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
The day following, we crossed the tracks of a party
of men running from the Uttawaw villages directly up into the woods,
which we imagined to be those of the Huron’s party who might have lost
their way; as it proved. I laughed and joked a good deal with Godefroi
on this occasion; for when the Huron left us, I asked in a sneering
manner, “if he had any commands, in case I should get before him to
Detroit;” and he answered me in the same tone, “if when you arrive, you
don’t find me there, you may safely say that I am gone to the devil.”
Soon after, to our great joy, we fell into the path leading from the
Uttawaw villages to Detroit, and struck into a by-path to avoid meeting
Indians; but unluckily stumbled on that which led from the great path to
Attawang’s village. We met three Hurons on horseback, who told us, that
peace was concluded, that the Uttawaws had returned the day before to
their villages, and that General Bradstreet was to be at Cedar-Point that
night on his way to Sandusky. One of these Indians had been present when
I was prisoner at Attawang’s village; and though I was dressed like a
Canadian, and spoke French to Godefroi to prevent discovery, recollected
me to be the Englishman he had seen there. I gave him a letter from St.
Vincent to Pondiac which I had promised to deliver. They then took their
leave of us; and as soon as they were out of sight, we turned into the
great path, and putting our Indians on our horses, Godefroi and I walked
at a very great rate. We arrived at the Pootiwatamy village[21] at a
quarter past three, where I had the pleasure of seeing English colours
flying. I wanted to avoid the village; but the chief, being very hungry
(for we had eat nothing that day) fell into a passion, and asked what we
were afraid of. He knew he ran no risk here. I was a little vexed, and
mounting my horse bid him follow. I went to the village, where I bought
a little Indian corn and a piece of venison; and then Godefroi and I
rode on till it was dark, in hopes of reaching Detroit the next day; and
finding water, made a fire near it, and passed the night there, having
left our fellow-travellers to sleep with the Pootiwatamies; who, as none
of them knew me, were told by Godefroi that I was gone to the country
of the Ilinois, and that he growing tired of the journey, and wanting
to see his children, was on his return home. The next morning we set
out at the dawn of day; and, to save ourselves the trouble of making a
raft, took the upper road, though the journey was much longer that way,
hoping to find the river fordable, in which we were not disappointed. We
travelled this day a great way, and our horses were so much fatigued,
that they were hardly able to carry us towards the close of the day.
We found fresh horse-dung on the road, which Godefroi having curiously
examined, knew that some Indians had just passed that way; and by their
tracks he was sure they were before us. He therefore made an excuse to
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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