Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

294.

Our Traders are now at the vast at the vast Cha[tear]
and Fatigue of travelling above Five Hundred
Miles for the Benefit of that Traffique,
which hardly quits [East]. Would it not then be
worth the Assemblys while to be at some charge
to Find a Shorter Cut^{to carry on} so profitable a Trade with more
advantage and less hazzard and trouble than
present this round about way? For I am p[ur]
swadid it, will not then be half Quarter of the
Distance, that our Traders make it now pre-
sent, nor half so far as Georgia lyes
the northern clans of that nation

Such a Discovery woud certainly prove an u[n]
speakable Advantage to this Colony, by facilitate-
ing a Trade with so Considerable a Nation of
Indians, which have 62 Towns, and more than
4000 Fighting Men. Our Traders at that rate woud
be able to undersell those sent from the other
Colonies so much, that the Indians ^must have Rea-
son to deal with them preferably to all others.
Of late the new Colony of Georgia has made
an Act obliging us to go 400 Miles to take out
a License to traffick with these Charokees, tho'
many of their Towns ly out of their Bounds
and We ^had [carry'd] on this Trade 80 years before
295. that Colony was thought of.

[Nov]^r
30

In the Morning early the Man, who had gone
astray the day before, found his way to the Camp
by the Sound of the Bells, that were upon our
Horses necks.

At Nine a Clock we began our March back to-
[ward]s the Riseing Sun: for tho' we had finisht
[tear]e Line, yet we had not ^yet half finisht our Fa-
tigue. We had after all 200 good Miles at least
to our Several Habitations, and the Horses were
brought so low, that we were obliged to travel on
foot great part of the way, and that in our
Boots too, to save our Legs from being torn to pie
ces by the Bushes and Briars. Had we not
done this, we must have left all our Horses be
hind, which cou'd now hardly drag their Legs
after them. And with all the favour, we cou'd
Shew the poor Animals, we were forced to set
Seven of them free not far from the ^{Foot of the} Mountains
Four men were dispatch't early to clear the
Road, that our lame Commissioners Leg
might be in less danger of being bruis'd, and
that the Baggage-Horses might travel with
less difficulty and more Expedition.

As we past along, by favour of a Serene Sky,
we had ^stil from every Eminence a perfect View of t[he]
296. Mountains, as well to the North, as to the
South. We cou'd not forbear now and then
faceing about to Survey them, as if unwilling
to part with a Prospect, which at the Same
time, like Some Rakes, was very wild, and
very agreeable.

We encouraged the Horses to exert the lit-
tle Strength, they had, and being light, they
made a Shift to jogg on about Eleven Miles.
We encampt on Crooked Creek, Near a Thick-
et of Canes. In the Front of our Camp rose
a very beautifull Hill, that bounded our view
at about a Miles Distance, and all the in-
termediate Space was cover'd with green Canes.
Tho' to our Sorrow Fire-wood was Scarce, which
was now the harder upon us, because a North-
wester blew very cold from the Mountains.

The Indian kill'd a Stately fat Buck, and
we pickt his bones as clean, as a Score of Tur-
ky Buzzards coud have done.

By the Advantage of a clear Night, we made
Tryal once more of the Variation and found
it much the Same as formerly.

This being his Majestys Birth-day, we drank
all the [Royal] Healths in excellent Water, not
297. for the Sake of the Drink (like many of our
Fellow Subjects) but purely for the Sake of the
Toast. And because all Publick Mirth shou'd
be a little noisy, we fired Several Volleys of
Canes instead of Guns, which gave a loud re-
port.

We threw them into the Fire, where the Air,
inclos'd betwixt the Joints of the Cane, being
expanded by the Violent Heat, burst its narrow
bounds with a considerable Explosion.

In the Evening one of the Men knock't down
an Oppossum, which is a harmless little Beast,
that will Seldom go out of your way, and if
you take hold of it, will only grin, and hard-
ly ever bite. The Flesh was well tasted and
tender, approaching nearest to Pig, which
it also resembled in Bigness. The Coulour
of its Furr was a Goose-gray, with a Swine's
Snout, and a Tail like a Rats, but at least a
foot long. By twisting this Tail about the Arm
of a Tree, it will hang with all its weight,
and Swing to anything it wants to take hold of.

It has five Claws on the fore-Feet of equal
length, but the hinder feet have only four
298. Claws, and a Sort of Thumb Standing off at
a ^proper distance.

Their Feet, being thus form'd, qualify
them for climbing up Trees to catch little
Birds, which they are very fond of.
But the greatest Particularity of this Crea-
ture ^and which distinguishes it from most others
that we are acquainted with, is the False
Belly of the Female, into which her Young
retreat in time of danger. She can draw
the Slit, which is the Inlet into this Pouch
so close, that you must look narrowly to find
it, especially if She happen to be a Virgin.

Within the False Belly may be Seen Six
or eight Teats, on which the Young Ones
grow from their first Formation, till they
are big enough to fall off, like ripe Fruit
from a Tree. This is so odd a Method of
Generation, that I shou'd not have believ'd
it, without the Testimony of mine own Eyes.
Besides a knowing and credible Person has
assur'd me he has more than once observed
the Embryo-Possums growing to the Teat
before they were completely shaped, and ^afterwards
watcht their daily growth, till they were
big
299. enough for Birth. And all this he coud the
more easily pry into, because the Damm
was so perfectly gentle and harmless, that
he cou'd handle Her just as he pleas'd.| I
cou'd hardly persuade Myself to publish a
Thing so contrary to the Course, that Nature
takes in the Production of other Animals, un-
less it were a Matter Commonly believ'd in
all Countries, where that Creeature is produ-
ced, and has been often observed by Persons
of undoubled Credit and Understanding.

They say that the Leather-winged Bats
produce their Young in the Same uncom-
mon Manner. And that Young Sharks
at Sea, and Young Vipers ashoar run down
the Throats of their Damms, when they
are closely pursued.

The frequent crossing of Crooked Creek, and
mounting the Steep Banks of it, gave the
finishing Stroke to the foundering our Horses.
No less than two of them made a full Stop
here, and wou'd not advance a foot farther either
by fair means or foul.

We had a Dreamer of Dreams amongst
us, who warn'd me in the Morning to take care
of
300. Myself, or I shou'd infallibly fall into the
Creek; I thankt him kindly, and us'd what
caution I cou'd, but was not able it seems ^to avoid
my Destiny, for my Horse made a false Step,
and laid me down at my full Length in the
Water.

This was enough to bring Dreaming into
Credit, and I think t'was much for the Honour
of our Expedition, that it was graced not only
with a Priest, but also with a Prophet.
We were so perplext with this Serpentine
Creek, as well as in passing the Branches of
the Truin; (which were Swell'd Since we saw
them before) that we cou'd reach but 5 Miles
this Whole day.

We pitch't our Tent near Miry Creek (tho' an
uncomfortable place to lodge in) ^purely for the advan
tage of the Canes.

Our Hunters kill'd a large Doe, and two
Bears, which made all other Misfortues easy.
Certainly no Tartar ever lov'd Horseflesh, or Hot-
tentot Guts and Garbage, better than Woodsmen
do Bear. The truth of it is, It may be proper food
perhaps for Such as Work or Ride it off, but
with our Chaplain's Leave ^{who lovd it much} I think it not a very
proper Dyet for Saints, because tis apt to make
301. them a little too rampant.

And now for the Good of Mankind, and
for the better Peopleing an Infant Colony,
which has no Want but that of Inhabitants,
I will venture to publish a Secret of Impor-
tance, which our Indian disclosed to me.
I ask't him the reason why ^{few or} none of his Coun-
try-women were barren. to which curious Questi-
on he answer'd, with a Broad Grin upon his Face,
they had an Infallible Secret for that. Up-
on my being importunate to know what the
Secret might be, He inform'd me, that if an
Indian-woman did ^not prove with Child at a de-
cent time after Marriage, the Husband, to
Save his Reputation with the Women, forth-
with ente'rd into a Bear-dyet.

This in Short time makes him so Vigorous,
that he grows exceedingly impertinent to his
poor Wife, and ^{tis great odds but he} makes her a Mother in Nine
Months.

And thus much I am able to say ^besides for the
Reputation of the Bear-dyet, that all the
Married Men of our Company, were joyfull
Fathers within forty weeks after they got
Home, and most of the Single men had Chil-
dren Sworn to them within the Same time,
302. Our Chaplain always excepted, who, altho' a
Widower, was instructed to cast out that impor
tunate kind of Devil, by right down Fasting
and Prayer.

Nov^r 1^st

By the Negligence of one of the Men in not
hobbleing his Horse, he straggled so far that he cou'd
not be found. This Stopt us all the Morning long
Yet because our Time Shou'd not be entirely
lost, We endeavour'd to observe the Latitude
at 12 a Clock. Though our Observation was not
perfect, by reason the Wind blew a little too
fresh. However by Such a One, as we cou'd
make, we found ourselves in 36° 20' only.

Notwithstanding our being ^thus delayed, and
the Uneveness of the Ground ^over which we were
obliged to walk — (for most of us Serv'd now
in the Infantry) We travell'd no less than 6
Miles, Tho' as mercifull as we were to our poor
Beasts, Another of 'em tired by the way, and
was left behind for the Wolves and Panthers
to feast upon.

As we march't along, we had the fortune
to kill a Brace of Bucks, as many Bears and
one wild Turkey. But this was carrying our
Sport to wantoness, because we butcher'd more than we
were able to transport. We order'd the Deer to be
303. quarter'd and divided among the Horse's for the
lighter Carriage, & recommended the Bears
to our dayly attendants the Turky-Buzzards.

We always chose to carry Venison ^{along with us} rather
than Bear, not only because it was less Cum-
bersome, but likewise because the people cou'd
eat it without Bread, which was now al-
most Spent. Whereas the other, being richer
Food, lay too heavy upon the stomach, unless
it were lighten'd by something farinaccous.

And this I thought proper to remarque
for the Service of all those, whose Business or
Diversion shall oblige them to live any time
in the Woods.

And because I am persuaded that very use-
full matters may be found out by Serching
this great Wilderness, especially the upper
Parts of it about the Mountains, I conceive
it will help to engage able men in that
Good Work, If I recommend a wholesome kind
of Food of very small weight, and very great
Nourishment, that will Seccure them from
Starving, in case they shou'd be so unlucky, as to
meet with no Game. The chief discouragement
at present from penetrateing far into the Woods
304. is the trouble of carrying a Load of Provisions
I must own Famine is a frightfull Monster,
and for that reason to be guarded against as well
as we can. But the commong Precautions against it are
so burthensome that People can't tarry long out,
and go far enough from Home, to make any
effectual Discovery.

The protable Provisions, I wou'd furnish our
Forresters withall, are Glue-Broth, and
Roakahomini, one contains the Essence of
Bread, and the other of Meat.

The best way of makeing the Glue-Broth is after
the following Method.

Take a Leg of Beef, Veal, Venison, or any other
Young Meat, because Old Meat will not so easily
Jelly. Pare off all the fat, in which there is no
Nutriment, and of the Lean make a very Strong
Broth after the usual Manner, by boiling
the Meat to Rags, till all the Goodness be
out. After Skimming off what Fat remains,
pour the Broth into Wide Stew Pan well
tinn'd, and let it Simmer over a gentle even
Fire, till it come to a thick Jelly. Then
take it off, and Set it over Boiling Water,
305. which is an evener Heat, and not so ap't to burn
the Broth to the Vessel. Over that let it evaporate,
stirring it very often, till it be reduced, when
cold, into a Solid Substance like Glue.
Then cut it into Small Pieces, laying them
Single in the Cold, that they may dry the Soon-
er. When the Pieces are perfectly dry, put
them into a Canister, and they will be good,
if kept dry, a whole East India-Voyage.

This Glue is so Strong, that ^{two or three} Drams dissolv'd
in boiling Water with a little Salt will make
half a Pint of good Broth, and if you shoud be faint
with fasting or Fatigue, let a Small Piece of
this Glue melt in your Mouth, and you will find
yourself Surprizeingly refresh't.

One Pound of this Cookery wou'd keep a Man
in good heart above a Month, and is not only
nourishing, but likewise very wholesome. Par-
ticularly it is good against Fluxes, which Woods-
men are very liable to, by lying too near the moist
Ground.

But as it will be only us'd now and then
in times of Scarcity, when Game is want-
ing, two Pounds of it will be enough for
a Journey of Six Months.

But this Broth will be Still more
306. heartening, if you thicken every Mess with
half a Spoonfull of Rockahominy, which is no-
thing but Indian Corn parcht without Burn
ing, and reduced to Powder. The Fire drives
out all the Watery Parts of the Corn, leaving
the Strength of it behind, and ^this being very dry
becomes much lighter for Carriage, and
less liable to be spoilt by the Moist Air.

Thus half a dozen Pounds of this
Sprightly Bread, will Sustain a Man
for as many Months, provided he husband
it well, and always Spare it when he meets
with Venison, which as I said before, may
be very safely eaten without any Bread at all.

By what I have Said, A man, needs
not encumber Himself with more than 8 or
10 Pounds Weight of Provisions, tho' he con
tinue half a year in the Woods.

These and his Gun will Support him very
well dureing that time, without the least
danger of keeping one Single Fast. And
tho' some of his Days may be what the
French call Jours maigres , yet there will
happen no more of those than will be
307. Necessary for his health, and to carry off the Ex-
cesses of the Days of Plenty, when our Tra
velours will be apt to indulge their Lawless
Appetites too much.

2

The Heavens frown'd this Morning, and
threatend Abundance of Rain, but our
Zeal for returning made us defy the weather &
decamp a little before Noon. Yet we had
not advanct two Miles, before a Soaking
Shower made us glad to pitch our Tent
as fast as we coud. We chose for that ^purpose a riseing
Ground half a Mile to the East of Ma-
trimony Creek. This was the first and on-
ly time we were catcht in the Rain, dureing
the whole Expedition. It us'd before to be so
civil as to fall in the Night, after we were
Safe in our Quarters and ^had trencht ourselves in or
else it came upon us on Sundays, when it
was no interruption to our Progress, nor any
Inconvenience to our Persons.

We had however been so lucky in this
Particular before, that we had abundant
Reason to take our present Soaking 308. patiently, and the misfortune was the less,
because we had taken our Precautions to keep
all our Baggage and Bedding perfectly dry.*

The worst of it was, we were forc'ed to Encamp
in a barren Place, where there was hardly a
blade of Grass to be seen. Even the wild
Rosemary faild us here, which gave us but
too just Apprehensions that we Shoud not only
be obliged to trudge ^all the way home on foot, but
also to lugg our Baggage at our Backs into
the Bargain.

Thus we learned by our own Experience, that
Horses are very improper Animals to use in a
long Ramble into the Woods, and the better
they have been us'd to be fed, they are Still the
worse. Such will fall away a great deal faster,
and fail much sooner, than those which are
wont to be at their own keeping. Besides Hor-
ses, that have been accustomed to a Plane and
Champaign-Country will founder presently, when
they come to clamber up Hills, and batter
their Hoofs against Rocks.

309. We need Welsh Runts, and Highland Gallo-
ways to climb our mountains withal, that
are us'd to Precipices, and will bite as close as a ^{Banstead Down-}
Sheep. But I shou'd much rather recommend
Mules, if we had them, for these long and pain-
full Expeditions: tho' till they can be bred, cer-
tainly Asses are the fittest Beasts of Burthen
to take along with us. They are Sure-footed, pa-
tient under the heavyest Fatigue, and will Sub-
sist upon Moss, or Browsing on Shrubbs all
the Winter. One of them will carry the Necessa-
ry Luggage of four Men, without any difficulty,
and upon a Pinch will take a Quarter of Bear, or
Venison upon their Backs into the Bargain.

Thus when the Men are light, and discharged
from every thing but their Guns, they may go the
whole Journey on foot with pleasure. And tho'
my Dear Country-men have so great a Passion
for rideing, that they will often walk two Miles
to catch a Horse in order to ride One, yet if
they'll please to take my Word for't, when they
go into the Woods upon Discovery, I woud advise
them by all means to march a foot. They will
310. then be disengaged from the great Care and Con-
cern for their Horses, which takes up too large
a Portion of their time.

Over Night We are ^now at the trouble of hobbling
them out, and often of leading them a Mile or
two to a convenient place for Forrage, and in the
Morning ^again we are some Hours in finding them
again, because they are apt to Stray a great way
from the Place, where they were turned out.
Now and then too they are lost for a whole day
together, and are frequently so weak and jaded,
that the Company must lie still ^{several days} near some
Meadow or High-land Pond, to recruit them.
All these Delays retar'd their Progress intolera-
bly; Whereas if they had only a few Asses, they
woud abide close by the Camp, and find Sufficient-
Food every where, and in all Seasons of the Year.
— Men wou'd then be able to travel Safely over
Hills and Dales, nor wou'd the Steepest Moun-
tains obstruct their Progress.

They might also Search more Narrowly for Mines
and other Productions of Nature, without being
confind to Levil Grounds, in Complement to
the Jades they ride on. And one may foretell
311. without the Spirit of Divination, that so long as
Woodsmen continue to range on Horse-back, We
shall be Strangers to our own Country, and
few or no Valuable Discoveries will ever be made.

The French Coureurs de Bois , who have run from
one End of the Continent to the other, have perform'd
it all on foot, or else ^{in all probability} must have continued full as
Ignorant, as we are.

Our country has now been inhabited more than
130 years by the English and Still we hardly know
anything of the Appallachian Mountains, that
are no where above 250 Miles from the Sea.
Whereas the French ^{who are later comers} have ranged from Quebec
Southward as far as the Mouth of Mississip-
pi in the Bay of Mexico, and to the West
almost as far as California, which is either way
above 2000 Miles.

3

A Northwest Wind haveing cleard the Sky, we
were ^now tempted to travel on a Sunday for the first
time for want of Forrage.

Some of the most Scrupulous were unwill-
ing to do Evil, that Good might come of it, and
make our Cattle work a good Part of the Day
in order to fill their Bellies at Night. Howe-
ver the Chaplain put on his Casuistical Face,
312. and offerd to take the Sin upon Himself. We
therefore consented to move a Sabbath-days
Journey of 3 or 4 Miles, It appearing to be a
Matter of Mere Necessity.

On the Way our Unmerciful Indian killd
no less than two Brace of Deer and a large
Bear. We only primed the Deer, being un-
willing to be encumber'd with their whole Car-
casses. The rest we consign'd to the Wolves, which
in Return Serenaded us great part of the Night.
They are very Clamorous in their Banquets,
which we know is the way some other Brutes
now and then have of shweing their Joy, and
expressing their thanks to Providence.

We came to our old Camp in Sight of the Ri-
ver Irvine, whose Stream was now Swell'd near
four foot with the Rain, that fell the day be-
fore. This made it impracticable for us to ford
it, nor could we guess when the water woud
fall enough to let us go over.

This put our mathematical Professor who
Shou'd have set a better Example, into the
Vapours, fearing he shoud be obliged to take
up his Winter Quarters in that doleful
313. Wilderness. But the rest were not infected
with his want of Faith, but preserv'd a Firm-
ness of Mind Superiour to Such little adverse
Accidents. ———

—They trusted that the Same good Providence
which had most remarkably prosperd them
hitherto, woud continue its goodness, and
conduct them Safe to the End of their Journey.

However we found plainly that traveling
on the Sunday contrary to our constant Rule
had not thriven with us in the least. We
were not Gainers of any Distance by it,
because the River made us pay two Days
for Violating one.

Nevertheless by making this Reflection
I woud not be thought so rigid an Observer
of the Sabbath, as to allow of no Work at
all to be done, or Journeys to be taken upon
it. I shou'd not care to ly Still, and be
knockt on the head as the Jews were hearto-
fore ^by Antiocus, because I believ'd it unlaw-
ful to Stand upon my Defence on this good
Day; Nor wou'd I care, like a certain New
314. England Magistrate, to order a man to the whip-
ping-Post, for dareing to ride for a Midwife
on the Lords day.

On the Contrary I am for doing all Acts
of Necessity, Charity, and Self preservation
upon a Sunday. as well as other days of
the Week. But as I think our present March
cou'd not Strictly be Justify'd by any of those
Rules, it was but just we Shoud Suffer a
little for it.

I never cou'd learn that the Indians set a part
any day of the Week, or the year, for the Service
of God. They pray, as Philosophers eat, only
when they have a Stomach, without haveing any
set time for it. Indeed these ^{idle People}have very little oc-
casion for a Sabbath to refresh themselves af-
ter hard Labour, because very few of them ever
Labour at all. Like the wild Irish, they had rather
want than work, & are all Men of Pleasure, to
whome every day is a day of rest.

Indeed in their Hunting, they will take a
little Pains, but this being only a Diversion,
their Spirits are rather rais'd than depress'd by
it, and therefore need at most but a Nights
315. Sleep to recruit them.

4.

By some Stakes, we had driven into
the River yesterday, we perceiv'd the
Water began to fall, but fell so Slowly ^that we
found we must have patience a day or
two ^longer. And because we were unwilling to ly
altogether Idle, we sent back some of the
men to bring up the two Horses, that ti-
red the Saturday before. They were found
near the place where we had left them,
but seemd too Sensible of their liberty to
come to us. They were found standing indeed,
but as Motionless as the Equestrian Sta
tue at CharingCross.

We had great reason to apprehend more
Rain by the Clouds that drove over our
Heads. The boldest amongst us were not with-
out some Pangs of Uneasiness at so very
Sullen a Prospect. However ^God be prais'd ^it all
blew over.

If much Rain ^had fallen, we resolv'd to
make a Raft, and bind it together with
Grape-Vines, to Ferry ourselves and
316. Baggage. over the River.———

— Tho' in that Case we expected the Swift
ness of the Stream woud have carry'd down
our Raft a long ^way before we coud have tugg'd
it to the opposite Shoaor.

One of the young Fellows we had sent to
bring up the tired Horses, entertain'd us in
the Evening with a remarquable Adventure,
he had met with that Day.

He had Straggled it seems from his
Company in a mist, and made a Cubb
of a year old betake it self to a Tree.
While he was new-primeing his Piece with
intent to fetch it down, the old Gentlewo-
man appear'd, and perceiveing her Heir
apparent in Distress, advanced — open
Mouthed to his Relief.

The man was so intent upon his Game
that she had approacht very near him,
before he perceiv'd her, But finding
his danger, he faced about upon the Eni-
my, which immediately reard———
upon her Posteriors, to — put herself
in Battle Array.

317. The man admiring at the Bears assurance,
endeavour'd to fire upon Her, but by the
Dampness of the Primeing, His Gun did
not go off. He cockt ^it a Second time, and had
the Same Misfortune. After missing
Fire twice, he had the folly to punch
the Beast with the Muzzle of his Piece,
but Mother Bruin, being upon her Guard,
seized the Weapon with her Paws, and
by main Strength wrencht it out of the
Fellow's Hands.

The Man, being thus fairly disarm'd,
thought himself no longer a Match for
the Enemy, and therefore retreated as fast as
His Legs cou'd carry him.

The Brute naturally grew bolder upon the
flight of her Adversary, and pursued him
with all her heavy Speed. For some time
it was doubtfull whether fear made one
run faster, or Fury the other. But after
an even Course of about 50 yards, the man
had the Mishap to Stumble over a Stump,
and fell down at his full Length. He
now wou'd have Sold his Life a Penny-worth
318. but the Bear apprehending there might be Some
Trick in the Fall, instantly halted, and
lookt with much attention on her Postrate
Foe.

In the mean while the Man had with great
presence of Mind resolv'd to make the Bear
believe he was dead, by lying Breathless
on the Ground, in hopes that the Beast
woud be too generous to kill him over again.
To carry on the Farce, he acted the Corps
for some time, without dareing to raise his
head, to see how near the Monster was
to him. But in about two Minutes, to
his unspeakable Comfort, he was raisd
from the Dead, by the —_barking of a
Dog, belonging to one of his Companions,
which came Seasonably to his Rescue,
and drove the Bear from pursuing the Man
to ^take care of her Cubb, which She fear'd might
now fall into a Second Distress.

5.

We judg'd the Waters were asswaged enough
this Morning to make the River fordable.
Therefore about Ten we tryd the Experi-
ment, and every Body got over safe, except
319. one man, whose Horse Slipt from a Rock as
he forded over, and threw him into the River.
But being able to Swim, he was not car-
ry'd down the Stream very far, before he
recover'd the North Shoar.

At the Distance of about 6 Miles we
past Cascade Creek, and 3 Miles far-
ther we came upon the Banks of the Dan,
which we cro'st with much Difficulty, by
reason the Water was risen ^{much higher than} when we ford-
ed it before.

Here the Same unlucky Person happen'd
to be dnckt a Second time, and was a Se-
cond time Saved by swiming.———

—My own Horse ^too plunged in Such a
Manner, that his Head was ^more than once
under Water: but with much adoe re-
cover'd his Feet, tho' he made so low an
Obeisance, that the water ran fairly over
my Saddle.

We continued our March as far as
Low-Land-Creek ^{where we took up our Lodging} for the benifit of
the Canes, and Winter Grass, that grew
upon
320. the rich Grounds thereabouts. On our way
thither we had the Misfortune to drop
another Horse, tho' he carry'd nothing
the whole day but his Saddle. We
shew'd the Same favour to most of our
Horses, for fear, if we did not do it,
we shoud in a little time be turnd into
Beasts of Burthen our selves.

Custom had now made traveling on foot
so familiar, that we were able to walk
ten Miles with Pleasure. This we cou'd do
in our Boots, ^{notwithstanding} our way lay over rough
Woods, and uneaven Grounds.

Our learning to Walk in heavy Boots
as the same advantage to us, that learn-
ing to dance High Dances in Wooden Shoes
is to the French, it made us ^most exceedingly nim-
ble without them.

The Indians, who have no way of tra
velling but on the Hoof, make nothing of
going 25 Miles a day, and carrying their
little necessaries,^{at their backs} and Sometimes a ^stout Pack
of Skins into the Bargain and very often
321. they laugh at the English, who can't stir to
a next Neighbour without a Horse, and say
that 2 Legs are too many for Such lazy People.

For their Parts, they were utter Strangers
to all our Beasts of Burthen or Carriage,
before the sloathfull Europeans came amongst
them. They had on no part of the Ameri-
can Continent, or in any of the Islands,
either Horses or Asses, Camels, Dromeda-
rys, or Elephants to ease the Legs of the Ori-
ginal Inhabitants, or ^to lighten their Labour.

Indeed in South America, and par-
ticularly in Chili, they have a usefull
Animal call'd Paco. This Creature
resembles a Sheep pretty much, only
in the Length of the Neck, and [tear]
of the Head, it is more like a Cam[el]
It is very near as high as the Ass, and
the Indians ^there make use of it for car
rying moderate Burthens.

The Fleece, that grows upon it,
very Valuable for the fineness, length
and Glossiness of the Wool. It has
one remarkable Singularity that the
322. Hoofs of its Forefeet have three Clefts,
and those behind no more than One.
The Flesh of this Animal is Something
dryer than ^our Mutton, but altogether a[s]
well tasted.

When it is angry, it has no way
of resenting its wrongs, but by Spitting
in the Face of those that provoke it:
and if the Spawl happen to light on
the bare Skin of any Person, it first
creates an Itching, and afterwards a
scab, if no Remedy be apply'd. The way
to manage these Pacos, and make them
tractable, is, to bore a hole in their Ears,
thro' which they put a Rope, and guide
them just as they please.

In Chili, they weave a beautifull kind
of Stuff, with Thred made of this Creatures
[tear]ss Superior to
[tear]ry dear in that Coun-
[tear]

The Difficulty [missing remainder]