CARVERCJ). Travels through the Interior Flirts of North America, 
 in the Years 1766,1767 and 176^. THE SEC0» EDITION. gvo, complete 
 with the 2 fold, maps and 5 plates, contemp* calf (si, repairs to the / 
 
 bkstrp. ) ,L0IG)0N; Printed for the Author, 1779. $S5.00 \ 
 
 "Sabin’s collation, cf.lllSA (3 )is incorrect as he calls for only 
 4 plates. The author, after serving in five campaigns against the 
 French in Canada, and narrowly escaping massacre while commanding 
 a company at Fort William Henry, determined to explore out beyond 
 the Mississippi, and to find an overland route to the Pacific Ocean. 
 Starting from Boston in June 1766,he travelled thirteen hundred 
 miles to the most remote British post, and! surveyed the bays and 
 rivers of Lake Superior. Then with goods f®r Indian trading, he struck 
 into the N.W.of the Mississippi further t|ian any traveller had been 
 except Hennepin, in l6S0,and afterwards proceeded westward to the 
 source of vhe River St. Pierre, or Minnesota, dwelling among the Indians 
 and learning their language , Carver returned to Boston in 0ct.l76S, 
 having visited twelve Indian nations and travelled seven thousand 
 miles. 
 
 For the first time in print, Carver’s narrative contains the mention 
 of Oregon. 
 
 Of all the editions of Carver the second tondon edition is considered 
 to be the rarest.” 
 
 

 
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R A V 
 
 ELS 
 
 THROUGH 
 
 THE 
 
 N T E R I 0 R 
 
 PARTS 
 
 0 F 
 
 
 NORTH AMERICA, 
 
 I N T H E 
 
 Years 1766, 1767, and 1768. 
 By J. carver, Esq, 
 
 CAPTAIN OF A COMPANY OF PROVINCIAL 
 TROOPS DURING THE LATE 
 WAR WITH FRANCE. 
 
 ILLUSTRATED WITH COPPER PLATES. 
 THE SECOND EDITION, 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for the AUTHOR, 
 
 By William Richardson in the Strand; 
 
 And fold by J. Dodsley, in Pallinall ; J. Robson, in New 
 Bond-ftreetj J. Walter, at Charing-crofs 5 J- Bew, 
 in Pater-nofter Rowj and MefT. Richardson and 
 Ur QU HART, at the Royal Exchange. 
 
 M DCC LXXIX. 
 

T O 
 
 JOSEPH B A N K Sj Efq; 
 
 PRESIDENT 
 
 ROYAL SOCIETY. 
 
 S I R, 
 
 HEN the Public are in- 
 
 formed that I have long had 
 
 that my Defign in publiQiing 
 
 the following Work has received 
 
 your San<S:ion that the Compo- 
 
 lition of it has flood the Tell of 
 
 your Judgment and that it is by 
 
 your Permiflion a Name fo deferv- 
 edly eminent in the Literary World 
 
 OF THE 
 
 the Honour of your Acquaintance 
 
 A 2 
 
 IS 
 
dedication. 
 
 is prefixed to it, I need not be ap- 
 prehenfive of its Succefs; as your 
 Patronage will unqueftionably give 
 them Aflurance of its Merit. 
 
 For this public Teftimony of your 
 Favour, in which I pride myfelf, 
 accept. Sir, my moft grateful Ac- 
 knowledgments ; and believe me to 
 be, with great Refpedt, 
 
 Your obedient 
 humble Servant, 
 
 J. CARVER. 
 
A N 
 
 ADDRESS 
 
 TO THE 
 
 PUBLIC. 
 
 THE SECOND EDITION. 
 
 favourable reception this W^ork 
 has met with, clams the Author's mojl 
 grateful acknowledgments. A large edition 
 having run off in a few months, and the fale 
 appearing to be Jiill unabated, a new im~ 
 preffion is become ttecejfary. On this occa- 
 fon was he to conceal his feelings, and 
 pafs over, in flence, a di/iinblion fo bene~ 
 ficial and flattering, he would ju/lly incur 
 the imputation of ingratitude. That he 
 might not do this, he takes the opportunity, 
 which now prefents itfelf, of conveying to 
 the Public ( though in terms inadequate to 
 the warm emotions of his heart) the fenfe 
 
 he 
 
Address. 
 
 he entertains of their favour ; and thus tr anf- 
 mits to them his thanks. 
 
 In this new edition, care has been taken 
 to rectify thofe errors which have unavoid- 
 ably proceeded from the hurry of the prefs, 
 and Ukewife any incorredlnefs in the lan- 
 guage that has found its way into it. 
 
 S’he credibility cf fome of the incidents 
 related in the following pages, and fome 
 of the forks introduced therein, having 
 been queftioned, particularly the prognofti- 
 caiion of the Indian prief on the banks of 
 Lake Superior, and the fory of the Indian 
 and his rattle fnake, the author thinks it 
 necejfary to avail himfelf of the fame oppor- 
 tunity, to endeavour to eradicate any im- 
 preffons that might have been made on the 
 minds of his readers, by the apparent im- 
 probability of thefe relations. 
 
 As to the former, he has related it juf 
 as it happened. Being an eye-witnefs to 
 the whole tranfa£tion (and, he fattens him- 
 felf, at the time, free from every trace of 
 fceptical ofUnacy or enihufaflic credulity) 
 he was confequently able to defer ibe every 
 
 circumfance 
 
address. 
 
 clrcumjlance minutely and impartially, ^hh 
 he has done ; but without endeavow'ing to 
 account for the means by which it was ac~ 
 complijhed. Whether the predlbiion was 
 the nefult of prior obfervations y from which 
 certain confequences were expected to follow 
 by the fagacious priefy and the completion 
 of it merely accidental ; or whether he was 
 really endowed with fupernatural power Sy 
 the narrator left to the judgment of his 
 readers ; whofe conclufionsy he fuppofesy va- 
 ried according as the mental faculties of 
 each were difpofed to admit or rejeSt fabis 
 that cannot be accounted for by natural 
 caufes. 
 
 T"hefory of the r attic fnahe was related 
 to him by a French gentleman of undoubted 
 veracity ; and were the readers of this 
 work as thoroughly acquainted with the fa- 
 gacity and inf mblive proceedings of that 
 animaly as he iSy they would be as well af- 
 fjired of the truth of it. It is well knowtiy 
 that thofe fnakes which have furvived 
 thiough the fummer the accidents reptiles 
 are liable tOy periodically retire to the 
 woods, at the approach of winter ; where 
 each (as curious obfervers have remarked) 
 
 takes 
 
 I 
 
j D D R E S S. 
 
 iahs foffefion of the cavity it had occupied 
 the preceding year. Js foon as the JeaJon 
 is propitious, enlivened by the invigorating 
 rays of the fun, they leave thefe retreats, 
 and make their way to the fame fpot, though 
 ever fo difant, on which they before had 
 found fubffence, and the means of propagat- 
 ing their fpecies. Does it then require any ex- 
 traordinary exertions of the mind to believe, 
 that one of thefe regular creatures, after 
 having been kindly treated by its mqjler, 
 fould return to the box, in which it had 
 ufually been fupphed with food, and had 
 met with a comjortable abode, and that nearly 
 about the time the Indian, from former ex- 
 periments, was able to guefs at ? It cer- 
 tainly does not ; nor will the liberal and in- 
 genuous doubt the truth of a fory fo well 
 authenticated, becaufe the circumfances ap- 
 pear extraordinary in a country where the 
 fubjeli of it is fcarcely known. 
 
 ’I’hefe explanations the author hopes will 
 fuffice to convince his readers, that he has 
 not, as travellers are fometimes fuppofed to 
 do, amufed them with improbable tales, or 
 w fed to acquire importance by making his 
 adventures favour of the marvellous. 
 
 C O N- 
 
 o 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 JNTRODUCTION, 1 
 
 The Author Jets out from ' Bojion on his 
 
 Travels, — 
 
 Befcription of Fort Michlllimackinac, 
 
 Fort Le Bay, — 
 
 — the Green Bay, — 
 
 — Lake Michigan, — 
 
 Arrives at the Tozvn of the 
 
 i8 
 
 goes. 
 
 2 I 
 
 — 26 
 
 •— 28 
 
 JV inneba- 
 
 32 
 
 Fxcurfon of the IFinnebagoes towards the 
 
 Spanifh Settlements, 
 
 Befcription of the Winnebago Lake, 3 7 
 Injlance of Refolution of an Indian Wo- 
 man, — 
 
 Befcription of the Fox River, — 
 Remarkable Story of a Rattle Snake, 
 
 The great Town of the Saukies, — 
 
 Upper Town of the Ottagaumies, 
 Befcription of the Ouifconfn River, 
 
 Lower Town of the Ottagaumies, 
 
 P r airie Le Chien, — 
 
 An Attack by fame Indian Plunderers, 5 i 
 b Befcription 
 
 40 
 
 41 
 43 
 
 - 46 
 48 
 ib. 
 or La 
 
 50 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Definpuon of .he pl 
 
 Mouth of the Oufconfm ^ 
 
 JH_^-raie Pepin, - 5 J 
 
 Romnrkable Ruin^f '» 
 
 n^'lVver Bunh of the Naudowejfe In- 
 
 JdZture ■with a Party of thefe, andfom 
 of the Chipc’ways,, ^ 
 
 Defcription of a remarkable Cave, 3 
 
 Uncommon Behaviour of the Prince of e 
 Ifinnebagoes at the Falls oj o/* /If 
 
 j ^ 66 
 
 tho7iy^ ^ 
 
 Defcription of the Falls, ' 
 
 Extent of the Author's F -avels, — - 7 ^ 
 
 Defcription of the River St. Pierre, 7 4^ 
 
 Sources of the Four great Rivers of Nor 
 America, ' 
 
 Ref eSlions on Jheir Affinity, — 77 
 
 Fhe Naudoweffies of the Plains, wit 
 whom the Author wintered in the Teat 
 
 766, 
 
 80 
 
 TPhe Author returns to the Mouth of the 
 River St. Pierre, — _ 84 
 
 Account of a violent Flounder ftorm, 85 
 Speech made by the Author in a Council 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 held by the NaudoweJJies at the great 
 
 Cave, — — 86 
 
 Adventure with a Party of Indians near 
 Lake Pepin ^ — — p ^ 
 
 Defcription of the Country adjacent to the 
 River St. Pierre^ — loo 
 
 Account of different Clays found nettr the 
 Marble River, — — i o i 
 
 Defcription of the Chipiway River, 102 
 Extraordinary RfeSs of a Hurricane, 103 
 
 Hhe Author arrives at the Grand Portage 
 
 o 
 
 on the North-wef Borders of Lake Su- 
 perior, — — 107 
 
 Account of the Lakes lying farther to the 
 
 North-wef : Lake Bourbon, Lake JVin- 
 nepeek. Lake Du Bois, Lake La Pluye, 
 Red Lake, ^c. — — ib. 
 
 Account of a Nation of Indians fuppofed to 
 have been tributary to the Mexican 
 
 Kings, — — 1 1 8 
 
 the Jhining Mountains, 121 
 
 A fngular Prediblion of the Chief Brief 
 of the Killifinoes verified, — 123 
 
 Defcription of Lake Superior, — 132 
 
 Story of the two Chipeways landing on the 
 If and of Mauropas, — 133 
 
 Account of great ^antities of Copper 
 Ore, — — 
 
 b 2 Defcription 
 
CON 
 
 tents. 
 
 Dermptivt: cf the Falls of St. Mark, 142 
 
 Lake Huron, ■, — 1 44 - 
 
 Sa^anautn and 'J’hunder Bays^ 
 
 145 
 
 Extraordinary Bhanomenon in the Straights 
 of MkhiUhnackmac, — ^ 4 ^ 
 
 Dejcrlfiion of Lake St. Claire, — 15° 
 
 the River, fown, and Fort 
 
 of Detroit, — ^53 
 
 Remarkable Rain at Detroit, — 1 5 3 
 
 Jttack of Fort Detroit by Pontiac, 154 
 Defcription of Lake Erie, — 166 
 
 the River and Falls of Nia- 
 gara, ' — 169 
 
 — Lake Ontario, — 17® 
 
 the Oniada Lake, Lake 
 
 Champlain, and Lake George, 172 
 Account of a Lrabl of Land granted to Sir 
 Ferdinando Gorges, and Captain John 
 Mafon, — — ^73 
 
 Lhe Author's Motives for undertaking his 
 Travels, — — ^77 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 The Origin of the Indians, 1 8 1 
 
 Sentiments of various IF riters on this Point, 
 
 182 
 
 Sentiments 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Sentiments of Monfeur Charlevoix, 152 
 
 James Adair, Efq\ 202 
 
 — the Author of this Work, 208 
 
 Corroboration of the latter by DoSlor Ro- 
 bertfon — — 216 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 Of the Perfons, Drefs, of the Indians, 
 
 2 1 9 
 
 An Account of thofe ivho have written on 
 
 this SubjeSi, — - 220 
 
 Defcription of the Perfons of the Indians, 
 
 223 
 
 : -their Drefs, — 225 
 
 rthe Drefs of the Ottagaumies, 
 
 •with a Plate, — - — 229 
 
 — the Drefs of the Naudowef- 
 
 fes, •with Ditto, 230 
 
 Hhe Manner in •which they build their 
 I’ents and Huts, — 231 
 
 I’heir domefic Utenfls, 233 
 
 chap. III. 
 
 Of the Manners, Salifications, ^c. of 
 
 the Indians, — 235 
 
 Peculiar Cujioms of the Women, 236 
 
 b 3 I^he 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 clrcumfpedi and fiokal Dlfpopton of 
 
 the Men, — _ ' 
 
 ^heir amazing Sagacity, j ^Ir 
 
 Remarkable Story of one of the PiJaudoweJfie 
 
 Women, — 
 
 fhe Liberality of the Indians, and their 
 Opinion rejpeWmg Money, ■— 247 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 ^heir Method of reckoning Wme, &c, 250 
 ^he Names by which they dijiingufh the 
 Months, — ^ 5 ^ 
 
 fheir Idea of the Ufe of Figures, 253, 
 
 C H A P. V. 
 
 Of their Government, ^c. — 255 
 
 fheir Divifion into Fribes, — ib. 
 
 fhe Chiefs of their Bands, 257 
 
 Fhe Members that compofe their Councils, 
 
 CHAP. VI, 
 
 Of their Feafs, ' 262 
 
 Fheir ufual Food, - — — 265 
 
 Fheir Manner of drejfing and eating their 
 ViSiuais, — ' — 264 
 
 CHAP, 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 Of their Dajices, — z 66 
 
 ^he Manner in •which they dmc^t 267 
 *J’he Pipe or Calumate Dance, — r 268 
 
 *fhe War Dance, — — 269 
 
 fhe Pawwaw Dance, — 270 
 
 uncommon Admiffion into a Society, 
 among the NaudoweJJies, — - 272 
 
 ^he Dance of the Indians on the Banks 
 of the Mijfjippi, referred to in the 
 fournal, — — 279 
 
 ^he Dance of the Sacrifice, — 282 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 Of their Hunting, — — 5:83 
 
 P’heir Preparation before they fet out, 285 
 fheir Manner of hunting the Bear, 286 
 
 „ — ^ Buffalo, Deer, 
 
 &c. — — 287 
 
 ., — — r-Beaver, 289 
 
 b 4 
 
 CHAP. 
 

 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 Qf their Manner of making War, Sc. 293 
 'The Indian Weapons, 'with a Plate, 296 
 Their Motives of making War, 297 
 
 Preparations before they take the Field, 
 
 301 
 
 The Manner in 'which they folicit other 
 Nations to become their Auxiliaries, 303 
 Their Manner of declaring War, 307 
 Their Method of engaging their Rnemies, 
 
 310 
 
 An Infance of the Efficacy of it in the De- 
 feat op General Braddock, 3 1 1 
 
 A Detail of the Maffiacre at Fort William- 
 Henry in the 7 ~ear 1757, — 313 
 
 Acutenefs and Alacrity of the Indians in 
 purfumg their Enemies, — 327 
 
 Their Manner of Scalping, — 328 
 
 The Manner in 'Which they retreat and 
 carry off their Prifoners, — 330 
 
 A remarkable Itifance of Heroifm in a Fe- 
 male Prifoner, — 332 
 
 Treatment of their Prifoners, 335' 
 
 of their felling Slaves, 346 
 
 The Origin 
 
 CHAP. 
 
C O N T E N 'T s. 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 Of their Manner of making Peace, &c. 351 
 Account of an Rngagement between the 
 Iroquois and the Ottagaumies and Sau- 
 kies, — — — 352 
 
 Manner in which they conduct a freaty of 
 Peace, — — — 0^8 
 
 Defcription of the Pipe of Peace, 359 
 > — the Belts of JVampum, 362 
 
 CHAP. XI. 
 
 Of their Games, — — ^63 
 
 ^he Game of the Ball, — ^64 
 
 — the Bowl or Platter, 365 
 
 V 
 
 CHAP. XII. 
 
 Of their Marriage Ceremonies, — 367 
 
 "The Manner in which the ’Tribes near Ca- 
 nada celebrate their Marriages, 369 
 The Form of Marriage among the Nau~ 
 
 dowejfies, — — 
 
 Their Manner of carrying on an Intrigue, 
 
 315 
 
 Of the Indian Names , — — 378 
 
 CHAP. 
 

 CONTj:NTS. 
 
 CHAP. XIII, 
 
 Of their Religion, ^ ^ 3^^ 
 
 ^heir Ideas of a Supreme Being, 30 1 
 a future Stoite, - — 3^3 
 
 Of their Briefs, — ’ ^ 3^4 
 
 ^be Sentiments of Others on the rfhgious 
 Principles of the Indians oppofed^ 386 
 
 CHAP. XIV, 
 
 Of their Difeafes, •— 3^9 
 
 ^he Complaints to. which they are chiefiy 
 fubjecl, — 
 
 fhe Manner in ijohich they coifru^ their 
 Sweating Stoves, — _ 39° 
 
 %'he Methods in which they treat their Dif- 
 eafes, 39^ 
 
 fn extraordinary Infiance of the judgment 
 of an Indian Woman in a defperate 
 Cafe, ^ 39^ 
 
 C H A P. XV, 
 
 ^he Manner in which they treat their 
 f)ead, — — 39 S 
 
 yl Spe^ 
 
 
CONTENTS, 
 
 ^ Specimen of their Funeral Harangues^ 
 
 . 399 
 
 fheir Method of burying the Dead^ 401 
 ft fngular In/lance of parental j^eSlion in 
 0 NaudoweJJie JF man^ — 40^ 
 
 CHAP. XVI. 
 
 jfl concife Character of the Indians, 408 
 fheir perfonal and mental Salifications, 409 
 fheir public CharaSler as Members of a 
 Community, — — 4 n 
 
 CHAP, XVil. 
 
 Cy* their Language, Hieroglyphicks, 4 1 4 
 Qf the Chiphvay Tongue, — 416 
 
 Defcriptive Specimen of their Hierogly^ 
 phicks, — — ' 417 
 
 Vqcabulary of the Chipiway Language, 42Q 
 f : the NaudoweJJie Language, 43 ^ 
 
 CHAP, XVIII, 
 
 Of the Beafis, Birds, Fifhes, Reptiles, and 
 InfeSls, which are found in the Interior 
 jjarts of North America, — 441 
 
 beasts. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 beasts. 
 
 ^he l^yger. 'The Bear^ — 44^ 
 
 The Wolf. The Fox, — — 444 
 
 l)ogs. The Cat of the Mountain. The 
 Buffalo, — — — 445 
 
 The Deer, — — — 44^ 
 
 The Elk, — — — 44.7 
 
 The Moofe, — — 44^ 
 
 The Carrabou, — — 449 
 
 The Carcajou. The Skunk, — 450 
 
 The Porcupine, — — 453 
 
 The Woodchuck. The Racoon, 454 
 
 The Martin. The Mufquafo, — 455 
 
 Squirrels, — — — 456 
 
 The Beaver, — — 457 
 
 The Otter — — — 464 
 
 The Mink, • — — 465 
 
 BIRDS. 
 
 The Eagle. The Night Hawk, 466 
 The Fijh Hawk, — — 467 
 
 The IVhipperwiU, — — 468 
 
 The Owl. The Crane. Ducks, 469 
 
 The Teal. The Doon, — 470 
 
 The P (irtridge . The Woodpecker. Tloe 
 
 Wood Pigeon, — 471 
 
 The Blue Jay, The Wakon Bird, 472 
 
 The 
 
CONTENTS; 
 
 ^he Blackbird, — — 473 
 
 Idhe Redbird, — — — 474 
 
 'The IVhetfaw, The King Bird. The 
 Humming Bird, — — 475 
 
 FISHES, 
 
 The Sturgeon, — — 477 
 
 The Cat Fifb. The Carp. The Chub, 478 
 
 SERPENTS. 
 
 The Rattle Snake, — — 47 ^ 
 
 The Long Black Sitake, — 48 ^ 
 
 The Striped or Garter Snake. The W ater 
 Snake. The HiJJing Snake. The Green 
 Snake. The Thorn-tail Snake, 486 
 The Speckled Snake. The Ring Snake. The 
 Two-headed Snake, — 487 
 
 The Tortoife or Land Turtle, — 488 
 
 L 1 Z A R D S. 
 
 The Swift Lizard. The Slow Lizard. 
 The Tree Toad, — 488 , 489 
 
 INSECTS. 
 
 The Silk Worm, — - — 490 
 
 The Tobacco IVorm. The Bee. The 
 Lightning Bug or Fire Fly, 491 
 
 Th: 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 1 'he Ifater Bug. 'The Horned Bug. The 
 Locujl^ *— — 493 
 
 CHAP. XIX. 
 
 the ’frees. Shrubs, Roots, Herbs, 
 
 Hlowers, — — 494 
 
 f R E E S, 
 
 fhe Oak, — — — 495 
 
 fhe Pine free, fhe Maple, - — 496 
 
 fhe AjJo, — — — 497 
 
 fhe Hemlock free, -■ — 498 
 
 fhe Bafs or White Wood, fhe Wtckopick 
 or Suckwlck. fhe Button Wood, 499 
 
 N U f f R E E Se 
 
 fhe Butter or Oil Nut, ^ — 500 
 
 fhe Beech Nut* fhe Pecan Nut, 501 
 
 fhe Hickory, • — — — 502 
 
 F R U I f fREES. 
 
 fhe Vine, fhe Mulberry free, fhe Crab 
 Apple free fhe Plum free, 503 
 fhe Cherry free, — 504 
 
 fhe Sweet Gum free — — 505 
 
 SHRUBS. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 SHRUBS. 
 
 ^heWiltow. Shin Wood., — 506 
 
 T’he Sqfafras. Sl’he Prickly HJh, 507 
 
 The Moofe Wood. T’he Spoon W wd* T’he 
 Elder y — — ■ 508 
 
 ^he Shrub Oak. "The Witch Hazky 509 
 The Myrtle Wax Tree. Winter Green, 
 
 5^0 
 
 The Fever Bujl). The Cranberry Bujl), 5 1 1 
 The Choak Berry, ^ — 512 
 
 roots and PLANTS. 
 
 Spikenard. Sarfaparilla, — - 
 
 513 
 
 Ginfangk Gold Thread, 
 Solomon s Seal. Eevil' s Bit, 
 
 5 ' + 
 
 515 
 
 Blood Root, — — • 
 
 
 HERBS. 
 
 
 Sanicle. Rattle Snake Plantain, 
 
 5^7 
 
 Poor Robiris Plantain. Toad Plantain. 
 
 Rock Liverwort. Gargit or Skoke, 5 i 8 
 Skunk Cabbage or Poke, — 5 1 9 
 
 Wake Robin. Wild Indico. Cat Mint, ,520 
 
 FLO WE R S, 
 
 521 
 
 FARI- 
 

 CONTENTS- 
 
 FARINACEOUS and LEGU- 
 MINOUS ROOTS, &c. 
 
 Maize or Indian Corn, 
 
 
 522 
 
 Wild Rice, — 
 
 — 
 
 523 
 
 Beans, The Squajh, 
 
 — 
 
 526 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 The Probability of the interior Parts of 
 North America becoming Commercial Co- 
 lonies, — — — ^27 
 
 The Means by which this might be effedied. 
 
 Trabis of Land pointed out, on which Co- 
 lonies may be efabli/hed with the greatef 
 Advantage, — — 
 
 Liffertation on the Difcovery of a North- 
 we/l Pajage, — — 
 
 The mof certain JF ay of attaining it, 5 40 
 Plan propofed by Richard Whitworth, Efq. 
 for making an Attempt from a §^iarier 
 
 hitherto unexplored, — 441 
 
 The Re af on oj its being pcflponed, 543 
 
 INTRO- 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 N O fooner was the late War with 
 France concluded, and Peace efta- 
 blilhed by the Treaty of Verfailles in the 
 Year 1763, than I began to confider 
 (having rendered my country fome fer- 
 vices during the war) how I might con- 
 tinue ftill ferviceable, and contribute, as 
 much as lay in my power, to make that 
 vaft acquifition of territory, gained by 
 Great Britain, in North America advan- 
 tageous to it. It appeared to me Indif- 
 penfably needful, that Government fliould 
 be acquainted in the firft place with the 
 true ftate of the dominions they were 
 now become poffefled of. To this pur- 
 pofe, I determined, as the next proof of 
 my zeal, to explore the moft unknown 
 
 A parts 
 
p 
 
 [ ii ] 
 
 parts of them, and to fpare no trouble or 
 expence in acquiring a knowledge that 
 promlfed to be fo ufeful to my country- 
 men. I knew that many obftrufUons 
 would arife to my fcheme from the want 
 of good Maps and Charts; for the French, 
 vvhilft they retained their power in North 
 America, had taken every artful method 
 to keep all other nations, particularly the 
 Englilh, in Ignorance of the concerns of 
 the interior parts of it ; and to accomplifli 
 this delign with the greater certainty, they 
 had publllhed inaccurate maps and falfe 
 accounts; calling the different nations of 
 the Indians by nicknames they had given 
 them, and not by thofe really appertain- 
 ing to them. Whether the intention of 
 the French in doing this, was to prevent 
 thefe nations from being difeovered and 
 traded with, or to conceal their difeourfe, 
 when they talked to each other of the 
 Indian concerns, in their prefence, I will 
 not determine; but whatfbever was the 
 
 caufe 
 
[ ] 
 
 caufe from which it arofe, it tended to 
 [i miflead. 
 
 As a proof that the Englifh had been 
 greatly deceived by thefe accounts, and 
 that their knowledge relative to Canada 
 had ufually been very confined, before the 
 conqueft of Crown-Poifi't in 1759, it had 
 been efteemed an impregnable fortrefs : 
 but no fooner was it taken, than we were 
 convinced that it had acquired its greateft 
 lecurity from falle reports, given out by 
 its pofleflbrs, and might have been batter- 
 ed down with a few four pounders. Even 
 its fituation, which was reprefented to be 
 fo very advantageous, was found to owe 
 its advantages to the lame Iburce. It can- 
 not be denied but that Ibme maps of thefe 
 countries have been publilhed by the 
 French with an appearance of accuracy; 
 but thefe are of lb fmall a fize and 
 drawn on fo minute a fcale, that they 
 are nearly inexplicable. The Iburces of 
 the Milfilfippi, I can alTert from my 
 A 2 
 
 own 
 
[ 1 
 
 own experience, are greatly milplaced ; for 
 when I had explored them, and compared 
 their fituation with the French Charts, I 
 found them very erroneoufly reprefented, 
 and am fatisfied that thefe were only copied 
 from the rude Iketches of the Indians. 
 
 Even fo lately as their evacuation of 
 Canada they continued their fchemes to 
 deceive; leaving no traces by which any 
 knowledge might accrue to their con- 
 querors: for though they were well ac- 
 quainted with all the Lakes, particularly 
 with Lake Superior, having conftantly a 
 veflel of conliderable burthen thereon, yet 
 their plans of them are very incorreft. I 
 difcovered many errors in the defcriptions 
 given therein of its Iflands and Bays, 
 during a progrefs of eleven hundred miles 
 that I coafted it in canoes. They like- 
 wife, on giving up the pofleffion of them, 
 took care to leave the places they had oc- 
 cupied in the fame uncultivated ftate they 
 had found them; at the lame time de- 
 
 llroying 
 
t ^ y 
 
 flroying all their naval force. I obferved 
 mylelf part of the hulk of a very large 
 vefl'el, burnt to the water*^s edge, juft at 
 the opening from the Straits of St. Ma-' 
 tie’s into the Lake. 
 
 Thefe difficulties, however, were not 
 fufficient to deter' me from the undertak-' 
 ing, and I made preparations for fetting 
 out. What I chiefiy had in viewi after 
 gaining a knowledge of the 'Manners, t!?ui^'' 
 toms. Languages; Soil, and natural Pro- 
 dudllons of the different nations that in-* 
 habit the back of the Miffiffippl, was to 
 afcertain the Breadth of that vaft conti- 
 nent, which extends from the Atlantic to 
 the Pacific Ocean, in its broadeft part be- 
 tween 43 and 46 Degrees Northern La- 
 titude. Had I been able to accomplifh 
 this, I intended to have propofed to Go- 
 vernment to eftablifh a Poft in fome of 
 thofe parts about the Straits of Annlan, 
 which having been firft dlfcovered by Sir 
 Francis Drake, of courle belong to the 
 - A3 Englifh. 
 
[ Vi ] 
 
 Englifli. This I am convinced would 
 greatly facilitate the dilcovery of a North- 
 weft Pafl'age, or a communication between 
 Hudlbn’s Bay and the Pacific Ocean. An 
 event fo defirable, and which has been lb 
 often fought for, but without fuccefs. Be- 
 fides this important end, a fettlement on 
 that extremity of America would anfwer 
 many good purpofts, and repay every ex- 
 pence the eftablifliment of it might occa- 
 fion. For it would not only diftlofe new 
 fources of trade, and promote many ufe- 
 ful difcoveries, but would open a palTage 
 for conveying intelligence to China, and 
 the Englifti fettlements in the Eaft Indies, 
 with greater expedition than a tedious 
 voyage by the Cape of Good Hope, or 
 the Straits of Magellan will allow of. 
 
 How far the advantages arifing from 
 fuch an enterprise may extend can only be 
 alcertained by the favourable concurrence 
 of future events. But that the completion 
 of the Icheme, I have had the honour of 
 
 firft 
 
f ™ ] 
 
 firfl: planning and attempting, will fome 
 time or other be efFeaed, I make no 
 doubt. From the unhappy divifions that 
 at prefent fubfift between Great Britain 
 and America, it will probably be fome 
 years before the attempt is repeated ; but 
 whenever It is, and the execution of it 
 carried on with propriety, thofe who are 
 fo fortunate as to fucceed, will reap, ex- 
 clufive of the national advantages that 
 muft enfue. Emoluments beyond their 
 moft fanguine expedations. And whilft 
 their fpirits are elated by their fuccefs, 
 perhaps they may beftow fome commen- 
 dations and bleffings on the perfon that 
 firft pointed out to them the way. Xhele, 
 though but a lhadowy recompeace for all 
 my toil, 1 lhall receive with pleafure. 
 
 Xo what power or authority this new 
 world will become dependent, after it has 
 arifen from its prelent uncultivated Hate, 
 tltyp alone can difcover. But as tire feat 
 of Empire from time immemorial has been 
 A 4 
 
r vni ] 
 
 gradually progreflive towards the Weft, 
 there is no doubt but that at fome future 
 period, mighty kingdoms will emerge 
 from thele wilderneffes, and Ibately pala- 
 ces and folemn temples, with gilded fpires 
 reaching the Ikies, fupplant the Indian huts, 
 whofe only decorations are the barbarous 
 trophies of their vanquilhed 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 ne- 
 ceflary to add, that this proceeded not 
 from its impradticability (for the farther 
 I went the more convinced I was that it 
 could certainly be accomplilhed) but from 
 untorefeeu difappointments. However, 
 I pi'oceeded fo far, that I was able, to 
 make fuch difcoveries as will be ufeful in 
 any future attempt, and prove a good 
 foundation for fome more fortunate Suc- 
 ceflbr to build upon. Thele I lhall jyjjw 
 lay before the Public in the, following 
 
 pages; 
 
t « ] 
 
 pages; and am fatisfied that the greateft 
 part of them have never been publifhed 
 by any perfon that has hitherto treated of 
 the interior Nations of the Indians;- par- 
 ticularly, the account I give of the Nau- 
 doweffies, and the lituation of the Heads 
 of the four great rivers that take their rile 
 within a few leagues of each other, near- 
 ly about the center of this great conti- 
 nent; viz. The River Bourbon, which 
 empties itlelf into Hudlbn’s Bay; the 
 Waters of Saint Lawrence; the MilliR 
 lippi, and the River Oregon, or the River 
 of the Weft, that falls into the Pacific 
 Ocean at the Straits of Annian. 
 
 The impediments that occafioncd my 
 returning, before I had accomplilhed my 
 purpofes, were thele. On my arrival at 
 Michillimackinac, the remoteft Englilh 
 poll, in September 1766, I applied to 
 Mr. Rogers, who was then governor of. 
 it, to furnifh me with a proper aflbrtmenf 
 of goods, as prefents for the Indians who 
 
 in- 
 
C ^ 3 
 
 inhabit the track I intended to purfuc. 
 He did this only in part ; but promiled to 
 fupply me with fuch as were necelTary, 
 when I reached the Falls of Saint An- 
 thony. I afterwards learned that the 
 governor fulfilled his promife in ordering 
 the goods to be delivered to me; but 
 thofe to whofe care he intrufted them, in- 
 ilead of conforming to his orders, dilpofed 
 of them elfewhere. 
 
 Difappointed in my expeftations from 
 this quarter, I thought it neceflary to re- 
 turn to La Prairie Le Chien ; for it was 
 impoffible to proceed any farther without 
 prefents to enfure me a favorable recep- 
 tion. This I did in the beginning of the 
 year 1767, and finding my progrefs to 
 the Weftward thus retarded, I determined 
 to diredt my courfe Northward. I took 
 this ftep with a view of finding a commu- 
 nication from the Heads of the Mifliflippi 
 into Lake Superior, in order to meet, at 
 the grand Portage op the North- weft fide 
 
 of 
 
f ] 
 
 pf that lake, the traders that ufually come, 
 about this feafon, from Michillimackinac. 
 Of thele I intended to purchale goods, 
 and then to purfue my journey from that 
 quarter by way of the lakes de PInye, 
 Dubois, and Ounipique to the Heads of 
 the river of the Weft, which, as I have 
 faid before, falls into the Straits of Annian, 
 the termination of my intended progrefs. 
 
 I accompliftied the former part of my 
 defign, and reached Lake Superior in 
 proper time ; but unluckily the traders I 
 met there acquainted me, that they had no 
 goods to fpare ; thofe they had with them 
 being barely fufficient to anfwer their own 
 demands in thefe remote parts. Thus dif- 
 appointed a lecond time, I found mylelf 
 obliged to return to the place from whence 
 I began my expedition, which I did after 
 continuing fome months on the North and 
 Eaft borders of Lake Superior, and explor- 
 ing the Bays and Rivers that empty them- 
 fclves into this large body of w^ater. 
 
 As 
 
[ 1 
 
 As It may be expfedled that,.! fliould 
 lay before the Public, the . reafoirs that 
 thefe .difcQVeriep, jDf':fo much iimportance 
 t9 every one who has any connexions 
 with America, have not been imparted to 
 them before, notwithftanding they were 
 made upwards; of ten * years; ago, will 
 give them to the wojcld, , in, ; a plain and 
 candid manner, and; without mingling 
 with them any complaints on account of 
 the ill treatment I have received. 
 
 On my arrival in England, I.prefentcd 
 a petition to his Majefty in council, pray- 
 ing for a reimburfement of thofe fums I 
 had expended in the lervice of governrnent. 
 This was referred to the Lords Coramif- 
 honers of Trade and Plantations. Their 
 Lordlhips from the tenor of it thought 
 the intelligence I could give of fo much 
 importance to the nation that they or- 
 dered me to appear before the Board. 
 This melfage I obeyed, and underwent 
 a long examination; much I believe to 
 
 the 
 
[ xiU ] 
 
 the fatIsfa£Hon of every Lord prefent. 
 When it was finlfhed, I requefted to 
 know what I fhould do with my papers ; 
 without hefitation the firft Lord replied. 
 That I might publilh them whenever I 
 pleafed* In confequence of this permif* 
 lion, I dlfpofed of them to a bookfeller: 
 but when they were nearly ready for the 
 prefs, an order was iffued from the council 
 board, requiring me to deliver, without 
 delay, into die Plantation Office, all my 
 Charts and Journals, with every paper re- 
 lative to the difcoveries I had made. In 
 order to obey this command, I was obli- 
 ged to re-purcha(e them from the book- 
 feller, at a very great expence, and deliver 
 them up. This freffi dilburfement I en- 
 deavoured to get annexed to the account I 
 had already delivered in; but the requeft 
 was denied me, notwithftanding I had 
 only a£ted, in the difpofal of my pajiers, 
 conformably to the permiffion I had re- 
 ceived from the Board of Trade. This 
 
 lofs. 
 
[ Xlvr ] 
 
 lofs, which amounted to a very confider- 
 able fum, I was obliged to bear, and to 
 reft fatisfied with an indemnification for 
 my other expences. 
 
 Thus fituated, my only expectations 
 are from the favour of a generous Public; 
 to whom I lhall now communicate my 
 Plans, Journals, and Obfervations, of 
 which I luckily kept copies, when I de- 
 livered the originals into the Plantation 
 Office. And this I do the more readily, 
 as I hear they are miflaid; and there is 
 no probability of their ever being publifh- 
 ed. To thole who are interefted in the 
 concerns of the interior parts of North 
 America, from the contiguity of their 
 pofleflions, or commercial engagements, 
 they will be extremely ufeful, and fully 
 repay the fum at which they are purcha- 
 fed. To thole, who, from a laudable 
 curiofity, wilh to be acquainted with the 
 manners and cuftoms of every inhabitant 
 of this globe, the accounts here given of 
 
 the 
 
C XV ] 
 
 the various nations that inhabit fo'^ft a 
 track of it, a country hitherto almoft un- 
 explored, will furnifh an ample fund of 
 amufement and gratify their moft curious 
 expe<5tations. And I flatter myfelf they 
 will be as favourably received by the 
 Public, as defcriptions of iflands, which 
 afford no other entertainment than what 
 arifes from their novelty ; and dlfcoveries, 
 that feem to promlle very few advantages 
 to this country, though acquired at an 
 ilnmenfe expence. 
 
 To make the following Work as com- 
 prehenlible and entertaining as poflible, I 
 fhall firft give my Readers an account of 
 the route I purfued over this immenfe 
 continent (through which they will be 
 able to attend me by referring to the plan 
 prefixed) and as I pafs on, defcribe the 
 number of Inhabitants, the fituation of 
 the Rivers and Lakes, and the produdtions 
 of the country. Having done this, I 
 fhall treat, in diftlnfl: Chapters, of the 
 
 Man- 
 
[ xvi ] 
 
 Manners, Cuftonis, and Languages of the 
 Indians, and to complete the whole, add 
 a Vocabulary of the Words moftly in ufe 
 among them. 
 
 And here it is neceffary to befpeak the 
 candour of the learned part of my Readers 
 in the perufal of it, as it is the produc- 
 tion of a perfon unufed, from oppofite 
 avocations, to literary purfuits. He there- 
 fore begs they would not examine it with 
 too critical an eye; efpecially when he 
 affures them that his attention has been 
 more employed on giving a juft defcnp- 
 tion of a country that promifes, in fome 
 future period, to be an inexhauftible fource 
 of riches to that people who fliall be fo 
 fortunate as to poflefs it, than on tlie ftyle 
 or compofition ; and more careful to ren- 
 der his language intelligible and explicit, 
 than fmooth and florid. 
 

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X 
 
 A 
 
 JOURNAL OF THE TRAVELS, 
 
 W I T H A 
 
 DESCRIPTION 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 COUNTRY, LAKES, &c. 
 
 I N June 1766, I fet out from Bofton, 
 and proceeded by way of Albany and 
 Niagara, to Michilllmacklnac ; a Fort 
 lituated between the Lakes Huron and 
 Michigan, and diftant from Bofton 1300 
 miles. This being the uttermoft of our 
 faflories towards the north-weft, I con- 
 fidered it as the moft convenient place 
 from whence I could begin my intended 
 progrefs, and enter at once into the Re- 
 gions 1 defigned to explore. 
 
 Referring my Readers to the publica- 
 tions already extant for an Account of 
 thofe Parts of North America, that, from 
 B lyiug 
 
[ -S ] 
 
 lying tidjaccnt to the Ijciclv-Sctticmcnts^ 
 have been frequently delcribed, I flaall 
 confine myfelf to a Defeription of the more 
 interior parts of it, which having been but 
 feldom vifited, are confequently but little 
 known. In doing this, I lhall in no iii- 
 flance exceed the bounds of truth, oi have 
 recourfc to thofe ulelefs and extravagant 
 exaggerations too often made ufe of by 
 travellers, to excite the curiofity of the 
 public, or to incrcale their ownimpoitance. 
 Nor lhall I infert any obfervations, but 
 fuch as I have made myfelf, or, from 
 the credibility of thofe by whom they 
 were related, am enabled to v^ouch for their 
 authenticity. 
 
 Michilllmacklnac, from whence I be- 
 gan my travels, is a h ort 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 an- 
 other to the commiflary. Several traders 
 alfo dwell within its fortifications, who 
 find it a convenient lituation to traffic 
 with the neighbouring nations. Michil- 
 limackinac, in the language of the Chi- 
 
 
[ ^9 ] 
 
 pevV^ay Indians, fignifies aTortoile ; and the 
 place is I'uppoled to receive its name from 
 an Ifland, lying about fix or leven miles to 
 the^ north-eaft, within fight of the Fort, 
 which has the appearance of that animal. 
 
 During the Indian war that fol- 
 lowed foon after the Conquefi: of Ca- 
 nada In the year and which was 
 
 carried on by an army of confederate 
 nations compofed of the Hurons, Mia- 
 mies, Chipeways, Ottowaws, Pontowat- 
 timies, Mifliflauges, and fome other tribes, 
 under the diredion of Pontiac, a cele- 
 brated Indian warrior, who had always 
 been In the French intereft, 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 fome of the Englilh 
 officers, not fufpeaing any deceit, flood 
 looking on, they flruck the ball, as if 
 by accident, over the flockade ; this 
 they repeated two or three times, to 
 make the deception more complete ; till 
 at length, having by this means lulled 
 B 2 every 
 
[ 20 ] 
 
 every fufpicloa of the centry at the fouth 
 gate, a party rufhed by him ; and the reft 
 foon following, they took pofleflion of 
 the Fort, without meeting with any op- 
 polition. Having accompliftied their de- 
 iign, the Indians had the humanity to 
 fpare the lives of the greateft part of the 
 garrifon and traders, but they made them 
 all priloners, and carried them off. How- 
 ever 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 Englifh at the peace made 
 with Pontiac by the commander of Detroit 
 the year following. 
 
 Having here made the neceffary dif- 
 pofitlons for purfuing my travels, and 
 obtained a credit from Mr. Rogers, the 
 governor, on fome Englllh and Canadian 
 traders wdio ^vere going to trade on the 
 Miffiffippi, and received alfo from him 
 a promlfe of a frelh fupply of goods 
 when I reached the Falls of Saint An- 
 thony, I left the Fort on the 3d of Sep- 
 tember, in company with thefe traders. 
 It was agreed, tliat they Ihould furnifli 
 me with fuch goods as I might want, 
 
 for 
 
[ 21 ] 
 
 for prelents to the Indian chiefs, during 
 my continuance with them, agreeable to 
 the governor’s order. But when I ar- 
 rived at the extent of their route, I was to 
 find other guides, and to depend on the 
 goods the governor had promifed to fupply 
 me with. 
 
 We accordingly fet out together, and 
 on the 1 8th arrived at Fort La Bay. 
 This Fort is fituated on the fouthern ex- 
 tremity of a Bay in Lake Michigan, 
 termed by the French the Bay of Pu- 
 ants ; but which, fince the Englifh have 
 gained pofl'eflion of all the fettlements on 
 this part of the Continent, is called by 
 them the Green Bay. The reafon of its 
 being thus denominated, is from its ap- 
 pearance ; for on leaving Miehillimackinac 
 in the fpring feafon, though the trees there 
 have not even put forth their buds, yet 
 you find the country around La Bay, not- 
 withftanding the pafl'age has not exceeded 
 fourteen days, covered with the fineft ver- 
 dure, and vegetation as forward as it could 
 be were it fummer. 
 
 This Fort, alfo, is only furrounded 
 by a ftockade, and being much decayed 
 
 B 3 is 
 
[ 22 ] 
 
 Is fcarcely defenfible againft fmall arms, 
 It was built by the French for the pro- 
 teftion of their trade, fome time before 
 they were forced to relinquifh it ; and 
 when Canada and its dependencies were 
 furrendered to the Englifh, it was im- 
 mediately garrifoned with an officer and 
 thirty men. Thefe were made prifoners 
 by the Menomonies foon after the fur- 
 prife of Michillimackinac, and the Fort 
 has neither been garrifoned or kept in re- 
 pair fince, 
 
 The Bay is about ninety miles long, 
 but differs much in its breadth ; being in 
 fome places only fifteen miles, in others 
 from twenty to thirty. It lies nearly 
 from north-eaft to fouth-wefl. At the en- 
 trance of it from the Lake are a firing of 
 ifiands, extending from north fo fouth, cal- 
 led the Grand 'T'raverfe. Thefe are about 
 thirty miles in length, and ferve to faci- 
 litate the paflage of canoes, as they fhelter 
 them from the winds, which fometimes 
 come with violence acrofs the Lake. On 
 the fide that lies to the fouth-cafi is the 
 neareft and beft navigation. 
 
 The 
 
i 23 ] 
 
 The iflands of the -Grand Traverfe'are 
 moftly fmall and rocky. Many of the 
 rocks are of an amazing fize, and appear 
 as if they had been fafliloned by the 
 hands of artifts. On the largeft and heft 
 of thefe iflands ffands a town of the 
 Ottowaws, at which I found one of the 
 moll: conAtlerable chiefs of that nation, 
 who received me with every honour he 
 could polfibly fliow to a ftranger. 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 ap- 
 proached the Ihore, and had reached with- 
 in about threefcore rods of it, the In- 
 dians begiHi a feu-de-joy ; in which they 
 fired their pieces loaded with balls; but 
 at the fame time they took care to dif- 
 charge them in fuch a manner, as to 
 fly a few yards above our heads : during 
 this they ran from one tree or flump to 
 another, Ihouting and behaving as if 
 they were in the heat of battle. At firft 
 I was greatly fupriled, and was on the 
 point of ordering my attendants to return 
 B 4 their 
 
[ =‘4 ] 
 
 their fire, concluding that their Intentions 
 were hoftlle; but being pndeceived by 
 fome pf the traders, who informed rne 
 that this was their ufual method of receiv- 
 ing the chiefs of other nations, I coiifi- 
 dered it in its true light, and was pleafed 
 with the refpedt thus paid me. 
 
 I remained here one night. Among 
 the prefents I made the chiefs, were fome 
 Ipirituous liquors ; with which they made 
 themfelves merry, and all joined in a 
 dance, that lafted the greateft part of the 
 night. In the morning when 1 departed, 
 the chief attended me to the Ihore, and, 
 as foon as 1 had embarked, offered up, in 
 an audible voice, and with great folem- 
 nity, a fervent prayer in my behalf. He 
 prayed ‘‘ that the Great Spirit would fa- 
 vour me with a profperous voyage ; that 
 he would give me an unclouded fky, and 
 Imooth waters, by day, and that I might 
 lie down, by night, on a beaver blanket, 
 enjoying uninterrupted fleep, and pleafant 
 dreams ; and alfo that I might find con- 
 tinual protedlion under the great pipe of 
 peace.” In this manner he continued 
 
[ 25 1 
 
 his petitions till I could no longer hear 
 
 them. . . , A j 
 
 I muft here obfer\’e, that notwitiiftand- 
 
 Ing the inhabitants of Europe are apt 
 to entertain horrid ideas of the ferocity 
 of thefe lavages, as they are terrned, I 
 received from every tribe of them in the 
 interior parts, the moft hofpitable and 
 courteous treatment ; and am convinced, 
 that till they are contaminated by the 
 example and Ipirituous liijuors of their 
 more refined neighbours, they retain this 
 friendly and inoffenfive conduct towards 
 Grangers. Their inveteracy and cruelty 
 to their enemies I acknowledge to be a 
 great abatement of the favourable opinion 
 J would wifh to entertain of them ; but 
 this failing is hereditary, and having re- 
 ceived the fandipn of immemorial cuftom, 
 has taken too deep root in their minds to 
 be ever extirpated. 
 
 Among this people 1 eat of a very unr 
 common Vind of bread. The Indians, ia 
 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 
 
C X6 ] 
 
 gins to ripen, they flice ofF the kernels 
 irom the cob to which tliey grow, and 
 knead them into a pafte. This they are 
 enabled to do without the addition of any 
 liquid, by the milk that flows from them ; 
 and when it is efteded, they parcel it out 
 into cakes, and incloflng them in leaves 
 of the baflwood tree, place them in hot 
 embers, where they are foon baked. And 
 better flavoured bread I never eat in any 
 country. 
 
 This place is only a fmall village con- 
 taining about twenty-five houfes and fixty 
 or feventy warriors. I found nothing 
 there worthy of further remark. 
 
 The land on the fouth-eaft fide of the 
 Green Bay is but very indifferent, being 
 overfpread with a heavy growth of hem- 
 lock, pine, fpruce and fir trees. The 
 communication between Lake Michigan 
 and the Green Bay has been reported by 
 fome to be impradllcable for the paflage 
 of any veflels larger than canoes or boats, 
 on account of the fhoals that lie between 
 the iflaiids in the Grand Traverfe ; but 
 on founding it 1 found fufficient depth 
 
 for 
 
[ 27 1 
 
 for a veffcl of fixty tons, and the breadth 
 proportionable. 
 
 The land adjoining to the bottom of 
 this Bay is very fertile, the country in 
 general level, and the perfpective view of 
 it pleafing and extenhve. 
 
 A few families live in the Fort, which 
 lies on the weft-fideof the Fox River, and 
 oppolite to it, on the eaft fide of its en- 
 trance, are fome French fettlers who cul- 
 tivate the land, and appear to live very 
 comfortably. 
 
 The Green Bay or Bay of Puants is 
 one of thofe places to which the French, 
 as I have mentioned in the Introduftion, 
 have given nicknames. It is termed by the 
 inhabitants of its coahs, the Menomonie 
 Bay; but why the French have deno- 
 minated it the Fuant or Stinking Bay I 
 know not. The reafon they themielves 
 give 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 prelence, without being underftood 
 by them. For it was rem^^rked by the 
 perlbns who firfi: traded among them, that 
 when they were fpeaking to each other 
 
[ 28 •] 
 
 about them, and mentioned their proper 
 name, they inftantly grew fufpicious, and 
 concluded that their vifiters were either 
 fpeaking ill of them, or plotting their de- 
 ftruflion. To remedy this they gave 
 them lome other name. The only bad 
 confequence arlfing from the praflice' then 
 introduced is, that Englllh and French 
 geographers, in their plans of the interior 
 parts of America, give different names to 
 the fame people, and thereby perplex thofe 
 who have occafion to refer to them. 
 
 Lake Michigan, of which the Green 
 Bay is a part, is divided on the north- 
 eaft from Lake Huron by the Straits of 
 Mlchilhmackinac ; and is fituated be- 
 tween forty-two and forty-fix degrees of 
 latitude, and between eighty-four and 
 eighty-feven degrees of weft longitude. 
 Its greateft length is two hundred and 
 eighty miles, its breadth about forty, 
 and Its circumference nearly fix hundred! 
 There is a remarkable firing of finall 
 iflands beginning over agalnft Alkln’s-Farm, 
 nnd running about thirty miles fouth- 
 weft into the Lake. Thefe are called 
 the Beaver Iflands. Their fituation is very 
 
 pleafant, 
 
[ *9 ] 
 
 pleafant, but the foil is bare. However 
 they afiord a beautiful profpeft. 
 
 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 
 juft defcribed. 
 
 The waters of this as well as the other 
 great Lakes are clear and wholefome, and 
 of fufficient depth for the navigation of 
 large fhips. Half the fpace of the coun- 
 try that lies to the eaft, and extends to 
 Lake Huron, belongs to the Ottowaw 
 Indians. The line that divides their ter- 
 ritories from the Chipeways, runs near- 
 ly north and fouth, and reaches almoft 
 from the fouthern extremity of this Lake, 
 acrofs the high lands, to Michillimackinac, 
 through the center of which it paftes. So 
 that when thefe two tribes happen to meet 
 at the fadory, they each encamp on their 
 own dominions, at a few yards dlftance 
 from the ftockade. 
 
 The country adjacent either to the 
 eaft or weft iide of this lake is compofed 
 but of an indifferent foil, except where 
 linall brooks or rivers empty themfclves 
 
 into 
 
[ 3 ® ] 
 
 Into it ; on the banks of thefc It is ex- 
 tremely fertile. Near the borders of the 
 Lake grow a great number of fahd cher- 
 ries, which are not lefs remarkable for 
 their manner of growth, than for their ex- 
 quifite flavour. They grow upon a fmall 
 fhrub not more than four feet high, the 
 boughs of which are lb loaded tiiat they 
 lie in clufters on the fand. As they 
 
 grow only on the fand, the warmth of 
 which probably contributes to bring them 
 to fuch perfedion, they are called by the 
 French, cherries de fable, or Ihnd cherries. 
 The hze of them does not exceed that of a 
 fmall rnufleet ball, but they are reckoned 
 fuperior to any other fort for the purpofe 
 offteeping in fpirits. There alfo grow 
 aiound the Lake goofeberries, black cur- 
 rants, and an abundance of juniper, bear- 
 
 ing great quantities of berries of the finefl: 
 fort. 
 
 Sumack hkewife grows here in great 
 plenty; the leaf of which, gathered at 
 Michaelmas when it turns red, is much 
 elfeemed by the natives. They mix 
 about an equal quantity of it with their 
 tobacco, which caufes it to fmoke plea- 
 
 fintlv. 
 
[ 31 3 
 
 fantly. Near this Lake> and indeed 
 about all the great lakesj, is found a kind 
 of willow, termed hy the French, hois 
 rouge, in Englifli red wood. Its hark, 
 when only of one year’s growth, Is of a 
 fine fcarlet colour, and appears very beau- 
 tiful; but as it grows older, it changes 
 into a mixture of grey and red. The 
 ftalks of this flarub grow many of them 
 together, and rife to the height of lix Or 
 eight feet, the largeft not exceeding an 
 inch diameter. The bark being feraped 
 from the flicks, and dried and powdered, 
 is alfo mixed by the Indians with their 
 tobacco, and is held by them in the 
 highefl eflimation for their winter fmoak- 
 ing. A weed that grows near the great 
 lakes, in rocky places, they ufe in the 
 fummer leaf on. It is called by the In- 
 
 dians, Segocklmac, and creeps like a vine 
 on the ground, fometlmes extending to 
 eight or ten feet, and bearing a leaf about 
 the fize of a filver penny, nearly round ; 
 it is of the fubflance and colour of the 
 laurel, and is, like the tree it refembles, 
 an evergreen. Thefe leaves, dried and 
 powdered, they likewife mix with then 
 
 tobacco ; 
 
[ 32 J 
 
 tobacco; and, as faid before, fmoak It 
 only during the lummer. By thefe three 
 fuccedaneums the pipes of the Indians are 
 well fupplied through every feafon of the 
 year; and as they are great fmoakers, they 
 are very careful in properly gathering and 
 preparing them. 
 
 On the 20th of September I left the 
 Green Bay, and proceeded up Fox River, 
 Rill in company with the traders and fome 
 Indians. On the 25 th 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 ci- 
 vility, and entertained me in a very dif- 
 tinguiftied manner, during the four days 
 I continued with her. 
 
 The day after my arrival I held a 
 council with the chiefs, of whom I alk- 
 ed permilfion to pafs through their coun- 
 try, in my way to more remote nations 
 on bufinefs of importance. This was 
 readily granted me, the requeft being 
 efteemed by them as a great compliment 
 paid to their tribe. The Q^een fat in 
 
[ 33 ] 
 
 the council, but only afked a few quef* 
 tions, or gave fome trifling diredlions In 
 matters relative to the ftate ; for women 
 are never allowed to fit in their councils, 
 except they happen to be inverted with 
 the fupreme authority, and then it is not 
 curtomary for them to make any formal 
 Ipeeches as the chiefs do. She was a very 
 ancient woman, fmall in rtature, and not 
 much dirtlnguirtied by her drefs from 
 feveral young women that attended her. 
 Thefe her attendants feemed greatly pleafed 
 whenever I (bowed any tokens of refpedt 
 to their queen, particularly when I faluted 
 her, which 1 frequently did to acquire 
 her favour. On thefe occafions the good 
 old lady endeavoured to aflbme a juvenile 
 gaiety, and by her fmiles (howed (he 
 was equally pleafed with the attention I 
 paid her. 
 
 The time I tarried here, I employed in 
 making the heft obfervations poftible on 
 the country, and in colledling the mort: 
 certain intelligence I could of the origin, 
 language, and curtoms of this people. From 
 thele enquiries I have realbn to conclude, 
 that the Winnebagoes originally relided in 
 C fome 
 
[ 34 3 
 
 feme of the provinces belonging to New 
 Mexico ; and being driven from their na- 
 tive country, either by inteftine divilions, 
 or by the extenfion of the Spanilh con- 
 quefts, they took refuge in thefe more 
 northern parts about a century ago. 
 
 My reafons for adopting this fuppofitlon, 
 are, firft from their unalienable attach- 
 ment to the Naudoweffie Indians (who, 
 they fay, gave them the earlieft fuccour 
 during their emigration) notwithftanding 
 their prefent refidence is more than fix 
 hundred miles diftant from that people. 
 
 Secondly, that their dialed!: totally dif- 
 fers from every other Indian nation yet 
 difeovered ; it being a very uncouth gut- 
 tural jargon, which none of their neigh- 
 bours will attempt to learn. They con- 
 verfe with other nations in the Chipeway 
 tongue, which is the prevailing language 
 throughout all the tribes, from the Mo- 
 hawks of Canada to thofe who inhabit the 
 borders of the Mlffiffippl, and from the 
 Hurons and Illinois to fuch as dwell near 
 Hudfon’s Bay. 
 
 Thirdly, from their inveterate hatred 
 to the Spaniards. Some of them in- 
 formed 
 
[ 35 ] 
 
 formed me that they had made many ex- 
 cufions to the fouth-weft, which took 
 Up feveral moons. An elderly chief more 
 particularly acquainted me, that about 
 forty.fix winters ago, he marched, at the 
 head of fifty warriors, towards the fouth- 
 weft, for three moons. Xhat during this 
 expedition, whilft they were croliing a 
 plain, they dilcovered a body of men on 
 horfeback, who belonged to the Black 
 People ; for fo they call the Spaniards. 
 As foon as they prceived them, they pro- 
 ceeded with caution, and concealed them- 
 lelves till night came on ; when they 
 drew io near as to be able to difcern the 
 number and fituatiori 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 j when 
 they rufhed upon them, and, after hav- 
 ing killed the greateft part of the 
 took eighty horles loaded with what they 
 termed white ftone. This I fuppofe to 
 have been filver, as he told me the horfes 
 were fiiod with it, and that their bridles 
 were ornamented with the fame. When 
 they had latiated their revenge, they car- 
 C 2 ried 
 
[ 36 ] 
 
 ried 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 
 ufelefs and ponderous burthen, with which 
 ■ the horfes were loaded, in the woods, and 
 mounting themfelves, in this manner re- 
 turned to their friends. The party they 
 had thus defeated, I conclude to be the 
 caravan that annually conveys to Mexico, 
 the iilver which the Spaniards find in 
 great quantities on the mountains lying 
 near the heads of the Coloredo River : and 
 the plains where the attack \^as made, 
 probably, fome they were obliged to pafs 
 over in their way to the heads of the Ri- 
 ver St. Fee, or Rio del Nord, which falls 
 into the Gulph of Mexico to the weft of 
 the Miffiffippi. 
 
 The Winnebagoes can raife about two 
 hundred warriors. Their town contains 
 about fifty houfes, which are ftrongly built 
 with palifades, 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 
 
[ 37 ] 
 
 that fpace, till you arrive at the Winne- 
 bago Lake, it is full of rocks and very ra- 
 paid. At many places we were obliged to 
 land our canoes, and carry them a coniider- 
 able way. Its breadth, in general, from 
 the Green Bay to the Winnebago Lake, is 
 between feventy and a hundred yards : the 
 land on its borders very good, and thinly 
 wooded with hickery, oak , and hazel. 
 
 The Winnebago Lake is about fifteen 
 miles long from eaft to weft, and fix miles 
 wide. At its fouth-eaft corner, a river 
 falls into it that takes its rife near fome 
 of the northern branches of the Illinois 
 River. This I called the Crocodile Ri- 
 ver, in confequence of a ftory that pre- 
 vails among the Indians, of their having 
 deftroyed, in fome part of it, an animal, 
 which from their defcription muft be a 
 crocodile or an alligator. 
 
 The land adjacent to the Lake is very 
 fertile, abounding with grapes, plums, and 
 other fruits, which grow fpontaneoufly. 
 The Winnebagoes raife on it a great quan- 
 tity of Indian corn, beans, pumpkins, 
 fquafh, and water melons, with fome to- 
 bacco. The Lake itfelf abounds with 
 C 3 hfli. 
 

 C 38 ] 
 
 fifh, and in the fall of the year, with geefe* 
 duoks, and teal. The latter, which refort 
 to it in great numbers, are remarkably 
 good and extremely fat, and are much bet- 
 ter flavoured than thofe that are found 
 near the fea, as they acquire their exceflivc 
 fatnefs by feeding on the wild rice, which 
 grow fo plentifully in thefe parts. 
 
 Having made fome acceptable prefents 
 to the good old queeiij and received her 
 blefling, I left the town of the Winne- 
 bagoes on the 29th of September, and 
 about twelve miles from it arrived at the 
 place where the Fox River enters the Lake 
 on the north tide of it. \Ve proceeded 
 up this river, and on the 7th of Odober 
 reached the great Carrying Place, which 
 divides it from the Ouifconfin. 
 
 T he Fox River, from the Green Bay 
 to the Carrying Place, is about one hun- 
 dred and eighty miles. From the Winne- 
 bago Lake to the Carrying Place the cur- 
 rent is gentle, and the depth of it confi- 
 derable ; notwithftanding which, in fome 
 places it is with difficulty that canoes can 
 pafs, through the obftructions they meet 
 with from the rice ftalks, which are very 
 
 large 
 
[ 39 ] 
 
 large and thick, and grow here in great 
 abundance. The country around it is 
 very fertile and proper in the hlgheft de- 
 gree for cultivation, excepting 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 number of inhabitants. 
 This river is the greateft refort for wild 
 fowl of every kind that I met with in the 
 whole courfe of my travels ; frequently the 
 fun would be obfcured by them for fome 
 minutes together. 
 
 About forty miles up this river, from 
 the great town of the Winnebagoes, Rands 
 a fmaller town belonging to that nation. 
 
 Deer and bears are very numerous in 
 thefe parts, and a great many beavers and 
 other furs are taken on the ftreams that 
 empty themfelves into this river. 
 
 The River I am treating of, is remark- 
 able for having been, about eighty years 
 ago, the refidence of the united bands of 
 the Ottigaumies and the Saukies, whom 
 the French had nicknamed, according to 
 their wonted cuftom, Des Sacs and Des 
 Reynards, the Sacks and the Foxes, of 
 C 4 whom 
 
[ 40 1 
 
 whom the following anecdote was related 
 to me by an Indian. 
 
 About fixty years ago, the French 
 miffionaries and traders having received 
 many infults from thefe people, a party 
 of French and Indians under the com- 
 mand of Captain Morand marched to re- 
 venge their wrongs. The captain fet out 
 from the Green Bay in the winter, when 
 they were unfufpicious of a vifit of this 
 kind, and purfuing his route over the fnovv 
 to their villages, which lay about fifty 
 nailes up the Fox River, came upon them, 
 by furprize. Unprepared as they were, 
 he found them an eafy conqueft, and 
 confequently killed or took prifoners the 
 greatefi; part of them. On the return of 
 the French to the Green Bay, one of the 
 Indian chiefs in alliance with them, who 
 had a confiderable band of the prifoners 
 under his care, flopped to drink at a 
 brook ; in the mean time his companions 
 went on : which being obferved by one 
 of the women whom they had made cap- 
 tive, fhe fuddenly feized him with both 
 her hands, whilft he flooped to drink, 
 by an exquifitely fufceptible part, and held 
 
 him 
 
him faft till he expired on the fpot. As 
 the chief, from the 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 ; 
 and the woman having cut the bands of 
 thofe of her fellow prifoners who were 
 in the rear, with them made her elcape. 
 This heroine was ever after treated by her 
 nation as their deliverer, and made achief- 
 efs in her own right, with liberty to en- 
 tail the fame honour on her defcendants . 
 an unufual diftinaion, and permitted only 
 on extraordinary occalions. 
 
 About twelve miles before I reached the 
 Carrying Place, I obferved feveral fmall 
 mountains which extended quite to it. 
 Thefe indeed would only be efteemed as 
 molehills when compared with thofe on the 
 back of the colonies, but as they were the 
 firft I had feeii fmee my leaving Niagara, 
 a track of nearly eleven hundred miles, I 
 could not leave them unnoticed. 
 
 The Fox River, where it enters the 
 Winnebago Lake, is about fifty yards 
 wide, but it gradually decreafes to tha 
 
 Carrying Place, where it is no moie than 
 
 five 
 
[ 42 ] 
 
 five yards over, except in a few places 
 where it widens into fmall lakes, though 
 ftill of a confiderahle depth. I cannot re- 
 colka any thing elfe that is remarkable in 
 this River, except that it fo Terpentines for 
 five miles, as only to gain in that place 
 one quarter of a mile. 
 
 The Carrying Place between the Fox 
 and OuiTconfin Rivers is in breadth not 
 more than a mile and three quarters, 
 though in Tome maps it is To delineated as 
 to appear to be ten miles. And here I 
 cannot help remarking, that all the maps 
 of theTe parts, I have ever Teen, are very 
 erroneous. The rivers in general are de- 
 Tcnbed as running in different directions 
 from what they really do ; and many 
 branches of them, particularly of the Mif- 
 fifiippi, omitted. The diftances of places, 
 likewife, are greatly miTreprefented. Whe- 
 ther this is done by the French geogra- 
 phers (for the Englifh maps are all co- 
 pied from theirs) through defign, or for 
 want of a juft knowledge of the country, 
 
 I cannot Tay; but I am Tatisfied that tra- 
 yellers who depend upon them in the parts 
 vifitedj will find themielves much at a 
 
 loTs. 
 
[ 43 1 
 
 lofs. Having furveyed with the greatefl 
 eare, every country through which I 
 pafled, I can aflert that the plan prefixed 
 to this work is drawn with much greater 
 precifion than any extant. 
 
 Near one half of the way, between 
 the rivers, is a morafs overgrown with a 
 kind of long grafs, the reft of it a plain, 
 with f6me few oak and pine trees grow- 
 ing thereon. I obferved here a great 
 number of rattle- fnakcs. Monf. Pinni- 
 fance, a French trader, told me a remark- 
 able ftory concerning one of theft rep- 
 tiles, of which he faid he was an eye- 
 witnefs. An Indian, belonging to the 
 Menomonie nation, having taken one of 
 them, found means to tame it ; and when 
 he had done this, treated it as a Deity ; 
 calling it his Great Father, and carry- 
 ing it with him in a box wherever he 
 went. This the Indian had done for ft- 
 veral fummers, when Monf. Pinnifance 
 accidentally met with him at this Carry- 
 ing Place, juft as he was ftttlng off for a 
 winter’s hunt. The French gentleman 
 was furprized, one day, to fee the Indian 
 place the box which contained his god on 
 
 the 
 
1 
 
 
 r 44 ] 
 
 the ground, and opening the door give 
 him his liberty; telling him, whllft he 
 did It, to be fure and return by the time 
 he himfelf Ihould come back, which was 
 to be in the month of May following 
 As this was but Oftober, Monfieur told 
 the Indian, whofe fimplicity aftonlfted 
 him, that he fancied he might wait long 
 enough when May arrived, for the arrival 
 of his great father. The Indian was fo 
 confident of his creature’s obedience, that 
 he offered to lay the Frenchman a waver 
 of two gallons of rum, that at the time 
 appointed he would come and crawl into 
 his box. This was agreed on, and the 
 lecond week in May following fixed for 
 the determination of the wager. At that 
 period they both met there again; when 
 the Indian fet down his box, and called 
 or is gieat father. The fnake heard 
 im not; and the time being now ex- 
 pred, he acknowledged that he had loft. 
 However, without feeming to be dif- 
 couraged, he offered to double the bett if 
 
 his great father 
 days more. This 
 when behold on 
 
 caine not within two 
 his was further agreed on ; 
 on the fecond day, about 
 
 one 
 
[ 45 ] 
 
 one o’clofck, the fnake arrived, and, of his 
 own accord, crawled into the box, which 
 was placed ready for him. The French 
 gentleman vouched for the truth of this 
 llory, and from the accounts I have often 
 received of the docility of thofe creatures, 
 
 I fee no reafon to doubt his veracity. 
 
 I obferved that the main body of the 
 Fox River came from the fouth-weft, 
 that of the Ouifconfin from the north- 
 eaft; and alfo that fome of the fmall 
 branches of thefe two rivers, in defcend- 
 ing into them, doubled, within a few 
 feet of each other, a little to the fouth 
 of the Carrying Place. That two fuch 
 Rivers fhould take their rife fo near each 
 other, and after running fuch different 
 courfes, empty themfelves into the fea 
 at a diftance fo amazing (for the former 
 having palled through leveral great lakes, 
 and run upwards of two thoufand miles, 
 falls into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and 
 the other, after joining the Mlffiffippi, 
 and having run an equal number of 
 miles, difembogues itfelf into the Gulph 
 of Mexico) is an inftance fcarcely to be 
 met in the extenfive continent of North 
 
 America. 
 
[ 46 J 
 
 Amenca. I had an opportunity the year 
 following, of making the fame obfc 
 vations on the affinity of various head 
 branches of the waters of the St. Law- 
 rence and the Miffiffippi to each other' 
 and now bring them as a proof, that the 
 opinion of thofe geographers, who aflert 
 that rivers taking their rife fo near each 
 other, mufr fprmg from the fame fource 
 IS erroneous. _ For I perceived a vifibi; 
 diftina feparation in all of them, notwith- 
 Itanding, in fome places, they approached 
 
 fo near, that I could have Fepped from 
 
 one to the other. 
 
 On the 8th of Oaober we got our ca* 
 noes into the Ouifconfin River, wliich at 
 his place is more than a hundred yards 
 ^1 anc the next day arrived at the 
 Great Town of the Saiikies. This is the 
 largeR and heft built Indian town I ever 
 law. It contains about ninety houfes, each 
 large enough for Ibveral families. Thefe 
 are built of hewn plank neatly jointed, 
 
 V d covered with bark fo compadlly as to 
 'eep out le moR penetrating rains. Be- 
 
 ^ V comfortable ffieds, 
 
 ^^habitants fit, when the 
 weather will permit, and fmoak their 
 
 pipes. 
 
[ 47 ] 
 
 pipes. The ftreets are regulajr and fpa- 
 clous ; fo that it appears more like a civi- 
 lized town than the abode of favages. The 
 land near the town is very good. In their 
 plantations, which lie adjacent to their 
 houfes, and which are neatly laid ont, 
 they ralfe great quantities of Indian corn, 
 beans, melons, &c. fo that this place is 
 efteemed the beft market for traders to fur- 
 nilh themfelves with provilions, of any 
 within eight hundred miles of it. 
 
 The Saukies can ralfe about three hun- 
 dred warriors, who are generally employed 
 every fummer in making incurlions into 
 the territories of the Illinois and Pawnee 
 nations, from whence they return with a 
 great number of Haves. But thofe people 
 frequently retaliate, and, in their turn, de- 
 ftroy many of the Saukies, which I judge to 
 be the reafon that they increafe no fafter. 
 
 Whilft I ftaid here, I took a view of 
 fome mountains that lie about fifteen miles 
 to the fouthward, and abound in lead ore. 
 I afcended one of the higheft of thefe, and 
 had an extenfive view of the country. For 
 many miles nothing was to be feen but 
 leli'er mountains, which appeared at a dif- 
 fiance like haycocks, they being free from 
 
 trees. 
 
r 48 ] 
 
 trees. Only a few groves of hickery, and 
 ftunted oaks, covered fome of the vallies. 
 So plentiful is lead here, that I faw large 
 quantities of it lying about the ftreets in 
 the town belonging to the Saukies, and 
 it feemed to be as good as the produce of 
 other countries. 
 
 On the I oth of October we proceeded 
 down the river, and the next day reached 
 the firft town of the Ottigaumies. This 
 town contained about fifty houfes, but we 
 found mod: of them deferted, on account 
 of an epidemical diforder that had lately- 
 raged among them, and carried off more 
 thaa one half of the inhabitants. The 
 greater part of thofe who furvived had re- 
 tired into the woods, to avoid the contagion. 
 
 On the 15 th we entered that exten- 
 five river the Miffiffippi. The Ouifcon- 
 lin, from the Carrying Place to the part 
 where it falls into the Miffiffippi, flows 
 with a finooth but a drong 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 idands, the foil of which 
 appeared to be good, though fomewhat 
 woody. The land near the river alfo 
 
 feemed 
 
[ 49 ] 
 
 feemed to be, in general, excellent ; but 
 that at a diftance is very full of moun- 
 tains, where it is faid there are many lead 
 mines. 
 
 About five miles from the jun<Slion of 
 the rivers, I obferved the ruins of a large 
 town in a very pleafing fituation. On 
 enquiring of the neighbouring Indians 
 why it was thus deferred, I was inform- 
 ed, that about thirty years ago, the Great 
 Spirit had appeared on the top of a py- 
 ramid of rocks, which lay at a little 
 diftance from it, towards the weft, and 
 warned them to quit their habitations ; 
 for the land on which they were built 
 belonged to him, and he had occaiion 
 for it. As a proof that he, who gave 
 them thele orders, was really the Great 
 Spirit, he further told them, that the grafs 
 ftiould immediately fprlng up on thofe 
 very rocks from whence he now addrefl- 
 ed them, which they knew to be bare 
 and barren. The Indians obeyed, and 
 foon after difeovered that this miraculous 
 alteration had taken place. They fhewed 
 me the fpot, but the growth of the grafs 
 appeared to be no ways fupernatural. I 
 apprehend this to have been a ftratagem 
 D of 
 
[ 50 ] 
 
 of the French or Spaniards to anfwer fbme 
 felfifli view ; but in what manner they 
 effected their purpofes I know not. 
 
 This people, foon after their removal, 
 built a town on the bank of the Miffiflippi, 
 near the mouth of the Ouifconfin, at a 
 place called by the French La Prairies les 
 Chiens, which lignifies the Dog Plains; 
 it is a large town, and contains about 
 three hundred families; the houfes are well 
 built alter the Indian manner, and plea- 
 fantly fituated on a very rich foil, from 
 which they raile every neceflary of life 
 in great abundance. I law here many 
 liorles of a good lize and lliape. This 
 town is the great mart, where all the ad- 
 jacent tribes, and even thofe who in- 
 habit the moft remote branches of the 
 Miffillippi, annually aflemble about the 
 latter end of May, bringing with them 
 their furs to dilpofe of to the traders. 
 But it is not always that they conclude 
 their lale here ; this is determined by a 
 general council of the chiefs, who con- 
 llilt whether it would be more conducive 
 to their intereft, to fell their goods at this 
 place, or carry them on to Louifiana, or 
 Michillimackinac. According to the de- 
 
 cifion 
 
[ 51 ] 
 
 cifion of this council they either pro- 
 ceed further, or return to their different 
 homes. 
 
 The Mlfliffippi, at the entrance of the 
 Ouifconfin, near which ftands a mountain 
 of confiderable height, is about half a 
 mile over ; but oppofite to the laft men- 
 tioned town it appears to be more than 
 a mile wide, and full of iflands, the foil 
 of which is extraordinary xich, and but 
 thinly wooded. 
 
 A little farther to . the weft, on the 
 contrary fide, a fmall river falls into the 
 Miffiffippi, which the French call Le Jaun 
 Riviere, or the Yellow River. Here the 
 traders who had accompanied me hitherto, 
 took up their refidence for the winter. I 
 then bought a canoe, and with two ler- 
 vants, one a French Canadian and the 
 other a Mohawk of Canada, on the i pth 
 proceeded up the Mlfliffippi. 
 
 About ten days afte'r 1 had parted from 
 the traders, I landed as I ufually did every 
 evening, and having pitched my tent, I 
 ordered my- men, when night came on, 
 to lay themfelves down to flecp. By a 
 light that I kept burning 1 then fat down 
 to copy the minutes I had taken in the 
 k) 3 courfe 
 
[ 52 3 
 
 courfe of the preceding day. About ten 
 o’clock, having juft finlflied my memo- 
 randums, 1 ftepped out of my tent to 
 fee what weather it w'as. As I caft my 
 eyes towards the bank of the river, I 
 thought I faw by the light of the ftars 
 which fhone bright, foraething that had 
 tlie appearance of a herd of beafts coming 
 down a defcent at fome diftance ; whllft 
 I was wondering what they could be, one 
 of the number fuddenly fprung up and dif- 
 covered 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 awaking my men, 
 ordered them to take their arms, and fol- 
 low me. As my firft apprehenhons were 
 for my canoe, I ran to the water’s fide, 
 and found a party of Indians (for fuch I 
 now difcovered 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 hoftilities unlefs occafion abfolutely 
 required. I accordingly advanced with 
 refolution, clofe to the points of their 
 Ipears, they had no other weapons, and 
 
 brandiftiing 
 
[ 53 ] 
 
 brandifhlng my hanger, afked them with 
 a ftern voice, what they w^anted. They 
 were ftaggered at this, and perceiving 
 they were like to meet with a warm re- 
 ception, turned about and precipitately 
 retreated. We purfued them to an ad- 
 jacent wood, which they entered, and we 
 law no more of them. However, for 
 fear of their return, we watched alter- 
 nately dnring the remainder of the night. 
 The next day my fervants were under 
 great apprehenfions, and earneftly en- 
 treated me to return to the traders we 
 had lately left. But I told them, that if 
 they would not be efteemed old women 
 (a term of the greateft reproach among 
 the Indians) they mull follow me ; for I 
 was determined to purfue my intended 
 route, as an Englilhman, when once en- 
 gaged in an adventure, never retreated. 
 On this they got into the canoe, and I 
 walked on the Ihore to guard them from 
 any further attack. The party of In- 
 dians who had thus intended to plunder 
 me, I afterw'ards found to be fome of 
 thofe Hraggling bands, that having been 
 driven from among the different tribes to 
 which they belonged for various crimes, 
 D 3 now 
 
[ 54 ] 
 
 now affoclated themfelves together, and, 
 living by plunder, prove very trouble- 
 fome to travellers who pafs this way ; nor 
 are even Indians of every trjbe Ipared by 
 tliem. The traders had before cautioned 
 me to be upon my guard againft them, 
 and I would repeat the fame caution to 
 thofe whofe bufinefs might call them into 
 thefe parts. 
 
 On the fil'd: of November I arrived 
 at Lake Pepin, which is rather an ex- 
 tended part of the River Mifliffippi, that 
 the French have thus denominated, about 
 two hundred miles from the Ouifcon- 
 fm. The Miffidippi below this Lake 
 flows v/ith a gentle current, but the 
 breadth of it is very uncertain, in fome 
 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 ; 
 which in particular parts approach near 
 to it, in others lie at a greater diftance. 
 The land betwixt the mountains, and 
 on their lides, is generally covered with 
 grafs with a few groves of trees inter- 
 fperled, near which large droves of deer 
 and elk are frequently feen feeding. In 
 
 many 
 
r 55 ] 
 
 many places pyramids of rocks appeai-ed, 
 refembling old ruinous towers; at others 
 amazing precipices ; and what is very re- 
 markable, whilft this fcene prefented it- 
 fclf on one fide, the oppofite fide of the 
 fame mountain was covered with the 
 finefi; herbage, which gradually afcended 
 to its fummit. From thence the moft 
 beautiful and extenfive profpedl that ima- 
 gination can form opens to your view. 
 Verdant plains, fruitful meadows, nume- 
 rous iflands, and all thefe abounding with 
 a variety of trees that yield amazing 
 quantities of fruit, without care or cul- 
 tivation, fuch as the nut-tree, the maple 
 which produces fugar, vines loaded with 
 rich grapes, and plum-trees bending un- 
 der their blooming burdens, but above 
 all, the fine River flowing gently beneath, 
 and reaching as far as the eye can extend, 
 by turns attradl 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 fifli. Great numbers of fowl 
 frequent alfo this Lake and rivers adjacent, 
 fuch as ftorks, fwans, geefe, brants, and 
 D 4 ducks : 
 
[ 5« ] 
 
 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 1 obferved the ruins of a 
 French fadtory, where it is faid Captain 
 St. Pierre relided, and carried on a very 
 great trade with the Naudoweffies, before 
 the reduiffion of Canada. 
 
 About hxty miles below this Lake is 
 a mountain remarkably fituated ; for it 
 ffands by itfelf exa<5Uy in the middle of 
 the River, and looks as if it had Hidden 
 from the adjacent fhore into the ftream. 
 It cannot be termed an ifland, as it rifes 
 immediately from the brink of the water 
 to a confiderable height. Both the In- 
 dians and the French call it the Mountain 
 in the River. 
 
 One day having landed on the lliore of 
 the Miflifiippi, lome miles below Lake 
 Pepin, whilft my attendants were pre- 
 paring my dinner, 1 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 per- 
 ceived at a little diftance, a partial ele- 
 vation that had the appearance of an in- 
 trenchment. On a nearer inlpedlion I 
 
 had 
 
[ 57 ] 
 
 had greater reafon to fuppofe that it had 
 really been intended for this many cen- 
 turies ago. Notwithftanding' it was now 
 covered with grafs, I could plainly dif- 
 cern that it had once been a breaft-work 
 of about four feet in height, extending 
 the beft part of a mile, and fufficiently ca- 
 pacious to cover five thoufand men. Its 
 form was fomewhat circular, and its flanks 
 reached to the River. Though much de- 
 faced by time, every angle was diftiiiguifli- 
 able, and appeared as regular, and falhion- 
 cd with as much military Ikill, as if plan- 
 ned by Vauban himfelf. The ditch was 
 not vilible, but 1 thought on examining 
 more curioufly, that I could perceive 
 there certainly had been one. From its 
 fituation alfo, I am convinced that it 
 muft have been defigned for this purpole. 
 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 ftraggling oaks 
 were alone to be feen near it. In many 
 places fmall tracks 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 
 
 certain 
 
[ 58 ] 
 
 certain coiiclufions of its great antiquity 
 J examined all the angles and every part 
 with great attention, and have often 
 blamed myfelf fmce, for not encamping 
 on the fpot, and drawing an exad plan of 
 it. To mew that this defcription is not 
 the ofHpring of a heated imagination, or 
 the chimerical tale of a miftaken travel- 
 ler, I find on enquiry fince my return, 
 that Monf.^ St. Pierre and feveral traders 
 have, at different times, taken notice of 
 fimilar appearances, on which they have 
 formed the fame conjeaures, but without 
 examining them fb minutely a% I did. 
 How a work of this kind could exifi: in 
 a country that has hitherto (according to 
 the general received opinion) been the 
 feat of war to untutored Indians alone, 
 whofe whole flock of military knowledge 
 has only, till within two centuries, a- 
 mounted to drawing the bow, and whofe 
 only bieafl-work even at prefent is the 
 t icket, 1 know not. ] have given as 
 exaft an account as poflible of this fin- 
 gular appearance, and leave to future ex- 
 plorers of thefe diflant regions to dif- 
 cover whetner it is a production of na- 
 ture or art. Perhaps the hints I Jiave 
 ' here 
 
t 59 1 
 
 here given might lead to a more perfe£k 
 inveftigation of it, and give us very dif- 
 ferent ideas of the ancient ftate of realms 
 that we at prefeat believe to have been 
 from the earlieft period only the habita- 
 tions of favages. 
 
 The Miffilfippi, as far as the en- 
 trance of the River St. Croix, thirty miles 
 above Lake Pepin, is very full of iflands; 
 fome of which are of a confiderable 
 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 fmall. Near the Ri- 
 ver St. Croix refide three bands of the 
 Nawdoweffie Indians, called the River 
 Bands. 
 
 This nation is compofed, at prefent, 
 of eleven bands. They were originally 
 twelve ; but tire Affinipoils fome years 
 ago revolting, and feparating themlelves 
 from the others, there remain only at 
 this time eleven. Thofe I met here are 
 termed the River Bands ; becaufe they 
 chiefly dwell near the banks of this Ri- 
 ver: the other eight are generally dif- 
 
 tinguiflxed 
 
[ 6o ] 
 
 tinguiflied by the title of the Naudoweffies 
 of the Plains, and inhabit a country that 
 lies more to the weftward. The names 
 of the former are the Nehogatawonahs, 
 the Mawtawbauntowahs, and the Shahf- 
 weentowahs, and confift of about four 
 hundred warriors. 
 
 A little before I met with thefe three 
 bands 1 fell in with a party of the Maw- 
 tawbauntowahs, amounting to forty war- 
 riors and their families. With thefe I 
 rehded a day or two, during which time 
 hve or fix of their number, who had been 
 out on an excurfion, returned in great 
 hafte, and acquainted their companions 
 that a large party of the Chipeway war- 
 riors, “ enough,” as they e-xpreffed them- 
 lelves, to fwallow them all up,” were 
 clofe at their heels, and on the point of 
 attacking their little camp. The chiefs 
 applied to me, and defired I would put 
 myfelfat their head, and lead them out 
 to oppofe their enemies. As I was a. 
 Ifranger, and unwilling to excite the an-! 
 gei of either nation, I knew not how to 
 aft j and never found myfelf m a greater 
 dilemma. Had I refuled to afiift the 
 ^audowefiies 1 fhould have drawn on 
 
[ 6i ] 
 
 myfelf their dilpleafure, or had I met 
 the Chipeways with hoftile intentians, I 
 Ihould have made that people my foes, 
 and had 1 been fortunate enough to have, 
 efcaped their arrows at this time, on foraq 
 future occafion Ihould probably have expe- 
 rienced the feverity of their revenge. In 
 this extremity I chofe the middle courfe, 
 and defired that the Naudoweffies would 
 fuffer me to meet them, that I might en- 
 deavour to avert their fury. To this they 
 relu«£lautly affented, being perfuaded, from 
 the inveteracy which had long prevailed 
 between them, that my remonftrances 
 would be in vain. 
 
 Taking my Frenchman with me, who 
 could fpeak their language, I haftened 
 towards the place where the Chipeways 
 were fuppofed to be. The Naudoweffies 
 during this kept at a diftance behind. As 
 I approached them with the pipe of peace, 
 a fmall party of their chiefs, confifting 
 of about eight or ten, came in a friend- 
 ly manner towards me ; with whom, by 
 means of my interpreter, I held a long 
 converfation ; the refult of which was, 
 that their rancour being by my per- 
 fuafions.in fome meafure mollified, they 
 
 agreed 
 
[ 62 ] 
 
 agreed to return back without accompllfh- 
 ing their favage purpofes. During our dif- 
 courfe I could perceive, as they lay Icat- 
 tered about, that the party was very nu- 
 merous, and many of them armed with 
 mulkets. 
 
 Haying happily fucceeded in my un- 
 dertaking, I returned without delay to 
 the N^audoweflies, and deli red they would 
 inftantly remove their camp to fome other 
 part of the country, left their enemies 
 Ihould repent of the promife they had 
 given, and put their intentions in exe- 
 cution. They accordingly followed my 
 advice, and immediately prepared to ftrike 
 their tents. Whilft they were doing this 
 they loaded me with thanks ; and when 
 I had feen them on board their canoes I 
 pur filed my route. 
 
 To this adventure I w^as chiefly indebt- 
 ed for the friendly reception I afterwards 
 met with from the Naudovveflies of the 
 Plains, and for the relpedl and honours I 
 received during my abode among them. 
 And when I arrived many months after 
 at the Chlpeway village, near the Otto- 
 waw lakes, I found that my fame had 
 reached that place before me. The chiefs 
 
 received 
 
reclved me with great cordiality, and 
 the elder part of them thanked me for 
 the mifchief I had prevented. They in- 
 formed me, that the war between their 
 nation and the Naudoweffics had conti- 
 nued without interruption for more than 
 forty winters. That they had long wiflied 
 to put an end to it, but this w'as gene- 
 rally prevented by the young w'arriors of 
 either nation, who could not reflrain their 
 ardour W'hen they met. They faid, they 
 Ihould be happy if fome chief of the 
 lame pacific difpofition as myfelf, and who 
 pofliefied an equal degree of refolution and 
 coolnefs, would fettle in the country be- 
 tween the tw'o nations ; for by the inter- 
 ference of fuch a perfon an accommodation, 
 which on their parts they fincerely defir- 
 ed, might be brought about, As I did 
 not meet any of the Naudoweffies after- 
 wards, I had not an opportunity of for- 
 warding fo good a work. 
 
 About thirty miles below the Falls of 
 St. Anthony, at which I arrived the tenth 
 day after 1 left left Lake Pepin, is a re- 
 markable cave of an amazing depth. The 
 Indians term it Wakon-teebe, that is, 
 the Dwelling of the Great Spirit. The 
 
 entrance 
 
[ 64 ] 
 
 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 it con* 
 fifts of fine clear fand. About twenty 
 feet from the entrance begins a lake, the 
 water of which is tranfparent, and ex- 
 tends to an unfearchable difiance ; for 
 the darknefs of the cave prevents all at- 
 tempts to acquire a knowledge of it. I 
 threw a fmall pebble towards the interior 
 parts of it with my utmofi firength ; I 
 could hear that it fell into the water, 
 and notwithfianding it was of fo fmall a 
 fize, it caufed an afionifhing and horrible 
 noife that reverberated through all thole 
 gloomy regions. 1 found in this cave 
 many Indian hierogly plucks, which ap- 
 peared very ancient, for time had nearly 
 covered them with mofs, fo that it was 
 with difficulty I could trace them. They 
 were cut in a rude manner upon the in- 
 fide of the walls, which were, cbmpofed 
 of a fione fo extremely foft that it might 
 be eafily penetrated with a knife : a 
 fione every where to be found near the 
 Miffiffippi. The cave is only acceffible 
 
 by 
 
by afcending a narrow, fteep paflage that 
 lies near the brink of the river. 
 
 At a little diftance from this dreary 
 cavern is the burying-place of feveral 
 bands of the Naudoweffie Indians : though 
 thefe people have no fixed refidence, living 
 in tents, 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 councils, 
 and to fettle all public affairs for the en- 
 fuing fummer. 
 
 Ten miles below the Falls of St. An- 
 thony the River St. Pierre, called by the 
 natives the Waddapawmenefotor, falls into 
 the Miffiffippi from the weft. It is not 
 mentioned by Father Hennipin, although 
 a large fair river: this omiffion, I con- 
 clude, muft have proceeded from a fmall 
 ifland that is fituated exactly at its en- 
 trance, by which the fight of it is inter- 
 cepted. I fhould not have difcovered this 
 river myfelf, had I not taken a view, 
 when I was fearching for it, from the 
 high lands oppofite, which rife to a great 
 height. 
 
 E 
 
 Nearly 
 
[ ] 
 
 Nearly over againft this river I was 
 obliged to leave mj canoe, on account of 
 the ice, and travel by land to the Falls 
 of St. Anthony, where I arrived on the 
 1 7 th of November. The Miffiflippi from 
 the St. Pierre to this place is rather more 
 rapid than I had hitherto found it, and 
 without iflands of any confideration. 
 
 Before I left my canoe I overtook a 
 young prince of the Winnebago Indians, 
 who was going on an embafly to fome of 
 the bands of the Naudoweffies. Finding 
 that I intended to take a view of the 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 family (for the 
 Indians never travel without their houfe- 
 holds) at this place, under the care of my 
 Mohawk fervant, and we proceeded to- 
 gether by land, attended only by my 
 Frenchman, to this celebrated place. 
 
 We could dlftincUy hear the noife of 
 the water full fifteen miles before we 
 reached the F alls ; and I was greatly pleafed 
 and furprized, when I approached this 
 aftonifliing work of nature : but I was 
 not long at liberty to indulge thefe emo- 
 tions, 
 
tions, my attention being called off by the 
 behaviour of my companion. 
 
 The prince had no fooner gained the 
 point that overlooks this wonderful caf- 
 cade, than he began with an audible voice 
 to addrels the Great Spirit, one of whole 
 places of relidence he imagined this to be. 
 He told him that he had come a long wav 
 to pay his adorations to him, and now 
 would make him the bed: oderlnss in his 
 
 o 
 
 power. He accordingly fird: threw his 
 pipe into the llream; then the roll that 
 contained his tobacco ; after thele, the 
 bracelets he wore on his arms and wrids ; 
 next an ornament that encircled his neck, 
 compofed of beads and wires ; and at laft 
 the ear-rings from his ears ; in fhort, he 
 prefented to his god every part of his drefs 
 that was valuable : during this he fre- 
 quently fmote his bread: with great vio- 
 lence, threw his arms about, and appear- 
 ed to be much agitated. 
 
 All this while he continued his adora- 
 tions, and at length concluded them with 
 fervent petitions that the Great Spirit would 
 condantly afford us his protedtion on our 
 travels, giving us a bright fun, a blue Iky, 
 and clear untroubled waters : nor would he 
 E 2 leave 
 
C 68 ] 
 
 leave the place till we had fmoaked to- 
 gether with my pipe in honour of the 
 Great Spirit. 
 
 I was greatly furprized at beholding an 
 in fiance of fuch elevated devotion in fo 
 young an Lidian, and inftcad of ridicul- 
 ing the ceremonies attending it, as I ob- 
 ferved my catholic fervant tacitly did, I 
 looked on the prince with a greater degree 
 of rerpe£t for thefe fincere proofs he gave 
 of his piety; and I doubt not but that 
 his offerings and prayers were as accept- 
 able to tlie univerfal Parent of mankind, 
 as if they had been made with greater 
 pomp, or in a confecrated place. 
 
 Indeed, the whole condudlof this young 
 prince at once amazed and charmed me. 
 During the few days we were together his 
 attention feemed totally to be employed In 
 yielding me every affiflance in his power; 
 and even in fo fliort a time he gave me 
 innumerable proofs of the moft generous 
 and difinterefted friendfhip; fo that on 
 our return I parted from him with great 
 reluiSlance. Whilfl I beheld the artlefs, 
 yet engaging manners of this unpolifhed 
 lavage, I could not help drawing a com- 
 parifon between him and fomc of the more 
 
 refined 
 
[ 69 ] 
 
 refined inhabitants of civilized countries, 
 not much, I own, in favour of the latter. 
 
 The Falls of St. Anthony received 
 their name from Father Louis Hennlpin, 
 a French mlffionary, who travelled into 
 thefe parts about the year 1680, and was 
 the firft European ever feen by the na- 
 tives. This amazing body of waters, 
 which are above 250 yards over, form a 
 moft pleafing cataract; they fall perpen- 
 dicularly about thirty feet, and the rapids 
 below, in the fpace of 300 yards more, 
 render the defcent confiderably greater ; fo 
 that when viewed at a diftance they ap- 
 pear to be much higher than they really 
 are. The above-mentioned traveller has 
 laid them down at above fixty feet; but 
 he has made a greater error in calculating 
 the height of the Falls of Niagara; which 
 he afferts to be 600 feet ; whereas from 
 latter obfervatlons accurately made, it is 
 well known that it does not exceed 140 
 feet. But the good father I fear too of- 
 ten had no other foundation for his ac- 
 counts than report, or, at beft, a flight 
 inlpefllon. 
 
 In the middle of the Falls flands a 
 fmall ifland, about forty feet broad and 
 E 3 fome- 
 
[ 7° ] 
 
 fomewhst longer, on which grow a few 
 cragged hemlock and fpruce trees; and 
 about half way between this ifland and 
 the eaftern fliore is a rock, lying at the 
 very edge of the Fall, in an oblique pofi- 
 tion, that appeared to be about five or fix 
 feet broad, and thirty or forty long. Thefe 
 Falls vary much from all the others I have 
 feen, as you may approach clofe to them 
 without finding the leaft obfIriKflion 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 compo- 
 led of many gentle afeents, which in the 
 lumrner are covered with the fined ver- 
 dure, and interfperfed with little groves, 
 that give a pleafing variety to the profpe«5t. 
 On the "whole, when the Falls are inclu- 
 ded, which may be feen at the didance of 
 four miles, a more pleafing and pidurefque 
 view cannot, I believe, be found through- 
 out the univerfe. I could have wifhed 
 that I had happened to enjoy this glorious 
 fight at a more fealbnable time of the 
 year, whild the trees' and hillocks were 
 clad in nature’s gayed livery, as this mud 
 have greatly added to the pleafure I re- 
 ceived ; 
 
[ 7.1 ] 
 
 ceived; however, even then it exceeded 
 my warmefl expedlations. I have en- 
 deavoured to give the Reader as juft an 
 idea of this enchanting fpot as poffible, 
 in the plan annexed ; but all defcription, 
 whether of the pencil or the pen, muft 
 fall infinitely ftiort of the original. 
 
 At a little dlftance below the Falls 
 ftands a fmall ifland, of about an acre and 
 half, on which grow a great number of 
 oak trees, every branch of which, able to 
 fupport the weight, was full of eagles 
 nefts. The reafon that this kind of birds 
 refort in fuch numbers to this Ipot, is 
 that they are here fecure from the attacks 
 either of man or beaft, their retreat being 
 guarded by the Rapids, which the Indians 
 never attempt to pafs. Another reafon 
 is, that they find a conftant fupply of 
 food for themfelves and their young, from 
 the animals and filh which are daflied to 
 pieces by the Falls, and driven on the ad- 
 jacent fhore. 
 
 Having fatisfied my curiofity, as far as 
 the eye of man can be fatisfied, I pro- 
 ceeded on, ftill accompanied by my young 
 friend, till I had reached the River St. 
 Francis, near fixty miles above the Falls. 
 
 E 4 Tq 
 
[ 7 ^ ] 
 
 To this river Father Hennipin gave the 
 name of St. Francis, and this was the ex- 
 tent of his travels, as well as mine, to- 
 wards the north-weft. As the feafon was 
 fo advanced, and the weather extremely 
 cold, I was not able to make fo many ob- 
 fervations on thefe parts as I otherwife 
 fhould have done. 
 
 It might however, perhaps, be necef- 
 fary to oblerve, that in the little tour I 
 made about the Falls, after travelling four- 
 teen miles, by the fide of the Miffiffippi, 
 1 came to a river nearly twenty yards 
 wide, which ran from the north-eaft, 
 called Rum River, And on the 20 th of 
 November came to another termed Goofe 
 River, about twelve yards wide. On the 
 2ift I arrived at the St. Francis, which 
 is about thirty yards wide. Here the 
 Miffiflippi itfelf grows narrow, being not 
 more than ninety yards over; and appears 
 to be chiefly compofed of fmall branches. 
 The ice prevented me from noticing the 
 depth of any of thefe three rivers. 
 
 The country in fbme places is hilly, 
 but without large mountains ; and the land 
 is tolerably good. I obferved here rnany 
 deer and carribboos, fome elk, with abun- 
 dance 
 
[ 73 ] 
 
 dance of beavers, otters, and other furs. 
 
 A little above this, to the north-eaft, are 
 a number of fmall lakes called the Thou- 
 fand Lakes ; 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 
 expectations. 
 
 The Miffiffippi has never been explored 
 higher up than the River St. Francis, and 
 only by Father Hennipin and myfelf thus 
 far. So that we are obliged folely to 
 the Indians, for all the intciligence we 
 are able to give relative to the more north- 
 ern parts. As this River is not navigable 
 from the fea for vefleis of any confiderablc 
 burthen, much higher up than the Forks 
 of the Ohio, and even that is accomplifli- 
 ed with great difficulty, owing to the ra- 
 pidity of the current, and the windings 
 of the river, thofe fettlements that may 
 be made on the interior branches of it, 
 muft be indifputably fecure from the at- 
 tacks 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 faci- 
 lity, the current of the river from its 
 
 fourcc 
 
C 74 ] 
 
 fource to its entrance into the Gulph of 
 Mexico, being extremely favourable for 
 doing this in fmall craft. This might 
 allo in time be facilitated by canals or 
 fliorter cuts ; and a communication open- 
 ed 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 Miffiffippi, following 
 the courfe of the river; and the Meflbrie 
 two hundred miles above thefe. From 
 the latter it is about twenty miles to the 
 Illinois River, and from that to the Ouif- 
 confin, which I have given an account of, 
 about eight hundred more. 
 
 On the 25 th I returned to my canoe, 
 tvhich I had left at the mouth of the 
 River St. Pierre; 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 litu- 
 ation, I found nothing to obforua my 
 pallage. On the 28 th, being advanced 
 about forty miles, I arrived at a fmall 
 branch that fell into it from the north ; 
 to which, as it had no name that I could 
 diftinguilh it by, I gave my own ; and 
 the Reader will find it in the plan of my 
 
 travels 
 
[ 75 1 
 
 travels denominated Carver’s River. About 
 forty miles higher up I^came to the Forks 
 of Verd and Red Marble Rivers, which 
 join at fome little diftance before they 
 enter the St, Pierre. 
 
 The River St. Pierre, at its junftion 
 with the Mllliffippi, is about a hundred 
 yards broad, and continues that bi'eadth 
 nearly all the way I failed upon it. It has 
 a great depth of water, and in Ibme places 
 runs very briikly. About fifty miles from 
 its mouth are fome rapids, and much 
 higher up there are many others. 
 
 I proceeded up this river about two 
 hundred miles to the country of the Nau- 
 dowelfies 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 
 Meflbrie River. By the accounts I re- 
 ceived from the Indians, I have reafon to 
 believe that the River St. Pierre and the 
 Meflbrie, though they enter the Miflif- 
 fippi twelve hundred miles from each, 
 other, take their rife in the fame neigh- 
 bourhood ; and this within the fpace of a 
 mile. The River St. Pierre’s northern 
 branch rifes from a number of lakes near 
 
 the 
 
[ -8 ] 
 
 there than it is in the interior parts of 
 America. This I can, from my own 
 knowledge, aflert, as I found the winter, 
 that I pahed to the w'eftward of the Mif- 
 hffippi, far from fevere; and the north- 
 weft wind blowing on thofe countries con- 
 liderably more temperate 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 annu- 
 ally the cafe, I conclude, both from the 
 Imall quantity of fiiow that then fell, and 
 
 total difuft of fnow ftioes by thefe In- 
 dians, without which none of the more 
 
 eaftern nations can poffibly travel during 
 the winter. ^ 
 
 As naturalifts obferve, that air refem- 
 bles water in many refpeds, particularly 
 by often flowing in a compad body; and 
 that this IS generally remarked to be with 
 the current of large ftreams, and feldom 
 acrofs them, may not the winds that fet 
 violently into the Bay of Mexico about 
 e latter end of the year, take their courfe 
 
 as the Miffiffippi does ; till meeting with 
 the north winds (that from a limilar 
 caufe blow up the Bourbon from Hud- 
 
 foil’s 
 
[ 79 ] 
 
 foil’s Bay) they are forced acrofs the great 
 lakes, down the current of the waters 
 of the St. Lawrence, and united, com- 
 mit thofe ravages, and occafion thofe fe- 
 vere winters, experienced in the before- 
 mentioned countries? During their pro- 
 grefs over the lakes they become expand- 
 ed, and confequently affect a greater tra6t 
 of land than they otherwife would do. 
 
 According to my fcanty knowledge of 
 natural philofophy this does not appear 
 improbable. Whether it is agreeable to 
 the laws eftablilhed by naturalifts to ac- 
 count for the operations of that element, 
 I know not. However, the defcription 
 here given of the lituation of thefe vaft 
 bodies of water, and their near approach 
 to each other, with my own undigefted 
 fuppolitions of their effecl on the winds, 
 may prove perhaps, in abler hands, the 
 means of leading to many ufeful difco- 
 veries. 
 
 On the 7th of December, I arrived 
 (as I faid before) at the utmoft extent of 
 my travels towards the weft; where I 
 met with a large party of the Naudowef- 
 lie Indians, among whom I refided feven 
 months. Thefe conftituted a part of the 
 
 eight 
 
[ 8o ] 
 
 eight bands of the Naudowefiies of the 
 Plains ; and are termed the Wawpeen* 
 towahs, the Tintons, the Afrahcootans, 
 the Mawhaws, and the Schians. The 
 other three bands, whole names are the 
 Schianefe, the Chongoufceton, and the 
 WaddapawjefHn, dwell higher up, to 
 the weft of the River St. Pierre, on plains 
 that, according to their account, are un- 
 bounded ; and probably terminate on the 
 coaft of the Pacific Ocean. The Nau- 
 doweffie nation, when united, conlifts of 
 more than two thoufand warriors. The 
 Aflinipoils, who revolted from them, 
 amount to about three hundred ; and 
 leagued with the Killiftinoes, live in a 
 continual ftate of enmity with the other 
 eleven bands. 
 
 As I proceeded up the' River St. Pierre, 
 and had neai ly reached the place where 
 thele people were encamped, I obferved 
 two or three canoes coming down the 
 ftream; but no fooner had the Indians 
 that were on board them difcovered us, 
 than they rowed toward the land, and 
 leaping alhore with precipitation, left 
 their canoes to float as the current drove 
 them. In a few minutes I perceived 
 
 fome 
 
I 
 
 t 8‘ ] 
 
 fome others ; who, as fooii as they came 
 in fight, followed, with equal Ipeed, the 
 example of their countrymen. 
 
 I now thought it neceflary to proceed 
 with caution ; and therefore kept on the 
 lide of the river oppofite to that on 
 which the Indians had landed. How- 
 ever, I ftill continued my courle, fatifi. 
 fied that the pipe of Peace which was 
 fixed at the head of my canoe, and the 
 Englifh colours that were flying at the 
 flern, would prove my fecurity. After 
 rowing about half a mile farther, in turn- 
 ing a point, I difcovered a great number 
 of tents, and more than a thoufand In- 
 dians, at a little diftance from the fhore. 
 Being now nearly oppofite to them, I or- 
 dered my men to pull dire£lly over, as I 
 was willing to convince the Indians by 
 fuch a ftep, that I placed fbme confidence 
 in them. 
 
 As foon as 1 had reached the land, two 
 of the chiefs prefented their hands to me, 
 and led me, amidft the aftonifhed mul- 
 titude, who had moft of them never leen 
 a white man before, to a tent. Into this 
 We entered, and according to the cuftom 
 that univerfally prevails among every In- 
 F dian 
 
[ 82 ] 
 
 dlaii nation, began to fmoke the pipe of 
 Peace. We had not fat long before the 
 crowd became fo great, both around, and 
 upon the tent, that we were in danger of 
 being crufhed by its fall. On this vve 
 returned to the plain, where, having grati- 
 fied the curiofity of the common people, 
 their wonder abated, and ever after they 
 treated me with great refped:. 
 
 From the chiefs I met with the moft 
 friendly and hofpitable reception ; which 
 induced me, as the feafon was lb far ad- 
 vanced, to take up my refidence among 
 them during the winter. To render my 
 fiay as comfortable as poffible, I firfi; endea- 
 voured to learn their language. This I foon 
 did, lb as to make myielf perfectly intel- 
 ligible, having before acquired fome flight 
 knowledge of the language of thofe Indians 
 that live on the back of the lettlements ; 
 and in confequence met with every accom- 
 modation their manner of living would af- 
 ford. Nor did I want for fuch amufe- 
 raents as tended to make fo long a period 
 pafs cheerfully away. I frequently hunted 
 with them ; and at other times beheld with 
 plealure their recreations and paftimes, 
 which I fliall defcribe hereafter. 
 
 Some- 
 
t 83 ] 
 
 Sometimes I fat with the chiefs, and 
 whilft we fmoked the friendly pipe, en- 
 tertained them, in return for the accounts 
 they gave me of their wars and excurfions, 
 with a narrative of my own adventures 
 and a defcription of all the battles fought 
 between the Englilh and the French in 
 •^^^^rica, in many of which I had a per- 
 fonal fliare. They always paid great at- 
 tention to my details, and alked many per- 
 tinent queflions relative to the European 
 methods of making war. 
 
 I held thefe converfatlons with them in 
 a great meafure to procure from them 
 fome Information relative to the chief 
 point I had conftantly in view, that of 
 gaining a knowledge of the fituation and 
 produce, both of their own country, and 
 thole that lay to the welfward of them. 
 Nor was I difappointed in my deligns ; 
 for I procured from them much uleful 
 intelligence. They likewile drew for me 
 plans of all the countries with which 
 they were acquainted ; but as I enter- 
 tained no great opinion of their geogra- 
 phical knowledge, I placed not much de- 
 pendence on them, and therefore think it 
 uiuiecefiary to give them to the public. 
 
 ^ 2 Such 
 
[ 84 ] 
 
 Such as I afterwards found confirmed, by 
 other accounts, or by my own obferva- 
 tions, make a part of the map prefixed to 
 this work. They draw with a piece of 
 burnt coal, taken from the hearth, upop 
 the infide bark of the birch tree ; which is 
 as fmooth as paper, and anfwers the fame 
 purpofes, notwithftanding it is of a yel- 
 low call. Their Iketches are made in a 
 rude manner, but they feem to give as juft 
 , an idea of a country, although the plan is 
 not fo exafl, as more experienced draughtf- 
 men could do. 
 
 I left tlue habitations of thefe holpi- 
 table Indians the latter end of April 1767; 
 but did not part from them for feveral 
 days, as I was accompanied on my jour- 
 ney 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 coun- 
 cil with all the other bands ; wherein 
 they fettle their operations for the enfuing 
 year. At the lame time they carry with 
 them their dead for interment bound up in 
 buffaloes Ikins. Befides thole that accom- 
 
[ 85 ] 
 
 panied me, others were gone before, and 
 the reft were to follow. 
 
 Never did I travel with fo cheerful and 
 happy a company. But their mirth met 
 with a fudden and temporary allay from a 
 violent ftorm that overtook us one day 
 on our paflage. We had juft landed, and 
 were preparing to fet up our tents for the 
 night, when a heavy cloud overfpread the 
 heavens, and the moft dreadful thunder, 
 lightning, and rain iflued from it, that 
 ever I beheld. 
 
 The Indians were greatly terrified, and 
 ran to fuch fhelter as they could find ; 
 for only a few tents were as yet erecfted. 
 Apprehenfive of the danger that might 
 enfue from ftanding near any thing which 
 could ferve for a conductor, as the cloud 
 appeared to contain fuch an uncommon 
 quantity of the ele<ftrical fluid, I took my 
 ftand as far as poffible from any covering ; 
 chufing rather to be expofed to the pelt- 
 ings of the ftorm than to receive a fatal 
 ftroke. At this the Indians were greatly 
 furprized, and drew conclufions from it 
 not unfavourable to the opinion they al- 
 ready entertained of my refolution. Yet 
 J acknowledge that 1 was ziever more 
 F 3 affeded 
 
[ ] 
 
 affected in my life ; for nothing fcarcely 
 could exceed the terrific fcene. The 
 peals of thunder were fo loud that they 
 fhook the earth ; and the lightning flalh- 
 ed along the ground in flreams of fulphur; 
 fo tiiat the Indian chiefs themlelves, al- 
 though their courage in war is ufually in- 
 vincible, could not help trembling at the 
 hor rid combuftion. As foon as the ftorm 
 was over, they flocked around me, and 
 informed me, that it was a proof of the 
 anger of the evil fpirits, whom they were 
 apprehenfive that they had highly of- 
 lended. 
 
 . When we arrived at the Great Cave, 
 and the Indians had depofited the re- 
 mains of their decealed friends in the 
 burial-place that hands adjacent to it, 
 tney held their gi'eat council, into which 
 I was admitted, and at the lame time had 
 the honour to be inftalled or adopted a 
 chief of their bands. On this occafion 
 I made the following fpeech, which I in- 
 fert to give my Readers a fpecimen of 
 the language and manner in which it is 
 ireceflary to addrefs the Indians, lb as to 
 their attention, and to render the 
 Ipeaker s expreflions confonant to their 
 
 ideas. 
 
[ 8 ; ] 
 
 ideas. It was delivered on the firfl: dfty of 
 May 1767. 
 
 “ My brothers, chiefs of the nume- 
 “ rous and powerful Naudowehies ! I re- 
 “ joice that through my long abode with 
 “ you, I can now fpeak to you (though 
 “ alter an imperfecft manner) in your 
 “ own tongue, like one of your own 
 “ children. I rejoice alfo that I have 
 “ had an opportunity fo frequently to in- 
 “ form you of the glory and power of 
 “ the Great King that reigns over the 
 “ Englifh and other nations ; who is de- 
 “ fcended from a very ancient race of 
 “ Ibverelgns, as old as the earth and wa- 
 “ ters ; whofe feet ftand on two great 
 “ iflands, larger than any you have ever 
 “ leen, amldfl the greateft waters in the 
 “ world ; whofe head reaches to the fun, 
 ** and whofe arms encircle the whole 
 “ earth. The number of whofe warriors 
 “ are equal to the trees in the vallies, 
 “ 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 bigitfs, that 
 “ all the waters in your country would 
 “ not fuffice for one of them to fwim 
 F 4 “ in ; 
 
[ 88 ] 
 
 “ in ; each of which have guns, not 
 “ fmall like mine which you fee before 
 “ you, but of fuch magnitude, that a 
 “ hundred of your ftouteft young men 
 “ would with difficulty be able to carry 
 “ one. And thefe are equally furprizing 
 “ in their operation againll: the great 
 “ king’s enemies 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 Wadawpawmene- 
 “ foter, the black clouds, the wind, the 
 “ fire, the ftupendous nolfe, the horrible 
 “ cracks, and the trembling of the earth 
 “ which then alarmed you, and gave you 
 “ reafon to think your gods were angry 
 with you ; not unlike thefe are the war- 
 “ like implements of the Engliffi when 
 “ they are fighting the battles of their 
 “ great King. 
 
 “ Several of the chiefs of your bunds 
 “ have often told me, in times part, 
 “ when I dwelt with you in your tents, 
 that they much wiffied to be counted 
 “ among the children and allies of the 
 “ great King my mafier. You may re- 
 ** member how often you have defired 
 
 “ me. 
 
[ 89 ] - 
 
 me, when I return again to my own 
 “ country, to acquaint the great King 
 “ of your good difpohtion towards him 
 “ and his fubjeds, and that you wifhed 
 “ for traders from the Englifli to come 
 “ among you. Being now about to take 
 “ my leave of you, and to return to my 
 “ own country, a long way towards 
 “ the riling fun, I again alk you to tell 
 “ me whether you continue of the fame 
 “ mind as when I fpoke to you in coun- 
 “ cll laft winter ; and as there are now 
 “ leveral of your chiefs here, who came 
 “ from the great plains towards the let- 
 “ ting of the fun, whom I have never 
 “ fpoke with in council before, I alk you 
 
 to let me know if you are all will- 
 “ ing to acknowledge yourfelves the chil- 
 “ dren of my great mafter the King of 
 “ the Englilh and other nations, as I 
 “ lhall take the lirft opportunity to ac- 
 “ quaint him of your defires 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 whif- 
 “ per evil things in your ears againft the 
 “ Englilh, contrary to what I have told 
 
 “ you ; 
 
[ 9 ^ ] 
 
 “ 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 lhall take 
 “ care to make for them and their fuite, 
 “ a llraight road, Imooth waters, and a 
 “ clear Iky; that they’ may go there, 
 and fmoke the pipe of Peace, and reft 
 “ fecure on a beaver blanket under the 
 “ lhade of the great tree of peace. Fare- 
 “ well 1” 
 
 To this fpeech I received the following 
 anfwer, from the mouth of the principal 
 chief : 
 
 “ Good brother ! I am now about to 
 “ Ipeak to you with the mouths of thefe 
 “ my brothers, chiefs of the eight bands 
 “ of the powerful nation of the Nau- 
 dowcfiies. We believe and are well 
 latisfied in the truth of every thing 
 you have told us about your great na- 
 tron, and the Great King our greateft 
 father ; for whom we fpread this beaver 
 blanket, that his fatherly protection 
 may ever reft ealy and fate amougft us 
 his children : your colours and your 
 arms agree with the accounts you have 
 given us about your great nation. We 
 
 “ defire 
 
[ 91 ] 
 
 defire that when you return, you will 
 acquaint the Great King how much the 
 Naudoweffies wifli to be counted among 
 his good children. You may believe 
 us when we tell you that we will not 
 open our ears to any who may dare to 
 fpeak evil of our Great Father the King 
 of the Englilh and other nations. 
 “We thank you for what you have 
 done for us in making peace between 
 the Naudoweffies and the Chipeways, 
 and hope when you return to us again, 
 that you will complete this good work ; 
 and quite difpelling the clouds that in- 
 tervene, open the blue Iky of peace, 
 and caufe the bloody hatchet to be deep 
 buried under the roots of the great tree 
 of peace. 
 
 “ We wifh you to remember to repre- 
 fent to our Great Father, how much 
 we defire that traders may be fent to 
 abide among us, with fuch things as 
 we need, that the hearts of our young 
 men, our wives, and children may be 
 made glad. And may peace fubfift be- 
 tween us, fo long as the fun, the moon, 
 ‘ the earth, and the waters ffiall endure. 
 ‘ Farewell.” 
 
 I thought 
 
[ 92 ] 
 
 I thought It neceflary to caution tf>c 
 Indians againft giving heed to any bad 
 reports that may reach them from the 
 neiglibouring nations to the difadvantage 
 ot the Engliih, as I had heard, at different 
 places through which I pafled, that emif 
 iaries were ftill employed by the French 
 to detach thofe who were friendly to the 
 Englifh from their intereft. And I faw, 
 myielf, feveral belts of \Vampum that 
 havl been delivered for this purpole to 
 fome of the tribes I was among. On the 
 delivery of each of thefe a Talk was held, 
 wherein the Indians were told that the 
 Englifh, who were but a petty people, 
 had flolen that country from their Great 
 Father the king of France whilft he was 
 afleep ; but that he would foon awake, 
 and take them again under his protedion, 
 Thefe I found were fent from Canada by 
 perfons who appeared to be well affeded 
 towards the government under which they 
 lived. 
 
 Whild I tarried at the mouth of the 
 River St. Pierre with thefe friendly In- 
 dians, I endeavoured to gain intelligence 
 whether any goods had been lent towards 
 the h alls ot St. Anthony for my ufe, agree- 
 able 
 
r 93 1 
 
 able to the promife I had received from 
 the governor when I left Michiliimac- 
 kinac. But finding from ibme Indians, 
 who pafled by in their return from thofe 
 parts, that this agreement had not been 
 fulfilled, I was obliged to give up all 
 thoughts of proceeding farther to the 
 north-weft by this route, according to my 
 original plan. I therefore returned to La 
 Prairie le Chien, where I procured as many 
 goods from the traders I left there the 
 preceding year as they could fpare. 
 
 As thefe however were not fufficient to 
 enable me to renew my firft defign, I de- 
 termined to endeavour to make my way 
 acrofs the country of the Chlpeways to 
 Lake Superior ; in hopes of meeting at 
 the Grand Portage on the north fide of it, 
 the traders that annually go from Michil- 
 llmackinac to the north- weft ; of whom I 
 doubted not but that I fhould be able to 
 procure goods enough to anfwer my pur- 
 pofe, and ahb to penetrate through thole 
 more northern parts to the Straights of 
 Annian. 
 
 And I the more readily returned to 
 La Prairie le Chien, as I could by tliat 
 means the better fulfil the engagement I 
 
 had 
 
[ 94 ] 
 
 had made to the party of Naudoweffies 
 mentioned at the concluhon of my fpeech 
 During my abode with this people, wifh- 
 ing to fecure them entirely in the intereft 
 of the Englifh, I had advifed fome of the 
 chiefs to go to Michillimackinac, where 
 they would have an opportunity of trad- 
 ing, and of hearing the accounts that I had 
 entertained them with of my countrymen 
 confirmed. At the fame time I had fur- 
 nifhed them with a recommendation to the 
 governor, and given them every diredlion 
 iicccflary for their voyage. 
 
 In confequence of this one of the prin- 
 cipal chiefs, and twenty-five of an inferior 
 rank, agreed to go the enfuing fummer. 
 This they took an opportunity of doing 
 when they came with the refl of their 
 band to attend the grand council at the 
 mouth of the River St. Pierre. Being 
 obliged, on account of the difappolntment 
 I had juft been informed of, to return fo 
 far down the Mifllffippi, I could from 
 thence the more eafily fet them on their 
 journey. 
 
 As the intermediate parts of this river 
 are much frequented by the Chipevvavs, 
 with whom the Naudoiveffies are conti- 
 nually 
 
C 95 ] 
 
 nually at war, they thought If more pru- 
 <lent, being but a I'mall party, to take the 
 advantage of the night, than to travel with 
 me by day ; accordingly no fooner was the 
 grand council broke up, than I took a 
 friendly leave of thefe people, from whom 
 1 had received innumerable civilities, and 
 purfued once more my voyage. 
 
 I reached the eaftern tide of Lake Pepin 
 the lame night, where I went alhore 
 and encamped as ufual. The next morn- 
 ing, when I had proceeded fome miles 
 farther, I perceived at a diflance before 
 me a fmoke, which denoted that fome In- 
 dians v/ere near ; and in a Ihort time dif- 
 covered ten or twelve tents not far from 
 the bank of the river. As I was ap- 
 prehcnfive that this was a party of the 
 Rovers I had before met with, I knew 
 not what courfe to purfue. My attend- 
 ants perfuaded me to endeavour to pafs by 
 them on the oppolite fide of the river ; 
 but as I had hitherto found that the bell 
 way to enfure a friendly reception from 
 the Indians Is to meet them boldly, and 
 without Ihewing any tokens of fear, I 
 would by no means confent to their pro- 
 pofal. Inflead of this I crofifed direftly 
 
 over, 
 
[ 96 ] 
 
 over, and landed in the midft of them, for 
 by this time the greateft part of them were 
 ftanding on the fhore. 
 
 The firll: I accofted were Chippeways 
 inhabiting near the Ottowaw lakes ; who 
 received me with great cordiality, and 
 Ihook me by the hand in token of ftiend- 
 Ihip. At fome little diftance behind thele 
 flood a chief remarkably tall and well 
 made, but of fo flern an afpe£l that the 
 moft undaunted perfon could not behold 
 him without feeling fome degree of terror. 
 He feemed to have palled the meridian of 
 life, and by the mode in which he was 
 painted and tatowed, I difcovered that he 
 was of high rank. However, I approached 
 him in a courteous manner, and expedled 
 to have met with the lame reception I had 
 done from the others : but to my great 
 furprize he with-held his hand, and look- 
 ing fiercely at me, faid in the Chipeway 
 tongue, “ Cawin nilhilhin faganolh,” 
 that is, “ The Englilh are no good.” As 
 he had his tomahawk in his hand, I ex- 
 pelled that this laconick fentence would 
 have been followed by a blow ; to pre- 
 vent which I drew a pillol from my belt, 
 and, holding it in a carelefs polition, 
 
 palled 
 
[ 97 1 
 
 fiafled clofe by him, to let him fee I was 
 not afraid of him. 
 
 I learned foon after from the other In* 
 dians, that this was a chief, called by the 
 French the Grand Sautor, or the Great 
 Chipeway Chief, for they denominate the 
 Chipeways Sautors. They likewile told 
 me that he had been always a fteady 
 friend to that people, and when they deli- 
 vered up Michillimackinac to the Englilh 
 on their evacuation of Canada, the Grand 
 Sautor had fworn that he would ever re- 
 main the avowed enemy of its new poflef- 
 fors, as the territories on which the fort is 
 built belonged to him. 
 
 Finding him thus difpofed, I took care 
 to be conftantly upon my guard whihl 
 I {laid ; but that he might not fuppofe I 
 was driven away by his frowns, I took 
 up my abode there for the night. I pitch- 
 ed my tent at fome diftance from the In- 
 dians, and had no fooner laid mylelf 
 down to reft, than I was awakened by my 
 French fervant. Having been alarmed by 
 the found of Indian mulic, he had run 
 to the outlide of the tent, where he be- 
 held a party of the young favages dancing 
 towards us in an extraordinary manner, 
 G each 
 
[ P8 ] 
 
 each carrying in his hand a torch fixed on 
 the top of a long pole. But I fhall de- 
 fer any further account of this uncom- 
 mon entertainment, which at once fur- 
 prized and alarmed me, till I treat of the 
 Indian dances. 
 
 The next morning I continued my voy- 
 age, and before night reached La Prairie 
 le Chien ; at which place the party of 
 Naudoweffies foon overtook me. Not 
 long after the Grand Sautor alfo arrived, 
 and before the Naudoweflies left that place 
 to continue their journey to Michillimac- 
 kinac, he found means, in conjundioii 
 with fome French traders from Louifiana, 
 to draw from me about ten of the Nau- 
 doweffie chiefs, whom he prevailed upon 
 to go towards thofe parts. 
 
 The remainder proceeded, according to 
 my diredlions, to the Englilh fort ; from 
 whence I afterwards heard that they re- 
 turned to their own country without any 
 unfortunate accident befalling them, and 
 greatly pleafed with the reception they 
 had met with. Whllft 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 
 
[ 99 ] 
 
 their abode. And fince I came to Eng- 
 land I have been informed, that the Grand 
 Sautor having rendered himfelf more and 
 more difguftful to the Englilh by his in- 
 veterate enmity towards them, was at 
 length ftabbed in his tent, as he encamp- 
 ed near Michillimackinac, by a trader to 
 whom I had related the foregoing ftory. 
 
 I Ihould have remarked, that whatever 
 Indians happen to meet at La Prairie le 
 Chien, the great mart to which all who in- 
 habit the adjacent countries refort, though 
 the nations to which they belong are at 
 war with each other, yet they are obliged 
 to reftrain their enmity, and to forbear 
 all hoftile adls during their day there. 
 This regulation has been long eftablifhed 
 among them for their mutual conve- 
 nience, as without it no trade could be 
 carried on. The lame rule is oblerved 
 alio at the Red Mountain (afterwards de- 
 fcribed) from whence they get the Hone 
 of which they make their pipes : thele be- 
 ing indifpenlable to the accommodation 
 of^ every neighbouring tribe, a limilar re- 
 ftriftion becomes needful, and is of public 
 utility. 
 
 G a 
 
 The 
 
[ 100 ] 
 
 The River St. Pierre, which runs 
 through the territories of the Naudowef- 
 lies, flows through a moft delightful coun- 
 try, abounding with all the neceflaries of 
 life, that grow Ipontaneoufly ; and with 
 a little cultivation it might be made to 
 produce even the luxuries of life. Wild 
 rice grows here in great abundance ; and 
 every part is filled with trees bending un- 
 der their loads of fruits, fuch as plums, 
 grapes, and apples ; the meadows are co- 
 vered with hops, and many forts of ve- 
 getables ; whilfl; the ground is ftored with 
 uleful 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 w'hich you have views 
 that cannot be exceeded even by the moft 
 beautiful of thole I have already defcribed; 
 amidft thelc are delightful groves, and fuch 
 amazing quantities of maples, that they 
 w^ouid produce fugar fufiicient for any 
 number of inhabitants. 
 
 A little way from the mouth of tliis 
 river, on the north fide of it, ftands a 
 hill, one part of which, that towards the 
 Mllliliippi, is compoled entirely of white 
 Hone, of the fame foft nature as that I 
 
 have 
 
C ] 
 
 have before defcribed ; for fuch, indeed, is 
 all the hone in this country. But what 
 appears remarkable is, that the colour of it 
 is as white as the driven fnow. The out- 
 ward 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 hone itfelf would grow harder 
 by time, and have a very noble ehedl in 
 architedlure. 
 
 Near that brajich which is termed the 
 Marble River, is a mountain, from whence 
 the Indians get a fort of red hone, out of 
 W'hich they hew the bowls of their pipes. 
 In lome of thefe parts is found a black hard 
 clay, or rather hone, of which the Nau- 
 dowehies make their family utenlils. This 
 country likewlfe abounds with a milk- 
 white clay, of which China ware might be 
 made equal in goodnefs to the Aliatic ; 
 and alio with a blue clay that ferves the 
 Indians for paint ; with this lah they con- 
 trive, by mixing it with the red hone pow- 
 dered, to paint themfelves of different co- 
 lours. Thole that can get the blue clay 
 here mentioned, paint themfelves very 
 mych with it ; particularly when they are 
 C 3 about 
 
r ] 
 
 about to begin their fports and paftimes. 
 It is alfo efteemed by them a mark of 
 peace, as it has a refemblance of a blue 
 fky, which with them is a fymbol of it, 
 and made ufe of in their fpeeches as a 
 figurative expreffion to denote peace. When 
 they wifli to fhew that their inclinations 
 are pacific towards other tribes, they great- 
 ly ornament both themfelves and their 
 belts with it. 
 
 Having concluded my bufinefs at La 
 Prairie le Chien, I proceeded once more 
 up the Miffiffippi as far as the place 
 where the Chipeway River enters it a 
 little below Lake Pepin. Here, having 
 engaged an Indian pilot, I directed him 
 to fleer towards the Ottawaw Lakes which 
 lie near the head of this river. This he 
 did, and I arrived at them the beginning 
 of July. 
 
 The Chipeway River, at its jundion 
 with the Miffiffippi, is about eighty yards 
 wide, but is much wider as you ad- 
 vance into it. Near thirty miles up it 
 feparates into two branches, and I took 
 my courfe through that which lies to the 
 eaflward. 
 
 The 
 
[ 103 ] 
 
 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 and 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 Nau- 
 doweffie Indians. 
 
 The country to the Falls marked In 
 the plan at the extent of the traders tra- 
 vels, is almoft without any timber, and 
 above that very uneven and rugged, and 
 clofely wooded with pines, beech, maple, 
 and birch. Here a moft remarkable and 
 aflonifhing fight prefented itfelf to my 
 view. In a wood, on the eaft of the 
 river, which was about three quarters 
 of a mile in length, and in depth far- 
 ther than my eye could reach, I obferv- 
 ed that every tree, many of which were 
 more than fix feet in circumference, was 
 lying flat on the ground torn up by 
 the roots. This appeared to have been 
 done by fome extraordinary hurricane 
 that came from the weft fome years ago, 
 but how many I could not learn, as I 
 found no inhabitants near it, of whom I 
 G 4 could 
 
[ 104 3 
 
 could gain information. The country on 
 the weft fide of the river, from being lefs 
 woody, had efcaped in a great meaftire this 
 havock, as only a few trees were blown 
 down. 
 
 Near the heads of this river is a town 
 of the Chipeways, from whence it takes 
 its name. It is fituated on each lide of 
 the river (which at this place is of no con- 
 liderable breadth) and lies adjacent to the 
 banks of a fmall lake. This town coiir 
 tains about forty houfes, and can fend out 
 upwards of one hundred warriors, many 
 of w'hom were fine ftout young men. The 
 houfes of it are built after the Indian man- 
 ner, and have neat plantations behind them; 
 but the inhabitants, in general, feemed 
 to be the naftieft people 1 had ever heeii 
 among. I obferved that the women and 
 children indulged themfelves in a cuftom, 
 which though conamon, in fome degree, 
 throughout every Indian nation, appears 
 to be, according to our ideas, of the moft 
 naufeous and indelicate nature ; that of 
 fearching each other’s head, and eating the 
 prey caught therein. 
 
 In July I left this town, and haying 
 profled a number pf fmall lakes and cat- 
 
 rying 
 
[ 105 ] 
 
 Tying places that intervened, came to a 
 head branch of the River St. Croix. This 
 branch I defcended to a fork, and then 
 afcended another to its fource. On both 
 thefe rivers I difcovered feveral mines of 
 virgin copper, which was as pure as that 
 found in any other country. 
 
 Here I came to a fmall brook, which 
 my guide thought might be joined at fome 
 diftance by ftreams that would at length 
 render it navigable. The water at firfl: 
 was fo fcanty, tliat my canoe would by 
 no means fwim in it; but having flopped 
 up ieveral old beaver dams which had been 
 broken down by the hunters, I was en- 
 abled to proceed for fome miles, till by the 
 conjundllon of a few brooks, thefe aids 
 became no longer neceflary. In a fhort 
 time the water increafed to a moft rapid 
 river, M'hlch we defcended till it entered 
 into Lake Superior. This river I named 
 after a gentleman that defired to accompany 
 me from the town of the Ottagaumies to 
 the Carrying Place on Lake Superior, God- 
 dard’s River. 
 
 To the well of this is another fmall 
 river, which alfo empties itfelf into the 
 Take. This I termed Strawberry River, 
 
 from 
 
[ io6 ] 
 
 from the great number of ftravvberries of 
 a good fize and fine flavour that grew on 
 its banks. 
 
 The country from the Ottawa w Lakes 
 to Lake Superior is in general very un- 
 even and thickly covered with woods 
 The foil in fome places tolerably good, 
 in others but indifferent. In the heads of 
 the St. Croix and the Chipeway Rivers 
 are exceeding fine fturgeon. All the wil- 
 dernefs between the Miffiflippi and Lake 
 Superior is called by the Indians the Mof- 
 chettoe country, and I thought it mofl: 
 juftly named ; for, it being then their 
 lealbn, I never law or felt fo many of 
 thole inle£ts in my life. 
 
 The latter end of July I arrived, after 
 having coafted through Weft Bay, at the 
 Grand Portage, which lies on the north- 
 weft borders of Lake Superior. Here 
 thole who go on the north-weft trade, 
 to the Lakes De Pluye, Dubois, &c. 
 carry over their canoes and baggage about 
 nine miles, till they come to a num- 
 ber of fmall lakes, the waters of fome 
 of which defcend into Lake Superior, and 
 others into the River Bourbon. Lake Su- 
 perior from Weft Bay to this place is 
 
 bounded 
 
[ 107 ] 
 
 bounded by rocks, except towards the 
 fouth-weft part of the Bay where I firft 
 entered it, there it was tolerably level. 
 
 At the Grand Portage is a fmall bay, 
 before the entrance of which lies an ifland 
 that intercepts the dreary and uninter- 
 rupted view over the Lake which otner- 
 wife would have prefented itfelf, and 
 makes the bay ferene and pleafant. Here 
 I met a large party of the Killiflinoe and 
 Affinipoil Indians, with their refpeftive 
 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 following account of 
 the Lakes that lie to the north-weft of 
 Lake Superior. 
 
 Lake Bourbon, the moft northern of 
 thofe yet difcovered, received its name 
 from fome French traders who accompa- 
 nied a party of Indians to Hudfon’s Bay 
 fome years ago ; and was thus denomi- 
 nated by them in honour of the royal fa- 
 mily of France. It is compofed of the 
 waters of the Bourbon River, which, as 
 1 have before oblerved, riles a great way 
 
[ io8 ] 
 
 to thefouthward, not far from the northern 
 heads of the Miffiffippi. 
 
 This Lake is about eighty miles in 
 length, north and fouth, and is nearly clr- 
 ^lar. It has no very large iflands on it. 
 The land on the eaftern fide is very good • 
 and to the fouth-weft there are fome 
 mountains : m many other parts there are 
 barren plains, bogs, and moraflb. Its la- 
 titude IS between fifty-two and fifty-four 
 degrees north, and it lies nearly fouth- 
 wefo from Hudfon’s Bay. As through 
 Its northern fituation the weather there is 
 extremely cold, only a few animals are 
 o be found in the country that borders 
 on It. They gave me but an indiiferent 
 ^count either of the beafos, birds, or fifoes. 
 1 here are indeed fome buffaloes of a finall 
 ue, which are fat and good about the 
 after end of fummer, with a few moofe 
 and carnbboo deer; however this defi- 
 ciency IS made up by the furs of every 
 ort that are to be met with in great plenty 
 around the Lake. The timber growing 
 
 here ,s chiefly fi,, cedar, ipruce, aL fcmf 
 maple. 
 
 Lake Winnepeek, or as the French 
 wiite It Lac Oulnipique, which lies near- 
 
 eft 
 
[ lop i 
 
 eft to the foregoing, is compofed of the 
 fame 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 confi- 
 derable rivers empty themfelves Into it, 
 which, as yet, are not dlftinguiflied by 
 any names. The waters are ftored with 
 filh, fuch as trout and fturgeon, and alfo 
 with others of a fmaller kind peculiar to 
 thefe Lakes. 
 
 The land on the fouth-weft part of it is 
 very good, efpecially about the entrance 
 of a large branch of the River Bourbon 
 which flows from the fouth-weft. On this 
 River there is a fadlory that was built 
 by the P'rench called Fort La Reine, to 
 which the traders from Michillimackinac 
 relbrt to trade with the Aflinipoils and 
 Killiftinoes. To this place the Mahahs, 
 who inhabit a country two hundred and 
 fifty miles fouth-weft, come alfo to trade 
 with them ; and bring great quantities of 
 Indian corn to exchange for knives, toma- 
 havv'ks, and other articles. Thefe people are 
 
 fuppofed 
 
[ II® ] 
 
 luppofed to dwell on fome of the branches 
 of the River of the Weft. 
 
 Lake Winnepeek has on the north-eaft 
 fome mountains, and on the eaft many 
 barren plains. The maple or fugar tree 
 grows here in great plenty, and there is 
 likewife gathered an amazing quantity of 
 rice, which proves that grain will flourift 
 in thefe northern climates as well as in 
 warmer. Buffaloes, carribboo, and moofe 
 deer, are numerous in thefe parts. The 
 buffaloes of this country differ from thofe 
 that are found more to the fouth only 
 in fize ; the former being much flnaller : 
 juft as the black cattle of the northern 
 parts of Great Britain differ from Englifh 
 oxen. 
 
 On the waters that fall Into this Lake, 
 the neighbouring nations take great num- 
 bers of excellent furs. Some of thefe 
 they carry to the fadories and fettle- 
 ments belonging to the Hudfon’s Bay 
 Company, fituated above the entrance of 
 the Bourbon River : but this they do 
 with reluctance on leveral accounts ; for 
 fome of the Aftinipoils and Killiftinoes, 
 who ufually traded with the Company’s 
 fervants, told me, that if they could be 
 
 fure 
 
fure of a conftant fupply of goods from 
 Michlllimackinac, they would not trade 
 any where elfe. They Ihewed me fome 
 cloth and other articles that they had 
 purchafed at Hudfon’s Bay, with which 
 they were much diffatlsfied, thinking they 
 had been greatly impofed upon in the 
 barter. 
 
 Allowing that their accounts w'ere 
 true, I could not help joining in their 
 opinion. But this dilTatisfadion might 
 probably proceed, in a great meafure, 
 from the Intrigues of the Canadian trad- 
 ers : for whilft the French were in pof- 
 feffion of Michillimackinac, having ac- 
 quired a thorough knowledge of the trade 
 of the north-weft countries, they were 
 employed on that account, after the re- 
 dudion of Canada, by the Englifh trad- 
 ers there, in the eftablilhment of this 
 trade with which they were themfelves 
 quite unacquainted. One of the methods 
 they took to withdraw thefe Indians from 
 their attachment to the Hudfon’s Bay 
 Company, and to engage their good opi- 
 nion In behalf of their new employers, 
 was by depreciating on all occafions the 
 Company’s goods, and magnifying the 
 
 advantages 
 
[ II2 ] 
 
 advantages that w'ould arlfe to them fronl 
 trafficking entirely with the Canadian 
 traders. In this they too well fucceeded, 
 and from this, doubtlefs, did the difla- 
 tisfa£lion the Affinipoils and Killiftiiioes 
 exprefl'ed to me, partly proceed. But 
 another reafon augmented it ; and this 
 was the length of their journey to the 
 Hudfon’s Bay factories, which, they in- 
 formed me, took them up three months 
 during the fummer heats to go and re- 
 turn, and from the fmallnefs of their ca- 
 noes they could not carry more than a 
 third of the beavers they killed. So that 
 it is not to be wondered at, that thefe 
 Indians Ihould with to have traders come 
 to refide among them. It is true that 
 the parts they inhabit are within the li- 
 mits of the Hudfon’s Bay territories, but 
 the Company mufl be under the necef- 
 fity of winking at an encroachment of 
 this kind, as the Indians would without 
 doubt protefl the traders when among 
 them. Belides, the palTports granted to the 
 traders that go from Michillimackinac give 
 them liberty to trade to the north-weft 
 about Lake Superior; by which is meant 
 Fort La Reine, Lake Winnepeek, or any 
 
 other 
 
t *13 ] 
 
 other parts of the waters of the Bourbon 
 River, where the Couriers de Bois, or 
 Traders, may make it moft convenient to 
 refide. 
 
 Lac du Bois, as It is commonly termed 
 by the French In their maps, or in Eng- 
 lilh the Lake of the Wood, is fo called 
 from the multiplicity of wood growing 
 on its banks; fuch as oaks, pines, firs, 
 fpruce, &c. This L-ake lies ftill higher 
 up a branch of the River Bourbon, and 
 nearly eaft from the fouth end of Lake 
 Winnepeek. It is of great depth in Ibme 
 places. Its length from eaft to weft about 
 feventy miles, and its greateft breadth 
 about forty miles. It has but few ifiands, 
 and thefe of no great magnitude. 1 he 
 fifties, fowls, and quadrupeds that are 
 found near it, vary but little from thole 
 of the other two lakes. A few of the 
 Killiftinoe Indians lometimes encamp on 
 the borders of it to filh and hunt. 
 
 This Lake lies in the communication 
 between Lake Superior, and the Lakes 
 Winnepeek and Bourbon. Its waters are 
 not efteemed quite fo pure as thole of the 
 other lakes, it having, in many places, a 
 muddy bottom. 
 
 H Lac 
 
I ] 
 
 Lac La Pluye, fo called by the French, 
 in Englifh 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 mill like rain 
 occafioned by a perpendicular- water-fall 
 that empties itfelf into a river which lies 
 to the fouth-weft. * 
 
 This Lake appears to be divided by an 
 ifthmus, near the middle, into two parts : 
 the well: part is called the Great Rainy 
 Lake, the caft, the Little Rainy Lake, 
 as being the leaft divilion. It lies a few 
 miles farther to the eaftward, on the fame 
 branch of the Bourbon, than the laft- 
 mentioned Lake. It is in general very 
 ffiallow in its depth. The broadeft part 
 of it is not more than twenty miles, its 
 length, including both, about three hun- 
 dred miles. In the weft part the water 
 is very clear and good ; and fome excellent 
 filh are taken in it. A great many fowl 
 relbrt here at the fall of the year. Moofe 
 deer are to be found in great plenty, and 
 likewife the carribboo ; whole Ikiii for 
 breeches or gloves exceeds by far any 
 other to be met with in North- America. 
 
 The 
 
[ ^15 ] 
 
 The land on the borders of this Lake is 
 efteemed in fbme places very good, but 
 rather too thickly covered with wood. 
 Here rehde a confiderabie band of the Chi- 
 peways. 
 
 Eaftward from this Lake lie feveral 
 Imall ones, which extend in a ftrinp- to 
 the great carrying place, and from th?nce 
 into Lake Superior. Between thefe little 
 Lakes are leveral carrying places, which 
 renders the trade to the north-well: diffi- 
 cult to accomplilh, and exceedingly te- 
 dious, as It takes two years to make one 
 
 voyage from Michillimackinac to thefe 
 parts. 
 
 Red Lake is a comparatively fmall 
 lake at the head of a branch of the 
 Bourbon River, which is called by Ibme 
 Red River. Its form is nearly round, 
 ^id about lixty miles in circumference. 
 On one fide of it is a tolerable larjre 
 ifland, clofe by which a fmall river en- 
 ters. It bears almoll: fouth-eal1: both from 
 Lake Winnepeek and from Lake du Bois. 
 The parts adjacent are very little known, 
 or frequented, even by the favages them- 
 
 H 2 
 
 Not 
 
[ ii6 ] 
 
 Not fir from this Xj3lt6» i little to the 
 fouth-weft, is another called White Bear 
 Lake, which is nearly about the fize of 
 the laft mentioned. The waters that com- 
 pote this Lake are the moft northern of 
 any that fupply the Miffiffippi, and may 
 be called with propriety its moft remote 
 fcurce. It is fed by two or three fmall 
 
 rivers or rather large brooks. 
 
 miles from it, to the louth-eaft, 
 are a great number of Imall lakes, none 
 of which are more than ten miles in cir- 
 cumference, that are called the Thoufand 
 Lakes. In the adjacent country is reck- 
 oned the fineft hunting for furs of any 
 on this continent ; the Indians who hunt 
 here I'eldom returning without having 
 their canoes loaded as deep as they can 
 fwim. 
 
 Having juft before obferved that this 
 Lake is the utmoft northern fource of 
 the Miffiffippi, I lhall here ferther re- 
 mark, that before this river enters the 
 Gulph of Mexico, it has not run lefs, 
 through all its meanderings, than three 
 thoufand miles ; or, in a ftrait line from 
 north to fouth, about twenty degrees, 
 
 which 
 
 
[ ”7 ] 
 
 which is nearly fourteen hundred Englilh 
 miles. 
 
 Thele Indians informed me, that to 
 the north-weft of Lake Winnepeek lies 
 another, whofe circumference vaftly ex- 
 ceeded any they had given me an account 
 of. They defcribe it as much larger than 
 I-.ake Superior. But as it appears to be 
 fo far to the north- weft, I Ihould imagine 
 that it was not a lake, but rather the 
 Archipelago or broken waters that form 
 the communication between Hudfon’s Bay 
 and the northern parts of the Pacific 
 Ocean. 
 
 There are an infinite number of 'fimall 
 lakes, on the more weftern parts of the 
 weftern head-branches of the Mifliflippi, 
 as well as between theft and Lake Win- 
 nepeek, but none of them are large enough 
 to fuppoft either of them to be the lake 
 or waters meant by the Indians. 
 
 They likewift informed me, that ftmc 
 of the northern branches of the Meflbrie 
 and the fouthern branches of the St. Pierre 
 have a communication with each other, 
 except for a mile ; over which they carry 
 their canoes. And by what I could learn 
 from them, this is the road they take 
 H 3 when 
 
[ ii8 ] 
 
 when their war parties make their excur- 
 fions upon the Pawnees and Pawnawnees, 
 nations inhabiting fome branches of the 
 Meflbiie River. In the country belong- 
 ing to thefe people it is laid, that Man- 
 drakes are frequently found, a Ipecies of ' 
 root refembling human beings of both 
 fexes ; and that thefe are more perfeft 
 than fuch as are difcovered about the Nile 
 in Nether-Ethiopia. 
 
 A little to the north-weft of the heads 
 of the Meflbrie and the St. Pierre, the 
 Indians further told me, that there was a 
 nation rather fmaller and whiter than the 
 neighbouring tribes, who cultivate the 
 ground, and (as far as I could gather 
 from their expreffions) in fome meafure, 
 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 utenlils of it. Thefe mountains 
 (which I Avail defcribe more particularly 
 hereafter) divide the waters that fall into 
 the South Sea from thofe that run into 
 the Atlantic, 
 
 The 
 
[ II9 ] 
 
 The people dwelling near them are 
 fuppofed to be fome of the different tribes 
 that were tributary to the Mexican kings, 
 and who fled from their native country to 
 feek an afylum in thefe parts, about the 
 time of the conquefl: of Mexico by the 
 Spaniards, more than two centuries ago. 
 
 As fome confirmation of this fuppofi- 
 tion it is remarked, that they have chofen 
 the mofl: interior parts for their retreat, 
 being ftill prepoflefled with a notion that 
 the fea-coafts have been infefted ever fince 
 with monfters vomiting fire, and hurling 
 about thunder and lightning ; from whole 
 bowels iflued men, who, with unfeen. 
 inftruments, or by the power of magick, 
 killed the harmlefs Indians at an aflonifh- 
 ing diftance. From fuch as thefe, 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 mon- 
 fters which had thus terrified them could 
 not approach the land, and that thofe 
 who had delcended from their fides did 
 not care to make excurfions to any con- 
 fiderable diftance from them, they form- 
 ed a refolution to betake themfelves to 
 H 4 fom® 
 
[ 120 ] 
 
 feme country, that lay far from the fea- 
 coalls, where only they could be fecure 
 from fuch diabolical enemies. They ac- 
 cordingly fet out with their families, and 
 after a long peregrination, fettled them- 
 felves near thefe mountains, where they 
 concluded they had found a place of per- 
 fect lecurity. 
 
 The Winnebagoes, dwelling on the 
 Fox River (whom 1 have already treated 
 of) are likewife fuppofed to be fome ftrpll- 
 ing band from the Mexican countries. 
 Rut they are able to give only an imper- 
 fe6t 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 N audowef- 
 fies ; but as they are entirely ignorant of 
 the arts, or of the value of gold, it is ra- 
 ther to be fuopofed, that they were driven 
 from their ancient fettlements by the above- 
 - mentioned emigrants, as they paffed on 
 towards, their prefent habitation. 
 
 Thefe fuppofitions, however, may want 
 confirndation ; for the fmaller tribes of In- 
 dians are fubjedt to fuch various alterations 
 in their places of abode, from the wars 
 they are continually engaged in, that it is 
 
 almoft 
 
[ I2I 3 
 
 almoft impoflible to afcertain, after half a 
 century, the original fituation of any of 
 them. 
 
 That range of mountains, of which the 
 Shining Mountains are a part, begin at 
 Mexico, and continuing northward on the 
 back, or to the eaft of California, feparate 
 the waters of thofe numerous rivers that 
 fall either into the Gulph of Mexico, or 
 the Gulph of California. From thence 
 continuing their courfe ftill northward, 
 between the Iburces of the Miffiffippi and 
 the rivers that run into the South Sea, 
 they appear to end in about forty-feyen or 
 forty-eight degrees of north latitude ; where 
 a. number of rivers arife, and empty them- 
 felves either into the South Sea, into Hud- 
 lon*s Bay, or into the waters that com- 
 municate between thefe two leas. 
 
 Among thefe mountains, thofe that lie 
 to the weft of the River St. Pierre, are 
 called the Shining Mountains, from an 
 infinite number of chryftal ftones, of an 
 amazing fize, with which they are covers 
 ed, and which, when the fun Ihines full 
 upon them, fparkle fp as to be feen at a, 
 yery great diftance. 
 
 This 
 
[ 122 ] 
 
 This extraordinary range of mountains 
 is calculated to be more than three thou- 
 fand miles in length, without any very 
 confiderable intervals, which I believe 
 furpaffes any thing of the kind in the 
 other quarters of the globe. Probably in 
 future ages they may be found to contain 
 more riches in their bowels, than thofe of 
 Indoftan and Malabar, or that are produ- 
 ced on the Golden Coaft of Guinea ; nor 
 will I except even the Peruvian Mines. 
 To the weft of thefe mountains, when ex- 
 plored by future Columbufes or Raleighs, 
 may be found other lakes, rivers, and 
 countries, full fraught with all the necef- 
 faries or luxuries of life; and where fu- 
 ture generations .may find an afylum, 
 whether driven from their country by the 
 ravages of lawlefs tyrants, or by religious 
 perfecutions, or reludlantly leaving it to 
 remedy the inconveniences arifing from 
 a fuperabundant increafe of inhabitants ; 
 whether, I fay, impelled by thefe, or al- 
 lured by hopes of commercial advantages, 
 there is little doubt but their expedlations 
 will be fully gratified in thefe rich and 
 unexhaufled climes. 
 
 But 
 
[ 123 1 
 
 But to return to the Affinipolls and 
 Killiftinocs, whom I left at the Grand 
 Portage, and from whom I received the 
 foregoiiig account of the lakes that lie to 
 the north-weft of this place. 
 
 The traders we expefted being later this 
 feafon than ufual, and our numbers very 
 coirfiderable, for there were more than 
 three hundred of us, the ftock of provi- 
 fion we had brought with us was nearly 
 exhaufted, and we waited with impatience 
 for their arrival. 
 
 One day, whilft we were all expreffing 
 our wilhes for this defirable event, and 
 looking from an eminence in hopes of 
 feeing them come over the lake, the 
 chief pricft belonging to the band of the 
 Killiftiiioes told us, that he would en- 
 deavour to obtain a conference with the 
 Great Spirit, and know from liim when 
 the traders would arrive. I paid little at- 
 tention to this declaration, fuppofuig that 
 it would be produftive of feme juggling 
 trick, juft fufficiently covered to deceive 
 the ignorant Indians. 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 
 
 me 
 
[ 124 ] 
 
 me how much intereft he had with the 
 Great Spirit, I thought it necefl'ary to re^ 
 ftrain my animadverfions on his defign. 
 
 The following evening was fixed upon 
 for-this fpiritual conference. When every 
 thing had been properly prepared, the 
 king came to me and led me to a capa- 
 cious tent, the covering of which was 
 drawn up, fo as to render what was tranf- 
 ading within vifible to thole who flood 
 without. We found the tent furrounded 
 by a great number of the Indians, but 
 we readily gained admilfion, and feated 
 ourfelves on Ikins laid on the ground for 
 that purpole. 
 
 In the centre I obferved that there was 
 a place of an oblong lhape, which was 
 compofed of flakes fluck in the ground, 
 with intervals between, fo as to form a 
 kind of chefl or coffin, large enough to 
 contain the body of a man. Thefe were 
 of a middle fize, and placed at fueh a dif- 
 tance from each other, that whatever lay 
 within them was readily to be dilcerned. 
 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 
 
[ 1^5 ] 
 
 Ih few minutes the prleft entered \ 
 when an amazing large elk s Ikiii being 
 fpread on the ground, juft at my feet, he 
 laid himfelf down upon it, after having 
 ftript himfelf of every garment except that 
 which he wore dole about his middle. 
 Being now proftrate on his back, he firft 
 laid hold of one fide of the fkin, and 
 folded it over him, and then the other; 
 leaving only his head uncovered. This 
 was no fooner done, than two of the 
 young men who ftood 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 fwathed within 
 the Ikin. Being thus bound up like an 
 Egyptian Mummy, one took him by the 
 heels, and the other by the head, and 
 lifted him over the pales into the inclo- 
 fure. I could alfo now difcern him as 
 plain as I had hitherto done, and I took 
 care not to turn my eyes a moment from 
 the objea before me, that I might the 
 I'jiore readily deteft the artifice ; for fuch 
 I doubted not but that it would turn out 
 to be. 
 
 The prieft had not lain in this fituation 
 more than a few feconds, when he began 
 
 to 
 
[ 126 ] 
 
 to mutter. This he continued to do for 
 fome time, and then by degrees grew 
 louder and louder, till at length he Ipoke 
 articulately ; however what he uttered was 
 in fuch a mixed jargon of the Chip^way, 
 Ottou aw, and Killihinoe languages, that 
 I could underhand but very little of it 
 Having continued in this tone for a con- 
 fiderable while,^ he at lah exerted his voice 
 to Its utmoft pitch, fometimes raving and 
 fometimes praying, till he had worked 
 himlelf into fuch an agitation, that he 
 foamed at his mouth. 
 
 Aftei having remained near three quar- 
 ters of an hour in the place, and conti- 
 nued his vociferation with unabated vigor, 
 he feemed to be quite exhauhed, and re- 
 mained fpeechlefs. But in an inhant he 
 Iprung upon his feet, notwithhanding at 
 the time he was put in, it appeared im- 
 poffible for him to move either his legs or 
 arms, and fliaking oiF his covering, as 
 quick as if the bands with which it had 
 been bound were burned afunder, he be- 
 gan to addrefs thofe who flood around in a 
 firm and audible voice. “ Mv Brorh^^r? ’’ 
 faid he, “ the Great Spirit Ls deigned 
 to hold a Talk with his fervant at my 
 
 “ earneft 
 
f 127 ] 
 
 “ earneft requeft. He has not, indeed, 
 
 “ told me when the perfons we expeft 
 “ will be here, but to-morrow, foon after 
 
 the fun has reached his higheft point in 
 “ the heavens, a canoe will arrive, and 
 “ the people in that will inform us when 
 “ the traders will come.” Having faid 
 this, he hepped out of the inclofure, and 
 after he had put on his robes, difmifled 
 the affembly. I own I was greatly af- 
 toniflied at what I had feen; but as I ob- 
 ierved that every eye in the company v/as 
 fixed on me with a view to difcover my 
 ientiments, I carefully concealed every 
 emotion. 
 
 The next day the fun fhone bright, 
 and long before noon all the Indians were 
 gathered together on the eminence that 
 overlooked the lake. The old king came 
 to me and alked me, whether I had fb 
 much confidence in what the prieft had 
 foretold, as to join his people on the hill, 
 and wait for the completion of it ? I told 
 him I was at a lofs what opinion to form • 
 of the prediction,, but that I would readily 
 attend him. On this we walked together 
 to the place where the others were affem- 
 bled. Every eye was again fixed by turns 
 
 on 
 
L 128 ] 
 
 on me and on the lake ; when juft as the 
 fun had reached his zenith, agreeable to 
 what the prieft had foretold, a canoe came 
 round a point of land about a league dif- 
 tant. The Indians no fooner beheld it, 
 than they fent up an univerlal (hout, and 
 by their looks leemed to triumph in the 
 intereft their prieft thus evidently had with 
 the Great Spirit. 
 
 In lefs than an hour the canoe reached 
 the ftiore, when I attended the king and 
 chiefs to receive thofe who were on board. 
 As foon as the men were landed, we 
 walked all together to the king’s tent, 
 when according to their invariable cuftom 
 we began to fmoke; and this we did, not- 
 withftanding our impatience to know the 
 tidings they brought, without alking any 
 queftions ; for the Indians are the moft 
 deliberate people in the world. However, 
 after fome trivial converlation, the king in- 
 quired of them whether they had feen any 
 thing of the traders? the men replied, that 
 they had parted from them a few days be- 
 fore, and that they propofed being here 
 the lecond day from the prelent. They 
 accordingly arrived at that time greatly 
 to our fatisfadlion, but more particularly 
 
 fo 
 
[ 129 3 
 
 fo to that of the Indians, who found by 
 this event the importance both of their 
 prieft and of their nation, greatly aug- 
 mented in the fight of a ftranger. 
 
 This ftory I acknowledge appears to 
 carry with it marks of great credulity in 
 the relator. But no one is lefs tindlured 
 with that weaknefs than myfelf. 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 mifreprefentation, being 
 mvleh a cool and dilpaflionate oblerver 
 of them all, I thought it neceflfary to give 
 them to the public. And this I do with- 
 out wilhing to miflead the judgment of 
 my Readers, or to make any fuperftitious 
 impreffions on their minds, but leaving 
 them to draw from it what conclufions 
 they pleafe. 
 
 I have already oblerved that the Afi- 
 finipoils, with a part of whom I met 
 here, are a revolted band of the Nau- 
 doweflies ; who on account of fome real 
 or imagined grievances, for tlie Indians in 
 general are very tenacious of their liberty, 
 had leparated themfelves from their coun- 
 trymen, and fought for freedom at the 
 I expence 
 
[ 13 ° ] 
 
 expence of their eafe. For the country 
 they now inhabit about the borders of Lake 
 Winnepeek, being much farther north, 
 is not near fo fertile or agreeable as that 
 they have relinquiflie^. They IHll retain 
 the language and manners of their former 
 affociates. 
 
 The Killiftinoes, now the neighbours 
 and allies of the Affinipoils, for they 
 alfo dwell near the fame Lake and on 
 the waters of the River Bourbon, appear 
 to have been originally a tribe of the Chi- 
 peways, as they fpeak their language, 
 though in a different diale<St. Their na- 
 tion confifts of about three or four hun- 
 dred warriors, and they feem to be a 
 hardy hrave people. I have already given 
 an account of their country when I treated 
 of Lake Winnepeek. As they refide with- 
 in the limits of Hudfon’s Bay, they ge- 
 nerally trade at the fadories which be- 
 long to that Company, but, for the reafons 
 mentioned before, they frequently come 
 to the place where I happened to join them, 
 in order to meet the traders from Michil- 
 limackinac. 
 
 The anxiety I had felt on account of 
 the traders delay, was not much alle- 
 viated 
 
[ ] 
 
 viated 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 ex- 
 tenfive circuit. I accordingly took leave 
 of the old king of the Killiftinoes, with 
 the chiefs of both bands, and departed. 
 This prince was upwards of lixty years 
 of age, ^ tall and (lightly made, but he car- 
 ried himfelf very ereCt. He was of a 
 courteous, affiible dilpolition, and treated 
 nae, as did all the chiefs, with great ci- 
 vility. 
 
 I obferved that this people dill conti- 
 nued a cuftom, that appeared to have been 
 nniverfal before any of them became ac- 
 quainted with the manners of the Euro- 
 peans, that of complimenting (Grangers with 
 the company of their wives ; and this is 
 not only praCliled by the lower ranks, but 
 by the chiefs themfelves, who efteem it 
 the greateft proof of courtely they can 
 give a (Iranger. 
 
 The beginning of OClober, after hav- 
 ing coafted lound the north and ead bor- 
 ders of Lake Superior, I arrived at Cadot’s 
 i 2 Fort, 
 
[ *32 1 
 
 Fort, which, adjoins to the Falls of St. 
 Marie, and is iituated near the fouth-weft 
 corner of it. 
 
 Lake Superior, formerly termed the 
 Upper Lake from its northern fituation, is 
 fo called on account of its being fuperior 
 in magnitude to any of the lakes on that 
 vaft continent. It might juftly be termed 
 the Cafpian of America, and is fiippofed 
 to be the largeft body of frelh water on 
 the globe. Its circumference, according 
 to the French charts, is about fifteen hun- 
 dred miles j but I believe, that if it was 
 coafted round, and the utmoft extent of 
 every bay taken, it would exceed fixteen 
 hundred. 
 
 After I firft entered it from Goddard s 
 River on the weft Bay, I coafted near 
 twelve hundred miles of the north and 
 eaft fhores of it, and obferved that the 
 greateft part of that extenfive traft was 
 bounded by rocks and uneven ground. 
 The water in general appeared to lie on a 
 bed of rocks. V/hen it was calm, and 
 the fun flione bright, I could lit in my 
 canoe, where the depth was upwards of 
 ftx fathoms, and plainly fee huge piles of 
 
 ftoiie at the bottom, of different fhapes, 
 
 fome 
 
[ *33 ] 
 
 fome of which appeared as if they were 
 hewn. The water at this time was as 
 pure and tranfparent as air ; and my canoe 
 ieemed as if it hung fufpended in that ele- 
 ment. It was impoffible to look atten- 
 tively through this limpid medium at the 
 rocks below, without finding, before many 
 minutes were elapfed, your head fwim, 
 and your eyes no longer able to behold 
 the dazzling fcene. 
 
 I difcovered alfo by accident another ex- 
 traordinary property in the waters of this 
 Lake. Though it was in the month of 
 July that I palled over it, and the furface 
 of the water, from the heat of the fuper- 
 ambient air, impregnated with no Imall 
 degree of warmth, yet on letting down a 
 cup to the depth of about a fathom, the 
 water drawn from thence w^as lo excelfive- 
 ly cold, that it had the lame elfe£t when 
 received into the mouth as ice. 
 
 The fituation of this Lake is varioufly 
 laid down ; but from the moll exad ob- 
 lervations I could make, it lies between 
 forty-fix and fifty degrees of north lati- 
 tude, and between eighty-four and ninety- 
 three degrees of well; longitude from the 
 meridian of London. 
 
 I 3 
 
 There 
 
[ *34 3 
 
 There are many iflands in this Lake, 
 two of which are very large ; and if 
 the land of them is proper for culti- 
 vation, there appears to be fufficient to 
 form on each a confiderable province ; efpe- 
 cially on Ifle Royal, which cannot be 
 lefs than an hundred miles long, and in 
 many places forty broad. But there is 
 no way at prefent of afcertaining the ex- 
 z€t length or breadth of either. 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 difcovery, have only ac- 
 quired a flight knowledge of the external 
 parts of thefe iflands; at leafl they have 
 never publifhed any account of the inter- 
 nal parts of them, that 1 could get intel- 
 ligence of. 
 
 Nor was I able to dlfcover from any 
 of the converfations which I held with 
 the neighbouring Indians, that they had 
 ever made any fettlements on them, or 
 even landed there in their hunting ex- 
 curflons. From what I could gather 
 by their difcourfe, they fuppofe them to 
 have been, from their firft information, 
 the refidence of the Great Spirit ; and 
 
 relate 
 
[ ^35 ] 
 
 relate many ridiculous ftories of enchant- 
 ment and magical tricks that had been 
 experienced by fuch as were obliged 
 through ftreis of weather to take Ihelter on 
 them. 
 
 One of the Chipeway chiefs told me, 
 that lome of their people being once dri- 
 ven on the ifland of Mauropas, which lies 
 towards the north-eaft part of the Lake, 
 found on it large quantities of a heavy 
 Ihming yellow fand, that from their de- 
 ftription muft have been gold dull. Be- 
 ing flruck with the beautiful appearance 
 of it, in the morning, when they re-en- 
 tered their canoe, they attempted to bring 
 ^me away ; but a Ipirit of an amaz- 
 ing lize, according to their account lixty 
 feet in height, Ifrode into the water after 
 them, and commanded them to deliver 
 back what they had taken away. Terri- 
 fied at his gigantic ftature, and feeing that 
 he had nearly overtaken them, they were 
 glad to refiore their fhlning treafure ; on 
 which they were fuffered to depart with- 
 out further moleftation. Since this in- 
 cident, no Indian that has ever heard 
 of it, will venture near the lame haunted 
 coall. Belides this, they recounted to me 
 I 4 many 
 
[ > 3 « ] 
 
 many other ftories of thefe iflands, equally 
 fabulous. 
 
 The country on the north and call: 
 parts of Lake Superior is very mountain- 
 ous and barren. The weather being in- 
 tenfely cold in the winter, and the fun 
 having but little power in the fummer, 
 vegetation there is very flow; and confe- 
 quently but little fruit is to be found on 
 its fhore. It however produces fome few 
 fpecies in great abundance. Whirtle- 
 berries of an uncommon fize, and fine 
 flavour, grow on the mountains near the 
 Lake in amazing quantities ; as do black 
 currants and gooiherries in the fame luxu- 
 riant manner. 
 
 But the fruit which exceeds all the 
 others, is a berry refembling a rafberry in 
 its manner of growth, but of a lighter red, 
 and much larger ; its tafte is far more de- 
 licious than the fruit I have compared 
 it to, notwithftanding that is fo highly 
 efteemed in Europe : it grows on a Ihrub 
 of the nature of a vine, with leaves fimilar 
 to thofe of the grape ; and I am perfuaded 
 that was it tranlplanted into a warmer and 
 more kindly climate, it would prove a 
 moft rare and delicious fruit. 
 
 Two 
 
[ *37 1 
 
 Two very large rivers empty them- 
 felves into this Lake, on the north and 
 north-eaft fide; one is called the Nlpe- 
 gon River, or, as the French pronounce 
 it, the 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 fliort carriage 
 to another river, which empties itfelf into 
 that bay, at a fort belonging to the Com- 
 pany. It was by this paflage that a 
 party of French from Michillimackinac 
 invaded the lettlements of that Society 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 
 iflued ; thefe were fmall brafs pieces, and 
 remain there to this prefent time ; hav- 
 ing, through the ufual revolutions of for- 
 tune, returned to the polfeffion of their 
 former mafters. 
 
 Not far from the Nipegon is a fmall 
 river, that, juft before it enters the Lake, 
 has a perpendicular fall from the top of 
 a mountain, of more than fix hundred 
 
 feet. 
 
t 
 
 [ 138 ] 
 
 feet. Being very narrow. It appears at a 
 diftance like a white garter fufpended in 
 the air. 
 
 A few Indians Inhabit round the eaftern 
 borders of this lake, fuppofed to be the 
 remains of the Algonkins, who formerly 
 poflefled this country, but who have been 
 nearly extirpated by the Iroquois of Ca- 
 nada. Lake Superior has near forty ri- 
 vers that fall into it, fome of which are 
 of a confiderable fize. On the fouth fide 
 of it is a remarkable point or cape, of 
 about fixty miles in length, called Point 
 Chegomegan. It might as properly be 
 termed a peninfula, as it is nearly fepa- 
 rated from the continent, on the eaft lide, 
 by a narrow bay that extends from ead: to 
 weft. Canoes have but a ftiort portage 
 acrofs the ifthmus, whereas if they coaft 
 it round, the voyage is more than an hun- 
 dred 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 aflemblage of fmall 
 ftreams. This river is remarkable for the 
 abundance of virgin copper that Is found 
 on and near its banks. A metal which 
 
[ 139 1 
 
 Is met with alfo in feveral other places 
 on this coaft. I obferved that many of 
 the fmall iflands, particularly thofe on 
 the eaftern Ihores, were covered with cop- 
 per ore. They appeared like beds of cop- 
 peras, of which many tuns lay in a fmall 
 Ipace. 
 
 A company of adventurers from Eng- 
 land began, foon after the conqueft of 
 Canada, to bring away fome of this me- 
 tal, but the dift rafted lituation of affairs in 
 America has obliged them to relinquifh 
 their fcherne. It might in future times 
 be made a very advantageous trade, as the 
 metal, which cofts nothing on the fpot, 
 and requires but little expence to get it on 
 board, could be conveyed in boats or ca- 
 noes through the Falls of St. Marie to 
 the Ifle of St. Jofeph, which lies at the 
 bottom of the Straights near the entrance 
 into Lake Huron ; from thence it might 
 be put on board larger veflels, and in 
 them tranfported acrofs that Lake to the 
 Falls of Niagara ; there being carried by 
 land acrofs the Portage, it might be con-r 
 veyed without much more obftruftion to 
 Quebec. The cheapnefs and eafe with 
 which any quantity of it may be procured, 
 
 will 
 
[ 140 ] 
 
 will make up for the length of way that 
 it Is neceflary 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 variety of 
 ffli, the principal and bell: are the trout 
 and fturgeon, which may be caught at 
 almoft any feafon in the greatefi; abun- 
 dance. The trouts in general weigh about 
 twelve pounds, but Ibme are caught that 
 exceed fifty. Befides thefe, a Ipecles of 
 white fifh is taken in great quantities 
 here, that refemble a fhad in their fliape, 
 but they are rather thicker, and lefs bony ; 
 they weigh about four pounds each, and 
 are of a delicious taffe. The beft way of 
 catching thefe fifh is with a net ; but the 
 trout might be taken at all times with 
 the hook. There are likewile many forts 
 of finaller fifh in great plenty here, and 
 which may be taken with eafe ; among 
 thefe is a fort refembling 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 Like Michegan. 
 
 This 
 
[ I4I ] 
 
 This Lake is as much afFeaed by ftorms 
 as the Atlantic Ocean ; the waves run as 
 high, and are equally as dangerous to 
 fhips. It difcharges its waters from the 
 fouth-eaft corner, through the Straights 
 of St. Marie. At the upper end of thefe 
 Straights Hands a fort that receives its 
 name from them, commanded by Monf. 
 Cadot, a French Canadian, who being pro- 
 prietor of the foil, is Hill permitted to keep 
 pofleffion of it. Near this fort is a very 
 Hrong rapid, againfl which, though it is 
 impolfible for canoes to afcend, yet when 
 conduaed by careful pilots, they might 
 pafs down without danger. 
 
 Though Lake Superior, as I have be- 
 fore obferved, is fupplied by near forty ri- 
 vers, many of which are confiderable ones, 
 yet it does not appear that one-tenth part 
 of the waters which are conveyed into it 
 by thefe rivers are carried off at this eva- 
 cuation. How fuch a fuperabundance of 
 water can be difpofed of, as it mull cer- 
 tainlv be by fome means or other, with- 
 out which the circumference of the lake 
 would be continually enlarging, I know 
 not ; that it does not empty itfelf, as the 
 Mediterranean Sea is fuppofed to do, by 
 
 au 
 
f 142 ] 
 
 an under current, which perpetuallj coun- 
 terafts that near the fnrface, is certain • 
 for the ftreiini which falls over the rock 
 is not more than five or fix feet in depth 
 and the whole of it palTes on through the 
 Straights into the adjacent lake ; nor is it 
 probable that fo great a quantity can be 
 abforbed by exhalations; confequently 
 they muft find a paflage through fome fub- 
 terranean cavities, deep, unfathomable, and 
 never to be explored. 
 
 The Falls of St. Marie do not de- 
 fcend perpendicularly as thofe of Niagara 
 or St. Anthony do, but confifi of a rapid 
 which continues near three quarters of a 
 mile, over which canoes well piloted might 
 
 At the bottom of thefe Falls, Nature 
 has formed a mofl commodious ftation for 
 catching the fifh which are to be found 
 ^ere in immenfe quantities. Perfons 
 Itanding on the rocks that lie adjacent 
 to it, may take with dipping nets, about 
 the months of September and Oftober, 
 the white fifli before mentioned ; at that 
 leafon, together with feveral other fpe- 
 cies, they croud up to this fpot in fuch 
 amazing fhoals, that enough may be 
 
 taken 
 
[ 143 ] 
 
 taken to fupply, when properly cured, 
 thoufands of inhabitants throughout the 
 year. 
 
 The Straights of St. Marie are about 
 forty miles long, bearing fouth-eaft, but 
 varying much in their breadth. The 
 current between the Falls and Lake Hu- 
 ron is not fo rapid as might be expected, 
 nor do they prevent the navigation of 
 fhips of burden as far up as the ifland of 
 St. Jofeph. 
 
 It has been obferved by travellers that 
 the entrance into Lake Superior, from 
 thefe Straights, affords one of the moft 
 pleafing prolpedls iii the world. The place 
 in which this might be viewed to the 
 greateft advantage, is juft at the opening 
 of the lake, from whence may be feen. 
 on the left, many beautiful little iflands 
 that extend a confiderable way before 
 you ; and on the right, an agreeable fuc- 
 ceffion of fmall points of land, that pro- 
 ject a little way into the water, and con- 
 tribute, with the iflands, to render this 
 delightful bafon (as it might be termed) 
 calm and fecure from the ravages of thofe 
 tempeftuous winds by which the adjoining 
 lake is frequently troubled. 
 
 Lake 
 
[ *44 ] 
 
 Lake Huron, into which you now en- 
 ter from the Straights of St. Marie, Is the 
 next In magnitude to Lake Superior. It 
 lies between forty-two and forty-fix de- 
 grees of north latitude, and feventy-nine 
 and eighty-five degrees of weft longitude. 
 Its fhape is nearly triangular, and its cir- 
 cumference about one thoufand miles. 
 
 On the north fide of it lies an ifland 
 that is remarkable for being near an hun- 
 dred miles in length, and no more than 
 eight miles broad. This ifland is known 
 by the name of Manataulin, which figni- 
 fies a Place of Spirits, and is confidered by 
 the Indians as facrcd as thofe already men- 
 tioned In Lake Superior. 
 
 About the middle of the fouth-weft fide 
 of this lake is Saganaum Pay. The capes 
 that feparate this bay from the lake, are 
 about eighteen miles diftant from each 
 other ; near the middle of the intermediate 
 Ipace ftand two iflands, which greatly tend 
 to facilitate the paflage of canoes and fmall 
 veflels, by affording them fhelter, as with- 
 out this fecurity it would not be prudent 
 to venture acrofs fo wide a lea ; and the 
 coafting round the bay would make the voy- 
 age long and tedious. This bay is about 
 
 eighty 
 
C 145 ] 
 
 eighty miles in length, and in general 
 about eighteen or twenty 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 has palled 
 through it, have unanimoufly agreed to 
 Call it by this name, on account of the 
 continual thunder they have always ob- 
 lerved here. The bay is about nine miles 
 broad, and the fame in length, and whilft 
 I was palling over it, which took me lip 
 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 fubjefl to thunder ; 
 the hills that ftood around were not of 
 a remarkable height, neither did the ex- 
 ternal parts of them feem to be covered 
 with any fulphureous fubftance. But as 
 this phaenomenon muft originate from 
 fome natural caufe, 1 conje<fture that the 
 Ihores of the bay, or the adjacent moun- 
 tains, are either impregnated with an un- 
 K common 
 
[ U6 ] 
 
 comrao^i quantity gf fulphupepus- matter, 
 or contain fon^e metal, or mineral apt to. 
 attraft in a great degree the ele£trical par- 
 ticles that are hourly borne over them 
 by the paflaut clouds,. But the folution 
 of this., and thofe other philofophical re-; 
 marks which cafually occur throughout 
 thefe pages, I leave to the difcuffion of 
 abler heads. 
 
 The fifli in Lake Huron are inuch tlie 
 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 promon- 
 tory that feparates this lake from Lake 
 Michegan, is compofed of a vaft plain, 
 upwards of one hundred miles long, but 
 varying in its breadth, being from ten to 
 fifteen miles broad. This track, as I have 
 before obferved, is divided into almoft an 
 equal portion between the Ottowaw and 
 Chipeway Indians. At the north-eaft cor- 
 ner this lake has a communication with 
 I.ake Michegan, by the Straights of Ml- 
 chilllmackinac already defcrlbed. 
 
 I had like to have omitted a very ex- 
 traordinary circumftance relative to thefe 
 Straights. According to obfervations made 
 ' by 
 
[ H7 ] 
 
 by the French, whilft they were in pof- 
 feffion of the fort, although there is no 
 diurnal flood or ebb to be perceived in 
 thefe waters, yet, from an exadt attention 
 to their ftate, a periodical alteration in 
 them has been difcovered. It was ob- 
 ferved that they arofe by gradual, but al- 
 moft imperceptible degrees till they had 
 reached the height of about three feet. 
 This was accomplilhed in leven years and 
 a half ; and in the fame fpace they as 
 gently decreafed, till, they had reached 
 their former fituation ; fo that in fifteen 
 years they had completed this Inexpli- 
 cable revolution. At the time I was there 
 the truth of thefe obfervations could not 
 be confirmed by the Englifh, as they had 
 then been only a few years in pofleflion of 
 the fort ; but they all agreed that forae 
 alteration in the limits of the Straights 
 was apparent. All thefe lakes are fo af- 
 fedted by the winds, as fbmetimes to have 
 the appearance of a tide, according as they 
 happen to blow ; but this is only tempo- 
 rary and partial. 
 
 A great number of the Chipeway In- 
 dians live fcattered around this Lake, par- 
 ticularly near Saganaum Bay. On its 
 K 2 banks 
 
[ 148 1 
 
 banks are found an amazing quantity of 
 the fand cherries, and in the adjacent coun- 
 try nearly the fame fruits as thofe that 
 grow about the other lakes. 
 
 From the Falls of St. Marie I leifurely 
 proceeded back to Michillimackinac, and 
 arrived there the beginning of November 
 1767, having been fourteen 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 the June following, the navi- 
 gation over Lake Huron for large veffels 
 not being open, on account of the ice, 
 till that time. Meeting here with foci* 
 able company, I palled thele months very 
 agreeably, and without finding the hours 
 tedious. 
 
 One of my chief amufements was that 
 of filhing for trouts. Though the Straights 
 were covered with ice, we found means 
 to make holes through it, and letting dovm 
 ftrong lines of fifteen yards in length, to 
 which were fixed three or four hooks 
 baited with the fmall fifti before defcribed, 
 we frequently caught two at a time of 
 
 forty 
 
[ H9 ] 
 
 forty pounds weight each ; but the com- 
 mon lize is from ten to twenty pounds. 
 Thefe are moll delicious food. The me- 
 thod of prelerving them during the three 
 months the winter generally lafts, is by 
 hanging them up in the air; and in one 
 night they will be frozen lb hard, that 
 they will keep as well as if they were 
 cured with fait. 
 
 I have only pointed out in the plan of 
 my travels the circuit I made from my 
 leaving Michillimackinac till I arrived 
 again at that fort. Thole countries that 
 lie nearer to the colonies have been fo 
 often and fo minutely defcribed, that any 
 further account of them would be ufe- 
 lefs. I lliall therefore only give my Read- 
 ers in the remainder of my journal, as I 
 at firft propofed, a defcrlption of the other 
 great lakes of Canada, many of which I 
 have navigated over, and relate at the fame 
 time a few particular incidents that I trull 
 will not be found inapplicable or unenter- 
 taining. 
 
 In June 1768 I left Michillimackinac, 
 and returned in the Gladwyn Schooner, a 
 vellel of about eighty tons burthen, over 
 Lake Huron to Lake St. Claire, where we 
 K 3 left 
 
[ 15 ° ] 
 
 left the (hip, and proceeded in boats to 
 Detroit. This lake is about ninety miles 
 in circumference, and by the way of 
 Huron River, which runs from the fouth 
 corner of Lake Huron, receives the wa- 
 ters of the three great lakes, Superior, 
 Michegan, and Huron. Its form is ra- 
 ther round, and in fome places it is deep 
 enough for the navigation of large veflels, 
 but towards the middle of it there is a 
 bar of fand, which prevents thofe that 
 are loaded from paffing over it. Such 
 as are in ballaft only may find water fuf- 
 ficient to carry them quite through ; the 
 cargoes, however, of fuch as are freighted 
 muft be taken out, and after being tranf- 
 ported acrofs the bar in boats, relhipped 
 again. 
 
 The river that runs from Lake St. 
 Claire to Lake Erie (or rather the Straight, 
 for thus it might be termed from its name) 
 is called Detroit, which is in French, the 
 Straight. It runs nearly fouth, has a 
 gentle current, and depth of water fufficient 
 for (hips of confiderable burthen. The 
 town of Detroit is fituated on the weftern 
 banks of this river, about nine miles be- 
 low Lake St. Claire. 
 
 Almoft 
 
[ I5I ] 
 
 Almoft oppofite, on the eaftern fliote, 
 is the village of the ancient Hurons : a 
 tribe of Indians which have been treated 
 of by fo many writers, that adhering to 
 the reftri£tions I have laid myfelf under 
 of only defcribing places and people little 
 known, or incidents that have paffed un- 
 noticed by others, I Ihall omit giving a 
 defcription of them. A miffionary of the 
 order of Carthufian Friars, by permiffion 
 of the biffiop of Canada, refides among 
 them. 
 
 The banks of the River Detroit, both 
 above and below thefe towns, are covered 
 with fettlements that extend more than 
 twenty miles ; the country being exceed- 
 ingly fruitful, and proper for the cultiva- 
 tion of wheat, Indian corn, oats, and peas. 
 It has all’o many fpots of fine pafturage ; 
 but as the inhabitants, who are chiefly 
 French that fubmitted to the Engliffi go- 
 vernment after the conqueft of thefe parts 
 by General Amherft, are more attentive to 
 to the Indian trade than to farming, it is 
 but badly cultivated. 
 
 The town of Detroit contains up- 
 wards of one hundred houfes. The ftreets 
 are fomewhat regular, and have a range of 
 K 4 very 
 
[ ^ 5 ^ 1 
 
 very convenient and handfome barracks, 
 with a fpacious parade at the louth end. 
 On the weft fide lies the King’s garden 
 belonging to the governor, which is very 
 well laid out and kept in good order. The 
 fortifications of the town confift: of a 
 flrong ftockade made of round piles, fixed 
 firmly in the ground, and lined with pa- 
 Jifades. Thefe arc defended by fome finall 
 baftions, on which are mounted a few in- 
 different cannon of an inconfiderable fize, 
 juft: fufficlent for its defence againft; the In^ 
 dians, or an enemy not provided with ar- 
 tillery. 
 
 The garrifon, in time of peace, confifts 
 of two hundred men commanded by a 
 field officer, who adfs as chief magiftrate 
 under the governor of Canada. Mr. Turn? 
 bull, captain of the 6oth regiment, or 
 Royal Americans, was commandant when 
 I happened to be there. This gentleman 
 was defervedly efteemed and refpedled, 
 both by the inhabitants and traders, for tfie 
 propriety of his conduft ; and I am happy 
 to have an opportunity of thus publickly 
 making my acknowledgments to him, for 
 the civilities I received from him during 
 tpy flay. 
 
 In 
 
[ 153 1 
 
 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 confiftence of ink ; fome of which be- 
 ing collected into bottles, and wrote with 
 appeared perfectly intelligible on the pa- 
 per, and anfwered every purpofe of that 
 ufeful liquid. Soon after, the Indian 
 wars already fpoken of, broke out in thele 
 parts. I mean not to fay that this in- 
 cident was ominous of them, notwith- 
 flanding it is well known that innumer- 
 able well attefted inftances of extraordinary 
 phaenomena happening before extraordi- 
 nary events, have been recorded in almoft 
 every age by hiftorians of veracity; I only 
 relate the circumftances as a fa£t of which 
 I was informed by many perfons of um 
 doubted probity, and leave my Readers, as 
 1 have hitherto done, to draw their own 
 conclufions from it. 
 
 Pontiac, under whom the party that 
 furprized Fort Michillimackinac, as re- 
 lated in the former part of this w^ork, 
 adted, was an enterprizing chief or head- 
 warrior of the Miames. During the late 
 war between the Enghfh and the h rench 
 he had been a fteady friend to the latter. 
 
[ 154 ] 
 
 and continued his inveteracy to the for- 
 mer even after peace had been concluded 
 between thefe two nations. Unwilling 
 to put an end to the depredations he had 
 been fo long engaged in, he collefted an 
 army of confederate Indians, confifting 
 of the nations before enumerated, with 
 an intention to renew the war. How- 
 ever, inftead of openly attacking the Eng- 
 llfli fettlements, he laid a fcheme for tak- 
 ing by furprize thofe forts on the extre- 
 mities which they had lately gained pof- 
 leffion of. 
 
 How well the party he detached to 
 take Fort Michillimackinac fucceeded, the 
 Reader already knows. To get into his 
 hands Detroit, a place of greater con- 
 fequence, and much better guarded, re- 
 quired greater refolution, and more coii- 
 fummate art. He of courfe took the 
 management of this expedition on him- 
 felf, 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 un- 
 forefeen circumftance. On fuch does 
 the fate of mighty Empires frequently de- 
 pend ! 
 
 The 
 
[ 155 ] 
 
 The town of Detroit, when Pontiac 
 formed his plan, was garrifoned by about 
 three hundred men commanded by Ma- 
 jor Gladwyn, a gallant officer. As at 
 that time every appearance of war was at 
 an end, and the Indians feemed to be on 
 a friendly footing, Pontiac approached 
 the Fort, without exciting any fufpicions 
 in the breaft of the governor or the inha- 
 bitants. He encamped at a little diftance 
 from it, and lent to let thj commandant 
 know that he was come to trade ; and 
 being defirous of brightening the chain of 
 peace between the Engliffi and his na- 
 tion, defired that he and his chiefs may 
 be admitted to hold a council with him. 
 The governor ftill unfufpicious, and not 
 in the leaft doubting the fincerity 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 Ma- 
 jor Gladwyn to make him a pair of In- 
 dian (hoes, out of curious elk-lkin, brought 
 them home. The Major was lo plealed 
 with them, that, intending thefe as a 
 prefent for a friend, he ordered her to 
 
 take 
 
[ '56 ] 
 
 take the remainder back, and make it 
 into others for hlmfelf. He then di- 
 reded his fervant to pay her for thofe ihe 
 had done, and difmifled her. The wo- 
 man went to the door that led to the 
 fireet, but no further ; ihe there loitered 
 about as if Ihe had not finilhed the bufi-: 
 nefs on which (he came. A (ervant at 
 length obferved her, and alked her why 
 (he Ifaid there ; (he gave him, however, 
 no anfwer. 
 
 Some (hort time after, the governor 
 himfelf faw her; and enquired of his 
 fervant what occafioned her (fay. Not 
 being able to get 5 (atisfadtory anfwer, 
 he ordered the woman to be called in. 
 When (he came into his prefence he de- 
 (ired to know what was the reafon of her 
 loiteiing about, and not haftening home 
 before the gates were (hut, that (he might 
 complete in due time the work he had 
 given her to do. She told him, after 
 much helitation, that as he had always be^ 
 haved with great goodnefs towards her, 
 (he was unwilling to take away the re- 
 mainder of the (kin, becaule he put fo 
 great a value upon it ; and yet had not 
 been able to prevail upon herfelf to tell 
 
 him 
 
 / 
 
[ 157 ] 
 
 him fo. He then alked her, why fhe waS 
 more reluctant to do fo now, than fhe 
 had been when fhe made the former pair. 
 With increafed reluctance fhe anhvered, 
 that fhe never fhould be able to bring 
 them back. 
 
 His curiofity being now excited, he 
 Infifted on her difclofing to him the fe- 
 cret that feemed to be flruggling in her bo- 
 fom for utterance. At iaft, on receiving 
 a promife that the intelligence fhe was 
 about to give him fhould not turn to her 
 prejudice, and that if it appeared to be 
 beneficial fhe fhould be rewarded for it, 
 fhe informed him, that at the council to 
 be held with the Indians the following 
 day, Pontiac and his chiefs intended to 
 murder him ; and, after having maflacred 
 the garrifbn and inhabitants, to plunder 
 the town. That for this purpofe all the 
 chiefs who were to he admitted into the 
 council-room had cut their guns fliort, 
 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 in- 
 ftantly to fire on him and his attendants. 
 Having effeded this, they were imme- 
 diately 
 
[ ] 
 
 diately to nifh 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 privately armed in the fame man* 
 ner. Having gained from the woman 
 every neceflary particular relative to the 
 plot, and allb the means by which Ihe ac- 
 quired a knowledge of them, he difinifled 
 her with injundions of fecrecy, and a 
 promife of fulfilling on his part with 
 punauality the engagements he had en- 
 tered into. 
 
 The intelligence the governor had juft 
 received, gave him great uneafmefs ; and 
 he immediately confulted the officer who 
 was next to him in command on the fub- 
 jedt. But that gentleman confidering the 
 information as a ftory invented for fome 
 artful purpofes, advifed him to pay no 
 attention to 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 fo i and therefore, without revealing 
 his fufpicions to any other perfon, he 
 took every needful precaution that the 
 » time 
 
[ ?59 1 
 
 time would admit of. He walked round 
 the fort during the whole night, and faw 
 himfelf that every centlnel was on duty, 
 and every weapon of defence In proper 
 order. 
 
 As he traverfed the ramparts which 
 lay neareft to the Indian camp, he heard 
 them in high feftivity, and, little ima- 
 gining that their plot was difcovered, 
 probably pleafmg themfelves with the 
 anticipation of their fuccefs. As foon as 
 the morning dawned, he ordered all the 
 garrlfbn under arms ; and then imparting 
 his apprehenlions to a few of tlie princi- 
 pal officers, gave them fuch direflions as 
 he thought neceffary. At the fame time 
 he fent round to all the traders, to in- 
 form them, that as it was expefted a 
 great number of Indians would enter the 
 town that da^, who 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 arrived ; and were conduded to the 
 council-chamber, where the governor and 
 his principal officers, each with piftols 
 in their belts, awaited his arrival. As 
 
 the 
 
t i6o i 
 
 the Indians palTed 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 
 fklns prepared for them, than Pontiac 
 alked the governor on what occafion his 
 young men, meaning the foldiers, were 
 thus drawn up, and parading the ftreets. 
 He received for anfwer, that it was only 
 Intended to keep them perfedi: in their ex- 
 ercile. 
 
 The Indian chief-warrior now begaii 
 his fpeech, w'hlch contained the firongell: 
 profeffions of friendfhip and good-will 
 towards the Englifh ; and when he came 
 to the delivery of the belt of wampum, 
 the particular mode of which, according 
 to the woman’s information, was to be 
 the lignal for his chiefs to fire, the go- 
 vernor and all his attendants drew their 
 Iw'^ords half-way out of their fcabbards ; 
 and the foldiers at the fame inftant made 
 a clattering with their arms before the 
 doors, which had been purpofely left 
 open. Pontiac, though one of the bold- 
 eft of men, immediately turned pale, and 
 trembled ; and inftead. of giving the belt 
 
[ ] 
 
 in the manner propofedj delivered it ac- 
 cording to the ufual way. His chiefs, who 
 had impatiently expedted the fignal) looked 
 at each other with aftonilhment, but con- 
 tinued quiet, waiting the refult. 
 
 The governor in his turn made a 
 ipeech ; but inftead of thanking the great 
 warrior for the profeflions of friendlhip 
 he had juft uttered, he accufed him of 
 being a traitor He told him that the 
 Englifli, who knew every thing, were con- 
 vinced of his treachery and villainous de- 
 hgns; and as a proof that they were well 
 acquainted with his moft fecret thoughts 
 and intentions, he ftepped towards the 
 Indian chief that fat neareft to him, and 
 drawing afide his blanket difcovered the 
 ftiortened firelock. This entirely difcon- , 
 certed the Indians, and fruftrated their 
 defign. 
 
 He then continued to tell them, that 
 as he had given his word at the time they 
 defired an audience, that their perfons 
 fhould be lafe, he would hold his promife 
 inviolable, though they fo little deferved 
 it. However he adviled them to make 
 the beft of their way out of the fort, left 
 his young men, on being acquainted with 
 L their 
 
[ 1 6? ] 
 
 their treacherous purpofes, (hould cut 
 every one of them to pieces. Pontiac en-^ 
 deavoured to contradi£t the accufatlonj 
 and to make excufes for his fufpicious con- 
 dud; but the governor, fatisfied of the 
 faUity of his proteftations, would not liften 
 to him. The Indians immediately left 
 the fort, but inftead of being fenfible of 
 the governor’s generous behaviour, they 
 threw off the malk, aiid the next day made 
 a regular attack upon it. 
 
 Major Gladwyn has not efcaped cen- 
 fure for this miftaken lenity ; for pro- 
 bably had he kept a few of *the princi- 
 pal chiefs prilbners, 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 
 gallant defence he made for more than 
 a year, amidft a variety of difeourage- 
 ments. 
 
 During that period fome very fmart 
 Ikirmifhes happened between the befiegers 
 and the garrifon, of which the follow- 
 ing w'as the principal and moft bloody. 
 Captain Delzel, a brave officer, prevailed 
 on the governor to give him the command 
 
[ i«3 ] 
 
 of about two hundred men, and to permit 
 him to attack the enemy’s camp. This 
 being complied with, he faJlicd from the 
 town before day -break ; but Pontiac, re- 
 ceiving from lomeof his fwift-footed war- 
 riors, who were conftantly employed in 
 watching the motions of the garrifon, 
 timely intelligence of their delign, he 
 colleaed together the choiceft of his 
 troops, and met the detachment at Ibme 
 diflance from his camp, near a place fince 
 called BIoody-Bridge. As the Indians 
 were vaftly fuperior in numbers to cap- 
 tain Delzei’s party, he was foon over- 
 powered and driven back. Being now 
 nearly furrounded, he made a vigorous 
 elfbrt to regain the bridge he had juft 
 crofted, by which alone he could find a 
 retreat; but in doing this he loft his life, 
 and many of his men fell with him. How- 
 ever, Major Rogers, the fecond in com- 
 mand, alfifted by Lieutenant Breham, found 
 means to draw off the lhattered remains 
 of their little army, and conduced them 
 into the fort. 
 
 Thus confiderably reduced, it was with 
 difficulty the Major could defend the 
 town notwithftanding which, he held 
 L 2 out 
 
[ i64 ] 
 
 out agaiiift the Indians till he was reliev- 
 ed, as after this they naade but few at- 
 tacks on the place, and only continued to 
 blockade it. 
 
 The Gladwyn Schooner (that In which 
 I afterwards took my paffage from Mi- 
 chillimackinac to Detroit, and which I 
 lince 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 re- 
 inforcement and neceflary fupplies. But 
 before this veflcl could reach the place of 
 Its deftinatlon, it was moft vigoroufly at- 
 tacked by a detachment from Pontiac’s 
 army. The Indians furrounded it in 
 their canoes, and made great havock among 
 the crew. At length the captain of the 
 fchooner with a confiderable number of 
 his men being killed, and the favages be- 
 ginning to climb up its Tides from every 
 quarter, the Lieutenant (Mr, Jacobs, who 
 afterwards commanded, and was loft in 
 it) being determined that the ftores Ihould 
 not fall into the enemy’s hands, and fee- 
 ing no other alternative, ordered the gun- 
 ner to fet fire to the powder-room, and 
 
 blow 
 
[ ] 
 
 blow the fiiip up. This order was on the 
 point of being executed, when a chief of 
 the Hurons, who underftood the Englifh 
 language, gave out to his friends the in- 
 tention of the cornnaander. On receiving 
 this intelligence the Indians hurried down 
 tne lides of the {hip with the greateft pre-. 
 cipitation, and got as far from it as pof^ 
 iible ; whilrt the commander immediately 
 took advantage of their confternation, and 
 arrived without any further obflrudion at 
 the town. 
 
 This feafonable fupply gave the gar- 
 rifon frefh Ipirits ; and Pontiac being now 
 convinced that it would not be in his 
 power to reduce the place, propofed an 
 accommodation ; the governor wilhing as 
 much to get rid of fuch troubleibme ene- 
 mies, who obftrudted the intercourfe of 
 the traders with the neighbouring nations, 
 liftened to his propofals, and having pro- 
 cured advantageous terms, agreed to a peace. 
 The Indians foon after feparated, and re- 
 turned to their different provinces ; nor 
 have they fince thought proper to diffurb, 
 at leaf! in any great degree, the tranquil- 
 lity of thefe parts. 
 
 L 3 
 
 Pontiac 
 
[ M 1 
 
 Pontiac henceforward feemed to have 
 laid afide the anlmofity he had hitherto 
 borne towards the Knglilh, and apparent- 
 ly became their zealous friend. To re- 
 ward this new attachment, and to m- 
 fure a continuance of it, gwernment al- 
 lowed him a handfome penfion. But his 
 reftlefs and intriguing fpirit would not 
 fuffer him to be grateful for this allow- 
 ance, and his condua: 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 commiffioned by one of the Eng- 
 lilh governors, or inflicted by the love 
 he bore the Englilh nation, attended him 
 as a fpy ; and being convinced from the 
 Ipeech Pontiac made in the council that he 
 flill retained his former prejudices agaiiift 
 thofe for whom he now profefled a friend- 
 Biip, he plunged his knife into his heart, 
 as foon as he had done fpeaking, and laid 
 him dead on the fpot. 
 
 But to return from this digreffion. 
 
 Lake Erie receives the waters by which 
 it is fupplied from the three great lakes, 
 through the Straights of Detroit, that lie 
 at its north-weft corner. This Lake is 
 
 lituated 
 
[ i6; ] 
 
 fituated between forty-one and forty-thret 
 degrees of north latitude, and between fe- 
 venty-eight 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 remark- 
 able long narrow point lies on its north 
 fide, that projects for feveral miles into the 
 lake towards the fouth-eaft. 
 
 There are feveral iflands near the weft 
 end of it lb infefted with rattle-fnakes, that 
 it Is very dangerous to land on them. It 
 is impofiible that any place can produce a 
 greater number of all kinds of thefe rep- 
 tiles 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 which lie on the 
 furface of the water fo thick, as to cover it 
 entirely for many acres together ; and on 
 each of thefe lay, when I pafled over it^ 
 wreaths of water-fnakes balking in the fun* 
 which amounted to myriads. 
 
 The moft remarkable of the different 
 fpecies that infeft tins Lake, is the hifl- 
 ing-fnake, which is of the fmall fpeck- 
 led kind, and about eighteen inches long. 
 When any thing approaches, it flattens 
 L 4 itfelf 
 
r -68 ] 
 
 itfelf in a moment, and its fpots, which 
 are of various dyes, become vihbly brighter 
 through rage; at the lame time it blows 
 from its mouth with great force a fubtile 
 wind, that is reported to be of a nauleous 
 fmell ; and if drawn in with the breath of 
 the unwary traveller, will infallibly bring 
 on a decline, that in a few months muft 
 prove mortal, there being no remedy ye^ 
 difcoveted which can counteradt its bane- 
 ful influence. 
 
 The Hones and pebbles on the lliores of 
 this I^e are moll of them tinged, in a 
 greater or Icfs degree, with fpots that re- 
 femble brafs in their colour, but which are 
 of a fulphureous nature. Small pieces, 
 about the lize of hazle-nuts, of the fame 
 hinds of ore, are found on the fands that 
 lie on its banks, and under the water. 
 
 The navigation of this Lake is elleemed 
 more dangerous than any of the others on 
 account of rnany high lands that lie on 
 the borders of it, and project into the wa- 
 ter in a perpendicular direction for many 
 miles together ; lb that wheneyer fudden 
 ftorms arife, canoes and boats are frequent- 
 ly loft, as there is no place for them fo 
 find a Ihelter. 
 
 This 
 
[ > 69 ,] 
 
 This Lake dlfcharges its waters aX the 
 north-eaft end, into the River Niagara, 
 which runs north and fouth, and Is about 
 thirty -fix miles in length ; from whence 
 it falls into Lake Ontario. At the en- 
 trance of this river, on its ealtern Ihore, 
 lies Fort Niagara ; and, about eighteen 
 miles further up, thofe remarkable Falls 
 which are elleemed one of the mod: extra- 
 ordinary produdlions of nature at prefent 
 known. 
 
 As thefe have been vifited by fo many 
 travellers, and fo frequently defcribed, I 
 fhall omit giving a particular defcription 
 of them, and only oblerve, that the wa- 
 ters by which they are fupplied, after 
 taking their rife near two thoufaud miles 
 to the north-weft, and paffing through the 
 Lakes Superior, Michtgan, Huron, and 
 Erie, during which they have been receiv- 
 ing conftant accumulations, at length rufti 
 down a ftupendous precipice of one hun- 
 dred and forty feet perpendicular ; and in 
 a ftrong rapid, that extends to the diftance 
 of eight or nine miles below, fall nearly 
 as much more : this River foon after emp- 
 ties itfelf into Lake Ontario. 
 
 The 
 
C 170 ] 
 
 The noife of thefe Falls might be heard 
 an amazing way. I could plainly dif- 
 tlnguifli them in a calm morning more 
 than twenty miles. Others have laid that 
 at particular times, and when the wind 
 fits fair, the found of them reaches fifteen 
 leagues. 
 
 The land about the Falls is exce-'di .jr’y 
 hilly and uneven, but the greateft of 
 that on the Niagara River is very oJ, 
 efpecially for gra!s and paftura^e. 
 
 Fort Niagara Hands nearly at the en- 
 trance of the weft end of Lake Ontario, 
 and on the eaft part of the Straights of 
 Niagara. It was taken from the French 
 in the year 1759, by the forces under the 
 command of Sir William Johnfon, and 
 at prefent is defended by a conliderable 
 garrifon. 
 
 Lake Ontario Is the next, and leaft of 
 the five great Lakes of Canada. Its fitua- 
 tion is between forty-three and forty-five 
 degrees of latitude, and between leventy- 
 fix and feventy-nine degrees of weft; lon- 
 gitude. The form of it is nearly oval, 
 its greateft: length being from north-eaft 
 to fouth-weft:, and in circumference, about 
 fix hundred miles. Near the fouth-eaft: 
 
 part 
 
C ^71 1 
 
 part it receives the waters of the Ofwego 
 River, and on the north-eaft difcharges it- 
 felf into the River Cataraqai. Not far 
 from the place where it iflues, Fort Fron- 
 tenac formerly ftood, which was taken 
 from the French during the laft w'ar, in 
 the year 1758, by a Imall army of Pro- 
 vincials under Colonel Bradftreet. 
 
 At the entrance of Ofwego River ftands 
 a fort of the fame name, garrifoned only 
 at prefent by an inconfiderable party. I'his 
 fort was taken in the year 1756 by the 
 French, when a great part of t*^e garrilbn, 
 which confifted of the late Shirley’s and 
 Pepperil’s regiments, were maflacred in 
 cold blood by the favages. 
 
 In Lake Ontario are taken many forts 
 of filh, among which is the Ofwego Bafs, 
 of an excellent flavour, and weighing about 
 three or four pounds. 1 here is alfo a fort 
 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 difli when properly drefled. 
 
 On the north-weft parts of this Lake, 
 and to the iouth-eaft of Lake Huron, is a 
 tribe of Indians called the Miflifauges, 
 whole town is denominated Toronto, from 
 
 the 
 
I 17^ ] 
 
 the lake on which it lies ; but they arc 
 oot very numerous. The country about 
 Lake Ontario, elpecially the more north 
 and eaftern parts, is compofed of good 
 land, and in time may make very fiourifh- 
 ing fettlements. 
 
 The Oniada Lake, fituated n;,ar the 
 head of the River Ofwego, reccr-ji: the 
 waters of Wood-Creek, which .ices its 
 rife not far from the Mohawks xiver. 
 Thefe two lie fo adjacent to each other, 
 that a junaion is efthaed by fluices at 
 Fort Stanwix, about t»velve miles from 
 the mouth of the former. This Lake is 
 about thirty miles long from eaft to weft, 
 and near fifteen broad. The country 
 around it belongs to the Oniada Indi- 
 ans. 
 
 Lake Champlain, the next in fize to 
 Lake Ontario, and which lies nearly eaft 
 from it, is about eighty miles in length, 
 north and fouth, and in its broadeft part 
 fouiteen. It is well ftored with fifh, and 
 the lands that lie on all the borders of it, 
 or about its rivers, very good. 
 
 Lake George, formerly called by the 
 French Lake St. Sacrament, lies to the 
 fbuth-weft of the laft-mentioned lake, 
 
 and 
 
C 173 ] 
 
 and is about thirty-five miles long from 
 north- eaft to fbuth-weft, but of no great 
 breadth. The country around it is very 
 mountainous, but in the vallies the land 
 is tolerably good. 
 
 When thefe two lakes were firft difco- 
 vered, they were known by no other 
 name than that of the Iroquois Lakes ; and 
 I believe in the firft plans taken of thofe 
 parts were fo denominated. The Indians 
 alfb that w^re then called the Iroquois, 
 are fince known by the name of the Five 
 Mohawk Nations, and the Mohawks of 
 Canada. In the late war, the former, 
 which confift of the Onondagoes, the Onl- 
 adas, the Senecas, the Tufcarories, and 
 Iroondocks, fought on the fide of the 
 Engllfh ; the latter, which are called the 
 Cohnawaghans, and St. Francis Indians, 
 joined the French. 
 
 A vaft trad of land that lies between 
 the two laft-mentioned lakes and Lake 
 Ontario, was granted in the year 1629 
 by the Plymouth Company, under a pa- 
 tent they had received from King James I. 
 to Sir Ferdinando Gorges, and to Captain 
 John Mafon, the head of that family, after- 
 wards diftinguhhed from others of the 
 
 fame 
 
[ 1/4 ] 
 
 fame name by the Mafons of Connefticut, 
 The countries fpecified in this grant are fald 
 to begin ten miles from the heads of the 
 rivers that run from the eaft and fouth 
 into Lake George and Lake Champlain ; 
 and continuing from thefe in a dired line 
 weft ward, extend to the middle of Lake 
 Ontario; from thence, being bounded by 
 the Cataraqui, or the River of the Iro- 
 quois, they take their courfe through Mont- 
 real, as far as Fort Sorrell, which lies at 
 the jundlion of this river with the Rich- 
 lieu ; and from that point are inclofed by 
 the laft-mentioned river till it returns back 
 to the two lakes. 
 
 This immenle Ipace was granted, by 
 the name of the Province of Laconia, to 
 the aforefaid gentlemen on fpecified con- 
 ditions, and under certain penalties; but 
 none of thefe amounted, in cafe of omif- 
 lion in the fulfillment of any part of 
 them, to forfeiture, a fine only could be 
 exacfted. 
 
 On account of the continual w'ars to 
 which thefe parts have been fubjeft, from 
 their fituation between the fettlements of 
 the Englifh, the French, and the Indians, 
 this grant has been fuffered to lie dormant 
 
 by 
 
[ «75 3 
 
 by the real proprietors. Notwithftanding 
 which, feveral towns have been fettled 
 fince 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 are now 
 become annexed to that province. 
 
 There are a great number of lakes on 
 the north of Canada, between Labrador, 
 Lake Superior, and Hudfon’s Bay, but 
 thefe are comparatively fmall. As they 
 lie out of the track that I purfued, I 
 fhall only give a fummary account of 
 them. The moft wefterly of thefe are the 
 Lakes Nipifing and Tamifcaming. The 
 firft lies at the head of the French River, 
 and runs into Lake Huron ; the other on 
 the Ottowaw River, which empties itfelf 
 into the Cataraqui, at Montreal. Thefe 
 lakes are each about one hundred miles 
 in circumference. 
 
 The next is Lake Miflaflin, on the 
 head of Rupert’s River, that falls into 
 James’s Bay. This Lake is fb irregular 
 from the large points of land by which 
 it is interfedfed on every fide, that it is dif- 
 ficult either to defcribe its fhape, or to 
 
 afcertain 
 
[176] 
 
 afcertain its fize. It however appears on 
 the whole to be more thari two hundred 
 miles in circumference. 
 
 Lake St. John, which is about eighty 
 miles round, and of a circular form, lies 
 on the Saguenay River, direftly north of 
 Quebec, and falls into the St. Lawrence, 
 fomewhat north-eaft of that city. Lake 
 Manikouagone lies near the head of the 
 Black River, which empties itfelf into 
 the St. Lawrence to the eaftward of the 
 laft-mentioned river, near the coaft of La- 
 brador, and is about fixty miles in circum- 
 ference. Lake Pertibi, Lake Wincktagan, 
 Lake Etchelaugon, and Lake Papenoua- 
 gane, with a number of other fmall lakes, 
 lie near the heads of the Buftard River to 
 the north of the St. Lawrence. Many 
 others, which it is unnecefl'ary to particu- 
 larize here, are allb found between the 
 Lakes Huron and Ontario. 
 
 The whole of thofe I have enumerated, 
 amounting to upwards of twenty, are 
 within the limits of Canada ; and from 
 this account it might be deduced, that 
 the northern parts of North America, 
 through thefe numerous inland feas, con- 
 
[ 177 ] 
 
 tain a greater quantity of water than any 
 other quarter of the globe. 
 
 In October 1768 I arrived at Bofton, 
 having been abfent from it on this expe- 
 dition two years and five months, and 
 during that time travelled near feven thou- 
 land miles. From thence, as foon as I 
 had properly digefted my Journal and 
 Charts, I fet out for England, to com- 
 municate the difcoveries I had made, and 
 to render them beneficial to the kipgdoni. 
 But the profecution of my plans for reap- 
 ing thefe advantages have hitherto been 
 oblhudied by the unhappy divifions that 
 have been fomented between Great Britain 
 and the Colonies by their mutual enemies. 
 Should peace once more be reftored, I 
 doubt not but that the countries I have 
 defcribed will prove a more abundant fource 
 of riches to this nation than either its Eaft 
 or Well; Indian fettlements; and I fliall 
 not only pride mylelf, but fincerely re- 
 joice in being the means of pointing out 
 to it fb valuable an acquifition. 
 
 I cannot conclude the account of my 
 extenlive travels, without exprelfing ray 
 gratitude to that beneficent Being who in- 
 vifibly protedled me through thofe perils 
 M which 
 
t '78 3 
 
 which unavoidably attended 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 alledged in the Introdudion 
 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 ac- 
 crue, either to myfelf, or the community 
 to which I belonged; but nobler purpofes 
 contributed principally to urge me on. 
 
 The confined date, both with regard 
 to civil and religious improvements, in 
 which fo many of my fellow creatures 
 remained, aroufed within my bofom an 
 irrefiftible inclination to explore the al- 
 moft unknown regions which they inha- 
 bited; and, as a preparatory fiep towards 
 the introdudlon of more polifhed manners, 
 and more humane fentiments, to gam a 
 knowledge of their language, cuftoms, 
 and principles. 
 
 I confefs that the little benefit too many 
 of the Indian nations have hitherto re- 
 ceived from their intercourfe with thofe 
 who denominate themfelves Chriftians, did 
 
 not tend to encourage my charitable pur- 
 pofes f 
 
t i?9 ] 
 
 pofes; yet, as many, though not the ge- 
 nerality, might receive fome benefit from 
 the introduaion among them of the po- 
 lity and religion of the Europeans, with- 
 out retaining only the errors or vices that 
 from the depravity and pcrverfion of their 
 profeflbrs are unhappily attendant on thefe, 
 I determined to perfevere. 
 
 Nor could I flatter myfelf that I Ihould 
 be able to accomplifh alone this great de- 
 lign ; however, I was willing to contri- 
 bute as much as lay in my power towards 
 it. In all public undertakings would every 
 one do this, and furnilh with alacrity his 
 particular fhare towards it, what llupen- 
 dous works might not be completed. 
 
 It is true that the Indians are not 
 without feme fenfe of religion, and fuch 
 as proves that they worfhip the /Great 
 Creator with a degree of purity unknown 
 to nations who have greater opportunities 
 of improvement ; but their religious prin- 
 ciples are far from being fo fauitlefs as 
 deicribed by a learned writer, or unmixed 
 with opinions and ceremonies that greatly 
 leflen their excellency in this point. So 
 •that could the doctrines of genuine and 
 Vital Chriftianity be introduced among 
 M 2 them, 
 
[ iSb ] 
 
 tlicniy pure snd untsintcd 3S it flbwisd 
 from the lips of its Divine Inftitutor, it 
 would certainly tend to clear away that 
 fuperftitious or Idolatrous drofs by which 
 the rationality of their religious tenets are 
 obfeured. Its mild and beneficent pre- 
 cepts would likewife conduce to foften 
 their implacable difpofitlons, and to refine 
 their lavage manners ^ an event moll de- 
 lirable; and happy lhall I efteem myfelf 
 if this publication lhall prove the means 
 of pointing out the path by which fa- 
 lutary inftruaions may be conveyed to 
 ■Chem> and the converfion, though but of 
 3 feWj be the conlequeiice. 
 
 Conclufion of the JOURNAL, &c. 
 
 oP 
 
O F T H E 
 
 ORIGIN, MANNERS, CUSTOMS, 
 RELIGION, AND LANGUAGE 
 
 INDIANS. 
 
 HE means by which America re- 
 
 ceived its firft Inhabitants, have, 
 fince the time of its difcovery by the Eu- 
 ropeans, been the fubjed of numberlefs 
 difquifitions. Was I to endeavour to col- 
 led the different opinions and realonings 
 of the various writers that have taken up 
 the pen in defence of their conjedures, 
 the enumeration would much exceed the 
 bounds I have prefcribed myfelf, and 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Of their Origin, 
 
 M 3 
 
C I8i ] 
 
 oblige me to be lefs explicit on points of 
 greater moment. 
 
 From the obfcurity in which this de- 
 bate is enveloped, through the total dif- 
 ule of letters amotig every nation of In- 
 dians on this extenfive continent, and 
 the uncertainty of oral tradition at the 
 diftance of fo many ages, I fear, that 
 even after the moft minute inveftigation 
 'Sve {hall not be able to fettle it with any 
 great degree of certainty. And this ap~ 
 prehenfion will receive additional force, 
 when it is confidered that the diverfity of 
 language which is apparently diftinft be- 
 tween moft of the Indians, tends to af- 
 certain that this population was not ef- 
 feded from one particular coyntry, but 
 from ieveral neighbouring ones, and com- 
 pleted at different periods, 
 
 Moft of the hiftorians or travellers that 
 have treated on the American Aborigines 
 diiagree in their fentiments relative to 
 them. Many of the ancients are fup- 
 pofed to have known that this quarter of 
 the globe not only exifted, but al{o that 
 it was inhabited. Plato in his Timaeus 
 has aflerted, that beyond the ifland which 
 he calls Atalantis, and which according to 
 
[ ^83 ] 
 
 his defcrlption was fituated in the weftera 
 Ocean, there were a great number of 
 other iflands, and behind thofe a vaft 
 Continent. 
 
 Oviedo, a celebrated Spanllh author of 
 a much later date, has made no fcruple to 
 affirm that the Antilles are the famous 
 Helperldes fo often mentioned by the 
 poets; which are at length reftored to the 
 kings of Spain, the defcendants of King 
 Hefperus, who lived upwards of three 
 thoufand years ago, and from whom thefe 
 iflands received their name. 
 
 Two other Spaniards, the one. Father 
 Gregorio Garcia, a Dominican, the other. 
 Father Jofeph De Acofta, a Jefult, have 
 written on the origin of the Americans. 
 
 The former, who had been employed 
 in the miffions of Mexico and Peru, en- 
 deavoured to prove from the traditions 
 of the Mexicans, Peruvians, and others, 
 which he received on the fpot, and from 
 the variety of charadters, cuftoms, lan- 
 guages, and religion obfervable in the dif- 
 ferent countries of the new world, that 
 different nations had contributed to the 
 peopling of it. 
 
 M 4 
 
 The 
 
[ i84 1 
 
 The latter, Father De Acofta, in his 
 examination of the means by which the 
 firft Indians of America might have found 
 a paffage to that continent, difcredits the 
 cpnclufions of thofe who have fuppoled 
 it to be by fea, becaufe no ancient author 
 has made mention of the compafs: and 
 concludes, that it muft be either by the 
 north of Afia and Europe, which adjoin 
 to each other, or by thole regions that lie 
 to the fouthward of the Straights of Ma- 
 gellan. He alfo rejeds the aflbtions of 
 luch as have advanced that it was peopled 
 by the Hebrews. 
 
 John De Laet, a Flemllh writer, has 
 controverted the opinions of thefe Spanilh 
 fathers, and pf many others who have 
 written on the fame fubjed. The hypor 
 thefis he endeavpurs to eftablilh, is, that 
 America was certainly peopled by the 
 Scythians or Tartars; and that the tranf- 
 migration of thefe people happened foon 
 after the difperlion of Noah’s grandfons. 
 He undertakes to fhow, that the moft 
 northern Americans have a greater refem- 
 blance, not only in the features of their 
 countenances, but allb in their complexion 
 an4 manner of living, to the Scythians, 
 
 Tartars, 
 
[ >85 ] 
 
 Tartars, and Samoeides, than to any other 
 nations. 
 
 In anfwer to Grotius, who had aflerted 
 that Ibme of the Norwegians palTed into 
 America by way of Greenland, and over 
 a vaft continent, he fays, that it is well 
 known that Greenland was not dllcovered 
 till the year 964; and both Gomera and 
 Herrera inform us that the Chichlmeques 
 were fettled on the Lake of Mexico in 
 721. He adds, that thefe favages, ac- 
 cording to the uniform tradition of the 
 Mexicans who difpoffefled them, came from 
 the country fince called New Mexico, 
 and from the neighbourhood of California ; 
 confequenily North America muft have 
 been inhabited many ages before it could 
 receive any inhabitants from Norway by 
 way of Greenland. 
 
 It is no lefs certain, he obferves, that 
 the real Mexicans, founded their empire in 
 902, after having fubdued the Chichi- 
 meques, the Otomias, and other bar- 
 barous nations, wiio had taken poffeffion 
 of the country round the Lake of Mexico, 
 and each of whom fpoke a language pe- 
 culiar to themlelves. The real Mexicans 
 are likewife fuppoled to come from fome 
 
[ ] 
 
 of the countries that lie near California, 
 and that they performed their journey for 
 the moil part by land; of courfe they 
 could not come from Norway. 
 
 De Laet further adds, that though 
 Ibme of the Inhabitants of North America 
 may have entered it from the north- weft, 
 yet, as it is related by Pliny and fome 
 other waiters, that on many of the iflands 
 near the weftern coaft of Africa, parti- 
 cularly on the Canaries, fome ancient edi- 
 fices were feen, it is highly probable from 
 their being now deferted, that the inha- 
 bitants may have pafl’ed over to America ; 
 the paftage being neither long nor diffi- 
 cult, This migration, according to the 
 calculation of thofe authors, muft have 
 happened more than two thoufaiid years 
 ago, at a time when the Spaniards were 
 much troubled by the Carthaginians ; 
 firom whom having obtained a knowledge 
 of Navigation, and the conftru<ftion of 
 flilps, they might have retired to the 
 Antilles, by the way of the weftern ifles, 
 which were exadly half way on their 
 voyage. 
 
 He thinks alfo that Great Britain, Ire- 
 land, and the Qrcades were extremely 
 
 proper 
 
C ^87 ] 
 
 proper to admit of a fimllar conjeclurc. 
 As a proof, he inlerts the following paf- 
 fage from the Hiftory of Wales, written 
 by Dr. David Powel in the year 1 1 70. 
 
 This hiftorian fays, that Madoc, one 
 of the foils of Prince Owen Gwynnith, 
 being difgufted at the civil wars which 
 broke out between his brothers, after the 
 death of their father, fitted out feveral 
 vefl'els, and having provided them with 
 every thing necefiary for a long voyage, 
 went in queft of new lands to the weft- 
 ward of Ireland ; there he difcovered very 
 fertile countries, but deftitute of inha- 
 bitants; when landing part of his people, 
 he returned to Britain, where he raifed 
 new levies, and afterwards tranfported 
 them to his colony. 
 
 The Flemifh Author then returns to 
 the Scythians, between whom and the 
 Americans he draws a parallel. He ob- 
 ferves that feveral nations of them to the 
 north of the Cafpian Sea led a wandering 
 life; which, as well as many other of 
 their cuftoms, and way of living, agrees 
 in many circumftances with the Indians 
 of America. And though the refemblances 
 ^re not abfolutely perfect, yet the emi- 
 grants. 
 
[ i8S ] 
 
 grants, even before they left their own 
 country, differed from each other, and 
 went not by the fame name. Their 
 change of abode affedled what remained. 
 
 He further fays, that a fimilar like- 
 nefs exifts between feveral American na- 
 tions, and the Samoeides who are fettled, 
 according to the Ruffian accounts, on 
 the great River Oby. And it is more 
 natural, continues he, to fuppofe that 
 Colonies of thefe nations pafled over to 
 America by croffing the icy fea on their 
 fledges, than for the Norwegians to travel 
 all the way Grotius has marked out for 
 them. 
 
 This writer makes many other re- 
 marks that are equally fenfible, and which 
 appear to be juft; but he intermixes 
 with thefe fbme that are not fo well- 
 founded. 
 
 Emanuel de Moraez, a Portugeufe, in 
 his hiftory of Brazil, aflerts that America 
 has been wholly peopled by the Cartha- 
 ginians and Ifraelites. He brings as a 
 proof of this aflertion the difcoveries the 
 former are known to have made at a great 
 diftance beyond the coaft of Africa. The 
 progrefs of which being put a ftop to by 
 
[ 189 ] 
 
 the (enate of Carthage, thofe who hap- 
 pened to be then in the newly difcovei'ed 
 countries, being cut ofF from all commu- 
 nication with their countrymen, and des- 
 titute of many neceffaries of life, fell 
 into a ftate of barbarifm. As to the Is- 
 raelites, this author thinks that nothing 
 but circumcilion is wanted in order to 
 conftitute a perfect refemblance between 
 them and the Brazilians. 
 
 George De Hornn, a learned Dutch- 
 man, has likewife written on this Subjedt. 
 He lets out with declaring, that he does 
 not believe it poffible America could have 
 been peopled before the flood, confidering 
 the fhort fpace of time which elapfed be- 
 tween 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 Sea 
 and by land; lome through accident, 
 and Some from a formed delign. That 
 birds got thither by flight ; which they 
 were enabled to do by refting on the 
 rocks and iflands that are Scattered about 
 in the Ocean. 
 
 He 
 
C ^9® ] 
 
 He further obferves, that wild beafta 
 may have found a free paflage by land} 
 and that if we do not meet with horfes or 
 cattle' (to which he might have added ele- 
 phants, camels, rhinoceros, and b< arts of 
 many other kinds) it is becaufe thole na- 
 tions that paffed thither, were either not 
 acquainted with their ufe, or had no con- 
 venience to fupport them. 
 
 Having totally excluded many nations 
 that others have admitted as the probable 
 firft fettlers of America, for w’hich he 
 gives fubftantial reafons, he fuppofes that 
 it began to be peopled by the north ; and 
 maintains, that the primitive colonies 
 fpread themfelves by the means of the 
 ifthmus of Panama through the w'hole 
 extent of the continent. 
 
 He believes that the firft founders of 
 the Indian Colonies were Scythians. That 
 the Phoenicians and Carthaginians after- 
 wards got footing in America acrofs the 
 Atlantic Ocean, and the Chinefe 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 
 coafl by tempefls ; fince, through the 
 
 whole 
 
[ I9I ] 
 
 whole extent of that Continent, beta 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, that 
 fome Jews and Chriftians might have been 
 carried there by fuch like events, but that 
 this muft have happened at a time when 
 the whole of the new world was already 
 peopled. 
 
 After all, he acknowledges that great 
 difficulties attend the determination of the 
 queftion. Thefe, he fays, are occafioned 
 in the firft place by the imperfcdl know- 
 ledge we have of the extremities of the 
 globe, towards the north and fouth pole ; 
 and in the next place to the havock 
 which the Spaniards, the firft difeoverers 
 of the new world, made among its moll 
 ancient monuments ; as wltnefs the great 
 double road betwixt Quito and Cuzco, 
 an undertaking fo llupendous, that even 
 the mod: magnificent of thole executed 
 by the Romans cannot be compared to 
 it. 
 
 He fuppofes alfo another migration of 
 the Phoenicians, than thofe already meii- 
 tioned, to have taken place ; and this was 
 
 during 
 

 C 19^ j 
 
 during a three years voyage made by the 
 Tyrian fleet in the lervice of King Solo- 
 mon. He aflerts on the authority of Jo- 
 fephus, that the port at which this em- 
 barkation was made lay in the Mediterra- 
 nean. The fleet, he addsj went in queft 
 of elephants teeth and peacocks to the 
 weftern Coaft of Africa, which is Tarfilh; 
 then to Ophlr for gold, which is Haite, 
 or the ifland of Hifpanlola; and in the 
 latter opinion he is fuppotted by Colum- 
 bus, who, when he difcovered that ifland, 
 thought he could trace the furnaces in 
 which the gold was refined. 
 
 To thefe migrations which preceded the 
 Chriflian aera, he adds many others of a 
 later date from different nations, but thefe 
 I have not time to enumerate. For the 
 lame reafon I am obliged to pafs over 
 numberlefs writers on this fubje£t ; and 
 (hall content myfelf with only giving the 
 fentiments of two or three more. 
 
 The firff of thefe is Pierre De Charle- 
 voix, a Frenchman, who, in his journal 
 of a voyage to North America, made fo 
 lately as the year 1720, has recapitulated 
 the opinions of a variety of authors on 
 vjhis head, to which he has fubjoliied his 
 
 own 
 
r ^93 ] 
 
 own conje£lures. But the latter cannot 
 without fome difficulty be extracted, as 
 they are lb interwoven with the palTages 
 he has quoted, that it requires much at- 
 tention to difcrimlnate them. 
 
 He feems to allow that America might 
 have received its firft inhabitants from 
 Tartary and Hyrcania. This he con- 
 firms, by obferving that the Hons and 
 tigers which are found in the former, 
 muff have come from thole countries, and 
 whofe pallage lerves for a proof that the 
 two hemifpheres join to the northward of 
 Alia. He then draws a corroboration of 
 this argument, from a Ifory he fays he 
 has often heard related by Father Grol- 
 lon, a French jefult, as an undoubted mat- 
 ter of fa£l. 
 
 This Father, after having laboured fome 
 time in the mlffions of New France, 
 palTed over to thofe of China. One day 
 as he was travelling in Tartary, he met 
 a Huron woman whom he had former- 
 ly known in Canada. He alked her by 
 what adventure Ihe had been carried into 
 a country fo dlllant from her own. She 
 made anfwer, that having been taken m 
 N war, 
 
[ 194 ] 
 
 war, {he had been conduced from nation 
 to nation, till (he had reached the place at 
 which {he then was. 
 
 Monfieur Charlevoix fays further, that 
 he had been aifured, another Jefult, pall- 
 ing through Nantz in his return from 
 China, had related much fuch another af- 
 fair of a Spanllh woman from Florida. 
 She alfo had been taken by certain In- 
 dians, and given to thofe of a more dif- 
 tant country ; and by thefe again to another 
 nation, till having thus been fucceffively 
 palled from country to country, and travel- 
 ed through regions extremely cold, Ihe at 
 laft found herfelf in Tartary. Here Ihe 
 had married a Tartar, who had attended 
 the conquerors into China, where flie wis 
 then fettled. 
 
 He acknowledges as an allay to the 
 probability of thefe {lories, that thofe 
 who had failed farthell to the eallward 
 of Alia, by purfuing the Coaft of Jello or 
 Kamtfchatka, have pretended that tliey 
 had perceived the extremity of this conti- 
 nent ; and from thence have concluded 
 that there could not poliibly be any com-: 
 muuication by land. But he adds that 
 
 Francis 
 
C ^95 1 
 
 Francis Guella, a Spaniard, is faid to have 
 alTcrted, that this feparation is no more 
 than a ftraight, about one hundred miles 
 over, and that fome late voyages of the 
 Japonefe give grounds to think that this 
 ftraight is only a bay, above which there 
 is a paflage over land. 
 
 He goes on to obferve, that though 
 there are few wild beafts to be met with 
 in North America, except a kind of ti- 
 gers without fpots, which are found in 
 the country of the Iroquoife, yet towards 
 the tropics there are lions and real ti- 
 gers, which, notwithftanding, might have 
 come from Hyrcania and Tartary ; for as 
 by advancing gradually fouthward 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 coun- 
 try, as fi\r as the promontory Tabin ; and 
 allb an author of later date, Mark Pol, a- 
 Venetian, who, he lays, tells us, that to 
 the north-eaft of China and Tartary there 
 are vaft uninhabited countries, which- 
 might be fufficient to confirm any conjec- 
 N 2 tures 
 
[ ^ 9 ^ 1 
 
 tures concerning the retreat of a great num- 
 ber of Scythians into America. 
 
 To this he adds, that we find in the an- 
 tients the names of fome of thefe nations. 
 Pliny fpeaks of the Tabians ; Solinus 
 mentions the A pu leans, who had for 
 neighbours the Maffagetes, whom Pliny 
 Imce aflures us to have entirely dilap- 
 pcared. Ammianus Marcellinus expreily 
 tells us, that the fear of the Anthropo- 
 phagi obliged feveral of the inhabitants of 
 thole countries to take refuge elfewhere. 
 P rom all thele authorities IVIonl. Cbarle- 
 voix concludes, that there is at leafi; room 
 to conjecture that more than one nation 
 in America had a Scythian or Tartarian 
 original. 
 
 He finilhes his remarks on the authors 
 he has quoted, by the following oblerva- 
 tions : It appears to me that this contro- 
 verfy may be reduced to the two follow- 
 ing articles ; firft, how the new world 
 might have been peopled ; and fecondly, 
 by whom, and by what means it has 
 been peopled. 
 
 Nothing, he aflerts, may be more 
 eafily anfwered than the firft. America 
 might have been peopled as the three 
 
 other 
 
[ *97 ] 
 
 other parts of the world have been. Many 
 difficulties have been formed on this fub- 
 je<St, which have been deemed infolvable, 
 but which are far from being fo. The 
 inhabitants of both hemilpheres are cer- 
 tainly the defcendants of the fame father ; 
 the common parent of mankind received 
 an exprefs command from heaven to people 
 the whole world, and accordingly it has 
 been peopled. 
 
 To bring this about it was neceflary 
 to overcome all difficulties that lay in 
 the way, and they have been got over. 
 Were thefe difficulties greater with re- 
 Iped to peopling the extremities of Afia, 
 Africa, and Europe, or the tranfporting 
 men into the iflands which lie at a con- 
 liderable diftance from thofe continents, 
 than to pals over into America ? certainly 
 not. 
 
 Navlgatloii, which has arrived at fb 
 great perfedion within thefe three or four 
 centuries, might poffibly have been more 
 perfed in thofe early ages than at this day. 
 W^ho can believe that Noah and his im- 
 mediate defcendants knew lefs of this art 
 than we do ? That the builder and pilot 
 of the largefl Ihip that ever was, a fhip 
 N 3 that 
 

 [ >98 ] 
 
 that was formed to trav'crfe an unbounded 
 ocean, and had fb many fhoals and (|uick- 
 fands to guard againft, fliould be ignorant 
 of, or (hould not have communicated to 
 thofe of his defcendants who furvived him, 
 and by whofe means he was to execute the 
 order of the Great Creator; I fay, who 
 can believe he fliould not have communi- 
 cated to them the art of failing upon an 
 ocean , which was not only more calm and 
 pacific, but at the fame time confined with- 
 in its ancient limits ? 
 
 Ad.mitting this, hoW cafy is it to pais, 
 exclufive of the paifage already defcnbed, 
 by land from the coaft of Africa to Brazil, 
 from the Canaries to the Weftern lilands, 
 and from them to the Antilles ? From the 
 Britilh Ifl^s, or the coaft of France, to 
 Newfoundland, the paifage is neither long 
 nor difficult ; I might fay as much of that 
 from China to Japan ; from Japan, or the 
 Fhillipines, to the Ifles Mariannes; and 
 from thence to Mexico. 
 
 There are iflands at a confiderable dif- 
 tance from the continent of Afia, where 
 we have not been iurprized to find inha- 
 bitants, why then lliould we wonder to 
 meet with people in America ? Nor can 
 
[ 199 ] 
 
 It be imngined that the grandfbns of Noah, 
 when they were obliged to feparate and 
 fpread themfelves In conformity to the de- 
 figns of God, over the whole earth, Ihould 
 find it abfolutely impoffible to people al- 
 mofl: one half of it. 
 
 I have been more copious In my ex- 
 trafts from this author than I intended, as 
 his reafbns appear to be folid, and many 
 of his obfervatlons juft. From this en- 
 comium, however, I muft exclude the 
 ftories he has Introduced of the Huron and 
 Floridan women, which I think I might 
 venture to pronounce fabulous. 
 
 I fhall only add, to give my Readers a 
 more comprehenfive view of Monf. Char- 
 levoix’s diflertation, the method he pro- 
 pofes to come at the truth of what we 
 are in learch of. 
 
 The only means by which this can be 
 done, he fays, is by comparing the lan- 
 guages of the Americans with the different 
 nations, from whence we might fuppofe 
 they have peregrinated. If we compare 
 the former with thofe words that are con- 
 fidered as primitives, it might poftibly fet 
 US upon fome happy difcovery. And this 
 way o£.rafcending to the original of na- 
 N 4 tions, 
 
[ 200 ] 
 
 tlons, which is by far the leaft equivocal, 
 is not fo difficult as might be imagined. 
 We have had, and ftill have, travellers 
 and milhonaries who have attained the 
 languages that are fpoken in all the pro- 
 vinces of the new world ; it would only 
 be neceffary to make a colledion of their 
 grammars and vocabularies, and to cob 
 late them with the dead and living lati- 
 guages of the old world, that pafs for ori- 
 ginals, and the fimilarity might eafily be 
 traced. Even the different dialeds, in fpite 
 of the alterations they have undergone, 
 ffill retain enough of the mother tongue 
 to furnilh coniiderable lights. 
 
 Any enquiry into the manners, cub 
 toms, religion, or traditions of the Ame. 
 ricans, in order to difcover by that means 
 their origin, 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 pro- 
 pofed. 
 
 Ancient traditions are effaced from the 
 minds of fuch as either have not, or for 
 
 feveral ages have been without, thofe helps 
 ^ that 
 
C 201 ] 
 
 that are neceffary to preferve them. And 
 in this fituation is full one half of the 
 world. New events, and a new arrange- 
 ment of things, give rife to new tradi- 
 tions, which efface the former, and are 
 themlelves effaced in turn. After one or 
 two centuries have pafled, there no longer 
 reraaiti any traces of the firff traditions; 
 and thus we are involved in a ftate of un- 
 certainty. 
 
 He concludes with the following re- 
 marks, among many others, Unforefeen 
 accidents, tempefls, and fhip wrecks, have 
 certainly contributed to people every ha- 
 bitable part of the world : and ought we 
 to wonder, after this, at perceiving certain 
 refemblances, both of perfons and man- 
 ners, between nations that are moft re- 
 mote from each other, when we find fuch 
 a difference between thofe that border on 
 one another ? As we are deftitute of hif- 
 torical monuments, there is nothing, I re- 
 peat it, but a knowledge of 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, 
 
[ 202 ] 
 
 fatisfied, amoiig that prodigious number 
 of various nations inhabiting America, 
 and differing fo much in lai^guages from 
 each other, which are thofe who make 
 nfe of words totally and entirely dif- 
 ferent from thofe of the old wmrld, and 
 who confequently muft be reckoned to 
 have pafled over to America in the ear- 
 lieft ages, and thofe who, from the analogy 
 of their language with fuch as are at pre- 
 lent ufcd in the three other parts of the 
 globe, leave room to judge that their mi- 
 gration has been more recent, and which 
 ought to be attributed to fhip wrecks, or 
 to fome accident fimilar to thofe which 
 have been Ipoken of in the courfe of this 
 treatife. 
 
 I fhall Only add the opinion of one 
 Author more before I give my own fenti- 
 ftients on the fubjedl, and that is of James 
 Adair, Efq; who refided forty years 
 among the Indians, and publifhed the hif- 
 tory of them in the year 1772. In his 
 learned and fyftematical hiftory of thofe 
 rtations, inhabiting the weftern parts of 
 the moft fbuthern of the American colo- 
 nies, this gentleman without hefitation 
 
 pro- 
 
[ 203 ] 
 
 pronounces that the American Aborigines 
 are defcended from the Ifraelites, either 
 whilft they were a maritime power, or 
 foon after their general captivity. 
 
 This defcent he endeavours to prove 
 from their religious rites, their civil and 
 martial cuftoms, their marriages, their 
 funeral ceremonies, their manners, lan- 
 guage, traditions, and from a variety of 
 other particulars. And fo complete is his 
 convidion on this head, that he fancies 
 he finds a perfedl and indisputable limili- 
 tude in each. Through all thefe I have 
 not time to follow him, and lhall there- 
 fore only give a few extradls to fliow 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 fuppoled the Americans to be 
 defcended from the Chinefe, yet neither 
 their religion, laws, or cuftoms agree 
 in the leaft with thofe of the Chinefe ; 
 which fulRclently proves that they are not 
 of this line. Befides, as our beft ftiips 
 are now almoft half a year in failing for 
 China (our author does not here recoiled 
 that this is from a high northern latitude, 
 
 acrofs 
 
[ 204 ] 
 
 acroTs the Line, and then back again 
 greatly to the northward of it, and not di- 
 redlly 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, againft 
 rapid currents, and in dark and fickly 
 Monfoons. 
 
 He further remarks, that this is more 
 particularly improbable, as there is rea- 
 loii to believe that this nation was unac- 
 quainted with the ufe of the loadftone 
 to diredf their courfe. China, he fays, is 
 about eight thoufand miles difiant from 
 the American continent, which is twice 
 as far as acrofs the Atlantic Ocean. And 
 we are 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 like- 
 wife, with little variation from call to 
 weft within the latitudes thirty and odd, 
 north and fouth ; and therefore thefe 
 could not drive them on the American 
 coaft, it lying diredlly contrary to fuch 
 a courle. 
 
 Neither 
 
[ 205 ] 
 
 Neither could perfons, according to 
 this writer’s account, fall to America from 
 the north by the way of Tartary or An- 
 cient Scythia ; that, from its ftuation, 
 never having been or can be a maritime 
 power ; and it is utterly impracticable, he 
 lays, for any to come to America by lea 
 from that quarter. Belides, the remain- 
 ing traces of their religious ceremonies 
 and civil and martial culloms are quite op- 
 polite to the like veftlges of the Old Scy- 
 thians. Even in the moderate northern 
 climates there is not to be leen the leaft 
 trace of any ancient llately buildings, or 
 of any thick fettlements, as are faid to re- 
 main in the lefs healthy regions of Peru 
 and Mexico. And feveral of the Indian 
 nations afliire us, that they crofled the 
 Mlfliliippi before they made their prefent 
 northern fettlements ; which, conneCled 
 with the former arguments, he concludes 
 will fufficiently explode that weak opinion 
 of the American Aborigines being lineal- 
 ly defcended from the Tartars or ancient 
 Scythians. 
 
 Mr. Adair’s reafons for fuppofing that 
 the Americans derive their origin from the 
 Jews are, 
 
 Fiift, 
 
[ 2o6 ] 
 
 Firft, becaufe they are divided into 
 tribes^ and have cliiefs over them as the 
 Ilraelkes had. 
 
 Secondly, becaufe, as by a ftrid per- 
 manent divine precept, the Hebrew na- 
 tion were ordered to worflilp, at Jerufa- 
 lem, Jehovah the true and living God, lb 
 do the Indians, ftiling him Yohewah. 
 The ancient Heathens, he adds, it is well 
 known worlhipped a plurality of gods, 
 but the Indians pay their religious de- 
 voirs to the Great beneficent fupreine holy 
 Spirit of Fire, who refides, as they think, 
 above the clouds, and on earth allb 
 with unpolluted people. They pay no 
 adoration to images, or to dead perfons, 
 neither to the celeftial luminaries, to evil 
 fplrits, nor to any created beings what- 
 ever. 
 
 Thirdly, becaule, agreeable to the theo- 
 cracy or divine government of Ifrael, the 
 Indians think the deity to be the imme- 
 diate head of their ftate. 
 
 Fourthly, becaule, as the Jews believe 
 in the miniftratlon of angels, the Indians 
 alfo believe tl'iat the higher regions are in- 
 habited by good rpirits. 
 
 Fifthly, 
 
[ 3P7 ] 
 
 Fifthly, becauie the Indian language 
 and dialeds appear to have the very idiom 
 and genius of the Hebrew. Their words 
 and fentences being expreffive, coiicife, 
 emphatical, fonorous, and bold ; and 
 often, both in letters, and fignlfication, 
 are lynonimous with the Hebrew lan- 
 guage. 
 
 Sixthly, becaufe they count their time 
 after the manner of the Hebrews. 
 
 Seventhly, becaufe in conformity to, or 
 after the manner of the Jews, they have 
 their prophets, high-priefts, and other re- 
 ligious orders. 
 
 Eighthly, becaufe their feflivals, faffs, 
 and religious rites have a great refemblance 
 to thofe of the Hebrews. 
 
 Ninthly, becaufe the Indians, before 
 they go to war, have many preparatory 
 ceremonies of purification and faffing, like 
 what is recorded of the Ifraelites. 
 
 Tenthly, becaufe the fame taffe for 
 ornaments, and the fame kind are made 
 ufe of by the Indians, as by the He- 
 brews. 
 
 Thefe and many other arguments of a 
 fimllar nature, Mr. Adair brings in fup- 
 port of bis favourite fyffem ; but I fhould 
 
 imagine. 
 
[ 2o 8 j 
 
 imagine, that if the Indians are really de- 
 rived from the Hebrews, among their re- 
 ligious ceremonies, on which he chiefly 
 feems to build his hypothefls, the princi- 
 pal, that of circumcifion, would never 
 have been laid afide, and its very remem- 
 brance obliterated. 
 
 Thus numerous and diverfe are the 
 opinions of thofe who have hitherto writ- 
 ten on this fubjeft ! I lhall not, how* 
 ever, either endeavour to reconcile them, 
 or to point out the errors of each, but 
 proceed to give my own fentiments on 
 the origin of the Americans ; which are 
 founded on conclufioiis drawn from the 
 moft rational arguments of the writers 
 I have mentioned, and from my own 
 oblervations ; the confiftency of thefe I 
 lhall leave to the judgment of my Read- 
 ers. 
 
 The better to Introduce my conjedures 
 on this head, it is neceflary firft to afcer- 
 tain the diftances between America and 
 thofe parts of the habitable globe that ap- 
 proach neareft to it. 
 
 The Continent of America, as far as 
 we can judge from all the reiearches that 
 have been made near the poles, appears 
 
 to 
 
[ ] 
 
 to be entirely feparated from the other 
 quarters of the world. That part of Eu- 
 rope which approaches neareft to it, is 
 the coaft of Greenland, lying in about 
 feventy degrees of north latitude ; and 
 which reaches within twelve degrees of 
 the coaft of Labrador, fituated on the 
 north-eaft borders of this continent. The 
 coaft of Guinea is the neareft part of 
 Africa; which lies about eighteen hun- 
 dred and fixty miles north-eaft from the 
 Brazils. The moft eaftern coaft of Afia^ 
 which extends to the Korean Sea on the 
 north of China, projeds north-eaft through 
 eaftern Tartary and Kamfchatka to Si- 
 beria, in about fixty degrees of north lati- 
 tude. Towards v/hich the weftern coafts of 
 America, from California to the Straights 
 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 thefe 
 ftraights, and joins to the eaftern parts 
 of Afia, agreeable to what has been af- 
 ferted by foine of the writers I have 
 quoted, or whether the lands that have 
 been dlfcovered in the intermediate parts 
 
 O are 
 
[ 2f(5 j 
 
 are only an archipelago of iflands verging 
 towards the oppofite continent, Is not yet 
 afcertalned. 
 
 It being, however, certain that there 
 are naany conllderable Iflands which He 
 between the extremities of Afla and Ame- 
 rica, viz. Japon, Yefo or Jedfo, Gama’s 
 I^nd, Behring’s Ifle, with many- others 
 dlfcovered by Tfchlrlkow, and befides 
 ■ thefe, from fifty degrees north there ap- 
 pearing to be a duffer of Iflands that reach 
 as far as Siberia, It Is probable from their 
 proximity to America, that it received its 
 flrft inhabitants from them. 
 
 This conclufion is the mofl rational I 
 am able to draw, fuppofing that fince the 
 Aborigines got footing on this continent, 
 no extraordinary or fudden change in the 
 pofition or furface of it has taken place, 
 from inundations, earthquakes, or any re- 
 volutions of the earth that we are at pre- 
 font unacquainted wdth. 
 
 To me it appears highly Improbable 
 that it fhould have been peopled from dif- 
 ferent quarters, aerofs the Ocean, as others 
 have aflerted. From the fize of thefhips 
 made ufe of in thofe early ages, and the 
 want of the compafs, it cannot be fup- 
 
t ilt ] 
 
 ^ofed 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 paflengers of 
 both fexes which were driven by ftrong 
 eafterly winds acrofs the Atlantic, thefe 
 lettlers mull have retained tome traces of 
 the language of the country from whence 
 they migrated ; and this fince the difco* 
 very of it by the Europeans mull: have 
 been made out. It allb appears extraor- 
 dinary that feveral of thefe accidental mi^ 
 grations, as allowed by fome, and thefe 
 from different parts, fhould have taken 
 place. 
 
 Upon the whole, after the moft cri- 
 tlcal enquiries, and the matureft delibera- 
 tion, I am of opinion, that America re- 
 ceived its firft Inhabitants from the north* 
 eaft, by way of the great archipelago juft 
 mentioned, and from thefe alone. But 
 this might have been effeaed at different 
 times, and from various parts : from Tar- 
 tary, China, Japon, or Kamfchatka, the 
 inhabitants of thefe places refembling each 
 other in colour, features, and fhape ; 
 
 O 2 and 
 
[ 212 ] 
 
 and who, belhre fome of them acquhed 
 a knowledge of the arts and fciences, 
 might have likewife refembled each other 
 in their manners, cuftoms, religion, and 
 language. 
 
 The only difFcrence between the Chi- 
 nefe nation and the Tartars lies in the 
 cultivated ftate of the one, and the un- 
 poWhed fituatlon of the others. The 
 former have become a commercial peo- 
 ple, and dwell in houfes formed into re- 
 gular towns and cities ; the latter live 
 chiefly in tents, and rove about in dif- 
 ferent hords, without any fixed abode. 
 Nor can the long and bloody wars thefe 
 two nations have been engaged in, exter- 
 minate their hereditary fimilitude. The 
 prefent family of the Chlnefe emperors is 
 of Tartarian extraction ; and if they were 
 not fenfible of fome claim befide that 
 of conqueft, lb numerous a people would 
 fcarcely fit quiet under the dominion of 
 ftrangers. 
 
 It is very evident that fome of the man- 
 ners ai\d cuftoms of the American Indi- 
 ans relemble thofe of the Tartars ; and 
 I make no doubt but that in fome future 
 aera, and this not a very diftant one, it 
 
 will 
 
[ 213 ] 
 
 will bp reduced to a certainty, that during 
 Ibnie 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 
 Ibme ot the ifles before-mentioned, and 
 fiom thence found their way into America. 
 At difteient periods each nation might 
 prove vidorious, and the conquered by 
 turns fly before their conquerors ; and 
 from hence might arife the fimilitude of 
 the Indians to all thele people, and that 
 animoflty which exills between lb many 
 of their tribes. 
 
 It appears plainly to me that a great fl- 
 milarity between the Indian and Chinefe 
 is conlpicuous in that particular cuftom 
 of lhaving or plucking off the hair, and 
 leaving only a Irnall tult on the crown of 
 the head. This ir^ode is laid to have been 
 enjoined by the Tartarian emperors on 
 their acceflion to the throne of China, and 
 conlequently is a further proof that this 
 cudom was in ule among the Tartars ; to 
 whom as well as the Chinele, the Ameri- 
 cans might be indebted for it. 
 
 Many words alfo are ufed both by the 
 Chinefe and Indians, which have a re- 
 O 3 femblance 
 
[ 214 1 
 
 iemblance to each other, not only in their 
 found, but their fignihcation. The Chi- 
 nefe call a flave, Ihungo ; and the Nau-* 
 doweflie Indians, whofe language from their 
 little intercourfe with the Europeans is 
 the leaft corrupted, term a dog, fliungufti. 
 The former denominate one fpecies of their 
 tea, fhoufong; the latter call their tobacco, 
 flioufalfau. Many other of the words 
 ufed by the Indians contain the fyllables 
 che, chaw, and chu, after the dialed of 
 the Chinefe. 
 
 There probably might be found a fimi- 
 lar connexion between the language of 
 the Tartars and the American Aborigines, 
 were we as well acquainted with it as we 
 are, from a commercial intercourfe, with 
 that of the Chinefe. 
 
 I am confirmed in thele conjedures, by 
 the accounts of Kamfchatka publiflied a 
 few years ago by order of the Emprefs of 
 tlufjia. The author of w’hich fays, that 
 the fea which divides that peninfula from 
 America is full of iflands ; and that the 
 diflance between Tfchukotlkoi-Nofs, apro*^ 
 montory which lies at the eaftern extre- 
 mity of that country, and the coafi: of 
 America, is not moi'e than tw'o degrees 
 ' ' • and 
 
[ 215 1 
 
 and a half of a great circle. He further 
 fays, that there is the greateft reafon to 
 fuppole that Alia and America ojice joined 
 at this place, as the coafts of both coii- 
 tinents appear to have been broken into 
 capes and bays, which anfwer each other ; 
 more efpeclally as the Inhabitants of this 
 part of both refemble each other in their 
 perfons, habits, cufloms, and food. Their 
 language, indeed, he obferves, does not 
 appear to be the fame, but then the in* 
 .habitants of each diftrift in Kamfchatka 
 Ipeak a language as different from each 
 Other, as from that fpokeji on the oppcfite 
 coaft. Thefe obfervations, to which he. 
 ^dds, the fimilarity of the boats of the in- 
 habitants of each coaft, and a remark that 
 the natives 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 lefa than a demonftration that Ame- 
 rica was peopled from this part of Afia. 
 
 The limits of my prefent undertaking 
 will not permit me to dwell any longer 
 on this fubjeft, or to enumerate any other 
 j)roofs in favour of my hypothefis. I am 
 P 4 how* 
 
J 
 
 [ 2l6 ] 
 
 however fb thoroughly convinced of the 
 certainty of It, and fo defirous have I 
 been to obtain every teftimony which can 
 be procured in its fupport, that I once 
 made an offer to a private fociety of 
 gentlemen, who \vere curious in fnch 
 refearches, and to whom I had communi- 
 cated my fentiments on this point, that 
 I would undertake a journey, on receiving 
 Inch fupplies as were needful, tlirough 
 the north-eaft parts of Europe and Afia to 
 the interior parts of America, and from 
 thence to England ; inaking, as I pro- 
 ceeded, fuch obfervations both on the lan- 
 guages and manners of the people with 
 whom I fhould be converfant, as might 
 tend to illuftrate the dodlrine I have here 
 laid down, and to fatisfy the curlofity of 
 the learned or inquifitive ; but as this pro- 
 pofal was judged rather to require a na- 
 tional than a private fupport, it was not 
 carried info e:;ecution. 
 
 I am happy to find, fince I formed the 
 foregoing conclufions, that they corre- 
 fpond with the fentirnents of that great 
 and learned hiftorlan doctor Robertlbn ; 
 and though, with him, I acknowledge 
 that the inveftigation, from its nature, is 
 
 fo 
 
[ 217 ] 
 
 fo obfcure and intricate tliat the conjec-r 
 tures I have made can only be confidered as 
 conjeftures, and not indifputable conclu- 
 fions, yet they carry with them a greater 
 degree of probability than the fuppofitions 
 of thole who aflert that this continent was 
 peopled from another quarter. 
 
 Oi>e of the Doctor’s quotations from 
 the Journals of Behring and Tfchirikow, 
 who failed from Kamlchatka about the 
 year 1741 in quell of the New World, 
 appears to carry great weight with it, 
 and to afford our conclufions firm fup> 
 port : “ Thefe commanders having Ihap- 
 ed their courfe towards the eall, dil- 
 “ covered land, v/hich to them appeared 
 “ to be part of the American continent ; 
 “ and according to their obfervatlons, it 
 feems to be lituated within a few de- 
 “ grees of the north-well coaft of Call- 
 “ fornia. They had there fome inter- 
 courle with the inhabitants, who feem- 
 “ ed to them to relemble the North 
 Americans ; as they prefented to th» 
 “ Ruffians the Calumet or Pipe of Peace, 
 “ which is a lymbol of friendffiip uni- 
 verlal among the people of North 
 
 “ America, 
 
[ 2rS ] 
 
 America, and an ufage of arbitrary in- 
 “ ftitution peculiar to them.” 
 
 One of this incomparable writer’s own 
 arguments in fupport of his hypothefis is 
 alfo urged with great judgment, and ap- 
 pears to be nearly conclufive. He fays, 
 We may lay it down as a certain prin- 
 “ ciple in this enquiry, that America 
 “ was not peopled by any nation of the 
 “ ancient continent, which had made con- 
 “ fiderable progrefs in civilization. The 
 “ inhabitants of the New World were in 
 “ a ftate of fociety fo extremely rude, as 
 “ to be unacquainted wlthv thofe arts 
 “ which are the firft effays oPhuman in-; 
 
 genuity in its advance towards improve- 
 “ ment. Even the moft cultivated na- 
 tions of America were ftrangers to many 
 “ of thole limple inventions, which were 
 almoft coeval with fociety in other 
 parts of the world, and were known 
 “ in the earliefl: periods of civil life. 
 From this it is manlfelt that the tribes 
 which originally migrated to America, 
 “ came olF from nations which mul\ 
 “ have been no lefs barbarous than their 
 “ pofterlty, at the time when they were 
 
t 2^9 1 
 
 firfl; dlfcovered by the Europeans. If 
 f* ever the ufe of iron had been known 
 “ to the iavages of America, or to their 
 “ progenitors, if ever they had employed 
 “ a plough, a loom, or a forge, the uti- 
 “ litity of thefe inventions would have 
 “ preferved them, and it is impoliible 
 “ that they fhould have been abandoned 
 or forgotten.” 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Of their Persons, Dress, ^c. 
 ROM the firft fettlement of the 
 
 French in Canada, to the conqueft 
 of it by the Englifli in 1760, feveral of 
 that nation, who had travelled into the in- 
 terior parts of North America, either to 
 trade with the Indians, or to endeavour 
 to make converts of them, have publilhed 
 accounts of their cuftoms, manners, &C. 
 
 The principal of thefe are Father Louis 
 Heimipiu, Monf. Charlevoix, and the Ba- 
 ron Le Hontan. The firfl, many years 
 ago, publifhed fome very judicious rcr 
 
 marks, 
 
[ 220 ] 
 
 marks, which he was the better enabled 
 to do by the affiftance he received from 
 the maps and diaries of the unfortunate 
 Monf. De la Salle, who was affaffinated 
 whilft he was on his travels, by fome of 
 his own party. That gentleman’s journals 
 falling into Father Hennipin’s hands, he 
 was enabled by them to publilh many 
 interelling particulars relative to the In. 
 dians. But in fome refpedls he fell very 
 fliort of that knowledge which it was in 
 his power to have attained from his long 
 refidence among them. Nor was he al- 
 ways (^as has been already oblervedj exaft 
 in his calculations, or juft in the intelli- 
 gence he has given us. 
 
 The accounts publilhed by the other 
 two, particularly thole of Charlevoix, are 
 very erroneous in the geographical parts, 
 and many of the ftories told by the Baron 
 are mere delufions. 
 
 Some of the Jefuits, who heretofore 
 travelled into thele parts, have alfo writ- 
 ten on this fubje6l ; but as few, if any, 
 of their works have been tranflated into 
 the Englilh language, the generality of 
 Readers are not benefitted by them; and, 
 
 indeed, 
 
[ 221 ] 
 
 indeed, had this been done, they would 
 have reaped but few advantages from them* 
 as they liave chiefly confined their obfer- 
 vations to the religious principles of the 
 ravages, and the fteps taken for their con- 
 verfion. 
 
 Since the conqueft of Canada, fome of 
 our own countrymen, who have lived 
 among the Indians, and learned their lan- 
 guage, have publilhed their oblervations ; 
 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 lettlements, a know- 
 ledge of the genuine and uncontaminated 
 cuftoms and manners of the Indians could 
 not have been acquired by them. 
 
 The fouthern tribes, and thofe that have 
 held a conftant intercourle with the French 
 or Englilh, cannot have prelerved their 
 manners or their cuftoras in their original 
 purity. I hey could not av'oid acquiring 
 the vices with the language of thole they 
 converled with ; and the frequent intoxi- 
 cations they experienced through the bane- 
 ful juices introduced among them by the 
 Europeans, have completed a total altera- 
 tion in their charadlers. 
 
 In 
 
C 222 ] 
 
 In fuch as thefe, a confufed medley of 
 principles or ufages are only to be ob* 
 ferved j their ical and unpolluted cufloms 
 could be feen among thofe nations alone 
 that have held but little communications 
 with the provinces* Thefe I found in the 
 north-weft parts, and therefore flatter my- 
 felf that I am able to give a more juft ac« 
 count of the cuftoms and manners of the 
 Indians, in their ancient purity, than any 
 that has been hitherto pubhftied. I have 
 made obfervations on thirty nations, and 
 though moft of thefe have differed in their 
 languages, there has appeared a great fmi- 
 larity in their manners, and from thele 
 have I endeavoured to extracft the follow* 
 ing remarks. 
 
 As I do not propofe to give a regular 
 and connected fyftem of Indian concerns, 
 but only to relate fuch particulars of their 
 inanners, cufloms, &c. as I thought moft 
 worthy of notice, and which intefere as 
 little as poflible with the accounts given 
 by other writers, I muft beg my Readers 
 to excule their not being arranged lyfte-* 
 matically, or treated of in a more copi* 
 ous manner. 
 
 The 
 
[ 223 ] 
 
 The Indian nations do not appear t® 
 ine to differ fo widely in their make, co- 
 lour, or conftitution from each other, as ^ 
 reprefented by fome writers. They are 
 in general flight made, rather tall and 
 flraitj and you feldom fee any among 
 them deformed ; their fkin is of a reddifli 
 or copper colour ; their eyes are large and 
 black, and their hair of the fame hue, 
 but very rarely is it curled ; they have 
 good teeth, and their breath is as fweet 
 as the air they draw in ; their cheek- 
 bones rather raifed, but more fo in the 
 women than the men ; the former are not 
 quite fo tall as the European women, how- 
 ever you frequently meet with good faces 
 and agreeable perlbns among them, al- 
 though they are more inclined to be fat 
 than the other fex. 
 
 I lhall not enter into a particular en- 
 quiry whether the Indians are indebted 
 to nature, art, or the temperature of the 
 climate for the colour of their flcin, nor 
 lhail I quote any of the contradiftory ac- 
 counts I have read on this fubjebl: ; I fhall 
 only fay, that it appears to me to be 
 the tindlure they received originally from 
 file hands of their Creator ; but at what 
 
[ 224 3 
 
 period the variation which is at prefenC 
 vifible both in the complexion and fea^ 
 tures of many nations took place, at what 
 time the European whitenefs, the jetty 
 hue of the African, or the copper call of 
 the American were given them ; which 
 was the original colour of the firft inha* 
 bltants of the earth, or which might be 
 efteemed the moft perfect, I will not pre* 
 tend to determine. 
 
 Many writers have afleited, that the 
 Indians, even at the matureft period of 
 their exiftence, are only furnilhed with 
 hair on their heads ; and that notwith- 
 ftanding the profulion with which that 
 part is coveredj thofe parts which among 
 the inhabitants of other climates are ufu- 
 ally the feat of this excrefcence, remain 
 entirely free from it. Eveii'Dodor Ro- 
 bertfon, through their mifreprefentations, 
 has contributed to propagate the error 5 
 and fuppofing the remark juftly founded, 
 has drawn feveral conclulions from it re- 
 lative to the habit and temperature of their 
 bodies, which are conlequently invalid. 
 But from minute enquiries, and a curious 
 infpe£lion, I am able to declare (however 
 refpeilable I may hold the authority of 
 
[ ^25 ] 
 
 thefe hiftdrians in other points) that their 
 aflertions are erroneous, and proceeding 
 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, efteem a beard very 
 unbecoming, and take great pains to get 
 rid of it, nor is there any ever to be per- 
 ceived on their faces, except when they 
 grow old, and become inattentive to their 
 nppearancei Every crinous efflorefcence 
 on the other parts of the body is held un- 
 feemly by them, and both fexes employ 
 much time in their extirpation* 
 
 The Naudoweffies, and the remote na- 
 tions, pluck them out with bent pieces of 
 hard wood, formed into a kind of nip- 
 pers ; whilft thofe who have communica- 
 tion with Europeans procure from them 
 wire, which they twift into a fcrew or 
 \vorm ; applying this to the part, they 
 prefs the rings together, and with a fud- 
 den twitch draw out all the hairs that are 
 incloled between them. 
 
 The men of every nation differ in their 
 drefs very little from each other, except 
 
 P thofe 
 
[ ^26 ] 
 
 thofe who trade with the Europeans^ 
 theie exchange their furs for blankets, 
 (hirts, and other apparel, which they wear 
 as much for ornament as neceffity. The 
 latter faften by a girdle around their 
 waifts about half a yard of broadcloth, 
 which covers the middle parts of their bo- 
 dies. Thofe who wear Ihirts irever make 
 them fall: either at the wrift or collar; 
 this Would be a moft infufferable confine- 
 ment to them. They throw their blanket 
 loole upon their fhoulders, and holding 
 the upper fide of it by the two corners, 
 with a knife in one hand, and a tobacco- 
 pouch, pipe, &c. Ill the other, thus ac- 
 coutred they walk about in their villages 
 or camps : but in their dances they feh 
 dom wear this covering. 
 
 Thofe among the men who wifh to ap-» 
 pear gayer than the reft, pluck from their 
 heads ail the hair except from a fpot on the 
 top of it, about the fize of a crown-piece, 
 where it is permitted to grow to a confi- 
 derable length : on this are faftened plumes 
 of feathers of various colours with filver or 
 ivory quills. The manner of cutting and 
 ornamenting this part of the head diftin- 
 guifhes different nations from each other. 
 
 They 
 
[ 22 ^ ] 
 
 ^hey paint their faces red and black, 
 which they efteem as greatly ornamental* 
 They allb paint themlelves when they go 
 to war : but the method they make ufe of 
 on this oGcafion differs from that wherein 
 they ufe it merely as a decoration. 
 
 The young Indians, who are deflrous 
 of excelling their companions in finery, 
 flit the outward rim of both their ears ; at 
 the fame time they take care not to fepa- 
 rate them entirely, but leave the flefh thus 
 cut flill untouched at both extremities : 
 around this fpongy fubftance, from the 
 upper to the lower part, they twift brafs 
 Avire, till the weight draws the amputated 
 rim into a bow of five or fix inches dia- 
 meter, and drags it almoft down to the 
 fhoulder. This decoration is efleemed to 
 be exceffively gay and becoming. 
 
 It 19 alio a common cuftom among 
 them to bore their nofes, and wear in 
 them pendants of different forts. I ob- 
 ferved that lea fhells were much worn by 
 thofe of the interior parts, and reckoned 
 very ornamental ; but how they procur- 
 ed them I could not learn : probably by 
 their traffick with other nations nearer thie 
 
 P 2 
 
 They 
 
[ 228 ] 
 
 They go without any covering for the 
 thigh, except that before fpoken of, round 
 the middle, which reaches down half 
 \vay the thighs ; but they make for their 
 legs a fort of flocking either of fkins or 
 cloth : thefe are fewed as near to the 
 
 fhape of the leg as poflible, fo as to ad- 
 mit of being drawn on and off. The edges 
 of the fluff of which they are compofed 
 are left annexed to the feam, and hang 
 loofe for about the breadth of a hand : and 
 this part, which is placed on the outfide of 
 the leg, is generally ornamented by thofe 
 who have any communication with Eu- 
 ropeans, if ot cloth, with ribands or laccy 
 if of leather, with embroidery and porcu- 
 pine quills curioufly coloured. Strangers 
 who hunt among the Indians in the paits 
 where there is a great deal of fnovv, find 
 thefe flockings much more convenient than 
 any others. 
 
 Their Ihoes are made of the fkin of the 
 deer, elk, or buflalo thefe, after being, 
 fometimes drefled according to the Eu- 
 ropean manner, at others with the hair 
 remaining on them, are cut into fhoes,' 
 and fafhioned lb as to be eafy to the feet, 
 and convenient for w'alking. The edges 
 
n 
 
[ 229 ] 
 
 Found the ancle are decorated with pieces 
 of brafs or tin fixed around leather firings, 
 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 other from the neck to the knees. 
 Thofe who trade with the Europeans 
 wear a linen garment the fame 33 that 
 ufed by the men ; the flaps of which 
 hang over the petticoat. Such as drefs 
 after their ancient manner, make a kind 
 of fliift with leather, which covers the 
 body but not the arrns. Their petticoats 
 are made either of leather or cloth, and 
 reach from the waift to the knee. On 
 their legs they wear ftockings and fhoes, 
 made and ornamented as thole of the 
 men . 
 
 They differ from each other in the mode 
 of drefiing their heads, each following the 
 cuffom of the nation or band to which 
 they belong, and adhering to the form 
 made ufe of by their anceffors from time 
 immemorial. 
 
 I reinarked that moft: of the females, 
 who dwell on the eaft fide of the Miflif- 
 fippi, decorate their heads by inclofing their 
 P 3 hair 
 
[ ^ 3 ° ] 
 
 hair either in ribands, or in plates of filver! 
 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 tlie 
 head is of a confiderable width ; the next 
 narrower, and made fo as to pafs a little 
 way under the other, and in this manner 
 they faften into each other, aqd, gradually 
 tapering, delpend to the waifl:, as repre-^ 
 fented in plate N° IJ. 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 Mifiiffippi, viz. the Natidowelfies, the 
 Affinipoils, &c. divide their hair in the 
 pniddle of the head, and form it into two 
 rolls, one againft each ear. Thefe rolls 
 are about three inches long, and as large 
 as their w rifts. They hang in a perpen* 
 dicular attitude at the front pf each ear, 
 and defcend as far as the Ipwer part of it« 
 A more explicit idea Oaay be formed of 
 this mode by referring to plate III. 
 
 The women of every nation generally 
 |)l3Ce a Ipot of paint, about the fize of a 
 
 crpwiiT 
 
[ 231 ] 
 
 crown-piece, agalnft each ear; fome of 
 them put paint on their hair, and fbme- 
 times a fmall fpot in the middle of the 
 forehead. 
 
 The Indians, in general, pay a greater 
 attention to their drels and to the ornaments 
 with which they decorate their perfons, 
 than to the accommodation of their huts 
 or tents. They conftrudl the latter in the 
 following limple and expeditious manner. 
 
 Being provided with poles of a proper 
 length, they fallen two of them acrofs, 
 near their ends, with bands made of bark. 
 Having done this, they raife them up, 
 and extend the bottom of each as wide 
 as they purpofe to make the area of the 
 tent : they then ere£l others of an equal 
 height, and fix them fo as to fupport the 
 two principal ones. On the whole they 
 lay Ikins of the elk or deer, fewed to- 
 gether, in quantity fufficient to cover the 
 poles, and by lapping over to form the 
 door. A great number of Ikins are fome- 
 times required for this purppfe, as fome 
 of their tents are very capacious. That 
 of the chief warrior of the Naudoweffies 
 was at leall forty feet in circumference^ 
 ^nd very commodious. 
 
 P 4 The/ 
 
t 232 1 
 
 They obferve no regularity in fixing 
 their tents when they encamp, but place 
 them juft as It fults their convenlency. 
 
 The huts alfo, which thofe who ufe not 
 tents, ereft when they travel, for very 
 few tribes have fixed abodes or regular 
 towns or villages, are equally fimple, and 
 almoft as foon conftrutled. 
 
 They fix final 1 pliable poles in the 
 ground, and bending them till they meet 
 at the top and form a feml-clrcle, then lafir 
 them together. Thefe they cover with 
 mats made of nifties platted, or with birch 
 bark, which they carry with them in their 
 canoes for this purpofe. 
 
 Thefe cabins have neither chlmnies 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 ftopped up when it rains or 
 fnows violently, the fmoke then proves ex-^ 
 ceedingly troublefome. 
 
 They lie on fldns, generally thofe of 
 the bear, which are placed in rows on the 
 ground ; and if the floor is not large 
 enough to contain beds fufficient tor the 
 accommpdatipn of the whole tainily, a 
 frame is erected about four or five teet 
 
 from 
 
[ 233 ] 
 
 from the ground, in which the younger 
 part of it fleep. 
 
 As the habitations of the Indians are 
 thus rude, their domeftic utenfils are few 
 in number, and plain in their formation. 
 The tools wherewith they fafhion them 
 are fo aukward and defective, that it is 
 not only impoffible to form them with any 
 degree of neatnefs or elegance, but the 
 time required in the execution is fo con- 
 fiderable, as to deter them from engaging 
 in the manufacture of fuch as are not ab- 
 folutely necefl'ary. 
 
 The Naudoweflies make the pots in 
 which they boil their victuals of the black 
 clay or ftone mentioned in my Journal ; 
 which relifts the effeCts of the fire nearly 
 as well as iron. When they roaft, if it 
 is a large joint or a whole animal. Inch as 
 a beaver, they fix it as Europeans do, on 
 a fpit made of a hard wood, and placing 
 the ends on two forked props, now and 
 then turn it. If the piece is fmaller they 
 fpit it as before, and fixing the fpit in an 
 erect but flanting polition, with the meat 
 inclining towards the fire, frequently 
 change the fides, till every part is fuffi- 
 ciently roafted. 
 
 They 
 
[ ^34 ] 
 
 They make their dlflies in which they 
 ferve up their meat, and their bowls and 
 pans, out of the knotty excrefcences of the 
 maple tree, or any other wood. They fa- 
 Oiion their fpoons with a tolerable degree 
 of neatnefs (as thefe require much lefs 
 trouble than larger utenfils) from a wood 
 that is termed in America Spoon Wood, 
 and which greatly refembles box wood. 
 
 Every tribe are now poflefled of knives, 
 and Heels to Hrike fire with. Thefe be- 
 ing fo effentlally needful for the common 
 ufes of life, thofe who have not an im- 
 mediate communication with the European 
 traders, purchafe them of fuch of their 
 neighbours as are fituated nearer the fettle^ 
 ments, and generally give in exchange for 
 them Haves. 
 
 C H A ?r 
 
t 235 3 
 
 CHAPTER m. 
 
 Cf their Manners, (iuAL.FipA- 
 
 TIONS, 
 
 W m2N the Indian women fit down, 
 they place themlelves in a de- 
 cent attitude, with their knees dole toge- 
 ther ; but from being accuftomed to this 
 pofture, they walk badly, and appear to be 
 lame. 
 
 They have no midwives amongft them, 
 then- climate, or fome peculiar happinefs 
 in their conftitutlons, rendering any afiift- 
 (lance at that time unneceflary. On thelc 
 occafions they are confined but a few hours 
 from their ufual employments, which are 
 commonly very laborious, as the men, 
 who are remarkably indolent, leave to 
 them every kind of drugery ; 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 co 4 i- 
 fiderable diftance. 
 
 The women place their children foon 
 after they are born on boards (luffed with 
 
 fofc 
 
[ 236 ] 
 
 fbft mofs, fuch as is found in morafles or 
 meadows. The child is laid on its back 
 in one of thefe kind of cradles, and, being 
 wrapped in ikins or cloth to keep it warm, 
 is fecured in it by fmall bent pieces of 
 timber. 
 
 To thefe machines they faften firings, 
 by which they hang them to branches 
 of trees ; or if they find not trees at 
 hand, fallen them to a flump or ftone, 
 whilll they tranfadl any needful bufi- 
 nefs. In this pofition are the children 
 kept for fome months. When they are 
 taken out, the boys are fuffered to gq 
 naked, and the girls are covered from the 
 neck to the knees with a fhift and a fhort 
 petticoat. 
 
 The Indian women are remarkably de- 
 cent during their menflrual illnefs. Thofe 
 nations that are mofl remote from the 
 European fettlements, as the Naudowef- 
 lies, &c, are more particularly attentive 
 to this point ; though they all without 
 exxeptibn adhere in fome degree to the 
 lame cuftom. 
 
 In every camp or town there is an 
 apartment appropriated for their retire- 
 ment at this time, to which both finglc 
 
 and 
 
[ 237 ] 
 
 tind married retreat, and feclude theni^ 
 felves with the litmoft ftri£lnefs during 
 this period from all fociety. Afterwards 
 they purify themfelves in running ftreams, 
 and return to their different employ- 
 ments. 
 
 The men on thefe occafions moft care- 
 fully avoid holding any communication 
 with them ; and the Naudoweffies are fo 
 rigid in this obfervance, that they will 
 not fuffer any belonging to them to fetch 
 fuch things as are neeeflary, even fire, from 
 thefe female lunar retreats, though the 
 want of them is attended with the greateft 
 Inconvenience. They are alfo fo fuper- 
 ftitious as to think, if a pipe flem cracks, 
 which among them is made of wood, that 
 the poffeflbr has either lighted it at one of 
 thefe polluted fires, or held feme con- 
 verfe with a woman during her retirement^ 
 which is efteemed by them mofi: difgrace- 
 ful and wicked. 
 
 The Indians are extremely circumfpeiSI: 
 and deliberate in every word and adlion ; 
 there is nothing that hurries them into 
 any intemperate warmth, but that inve- 
 teracy to their enemies which is rooted 
 in every Indian hearty and never can be 
 
 eradicated. 
 
[ ^38 ] 
 
 eradicated. In all other inftances they 
 are cool, and remarkably cautious, tak- 
 ing care not to betray on any account 
 whatever their emotions. If an Indian 
 has difcovered that a friend is in danger 
 of being intercepted and cut off by one 
 to whom he has rendered himfelf ob- 
 noxious, he does not inform him in plain 
 and explicit terms of the danger he runs 
 by purfuing the track near which his 
 enemy lies in wait for him, but he firft 
 coolly alks him which way he is going 
 that day; and having received his anfwer, 
 with the fame indifference tells him that 
 he has been informed that a dog lies near 
 the Ipot, which might probably do him 
 a mifchiefi This hint proves fufficient 5 
 and his friend av^oids the danger with as 
 much caution as if every defign and mo- 
 tion of his enemy had been pointed out 
 to him. 
 
 This apathy often fhews itfelf on oc- 
 cafions that would call forth all the fer- 
 vour of a fufceptible heart. If an In- 
 dian has been abfent from his family and 
 friends many months, either on a war or 
 hunting party, when his wife and chil- 
 dren meet him at fome diftance from his 
 
 habitation, 
 
t ^39 1 
 
 habitation, Inftead of the affedlionate feil- 
 fatlons that would naturally arife in the 
 bread of more refined beings, and be pro- 
 dudtive of mutual congratulations, he con- 
 tinues his courfe without paying the lead 
 attention to thofe who furround him, till 
 he arrives at his home. 
 
 He there fits down, and with the lame 
 unconcern as if he had not been abfent a 
 day, fmokes his pipe 5 thofe of his ac- 
 quaintance who have followed him, do 
 the fame ; and perhaps it is feveral hours 
 before he relates to them the incidents 
 which have befallen him during his ab- 
 fence, though perhaps he has left a father, 
 brother, or fon on the field whofe lofs he 
 ought to have lamented, or has been un- 
 fuccelsful in the undertaking that called 
 him from his home. 
 
 Has an Indian been engaged for feveral 
 days in the chace, or on any other la- 
 borious expedition, and by accident con- 
 tinued thus long without food, when 
 he arrives at the hut or tent of a friend 
 where he knows his wants may be im- 
 mediately fupplied, he takes care not to 
 diow the lead lymptoms of impatience, or 
 to betray the extreme hunger by which 
 
 he 
 
[ 240 T 
 
 he. is tortured ; but on being invited iri^ 
 lits Contentedly dowiij and fmokes his 
 pipe with as much compofure as if every 
 appetite w’as allayed, and he was per-‘ 
 fe6lly at eafe ; he does the fame if among 
 ftrangers. This cuftom is ftridlly ad- 
 hered to by every tribe, as they efteem it 
 a proof of fortitude, and think the reverfe 
 would intitle them to the appellation of 
 old women. 
 
 If you tell an Indian that his children 
 have greatly fignalized themfelves againft 
 an enemy, have taken many fcalps, and 
 brought home many prifoners, he does 
 not appear to feel any extraordinary plea- 
 fure on the occafion ; his anfwer gene- 
 rally is, “ It is \Vellj” and he makes 
 very little further enquiry about it. On 
 the contrary, if you inform him that his 
 children are (lain or taken prifoners, he 
 makes no complaints, he only replies^ 
 “ It does not lignify and probably, for 
 fome time at leafl, alks not how it hap- 
 pened. 
 
 This feeming indifterence, howeverj 
 does not proceed from an entire fuppref- 
 fion of the natural affedlions ; for not- 
 withflanding they are efteemed favages, I 
 
 never 
 
r ^ 
 
 [ 241 j 
 
 ihSver IIivv among any other people greafei* 
 proofs of parental or filial tendernefs ; and: 
 although they meet their wives after a 
 Ions abfence with the Stoical indifference 
 
 iD 
 
 juft mentioned, they are not in general 
 void of conjugal affeclion. 
 
 Another peculiarity is obfervable in 
 their manlier of paying 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 
 immediately retiring to the other end of 
 the hut or tent are careful not to come: 
 near enough to interrupt them during the 
 whole of the converlation. The fiime me- 
 thod is purfued if a man goes to pay his 
 refpecfs to one of the other fex ; but then 
 he muft be careful not to let love be the 
 fubjedt of his difcourfe whilft the daylight 
 remains. 
 
 The Indians difcover an amiazlng fa- 
 gacity, and acquire with the greateft; 
 readinefs any thing that depends upon 
 the attention of the mind. By experience 
 and an acute obfervation, they attain many 
 perfedlions to which Europeans are ftrai>^ 
 gers. For inftance, they will crofs a fo- 
 reft or a plain which is two hundred 
 
 miles 
 
[ i 
 
 miles in breadth, and reach with gfeat ex* 
 adtnels the point at which they intend to 
 arrive, keeping during the whole of that 
 fpace in a diredl line, without any mate- 
 rial deviations ; and this they will do with 
 the lame eafe, whether the weather be 
 fair or cloudy. 
 
 With equal acutenefs will they 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 purfue with 
 incredible facility the traces of man or 
 beaft, either on leaves or grafs; and on 
 this account it is with great difficulty a 
 flying enemy efcapes difcovery. 
 
 They are indebted for thefe talents 
 not only to nature, but to an extraordh 
 nary command of the intelledlual facul* 
 ties, which can only be acquired by an 
 ainremitted attention, and by long expe- 
 rience. 
 
 They are in general very happy in a 
 retentive memory; they can recapitulate 
 every particular that has been treated of 
 in council, and remember the exadl time 
 when thefe were held. Their belts of wam- 
 pum prelerve the fubllance of the treaties 
 they have concluded with the neighbour- 
 ing 
 
t ^43 1 
 
 jng tribes for ages back, to which they 
 will appeal, and refer with as much per- 
 Ipicuitj and readinefs ^s Europeans can to 
 their written records. 
 
 Every nation pays great refpetSl to old 
 age. The advice of a father will feU 
 dom meet with any extraordinary attention 
 from the young Indians, probably they 
 receive it with only a bare aflent ; but they 
 will tremble before a grandfather, and fub- 
 mit to his injunflions with the utmoft 
 alacrity. The words of the ancient part 
 of their community are efteemed by the 
 young as oracles. If they take during 
 their hunting parties any game that is 
 reckoned by them uncommonly delicious, 
 It is immediately prefented to the oldeft of 
 their relations. 
 
 They never fulfer themfelves to be 
 overburdened with care, but live In a 
 llate of pertefl tranquillity and content- 
 ment. Being naturally indolent, if pro- 
 vifion juft fufficient for their fubfift- 
 ence can be procured with little trouble, 
 and near at hand, they will not go far, 
 or take any extraordinary pains for it, 
 though by lb doing they might acquire 
 0^2 greater 
 

 ^ i 44 1 
 
 greater plenty and of i moffe tftifna'blc 
 kind. 
 
 Having much lelfure time they indulge 
 this indolence to which they iire fo prone,' 
 by eating, drinking, or fle^ping, and ram- 
 bling about in their towns or camps. But 
 •ivhen necdfity obliges them to take the 
 field, either to oppofe an enemy, or td 
 procure themfelves food, they are alert and 
 indefatigable. Many inftances of their ac- 
 tivity on thefe occafions will be given 
 when I treat of their wars. 
 
 The infatuating fplrlt of gaming is 
 iiot tonfined Co' Europe ; the Indians a'lfo 
 feel the bewitching impulle, and often 
 lofe their arms, their apparel, and every 
 filing they are poflefled of. In this cafe, 
 however, they do not follow the ex- 
 ample of more rcfinfed gamefters, for they 
 neither murmur nor repine ; not a' fretful 
 word efcapes them, but they bear the 
 frowns of fortune with a philolophic conr- 
 pol'ure. 
 
 The greatefl blemlfh in their charafler 
 is; that favage difpofition which impels 
 them to treat their enemies with a fevc- 
 rity every other nation Ihudders at. But 
 
[ ns ] 
 
 if tlicy aic thus barbarous to tbofe with 
 whom they are at war, they are friendly, 
 holpitahle, and hunaaiie m j^eaee# It may 
 with truth be laid ot them, that they are 
 the worlf enemies, and the heft friends, 
 ot any people in the whole world. 
 
 The Indians in general are Grangers to 
 the paffion of jealouly ; and brand a man 
 with folly that is dillruftful of his wife. 
 Among tome bands the very idea is not 
 known ; as the mofi: abandoned of their 
 young men very rarely attempt the virtue 
 of married women, nor do thele often 
 put themfelves in the way of folicitation. 
 Yet the Indian women in general are of 
 n.11 n.moious tcinperaturc, 3,ncl before they 
 are married are not the lefs elleemed for the 
 indulgence of their palfions. 
 
 VVhilft I was among the NapdowelTies 
 I obferved that they paid uncommon re- 
 Ipedf to one of their women, and found 
 on enquiry that Ihe was intitled to it on 
 account of a tranlacflion, that in Europe 
 would have rendered her infamous. 
 
 They told me that when Ihe was a 
 young woman, for at the time I faw her 
 Ihe was far advanced in life, Ihe had given 
 what they termed a rice thaft. Accords 
 0^3 ing 
 
[ 246 ] 
 
 ing to an ancient but almoft obfolete 
 cuftom (which, as Hamlet fays, would 
 h^ve been more honoured in the breach, 
 than the obfervance) Ihe invited forty of 
 the principal warriors to her tent, where 
 having feafted them with rice and veni- 
 fon, Ihe by turns regaled each of them 
 with a private defert, behind a fcreen fixed 
 for this purpofe in the inner part of ^he 
 
 tent. ^ . L< 
 
 She had the happinefs to obtain by this 
 
 profufiori of courtefy, the favour of her 
 guefts, and the approbation of the whole 
 band. So fenfible were the young In- 
 dians of her extraordinary merit, that they 
 vied with each other for her hand, and 
 in a very fhort time oire of the principal 
 chiefs took her to wife, over whom flae 
 acquired great fway, arid from whom fte 
 received ever after inceflant tokens of re» 
 fpeft and love. 
 
 It is however fcarcely once in an age 
 that any of the females are hardy enough 
 to make this feaft, notwithftanding a hul- 
 band of the firft rank awaits as a fure re- 
 ward the fuccefsful giver of it ; and the 
 cuftom, I fince find, is peculiar to the 
 Naudow^effies. 
 
 The 
 
[ 247 3 
 
 The Indians in their common ftate are 
 ftrangers to all diftlnfllon of property, ex- 
 cept ill the articles of domefiic ule, which 
 every one confiders as his own, and in- 
 creafes as circumftances admit. They are 
 extremely liberal to each other, and fupply 
 the deficiency of their friends with any fn- 
 perfluity of the;r own. 
 
 In dangers they readily give affiftance 
 to thole of their band who Hand in need 
 of it, without any expedation of return, 
 except of thofe juft rewards that are al- 
 ways conferred by the Indians on merit, 
 Governed by the plain and equitable laws 
 of nature, every one is rewarded folely 
 according to his deferts ; and their equa- 
 lity of condition, manners, and privileges, 
 with that cpnftant and Ibciable familiarity 
 which prevails throughout every Indian na- 
 tion, animates them with a pure and truly 
 patriotic fpirit, that tends to the general 
 good of the fociety to which they belong. 
 
 If any of thpir neighbours are bereaved 
 by death or by an enemy of their chil- 
 dren, thole who arepoflefled of the greateft 
 number of flaves, fupply the deficiency ; 
 and thele are adopted by them and treated 
 in every relpedt as if they really were the 
 ^4 childrcq 
 

 [ 248 i 
 
 pliildren of the perfon to whom they arc 
 
 ^ The Indians, except thofe who live 
 adjoining to the European colonies, can 
 form to themfelves no idea of the value 
 of money ; they confider it, when they 
 are made acquainted with the ufes to 
 w'hich it is applied by other ^ nations, 
 as the fource of innumerable evils. To 
 it they attribute all the miichiefs that 
 are prevalent among Europeans, fuch as 
 treachery, plundering, devaftations, and 
 murder. 
 
 They efteem It irrational that one man 
 (hould be poflefl'cd of a greater quantity 
 than another, and are amazed that any 
 honour Ihould be annexed to the pollef- 
 fion of it. 15 ut that the want of this 
 ufelefs metal fhoulH be the caule of de- 
 priving perlbns of their liberty, and that 
 pn account of this partial diflnbution of it, 
 great numbers fhould be immured with, 
 m the dreary wall? of a prifon, cut 0 
 from that fociety of which they confti- 
 tute a part, exceeds their belief. Nor 0 
 they fail, on hearing this part of the Eu- 
 ropean fyftcm of government related, to 
 charge the inftitutors of it with a tota 
 
[ 249 ] 
 
 4 vant of humanity, an 1 to brand them with 
 the names of favages and brutes. 
 
 They drew almoll an equal degree of 
 IndifFerence for the prod^Tlons of art. 
 When any of thefe are fhewn them, they 
 fay, “ It is pretty, I like to look at it, 
 but are not inqulfitive about the conlfruc- 
 tion of it, neither can they form proper 
 conceptions of its ufe. But if you tell 
 them of a perfon who is ab}e tq run with 
 great agility, that is well Ikilled in hunt- 
 ing, can direft with unerring aim a gun, 
 or bend with eafe a bow, that can dexte^ 
 roufly work a canoe, underftands the art 
 of war, is acquainted with the ftuatiqn of 
 a country, and can make bis way with- 
 out a guide, through an inamenfe foieft, 
 fubfifting during this on a fmall quantity 
 of provifions, they are in raptures; they 
 liften with great attention to the pleafng 
 tale, and beftow the higheft commenda- 
 tions on the hero of it. 
 
 CHAP- 
 

 \ ^ 5 ° 3 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 ^he'ir Method of reckoning Time, 
 ONSIDERING their ignorance of 
 
 aftronomy, time is very rationally 
 divided by the Indians, Thofe in the in- 
 terior parts (and of thole I would generally 
 be underftood to Ipgak) count their years 
 by winters ; or, as they exprefs themfelves, 
 by fnows. 
 
 Some nations among them reckon their 
 years by moons, and make them confift 
 of twelvp fynqdical or lunar months, ob- 
 ferving, when thirty moons have waned, 
 to add a lupernumerary one, which they 
 term the loft moon ; and then begin to. 
 count as before. They pay a great regard 
 to the firft appearance of every moon, and 
 on the occalion always repeat Ibme joyful 
 founds, ftretching at the fame time their 
 hands towards it. 
 
 Every month has with them a name 
 cxprelfive of its feafon ; for iiiftaiice, they 
 
 call 
 
t 25* 1 
 
 call the month of March (in which their 
 year generally begins at the firft New 
 Moon after the vernal Equinox) the 
 Worm Month or Moon ; becaufe at thi^ 
 time the worms quit their retreats in 
 the bark of the trees, wood, &c. where 
 they have (heltered themfelves during the 
 winter. 
 
 The month of April is termed by 
 them the month of Plants. May, the 
 Month of Flowers. June, the Hot 
 Moon. July, the Buck Moon. Their 
 reafon for thus denominating thefe is ob- 
 vious. 
 
 Auguft, the Sturgeon Moon ; becaufe 
 in this month they catch great numbers of 
 that filh. 
 
 September, the Corn Moon ; becaufe 
 in that month they gather in their Indian 
 corn. 
 
 Oaober, the Travelling Moon; as they 
 leave at this time their villages, and travel 
 towards the places where they intend to 
 hunt during the winter. 
 
 November, the Beaver Moon ; for in 
 this month the beavers begin to take 
 Ihelter in their houfes, having laid up a 
 
 fufficient 
 
[ 252 ] 
 
 fuSiclent {lore of provifions for the winter 
 feal'on. 
 
 December, the Hunting Moon, becaufe 
 they employ this month in purfuit of 
 their game. 
 
 January, the Cold Moon, as it ge- 
 nerally freezes harder, and the cold is 
 more intenie in this than in any other 
 month. 
 
 February they call the Snow Moon, 
 hecaufe more liiow commonly falls dur- 
 ing this month, than any other in the 
 winter. 
 
 When the moon does not fliine they 
 fay the moon is dead ; and fome call the 
 throe laft days of it the naked days. The 
 moon’s firfl appearance they term its com- 
 ing to life again. 
 
 They make no diyiiion of weeks ; but 
 days they count by fleeps; half days by 
 pointing to the fun at noon ; and quar- 
 ters by the riling and the fctting of the 
 fun : to exprefs w hich in their traditions 
 they make ufe of very fignificant hiero- 
 glyphicks. 
 
 The Indians are totally unfkilled in 
 geography as well as all the other fciences, 
 
 '*■ ■ and 
 
C 253 ] 
 
 And yet, as I have before hinted, they 
 draw on their birch bark very exa£t charts 
 Or maps of the countries with which they 
 are acquainted. The latitude and longi- 
 tude is only wanting to make them toler- 
 ably complete; 
 
 Their foie knowledge in aftrbnomy cdii- 
 fifts in being able to point out the piole- 
 flar ; by which they regulate their courfb 
 when they travel in the night. 
 
 They reckon the diftance of places, not 
 by miles or leagues, but by a day’s jour- 
 ney, which, according to the bell calcu- 
 lations I could make, appears to be about 
 twenty EnglifK miles. Thefe they alfo 
 divide into halves and quarters, and will 
 demonftrate them in their maps with great 
 exadtnefs, by the hieroglyphicks juft men- 
 tioned, \then they regulate in council 
 their War parties, or their moft diftant 
 hunting excurfionS. 
 
 They have no idea of arithmetic ; arid 
 though they are able to count to any 
 number, figures as well as letters appear 
 myfterious to them, and above their com- 
 prehenfion. 
 
 During my abode with the Naudowefi* 
 fies, fame of the chiefs obferving one day 
 
 a draft 
 
[ *54 ] 
 
 a draft of an eclipfe of the moon, iii a 
 book of aftronomy which I held in my 
 hand, they defired I would permit them 
 to look at it. Happening to give them 
 the book Ihut, they began to count the 
 leaves till they came to the place in which 
 the plate was. After they had viewed 
 it, and aiked many queftions relative to 
 it, I told them they needed not to have 
 taken fo much pains to find the leaf ou 
 which it was drawn, for I could not only 
 tell in an inftant the place, without count- 
 ing the leaves, but alfo how many pre- 
 ceded it. 
 
 They feemed greatly amazed at my af- 
 fertion, and begged that I would de- 
 monftrate to them the poffibility of doing 
 if* To this purpofe I defired the chief 
 that held the book, to open it at any par- 
 ticular place, and juft fhewing me the 
 page carefully to conceal the edges of the 
 leaves, fb that I might not be able to 
 count them. 
 
 This he did with the greateft caution ; 
 notwithftanding which, by looking at the 
 folio, I told him, to his great furprize, 
 the number of leaves. He counted them 
 regularly over, and difcovered that I was 
 
 exaft. 
 
[ 255 ] 
 
 fexaft; 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 ralfed the 
 dead. The only way they could ac- 
 count for my knowledge, was by conclud- 
 ing that the book was a fpirit, and whif- 
 pered me anfvvers to whatever I demanded 
 of it. 
 
 This circumftance, trifling as it might 
 appear to thofe who are lefs illiterate, con- 
 tributed to increafe my confequence, and 
 to augment the favourable opinion they 
 already entertained of me. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Of their Government, 
 
 E very feparate body of Indians Is di-- 
 vlded into bands or tribes ; which 
 band or tribe forms a little community 
 with the nation to which it belongs. As 
 the nation has fome particular fymbol by 
 which it is diftinguilhed from others, lb 
 
 each 
 
[ 256 ] 
 
 4acli tribe has a badge from which it 
 denominated : as that of the Eagle, the 
 Panther, the Tiger, the Buffalo, &c. &c. 
 One band of the Naudoweffie 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 
 particularize themfelves in the fame man- 
 ner, and the meaneft perfon among them 
 will remember his lineal defcent, and dil- 
 tinguifli himfclf by his refpeftive family. 
 
 Did not many circumftances tend to 
 confute the luppolition, I fhould be almoft 
 induced to conclude from this diftinitioii 
 of tribes, and the particular attachment 
 of the Indians to them, that they derive 
 their origin, aS fome have averted, from 
 the Ifraelites. 
 
 Belides * this, every nation diftinguifh 
 themfelves by the manner of conftruff- 
 Ing their tents or huts. And fo well 
 verfed are all the Indians in this difhnc- 
 tion, that though there appears to be 
 no difference on the nlceft obfervation 
 made by an Pfuropean, yet they will nn- 
 mediately difeover, from the politionofa 
 pole left in the ground, what nation has 
 
 encarope<l 
 
F 
 
 t 257 ] 
 
 encamped on the fpot many months be- 
 fore. 
 
 Every band has a chief who is termed 
 the Great Chief or the chief Warrior ; and 
 who is chofen in confideration of his expe- 
 rience in war, and of his approved valour, 
 to direct their military operations, and to 
 regulate all concerns belonging to that de- 
 partment. But this chief is not confider- 
 ed as the head of the Hate ; befides the 
 great warrior who is eleded for his war- 
 like qualifications, there is another who 
 enjoys a pre-eminence as his hereditary 
 right, and has the more immediate ma- 
 nagement of their civil affairs. This 
 chief might with greater propriety be de- 
 nominated the Sachem ; whofe aflent is 
 necefilary in all conveyances 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 
 is ufually denominated their king, yet 
 the Indians are fenfible of neither civil 
 or military fubordination. As every one 
 ' of them entertains a high opinion of his 
 conlcquence, and is extremely tenacious 
 of his liberty, all injunilions that carry 
 R with 
 
[ *58 ] 
 
 with them the appearance of a pofitive 
 command, are inftantly rejefted with Icorn. 
 
 On this account, it is feldom that their 
 leaders are fo indifcreet as to give out any 
 of their orders in a peremptory ftile ; a 
 bare hint from a chief that he thinks 
 fuch a thing necefiary to be done, inftant' 
 ly aroufes an emulation among the in- 
 ferior ranks, and it is immediately exe- 
 cuted with great alacrity. By this me- 
 thod the difguftful part of the command 
 is evaded, and an authority that falls 
 little Ihoit of abfolute fvvay inftituted in 
 its room. 
 
 ikmong the Indians no vilible form of 
 government is eftabliflied ; they allow of 
 no fuch diftindion as magiftrate and fuh- 
 je£l, every one appearing to enjoy an in- 
 dependence that cannot be controlled. 
 The object of government among them is 
 rather foreign than domeflic, for their at- 
 tention feems more to be employed in pre- 
 lervihg fuch an union among the mem- 
 bers of their tribe as will enable them 
 to watch the motions of their enemies, 
 and to a£l agalnft them with concert and 
 vigour, than to maintain interior order by 
 any public regulations. If a fcheme that 
 
 appears 
 
f 
 
 f 259 ] 
 
 appears to be of fervice to the coiiiiii'unity 
 is propofed by the chief, every one is at 
 liberty to chufe whether he will affift in 
 carrying it on ; for they have no compul- 
 lory laws that lay them under any reftric^ 
 tionSi If violence is committed, or blood 
 is Ihed, the right of revenging thefe 
 mifdemeanours are left to the family of 
 the injured ; the chiefs afTume neither the 
 power of inflicting or moderating the pu- 
 niihmenti 
 
 Some nations^ where the dignitj is he- 
 reditary^ limit the fucceffion to the fe- 
 male line. On the death of a chief, his 
 filter’s fon fometimes fucceeds him in pre- 
 ference to his own fon ; and if he hap- 
 pens to have no filter, the nearelt female 
 relation alTumes the dignity. This ac- 
 counts^ for a woman being at the head of 
 the Wlnnebagoe nation, which, before I 
 was acquainted with their laws, appeared 
 Itrange to me. 
 
 Each family has a right to appoint one 
 of Its chiefs to be an affiltant to the princi- 
 pal chief, who watches over the interelt of 
 his family, and without whofe confent 
 nothing of a public nature can be carried 
 into execution. Thele are generally eholeil 
 
 R 2 fojf 
 
[ 260 ] 
 
 for their ability iti fpeaking ; and fuch 
 only are permitted to make orations in 
 their councils and general aflemblies. 
 
 In this body, with the hereditary chief 
 at its head, the fupreme authority appears 
 to be lodged ; as by its determination every 
 tranfaftion relative to their hunting, to 
 their making war or peace, and to all their 
 public concerns are I'egulated. Next to 
 thefe, the body of warriors, which com- 
 prehends all that are able to bear arms, 
 hold their rank. This divifion has fome- 
 times at its head the chief of the nation, 
 if he has lignalized himfelf by any re- 
 nowned aftlon, if not, fome chief that has 
 rendered himfelf famous. 
 
 In their councils which are held by the 
 foregoing members, every affair of coiile- 
 quence is debated \ and no entei prize of 
 the leaff: moment undertaken, unlefs it 
 there meets with the general approbation 
 of the chiefs. They commonly aflemble 
 in a hut or tent appropriated to this pur- 
 pofe, and being leated in a circle on the 
 ground, the eldeft chief rlfes and makes a 
 fpeech ; when he has concluded, another 
 gets up; and thus they all fpeak, if ne- 
 cefiary, by turns. 
 
 On 
 
[ ] 
 
 On this occafion their language is ner- 
 vous, and their manner of expreffion, em- 
 phatical. Their ftyle is adorned with ima- 
 ges, comparifons, and ftrong metaphors, 
 and is equal in allegories to that of any of 
 the eaflern nations. In all their fetfpeeches 
 they exprefs themfelves with much vehe- 
 mence, but in common difcourfe according 
 to our ufual method of fpeech. 
 
 The young men are fuffered to be pre- 
 fen t at the councils, though they are not 
 allowed to make a fpeech tilj. they are re- 
 gularly admitted : they however liften with 
 great attention, and to fhew that they 
 Ijoth underftand, and approve of the re- 
 folutions taken by the aflembled chiefs, 
 they frequently exclaim, “ That is right.” 
 “ That is good.” 
 
 The cuftomary mode among all the 
 ranks of expreffing their affent, and which 
 they repeat at the end of almoft every 
 period, is by uttering a kind of forcible 
 afpiration, which founds like an union of 
 the letters OAH. 
 
 R 3 
 
 CHAP- 
 
[ 2^2 ] 
 
 CHAPTER Vt 
 Of their Feasts. 
 
 M any of the Indian nations neither 
 inake ufe of bread, fait, or fplces; 
 and fome of them have never leen or 
 tailed of either. The Naudoweflles In par- 
 ticular have no bread, nor any fubllltute 
 for It. They eat the wild rice which grows 
 in great quantities in different parts of 
 their territories ; but they boil it and eat 
 it alone. They alfo eat the flelh of the 
 beads they kill, without having recourfe 
 to any farinaceous fubllance to abforb the 
 grolfer particles of it. And even when 
 they coiifume the fugar which they have 
 extradled from the rnaple tree, they ufe it 
 not to render Ibme other food palatable, 
 but generally eat it by itfelf. 
 
 Neither have they any idea of the ule 
 pf milk, although they might colleft great 
 quantities from the buffalo or the elk; 
 they only conlider it as proper for the nu- 
 triment of the young of thefe beads dur- 
 ing their tender date. 1 could not per- 
 ceive 
 
[ ] 
 
 celve that any inconveniency attended the 
 total difufe of articles efteemed fo necef- 
 fary and nutritious by other nations, on 
 the contrary, they are in general healthy 
 and vigorous. 
 
 One difli however, which anfwers near- 
 ly the fame purpofe as bread, is in ufe 
 among th'e Ottagaumics, the Saukies, and 
 the more eaftern nations, where Indian 
 corn grows, which is not only much efteem- 
 ed by them, but it is reckoned extremely 
 palatable by all the Europeans who enter 
 their dominions. This is compofed of 
 their unripe corn as before defcribed, and 
 beans in the fame Hate, boiled together 
 with bears flefh, the fat of which moiftens 
 the pulle, and renders it beyond com- 
 parifon delicious. They call this food 
 Succatolh. 
 
 The Indians are far frorn being canl- 
 bals, as they are faid to be. All their 
 vl£luals are either roafted or boiled ; and 
 this in the extreme. Their drink is ge- 
 nerally the broth in which it has been 
 boiled. 
 
 Their food confifts of the flefli of the 
 bear, the buffalo, the elk, the deer, the 
 R 4 beayer. 
 

 [ 264 ] 
 
 beaver, and the racoon ; which they pre- 
 pare in the manner juft mentioned. They 
 ufually eat the flefli of the deer which is 
 naturally dry, with that of the bear which 
 is fat and juicy ; and though the latter 
 is extremely rich and lufclous, it is never 
 known to cloy. 
 
 In the fpring of the year the Nau- 
 dowefties eat the infide baik of a ftuub, 
 that they gather in fome part of their 
 country j but I could neither leain the 
 name of it, or difcover from whence they 
 got it. It was of a brittle nature and ea- 
 lily mafticated. The tafte of it was very 
 agreeable, and they laid it was extremely 
 nourilhing. In flavour it was not unlike 
 the turnip, and when received into the 
 mouth refembled that root both in its pul- 
 pous and frangible nature. 
 
 The lower ranks of the Indians are 
 exceedingly nafty in dreliing their vic- 
 tuals, but fome of the chiefs are very neat 
 and cleanly in their apparel, tents, and 
 
 food. _ . 
 
 They commonly eat in large parties, lo 
 that their meals may properly be termed 
 feafts ; and this they do without being re- 
 
 ftrifted 
 
[ 265 ] 
 
 ftridled to any fixed or regular hours, but 
 juft as their appetites require, and conve- 
 nience fuits. 
 
 They ufually dance either before or after 
 every meal ; and by this cheerfulnefs pro- 
 bably render the Great Spirit, to whom 
 they confider themfelves as indebted for 
 every good, a more acceptable lacrifice 
 than a formal and unanimated thankf- 
 giying. The men and women feaft apart : 
 and each fex invite by turns their com- 
 panioirs to partake with them of the food 
 they happen to have ; but in their do- 
 meftic way of living the men and women 
 eat together. 
 
 No people are more holpitable, kind, 
 and free than the Indians. They will 
 readily ftiare with any of their own tribe 
 the laft part of their provifions, and even 
 with thofe of a difteient nation, if they 
 chance to come in when they are eating. 
 Though they do not keep one common 
 ftock, yet that community of goods which 
 is fo prevalent among them, and their ge- 
 nerous dlfpofition, render it nearly of the 
 fame effedt. 
 
 When the chiefs are convened on any 
 
 public 
 

 [ 266 ] 
 
 public bufmefs, they always conclude with 
 a feaft, at which their feftivity and cheer- 
 fulnefs knows no limits. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Of their Dances. 
 
 D ancing is a favourite exercifc 
 among the Indians; they never meet 
 on any public occafion, but this makes 
 a part of the entertainment. And when 
 they are not engaged in war or hunting, 
 the youth of both fexes amufe themfelves 
 in this manner every evening. 
 
 They always dance, as I have juft ob- 
 ferved, at their feaft. In thefe as well 
 as all their other dances, every man nfes 
 in his turn, and moves about with great 
 freedom and boldnefs ; fmging as he does 
 fo, the exploits of his anceftors. During 
 this the company, who are feated on the 
 ground in a circle, around the dancer, 
 join with him in marking the cadence, 
 by an odd tone, which they utter all to- 
 gether, and which founds, “ Heh, heh, 
 ^ “ heh.’* 
 
[ 267 ] 
 
 Ifteh.” Thefe notes, if they might be 
 fo termed, are articulated witli a harfli ac- 
 cent, and ftrained out with the utmofl: 
 force of their lungs ; fo that one would 
 imagine their ftrength muft be foon ex- 
 haufted by it ; inftead of which, they re- 
 peat it with the farne violence during the 
 whole of their entertainment. 
 
 The women, particularly thofe of the 
 weftern nations, dance very gracefully. 
 They carry themfelves eredl, and with 
 their arms hanging down dole to their 
 lides, move firft a 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 thejr feet conjoined, moving by turns 
 their toes and heels. In this manner 
 they glide with great agility to a certain 
 diftance, and then return ; and let thole 
 who join in the dance be ever fo nume- 
 rous, they keep time fo exadly with each 
 other that no interruption enfues. Dur- 
 ing this, at Hated periods they mingle 
 their Ihrill voices with the hoarfer ones 
 of the men who lit around (for it is to be 
 qbferved that the fexes never intermix In 
 the fame dance) which, with the mulic 
 

 [ 268 ] 
 
 of the drums and chichicoues, make an 
 agreeable harmony . 
 
 The Indians have feveral kinds of 
 dances which they ufe on different oc- 
 cafions, as the Pipe or Calumate Dance, 
 the War Dance, the Marriage Dance, and 
 the Dance of the Sacrifice. The move- 
 ments in every one of thefe are diffimi- 
 lar; but it is almoft impollible to convey 
 any idea of the points in which they are 
 ■unlike. 
 
 Different nations likewife vary in their 
 manner of dancing. The Chipeways 
 throw themfelves into a greater variety 
 of attitudes than any other people ; fome- 
 times they hold their heads ered, at 
 others they bend them almoft to the 
 ground ; then recline on one fide, and 
 immediately after on the other. The 
 Naudowefiies carry themfelves more up- 
 right, ftep firmer, and move more grace- 
 fully. But they all accompany their 
 dances with the difagreeable noife juft 
 mentioned. 
 
 The Pipe Dance is the principal, and 
 the moft pleafing to a fpedator of any 
 of them, being the leaft frantic, and the 
 
 movement of it the moft graceful. It 
 
 is 
 
[ 2^9 ] 
 
 is but on particular occaiions that it is 
 ufed ; as when ambafladors from an ene- 
 my 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, 
 and on their return from them, ftrikes 
 terror into ftrangers. It is performed, as 
 the others, amidft a circle of the war- 
 riors ; a chief generally begins it, who 
 moves from the right to the left, fmging 
 at the fame time both his own exploits, 
 and thofe of his anceftors. When he has 
 concluded his account of any memorable 
 a£Hon, he gives a violent blow with his 
 war-club againft a poft that is fixed in 
 the ground, near the center of the affem- 
 bly, for this purpofe. 
 
 Every one dances in his turn, and re- 
 capitulates the wondrous deeds of his fami- 
 ly, fill they all at laft join in Jhe dance. 
 Then it becomes truly alarming to any 
 ftranger that happens to be among them, 
 as they throw themfelves into every hor- 
 rible and terrifying pofture that can be 
 imagined, rehearling at the fame time the 
 parts they expert to a£t again ft their ene- 
 mies 
 
[ 27 <^ ] 
 
 niies 111 the field. During this they hold 
 their lharp knives in their hands, with 
 which, as they whirl about, they are 
 every moment in danger of cutting each 
 others throats ; and did they not Ihun 
 the threatened mifchief with inconceivable 
 dexterity, it could not be avoided. By 
 thefe motions they intend to reprefent the 
 manner in which they kill, fealp, and 
 take their prifoners. To heighten the 
 fcene, they fet up the fame hideous yells, 
 cries, and war-hoops they ufe in time 
 of adlion : fo that it is impoffible to eon- 
 lider them in any other light than as an 
 aflembly 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 apprehcnfions of receiving fome 
 dreadful wound, that from the violence 
 of their gefiures muft have proved mor- 
 tal. ^ 
 
 I found that the nations to the weft- 
 ward of the Miffiffippi, and on the bor- 
 ders of Lake Superior, Bill continue to 
 make ule of the Pawwaw or Black Dance. 
 The people of the colonies tell a thou- 
 fand ridiculous ftories of the devil being 
 
 raifed 
 
[ ^71 1 
 
 ralfed in this dance by the Indians. But 
 they allow that this was in former times, 
 and is now nearly extindl among thofe 
 who live adjacent to the European fettle- 
 ments. However I difcovered that it 
 was ftill ufed in the interior parts ; and 
 though I did not aflually fee the devil 
 railed by it, I was witnefs to fome fcenes 
 that could only be performed by fuch as 
 dealt with him, or were very expert and 
 dextrous jugglers. 
 
 Whilil I was among the Naudoweffies, 
 a dance, which they thus termed, was 
 performed. Before the dance began, one 
 of the Indians was admitted into a foci- 
 ety which they denominated Wakon-Kit- 
 chewah, that is, the Friendly Society of 
 the Spirit. This fociety is compofed of 
 perfons of both fexes, but fuch only can 
 be admitted into it as are of unexception- 
 able charadler, and who receive the appro- 
 bation of the whole body. To this ad- 
 miffion fucceeded the Pawwaw Dance (in 
 which 1 faw nothing that could give rife 
 to the reports I had heard) and the whole, 
 according to their ufual cuilom, concluded 
 with a grand feaft. 
 
 The 
 
t 272 ] 
 
 The Initiation being attended with fome 
 Ygj-y txngular circumflanceSj which) as I 
 have before obferved, muft be either the 
 effect of magic, or of amazing dexterity, 
 
 I {ball give a particular account of the 
 whole procedure. It was performed at the 
 time of the new moon, In a place appro- 
 priated to the purpofe near the centre of 
 their camp, that would contain about two 
 hundred people. Being a ftranger, and 
 on all occafions treated by them with 
 great civility, I was Invited to fee the ce- 
 remony, and placed clofe to the rails of 
 the Inclofure. 
 
 About twelve o’clock they began to 
 affemble ; when the fun fhone bright, 
 which they confidered as a good omen, 
 for they never by choice hold any of 
 their public meetings unlefs the Iky be 
 clear and unclouded. A great number of 
 chiefs flrff appeared, who were dreffed m 
 their beft apparel ; and after them came 
 the head-warrior, clad In a long robe of 
 rich furs that trailed on the ground, at- 
 tended by a retinue of fifteen or twenty 
 perfons, painted and dreffed In the gayefl 
 manner. Next followed the wives of 
 fuch as had been already admitted Into 
 
[ 273 J 
 
 he foclety ; and in the rear a confufed 
 heap of the lower ranks, all contributing 
 as much as lay in their power to make 
 the appearance grand and Ihowy. 
 
 When the afl’embly was feated, and 
 filence proclaimed, one of the principal 
 chiefs arofe, and in a- fhort but mafterly 
 fpeech informed his audience of the occa- 
 fion of their meeting. He acquainted them 
 that one of their young men wifhed to 
 be admitted into their fociety ; and taking 
 him by the hand prefented him to their 
 view, alking them, at the fame time, 
 whether they had any obje£tion to his be- 
 coming one of their community. 
 
 No obje£lion being made, the young 
 candidate was placed in the centre, and 
 four of the chiefs took their ftations dole 
 to him; after exhorting him, by turns, 
 not to faint under the 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 ; another placed himfelf behind him 
 lb as to receive him when he fell, and 
 the laid of the four retired to the diftance 
 of about twelve feet from him exactly in 
 front. 
 
 S 
 
 This 
 
[ 274 1 
 
 This dlfpofition being completed, the 
 chief that flood before the kneeling can- 
 didate, began to fpeak to him with an 
 audible voice. He told him that he him- 
 felf was now agitated by the fame fpirit 
 which he fhould in a few moments com- 
 municate to him; that it would ftrike 
 him dead, but that he would inftantly be 
 reflored again to life ; to this he added, 
 that the communication, however terri- 
 fying, was a neceflary introdu£lion to the 
 advantages enjoyed by the community 
 into which he was on the point of being 
 admitted. 
 
 As he fpoke this, he appeared to be 
 greatly agitated ; till at laft his emotions 
 became fo violent, that his countenance 
 was diflorted, and his whole frame con- 
 vulfed. At this jundure he threw fome- 
 thing that appeared both in fhape and co- 
 lour like a fmall bean, at the young man, 
 which feemed to enter his mouth, and 
 he inftantly fell as motionlefs as if he 
 had been fhot. The chief that was placed 
 behind him received him in his arms, 
 and, by the affiftance of the other two, 
 laid him on the ground to all appearance 
 bereft of life. 
 
 Having 
 
f 275 ] 
 
 Having done this, they immediately 
 began to rub his limbs, and to ftrike him 
 on the back, giving him fuch blows, as 
 leemed more calculated to ftill the quick, 
 than to raife the dead. During jhele ex- 
 traordinary applications, the fpeaker con- 
 tinued his harangue, defiring the fpe£la- 
 tors not to be furprized, or to delpair of 
 the young man’s recovery, as his prefent 
 inanimate fituatlon proceeded only from 
 the forcible operation of the Ipirit, on 
 faculties that had hitherto been unuled to 
 Infpirations of this kind. 
 
 The candidate lay feveral minutes with- 
 out fenle or motion ; but at length, af- 
 ter receiving many violent blows, he be- 
 gan to difcover fome fymptoms of re- 
 turning life. Thefe, however, vyere at- 
 tended with ftrong convulfions, and an 
 apparent obfl:ru(£llon in his throaf. But 
 they were foon at an end ; for having difi- 
 charged from his mouth the bean, or 
 whatever it was that the chief had thrown 
 at him, but which on the clolefi: infpec- 
 tion I had not perceived to enter it, he 
 loon after appeared to be tolerably reco- 
 vered. 
 
 S 2 
 
 This 
 
[276] 
 
 This part of the ceremony being hap- 
 pily effeaed, the officiating chiefs difrobed 
 him of the cloaths he had ufually worn, 
 and put on him a fet of apparel entirely 
 new. When he was dreffcd, the fpeaker 
 once more took him by the hand, and 
 prefented him to the fociety as a regular 
 and thoroughly initiated member, exhort- 
 ing them, at the fame time, to give him 
 fuch necefiary affiftance, as being a young 
 member, he might ftand in need of. He 
 then alfo charged the newly ekaed bro- 
 ther to receive with humility, and to fol- 
 low with punauality the advice of his 
 elder brethren. 
 
 All thofe who had be^ admitted with- 
 in the rails, now formed a circle around 
 their new brother, and the mulic ftriking 
 up, the great chief fung a fong, celebrat- 
 ing as ufual their martial exploits. 
 
 The only mufic they make ufe of is a 
 drum, which is compofed of a piece of 
 a hollow tree curioufly wrought, and 
 over one end of which is ftrained a Ikin, 
 this they beat with a lingle flick, and it 
 gives a found that is far from harmoni- 
 ous, but it juft ferves to beat time with, 
 
 'I'o this they fometimes add the chichicoe, 
 ' ■ and 
 
[ 277 ] 
 
 and in their war dances they likewife ufe 
 a kind of fife, formed of a reed, which 
 makes a fhrill harfh noife. 
 
 The whole aflembly were by this time 
 united, and the dance began ; leveral fing- 
 ers aflifted the mufic with their voices, 
 and the women joining in the chorus at 
 certain intervals, they produced together 
 a not unpleafing but lavage harmony. 
 This was one of tlie moft agreeable en- 
 tertainments I law whilft I was among 
 them. 
 
 I could not help laughing at a lingular 
 childilh cullom I oblerved they intro- 
 duced into this dance, and which was the 
 only one that had the leafl appearance of 
 conjuration. Moll of the members ca^ 
 Tied in their hands an otter or martin's 
 Ikin, which being taken whole from the 
 body, and filled with wind, on being com- 
 prelled made a fqueaking noife through 
 a Irnall piece of wood organically formed 
 and fixed in its mouth. When this in- 
 llrument was prefented to the face of any 
 of the company, and the found emitted, 
 the perfon receiving it inftantly fell down 
 to appearance dead. Sometimes two or 
 three, both men and women, were on 
 S 3 the 
 

 [ 27* 1 
 
 the ground together; but 
 covering, they tofe up and 3omed ^in 
 the^dance. This feemed to afibrd, 
 even the chiefs themfelves, rnfinue diver- 
 fion. I afterwards Earned th« 
 their Dii Penates or Houflaold Gods. 
 
 After fome honrs fpent in this manner 
 the feaft began ; the diihes being roug t 
 near me, I perceived that *ey contifted 
 of dog's flefh ; and I was luforaied that 
 
 at all their public grand ^ 
 
 made ufe of any other kind of food. 
 For this purpofe, at the feaft I am noiv 
 fpeaking of, the new candidate provi es 
 fat dogs, if they can be procured at any 
 
 ^"in this cuftom of eating dog’s fleft on 
 
 particular occafions, they J 
 
 Lbitants of fome of the countries that he 
 on the nortb-eaft borders of Afia- The 
 author of the account of Kamfch«ka. 
 publifhed by order of the Emprefs of Ru 
 L (befoK referred to) informs us, that 
 the people Inhabiting Koreka, “ “““ J' 
 north of Kanifchatka, who wander abo 
 in hords like the Arabs, when 'hey PX 
 their worftiip to tlie evil beings, kill a 
 S-deer or^ dog, the flcfti. of 
 
[ 279 ] 
 
 they eat, and leave the head and tongue 
 flicking on a pole with the front towards 
 the eafl. Alfo that when they are afraid 
 of any infedlous diftemper, they kill a 
 dog, and winding the guts about two 
 poles, pafs between them. Thefe cuf- 
 toms, In which they are nearly imitated 
 by the Indians, feem to add ftrength to 
 my fuppofition, that America was firfl: 
 peopled from this quarter. 
 
 I kno>v not under wh^t 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 Mlffif- 
 fippi, as related in my Journals. When 
 I looked out, as I there mentioned, I faw 
 about twenty naked young Indians, the 
 moft perfect in their fhape, and by far 
 the handfbmeft of any I had ever feen, 
 coming towards me, and dancing as they 
 approached, to the mufic of their drums. 
 At every ten or twelve yards they halted, 
 and fet up their yells and cries. 
 
 When they reached my tent, I afked 
 them to come in; which, without deign- 
 ing to make me any anfwer, they did. As 
 1 obferved that they were painted red and 
 and black, as they ufually are when they 
 S 4 go 
 
[ 28 o ] 
 
 0-0 againft an enemy, and perceived that 
 fome parts of the war-dance were inter- 
 mixed with their other movements, I 
 doubted not but they were let on by the 
 inimical chief who had refufed my falu- 
 ration : I therefore determined to fell my 
 life as dear as poffible. To this purpofe, 
 
 I received them fitting on my chert, 
 with my gun and piftols befide me, and 
 ordered my men to keep a watchful eye 
 on them, and to be alfo upon their 
 
 guard. 
 
 The Indians being entered, they con- 
 tinued their dance alternately, finging at 
 the fame time of their heroic exploits, 
 and the fuperiority of their race over 
 every other people. To enforce their 
 language, though it was uncommonly 
 nervous and exprelfive, and fuch as would 
 of Itfelf have carried terror to the firmert 
 heart, at the end of every period they 
 rtruck their war-clubs againft the poles of 
 my tent, with fuch violence, that 1 ex- 
 peded every moment it would have tum- 
 bled upon us. As each of them, in 
 dancing round, palled by me, they placed 
 their right hands over their eyes, and 
 coming clofe to me, looked me fteadlly 
 
C 281 ] 
 
 in the face, which I could not conftrue 
 into a token of friendlhip. My men 
 gave themfelves up for loft, and I ac- 
 knowledge, for my own part, that I never 
 found my apprehenftons more tumultuous 
 on any occafion. 
 
 When they had nearly ended their 
 dance, I prefented 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; ac- 
 cordingly I took from my cheft fome 
 ribands and trinkets, which I laid betore 
 them. Thefe feemed to ftagger their re- 
 folutions, and to avert in Ibme degree 
 their anger ; for after holding a conlulta- 
 tion together, they fat down on the 
 ground, which 1 confidered as a favoui- 
 able omen. 
 
 Thus it proved, as in a ftiort time 
 they received the pipe of peace, and light- 
 ing it, firft prefented it to me, and then 
 fmoaked with it themfelves. Soon after 
 they took up the prefents, w'hich had hi- 
 therto lain negleaed, and appearing to be 
 greatly pleafed with them, departed in a 
 friendly manner. And never did 1 receive 
 
 greater 
 
[ 282 ] 
 
 greater pleafure than at getting rid of fuch 
 formidable guefts. 
 
 It was not ever in my power to gain a 
 thorough knowledge of the defigns of my 
 vifiters, I had fufficient reafon to con- 
 clude that they were hoftile, and that 
 their vilit, at fo late an hour, was made 
 through the inftigation of the Grand 
 Sautor; 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 th^t the circumftances in 
 their condudf, which had appeared fo fuA 
 picious to me, were merely the effefts of 
 their vanity, and defigned to imprefs on 
 the minds of thofe whom they thus vilited 
 an elevated opinion of their valour and 
 prowefs. In the morning before I con- 
 tinued my route, feveral of their wives 
 brought me a prefen t of fome fugar, for 
 wliom I found a fow more ribands. 
 
 The Dance of the facrifice is not fo 
 denominated frorn their pfiering up at the 
 fanae time a facrifice to any good or evil 
 fpirit, but is a dance to which the Nau- 
 doweffies give that title from being ufed 
 when any public fortunate circumftance 
 
 befalls 
 
f 2S3 1 
 
 befalls them. WhUft I refided among 
 them, a fine large deer accidentally ftrayed 
 Into the middle of their encampment, 
 which they foon deftroyed. As this hap- 
 pened juft at the new moon, they el- 
 teemed it a lucky omen; and having 
 roafted it whole, every one in the camp 
 partook of it. After their feaft, they all 
 joined in a dance, which they terrned, 
 from its being fomewhat of a religious 
 nature, a Dance of the facrifice. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Of their Hunting. 
 
 H unting is the principal occu- 
 pation of the Indians; they are 
 trained to it from their earlieft youth, and 
 it is an exercife which is efteemed no lefs 
 honourable than neceffary towards their 
 fubfiftence. A dextrous and refolute hun- 
 ter is held nearly in as great eftimation 
 by them as a diftlnguifhed ^ warrior. 
 Scarcely any device which the ingenuuy 
 of man has dlfcovered for enfnaring or de- 
 
 ftroying; thofe animals that fupply them 
 ° with 
 
u 
 
 [ 28+ ] 
 
 with food, or whofe Iklus are valuable to 
 Europeans, is unknown to them. 
 
 Whilft they are engaged in this exer- 
 cife, they fhake off the indolence peculiar 
 to their nature, and become aftive, per- 
 fevering, and indefatigable. They are 
 equally fagacious in finding their prey, 
 and in the means they ufe to deftroy it. 
 They difcern the footfteps of the beafts 
 they are in purfuit of, although they are 
 imperceptible to every other eye, and can 
 follow tnem with certainty through the 
 pathlefs foreif. 
 
 The beahs that the Indians hunt, both 
 for their fkfli on which they fubfift, and 
 lor their Ikins, of which they either make 
 tlieir apparel, or barter with the Euro- 
 peans for necelTaries, are the buffalo, the 
 elk, the deer, the moofe, the carribboo, 
 the bear, the beaver, the otter, the martin, 
 &c. I defer giving a defcription of thefe 
 creatures liere, and fhall only at prelent 
 treat of their manner of hunting them. 
 
 I he route they fhall take for this pur- 
 pole, and the parties that fliall go on the 
 Ciifferent expeditions are fixed in their ge- 
 neral councils which are held fbme time 
 in the fummer, when all the operations 
 
 for 
 
[ ^85 1 
 
 for the enfuing winter are concluded on. 
 The chief-warrior, whole province it is 
 to regulate their proceedings on this oc- 
 cafion, with great folemnity Ifl'ues out an 
 invitation to thole who choofe to attend 
 him ; for the Indians, as before obferved, 
 acknowledge no fuperlorlty, nor have they 
 any idea of compulfion; and every one 
 that accepts it prepares himfelf by fading 
 during feveral days. 
 
 The Indians do not fad as fome other 
 nations do, on the riched and mod lux- 
 urious food, but they totally abdain from 
 every kind either of victuals or drink ; and 
 fuch is their patience and refolution, that 
 the mod extreme third could not oblige 
 them to tade a drop of water; yet amidd 
 this fevere abdlnence they appear clieerful 
 and happy. 
 
 The reafons they give for thus fading, 
 are, that it enables them freely to dream, 
 in which dreams they are informed where 
 they lhall find the greated plenty of game ; 
 and alfo that it averts the dilplealure of 
 the evil fpirits, and Induces them to be 
 propitious. They alfo on thefe occafions 
 blacken thofe parts of their bodies that are 
 uncovered. 
 
 The 
 
( 286 1 
 
 The fafl: being ended, and the place of 
 hunting made known, the chief who is 
 to condud them, gives a grand feaft to 
 thofe who are to form the different par- 
 ties ; of which none of them dare to par- 
 take till they have bathed themfelves. At 
 this feaft, notwithftandlng they hive fafted 
 ib long, they cat with great moderation ; 
 and the chief that prefides employs him- 
 felf in rehearfing the feats of thofe who 
 have been moft fuccefsful in the bufinefs 
 they are about to enter upon. They foon 
 after fct out on the march towards the 
 place appointed, painted or rather be- 
 daubed with black, amidft the acclama- 
 tions of all the people. 
 
 It is impofiible to defcribe their agility 
 or perfeverance, whilft they are in pur- 
 luit of their prey ; neither thickets, ditch- 
 es, torrents, pools, or rivers ftop them; 
 they always go ftrait forward in the moft 
 direbt line they poffibly can, and there 
 are few of the favage inhabitants of the 
 woods that they cannot overtake. 
 
 When they hunt for bears, they en- 
 deavour to find out their retreats ; for, 
 during the winter, thefe animals conceal 
 
 them- 
 
[ 28; ] 
 
 themfelves In the hollow trunks of trees, 
 or make themfelves holes in the ground, 
 where they continue without food, whilft 
 the fevere weather lafts. 
 
 When the Indians think they have ar- 
 rived at a place where thefe creatures ufu- 
 ally haunt, they form themfelves into a 
 circle according to their number, and 
 moving onward, endeavour, as they ad- 
 vance towards the centre, to difcover the 
 retreats of their prey. By this means, if 
 any lie in the intermediate Ipace, they are 
 fure of aroufmg them, and bringing them 
 down either with their bows or their 
 guns. The bears will take to flight at 
 fight of a man or a dog, and will only 
 make refiftance when they are extremely 
 hungry, or after they are wounded. 
 
 The Indian method of hunting the 
 buffalo is by forming a circle or a fquare, 
 nearly in the fame manner as when they 
 fearch for the be^ir. Having taken their 
 different flratlons, they fet the grafs, which 
 at this time is rank and dry, on fire, and 
 thefe animals, who are extremely fearful 
 of that element, flying with precipitation 
 before it, great numbers are hemmed in 
 
 a fmall 
 
[ 288 ] 
 
 a fmall compafs, and fcarcely a fingle one 
 efcapes. 
 
 They have different ways of hunting 
 the elk, the deer, and the carribboo. 
 Sometimes they feek them out in the 
 woods, to which they retire during the 
 feverity of the cold, where they are eaiily 
 ffiot from behind the trees. In the more 
 northern climates they take the advantage 
 of the weather- to deffroy the elk ; when 
 the fun has juft ftrength eirough to melt 
 the fnow, and the froft in the night forms 
 a kind of cruft on the furfacc, this crea- 
 ture being heavy, breaks it with his forked 
 hoofs, and with difficulty extricates him- 
 felf from it : at this time therefore he is 
 foon overtaken and deftroyed. 
 
 Some nations have a method of hunt- 
 ing thefe animals which is more eauly 
 executed, and free from danger. The 
 hunting party divide themfelves into two 
 bands, and chooffng a fpot near the bor- 
 ders of fome river, one party embarks on 
 board their canoes, whilft the other form- 
 ing themfelves into a femi-circle on the 
 land , the flanks of which reach the (bore, 
 let loofe their dogs, and by this means 
 roule all the game that lies within thefe 
 
 bounds ; 
 
C 2^9 ] 
 
 tounds 5 they then drive them towdrda 
 the river, into 'vVhich they no tboner enter^ 
 than the greateft part of them are imme- 
 diately dilpatched by thofe who remain in 
 the canoes. 
 
 Both the elk aild the buffalo are very 
 furious when they are wounded, and will 
 return fiercely on their purfuers, and 
 trample them under their feet, if the 
 hunter finds not means to complete their 
 deftruftion, or feeks for fecurity in flight 
 to fome adjacent tree ; by this method 
 they arc frequently avoided, and fo tired 
 with the purfult, that they voluntarily give 
 it over. 
 
 But the hunting in which the Indians^ 
 particularly thofe who inhabit the north-^ 
 ern parts, chiefly employ themfelves, and 
 from which they reap the greatefl; advan- 
 tage, is the beaver hunting. The fealbn 
 for this is throughout the whole of the 
 winter, from November to April ; during 
 which time the fur of thefe creatures is in 
 the greatefl perfeclion. A delcriptlon of 
 this extraordinary animal, the conftruc- 
 tion of their huts, and the regulations of 
 their almofl rational community, I lhall 
 give in another place. 
 
 T 
 
 The 
 
[ 290 ] 
 
 The hunters make ufe of feveral me- 
 thods to deftroy them. Thofe generally 
 pradUfed, are either that of taking them in 
 fnares, cutting through the ice, or open- 
 ing their cauleways. 
 
 As the eyes of thefe animals are very 
 quick, and their hearing exceedingly acute, 
 great precaution is necelTary in approaching 
 their abodes ; for as they feldom go far 
 from the water, and their houfes are al- 
 ways built clofe to the fide of fome large 
 liver or lake, or dams of their own con- 
 llrudling, upon the leaft alarm they haften 
 to the deepefl; part of the water, and dive 
 immediately to the bottom ; as they do 
 this they make a great noife by beating 
 the water with their tails, on purpofe to 
 put the whole fraternity on their guard. 
 
 They take them with fnares in the 
 following manner : though the beavers ufu- 
 ally lay up a fufficient ftore of provifion 
 to fen'e for their fubfiftence during the 
 winter, they make from time to time ex- 
 curfions to the neighbouring woods to pro- 
 cure further fupplies of food. The hunt- 
 ers having found out their haunts, place 
 a trap in their way, baited with Imall 
 pieces of bark, or young fhoots of trees, 
 
 which 
 
t 291 ] 
 
 \vhich the beaver has no fooner laid hold 
 of, than a large log of wood falls upon 
 him, and breaks his back ; his enemies, 
 who are upon the watch, foon appear, and 
 inftantly difpatch the helplefs animal. 
 
 At other times, when the ice on the 
 rivers and lakes is about half a foot thick, 
 they make an opening through it with 
 their hatchets, to which the beavers will 
 foon haften, on being difturbed at their 
 houfes, for a fupply of frelh air. As 
 their breath occafions a confiderable mo- 
 tion in the waters, the hunter has fuf- 
 ficient notice of their approach, and me- 
 thods are eafily taken for knocking them 
 on the head the moment they appear above 
 the furface. 
 
 When the houfes of the beavers happen 
 to be near a rivulet, they are more eafily 
 deflroyed : the hunters 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, where 
 they are entangled and taken. But they 
 muft not be fuffered to remain there long, 
 as they would foon extricate themfelves 
 with their teeth, which are well known 
 to be exceffively fharp and flrong. 
 
 T 2 
 
 The 
 

 [ 292 1 
 
 The Indians take great cate to hinder 
 their dogs from touching the bones of the 
 beavers. The reafons they give for thefe 
 precautions, are, firft that the bones are fo 
 exceffively hard, that they fpoil the teeth 
 of the dogs; and, fecondly, that they 
 are apprehenfive they (hall fo exafperate 
 the fpirits of the beavers by this permif- 
 fion, as to render the next hunting feafon 
 unfuccefsful. 
 
 The Ikins of thefe animals the hunters 
 •exchange with the Europeans for necef- 
 faries, and as they are more valued by the 
 latter than any other kind of turs, they 
 pay the greateft attention to this fpecies 
 of hunting. 
 
 When the Indians deftroy buffalos, elks, 
 deer, &c. they generally divide the flefli of 
 fuch as they have taken among the tribe 
 to which they belong. But in hunting 
 the beaver a few families ufually unite 
 and divide the fpoil between them. In- 
 deed, in the firft inftance they generally 
 pay fome attention in the divifion to their 
 own families ; but no jealoufies or inur- 
 murings are ever knowm to arife on ac- 
 count of any apparent partiality. 
 
 Among 
 
[ 293 ] 
 
 Among the Naudoweffies, If a perfbii 
 fhoots a deer, buffalo, &c. and it runs 
 to a confiderable diftance before it drops, 
 where a perfori belonging to another tribe, 
 being nearer, firft flicks a knife into it, 
 the game is confidered as the property 
 of the latter, notwithftanding It had 
 been mortally wounded by the former. 
 Though this cuftom appears to be arbi- 
 trary and unjuft, yet that people cheer- 
 fully fubmit to it. This decifion is, how- 
 ever, very different from that pra<ftifed 
 by the Indians on the back of the colo- 
 nies, where the firft perfon that hits it is 
 entitled to the beft fliare. 
 
 Of their Manner of mahlng ^ A's.j 
 
 H E 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 mili- 
 tary exercifes after they are fifty. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 In 
 
J 
 
 [ 294 1 
 
 In every band or nation there is a feleft 
 number who are ftiled the Warriors, and 
 who are always ready to ad either offen- 
 lively or defenfively, as occalion requirea. 
 Thefe are well armed, bearing the wea- 
 pons commonly in ul'e among them, which 
 vary according to the lituation of their 
 coiintries. Such as have an mtercourfe 
 with the Europeans make ufe of toma- 
 hawks, knives, and fire-arms ; but thofe 
 whofe dwellings are fituated to the weft- 
 ward of the Miffiffippl, and who have not 
 an opportunity ,of purchafing thefe kinds 
 of weapons, ufe bows and arrows, and 
 alfo the Calfe Tete or War-club. 
 
 The Indians that inhabit ftill farther to 
 the weftward, a country which extends to 
 the South Sea, ufe in fight a warlike in- 
 ftrument that is very uncommon. Hav- 
 ing great plenty of horfes, they always 
 attack their enemies on horfeback, and en- 
 cumber themfelves with no^ other wea- 
 pon, than a Hone of a middling b^e, cu 
 rioully wrought, which they faften y 
 a firing, about a yard and half long, to 
 their right arms, a little above the elbow. 
 Thefe ftones they conveniently carry m 
 their hands till they reach their enemies. 
 
[ 295 3 
 
 and then fvvlnglng them with great dex- 
 terity, 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 die 
 horfes on which they are mounted, en- 
 ables them to overtake even the fleeteft ot 
 their invaders. 
 
 The Naudo wellies, who had been at 
 war with this people, informed me, that 
 unlefs they found moraffes or thickets to 
 which they could retire, they were fure 
 of being cut off : to prevent this they 
 always took care whenever they made 
 an onfet, to do it near fuch retreats as 
 were impaliable ' for cavalry, they then 
 having a great advantage over their ene- 
 mies, whofe weapons would not there 
 reach them. 
 
 Some nations make ufe of a javelin 
 pointed with bone worked into different 
 forms ; but their Indian weapons in ge- 
 neral are bows and arrows, and the Ihort 
 club already mentioned. The latter is 
 made of a very hard wood, and the head 
 pf it fafhioned round like a ball, about 
 three inches and a half diameter ; in this 
 T rotund 
 
[ 39 ^ 1 
 
 part is fixed an edge refembling 
 that of a toroahawk, either of ftcel or flmt, 
 whichever they can procure; fimilar to 
 that reprefented in Plate N® IV. 
 
 The dagger placed near it in the lame 
 plate, is peculiar to the Naudowellie na- 
 tion, and of ancient conftrudion, but they 
 can give no account how long it has been 
 in ui'e among them. It was originally 
 nrade of flint or bone, but fince they 
 have had communication with the Euror 
 pean traders, they have formed it of Heel. 
 The length of it is about ten inches, and 
 that part clofe to the handle nearly three 
 inches broad. Its edges ;\re keen, ^md it 
 gradually tapers towards a point. They 
 wear it in a flieath made of deer’s leather, 
 neatly ornamented with porcupine quills ; 
 and it is ufually hung by a ftrmg, deco- 
 rated in the fame manner, which reaches 
 as low only as the breaft. This curious 
 weapon is worn by a few of the principal 
 chiefs alone, and conlidered both as an 
 ufeful inftrument, and an ornamental badge 
 pf fuperiority. 
 
 I obferved among the Naudoweflies a 
 few targets or flflelds made of raw buffalo 
 glides, and in the form of thole ufed by 
 
[ 297 ] 
 
 the ancients. But as the number of thefe 
 was fmall, and I could gain no intelli-' 
 gence of the aera in which they firft were 
 introduced among them, I fuppofe thofe 
 I law had defcended from father to fon for 
 many generations. 
 
 The reafons the Indians give for mak- 
 ing war againft one another, are much 
 the fame as thofe urged by more civilized 
 nations for difturbing the tranquillity of 
 their neighbours. The pleas of the for- 
 mer are however in general more rational 
 and juft, than fuch as are brought by 
 Europeans in vindication of their proceed- 
 ings. 
 
 The extenlion of empire is feldom a 
 motive with theft people to invade, and 
 to commit depredations on the territories 
 of thofe who happen to dwell near them. 
 To fecure the rights of hunting with- 
 in particular limits, to maintain the li- 
 l^erty of paffing through their accuftomed 
 tracks, and to guard thole lands vvhicli 
 they conlider from a long tenure as their 
 own, againft any infringement, are the 
 oeneral caufes of thofe diflenfions that io 
 
 O 
 
 often break out between the Indian na- 
 tions, and which are carried on with lo 
 
 piuch 
 
[ 298 ] 
 
 much animofity. Though ftrangers to 
 the idea of feparate property, yet the moft 
 uncultivated among them are well ac- 
 quainted with the rights of their com- 
 munity to the domains they poflefs, and 
 oppofe with vigour every encroachment on 
 them. 
 
 Notwithftandlng it is generally fup- 
 pofed that from their territories being fo 
 extenfive, the boundaries of them cannot 
 be afeertained, yet I am well aflbred 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 own ; and after the moft exa£t obfer- 
 vations and enquiries found very few in- 
 ftances in which they erred. 
 
 But intereft is not either the moft fre- 
 quent or moft powerful incentive to their 
 making war on each other. The paffion 
 of revenge, which is the diftinguilhing 
 characleriftic of thefe people, is the moft 
 general motive. Injuries are felt by them 
 with exquifite fenfibility, and vengeance 
 purftied with unremitted ardour. To 
 this may be added, that natural excita- 
 tion which every Indian becomes fen- 
 
 fible 
 
 
r 299 ] 
 
 fible of as fbon as he approaches the age of 
 manhood to give proofs of his valour and 
 prowefs. 
 
 As they are early poflefled with a no- 
 
 tion that war ought to be the chief bufi- 
 nefs of their lives, that there is nothing 
 more defirous than the reputation of be- 
 ing a great warrior, and that the fcalps of 
 their enemies or a number of prifoners are 
 alone to be efteemed valuable, it is not to 
 
 be wondered at that the younger Indians 
 are continually reftlefs and uneafy if their 
 ardour is reprefled, and they are kept in 
 a ftate of ina£llvity. Either of thefe pro- 
 penfities, the defvre of revenge, or the gra- 
 tification of an impulle that by degrees 
 becomes habitual to them, is fufficient, 
 frequently, to induce them to commit 
 hoftllities on fome of the neighbouring 
 nations. 
 
 When the chiefs find any occafion for 
 making war, they endeavour to aroufe 
 tliele 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, w'hich never fails of proving et- 
 fedtual; “ The bones of our deceafed 
 
 country- 
 
[ 30® 1 
 
 countrymen lie uncovered, they call 
 “ out to us to revenge their wrongs, 
 
 “ and we mull fatisfy their requeft. 
 
 “ Their fpirits cry out againft us, they 
 muft be appeafed. The genii, who 
 are the guardians of our honour, 
 
 “ infpire us with a refolution to feek 
 “ the eireinies of our murdered bro- 
 “ thers. l.et us go and devour thofe by 
 “ whom they were (lain. Sit therefore 
 “ no longer lna£live, give way to the 
 “ impulfe of your natural valour, anoint 
 “ your hair, paint your faces, fill your 
 “ quivers, caule the forefts to refound 
 “ with your fongs, confole the fpirits of 
 “ the dead, and tell them they {hall be 
 “ revenged.” 
 
 Animated by thefe exhortations the 
 warriors 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 chiets aflemble finall 
 parties, and make excurfions againft thofe 
 with whom they are at war, or fuch as 
 have injured them. A fingle warrior, 
 prompted by revenge or a defire to fhow 
 his prowefs, will march unattended for 
 
! 
 
[ 3 
 
 feveral hundred miles, to furprlze and cut 
 off a ftraggling party. 
 
 Thefe irregular lallies, however, are 
 not always approved of by the elder 
 chiefs, though they are often obliged to 
 connive at them 5 as in the inftance be- 
 fore given of the Naudoweffie and Chipe- 
 way nations. 
 
 But when a war is national, and un- 
 dertaken by the community, their deli- 
 berations are formal and flow. The elders 
 aflemble in council, to which all the 
 head warriors and young men are ad- 
 mitted, where they deliver their opinions 
 in folemn fpeeches, weighing with ma- 
 turity the nature of the enterprize they 
 are about to engage in, and balancing 
 with great figacity the advantages or in- 
 conveniences that will arlle from it. 
 
 Their priefts are alfo confulted on the 
 fubjea, and even, fometimes, the advice 
 of the mofl; Intelligent of their women is 
 aflced. 
 
 If the determination be for war, they 
 prepare for it with much ceremony. 
 
 The chief warrior of a nation does not 
 on all occafions head the war party hlm- 
 felf, he frequently deputes a warrior of 
 
 whofe 
 
J 
 
 t 3^2 1 
 
 whofe valour and prudence he has a good 
 opinion. The perfon thus fixed on being 
 firft bedawbed with black, obferves a faft 
 of feveral days, during which he invokes 
 the Great Spirit, or deprecates the anger 
 of the evil ones, holding whilft it lafts 
 no converle with any of his tribe. 
 
 He is particularly careful at the fame 
 time to obferve his dreams, for on thefe 
 do they fuppofe their fuccefs will in a 
 great meafure depend ; and from the firm 
 perfuafion every Indian adfuated by his 
 own prefumptuous thoughts is imprefled 
 with, that he fliall march forth to certain 
 victory, thefe are generally favourable to 
 his wifhes. 
 
 After he has failed as long as cuftom 
 prefcribes, he aflembles the warriors, and 
 holding a belt of wampum in his hand 
 thus addrelTes them : 
 
 “ Brothers ! by the Infpiration of the 
 “ Great Spirit I now fpeak unto you, 
 “ and by him am 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 are not 
 
 “ yet 
 
[ 3^3 1 
 
 yet covered, and I am going to per- 
 “ form this duty to them.” 
 
 Having then made known to them all 
 the motives that induce him to take up 
 arms againft the nation with whom they 
 are to engage, he thus proceeds: “ I have 
 “ therefore refolved to march through 
 the war-path to furprize them. We 
 “ will eat their flefh and drink their 
 “ blood; we will take fcalps, and make 
 “ prifoners ; and Ihould we perilh in 
 this glorious enterprize, we lhall not 
 “ be for ever hid in the duft, for this 
 “ belt fliall be a recompence 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 lieu- 
 tenant, and is confidered as the fecond in. 
 command; this, however, is only done 
 by fome diftinguHhed warrior who has a 
 right, by the number of his fcalps, to 
 the poll. 
 
 Though the Indians thus aflert that 
 they will eat the flelli and drink the 
 blood of their enemies, the threat is only 
 to be confidered as a figurative expreffion. 
 Notwithfiianding they fometimes devour 
 the hearts of thofe they flay, and drink 
 
 their 
 
t 304 ] 
 
 tlieir blood, by way of bravado, or 
 o-ratify in a more complete manner their 
 Tevenge, yet they are not naturally an- 
 thropophagi, nor ever feed on the flelh of 
 
 men. _ 
 
 The chief is now wafhed from his 
 
 fable covering, anointed with bears fat, 
 and painted, with their red paint, in fuch 
 figures as will make him appear moft ter- 
 rible to his enemies. He then fings the 
 war fong, and enumerates his w’arlike ac- 
 tions. Having done this he fixes his eyes 
 on the fun, and pays his adorations to 
 the Great Spirit, in which he is accom- 
 panied by all the warriors. 
 
 This ceremony is followed with dances, 
 fuch as 1 have before defcribed; and the 
 whole concludes with a feaft which ufu- 
 ally confifts of dogs flefh. 
 
 This feaft is held in the hut or tent 
 of the chief warrior, to which all thofe 
 who Intend to accompany him in his ex- 
 pcdltion fend their dilhes to be filled , and 
 during the feaft, notwithftanding he has 
 fafted fo long, he fits compofedly with 
 his pipe in his mouth, and recounts tk 
 valorous deeds of his family. 
 
 As 
 
[ 3°5 ] 
 
 As the hopes of having their wounds, 
 fliouid they receive any, properly treated, 
 and expeditioufly cured ^ muft be fome ad- 
 ditional inducenaent to the warriors to ex- 
 pofe themfelves mdre freely to danger, the 
 priefts, who are alfo their dd£tors, prepare 
 fuch medicines as will prove efficacious* 
 With great ceremony they colled various 
 roots and plants, and pretend that they 
 impart to them the power of healing. 
 
 Nowithftanding this fuperfiitious me- 
 thod of proceeding, it is very certain that 
 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 Ikill. 
 
 From the time the refolution of engag- 
 ing in a war is taken, to the departure of 
 the warriors, the nights are fpent in fefti- 
 vlty, and their days in making the need- 
 ful preparations. 
 
 If it is thought neceffary by the na- 
 tion going to war, to folicit the alliance 
 of aiiy neighbouring tribe, they fix upon 
 one of their chiefs who fpeaks the lan- 
 guage of that people well, and who is a 
 ffood orator, and fend to them by him a 
 U belt 
 
J 
 
 [ 306 1 
 
 tjelt of wampum, on which is fpecifed 
 the purport of the embafly in figures that 
 every nation is well acquainted with. At 
 the Vame time he carries with him a 
 
 hatchet painted red. 
 
 As foon as he reaches the camp or vil- 
 lage to which he is deftined, he acquaints 
 the chief of the tribe with the general 
 tenor of his commiffioii, who immediately 
 affembles a council, to which the ambal- 
 fador is 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 embafly. In his 
 fpeech he invites them to take up the 
 hatchet, and as foon as he has finilhed 
 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 are accepted, the emiflary con- 
 cludes that the people whofe alTiftance he 
 folicits have already entered into an alli- 
 ance with the foes of his nation, and re 
 
 turns 
 
[ 3 °; ] 
 
 turns with fpeed to inform his country-’ 
 men of his ill fuccefs. 
 
 The manner in which the Indians de- 
 clare war againfl each other, is by fend- 
 ing a flave with a hatchet, the handle 
 of which is painted red, to the nation 
 which they intend to break with ; and 
 the meflenger, notwithftanding the dan- 
 ger to which he is expofed from the fud- 
 den fury of thofe whom he thus fets at de- 
 fiance, executes his commilfion with great 
 fidelity. 
 
 Sometimes this token of defiance has 
 fuch an inftantaneous effedl on thole to 
 whom it is prelented, that in the firli 
 tranfports of their fury a fmall party will 
 ifl'ue forth, without waiting for the per- 
 miffion of the elder chiefs, and flaying 
 the firfl: of the offending nation they meet, 
 cut open the body and flick a hatchet of 
 the farrie kind as that they have juft re- 
 ceived, into the heart of their flaughtered 
 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 
 exafperate, they dilmember the body, to 
 Ihow that they efteem them not as men 
 but as old women. 
 
 U 2 
 
 The 
 

 [ 3 °^ 1 
 
 The Indians feldom take the field 
 lar&e bodies, as fuch numbers would re- 
 quire a greater degree of induftry to pro- 
 vide for their fubfiftence, during their te- 
 dious marches through dreary forefts, or 
 long voyages over lakes and rivers, than 
 
 they would care to beftow. 
 
 Their armies are never aicumbered 
 with baggage or military ftores. Each 
 warrior, befides his weapons, carries with 
 him only a mat, and whilft at a diftance 
 from the frontiers of the enemy fuppor^ 
 himfelf with the game he kills or the fifli 
 he catches. 
 
 When they pafs through a country 
 where they have no apprehenfions of meet- 
 ing with an enemy, they ufe very little 
 precaution : fometimes there are fcarcely a 
 dozen warriors left together, the reft be- 
 ing difperfed in purfuit of their game; 
 but though they ftiould have roved to a 
 very confiderable diftance from the war- 
 path, they are fure to. arrive at^ the place 
 of rendezvous by the hour appointed. 
 
 They always pitch their tents long 
 before fun-fet; and being naturally pre- 
 fumptuous take very little care to guar 
 
[ 3^9 1 
 
 againft a furprize. They place great 
 confidence in their Manitous, or houl- 
 hold gods, which they always carry with 
 them ; and being perfuaded that they 
 take upon them the office of centinels, 
 they fleep very fecurely under their pro- 
 tedlion. 
 
 Thefe Manitous, as they are called 
 by fome nations, but which are termed 
 Wakons, that is, fpirits, by the Naudo- 
 weffies, are nothing more than the otter 
 and martins Ikins I have already delcribed, 
 for which, however, they have a great 
 veneration. 
 
 After they have entered the enemies 
 country, no people can be more cautious 
 and circumipeft ; fires are no longer light- 
 ed, no more Ihouting is heard, nor the 
 game any longer purfucd, They are not 
 even permitted tofpeak ; but mult convey 
 whatever they have to impart to each other 
 by figns and motions.. 
 
 They now proceed wholly by ftrata- 
 gem and ambulcade. Having difcovered 
 their enemies, they lend to reconnoitre 
 them ; and a council is immediately held, 
 during which they fpeak only in whifpers, 
 U 3 to 
 
u 
 
 E 310 1 
 
 to confider of the intelligence Imparted by 
 thofe who were feat out. 
 
 The attack is generally made juft be- 
 fore day-break, at which period they fup- 
 pofe their foes to be in the foundeft fleep. 
 Throughout the whole of the preceding 
 night they will lie flat upon their faces, 
 without ftirring ; and make their ap- 
 proaches in the fame pofture, creeping 
 upon their hands and feet till they are got 
 within bow-ftiot of thofe they have def- 
 tined to deftrudlion. On a fignal given 
 by the chief warrior, to which the whole 
 body makes anfwer by the moft hideous 
 yells, they all ftart up, and difcharging 
 their arrows in the fame inftant, without 
 giving their adverfaries time to recover 
 from the confuflon into which they are 
 thrown, pour in upon them vyith their 
 war-clubs or tomahawks. 
 
 The Indians think there is little glory 
 to be acquired from attacking their ene- 
 mies openly in the held ; their greateft 
 pride is to furprjze and deftroy. They fel- 
 dom engage without a manifeft appearance 
 pf advantage. T they find the enemy on 
 their guard, too ftrongly entrenched, or 
 
 fuperior 
 
[ 31 ^] 
 
 fuperior in numbers, they retire, pro- 
 vided their is an opportunity of doing 
 fo. And they efteem it the greateft qua- 
 lification of a chief warrior, to be able to 
 manage an attack, fo as to deftroy as many 
 of the enemy as pofiible, at the expence of 
 a few men. 
 
 Sometimes they fecure themfelves be- 
 hind trees, hillocks, or ftones, and hav- 
 ing given one or two rounds retire before 
 they are difcovered. Europeans, who are 
 unacquainted with this method of fighting 
 too often find to their coft the deftruaive 
 
 efficacy of it. 
 
 General Braddock was one of this un- 
 happy number. Marching in the year 
 1 7 c c, to attack Fort Du Quefne, he was 
 intercepted by a party of French and con- 
 federate Indians in their intereft, who by 
 this infidious method of engaging foun 
 means to defeat his army, which confifted 
 of about two thoufand brave and we 1- 
 difciplined troops. So fecurely were the 
 Indians polled, that the Englilh fcarcely 
 knew from whence or by whom they 
 were thus annoyed. During the whole 
 of the engagement the latter had Icarwly 
 a fight of an enemy ; and were obliged 
 ° TT ^ to 
 
[ 3*2 ] 
 
 to retreat without the fatisfacflion of bein^ 
 able to take the leaft degree of revenge 
 for the havpck made among them. The 
 General paid for his temerity with hist 
 life, and was accompanied in his fall by a 
 great number of brave fellows ; whilft his 
 invifible enemies had only two or three of 
 their number wounded. 
 
 When the Indians fucceed in their 
 filent approaches, and are able to force the 
 camp which they attack, a fcene of hor- 
 ror, that exceeds defcription, enfues. The 
 favage fiercenefs of the conquerors, and 
 the defperation of the conquered, who well 
 know what they have to expefl (hould 
 they fall alive into the hands of their af- 
 failants, occafion the ipoft extraordinry 
 exertions on both fides. The figure of 
 the combatants all befmeared with black 
 and red paint, and covered with the blood 
 of the flain, their horrid yells, and un- 
 governable fury, are not to be conceived 
 by thofe who have never crolTed the At- 
 lantic. 
 
 I have frequently been a fpedlator of 
 them, and once bore a part in a fimllar 
 fcene. But what added to the horror 
 of it was, that I had not the confolatlon 
 
 of 
 
[ 3^3 1 
 
 of being able to oppofe their favage at* 
 tacks. Every circumftauce of the adven-r 
 ture ftill dwells on my remembrance, and 
 enables me to defcribe with greater per- 
 fpicuity the brutal fiercenefs of the Indians 
 when they have furprized or overpowered 
 
 enemy, 
 
 As a detail of the maffacre at Fort 
 William Henry in the year 1757, the 
 Icene to which I refer, cannot appear fo- 
 reign to the defign of this publication, but 
 will ferve to give my readers a juft idea 
 pf the ferocity of this people, I Ihall take 
 the liberty to infert it, apologizing at 
 the fame time for the length of the di- 
 greffion, and thofe egotifms which the 
 relation renders unavoidable. 
 
 General Webb, who commanded the 
 Englilh army in North America, which 
 was then encamped at Fort Edward, hav- 
 ing intelligence that the French troops 
 under Monf. Montcalm were making 
 fome movements towards hort William 
 Henry, he detached a corps of about ht- 
 teen hundred men, confiftmg of Enghfli 
 ^nd Provincials, toftrengthen the ganifon. 
 In this party I went as a volunteer atnong 
 the latter, 
 
 The 
 
[ 3H ] 
 
 The appreheniions of the Englilh Ge- 
 neral were not without foundation ; for 
 the day after our arrival we faw Lake 
 George (formerly Lake Sacrament) to 
 which it lies contiguous, covered with an 
 immenfe number of boats; and in a few 
 hours we found our lines attacked by the 
 French General, who had juft landed with 
 eleven thoufand Regulars and Canadians, 
 and two thoufand Indians. Colonel Monro, 
 a brave officer, commanded in the Fort, 
 and had no more than two thoufand three 
 hundred men with him, our detachment 
 Included. 
 
 With thefe he made a gallant defence, 
 and probably would have been able at 
 laft to preferve the Fort, had he been 
 properly fupported, and peirnitted to con- 
 tinue his efforts. On every fummons to 
 furrendcr fent by the French General, 
 who offered the moft honourable terms, 
 his anfwer repeatedly was. That he yet 
 found himfelf in a condition to repel the 
 moft vigorous attacks his beliegers were 
 able to make ; and if he thought his pre- 
 fent force infufficient, he could foon be 
 fupplied with a greater number from the 
 adjacent armj\ 
 
[ 3M 1 
 
 But the Colonel having acquainted 
 General Webb with his lituation, and 
 delired he would fend him fome trelh. 
 troops, the general dlfpatched a meflenger 
 to him with a letter, whereuig he informed 
 him that it was not in his power to affift 
 him, and therefore gave him orders to fur- 
 render up the Fort on the heft terms he 
 could procure. This packet fell into the 
 hands of the French General, who im- 
 mediately fent 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 pofleffion of the Fort, as it be- 
 longed to the King his mafter. The Co- 
 lonel replied, that he knew not how that 
 could be, nor fhould he iurrender it up 
 whllft it w'as in his power to defend it. 
 
 The French General rejoined, at the 
 firme time delivering the packet into the 
 Colonel’s hand, “ By this authority do 
 I make the requifition.” The brave 
 Governor had no Iboncr read the contents 
 of it, and was convinced that fuch were 
 the orders of the commander in ctiief, and 
 
 not 
 
[ 3^6 ] 
 
 not to be dIfobeyed, than he hung his head 
 in filence, and reluctantly entered into a 
 negociation. 
 
 In confideratlon of the gallant defence 
 the garrifon had made, they were to be 
 permitted to march out with all the ho- 
 nours of war, to be allowed covered wag- 
 gons to tranfport their baggage to Fort 
 Edward, and a guard to protect them from 
 the fury of the favages. 
 
 The morning after the capitulation was 
 figned, as foon as day broke, the whole 
 garrifon, now confiding of about two 
 thoufand men, befides women and chil- 
 dren, were drawn up within the lines, 
 and on the point of marching off, when 
 great numbers of the Indians gathered 
 about, and began to plunder. We were 
 at firft in hopes that this was their only 
 view, and fuffered them to proceed with- 
 out oppofition. Indeed it was not in our 
 power to make any, had we been fo 
 inclined ; for tliough we vvere permit- 
 ted to carry off our arms, yet we w^ere 
 not allowed a fingle round of ammuni- 
 tion. In thefe hopes however we were 
 difappointed : for prelently fome of them 
 began to attack the fick and wounded, 
 
 when 
 
[ 3>7 1 
 
 when fuch as were not able to crawl Into 
 the ranks, notwlthftanding they endea- 
 voured to avert the fury of their enetnics 
 by their fhrieks or groans, were icon dil- 
 patched. 
 
 Here we were fully in expeaation that 
 the difturbance would have concluded ; 
 and our little army began to move ; but 
 in a Ihort time we faw the front divifion 
 driven back, and difcovered that we were 
 entirely encircled by the favages. We 
 expeaed every moment that the guar , 
 which the French, by the articles ot capi- 
 tulation, had agreed to allow us, woulc 
 have arrived, and put an end to our ap- 
 prehenfions; but none appeared. 1 be 
 Indians now began to ftnp every one 
 without exception of their arms and 
 cloaths, and thofe who made the lead re* 
 fiftance felt the weight of their toma- 
 1 happened to be in the rear divifion, 
 but it was not long before I (hared the 
 fate of my companions. Three or four 
 of the favages laid hold of me, and wbilil 
 fome held their weapons over my head, 
 the others foon difrobed me of my coat, 
 
 waiftcoat, hat, and buckles, omitting not 
 
 to 
 
[ 318 ] 
 
 to take from me what money I had hi 
 my pocket. As this was tranfafted clofe 
 by the paflage that led from the lines oii 
 to the plain, near which a French cen- 
 tinel was polled, I ran to him and claim- 
 ed his protection ; but he only called me 
 an Englilh dog, and thrull me with vio- 
 lence back again into the midll; of the In- 
 dians. 
 
 I now endeavoured to join a body of 
 our troops that were crowded together at 
 fome diilance; but innumerable were the 
 blows that W'ere made at me with differ- 
 ent weapons as I palled on ; luckily how- 
 ever the favages were fo clofe together, 
 that they could not llrike at me with- 
 out endangering each other. Notwith- 
 ftanding which one of them found means 
 to make a thrull at me with a fpear, 
 U’hich grazed my fide, and from another 
 I received a wound, with the fame kind 
 of weapon, in my anle. At length I 
 gained the fpot where my countrymen 
 llood, and forced myfelf into the midft 
 ot them. But before I got thus far out 
 of the hands of the Indians, the collar 
 and Avrillbands of my Ihirt were all that 
 remained of it, and my fiefn was fcratched 
 
 and 
 
t 319 ] 
 
 and tom m many places by tlieir, favagc' 
 gripes. 
 
 By this time the war-hoop was given, 
 and the Indians began to murder thofe 
 that were neareft to them without diflinc- 
 tion. It is not in the power of words to 
 give any tolerable idea of the horrid Icene 
 that now enfued ; men, women, and chil- 
 dren were diipatched in the moft wanton 
 and cruel manner, and immediately fcalped. 
 Many of thefe favages drank the blood of 
 their victims, as it flowed warm from the 
 fatal wound. 
 
 We now perceived, though too. late 
 to avail us, that we were to expefl no 
 relief from the French ; and that, con- 
 trary to the agreement they had fo lately 
 ligned to allow us a fuflicient force to 
 protect us from thefe infults, they ta- 
 citly permitted them ; for I could plain- 
 ly perceive the French officers walking 
 about at fome dlftance, difcourling together 
 with apparent unconcern. For the ho- 
 nour of human nature I would hope that 
 this flagrant breach of every facred law, 
 proceeded rather from the favage difpo- 
 fition of the Indians, which I acknow- 
 ledge it is fometimes almoft Impoffible 
 
 to 
 
u 
 
 [ 320 ] 
 
 to coiitrouij and which might now unex- 
 pedledly have arrived to a pitch not eafily 
 to be reftrained, than to any premeditated 
 defign in tlie French commander. An 
 unprejudiced obferver would, however^ 
 be apt to conclude, that a body of ten 
 thoufand chriftian troops, moft chriftian 
 troops, had it in their power to prevent 
 the maffacre from becoming fo general. 
 But whatever was the eaufe from which 
 it arofe, the confequences of it wete dread- 
 ful, and not to be paralleled in modern 
 hiftory* 
 
 As the circle In which I ftood inclofed 
 by this time was much thinned, and death 
 feemed to be approaching with hafty 
 flrides, 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 defperate, was refolved on, 
 and about twenty of us fprung at once 
 into the midft of them. 
 
 In a moment we were all feparated, 
 and w'hat was the fate of my companions 
 I could not learn till fome months after, 
 when I found that only fix or ftven of 
 
 them 
 
[ 321 ] 
 
 them effeifted their defign. Intent only 
 on my own hazardous fituation, I en- 
 deavoured to make my way through my 
 lavage enemies in the bell manner pol- 
 fible. And I have often been aftonilhed 
 fince, when I have recolledled with what 
 compofure I took, as I did, every ne- 
 cefi'ary ftep for my preferVatioii. Some 
 I overturned, being at that time young 
 and athletic, and others I palled by, 
 dextroufly avoiding their weapons; till 
 at laft two very llout chiefs, of the 
 moft favage tribes, as 1 could diftinguilh 
 by their drefs, whofe ftrength I could 
 not refill, laid hold of me by each arm, 
 and began to force me through the 
 crowd. 
 
 I now religned myfelf to my fate, not 
 doubting but that they intended to dif- 
 patch me, and then to fatiate their venge- 
 ance with my blood, as I found they 
 were hurrying me towards a retired 
 fwamp that lay at fome dillance. But be- 
 fore we had got many yards, an Englilh 
 gentleman of Ibme dillin£lion, as I could 
 difcover by his breeches, the only cover- 
 ing he had on, which were of fine fear- 
 let velvet, rulhed clofe by us. One of 
 X the 
 
u 
 
 [ 3^2 ] 
 
 the Indians inftantly rellnquilhed Ins 
 hold, and fpringing on this new objedt, 
 endeavoured 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 aflift his bro- 
 ther. I leized the opportunity, and haft- 
 cned away to join another party of Eng- 
 lilh troops that were yet unbroken, and 
 flood in a body at fome diflance. But 
 before I had taken many fteps, 1 haflily 
 caft my eye towards the gentleman, and 
 faw tlie Indian’s tomahawk gafh into 
 his back, and heard him utter his laft 
 groan ; this added both to my fpeed and 
 delperation. 
 
 I had left this fhocking fcene but a few 
 yards, when a fine boy about twelve years 
 of age, that had hitherto efcaped, came 
 up to me, and begged that I would let 
 him lay hold of me, fo that he might 
 Hand fome chance of getting out of the 
 hands of the favages. I told him that I 
 would give him every alTiftance 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 fhrieks I judge 
 5 was 
 
r 323 1 
 
 Was foon demollftied. I could not help 
 forgetting my owji cares for a minute, to 
 lament the fate of fo young a fufferer ; 
 but it was utterly impoflible for me to 
 take any methods to prevent it; 
 
 I now got once more into the midft 
 of friends, but we were unable to afford 
 each other any fuccour. As this was the 
 divilioii that had advanced the furtheft 
 from the fort, I thought tl^re might be 
 a poffibility (though but a very bare one) 
 of my forcing my way through the outer 
 ranks of the Indians, and getting to a 
 neighbouring wood, which I perceived at 
 fome diftance. I was ftill encouraged to 
 hope by the almoft miraculous prefervation 
 1 had already experienced. 
 
 Nor were my hopes vain, or the ef- 
 forts I made ineffedlual. Suffice it to 
 fay that I reached the wood ; but by the 
 time I had penetrated a little way into it, 
 my breath was fo exhaufted that I threw 
 myfelf into a brake, and lay for fome 
 minutes apparently at the laft gafp. At 
 length I recovered the power of refpi- 
 ration i but my apprehenlions returned 
 with all their former force, when I law 
 feveral lavages pafs by, probably in pur- 
 X 2 hilt 
 
[ 3 ^ ] 
 
 fuit of me, at no very great diftance. In 
 this htuation I knew not whether it was 
 better to proceed, or endeavour to conceal 
 myfelf where I lay, till night came on ; 
 fearing, however, that they would return 
 the fame way, 1 thought it raoft prudent 
 to get farther from the dreadful fcene of 
 my paft diftreffes. Accordingly, ftriking 
 into another part of the wood, I haftened 
 on as faft as the briars and the lofs of one 
 of my Ihoes would permit me ; and after 
 a flow progrefs of fome hours, gained a 
 hill that overlooked the plain which I 
 had juft left, from wdience I could dlf- 
 cern that the bloody ftorm ftill raged with 
 tinabated fury. 
 
 But not to tire my readers, I lhall 
 only add, that after pafTing three days 
 without fubfifteiace, and enduring the fe- 
 verity of the cold dews for three nights, 
 i at length reached Fort Edward ; where 
 with proper care my body foon recovered 
 its wonted ftrength, and my mind, as 
 far as the recolledion of the late melan- 
 choly events would permit, its ufual coin- 
 poftire. 
 
 It was computed that fifteen hundred 
 peribiis were killed or made prifoners by 
 
 thefe 
 
[ 325 ] 
 
 thefe favages during this fatal day. Many 
 of the latter were carried off by them and 
 never returned. A few, through favour- 
 able accidents, found their way back to 
 their native country, after having experi- 
 enced a long and fevere captivity. 
 
 The brave Colonel Monro had haftened 
 away, foon after the confulion began, to 
 the French camp to endeavour to pro- 
 cure the guard agreed by the ftipulation ; 
 but his application proving ineffedual, he 
 remained there till General Webb lent a 
 party of troops to demand and protefl him 
 back to Fort Edward. But thefe un- 
 happy occurrences, which would proba- 
 bly have been prevented, had he been 
 left to purfue his own plans, together with 
 the lofs of fo many brave fellows, mur- 
 dered In cold blood, to whofe valour he 
 had been fo lately a wltnefs, made luch 
 an impreffion on his mind, that he did 
 not long furvive. He died in about three 
 months of a broken heart, and with truth 
 might it be faid, that he was an honour 
 to his country. 
 
 I mean not to point out the following 
 clrcumftance as the immediate judgment 
 of heaven, and intended as an atonement 
 
 X 3 
 
[ 3^6 ] 
 
 for this {laughter ; but I cannot omit that 
 very few of thofe different tribes of In- 
 dinns that (hared 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 havock to what they themfelves had 
 done. The methods they purfued on the 
 firft attack of that malignant diforder, tq 
 abate the fever attending it, rendered it 
 fatal. Whilft their blood was in a (late 
 of fermentation, and nature was driving 
 to throw out the peccant matter, they 
 checked her operations by plunging into 
 the water : the confequence was, that 
 they died by hundreds. The few that 
 furvived were transformed by it into hi- 
 deous objedts, and bore with them to the 
 grave deep indented nqarks of this much- 
 dreaded difeafe. 
 
 Monfieur Montcalm fell foon after on 
 the plains of Qt^ebec, 
 
 That the unprovoked cruelty of this 
 commander was not approved of by the 
 generality of his countrymen, 1 have 
 diice been convinced of by many proofs, 
 One only however, which 1 received 
 from a peribn who was witnefs to it, 
 ‘ (hall 
 
[ 327 ] 
 
 fhali I at prefent give. A Canadiaa. 
 merchant, of fome conhderation, having 
 heard of the furrender of the Euglifh 
 Fort, celebrated the fortunate event with 
 great rejoicings and hofpitality, according 
 to the cuflom of that country ; but no 
 fooner did the news of the maflacre which 
 enfued reach his ears, than he put an 
 immediate flop to the feftivity, and ex- 
 claimed in the fevered: terms againft the 
 inhuman permiffion ; declaring at the fame 
 time that thofe who had connived at it, 
 had thereby drawn down on that part 
 of their king’s dominions the vengeance 
 of heaven. To this he added, that he. 
 much feared the total lofs of them would 
 defervedly be the conlequence. How 
 truly this predidfion has been verified we 
 all know. 
 
 But to return — Though the Indians are 
 negligent in guarding againft lurprizes, 
 they are alert and dextrous in furprizing 
 their enemies. To their caution and pcr- 
 feverance in ftealing on the party they 
 defign to attack, they add that admir- 
 able 'talent, or rather inftindfive qualifi- 
 cation, 1 have already defcribed, ot trac- 
 ing out thofe they are in purfuit of. On 
 X 4 
 
[ 3=^8 ] 
 
 the fmoothefl: grafs, on the hardeft earth, 
 and even on the very ftones, will they 
 difcover the traces of an enemy, and by 
 the diape of the footfteps, and the diftance 
 between the prints, dlftingulfh not only 
 whether It is a man or woman who has 
 pafled that way, but even the nation to 
 which they belong. However incredi- 
 ble 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 extraordi- 
 nary exertions of it. 
 
 When they have overcome an enemy, 
 and vlftpry is no longer doubtful, the 
 conquerors firft dilpatch all fuch as they 
 think they (hall not be able to carry off 
 without great trouble, and then endeavour 
 to take as many prlfoners as poffible ; after 
 this they return to fcalp thofe who are 
 either dead, or too much wounded to be 
 taken with them. 
 
 At this bufinefs they are exceedingly 
 expert. They feize the head of the dif- 
 ^bled or dead enemy, and placing one 
 of their feet on the neck, twift their 
 left hand in the hair ; bv this means, 
 having extended the (kin that covers the 
 
 top 
 
[ 3^9 1 
 
 top of the head, they draw out theh- fcalp. 
 ing knives, which are always kept in good 
 order for this cruel purpofe, and with a 
 few dextrous ftrokes take off the part that 
 is termed the fcalp. They are fo expe- 
 ditious in doing this, that the whole time 
 required fcarcely exceeds a minute. Thelc 
 they preferve as monuments of their prow 
 efs, and at the fame time as proofs ot 
 the vengeance they have infliaed on their 
 
 enemies. . , r 
 
 If two Indians felzc in the fame iii- 
 
 ftant a prifoner, andfeem to have an equal 
 claim, the conteft between them is loon 
 decided; for to put a fpeedy end to any 
 difpute that might arile, the perfon tha^ 
 is apprehenfive he lhall lofe his expeaed 
 reward, immediately has recouife to us 
 tomahawk or w'ar-club, and knocks on 
 the head the unhappy caufe of their con- 
 tention. , r , 1 
 
 Having completed their purpofes, and 
 
 made as much havock as poflible, they im- 
 mediately retire towards their own coun- 
 try, with the fpoil they have acquired, 
 
 for fear of being purfued. 
 
 Should this be the cale, they make pic 
 of many ftratagems to elude the learc les 
 
u 
 
 [ 
 
 330 
 
 ] 
 
 of their purfuers. They fometimes feat 
 ter leaves, fand, or duft over the prints 
 of their feet; fometimes tread in each 
 others footfteps ; and fometimes lift their 
 feet fo high, and tread fo lightly, as not 
 to make any impreffion on the ground. 
 But If they find all thefe precautions 
 unavailing, and that they are near beln^ 
 overtaken, they firft difpatch and fcalp 
 t eii pnfbners, and then dividing each 
 endeavours to regain his native country 
 by a different route. This prevents ail 
 arther purfuit ; for their purfuers now 
 defpainng, either of gratifying their 
 revenge, or of relcafing thofe of their 
 
 home " captives, return 
 
 If the fuccefsful party is fo lucky as 
 o make good their retreat unmolefled, 
 ey haften with the greateft expedition 
 
 ° r where they may be 
 
 perfedly fecure ; and that tlieir 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 
 Hedges. 
 
 Theii litters are made in a rude manner 
 Qt the branches of trees. Their fledges 
 
 conlifl: 
 
[ 33 * 1 
 
 COBfift of two fmall thin boards about a 
 foot wide when joined, and near lix feet 
 long. The fore part is turned up. and 
 the fides are bordered with fmall bands. 
 The Indians draw thefe carriaps vvit i 
 areat eafe, be they ever fo much loader , 
 
 |ym.a„s ofaftrlngwhich 
 
 the bread. This collar is called a Me- 
 tump, and is in ufe throughout America, 
 both ill the fettlements and the iiiteina 
 parts. Thofe ufed in the latter are made 
 o( leather, and very curioiiny wrought. 
 
 The prifoners during their march are 
 guarded with the greateft care. During 
 the day, if the journey is over land, they 
 are always held by feme ot the v.aorior s 
 party ; if by water, they are faftene 
 ^he hnoc. In the night-time they am 
 ftretched along the ground quite nake , 
 with their legs, arms, and neck taxied 
 to hooks fixed in the ground. li-Mes 
 this, cords are tied to their arms or legs, 
 which are held by an Indum, who in- 
 ftantly awakes at the lead motion of 
 
 them. 
 
 Notwithftanding fuch precautions aie 
 
 ufually taken by the Indians, it is re- 
 
 coided in the annals of iSew England, 
 ■ ■ that 
 
[ 332 ] 
 
 that one of the weaker fex, almoft alone, 
 and unaffifted, found means to elude the 
 vigilance of a party of warriors, and not 
 only to make her efcape from them, but 
 to revenge the caufe of her countrymen. 
 
 ^ Some years ago, a fmall band of Cana- 
 dian Indians, confifting of ten warriors 
 attended by two of their wives, made an 
 irruption into the back fettlements of 
 New England. They lurked for fome 
 tirne in the vicinity of one of the moft ex- 
 terior towns, and at length, after having 
 killed and fcalped leveral people, found 
 means to take prifoner a woman who had 
 with her a Ton of about twelve years of 
 age. Being latisfied with the execution 
 they had done, they retreated towards their 
 native country, which lay at three hundred 
 miles dildance, and carried olF with them 
 their two captives. 
 
 The fecond night of their retreat, the 
 woman, whole name, if I miftake not, was 
 Rowe, formed a relblution worthy of the 
 moft intrepid hero. She thought Ihe 
 ftiould be able to get from her hands the 
 manacles by which they were confined, 
 and determined if Ihe did fo to make a 
 dclpeiate effort for the recovery of her 
 
 freedom, 
 
[ 333 1 
 
 freedom. To this purpofe, when (he con- 
 cluded that her conquerors were in then* 
 foundeft fleep, ftie 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 whifper, 
 againfl: being furprized at what Ihe was 
 about to do, (he removed to a diftance with 
 great warinefs the defenlive weapons of 
 the Indians, which lay by their Tides. 
 
 Having done this, (he put one of the 
 tomahawks into the hands of the boy, 
 bidding him to follow her example ; and 
 taking another herfelf, fell upon the deep- 
 ing Indians, feveral of whom (he inftantly 
 dilpatched. But her attempt wa,s 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 ; (he however 
 fprung at the rifing warrior, and before he 
 could recover his arms, made him (ink 
 under the weight of her tomahawk ; and 
 this (he alternately did to all the reft, ex- 
 cept one of the women, who awoke in 
 time, and made her efcape. 
 
 The heroine then took off the (ealps 
 
 of her vanquilhed enemies, and feizing 
 
 alfo 
 
[ 354 ] 
 
 iaifo thofe they were carrying away with 
 them as proofs of their fuccefs, the re- 
 turned in triumph to the town from 
 whence fhe had fo lately been dragged, to 
 the great aftonilhment of her neighbours, 
 who could fcarcely credit their lenles, or 
 the teftimonies die bore of her Amazoulaii 
 intrepidity. 
 
 During their march they oblige their 
 prifoners to ling their death-fong, which 
 generally conlifts of thefe or fimilar fen- 
 teuces : “ I am going to die, I am about 
 “ to fuffer; but I will bear the fevered: 
 “ tortures my enemies can inflifl with be- 
 ‘‘ coming fortitude. I will die like a 
 “ brave man, and I diall then go to join 
 “ the chiefs that have fuffered on the lame 
 “ account.” Thefe fongs are continued 
 with necefl'ary Intervals, until they reach the 
 village or camp to which they are going. 
 
 When the warriors are arrived within 
 hearing, they fet up different cries, which 
 communicates to their friends a general 
 hlflory of the fuccefs of the expedition. 
 The number of the death-cries they give, 
 declares how many of their own party are 
 loft; the number of war-hoops, the num- 
 ber of prifoners they have taken. 
 
 It 
 
t 335 ] 
 
 It is difficult to defcribe thcfe cries, but 
 the beft idea I can convey of them is, that 
 the former confifts of the found Whoo, 
 Whoo, Whoop, -which is continued in a 
 long ffirill tone, nearly till the breath is 
 exhaufted, and then broken off with a 
 fudden elevation of the voice. 1 he latter 
 of a loud cry, of much the fame kind, 
 which is modulated into notes by the 
 hand being placed before the mouth. Both 
 of them might be heard to a very confi- 
 derable diftance. 
 
 Whilft thefo are uttering, the perfons 
 to whom they are defigned to convey the 
 intelligence, continue motionlels and all 
 attention. W^hen this ceremony is per- 
 formed, the whole village iffue out to 
 learn the particulars of the relation they 
 have juft heard in general terms, and ac- 
 cording as the news prove mournful or 
 the contrary, they anfwer by fo many ac- 
 clamations or cries of lamentation. 
 
 Being by this time arrived at the village 
 or camp, the women and children aim 
 themfelves with fticks and bludgeons, and 
 •form themfelves into two ranks, through 
 which the prifoners are obliged to pafs. 
 The treatment they undergo before they 
 
 reach 
 
u 
 
 [ 336 ] 
 
 jreach the extremity of the line, is very 
 fevere. Sometimes they are fo beaten 
 over the head and face, as to have fcarcely 
 any remains of life ; and happy would it 
 be for them if by this ufage an end was 
 put to their wretched beings. But their 
 torinentors take care that none of the 
 blows they give prove mortal, as they wi(h 
 to referve the miferable fufFerers for more 
 fevere inflidlions. 
 
 After having undergone this introduc- 
 tory difeipline, they are bound hand and 
 foot, whilft the chiefs hold a council in 
 which their fate is determined. Thofe 
 M'ho are decreed to be put to death by the 
 ufual torments, are delivered to the chief 
 of the warriors ; fuch as are 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 aflured of their fate, as 
 the fentence now pronounced is irrevo- 
 cable. The former they term being con- 
 figned to the houfe of death, the latter to 
 the houle of grace. 
 
 Such captives as are pretty far ad- 
 vanced in life, and have acquired great 
 honour by their warlike deeds, always 
 atone for the blood they have Ipilt by the 
 
 tortures 
 
[ 337 3 
 
 tortures of fire. Their fuccefs in war is 
 readily known by the blue marks upon 
 their breafts and arms, which are as le- 
 gible to the Indians as letters are to Eu- 
 ropeans. , ^ 1 . 1 
 
 The manner in which thefe hierogly- 
 
 phicks are made, is by breaking the Ikin 
 with the teeth of filh, or (harpened flints, 
 dipped in a kind of ink made of the foot 
 of pitch pine. Like thofe of the ancient 
 Pias of Britain thefe are efteemed orna- 
 mental ; and at the fame time they ferve 
 as regifters of the heroic adions of the 
 warrior, who thus bears about him inde- 
 lible marks of his valour. 
 
 The prifoners deftined to death are 
 foon led to the place of execution, which 
 is generally in the centre of the camp 
 or village; where, being ftript, and every 
 part of their bodies blackened, the Ikin 
 of a crow or raven is fixed on their heads. 
 They are then bound to a flake, with 
 faggots heaped around them, and obliged 
 for the lafl time to fing their death- 
 
 The warriors, for fuch it is only who 
 commonly fuffer this punifhment, now 
 perform in a more prolix manner this lad 
 ^ Y folem- 
 
[ 338 ] 
 
 folemnity. They recount with an ati-* 
 cUble voice all the brave a£lions they have 
 performed i and pride themfelves in the 
 number of enemies they have killed. In 
 this rehearfal they fpare not even their 
 tormentors, but ftrive by every provok- 
 ing tale they can invent to irritate and 
 infult them. Sometimes this has the de- 
 fired effedl:, and the fufferers are difpatched 
 fooner than they otherwife would have 
 been. 
 
 There are many other methods which 
 the Indians make ufe of to put their prl- 
 fbners to death, but thefe are only occa- 
 fional ; that of burning is moft generally 
 uled. 
 
 Whllfb I was at the chief town of the 
 Ottagaumles, an Illinois Indian was 
 brought inj who had been made prlfoner 
 by one of their war parties. I had then 
 an opportunity of feeing the cuftomary 
 cruelties inflicted by thele people on their 
 captives, through the minutefl: part of 
 their procefs. After the previous fteps 
 neceflary to his condemnation, he was 
 carried, early in the morning, to a little 
 diflance trom the town, where he waS' 
 bound to a treci 
 
 This 
 
[ 339 1 
 
 This being done, all the boys, who 
 amounted to a great number, as the phtje 
 was populous, were permitted to amufe 
 themfelveS with (hooting their arrows at 
 the unhappy vi£tlm. As they were none 
 of them more than twelve years old, and 
 were placed at a confiderable diflancej 
 they had not ftrength to penetrate to the 
 vital parts, fo that the poor wretch flood 
 pierced with arrows, and fuffering the 
 confequent agonies, for more than two 
 days. 
 
 During this time he fung his warlike 
 exploits. He recapitulated every ftrata- 
 gem he had made ufe of to furprize his 
 enemies ; he boafted of the quantity of 
 fcalpS he poffelfed, and enumerated the 
 prifoners he had taken. He then de^ 
 Icribed the different barbarous methods 
 by which he had put the latter to death, 
 and feemed even then to receive incon- 
 ceivable pleafnre from the recital of the 
 horrid tale. 
 
 But he dwelt more particularly on 
 the cruelties he had pradtifed on fuch 
 of the kindred of his prelent tormentors 
 as had fallen into his hands ; endeavour- 
 ing bv thefe -aggravated infults to induce 
 Y a them 
 

 [ 340 ] 
 
 them to increafe his tortures, that he 
 might be able to give greater proofs of for- 
 titude. Even in the laft ftruggles of life, 
 when he was no longer able to vent 
 in words the indignant provocation his 
 tongue would have uttered, a fmile of 
 mingled fcorn and triumph fat on his 
 countenance. 
 
 This method of tormenting their ene- 
 mies is confidered by the Indians as pro- 
 duftive of more than one beneficial confe- 
 quence. It fatiates, in a greater degree, 
 that diabolical lull: of revenge, which is 
 the predominant paffion in the bread: of 
 every individual of every tribe, and it 
 gives the growing warriors an early pro- 
 penfity to that cruelty and thirft for 
 blood, which is fo neceflary a qualification 
 for fuch as would be thoroughly Ikilled in 
 their favage art of war. 
 
 I have been informed, that an Indian 
 who was under the hands of his tormen- 
 tors, 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 fome of their warriors, 
 and inftead of the trivial punifhments 
 
 they 
 
[ 341 ] 
 
 they infUaed on him, he had devlied for 
 them the moft excruciating torments : 
 that having bound them to a ftake, he 
 had ftuck their bodies full of lharp fplln. 
 ters of turpentine wood, to which he 
 then fet fire, and dancing around them en- 
 joyed the agonizing pangs of the flaming 
 
 yiaiips. _ . 1 • t • 
 
 This bravado, which earned witn it a 
 
 degree of infult that even the accuftomed 
 ear of an Indian could not liften to unmov- 
 ed, threw his tormentors off their guard, 
 and fhortened the duration of his torments ; 
 for one of the chiefs ran to him, and 
 ripping out his heart, flopped with it the 
 mouth from which had ifliied fuch pro- 
 voking language. 
 
 Innumerable are the ftoiies that may^ 
 be told of the courage and refolution of 
 the Indians, who happen to be made pri- 
 foners by their adverfaries. Many that 
 I have heard are fo aflonifhing, that they 
 feem to exceed the utmofl limits of ciedi- 
 bility; it is, however, certain that thefe 
 favages are poflefled with many heroic 
 qualities, and bear every fpecles of mi^ 
 fortune with a degree of fortitude which 
 
 ■ Y 3 ^4^ 
 
J 
 
 [ 34 ^ ] 
 
 has not been oytdone by any of the an? 
 cient heroes of either Greece or Rome. 
 
 Notwithftandlng thefe a£ls of feverity 
 exerciied by the Indians towards thofe of 
 their own fpecies who fall into their hands, 
 forne tribes of them have been remarked 
 for their moderation to fuch female pri- 
 foners belonging to the Englifli colonies 
 as have happened to be taken by them, 
 W omen of great beauty have frequently 
 been carried off by them, and during a 
 march of three or four hundred miles 
 through their retired forefts, have lain by 
 their fides without receiving any infult, 
 and their chaftity has remained inviolate. 
 Inftances have happened where female 
 captives, who have been pregnant at the 
 time of their being taken, have found 
 the pangs of child-birth come upon them 
 in the midft of folitary woods, and fa- 
 vages their only companions ; yet from 
 thele, lavages as they were, have they 
 received every affiftance their lituation 
 would admit of, and been treated with a 
 degree of delicacy and humanity they little 
 expefled. 
 
 This forbearance, it mull be acknow- 
 
 kdged. 
 
[ 343 ] 
 
 ledged, does not proceed altogether from 
 their dirpofitlons, but is only inherent in 
 thofe who have held fome communication 
 with the French mlffionarles. Without 
 intending that their natural enemies the 
 Engllfli Ihould enjoy the benefit of their la- 
 bours, 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 has proved of public utility. 
 
 Thofe prlfoners that are configned to the 
 houfe of grace, and thefe are commonly the 
 young men, women, and children, await 
 the dlfpofal of the chiefs, who, after the 
 execution of fuch as are condemned to die, 
 hold a council for this purpoie- 
 
 A herald is lent round the village or 
 camp, to give notice that luch as hav'e 
 loft any relation in the late expedition are 
 defired to attend the diftrlbution which 
 is about to take place. Thofe women 
 who have loft their Ions or hufbands are 
 generally fatisfied in the firll: place ; af- 
 ter thefe, fuch as have been deprived of 
 friends of a more remote degree of conlan- 
 guinity, or who choole to adopt fome of 
 the youth. 
 
 Y 4 
 
 The 
 

 [ 344 1 
 
 The divlfion being made, which is 
 done, as In other cafes, without the leaft 
 difpute, thofe w'ho have received any (hare 
 lead them to their tents or huts; and hav- 
 ing unbound them, wafh and drefs their 
 wounds if they happen to have received 
 any; they then cloath them, and give 
 them the mod comfortable and rcfrelhing 
 food their ftore will afford. 
 
 Whilft their new domedlcks are feed- 
 ing, they endeavour to adminifter con- 
 folation to them ; they tell them that as 
 they are redeemed from death, they mud 
 now be cheerful and happy ; and if they 
 ferve them well, without murmuring or 
 repining, nothing fhall be wanting to 
 make them fuch atonement for the lofs of 
 their country and friends as circumftances 
 will allow of. 
 
 If any men are fpared, they are com- 
 monly given to the widows that have loft 
 their hufbands by the hand of the enemy, 
 (hould there be any fuch, to whom, if 
 they happen to prove agreeable, they are 
 foon married. But fhould the dame be 
 otherwife engaged, the life of him who 
 falls to her lot is in great danger ; efpe- 
 cially if (he fancies that her late huiband 
 
 wants 
 
[ 3+S 1 
 
 wants a Cave in the country of fpints to 
 
 '"wLn'tWsfttecafe.anumberofyom 
 
 men take the devoted captive to fome dif- 
 tance and difpatch him without any ceie- 
 
 m^;^fte^hehasbeenfparedby_th^ 
 
 pouncil, they conhder him of too i e 
 confequence to be intltled to the torment 
 allotted to thofe who have been ju ge 
 
 "'ate ufually dlfttibuted to 
 the men, from whom they do not fail o 
 meethiR with a favourable reception. The 
 revs and girls are taken into the femilies 
 of fuch as have need of them, an are 
 cLfidered as (laves ; and it s not uncom- 
 that they are fold In the fame capa- 
 aty to the European traders who come 
 
 “ThrXshavenoideaof^ 
 
 inff the ravages of war, by parii g 
 
 pifoners, and entering into a negotia- 
 
 ^^with the band from whom they have 
 
 been taken, for an exchange. AH hat 
 
 are captivated by both parties, are e. 
 
 pot to death, adopted, or made (laves 
 
 Sf And fo particular are every nation 
 
 1 • r A ^that if any of their tribe, 
 in this refped, that it any u 
 

 [ 346 ] 
 
 even a warrior, fliould be taken prllbiier 
 and by chance be received into the houfe 
 of grace, either as an adopted perfon or 
 a flave, and fhould afterwards make his 
 efcape, they will by no means receive 
 
 him, or acknowledge him as one of their 
 band. 
 
 co^i^ition of fuch as are adopted 
 dithers not in any one inflance from the 
 children of the nation to which they now 
 belong. They affume all the rights of 
 thofe whofe.places they fupply, and fre- 
 quently make no difficulty of going in the 
 war-parties againft their own countrymen, 
 bhould, however, any of thefe by chance 
 make their efcape, and be afterwards re- 
 taken, they are efteemed as unnatural chil- 
 dren and ungrateful perfons, who have 
 eleited and made war upon their parents 
 and benefadlors, and are treated with un- 
 common feverity. 
 
 That pait of the prifoners which are 
 confidered as Haves, are generally diftri- 
 ute among the chiefs ; who frequently 
 make prefen ts of fome of them to the Eu- 
 ropean governors of the out-pofts, or to 
 t le u^iintendants or commiflaries of In- 
 dian affairs. I have been informed that it 
 
[ 347 1 
 
 ^•as the Jefults and French mlffionaries 
 that firft occafioned the introduaion oir 
 thefe unhappy captives into the fettle- 
 ments, and who by fo doing taught the 
 Indians that they were valuable. 
 
 Their views indeed were laudable, as 
 they imagined that by this method they 
 fhould not only prevent much barbarity 
 and bloodflied, but find the opportunities 
 of fpreading their religion among them m- 
 preafed. To this purpofe they encouraged 
 the treaders to purchafe fuch flaves as t aey 
 
 met with. , / . 
 
 The good efFeas of this mode or pro- 
 ceeding was not however equal to the 
 expeaations of thefe pious fathers. In- 
 ftead of being the means of preventing 
 cruelty and bloodfhcd, it only caufed the 
 diflenfions between the Indian nations to 
 be carried on with a greater degree of vio- 
 lence, and with unremitted ardour. i he 
 prize they fought for being no longer re- 
 venge or fame, but the acquirement of Ipi' 
 rituous liquors, for which their captives 
 xvere to be exchanged, and of which alrnoft 
 every nation is immoderately fond, they 
 fought for their enemies with unwonted 
 ^ alacrity, 
 
[ 343 ] 
 
 alacrity, and were conftantly on the watch 
 to furprize and carry them off. 
 
 It might ftill be faid that fewer of the 
 captives are tormented and put to death, 
 fince thefe expedations of receiving fo va- 
 luable a confideration for them have been 
 excited than there ufually had been ; but 
 it does not appear that their accuftomed 
 cruelty to the warriors they take, is in the 
 lead: abated ; their natural defire of ven- 
 geance muft be gratified ; they now only 
 become more alfiduous in lecuring a 
 greater number of young prifoners, whiJfi 
 thole who are made captive in their de- 
 fence are tormented and put to death as 
 before. 
 
 The mifiionaries finding that contrary 
 to their willies their zeal had only ferved 
 to increale the lale of the noxious juices, 
 applied to the Crovernqr of Canada in the 
 3'ear 1 6p^, for a prohibition of this bane- 
 ful trade. An order was ifiTued according- 
 ly, but it could not put a total flop to it; 
 the French Couriers de Bois were hardy 
 enough to carry it op cland^ftinely, not- 
 withllanding the penalty annexed to a 
 breach of the prohibition was a confiderable 
 fine and imprilonment. 
 
 Some 
 
t 349 1 
 
 Some who were deteaed in the pro- 
 fecution of it withdrew into the Indian 
 
 countries, where they 
 
 the natives and underwent a voluntary 
 
 baiiiihment. Thefe, however, ^.‘"S 
 abandoned and debauched . 
 
 dua contributed very little either towards 
 reforming the manners of their new re- 
 tons, m engaging them to ei« 
 
 favourable opinion of the ^ 
 
 profeffed. Thus did thefe indefatigable 
 Sgious men fee their defigns m fome 
 meafure once more fruftrated. 
 
 However, the emigration was 
 tiveofan effed which turned out to be 
 beneficial to their nation. By the conne 
 of thefe refugees with the Iroquo^ 
 Mifliffuages, Hurons, Miamies, ow 
 wottomies, Puants, Menomonies Algon 
 kins &c. and the conftant reprefentations 
 thefe various nations received from them 
 of The power and grandeur of the French 
 to the aggrandizement of whofe monaich, 
 “twithfanding their banilhmeiit tli^ 
 ftill retained their habitual inclination the 
 Indians became infeiifibly ‘ 
 
 tour of that people, and I am perfuaded 
 
C 350 ] 
 
 take every opportunity of fhewing their at- 
 tachment to them. 
 
 And this, even in delpite of the dif- 
 graceful eftimation they mufl be held by 
 them, fince they have been driven out of 
 Canada ; for the Indians confider every 
 conquered people as in a ftate of vaflalage 
 to their conquerors. After one nation 
 has finally fubdued another, and a condi- 
 tional fubmifiion is agreed on, it is cufio- 
 mary for the chiefs of the conquered, 
 when they fit in council with their fub- 
 duers, to wear petticoats, as an acknow- 
 ledgment that they are in a fiate of fub- 
 jedtion, and ought to be ranked among the 
 women. Their partiality to the French 
 has however taken too deep root for time 
 itlelf to eradicate it» 
 
 C I I A P. 
 
[ 351 ] 
 
 CHAPTER X, 
 
 Of their Manner cf making Peace, 
 
 T H E wars that are carried on be- 
 tween the Indian nations are in 
 general hereditary, and continue from age 
 to age with a few interruptions. If a peace 
 becomes neceffary, the principal care of 
 both parties is to avoid the appearance of 
 making the firft advances. 
 
 When they treat with an enemy, re- 
 lative to a fufpenlion of hoftdities, the 
 chief who is commiffioned to undertake the 
 negociation, if it is not brought 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 fituation, he makes no con- 
 ceffions, but endeavours to perfuade his 
 adverfaries that it is their intereft to put 
 an end to the war. 
 
 Accidents fometimes contribute to bring 
 about a peace between nations that 
 otherwife could not be prevailed on to 
 lifteii to terms of accommodation. An 
 r inftance 
 
J 
 
 [ 35^ ] 
 
 inllance of this, which I heard of in ah 
 moft every nation I pafled through, I 
 lhall relate. 
 
 About eighty years ago, the Iroquois 
 and Chlpeways, two powerful nations, 
 were at war with the Ottagaumies and 
 Saukies, who were much inferior to their 
 adverfaries both in numbers and ftrength. 
 One winter near a thoufand of the for- 
 mer made an excurlion frorii Lake Onta- 
 tarlo, by way of Toronto, towards the ter- 
 ritories of their enemies* They coafted 
 Lake Huron on its eaft and northern 
 borders, till they arrived at the ifland 
 of St. Jofeph, which is fituated in the 
 Straights of St. Marie. There they crofled 
 thefe Straights upon the ice about fif- 
 teen-miles below the falls, and continued 
 their route ftill weftward. As the ground 
 was covered with fnow, to prevent a 
 difcovery of their numbers, they marched 
 in a fingle file, treading In each others 
 footfleps. 
 
 Four Chipeway Indians, pafiing that 
 way, obferved this army, and readily 
 guelled from the diredlion of their march, 
 and the precautions they took, both the 
 
 country 
 
[ 353 1 
 
 country to which they were haftenlng, and 
 
 their defigns. _ r- i 
 
 Notwithftanding the nation to which 
 they belonged was at war with the Otta- 
 gaumies, and in alliance with their in- 
 vaders, yet from a principle which can- 
 not be accounted for, they took an inftant 
 refolution to apprize the former of tneir 
 danger. To ttiis purpofe they halteiKd 
 away with their ufual celerity, and, tak- 
 ing a circuit to avoid difcovery, arrived 
 at the hunting grounds of the Ottagau- 
 mics, before lo large a body, moving m 
 fo cautious a manner , could do. *1 here 
 they found a party of about four hun- 
 dred warriors, fome of which were Saukies,^ 
 whom they informed of the approach ot 
 
 their enemies. ^ , i • 
 
 The chiefs immediately collected their 
 
 whole force, and held a council on the 
 fteps that were to be taken tor their de- 
 fence. As they were encumbered with 
 their families, it was impothbe that the)r 
 could retreat in time ; they therefore de- 
 termined to chute the moft advantageous 
 fpot, and to give the Iroquois the bell re- 
 ception in their power. 
 
 Z 
 
 Not 
 
[ 354 - ] 
 
 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. 
 Concluding that the Iroquois intended 
 to pafs though this defile, the united 
 bands divided their little party into two 
 bodies of two hundred each. One of 
 thefe took poll: at the extremity of the 
 pals that lay nearefi: to their hunting 
 grounds, which they immediately fortified 
 with a breaft-work formed of palifades; 
 whilft 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 ftratagem fucceeded ; for no 
 fooner had the whole of the Iroquois en- 
 tered the pafs, than, being provided with 
 wood for the purpole, they formed a fimi- 
 lar breaft-work on the other extremity, and 
 thus encloled their enemies. 
 
 The Iroquois loon perceived their fitu- 
 ation, and immediately held a council on 
 the meafures that were neceflary to be 
 purlued to extricate themlelves. Unlucki- 
 ly for them a thaw had juft taken place, 
 ^ which 
 
[ 355 1 
 
 ivhiciihad fo far diflblved the ice Jis to 
 render it impaffible, and yet there full re^ 
 mained fufficient to prevent them from 
 either paffing over the lakes on rafts, or 
 from fwimming acrofs. In this dilemma 
 it was agreed that they Ihould endeavour 
 to force one of the breaft-works ; but they 
 foon found them too well defended to ef- 
 fed their purpofe. 
 
 Notwithftanding this difappointment, 
 with the ufual cdmpofure and unapprehen^ 
 fivenefs of Indians, they amufed them- 
 felves three or four days m fifhmg. Uy 
 this time the ice being quite diflblved, they 
 made themfelves rafts, which they were 
 enabled to do by fome trees that fortunate- 
 ly 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 motions, perceiving 
 their defign, detached one hundred and 
 fifty men from each of their parties, to 
 oppofe their landing. Thefe three hu^n- 
 dred marched fo expeditioufly to the other 
 fide of the lake, that they reached it be- 
 fore their opponents had gained the fhore, 
 
 z 2 
 
J 
 
 [ 356 ] 
 
 they being retarded by their poles flicking 
 in the mud. 
 
 As ■ foon as the confederates arrived, 
 they poured in a very heavy fire, both 
 from their bows and mufquetry, on the 
 Iroquois, which greatly difconcerted them; 
 till the latter finding their fituation def- 
 perate, 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 
 inade good their retreat, but were obliged 
 to leave their enemies mafters of the field, 
 and in pofleflion of all the furs they had 
 taken during their winter’s hunt. Thus 
 dearly did they pay for an unprovoked ex- 
 curfion to fuch diflance from the route 
 they ought to have purfued, and to which 
 they were only impelled by a fudden de- 
 fire of cutting off fome of their ancient 
 enemico. 
 
 But- had they known their ftrength 
 they might have deftroyed every man of 
 the party that oppofed them ; which 
 even at the firft onfet was only inconfi- 
 derable, and, when dimiaifhed by the 
 
 aclion, 
 
[ 357 ] 
 
 a<Stion, totally unable to make any Hand 
 
 againft them. . 
 
 The vi£lorious bands rewarded the Chi- 
 peways, who had been the means of their 
 fuccefs, with a thare of the fpoils. They 
 prefled them to take any quantity they 
 chofe of the richefl of the furs, and lent 
 them under an efcort of fifty men, to 
 their own country. T.he ditinteiefted 
 Chipeways, as the Indians in general are 
 feldom adluated by mercenary motives, for 
 a conliderable time refufed thele prefents, 
 but were at length perluaded to accept of 
 
 The brave and well-concerted reliftance 
 here made by the Ottagaumies and Sau^ 
 kies, aided by the mediation of the Chi- 
 peways, who laying afide on this occa- 
 lion the animoflty they had fo long borne 
 thofe people approved of the generous 
 condudl of their four chiefs, were toge- 
 ther the means of eftedling a reconcilia- 
 tion between thele nations ; and ii^ pio- 
 cefs of time united them all in the bands 
 
 of amity. 
 
 And 1 believe that all the Indians in- 
 habiting that extenlive country, which 
 lies between Quebec, the banks of the 
 
 MilhflipP^ 
 
[ 35 ^ ] 
 
 MilTiffippi north of the Ouilconfin, and, 
 the fettlements belonging to the Hudfon’s 
 Bay Company, are at prefent in a ftate 
 of profound peace. When their reftlcfs 
 difpolitions will not fufFer them to re- 
 main inaftive, thele northern Indians fel- 
 dom commit hoflilities on each other, but 
 make excurlions to the fouthward, agaiiift 
 the Cherokees, Choftahs, Chickafaws or 
 Illinois. 
 
 Sometimes the Indians grow tired of a 
 war which they have carried on againft 
 fome neighbouring nation for many years 
 without nauch fuccefs, and in this cafe they 
 leek for mediators to begin a negotiation. 
 Thefe being obtained, the treaty is thus 
 conduced. 
 
 A number of their own chiefs, joined 
 by thole who have accepted the friendly 
 office, (et out together for the country 
 of their enemies ; fuch as are chofen for 
 this purpofe, are chiefs of the moft ex- 
 tenlive abilities and of the greateft inte- 
 grity. They bear before them the Pipe 
 of Peace, which I need not inform ray 
 readers is of the fame nature as a Flag 
 of Truce among the Europeans, and is 
 treated with the greateft refpe(ft and vene- 
 ration, 
 
[ 359 1 
 
 ration, even by the moft barbarous na- 
 tions. 1 never heard of an inftance where- 
 in the bearers of this facred badge of 
 friendfhlp were ever treated difrefpeft- 
 fully, or its rights violated. The In- 
 dians believe that the Great- Spirit never 
 fuffers an infraaion of this kind to go un- 
 punilhed. 
 
 The Pipe of Peace, which is termed 
 by the French the Calumet, for what 
 reafon I could never learn, is about four 
 
 feet long. The bowl of it is made of 
 red marble, and the ftem of it of a light 
 wood, curloufly painted with hierogly- 
 phicks in various colours, and adorned 
 with the feathers of the moft beautiful 
 birds. I have endeavoured to give as ex- 
 aa a reprefentation of it as poflible in Plate 
 IV; but it is not in my power to 
 convey an idea of the various tints and 
 pleafing ornaments of this much efteemed 
 
 Indian implement. , j r. 
 
 Every nation has a different method ot 
 decorating thefe pipes, and they can tell at 
 firft fight to what band it belongs. It is 
 ufed as an introduaion to all treaties, and 
 great ceremony attends the ufe of it on 
 thefe occafions. 
 
 Z 4 Tiie 
 
[ 3^0 ] 
 
 The afliftant or aid-du-camp of the 
 great warrior, when the chiefs are afifem- 
 bled and feated, fills it with tobacco mixed 
 with the herbs before mentioned, taking 
 care at the fame time that no part of it 
 touches the giound. Wh^n it is filled, 
 he takes a coal that is thoroughly kindled 
 from a fire which is generally kept burn- 
 ing in the midfl: of the aflernbly, and 
 places it on the tobacco. 
 
 As foon as it is fufficiently lighted, he 
 throws off the coal. He then turns the 
 idem of it towards the heavens, after this 
 towards the earth, and now holding it 
 horizontally moves himfelf round till he 
 has completed a circle : by the firfl aftion 
 he is fuppofed to prefent it to the Great 
 Spirit, w'hofe aid is thereby fupplicated ; 
 by the fecond, to avert any malicious iii- 
 terpofition of the evil fpirits ; and by the 
 third to gain the protedlion of the fpi- 
 rits inhabiting the air, the earth, and the 
 waters. Having thus fecured the favour 
 of thofe invifible agents, in whole power 
 they luppole it is either to forward or ob- 
 ifru£f the ilfue of their prefent delibera- 
 tions, he prefents it to the hereditary 
 chief, who having taken two or three 
 
 whiffs, 
 
[ 36i 1 
 
 whlfFs, blows the fmoak from his tnouth 
 firft towards heaven, and then around him 
 vipou the ground. 
 
 It is afterwards put in the fame man- 
 ner into the mouths of the ambafladors 
 or ftrangers, wbo obferve the fime cere- 
 mony; then to the chief of the warriors, 
 and to all the other chiefs m turn accoid- 
 ing to their gradation. Duiing t ns time 
 the perfon who executes this honoin-able 
 office holds the pipe ffightly m his hand, 
 as if he feared to prefs the facred inftru- 
 ment ; nor does any one prefume to touch 
 
 it but with his lips. ^ 
 
 When the chiefs who are intrufted w t 
 
 the commiffion for making ‘ P 
 
 proach the town or camp to which they 
 L going, they begin to ling a.ul dance 
 the fongs and dances appropriated to this 
 occation. By this time the adverle party 
 are apprized of their arrival, 
 themfelves of their wonted enmi y a 
 fight of the Pipe of Peace, in»>'«'''«’' 
 the habitation of the Great Cine , an 
 furniffi them with every conveniency dm- 
 
 fpeeches and debates arc ended, rf no o^J^ 
 
J 
 
 [ 362 ] 
 
 fli'uctious arife to put a flop to the treaty, 
 the painted hatchet is buried in the 
 ground as a memorial that all animo- 
 iities between the contending nations 
 have ceafed, aiid a peace taken place. 
 Among the ruder bands, fuch as have no 
 communication with the Europeans, a war- 
 club painted red is buried inftead of the 
 hatchet. 
 
 A belt of wampum is alfo given on this 
 occafion, which ferves as a ratification of 
 the peace, and records to the latefl: pofte- 
 rity , by the hieroglyphicks into which the 
 beads are formed, every ftipulated article 
 in the treaty. 
 
 Thefe belts are made of (hells found on 
 the coafts of New England and Virginia, 
 which are fa wed out into beads of an ob- 
 long form, about a quarter of an inch long, 
 and round like other beads. Being llrung 
 on leather firings, and feveral of them 
 fewed neatly together with fine finewy 
 threads, they then compofe what is term- 
 ed a belt ofWampum. 
 
 The fhells are generally of two co- 
 lours, fome white and others violet ; but 
 the latter are more highly efteemed than 
 the former. They are held in as much 
 
 ellimatiou 
 
I 363 J 
 
 eaimauoa by the Indians, as gold, fil. 
 yer, or precious ftones are by the Eu- 
 
 ^ ^The belts are compofed of ten, twelve, 
 or a greater number of ftnngs, accord- 
 ing; to the importance of the affair m 
 agitation, or the dignity of the perfon to 
 whom it is prefented. n more trifling 
 occafions, firings of thefe beads are pre- 
 rented by the chiefs to each other, and 
 frequently worn by them about their necks, 
 as a valuable ornament. 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 Of their Games. 
 
 A S 1 have before obferved, the In- 
 dians are greatly addidted to gam- 
 ing, and will even flake, and lofe with 
 compofure, all the valuables they are pof- 
 fefled of. They amufe thtmfelves at fe- 
 veral forts of games, but the principal and 
 mofl efleemed among them is that of the 
 ball, which is not unlike the European 
 game of tennis. 
 
 The 
 
[ 3^4 3 
 
 The balls they ufe are rather larger 
 than thofe made ule of at tennis, and are 
 formed of a piece of deer-lkin ; which 
 being moiftened to render it fupple, is 
 fluffed haj-d with the hair of the fame 
 creature, and fewed with its finews. The 
 ball-flicks are about three feet long, at 
 the end of which there is fixed a kind of 
 racket, refembling the palm of the hand, 
 and fafhioned of thongs cut from a deer- 
 fkin. In thefe they catch the ball, and 
 throw it to a great diflance, if they are not 
 prevented by fome of the oppofite party, 
 who fly to intercept it. 
 
 This game is generally played by large 
 companies, that ibmetimes confifl of more 
 than three hundred ; and it is not uncom- 
 mon for different bands to play againfl 
 each other. 
 
 They begin by fixing two poles in the 
 ground at about fix hundred yards apart, 
 and one of thele goals belong to each 
 party of the combatants. The ball is 
 thrown up high in the centre of the 
 ground, and in a direct line between the 
 goals ; towards which each party endea- 
 vours to flrike it, and which ever fide firfl 
 
 caufes 
 
[ 3^5 1 
 
 caufes it to reach their own goal, reckons 
 
 towards the game. _ 
 
 They are fo exceeding dextrous in this 
 
 manly exercife, that the ball is ufually 
 kept flying in different diredtions by the 
 force of the rackets, without touching 
 the ground during the whole contention ; 
 for they are not allowed to catch it with 
 their hands. They run with amazing 
 velocity in purfuit of each other, and 
 when one is on the point of hurling it to 
 a great diftance, an antagonift overtakes 
 him, and by a ludden ftroke dafhes down 
 
 the ball. 
 
 They play with fo much vehemence 
 that they frequently wound each other, 
 and fometimes a bone is broken; but not- 
 withftanding thefe accidents there never ap- 
 pears to be any fpite or wanton exertions 
 of ftrength to effed them, nor do any dil- 
 putes ever happen between the parties. 
 
 There is another game alfo m ule 
 among them worthy 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 peach-ftone either 
 
 in fize or fhape, except that they are 
 
 qua- 
 
[ 3 ^^ 3 
 
 quadrangular ; two of the fides of which 
 are coloured black, and the others white. 
 Thefe they throw up into the air, from 
 whence they fall into a bowl or platter 
 placed underneath, and made to fpin 
 round. 
 
 According as thefe bones prefent the 
 white or black hde upwards they reckon 
 the game : he that happens to have the 
 greateft number turn up of a iimilar co- 
 lour, counts five points ; and forty is the 
 game. 
 
 The winning party keeps his place, and 
 the lofer yields his to another who is ap- 
 pointed by one of the umpires; for a 
 whole village is fometimes concerned in 
 the party, and at times one band plays 
 againft another. 
 
 During this play the Indians appear 
 to be greatly agitated, and at every deci- 
 five throw fet up a hideous Ihout. They 
 make a thoufand contortions, addreffing 
 themfelves at the fame time to the bones, 
 and loading with imprecations the evil 
 Ipirits that affift their fuccefsful anta- 
 gonifts. At this game fome wJl lofe 
 their apparel, all the moveables of their 
 cabins, and fometimes even their liberty, 
 
[ 3^7 1 
 
 hotwithftanding there are no people m 
 the univerte more jealous of the latter 
 than the Indians are< 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Of their Marriage Ceremonies, ^c. 
 
 T he Indians allow of polygam}:, 
 and perfons of every rank indulge 
 themlelves in this point. The chiefs in. 
 
 / particular have a feraglio, which confifts 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 fillers; fometimes, if there happen 
 to be more, the whole number ; and not- 
 withllanding this (as it appears to civilized 
 nations) unnatural union, they all live in 
 the greatell harmony. 
 
 The younger wives are fubmiffive to 
 the elder ; and thole w'ho have no chil- 
 dren, do fuch menial offices for thole 
 who are fertile, as caufes their lituation 
 
 to 
 
J 
 
 t 3«8 ] 
 
 to cliffisr but little from a ftate of lervltude. 
 However they perform every injundloii 
 with the greateft cheerfulnels, in hopes 
 of gaining thereby the affection of their 
 hulband, that they in their turns may 
 have the happlnefs of becoming mothers, 
 and be intltled to the relpeft attendant on 
 that Hate. 
 
 It is not uncommon for an Indian, 
 although he takes to hlmfelf fo many 
 wives, to live in a ftate of continence 
 with many of them for feveral years. 
 Such as are not fo fortunate as to gain the 
 favour of their bufband by their fubmif- 
 live and prudent behaviour, and by that 
 means to lhare in his embraces, continue 
 in their virgin ftate during the whole of 
 their lives, except they happen to be 
 prefented by him to fome ftranger chief, 
 whofe abode among them will not admit 
 of his entering into a more lafting con- 
 nedion. In this cafe they fubmit to the 
 injundion of their hulband without mur- 
 muring, and are not difpleafed at the tem- 
 porary union. But if at any time it is 
 known that they take this liberty with- 
 out firfi: receiving his confent, they arc 
 5 punllhed 
 
[ sh ] 
 
 ptiniflied in the fame manner as if thvV 
 had been guilty of adultery. 
 
 This cuftom is more prevalent among 
 the nations which lie in the interior parts, 
 than among thofe that are nearer the fet- 
 tlements, as the manners of the latter are 
 rendered more conformable in fome points 
 to thofe of the Europeans, by the inter- 
 courle they hold with them. 
 
 The Indian nations differ but Iktle 
 
 from each other in their marriage ceremo- 
 nies, and lefs in the manner of their di- 
 vorces. The tribes that inhabit the bor- 
 ders of Canada, make ufe of the follow- 
 ing cuftom. ^ ^ j 1 • • 
 
 When a young Indian has fixed his in-* 
 
 clinations on one of the other fex, he 
 endeavours to gain her confent, and if he 
 fucceeds, it is never known that her pa- 
 rents ever obftrua their union. When 
 every preliminary is agreed on, and tlie 
 day appointed, the friends and acquaint- 
 ance of both parties afiemble at the houle 
 or tent of the oldeft relation of the bride- 
 groom, where a feaft is prepared on the 
 
 occafion. 
 
 The company who meet to alfiit at 
 the feftival are fometimes very numerous ; 
 A a 
 
u 
 
 C 370 ] 
 
 they dance, they fing, and enter into every 
 other diverfion ufually made nfe of on any 
 of their public rejoicings. When theie 
 are finilhed, all thofe who attended merely 
 out of ceremony depart, and the bride- 
 groom and bride are left alone with three 
 or four of the neareft and oldeft relations 
 of cither fide ; thofe of the bridegroom 
 being men, thofe of the bride, women. 
 
 Prefently the bride, attended by thefc 
 few friends, having withdrawn herfelf for 
 the purpofe, appears at one of the doors 
 of tl)e houfe, and is led to the bride- 
 groom, who flands ready to receive her. 
 Having now taken their fiation on a mat 
 placed in the centre of the room, they 
 lay hold of the extremities of a wand 
 about four feet long, by w^hich they con- 
 tinue feparated, whilfi: the old men pro- 
 nounce fome fhort harangues fuitable to 
 the occafion. 
 
 The married couple after this make a 
 public declaration of the love and regard 
 they entertain for each other, and ftill 
 holding the rod betw^een them, dance and 
 fing. When they have finiftied this part 
 of the ceremony, they break the rod into 
 as many pieces as there are witnefl:es pre- 
 
 fent, 
 
C 371 ] 
 
 fent, who each take a piece, and preferve 
 It with great care. 
 
 The bride is then re-condu£led ont ot 
 the . door at which fhe entered, where 
 her young companions wait to attend her 
 to her father’s houfe; there the bride- 
 groom is obliged to feek her, and the 
 marriage is confummated. Very often 
 the wife remains at her father s houfe till 
 jhe has a child, when Ihe packs up her 
 apparel, which is all the fortune fhe is 
 generally poffeffed of, and accompanies her 
 hufband to his habitation. 
 
 When from any diflike a reparation 
 takes place, for they are feldoin known 
 to quarrel, they generally give their 
 friends a few days notice of their 
 intentions, and fometimes offer reafons to 
 luftify their condua. The witnefles who 
 were prefent at the marriage, meet on 
 the day requefted at the houle of the cou- 
 ple that are about to feparate, and bring- 
 ing with them the pieces of rod which 
 they had received at their nuptials, throw 
 them into the hre in the prefence of all 
 the parties. 
 
 This is the whole of the ceremony 
 required, and the reparation is carried on 
 without any murmurings or ill-will be- 
 
 AT’’ tween 
 
J 
 
 t 372 ] 
 
 tween the couple or theLr relations ; and 
 after a few months they are at liberty to 
 tnarry again. 
 
 When a marriage is thus diffolved, the 
 children which have been produced from 
 it, are equally divided between them ; and 
 as children are efteemed a trealure by the 
 Indians, if the number happens to be odd, 
 the woman is allowed to take the better 
 half. 
 
 Though this cuftom feems to encou- 
 rage ficklenefs and frequent reparations, 
 yet there are many of the Indians who 
 have but one wife, and enjoy with her a 
 ftate of connubial bappinefs not to be ex- 
 ceeded in more refined focieties. There 
 are alfo not a few inftances of women pre- 
 •ferving an inviolable attachment to their 
 hufbands, except in the cafes before-men- 
 tioned, which are not confidered as either 
 a violation of their chaftity or fidelity. 
 
 .Although I have fald that the Indian 
 nations differ very little from each other 
 in their marriage ceremonies, there are 
 fome exceptions. The Naudowefiies have 
 a fingular method of celebrating their 
 marriages, which feems to bear no refem- 
 blance to thofe made ufe of by any other 
 
 nation 
 
[ 373 1 
 
 tiat’ioa I pafled through. When one of 
 their young men has fixed on a young 
 woman he approves of, he difcovers his 
 paflion 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 charadler of a menial 
 fervant. During this time he hunts, and 
 brings all the game he kills to the family; 
 by which means the father has an oppor- 
 tunity of feeing whether he is able to 
 provide for the fupport of his daughter 
 and the children that might be the conle- 
 quence of their union. T.his howevei is 
 only done whilO: they are young men, 
 and for their firft wife, and not repeated 
 like Jacob’s fervitudes. 
 
 When this period is expired, the mar- 
 riage is folemnized after the cufboni of 
 the country, in the following 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 refpedlrvs tents to an open pait in 
 the centre of the camp. 
 
 A a 3 
 
 The 
 
J 
 
 [ 374 1 
 
 The chiefs and warriors being here af» 
 fembled to receive them, a party of the 
 latter are drawn up in two ranks on each 
 fide of the bride and bridegroom immedi- 
 ately on their arrival. The principal 
 chief then acquaints the whole alTembly 
 with the defign of their meeting, and tells 
 them that the couple before them, men- 
 tioning at the fame time their names, 
 are come to avow publicly their intentions 
 of living together as man and wife. He 
 then alks the two young people alter- 
 nately, whether they defire that the 
 nnion might take place. Having declared 
 with an audible voice that they do fo, the 
 warriors fix their arrows, and dlfcharge 
 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 
 his back, in which manner he carries her 
 amidft the acclamations of the fpedators 
 to his tent. This ceremony is fucceeded 
 by the moft plentiful feaft the new mar- 
 ried man can afford, and fongs and 
 dances, according to the ufual cuHom, 
 conclude the feflival. 
 
 Divorces 
 
[ 375 ] 
 
 Divorces happen lo feldom among th® 
 Naudoweffies, that I had not an opportu- 
 nity of learning how they are accom- 
 plifhed. 
 
 Adultery is efteemed by them a hein- 
 ous crime, and punilhed with the greatcft 
 ficrour. D'he hufhand in thele cafes hites 
 off the wife’s nofe, and a feparation in- 
 ff antly enfues. I faw an inftance wherein 
 this mode of punilhment was inflifted, 
 whilft I remained among them. The 
 children, when this happens, aie dillri- 
 buted according to the ufual cuftom ob- 
 fervcd by other nations, that is, they are 
 equally divided. 
 
 Among the Indian as well as Euro- 
 pean nations, there are many that devote 
 themfelves to pleafure, and notwithffand- 
 ing the accounts given by feme modern 
 writers of the frigidity of an Indian con- 
 ffitution, become the zealous votaries ot 
 Venus. The young warriors that are 
 thus difpoled, feldom want opportunities 
 for gratifying their pallion ; and as the 
 mode ufually followed on thefe occalioiis 
 is rather lingular, I lhall defenbe it. 
 
 When one of thefe young debauchees 
 imagines from the behaviour of the per- 
 
 A a 4 
 
[ 3/6 ] 
 
 fon he has chofcn for his miftrefs, that 
 he fliall not meet with any great ob- 
 llrudion to his fuit from her, he purfues 
 the following plan. 
 
 It has been already obferved, that the 
 Indians acknowledge no luperiority, nor 
 have they any ideas of fubordination, ex- 
 cept in the neceflary regulations of their 
 war or hunting parties; they con fequently 
 live nearly in a flate of equality purfuant 
 to the firfl: principles of nature. The 
 lover theiefoie is not apprehenlive of any 
 check or controul in the accomplifliment 
 of his purpofes if he can find a conve- 
 nient opportunity for completing them. 
 
 As the Indians are alfo under no ap-^ 
 prehenfion of robbers, or fecret enemies, 
 they leave the doors of their tents or huts 
 unfaftencd during the night, as well as in 
 the day. Two or three hours after fun- 
 fet, the flaves or old people cover over the 
 lire, tnat is generally burning in themidft 
 of their apartment, with afhes, and retire 
 to their repofe. 
 
 Whilfl darknefs thus prevails, and all 
 is quiet, one of thefe fbns of pleafure, 
 wrapped up clofely in his blanket to 
 prevent his being known, w'ill fometimes 
 
 enter 
 

 [ 377 1 
 
 enter the apartment of his intended miftrefs. 
 Having firft lighted at the fmothered fire 
 a fmali fplinter of wood, which anfwers 
 the purpofe of a match, he approaches tne 
 place where Ihe repofes, and gently pull- 
 ing away the covering from her head, 
 jogs her till Ihe awakes. If flae then 
 rifes up, and blows out the light, he 
 needs no further confirmation that his 
 company is not difagreeable ; but if, after 
 he has difeovered himfelf, fhe hides her 
 head, and takes no notice of him, he 
 might reft aflured that any further folici- 
 tations will prove vain, and that it is ne- 
 ceffary immediately for him to retire. 
 During his ftay he conceals the light 
 as much as poflible in the hollow of his 
 hands, and as the tents or rooms of the 
 Indians are ufually large and capacious, 
 he efcapes without detedlion. It is laid 
 that the young women who admit their 
 lovers on thefe occafions, take great care, 
 by an immediate application to herbs, 
 with the potent efficacy of which they 
 are well acquainted, to prevent the effeds 
 of thefe illicit amours from becoming vi- 
 able ; for fhould the natural confequences 
 r enfue, 
 

 [ 378 ] 
 
 cnfue, they mufl for ever remain unniar-. 
 ried. 
 
 children of the Indians are always 
 diflinguilhed by the name of the mother i 
 and if a woman marries feveral hulbands, 
 and has ilTue by each of them, they are 
 all called after her. The reafbn they 
 give for this is, that as their offspring are 
 indebted to the father for their fouls, the 
 invifible part of their elfence, and to the 
 mothei for their corporeal and apparent 
 part, it is more rational that they fhould 
 be diftlngulfhcd 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 whe- 
 ther they are jufrly intitled. 
 
 There are fome ceremonies made ufe of 
 by the Indians at the impofition of the 
 name, and it is confidered by them as a 
 matter of great importance ; but what 
 thefe are 1 could never learn, through the 
 fecrefy obferved on the occafion. I only 
 know that it is ufually given when 
 the children have palled the ftate of in- 
 fancy. 
 
 Nothing can exceed the tendernefs 
 ihown by them to their offspring; and a 
 
[ 379 1 
 
 perfon cannot recommend himfelf to their 
 favour by any method more certain, than 
 by paying fome attention to the younger 
 branches of their families. I can impute, 
 in fome meafure, to the prefents I made 
 to the children of the chiefs of tlie Nau- 
 dovveffies, the hofpitable reception I met 
 
 with when among them. 
 
 There is fome difficulty attends an ex- 
 planation of the manner in which the 
 Indians diftinguiffi themfelves from each 
 other. Befides the name of the^ animal 
 by which every nation and tribe is deno- 
 minated, there are others that are perfo- 
 Tial, and which the children receive from 
 their mother. 
 
 The chiefs are alfo dffimguiffied by a 
 name that has either fome reference to 
 their abilities, or to the hieroglyphicic ot 
 their families; and thefe are acquire 
 after they arrive at the age of manhood. 
 Such as have fignalized themfelves either 
 in their war or hunting parties, or are 
 pofl’efled of fome eminent qualification, 
 mceive a name that ferves to perpetuate 
 the fame of thefe aftions, or to make 
 $helr abilities confpicuous. 
 
 Thus 
 

 [ 380 ] 
 
 Thus the great warrior of the Nau« 
 doweflies was named Ottahtongoomlifhcah 
 that is, the Great Father of Snakes 
 ottah being in Englidi father, tongoora 
 gieat, and Jifhcah a fnake. Another 
 chief was called Honahpawjatin, which 
 means a fwift runner over the mountains 
 And when they adopted me a chief among 
 them, they named me Shebaygo, which 
 hgnifies a writer, or a perfon that is cu- 
 rious in making hieroglyphicks, as they 
 iaw me often writing. ’ 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 Of their Religion. 
 
 I T is very, difficult to attain a perfect 
 knowledge of the religious principles 
 ot the Indians. Their ceremonies and 
 dodlnnes have been fo often ridiculed by 
 t e uropeans, that they endeavour to 
 conceal them ; and if, after the greatefl 
 intimacy, you defire any of them to ex- 
 plain to you their fyftem of religion, to 
 prevent your ridicule they intermix with 
 it many of the tenets they have received 
 
 from 
 
[ 3^1 3 
 
 from the French mlffionaries, 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 re- 
 ferved in this point, I Ihall give my rea- 
 ders, without paying any attention to the 
 accounts of others. _ As the religion of 
 that people from their iituation appears to 
 be totally unadulterated with the fuperfti- 
 tions of the church of Rome, we fliall 
 be able to gain from their religious cuf- 
 toms a more perfeft idea of the original 
 tenets and ceremonies of the Indians in 
 general, than from thofe of any nations 
 that approach nearer to the iettlements. 
 
 It is certain they acknowledge one 
 Supreme Being or Oiver of Life, who 
 prelides over all things. The Chipeways 
 call this being Manitou or Kitchi-Ma- 
 nltou; the Naudoweffies, Wakon or 
 Tongo-Wakon, that is, the Great Spi- 
 rit ; and they look up to him as the 
 fource of good, from whom no evil can 
 proceed. They alfo believe in a bad Ipi- 
 rit, to whom they afcribe great power, 
 and fuppofe that through his means all the 
 
 evils which befall mankind are inffiaed. 
 
 To 
 

 I ] 
 
 To him therefore do they pray in theif 
 diftrefleo, begging that he would either 
 avert their troubles, or moderate them 
 when they are no longer avoidable. 
 
 They fay that the Great Spirit, who is 
 infinitely good, neither wifhes or is able 
 to do any mifchlef to mankind ; but on 
 the contrary, that he fhovvers down on 
 them all the bleffings they deferve ; 
 whereas the evil fpirit is continually em- 
 ployed in contriving how he may punifli 
 the human race ; and to do which he is 
 not only poflefled of the will, but of the 
 power. 
 
 They hold alfb that there are good fplrlts 
 of a lefler degree, who have their particular 
 departments, in which they are conftantly 
 contributing to the happinefs of mortals. 
 
 hefe they fuppofe to prefide over all the 
 extraordinary produdions of nature, fuch 
 as thofe lakes, rivers, or mountains that 
 are of an uncommon magnitude ; and 
 likewife the beafts, birds, fifhes, and even 
 vegetables or ftones that exceed the reft of 
 their fpecies in fize or fingularity. To 
 all of thefe they pay fome kind of adora- 
 tion. Thus when they arrive on the 
 borders of Lake Superior, on the banks 
 
 of 
 
[ 3S3 1 
 
 of the Miffiffippi, or any other great body 
 of water, they prefent to the Spirit who 
 refides there fome kind of offering, as the 
 prince of the Winnebagoes did when he 
 attended me to the Falls of St. An- 
 thony. 
 
 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 falhion to themfelves corporeal 
 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 are their fentiments 
 relative to a futurity. They doubt not 
 but they lhall exift in Ibme future ftate ; 
 they however ffncy that their employ- 
 ments there will be iimilar to thofe they 
 are engaged in here, without the labour 
 and difficvdty annexed to them in this pe- 
 riod of their exiftence. 
 
 They confequently exped to be tranf- 
 lated to a delightful country, where they 
 lhall always have a clear unclouded Iky, 
 and enjoy a perpetual fpring ; where the 
 forefts will abound with game, and the 
 lakes with fifh, which might be taken 
 
 without 
 

 [ 384 ] 
 
 without requiring a painful exertion 0 ^ 
 Ikill, or a laborious purfuit ; in fliort, 
 that they lhall live for ever in regions of 
 plenty, ^ and enjoy every gratification they 
 delight in here, in a greater degree. 
 
 *1 o intellectual pleafures they are Gran- 
 gers ; nor are thefe included iir their 
 fchetne of happinefs. But they expeft 
 that even thefe animal pleafures will be 
 proportioned and diGributed according to 
 their merit ; the fkilful hunter, the bold 
 and fuccefsful 'warrior, will be entitled to 
 a greater Glare than thofe who through 
 indolence or want of fkill cannot boaG of 
 any fuperiority over the common herd. 
 
 Xhe piieGs of the Indians are at the 
 fame time their phyficians, and their con- 
 juiors; whilG they heal their wounds or 
 cure their difeafes, they interpret their 
 dreams, give them protedlive charms, and 
 latisfy that defire \yhich is fo prevalent 
 among them of Garching into futuritv% 
 
 How well they execute the latter part 
 of their profeGional engagements, and the 
 methods they make ufe of on fome of 
 thele occafions, I have already fhewn in 
 the exertions of the prieG of the Killif- 
 tinoes, who was fortunate enough to fuc- 
 
 cccd 
 
[ 385 ] 
 
 ceecl in his extraordinary attempt near Lake 
 Superior. They frequently are fuccefsful 
 likewife in adminiftering the falubrious 
 herbs they have acquired a knowledge of; 
 but that the ceremonies they make ufe of 
 during the admlniftration of them contri- 
 butes to their fuccefs, I fhall not take 
 upon me to aflert. 
 
 When any of the people are ill, the 
 perfon who is invefted with this tiiple 
 charadier of doctor, prieft, and magician, 
 hts by the patient day and night, rattling 
 in his ears a goad-fhell filled with dry 
 beans, called a Chichicoue, and making a 
 difagreeable noife that cannot be well de- 
 fcribed. 
 
 This uncouth harmony one would Ima- 
 gine fhould difturb the fick peifon, and 
 prevent the good effedts of the dodtor s 
 preicription ; but on the contraiy they 
 believe that the method made ufe of con- 
 tributes to his' recovery, by diverting from 
 his malignant purpofes the evil fpirit 
 who has inflidted the diforder ; or at leaf! 
 that it will take off his attention, fo that 
 he ihall not increafe the malady. This 
 they are credulous enough to imagine he is 
 confiantly on the watch to do, and would 
 B b carry 
 
r s8« ] ■ 
 
 carry his inveteracy to a fatal length if they 
 did not thus charm him. 
 
 1 could not difcover that they mako 
 ufe of any other religious ceremonies than 
 thofe I have defcribed ; indeed, on the 
 appearance of the new moon they dance 
 and fing; but it is not evident that they 
 pay that planet any adoration ; they only 
 feem to rejoice at the return of a lumi- 
 nary that makes the night cheerful, and 
 which ferves to light them on their way 
 when they travel during the ablence of 
 the fun. 
 
 Notwithftanding Mr. Adair has afferted 
 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 dilcover among thole tribes 
 that He but a few degrees to the north- 
 wefi, the lead: traces of the Jewilh reli- 
 gion, except it be admitted that one parti- 
 cular female cuftom and their divilion into 
 tribes, carry with them proofs fufficient to 
 eftablifli this afiertion. 
 
 The Jefuits and French millionaries 
 have alfo pretended that the Indians had, 
 when they firll travelled into America, 
 feme notions, though thefe were dark and 
 
 con- 
 
i 387 1 
 
 Confufed, of the chriftlan inftitutloii ; that 
 they have been greatly agitated at the light 
 of a crofs, and given proofs, by the im- 
 preffions made on them, that they were not 
 entirely unacquainted with tne facred myf- 
 teries of Chriftianlty. I need not fay that 
 thefe are too glaring abfurdities to be cre- 
 dited, and could only receive their exiftence 
 from the zeal of thofe fathers, who en- 
 deavoured at once to give the public a 
 better opinion of the fuccefs of their mif- 
 lions, and to add fupport to the caufe they 
 were engaged in. 
 
 The Indians appear to be in their re- 
 ligious principles rude and uninftru£tedi 
 The doftrines they hold are few and lim- 
 ple, and fuch as have been generally im- 
 preffed on the human mind, by fome 
 means or other, in the moft ignorant ages. 
 They however have not deviated, as many 
 other uncivilized nations, and too many 
 civilized ones have done, into idolatrous 
 modes of worlhip ; they venerate indeed 
 and make offerings to the wonderful parts 
 of the creation, as 1 have before obferved ; 
 but whether thefe rites are performed on ac- 
 count of the impreffion fuch extraordinary 
 appearances make on them, or whether 
 Bb 2 they 
 

 C 583 ] > 
 
 they conficier them as the peculiar charge, 
 or the ufual places of refidence of the in- 
 vifible fpirits they acknowledge, I cannot 
 pofitively determine. 
 
 The human mind in its uncultivated 
 flate is apt to afcribe the extraordinary oc- 
 currences of nature, fuch as earthquakes, 
 thunder, or hurricanes, to the interpofi- 
 tion ot unleen beings ; the troubles and 
 difaflcrs alfo that are annexed to a favage 
 life, the apprehenfions attendant on a pre- 
 carious fubfiftence, and thole numberlefs 
 inconveniencics which man in his improv- 
 ed Hate has found means to remedy, are 
 fuppofed to proceed from the interpOlition 
 of evil fpirits ; the favage confequently 
 lives in continual apprehenfions of their 
 unkind attacks, and to avert them has re- 
 courfe to charms, to the fantafHc ceremo- 
 nies of his prieH, or the powerful influ- 
 ence of his Manitous. Fear has of courfe 
 a greater lhare in his devotions than gra- 
 titude, and he pays more attention to de- 
 precating the wrath of the evil than to fe- 
 curing the favour of the good beings. 
 
 T. he Indians, however, entertain thele 
 ahfurdities in common with thole of every 
 part of the globe who have not been illu- 
 mined 
 
[ 3^9 ] 
 
 mined by that religion which only can 
 difperfe the clouds of fuperftition and ig- 
 norance, and they are as free from error 
 a people can be that has not been favoured 
 with its inftrudive dodtrines. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Of their Diseases, ^c. 
 
 T H E Indians in general are healthy, 
 and fubjed but to few difeafes, 
 many of thole that afflidl civilized nations, 
 and are the immediate confequences of 
 luxury or lloth, being not known among 
 them ; 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 vo- 
 racioufneis their long excurfions conle- 
 Quently fubjedt them to, cannot fail of im- 
 pairing the conftitutlon, and bringing on 
 diforders. 
 
 Pains and weakneffes in the ftomach 
 and breall are fometimes the refult of their 
 long falling, and conliimptions of the ex- 
 B b 3 celTive 
 
[ 39 ® ] 
 
 ceflive fatigue and violent exerclfes they exv 
 pofe themlelves to from their infancy, be-, 
 fore they have ftrength fuflicient to fupport 
 them. But the dilbrder to which they 
 are moft fubjeft, is the pleurify ; for the 
 removal of which, they apply their grand 
 remedy and prelervative againfl the genera- 
 lity of their complaints, fweating. 
 
 The manner in which they conftruft 
 their ftoves for this purpofe is as follows ; 
 They fix feveral fmall poles in the ground, 
 the tops of which they tvvift together fo 
 as to form a rotunda : this frame they 
 
 cover with fkins or blankets ; and they 
 lay them on with fo much nicety, that 
 the air is jespt from entering through any 
 crevice; a fmall fpace being only left juft 
 fufficient to creep in at, which is im- 
 mediately after clofed, In the middle of 
 this confined building they place red hot 
 ftones, on which they pour water till a 
 fteam arifes that produces a great 
 of heat. 
 
 This caufes an inftantaneous perfpira- 
 tlon, which they increafe as they pleafe, 
 Having continued in it for fome time, 
 they immediately haften to the neareft 
 flream^ and plunge into the water ; and, 
 
 after 
 
[ 391 ] 
 
 after bathing therein for about half a rni- 
 iiute, they put on their cloaths, fit down 
 and fmoak with great compofure, tho- 
 roughly perfuaded that the remedy will 
 prove efficacious. They often make ule 
 of this fudoriferous method ta refreffi 
 themfelves, or to prepare their minds for 
 the management of any bufinefs that re- 
 quires uncommon deliberation and faga- 
 city. 
 
 They are likewife afflidted with the 
 dropfy and paralytic complaints, which, 
 however, are but very leldom known 
 among them. As a remedy for thele as 
 well as for fevers they make ufe of lotions 
 and decodtions, compofed of herbs, which 
 the phyficians know perfedly well how 
 to compound and apply* But they never 
 truft to medicines alone ; they always have 
 recourfe likewife to feme fuperftltious ce- 
 remonies, without which their patients 
 would not think the phyfical preparations 
 fufficiently powerful. 
 
 With equal judgment they make ufe of 
 fimples for the cure of wounds, fradlures, 
 or bruifes ; and are able to extraft by 
 thefe, without inclfion, fplinters, iron, or 
 any fort of matter by which the wound is 
 B b 4 caufed. 
 
[ 392 1 
 
 caufed. In cures of this kind they are 
 extremely dextrous, and complete them 
 in much lefs time than might be cxpedled 
 from their mode of proceeding. 
 
 With the ikin of a fnake, which thofe 
 reptiles annually filed, they will alfo ex- 
 tradf fplintcrs. It is amazing to fee the 
 fudden efficacy of this application, not- 
 withflanding there does not appear to be 
 the leafh moiflure remaining in it. 
 
 It has long been a lubjedl of dllpute, 
 on what continent the venereal dlfcafe 
 firfi; received its deflnujlive power. This 
 dreadful malady is luppofed to have origi- 
 nated in America, but the literary conteft 
 ftill remains undecided ; to give fbme elu- 
 cidation to it I fhall remark, that as I 
 could not dilcover the leaf! traces among 
 the Naudoweffies with whom I refided 
 fo long, and was alfo informed that it 
 was yet unknown among the more wef- 
 tern nation-s, 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 afflibf- 
 ed with it ; but they have all of them 
 acquired a knowledge of fuch certain and 
 
 expe- 
 
[ 393 1 
 
 expeditious remedies, that the communi- 
 cation is not attended with any dangerous 
 confequences. 
 
 Soon after I fct out on my travels, one 
 of the traders whom 1 accompanied, com- 
 plained of a violent gonorrhoea, with all 
 its alarming fymptoms : this increafed to 
 fuch a degree, that by the time we had 
 reached the town of the Wlnnebagoes, 
 he was unable .to travel. Having made 
 his complaint known to one of the chiefs 
 of that tribe, he told him not to be un- 
 eafy, for he would engage that by fol- 
 lowing his advice, he fhould be able in 
 a few days to purfue his journey, and in 
 a little longer time be entirely tree fiom, 
 his dlforder. 
 
 The chief had no fooner fild this than 
 he prepared for him a decoflioii of the 
 bark of the roots of the prickly Afli, a 
 tree fcarcely known in England, but 
 which grows in great plenty throughout 
 North America; by the ufe of which, 
 in a few days he was greatly recovered, 
 and having received diredlioiis how to pie- 
 pare it, in a fortnight after his departuie 
 from this place perceived that he\vas radi- 
 cally cured. 
 
C 394 1 
 
 If from exceffive exercife, or the ex- 
 tremes of heat or cold, they are affected 
 with pains in their limbs or joints, they 
 fcarify the parts affe£led. Thofe nations 
 who have no coznmerce with Europeans 
 do this with a (harp flint ; and it is fur- 
 pri7,mg to fee to how fine a point they 
 have the dexterity to bring them; a lancet 
 cm Icarcely exceed in Iharpnefs the in- 
 
 ftruments they make of this unmalleable 
 fuDlrance. 
 
 ■II a perfeii is 
 
 all, whilft he has an appetite; but when 
 
 he rejedts all kind of nourilhment, they 
 confider the difeafe as dangerous, and pay 
 great attention to it ; and during the con- 
 tiiiuance of the diforder, the phyfidan re- 
 
 fufes his patient no fort of food that he is 
 denrous of. 
 
 j?^ ^ '1 ed in the phyfical treatment of 
 difeafes, but the common people believe 
 that by the ceremony of the chichicoue 
 iihially made ufe of, as before defcribed, 
 hey are able to gam intelligence from the 
 
 which they are afflifted, and are thereby 
 etter enabled to find remedies for 
 
 them. 
 
t 395 ] 
 
 them. They difcover fometh’ing fuper- 
 natural in all their clifeafes, and the phyfic 
 adminiftered muft invariably be aided by 
 
 thefe fuperftitlons. ^ 
 
 Sometimes a lick perfon fancies that 
 his diforder arifes from witchcraft; m 
 this cafe the phyfician or juggler is con- 
 fulted, who, after the ufual preparations, 
 gives his opinion on the ftate of the dii- 
 ?afe, and frequently finds fome means for 
 his cure. But notwithftanding the Indian 
 phyficians always annex thefe fuperftitious 
 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 ac- 
 quire 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 rea- 
 fon with great acutenefs on the^ caufes 
 and fymptoms of many of the diforders 
 which are attendant on human nature, 
 but to apply with equal judgment proper 
 rensiedies, 
 
 In 
 
1 
 
 [ 396 ] 
 
 In Penobfcot, a fettlement in the pro- 
 vince of Main, in the north-eaft parts of 
 New England, the wife of a foldier was 
 taken in labour, and notwithlfanding everj^ 
 neceflarj alfiftance was given her, could 
 not be delivered, lu this fituation Ihe 
 remained for two or three days, the per- 
 fons around her expeding that the next 
 pang would put an end to her exigence. 
 
 ■An Indian woman, who accidentally 
 pafled by, heard the groans ‘of the un- 
 Jiappy fuffeiei, and enquired from whence 
 they proceeded. Being made acquainted 
 with the defpeiate circumlfances attending 
 the cale, the told the informant, that if 
 Ihe might be permitted to fee the perfon, 
 ihe did not doubt but that ihe could be of 
 great fervice to her. 
 
 ^ The furgeon that had attended, and the 
 midwife who was then prefent, having 
 given up every hope of preferving their 
 patient, the Indian woman was allowed 
 to make ufe of any methods Ihe thought 
 proper. She accordingly took a hand- 
 kerchief, and bound it tight over the nofe 
 and mouth of the woman : this immedi- 
 ately brought on a fuffocation ; and from 
 the ftruggles that conlequently enfued fhe 
 
 w’as 
 
[ 397 ] 
 
 was in a few feconds delivered. The mo- 
 ment this was atchieved, and time enough 
 to prevent any fatal efFedf-, the handker- 
 chief was taken off. The long fufFering 
 patient thus happily relieved from her 
 pains, loon after perfedlly recovered, to 
 the aftonifhment of all thofe who had 
 been witnefs to her defperate fituation. 
 
 The reafon given by the Indian for this 
 hazardous method of proceeding was, that 
 defperate diforders require defperate reme- 
 dies ; that as fhe obferved the exertions of 
 nature were not fufficiently forcible to 
 efFe£l the defired confequence, fire thought 
 it neceflary to augment their force, which 
 could only be done by fome mode that was 
 violent in the extreme. 
 
 CHAP- 
 

 [ 398 ] 
 
 CHAPTER XV, 
 
 Of the Manner in which they treat their 
 Dead. 
 
 N Indian meets death when It ap- 
 
 proaches 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 apprehenfions to almofi: every 
 Other nation, is truly admirable. When 
 his fate is pronounced by the phyfician* 
 and it remains no longer uncertain, he ha- 
 rangues thofe about him with the greatell: 
 compofure. 
 
 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 con- 
 dudl as he thinks neceffary. He then takes 
 leave of his friends, and IflTues out orders 
 for the preparation of a feaft, which is de- 
 figned to regale thofe of his tribe that 
 come to pronounce his eulogium. 
 
 After 
 
[ 399 ] 
 
 After the breath is departed, the body 
 is drefled in the fame attire it ufually 
 wore whilft living, his face is painted, and 
 he is feated in an ered pofture on a mat 
 or Ikin placed in the middle of the hut, 
 with his weapons by his fide. His rela- 
 tions being feated round, each harangues 
 in turn the deceafed ; and if he has been a 
 great warrior, recounts his heroic adlons 
 nearly to the following purport, which in 
 the Indian language is extremely poetical 
 and pleafing ; 
 
 “ You ftill fit among us. Brother, 
 your perfon retains its ufual refem- 
 “ blance, and continues fimilar to ours, 
 “ without any vifible deficiency, except 
 that it has loft the power of adion. 
 “ But whither is that breath flown, 
 “ which a few hours ago fent up fmoke 
 “ to the Great Spirit ? Why are thofe 
 lips filent, that lately delivered to us 
 “ expreffive and pleafing language ? why 
 “ are thofe feet motionlefs, that a fhort 
 “ time ago were fleeter than the deer on 
 “ yonder mountains ? why ufelefs hang 
 “ thofe arms that could climb the talleft 
 “ tree, or draw the tougheft bow ? Alas ! 
 «* every part of that frame which we 
 
 “ lately 
 

 [ 400 ]' 
 
 ** 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 obli- 
 “ vion ; thy foul yet lives i)i the great 
 “ Country of Spirits, with thofe of thy 
 nation that are gone before thee j and 
 “ though we are left behind to perpe- 
 “ tuate thy fame, we fliall one day join 
 thee, A6luated by the reljjefl: vve bore 
 “ thee W'hilft living, we now come to 
 “ tender to thee the laft a6l of kindnefs 
 it IS in our power to beftow 1 that thy 
 body might not lie negle£lcd on the 
 “ plain, and become a prey to the beafts 
 “ of the field, or the fowls of the air, 
 “ we w'ill take care to lay it with thofe 
 “ of thy predeceftbrs who are gone be- 
 “ fore thee ; hoping at the fame time, 
 
 “ that thy Ipirit will feed W'ith their fpi- 
 nts, and be ready to receive ours, when 
 “ we alfo lhall arrive at the great Coun- 
 “ try of Souls.” 
 
 In fhort Ipeeches lomewhat fimilar to 
 this ^ does every chief fpeak the prailes 
 of his departed friend. When they have 
 5 . fo 
 
[ 401 ] 
 
 fo done, if they happen to be at a great 
 diftance from the place of interment ap- 
 propriated to their tribe, and the perfon 
 dies during the winter feafon, they wrap 
 the body in Ikins, and lay it on a high 
 ftage built for this purpofe, or on the 
 branches of a large tree, till the fpring ar- 
 rives. They then, after the manner de- 
 fcribed in my Journal, carry it, together 
 with all thole belonging to the fame na- 
 tion, to the general burial-place, where 
 it is interred with fome other ceremonies 
 that I could not difcover. 
 
 When the Naudoweffies brought their 
 dead for interment to the great cave, I 
 attempted to get an inlight into the re- 
 maining burial rites ; but whether it was 
 on account of the ftench which arofe from 
 fo many bodies, the weather being then 
 hot, or whether they chofe to keep this 
 part of their culloms fecret from me, I 
 could not difcover; I found, however, that 
 they conlidered my curiolity 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 hieroglyphicks as lhall Ihow 
 to future ages his merit and accomplilh- 
 C c ments. 
 
f 402 ] 
 
 ments. If any of thefe people die in the 
 fummer at a diftance from the burying- 
 grouncl, and they find it impoffible to re- 
 move the body before it putrefies, they 
 burzi the flefh from the bones, and preferv- 
 ing the latter, bury them in the manner 
 defcribed. 
 
 As the Indians believe that the fouls 
 of the deceafed employ themfelves in the 
 fame manner in the country of Ipirits, as 
 they did oh earth, that they acquire their 
 food by hunting, and have there, alfo, 
 enemies to contend with, they take care 
 that they do not enter thofe regions de- 
 fencelefs and unprovided : theyconfequent- 
 ly bury with them their bows, their ar- 
 rows, and all the other weapons ufed ei- 
 ther in hunting or war. As they doubt 
 not but they will likewife have occafion 
 both for the neceflaries of life, and thofe 
 things they efleem as ornaments, they 
 ufually depofit in their tombs fuch fkins 
 or fluffs as they commonly made their 
 garments of, domeflic utenfils, and paint 
 for ornamenting their perfons. 
 
 The near relations of the deceafed la- 
 ment his lofs with an appearance of great 
 forrow and anguifh ; they weep and howl, 
 
 and 
 
[ 4°3 ] 
 
 and make ufe of many contortions, 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 Naudoweffies is very dif- 
 ferent from any mode I obferved in the 
 other nations through which I paffed. The 
 men, to Ihow how great their forrow is, 
 pierce the flelh of their arms, above the 
 elbows, with arrows ; the fears of which 
 I could perceive on thofe of every rank, 
 in a greater or lefs degree ; and the wo- 
 men cut and gafli their legs with fharp 
 broken flints, till the blood flows very 
 plentifully. . 
 
 Whilfl I remained among them, a 
 couple whofc tent was adjacent to mine, 
 loft a foil of about four years of age. The 
 parents were fo much affedted at the death 
 of their favourite child, that they pur- 
 fued the ufual teftimonies of grief with 
 fuch uncommon rigour, as through the 
 weight of forrow and lofs of blood, to oc- 
 cafion the death of the father. The wo- 
 man, who had hitherto been Inconfolable, 
 no fooner faw her hulband expire, than 
 C c a ftie- 
 
[ 404 ] 
 
 flie dried up her tears, and appeared cheer- 
 ful and reiignedi 
 
 As I knew not how to account for fo 
 extraordinary a tranfition, I took an oppor- 
 tunity to afk her the reafon of it ; tell- 
 ing her at the fame time, that I Ihould 
 have imagined the lofs of her hufban'd 
 would rather have occafioned an increafe 
 of grief, than fuch a fudden diminution 
 of it. 
 
 She informed me, that as the child 
 was fo young when it died, and unable 
 to fupport itfelf in the country of Ipirits, 
 both Ihe and her hufband had been ap- 
 prehenfive that its fituation would be far 
 from happy ; but no fooner did flie be^ 
 hold its father depart for the fime place, 
 who not only loved the child with the 
 tendereft affedlion, but was a good hunter, 
 and would be able to provide plentifully 
 for Its fupport, than Ihe ceafed to mourn. 
 She added, that Ihe now faw no realbn 
 to continue her tears, as the child on 
 whom flie doated w'as happy under the 
 care and protedHon of a fond father, and 
 (he had only one wifh that remained un- 
 gratified, which was that of being herlelf 
 with them. 
 
 Expreffions 
 
[ 405 ] 
 
 Exprefiions lb replete with imaffe<3:ed 
 tendernefs, and fentiments that would have 
 done honour to a Roman matron, made 
 an impreffion on my mind greatly in fa- 
 vour of the people to whom Ihe belongs 
 ed, and tended not a little to counterad 
 the prejudices I had hitherto entertained, 
 in common with every other traveller, 
 of Indian inlenlibillty and want of parental 
 tendernefs. 
 
 Her fublequent condud confirmed the 
 favourable opinion I had juft imbibed ; 
 and convinced me, that, notwithftanding 
 this apparent fulpenlion of her grief, fome 
 particles of that reludance to be fepa- 
 rated from a beloved relation, which is im- 
 planted either by nature or cuftom in 
 every human heart, ftill lurked in hers. 
 I obferved that Ihe went almoft every even- 
 ing to the foot of the tree, on a branch of 
 which the bodies of her hulband and child 
 were laid, and after cutting off a lock of 
 her hair, and throwing it on the ground, 
 in a plaintive melancholy fong bemoaned 
 'its fate, A recapitulation of the adions 
 he might have performed, had his life 
 been fpared, appeared to be her favourite 
 theme ; and whilft fhe foretold the fame 
 C c 3 that 
 

 [ +o6 ] 
 
 that would have attended an imitation of 
 his father’s virtues, her grief feemed to be 
 fufpended : — 
 
 “ If thou hadft continued with us, my 
 “ dear Son,” would fhe cry, “ how well 
 “ would the bow have become thy hand, 
 “ and how fatal would thy arrows have 
 “ proved to the enemies of our bands. 
 “ Thou wouldft often have drank their 
 “ blood, and eaten their flefh, and nu- 
 “ merous flaves would have rewarded thy 
 “ toils. With a nervous arm wouldft 
 “ thou have felled the wounded buffalo, 
 “ or have combated the fury of the en- 
 “ raged bear. Thou wouldft have over- 
 “ taken the flying elk, and have kept 
 “ pace on the mountain’s brow with the 
 “ fleeteft deer. What feats mighteft thou 
 “ not have performed, hadft thou ftaid 
 “ among us till age had given thee 
 “ ftrengh, and thy father had inftrufted 
 thee in every Indian accomplifhment !” 
 In terms like thefe did this untutored fa- 
 vage bewail the lofs of her fon, and fre- 
 quently would fhe pafs the greateft part 
 of the night in the afiedtionate employ. 
 
 The Indians in general are very ftri(ft 
 in the obfervanqe of their laws relative to 
 
 mourning 
 
C 407 ] 
 
 jnouin’ing for their dead. In fome na- 
 tions they cut off their hair, blacken their 
 their faces, and fit in an ere£l: pofture, with 
 their heads clofely covered, and depriving 
 themfelves of every pleafure. This feve- 
 rity is continued for feveral months, and 
 with fome relaxations the appearance is 
 fometimes kept up for feveral years. I 
 was told that when the Naudoweffies re- 
 colle£ted any incidents of the lives of their 
 deceafed relations, even after an interval 
 of ten years, they would howl fo as to 
 be heard at a great diftance. They would 
 fometimes continue this proof of refpe£t 
 and affection for feveral hours ; and if it 
 happened that the thought occurred, and 
 the noife was begun towards the evening, 
 thofe of their tribe who were at hand 
 would join with them. 
 
 C c 4 
 
 CHAP- 
 
o' 
 
 [ 408 ] 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 A concife Character of the Indians. 
 
 H E character of the Indians, like 
 
 that of other uncivilized nations, 
 is compoled of a mixture of ferocity and 
 gentlenels. They are at once guided 
 by paffions and appetites, which they 
 hold in common with the fiercell: beafls 
 that inhabit their woods, and are poflefled 
 of virtues which do honour to human na-* 
 
 In the following eftimate I fhall en- 
 deavour to forget on the one hand the pre- 
 judices of Europeans, who ufually annex 
 to the word Indian epithets that are dlf- 
 graceful to human nature, and who view 
 them In no other light than as lavages 
 and cannibals; whilll with equal care J 
 avoid any partiality towards them, as 
 lome muft naturally anfe from the favour- 
 able reception I met with during my flay 
 among them. 
 
 At the fame time I fhall confine my 
 remarks to the nations inhabiting only 
 
 ture. 
 
 the 
 
[ 409 1 
 
 tlie weftern regions, fuch as the Nau- 
 dowefEes, the Ottagaumles, the Clupe- 
 ways, the Winnebagoes, and the Sau- 
 kies ; for as throughout that diverfxty of 
 climates, the extenfive continent of Ame- 
 rica Is compofed of, there are people of 
 different difpofitlons and various charac- 
 ters, 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, re- 
 vengeful, inexorable difpofition, that they 
 will watch whole days unmlndtul of the 
 calls of nature, and make their way 
 through pathlefs, and almoft unbounded 
 woods, fubfifting only on the fcanty 
 produce of them, to purfue and revenge 
 themfelves of an enemy ; that they hear 
 unmoved the piercing cries of fuch as 
 unhappily fall into their hands, and re- 
 ceive a diabolical pleafure fiom the tor- 
 tures they inflia on their prlfoners, I 
 readily grant ; but let us look on the re- 
 verfe of this terrifying pidure, and vve 
 Ihall find them temperate both in their 
 diet and potations (it muft be remember- 
 ed, that I fpeak of thofe tribes who have 
 
C 410 ] 
 
 Jittle communication with Europeans) 
 that they vvith-ftand, with unexampled 
 patience, the attacks of hunger, or the 
 inclemency of the feafons, and efteem the 
 gratification of their appetites but as a 
 fecondary confideration. 
 
 We lhall like wife fee them fociable 
 and humane to thole "whom they confider 
 as their friends, and even to their adopted 
 enemies ; and ready to partake with them 
 of the laft morfel, or to rilk their lives in 
 their defence. 
 
 In contradiction to the report of many 
 other ti^avellers, all of which have been 
 tinctured with prejudice, I can affert, that 
 notwithltanding the apparent indifference 
 with which an Indian meets his wife and 
 children after a long abfence, an indifference 
 proceeding rather from cullom than in- 
 fenfibility, he is not unmindful of the 
 claims either of connubial or parental ten- 
 dernefs ; the little Itory I have introduced 
 in the preceding chapter of the Naudo- 
 weffie woman lamenting her child, and 
 the immature death of the father, will 
 elucidate this point, and enforce the af- 
 fertion much better than the moll Hudied 
 arguments I can make ufe of. 
 
 Accuf- 
 
[ 4II 1 
 
 Accuftomcd from their youth to innu*" 
 merable hardfhips, they foon become fu- 
 perlor to a fenfe of danger or the dread 
 of death ; and their fortitude, implanted 
 by nature, and nurtured by example, 
 by precept, and accident, never experiences 
 
 a moment’s allay. _ ^ 
 
 Though flothful and inadive whilit 
 their ftofe of provifion remains unex- 
 haufted, and their foes are at a diftance, 
 they are indefatigable and perfevering in 
 purfuit of their game, or in circumvent- 
 ing 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 lentiments, or of revealing a fecret, 
 they might at the fame time boaft of pof- 
 fefling qualifications of a more animated 
 nature, of the fagacity of a hound, the 
 penetrating fight ot a lynx, the cunning 
 of the fox, the agility pf a bounding roe, 
 and the unconquerable fiercenefs of the 
 tyger. 
 
 In their public charaders, as form- 
 ing part of a community, they polfefs 
 an attachment for that band to which they 
 
 belong, 
 
[ 412 ] 
 
 belong, unknown to the inhabitants of 
 any other country. They combine, as if 
 they were aduated only by one foul, 
 againft the enemies of their nation, and 
 banilh from their minds every confidera- 
 tion oppofed to this. 
 
 They confult without unnecelfary op- 
 pofition, or without giving way to the 
 excitements of envy or ambition, on the 
 meafures neceflary to be purfued for the 
 deftrudion of thole who have drawn 
 on themfelves their difpleafure. No felf- 
 ilh views ever influence their advice, 
 or obftrud their confultations. Nor is 
 it in the power of bribes or threats to 
 diminilh the love they bear their coun- 
 try. 
 
 The honour of their tribe, and the 
 welfare of their nation, is the firfl; and 
 moll predominant emotion of their hearts ; 
 and from hence proceed in a great mea- 
 fure all their virtues and their vices. 
 Aduated by this, they brave every dan- 
 ger, endure the mofl: exquilite torments, 
 and expire triumphing in their fortitude, 
 not as a perfonal qualification, but as a 
 national charaderilHc. 
 
 From 
 
[ 4rj ] 
 
 From thence alfo flow that infafkble 
 revenue towards thofe with whom they 
 are at war, and all the confequent horrors 
 that dilgrace their name. Their uncul- 
 tivated mind, being incapable of judging 
 of the propriety of an aftion, in oppofi- 
 tion to their paffions, which are totally 
 infenlible to the controuls of reafon or hu- 
 manity, they know not how to keep 
 their fury within any bounds, and con- 
 fequently that courage and refolution, 
 which would otherwife do them honour, 
 degenerates into a favage ferocity. 
 
 But this Ihort dlflertatlon muft fuffice ; 
 the limits of my work will not permit 
 me to treat the fut^eft more copioufly, 
 or to purfue it with a logical regularity. 
 The obfervations already made by my rea- 
 ders on the preceding pages, will, I truft, 
 render it unneceflary ; as by them they 
 will be enabled to form a tolerably juft 
 idea of the people I have been defcribing. 
 Experience teaches, that anecdotes, and 
 relations of particular events, however 
 trifling they might appear, enable us to 
 form a truer judgment of the manners 
 and cuftoms of a people, and are much 
 more declaratory of their real ftate, than 
 
 I 
 
[ 414 ] 
 
 the moft ftudied and elaborate dilquihtionj 
 without thefe aids. 
 
 CHAP. XVII. 
 
 Of their Language, Hierogly- 
 ph icks, 
 
 T he principal languages of the na- 
 tives of North America may be 
 divided into four dalles, as they conlift of 
 fuch as are made ufe of by the nations 
 of the Iroquois towards the eaftern parts 
 of it, the Chipeways or Algqnkins to the 
 north-weft, the Naudoweffies to the weft, 
 and the Cherokees, Chickafaws, &c. to 
 the fouth. One or other of thefe four 
 are uled by all the Indians who inhabit 
 the parts that lie between the coaft of 
 Labradore north, the Florida fouth, the 
 Atlantic ocean eaft, and, as far as we can 
 judge from the difcoveries hitherto made, 
 the Pacific Ocean on the weft. 
 
 But of all thele, the Chipeway tongue 
 appears to be the moft prevailing; it be- 
 ing held in fuch efteem, that the chiefs 
 of every tribe, dwelling about the great 
 
 lakes, 
 
[ '^>5 ] 
 
 lakes, or to the weftward of thefe oh the 
 banks of the Miffiffippi, with thofe as faj: 
 fouth as the Ohio, and as far north as Hud- 
 fon’s Bay, confifting of more than thirty 
 different tribes, fpeak this language alone 
 in their councils, notwithftandiug each has 
 a peculiar* one of their own. 
 
 It will probably in time become uni- 
 verfal among all the Indian nations, as 
 none of them attempt to make excurfions 
 to any great diftance, or are confidered as 
 qualified to carry on any negociation with 
 a diftant band, unlefs they have acquired 
 the Chipeway tongue. 
 
 At prefent, befides the Chipeways, to 
 whom it is natural, the Ottawaws, the 
 Saukies, the Ottagaumies, the Killifli- 
 noes, the Nipegons, the bands about 
 LakeLe Pleuve, and the remains of the 
 Algonkins or Gens de Terre, all con- 
 verfe in it, with fome little variation-of 
 diale<5l ; but whether it be natural to thefe 
 nations, or acquired, I was not able to 
 difcover. I am however of opinion that 
 the barbarous and uncouth dialedl of 
 the Winnebagoes, the Menomonies, and 
 many other tribes, will become in time 
 
 totally 
 
[ 4i6 ] 
 
 totally extinct, and this be adopted in its 
 Head. 
 
 The Chipeway tongue is not incurn-* 
 beied with any unneceflary tones or ac- 
 cents, neither are there any words in it 
 that are fuperfluous ; it is alfo eafy to 
 pronounce, and much more copious than 
 any other Indian language. 
 
 As the Indians are unacquainted with 
 the polite arts, or with the fciences, and 
 as they are alfo Grangers to ceremony or 
 compliment, they neither liave nor need 
 an infinity of words wherewith to em- 
 bellifh their difcourle. Plain and unpo- 
 lifhed in their manners, they only make 
 ufe of fuch as ferve to denominate the ne- 
 ceffaries or conveniences of life, and to 
 exprefs their wants, which in a ftate of 
 nature can be but few. 
 
 I have annexed hereto a fhort vocabulary 
 of,i the Chipeway language, and another of 
 that of the Naudoweffies, but am not able 
 to reduce them to the rules of grammar. 
 
 The latter is Ipoken in a foft accent, 
 without any guttural founds, fo that it 
 may be learnt with facility, and is not 
 difficult either to be pronounced or writ- 
 ten. It is nearly as copious and expref- 
 five as the Chipeway tongue, and is the 
 
 moil: 
 
C 417 ] 
 
 mofl; prevaUlng language ot any on the 
 weftern banks of the Miffiffippi ; 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 
 Ihores of the Pacific Ocean. 
 
 As the Indians are not acquainted with 
 letters, it is very difficult to convey with 
 preclfion the exadl found of their words; 
 
 I have however endeavoured to write them 
 as near to the manner in which they are 
 expreffed, as fuch an uncertain mode will 
 admit of. 
 
 Although the Indians cannot commu- 
 nicate their ideas by writing, yet they 
 form certain hieroglyphicks, which, in 
 Ibme meafure, ferve to perpetuate any 
 extraordinary tranfadion, or uncommon 
 event. Thus when they are on their ex- 
 curfions, and either intend to proceed, 
 or have been, on any remarkable enter- 
 prize, they peel the bark from the trees 
 which lie in their way, to give intelli- 
 gence to thofe parties that happen to be 
 at a diftance, of the path they muft pur- 
 fue to overtake them. 
 
 The following inftance will convey a 
 more perfe(ft idea of the methods they 
 D d make 
 
t ] 
 
 ttiaice ufe of oh this occalion, than any 
 expreffions 1 can frame. 
 
 When I left the Mifflflippi, and pro- 
 ceeded up khe Chipeway River in my 
 way to Lake Superior, as related in my 
 Journal, my , guide, who was a chief of 
 the Chipeways that dwell on the Otta- 
 waw Lake, neat the heads of the river 
 tve had juft entered, fearing that fom6 
 parties of the Naudowefiies, with whom 
 his nation are perpetually at war, might 
 accidentally fall in with us, and before 
 they were apprized of my being in com- 
 pany, do US feme mifehief, 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-greafe, their 
 ufual fubftltute for ink, made in an un- 
 couth but expreflive manner the figure of 
 the town of the OttagaUmies. He then 
 formed to the left a man drefl'ed in fkins, 
 by which he intended to reprefent a Nau- 
 doweflie, with a line drawn from his 
 mouth to that of a deer, the fymbol of 
 the Chipeways. After this he depiflured 
 ftill fartlrer to the left a canoe as pro- 
 ceeding up the river, in which he placed 
 
 a man 
 
[ 419 1 
 
 a man fitting with a hat on ; this figiirc 
 was defigned to repreleot an Enghihman, 
 or myfelf, and my Frenchman was drawn 
 with a handkerchief tied round his head, 
 arid 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 Naudoweffies, and which I doubt 
 not appeared perfeftly intelligible to them, 
 was, that one of the Chipeway chiefs had 
 received a fp'eech from fome Naudoweffie 
 chiefs at the town of the Ottagaumies, 
 defiring him to condud the Enghihman, 
 who had lately been among them, up the 
 Chipeway river ; and that they thereby 
 required, that the Chipeway, notwith- 
 ftanding he was an avowed enetny, fliould 
 not be mrilefted by them on his paflage, 
 as he had the care of a perfon whom they 
 efteemed as one of their nation. 
 
 Some authors have pretended that the 
 Indians have armorial bearings, which 
 they blazon with great exadnefs, and 
 which diftinguifh one nation from an- 
 other ; but I never could obferve any other 
 arms among them than the fymbols al- 
 ready deferibed. 
 
 D d 2 A fi:ort 
 
[ 42C> ] 
 
 A fliort Vocabulary of theChIpewjiy 
 Language. 
 
 N. This people do not make ufe either of 
 the confonants F or V, 
 
 A 
 
 A BOVE 
 
 Splmlnk 
 
 jl\. Abandon 
 
 Packiton 
 
 Admirable 
 
 Pilawah 
 
 Afterwards 
 
 Mipidach 
 
 All 
 
 Kokinum 
 
 Always 
 
 Kokali 
 
 Amifs 
 
 Napitch 
 
 Arrive 
 
 ’Takouchin 
 
 Ax 
 
 Agaewet 
 
 Afhes 
 
 Pingoe 
 
 Affift 
 
 Mawinewah 
 
 
 B 
 
 Ball 
 
 Alewtn 
 
 Bag, or X.ohi^cco-'^oviQh.CaJpetawgan 
 
 Barrel 
 
 Owentawgan 
 
 Beat 
 
 Pakkite 
 
 Bear, a 
 
 Mackwah 
 
 5 Bear, 
 
[ 421 ] 
 
 Bear, a young one 
 
 Beaver 
 
 Beaver’s ikin 
 
 Be, or to be 
 
 Beard 
 
 Becaufe 
 
 Believe 
 
 Belly 
 
 Black 
 
 Blood 
 
 Body 
 
 Bottle 
 
 Brother 
 
 Brandy, or Rum 
 
 Bread 
 
 Breech 
 
 Breeches 
 
 Buck 
 
 Makon 
 
 jimik 
 
 Apiminiqui 
 
 T^apale 
 
 Mifchiton 
 
 Mewinch 
 
 ’Tilerimah 
 
 Mjjhemout 
 
 Mafkaute 
 
 Mijkow 
 
 Toe 
 
 SbiJJjego 
 
 Neconnis 
 
 Scuttawawbah 
 
 Paboupigan 
 
 Mifcoufab 
 
 Kipokitie Koujah 
 
 Wqjkeicb 
 
 C 
 
 Canoe Cheman 
 
 Call 'Tepenekaw 
 
 Chief, a Okemaw 
 
 Carry Petou 
 
 Child, or Children Bobelopin 
 
 Coat Capotewiaii 
 
 Cold, I am KekcHch 
 
 D d 3 
 
 Come 
 
[ 422 ] 
 
 Come on 
 Come to 
 Comrade 
 Concerned 
 Corn 
 
 Moppa 
 
 Pemotcha 
 
 Neechee 
 
 1’allemiJJi 
 
 Melom'tn 
 
 Covering,Qr a Blan- 
 ket 
 
 Country- 
 
 Courage 
 
 Cup 
 
 Waivbewion 
 
 Kndawlawkeet* 
 
 ‘Tag’wawmiJJii 
 
 Olawgan 
 
 D 
 
 Dance 
 
 Nemeh 
 
 Dart 
 
 SheJlnliWte 
 
 Die, to 
 
 Nip 
 
 DllB 
 
 Maclioan 
 
 Dog 
 
 j4Utn 
 
 Dead 
 
 Neepoo 
 
 Devil, or evil Spirit Maicho-Manlton 
 
 Dog, a little one 
 
 jilemon 
 
 Done, it is done 
 
 Shiah 
 
 Do 
 
 ’Tojhiton 
 
 Doubtlefs 
 
 Ontclatoubah 
 
 Drels the kettle 
 
 Pouiwah 
 
 Drink 
 
 Minikwah 
 
 Drunken 
 
 Oulfquiba 
 
 Duck 
 
 Chickhlp. 
 
t 4*3 ] 
 E 
 
 Earth 
 
 Eat 
 
 Each 
 
 EngUih 
 
 Enough 
 
 Equal, or alike 
 
 Efteem 
 
 Eyes 
 
 Auhwln 
 
 OwllJine 
 
 Papegik 
 
 Sagauno/l3 
 
 Mitnilic 
 
 P’awblfcouch 
 
 PI awpctchtnaw 
 
 TPiJkinkhie 
 
 F 
 
 Faft 
 
 Fall 
 
 Far off 
 
 Fat 
 
 Friend 
 
 Father 
 
 Few, or little 
 Fatigued 
 Field fown 
 Fire 
 
 Fire, to ftrike 
 
 Find 
 
 Filh 
 
 Fork 
 
 WaUeblc 
 
 Ponkijin 
 
 JP atfaw 
 
 P'mmitee 
 
 Nicomis 
 
 Noofab 
 
 Maungis 
 
 *PaukwiJJi 
 
 Kittegaumic 
 Scutta 
 Scutecke 
 PJantounawaiv 
 Kickon 
 Najfawokwot 
 D d 4 Formerly 
 
1 
 
 [ 
 
 Formerly 
 Fort 
 Forward 
 F rench 
 Freeze, to 
 Freezes hard 
 Full 
 
 Fuzee or Gun 
 
 424 ] 
 
 Pirwego 
 ^ akatgon 
 Nopawink 
 Nechte^oofl) 
 KiJJin 
 
 KiJJin Magai 
 
 Moufkinet 
 
 PqjkeJJigan 
 
 G 
 
 God, or the Great 
 Spirit 
 
 Go by water 
 
 Girl 
 
 Give 
 
 Ktt(^hi Manltoti 
 
 P immifcaiv 
 
 yeckwaffin 
 
 MiUaw 
 
 Glafs, a mirror 
 Good 
 
 Good for nothing 
 Govern 
 
 General, or Com- 
 mander in Chief 
 Grapes 
 Great 
 Greedy 
 Guts 
 
 IV iwbemo 
 Cawlaich 
 Malatal 
 Tibarhnaw. 
 
 Kit chi Okimaw 
 
 Simauganijh 
 
 Shoamin 
 
 Manatou 
 
 Sawfawhi^fi 
 
 Olawbijh 
 
 Hare 
 
[ 425 1 ' 
 
 Hare 
 
 Heart 
 
 Hate 
 
 Half 
 
 Hair, human 
 
 Hair of beafts 
 
 Handfome 
 
 Have 
 
 Head 
 
 Heaven 
 
 Herb 
 
 Here 
 
 Hidden 
 
 Home 
 
 Honour 
 
 Hot 
 
 How 
 
 How many 
 Hunt 
 
 Hut, or Houfe 
 
 H 
 
 jVawpoos 
 
 Mkhewah 
 
 Shlngaurhnaw 
 
 Naivbal 
 
 LIffIs 
 
 Pewal 
 
 Canogininne 
 
 P’undatdarv 
 
 Oujiecouan 
 
 Spemlnkahwin 
 
 Mejajk 
 
 Aconda 
 
 Kemouch 
 
 Kntayenl 
 
 Mackawalaxv 
 
 Akejhotta 
 
 ‘Tavjne 
 
 'J’awnemiUk 
 
 Kewcijj'a 
 
 iVig-lVaim 
 
 Indians 
 
 Iron 
 
 I 
 
 JJhlnawbah 
 P ewavobkk 
 
 Ifland 
 
[ 
 
 Ifland 
 
 Immediately 
 Indian Corn 
 Entirely 
 Importer 
 It might be fb 
 
 426 ] 
 
 Mints 
 
 Webatch 
 
 Mittawmin 
 
 Nawpitch 
 
 MawlawtiJJle 
 
 'T swneendo 
 
 K 
 
 Kettle 
 
 King, or Chief 
 
 Keep 
 
 Knife 
 
 Ackikons 
 
 Okemaiv 
 
 Ganwerhnaw 
 
 Mockoman 
 
 Knife that is crooked Cootaivgon 
 
 Know 
 
 ’Thickeremaiv 
 
 I^ake 
 
 Lazy 
 
 Lame 
 
 Leave 
 
 Letter 
 
 Life 
 
 Love 
 
 Long fince 
 Land Carriage 
 
 O 
 
 L 
 
 Kitchigawmink 
 
 Pawpi 
 
 Kittimi 
 
 Kikekate 
 
 Pockiton 
 
 Mawjignaugon 
 
 Nouchimowin 
 
 Saukie 
 
 Shawjhla 
 
 Cappatawgon 
 
[ 
 
 Lofe 
 
 Lie down 
 Little 
 
 Meat 
 Much 
 Man 
 
 March, to go 
 Marry 
 Medicine 
 Merchandize 
 
 Moon 
 Mortar to pound 
 Male 
 Miftrefs 
 
 l^eedle 
 
 Near 
 
 Nation 
 
 Never 
 
 Night 
 
 No 
 
 Nofe 
 
 Nothing 
 
 427 3 
 
 PaclilauguS 
 
 ffeepemaw 
 
 Jpauhejheen 
 
 M 
 
 jVeas 
 
 X^ibbllaw 
 
 JUiffinape 
 
 PimmouJJie 
 
 iVeewin. 
 
 Jlokochfgon 
 Debicot 
 in Pouta'Wgon 
 Nape 
 
 NeremoujiTi 
 
 N 
 
 Shawbonkin 
 Peivitch 
 Irinee 
 Caivikka'io 
 Debicot 
 Kaw 
 ' Toch 
 Kakego 
 
 Not 
 
[ 428 ] 
 
 Kawmifchi 
 Kagutch 
 Nought, good for) , , , 
 nothing ^Malatat 
 
 Not ytt 
 Not at all 
 
 O 
 
 Old 
 
 Kauwejlme 
 
 Otter 
 
 Nikkik 
 
 Other 
 
 CoutacJi 
 
 
 P 
 
 Pipe 
 
 Poasran 
 
 Part, what Part ’tawnapee 
 
 Play 
 
 Packeigo 
 
 Powder, gun, or 
 
 dull Ping9 
 
 Peace, to make 
 
 P ecacotlche 
 
 Pray 
 
 ‘Tawlaimia 
 
 Proper 
 
 Sawfega 
 
 Prelently 
 
 Webatch 
 
 Peninfula 
 
 Minniffin 
 
 Quick 
 
 CL 
 
 Kegotch 
 
 Regard 
 
[■ 429 3 
 
 Regard 
 
 Red 
 
 Refolve 
 
 Relation 
 
 Refped 
 
 Rain 
 
 Robe 
 
 River 
 
 Run, to 
 
 R 
 
 Wawbemo 
 
 Mtfcow 
 
 ‘ttbelindon 
 
 ^awwemuiv 
 
 ^itawbawmica 
 
 Kimmewan 
 
 Ockolaw 
 
 Sippitn 
 
 Pitchebot 
 
 gad ^Pallmijfie 
 
 Sail Pemifcaw 
 
 Sack, or Bag Majkimot 
 
 Sea, or large Lake Jgankilchigawmmk 
 
 Shoes muk'fin 
 
 Ship, or large Canoe Kttchi Cheman 
 
 Nifcottijfie 
 Manltou 
 
 Sorry 
 
 Spirit 
 
 Spoon 
 
 Star 
 
 Steal 
 
 Stockings 
 
 Mickivon 
 
 Jllank 
 
 Kemautln 
 
 Mittaus 
 
 Strong 
 
[ 
 
 Strong 
 
 Sturgeon 
 
 Sun 
 
 Sword 
 
 Surprizing 
 
 See 
 
 Since 
 
 Shirt 
 
 Slave 
 
 Sleep 
 
 Sit down 
 
 Take 
 
 Teeth 
 
 That 
 
 There 
 
 This 
 
 Truly 
 
 Together 
 
 Tobacco 
 
 Tongue 
 
 Tii'ed 
 
 Too little 
 
 Too much 
 
 Thank you 
 
 430 3 
 
 Mq/J}kauwaJi 
 
 Law mack 
 
 Krjfis 
 
 Simaugan 
 
 Ktwahy Ltwah 
 
 IVawhemo 
 
 Mapedoh 
 
 Papawkwian 
 
 IV 2ckan 
 
 Nippee 
 
 Mintepiti 
 
 T 
 
 Emaundah 
 ^ibbit 
 Mawbah 
 IV ilfaudebi 
 Maiindah ' 
 
 Kikit 
 
 Mawmawwee 
 
 Semau 
 
 Outon 
 
 P aw konfie 
 
 Qfaunimangh 
 
 Offaune 
 
 Megwatch 
 
 To-morrow 
 
[ 43 * 1 
 
 To-morrow 
 To-morrow the day 
 after 
 
 Wawhunk 
 
 ‘^Oufwawiunk 
 
 W 
 
 Warriora 
 
 Water 
 
 War 
 
 Way 
 
 Well then ! 
 What is that ? 
 What now ? 
 Whence 
 Where 
 White 
 
 Who is there ? 
 
 Wind 
 
 Winter 
 
 Woman 
 
 Wood 
 
 Wolf 
 
 Yefterday 
 
 Yet 
 
 Semaaganaufh 
 
 Nebbi 
 
 Nantaubaulaw 
 
 Mickon 
 
 T auneendah / 
 
 W aiv’voe'win ? 
 ^agonie ? 
 
 ‘J’aunippi 
 ^ah 
 IV' aube 
 
 ^luagonle Maubah f 
 
 Loutin 
 
 Pepoun 
 
 Ickwee 
 
 Mittk 
 
 Mawhingon 
 
 Y 
 
 Petchilawg9 
 
 Minnewatch 
 
 Young 
 

 Young 
 
 Yellow 
 
 432 ] 
 
 UlJconek/JJi 
 O' a%zo. 
 
 *The ’Numerical ’J’erms of the Chipewayii 
 
 One 
 
 Phjhik 
 
 Two 
 
 Ninch 
 
 Three 
 
 Niffbu 
 
 Four 
 
 Neau 
 
 Five 
 
 Naran 
 
 Six 
 
 Nlngoutwaffbu 
 
 Seven 
 
 Ninchowajfou 
 
 Eight 
 
 Nifowajfou 
 
 Nine 
 
 ShongaJJbu 
 
 Ten 
 
 Mittauffou 
 
 Eleven 
 
 Mittaufou Pajhlk 
 
 Twenty 
 
 Ninchtawnaw 
 
 Thirty 
 
 Niffbu Mittawnaw 
 
 Forty 
 
 Neau Mittawnaw 
 
 Fifty 
 
 Naran Mittawnaw 
 
 Sixty 
 
 C Ningoutwajfou Mit- 
 2 tawnaw 
 
 Seventy 
 
 ( Ninchowajfou Mit- 
 1 tawnaw 
 
 Eighty 
 
 5 NijffbwaJfou Mit- 
 ? tawnaw 
 
 Ninety 
 
Ninety 
 
 [ +33 ] 
 
 C Shongajfou Mitt aw- 
 ^ naw 
 
 Hundred 
 
 f Mittaujou Mittaw- 
 2 naw 
 
 Thoufand 
 
 \ Mittaujou MittauJ- 
 \ fou Mittawnaw. 
 
 A Short Vocabulary of the Naudo- 
 weffie Language. 
 
 
 A 
 
 Axe 
 
 Jljhpaw 
 
 B 
 
 Beaver 
 Buffalo 
 Bad 
 Broach 
 Bear, a 
 
 Chawbah 
 
 Jawtongo 
 
 Shejah 
 
 Muzahootoo 
 
 IVahkorJiejab 
 
 C 
 
 Canoe 
 
 Cold 
 
 Waahtoh 
 
 Mechuetah 
 
 Child, a Male JVechoakfeh 
 
 E e Child, 
 
[ 434 ] 
 
 Child, a Female JVhacheekfeh 
 
 Come here Accooyouiyare 
 
 Dead 
 
 Deer 
 
 Dog 
 
 Eat 
 
 Ears 
 
 Eyes 
 
 Evil 
 
 Fire 
 Father 
 Frenchman 
 Falls of Water 
 Friend 
 
 Good 
 
 Give 
 
 D 
 
 Negujh 
 
 ‘Tohinjoh 
 
 Shungujh 
 
 E 
 
 Echawmenaw 
 
 Nookah 
 
 Efhtike 
 
 Shejah 
 
 F 
 
 Paahtah 
 
 Otah 
 
 Neehteegu/b 
 Owah Menah 
 Kitchiwah 
 
 G 
 
 Wojlotah 
 
 Accooyeh 
 
C 435 ] 
 
 Go away 
 
 God, or the Great 
 Spirit 
 
 Gun 
 
 Great 
 
 Gold 
 
 Accoowah 
 
 Wakon 
 
 Muzah JVakon 
 
 ‘Tonga 
 
 Muzaham 
 
 H 
 
 Hear 
 
 Horfe 
 
 Home, or domeftic 
 
 Houfe 
 
 Heaven 
 
 Nooktjhon 
 Shuetongo 
 Shuah 
 T ^ebee 
 
 '}Jhta Tehee 
 
 I 
 
 Iron Muzah 
 
 I, or me ' Meob 
 
 K 
 
 King, or Chief Otah 
 
 Kill Negujhtaugaw 
 
 E e a 
 
 Little 
 

 
 [ 436 } 
 L 
 
 Little 
 
 Long 
 
 Lake 
 
 Love 
 
 Jepn 
 1 ’ongoom 
 ^ongo Meneh 
 Ehwahmeah 
 
 Much 
 
 More 
 
 Moon 
 
 Mouth 
 
 Medal 
 
 Mine 
 
 Milk 
 
 M 
 
 Otah 
 
 Otenaw 
 
 Oweeh 
 
 Eeh 
 
 Muzah Otah 
 
 Mewah 
 
 Etjawboh 
 
 N 
 
 No 
 
 Near 
 
 Heyah 
 
 Je^inaw 
 
 0 
 
 Oh! 
 
 Hopiniyahle 1 
 
[ 437 3 
 
 P 
 
 Pipe Shanmpaw 
 
 Pipe of Peace Shanuapaw IVakon 
 
 R 
 
 Rain 
 
 Ring 
 
 Round 
 
 Owah Meneh 
 Muzamchupah 
 
 Chupah 
 
 Smoke 
 
 Salt Water 
 
 See, to 
 
 Sleep 
 
 Snake 
 
 Sun 
 
 Spirit 
 
 Spirituous Liquors 
 Snow 
 Surprizing 
 Silver 
 
 Shaweah 
 
 Menis ^eah 
 
 E/htaw 
 
 Epteemo 
 
 Omli/hcaiv 
 
 Paahtab 
 
 IVakon 
 
 Meneh Wakon 
 Sinnee 
 
 Hopiniayare 
 
 Muzaham 
 
 E e 3 
 
 Tobacco 
 

 [ 
 
 Tobacco 
 
 Talk 
 
 Tree 
 
 There 
 
 Woman 
 
 Wonderful 
 
 Water 
 
 What 
 
 Who is there? 
 Wicked 
 
 You 
 Young 
 You are good 
 You are a Spirit 
 You are my good 
 Friend 
 No Good 
 
 438 1 
 T 
 
 Shawfajfaw 
 
 Owehchin 
 
 Ochaw 
 
 T>achi 
 
 W 
 
 Winnokejah 
 
 Hopiniyare 
 
 Meneh 
 
 ’Tawgo 
 
 "Tawgodache ? 
 Heyahachta 
 
 Y 
 
 Chee 
 
 Hawpawnaw 
 W'ajhtah Chee 
 W akon Chee 
 W <^3tah Kitchiwah 
 Chee 
 
 Heyah Wajhtah. 
 
[ 439 1 
 
 ne Numirka! firms ofthi NaudowiJJkf- 
 
 One 
 
 Two 
 
 Three 
 
 Four 
 
 Five 
 
 Six 
 
 Seven 
 
 Eight 
 
 Nine 
 
 Ten 
 
 Eleven 
 
 Twenty- 
 
 Thirty 
 
 Forty 
 
 Fifty 
 
 Sixty 
 
 Seventy 
 
 iVonchaw 
 Noompaw 
 T aivmonee 
 ^oboh 
 Sawbuttee 
 Shanvco 
 Shawcopee 
 Shahindohtn 
 PJebochunganong 
 Wegochunganong 
 t Wegochunganong 
 Wonchaw 
 C Wegochunganong 
 2 J^ompaw 
 S Wegochunganong 
 \ TTawntonee 
 \ Wegochunganong 
 
 X 'Toboh 
 
 5 Wegochunganong 
 X Sawbuttee 
 5 Wegochunganong 
 t Shawco 
 I Wegochunganong 
 ^ Shawcopee 
 
 Eighty 
 
 E e 4 ^ 
 

 C 440 ] 
 
 Eighty 5 ^ ^gochunganong 
 
 ^ Shahindohin 
 
 Ninety Wegochunganong 
 
 £ Nebochunganong 
 Hundred Opohng 
 
 Thoufand J bVegochmganong 
 
 4 Opohng, 
 
 To this fhort vocabulary of the Naudo- 
 weffie language, I lhall adjoin a fpecimen 
 of the manner in which they unite their 
 words. I have chofen for this purpofe a 
 a fhort fong, which they fing, with fbme 
 kind of melody, though not with any 
 appearance of poetical meafure, when they 
 fet out on their hunting expeditions : and 
 have given as near a tranflation as the 
 difference of the idioms will permit. 
 
 Meoh accoowuh eJJ^taw paatuh negufh- 
 iawgmv Jhejah menah, Tonga Wakon 
 incoh puatuh uccootvcih . Hopini- 
 
 yahie oweeh accooyee meoh, wojhla patah 
 otoh tohinjoh meoh teebee. 
 
 I will arife before the fun, and afcend 
 yonder hill, to fee the new light chafe 
 away the vapours, and difperfe the clouds. 
 Great Spirit give me fuccefs. And when 
 the fun is gone, lend me, oh moon, 
 
 light 
 
[ 44-1 1 
 
 light fufficlent to guide me with fafety 
 back to my tent loaden with deer ! 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 Of the Beasts, Birds, Fishes, Rep- 
 tiles, and Insects, which are found 
 in the interior Parts of North America. 
 
 O F thefe I fhall, in the firft place, 
 give a catalogue, and afterwards a 
 defcription of fuch only as are either pe- 
 culiar to this country, or which difter 
 in fome material point from thofe tiiat 
 are to be met within other realms. 
 
 OF THE BEASTS. 
 
 The Tyger, the Bear, Wolves, Foxes, 
 Dogs, the Cat of the Mountain, the 
 Wild Cat, the Buffalo, the Deer, the 
 Elk, the Moofe, the Carrabou, the 
 Carcajou, the Skunk, the Porcupine, 
 the Hedge-hog, the Wood-chuck, the 
 
 Raccoon, the Martin, tne ‘ “ 
 
 Hares, Rabbits, 
 the 
 
 Mulkc^uaw, Sc^uirrels, 
 
[ 442 ] 
 
 the Mole, the Weezel, the Moule, the 
 Dormoufe, the Beaver, the Otter, the 
 Mink, and Bats. 
 
 The TYGER. The Tyger of Ame- 
 rica refembles in fliape thofe of Africa 
 and Afia, but is conhderably fmaller. 
 Nor does it appear to be fo fierce and 
 ravenous as they are. The colour of it 
 is a darkifti 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 
 feem either to be apprehenfive of our ap- 
 proach, or to difcover any ravenous in- 
 clinations. It is however very feldom 
 to be met with in this part of the 
 world. 
 
 The BEAR. Bears are very nume- 
 rous on this continent, but more parti- 
 cularly fo in the northern parts of it, 
 and contribute to furnifh both food and 
 beds for almoft every Indian nation. 
 Thofe of America differ in many refpedls 
 from thofe either of Greenland or Ruffia, 
 (he^ being not only fomewhat fmaller, but 
 
 timorous 
 
[ 443 ] 
 
 timorous and inofFenfive, unlefs they are 
 pinched by hunger, or fmarting from a 
 wound. The fight of a man terrifies 
 them ; 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 quell of them. This 
 kind of food renders their flefli excelfively 
 rich and finely flavoured ; and it is con- 
 fequently preferred by the Indians and 
 traders to that of any other animal. The 
 fat is very white, and befides being fweet 
 and wholefome, is poflefl'ed of one valu- 
 able quality, which is, that it never 
 cloys. The inhabitants of thefe parts 
 conllantly anoint themfelves with it, and 
 to its efficacy they in a great meafure 
 owe their agility. The feafon for hunt- 
 ing the bear is during the winter ; when 
 they take up their abode in hollow trees, 
 or make themfelves dens in the roots of 
 thofe that are blown down, the entrance 
 pf which they flop up with branches of 
 fir that lie fcattered about, h rom thefe 
 retreats it is faid they flir not whilll the 
 weather continues fevere, and as it is well 
 known that they do not provide them- 
 felves with food, they are fuppofed to be 
 
 enabled 
 

 [ 444 ] 
 
 enabled by nature to fubfift for fome 
 months without, and during this time 
 to continue of the fame bulk. 
 
 The WOLF. The wolves of North 
 America are much lefs than thofe which 
 are met with in other parts of the world. 
 They have, however, in common with 
 the reft of their fpecies, a wildnefs in their 
 looks, and a fiercenefs in their eyes ; not- 
 withftanding which they are far from be- 
 ing fo ravenous as the European wolves, 
 nor will they ever attack a man, except 
 they have accidentally fed on the flefti of 
 thofe flain in battle. When they herd 
 together, as they often do in the winter, 
 they make a hideous and terrible nolle. 
 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 forts of 
 foxes in North America, which differ 
 only in their colour, one being of 
 a reddifli brown, the other of a grey ; 
 thofe of the latter kind that are found 
 near the river Miffiffippi, are extremely 
 beautiful, their hair being of a fine filver 
 
 DOGS. 
 
[ 445 ] 
 
 dogs. The dogs employed by the 
 Indians in hunting appear to be all of 
 the fame fpecies ; they carry their ears 
 erea, and greatly refemble a wolf about 
 
 XeJiead. ^hey are exceedingly ufeful 
 
 to them in their hunting excurfions, and 
 will attack the fierceft of the game they 
 are in purfuit of. They are alfo remark- 
 able for their fidelity to their mafters ; but 
 being ill fed by them are very trouble- 
 
 fome in their huts or tents. ^ 
 
 The CAT of the Mountain. This 
 
 creature is in lhape like a cat, only 
 larger. The hair or fur refembles alfo the 
 (kin of that domeftic animal ; the^ colour 
 however differs, for the former is_ of a 
 reddifh or orange caft, but grows lighter 
 near the belly. The whole fkin is beau- 
 tified with black fpots of different figures, 
 of which thofe on the back are long, and 
 thofe on the lower parts round. On the 
 ears there are black ftripes. This creature 
 is nearly as fierce as a leopard, but will 
 
 feldom attack a man. 
 
 The BUFFALO. This beaft, of 
 which there are amazing numbers in thefe 
 parts, is larger than an ox, has fhort 
 black horns, with a large beard under his 
 
[ 446 ] 
 
 chin, and his head is fo full of hair, that 
 it falls over his eyes, and gives him a 
 frightful look. There is a bunch on his 
 back which begins at the haunches, and 
 increaling gradually to the Ihoulders, 
 reaches on to the neck. Both this excref- 
 cence and its whole body are covered 
 with long hair, or rather w'ool, of a dun 
 or moule colour, which is exceedingly va- 
 luable, elpecially that on the fore part of 
 the body. Its head is larger than a bull’s 
 with a very Ihort neck; the breafl is 
 broad, and the body decreafes towards the 
 buttocks. Thefe creatures will run away 
 at the fight of a man, and a whole herd 
 will make off when they perceive a fingle 
 dog. The flefh of the buffalo is excellent 
 food, its hide extremely ufeful, and the 
 hair very proper for the manufadure of 
 various articles. 
 
 The DEER. There is but one fpe- 
 cies of deer in North America, and thefe 
 are higher and of a flimmer make than 
 thofe in Europe. Their fhape is near- 
 y t le fame as the European, their co- 
 lour of a deep fallow, and their horns 
 very large and bl anching. This beaft is 
 he fwifteft on the American plains, and 
 
[ 447 1 
 
 tliey herd together as they do in other 
 
 countries. , 
 
 The ELK greatly exceeds the deer m 
 
 fize, being in bulk equal to a horfe. Its 
 body is ihaped like that of a deer, only 
 Its tail is remarkably Ihort, bemg not 
 more than three inches long. The co- 
 lour of its hair, which is grey, and not 
 unlike that of a camel, but of a more 
 reddilh caft, is nearly three inches in 
 length, and as coarfe as that of a horfe. 
 The horns of this creature grow to a pro- 
 digious fize, extending fo wide that two 
 or three perfons might fit between them 
 at the fame time. They are not forked 
 like thofe of a deer, but have all their 
 teeth or branches on the outer e ge. 
 Nor does the form of thofe of the e k 
 referable a deer’s, the former being flat, 
 and eight or ten inches broad, whereas 
 the latter are round and confide rably nar- 
 rower. They flied their horns every year 
 in the month of February, and by Auguft 
 the new ones are nearly arrived at their 
 full growth. Notwithllanding their fize, 
 and the means of defence nature has fur- 
 nilhed them with, they are as timorous 
 as a deer. Their Ikin is very ufeful, and 
 
 Will 
 

 [ 448 ] 
 
 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 lize 
 of the elk, and the horns of it are almoft 
 as enormous as that animal’s; the ftem of 
 them however are not quite fo wide, and 
 they branch on both fides like thofe of a 
 deer. This creature alfo Iheds 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 ; its head 
 IS about two feet long, its upper lip 
 much larger than the under, and the nof- 
 tnls of It are fo wide that a man might 
 t ruft his hand into them a confider- 
 able way. The hair of the moofe is light 
 grey, mixed with a blackifli red. It is 
 very elaftic, for though it be beaten ever 
 ^ long. It will retain its original fhape. 
 -The fleA is exceeding good food, eafy 
 ot digeition, and very nourilhing. The 
 nole, or upper lip, which is large and 
 loofe from the gums, is efteemed a great 
 ehcacy, being of a firm confiftence, be- 
 tween marrow and griftle, and when pro- 
 perly dreflbd, affords a rich and lufcious 
 dilh. Its hide IS very proper for leather, 
 
 ^ being 
 
C 449 ] 
 
 being thick and ftrong, yet foft and plia- 
 ble. The pace of this creature is always 
 a trot, which is fo expeditious, that it is 
 exceeded in fwiftnefs but by few of its 
 fellow inhabitants of thefe woods. It is 
 generally found in the fprefts, where it 
 feeds on mofs and buds. Though this 
 creature is of the deer kind, it never 
 herds as thole do. Moft authors confound 
 
 it with the elk, deer, or carrabou, but it 
 is a fpecies totally ' different, as might be 
 difcovered by attending to the defcription 
 I have given of each. 
 
 The CARRABOU. This beaft is not 
 near fo tall as the moofe, however it is 
 fomething like it in fhape, only rather 
 more heavy, and inclining to the form of 
 the afs. The horns of it are not flat as 
 thofe of the elk are, but round like thofe 
 of the deer ; they alfo meet nearer together 
 at the extremities, and bend more over 
 the face, than either thofe of the elk or 
 moofe. It partakes of the fwiftnefs of 
 the deer, and is with difficulty over- 
 taken by its purfuers. The fieffi of it 
 likewife is equally as good, the tongue 
 particularly is in high efteem. The fkin 
 F f being 
 
'[ '^ 45 ° 1 
 
 being {mooth and free from veins, is as 
 Valuable as fhamoy. 
 
 The CARCAJOU. This creature, 
 which is of the cat kind, is a terri- 
 ble enemy to the precedii^ four Ipe- 
 cies of beafts. He either comds upoii 
 them from fome concealment unpercelf ed, 
 or climbs up into a tree, and taking his 
 Ration on fome of the branches, waits till 
 one of them, driven by an extreme of 
 heat or cold, takes (helter under it ; 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 encircles the 
 body of his adverfary ; and the only 
 means they have to Ihun their fate, is 
 by flying immediately to the water, by 
 this method, as the carcajou has a great 
 diflike to that element, he is fometimes 
 got rid of before he can effe£l his pur- 
 pofe. 
 
 The SKUNK. This is the moll ex- 
 traordinary animal that the American 
 woods produce. It is rather lefs than a 
 pole-cat, and of the fame Ipecies; it is 
 therefore often millaken for that creature, 
 but is very different from it in many points. 
 
 I Its 
 
[ 45 * 1 
 
 Its hair *is long and (hlning, variegated 
 with large black and white fpots, the 
 former moftly on the Ihoulders and rump; 
 its tail is very buflay, like that of the 
 fox, part black, and part white, like its 
 body ; it lives chiefly in the woods and 
 hedges. But its extraordinary powers are 
 only Ihewn when it is purfued. As foon 
 as he finds himfelf in danger he ejeds, 
 to a great diftance from .behind, a 
 fmall ftream of water, of fo fubtile a na- 
 ture, and at the fame time of fo power- 
 ful a fmell, that the air is tainted with 
 it for half a mile in circumference ; and 
 his purfuers, whether men or dogs, be- 
 ing almoft fuffocated with the flench, are 
 obliged to give over the purfuit. On this 
 account he is called by the French, En- 
 fant du Diable, the Child of the Devil ; 
 or Bete Puante, the Stinking Beaft. It 
 is almoft impoffible to defcribe the 
 noifome efteas of the liquid with which 
 this creature is fupplied by nature for its 
 defence. If a drop of it falls on your 
 cloaths, they are rendered fo . difagreeable 
 that it is impoffible ever after to wear 
 them ; or if any of it enters your eyelids, 
 F f a the 
 
[ 452 ] 
 
 the pain becomes intolerable for a long 
 time, and perhaps at laft you lofe your 
 fight. The fmell of the fkunk, though 
 thus to be dreaded, is not like that of a 
 putrid carcafe, butaftrong foetid effluvia of 
 mulk, which difpleafes rather from its pe- 
 netrating power than from its naufeouf- 
 nefs. It is notwlthftanding confidered as 
 conducive to clear the head and to raife 
 the fpirlts. This water is fuppofed by 
 naturalifts to be its urine ; but 1 have dif- 
 fered many of them that I have fflot, and 
 have found within their bodies, near the 
 urinal veflels, a fmall receptacle of water, 
 totally diftindf from the bladder which 
 contained the urine, and from which alone 
 I am fafisfied the horrid flench proceeds. 
 After having taken out with great care 
 the bag wherein this water is lodged, I 
 have frequently fed on them, and have 
 found them very fweet and good ; but 
 one drop emitted taints not only the car- 
 cafe, but the whole houfe, and renders 
 every kind of provifions that are in it un- 
 fit for ufe. With great juftice therefore 
 do the French give it fuch a diabolical 
 name. 
 
 The 
 
[ 453 ] 
 
 The PORCUPINE. The body oF 
 an American porcupine is in bulk about 
 the fize of a fmall dog, but it is both 
 Ihorter in length, and not fo high from 
 the ground. It varies very much from 
 thofe of other countries both in its (hape 
 and the length of its quills. The former 
 is like that of a fox, except the head, 
 which is not fb lharp and long, but re- 
 fembles more that of a rabbit. Its body 
 is covered with hair of a dark brown, 
 about four Inches long, great part of 
 which are the thlcknefs of a ftraw, and 
 are termed its quills. Thele are white, 
 with black points, hollow, and very 
 ftrong, efpecially thofe that grow on the 
 back. The quills ferve this creature for 
 ofFenfive 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 are not to be ex- 
 tracted without incifion. The Indians 
 ufe them for boring their ears and nofes 
 to infert their pendants, and alfo by way 
 of ornament to their ftockings, hair, &c. 
 betides which they greatly efteem the 
 fiefliv 
 
 Ff 3 
 
 The 
 
[ 454 ] 
 
 The WOOD-CHUCK is a ground 
 animal of the fur kind, about the fize of 
 a martin, being nearly fifteen Inches 
 long ; its body however is rounder, and 
 his legs fhorter ; the fore paws of it are 
 broad, and conftruaed for the purpofe of 
 digging holes in the ground, where it 
 burrows like a rabbit ; its fur is of a grey 
 colour on the reddifh caft, and its flefh 
 tolerable food. 
 
 The RACOON is fomewhat lefs in 
 fize than a beaver, and its feet and legs 
 are like thofe of that creature, but fhort 
 in proportion to its body, which relem- 
 bles that of a badger. The fhape of its 
 head is much like a f;x’s, only the ears 
 are ihorter, more round and naked ; and 
 its hair is alfo fimilar to that animal’s, be- 
 ing thick, long, foft, and black at the 
 ends. On its face there is a broad ftripe 
 that runs acrofs it, and includes the eyes, 
 which are large. Its muzzle is black, 
 and at the end roundifh like that of a dog 5 
 the teeth are alfo fimilar to thofe of a dog 
 in number and fhape ; the tail is long and 
 round, with annular flripes on it like 
 thofe of a cat ; the feet have five long 
 {lender toes armed with fharp claws, by 
 
 which 
 
[ 455 1 . 
 
 which it is. enabled to climb up trees, like, 
 a monkey, and to run to the very extre- 
 mities of the boughs. It makes uie of its 
 fore feet in the manner of hands, and 
 feeds itfelf with them. The flelh of this 
 creature is very good in the months o 
 September and Oaober, when fruit and 
 nuts, on which it likes to feed, are 
 
 ^^^The MARTIN is. rather larger than a 
 fquirrel, and fomewhat of the lame make ; 
 its legs and claws however are conlideia- 
 bly Ihorter. Its ears are Ihort, broad, 
 and roundilh, and its eyes Ihine m the 
 nis-ht like thofe of a cat. The whole 
 body is covered with fur of a brownim 
 fallow colour, and there are fome in the 
 more northern parts which are black •, the 
 Ikins of the latter are of much greater 
 value than the others. The tail is co- 
 vered with long hair, which makes it ap 
 pear thicker than it really is. Its flelh 
 is fometimes eaten, but is not many great 
 
 The MUSQUASH, or MUSK-RAT, 
 is fo termed for the exquUite mulk which 
 
 it affords. It appears to be a diminutive 
 
 of the beaver, being endowed with all the 
 F f 4 
 
[ 456 ] 
 
 properties of that fagacious animal, and 
 wants nothing but fize and ftrength, 
 being not much bigger than a large rat of 
 the Norway breed, to rival the creature 
 it fo much refembles. Was it not for its 
 tail, which is exactly the fame as that of 
 an European rat, the ftrufture of their 
 bodies is fo much alike, efpecially the 
 head, that it might be taken for a ftnall 
 beaver. lake that creature it builds itlelf a 
 cabbin, but of a lefs perfect conftru£Hon , 
 and takes up its abode near the lide of 
 fome piece of water. In the fpring they 
 leave their retreats, and in pairs fublift on 
 leaves and roots till the fummer comes 
 on, when they feed on ftrawberries, raf- 
 berries, and luch 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 
 food, and there is the greateft realbn to 
 believe, fubfift without any till the re- 
 turn of fpring. 
 
 SQUIRRELS. There are five forts 
 of fquirrels in America ; the red, the 
 grey, the black, the variegated, and the 
 Hying. The two former are exadlly the 
 
 fame 
 
[ 457 1 
 
 fame as thofe of Europe ; the black are 
 fomewhat larger, and differ from them 
 only in colour; the variegated alfo re- 
 femble them in fhape and figure, but 
 are very beautiful, being finely ftri^d 
 with white or grey, aud fometimes 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 afh-colour on the back, 
 and white on the under parts. It has 
 black prominent eyes like thofe of the 
 moufe, with a long flat broad tail. By 
 a membrane on each fide which reaches 
 from its fore to its hind legs, this crea- 
 ture is enabled to leap from one tree to 
 another, even if they fland a confiderable 
 diftance apart; this loofe fkin, which it 
 is enabled to ftretch 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 
 provifions as the others, and is eafily 
 tamed 
 
 The BEAVER. This creature has 
 been fo often treated of, and his uncom- 
 mon abilities fo minutely dd'cribed, that 
 any further account of it will appear un- 
 
 ^ ueceflary ; 
 
[ 4i8 ] 
 
 naceffiiy ; however for the- benefit of thofe 
 of my reader-s who are not fo well ac- 
 quainted with the form and properties of 
 this fagacious and ufeful animal, 1 Ihajl 
 give a concife defcription of it. The 
 beaver is an amphibious quadruped, which 
 cannot live for any long time in the wa-. 
 ter, and it is laid is even able to e^ift 
 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 ; they 
 weigh about fixty pounds. Its head is 
 like that of the otter, but larger ; its 
 fnout is pretty long, the eyes fmall, the 
 ears fhort, round, hairy on the outfide, 
 and fmooth within, and its teeth very 
 long ; the under teeth Hand out of their 
 mouths about the breadth of three finger?, 
 and the upper half a finger, all of which 
 are broad, crooked, ftrong, and lharp ; 
 befides thofe teeth called the incifors, 
 which grow double, are fet very deep in 
 their jaws, and bend like the edge of an 
 axe, they have fixteen grinders, eight on 
 each fide, four above and four below, di- 
 reaiy oppofite to each other. With the 
 
 forme? 
 
[ 459 1 
 
 former they are able to cut down trees 
 of a confiderable free, with the latter to 
 break the hardeft fobftances. Us legs are 
 (hort, particularly the fore legs, 
 are only four or five inches long, and not 
 unlike thofe of a badger j the toes of 
 fore feet are feparate, the nads placed ob- 
 liquely, and are hollow like q,uil s , 
 the hind feet are quite different, and fur- 
 niihed with membranes between the t«s. 
 By this means it can walk, t loug u 
 flowly, and is able to fwim wnh as much 
 eafe as any other aquatic animal. The 
 tail has fomewhat in it that refembles a 
 fidi, and feems to have no manner of re- 
 lation to the reft of the body, except the 
 hind feet, all the other parts being limi- 
 lar to thofe of land animals. The t^ai is 
 covered with a Ikin furnifhed with fcales, 
 that are joined together by a pelli^ j. 
 thefe fcales are about the *“^'‘nels of 
 parchment, nearly a line and a half m 
 length, and generally of a hexagomca 
 figure, having fix corners ; it 
 eleven or twelve inches in length, and 
 broader in the middle, where it is four 
 inches over, than either at the root or 
 the extremity. It is about two inches 
 

 t +6° ] 
 
 thick near the body, where it is almofl: 
 round, and grows gradually thinner and 
 flatter to the end. The colour of tlie 
 beaver is different according to the diffe- 
 rent climates in which it is found. In the 
 moft northern parts they are generally 
 cjuite black i in more temperate, brown { 
 their colour becoming lighter and lighter 
 as they approach towards the fouth. The 
 fur is of two forts all over the body, except 
 at the feet, where it is very fhort ; that 
 which is the longeft is generally in length 
 about an inch, but on the back it fbme- 
 times extends to two inches, gradually 
 diminifhing towards the head and tail. 
 This part of the fur is harfh, coarfe, and 
 fhining, and of little ule ; the other part 
 confifts of a very thick and fine down, fb 
 foft that it feels almoft like filk, about 
 three quarters of an inch in length, and is 
 what is commonly manufa£lured. Caf- 
 tor, which is ufeful in medicine, is pro- 
 duced from the body of this creature ; it 
 was formerly believed to be its teflicles, 
 but later dilcoveries hav'e fhown that it is 
 contained in four bags lituated in the 
 lower belly. Two of which, that arc 
 called the luperior from their being more 
 
 elevated 
 
[ 46i 1 
 
 elevated than the others, are filled with t 
 foft refinous adhefive matter, mixed with 
 fmall fibres, greyhh without, and yellow 
 within, of a ftrong, difagreeable, and pe- 
 netrating feent, and very inflammable. 
 This is the true caftoreum ; it hardens in 
 the air, and becomes brown, brittle, and 
 friable. The inferior bags contain an 
 unauous liquor like honey ; the colour 
 of which is a pale yellow, and its odour 
 fomewhat different from the other, being 
 rather weaker and more difagreeable ; it 
 however thickens as it grows older, and 
 at length becomes about the confiftence ot 
 tallow. This has alfo its particular ufe m 
 medicine, but it is not fo valuable as the 
 true caftoreum. 
 
 The ingenuity of thefe creatures m 
 building their cabblns, and in providing 
 for their fubfiftence, is truly wonderful. 
 When they are about to chufe themfelves 
 a habitation, they aflemble in companies 
 fometimes of two or three hundred, and 
 after mature deliberation fix on a place 
 where plenty of provifions, and all necei- 
 faries are to be found. Their houfes are 
 always fituated in the water, and when 
 
 they can find neither lake nor pond ad- 
 ^ jacent, 
 
t 462 J 
 
 jacent, they endeavour to fupply the defect 
 by flopping the current of fome brook or 
 fmall river, by means of a caufeway or 
 dam. For this purpofe they fet about 
 felling of trees, and they take care to 
 chufe out thofe that grow above the place 
 where they intend to build, that they 
 might fwim down with the current. Hav- 
 ing fixed on thole that are proper, three 
 or four beavers placing themfelves round 
 a large one, find means with their ftrong 
 teeth to bring it down. They allb pru- 
 dently contrive that it fhall fall towards 
 the water, that they may have the lefs 
 way to carry it. After they have by a 
 continuance of the fame labour and in- 
 dullry, 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 purfue 
 in the conllrudlion 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 ufe of to tranfport it to the place 
 where it is requifite, they conflrudl them 
 with as much folidity and regularity as 
 
 the 
 
[ 4^3 1 
 
 the tnoft experienced workmen could do. 
 The formation of their cabins is no lefs 
 amazing. Thefe are either built on piles in 
 the middle of the fmall lakes they have 
 thus formed, on the bank of a rivei, or 
 at the extremity of fome point of land 
 that advances into a lake. The figure of 
 them is round or oval, and they aie fa- 
 Ihioned with an Ingenuity equal to their 
 dams. Tw'o thirds of the edifice Hands 
 above the water, and this part is fuffici- 
 ently capacious to contain eight or ten 
 inhabitants. Each beaver has his place 
 affigned him, the door of which he curi- 
 oufly ftrews with leaves, or fmall branches 
 of the pine tree, fo as to render it clean 
 and comfortable; and their cabbins are 
 all fituated fo contiguous to each other, 
 as to allow of an eafy communication. 
 The winter never furprizes thefe animals 
 before their bufinefs is completed ; for by 
 the latter end of September their houles 
 are finilhed, and their flock of provifions 
 are generally laid in. Thefe confift of 
 fmall pieces of wood whole texture is fofr, 
 fuch as the poplar, the afpin, or willow, 
 &c. which they lay up in piles, and dif- 
 pofb of in fuch manner as to preferve their 
 * moiflure. 
 
[ 464 ] 
 
 molfture. Was I to enumerate every in- 
 ftance of fagacity that Is to be dlfcovered 
 in thefe animals, they would fill a vo 
 lume, and prove not only entertaining but 
 inflruftive. 
 
 The OTTER. This creature alfo is 
 amphibious, and greatly refembles a beaver, 
 but is very different fiom it in many re- 
 fpefts. Its body is nearly as long as a bea- 
 ver’s, but confiderably lefs in all its parts. 
 The muzzle, eyes, and the form of the 
 head are nearly the fame, but the teeth are 
 very unlike, for the otter wants the large 
 incifors or nippers that a beaver has ; in- 
 ftead of thefe, all his teeth, without any 
 diftindlion, are fhaped like thofe of a dog 
 or wolf. The hair alfo of the former is 
 not half fo long as that belonging to the 
 latter, nor is the colour of it exa^Hy the 
 fame, for the hair of an otter under the 
 neck, ftomach, and belly, .is more greyilh 
 than that of a beaver, and in many other 
 refpefts it likewife varies. This animal, 
 which is met with in moft parts of the 
 world, but in much greater numbers In 
 North America, is very mifchievous, and 
 when he is clofely purfued, will not only 
 attack dogs but men. It generally feeds 
 
 upon 
 
[ 465 ] 
 
 upon fifli, efpec'ially in the fummer, but 
 in the winter is contented with the bark 
 of trees, or the produce of the fields. Its 
 flefh both taftes and fmells of fifh, and is 
 not wholfome food, though it is fome- 
 times eaten through neceffity. 
 
 The MINK is of the otter kind, and 
 fubfifts in the fame manner. In fhape 
 and fize it rclembles a pole-cat, being 
 equally long and flender. Its fkin is 
 blacker than that of an otter, or almoft 
 any other creature ; “ as black as a mink, 
 being a proverbial expreflion in America ; 
 it is not however fo valuable, though this 
 greatly depends on the feafon in which it 
 is taken. Its tail is round like that of a 
 fnake, 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 lources 
 of rivers on whofe banks it chiefly lives. 
 
 Gg 
 
 OF 
 
[ 466 ] 
 
 OF THE BIRDS. 
 
 The Eagle, the Hawk, the Night 
 Hawk, the Fifh Hawk, the Whipperwill, 
 the Raven, the Crow, the Owl, Parrots, 
 the Pelican, the Crane, the Stork, the 
 Cormorant, the Heron, the Swan, the 
 Goole, Ducks, Teal, the Loon, the Water- 
 Hen, the Turkey, the Heath Cock, the 
 Partridge, the Quail, Pigeons, the Snipe, 
 Larks, the Woodpecker, the Cuckoo, the 
 Blue Jay, the Swallow, the Wakon Bii'd, 
 the Black Bird, the Red Bird, the Thrulh, 
 theWhetfaw, the Nightingale, the King 
 Bird, the Robin, the Wren, and the Hum- 
 ming Bird. 
 
 The EAGLE. There are only two 
 forts of eagles in thefe parts, the bald and 
 the grey, which are much the fame in fize, 
 and fimllar to the lhape of thofe of other 
 countries. 
 
 The NIGHT HAWK. This Bird is 
 of the hawk Ipecles, its bill being crooked, 
 its" wings formed for fwiftnefs, and its 
 Ihape nearly like that of the common 
 
 hawk ; 
 
t 1 
 
 hawk ; but in fize it is confiderably lef*s, 
 and in colour rather darker. It is fcarcely 
 ever feen but in the evening, when, at 
 the approach of twilight, it flies about, 
 and darts itfelf in wanton gambols at the 
 head of the belated traveller. Before a 
 thunder-fhower thefe birds are feen at an 
 amazing height in the air aflembled to- 
 gether in great numbers, as fwallows are 
 oblerved to do on the fame occafion. 
 
 The WHIPPERWILL, or, as it is 
 termed by the Indians, the Muckawifs. 
 This extraordinary bird is fomewhat like 
 the laft-mentioned in its flaape and colour, 
 only it has fome whitifh ftripes acrofs the 
 wings, and like that is feldom ever feen 
 till after fun-fet. It alfo is never met with 
 but during the fpring and fummer months. 
 As foon as the Indians are informed by its 
 notes of its return, they conclude that the 
 froft is entirely gone, in which they are 
 feldom deceived ; and on receiving this af- 
 furance of milder weather, begin to fow 
 their corn. It acquires its name by the 
 noife it makes, which to the people of the 
 colonies founds like the name they give it, 
 Whipper-will; to an Indian ear Muck-a- 
 wifs. The words, it is true, are not alike, 
 G g 2 but 
 
[ 468 ] 
 
 but in this maimer they ftrike the imagi- 
 nation of each ; 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 dif- 
 ferent ideas to different people. As foon 
 as night comes on, thefe birds will place 
 themlelves on the fences, flumps, or 
 flones tliat lie near fome houfe, and re- 
 peat their melancholy notes without any 
 variation till midnight. The Indians, and 
 fome of the inhabitants of the back fettle- 
 ments, think if this bird perches upon any 
 houfe, that it betokens fome mifhap to 
 the inhabitants of it. 
 
 The FISH HAWK greatly refembles 
 the latter in its fhape, and receives his 
 name from his food, which is generally 
 fifh ; it fkims over the lakes and rivers, 
 and fometimes feems to lie expanded on 
 the water, as he hovers fo clofe to it, and 
 having by fome attractive power drawn 
 the fifh within its reach, darts fuddenly 
 upon them. The charm it makes ufe of 
 is fuppofed to be an oil contained in a 
 fmall bag in the body, and which nature 
 has by fome means or other fupplicd him 
 with the power of ufing for this purpofe ; 
 
 it 
 
[ 469 ] 
 
 it is however very certain that any bait 
 touched with a drop of the oil collected 
 from this bird is an irrefiftible lure for all 
 forts of filh, and infures the angler great 
 fjccefs. 
 
 The OWL. The only fort of o'vls 
 that is found on the banks of the Miffil- 
 lippi is extremely beautitul in its plumage, 
 being of a fine deep yellow or gold co- 
 lour, pleafingly lhaded and fpotted. 
 
 The CRANE. There is a kind of 
 crane in thefe parts, which is called by 
 Father Hennepin a pelican, that is about 
 the fize of the European crane, of a grey* 
 i(h colour, and with long legs ; but this 
 fpecies differs from all others in its bill, 
 which is about twelve inches long, and 
 one inch and half broad, of which breadth 
 it continues to the end, where it is blunt- 
 ed, and round like a paddle ; its tongue 
 
 is of the fame length. 
 
 DUCKS, Among a variety of w’lld 
 ducks, the different fpecies of which 
 amount to upwards of twenty, 1 fhall 
 confine my defcrlption to one fort, that 
 is, the wood duck, or, as the Frei-cb 
 term it. Canard branchus. This fowl re- 
 ceives its name from its frequenting the 
 
[ 47 ° ] 
 
 woods, and perching on the branches of 
 trees, which no other kind of water fowl 
 (a chara£leriflic that this ftilJ preferves) is 
 known to do. It is nearly of a fize with 
 other ducks; its plumage is beautifully 
 variegated, and very brilliant. The flefli 
 of it alfo, as it feeds but little on fifli, is 
 finely flavoured, and much fuperior to 
 any other fort. 
 
 The TEAL. I have already remarked 
 in iTiy Journal, that the teal found on the 
 Fox River, and the head branches of the 
 Miffiflippi, are perhaps not to be equalled 
 for the fatnefs and delicacy of their flefh by 
 any other in the world. In colour, fliape, 
 and fize they are very little difierent from 
 ^hofe found in other countries. 
 
 The LOON is a water fowl, fome- 
 what lefs than a teal, and is a Ipecies of 
 the dobchick. Its wings are fhort, and 
 its legs and feet large in proportion to the 
 body ; the colour of it is a dark brown, 
 pearly approaching to black ; and as it 
 feeds only on fifh, the flefli of it is very 
 ill-flavoured. Thefe birds are exceedingly 
 .nimble and expert at diving, lo that it is 
 plmofl impofiible for one perfon to fhoot 
 them;, as they will dextroufly avoid the 
 
 Ihot 
 
[ 47' 1 
 
 (hot by diving before they reach them; fo 
 that it requires three perfons to kill one 
 of them, and this can only be done the 
 moment it raifes his head out of the wa- 
 ter as it returns to the forface after div- 
 ine. It however only repays the trouble 
 taken to obtain it, by the excellent fport 
 
 it affords. , , 
 
 The PARTRIDGE. There are three 
 
 forts of partridges here, the brown, the 
 red, and the black, the firft of which aie 
 moft efteemed. They are all much larger 
 than the European partridges, bemg nearly 
 the fize of a hen pheai?int ; their head and 
 eyes are alfo like that bird, and they have 
 all long tails, which they fpread like a 
 fan but not ered; but contrary to the 
 cuftom of thofe in other countries, they 
 will perch on the branches of the poplar 
 and black birch, on the buds of which 
 they feed early in the morning and m the 
 twilight of the evening during the winter 
 months, when they arc eafily ihot. 
 
 The WOOD PIGEON, is nearly the 
 fame as ours, and there is fuch prodigious 
 quantities of them on the banks ot the 
 Miffiffippi,that they will fometimes darken 
 the fun for feveral minutes. 
 
 G g 4 
 
[ 472 } 
 
 The WOODPECKER. This is a 
 very beautiful bird ; there is one fort 
 whofe feathers are a mixture of various 
 colours ; and another that is brown all 
 over the body, except the head and neck, 
 which are of a fine red. As this bird is 
 fuppofed to make a greater noife than or- 
 dinary at particular times, it is conjedlured 
 his cries then denote rain. 
 
 The BLUE JAY. This bird is fhaped 
 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 raifed 
 or let down at pleafure. The lower part 
 of the neck behind, and the back, are of 
 a purplifli 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 tin£lured with dark blue 
 on the edges, whllft the other parts of 
 the wing are barred acrofs with black 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 far more pleafing. 
 
 The 
 
'[ 473 3 
 
 The WAKON BIRD, as it is termed 
 by the Indians, appears to be of the fame 
 fpecles as the birds of paradife. The 
 name they have given it is expreffive of 
 its fuperior excellence, and the veneration 
 they have for it ; the wakon bird being 
 in their language the bird of the Great 
 Spirit. It is nearly the hze 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 
 compofed of four or five feathers, which 
 are three times as long as its body, and 
 which are beautifully fliaded with green 
 and purple It carries this fine length of 
 plumage in the fame manner as a peacock 
 does, but it is not known whether it ever 
 raifes it into the ereft pofition that bird 
 fometimes does. I never faw any of thefe 
 birds in the colonies, but the NaudowelTie 
 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 firll: is the common, or 
 as it is there termed, the crow blackbird, 
 
 which 
 

 [ 47 + ] 
 
 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 
 that time jufl: ripe. The fecqnd fort is 
 the red-wing, which is rather fmaller 
 than the firfl: Ipecies, but like that it is 
 black all over its body, except on the 
 lower rim of the wings, where it is of a 
 fine bright full fcarlet. It builds itsnefl:, 
 and chiefly reforts among the fmall buflies 
 that grow in meadows and low fwampy 
 places. It whiffles a few notes, but is 
 not equal in its fong to the European 
 blackbird. The third fort is of the fame 
 fize as the latter, and isjet black like that, 
 but all the upper part of the wing, jufl: 
 below the back, is of a fine clear white ; 
 as if nature intended to diverfify the fpe- 
 cies, and to atone for the want of a me- 
 lodious 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 yellow, and the females of each of 
 a rufty black like the European. 
 
 The 
 
[ 475 1 
 
 The RED BIRD is about the fize of 
 a fparrow, but 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 they 
 fung. I alfo obferved in fome other parts, 
 a bird of much the lame make, that was 
 entirely of a fine yellow. 
 
 The WHETSAW is of the cuckoo 
 kind, being like that, a folitary bird, 
 and fcarcely ever feen. In the I'ummef* 
 months it is heard in the groves, where 
 it makes a noife like the filing of a faw ; 
 from which it receives its name. 
 
 The KING BIRD is like a fwallow, 
 and feems to be of the fiime fpecies as 
 the black martin or Iwift. It is called 
 the King Bird becaufe it is able to mafter 
 almoft every bird that flies. I have often 
 feen it bring down a hawk. 
 
 The HUMMING BIRD. This beau- 
 tiful bird, which is the fmallefl of the 
 feathered inhabitants of the air, is about 
 the third part the fize of a wren, and is 
 lhaped extremely like it. Its legs, which 
 are about an inch long, appear like two 
 linall needles, and its body is proportion- 
 able to then?, But its plumage exceeds 
 
 defcription. 
 
[ 476 ] 
 
 defcription. On its head it has a fmall 
 tuft of a jettj fhlnlng black ; the breaft 
 of it is red, the belly white, the back, 
 wings, and tail of the fineft pale green ; 
 and fmall fpecks of gold are fcattered 
 with inexpreffible grace over the whole : 
 befides this, an almoft imperceptible down 
 fbftens the colours, and produces the 
 moft pleafing lhades. With its bill, 
 which is of the fame diminutive fize as 
 the other parts of its body, it extrafls 
 from the flowers a moifture which is its 
 nourifhment; over thefe it hovers like a 
 bee, but never lights on them, moving 
 at the fame time its wings with fuch ve- 
 locity that the motion of them is imper- 
 ceptible ; notwi thftanding which they 
 make a humming noife, from whence it 
 receives its name. 
 
 Of the FISHES which are found In 
 the waters of the MiJJiJJippi. 
 
 I have already given a defcription of 
 (hole that are taken in the great lakes. 
 
 The Sturgeon, the Pout or Cat Fifli, 
 tlie Pike, the Carp, and the Chub. 
 
 The 
 
[ 477 1 
 
 The STURGEON. The frefli 
 water flurgeon is fhaped in no other 
 refped like thofe taken near the fea, ex- 
 cept in the formation of its head and 
 tail; which are faftiioned in the fame 
 manner, but the body is not fo angu- 
 lated, nor are there fo many horny fcales 
 about it as on the latter. Its length is 
 generally about two feet and a half or 
 three feet long, but in circumference not 
 proportionable, being a (lender fi(h. 
 flelh is exceedingly delicate and finely fla- 
 voured ; 1 caught fome in the head waters 
 of the river St. Croix that far exceeded 
 trout. The manner of taking them is 
 by vvatching them as they lie under 
 the banks in a clear flream, and darting 
 at them with a filh-fpear ; for they will 
 not take a bait. There is alfo m the 
 Miififfippi, and there only, another fort 
 than the fpecies I have defcribed, which 
 is fimilar to it in every refpeft, except 
 that the upper jaw extends fourteen or 
 fifteen inches beyond the under ; this ex- 
 tenfive jaw, which is of a griftly fubfiancej 
 is three inches and half broad, and continues 
 of that breadth, fomewhatin the (hape of 
 an oar, to the end, which is flat. Tl^ 
 
[ 478 ] 
 
 flefli of this fifli, however, is not to 
 be compared with the other fort, and 
 is not fo much efteemed even by the 
 Indians. 
 
 The CAT FISH. This fifh is about 
 eighteen inches long ; of a brownifh co- 
 lour and without fcales. It has a large 
 round head, from whence it receives its 
 name, on different parts of which grow 
 three or four flrong fharp horns about two 
 inches long. Its fins are alfo very bony 
 and ftrong, and without great care will 
 pierce the hands of thofe who take them. 
 It weighs commonly about five or fix 
 pounds ; the flefh of it is exceflively fit 
 and lufeious, and greatly refembles that of 
 an eel in its flavour. 
 
 The CARP and CHUB are much the 
 lame as thofe in England, and nearly 
 about the fame in fize. 
 
 OF SERPENTS. 
 
 The Rattle Snake, the Long Black 
 Snake, the Wall or Houfe Adder, the 
 Striped or Garter Snake, the Water 
 Snake, the Hiffing Snake, the Green 
 
 Snake, 
 
[ 479 3 
 
 Snake, the Thorn-tail Snake, the Speck- 
 led Snake, the Ring Snake, the Two- 
 headed Snake, 
 
 The RATTLE SNAKE. There ap- 
 pears to be two fpecles of this reptile ; 
 one of which is commonly termed the 
 Black, and the other the Yellow ; and of 
 thefe the latter is generally confidered as 
 the largeft. At their full growth they 
 are upwards of five feet long,^ and the 
 middle part of the body at which it is of 
 the greateft bulk, meafures about nine 
 inches round. From that part it gradu- 
 ally decreaies both towards the head and 
 the tail. The neck is proportionably very 
 fmall, and the head broad and deprefied* 
 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 chequered with many regular^ 
 lines of a deep black, gradually lhadmg 
 towards a gold colour. In Ihort the 
 whole of this dangerous reptile is very 
 beautiful, and could it be viewed with 
 lefs terror, fuch a variegated arrange- 
 ment of colours would be. extremely 
 pleafing. But thefe are only to be feen 
 
t 480 ] 
 
 in their hlgheft pcrfedion at the time this 
 creature is animated by refen tment ; then 
 every tint rufhes from Its fubcutaneous 
 recefs, and gives the furface of the fkin 
 a deeper ftain. The belly is of a palifh 
 blue, which grows fuller as it approaches 
 the (ides, and is at length intermixed 
 with the colour of the upper part. The 
 rattle at its tail, from which it receives 
 its name, is compofed of a firm, dry, 
 callous, or horny fubftance of a light 
 brown, and confifts of a number of cells 
 which articulate one within another like 
 joints ; and which increafe every year 
 and make known the age of the creature. 
 Thefe articulations being very loofe, the 
 included points ftrike againft the inner 
 furface of the concave parts or rings into 
 which they are admitted, and as the 
 fnake vibrates or fhakes its tail, makes a 
 rattling noife. This alarm it always gives 
 when it is apprehenfive of danger ; and in 
 an inftant after forms itfelf into a fpiral 
 wreath, in the centre of which appears thfr 
 head ered;, and breathing forth vengeance 
 againft either man or beaft that fhall dare 
 to come near it. In this attitude he awaits 
 
 the 
 
[•481 ] 
 
 the approach of his enemies, rattling his 
 tail as he fees or hears them coming on* 
 By this timely intimation, which hea- 
 ven leems to have provided as a means 
 to countera<Sl the mifchief this venomous 
 reptile would otherwife be the perpe- 
 trator of, the unwary traveller Is appriz- 
 ed of his danger, and has an opportu- 
 nity of avoiding it. It is however to be 
 obferved, that it never adts offenfively ; 
 it neither purfues or flies from any thing 
 that approaches it, but lies in the pofitioii 
 delcribed, rattling his tail as if reludlant 
 to hurt. Tl^e teeth with which this fen- 
 pent effedts his poifonous purpofes are not 
 thofe he makes ufe of on ordinary oc- 
 cafions, they are only two in number, 
 very fmall and lharp pointed, and fixed 
 in a flnewy fubftance that lies near the 
 extremity of the upper jaw, refembling 
 the claws of a cat ; at the root of each 
 of thefe, which might be extended, con- 
 tradted, or entirely hidden, as need re-- 
 nuires, are two fmall bladders which na- 
 ture has fo conftruaed, that at the fame 
 inftant an Incifion is made by the teeth, 
 a drop of a greenlfh poifonous liquid en- 
 ters the wound, and taints with its de- 
 H h ftruaive 
 
[ 482 ] 
 
 ftrudive quality the whole mafs of blood. 
 In a moment the unfortunate vidlim of its 
 wrath feels a chilly tremor run through 
 all his frame; a fwelling Immediately be- 
 gins on the fpot where the teeth had en- 
 tered, which fpreads by degrees over the 
 whole body, and produces on every part 
 of the (kin 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 proves inftantly mor- 
 tal, and efpecially if the wound is made 
 among the finews fituated in the back- 
 part of the leg above the heel ; but in 
 the fpring, in autumn, or during a cool 
 day which might happen in the fummer, 
 its bad effects are to be prevented by the 
 Immediate application of proper remedies ; 
 and thefe Providence has bounteoufly fup- 
 plied, by caufing the Rattle Snake Plan- 
 tain, an approved antidote to the poifon 
 of this creature, to grow in great pro- 
 fufion where-ever they are to be met 
 with. There are likewife feveral other 
 remedies befides tins, for the venom of its 
 bite. A decoclion made of the buds or 
 bark of the white aih taken internally 
 
 prevents 
 
[483] 
 
 pifevctits it pernicious effcQiS* Sslt is tt 
 newly difeovered remedy, and if applied 
 immediately to the part, or the wound be 
 walhed with brine, a cure might be af- 
 fured. The fat of the reptile alfo rubbed 
 on it is frequently found to be very effica- 
 cious. But though the lives of the per- 
 fons who have been bitten might be pre- 
 ferved by thefe, and their health in fome 
 degree reftored, yet they annually expe- 
 rience a flight return of the dreadful fymp- 
 toms about the time they received the in- 
 ftillation. However remarkable it may 
 appear it is certain, that though the ve- 
 nom of this creature affefts in a greater or 
 lefs degree all animated nature, the hog 
 is an exception to the rule, as that animal 
 will readily deftroy them without dread- 
 ing 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, whether vocal or in- 
 ftrumental ; I have many times feen them 
 even when they have been enraged, place 
 themfelvcs in a liftening pofture, and 
 continue immoveably attentive and u 
 ceptible of delight all the time the mufick 
 
 II h 2 
 
[ 484 3 
 
 lias lafted. I fhould have remarked, that 
 when the Rattle Snake bites, it drops 
 its under jaw, and holding the upper jaw 
 ereft, throws itfelf in a curve line, with 
 great force, and as quick as lightning, on 
 the objeft of its refcntment. In a mo- 
 ment after, it returns again to its defen- 
 five pofture, having difengaged 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 repeats the blow two or three 
 times, it as often returns with a fuden re- 
 bound to its former Rate. The Black 
 Rattle Snake differs in no other refpedl from 
 the yellow, than in being rather fmaller, 
 and in the variegation of its colours, which 
 are exadlly reverfed ; one is black where 
 the other is yellow, and vice verfa. They 
 are equally venomous. It is not known 
 how thefe creatures engender ; I have 
 often found the eggs of feveral other fpe- 
 cies of the fnake, but notwithffandlng no 
 one has taken more pains to acquire a per- 
 fect knowledge of every property of thefe 
 reptiles than myfelf, I never could dif- 
 
 cover 
 
[ 485 ] 
 
 c&ver the manner in which they bring 
 forth their young. I once killed a fe- 
 male that had feventy young ones in its 
 belly but thefe were perfectly formed ^ and 
 I faw them juft before retire to the mouth 
 of their mother, as a place of fecurity, on 
 my approach. The gall of this ferpent, 
 mixed with chalk, are formed into little 
 balls, and exported from America, for me- 
 dicinal purpoles. Tlaey are of the nature 
 of Gafcoign’s powders, and are an excellent 
 remedy for complaints incident to children. 
 The flefti of the fnake alfo dried, and made 
 into broth, is much more nutritive than 
 that of vipers, and very efficacious againft 
 
 ThT LONG BLACK. SNAKE. Thefe 
 are alfo of two forts, both of which are 
 exactly fimilar in (hape and-fixe, 7 . 
 belly of one is a light red, the^other a 
 faint blue; all the upper parts of their bo 
 dies are black and fcaly. They ^ 
 general from fix to eight feet in lengtl^, 
 and carry their heads, as they crawl along, 
 
 about a foot and an halt fro® ^ * 
 
 They eafily climb the higheft trees in 
 , purfuit of birds and fquirrels, which are 
 their chief food; and thele, it is ai » 
 H h 3 
 

 [ 486 ] 
 
 they charm by their looks, and render in* 
 capable of efcaping from them. Their 
 appearance carries terror with it to thole 
 who are unacquainted with their inability 
 to hurt, but they are perfedUy inolFenlive 
 and free from venom. 
 
 The STRIPED or GARTER SNAKE 
 is exactly the fame as that Ipecies found in 
 other clirnates. 
 
 The WATER SNAKE is much like 
 the Rattle Snake in lhape and fize, but is 
 riot endowed with the fame venomous 
 powers, being quite harmlefs. 
 
 The HISSING SNAKE I have al- 
 ready particularly defcribed, when I treat- 
 ed, in my Journal, of Lake Erie. 
 
 The GREEN SNAKE is about a foot 
 and an half long, and in colour lb near to 
 grafs and herbs, that it cannot be dilcovered 
 as it lies on the ground ; happily however 
 it is free from venom, otherwile it would 
 do an infinite deal of rnifghief, as thole 
 whopafs through the meadows, not being 
 able to perceive it, are deprived of the 
 power of avoiding it. 
 
 The THORN-TAIL SNAKE. This 
 reptile is found in many parts of America, 
 but it is very leldom to be leen. It is of 
 
 a middle 
 
[■ 487 ] 
 
 a middle fize, and receives Its name from a 
 thorn-like dart in Its tail, with which 
 is faid to Inaia a mortal wound. 
 
 The SPECKLED SNAKE is an aque- 
 ous reptile about two feet and an half m 
 length , but without venom. Its Ikin, whicl 
 is brown and white with fome fpots of yel- 
 low in it, isufed by the Americans as a 
 
 cover for the handles of whips, and it 
 renders them very pleafmg to the light. 
 
 The RING SNAKE is about twelve 
 inches long; the body of it Is ent.rely 
 black, except a yellow n„g which has 
 about its neck, and which appears hke a 
 narrow piece of riband tied around A Th>s 
 odd reptile is frequently found m the bark 
 
 of trees, and among old logs. 
 
 The TWO-HEADED SNAKE. The 
 only fnake of this kind that was ever feen 
 “ America, was found .about the year 
 ,,62, near Lake Champlain, by Mr. Park, 
 
 aLntlemanof New England, and made a 
 nr!fent to lord Amherft. It was about 
 to long, and in lhape like die comrnon 
 > I hut it was furnilhed with two 
 S’exaaly f.milar, which ,umted« 
 neck Whether tins was a diftindt Ipec 
 “of fiiakes. and washable to propa^te i. 
 
1 
 
 [ 488 ] 
 
 likenefs, or whether it was accidental 
 formation, I know not. 
 
 The TORTOISE or LAND TUR- 
 TLE, The fhape of this creature is fb 
 well known that it is unnecelTary to de- 
 fcribe it. There are feven or eight forts 
 of them in America, fome of which are 
 beautifully variegated, even beyond defcrip- 
 i tion. The fhells of many have Ipots of 
 red, green, and yellow in them, and the 
 chequer work is compofed of fmall fquares, 
 Curioufly difpofed. T he moft beautiful fort 
 of thefe creatures are the I'malltfl, and the 
 bite of them is faid to be venomous. 
 
 LIZARDS, &c. 
 
 Though there are numerous kinds of 
 this clafs of the animal creation in the 
 country I treat of, I lhall only lake notice 
 of iwo of them ; which are termed the 
 Swift and the Slow Lizard. 
 
 The SWIFT LIZARD is about fix 
 inches long, aiid has four legs and a tail. 
 Its body, which is blue, is prettily ftriped 
 with dark lines fhaded with yellow ; but 
 the end of the tail is totally blue. It is 
 
 fo 
 
[ 48y ] 
 
 fo remarkably agile that in an inilaait it 
 is out of fight, nor cm its movement be 
 perceived by the quickeft eye : fo that it 
 might more juftly be faid to vanifh, than 
 to run away. This fpecies are fuppofed 
 to poifon thofe they bite, but are not dan- 
 gerous, as they never attack perfons that / 
 approach them, chufing rather to get fud- 
 denly out of their reach. 
 
 The SLOW LIZARD is of the fame 
 fhape as the Swift, but its colour is brown ; 
 it is moreover of an oppofite dilpofition, 
 being altogether as flow in its move- 
 ments as the other is fwift. It is remark- 
 able that thefe lizards are extremely brittle, 
 and will break off near the tail as eafily as 
 an icicle. 
 
 Among the reptiles of North America 
 there is a fpecies of the toad termed the 
 TREE TOAD, which is nearly of the 
 fame fhape as the common ibrt, but fmaller 
 and with longer claws. It is ufually 
 found on trees, flicking clofe to the bark, 
 or lying in the crevices of it; and lo 
 nearly does it refemble the colour of the 
 tree to which it cleaves, that it is with 
 difficulty diflinguilhed from it. Thefe 
 
 creatures are only heard during the twi- 
 
 light 
 
[ 490 ] 
 
 light of the morning and evening, or juft 
 before and after a ftiower of rain, when 
 they make a croaking noile fomewhat 
 fhriller than that of a frog, which might 
 be heard to a great diftance. They infeft 
 the woods in luch numbers, that their re- 
 fponfive notes at thefe times make the air 
 refound. It is only a fummer animal, 
 and never to be found during the winter, 
 
 INSECTS. 
 
 The interior parts of North America 
 abound with nearly the fame infeds as arc 
 met with in the fame parallels of latitude; 
 and the fpecies of them are fb numerous 
 and diversified that even a fuccind deferip- 
 tion of the whole of them would fill a 
 volume ; I ftiall therefore confine myfelf 
 to a few, which I believe are almoft pe- 
 culiar to this country; the Silk Worm, 
 the Tobacco Worm, the Bee, the Light- 
 ning Bug, the Water Bug, and the Horn- 
 ed Bug. 
 
 The SILK WORM is nearly the fame 
 as thofe of France and Italy, but will not 
 produce the fame quantity of filk. 
 
 The 
 
t 491 1 
 
 The TOBACCO WORM Is a cater- 
 pillar of the fize and figure of a filk worm, 
 it is of a fine fea-green colour, on its rump 
 it has a filing or horn near a quarter o 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 re- 
 markably fond of it. T-«T-n-c' 
 
 The LIGHTNING BUG or FIRE 
 fly is about the fize of a bee, but it is 
 of the beetle kind, having like that m- 
 fea two pair of wings, the ^ 
 
 which are of a firm texture, to defend 1 
 from danger. When it flies, and the 
 wings are expanded, there is under thefe a 
 kind of coat, confiruaed alfo like wings 
 which is luminous ; and as the mfea 
 paffes on, caufes all the hinder part of its 
 Ldy to appear like a bright fiery coal. 
 Having placed one of them on your hand, 
 the under part only fiimes, and throws 
 the light on the fpace beneath; but a 
 
 foon as it fpreads its a 
 
 away, the whole body which lies bebnd 
 them appears illuminated all around. The 
 light it gives is not confiantly of the fame 
 magnitude, even when it flies ; but feems 
 
[ 49 ^ ] 
 
 to depend Ofl the expanlion or contradllon 
 of the luminous coat or wings, and is 
 very different from that emitted in a dark 
 night by dry wood or fome kinds of 
 filh, it having much more the appear- 
 ance of real fire. They feem to be fen- 
 llble of the power they are pofTefled 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 co- 
 lour, which is a dulky brown, they 
 are not then difcernlble, or from their 
 retiring to holes and crevices, I know 
 not, but they are never to be difcOvered in 
 the . day. They chiefly are feen in low 
 fwampy landj and appear like innumer- 
 able tranfient gleams of light. In dark 
 nights when there is much lightning, 
 without rain, they feem as if they wilhed 
 either ^to imitate or aflifl: the flalhes ; for 
 during the intervals, they are uncom- 
 monly agile, and endeavour to throw out 
 every ray they can colleft. Notwith- 
 flandiiig this effulgent appearance, thele 
 
 infers 
 
E 493 I 
 
 infeds ara perfeaiy harmlefs; you may per- 
 mit 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 print. 
 
 The WATER BUG is of a brown 
 colour, about the fize of a pea, and in 
 lhape nearly oval : it has many legs, 
 
 by means of which it paffes over the fur- 
 face of the water with fuch incredible 
 fwlftnefs that it feems to Aide or dart it- 
 
 felf along. . , 
 
 The HORNED BUG, or, as it is 
 
 fometimes termed, the STAG BEETLE, 
 is of a duiky brown colour nearly ap- 
 proaching 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 hard ; they 
 are branched like thole of a flag, 
 whence it receives its name- They fly 
 about in the evening, and prove very 
 troublefome to thofe who are m the fields 
 at that time. 
 
 I mull not omit that the LOCUbi 
 is a feptennial infed, as they are only 
 
 feen, a fmall number of ftragglers ex- 
 
 cepted, 
 
[ 494 ] 
 
 cepted, every feven years, when they In- 
 feft thefe parts and the interior colonies 
 in large fwarms, and do a great deal of 
 mifchief. The years when they thus ar- 
 rive are denominated the locuft years. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 Of, he T REES, Shrubs, Roots, Herbs, 
 Flowers ^c. 
 
 I SHALL here obferve the fame me- 
 thod that I have purfued in the pre- 
 ceding chapter, and having given a lift 
 of the trees, &c. which are natives of the 
 interior parts of North America, particu- 
 larize fuch only as differ from the pro- 
 duce of other countries, or, being little 
 known, have not been defer! bed. 
 
 OF TREES. 
 
 / 
 
 The Oak, the Pine Tree, the Maple, 
 the Afh, the Hemlock, the Bafs or 
 White Wood, the Cedar, the Elm, the 
 Birch, the Fir, the Locuft Tree, the 
 
[ 495 3 
 
 Poplar, the Wickopic or Suckwic, the 
 Spruce, the Hornbeam, and the Button 
 Wood Tree. 
 
 The OAK. There are feveral forts^ of 
 oaks in thefe parts ; the black, the white, 
 the red, the -yellow, the grey, thefwamp 
 oak, and the chehiut oak : the five for- 
 mer vary but little in their external ap- 
 pearance, the lhape of the leaves, and the 
 colour of the bark being fo much alike, 
 that they are fcarcely diftinguilhable; but 
 the body of the tree when fawed di^- 
 vers the variation, which chiefly confilts 
 in the colour of the wood, they being 
 all very hard and proper for^ building. 
 The fwamp oak differs materially from 
 the others both in the fliape of the leaf, 
 which is fmaller, and in the bark, which 
 is fmoother ; and likewife as ^ it grows 
 only in a moift gravelly foil. It_ is 
 efteemed the tougheft of all woods, being 
 fo ftrong yet pliable, that it is often 
 made ufe of Inftead of whalebone, and is 
 equally ferviceable. The chefnut oak alio 
 is greatly different from the others, pr- 
 ticularly in the lhape of the leaf, w ic i 
 
 much refembles that of the chefiiut-tree, 
 
 and 
 
[ 496 ] 
 
 and for this reafon It Is fb denominated. 
 It is neither fo ftrong as the former fpe- 
 cies, or fo tough as the latter, but is of a 
 nature proper to be Iplit into rails for 
 fences, in which ftate it will endure a con- 
 liderable time. 
 
 The PINE TREE. That fpecles 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 tur- 
 pentine, though not in fuch quantities as 
 thofe in the northern parts of Europe. 
 
 The MAPLE. Of this tree there are 
 two forts, the hard and the foft, both 
 of W’hich yield a lufcious juice, from 
 which the Indians by boiling make very 
 good fugar. The lap of the former is 
 much richer and fvveeter than the latter, 
 but the foft produces a greater quantity. 
 The wood of the hard maple is very 
 beautifully veined and curled, and when 
 wrought into cabinets, tables, gunftocks, 
 &c. is greatly valued. That of the foft 
 fort differs in its texture, wanting the 
 variegated grain of the hard ; it alfo 
 
 grows 
 
r 497 1 
 
 grows more ftralt and free from brandies, 
 and is more eafily fplit. It likewifc may 
 be diftingulflied from the hard, as this 
 grows in meadows and low-lands^ that on 
 the hills and up-Iands. The leaves are 
 
 lhaped alike, butthofeof the foft maple 
 
 are much the largeft, and of a deeper 
 green. 
 
 The ASH. There are feveral forts of 
 this tree in thefe parts, but that to vvhicn 
 
 I (hall confine rnydefcript ion, is the yel- 
 low afli, which is only found near tne 
 head branches of the MilMippl. This 
 
 tree grows to an amazing height, and the 
 body of it 13 fo firm and found, that thu 
 French traders who go into that country 
 from Louiliana to purchafe furs make of 
 them periaguays; this they do by ex- 
 cavating them by fire, and when they 
 are completed, convey in them the pro- 
 duce of their trade to New Orleans, where 
 they find a good market both for tncir 
 vefl'els and cargoes. The wood of tnls 
 tree greatly reiemblcs that of the common 
 a(h, but it might be diftlnguilhed from, 
 any other tree by its bark ; the rots or 
 outfide bark being near eight Inches tnlck, 
 and indented with furrows more thin fix 
 I l inches 
 
1 
 
 
 [ 498 ] 
 
 inches deep, which make thofe that arc 
 arrived to a great bulk appear uncom- 
 monly rough ; and by this peculiarity 
 they may be readily known. The rind 
 or infide bark is of the lame thicknefs as 
 that of other trees, hut its colour is a fine 
 hi igl'it yellow ; infomuch that if it is but 
 fhghtly handled, it will leave a ftain on 
 the fingers, which cannot eafily be 
 w'alhed away ; and if in the fpring you 
 peel off the bark, and touch the fap, 
 which then riles between that and the 
 body of the tree, it will leave fo deep a 
 tinfture that It will require three or four 
 days to wear it off. Many ufeful quali- 
 ties belonging to this tree I doubt not 
 will be difeovered in time, befides its 
 proving a valuable acquifition to the 
 dyer. 
 
 The HEMLOCK TREE grows in 
 every part of America in a gieatei or lefs 
 degree. It is an ever-green of a very 
 large growth, and has leaves fomewhat 
 like that of the yews it is however quite 
 ufelcfs, and only an incumbrance to the 
 ground, the wood being of a very coarfe 
 grain, and full of \vind*lhakes or ciacks. 
 
 The 
 
[ 499 ] 
 
 The BASS or WHITE WOOD is a 
 tree of a middling fizCj and the whlteft 
 and foftell wood that grows ; when quite 
 dry it Iwims on the water like a cork ; m 
 the fettlements the turners naake of it 
 bowls, trenchers, and dilhes, which wear 
 fmooth, and will laft a long time ; but 
 when applied to any other purpole it is 
 far from durable. 
 
 The WICKOPICK or SUCKWICK 
 appears to be a fpecies of the white wood, 
 and is dlftinguilhed from it by a peculiar 
 quality in the bark, which when pounded 
 and moiftened with a little water, in- 
 ftantly becomes a matter of the confift- 
 ence and nature of fize. With this the 
 Indians pay their canoes, and it greatly 
 exceeds pitch or any other mateiiai ulu- 
 ally appropriated to that purpofe ; for be- 
 fides its adhefive quality, it is of fo oily 
 a nature, that the water cannot penetrate 
 through it, and its repelling power abates 
 not for a conliderable time. 
 
 The BUTTON WOOD is a tree of the 
 largeft fize, and might be diftinguilhed 
 by its bark, which is quite Imooth and 
 prettily mottled. The w’ood is very pro- 
 per for the ufe of cabinet-makers. It is 
 I i 2 covered 
 
[ 1 
 
 covered with fmall hard burs which 
 ipring from the branches, that appear not 
 unlike buttons, and from thefe I believe 
 it receives its name. 
 
 NUT TREES. 
 
 The Butter or Oil Nut, the Walnut, 
 the Hazle Nut, the Beech Nut, the Pecan 
 Nut, the Chefnut, the Hickory. 
 
 The BUTTER or OIL NUT. As 
 no mention has been made by any authors 
 of this nut, I fliall be the more particu- 
 lar 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 circumference, is full of branches, 
 the twigs of which are Ihort and blunt, 
 and its leaves refemble thofe of the walnut. 
 The nut has a Ihell like that fruit, which 
 when ripe is more furrowed, and more 
 ealily cracked ; it is alfo much longer 
 and larger than a walnut, and contains a 
 greater quantity of kernel, which is very 
 oily, and of a rich agreeable flavour. lam 
 periuaded that a much purer oil than that 
 
 of 
 
[ 5 °^ ] 
 
 ©f olives might be extraded from this out. 
 The irifide bark of this tree dyes a good 
 purple ; and it is fald, varies in its fhade, 
 being either darker or lighter according to 
 the month in which it is gathered. 
 
 The BEECH NUT. I'hough this tree 
 grows exadlly like that of the lame name 
 in Europe, yet it produces nuts equally 
 as good as chenfuts ; on which bears, 
 martins, fquirrels, partridges, turkies, 
 and many other beafts and birds feed. 
 The nut is contained, whilft growing, in 
 an outlide cale like that of a chefnut, but 
 not lo prickly; und the coat of the inlide 
 {hell is alfo fmooth like that ; only its 
 form is nearly triangular. Vaft quanti- 
 ties of them lie fcattered about in the 
 woods, and fupply with food great num- 
 bers of the creatures juft mentioned. The 
 leaves, which are white, continue on the 
 trees during the whole winter. A decoc- 
 tion made of them is a certain and expe- 
 ditious cure for wounds which aiife fiom 
 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 Imaller tlian a 
 
 J 1 j WillllUtj 
 
[ ] 
 
 walnut, being about the fize of a mid-, 
 diing acorn, and of an oval form; the 
 fliell is eafily cracked, and the kernel 
 fliaped like that of a walnut. This tree 
 grows chiefly near the Illinois river. 
 
 The HICKORY is alfo of the w^alnut 
 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 
 W'ood is generally ufed for the handles of 
 axes, &CC. It is alfo very good fircT 
 wood, and as it burns an excellent fugar 
 difcills from it. 
 
 FRUIT TREES, 
 
 I need not to obferve that thefe are all 
 the fpontaneous productions of nature, 
 which have never received the advantages 
 of ingrafting, tranfplanfmg, or manur- 
 ing. 
 
 The Vine, the Mulberry Tree, the 
 Crab Apple Tree, the Plum Tree, the 
 Uherry Tree, aii(^ the Sweet Gum Tree. 
 
[ 503 1 
 
 The VINE 15 very common here, and 
 of three kinds ; the firft fort hardly de- 
 ferves the name of a grape ; the fecond 
 rnuch refembles the Burgundy gi ape, and 
 if expofed to the fun a good wine might 
 be made from them. The third fort re- 
 fembles Zant currants, which are fo fre- 
 quently uled in cakes, &c. in England, 
 and if proper care was taken of them, 
 would be equal, if not fuperipr; to thofe 
 of that country. 
 
 The MULBERRY TREE is of two 
 kinds, red and white, and neaily ot tiie 
 lame lize o,f thofe of h ranee and Italy, 
 and grow in luch plenty, as to teed any 
 quantity of lilk worms. 
 
 The CRAB APPLE TREE bears a 
 fruit that is much larger and better fla- 
 voured than thofe of Europe. 
 
 The PLUM TREE. There are two 
 forts of plums in this country, one a 
 la:-ge fort of a purple call on one fide, and 
 red on the reverfe, the fecond totally 
 green, and much fmaller. Both thefe are 
 of a good flavour, and are greatly ef- 
 teemed by tlie Indians, whole tafte is 
 not refined, but who are fatisned with the 
 
 1 i 4 
 
[ 5°4 ] 
 
 producltons of nature in their unimproved 
 ftate. 
 
 The CHERRY TREE. There are 
 th ree forts of cherries in this country ; the 
 black, the red, and the fand cherry; the 
 two latter may wltli more propriety be 
 ranked among the flirubs, as the bulh 
 that bears the fand cherries alnioft creeps 
 along the ground, and the other rifes not 
 above eight or ten feet in height ; how- 
 ever 1 fcall give an account of them all in 
 this place. The black cherries are about 
 the fize of a currant, and hang in cluf- 
 ters like grapes ; the trees which bear them 
 beiiig very fruitful, they are generally 
 loaded, but the fruit is not good to eat, 
 however they give an agreeable flavour to 
 brandy, and turn it to the colour of cla- 
 ret. The red cherries grow in the 
 greatefl profufion, and hang in bunches 
 like the black fort juft delcribed ; lo that 
 the bufhes which bear them appear at a 
 diftance like folid bodies of red matter. 
 Some people admire this fruit, but they 
 partake of the nature and tafle of alum, 
 leaving a dilagteeable roughncls in the 
 throat, and being very aftringent. As I 
 have already deferibed the fand cherries, 
 
 which 
 
[ 5©5 1 
 
 which greatly exceed the two other forts 
 
 both in flavour and fize, I fhaU give no 
 further defcriptlon of them. The wood 
 of the black cherry-tree is very ufeful, 
 and works well into cabinet ware. 
 
 The SWEET GUM TREE or LI- 
 QUID AMBER (Copalm) is not only 
 extremely common, but it affords a halm, 
 the virtues of which are infinite. Its bark 
 is black and hard, and its wood fo tender 
 and fupple, that when the tr?e is felled, 
 you may draw from the middle of it 
 rods of five or fix feet in length. It can- 
 not be employed in building or furniture, 
 as it warps continually. Its leat is^ in- 
 dented with five points like a ftar. 1 his 
 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, 
 Saflhfras, the Prickly Alh, Moofe Wood, 
 Spoon Wood, Large Elder, Dwarf Elder, 
 Poifonoos Elder, Juniper, Shrub Oak, 
 Sweet Fern, the Laurel, the Witch Ha- 
 
[ 5°6 ] 
 
 zle, the Myrtle Wax Tree, Winter 
 Green, the Fever Bufh, the Cranberry 
 Bufh, the Goofherry Bulh, the Currant 
 Bufh, the Whirtle Berry, the Ralberry, 
 the Black Berry, and the Choak Berry. 
 
 The WILLOW. There are feveral 
 f|iecies of the willow, the moft remarka- 
 ble of which is a fmall fort that grows on 
 the banks of the Miffiffippi, and fome 
 other places adjacent. The bark of this 
 ihrub fupplies the beaver with its winter 
 food ; atid where the water has u afhed 
 the foil from its roots, they appear to 
 conlift of fibres interwoven together like 
 thread, the colour of which is of an in- 
 eXpreffibly fine fcarlet ; with this the In- 
 dians tinge many of the ornamental parts 
 ot their drefs. 
 
 SHIN W OOD. This extraordinary 
 flmib grows in the fqrefis, and riling like 
 a vine, rpns near the ground for fix or 
 eight feet, and then takes root again ; in 
 the fame manner talcing root, and Iprlng- 
 ing- up fucceffively, one fialk covers a large 
 f]<ace; this proves very troublefprne to 
 the hafty traveller, by flriking againfi: 
 
 his 
 
[ 5®7 1 
 
 his flilns, and entangling his legs *, from 
 which it has acquired its name. 
 
 The SASSAFRAS is a wood well 
 
 kown 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 agree- 
 able fragrance, are large, and nearly lepa^ 
 rated into three divifions. It bears a red- 
 dllh brown berry of the fize and lhape of 
 Pimento, and which is fometimes ufcd in 
 the colonies as a fubftitute for that fpice. 
 The bark or roots of this tree is infinitely 
 fup'erior to the wood for its ufe in medi- 
 cine, and I am furprized it is fo feldom 
 to be met with, aS its efficacy is fo much 
 greater. 
 
 The PRICKLY ASH is a flirub that 
 fometimes grows to the height of ten or 
 fifteen feet, and has a leaf exaftly refem- 
 bling that of an affi, but it receives the 
 epithet to its name from the abundance 
 of fhort thorns with which every branch 
 is covered, and which renders it very 
 troublefometo thofe who pafs through tfic 
 fpot where they grow thick, It alio bears 
 ♦ ' ^ Icarlet 
 
[ 5o8 ] 
 
 a fcarlet berry, which when ripe, has a 
 fiery tafte like pepper. The bark of this 
 tree, particularly the bark of the roots, 
 is highly efteemed by the natives for its 
 medicinal qualities. I have already men- 
 tioned one infiance of its efficacy, and 
 there is no doubt but that the decoftion of 
 it will expeditioufiy and radically remove 
 all impurities of the blood. 
 
 The MOOSE WOOD grows about 
 four feet high, and is very full of branches ; 
 but • what renders it worth notice is its 
 bark, which is of fo firong and pliable 
 a texture, that being peeled off at any 
 lealon, and twlfied, makes equally as 
 good cordage as hemp. 
 
 The SPOON WOOD is a fpecles of 
 the laurel, and the wood when fawed re- 
 fembles box wood. 
 
 The ELDER, commonly termed the 
 poilbnous elder, nearly refembles the other 
 forts in its leaves and branches, but it 
 grows much firaiter, and is only found 
 in fwamps and moifi foils. This ffirub 
 is endowed with a very extraordinary 
 quality, that renders it poilbnous to fome 
 confiitutions, which it effebls if the per- 
 fon only approaches within a few yards 
 
 of 
 
C 509 3 
 
 of It, whllft others may even chew 
 the leaves or the nnd without receiving 
 the leaft detriment from them : the poifoii 
 however is not mortal, though it operates 
 very violently on the infeded perfon, 
 whofe body and head fwellto.an amazing 
 {ize, and are coveted wdth eruptions, that 
 at their height relemhle the confluent 
 fmall-pox. As it grows alfo in many of 
 the provinces, the inhabitants cure its 
 venom by drinking faffron tea, and anoint- 
 ing the external parts with a mixture com- 
 pofed of cream and marlh mallows. 
 
 The SHRUB OAK is exadly fimilar 
 to the oak tree, both in its wood and 
 leaves, and like that it bears an acorn, but 
 it never riles from the ground above foui 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 blof- 
 foms. When this Ihrub Is in bloom, the 
 Indians efteemit a further indication that 
 the froft is entirely gone, and that they 
 rnip-ht fow their corn. It has been faid, 
 thaHtis poflefled of the power of attraaing 
 gold or lilver, and that twigs of it are made 
 
i 510 ] 
 
 life of to difcover where the veins of thelc 
 metals lie hid; but I am apprehenfive that 
 this is only a fallacious ftory, and not to 
 be depended on ; however that fuppofitioii 
 has given it the name of Witch Hazle. 
 
 The MYRTLE WAX TREE is a 
 Ihrub about four or five feet high, the 
 leaves of which are larger than thofe of 
 the common myrtle, but they fmell ex- 
 actly alike. It bears its fruit in bunches 
 like a jnofegay, riling from the fame place 
 in various ftalks about two inches long : 
 at the end of each of thefe is a little nut 
 containing a kernel, which is wholly co- 
 vered with a gluey fubfiance, which being 
 boiled in w^ater, fwims on the furface of it, 
 and becomes a kind of green wax ; this is 
 more valuable than bees-wax, being of a 
 more brittle nature, but mixed with it 
 makes a good candle, w'hich as it burns 
 fends forth ati agreeable fcent. 
 
 WINTER GREEN. This is an 
 ever-green of the fpccies of the myrtle, 
 and is found on dry heaths ; the flowers 
 of it are white, and in the form of a rofe, 
 but not larger than a filver penny ; in 
 the winter it is full of red berries about 
 the fize of a floe, which are fmooth and 
 3 round ; 
 
t 1 
 
 round; thefe are preferved during the 
 Icvere feafon by the fnow ^ and are at that 
 time in the hlgheft perfedlioii. The In- 
 dians eat thefe berries, efteerning them 
 very balfamic, and invigorating to the 
 ftomach. The people inhabiting the interior 
 colonies fteep both the fprigs and berries in 
 beer, and ule it as a diet drink for cleanling 
 the blood from fcorbutic diforders. 
 
 The FEVER BUSH grows about five 
 or fix feet high ; its leaf is like that of a 
 lilach, and it bears a reddifh berry of a 
 fpicy flavour. The ftalks of it are excef- 
 fively brittle. A decoftiou 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 complaints, and like- 
 wife much efteemed on the fame account 
 by the inhabitants of the Interior parts of 
 the colonies. 
 
 The CRANBERRY BUSH. Though 
 the fruit of this bufli greatly refemblcs 
 in fize and appearance that of the cprn- 
 mon fort, which grows on a fmall vine in 
 morafles and bogs, yet the bulb runs to 
 the height of ten or tw'clve feet ; but it is 
 very rarely to be met with. As the 
 
 ^ meadow 
 
[ 512 ] 
 
 meadow cranberry, being of a local growth, 
 and flourifhing only in morafles, cannot 
 be tranfplanted or cultivated, the former, 
 if removed at a proper leafon, would be 
 a valuable acquifition to the garden, and 
 with proper nurture prove equally as good, 
 if not better. 
 
 The CHOAK BERRY. The flirub 
 thus termed by the natives grows about 
 five or fix feet high, and bears a berry 
 about the fize of a floe, of a jet black, 
 which contains feveral fmall feeds within 
 the pulp. The juice of this fruit, though 
 not of a difagreeable flavour, is extremely 
 tart, and leaves a roughnefs in the mouth 
 and throat when eaten, that has gained it 
 the name of choak berry. 
 
 ROOTS and PLANTS. 
 
 Elecampane, Spikenard, Angelica, Sar- 
 faparilla, Ginfang, Ground Nuts, Wild 
 Potatoes, Liquorice, Snake Root, Gold 
 Thread, Solomon’s Seal, Devil’s Bit, 
 Blood Root, Onions, Garlick, Wild Parf- 
 nips. Mandrakes, Hellebore White and 
 Black. 
 
 SPIKE- 
 
r 5^3 1 
 
 SPIKENARD, vulgarly called in the 
 colonies Petty-Morrell. This plant ap- 
 pears to be exactly the fame as the Afiatick 
 Ipikenard, fo much valued by the an- 
 cients. It grows near the fides of brooks 
 in rocky places, and its ftem, which is 
 about the hze of a goofe quill, fprings up 
 like that of angelica, reaching about a foot 
 and an half from the ground. It bears 
 bunches of berries in all reipedts like thofe 
 of the elder, only rather larger. Thefe 
 are of fuch a balfamic nature, that when 
 infufed in fpirlts, they make a moft palat- 
 able and reviving cordial. 
 
 SARSAPARILLA. The root of this 
 plant, which is the moft eftimable part of 
 it, is about the fize of a goofe quill, and 
 runs in different direftions, twined and 
 crooked to a great length in the ground ; 
 from the principal ftem of it fprings many 
 fmaller fibres, all of which are tough and 
 flexible. From the root immediately 
 fhoots a ftalk about a foot and an half long, 
 which at the top branches into three 
 ftems j each of theft has three leaves, 
 much of the ftiape and fize of a walnut 
 leaf; and from the fork of each of the 
 three ftems grows a bunch of bluilh whit© 
 K k flowers, 
 
[ 5U ] 
 
 flowers, refembling thofe of the fpikeiiard. 
 The bark of the roots, which alone fhould 
 be ufed in medicine, is of a bitterifli fla- 
 vour, but aromatic. It is defervedly efleem- 
 ed for its medicinal virtues, being a gentle 
 fudorific, and very powerful in attenuat- 
 ing the blood when impeded by grofs hu- 
 mours. 
 
 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 Eu- 
 rope; but it has been lately difcovered to 
 be alfo a native of North America, where 
 it grows to as great perfedlion and is 
 equally valuable. Its root is like a fmall 
 carrot, but not fo taper at the end; it 
 is fometimes divided into two or more 
 branches, in all other refpedls it refem- 
 bles farfaparilla in its growth. The tafte 
 of the root is bitterilh. In the eaftern 
 parts of Alia it bears a great price, being 
 there confidered as a panacea, and is the 
 lafl: refuge of the inhabitants in all difor- 
 ders. When chewed it certainly is a great 
 ftrengthener of the ftomach. 
 
 GOLD THREAD. This is a plant 
 of the fmall vine Idnd^ which grows in 
 
 fwampy 
 
[ 5^5 ] 
 
 fwampy places, and lies on the ground. 
 The roots fpread themfelves juft under the 
 furface of the morafs, and are eafily drawn 
 up by handfuls. They refemble a large 
 entangled Ikain of thread of a fine bright 
 gold colour ; and I am perfuaded would 
 yield a beautiful and permanent yellow 
 dye. It is alfo greatly efteemed both by 
 the Indians and colonifts as a remedy for 
 any Ibrencft in the mouth, but the tafte 
 of it is exquifitely bitter. 
 
 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 feet high, the ftalks being two 
 feet, when the leaves begin to fpread 
 themfelves and reach a foot further. A 
 part in every root has an impreftion upon 
 it about the fize of a fixpence, which ap- 
 pears as if it was made by a feal, and 
 from thefe it receives its name. It is great- 
 ly valued on account of its being a fine 
 purifier of the blood. 
 
 devil’s bit is another wild plant, 
 which grows in the fields, and receives 
 its name from a print that feems to be 
 made by teeth in the roots. The Indians 
 fay that this was once an univerfal remedy 
 K k 2 for 
 
[ 5^6 ] 
 
 for every diforcler that human nature is iri-* 
 cident to ; but iome of the evil fpirits en- 
 vying mankind the pofleflion of fo effica- 
 cious a medicine gave the root a bite, which 
 deprived it of a great part of its virtue. 
 
 BLOOD ROOT. A fort of plantain 
 that Iprings out of the ground in fix oi 
 feven long rough leaves, the veins of which 
 arc red ^ the root of it is like a fixiall cai- 
 rot both in colour and appearance; when 
 broken, the infide of it is of a deeper co- 
 lour than the outlide, and diftils feveial 
 drops of juice that look like blood. This 
 is a ftrong emetic, but a very dangerous 
 one. 
 
 HERB S. 
 
 Balm, Nettles, Cinque Foil, Eyebright, 
 Sanicle, Plantain, Rattle Snake Plantain, 
 Poor Robin’s Plantain, Toad Plantain, 
 • Maiden Hair, Wild Dock, Rock Liver- 
 wort, Noble Liverwort, Bloodwort, Wild 
 Beans, Ground Ivy, Water Crefles, Yar- 
 row, May WYed, Gargit, Skunk Cab- 
 bage or Poke, Wake Robin, Betony, Sca- 
 bious, Mullen, Wild Peale, Moufe Ear, 
 Wild Indigo, Tobacco, and Cat Mint. 
 
 SANICLE 
 
[ 5^7 1 
 
 SANICLE has a root which is thick 
 towards the upper part, and full of fmall 
 fibres below; the leaves of it are broad, 
 roundifh, hard, fmooth, and of a fine 
 Ihining green ; a ftalk rlfes from thefe 
 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 red- 
 dilh white, lhaped like a wild rofe. A 
 tea made of the root is vulnerary and bal- 
 
 RATTLE SNAKE PLANTAIN. 
 This ufeful herb is of the plantain kind, 
 and its leaves, which fpread themlelves 
 on the ground, are about one men and 
 an half wide, and five inches long ; fiom 
 the centre of thefe arifes a fmall flalk 
 nearly fix inches long, which bears a little 
 white flower; the root is about fue o 
 a P;oofe quill, and much bent and divided 
 into feveral branches. The leaves of this 
 herb are more efficacious than any othe 
 
 part of it for the bite of ^1- -Pt‘le 1-m 
 which it -receives its name ; and bei g 
 
 chewed and applied immediatdy to the 
 wound, and fome of the juice Iwallowed, 
 
 feldoms fails of averting every dangemus 
 
 lymptom. So convinced are the Indians^ 
 
 K k ^ 
 
[ ] 
 
 of the power of this infallible antidote, 
 that for a trifling bribe of Ipirituous li- 
 quor, they will at any time permit a rattle 
 liiake to drive his fangs into their flefli. It 
 is to be remarked that during thole months 
 in which the bite of thefe creatures is moll 
 venomous, that this remedy for it is in its 
 greateft perfedlion, and moft luxuriant in 
 its growth. 
 
 POOR ROBIN’S PLANTAIN is of 
 the fame Ipecies as the laft, but more di- 
 minutive in every relpe6t ; it receives its 
 name from its lize, and the poor land on 
 w'hich it growls. It is a good medicinal 
 herb, and often adminiflered with fuccefs 
 in fevers and internal weakueflTes. 
 
 TOAD PLANTAIN refembles the 
 common plantain, only it grows much 
 ranker, and is thus denominated becaufe 
 toads love to harbour under it. 
 
 ROCK LIVERWORT is a fort of li- 
 verwort that grows on rocks, and is of the 
 nature of kelp or mofs. It is efleemed as 
 an excellent remedy againft declines. 
 
 GARGIT or SROKE is a large kind 
 of weed, the leaves of which are about 
 fix inches long, and two inches and an half 
 })rpad ; they refemble thofe of fpinage in 
 
 their 
 
[ 5<9 1 
 
 their colour and texture, but not m (hape. 
 The root is very large, from which Ipring 
 different ftalks that run eight or ten feet 
 high, and are full of red berries ; thele 
 hang in clufters in the month of Septem- 
 ber, and are generally called pigeon ber- 
 ries, as thofe birds then feed on them. 
 When the leaves firft fpring from the 
 ground, after being boiled, they are a 
 Ltritious and wholefome vegetable, but 
 when they are grown nearly to t^^ir fu 
 fize, they acquire a poHonous quality. 1 he 
 roots applied to the hands or feet of a per- 
 fon affliaed with a fever, prove a very 
 powerful abforbent. • 
 
 ^ 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 qompofed 
 of great numbers of fibres, a otion o 
 which is made ufe of by the people in 
 the colonies for the cure of the itch. Theie 
 Iffues a ftrong mulky fmell from this 
 herb, fomething like the animal of he 
 fame name before defcribed, and on that 
 account it is fo termed. 
 
 K k 4 
 
 WAKE 
 
[ 520 ] 
 
 WAKE ROBIN is an herb that grows 
 in fwampy lands ; its root refembles a 
 Imall turnip, and if tailed will greatly in- 
 flame the tongue, and immediately convert 
 it from its natural Ihape into a round 
 hard fubftance ; in which Rate it will con- 
 tinue for fpme time, and during this no 
 other part of the mouth wilf be affeded. 
 But when dried, it lofes its aftringeiit 
 quality, and becomes beneficial to man- 
 kind, fpr if grated into cold water, and 
 taken internally, it is very good for all 
 complaints of the bowels. 
 
 WILD INDIGO is an herb of the 
 lame Ipecies as that from whence indigo is 
 made in the fouthern colonies. It grows 
 in one ftalk to the height pf five or fix 
 inches from the ground, when it divides 
 into many branches, from which iflue a 
 great number of fmall hard bluilh leaves 
 that fpread to a great breadth, and among 
 thele. it bears a yellow flower ; the juice 
 of it has a very difagreeable fcent. 
 
 CAT MINT has a woody root, di- 
 vided into feveral branches, and it fends 
 forth a ftalk about three feet high ; the 
 leaves are like thofe of the nettle or ber 
 |:ony, and they have a ftrong fmell of 
 
 mint. 
 
[ S2i 1 
 
 mint, with a biting acrid tafte ; the flowr 
 crs grow on the 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 antipathy to it, and will not 
 let it grow, it has nearly the virtues of 
 fommoii miijit *, 
 
 FLOWERS. 
 
 Heart’s Eafe, Lilies red and yellow. 
 Pond Lilies, Cowflips, May Flowers, Jef- 
 famlne, Honeyfuckles , Rock Honey- 
 fuckles, Rofes red and white. Wild Holly- 
 hock, Wild Pinks, Golden Rod. 
 
 I fhall not enter into a minute deferip- 
 tlon of the flowers above recited, but only 
 juft obferve, that they much refemble thofe 
 of the Line name which grow in Europe, 
 and are as beautiful in colour, and as per- 
 fed in odour, as they can be fuppofed to 
 be in their wild uncultivated ftate. 
 
 * For an account of Tobacco, fee a treatife I have 
 Dubliihed on the culture of that plant. 
 
 FARI- 
 
t 522 ] 
 
 FARINACEOUS and LEGUMINOUS 
 ROOTS, &c. 
 
 Maize or Indian Corn, Wild Rice, 
 Beans, 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 fwect 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 fome diftance from the fruit 
 on the fame plant, grow like the ears of 
 oats, and are fometimes white, yellow, or 
 of a purple colour. The feeds are as large 
 as peas, and like them quite naked and 
 fmooth, but of a roundifli furface, rather 
 comprefl'ed. One fpike generally confifts 
 pf about fix hundred grains, which are 
 placed clofely together in rows to the num- 
 ber of eight or ten, and fometimes twelve. 
 This corn is very wholefome, eafy of di- 
 geftion, and yields as good nourilhment as 
 any other fort, After the Indians have 
 
 reduced 
 
[ 5^3 ] 
 
 reduced It into meal by pounding it, they 
 make cakes of it and bake them before 
 the fire. I have already mentioned that 
 fbme nations eat it in cakes before it is 
 ripe, in which ftate it is very agreeable to 
 the palate and extremely nutritive. 
 
 WILD RICE. This grain, which 
 grows in the greatefi; plenty throughout 
 the interior parts of North America, is 
 the moft valuable of all the fpontaneous 
 produdlons of that country. Exclufive 
 of its utility, as a fupply of food for thofe 
 of the human ipecies who inhabit this 
 part of the continent, and obtained with- 
 out any other trouble than that of gather- 
 ing it in, the fweetnefs and nutritious 
 quality of it attra<9;s an infinite number of 
 wild fowl of every kind, which flock 
 from diftant climes to enjoy this rare re- 
 paft ; and by it become Inexpreffibly fat 
 and delicious. In future periods it will 
 be of great fervice to the infant colonies, 
 as it will afford them a prefent fupport, 
 until in the courfe of cultivation other fupr 
 plies may be produced ; whereas in thofe 
 realms which are not furnifhed with this, 
 bounteous gift of nature, even if the ch- 
 jpate is temperate and the foil good, the 
 
[ 5^4 ] 
 
 firft fettlers are often expofed to great hard- 
 fhips from the want of an immediate re- 
 fource for necefl'ary 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 or ears that bear the feed, re- 
 femble oats both in their appearance and 
 manner of growing. The ftalks are full 
 of joints, and rife more than eight feet 
 above the water. The natives gather the 
 grain in the following manner : nearly 
 about the time that it begins to turn from 
 its milky ftate and to ripen, they run 
 their canoes into the midft of it, and 
 tying bunches of it together juft below 
 the ears with bark, leave it in this fitua- 
 tion three or four weeks longer, till it is 
 perfeiftly ripe. About the latter end of 
 September they return to the river, when 
 each family having its feparate allotment, 
 and being able to diftinguifli their own 
 property by the manner of faftening the 
 fheaves, 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 
 
[ 5^5 1 
 
 of wood formed for that purpofe. Having 
 done this, they dry it with fmoke, and 
 afterwards tread or rub off the outude 
 hulk ; when it is fit for ufe they put it 
 into the Ikins of fawns or young buffalos 
 taken off nearly whole for this purpofe 
 and fewed into a fort of fack, wherein they 
 preferve it till the return of their harveft. 
 
 It has been the fubjea of much' fpecula- 
 tion why this fpontaneous grain is not 
 found in any other regions of America, or 
 in thofe countries fituated in the fame pa- 
 rallels of latitude, where the waters are as 
 apparently adapted for its growth as in 
 the climates I treat of. As for inftance, 
 none of the countries that he to the fouth 
 and eaft of the great lakes, even from the 
 provinces north of the Carolinas to the 
 extremities of Labradore, produce any of 
 this grain. It is true I found great quan- 
 tities of it in the watered lands near De- 
 troit, between Lake Huron and Lake 
 Erie, but on enquiry I learned that it ne- 
 ver arrived nearer to maturity than juft to 
 blolfom ; after which it appeared blighted, 
 and died away. This convinces me that 
 ,l,e north-well wind.as t have before hint- 
 
 ed is much more powerful m thele than 
 ’ in 
 
[ 5^6 ] 
 
 In the Interior parts ; and that it Is more 
 inimical to the fruits of the earth, after 
 it has paffed over the lakes and become 
 united with the wind which joins it from 
 the frozen regions of the north, than it is 
 farther to the weft ward. 
 
 BEANS. Thefe are nearly of the fame 
 Ihape as the European beans, but are not 
 much larger than the fmalleft fize of them. 
 They are boiled by the Indians and eaten 
 chiefly with bear’s flelh. 
 
 The SQUASH. They have alfo leveral 
 fpecles of the MELON or PUMPKIN, 
 which by fome are called Squafhes, and 
 which ferve many nations partly as a fub- 
 ftitute for bread. Of thefe there is the 
 round, the crane-neck, the fmall flat, and 
 the large oblong fquafti. The fmaller 
 forts being boiled, are eaten during tho 
 fummer as vegetables ; and are all of a 
 plealing flavour. The crane-neck, which 
 greatly excells all the others, are ufually 
 hung up for a winter’s ftore, and in this 
 manner might be preferved for feveral 
 months. 
 
 A P P E N- 
 
appendix. 
 
 T H E countries that lie between the 
 great lakes and River Miffiffippi, 
 and from thence fouthward to Weft Flo- 
 rida, although in the midft of a large 
 continent, and at a great dlftance 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 ren- 
 dered commercial ones. The great River 
 Miffilfippl, which runs through the whole 
 of them, will enable their Inhabitants to 
 eftablKh an intercourfe with foreign climes, 
 equally as well as the Euphrates, the Nile, 
 the Danube, or theWolgado thofe people 
 which dwell on their banks, and who 
 , have no other convenience for exporting 
 the produce of their own country, or for 
 importing thole of others, than boats and 
 veflels of light burden : notwithftanding 
 , which 
 
[ 5^8 ] 
 
 which they have become powerful and 
 opulent ftates. 
 
 The MiffiflippI, as I have before ob- 
 ferved, runs from north to fouth, and 
 palTes through the moft fertile and tem- 
 perate part of North America, excluding 
 only the extremities of it, which verge both 
 on the torrid and frigid zones. Thus fa- 
 vourably fituated, when once its banks 
 are covered with inhabitants, they need 
 not long be at a lofs for means to efta- 
 blilh an extenlive and profitable com- 
 merce. They will find the country to- 
 wards the louth almofl: Ipontaneoufly pro- 
 ducing filk, cotton, indico, and tobacco ; 
 and the more northern parts, wine, oil, 
 beef, tallow, Ikins, buffalo -wool, and 
 furs; with lead, copper, iron, coals, lum- 
 ber, corn, rice, and fruits, befides earth 
 and barks for dying. 
 
 Thefe articles, with which it abounds 
 even to profufion, may be tranfported 
 to the ocean through this river with- 
 out greater difficulty than that which at- 
 tends the conveyance of merchandize down 
 Ibme of thofe I have juft mentioned. It is 
 true that the Miffiffippi being the boun- 
 dary between the Engiilh and Spaniffi fet- 
 
 tlements. 
 
[ 5^9 ] 
 
 tlemeuts, and the Spaniards in •poflellion 
 of the mouth of it, they may obftru£l the 
 paflage of it, and greatly difhearten thofe 
 who make the firft attempts ; yet when 
 the advantages that will certainly arile to 
 fettlers are known, multitudes of adven- 
 turers, allured by the profpeft of fuch 
 abundant riches, will flock to it, and efta- 
 blilh themfelves, though at the expence of 
 rivers of blood. 
 
 But Ihould the nation that happens to 
 be in pofl'eflion of New Orleans prove 
 unfriendly to the internal fettlers, they 
 may find a way into the Gulph of Mexico 
 by the River Iberville, which empties 
 itfelf from the Miflhfippi, after paffing 
 through Lake Maurepas, into Lake Pon- 
 chartrain; which has a communication 
 with the fea within the borders of Wefl;^ 
 Florida. The River Iberville branches off 
 ■from the Miffiflippi about eighty iniles 
 above New Orleans, and though it is at 
 prefent choaked up in fome parts, it might 
 ' at an inconfiderable expence be made na- 
 vigable fo as to anfwcr all the purpofes 
 propofed. 
 
 Although the Englifh have acquired 
 fince the laft peace a more extenfive knovv- 
 L 1 ledge 
 
[ 53 ^ ] 
 
 ledge of the interior parts than were ever 
 obtained before, even by the French, yet 
 many of their productions ftlll remain 
 unknown. And though 1 was not defi- 
 cient either in affiduity or attention during 
 the fhort time I remained in them, yet 
 I muft acknowledge that the intelligence 
 I gained was not fo perfect as I could 
 wifh, and that it requires further relearches 
 to make the world thoroughly acquainted 
 with the real value of thefe long hidden 
 realms. 
 
 The parts of the Miffiffippi of which 
 no furvey have hitherto been taken, amount 
 to upwards of eight hundred miles, fol- 
 lowing the courfe of the flrcam, that is, 
 from the Illinois to the Ouifconfin Rivers. 
 Thofe which lie to the north of the lat- 
 ter are included in the map of my travels. 
 Plans of fuch as reach from the former, 
 to the Gulph of Mexico, have been de- 
 lineated by feveral hands ; one of the 
 heft of thefe, according to its fze, now 
 extant, in which is included the whole 
 continent of North America, is annexed 
 to this work. And I have the pleafure to 
 find that an adlual furvey of the interme- 
 diate parts of the Miffiffippi, between the 
 
 Illinois 
 
[ 53 ^ ] 
 
 IUlnoIs River and the fea, with the Ohio, 
 Cherokee, and Ouabache Rivers, taken 
 on the Ipot by a very ingenious Gentle- 
 man ■*, is now publiflied. i flatter my- 
 I'elf that the oblervations therein contain- 
 ed, which have been made by one whole 
 knowledge of the parts therein defcribed 
 was acquired by a perfonal inveftigation, 
 aided by a folid judgment, will confirm 
 the remarks I have made, and promote the 
 plaii I am here recommending. 
 
 In the map of North America adjoin- 
 ed, I have partitioned the country which 
 lies adjacent to the eaftern borders of 
 the Miliiliippi into plantations or fubor- 
 dinate colonies ; chuling fuch lands only 
 for this purpofe as by being contiguous to 
 lome river, might enjoy all the advan- 
 tages I have before pointed out. Thcfe 
 I have divided by dotted lines, and num- 
 bered ; that future adventurers may rea- 
 dily, by referring to the map, chufe a 
 commodious and advantageous lituation. I 
 lhall allb here give a concile delcription ot 
 
 * Thomas Hutchins, Efq; Captain in his Majefty s 
 ^Oth, or Royal American Regiment of Foot. 
 
 L 1 2 each, 
 
[ 53 ^ ] 
 
 each, beginning, according to the rule of 
 geographers, with that which lies mold to 
 the north. 
 
 It is however neceflary to obferve, that 
 before thefe lettlements can be eftablilh- 
 ed, grants muft be procured in the man- 
 ner cuftomary on fuch occafions, and the 
 lands be purchafed of thole who have ac- 
 quired a right to them by a long pof- 
 feffion : but no greater difficulty will at- 
 tend the completion of this point, than 
 the original founders of every colony on 
 the continent met with to obftrudt their 
 intentions ; and the number of Indians 
 who inhabit thefe trads being greatly in- 
 adequate to their extent, it is not to be 
 doubted, but they will readily give up 
 for a reafonable conlideration, territories 
 that are of little ufe to them ; or remove 
 for the accommodation of their new neigh- 
 bours to lands at a greater diftance from 
 the Miffiffippi, the navigation of which is 
 not eflential to the welfare of their com- 
 munities. 
 
 N° I. The country within thefe lines, 
 from its lituation, is colder than any of 
 the others ; yet I am convinced that the 
 
 air 
 
[ 533 1 
 
 air is much more temperate than In 
 thofe provinces that lie in the fame de- 
 gree of latitude 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 Miififfippi ; 
 whilft on the contrary the north-eaftern 
 borders of it are well wooded. Towards 
 the heads of the River Saint Croix, rice 
 orrows in great plenty, and there is abun- 
 dance of copper. Though the Falls of 
 Saint Anthony are fituated at the fouth- 
 eaft corner of this divifion, yet that im- 
 pediment 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 Milfilfippi 
 juft below the Falls, and flows with fo 
 gentle a current that it affords a conve- 
 nient navigation for boats. This 
 is about one hundred miles from north- 
 weft to fouth-eaft, and one hundred and 
 twenty miles from north-eaft to fouth- 
 
 weft. , , j 
 
 II This traa, as I have already 
 
 defctibed it i.. my Journals, exceeds the 
 
 hieheft encomiums I can give it; not- 
 
 withftandiiig which it is 
 
t 534 ] 
 
 inhabited, and the profufion of bleffinga 
 that nature has fliowered on this heavenly 
 fpot return unenjoyed to the lap from 
 whence they Iprung. Lake Pepin, as I 
 have termed it after the French, lies 
 within thcfe bounds ; but the lake to 
 W'hich that name properly belongs is a 
 little above in the River St. Croix ; how- 
 ever, as all the traders call the lower 
 lake by that name, I have fo denomi- 
 nated it, contrary to the information I 
 received from the Indians. This colony 
 lying in unequal angles, the dimenfions 
 of it cannot be exadly given, but it ap- 
 pears to be on an average about one hun- 
 dred and ten miles long, and eighty 
 broad. 
 
 N° III. The greateft part of this divi- 
 fion is fituated on the River Ouifconfin» 
 which is navigable for boats about one 
 hundred and eighty miles, till it reaches 
 the Carrying-place that divides it from 
 the Fox River. The land which is con- 
 tained within its limits, is in Ibme parts 
 mountainous, and in others conlifts of 
 fertile meadows and fine pafturage. It 
 is fitrniflied alio with a great deal of good 
 timber, and, as is generally the cafe on the 
 
 banks 
 
[ 535 1 
 
 banks of the Miffiffippl and Its branches, 
 has much fine, open, clear land, proper 
 for cultivation. To thefe are added an 
 inexhauftible 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 uncommonly full of 
 ore. Although the Saukies and Ottagau- 
 mies inhabit a part of this traT, the whole 
 of the lands under their cultivation does 
 not exceed three hundred acres. It is in 
 length from eaft to weft about one hun- 
 dred and fifty miles, and about eighty 
 
 from north to fouth. 
 
 N° IV. The colony here marked out 
 confifts of lands of various denomina- 
 tions, fome of which are very good, and 
 others very bad. The beft is fituatedon 
 the borders of the Green Bay and the 
 Fox River, where there are innumerable 
 acres covered with fine grafs, moft part 
 of which grows to an aftonilhing heig t. 
 This river will afford a good navigation 
 for boats throughout the whole of its 
 courfe, which is about one hundred and 
 eio-hty miles, except between the Winne- 
 bago Lake, and the Green Bay ; where 
 there are feveral Carrying-places m the 
 
[ 53 ^ ] 
 
 fpace of thirty miles. The Fox River is 
 rendered remarkable by the abundance of 
 rice that grows on its fhores, and the al- 
 mofh infinite numbers of wild fowbthat 
 frequent its banks. The land which lies 
 i*;ar it appears to be very fertile, and pro- 
 mifes to produce a fufficient fupply of all 
 the neceflaries of life for any number of 
 inhabitants. A communication might be 
 opened by thofe who fhall fettle here, either 
 tlirough the Green Bay, Lake Michigan^ 
 Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Onta- 
 rio with Canada, or by way of the Ouif- 
 confin into the Miffiffippi. This divifion is 
 about one hundred and fixty miles long 
 from north to fouth, and one hundred 
 and forty broad. 
 
 No V. This is an excellent tra£l of 
 land, and, confidering its interior fitua- 
 tion, has greater advantages than could be 
 expe<fted ; for having the Miffiffippi on its 
 weftern borders, and the Illinois on its 
 fouth-eaft, it has as free a navigation as 
 moft of the others. The northern parti 
 of it ae fomewhat mountainous, but it 
 contains a great deal of clear land, the 
 foil of which is excellent, with many fine 
 fertile meadows, and not a few rich mines. 
 
 It 
 
[ 537 1 
 
 It is upwards of two hundred miles frorn 
 north to fouth, and one hundred a«id 
 
 fifty from eaft to weft. ^ 
 
 N° VI. This colony being fituated 
 upon the heads of the Rivers Illinois and 
 Ouabache, the former of 
 itfelf immediately into the Miffiffippi, 
 and the latter into the fame river by 
 means of the Ohio, will readily find a 
 communication with the fea through 
 thefei Having alfo the River Miamis 
 paffing though it, which runs 
 Lie, an intercpurfe might be eftabhftied 
 with Canada alfo by way of the lakes, as 
 before pointed out. It contains a great 
 deal of rich fertile land, and though more 
 inland than any of the «^^ers, will be as 
 valuable an acquifition asthebeft of thei . 
 From north to fouth it is about one hun- 
 dred and fixty miles, from eaft to weft 
 
 one hundred and eighty. 
 
 N° VII. This divifion is not mreiior 
 
 to any of the foregoing. Its northern 
 
 , borders lying adjacent to ' I'™'* ‘‘7, ; 
 and its wellern to the Mdhfl.ppb 
 fituation of it for eftablilhing a commer- 
 
 very coixio^odious. 
 
 2 
 
[ 3:38 ] 
 
 the heceflarles of life, and is about one 
 hundred and fifty miles from north to 
 fouth, and fixty miles from eafi: to weft; 
 but the confines of it being more irregular 
 than the others, I cannot exaftly afcertain 
 the dimenfions of it. 
 
 N° VIII. This colony havingthe River 
 Ouabache running through the centre of 
 it, and the Ohio for its fouthern boun- 
 dary, will enjoy the advantages of a free 
 navigation. It extends about one hundred 
 and forty miles from north to fouth, and 
 one hundred and thirty from eafttoweft. 
 
 N° IX. X. and XI. being limilar in 
 fituation, and furnilhed with nearly the 
 fame conveniencies as all the others, I 
 fhall only give their dimenfions. N° IX. 
 is about eighty miles each way, but not 
 exadly fquare. N° X. is nearly in the 
 fame form, and about the fame extent. 
 
 XI. is much larger, being at leaft one 
 hundred and fifty miles from north to 
 fouth, and one hundred and forty from 
 eaft to weft, as nearly as from its irregu- 
 larity it is poftible to calculate. 
 
 After the defcription of this delightful 
 country 1 have already given, I need not 
 repeat tiiat all the Ipots 1 have thus 
 
 pointed 
 
[ 539 ] 
 
 pointed out as proper for colonization < 
 abound not only with the neceflaries of 
 life, being well flored with rice, deer, 
 buffalos, bears, &c. but produce in equal 
 abundance fuch as may be termed luxu- 
 ries, or at leafl thofe articles of commerce 
 before recited, which the inhabitants of it 
 will have an opportunity of exchanging for 
 the needful produdfions of other countries. 
 
 The difcovery of a north-weft paffage 
 to India has been the fubjedt of innume- 
 rable difquifitions. Many efforts like- 
 wife have been made byway of Hudfon’s 
 Bay to penetrate into the Pacific Ocean, 
 though without I'uccefs. 1 ftiall not 
 therefore trouble myfelf to enumerate the 
 advantages that would refult from this 
 much wifhtd-for difcovery, its utility being 
 already too well known to the commer- 
 cial world to need any elucidation ; I fliall 
 only confine myfelf to the methods that 
 appear moft probable to enfure fuccefs to 
 future adventurers. 
 
 The many attempts that have hither- 
 to been made for this purpofe, but 
 which have all been rendered abortive, 
 feem to have turned the fpirit of mak- 
 
 ino- ufeful refearches into another chan- 
 
 ^ nel, 
 
[ 540 ] 
 
 nel, and this moft interefting one has almoft 
 been given up as impradicable ; but, in my 
 opinion, their failure rather proceeds from 
 their being begun at an improper place, 
 than from their impradlicability. 
 
 All navigators that have hitherto gone 
 in learch of this paflage, have firft en- 
 tered Hudfon’s Bay ; the confequence 
 of which has been, that having fpent the 
 feafon during which only thofe feas are 
 navigable, in exploring many of the nu- 
 merous inlets lying therein, and this with- 
 out dilcovering any opening, terrified at 
 the approach of winter, they have haftened 
 back for fear of being frozen up, and con- 
 fequently of being obliged to continue till 
 the return of fummer in thofe bleak and 
 dreary realms. Even fuch as have per- 
 ceived the coafts to enfold themfelves, 
 and who have of courfe entertained hopes 
 of fucceeding, have been deterred from 
 prolecutlng their voyage, left the winter 
 Ihould fet in before they could reach a 
 more temperate climate. 
 
 Thefe apprehenfions have dlfcouraged 
 the boldeft adventurers from' completing the 
 expeditions in which they have engaged, 
 apd fruftrated every attempt. But as it has 
 
 been 
 
[ 541 1 
 
 been difcovcred by inch as have^ failed into 
 the northern parts of the Pacific Ocean, 
 that there are many inlets which verp 
 towards Hudfon s Bay, it is not to e 
 doubted but that a paflage might be ma e 
 out from that quarter, if it be fought for 
 at a proper feafon. And fhould thefe cx- 
 peaations be dlfappointed, the explorers 
 would not be in the fame hazardous fitu- 
 ation with thofe who fet out from Hud- 
 fon’s Bay, for they will always be fure 
 of a fafe retreat, through an open lea, to 
 warmer regions, even after repeated di - 
 appointments. And this confidence will 
 enable them to proceed with greater refo- 
 lution, and probably be the ^Tieans of 
 effeaine; what too much circumlpeaion 
 
 er timility has prevented. 
 
 Thefe reafons for altering the plan of en- 
 quiry after this convenient paflage, carry 
 with them fuch conviaion, that m the 
 vear 1 774 Richard Whitworth, Etq. mem- 
 ber of parliament for Stafford, a gent eman 
 
 , of an extenftve knowledge in geography , of 
 an aaive enterprifuig dilpofit.on, andwhote 
 benevolent mind is ever ready to proinote 
 the happinefs of individuals, or tire welfare 
 S tire" Ublic, from the reprefentanons 
 
[ 542 ] 
 
 made to him of the expediency of it by 
 ^^y^^lf and otherSj intended to travel acrols 
 the continent of America, that he might 
 attempt to carry a fcheme of this kind 
 into execution. 
 
 He defigned to have purfued nearly the 
 lame route that I did ; and after having 
 built a fort at Lake Pepin, to have pro- 
 ceeded up the River St. Pierre, and from 
 thence up a branch of the River Mefforie, 
 till having difcovered the fource of the 
 Oregan or River of the Weft, on the 
 other fide the fummit of the lands that di- 
 vide the waters which run into theGulph 
 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 Straights of An- 
 nian. 
 
 Plaving there eftabliflied another fet- 
 tlement on fome fpot that appeared 
 heft calculated for the fupport of his 
 people, in the neighbourhood of forae 
 of the inlets which tend towards the 
 north-eaft, he would from thence have 
 begun his refearches. This gentleman 
 was to have been attended in the expe- 
 dition by Colonel Rogers, myfelf, and 
 
 others, 
 

 [ 543 1 
 
 others, and to have taken out with him 
 a fiifficient number of artificers and marl. 
 m,rs for building the forts and veflels ne- 
 ceflary on the occafion, and for navigating 
 the latter ; in all not lefs than fifty or 
 fixty men. The grants and other re- 
 quifites for this purpofe 'were even nearly 
 completed, when the prefent troubles in 
 America began, which put a ftop to an 
 ^nterprize that promifed to he of incom 
 ceivable advantage to the Britifi'» domi- 
 pions. 
 
 I' I N 1 S. 
 
 4 
 
I 
 
 
 
 DIRECTIONS for Placing the Maps' 
 and Plates. 
 
 Map of North America, to front the Title Page. 
 
 Plan of Travels, — — P. i6 
 
 Plate 
 
 No I. The Falls of St. Anthony, — — 70 
 
 II. Man and Woman of the Ottagaumies, 228 
 
 III. Ditto of the Naudoweflies, — — 230 
 
 IV. Indian Weapons, — — — 296 
 
 p 
 


 I 
 
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W 1373