Journals of Conrad Weiser (1748), George Croghan (1750-1765), Christian Frederick Post (1758), and Thomas Morris (1764)Croghan, George
History
Journals of Conrad Weiser (1748), George Croghan (1750-1765), Christian Frederick Post (1758), and Thomas Morris (1764)
Croghan, George
Mississippi River Valley -- Description and travel; United States -- Description and travel; West (U.S.) -- Description and travel
it till morning, hoping our chief would change his mind. This night the
chief, seeing me writing by the light of the fire, grew jealous, and
asked if I was counting the trees. The next morning the chief being a
little intimidated, instead of going East North East, as agreed on the
night before, in order to draw near the Miamis river, went due North; by
which means he led us into the most perplexed wood I ever saw. He had my
compass, which I asked him for, and wanted to carry about me, as he very
seldom looked at it; but this gave great offense, and he told me I might
go by myself. In short, he was grown captious beyond measure. In order
to please him, we had put his pack on one of our horses; but we were
forced to take it off again, as a loaded horse could not force its way
through the thick wood we were in. I found such a difficulty in leading
my horse (for it was impossible to ride) through this part of the forest,
that I called out to the party for God’s sake to stop till I could see
them, or I should never see them more: at that time I could not be more
than fifteen yards behind them. They had hurried on in pursuit of a
rattle-snake. The chief now told me again, that I must let my horses go;
but Godefroi convinced me, that I could not reach Detroit without them.
I therefore resolved, if he persisted, to quit him, to take Godefroi
with me, and to kill one of my horses for a supply of food, for we had
very little ammunition left, and no provisions. However the chief grew
good-humoured by Godefroi’s management; and as he now thought himself out
of danger, changed his course, going East North East. We soon got into
a fine open wood, where there was room to drive a coach and six. Here
we halted to refresh ourselves by smoaking our pipes, having nothing to
eat, the old Indian, who always ranged as we travelled on, having found
no game that morning. As I had not been used to smoaking, I desired to
have sumach leaves only, without tobacco; but, after a few whiffs, I was
so giddy, that I was forced to desist: probably an empty stomach was the
chief cause of this unpleasant effect of smoaking. Soon after we came
into extensive meadows; and I was assured that those meadows continue
for a hundred and fifty miles, being in the winter drowned lands and
marshes. By the dryness of the season they were now beautiful pastures:
and here presented itself one of the most delightful prospects I ever
beheld; all the low grounds being meadow, and without wood, and all the
high grounds being covered with trees, and appearing like islands; the
whole scene seemed an elysium. Here we found good water, and sat down by
it, and made a comfortable meal of what the old Indian had killed, after
we left our halting-place. We afterwards continued our route, and at
five o’clock discovering a small rivulet, which gave us all, and me in
particular, inexpressible pleasure, we made a fire by the side of it, and
lay there all night.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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