The Fifteenth, we march’d on, intending to find out a Ford, in the River call’d of the _Princess_, where Monsieur _de la Sale_ had pass’d before; but missing of it, and the River being swollen, we were oblig’d to go up higher, sometimes crossing curious[80] Meadows, and sometimes Woods of tall Trees[81] of several Sorts, but all Young of the same Thickness and strait, looking as if they had been planted by a Line. The River running through the midst of those curious shady Groves,[82] which were also water’d by several little Brooks of very clear and good Water, afforded a most delightful Landskip. [Sidenote: _Thick Woods._] We also met with some Woods so thick, that it was requisite to hew a Passage for the Horses. Towards the Evening we kill’d a Bullock, and went to incamp in a little Coppice, with our usual Precautions. [Sidenote: _Wild Fowl._] The 16th, we continued our Journey, still following the River upwards, and from Time to Time meeting the same Sort of Pasture Grounds[83] and the Obstacles of Woods, where we were fain to cut our Way through, which fatigued us very much; but the Plenty of wild Fowl, and particularly of Turkeys, whereof we killed many, was an Ease to our Sufferings, and Help to bear our Toil with more Satisfaction. [Sidenote: _An Indian Village abandon’d._] The 17th, was a very toilsome Day’s Journey, by Reason of the Woods and Rivulets we were to cross; after which we came to a little Hill, on which there were 2 or 300 Cottages of the Natives. Those Huts were like large Ovens, consisting of long Poles stuck in the Earth in a Circle, and joyning above to make the Dome or round Top.[84] They had been a Dwelling of the Natives, who being gone, had carry’d away the Hides that cover’d them, and the Mats which are us’d to hang the Insides, and to make their beds of. After a March of some Hours, our _Indian_ having found a Herd of Beeves, we kill’d seven or eight, took the best of the Meat, and held on our Way across a Wood. We ford’d a Branch of the River, and proceeded to the Bank of another, the Bottom whereof being foul, we incamp’d on the Edge of it, and the Rain falling at Night and continuing all the next Day, were oblig’d to stay there. The 19th, the Rain ceasing, we proceeded through a thick Fog, and over Places where the Water was often up to our Knees, and sometimes higher; which, together with our being forc’d to cut the Way athwart the Bushes, with our Hatchets, gave us inexpressible Trouble, and it had been much greater, had we not resolv’d to follow the Ways beaten by the Bullocks, whom a natural Instinct always leads to those Parts which are easiest to pass. [Sidenote: _Buskins of raw Hides instead of Shoes._]