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Show 36 JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 21st October' Monday.-Went out hunting, but killed not hinLg , not wishing to shoot at small game. Our labour wenton. . 22d October, Tuesday.-Went out .huntmg. About 15 miles up the creek saw a great quantity o~ deer ; but, frmn the dryness of the woods and the q uantlty_ of brush, only shot one through the body, which ma~e Its es~apc. This day my men neglected their work, ':h1ch convmced me I 111ust leave off hunting and supenntend the men. Miller and xnyself lay out all night, in the pine woods. 23d October, Wedncsday.-Raised another block. house, deposited all our property in the one already co~· pletcd. Killed a number of pheasants and ducks, wh1lc visiting n1y canoe-n1akers. Sleets and snow. 24tb October, Thursday.-The snow having fallen one or two inches thick in the night; I sent out one hunter (~parks) and went out myself, Bradley, my other hunter, being sick. Each of us killed two deer, one goose, and one pheasant. 25th October, Friday.-Sent out men with Sparks to bring in his game. None of then1 returned, and I supposed the1n to be lost in the hemlock swamps, with which the country abounds. My interpreter, however, whom I believe to be a coward, insisted that they were killed by the Sauteurs. Made arrangements for n1y departure. 26th October, Saturday.-Launched my canoes and found them very small. My hunter killed three deer. Took out Miller and remained out all night, but killed no· thing. 27th October Sunday.-Employed in preparing our baggage to embark. 28th October, Monday.-My two canoes being finish· ed, launched, and brought to the head of the rapids, I put my provision, ammunition, &c. on board, intending to cnl· TO THE SOURCES OF THE MISSISSIPPI. bark by day. Left them under the charge of the sentinel, and in an hour one of the1n sunk, in which was the ammunition and my baggage : this was occasioned by what is called a wind-shock. 'This n1isfortune, and the extreme smallness of my canoes, induced me to build another. r had my cartridges spread out on blankets and large fires made round then1. At that ti1ne I was not able to ascertain the extent of the misfortune, the n1agnitude of which none can estimate, save only those in the same situation with our elves, 1500 miles from civilized society ; and in danger of losing the very xneans of defence, nay of existence. 29th October, Tucsday.-Felled a large pine and commenced another canoe. I was at work at 1ny cartridges all day, but did not save five dozen out of 30. In attempting to dry the powder in pots, blew it up, and it had nearly blown up a tent and two or three men with it. Made a dozen new cartridges with the old wrapping-paper. 30th October, Wcdncsday.-My men labored as usuaL Nothing extraordinary. 31st October, Thursday.-Enclosed my little work eompletely with pickets. Hauled up my two boats, and turned them over on each side of the gate-ways; by which mean~ a defence was made to the river, and had it not be n for various political r easons, I would have laughed ar tl:e ~ttack of 800 or 1000 savages, if all my party were withm. For except accidents, it would only have afforded amusement, the Indians having no idea of taking a place by stor.m. Found znyself powerfully attacked with the fan~asncs of the brain, called ennui, at the mention of whzch I ha~ hitherto scoffed ; but my books being packed u~, I was hkc a person entranced, and could easily concetvc why so many persons who have been confined to reInotc place , acquired the habit of drinking to excess an<l |
