OCR Text |
Show 64 J'OU HNA L OF A VOYAGE fore sun down. Passed the night very uncon1fortably, h av·m g noth1'ng to cat ' not much wood, nor a. ny. . blanke.t s. The Indian slept sound. I cursed his insensibil:ty, bemg obliged to content myself over a few coals ~11 mght. ~ Boley did not arrive. In the night the lnd1an n1ent10ned something about his son, &c. . 27tb January, Monday.-My Indian rose early, men-ded his mockinsons, then expressed by signs something about his son and the Frenchman we met yesterday. Conceiving that he wished to send some message to his family, I ~uffercd him to depart. After his departure I felt the curse of solitude, although he truly was no company. Boley arrived about 10 o'clock. I Ie said that ~e l:~ul followed us until some time in the night, when bchevmg that he could not overtake us, he stopt and made a fire, but having no axe to cut wood, he was near freezing. Ilc met the Indians, who made him signs to go on. I spent the day in putting my gun in order, mending my mockinsons, &c. Provided plenty of wood, still founJ it cold, with but one blanket. I can only account for the gentlemen of theN. W. company, contenting themselves in this wilderness for 10, J 5, and son1e of then1 for 20 years, by the attachment they contract for the Indian won1cn. lt ap· pears to me, that the wealth of nations would not induce n1e to remain secluded from the society of civ ilizcd man· kind, surrounded by a savage and unproJuctive wilderness, without books or other sources of intclkctual enjoyment, or being blessed with the cultivated and feeling .mind, of a civilized fair. 28tb January, Tuesday.-I .. eft our encamp1ncnr at a good hour ; unable to find any trail, passed through one of the n1ost dismal cypress swamps I ever aw, and struck the Mississippi at a small lake. Observed Mr. Grant's tracks going through it; found his mark of a cut off, ( agr(>eci on bctwern ns) took it, and proc eded very well. TO TilE SOURCE~ OF THE MISSISSIPPI. 6'5 until we came to a smali lake, where the trail was entirely hid ; but after some search on the other side, found it ; when we passed through a dismal swamp, on the other side of which, found a large lake ; at which I was entirely at a loss; no trail to be seen. Struck for a point about 3 miles, where we found a Chipcway lodge of one n1an, his wife, and five children, and one old woman. They received us with every mark, that distinguished their barba· rity, such as setting their dogs on ours, trying to thrust their hands into our pockets, &c. but we convinced them that we were not afraid, and let them know, we were Chewockomen; (Americans) when they used us more c~villy. After we had arranged a catnp, as well as pos .. Sible, I went into the lodge; they presented me with a p~ate of ~ried meat. I ordered Miller to bring about two g1lls of liquor, which n1ade us all good friends. The old squaw gave me more meat, and offered me tobacco, which not using, I did not take. I gave her an order upon my corporal, for one knife and half a carrot of tobacco .... Heaven clothes the lillies and feeds the raven and the same almighty Providence protects and preserv;s these creatures. After I had gone out to my fire, the old 1nan came out and proposed to trade beaver skins for whiskey · . ' ' mcetmg with a refusal, he left me; when presently the 01d woman came out with a beaver skin, she also being refus:d, he again returned to the charge, with a quantity 0f dned meat, (this or any other I should have been glad to have had) when I gave him a peremptory refusal; then al~ further application ceased. It really appeared, that With one quart of whiskey, I might have boun·ht all they wer~ possessed of. Night remarkably cold, \~as oblig ,J to Sit up nearly the whole of it. Suffered Inuch with cQ]<.i and from want of sleep. I .. 31st January, Friday.-Took my clothes into the. ndian's lodg e t o c1r ess, and was recei.v ed verv coolly, bu~ I |