The journal, with other writings of John WoolmanWoolman, John
Religion
The journal, with other writings of John Woolman
Woolman, John
Quakers -- Biography; Woolman, John, 1720-1772
I now feeling my Mind at Liberty to return, took my Leave of them in
general, at the Conclusion of what I said in Meeting; and so we prepared
to go homeward: But some of their most active Men told us, that, when we
were ready to move, the People would choose to come and shake Hands with
us; which those who usually come to Meeting did: And, from a secret
Draught in my Mind, I went amongst some who did not use to go to
Meeting, and took my Leave of them also: And the _Moravian_ and his
_Indian_ Interpreter appeared respectful to us at parting. This Town
stands on the Bank of _Susquehannah_, and consists, I believe, of about
forty Houses, mostly compact together; some about thirty feet long, and
eighteen wide, some bigger, some less; mostly built of split Plank, one
End set in the Ground, and the other pinned to a Plate, on which lay
Rafters, and covered with Bark. I understand a great Flood last Winter
overflowed the chief Part of the Ground where the Town stands; and some
were now about moving their Houses to higher Ground.
We expected only two _Indians_ to be our Company; but, when we were
ready to go, we found many of them were going to _Bethlehem_ with Skins
and Furs, who chose to go in Company with us: So they loaded two
Canoes, which they desired us to go in, telling us, that the Waters
were so raised with the Rains, that the Horses should be taken by such
as were better acquainted with the Fording-places: So we, with several
_Indians_, went in the Canoes, and others went on Horses, there being
seven besides ours. And we meeting with the Horsemen once on the Way by
Appointment, and that near Night, a little below a Branch called
_Tankhannah_, we lodged there; and some of the young Men going out a
little before Dusk with their Guns, brought in a Deer.
On the twenty-second Day, through Diligence, we reached _Wioming_ before
Night, and understood the _Indians_ were mostly gone from this Place:
Here we went up a small Creek into the Woods with our Canoes, and,
pitching our Tent, carried out our Baggage; and before Dark our Horses
came to us.
On the twenty-third Day in the Morning their Horses were loaded, and we
prepared our Baggage, and so set forward, being in all fourteen; and
with diligent Travelling, were favoured to get near half-way to
_Fort-Allen_. The Land on this Road from _Wioming_ to our Frontier being
mostly poor, and good Grass scarce, they chose a Piece of low Ground to
lodge on, as the best for grazing; and I, having sweated much in
Travelling, and being weary, slept sound; I perceived in the Night that
I had taken Cold, of which I was favoured to get better soon.
On the twenty-fourth Day we passed _Fort-Allen_, and lodged near it in
the Woods.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account