■ mm«00t^^

3<<*

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

The EAGLE. There arc only two forts of ea-
gles in thelc parts, the bald and the grey, which art-
much the fame in fizc, and f^milar to the Ihape o(
thofe of other countries.

The NIGHT HAV^K. This bird is of the
hawk fpecies, its bill being crooked, its wings
formed for fwiftnefs, and its Ihape nearly like that of
the common hawk , but in fi^e ii is cpnfiderabiy lefs,
and in colour rather darker. It is fcarcely ever feen
but in the evening, when, at the approach of twi-
light, it flies about, and darts itfelf in wanton gam-
bols at the head of the belated traveller. Before a
thunder-lhower thefe birds are feen at an amazing
height in the air, al^embled together in great num-
bers, as fwallows are obferved to do on the fame
pccafion.

The WHIPPERWILL, or, as it U termed Ky
the Indians, the Muckawifs. This extraordinary
bird is fomewhat like the laft-mentioned in its Ihape
^nd colour, only it has fome whitilh flripes acrofs the
■wings, and like that is feldom ever feen till after
fun-fet. It alfa is never met with but during the
fpring and fummer months. As foon as the Indi-
ans are informed by its notes of it$ return, they con-
clude that the froft is ent;irely gone, in which, they
are feldom deceived, and on receiving thi^s afliirance
of milder weal;hcr,^ begin to fow their corn. It ac-
quires its name by the noife it makes, \yhich to the
people of the colonies founds like the name they give
it, Whipperwill j to an Indian ear Muck-a-wifs,
The words, it is true, are not alike,^ but in this man-
ner they ftrike the imagination of' both j and the
circumftance is a proof that the fame founds, if they
are not rendered certain by being reduced to the
rules of orthography, might convey different idea^

CARVE R's TRAVELS. $ii

{o different people. As foon as night comes on,
thefc birds will place themfelves on the fences^
Itumps, or (tones that lie near fomc houfe, and re-
peat their melancholy notes without any variation till
midnight. The Indians, and fomc of the inhabit-
ants of the back fcttlements, think if this bird
J)<:rchcs upon any houfe, that it betokens fome
mifhap to the inhabitants of it.

The FISH HAWK greatly fefembles the latter
in its fhape, and receives his name from his foodj
which is generally filh i it Ikims over the lakes and
rivers and fometimes feems to lie expanded on thfi
Water, as he hovers fo clofe to it, and having by
fome attractive power drawn the filh within its reach,
darts fiiddenly upon them. The charm it make^
ufe of is fuppofed to be an oil contained in a fmall
bag in the body, and which nature has by fomc
ineans or bther fupplied him with the power of ufing
for this purpofe ; it is however very certain that any
bait touched with a drop of the oil colle6ted fronv
this bird is an irrefiftible lure for all forts of fifh, and
infurcs the angler great fuccefs.

The OWL. The only fort of owls that is found
pn the banks of the Miififfippi is extremely beauti-
ful in its plumage, being of a fine deep yellow or
gojd colour, pleafmgly Ihadcd and fpotted;

The CRANE. There is a kind of crane in thefe
partSj which is called by Father Hennipin a pelican,
that is about the fi2e of the European crane, of a
greyilh colour, and with long legs j but this Ipecies
differs from all others in its bill, which is about
twelve inches lone, and oae inch and a half broad, of
which breadth it continues to the end, where it is
blunted, and round like a paddle : its tongue is of
the fame length.

3*»

CARVERS TRAVEL <?.

DUCKS. Among a variety of wild ducks;
the diUcrent fpccies of which amount to upwards
of twenty, I fliall confine my dcfcription to one
fort, that is, the wood duck, or, as the French
term it, Canard Branchus. This fowl receives its
name from its frequenting the woodsj and ptrchinw
on the branches of trees, which no other kind of
water fowl (a charafteriftic that this (till prefervcs)
is known to do. It is nearly of a fize with other
ducks; its plumage is beautifully variegated, and
very brilliant. The flelh of it alio, as it feeds but
little on fifhi is finely flavored, and much fuperior
to any other fort.

The TEAL. I have alrei d/ remarked in my
Journal, that the teal found on the Fox River^
and the head branches of the MiflilTippi, are per-
haps not to be equalled for the fatnefs and delicacy
of their flefh by any other in the world. In colour^
ihape, and fize they are very little different from
thofe found in other countries.

The LOON is a water fowl, fomeWhai lefs than
a teal, and is a fpecies of the dobchick. Its wings
are (hort, and its legs and feet large in proportion
to the body; the colour of it is a dark brown,
nearly approaching to black j and as it feeds only
on fiilii the flefh of it is very ill fislvored. Thefe
birds are exceedingly nimble and expert at diving;
fo that it is almoft impoflible for one perfon to fhoot
them, as they will dextrcufly avoid the fhot by
diving before they reach themi (a that it requires
three perfons to kill one of them, and this can only
be done the moment it raifes its head out of the wa-
ter as it returns to the furface after diving. It
however oiily repays the trouble taken co obtain it,
by the excellent fport it affords.

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

3>3

The PARTRIDGE. There are three forts of
Jiartridgcs here, the brown, the red, andthebluck,
the firft of which is mod eftecmcd. They arc ail
much larger than the European partridges, being
nearly the fize of a hen pheafantj their head ami
eyes are alfo like that 'bird, and they have all long
tails, which they fprcad like a fan, but noteredtj
but contrary to the cuflom of thofe in other coun-
tries, they will perch on the branches of the poplar
and black birch, on the buds of which they tccd
early in the morning and in the twilight of the
evening during the winter months, when they are
cafily Ihot.

The WOOD PIGEON is nearly the fame as
ours, and there arc fuch prodigious quantities of
them on the banks of the Mifllflippi, that they will
fometimes darken the fun for feveral minutes.

The WOODPECKER. This is a very beau-
tiful birdi there is one fort whofe feathers arc a mix-
ture of various colours; and another tha: is brown
all over the body, except the head and neck, which
are of a fine red. As this bird is fuppofed to maks
a greater noife than ordinary at particular times, iL
is conjedured his cries then denote rain.

The BLUE JAY. This bird is ftiaped nearly
like the European jay, only that its tail is longer.
On the top of its head is a creft of blue feathers,
which is railed or let down at pleafure. The lower
part of the neck behind, and the back, are of a ,
purplifh colour, and the upper fides of the wings
and tail, as well as the lower part of the back and
rump, are of a fine blue; the extremities of the
wings are blackifh, faintly rinftured with dark blue
on the edges, whilft the other parts of the wing arc

Rr *

5'*

CARVER'3 TRAVELS.

barred aciofs with bhck 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 climates. It has the fame jetting motion
that jays generally have> and its cry is hr more
pleafmg.

The WAKON BIRD, as it is termed by the
Indians, appears to be of the fame fptcies as the
birds of paradife. The name they have given it is
expreffive of its fuperior cisceilence, and the vene-
ration they have for itj the wakon bird being in
their language the bird of ^he Great Spirit. It is
nearly the fize of a fwallow, of a brown colour,
(haded about the neck with a bright green; the
wings are of a darker brown than the body; its tail
is compoled of four or five feathers, which are three
times as long as its body, and which are beautifully
Ihaded with green and purple. It carries thir 'Anc
length of plumage in the fame manner as a peacock
does, but it is not known whether it ever raifes ic
into the eredt pofition that bird fometimes does«
I never faw any of thefe birds in the colonies, but
the Naudoweflie Indians caught feveral of them when
I was in their country, and feemed to treat them
as if they were of a fuperior rank to any other of
the feathered race.

The BLACK BIRD. There are three forts of
birds in North- America that bear this name; the
firft is the common, or as it there termed, the crow
black bird, which is quite black, and of the fame
fize and ihape 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 mifchief to the Indian corn, which is
at tl a. time juft ripe. The fecond fort is the red-
wing, which is rather fmaller than the firft fpecies,

CARVER' 8 TRAVELS.

3>5

but like it is black all over its body, except on tli«
lower rim of the wings, where it is a fine, bright,
full fcarlct. It builds its neft, and chiefly reforts
among the fraall bufhes that grow in meadows
and low, fwampy places. It whiftles a few notes,
but is not equal in its fong to the European black
bird. The third fort is of the fume fize as the lat-
ter, and is jet black lilie that, but all the upper
part of the wing, juft bdow the back, is of a fine,
clear white; as if nature intended to diverfi fy the
fpecies, and to atone for the want of a melodious
pipe by the beauty of its plumage ; for this alfo is
deficient in its mufical powers. The beaks of every
fort are of a full yellovv, ai d the females of each of
a rufty black like the European.

The RED BIRD is about the Cize of a fparrow,
b^r with a long tail, and is all over of a bright
vermilion colour, I faw many of them about the
Ottawaw Lakes, but I could not learn that thev
fung. I alfo obferved in fome other parts, a bird
of much the fame make, that was entirely of a fine
yellow.

The WHETSAW is of the cuckoo kind, being
like that, a folitary bird, and fcarccly ever feen.
In the fummer months it is heard in the groves,
where it makes a ncife like the filing of a faw j from
which it receives its name.

The KING BIRD is like a fwallow, and feems
to be of the fame fpecies as the black marten or
fwift, It is called the King Bird bccaufe it is able
to mafter almoft every bird that flies, I have often
feen it bring down a hawk.

The HUMMING BIRD. This beautiful bird,
which is the fmalleft of the feathered inhabitants oi
the air, is about the third part the fize of ^ wreoj

316

C A R V E R?s TRAVELS.

and is fiiaped extremely like it. Its legs, which
are about an inch long, app;?ar like two fniall
needles, and its body is proportionable to them.
But its plumage exceeds dcfcription. On its head
^t has a fmall tuft of a jetty, Ihining black; the
breaft of it is red, the belly white, the back, wings,
and tail of the fined pale green j and fmajl fpecks
of gold are fcattered with inexprelTible grace over
the whole: befides this, -^n almolt imperceptible
down foftens the colours, and produces the moft
pleafing ihades. With its bill, which is of the
fame diminutive fize as the other parts of its body,
it ext 'afts fiom the flowers a moifturc which is its
nourifhment; over thefe it hovers like a bee, but
never lights on them, moving at the fame time it?
wings with fuch velocity tliat the motion of them
is imperceptible; nctwirhftanding which they make
a humming noife, fiQi^i vyheiice it receives iis
name.

Of the fishes which are found in th^
Waters of the' Mississippi.

1 have already given a defcription of thofe that arc
taken in thp great lakes.

The Sturgeon, the Pout or Cat Fifh, the Pike,
the Garp, and the Chub,

The STURGEON. The frefli water fturgeon
is ibaped in no other refped lijce thofe taken near
the fea, except in the formation of its head and
tail; which are fafliioned in the fame manner, but
the body is not fo angulated, nor are tb-re fo many
horny fcales about it as on the latter. Its length
is generally about two feet and a half or three feet
lon^i but in circumference not proportionable, be-

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

3«7

'ike,

ing a flender filb. The flefh is exceedingly delicate
and finely flavored j I caught fome in the kcad wa-
ters of the river St. Croix that far exceeded trout.
The manner of taking them is by watching them
as they lie under the banks in a clear ftream, and
darting at them with a filh-fpearj for they will not
take a bait. There is alfo in the Miffiffippi, and
there only, anopher fort than the fpecies I have def-
cribed, which is fimilar to it in every refped:, ex-
cept that the upper jaw extends foui^teen or fifteen
inches beyond" the underj this extenfive jaw, which
is of a griftly fubftance, is three inches and a half
broad, and continues of that breadth, fomewhat in
the fhape of an oar, to the end, which is flat. The
flelh of this filh, hov/ever, is not to be compared
w ith the other fort, and is not fo much cfl:eemed
even by the Indians.

The CAT FISH. This fifh is about eighteen
inches longj of a brownifli colour, and without
fcales. It has a large round head, from whence it
receives its name, on diflierent parts of which grow
three or four ftrong, fharp horns about two inches
long. Its fins are alfo very bony and flrong, and
without great care will pierce the hands of thofc
who take them. It weighs commonly about five
or fix pounds; the flefli of it is exceffively fat and
lufcious, and greatly refembles that of an eel in its
flavor.

reon

inear

and

but

lany

igth

I feet

Ibe-

The CARP and CHUB are much the fame as
fhofe in England, and nearly about the fame in fizc.

OF SERPENTS.

The Rattle Snake, the Long Black Snake, the
Wall or Houfe Adder, the Striped or Garter Snake,

jia

C A R V E R'8 r R A V E L S,

the Wj cr Snake, the HifTing Snake, the Green
Snake, the Thorn-tail Snake, the Speckled Snake,
the Ring Snake, the Two-headed Snalie,

The RATTLE SNAKE. There appears to
be two 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. Ac their full growth they are upwards of
Jive feet long, and the middle part of the body, ac
which it is of the greatetl bulk, meafures about nine
inches round. From that part it gradually decrea-
fes both towards the head and the tail. The neck
is proportionably very fmall, and the head broad
and deprefTed. Thefe are of a light brown colour,
the iris of the eye red, and all the upper part of the
body brown, mixed with a ruddy yellow, and che-
quered with many regular lines of a deep black,
gradually fh^ding towards a gold colour. In fhorc
the whole of this dangerous reptile is very beautiful,
and could it be viewed with lefs terror, ftich a va-
riegated arrangement of colours would be extremely
pleafing, But thefe are only to be fecn in their
higheft perfe6lion at the time this creature is ani-
rnated by refentmentj then every tint rufhes from
Its fubcutaneous reccfs, aiid gives the furface of the
Jkin a deeper ftain, The belly is of a palifh blue,
w^hich grows fuller as it approaches the iides, and
is at length intermij^ed with the colour of the upper
part. The rattle at its tail, from which it receives
its name, is compofed of a firm, dry, calluos, or
horny fubftance of a light brown, and confifts of a
number of cells which articulate one within another,
Jike joints J and which increafes every year, and
make known the age of the creature. Thefe arti-
culations being very loofe, the included points
ftrike againft the inner furface of the concave
parts or rings into which they arc admitted^ anct

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

5»9

Green

ars to
; com-
'ellow;
as the
irds of
)dy, ac
jt nine
lecrea-
c neck
I broad
colour,
of the
id che-
black,
n fhort
iutiful,
a va-
rcmely
their
IS ani-
from
I of the
blue,
[s, and
upper
[ceives
los, Gi-
ts of a
lother,
and
le arti-
Ipoints
Incavc
anci

as the fnake vibrates, or Ihakes its tail, make a
rattling noife. This alarm is always given when ic
is apprchcnfive of danger j and in an inftant af-
ter forms itfelf into a fpiral wreath; in the cen-
tre of which appears the head ere(5i:, and breath-
ing forth vengeance again either man or bead that
(hall dare to come near it. In this attitude he awaits
the approach of his enemies, rattling his tail as
he fees or hears them coming on. By this timely inti-
mation, which heaven feems to have provided as a
means to counteract the mifchief this venomous rep-
tile would otherwife be the perpetrator of, the un-
wary traveller is apprized of his danger, and has en
opportunity of avoiding it. It is however to be ob-
ferved, that it never a6ls ofFenfively j it neither
purfues nor flies from any thing that approaches it,
but lies in the pofition defcribedj rattling his tail, as
if relu6lant 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
tv/o in number, Very fmail and Iharp pointed, and
fixed in a finewy fubftance that lies near the ex-
tremity of the upper jaw, refembling the claws of a
cat} at the root of each of thefe, which might be
extended, contraded, or entirely hidden, as need
requires, are two fmall bladders which nature has
fo conftruded, that at the fame inftant an inciflon is
made by the teeth, a drop of a greenilh, poifonous
liquid enters the wound, and taints with its dcftruc-
tive quality the whole mafs of blood. In a moment
the unfortunate vi<ftim of its wrath feels a chilly tre-
mor run through all his frame ; a fwcUing immedi-
ately begins on the fpot where the teeth had entered,
which fpreads by degrees over the whole body, and
produces on every part of the fkin the variegated
hue of the fnake. The bite of this reptile is more
or lefs venomous, according to the feafon of the
year in which it is given. In the dog-days it often

3M>

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

proves inftantly mortal, and efpecially if the wound
is made among the finews fituated in the back part
of the" leg, above the heel j but in the fpring, in
autumn, or during a cool day whic^h ml?;ht happen
in the fummer, its bad effeCls arc to be prevented
by the immediate application of proper remedies ;
and thefe Providence has bounteoufly fupplied, by
caufing the Rattle Snake Plantain, an approved an-
tidote to the poifon of this creature, to grow in great
profufion wherever they are to be met with. There
are likcwife feveral other remedies befides this, for
the venom of its bite. A decodtion made of the
buds or bark of the white afli, taken internally, pre-
vents its pernicious efTedts. Salt is a newly difcc-
vercd remedy, and if applied immediately to the
jjart, or the wound be walhed with brine, a cure
.might be aflured. The fat of the reptile alfo rub-
bed on it is frequently found to be very efficacious.
But thougli the lives of the perfons who have b^en
bitten might be preferved by thefe, and their health
in fome degree reftored, yet they annually experi-
ence a flight return of the dreadful fymptoms about
the time they received the inftillation. Plowever
remarkable it may appear, it is certain, that though
the venom of this creature affefts, in a greater or
lefs degree, all animated nature, the hog is an ex-
ception to the rule, as that animal will readily de-
ftroy them without dreading their poifonous fangs,
and fatten on their flefli. It has been often obferved,
and I can confirm the obfervation, that the Rattle
Snake is charmed with any harmonious founds, whe-
ther vocal or inftrumental J I have many times {^cn
them, even when they have been enraged, place
themfelves in a liftening pofture, and continue im-
movably attentive and fufceptible of delight all the
time the mufic has lafted. I fliould have remarked,
that when the Rattle Snake bices, it drops its under
jaw, and holding the upper jaw ered, throv>s itrdt'

0,.-

C A R V E R*s TRAVELS.

3»i

in a curve line, with great force, and as quick as
lightning, on the objcfi: of its refentment. In a
moment after, it returns again to its defenfive pof-
ture, having difcngaged its teeth from the wound
with great celerity, by means of the pofition in
which it had placed its head when it made the attack.
It never extends itfelf to a greater diftance than half
its length will reach, and though it fometimes re-
peats the blow two or three times, it as often returns
with a fudden rebound to its former ftate. The
Black Rattle Snake differs in no other refpedt from
the Yellow, than in being rather fmaller, and in the
variegation of its colours, which arc exadlly reverfed:
one is black where the other is yellow, and vice
verfa. They are equally venomous. It is not known
how thefc creatures engender i I have often found
the eggs of feveral other fpecies of the fnake, but
notwithftanding no one has taken more pains to ac-
quire a perfedt knowledge of every property of thefe
reptiles than myfelf, I never could difcover the
manner in which they bring forth their young. I
once killed a female that had feventy young ones in
its belly, but thefe were perfedbly formed, and I faw
them juft before retire to the mouth of their mother
as a place of fecurity, on my approach. The galls
of the ferpent, mixed with chalk, are formed into
little balls, and exported from America, for medical
purpofes. They are of the nature of Gafcoign's
powders, and are an excellent remedy for complaints
incident to children. The flefh of the fnake alfo
dried, and made into broth, is much more nutritive
than that of vipers, and very efficacious againft con-
lumptions.

•

^ The LONG BLACK SNAKE thefe are alfo of
two forts, both of which are exactly fimilar in jfhape
and fizc, only the belly of one is a light red, the

. Sf

■**

C A R V E R's TRAVELS.

other a faint blue j all the uppia- parts of their bodies
are black and fcaly. They arc in general from fix
to eight feet in length, and carry their heads, as
they r.rawl along, about a foot and a half from the
ground. They cafily climb the higheft trees in pur-
ftiit of birds and fquirrcls, which are thetr chief food;
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 arc
pcrfeftly inoffenfive and Vree from venom.

The STRIPED or GARTER SNAKE is exaft-
ly the fame as that fpecies found in other cli-
mates.

The WATER SNAKE is much like the Rattle
Snake in fhape and fize, but is not endowed with
the fame vendmous powers, being quite harinlefs.

The HISSING SNAKE I have already parti-
cularly deferibed, when I treated, in my Journal, of
Lake Eric.

The GREEN SNAKE is about a foot and an
half long, and in colour foncar to grafs and herbs,
that it cannot be difcovered as it lies on the ground;
'happily, however, it is free from venom, otherwifc
it would do an infinite dieal 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 America, but is very feldom
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 inflict a mortal wound, *

#■

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

The SPECKLED SNAKE is an aqueous reptiles
about two feet and an half in length, but without
venom. Its (kin, which is brown and white, with
fome fpots of yellow in it, is ufcd by the Americans
as a cover for the handles of whips, and it renders
thcnci very pleafing to the fight.

The RING SNAKE is about twelve inches lonff-
the body of it is entirely black, except a yellow riog
which it has about its neck, and which appears like
a narrow piece of riband tied around it. This odd
reptile is frequently found in the bark of trees, and
among old logs.

The TWO-FJEADED SNAKE. The only
fnakc of this kind that was ever feen in America,
was found about the year 1762, near Lake Cham-
plain, by Mr. Park, a gentleman of New-England,
and made a prcfent to Lord Amherfl. It wan abouf
a foot long, and in fhape like the commctrr fnakc,
but it was furnifhed with two heads exaflly fimilar,
which united at the neck. Whether this was a
diftinft fpecies of fnakcs, and was able to propagate*
its likcncfs, or whether it was an ;iccidcntal for-
mation, I know not.

The TORTOISE or LAND TURTLE. The
fhape of this creature is fo well known that it is un-
neceflary to defcribe it. There are kvtn or eight
forts of them in America, fome of which are bednti-
fully variegated, even beyond difcription. The
Ihells of marty have fpots of red gre( n, and yel-
low in them, dnd the chequer woric is compoled of
fmall fquarcs curioufly difpof(!d, Tlie moit btdu-
tiful fort of thefe creatures are the fmalleft^, and"
the bite of them is faid to bt vcnomoius.

314

G A R V E R's TRAVELS.

L I Z A R P S, ^f,

Though there are numerous kinds of this clafs of
the animal cre.ition, in the country I tre?it of, I ihall
only take notice of two of them i which arc tcrmccl
the Swift and the Slow Lizard,

The SWIFT LIZARD is about fix inches long,
and has four legs and a tail. Its body, which is blue,
is prettily Ilriped with dark lines Hiaded with yellow j
but the end of the tail is totally blue. It is fo re-
markable agile, that in an inftant it is out of fight,
nor can its m<jvement be perceived by the quickeft
eye j fo that it might more juftly be faid to yanilh,
than to run iway. This fpecies arc fuppofed to poi-
fon thofc they bite, but are not d?ingerous, as they
never attack p^rfons that approach ♦'hem, choofinc
rather to get luddenly out of their reach. '

The SLOW LIZARD is of the fame fli^pe as
the Swift, but its colour is brown j it is moreover of
an oppofite difpofition, being altogether as flow in its
movements as the other is fwift. It is remarkable
thatthcfe lizards are extreme.^ brittle, and will break
off near the tail as cafily as an icicle.

Among the reptiles of North America, there is ^
fpeciesofthe toad, termed the TREE TOAD, which
is nearly the fame fhape as the common fort, but
fm.aUer and with longer claws. It is ufually found
on trees, flicking clofe to the bark, or iying in the
crevices of ic ; and fo nearly does it refemble the
colour of the tree to which it cleaves, that it is with
difficulty diJlinguifhed from ic. Thefe creatures
are only heard during the twilight of the morning and
evening, or iuft before and after a Ihower of rain,

CARVE RS TRAVELS.

^vhcn they make a croaking noife fomewhat (hriller
than thatof afrog, whichmightbc heard toagrcatdif-
tance. They infcft the woods in fuch numbers, that
their refponfive notes at thcfe times make the air
refound. It is only a fummer animal and never to
be found during the wiiiterr

INSECTS,

The interior parts of North- America abound with
pearly the fame infefts as are met with in the fame
parallels of latitude j and the fpecies of them arc fo
numerous and diverfified that even a fuccindl difcrip-
tion of the whole of them would fill a volume ; I ft all
therefore coi|«fine myfclf to a few, which I believe pre
almoft peculiar to this country j 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 thofe of
JPrance and Italy, but will not produce the fame quan-
tity of filk.

The TOBACCOWORM is a caterpillar of the
fize and figure of a filk worm, it is of a fine fca green
colour, on its rump it has a (ling or horn near a quar-
ter 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 remarkablyfondof it.

The LIGHTNING BUG or FIRE FLY is about
the fize of a bee, but it is of the beetle kind, having
like that infcft two pair of wings, the upper of which
are of a firm texture, to defend it from danger. When

326

C A R V E R's TRAVELS.

it flics, and the wings arc expanded, there is under
the fc a kind of coat, conftru^tcd alfo like wings,
which is luminous; and as the infcft palTcs on, caulcs
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 ftiines, and throws the
light on the fpace beneath} but as foon as it fprcads
its upper wings to fly away, the whole body which
lies behind them appears illuminated all around.
The light it gives is not conftantly of the fame
magnitude, rvenwhen it fliesj butfeemsto depend
on the expanfion or contradtion of the luminous
coat or wings, and is very different from that emit-
ted in a dark night by dry wood or fome kinds of
fifli, it having much «nore the appearance of real
fire. They feem to be fenfible of the power they
are poflcfled 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 dufky brown, they are not then difccrnible, or
from their retiring to holes and crevices, I know
not, but they are never to be difcovered in the day.
They chiefly arc 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 v/ifhed either to imi-
tate or aflTift the flalhes; for during the intervals,
they are uncommonly agile, and endeavour to throw
out every ray they can collcft. Notwithftanding
this effulgent appearance, thefe infedls are pfrfeclly
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
fmalleft prin^.

C A R V E R's TRAVELS.

327

The WATER BUG is of a brown colour, about
the fize of a pea, and in fhape nearly oVal i it has
many legs, by means of which it pafles over the
furface of the water with fuch incredible fwiftnefs,
that it feems to Hide or dart itfelf along.

The HORNED BUG, or as it is fometimes
termed the STAG BEETLE, is of ^ dulky brown
colour nearly approaching to black, about an inch and
an half long, and half an inch broad. It has two large
horns, which grow on each fide of the head, and
meet horizontally, and with thefe it pinches very
hardj they are branched like thofe of a flag, from
whence it receives its name. They fly about in
the evening, and prove very troublcfome to thofe
who are in the fields at that time.

I muft not omit that the LOCUST is a fepten-
nial infeft, as they are only feen, a fmall number
of ftragglers excepted, every feven years, when
they infefl thefc parts and the interior colonics in
large fwarms, and do a great deal of mifchief. The
years when they thus arrive arc denominated the
locufl years.

3*8

CARVER'S T R A V E t &

CHAPTER XVi,

Of the TreeSj Shrubs, Roots, Herbs, Flowers, &e.

J[ SHALL here obferve the fame method
that I have purfued in the preceding chapter, and
having given a lift of the trees, &c. which are na-
tives of lIic interior parts of North- America, par-
ticularize fuch only as differ from the produce of
other countries, or, being little known, have not
been defcribcd.

OF TREES.

The Oak, the Pine Tree, the Maple, the Afli,
the Hemlock, the Bafs or White Wood, the
Cedar, the Elm, the Birch, the Fir, the Locuft
Tree, the Poplar, the Wickopick or Suckwick,
the Spnce, the Horn-beam, and the Button Wood
Tree.

The OAK. There are feveral forts of oaks in
thefe parts i the black, the white, the red, the
yelloWi the grey, the fwamp oak, and the chefnut
oak: the five former vary but little in their external
appearance^ the ihape of the kavcs, and the colour

CARVER'S T R A / E L 3.

i-9

of the bark being fo much alike, that they are
Tcarcely didinguilhablej but the body of the tree
when fawed difeovers the variation, which chiefly
confifts in the colour of the wood, they being all
Very hardj and proper for building. The fwamp
oak differs materially from the others both in the
lliape of the leaf, which is fmallet, and in the bark,
which is fmootheri and likewife as it grows only in
a moift, gravelly foil. It is efteemed the touglicH:
of all woods, being (6 ftrong yet pliable, that it is
often made ufe of inftead of whalebone, and is
equally ferviceable. The chefnut oak alfo is greatly
different from the others, particularly in the (hapt;
of the leaf, which much refembles that of the chei-
nut-tree, and for this reafon it is fo denominated.
It is neither fo ftrong as the former fpecies, nor fo
tough as the latter, but is of a nature proper to be
fplit into rails for fences, in which ftate it will endure
a confiderable time.

The PINE TREE. That fpecies of the pine
tree peculiar to this part of the continent is the
white, the quality of which I need not defcribe, as
the timber of it is fo well known under the name of
deals. It grows here in great plenty, to an amazing
height and fize, and yields an excellent turpentine,
though not in fuch quantities as thofc in the nor-
thern parts ofEuropc.

The MAPLE. Of this tree there are two forts,
the hard and the foft, both of which yield a lufcious
juice, from which the Indians, by boiling, make
very good fugar. The fap of the former is much
richer and fweeter than the latter, but the foft pro-
duces a greater quantity. The wood of the hard
maple is very beautifully veined and curled, and
when wrought into cabinets, tat>les, gunllock?, &:c.

33®

C A R V E R's TRAVELS.

is greatly valued. That of the foft fort differs in
its texture, wanting the variegated grain of the
hard; it alfo grows more llraight and free from
branches, and is more cafily fplit. It likewife may
be diftinguiihed from the h .rd, as this grows in
meadows and low-lands, t'.at on the hills and up-
lands. The leaves are fliaped alike, but thofc of
the feft maple are much the largeft, and of a deeper
green.

The ASH. There are fever al forts of this tree
in thefe parts, but that to which I fliall confine my
defcription, is the yellow a(h, which is only found
near the head branches of the Miffiflippi. This
tree grows to an amazing height, and the body of
it is fo firm and found, that the French traders who
go into that country from Louifiana, to purchafe
furs, make of them periaguaysj this they do by
excavating them by fire, and when they are com-
pleted, convey in them the produce of their trade
to New^Orleans, where they find a good market
both for their veflels and cargoes* The wood of
this tree greatly refembles that of the common alh ;
but it might be diftinguiihed from any other tree
by its barki the rofs or outfide bark being near
eight inches thick, and indented with furrows more
than fix inches deep, which make thofe that arc
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, info much that if it is but (lightly handled
it will leave a ftain on the fingers, which cannot
eafily be wa(hed away; and if in the fpring you peel
off the bark, and touch the fap, which then rifes
between that and the body of the tree, it will leave fo
deep a tin6lure that it will require three or four days
to wear it off. Many ufeiul qualities belonging

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

*3»

to this tree I doubt not will be difcovered in
time, befidcs its proving a valuable acquifition to
the dyer.

The HEMLOCK TREE grows in every part
of America, in a greater or lefs degree. It is an
ever-green of a very large growth, and has leaves
fomewhac like that of the yewi it is however quite
ufelefs, and only an incumbrance to the ground,
the wood being of a very coarfe grain, and full of
wind-(hakes or cracks.

The BASS or WHITE WOOD is a tree of a
middling fize, and the whiteft and fofteft wood
that grows j when quite dry it fwims on the water
like a corkj in the fettle ments the turners make of
it bowls, trenchers, anddifhes, which wear fmooth,
and will lad a long time; but when applied to any
other purpofe it is far from durable.

The WICKOPICK or SUCKWICK appears to
be afpecies of the white wood, and is diftinguifhed
from it by a peculiar quality in the bark, which
when pounded, and moiftened with a little water,
inftantly becomes a matter of the confiftence and
nature of fize. With this the Indians pay their
canoes, and it greatly exceeds pitch, or any
other material ufually appropriated to that pur-
pofe j for befides its adhefive quality, it is of fo
oily a nature, that the water cannot penerate through
it, and its repelling power abates not for a confide^
rable time.

The BUTTON WOOD is a tree of the largeft
fize, and might be diilinguillied by its bark, which
is quite fmooth and prettily mottled. The wood, is
very proper for the ufe of cabinet-makers. It is
covered with fmaU hard burs, which fpring (yaw

33*

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

its branches, that appear not unlike buttons, and
from thele I believe it receives its name.

NUT TREES.

The Butter Oir Oil Nut, the Walnut, the Hazel
Nut, the Beech Nut, the Pecan Nut, the Chefnut,
the Hickory.

The BUTTER or OIL NUT. As no men-
tion has beep ipade by any authors of this nut, I
IhaU be the more particular in my account of it.
The tree grows in meadows where the foil is rich
and warm. The body of it feldom exceeds a yard
in circuniference, is full of branches, the twigs of
wiiiv'h are Ihort and blunt, and its leaves refemble
thofe of the walnut. The nut has a fliell 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
kern^'l, which is very oi^y, and of a rich, agreeable
flavor. I arp perf^aded that a much purer oil than
that of olives might, l:;e extraded from this nut.
The infide bark ofthis tree dyes a good purple j and
it is faid, varies i^ its fhade, being either darker or
lighter, according to the month in which it is ga-
thered.

The BEECH NUT. Though this tree grows
exactly like that of the fame name in Europe, yet
it produces nuts equally as good as chefnuts j on
which bears, martens, fqirrels, partridges, turkeys,
and many other beaft and birds feed. The nut is
contained, whilft growing, in an outfide cafe, like
that of a chefnut, but not lb prickly j and the coat
vf the infide fliell is alfo fmooth like that j only it*;

CARVE R^ TRAVELS.

33 J

form IS nearly triangular. Vaft quantities of them
He fcattered about in the woods, and fupply with
food great numbers of the creatures juft mentioned.
The leaves, which are white, continue on the trees
during the whole winter. A decoftion made of them
is a certain and expeditious cure for wounds which
arife from burning or fcalding, as well as a reftorative
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 oval form ;
the fhell is eafily cracked, and the kernel fhaped like
that of a walnut. This tree grows chiefly near the
Illinois River.

The HICKORY is alfo of the walnut kind, and
bears a fruit nearly like that tree. There are feveral
forts of them, which vary only in the colour of the
wood. Being of a very tough nature, the wood is
generally ufcd for the handles of axes, &fi. It is
alfo very good fire -wood, and as it burns, an excel-
lent ifugar dlftils from it.

FRUIT TREES.

I need not to obfervc that thefe are all the fpon-
taneous produdlions of nature, which have never
received the advantages of ingrafting, tranfplanting,
or manuring.

The Vine, the Mulberry Tree, the Crab Apple
Tree, the Plum T^ec, th? Cherry Tree, and the
Sweet Gum Tree.

•4(V_

334

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

The VINE is very common here, and of three
kinds ; the firft ion hardly deferves the name of a
grape; the fecond much refembles the Burgundy
grape, and if cxpofed to the fun, a good wine might
be made from them. The third fort refembles, Zant
currants, which are fo frequently ufed in cakes, &c.
in England, and if proper care was taken of them,
would be equal, if not fuperior, to thofe of that
country.

The MULBERRY TREE is of two kinds,
red and white, and nearly of the fame fize of thofe
of France and Italy, and grow in fuch plenty, as to
feed any quantity of filk worms.

The CRAB APPLE TREE bears a fruit that
is much larger and better flavored than thbfe of Eu-
rope.

The PLUM TREE. There are two forts of
plums in this country, one a large fort of a purple
call on one fide, and red on the revcrfe, the fecond
totally green, and much fmaller. Both thefe are of
a good flavor, and are greatly efteemed by the Indi-
ans, whofe tafte is not refined, but who are fatisfied
with the produdtions of nature in their unimproved
ft ate.

The CHERRY TREE. There are three forts
of cherries in this country ; the black, the red, and
the fand cherry j the two latter may with more pro-
priety be ranked among the fhrubs, as the bufh that
bears the fand cherries almofl 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 bljfck cherries arc about
the fize of a currant, and hang in clufters like grapes;
the trees which bear them being very fruitful, they
are generally loaded, but the fruit is not good to

CARVE R's TRAVELS.

335

Cat, hov ever they give an agreeable flavor to brandy,
and turn it to the colour ot claret. The red cherries
grow in the gnaLeil profufion, and hang in bunches,
like the black fcrt juft defcribed j fo that the bulhes
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 roughiiefs in the threat, and
being very aftringent. As I i.ave: already defcribed
the fand ch« rries, which greatly exceed the two
other forts, both in flavor and fize, I fhall give no
further defcription of them. The wood of rhe black
cherry tree is very ufeful, and works well into cabi-
net ware.

The SWEET GUM TREE or LIQUID AM-
BER, (Ccpalm) is not only extremly common,
but it affords a balm, the virtues of which are infi-
rjite. Its bark is black and hard, and its wood fo
tender and fupple, that when the tree is felled, you
may draw from the middle of it rods of five or fix
feet in It ngth. It cannot be employed in building or
furniture, as it warps continually. Its leaf is indented
with five points, like a ftar. This balm is reckoned
by the Indians to be an excellent febrifuge, and it
cures wounds in two or three days.

SHRUBS.

The Willow, Shin Wood, Shumack, SafTafras, the
Prickly Alh, Moofe Wood, Spoon Wood, Large El-
der, Dwarf Elder, Poifonous Elder, Juniper, Shrub
Oak, Sweet Fern, the Laurel, the Witch Hazle,
the Myrtle Wax Tree, Winter Green, the Fever
Buih, the Cranberry Bufh, the Goofberry Bufh,

33^

CARVER 'J TRAVELS:

the Current Bulli, the Whortle Berry, the Rai'-
berry, the Black Berry, and the Choak Berry.

The WILLOW. There are feveral fpccies of
the w'Mow, the mod remarkable of which >s a fmall
fort that grows en the banks of the Mifliflippi, and
fomc other places adjacent. The bark of this Ihrub
fupplies the beaver with its winter food; and where
the water has waflied the foil from us roots, they
appear to confift of fibres interwoven together like
thread, the colour of which is of an inexpreflibly
fine fcarlet; with this Se Ir ' ms tinge many of the
ornamental parts of the^ drviH

SHIN WOOD. This cxtrau '''nary fhrub grows
in the forcfts, and tifing like a vine, runs near the
ground for fix or eight feet, and then takes root
again} in the fame manner taking root, and fpring-
ing up fucceflively, one ftalk covers a large fpace;
this proves very troublefome to the hafty traveller,
by ftriking againft his Ihins, and entangling his
legs; from which it has acquired its name.

The SASSAFRAS is a wood well known for its
medicinal qualities. It might with equal propriety
be termed a tree as a Ihrub, as it fometimes grows
thirty feet high; but in general it does not reach
higher than thofe of the Ihrub kind. The leaves,
which yield an agreeable fragrance, are large, and
nearly feparated into three divifions. It bears a
reddilh brown berry, of the ftze and (hape of Pi-
inento, and which is fometimes ufed in the colonies
as a fubftitute for that fpice. The bark or roots
of this tree is infinitely fuperior to the wood for its
ufe in medicine, and I am furprifed it is fo feldom
to be met with, as its efficacy iii fo much greater.

C A R V F R's T k A V fi L S. 337

'The PRICKLY ASH is a fhrub that fometimes
grows to the height of ten or fifteen feet, and has
i leaf exactly refembling that of an afh, but it re-
ceives the epithet to its name from the abundance
oflhort thorns with which every branch is covered,
^nd which renders it very troUblcfpme td thofc who
pafs through the fpot where they grow thick. It
alfo bears a fcarlet berry, which when ripe, has a
fiery tafte, like pepper. The bark of this ti'ee,
particularly the bark of the roots, is highly ef-
teemed by the natives fot its medicinal qualities. I
have already mentioned one inftancc 01 its efficacy,
and there is no doubt but that the decoftionofit will
expeditioufly and radically remove all impurities of'
the bloodi

The MOOS^ WOOD grows about four feet high,
and is very fill of branches; but what renders ic
worth notice is its bark, which is of fo flrong and
pliable a texture, that being peeled off at any fea-
fon, and twifted, makes equally as good cordage!
as hemp.

The SPOON WOOD is a fpecies of the laurel,
and the wood when fawed reiembles box wood.

The ELDER, commonly termed the poifonous el»
clerj nearly refembles the other forts in its leaves
and branches, but it groWs much ftraighter, and is
only found in fwamps and moift foils. This fhrub
is endowed with a very extraordinary quality, that
renders it poifonous to fome conftitutions, which
it affedls if the perfon only approaches within a few
yards of it, whilll others may even chew the leavesr
or the rind without receiving the lead detriment frorni
them; the poifon however is not mortal, though 12
operates very violently on the infcfted perfon, whofe

U u

33B

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

body and head fwell to an amazing fize, and arc
covered with eruptions, that at their height refem-
blc the confliitnt fmall pox. As it grows alfo in
many oftlie provinces, the inhabitants cure its ve-
nom by drinking faffron tea, and anointing the
external parts with a mixture compofed of cream
and marfh mallows.

The SHRUB OAK is exactly fimilar to the oak
tree, both in its wood and leaves, and like that it
bears an acorn, but it never rifes from the ground
above four or five feet, growing crooked and knotty.
It is found chiefly on a dry, gravelly foil.

The WITCH HAZLE grows very bufliy,.
about ten feet high, and is covered early in May
with numerous white blofifoms. When this flirub
IS in bloom, the Indians efteem it a further indica-
tion that the froft is entirely gone, and that they
might few their corn. It has been faid, that it is
pofleflcd of the power of attracting gold and filver,,
and that twigs of it are made ufe of to difcover
where the veins of thefe metals lie hid; but I am
apprehcnfive that this is only a fallacious ftory, and
not to be depended on j however that fuppofition has
given it the name of Witch Hazle.

The MYRTLE WAX TREE is a&rub about
four or five feet high, the leaves of which are larger
than thofe of the common myrtle, but they fmell
€xa6tly alike. It bears its fruit in bunches, like a
nofegay, rifing from the fame place in various ftalksv
abort two inches long: at the end of each of thefe
is a little nut containing a kernel, which is wholly
covered with a giuy fubftance, which being boiled
in water, fv/imsonthe furfaceofit, and becomes a.
kind of green wax; this is mere valuable than bees-
wax, being of a more brittle nature, but mixed

C A R V E R's TRAVELS.

339

•wkti it makes a good candle, which, as it b ns,
fends forth an agreeable fcent.

WINTER GREEN. This Is an ever green, of
the fpecics of the myrtle, and is found on dry heaths;
the flowers of it are white, and in the form of a roib,
but not larger than a filver penny; in the winter it
is full of red berries, about the fize of a floe, which
arc fmooth and round j thefe are prefcrved during
the fevere feafon by the fnow, and are at that time
in the highcft perfedtion. The Indians eat thefe
berries, efteemingtliem very balfamic, and invigo-
rating to the ftomach. The people inhabiting the
interior colonies {Icep both the fprigs and berries
in beer, and ufe it as a diet drink for x;lednfing the
Jblood from fcorbutic difordcrs.

The FEVER BUSH grows about fiye or fix
feet high i its leaf is like that of a lilach and it
bears a reddilh berry of a fpicy flavor. The llalks
of it are excefli\^ely brittle. A deco6tion of the
buds or wood is an excellent febrifuge, and from
this valuable property it receives its name. It is
an ancient Indian remedy for all inflammatory com-
plaints, and likewife much efteemed on the fame
account, by the inhabitants of the interior parts of
the colonies.

The CRANBERRY BUSH. Though the fruit
of this bufh greatly refemblesin fize and appearanee
that of the common fort, which grows on a fmall
vine, in moraflTes and bogs, yet the bufh 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 flourifhing only in
morafles, cannot be tranfplanted or cultivated, the
former, if removed at a proper feafon, would be ^

J4»

CARVPR'a TRAVEL^.

valuable acquifition to the garden, and with propcf
nurture prove equally as good, it* not better.

The CHOAK BERRY. The fhrub thus term-
ed by the natives grows about five or fix feet high,
and bears a berry about the fizc of a floe, of a jet
black, which contains feveral fmall feeds within the
pulp. The juice of this fruit, though not of a dif-
agrceable flavor, is extremely tart, and leaves ^
roughnefs in the mouth and throat when eaten, that
has gained it the name of choak berry.

ROOTS AND PLANTS.

Elecampagne, Spikenard, Angelica, Sarfapa-
rilla, Ginfang, Ground Niits, \Vild Potatoes, Li-
quorice, Snake Root, Gold Thread, Solomon's
Seal, Devil's Bite, Blood Root, Onions, Garlick,
"Wild Parfnips, Mandrakes, Hellebore White and
Black.

SPIKENARD, vulgarly called in the colonies
Petty- Morrel. This plant appears to be cxadtly
the fame as the Afiatic fpikenard, fo much valued
by the ancients. It grows near the fides of brooks,
in rocky places, and its fl:em, which is about the
fize of a goofe quill, fprings up like that of angelica,
reaching aboufa foot and an half from the ground.
It bears bunches of berries in all re^pc^s like thofe
of the elder, only rather larger. I'hefe 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 mofl:eftimable part of it, is about the
fize of a goofe quill, and runs in different direftion?.

\...

CARVER'* TRAVELS.

twined and crooked to a great length in the ground ^
from the principal ftem of it fpring many fmaller
fibres, a)l of which are tough and flexible. From
tb*: root immediately (hoots a ftalk about a foot and
an half long, which at the top branches into three
ftemsj each of thefe has three leaves, much of the
ihape and fize of a walnut leaf; and from the fork
of each of the three ftems grows fi bunch of bluifh
white flowers, refcmbling thofe of the fpikenard.
The bafk of the roots, which alone lliould be ufed
In medicine, is of a bitterifli flavor, but aromatic.
It is dcfervcdly efteemcd for its medicinal virtues,
being a gentle fudorific, and very powerful in at-
tenuating the blood when impeded by grofs hu-
mors.

GINSANG 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 to Europe : but is has been lately difcovered
to be alfo a native of North-America, where it
grows to as great perfe<5lion, and is equally valua-
ble. Its root is like a fmall carrot, but not fo taper
at the end j it is fometimes divided into two or more
branches, in all other refpefts it refemblcs ferfapa-
r'illa in its growth. The tafte of the root is bitter-
ifli. In the eaft:ern parts of Afia it bears a great
price, bein^ there confiderpd as a panacea, and is
the laft: refuge of the inhabitants in all diforders.
When chewed it certainly is a great ftrengthener of
fhe ftomach.

GOLD THREAD. This is a plant of the Imall
vine kind, which grows in fwampy places, and li.es
on the ground. The roots fpread themfelves jufl:
under thefurface of the morafs, and are eafily drawn
up by handfuls. They rcfemble a large entangled
ikein of thread, of a fine, bright gold colour; and I

342

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

am perfiiaded would yield a beautiful and permanent
yellow dye. It is alfo greatly efteemed both by the
Indians and colonifts, as a remedy for any forenefs
in the mouth, but the tafte of it is exquifitely bit-

ter.

SOLOMON'S SEAL is a plant that grows on the
fides of rivers, and in rich meadow land. It rifes
in the whole to about three (cet high, the ftalks be-
ing two feet, when the leaves begin to fpread them-
felves and reach a foot further. A part in every
root has an impreflion upon it about the fize of a
lixpencc, which appears as if it was made by a feal,
and from thcfe it receives its name. It is greatly va-
lued on account of its being a fine purifier of the
blood.

DEVIL'S BITE is another wild plant, which
grows in the fields, and receives its name from ^
print that feems to be made by teeth in the roots.
The Indians fay that this was once an univerfal re-
medy for every diforder that human nature is inci-
dent tOj but fome of the evil fpirits envying man-
kind the pofleflion of fp efficacious a medicine, gave
the root a bite, which deprived it of a great pare of
its virtue.

BLOOD ROOT. A fort of plantain that fprings
our of the ground in fix or feven long, rough leaves,
the viens of which are red -, the root of it is like a
fmall carrot, both in colour aad appearance -, when
broken, the infide of it is of a deeper colour than the
outfid', and diftils feveral drops of juice that look
like blood. This L a ftrong emetic, but a very dan-

gerous one.

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

34S

HERBS.

Balm, Nettles, Cinque Foil, Eyebright, panicle.
Plantain, Rartle Snake Plantain, Poor Robin's
Plantain, Toad Plantain, Maiden Hair, WM Dock,
Rock Liverwort, Noble Liverwort, Bloodwort,
Wild Beans, Ground Ivy, Watcjr Creffes, Yarrow,
May Weed, 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 fmall fibres below; the
leaves of it are broad, rcundifh, hard, fmooth,
and of a fine fiiining green -, a ftalk rifes from thefc
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 reddifh white, fhaped like a
wild rofe. A tea made of the root is vulnerary and
balfamic.

RATTLE SNAKE PLANTAIN. This ufe-
ful herb is of the plantain kind, aad its leaves,
which fpread themfelves on the ground, are abouc
one inch and an half wide, and five inches long;
from the centre of thefe arifcs a fmall ftalk, nearly
fix inches long, which bears a little white flower;
the root is about the ijze ofagoofe quill, and much
bent and divided into feveral branches. The leaves
of this herb are ^ncre 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 ot the pov.-er of this in-
fallible antidote, that for a trifling bribe of fpiritU'

344

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

ous liquor, they will at any time permit a rattle
fnakc to drive his fangs into their flefh. It is to btf
remarked that during thofe months in whieh the bite
dfthefe creatures is moft venomous, this remedy
for it is in its greateft perfection, and moft luxuriant
in its growth.

POOR robin's plantain is of the fame
fpecies as the laft, but more diminutive in every re-
fpe6t J it receives its name from its fize, and the
poor land on which it grows. It is a good medicinal
herb, and often adminiftered with fucccfs in fevers
and internal weaknefles.

TOAD PLANTAIN relembles the common
plantain, only it grows much ranker, and is thus
denominated bccaufe toads love to harbor under it.

ROCK LIVERWORT is a fort of Liverwort
that grows on rocks, and is of the nature of kelp
or mofs. It is efteemed as an excellent remedy
againft declines.

GARGIT or SKOKE is a large kind of weed,
the leaves of which are about fix inches long, and
two inches and an half broad ; they refemble thofe
of fpinage in their colour and texture, but not in
fhape. The root is very large, from which fpring
different ftalks that run eight or ten feet high, and
are full of red berries i thefe hang in ckifters in the
month of September, and are generally called pi-
geon berries, as thofe birds then (ctd on them.
When the leaves firft fpring from the ground, aftet
being boiled, they are a nutritious and wholcfome
vegetable, but when they are grown nearly to their
full fize, they acquire a poifonons quality. The
roots applied to the hamls or fi^er. of a perfon ?ffli'(5ted
with a fever, prove a very powerful ahfoi bent.

C A RV E R»s TRAVELS.

34?

SKUNK CABBAGE or POKE is an herb that
'grows in moift and fwampy places. The leaves
of it are about a foot long, and fix inches broad,
nearly oval, but rather pointed. The roots are
compcfed of great numbers of fibres, a lotion of
which is made ufe of by the people in the colonies
for the cure of the itch. There iffuts a ftrono; muficv
fmell from this herb, lomething like the animal of
the fame name, before defcribed, and on that ac-
count it is fo termed.

WAKE ROBIN is an herb that grows in fwampy
lands } its root refembles a fmall turnip, and if
tailed will greatly inflame the tongue, and imme-
diately convert it from its natural fhape into a round
hard fubftancc -, in which ftate it will continue for
fome time, and during this no other part of the
mouth will be afFeded. But when dried, it lofea
its aftringent quality, and becomes beneficial to
mankind, for if grated into cold water, and taken
internally, it is very good for all complaints of the
bowels.

WILD INDIGO is an h :b of the fame fpecles
as that from whence indigo is made in the fouthern
colonies. It crows in one ftalk to the heio-ht of five
or fix inches from the ground, when it divides into
many branches, from v^/hich ifilie a great number
of fmall hard bluifli leaves that fpread to a great
breadth, and among thefe it bears a yellow flowerj
the juice of it has a very difagreeable fcent.

CAT MINT has a woody root, divided into
feveral branches, and it fends forth a fialk about
three feet high; the leaves are like thofe of the net-
tle or betony, and they have a ftrong fmell of mintj
with a biting acrid taficj the flowers grow on th^

546

CARVE R's TRAVELS.

tops of the branches, and are of a faint purple or
whitilh colour. It is called cat mint, becaufe it is
faid that cats have an antipatiiy to it, and will not
Jet it grow, it has nearly the virtues of common
mint.* ■ . '

FLOWERS.

Heart's Eafc, Lillies red and yellow. Pond
Lillics, Cowflips, May Flowers, Jeilamine, Ho-
neyfuckles, Rock Honeyfuckles, Rofes red and
white. Wild Hollyhock, Wild Pinks, Goldeq
Rod.

j_.

I (hall not enter into a minute defcription of the
flowers above recited, but only juft obferve, that
they much refemble thofe of the fame name which
grow in Europe, and are as beautiful in colour,
and as perfect in odor, as they can be fuppofed to
be in their wild uncultivated ilate.

FARINACEOUS and LEGUMINOUS
ROOTS, 6cc.

M^iize cr Indian Corn, Wild Rice, Btans, the
Squalh, &c.

MAIZE or INDIAN CORN grows from fix to
ten feet high, on a ftalk full of joints, which is ftiff
and folid, and when green, abounding with a fweet
juice. The leaves are like thofe of the reed, about
two feet in length, and three or four inches broad.
The flowers which are produced at feme diflance
from th.' fruit on the fame plant, grov/ like the ears

* For an ac cant of 7 obacco, fee a treatifc 1 have publiHied
pn the culture cfr ih it plant.

CARVE R's TRAVELS.

it:

3»

of oats, and are fometimes wliite, yellow, or of a
purple colour. The feeds are as large as peafe, and
Jike them quite naked and fmooth, but of a roun-
difh furface, rather coniprelTed. One fpike gene-
rally confifts of about fix hundred grains, which arc
placed clofely together in rows to the number of
eight or ten, and fometimes twelve. This corn is
very wholefbme, eafy of digeftion, and yields as
good nourifhment 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 th^t fome nations cat it in
cakes before it is ripe, in which ftatc it is very
.'greeable to the palate, and extremely nutritive.

WILD RICE. This grain, which grows in the
prreatcft plenty throughout the interior parts of
North-America, is the moft valuable of all the
Spontaneous produftions of that country. Exclufive
Qf. 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 that of
j;athering it in, the fweetnefs and nutritious quality
of it attra6ts an infinite numberof wild fowl of every
kind., which flock from diftant climes, to enjoy this
rare "epaftj and by it become inexpreffibly fat and*
delicious. In future periods it will be of great fer-
vice to the infant colonies, as it will afix)rd them a
prefent fupport, until, in the courfe of cultivation,
othwT fupplies may be produced; whereas in thofc
realms which are not furnifhcd with this bounteous
gift of nature, even if the climate is temperate and
the foil good, the firft fettlers are often expofed to
great hardlhips from the want cf an immediate rc-
fource for neceiTary food. This ufeful grain grows
in the water where it is about two feet deep, and
where it finds a rich, muddy foil. The ftalks of
it, and the branches cr ears that bear thg feed, re-

34«

C A R V E R's TRAVELS.

fcmble oats both in their appearance and manner
of growing. The ilalks are tuil of joints, and rile
more than eight feet above tlic water. The natives
gather the grain in the following manner : Nearly
about the time that it btgins to turn from its milky
Hate and to ripen, they run their canoes into the
midft of in, and tying bunches of it together, juft
below the ears, with bark, leave it in this fituation
three or four weeks longer, till it is perfedly ripe.
About the latter end cf September they return to
the river, when each family having its feparate al-
lotment, and being able to diftinguilh their own
property by the manner of faftening the flieaves,
gather in the portion that belongs to them. This
they do by placing their canoes clofe to the bunches
of rice, in fuch pofition as to receive the grain when
it falls, and then beat it out, with pieces of wood
formed for that purpofe. Having done this, they
dry it with fmoke, and afterwards tread or rub on
the outhde hufk; wl en it is fit for ufe they put it
into the Ikins of fawns, or young buffaloes, taken
off nearly whole for this purpofc, and feweci into a
fort of fack, wherein tney prcferve it till the return
of their harveft. It has been the fubjedl of much
l].eculation, why this fpontaneous grain is not found
in any other regions of America, or in thofe coun-
tries fituaccd in the fame pai allels of latitude, where
the waters are as apparently adapted for its growth
as in the climate I treat of As for inftance, none
o'the rountries that lie to the fonth ancl eaft of the
g/.^at lakes, even fiom the provinces north of the
Caroiinas, to the extremities of Labradorc, produce
any of this gram, it is true I found great quantities
of it in the watered lands near Detroit, between Lake
Huron and Lake Erie, but on inqmry I learned that
it never arrived nearer to maturity than juft to blof-
fom i after which it appeared blighted, and died
away. TJ^ib convinces me that the north-weft wind,

C A R V

E R'9

TRAVELS.

349

as I have before hinted, is mu :h more powerful in
thefe than in the interior parts, and that it is more
inimical to the fruits of the earth, after it has pafTed
over the lakei, and become united with the wind
which joins it from the frozen regions of the north-
than it is further to the wcftward.

BEANS. Thefe are nearly of the fame fhape as
the European bean?, but are not much larger than
the fmallcft fize of them. They are boiled by the
Indians, and eaten chiefly with b^Jarsfiefli.

The SQUASH. They have alfo feveral fpecies
of the MELON or PUMPKIN, which by fome are
called fquafhes, and which ferVe many nations partly
as a fubftitutc for bread. Of thefe there is the
round, the crane-neck, the fm all flat, and the large
oblong fquafh. The fmaller forts being boiled, are
eaten during the fummer r»s vegetables; and are all
of a pleafing flavor. The crane-neck, which greatly
excels all the others, are ufually hung up for a win-
ter's (lore, and in this manner might be prcferved
for feveral months.

lakes

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tobacco

APPENDIX.

JL HE countries that lie between the great
lakes and River MiflTiffippi, and from thence foath-
ward to Weft Florida, although 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 realms 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 eftablifh an
intercourfe with foreign climes, equally as well as
the Euphrates, the Nile, the Danube, or the Wolga
do thofe people which dwell on their banks, and
who have no other convenience for exporting the
produce of their own country, or for importing
thofe of others, than boats and veffcls of light bur-
den: notwithftanding which, they have become
powerful and opulent itates.

The MilTifilppi, as 1 have before obferved, runs
from north to fouth, and pafTes 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 favorably
fituated, when once its banks are covered with in-
habitants, they need not long be at a lofs for means
to eftablifh an extenfive and profitable commerce.
They svill find the country towards the fouth almoft
fpontaneoufly producing filk, cotton, indigo, and
tobacco 3 and the more northern parts, wine, oil.

35« A P f K n15 1 X.

beef, tallow, fk'ms, bufFalo-vv:):)l, and furs; with
lead, copper, iron, coals, lumber, corn, rice, aid
f'-uits, befides eartii and barks lor tlying.

Thefe articles, with which it abounds even to
profufion, may be tranfported to the ocean cnrougli
this river without greater difficulty than that wrnch
attends the conveyance of merchaniize down foine
of thofe I have jull mentioned. It is true that the Mif«
fifTippi being the boundary between the Engliih and
Spanifli fettiements, and the Spaniards in polTeTion
of the mouth of it, tiiey may obftriuft the pilTage
of it, and greatly dilhearten thofe who maiie the
firft attemptsj yet when the advantages that will ctr*
tainly arife to fettlers, are known, multitudes of
adventurers, allured by the profpe6t of fuch abun-
dant riches, will flock to it, aid eftablilh thcmfelves,
though at the expence of rivers of blood.

But fliould the nation that happens to be in pof-
feffion of New Orleans prove unfriendly to the in-
ternal fettlers, they may find a way into the Gulf of
Mexico, by the river Iberville, which empties itfclf
from the Miffffippi, after pafling through Lake
Maurepas, into Lake Ponchartrain, which has a com-
munication with the fea within the borders of Vv'eft
Florida. The River Iberville branches off from thq
MiffilTippi about eighty miles above New Orleans,
and though it is at prefent choked up in fome parts,
it might at an inconfiderable expence be made na-
vigable, fo as to anfwcJr ali the purpofes propof-
ed.

Although the Engliih have acquired fince the laft
peace a more extenfive knowlege of the interior parts
than were i^ver obtained before, even by the French,
yet many of their produ61:ions Hill remain unknown.
A.nd though I was not deficient either in affiduity or

APPENDIX.

attention during the fhort time I remained in t'lcm,
yet I mud acknowledge that the intelligence I gained
was not fo perfe(5l as I could wifh, and that it requires
further refcarches to make the world thoroughly ac-
quainted with the real value of thefe long hiddcji
realms.

The parts of the Miflifllppi of which no furvey
has hitherto been taken amount to upwards of eight
hundred miles, following the courfe of the ftream,
that is, from the Illinois to the Ouifconfm Rivers.
Plans of fuch as reach from the former to the Gulph
of Mexico, have been delineated byfeveral hands
and I have the pleafure to find that an aflual furvey
of the intermediate parts of the Mifliflippi, between
the Illinois River and the fca, with the Ohio, Che-
rokee, and Ouabache Rivers, taken on the Ipot by
a very ingenious gentleman,* is now publilhed.
I flatter myiclf that the obfervations therein contain-
ed, which have been made by one whofe knowledge
of the parts therein defcribed was acquired by a per-
fonal inveftigation, aided by a folid judgment, will
confirm the remarks I have made, and promote the
plan I am here recommending.

I fhall alfo here give a concife difcription of each,
beginning, according to the rule of geographers,
with that which lies moft to the north.

It is however ncceffary to obferve, that before
thefe fettlements can be eftablifhed, grants muft be
procured in the nr^anner cuftomary on fuch occafions,
and the lands be purchafed of thofe who have ae-
quired a right %o them by a long pofleflion j but no

* Thomas Hutching, Kfq. Captain in his Majefty's 6oih, or
Royal American Regiment of Foot.

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Photografiiic

Sciences

Cbrporation

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23 WKST MAIN STRin

WiBSTU.N.Y. USM

(716) t72-4S03

JI4

APPENDIX.

greatv-r difficulty will attend the conplcticn of this
point, than the original founders of every colony
on the continent met with tp obftruft their inten-
tions ; and the number of Indians who inhabit tliefe
irads being greatly inadt'q.uate to their extent, it is
not to be doubted, but they will readily give, up for
a rcaTonable confidcration, territories that are of
little ofe to them j or remove for the accommodation
of their, new neighbors, to lands at a greater dif-
tancc from the Mifliflippi, the navigation of whick
is not eflcntial to the welfare of their communities.

. No. I. The country within thefe lines, from its
fituation, i^ colder than any of the others -, yet I am
convinced that the air is much more temperate than
in thofe provinces chat lie in the fame degree of la-
titude to the eaft of it. The foil is excellent, and
there is a great deal of land that is free from woods
in the parts adjoining to the Mifliflippi ; whi(ft on
the contraiy the north-eaftern borders of it are well
woodedi Towards the head of the River Saint
Croix, rice grows in great pjcnty, and the^fc is
abundance of copper. Thotigh the falls of Saint
Anthony arc fituatcd, at the fouth eaft corner of this
Ulvifion yet that impediment will not totally obftruft
the navigation, as the River Saint Croix, which
runs through a great part of the fouthern fide of it,
enters the MifliiTippi juft below the Falls, and flows
with fo gentle a current, that it aflfords a convenient
navigation for boats. This tra^l; is about one hun*
dred miles from north-V^eft to fouth-eaft, and one
.hundred and twenty miles fronf) north-eaft to fouth
wed:.

< No. II. This traft, as I have already defcribed
it in my Journal, exceeds the higheft encomiums I
■can give itj notwithftanding whichit is entirely un-
inhabited, and the prol^'ufion of bkflings that nature
has'lhowcrcd on this heavenly fpot, return unenjoycd

APPENDIX.

isf

to the lap from whence they fprang. ' Lake Pepin,
as I have termed it after the French, lies within
thefe bounds; but the lake to which that name pro-
perly belongs is a little above the river St. Croix j
however, as all the traders ckll the lower lake by
that name, I have fo denominated it, contrary to
the information I received from the Indians. This
tolony lying in unequal angles, the dimenfions of it
cannbt be exactly given, but it appears to be on an
average about one hundred and ten miles long, and
(fighty broad.

fc 5^6. III. The greateft part bf this divifion is fitu^
ated on the river Ouifconfin, which is navigable for
boati about onfc hundred and eighty miles, till jc
reaches the carrying place that divides it from the
Fox River. The land which is contained within its
limits,' is in fome parts mountainous^ and in the
other confifts of fertile meadows and fine paftiuage.
It is furni(hed alfo with ^ greatdeal of good timber,
and, as is generally the cafe on the banks of the
MifTiffippi and its branches, has much finCj, open,
clear land, proper for cultivation. To thefe are
added an intxhaudible fund of riches, in a number
of lead mines which lie at a little diftance from the
Ouifconfin towards the fouth, and appear to be un-
commonly full of ore. Although the Saukies and
Octagaumies inhabit a part of this tradb ; the whole
of the lands under their cultivation does not exceed
three hundred acres. It is in length from ead to
wefi: about one hundred and fifty miles, and about
tighty from north to fouth.

No. IV. This colony confifts of lands of various
denominations, fome or which are very good, and
others very bad. The bcft is fituated oi^ the bor-
ders of the Green Bay and the Fox River, where
%\icK are innumerable acrea covered with fine j^rafs^

>$«

A F P i; N D I X.

moft part of which grows to an aftonifiiing heights
This river will afford a good navigation for boats
throughout the whole of its courfc, which is about
one hundred s^nql eighty miles, except between the
Winnebago Lake, and the Green Bay j where there
arc fevcral carrying- places, in the fpacc of thirty
miles. The Fox River is rendered remarkable by
the abundance of rice that grows on its (hores, and
the aimed infinite numbers of wild fowl that frequent
its banks. The land which lies near it appears to
be very fertile, and promifcs to produce a fufficient
fupply of all the neceffarics of life for any number
of inhabitants. A communication might.be opened
by thofe who fhall fettle here, either through the
0reen Bay, X^ake Michigan, Lake Pluron, Lake
Erie, and Lake Ontario with Canada, or by way of
the piiifconfin into the Minin3ppi. This divifion is
about one hundred and fixty miles long from north
to fouth, aod one hundred and forty broad.

No. V, This is an cxcellertt tra£t of land, and,
confidering its interior fituation, has greater advan-
tages than could be expededi for having the Mif<
(iflippi op its ^eftern borders, and the Illinois on its
(buth-eaft, it has as free a navigation as mod of the
others. The oortherii parts of it are fomewhat
mountainous, but it contains a great deal of clear
land, iht foil of which is excellent, with many fine
fertile meadows, and not a few rich mines. It is
upwards of two hundred miles from north to fouth,
and one hundred sind fifty from eaft to weft.

No. yi. This colony being fituated upon the
heads of the Riyers Illinois and Ouabache, the for-
mer of which empties itfelf immediately into the
MifTiffippi, and the latcer into the fame river by
means of the Ohio, will readily find a communica-
tion with the fca through thcfc. Haying aJfo the

A P r E N D I X.

SS7

river Miamis pafling through it, u-hich runs into
Lake Erie, an intercQurfc might be elVablilhed with
Canada alfo by way of the lakes, us before pointed
out. It contains a great deal of rich fertile land,
and though more inland than any of the others,
will be as valuable an acquifition as the bed; of them.
From north to fouth it is about one hundred and
fitxy miles, from caft to weil: one hundred and
eighty.

No. Vn. This divifion is not inferior to any of
the foregoing. Its northern borders lying adjacent
to the Illinois river, and its wcftern to the Miffifiip-
pi» the fituation of it for eftabliihing a commercial
intercojurfe with foreign nations is very commodious.
It abounds with all the necefl^ries of life, and is
about one hundred and fifty miles from north to
iouth, and fxxty miles from eaft to weft ; but the
confines of it being more irregular than the others,
I cannot exadly afcertain tlie dimenfioos of it.

No. Vni. This colony having the River Oua*
bache running through the centre of it, and the
Ohio for its (buthern boundary, will enjoy the ad-
yanuges of a free navigation. It extends about one
hundred and forty miles from north to fouth, afid
got hundred and thirty from eaft to weft.

No. IX. X. and XI. being fimilar in fituation,
^nd furnilhed with nearly the fame convenicncies as
all the others, I Ihall only give their dimcnfions.
No. IX. is about eighty miles each way, but notex-
a<^ly fquare. No. X. is nearly in the fame form,
and about the fame extent; No. XI. is much larger^
being at leaft one hundred and Bfty miles from north
to fouth, and one hundred and forty from eaft to
weft, as nearly as from its irregularity it is poifible
to calculate.

35*

APPENDIX.

After the defcription of this delightful country I
have already given, I need not repeat that all the
fpots I have thus pointed out arc as proper for colo-
nization, abound not onlv with the neceffaries oflife,
being well ftored with rice, *deer, buffaloes, bears,
&c. but produce in equal abundance fuch as may
be termed luxuries, orat leaft thofe articles of com-
merce before recited, which the inhabitants of it
will have an opportunity of exchanging for the need-
ful produdions of other countries.

The difcovery of a north- weft paffagc to India
has been the fubjed of innumerable difquifitions.
Many efforts like wife have been made by way of
Hudlbn's Bay, to penetrate into the Pacific Ocean,
though without fuccefs. I (hall not therefore trouble
myfelf to enumerate the advantages that would re-
fult from this much- wilhed- for difcovery, its utility
bein^ already too well known to the comniercial
world to need any elucidation j I (hall only confine
myfelf to the methods that appear moft probable to
cnfurc fueccfs to future adventurers. .

The many acttempts that have hitherto been made
for this purpofe, but which have all been rendered
abortive, Teem to have turned the fpirit of making
ufeful rtfearbhes into another channel, and this moft
inters fting one has almoft been |iven up as imprac-
ticable ; but, in my opinion, their failure rather pro-
ceeds from their bein^ begun at an improper place,
than from their impradticability.

All navigators that have hitherto gone in fearch
of this pa(rage, have firft entered Hudfon's Bay ;
the confequence of which has been, that having
fpent the f<-.^fon during which only thofe feas are na-
vigable, in exploring many of the numerous inlets
lying therein, and this without difcoycring any opept

APPENDIX.

359

ing, terrified at the approach of winter, they have
haitcned back for fear of being frozen up, ami con-
fcquently of being obliged to continue till the return
of fummer in thofc black and dreary realms. Even
fuch as have perceived the coafts to enfold themfclves,
and who have of courfe entertained hopes of fuc-
cecding, have been deterred from profecuting their
voyage, left the winter Ihould fct in before they
could reach a more temperate climate.

Thcfe apprehenfions have difcouraged the boklcft
adventurers from completing the expeditions in
which they have engaged, and fruftrated every at-
tempt. But as it has been difcovered by fuch as
have failed into the northern parts of the Pacific
Ocean, that there are many inlets which verge to-
wards Hudfon's Bay, it is not to be doubted but
that a palTage might be made out from that quar-
ter, if it be fought for at a proper feafon. And
fhould thefe expeftations be difappointed, the ex-
plorers would not be in the fame hazardous fituation
with thofe who fet out from Hudfon's Bay, for they
will always be fure of a fafe retreat, through an open
fta, to warmer regions, even after repeated difap-
pointments. And this confidence will enable them
to proceed with greater refolution, and probably be
the means of cffedling what too much circumfpcc-
tion or timidity has prevented.

Thefe reafons for altering the plan of inquiry
after this convenient palfage, carry with them fuch
conviftion, that ia the year 1774, Richard Whit-
worth, Efq. member of Parliament tor Stafford, a
gentleman of an extenfive knowledge in geography,
of an adlive, enterprifing difpofition, and whofe
benevolent mind is ever ready to promote the hap-
pinefs of individuals, or the welfare of the public,
from the reprefentations made to him of die cxpedi-

36q

APPENDIX.

cncy a( it by myfclf and others, intended to travel
acrofs the continent of America, that he niight
attempt to carry a fcheme of this kind into execution.

He defigned to have purfued nearly the fame
route that I did ; and after having built a fort at
Lake Pepin, to have proceeded r the River St.
Pierre, and from thence up a branch of the River
MelTorie, till having difcovered the fource of the
Oregan or River of the Weft, on the other fide of
the nimmit of the lands that divide the waters which
run into the Gulf of Mexico from thofe that fall into
the Pacific Ocean, he would have failed down that
river to the place where it is faid to empty itfelf
near the Straits of Anniaa.

Having there eftablifhed another fettlementon
fomc fpot that appeared befi: calculated for the fup-
port or his people, in the neighbourhood of fome of
the inlets which trend towards the north-eaft, he
would from thence have begun his refcarches. This
gentleman was to have been attended in the expedi«
tion by Colonel Rogers, myfclf, and others, and
to have taken out with him a fufficient number of
artificers and mariners for building the forts and
vefTels neceffary on the occafion, and for navigating
the latter i in all not lefs than fifty or fixty men.
The grants and other requifites for this purpofe
were even nearly completed, when the prefcnt trou-
bles in Amefica began, which put a ftop to an en-
terprife that promifed to be of inconcaivable ad-
vantage to th« Bricifh dominions,,

FINIS.

List

o p

SUBSCRIBERS

T O

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

■A Hi ir ta na-

Abel john

Addis John
Addis Richard
Albcrger Adam
Allardice Samuel
Alexander Samuei
Allen Samuel
Allibonc Thomas .
Alricks Jacob, fVilrmng-

ton, D.
Anderfon John^
Andcrfon Charles
Anderfon James
Anderfon Alexander
Andrews John

Anderfon James
Anthony, jun. Jacob
Andrews Robert
Apt George
Apt Henry
Arbegaft Johri
Arbuncklc Johit
Archer Samuel
Armftrong Archibald
Armftrong W illiam, Nisw

Cajlky D.
Arnell David
Arnold John
Arnot John
A(h bridge Jof^^ph

;•

SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES>

Afhton George
Alhtcn William
Auld Jacob

Aull William, New Cafilc,

Bags John

Bail John, IVilmington, D.
Bailey Mofcs
Baird James
Baker A. George
Baldwin Jofeph
Baldwin Thomas
Baley Barney
Baley John
Ball W. Blackwell
Banks William
Bantleon George
Barber M. John
Barber Robert
Barnes John
Barnet Nathaniel
Barr Philip
Bartleman Thomas
Bafs Aquila
Batfon Thomas
Burke Michael
Bird Ifaiah
Bilhop Willam
Bartjefon George

Bayard A. James, PTil-

miftgton, D,
Bayel Samuel ,

Bayne Robert
Bayne John
Bayne Nathaniel
Beckley Daniel
Beak Henry
Beck Henry
Bell Jofeph
Bdl Henry
Bell Thomas
Bell Peter
Bell William,
Bender Lewis
Bender John
Bennett Jofeph
Bird Jofeph

Birz John, New Caftle, JD,
Bioren John
Bingham A.
Bingham Thomas
Brooks John
Brooks Ifaac

SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES.

Bivcn John
Black jun. James
Blanford John
Black jun. James
Blair Jofcph
BloomBeld Elifha
Boland Alexander
Bond O. Zacheus
Booth James, New CaJ*

tleD.
Both Adam
Bourfchett John
Bourne Stephen
Bowles William
Bowen John
Bowman Jofcph
Bowers Jofcph
Boyd James
Boyer James
Brady James
Branaman Chriftian
Bray William
Brearly Jofcph
Brewer Daniel
Briggs Abner
Briggs Francis
Bremer Lewis
Britton Jofeph
Broadfoot James
Brooks David

Brown Abia
Brown George
Brown John
Brown John
Brown John, AT. L,
Brown Matthew
Brown Jofeph
Brown James
Brown Richard
Brown Samuel
Brown William
Bruftar John
Bryon John, New Caf-

tleD,
Bryon Thomas
Brymer Alexander
Buck William
Buchanan Alexander
Buckley William
Buffington Jofeph
Bugg A. J. Georgia^
Bunting Nicholas
Burden Jofcph
Burke James
Burk John
Burnfide William
Bud Sim.
Butler James
Butler John
Byrne Alexander

4 SUBSCRIBERS* NAMES. 1

1 =

>•

1 Co:

Cambal Hanfcl

Chrifty Hush

■ Coc

Cameron David

Cift Charles

Camp Robert

Claedy Samuel

^^^H ^^^#1

Campbell Jofcph

Clark George

I Cnll

Campbell William

Clark Daniel

^^^H ^^ \Jmm

Campbell Charles

Clark W/rhomas,Artf«;

I Cole

Campbell D. John

Caftle D.

Carpenter Richard

Clarke Abfalom

1 Coll

Carpenter James, New

Cbufe Henry

I Colli

Caftle D.

Cl.'.yton Henry

I Colli

Carbarey Daniel

Clayton Charles

1 Conr

Carels Samuel

Clendenin G. Samuel

1 Conv

Carr Patrick

Clendenings Robert

Carr Robert

Clinton John

1 Coop

Carr James

Clinc Jofeph

1 Coats

Carmalt S. Thomas

Clamberg Philip

■

Carfon James

Cooper William

Cafe Jofeph

Cooper Robert

^^H ^r^

Cather David

Cooper Tho: & Hugh

■ Dalla

CaufFman Jacob

Cooper Jofeph

I Darb^

Caulter Hugh

Cooper John

CaJ

Cecil William

Copeland William

Dawf

Chapman John

Copeland William

ton

Chapman R. George

Cork John

Davis

Chriftian Peter

Comely James

Davis

Chriftine Thomas

Corn man William

Davif(

Chrillic David

Coft Martin

Dcall

Chrifty Robert

Courtney MichacJ

Pcan

SUBSCRIBERS* NAMES.

Coats William, Efq.
Coaxes William
Cochran B. Hugh
Cohen Jacob
Colladay Daniel
Colladay Abraham
Coles William
Colelbcry Henry, New

Cafile D.
Collier William
Collings Arthur
CoUings Richard
Connor Thomas
Conway John, New

Cafile D.
Cooper George
Coats Abraham^

Coxc Fench
Cox John
Cowcn William
Craw John, New-

CoftU D.
Crawford John
Crawford Benjamin
Crawford William
Crofccopc Jofeph
Croufdill William
Crumpton William
Culbertfon William
Commings William
Cummings James
Cummings Jonathan'
Cuthbert A.
Commons Jofeph

Pallas William

Darby James, New
Cafile D,

pawfon Tho: Wilming-
ton D,

Davis Samfon

Davis William

Davifon Arthur

Peal Danid

Pcan George

Dean John '
Dean jun. William
Pehaven Jonathan
Dc Haas P. John
Decombaz jun. G. 6 Co,
Deimling F. G.
Dennis John
Deflozieries N.
Devis John
pick J^cob

SUBSCRIBERS* NAMES.

^^B V~^ 11 *

■ Ellio

Dixcy Thomas

Dougherty James 1

m ^^^0

Dick Philip

Dougharty Richard 1

j,? '■;

Dlckenfon Jonathsin

Doughty Daniel 1

■ "

Dickenfon Jcffe

Duffey James '

1 Facun

Dickenfon John, fVil-

Duffy Aaron

B Fame

mington D.

Dufficld John

H Feaga

Dillon James

Duffield John

1 Fee R

Dilworth James

Duglafs Richard

■ Ft^ity .

Dixon James -

Dull jun. Chriftopher

■ Fentha

Dobbin Thomas

Duncan Alexander, New

■ Fifher

Dobbins Thomas

C^flle D.

1 Fifs Jo

Dobelbowcr J. Henry

Dupuy William

1 Fitzget

DoddHugh

Dutilh & Wachfmuth

1 Flannai

Doig John

Dufton Daniel

■ Flemini

Donnell Henry

Derbyfliire John

■ mwgt

Ponaldfon T. William

Daly Patrick

■ Flint Jc

Dougan Archibald

Dreu John

H Foering
I Fogel J
■ Folwell

Dougherty Thomas

Davis William

Eafton John

Englifli Jofcph

1 Gabel I

Eckfeldt Adam

Erringfight David

Eckford Walter

Erringer P. John

■ Oalbrait
1 Gardner
H Gardine

Edward James, fFil-

Erwin George

mingtcn D.

Evans Evan

H Gardine

Egert George

Evans James

I fFilmt

H Gardner
1 Garman

Ehen James

Evans Jonathan

Elford John

Everhart David

l&Uingwood Ebcnczer

Ewing Thomas

SUBSCRIBERS* NAMES.

Elliott Samuel
Ekron James

Eyre jun, Manuel

Facundus Jacob
Earner Cafper
Feagan Nicholas
Fee Robert
Fclty John
Fentham G. John
Fifber Elifha
Fifs John

Fitzgerald William
Flannaghan John
Fleming John,

mington D,
Flint John
Focring Samuel
Fogel Jacob
Folwell Nathan

PTiU

Foot John
Forrelier Henry
Forfyth Ifaac
Forfyth David
Forfyth William
Fottcrall Stephen
Fox James, Georgia,
Fox George
Fox George
French Thomas
Frcfhmuth Daniel
Fritz Peter
Fry berg John
Fry berg John
Furmanjun. Moore

Gabel Peter

Galbraith Robert

Gardner S. John

Gardiner Benjamin

Gardiner M. Francis,

fVilmitigton D.

Gardner James
Carman John

Gafs George

Gafkill Jofiah

Gaw Gilbert

Gaynor Thomas

Gazzam Williafm

George Matthew *
Gaklborough Charles

SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES*

Gairifon Jofhua

'• Golden F. Philip.

1 "^

Garnctt Perry

Goff Thomas

S HaU

Geycr jun. Andrew

Grace John

J^ Ham

Gilbert Conrad

Grace Jacob

K mh

Gill John

GrafF Frederick

H| Hank

Gillefpie Robert

Grant John •

■ Harb<

Gillafpy Henry

Graffet Daniel, 2 copies

■ Hark

Gilmor William

Gray James

H Harrc

Gilpin William, mi-

Gray Jofeph

H Harpc

mington D,

Gravenftine Samuel

■ Harrif

Gibfon Frederick

Green William

H Hard)

Gibbs Stephen

Greer James

H Harve

Gilbert Jcfle

Grcbk William

H Harve

Glenn John

Griffin Samuel

Glaus Simon

Griffith Jofeph

H HafTin;

Glasford Abel, New

Grimes John

H Hacric.

CaftleD,

Guillenough Patrick

H Hayes

Gordon John

Guilfry Matthew

H Hawkii

Gore John

Guir William

H Hazel tc

Gorham Edward

GuUen John

■ Helm J

Gottftialkfon Salom

Guy Richard

1 Hemple

■ Heming

■ Henderi

Hafline jun. John

Hamilton William

B Henderi

Hanford Lewis

Hamilton Willi:vm

1 Henry \

Haga Godfrey

Hanfcll Barnett

■ Henry J

Hailer Frederick

Hannum L. Wafhington

■ Herbert

Hale Matthew

Hancock William, WiU

I Hera Jol

Hall John

mingUn D»

■ Hefs Nic

Hall Robert

1 Hefs Ads

8UBSGR{BER6* NAMES.

Hall John •

Hamilton Charles, fFil'

minpon D.
Hanlon Thomas
Harbcfon Jofcph
Harkin Thomas
HarrcU James
Harper Benjamin
Harrifon jun. William
Hardy T.
Harvey Sampfon
Harvey AlcxarKlcr, NrJ^'

'Caftle D.
Hafllnger Chrillophcr
Hatrick Matthew
Hayes John
Hawkins WiU'am
Hazelton Peter
Helm John
Hemple Chriftian
Heming Samuel
Henderfon John
Hcnderfon Robert
Henry William
Henry Andrew
Herbert Jofeph
Hera John
Hefs Nioholas
HefsAdam

Hefton Levi

Heyl John

Hcyl Philip

Hill John

Hill Jacob

Hochncr John

Hoffman Jacob

Hoffman Daniel

Hoffncr Jacob

Holmes William

Holmes John

Holmes William

Holland Benjamin

Homes James

Hood John

Hoops jun, Anthony

Hook John

Horn Benjamin

Horton Jcffe

Hough Ifaac

Houfe Peter

Howell M. fVilmingt9H

Hubcr Henry
Hudncr John
- Hudlbn Willkra
Huff John
Huff Jacob
Hughes John

SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES.

Humphreys Afheton Hutton Thomas

Huron I^aurence Hutts john

HufFcy Maurice Hutton Nathaniel

Hutchinlbn Charles Hymer Adam

Ing Thomas
Inncs John
kiftant Alexander

Irving David
Ives John

Jackfon John
Jackfon B. Richard
James John>, }Vilmington

D.
James Edward
James Robert, Trenton
Jamefon John
Janney Thomas
January William
Janier John
Jaqoett P. John, New-

Cafile D,
Jaquettjun. Peter, Chrif-

tiana Bridge.
John Ifaac '
Johnfon Jacob
Johnfon Jeremiah'

Johnfon Richard
Johnfon David
Johnfon Jonathan
Johnfon Jofeph
Johnfon John
Johnfton David
Johnfton William
Johnfton William
Johnfton John
Jones Gilbert
Jones Samuel
Jones John, IVilmington

D.
Jones John
Jones Edward
Jones Robert
Jones Marfhall

SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES;

Jones Amos, JVilmmgtun Jones jun. Philip

D. Joy Abfalom

Jones Jonathan Joyce Thomas

Kane John

Kay Jofeph

Keanjohn '

Keen John

Kefferjohn

Keller George

Kelley Thomas

Kclley Hugh

Kelfey C. John

Kellar George

Kendall Janks, IVilming-

ton D.
Kennedy John
Keriin George, TViUmng-

ton D.

Key Michael, IVilming-

ion D.
Keys Abraham
Kid Robert
Kimbcr Jclfe
Kinfton J. Thomas
Kiflclman S. Frederick
Klein Abraham
Knerr Henry
Knight Thomas
Knight William
Kollock John
Kuhl jun. Prcderick

La Combe John Dr.
Lakcy Marmaduke
Lake Richard
Laing Benjamin, ATiV-

tningion D,
Lamat John
Lancgder Thomas

* Lancafter Jt^iihn
Landers John, PF'ihnhig-

ton D.
Laning James

Larer Melchior
'Laflier Jacob
Lauck John

SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES.

mmmm^

Lawrance TKomas
Lehman Samuel
Lee Benjamin
Lcedom Benjamin
Le Brecon, Dr.
Lees Mary
Leib George
Lentz jun. Henrf
I&c(h Peter
Lcflie Guftavus *
Lewis A. John
Lewis S. Jofeph
Lewis jun. Robert
Levy Aaron
Lingwood H. L
Linten Jacob

Lodor John
Loir B. John
Longftiore Jolly
Lotee Jofeph
Lorrainjun. John
Lownes James
Lourg Peter

Lowry Philip
Loudon John
Ludwig Chriftopher
Luke John, Wtlmingtcn
D.

Lulhal John

Lyons Eneas

Lyndall Benjamin
Lytle Thomas

Macfcrran Samuel
Madan Patrick,
Magens The : Chrifiiana

Maddock Jeffc
Malin John
Malvy Charlc.*;
Mann William
Manning William
Marlhall Abraham
Martin John
Marquedant Charles

Marfbal Robert
Mafon William
Matter William
Maybeny John
Mayers Philip
M* Allcfter Mary
M* Alpin James
M* Arthur Daniel
M< Caila Andrew
M* Calla David
M' Clain Thoma$
W Ckav Charles

SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES.

M* Clcntick William
M< Clcnaghan- Michael
M' Colm John
M« Crca Archlbaid
M* Cutchon James
M* Cutchon Samuel
M* Donnell L m.
M* Donnald MalcoUn
M* Doweli Hugh
M' Fccly Edwaitl
M* Grach James
M* liham Peter
M*IntireJohn
M* II wham Thomas
M' Kav James^
M* Karaker Daniel
M* Kenzic John
M* Keever John.
M* Keever Nejil
M' Kinley iUexander
M' Kiffick John
M' Lachlan Donald
M* Lcod Malcom
M' Mahon William
iVl'NealJohn
M* Neil John
M' Nulty John
M' Phail William
Meade John .
Mcarns James,
Mce Samuel

MehafFv Robert
Meflcnger Simoa
Meyers Henry
Miller Jacob
Miller John
Miller Mania
Miller Jofeph
Miller Robert
Miller William
Miles Thomas
Miles jun. Samuel
Miles Samuel
Milner L.
Mitchell Thomas
Moloy M. Chickeky
Mollry Adolphus
Mooney Wiiliafii
' Moore William
Moore Elifha
Moore John
Moore Alexander
Moore Charles
Morrelljohn
Morris John
Morrifon George
Morrifon John
Morgan Enoch
Mofer Lewis Charles
Muner Phjlip
Murray Atchibalcl

SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES.

Murray John, Cbriftiana Murphy John

Ferry y 4 copies,
Murfin William
Murphy Henry
Murphy Michael
Murphy Daniel

Nagle Maurice
Naglee David
Napier Alexander
Napier John
Napier Thomas
Naylor Benjamin
Neilen Andrew
Nicholas John

Oat Jeffe

O'Brien Alexander
O'Brien Peter

O'Callaughan Maurice
O'Conner Myles
Ogden John
Ogdcn Hugh

Mufchcrt John
Mufgravc Aaron
Myers Laurence
Myers Jacob
Mynich Jacob

Nixon Henry
J^orny Andrew
Norris James
North John
North Richard
Norton Jonathan
Norton George
Nowlin Matthew

O'Donnell James

Oliver James

O'Niel Patrick

Orr Hugh

Ofter Jeremiah

Otley Abner, fVilmington

Palmer Richard
Pafcalis Dr.

Patterfon Robert
Paterfon John

SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES.

»f-

Pattcrfon V/illiam

Paul David

Peart Thomas

Peacock Ralph

Peden Hugh

Peddle George

Peck John

Peck William

Pennock George

Penlovc Thomas

Penrofc Charles

Pentland james

Pepper William

Perine John

Perkinpine David

PeterfonLylof, fVilming-
tonD,

PfeifFer Jofcph

PJiillips William, Wil-
mington D.

Phillips Daniel

Phillips Naphtali

Phillips John

Phillips Thomas
Pierce John
Pierce Robert
Piflant John
Pitt jun. John
Piatt William
Plin Jacob
^lum George
Polock Ifaac
Potts M. George
Powell Ifaac
Powell William
Prefton Thomas, IVil-

mington D.
Price William
Prieft Ifaac
tPrichett R. William
Pritchct J.
PritchardD. James
Provcft I^oderick
Punton Thomas
Purfil Jofeph

Quin James

SUBSCRIBERS* NAMI8.

=5SSa9S

Rabfon George
Radley William
Ramfay Alexander
Rain John, 8 copies
Randies James
Ramagc John
Rarick Godfrey
Rawlings Thomas, Wil-

mingtofiy Z>.
Read George, New

Caftle, D.
Read Charles
Rchn George
Rehn John
Rees William
Rccs David
Rcgnaud A.
Reid William
Rcilly James
Rcilly John
Reeve Eliiha
Relf William .
Rdfc Richard
Rcnnie George
Rcynall S. Richard
Rhoads Charles
Rhoads Philip
Rhonds John
Richards William
Richards Jcffe, Wilming»

Richardfon Ifaac
Richards Samuel
Rickctts Jahn
Rickects James
Ridgway Daviil
Rievicr John
kinot David
Rink John
Rifing Francis
Robins John
Roberts George
Robbins William
Robertfon Alexander
Robertfon Charles
Robertfon William
Robefon James
♦ Robin fon Parker
Robinfon Richard
Robinfon James, 2 co>

pies.
Robinfon William
Robinfon Henry
Robinett Richard
Rogers Thomas
Rogers William
Rogers Maurice
Rogers Robert
Rogers Eli
Rolet Francois
Rofs David
Rofs Robert

dUh

SUB^CJllBEPiS* KAMfcl ty

.nM.MKMMW

Rowntrcc Jdmes

Rowen John

Ruddock William

Rugdoii John
Sands John

Sailor Henry

Sailor Zachariah

Savidgc Reuben

Schmidft Frederick Rev.

Schneider jun. Cafper

Schott John

Scott John

Scott David

Scott William

Scot Robert

Sears John

Seaman William

Seckel Henry

Sellers John

Ruih William
Rufh Benjamin
RufTcl Edward

Shull Frederick
Shutz Judas
Sigmond Michael
Sikcs Henry
Siminton George
Simonton John
Simpfon John
Simpfon Thomas
Sims John
Sims Henry
Sink Laurance
Sink William
Skirm Robert
Skinner William
Skinrick Adam

Scyfert Conrad, i a copies Slack Daniel
Shade George " Sloan Samuel

Shaffer Charles
Shannon Thomas
Sharp James
Shaw Alexander
Shaw Thomas
Shell Henry
Sheph<Jrd tVilliarn
Shewell jun. Robert
Shoemaker Jofeph
Shorten Gtorgc
ShirefFWilliam
Shreevc Joha

Smiley William
Smith Henry
Smith John
Smith Jacob
Smith Godfrey
Smith Matthias
Smith John
Smith Chairlcs
Smith R. Richard
Smith Edward
Smith Aaron
Smith Jofttt'

i6 SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES.

Smith jun. William

Stecn Robert

Smith Samuel, fVilming-

Steintr Mclchior

tcn, D.

Stewart Robert

Smith James, PFilming-

Stewart James

toUf D.

Stewart William

Smith Henry, IVilming-

Stewart Aaron

ton, D.

Stiles Edward

Snowdcn Thomas,

Stiles Richard

Snyder John

Stilwaggon Frederick

Snyder John

Stimartz William

Snyder Thomas

Stirk James '

Snyder William

Scoaker John

Sommervill James

Stockton John, fVilming^

Souder jun. Charles

tony D

Sowcrwalt Mark

Stockard Conolly

Spangler George

Stockton Ifrael

Speelman John

Stokes T. William

Spence Henry

Stout P. Jacob

Speirs Thomas

Stoy Peter

Stakley Chriftian

Stroop Jacob

StanclifFJohn

Strapp Henry

Starr Caleb, JVilmington,

Stuart Ifaac

Steel John

Stuart James

Steel Stephen

Summers Andrew

Steel William

Sweeors Eliza

Steel Nicholas

Tallman W. Thomas

Symington Alexander

Taylor John, fVilmington

Tage Benjamin

Teas Charles

Taylor James

Tea Robert

Taylor William

Thomas Henry

Taylor Robert

Thomas Stacy

Taylor Anthony

Thompfon Thomas

19 SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES.

Thonipfon John

Townfcnd Ifaac

Thompfon jolin

Traqiiair John

Thompfon Thomas

Trautwinc William

Thompfon Jofcph

Treflc Thomas

Thompfon R. Stephen

Trump Daniel

Thompfon M. K. Tho.

Tueften j.

Thorburn James

Turnbull Alexander

Tittermary Robert

Turner john

Toland Henry

Tuftin William

Townfcnd Henry

Tybout R.

Uftick W. Thomas

Van Leuvinigh William,

Vance Adam

New Cajlle, D,

Vanderflice George

Vanfant Jofeph

Van Dufen Matthew

Vaughn W.

■

Van Dyke Nicholas,

Vickars Thomas

New Caftle, D,

Vining Henry

Vandever wiUiam, Wil-

Vogcl Frederick

mingtorii D.

Voight Henry

Van Horn Benjamin

Voight Sebaftian

Van Manierck Anthony

Vorter Robert

Vanfciver Jacob W

Wagner George

Walraven Lucas, New

;'
,*

:. '

W?gner Jacob

CaftleD, .

;

Walker John

WaKhJohn

■

Walker Charles

Ward Patrick

•

Walker William

Ware John

■'

Walker George

Warner Jofeph

Walkinfhan William

Warthman Adam

Wallace james

Waiters Philip

:■

Wallice Charles

Watters George

Wallis William

W.itt Robert

Wallis Samuel, PFilming, Wattles Henry

mmmmmmm

■. .

)

i^'

SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES. 20 I

Way George

Wilkinfon J. B. v -

Way John, pyUmington ^

Williams William

Way Francis, IVilmington

Willis I.

Weaver Jacob

Willis Samuel

Webb John, fVilmingtcn

Wilfon James ' r

^Vebftcr Levi

Wilfon James

Welch John

Wilfon James

Walldone Davirf

wilfon John

Welfh John

Wilfon John

Wefcot Henry

Wilfon John

Weft Jofiah

Wilfon George

wheeler Samuel

Wilfon B. Let.

White James

Wilfon John, fFilmwgton,

White Samuel

Wondcrly Jacob

White William

Were John

White Charles

Woglom Abraham

White George

Wood Mansfield

Whitendes William

Woodruff Smith

Whitehead William

Worth James

Wills Jeremiah., tVilming,

Wonderly William

Whitaker James

Worrell Ifaiah

Widdifield William

AV'right William

Wiley ]ohn,NewCafiIeJ).

Wrenfhall John

Williams Zenas

Wright Malconx

Wilkinfon Th6mas

Yard Jeffe

Yeager John

Yard William

Youn£T Charles

'f-

Young John, New Cafikj Young William

Z
Zane Samuel

Ziegler Dellman

Zemerman Chriftophci^

Zeller Jacob, 6 copies, a

AMii.<«atfMb .J,,

• ^ .• ,

#'|f

Last

• F

SUBSCRIBERS

T O

CARVERVs TRAVELS,

Refiding Jn New- York.

AdAM^ William
Adams Timothy •

Adriance J. Abraham
Akerly Benjamin
Allan Robert
Allen b. James
Alftyne jun. Jeronemus
Andrews Jolm

Backhoiiie Edward
Baker Abner
Baker William
Baillie James
Banker J. Gerard
Barre James
Baptiillfaac
Barry Hugh
Barrou John
Barras William
Barberie V. T. Otto
Bafs George
Boden Omar
Bockhorfl h. Harman
Bogart John
Bogctt L. James
Bogardus P; Peter
Borrow Samuel
Bourne John

Amernian Thomas
Amory James
Anderfon John
Andrew George
Armftrong J- W.
Avery Charles
Aycrigg Benjamin

Bates John
Bauflier Henry
Beakley Chriftophcr
Becanon Philip
Beekman Chriftopher
Benfon John
Biddle and Sanford
Bidell & Simonfon
Black Peter
Blauvelt Jeflfe
Blackwell jun. Jofeph
Brower A. David
Brown John
Brown John
Browne Nathaniel
Brown Thomas
Brown Abraham
Bruih Gilbert
Bruce John
A

SUBSCRIBER S' NAMES*

Bowne Andrew
Bowne Samuel ,
BoVne Thomas
Brett & Bunn
Brazier John
Brafher Thomas
Briggs Ebenezer
Broome T. William
Brouwer John
Brouwer Samuel
Browcr iun. John
Browelr D. Abraham
Browcr Nicholas

Caldwell James
Caldwell John
Campbell John
Campbell John
Campbell Alexander
Campbell Jared
CahillHugh
CarmerW.
Carberry John
Carroll A.
Carter Robert
Coates H. John
Cocks Robert
Collord James
Coit Elifha
Cooper William
Cooper Cornelius
Contelling David
Conolly Felix
Connolly Thomas
Conklin John
Cornwall j.

Bryar James
Buchannan Tails
Buckley John
Buckley Thomas
Bulcock John
Bunn William
Burling William
Burling S. William
Burtus A. Samuel
Buxton Enoch
Byrne Thomas
Byrne James

Cartwright George
Cafey James
Carters John
Child Abraham
Cheafe John
Cheefeman John
Chriftie Andrew
Church Alexander
Clark Martin
Clark Ebenezer
Cluett J. John
Cornell Samuel
Corbett H. Robert
Comwell W. H.
Cornell G.
Cottrill Richard
Craddock William
Crane D. David
Crygier Aaron
Cummings James
Cunningoam Aichdi
Cuyler James

mtm

SUBSCRIBER S' NAMES.

Dally Wilfiam
Darley Arthur & John
Ddamater Ifaac
De La Roche F.
De Laplain Jofhua
De Molitor Ghriftian
De Peyfter Nicholas
De Witt John
Demilt Thomas
Denoven Hugh
Defdoitty B. John
Dick Thomas
Dickfon John
Dickfon Peter
Difofway Mark
Dominick John

Dobbs Jeremiah
Doremus Peter
Dougall Hugh
Pouglafs James
Dougall Alexander
Drake Thomas
Drake Jacob
Drake Gilbert
Duffie James
DufF Patrick
DufF Nicholas
Duffie R. Cornelius
Durie Peter
Duryee Richard
Duftan James
Dutch Stephen

Eccledon A.
EUfworth John

Faulconer Thomas
Felter John
Fitzfimoiis Michael
Fitzpatrick Thomas
Flin John
Foord William

Evans Ciiarles
Everdell James

Forfyth Jacob
Franklin Matthew
Frafer James
Frederick James
Freebufti Matthe^V

Gallagher George
Gardner WiUiaiA
Gardiner James
Gedney John
Gilbert Thoi^as
Oibfon William
Gibfon Thomas
Gilbert James
Gilbert George

Gilmore Robert
Gardener Michael
Gafton T. Thomas
Geer George
Goitfchius M.
Godbey William
Gore "Thomas
Gore Thomas
Gram R*

p (

4 S«IJ B S C R

IB E R S' NAME S.

Gillefpy Samuel

Graves Rofewell

Giles William

Green Samuel

I Giles Robert

: Greene John

1 . Gill Thomas

Gumbs Thos. of St* Croix :
Harris William

HaffP. John

» Hadley Ifaac

Harper Andrew

Hall Thomas

Hart Robert

Halftedl. John

Hartman Lewis

Hallet James

Hatfield Elias

Hallet John

Hays Henry

Hannan Henry

Haydock Jofeph

Hanfon A. John

Hawxhurft James

! Hardie Thomas

Hawxhurft Nathaniel

Healy Edward

Horton A.

Heath Thomas

Houfman Jacob

Hedden Abijah

Houfeman John

Helm Obediah

Howe William .

Henderfon Jofiah

Hunt Richard

j, Henry William

Hunt James

Henry John

Himt Alfop

Hewitt John

Hunter George

Heyer Ifaac

Hunter Roger

Hill jun. Henry

Hirrmance Martin

Hogben Charles

Hutchifon Alexander

Holmes Stephen

Hutchifon John

Hook Crane Jofeph

Hyer Laurence

j Hopper Garrett

Hyflop John

1 Horn Jofeph

I & J

Inderwick A.

Jeremiah John

Ireland George

Johnfon William

Ireland Jofeph

Jones John

Jacobs William

Jones Thomas

Jackfon Samuel

Jones John

Jarvis Elijah

' Joyce Robert

Johnfon Benjamin

Judah Mofes

j Johndon Richard

June Jacob • — '^ **..f

Jenrings S. Jon.

S tf B S C R 1 B E~R S* NAMES.

Kams John
Kartright B. James
Kelly Lewis
Kelly Bernard
KilTam Benjamin
Kitchel tfaac

Kelly Luke
Kimberly Nathaniel
King Henry
Kingfland Daniel
Kifs S. Ifaac
KnoxS. William

.--1 ^S

%•

Lalor Henry
Lake Jofeph
Langley William
Laiher Frederick
Laurence D. Samuel
LawfonJohn
Leaycroft Richard
Lee William
Leabch G. John
Leggett £b. & John
Leggett Abraham
Lentz Frederick
Lent Henry
Lent John

Mallory l^liam
Marvin John
Marfh Charles
Makarcy James
Manathan Anfon
Martin John
Martling B. Abraham
M'Dougall John
M'Dougall Hugh
McDowell RoWt
M^Comb Ifaac
M'Kenny William
M^Kay James
M'Kinftry WilUam
Merrill Frederick
Merrills George

Lentner John
Lefler Benjamin
Lethem David
Lillywhite Jofhua
Limberger Henry
Lockman Samuel
Lockwood jun. Phineas
Lounds John
Lozier Peter
Lovett John
Lucas Jeffe
Lurenge John
Lynch F.
Lynch Francis

M'Kinley Peter
M'CaffJohn
M<Leod John
M'Laughlin I. Andrew
M'Gary Thomas
Mac Gregor John
M'Gregor lohn
Matthews Robert
Maflerton William
Mayhew Thaddeus
Meat Nicholas
Mears William
Meeks jun. Edward
Morris Andre,/
Moore Blafe
Moores William

SUBSCRIBERS NAMES.

Mervill Abraham
Mller Andrew
MUler Zebuloa
Minturn Jonas
Mitchell James
Mitchell Stephen
Mix P. William
MofFet John
Moore Boltis
Moore WiUiam
Moore Jofeph
Maclarin John

NabI Bernard
NicholL James

Ogden G. Samuel
0*Hara Henry
O'Neil John

Page John
Palljabefli
f^ge L. Samue!
Park Gideon
Parker William
Paterfon B. James
Paterfon James
Paxton James

Quackinbuih James
Quereau Philip

Ramage WilKam
Rawdon Cornelius
Read John
Ramfay. David
Reed ^muel
Remfen H. John
Refler Frederick

Morrifon William
Morrifon Jofeph
Mount iohn
Mofes Ifaac
Mowatt Benjamin
Mount Gilbert
Mulheran Richard
Mulheran Iohn
Mumford C. William
Murray William
Myers Henry

Norton Henry
Nugent Mitchell

Onderdonk John Dr,
Outcalt John

Peck Hezekiah
Pell Elijah
Pennoier Ifaac

Pennycook Wiltiaxit
Penny Jonathan.
Pratt Ifaac
Price Jos.
Purcell Henry

uick Henry

Robinfon, John
Rodman John
RodmanDaniel
Rogers Leonard
Rogers l^dwArd
Roome J., P.

RoomejuiuSfiO]!]^

-subscribers' l^AMtt,

Kichey J. John
Richardfon Jofeph
Richardfon^john
Riley Ezekiel
Riker Richard
Ritter Frederick
Robertfoa John .
Robertfon reter

Sands Comfort . ,
Sands lofhua
Sarles Edward
Schuyler C. Peter
Scott William
Scotland John
Scorciby Thomas
Shawjun. James
ShiplefGeorge
Shay P.
Sharp Johh
Shields Edward
Shu:er Samuel
Seaman Thomas
Seikels Garrett
Seafield William
Sexton Wffliam
Speaight Richard
Spndnger R. Peter
Stagg T. Ifacc
Stanton ^ohn
Stackhoufe tt. Samuel
Stagg Abraham
Stack William
Stegheefer John
Sterling James
Sterlitz Jofeph

Tabele Jam^
Taylor Thomas

Root Reuben
Rofeaman K.
Rofhope John
Rofs Thomas
Roffijohn
Ryker John*
Ryckman A>

Simley John
Sickles Elias
Simfon William
Sitcher Andrew
Smith ^ohn
Smith Ed,
Sirith Elkaimali
Smith Gamalid
Smith D.
Smith W. Oliver
Smith Tofeph
Smith Granville
Smith ohn
Smith Robert
Smith <ohn
Smith Thomas
Spencer Enoch
Stewart A, James
Stewart ' ohn
Stevens Ebenezer
Stevenfdn 'ohn
Stevenfon C. B^jaiiHa
Stevenfon John
Stockholm Andrew
Stymets 'ohn
Sudam John

Taylor ^atnes
Tearney Luke

6 U B so R I

(

■/■#

tZi

Thompfon WiHiam
IPlompfon William
irfaiompfon Alexander
irHoniproii Andrew
l^ome A^illiam
'tiebout Abratxam
TiUou Peter

mffioeffer George
Underbill William
Underbill Ss^uel
Valentine A. George
Valentine A.
Vandewater William
Vanderbitt Oliver
Vanderbiltjun. ohn
Vandewater William
Van Dyck iam6&
Van Dyck Ifaac
Van Dyck Francis
Wade jun. Edward
Wade Isi^es
Wade WilUam
Walker Alexander
Walker Jobn
Walker Tames
WaagM.

Walton M. Abraham
WaringTbomas
Walih itomag
Waring Silvenus
Warner Cbarles
Webfter George
Weeks lames
Wendover Hercules
Wenter T.
WerterfieldA*
Werts loihua
Werts William
Weft lobn
Weflels B. Richatd

B E VUA'

NAMES.

timj^on Thomal
Town John
Townlcy I ohn
TraUWUHpn
Trivett James
Twitcbings William
Tupper Cbriftian

Underbill Jofhua
Uftick William

Van Aulen Staats
Van Hook Abrabati
Van Horn Andrew
Van Neft Abraham
Van Saan Henry
Van Zandt James
Van Voorbis R. John
Volburgh Harmati
W
Weftervelt William
White Andrew
Whimfter David
Wigins William
Wilcocks lames
WillianijS L« Samuel
Williamis Peter
WilUamTon C. Henry
Williamfon Benjamin
Willeh lames
Wilfon William
WiUbn loha
Wilfon A.
wyfon Samuel
'Wmbn Alexander
Wilt Jacob
Woods Tames
Woodbill Gilbert
Woolcy Gerardtts
Wood B. Wllliasi
Wragg WiUim
Wright I&BC.

>hii

lel

jnin