| OCR Text |
Show 64 JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE fore sun down. Passed the night very uncon1fortably, having nothing to cat, not much wood, nor any blankets. The Indian slept sound. I cursed his insensibility, being obliged to content n1ysclf over a few coals all night. Boley did not arrive. In the night the Indian nl{!ntioned something about his son, &c. '27tb January, Monday.-My Indian rose early, mended his mockinsons, then expressed by signs something about his son and the Frenchn1an we n1et yesterday. Conceiving that he wished to send some message to his family, I sufFered hixn to depart. After his departure I felt the curse of solitude, although he truly was no company. Boley arrived about 10 o'clock. He said that he had followed us until some time in the night, when believing that he could not overtake us, he stopt and made a fire, but having no axe to cut wood, he was ncar freezing. He tnet the Indians, who made him signs to go on. I spent the day in putting my gun in order, mending my mockinson , &c. Provided plenty of wood, still found it cold, with but one blanket. I can only account for the g ntlen1cn of theN. W. company, contenting themselves in this wilderness for 1 O, IS, and some of them for '20 years, by the attachment they contract for the Indian women. It appears to me, that the wealth of nations would not induce n1e to remain secluded from the society of civilized mankind, surrounded by a savage and unproductive wilderness, without books or other sources of intellectual enjoyment, or being blessed with the cultivated and feeling mind, of a civilized fair. 28th January, Tuesday.-Lcft our encamptnent at a good hour ; unable to find any trail, passed through one of the most dismal cypress wamps I ever saw, and struck the Missi, ~ippi at a mall lake. Observed Mr. Grant's tracks going through it; found his mark of a cut off, (agreed on between us) took it, and proceeded very well~ TO TilE SOUHCSS Q[· TilE MISSISSIPPI. G., until we came to a small lake, where the trail was entir ly 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 poin t about 3 miles, where we found a C.hipeway lodge of one man, his wife, and ftve children, and one old woman. They received us with every mark, that distinguished their barbarity, such as setting their dogs on ours, trying to t hrusl their hands into our pockets, &c. but we convinc d then1 that we were not afraid, and let them know, we were Chcwockomen ; ( Arnericans) when they used us . more civilly. After we had arranged a camp, as well as pos,_ siblc, I went into the lodge ; they presented me with a plate of dried meat. I ordered Miller to bring about two gills of liquor, which made us all good friends. The olJ squaw gave me rnore tneat, 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 lillics and feeds the rav n, and the same almighty Providence protects and preserves these creatures. After I had gone out to my fir , th old man came out and proposed to trade beaver skins, for whiskey ; meeting with a refusal, he left n1e ; when present! y tht.: old woman caine out with a beaver skin, she also being r efused, he again returned to the charge, with a quantity of dried meat, ( this or any other I should have been glad to have had) when I gave him a peremptory refusal; then all further application ceased. It really appeared, that with one quart of whiskey, I might have bought all they were possessed of. Night remarkably cold, was obligL'd to sit up nearly the whole of it. Suffered Inuch with cold and from want of sleep. 31st January, Friday.-Took my clothes into th Indian's lodge to dress, clnd "vas 1·eccivcd yery r L>ollv, but· 1 |
