PERKINS LIBRARY Duke University Kare books e^ v- ■ / THREE YEARS TRAVELS THROUGH TH£ INTERIOR PARTS O F NORTH-AMERICA, FOR MORE THAN FIVE THOUSAND MILES; CONTAINING An Account of the great Lakes, and all the Lakes. Islands, and Rivers, Cataracts, Mountains, Minerals, Soil and Vegetable Productions of the North- West Regions of that vast Continent ; W I T H A DESCRIPTION of the BIRDS, BEASTS, REPTILES, INSECTS, and FISHES PECULIAR TO THE COUNTRY. ,; TOGETHER WITH A C0NCISE HISTORY of the GENIUS, MANNERS, and CUSTOMS OF THE INDIANS INHABITING THE LANDS THAT LIE ADJACENT TO THE HEADS AND TO THE WESTWARD \ OP THE GREAT RIVER MISSISSIPPI; v Q A N D A N APPENDIX, Describing the uncultivated parts of AMERICA that ARE THE MOST PROPER FOR FORMING SETTLEMENTS. By Captain JONATHAN CARVER, OF THE PROVINCIAL TROOPS IN AMERICA, PHILADELPHIA: Published by - KEY k SIMPSON ;— 1796, I ... LI 1 ■ .'41 ■ X B f sn /fa 4 JOSEPH B ANKS, Eqf. PRESIDENT O F T H E ROYAL SOCIETY. S I R, HEN the Public are in- formed that I have long had the Ho- nor of your Acquaintance — that my defign in publifhing the following Work has received your San£tion — that the Compofition of it has flood the Teft of your Judgment— and that it is by your Permiffion, a Name fo defer vedly eminent in the Literary- World is prefixed to it, I need not D I C A T I O N. be apprehenfive of its Succefs; as your Patronage will unqueftionably give them Affurance of its Merit. For this public Teftimony of your Favor, in which I pride myfelf, ac- cept, Sir, my moft grateful Acknow- ledgments ; and believe me to be : with great Refpe£t, Your obedient, humble Servant, J. CARVER. § A N ADDRESS T O T H E PUBLIC. J[ HE favorable reception this Work has met with* claims the Author's mofl grateful ac- knowledgments. A large edition having run off in a few months, and the fale appearing to be flill unabated, a new impreflion is become necefTary. On this occafion was he to conceal his feelings, and pafs over in filence, a diftinction fo beneficial and flattering, he would juftly incur the imputation of ingratitude. That he might not do this, he takes the opportunity, which now prefents itfelf, of con- veying to the Public (though in terms inadequate to the warm emotions of his heart) the fenfe he en- tertains of their favor; and thus tranfmits to them his thanks. In this new edition, care has been taken to rectify thofe errors which have unavoidably proceeded from the hurry of the prefs, and likewife any in- correclnefs in th^ language that has found its way into it. The credibility offomeof the incidents related in the following pages, and fome of the ftories intro- duced therein, having been queflioned, particularly ri ADDRESS. the prognoftication of the Indian prieft on the banks of Lake Superior, and the ftory of the Indian and his rattle fnake, the author thinks it neceffary to avail himfelf of the fame opportunity, to endeavour to eradicate any imprefTions that might have been made on the minds of his readers, by the apparent improbability of thefe relations. As to the former, he has related it juft as it hap- pened. Being an eye-witnefs to the whole trans- action (and, he flatcers himfelf, at the time, free from every trace of fceptical obftinacy or enthufiaftic credulity) he was confequently able to defcribe every circumftance minutely and impartially. This he has done ; but without endeavouring to account for the means by which it was accomplifhed. Whether the prediction was the refult of prior obfervations, from which certain confequences were expected to follow by the fagacious prieft, and the completion of it merely accidental ; or whether he was really endowed with fupernatural powers, the narrator left to the judgment of his readers; whofe conclufions, he fuppofes, varied according as the mental faculties of each were difpofed to admit or reject facts that cannot be accounted for by natural caufes. The ftory of the rattle fnake was related to him by a French gentleman of undoubted veracity; and were the readers of this work as thoroughly acquaint- ed with the fagacity, and inftinctive proceedings of that animal, as he is, they would be as well allured of the truth of it. It is well known that thofe fnakes which have iurvived through the fcurimer the acci- dents reptiles are liable to, periodically retire to the woods, at the approach of winter; where each (as curious pbfervers have remarked) take pofTeflion of the cavity it had occupied the preceding year. As Ebon as the feafon k propitious, enlivened by the ADDRESS. vii invigorating rays of the fun, they leave thefe re- treats, and make their way to the fame fpot, though ever fo diftant, on which they before had found fubfiftence, and the means of propagating their fpecies. Does it then require any extraordinary exertions of the mind to believe, that one of thefe regular creatures, after having been kindly treated by its mailer, mould return to the box, in which it had ufually been fupplied with food, and had met with a comfortable abode, and that nearly about the time the Indian, from former experiments, was able to guefs at. It certainly does not; nor will the li- beral and ingenious doubt the truth of aftory fo well authenticated, becaufe the circumftances appear ex- traordinary in a country where the fubjedt of it is fcarcely known. Thefe explanations the author hopes will fuffice to convince his readers, that he has not, as travel- lers are fometimes fuppofed to do, amufed them with improbable tales, or wifhed to acquire im- portance by making his adventures favor of the marvellous. SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES, Hall John Hamilton Charles, Wil- mington D. Hanlon Thomas Harbefon Jofeph Harkin Thomas Harrell James Harper Benjamin Harrifonjun. William Hardy T. Harvey Sampfon Harvey Alexander, New Caftle B. Hafiinger Chriftopher Hatrick Matthew- Hayes John Hawkins William Hazelton Peter Helm John Hemple Chriftian Heming Samuel Henderfon John Henderfon Robert Henry William Henry Andrew Herbert Jofeph rlera John Hefs Nioholas Hefs Adam He (ion Levi Heyl John Heyl Philip Hill John Hill Jacob Hochner John Hoffman Jacob Hoffman Daniel Hoffner Jacob Holmes William Holmes John Holmes William Holland Benjamin Homes James Hood john Hoops jun. Anthony- Hook John Horn Benjamin Horton Jeffe Hough Ifaac Houfe Peter Howell M. tVilmingUv D. Huber Henry Hudner John Hudfon William Huff John Huff Jacob Hughes John 8 U B S C R I B E R S' NAMES. Humphreys Aftieton Huron Laurence Kuiiey Maurice Hutchinion Charles fng Thomas Innes John m Inftant Alexander Hutton Thomas Hutts john Hutton Nathaniel Hvmer Adam I Irving David Ives John j Jackfbn John Jack-ion B. Richard James John, Wihnhigtcn D. James Edward James Robert, Trenton Jamefon John Janney Thomas' January William Janier John Jaquett P. John, h Caftle D. Jaquett jun. Peter, Chrij- tiana Bridge. John Iiaac johnfon Jacob Johnfon Jeremiah johnfon Richard johnfon David johnfon Jonathan Johnfon Jofeph Johnfon John Johniton David Johnflon William Johnfton William johnfton John Jones Gilbert Jones Samuel Jones John, Wilmington D. Jones John Jcnes Edward Jones Robert Jones Marshall SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES. Jones Amos, IVilnihigt^n Jones pn. Philip D. - Joy Abfalom Jones Jonathan ]<-,yce Th&ififtS Kane John Kay Jcfeph Kean John Keen John Keffer John Keller George Kelley Thomas Kelley Hugh Kelfey C. John Kellar George Kendall James, V/ihihg- ton D. Kennedy John Kerlin George, Wilrring- icn D. Key Michael, Wih.tirg- ten D. Keys AJ|^h;:n. Kid Robert lumber JerTe Kinfton J. Thomas Kiffclman S. Frederick Klein Abraham Knerr Henry Knight Thomas Knight William Kollock John Kuhl junr. Frederick La Combe John Dr. Lakey Marmaduke Lake Richard I Laing Benjamin, Wil- mington D. Lamat John .Lancafter, Thomas Lancafter Joim Landers John, JVihnir.g- ton D. Laning Jame.s Larer Melchior Lamer Jacob Lauck John 12, S U B S C R I B E R S' NAMES. Lawrance Thomas Lehman Samuel Lee Benjamin Leedom Benjamin Le Breton, Dr. Lees Mary Leib George Lentz jun. Henry Lefh Peter Leflie Guftavus Lewis A, John Lewis S. Jofeph Lewis jun. Robert Levy Aaron Lingwood H. L. Lin ten Jacob Lodor John Loir B. John Longihore Jolly Lotee Jofeph Lorrainjun. John Lownes James Lourg Peter Lowry Philip Loudon John Ludwig Chriftopher Luke John, JVihningtwn D. Lufhal John Lyons Eneas Lyndall Benjamin Lytfc Thomas M Macferran Samuel Madan Patrick, Magens Tho : Ghrifliana Ferry, Maddock Jeile Malin John Malvy Charles Mann William Manning William Marfhall Abraham Martin John Marqnedant Charier MarfhaJ Robert Mafon William Matter William Maybeny John Mayers Philip M< Allefter Mary M' Aipin James M f Arthur Daniel M f Calla Andrew M c Caila David M f Clain Thomas M ( Cleay Charlc r SUBSCRIBER S' NAMES. 13 M c Clentick William M c Clenaghan Michael M f Colm John M c Crea Archibald M c Cutchon James M c Cutchon Samuel M f DonnellLan. M'Donnald Malcolm M c Dowell Hugh M'Feely Edward M c Grath James 'M c Ilham Peter M c Intirejohn M* II wham Thomas M c Kay James M c Karaker Daniel M c Kenzie John M c Keever John M ( Keever Neal M< Kinley Alexander M'Kiflick John M f Lachlan Donald M f Leod Malcom M ( Mahon William M f Neal John M« Neil John M c Nuky John M< Phail William Meade John Mearns James Mee Samuel MehafTy Robert MefTcnger Simon Meyers Henry Miller Jacob Miller John Miller Martin Miller Jofeph Miller Robert Miller William Miles Thomas Miles jun. Samuel Miles Samuel Milner L. Mitchell Thomas Moloy M. Chkkeley Moliry Adolphus Mooney William Moore William Moore Eli ill a Moore John Moore Alexander Moore Charles Morrelljohn Morris John Morrifon George Morrifcn John Morgan Enoch Mofer Lowis Charles Muner Philip Murray A. u SUBSCRIBERS 1 NAMES. Murray John, Ckriftiana Murphy John- Ferry, 4 cc-pies. Murfin Wiliiam Murphy Henry Murphy Michael Murphy Daniel Nagle Maurice Naglee David Napier Alexander Napier John Napier Thomas Naylor Benjamin Neilen Andrew Nicholas John Oat Jefle O'Brien Alexander O'Brien Peter O'Callaughan Maurice O'Conntr Myles Ogden John Ogden Hugh Mufchert John Mufgrave Aaroa Myers Laurence Myers Jacob Mynich Jacob N Nixon Henry Nomy Andrew Norris James North John North Richard Norton Jonathan Norton George Novviin Matthew O O'Donnell James Oliver James O'Niel Patrick Orr Hugh Ofter Jeremiah Otley Abner, Wilmington D. Palmer Richard Pafcalis Dr. Patterfon Robert Paterfon John SUBSCRIBER 5' NAMES. l S Patterfon William Paul David Peart Thomas Peacock Ralph Peden Hugh Peddle George Peck John. Peck William Pennock George Penlove Thomas Penrofe Charles Pentland james Pepper William •Perine John Perkinpine David . PeterfonLylof, Wilming- ton D. ; Pfeiffer Jofeph Phillips William, Wil- mington D. Phillips Daniel Phillips Naphtali Phillips John Phillips Thomas Pierce John Pierce Robert PifTant John Pitt jun. John. Piatt William Plin Jacob Plum George Polock Ifaac Potts M. George Powell Ifaac Powell William Preftcn Thomas, Wil- mington D. Price William Pried Ifaac Prichett R. William Pritchet j. PritchardD. James Proved Roderick Punton Thomas Purfil Jofeph 0. 'uin James i6 SUBSCRIBERS 1 NAMES. =2 R Rabfon George Radley William Ramfay Alexander Rain John, 3 copies Randies James Ramagc John Rarick Godfrey Rawlings Thomas, WiU Read George, Nov Cafile, D. Read Charles Rehn George Rehn John Rees Vvilliam Rees David Rcgnaud A. Reid William Reilly James Reilly John Reeve Elifha Relf William Relfe Richard Rennie George Sxynail S. Richard Rhoads Charles Rhoads Philip Rhoncs John Richards William Richards JefTe, Wtlming* torty A Richardfon Ifaac Richards Samuel Ricketts John Ricketts James Ridgway David Paevier John Rino: David Rink John Riling Francis Robins John Roberts George Robbins William Robertfon Alexander Robertfon Charles Robertfon William Robefon James Robinfon Parker Robinfon Richard Robinfon James, 2 co* pies. Robinfon William Robinfon Henry Robinett Richard Rogers Thomas Rogers William Rogers Maurice Rogers Robert Rogers Eli Rolet Francois Rofs David Rofs Robert CONTENTS. xvii BIRDS. The Eagle. The Night Hawk. The Whip- perwill, - 309 The Fifh Hawk. The Owl. The Crane, 311 Ducks. The Teal. The Loon. The Partridge, 312 The Wood Pigeon. The Woodpecker. The Blue Jay. The Wakon Bird, - 313 The Black Bird. The Red Bird. TheWhctfaw, 315 The King Bird. The Humming Bird, - ib. FISHES, The Sturgeon, - - - 316 The Cat Fifh. The Carp. The Chub, 317 SERPENTS, The Rattle Snake, - - 318 The Long Black Snake. The Striped or Gar- ter Snake. - - - 321 The Water Snake. The Hiffing Snake. The Green Snake, - - - 322 The Thorn-tail Snake. The Speckled Snake. The Ring Snake. The two-headed Snake. The Tortoife or Land Turtle, - 323 LIZARDS. The Swift Lizard. The Slow Lizard. The Tree Toad, - - - 324 c xviii CONTENT S. INSECTS. The Silk Worm. The Tobacco Worm. The Bee. The Lightning Bug or Fire Fly, 325 The Water Bug. The Horned Bug. Locuft, 327 CHAPTER XIX. Of the Trees, Shrubs, Roots, Herbs, Flow- ers, &c. - 328 TREES. The Oak, - ib. The Pine Tree, The Maple. The Am, 329 The Hemlock Tree. The Bafs or White Wood. The Wickopick or Suckwick. The Button Wood, - - - 331 NUT TREES. The Butter or Oil Nut. The Beech Nut, 332 Ths Pecan Nut. The Hickory, - 233 FRUIT TREES. The Vine - 334 The Mulberry Tree. The Crab Apple Tree. The Plum Tree. The Cherry Tree. The Sweet Gum Tree, - - ib. CONTENTS. x\x SHRUBS. The Willow. Shin Wood. The Saflafras, 336 The Prickly Afh. The Moofe Wood. The Spood Wood. The Elder, - 337 The Shrub Oak. The Witch Hazel. The Myr- tle Wax Tree. Winter Green, 338 The Fever Bum. The Cranberry Bum. The Choak Berry, - - 239 ROOTS and PLANTS. Spikenard. Sarfaparilla. Ginfang, - 340 Gold Thread. Solomon's Seal. Devil's Bit. Blood Root, - - 341 HERBS. Sanicle. Rattle Snake Plantain, - 343 Poor Robin's Plantain. Toad Plantain. Rock Liverwort. Gargit or Skoke. Skunk Cab- bage or Poke. Wake Robin, - 344 Wild Indigo. Cat Mint, - - 345 FLOWERS, - 346 FARINACEOUS and LEGUMINOUS ROOTS, &c. Maize or Indian Corn. Wild Rice, - ib. Beans. The Squafh, -. - 349 xx CONTENTS. APPENDIX. The Probability of the interior parts of North- America becoming Commercial Colonies, 351 The Means by which this might be effected, 352 Tracts of land pointed out, on which Colonies may be eftablifhed with the greateft Ad- vantage, - - - 354 Difiertation on the Difcovery of the North-weft Paffage, - -^ 358 The molt certain way of attaining it, ib. Plan propofed by Richard White worth, Efq. for making an Attempt from a Quarter hi- therto unexplored, - 352 The Reafon of its being poftponed, - 360 INTRODUCTION. Xn! O fooner was the late war, with France concluded, and peace eflablifhed by the treaty of Verfailles in the year 1763, than I began to coniicier (having rendered my country ibme fervices during the war) how I might continue ftiil ferviceable, and contribute, as much as lay in my power, to make that van: acquifition of territory, gained by Great- Britain in North- America, advantageous to it. It appeared to me indifpeniably needful, that govern- ment mould be acquainted, in the firft place, with the true ftate of the dominions they were now be- come porTerled of. To this purpoie, I determined, as the next proof of my zeal, to explore the moft unknown parts of them, and to fpare no trouble or expence in acquiring a knowledge that promifed to be fo ufeful to my countrymen. I knew that many obitruclions would arife to my fchemcr from the want of good maps and charts ■, for the French, whilfl they retained their power in North- America, had taken every artful method to ke^p all other nations, particularly tat Engiifh, in ignorance of the con- cerns of the interior parts of it: and to accompitin, this defign with the greater certainty, they hadpub- lifhed inaccurate maps and taiie accounts; calling the different nations of the Indians by nicknames they had given them, an I not by "hole really apper- taining to them. Whether the intention of the French in doing this, was to prevent thefe nations from being difcovered and traded with, or to con- A ii I >; T R O D U G T I O N. eeal their difcourfe, when they talked to each other of the Indian concerns, in their prefence, I will not determine ± but whatibevcr was the caufe from which it arcfe, it tended to miilcad. As a proof that the Engiifh had been greatly de- ceived by thefe accounts, and that their knowledge relative to Canada had ufually been very confirm ed , — before the conqueft of Crown-Point in 1759, it had been efteemed an impregnable fortrefs; but no fooner was it taken, than we were convinced that it had acquired its greateft fecurity from falfe re- ports, given out by its porTefTors, and might have been battered down with a few four pounders. Even its fituation, which was reprefented to be fo very advantageous, was found to owe its advantages to the fame fource. It cannot be denied but that fome maps of theft countries have been publifhed by the French with an appearance of accuracy; but thefe are of fo fmall a fize, and drawn on fo minute a fcale, that they are nearly inexplicable. The fources of the MimfHppi, I can afiert from my own experi- ence, are greatly mifplaced; fcrwhen I had explored them, ancl compared their fituation with the French charts, I found them very erroneouily reprefented, and am fatisfied that thefe were only copied from the rude iketches of the Indians. Even fo lately as their evacuation of Canada, they continued their fchemes to deceive] leaving no tra- ces by which any knowledge might accrue to their conquerors; for though they were well acquainted with all the lakes, particularly with lake Superior, having conftantly a veiiel' of confiderable burthen therem, yet their plains of them are very incorrect. I difecvered many errors in the cifcriptions given therein oi its iftands and bays, during a progrefs of eleven hundred miles that I coafted it in canoes. INTRODUCTION. iii They likewife, on giving up the poffeffions of them, took care to leave the places they had occupied, in the fame uncultivated Hate they hadfoind them; at the lame time deftroying all their naval force. I obierved myfelf part of the hulk of a very large vef- felj burnt to the water's edge, juft at the opening from the Straits of St. Marie into the Lake. Thefe difficulties, however, were notfufficient to deter me from the undertaking, and I made prepa- rations for fettingout. What I chiefly had in view, after gaining' a knowledge of the manners, cultoms, languages, foil, and natural productions of the dif- ferent nations that inhabit the back of the Miffiiiippi, was to afcertain the breadth of that vaft continent, which extends from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, in its broadeft part between 43 and 46 de- grees northern latitude. Had I been able to accom- piifn this, I intended to have propofed to govern- ment to eftablim a poft in fome of thofe parts about the Straits of Annian, which, having been firfl dis- covered by Sir Francis Drake, of courfe belong to the Englifh. This I am convinced would greatly facilitate the difcovery of a northweft pafTage, or a communication between Hudfon's Bay and the Pa- cific Ocean. An event fodefirable, and which has been fo often fought for, but without fuccefs. Be- fides this important end, a fettlement on that extre- mity of America would anfwer many good pur- pt>fes, and repay every expence the eftabliihment of it might occafion. For it would not only difclofe j new fources of "trade, and promote many ufeful i difcoveries, but would open apaiTage for conveying 1 intelligence to China, and the Englifh fettlements in the Eaft Indies, with greater expedition than a tedious voyage by the Cape of Good Hope, or tfte Straits of Magellan will allow of, \v INTRODUCTION. How far the advantages arifing from fuch an en- terprize may extend, can only be ascertained by the favorable concurrence of future events. But that the completion of the fcheme, I have had the honor of firlt planning and attempting, Will (bine time or other be effected, I make no doubt. From the unhappy divifions that at pre lent fubfift between Great-Britain and America, it will prooa'jJy be fpmc years before the attempt is repeated; but whenever it ii, and the execution of it earned on with pro- priety, thole who are fo fortunate a^ to faceted, will reap, exclufive of the national advantages that muft enfue, emoluments beyond their moft fanguinc ex- pectations. And whilit their fpirits are elated by their fuccefs, perhaps they may bellow fome com- mendations and bieflings on the perfon who firft pointed out to them the way. Thefe, though but a fhadowy recompence for all my toil, I fhall receive with pleaiure. To what power or authority this new world will become dependant, after it has arifen from its pre- lent uncultivated (late, time alone can difcover. But as the feat of empire from time immemorial has been gradually progreluve towards the weft, there is no doubt but that at fome future period, mighty kingdoms will emerge from thefc wilder- neiTes, and (lately palaces and folemn temples, with gilded fpires reaching the ikies, fupplant the Indian huts, whofe only decorations are the barbarous tro- phies of their vanquifhed enemies. As fome of the preceding pafTages have already informed the reader that the plan I had laid down for penetrating to the Pacific Ocean, proved abortive, it is neceflary to add, that this proceeded not from us impracticability (for the further I went the more convinced I was that it could certainlv be acccrn- INTRODUCTION. v plifhecT) but from unfore ..pointments. Hr , ever, I proceeded fc f; hat I was able to make fuch ics a; will he uieful in any future at- .. and prove a 2 ::ion for fome more fuccelfcr to buSd upon. Thefe I (hajl n©\ lay before the public in the following pages j fatisned chat tne greateft part cf them have i been publifned by any peffon that has hi- o treated of the interior nations of the Indians; Culafly^ the account I give of the Naudoweflies, and the (ituation of the heads of the four great rivers that cake their rife within a few leagues of each other, nearly about the centre of this great conti- nent; viz. The river Bourbon,- which empties itfelf intpHudfori's Bay; the waters of Saint Lawrence; the MiiTiflippi, c.nd the River Oregan, or the River of the weft, thai falls into the Pacific Ocean, at the Straits of Annian. The impediments that occafioned my return, be- fore I had accomplished my purpofes, were thefe. On my arrival at Michillimackinac, the remoter! Engiifh poft, in September 1766, I applied to Mr. Rogers, who was then governor of it, to furnifh. me with a proper afiortment of goods, as prefents for the Indians who inhabit the track I intended to purfuc. He did this only in part; but promifed to fupply me with fuch as were neceflary, when I reached the Falls of Saint Anthony. I afterwards learned that the governor fulfilled his promife in or ering the goods to be delivered to me; but thofe to whole care he intruded them, inftead of conform- ing to his orders, difpofed of them dfewhere, Difappointed in my expectations from this quar- ter, I thought it neceflary to return to La Prairie I Le Chien; for it was invpoiTible to proceed any fur- ther without prefents to enfure me a favorable re- vi INTRODUCTION. ception. This I did in the beginning of the year 1767, and (hiding my progrefs to the weftward thus retarded, I determined to direct my courfe north- ward. I took this ftep with a view of rinding a c • munication from the heads of the Mimmppi, :..: ) Lake Superior, in order to meet, at the grand Portage on the north weft fide of that lake, the traders that ui^ally come, about this feafon, from hillirnackiixae* Of thd^ I intended to purchafe g .is, and then to purine my journey from that quarter, by way of the lakes du Pluye, Dubois, and Ounipique to the heads of the river of the weft, which, as I have faid before, falls into the Straits of Annian, the termination of my intended progrefs. I accomplifhed the former part of my dcfign, and reached Lake Superior in proper time; but unluc- kily the traders I met there, acquainted me that they had no goods to fpare ; thofe they had with ti,em being barely fufficient to anfwer their own demands in thefe remote parts. Thus disappointed a fee >nd time, I found myielf obliged to return to the place from whence I began my expedition, which I did B let continuing fome months on the north and eaft ers of Lake Superior, and exploring the bays and rivers that empty themielves into this large body of water. As it may be expecled that I mould lay before the public the reafons that thefe clifcoveries, of fo" rs>\:ch importance to every one who has any con- nections with. America, have not been imparted to them before, notwithstanding they were made up- wards often years ago, I will give them to the world in a plain and candid manner, and without mingling with them any complaints op account of the ill treat- ment I have received. INTRODUCTION. vii • 'On my arrival in England., I prefented a petition to his majfcfty in council, praying for a reimburse- mcnc - iiims I had expended in the fervice of government. This was referred to the lords ccm- miiEoners of trade and plantations. T heir lord (Lips from the tenor of it thought the intelligence I could give, of fo much importance to the nation, that they ordered me to appear before the board. This meifage I obeyed, and underwent a long examina- tion; much I believe to the fatisfaclion of every lord prefent. When it was finiihed, I requefted to know what I mould do with my papers -, without hefitation the firft lord replied, That I might pub- lifh them whenever I pleafed. In cenfequence of this permifTion, I difpofed of them to a bookfeller: but when they were nearly ready for the prefs, an order was idued from the council board, requiring me to deliver, without delay, into the plantation office, all my charts and journals, with every paper relative to the ciifcoveries I had made. In order to obey this command, I was obliged to re-purchafc them from the bookfeller at a very great expence, and deliver them up. This frem difb.urfement I endeavoured to get annexed to the account I had al- ready delivered in; but the requeft was denied me, notwithstanding ] had only acied, in the cfifpofal of my papers, conformably to the permiflion I had received from the board of trade. This lofs, which amounted to a very confidcrable fum, I was obliged to bear, and to red fatisfi'cd with an indemnification for my other expenses. Thus fituated, my only expectations are from the favor of a generous public; to whom I fhall now communicate my plans, journals, and obfervations, of which I luckily kept copies, when I delivered the originals into the plantation office. And this I do the more readily, as I hear they are miflaid; and ■ viii INTRODUCTION. there is no probability of their ever being publifhed, Tp thofc who are interefted in the concern.-, of the interior parti of North-America, from the conti* guity of their pollcH'ons, or commercial engage- ments, they will be extremely ufeful, and folly re- pay the fum at which they are purchalcci. To thofe, who, from a laudabk curiofity, wifh to be acquaint- ed with the manners and cuftoms or' every inhabitant of this globe* the accounts nere given of the various nations that inhabit fo vair a tract of it, a country hitherto alnioft unexplored, will furnifb an ample fund of amufement, and gratify their mod curious expectations. And I Matter myfelf they will be as favorably received by the public, as defcriptions of illancis, which afford no other entertainment than what arifes from their novelty ; and difecveries, that fcem to promife very few advantages to this country, though acquired at an immenfe expence. To make the following work as comprehenfible and entertaining as poluble, I fhall fir ft give my readers an account of the route I purfued over this immenfe continent, and as I pals on, defcribe the number of inhabitants, the fituation of the rivers and lakes, and the productions of the country. Having done this, I fhall 'reat, in diftinct chapters, of the manners, cuftoms, and languages of the In- dians, and to complete the whole, add a vocabulary of the words moftiy in ufe among them. And here it is neceflary to befpeak the candor of the learned part of my readers in the perufal of it, as it is the production of a perfen uhufed, from cp- pofite avocations, to literary purfuits. lie therefore begs they wculd not examine it with too critical an eye 5 cfpecially when he allures them that'his atten- tion has been more employed on giviDg a juft *,1ef- cription of a Cotuntry thai promifes, in ibme future INTRODUCTION. ix period, to be an inexhauftible fource of riches to that people who fhall be fo fortunate as to poiTefs it, than on the ftyle or compofition; and more careful to render his language intelligible and explicit, than fmooth and florid. B A JOURNAL •OF THE T -WITH A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY, LAKES, &c. .N June 1766, I fet out from Bofton, and proceeded by way of Albany and Niagara, to Mi- chillimackinac; a fort fituat'ed between the Lakes Huron and Michigan, and diftant from Bofton 1300 miles. This being the uttermoft of our factories towards the north- weft, I confidered it as the moll convenient place from whence I could begin my in- tended progrefs, and enter at once into the regions I •defigned to explore. Referring my readers to the publications already extant for an account of thofe parts of North- Ame- rica, that, from lying adjacent to the back Settle- ments, have been frequently defcribed, I fhall con- £ne myfelf to a defcriptionof the more interior parts 12 CARVER'S TRAVELS. of it, which, having been but feldorri vifited, are confequently but littie known. In doing this, I mall in no initance exceed the bounds of truth, or have rccourfe to thofe ufelefs and extravagant exaggera- tions too often made ufe of by travellers, to excite the curioiity of the public, or to increafe their own importance. Nor ihail I infert any obfervations, but fuch as I have made myieif, or from the credi- bility of thofe by whom they were related, am ena- bled to vouch for their authenticity. Michillimackinac, from whence I began my tra- vels, is a fort compoied of a ftrong ftockacle, and is ufually defended by a garrifon of one hundred men. It contains about thirty houfes, one of which belongs to the governor, and another to the com- mifTary. Several traders alfo dwell within its for- tifications, v.T.o find it a convenient lituation to traffic with the neighbouring nations. Michillimac- kinac, in the language of the Chipeway Indians, fignifies a Tortoife j and the place is fuppofed to receive its name from an ifland, lying about fix or feven miles to north-earl, within light of the fore, which has the appearance of that animal. During the Indian war that followed foon after theconqueff of Canada in the year 1763, and which was carried on by an army of confederate nations, compofed of the Hurons, Miamies, Chipeways, Ottowav/s, Pontowattimies, MirTifTauges, and fome other tribes, under the direction of Ponriac, a ce- lebrated Indian warrior, who had always been in the French intereft, it was taken by furprizc in the following manner: The Indians having fettled their plan, drew near the fort, and began a game at ball, a pafcime much ufed among them, and not unlike tennis. In the height of their game, at which fome of the Englifh officers, not fufpecling CARVER'S TRAVELS. 13 any deceit, flood looking on, they (truck the bail, as if by accident, over the ftockadej this they re- peated two or three time, to make the deception more complete; till at length, having by this means lulled every fufpicion of the centry at the fouth gate, a party rufhed by him ; and the reft foon following, they took poiTeiTion of the fort, without meeting With any cppofition. Having accomplifhed their defign, the Indians had the humanity to fpare the lives of the greater!; part of the garrifon and traders, but they made them all prifoners, and carried them off. Mqwever, fome time after they took them to Montreal, where they were redeemed at a good price. The fort alfo was given up again to the En- glifh at the peace made with Pontiac, by the com- mander of Detroit the year following. Having here made the neceifary difpofitions for purluing my travels, and obtained a credit from Mr. Rogers, the governor, on fome Englifh and Canadian traders, who v/ere going to trade on the MifmTippi, and received alfo from him a promife of a frelh fupply of goods when I reached the falls of Saint Anthony. I left the fort on the 3d of Sep- tember, in company with thefe traders. In was agreed that they mould furnifh me with fuch goods as I might want, for prefents to the Indian chiefs, during my continuance with them, agreeable to the governor's order. But when I arrived at the extent of their route, I was to find other guides, and to de- pend on the goods the governor had promifed to fupply me with. We accordingly fet out together, and on the 1 8th arrived at Fort La Bay. This fort is fituated on the fouthern extremity of a bay in Lake Michigan, termed by the French, the bay of Puants j but which fince the Englifh have gained pofTeiTicn of all i 4 CAKVER's TRAVELS. the fettlements on this part of the continent, is called by them, the Green Bay. The reafon of its being thus denominated, is from its appearance -, for on leaving Michillimackinac in the fpring feafon, though the trees there have not even put forth their buds, yet you find the country around La Bay, not- withstanding the pafTage has not exceeded fourteen days, covered with the fined verdure, and vegeta- tion as forward as it could be were it fummer. This fort is aifo only furrounded by a ftockade, and being much decayed, is fcarcely defenfible againft imall arms. It was built by the French for the •protection of their trade, fome time before they were forced to relinquifh it ; and when Canada and its de- pendencies were furrendered to the Englifh, it was immediately garrifoned with an officer and thirty men. Thefe were made prifoners by the Menomo- nies foon after the furprife of Michillimackinac, and the fort has neither been garrifoned nor kept in repair iince. The bay is about ninety miles long, but differs much in its breadth ; being in fome places only fif- teen miles, in others from twenty to thirty. It lies nearly from north-eaft to fouth weft. At the en- trance of it from the lake are a firing of iflandsj extending from north to fouth, called the Grand Traverfe. Thefe are about thirty miles in length, and ferve to facilitate the pafTage of canoes, as they inciter them from the winds, which fometimes come with violence acrofs the Lake. On the fide that lies to the fouth-eaft is the ncareft and beft na- vigation. The i Hands of the Grand Traverfe are moftly fmall and rocky. Many of the rocks are of an amazing fize, and appear as if they had been falhi- TRAVELS. 15 erred by the hands of artifts. On the largeft and belt of thefe iflands ftands a town of the Ottawaws, at which I found one of the moft confiderable chiefs of that nation, who received me with every honour he could pofTibly mow to a ftranger. But what appeared extremely lingular to me at the time, and muft do fo to every perfon unacquainted with the cuftoms of the Indians, was the reception I met wich on landing. As our canoes approached the fhore, and had reached within about threelcore rods of it, the Indians began a feu-de-joy ; in which they fired their pieces loaded with balls 5 but at the fame time they took care to difcharge them in fuch a manner as to fly a few yards above our heads : during this they ran from one tree or Hump to another, fhouting and behaving as if they were in the heat of battie. At firft I was greatly furprifed, and was on the point of ordering my attendants to return their fire, concluding that their intentions were hofiile j but being undeceived by fome of the traders, who informed me that this was their ufual method of re- ceiving the chiefs of other nations, I confidered it in its true light, and was pleafed with the refpeft thus paid me. I remained here one night. Among the prefents I made the chiefs, were fome fpirituous liquors ; with which they made themfelves merry, and all joined in a dance, that lafled the greater!: part of the night. In the morning when I departed, the chief attended me to the fhore, and, as foon as I had embarked, offered up, in an audible voice, and with great fo- lemnity, a fervent prayer in my behalf. He prayed and is fituated be- tween forty-two and forty-fix degrees of latitude, and between eighty- four and eighty-feven degrees of weft longitude. Its greateft length is two hun- dred and eighty miles, its breadth about forty, and its circumference nearly fix hundred. There is a, remarkable firing of fmall iilands, beginning over againft Aikin's farm, and running about thirty miles fouth-weft into the Lake. Thefe are called the Beaver Iilands. Their fituation is very pleafant^ but the foil is bare. However they afford a beauti- ful profpe<5t. On the north-weft parts of this lake the waters branch out into two bays. That which lies towards the north is the Bay of Noquets, and the other the Green Bay juft defcribed. The waters of this as well as the other great lakes are clear and wholefome, and of furRcient depth for the navigation of large mips. Half the fpace of the country that lies to the eaft, and ex- tends to Lake Huron, belongs to the Ottowaw In- dians. The line that divides their territories from the Chipeways, runs nearly north and fouth, and reaches almoft from the fouthern extremicy of this lake, acrofs the high lands, to Michillimackinac,. through the centre of which it panes. So that when CARVER'S TRAVELS. 15, ihefe two tribes happen to meet at the factory, they -each encamp on their own dominions, at a few yards diftance from the i'tockade. The country adjacent either to the caft or weft fide of this lake, is compofed bur. of an indifferent ■foil, except where fmall brooks or rivers empty thctnfelves into it; on the banks of thefe it is ex- tremely fertile. Near trie borders of the lake grow a great number of land cherries* which are not lefs remarkable for their manner of growth, than for their exquilite flavor. They grow upon a fmail ftirub, not more than four feet high, the boughs of which are fo loaded that they lie in clutters on the fand. As they grow only on the fand, the warmth of which probably contributes to bring t'r.c.n to fuch perfection; they are called by the French, cherries de fable, or fand cherries. The fize of them does not exceed that of a fmall muiket ball, but, they are reckoned fuperior to any other fort for the purpofe of fbeeping in fpirits. There alfo grow around the lake, goofeberries, black cur- rants, and an abundance of juniper, bearing great quantities of berries of the ftneft fort. Sumack likewife grows here in great plenty, the leaf of which, gathered at Michaelmas, when it turns red, is much eiteemed by the natives. They mix about an equal quantity of it with their tobac- co, which caufes it to fmoke pleaiantly. Near this lake, and indeed about ali the great lakes 5 is found a kind of willow, termed by the French, bcis rouge, in Engliih, red wood. Its bark, when only of one years growth, is of aline fcarlet colour, and appears very beautiful; but as ic grows older, it changes into a mixture of grey and red. The ilaiiLs of this fhrub grow many of mem together^ and rife to the height of fix or eight feet, the large fc ndz exceeding 20 CARVER'S TRAVELS. an inch diameter. The bark being fcraped from the flicks, and dried and powdered, is alio mixed by the Indians with their tobacco, and is held by them in the higheft eftimation for their winter fmok- ing. A weed that grows near the great lakes, in rocky places, they ule in the fummer feafon. It is called by the Indians, Segockimac, and creeps like a vine on the ground, fometimes extending to eight or ten feet, and bearing a leaf about the fize of a filver penny, nearly round; it is of the fub- ftance and colour of the laurel, and is, like the tree it refembles, an evergreen. Thefe leaves, dried and powdered, they likewife mix witfi their to- bacco ; and as faid before, fmoke it only during the fummer. By thefe three fuccedaneums, the pipes of the Indians are well fupplied through every fea- fon of the year; and as they are great fnokers, they are very careful in properly gather . pre- paring them. On the 20th of September I left the Green Bay, and proceeded up Fox River, flill in company with the traders and fome Indians. On the 25th I arrived at the great town of the Winnebagoes, fituated on a fmali ifland, juft as you enter the eaft end of Lake Winnebago. Here the queen who prefided over this tribe initead of a Sachem, received me with great civility, and entertained me in a very diftinguiihed manner, during the four days I conti- nued with her. The day after my arrival I held a council with the chiefs, of whom I alked permiiiion to pais through their country, in my way to more remote nations, on bufinefs of importance. This was rea- dily granted me, the requeft being eiteemed by them as a great compliment paid to their tribe. The queen fat in the council, but only afked a few CARVER'S TRAVELS. zi queftions, or gave fome trifling directions in matters relative to the ftate; for women are never allowed to fit in their councils, except they happen to be inverted with the fupreme authority, and then it is not cuitomary for them to make any formal fpeeches as the chiefs do. She was a very ancient woman, final] in ftature, and not much diflinguiih- ed by her drefs from feveral young women that at- tended her. Thefe her attendants feemed greatly pleafed whenever I mowed any tokens of refpecl to their queen, par v when! faluced her, which I frequently did to acquire her favour. On thefe Occasions the good oiu lady endeavoured to afTume a juvenile gaiety, and by her fmiles mowed fhe was equally pieafedwith the attention I paid her. The time I tarried here, I employed in making the beft obfervations poiTible on the country, and in collecting the moft certain intelligence I could, of che origin, language, and cuitoms of this people. From thefe enquiries I have reafon to conclude, that the Winnebagoes originally refided in fome of the provinces belonging to New Mexico, and being driven from their native country, either by interline divifions, or by the extenfions of the Spanifh con- queiis, they took refuge in thefe more northern parts about a century ago. My reafons for adopting this fuppofition, are, Firft, from their unalienable attachment to the N?udoweflie Indians (who, they fay, gave them the earlieft fuccors during their emigration) notwith- ftanding their prefent refidence is more than fix hundred miles aiftant from that people. Secondly, that their dialed totally differs from every other Indian nation yet difcovered; it being a very uncouth, guttural jargon, which none of their neighbours will attempt to learn. They con- 22 CARVER'S TRAVELS. verie with other nations in the Chipeway tongue, which is the prevailing language throughout all the tribes, from the Mohawks of Canada, to thofe who inhabit the borders of the MiffnTippi, and from the Hurons and Illinois to fuch as dwell near Hud- fon's Bay. Thirdly, from their inveterate hatred to the Spa- niards. Some of them informed me that they had many excurfions to the fouth-weft, which took up feveral moons. An elderly chief mere particularly acquainted me, that about forty- fix winters ago, he marched at the head of fifty warriors, towards the fou f h- weft, for three moons. That during this expedition, whilft they were crofting a plain, they discovered a body of men on horfeback, who be- longed to the Biack People ; for fo they call the Spaniards. As foon as they perceived them, they proceeded with caution, and concealed themfelves till night came on; when they drew fo near as to be be able to difcern the number and fituation of their enemies. Finding they were not able to cope with ib great a fuperiority by day-light, they waited till they had retired to reft; when they rufhed upon them, and, after having killed the greateft part of the men, took eighty horfes loaded with what they termed white ftone. This I fuppofe to have been filver, as he told me the horfes were fhod with it, and that their bridles were ornamented with the fame. When they had fatiated their revenge, ihcy carried off their fpoil, and being got i^o far as to be out of the reach of the Spaniards that had efcaped their fury, they left the ufelefs and ponderous bur- then, with which the horfes were loaded, in tne woods, and mounting- themfelves, in this manner returned to their friends. The party they had thus defeated, I conclude to be the cuiavanth.it annually conveys to Mexico, the filver which the Spaniards CARVER'S TRAVELS. 25 find in great quantities on the mountains lying near the heads of the Coleredo River : and the plains where the attack was made, probably, fome they were obliged to pafs over in their way to the heads of the River St. Fee, or Rio del Nord, which falls into the Gulf of Mexico, to the weft of the Mifiiffippi. The Winnebagoes can raife about two hundred warriors. Their town contains about fifty houfes, which are ftrongly built with pallifades, and the ifland on which it is fituated, nearly fifty acres. It lies thirty-five miles, reckoning according to the courfe of the river, from the Green Bay. The river, for about four or five miles from the bay, has a gentle current -, after that fpace, till you arrive at the Winnebago Lake, it is full of rocks and very rapid. At many places we were ob- liged to land our canoes, and carry them a con- fiderable way. Its breadth, in general, from the Green Bay to the Winnebago Lake, is between feventy and a hundred yards ; the land on its bor- ders very good, and thinly wooded with hickory, oak, and hazel. The Winnebago Lake is about fifteen miles long from eaft to weft, and fix miles wide. At its fouth- eaft corner, a river falls into it that takes its rife near fome of the northern branches of the Illinois River. This I called the Crocodile River, in con- fequence ofaftory that prevails among the Indians, ©f their having deftroyed, in fome part of it, an ani- mal, which from their defcription muft be a croco- dile or an alligator. The land adjacent to the Lake is very fertile, abounding with grapes, plumbs, and other fruits, 24 CARVER's TRAVELS. which grow fpontaneoufly. The Winnebagocs raife on it a great quantity cf Indian corn, beans, pumpkins, fquafhes, and water melons, with feme tobacco. The Lake itfelf abounds with rili, and in the fall of the year, with gecfe 3 ducks, ?.na teal. The latter, which re fort to it in great numbers, are remarkably good and extremely fat, and are much better flavored than thofe that are found near the lea, as they acquire their exceffive fatnefs by feeding on the wild rice, which grows fo plentifully in theft parts. Having made fome acceptable prefents to the good old queen, and received her blefling, I left the town of the Winnebagoes on the 29th of September, and about twelve miles from it, arrived at the place were the Fox River enters the Lake on the north fide of it. We proceeded up this river, and on the 7th of October reached the great carrying place, which divides it from the Ouifconfin. The Fox River, from the Green Bay to the Car- rying Place, is about one hundred and eighty miles, From the W innebago Lake to the Carrying place the current is gentle, and the depth of it confiderable ; notwithstanding which, it is in fome places with difficulty that canoes can pais though the obftructi- ons they meet with from the rice italics, which are very large and thick, and grow here in great abun- dance. The country around it is very fertile, and proper in the hio-heft degree for cultivation, except- ing in fome places near the river, where it is rather too low. It is in no part very woody, and yet can fupply fufficient to anfwer the demands of any num- ber of inhabitants. This river is the greater! refort Of Wild fowl of every kind, that I met with in the whole courfe of my travels ; frequently the fun would be obfeured by them for fome minutes together- CARVER'S TRAVEL S, z 5 About forty miles up this river* from the great town of the VYinnebagoes, Hands a fmaller town be- longing to that nation. Deer and bears are veiy numerous in tfceie parts*' and a great many beavers and other furs are taken on the ft reams that empty themfelves into thisrivvr. The river lam treating of, is remarkable for hav- ing been, about eighty years agOj the refidence of the united bands of the Ottigaumies and the Saukies, whom the French, had nicknamed according to their wonted cultom, Des Sacs and Des Reynards, the Sacks and the Foxes, of whom the following anecdote was related to me by an Indian, About fixty years ago, the French miflionaries and traders having received many infults-from thefe people, a party of French and Indians, under the command of captain Morand marched to revenge their wrongs. The captain fet out from the Green Bay in the winter, when they were unfufpicious of a vifitof this kind, and purfuing his route over the fnow to their villages, which lay about fifty miles up the Fox River, came upon them by furprife. Unprepared as they were, he found them an eafy conquer!, and confequently killed or took prifoners the greateft part of them. On the return of the French to the Green Bay, one of the Indian chiefs in alliance with them, who had a considerable band of the prifoners under his care, flopped to drink at a brook ; in the mean time his companions went on : which being obferved by one of the women whom they had made captive, me fuddenly feized him with both her hands, whilft he ftooped to drink, by an exquifitely fufceptible part, and held him fail till he expired on the foot. As the chief from the P 26 CAR V E I; ' ; T R A V ELS. extreme torture he fuflcred, was unable to call out to his friends, or to give any alarm, they palTed on without knowing what had happened -, and the wo- man having cut the bands of' thofe of her fellow priibners who were in the rear, with them made her efcape. This heroine was ever after treated by her nation as their deliverer, and made a chiefefs in her own right, with libertv to entail the fame honor on her defendants ; an unufual diftinction, and per- mitted only on extraordinary occanons. About twelve miles before I reached the Carrying Place, I obfervedfeveral fmall mountains which ex- tended quite to it. Thefe indeed would only be efceemed as molehills, when compared with thofe on the back of the colonies, but as they were the firftlhadfeen tince my leaving Niagara, a track of nearly eleven hundred miles, I could not leave them unnoticed. The Fox River, where it enters the Winnebago Lake, is about fifty yards wide, but it gradually de- creafes to the Carrying Place, where it is no more than five yards over, except in a few places where it widens into fmall lakes, though ftill of a confidera- ble depth. I cannot recollect any thing elfe that is remarkable in this river, except that it is lb ferpen- tine for five miles, as only to gain in that place one quarter of a mile. The Carrying Place between the Fox and Guif- coniin Rivers is in breadth not more than a mile and three quarters, though in fome maps it is fo de- lineated as to appear to be ten miles. And here I cannot help remarking, that all the maps of thefe parts, I have ever feen, are very erroneous. The rivers in general are defcribed as running in different directions from w T hat they really do -, and many C A R V E R's TRAVELS. 27 branches of them, particularly of the Miflifilppi, omitted. The diftances of places,likewile, are great- ly mifreprefented. Whether this is done by the French geographers (for the Englilh maps are all copied from theirs) through defigH, or for want of a juit knowledge of the country, I cannot fay; but! am fatisfied that travellers who depend upon them in the parts I vifited, willfind themfclvesrnuchatalofs. Near one half of the way, between the rivers, is a morals overgrown with a kind of long grafs, the reft of it a plain with fome few oak and pins trees growing thereon. lobfcrved here a great number of rattle-fnakes. Monf. Pinnifance, a French tra- der, told me a remarkable ftory concerning one of thefe reptiles, of which he faid, he was an eye-wit- nefs. An Indian, belonging to the Menomonie na- tion, having taken one of them, found means to tame it y and when he had done this, treated it as a Deity ; calling it his Great Father, and carrying it with him, in a box, wherever he went. This the Indian had done for feveral fummers, when Monf- Pinnifance accidently met with him at his carrying place, j uft as he was fetting off for a winter's hunt. The French gentleman was fupprifed, one day, to fee the Indian place the box which contained his god, on the ground, and opening the door, give him his liberty ; telling him, whilft he did it, to be fure and return by the time he himfelf mould come back, which was to be in the month of May following. As this was but October, Monfieur told the Indian, whofe fimplicity aftonifhedhim, that he fancied he might wait long enough when May arrivecj, for the arrival of his great father. The Indian was fo con- fident of his creature's obedience, that he offered to lay the Frenchman a wager of two gallons of rum, that at the time appointed he would come and crawl into his box. This was agreed on, and the fecond 2M CARVE R>s TRAVELS. week in May following, fixed for the determination of the wager. At that period they both met there again ; when the Indian ret down his box, and called for his great father. The fnake heard him not ; and the time being now expired, he acknowledged that he had loft. However, without feeming to be dilcouraged, he offered to double the bet, if his great father came not within two days more. This was further agreed on ; when behold on the fecond day, about one o'clock, the fnake arrived, and, of his own accord crawled into the box, which was plac- ed ready for him. The French gentleman vouched for the truth of this flory, and from the accounts I have often received of the docility of thofe crea- tures, I fee no reafon to doubt his veracity. I obferved that the main body of the Fox River came from the fouth-weft, that of the Ouifconfm from the north-earl ; andalfo that fome of the fmalL branches of thefe two rivers, in defcending into them, doubled, within a few feet of each other, a little to the fcuth of the Carrying Place. That two fuch fhould take their rife foneir each other, and after run- ning different courfes, empty themfelves into the fea, at a diftance fo amazing (for the former hav- ing parTed through feveral great lakes, and run up- wards of two thouiand miles, falls into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and the other, after joining the Mif- fifTippi, and having run an equal number of miles, difembogues itfelf into the Gulf of Mexico ) is an inftance icarcelyto be met in the extenfive conti- nent of North-America. I had an apportunity the year following, of making the fame observations on the affinfiy of various head branches of the waters of the St. Lawrence and the MiiTifiippi, to each other ; and now bring them as a proof, that the opinion of thofe geographers who afTert, that rivers taking their rife fo near each other, muft fpring from the fame CARVER'S TRAVELS. 29 fource, is erroneous. For I perceived a vifibly dif- ftincT: reparation in all of them, notwithftandng, in tome places, they approached fo near, that I could have ftepped from the one to the other. On the 8th of October we got our canoes into the Ouifconfin River, which at this place is more than a hundred yards wide -, and the next day arrived at the Great Town of the Saukies. This is the largeft and beft built Indian town I ever faw. It contains, about ninety houfes, each large enough for feveral families. Thefe are built of hewn plank, neatly jointed, and covered with bark fo compactly as to keep out the mod penetrating rains. Before the doors are placed comfortable fheds, in which, the in- habitants fit, when the weather will permit, and imoke their pipes. The ftreets are regular and fpa- cious ; fo that it appears more like a civilized town, than the abode of favages. The land near the town is very good. In their plantations, which lie ad- jacent to their houfes, and which are neatly laid out, they raife great quantities of Indian corn, beans, me- lons, &c. fo that this place is efteemed the bell mar- ket for traders to furnifh themfelves with provifions, of any within efjght hundred miles of it. The Saukiescan raife about three hundred war- riors, who are generally employed every fummer in making incurfions into the territories of the Illinois and Pawnee nations, from whence they return with a great number of (laves. But thofe people frequent- ly retaliate, and in their turn, deflroy many of the Saukies, which I judge to be the reafon that they increafe no fader. Whilft I ftaidhere, I took a viewoffome moun- tains that lie about fifteen miles to the fouthward, and abound in lead ore. I afcended on one o. : 3 o CARVER'S TRAVELS. higheft cf thefe, and had an extenfive view of the country. For many miles nothing was to be ieen but lefTer mountains, which appeared at a diftance like haycocks, they being free from trees. Only a few groves of hickory, and (hinted oaks, covered fome of the vallies. So plentiful is lead here, that I law large quantities of it lying about the ftreets in the town belonging to the Saukies, and it feemed to be as good as the produce of other countries. On the ioth of October we proceeded down the river, and the next day reached the firft town of the Ottigaumies.This town contained about fifty houfes, but we found moil of them deferted, on account cf an epidemical diforder that had lately raged among them, and carried off more than one half of the inhabitants. The greater part ofthofe who fur- vived, had retired into the woods, to avoid the con- tagion. On the 15th, we entered that extenfive river the Miffifllppi. The Ouifconfin, from the Carrying. Place to the part where it falls into the Mifliflippi, flows with a fmooth, but ftrong current j the water of it is exceedingly clear, and through it you may perceive a fine and fandy bottom, tolerably free from rocks. In it are a few iflands, the foil of which appeared to be good, though fomewhat woody. The land near the river alfo feemed to be, in gene- ral, excellent -, but that at a diftance is very full of mountains, where it is faid there are many lead mines. About five miles from the junction of the rivers, I obferved the ruins cfa large town, in a very pjeafing fituation. On enquiring of the neighbour- ing Indians, why it was thus deferted,! was informed, that about thirty years ago, the Great Spirit had ap- peared on the top of a pyramid of rocks, which lay CARVER'S TRAVELS. 31 at a little diilance from it, towards the weft, and warned them to quit their habitations -, for the land on which they were built belonged to him, and he had occafion for it. As a proof that he, who gave rhem thefe orders was, really the Great Spirit, he further told them that, the grafs mould immediately fpring up on thofe very rocks from whence he now addreffed them, which they kaew to be bare and barren. The Indians obeyed, and foon after dis- covered that this miraculous alteration had taken place. They fhewed me the fpot, but the growth of the grafs appeared to be no way fupernatural. 1 apprehend this to have been a ftratagem of the French or Spaniards, to anfwer fome felfifh view ; but in what manner they effected their purpofes I know not. This people, foon after their removal, built a town on the bank of the Miffiffippi, near the mouth of theOuifconfin, at a place called by the French La Prairies les Ch iens, which Signifies the Dog Plains ; k is a large town, and contains about three hundred families ; the houfes are well built after the Indian manner, and pleafantly Situated on a very rich foil, from which they raife every neceffary of life in great abundance. I faw here many horfes of a good fize and fhape. This town is the great mart where all the adjacent tribes, and even thofe who inhabit the moll: remote branches of the Miffiffippi, annually affemble about the latter end of May, bringing with rhem their furs to difpofe of to the traders. But it is not always that they conclude their fale here ; this is determined by a general council of the chiefs, who confult whether it would be more conducive to their intereft, to fell their goods at this place, or car- ry them on to Louifiana, or Michillimackinac. Ac- cording to thedecifion of this council, they either proceed further^ or return to their different homes. t A K V E R ' s T R A V E L 5 The Mifliffippi, at the entrance of the Ouifconfin, near which Hands a mountain of confiderablc height, is about half a mile over ; but opponte to the laft mentioned town it appears to be more than a mile wide, and full of iilands, the foil ofwhich is extraordinary rich, and but thinly wooded. A little further to the weft, on the contrary fide, a fmall river falls into the MiiTiiiippi, which the French call Le J aim Riviere, or the Yellow River. Here the traders who had accompanied me hither- to, took up their residence for the winter. I then bought a canoe, and with two fervants, one a French Canadian, and the other a Mohawk of Canada, en *he 1 9th proceeded up the MifiifTippi. About ten days after I had parted from the trad- ers, I landed as I ufually did, every evening, and having pitched my tent, I ordered my men, when .night came on, to lay themfelves down to deep. By a light that I kept burning I then fat down to copy the minutes I had taken in the courfe of the pre- ceding day. About ten o'clock, having juft finifh- ed my memorandums, I itepped out of my tent to fee what weather it was. As 1 caft my eyes to- wards the bank of the river, I thought I law by the light of the ftars, which fhone bright, fomething that had the appearance of a herd of beafts, coming down a defcent at fome diftance ; whilft I was wonder- ing what they could be, one of the number fuddenly fprung up_,anddifcovered to me the form of a man. In an inftant they were ail on their legs, and I could count about ten or twelve of them running towards me. I immediately re-entered the tent, and having awakened my men, ordered them to take their arms, and follow me. As my firft apprehenfions were for my canoe, I ran to the water's fide, and found a party CARVE R's T R A V E L S. of Indians (for fuch I now difcovered them to be) on the point of plundering it. Before I reached them, I commanded my men no: to lire till I had given the word, being unwiliing to begin hostilities unlefs occafion abfoiutely required. I accordingly advanced with refolution, dole to the points of their fpears, they had no other weapons, and brandifh- •ing my hanger, afked them with a Hern voice, what they wanted? They were ftaggered at this, and perceiving they were like to meet witli a warm re- ception, turned about and precipitately retreated. We purfued them to an adjacent wood, which they entered, and we law no more of them. However, for fear of their return, we watched alternately dur- ing the remainder of the night. The next day my iervants were under great apprehenfions, and ear- nestly entreated me to return to the traders we had lately left. But I told them, that if they would not be eiteemed old women (a term of the greater! re- proach among the Indians) they muft follow me; for I was determined to purfue my intended route, as an Englishman, when once engaged in an adventure, never retreated. On this they got into the canoe, and I walked on the fhore to guard them from any further attack. The party of Indians who had thus intended to plunder me, I afterwards found to be fome of thofe ftraggling bands, that having been driven from among the different tribes to which they belonged, for various crimes, now ailbciated them- felves together, and, living by plunder, prove very troublefome to travellers who pafs this way $ nor are even Indians of every tribe fpared by them. The traders had before cautioned me to be upon my guard againfl them, and I would repeat the fame caution to thofe whofe bufmefs might call them into thefe parts. 34 CARVER'S TRAVELS. On the i ft of November I arrived at Lake p€pin> which is rather an extended part of the river Mif- iiffippi, that the French have thus denominated^ but two hundred miles from the Ouifconfin. The MifiirTippi below this lake, flows with a gentle cur- rent, but the breadth of it is very uncertain, in fome places it being upwards of a mile, in others not more than a quarter. This river has a range of mountains on each fide throughout the whole of the way ; which in particular parts approach near to it, in others lie at a greater diftance. The land betwixt the mountains, and on their fides, is ge- nerally covered with grafs, with a few groves of trees interfperfed, near which, large droves of deer and elk are frequently feen feeding. In many places pyramids of rocks appeared, re- fembling old ruinous towers; at others amazing precipices; and what is very remarkable, whilft this fcene prefented itfelf on one fide, the oppofite i'ide of the fame mountain was covered with the nneft herbage, which gradually afcended to its fummit. From thence the mod beautiful and ex- tenfive profpect that imagination can form, opens to your view. Verdant plains, fruitful meadows, numerous iflands, and all thefe abounding with a va- riety of trees that yield amazing quantities of fruit, without care or cultivation; fuch as the nut-tree, the maple which produces fugar, vines loaded w T ith rich grapes, and plum-trees bending under their blooming burdens, but above all, the fine river flow-- ing gently beneath, and reaching as far as the eye can extend, by turns attract your admiration and excite your wender. The Lake is about twenty miles long, and near fix in breadth ; in fome places it is very deep, and abounds with various kinds of fifn. Great num.- CARVER'S TRAVELS. 5$ bers of fowl frequent alfo this Lake and the rivers adjacent i fuch as ftoiks, fwans, geefe, brants, and ducks: and in the groves are found great plenty of turkeys and partridges. On the plains are the largefc buffaloes of any in America. Here I ob- ferved the ruins of a French factory, where it is faid captain St. Pierre refided, and carried on a very great trade with the Naudoweflies, before the reduc- tion of Canada. About fixty miles below this Lake is a moun- tain remarkably fituated; for it ftands by itfelf exactly in the middle of the river, and looks as it" it had Hidden from the adjacent ihore into the firearm It cannot be termed an ifland, as it rifes immedi- diateiy from the brink of the water to a considerable height. Both the Indians and the French call it the Mountain in the river. One day having landed on the ihore of the Mif- fiflippi, fome miles below Lake Pepin, whilft my attendants were preparing my dinner, I walked out to take a view of the adjacent country. I had not proceeded far, before I came to a fine, level, open. plain, on which I perceived at a little diftance, a par- tial elevation that had the appearance of anintrench- ment. On a nearer infpedtion I had greater reafon to fuppofe that it had really been intended for this many centuries ago. Notwithstanding it was now covered with grafs, I could plainly dileern that in had once been a breaft-work of about four feet in height, extending the beft part of a mile, and fuffi- ciently capacious to cover five thoufand men. Ics form was fomewhat circular, and its flanks reached to the river. Though much defaced by time, every angle was diftinguilhable, and appeared as regular, and fafhioned with as much military fkill, as if planned by Vauban himfelfT The ditch was not CARVER'S TRAVELS. vifible, but I thought en examining more curioufly, that I could perceive there certainly had been one. From its fituaeion a]fo, lam convinced that it muft have been deiigned for this purpoie. It fronted the country, and the rear was covered by the river 5 nor was there any riling ground for a confiderable way, that commanded it, a few iiraggling oaks were alone to be ken near it. In many places finall tracts were worn acrofs it by the feet of the elks and deer, and from the depth of the bed of earth by which it was covered, I was able to draw certain conelufiorrj of its great antiquity. I exa- mined all the angles, and every part with great at- tention, and have often blamed myfelf fince, for not encamping on the fpot, and drawing an exact plan of it. To ihew that this defcription is not the offspring of a heated imagination, or the chimerical tale of a miftaken traveller, I find on enquiry fince my return, that Monf, St. Pierre and feverai tra- ders, have, at different times, taken notice of fimi- lar appearances, on which they have formed the fame conjectures, but without examining them fo minutely as I did. How a work of this kind could exit in a Country that has hitherto (according to the general received opinion) been the feat of war to untutored Indians alone, whofe whole ilock of mili- tary knowledge has only, till within two centuries, amounted to drawing the bow, and whofe only breaft-work, even at prefent, is the thicket, I know not. -I have given as exact an account as poffible, of this lingular appearance, and leave to future explorers of tiiefe dilcant regions, to difcover whether it is a production of nature or art. Perhaps the hints I have here given, might lead to a more perfect in ve [ligation ot it, and give up very different ideas>6f the ancient ftate of realms CARVER'S TRAVELS. 37 that we at prefent believe to have been from the earlicft period only the habitations of favages. The MirTifTippi, as far as the entrance of the river St. Croix -, thirty miles above Lake Pepin, is very full of iflands; fome of which are of a con- siderable length. On thefe alio, grow great num- bers of the maple or fugar tree, and around them, vines loaded with grapes, creeping to their very tops. From the Lake upwards, few mountains are to be feen, and thofe but fmall. Near the river St. Croix, refide three bands of the Naudoweffie Indians, called the River Bands. This nation is compofed, at prefent, of eleven bands. They were originally twelve -, but the Affi- nipoils fome years ago, revolting, and feparating themfelves from the others, there remain only at this time eleven. Thofe I met here are termed the River Bands; becaufe they chiefly dwell near the banks of this River ; the other eight are generally diftinguifhed by the title, NaudoweiTks of the Plains, and inhabit a country that lies more to the weft- ward. The names of the former are the Nehoga- tav/onahs, the Mawtawbauntowahs, and the Shah- fweentowahs, and coniift of about four hundred warriors. A little before I met with thefe three bands, I fell in with a party of the Mawtawbauntowahs, amounting to forty warriors and their families. With thefe I refided a day or two, during which time five or fix of their number who had been cut on an excurfion, returned in great hafte, and acquainted their companions that a large party of the Chipe- way warriors, C£ enough/' as they cxprefTecl them- felves, iC to fwallow them all up," were clofe at their heels, and on the point of attcking their little 38 CARVER'S TRAVELS. camp. The chiefs applied to me, and defired I woaid put myfelf at their head, and lead them out to oppofe their enemies. As I was a ftranger, and unwilling to excite the anger of either nation, I knew not how to act; and never found myfelf in a greater dilemma. Had I refufed to aflift the Nau- doweflies I mould have drawn on myfelf their dif- pleafure, or had I met the Chipeways with hoftile intentions, I mould have made that people my foes, and had I been fortunate enough to have elcaped their arrows at this time, on fome future occafion mould probably have experienced the feverity of their revenge. In this extremity I chofe the middle courfe, and defired that the Naudoweflies would fuffer me to meet them, that I might endeavour to avert their fury. To this they reluctantly afTented, being perfuaded, from the inveteracy which had long prevailed between them, that my remonftrances would be in vain. Taking my Frenchman with me, who could fpeak their language, I haftened towards the place where the Chipeways were fuppofed to be. The Naudoweflies, during this, kept at a diftance be- hind. As I approached them with the pipe of peace, a fmall party of their chiefs, confifting of about eighc or ten, came in a friendly manner towards me; with whom, by the means of my interpreter, I held a long converfation ; the refult of which was, that their rancor being by my perfuafions in fome meafure mollified, they agreed to return back, with- out accomplifhing their favage purpofes. During our difcourfe I could perceive, as they lay fcattered about, that the party was very numerous, and many of them armed with mufkets. Having happily fucceeded in my undertaking, I returned without delay to the Naudoweflies, and CARVER'S TRAVELS. 39 defired they would inftantly remove their camp to ibme other part of the country, left their enemies fhould repent of the promile they had given, and put their intentions in execution. They accord- ingly followed my advice, and immediately pre- pared to ftrike their tents. Whilft they were doing this, they loaded me with thanks ; and when I had feen them on board their canoes, I purlued my route. To this adventure I was chiefly indebted for the friendly reception I afterwards met with from the Naudoweflies of the Plains, and for the refpecl: and honors I received during my abode among them. And when I arrived many months after at the Chi- peway village, near the Ottowaw lakes, I found that my fame had reached that place before me. The chief received me with great cordiality, and the elder part of them thanked me for the mifchief I had prevented.. They informed me, that the war between their nation and the Naudoweflies had con- tinued without interruption for more than forty win- ters. That they had long wifhed to put an end to it, but this was generally prevented by the young war- riors of either nation, who could not reflrain their ardor when they met. They faid, they mould be happy if fome chief of the fame pacific difpofition, as myfelf, and who pofTefTed an equal degree of re- folution and coolnefs, would fettle in the country between the two nations j for by the interference of fuch a perfon, an accommodation, which on their parts they fincerelydefired, might be brought about. As I did not meet any of the Naudoweflies after- wards, I had not an opportunity of forwarding fo good a work. About thirty miles below the Falls of St. An- thony, at which I arrived the tenth day after I left 4 6 CARVER'S TRAVELS. : Pepin, is a remarkable cave of an amazing depth. The Indians term it Wakon-teebe, that is, the Dwelling of the Great Spirit. The entrance into it is about ten feet wide, the height of it five feet. The arch within is near fifteen feet high and about thirty feet broad. The bottom of it ccnfif.s of fine clear fand. About twentv feet from the en- ce begins a lake, the water of which is tranfpa- rent,and extends to an unfearchablediftance \ for the darknefs of the cave prevents all attempts to ac- quire a knowledge of it. I threw a fmail pebble to- wards the interior parts of is, with my utmoft ftrength : I could hear that it fell into the water, and notv ding it was of fo fmall a fize, it caufed an aftoniining and horrible noife, that reverberated through kll thofe gloomy regions. I found in this cave many Indian hieroglyphics, which appeared very ancient, for time had nearly covered them with rr s,fe that it was with difficulty! could trace them. They were cut in a rude manner, upon the infide of the walls, which were compofed of a (tone fo ex- tremely foft that it might eafily be penetrated with a knife ; a ftone every where to be found near the MifTifiippi. The ca>e is only acceflible by z(cznd- ing a narrow, fteep pafTage, that lies near the brink of the river. At a little diftance from this dreary cavern, is the burying-place of feveral bands of the Naudoweflie Indians : though thefe people have no fixed refi- dence, living in tents, and abiding but a few months on one fpot, yet they always bring the bones of their dead to this place -, which they take the opportunity of doing when the chiefs meet to hold their coun- cils, and to fettle all public affairs for the enfuing fummer. Ten miles below the Falls of St. Anthony, the CARVER'S TRAVELS. 4 i River St. Pierre, called by the natives the Wadda- pawmenefotor, falls into the MiiTiflippi from the weft, It is not mentioned by FatherHennipin, although a large, fair river ; this omiffion I conclude, mufthave proceeded from a fmall ifland that is fituated exactly at its entrance, by which the fight of it intercepted. Ifhouldnot have difcovered this river myfelf, had I not taken a view, when I was fearehing for it, from the high lands oppofite, which rife to a great! height, Nearly over againft this river I was obliged to leave my canoe, on account of the ice, and travel by land to the Falls of St. Anthony, where I arrived on the 17th of November. The Mifliffippi from the St. Pierre to this place, is rather more rapid than I had hitherto found it, and without iflandsof any confide - ration. Before I left my canoe I overtook a young prince of the Winnebago Indians, who was going on an cmbafTy to fome of the bands of the Naudoweffies. Finding that I intended to take a view of the Falls, he agreed to accompany m.e^J^is curiofity having; been often excited by the accounts he had received from fome of his chiefs : he accordingly left his fa- mily (for the Indians never travel without their houf- holds) at this place, under the care of my Mohawk fervant, and we proceeded together by land attend- ed only by my Frenchman, to this celebrated place. We could diftinc?tly hear the noife of the water full fifteen miles before we reached the falls ; and I was greatly pleafed and furprifed, when I ap- proached this aftonifhing v/ork ofnature ; but I was not long at liberty to indulge thefe emotions, my at- tention being called off by the behaviour of my com- panion. F CARVER's TRAVELS The Prince had no iboner gained the point that overlooks this wonderful cafcade, than he began : aft audible voice to addrefs the Great Spirit, one of whole places of reiidence he imagined this to be. He told him that he had come a 1 mg way to pay his adorations to him, and now would make him the bell offering in his pov/er. He accordingly firft threw his pipe into the ft ream ; then the roll that contained his tobacco ; after thefe, the bracelets he wore on his arms and wrills ; next an ornament thai encircled his neck, compofed of beads and wires -, and at lafl the ear-rings from his ears -, in fhort, he prefcnted to his god, every part of his drcfs that was valuable : during this he frequently fmote his bread with great violence, threw his arms about, and ap- peared to be much agitated. All this while he continued his adorations, and at length concluded them with fervent petitions that the Great Spirit would constantly afford us his protec- tion on our travels, giving us a bright fun, a blue fky, and clear, untroubled waters : nor would he leave the place till we had fmoked together with my pipe, in honor of the Great Spirit. I was greatly furprifed at beholding an inftance of fuch elevated devotion in lb ycung an Indian, and inftead of ridiculing the ceremonies attending it, a.^ I obferved my catholic fervant tacitydid, I looked on the prince with a greater degree ofrefpect for thefe finccre proofs he gave of his piety ; and I doubt not but that his offerings and prayers were as accept- able to the univerfal Parent of mankind, as if they had been made v^ith greater pomp, or in a confe- crateci place. e w hole conduct of this young prince at once amazed and charmed me. During the few C A R V E R ' s T R A V E L S. 43 days, we were together, his attention feemed totally to be employed in yielding me every affiiiance in his .power j and even in fo fhort a time, he gave me innumerable proofs of the moil generous and difin- terefted friendfhip ; fo that on our return I parted from him with great reluctance. Whilft I beheld the artiefs, yet engaging manners of this unpolifhed favage, I could not help drawing a companion be- tween him and fome of the more refined inhabitants of civilized countries, not much, I own, in favcr of The Falls of St. Anthony received their name from Father Louis Hennipin, a French mifnonary, who travelled into thefe parts about the year 168c, and was the firft European ever fe^n by the natives. This amazing body of waters, which are above 250 yards ever, form a moitpleafing cataract ; they fall perpendicularly about thirty feet, and the rapids below, in the fpace of 300 yards more, render the defcent considerably greater ; fo that when viewed at a diftance, they appear to be much higher than they really are. The above-mentioned traveller has laid" them down at above fixty feet; but he had made a greater error in calculating the height cf the Falls of Niagara; 'which he afferts to be 600 feet; whereas from later obfervations accurately made, it is well known that it does not exceed 140 lz~z. But the good father I rear too often had no other tGurid- dation for his accounts, than report, cr, at bert, a (light inipedcion. In the middle of rke Falls ftaeds a fmaii iuand, about forty ieec broad and fo me what longer, on which grow a few gagged hemlock and fpruce trees; and about halfway between :h:s iGand and the ealt- ern more is a rock, Lyifig at the ^cr/ edge of the i'Vilk in an obiicjue pofifion tha: appeared to fee. 4+ CARVER's T R A V'E L S. about five or fix feet broad, and thirty or forty long. Theft Falls vary much from all the others I have fcen, as you may approach clofe to them without finding the leaft obftruction from any intervening hill or precipice. The country around them is extremely beautiful. It is not an uninterrupted plain, where the eye rinds, no relief, but compofed of many gentle afcents, which in the fummer are covered with the fineft verdure, and interfoerfed with little groves, that giveapleafing variety to the profpedt. On the whole, when the Falls are included, which may be feen at the difcance of four miles, a more pleafing and pic- turefque view cannot, I believe, be found through- out the univerfe. I could have wifhed that I had happened to enjoy this glorious fight at a more fea- fonable time cf the year, whiUr. the trees and hillocks were clad in nature's gave ft livery, as this muft have greatly added to. the pleafuie I received ; how- ever, even then it exceeded my warmeft expectations. I have endeavoured to give the reader as juft an idea of this enchanting fpot, as pofliblc ; but all descrip- tion, whether of the pencil or the pen, muft fall in- tinitely fhort of the original. At a little diftanee below the Falls ftands a fmall ifland, of about an acre and an half, on which grow a great number of oak trees, every branch of which* able to fupport the weight, was full of eagles' nefb. The reaibn that this kind of birds re fort in fuch numbers to this fpot, is, that they are here fecure from the attacks cither of man or bead, their retreat being guarded by the rapids, which the Indians never attempt to pafs. Another reafon is, that they find a conftant fupply of food for themfelves and their yooog, from the animals and fifh which are CARVER'S TRAVELS. 45 dafhed to pieces by the Falls, and driven on the ad- jacent fhore. Having fatisfied my curioiity, as far as the eye of man can be fattened, I proceeded on, dill accom- panied by my young friend, till I had reached the River St. Francis, near fixty miles above rhe Falls. To this river Father Hcnnipm gave the name of St. Francis, and this was the extent of his travels, as well as mine, towards the north-well. As the feafon wasfo advanced, and the weather extremely cold, I was not able to make fo many obfervations on thefe parts as I otherwife mould have done. It might however, perhaps, be necefTary to ob- ferve, that in the little tour I made about the Falls, after travelling fourteen miles, by the fide of the Mif- fuTippi, I came to a river nearly twenty yards wide, which ran from the north eaft, called Rum River. And on the 20th of November came to another termed Goofe River, about twelve yards wide. On the 21ft I arrived at the St. Francis, which is about thirty yards wide. Here the MiffifTippi itfelf grows narrow, being nor more than ninety yards over ; and appears to be chiefly compofed of final! branches. The ice prevented me from noticing the depth of any of thefe three rivers. The country in fome places is hilly, but without large mountains ; and the land is tolerably good. I obferved here many deer and carriboos, fome elk, with abundance of beavers, otters, and "other furs. A little above this, to the north eaft, are a number of 1 mall lakes called the Thoufand Lakes; the parts about which, though but little frequented, are the bed within many miles, for hunting, as the hunter neve* fails of returning- loaded bevond his expe&&> ! ( 1 46 CARVER's TRAVELS. The Mif&fEppi has never been explored higher up than the River St. Francis, and only by Father Henhipin and myfclf thus far. So that we are obliged folely to the Indians, for all the intelligence we are able to give relative to the more northern parts. As this River is not navigable from the fea Far vefifelsof any confiderablc burthen, much higher up than the Forks of the Ohio, and even that is ac- complished with great difficulty, owing to the ra- pidity of the current, and the winding of the river; thofe fettlements that may be made on the interior banches of it, muft be indifputably fecure from the attacks of any maritime power. But at the fame time the fettlers will have the advantage of being able to convey their produce to the fea-ports, with great facility, the current of the river from its fource to its entrance into the Gulf of Mexico, being ex- tremely favorable fordoing this in fmall craft. This might alfo in time be facilitated by canals or fhorter cuts ; and a communication opened by water with New- York, Canada, &c. by way of the lakes. The Foiks of the Ohio are about nine hundred miles from the mouth of the MiiT;mppi, following the courfe of the river ; and the MeiForie two hundred miles above thefe. From the hitter it is about twenty miles to the Illinois River, and from that to the Ou- iiconfin, which. I have given an account of, about eight hundred more. On the 2 ah I returned to my canoe, which I had left at the mouth of i: er St. Pierre ; and here Ipartec: my young friend, prio.ee of the W; ' j ~. This river being clear of ice, by teafon c: its fouthern fituation, I found no- thing to obfhrutt my oaiiage. On the 28th, being- advanced about forty miles, I arrived at a fmall branch that fell into it from the north ■, to which it had no lid diit : - it by, I r CARVER'S TRAVELS. 47 my own.- About- forty miles higher up I came to the Forks of Verd and Red Marble Rivers, which join' at fome little diftance before they enter the Stf- Pierre. The River St. Pierre, at its junction with the Miffiffippi, is about a hundred yards broad, and continues that breadth nearly ail the way I failed upon it. It has a great depth of water, and in fome places runs very bnfkly. About fifty miles from its mouth are fome rapids, and much higher up there are many others. I proceeded upon this river about two hundred miles to the country of the Naudoweffies of the Plains, which lies a little above the Forks formed by the Verd and Red Marble Rivers, juft mentioned, where a branch from the fouth nearly joins the Mef- iori River. By the accounts I received from the Indians, I have reafon to believe that the River St. Pierre and the MefTori, though they enter the Mif- fiffippi twelve hundred miles from each other, take their rife in the fame neighborhood -, and this within the fpace ofa mile. The River St. Pierre's notthern branch rifes from :i number of lakes near the mining mountains ; and it is from fome of thefe, alfo, that a capital branch of the River Bourbon, which runs intoHudfon's Bay, has its fouices. From the intelligence I gained from the Nati- dowefne Indians, among whom I arrived on the 7th of December, and whole language I perfectly ac- quired during a refidence of five months -, and alfo from the accounts I afterwards obtained from the Affinipoils, who fpeak the fame tongue, being a re- volted band of the N&uddwefficsj and from th^ Kil- 48 CARVER'S TRAVELS, liftinoes, neighbours of the Aflinipoils, who (peak the Chipeway language, and inhabit the heads of the River Bourbon ; I fay from thefe nations, together with my own obfervations, I have learned that the four mod capital rivers on the Continent of North- America, viz. the St. Lawrence, the Mifliflippi, the river Bourbon, and the Oregon or the river of the Weft (as I hinted in my Introduction) have their fources in the fame neighbourhood. The waters of the three former are within thirty miles of each other -, the latter, however is rather further weft. This fhews that thefe parts are the higheft lands in North- America; and it is an inftance not to be paralled on the other three quarters of the globe, that four rivers of fuch magnitude mould take their rife together, and each, after running feparate cour- fes, difcharged their waters into different oceans at the diftance of two thoufand miles from their fources. For in their paffage from this fpot to the bay of St. Lawrence, eaft; to the Bay of Mexico, fouth; to Hudfon's Bay, north ; and to the bay at the Straits ofAnnian, weft, each of thefe traverfe upwards of two thoufand miles. I mail here give my readers fuch reflections as occurred to me, when I had received this intere(l> ing information, and had by numberlefs enquiries, afcertained the truth of it; that is, as far as it was poflible to arrive at a certainty without a perfonal inveftigation. It is we'll known that the Colonies, particularly thofe of New-England and Canada, are greatly affected, about the time their winter fets in, by a north-weft wind, which continues for feveral months, and renders the cold much more intenfe there than 1- i: in the interior parts of America. This I caoj CARVER'S T R A V ELS: 49 from my own knowledge, afTert, as I found the winter, that I patted to uhe weftward of the Mif- fiffippi, far from fevere , and the north-weft wind blowing on thole countries confiderably more tem- perate than I have often experienced it to be nearer the coaft. And that this did not arife from an un- certainty of the feafons, but was annually the cafe, I conclude, both from the fmall quantity of fnow that then fell, and a total difufe of fnow fhces by chefe Indians, without which none of the more eaftern nations can pohToly travel during the win- ter. As naturalifts obferve, that air refembles water in many refpects, particularly by often Mowing in a compact body; and that this is generally remarked to be with the current of large ftreams, and feldom acrofs them, may not the winds that fet violently inco the Bay of Mexico about the latter end of the year, take their courfe over the continent in the fame direction as the Mifiiilippi does - 3 till meeting the north winds (tjiatfrom a fimilar caufe blow up the Bourbon from Hudfon's Bay) they are forced acrofs the great lakes, down the current of the waters of the St. Lawrence, and united, commit thofe ravages, and occafion thofe fevere winters, experienced in the before- mentioned countries ? During their progrefs over the lakes they become expanded, and confe- quently affect a greater tract of land than they other- wife would do. According to my fcanty knowledge of natural philofophy, this does not appear improbable. Whe- ther it is agreeable to the laws eftablifhed by natu- ralifts to account for the operations of that element, I know not. However, the defcription here given of the fituation of thefe vaft bodies of water, and their near approach to each other, with my own G 5 o CARVER'S TRAVELS. undigefced fuppofitions of their effect on the winds, may prove perhaps, in abler handy, the means of leading to many uleful difcoveries. On the 7th of December, 1 arrived (as I faid be- fore) at the utmoft extent of my travels towards the wcitj where I met with a large party of the Nau- •Jowtilie Indians, among whom Irefided fe ven months. Thefc conftituted a part of the eight bands of the Naudowe fiies of the Plains -, and are termed the Waw- peerrtowahs, the Tintons, the Afrahcootans, the IMawhaws, and the Schians. The other three bands, whofe names are, the Schianefe, the Chongoufce- ton, and the Waddapawjeftin, dwell higher up, to the weft of the river St. Pierre, on plains that, according to their account, are unbounded ; and pro- bably terminate on the coaft of the Pacific Ocean. The NaudowelTie nation, when united, confifts of more than two thoufand warriors. The Aflinipoils, who revolted from them, amount to about three hundred; and leagued with the Kiiliftinoes, live in a continual {rate of enmity with the other eleven bands. As I proceeded up the river St. Pierre, and had nearly reached the place v.- here thefe people were encamped, I obferved two or three canoes coming down the ftream , but no fooner had the Indians that were on board them, difcovered us, than they rowed towards the land, and leaping afhore with precipitation, left their canoes to float as the current drove them. In a few minutes I perceived fome others •> who, as foon as they came in fight, fol- lowed, with equal fpeed, the example of their coun- trymen. I now thought it neceffary to proceed with cau- tion ; and therefore kept on trie fide of the river oppofite to that on which the Indians had landed. CARVER'S TRAVELS. p However, I ftill continued my eourfe, fatisfied that the pipe of peace, which was fixed at the head of my canoe, and the Englifh colours that were flying at the item, would prove my Security. After rowing about half a mile further, in turning a point, I dis- covered a trreat number of tents, and more than a thoufand Indians, at a little diftance from the fhore. Being now nearly oppofite to them, I ordered my men to pull directly over, as I was willing to con- vince the Indians byfuch a (Up, that I placed fome confidence in them. As foon as I had reached the land, two of the chiefs prefented their hands to me, and led me, amidft the aitonifhing multitude, who had mod of them never feen a white man before, to a ttnt. Into this we entered, and according to the cuftom that univerfally prevails among every Indian nation, began to fmoke the pipe of peace. We had net fat long before the crowd became fo great, both around, and upon the tent, that we were in danger of being crufhed by its fall. On this we returned to the plain, where, having gratified the curio- fity of the common people, their wonder abated and ever after they treated me with great refpect. From the chiefs I met with the moft friendly and hofpitable reception -, which induced me, as the feafon was fo far advanced, to take up my refidence among them during the winter. To render my flay as comfortable as pofiible, I firft endeavoured to learn their language. This I foon did, fo as to make myfelf perfectly intelligible, having before acquired fome (light knowledge of the language of thofe Indians that live on the back of the Settlements; and in confequence met with every accommodation their manner of living would afford. Nor did J want for fuch amufements as tended to make fp 52 CARVER's TRAVELS. long a period pafs cheerfully away. I frequently hunted with them; and at other time beheld witn plcaiure their recreations and paftimes, which I fhall defcribe hereafter. Sometimes I fat with the chiefs, and whilft we fmoked the friendly pipe, entertained them, in return for the accounts they gave me of their wars and excurfions, with a narrative of my own adven- tures, and a description of all the battles fought be- tween the Englifh and French in America, in many of which I had a perfonal fhare. They always paid great attention to my details, and affced many per- tinent queftions relative to the European methods of making war. I held thefe conventions with them in a great meafure to procure from them fome information relative to the chief point I had conftantly in view, that of gaining a knowledge of the fituation and produce, both of their own country, and thofe that lay to the weftward of them. Nor was I difappointed in my defigns; for I procured from them much ufe- ful intelligence. They likewife drew for me plans of all the countries with which they were acquainted; but as I entertained no great opinion of their geo- graphical knowledge, I placed not much depen- dence on them, and therefore think it unneceflary to give them to the public. They draw with a piece of burnt coal, taken from the hearth, upon the infidc bark of the birch tree; which is as fmooth as paper, and anfwers the fame purpofes, not- -vithftanciing it is of a yellow call. Their fketches are made in a rude manner,, but they feem to gi*e us as juft an idea of a country, although the plan is not fo exact, as more experienced draughtfmen •~ou!d do. CARVER'S TRAVELS. s\ I left tiie habitations of thefe hofpitable Indians the latter end of April 1767 •> but did not part from them for feveral days, as I was accompanied on my journey by near three hundred of them, among whom were many chiefs, to the mouth of the river St. Pierre. At this feafon, thefe bands annually go to the Great Cave, before mentioned, to hold a grand council with all the other bands ; wherein they fettle their operations for the enfuing year. At the fame time they carry with them their dead, for interment, bound up in buffaloes' fkins. Befides thole that accompanied me, others were gone before, and the reft were to follow. Never did I travel with {q cheerful and happy a company. But their mirth met with a Hidden and Temporary allay from a violent ftorm that overtook us one day on our paffage. We had juft landed, and were preparing to fet up our tents for the night, when a heavy cloud overfpread the heavens, and the moft dreadful thunder, lightning, and rain ifiued from it, .that ever I beheld. The Indians were greatly terrified, and ran to fuch fhelter as they could find; for only a few tents were as yet erected. Apprehenfive of the danger that might enfue from (landing near any thing; which could ferve for a conductor, as the cloud appeared to contain fuch an uncommon quantity of electrical fluid, I took my ftand as far as poffibie from any covering; chufing rather to be expofed to the peltings of the ftorm, than to receive a fatal ftroke. At this the Indians were greatly furprifed, and drew conclufions from it not unfavorable to the opinion they already entertained of my refolution. Yet I acknowledge that I was never more affected in my life -, for nothing fcarcely could exceed the terrific fcene. The peals of thunder were fo loud 54 CARVER'S TRAVELS. than they fhook the earth ; and the lightning flamed along the ground in ftreams of fulphur; fo that the Indian chiefs themfelves, although their courage in war is ufually invincible, could not help tremb- ling at the horrid combuftion. As foon as the florm was over, they flocked around me, and in- formed me, that it was a proof of the anger of the evil fpirits, whom they were apprehenfivc that they had highly offended. When we arrived at the Great Cave, and the In- dians had depofited the remains of their deceafed friends in the burial place that ltands adjacent to it, they held their great council, into which I was ad- mitted, and at the fame time had the honor to be inftalled or adopted a chief of their bands. On this occafion I made tht following fpeech, which I infert, to give my reader:; a fpecimen of the language and manner in which it is neceflary to addrefs the Indi- ans, fo as to engage their attention, and to render the fpeaker's expreflion confonant to their ideas. It was delivered on the firft day of May 1767. cc My brothers, chiefs of the numerous andpow- cc erful Naudoweflies ! I rejoice that through my ** long abode with you, I can now fpeak to you ^; was. a chief, called by the French., the Grand CARVER'S TRAVELS. 61 Saut&Tj or the Great Chipev/ay Chief, for they de- nominate the Chipeway, Sautors. They likewife told me that he had been always a fready friend to that people, and when they delivered up Michilli- mackinac to the Englifh on their evacuation of Ca- nada, the Grand Sautor had fworn that he would ever remain the avowed enemy of its new pofTefTors, as the territories on which the fort is built belonged to him. Finding him thus difpofed, I took care to be con- flantly upon my guard whilft I ft aid -, but that he might not fuppofc I was driven away by his frowns, I took up my abode there for the night. I pitched my tent at ibme diftance from the Indians, and had no fooner laid myfelf down to reft, than I was awakened by my French fervant. Having been alarmed by the found of Indian mufic, he had run to the out fide of the tent, where he beheld a party of the young favages dancing towards us in an extra- ordinary manner, each carrying in his hand a torch fixed on the top of a long pole. But I fhall defer any further account of this uncommon entertain- ment, which at once furprifed and alarmed me, till I treat of the Indian dances. The next morning I continued my voyage, and before night reached La Prairie le Chien ; at which place the party of Naudoweflies foon overtook me. Not long after the Grand Sautor alfo arrived, and before the Naudoweflies left that place to continue their journey to Michillimackinac, he found means, in conjunction with fome French traders from Loui- fiana, to draw from me about ten of the Naudoweflie chiefs, whom he prevailed upon to go towards thofe parts. 6* CARVER's TRAVELS. The remainder proceeded, according to my di- rections, to the Englifh fort; from whence I after- wards heard that they returned to their own country without any unfortunate accident befalling them, and greatly pleafcd with the reception they had met with. Wbilft not more than half of thofe who went to the fouthward, through the difference of that Southern climate from their ©v/n, lived to reach their abode. And fmce I came to England I have been informed, that the Grand Sautor having rendered himfelf more and more difgufcful to the Englim, by his inveterate enmity towards them, was at length ftabbed in his tent, as he encamped nearMi- chiilimackin^c, by a trader to whom I had related the foregoing ilory. I mould have remarked, that whatever Indians happen to meet at La Prairie le Chien, the great mart to which all who inhabit the adjacent countries refort, though the nations to which they belong are at war with each other, yet they are obliged to reflrain their enmity, and to forbear all hoftiie acts during their flay there. This regulation has been long eftablifhed among them for their mutual con- veniences, as without it no trade could be carried on. The fame rule is obferved alio at the P.ed Mountain (afterwards defcribed) from whence they get the (lone of which they make their pipes: thefe 'ot'mg indifpenfable to the accommodation of every neighbouring tribe, a fimilar reftridtion becomes needful, and is of public utility. The river St. Pierre, which runs through the Territories of the NaudoweiTies, flows through a mod delightful country, abounding with all the ne- celTaries of life, that grow fpontane©ufly; and with a little cultivation it might be made to produce even the luxuries of life. Wild rice grows here in great CARVER'S TRAVELS. 63 abundance ; and every part is filled with trees bend- ing under their loads of fruits, fuch as plums, grapes, and apples ; the meadows are covered with hops, and many forts of vegetables; whilft the ground is flored with ufeful roots, with angelica, fpikenard, and ground-nuts as large as hens' eggs, - At a little diftance from the fides of the river are eminences, from which you have views that cannot be exceeded even by the moil beautiful of thofe I have already defcribed ; amidft thefe are delightful groves, and fuch amazing quantities of maples, that they would produce fugar fufficient for any number of inhabitants. A little way from the mouth of this river, on the north fide of it, (lands a hill, one part of which, that towards the Mifliffippi, is compofed entirely of white ftone, of the fame foft nature as that 1 have before defcribed; for fuch, indeed, is all the ftone in this country. But what appears remarkable, is, that the colour of it is as white as the"driven mow. The outward part of it was crumbled by the wind and weather into heaps of fand, of which a beautiful compofition might be made; or, I am of opinion that, when properly treated, the ftone itfelf would grow harder by time, and have a very noble effect in architecture. Near that branch which is termed the Marble River, is a mountain, from whence the Indians get a fort of red ftone, out of which they hew the bowls of their pipes. In fome of thefe parts is found a black, hard clay, or rather ftone, of which the Naudoweflies make their family utenfils. This country likewife abounds with a milk-white clay, of which China ware might be made equal in good- nefs to the Afiatic ; and alio with a blue clay that ferves the Indians for paint, with this laft they con- 64 CARVER'S TRAVELS. trive, by mixing it with the red ftone powdered, to paint themielves of different colours. Thofe that can get the blue clay here mentioned, paintthemfeives very much with it; particularly when they are about to begin their fpcrts and paftimes. It is alfo eiteemed by them a mark of peace, as it has a refemblancc of a blue fky, which with them is a fymbol of it, and made ufe of in their fpeeches as a figurative exprefTion to denote peace. When they wifh to fhew that their inclinations are pacific towards other tribes, they greatly ornament both themfelves and their belts with it. Having concluded my bufinefs at La Prairie le Chien, I proceeded once more up the Miiliffippi, as far as the place where the Chipeway River enters it :-. little below Lake Pepin. Here, having en- gaged an Indian pilot, I directed him to fleer towards the Ottawaw Lakes, which lie near the head of this river. This he did, and I arrived at them the be- ginning of July. The Chipeway River, at its junction with the Miffiflippi, is about eighty yards wide, but is much wider as you advance into it. Near thirty miles up it feparates into two branches, and I took my courfe through that which lies to the eaftward. The country adjoining to the river, for about fixty miles, is very level, and on its banks lie fine meadows, where larger droves of buffaloes and elks were feeding, than I had obferved in any other part of my travels. The track between the two branches of this • river is termed the Road of war between the Chipeway and NaudowelTie Indians. The country to the Falls is almoft without any timber, and above that very uneven and rugged, CARVERS TRAVELS. 65 and clofely wooded with pines, beach, maple, and birch. Here a moil remarkable and aftonifhing fight prefented itfelf to my view. In a wood, on the earl of the river, which was about three quarters of a mile In length, and in depth further than my eye could reach, I obferved that every tree, many of which were more than fix feet in circumference, was lying flat on the ground, torn up by the roots. This appeared to have been done by fome extraor- dinary hurricane, that came from the weft fome years ago; but how many I could not learn, as I found no inhabitants near it, of whom I could gain information. The country on the weft fide of the river, from being lefs woody, had efcaped in a great meafure this havoc, as only a few trees were blown down. Near the heads of this river, is a town of the Chi- peways, from whence it takes its name. It is fituated on each fide of the river (which at this place is of no considerable breadth) and lies adjacent to the banks of a fmail lake. This town contains about forty houfes, and can fend out upwards of one hundred warriors, many of whom were fine, ftout young men. The houfes of it are built after the Indian manner, and. have neat plantations behind them; but the inhabi- tants, in genera], fsemed to be the naftieft people I had ever been among. I obferved that the women and children indulged themfelves in a cuftom, which though common, in fome degree, throughout every Indian nation, appears to be, according to our ideas, pf the mod naufeous and indelicate nature; that of fearching each other'? head, .and easing the prey caught therein. In July J Jeft this town, and having croffed a nurn.ber of fm,all lakes and carrying places that inter- J 66 ARVER'j TRAVELS vened> came to a head branch of the river St. Croix. This branch I defcended to a fork, and then afcehded another to its fource. On both thefe rivers I difcovered feveral mines of virgin cop- per, which was as pure as that found in any ether country. Here I came to a fmafll brook, which my r;uide thought might be joined at fome diftance by dreams that would at length render it navigable. The water at firft was fo fcanty, that my canoe would by no means fwim in it; but having Hopped up ieveral old beaver dams, which had been broken oown by the hunters, I was enabled to proceed for fome miles, till by the conjunction of a few brooks, thefe aids became no longer recelTsry; In a fhort time the water increafed to a moll rapid river, which we defcended till it entered into Lake Superior. This river I named after a gentleman that defired to accompany me from the tcrwn of the Ottagau- mies to the Carrying Place on Lake Superior, God- dard's River. To the weft of this is another fmall river, which alfo empties itfelf into the Lake. This I termed Strawberry River, from the great number of ftrawberries of a good fize and flavor that grew on its banks. The country from the Ottowaw Lakes to Lake Superior, is in general very uneven and thickly covered with woods. The foil in fome places is tolerably good, in others but indifferent. In the heads of the St. Croix and the Chipev/ay Rivers are exceeding fine iluiyeon. All the wildernefs be- tween the Miffiffippi and Lake Superior is called by the Indians, the Molchcttoe Country, and I thought it moil jullly named -, for,it being then CARVER'S TRAVELS. 6 ? their feafon, I never faw or felt h many of thole in Teds in my life. The latter end of July I arrived, after having coafted through Weil Bay, at the Grand Portage^ which lies on the north-weft borders of Lake Su- perior. Here thofe who go on the north -weft trade, to the Lakes De Pluye, Dubois, &c. carry- over their canoes and baggage about nine miles, till they come to a number of fmall lakes, the wa- ters of fome of which defcend into Lake Superior, and others into the river Bourbon. Lake Supe- rior from Weft Bay to this place is bounded by- rocks, except towards the fouth-weft part of the Bay where I firft entered it, there it was tolerably level. At the grand Portage is a fmall bay, before the entrance of v/hich lies an ifland that intercepts the dreary and uninterrupted view over the Lake, which otherwife would have prefented itfelf, and makes the bay ferene and pleafant. Here I met a large party of the Killiftinoe and Affinipoil Indians, with their refpeclive kings and their families. They were come to this place in order to meet the traders from Michillimackinac, who make this their road to the north-weft. From them I received the fol- lowing account of the Lakes that lie to the north- weft of Lake Superior. Lake Bourbon, the meft northern of thofe yet difcovered, received its name from the French tra- ders who accompanied a party cf Indians to Hud- son's Bay fome years ago; and was thus denomi- nated by them in honor of the royai Family of France, I: is compofed of the waters of the Bourbon River, >vhich : as I have before cbferved, rifes a. great wa^ 63 CARVER's TRAVELS. to the fouthward, not far from the northern heads of the Miffifftppi. This lake is about eighty miles in length, north and fouth, and is nearly circular. It has no very large iflands on it. The land on the eaftern fide is very good; and to the fouth- weft there are fome mountains -, in many other parts there are barren plains j bogs, and morafies. Its latitude is between fifty- two and fifty-four degrees north, and it lies nearly fouth-weft from Hudfon's Bay. As through its northern fituation the weather there is extremely cold, only a few animals are to be found in the country that borders on it. They gave me but an indifferent account either of the beafis, birds, or fifties. There are indeed fome buffaloes of a fmall fize, which are fat and good about the latter end of fummer, with a few moofe and carriboo deer : who- ever, this deficiency is made up by the furs of every fort that are to be met with in great plenty around the "lake. The timber growing here is chiefly fir, ceder, fpruce, and fome maple. Lake Wir.nepeck, or as the French write it, Lac Guinipique which lies neareft to the foregoing, is cempofed cf the fame waters. It is in length about two hundred miles north and fouth - s its breadth has never been properly afcertained, but is fuppofedto be about one hundred miles in its wideft part. This lake is very full of iflands \ thefe, are however,of no great magnitude. Many confiderable rivers empty themfelves into it, which, as yet are notdiftinguifhed by any names. The waters are ftored w r ith fifh, fuch as trout and fturgeon, and alfo with others of a fmaller kind peculiar to thefe lakes. The land en the fouth-weft part of it is very gocd, efpccially about theentrance of a large branch of the River Bourbon, which flows from the fouth- CARVER'S TRAVELS. 69 weft. On this river there is a factory that was built by the French, called Fort la Reine, to which the traders from Michillimackinac refort to trade with the Aflinipolis and Killiftinoes. To this place the Mahahs, who inhabit a country two hundred and fifty miles fouth-weft come aifo to trade with them ; and bring great quantities of Indian corn, to ex- change for knives, tomahawks, and other articles. Thole people are fuppofed to dwell on fome of the branches of the River of the Weft. Lake Winnepeek has on the ncrth-eaft fome mountains, and on the eaft many barren plains. The maple or fugar tree grows here in great plenty, and there is likewife gathered an amazing quantity of rice, which proves that grain will nourifh in thefe northern climates as well as in warmer. Buffaloes, carriboo, and moofe deer, are numerous in thefe parts. The buffaloes of this country differ from thofe that are found more to the fouth only in fize ,• the former being much fmaller -, juft as the black cattle cf the northern parts of Great Britain differ from Englifh oxen. On the waters that fall into this Lake, the neigh- bouring nations take great numbers of excellent furs. Some of thefe they carry to the factories and fettle- ments belonging to the Hudfon's Bay Company, fuuated above the entrance of the Bourbon River? but this they do with reluctance, on feveral accounts; for fome of the Afllnipoils and Killiftinoes, who ufually traded with the Company's fervants, told me, that if they could be fure of a conftant fupply of goods from Michillimackinac, they would not trade anywhere elfe. They fhewed me fome cloth and other articles that they had purchafed at Hudfon's Bay, with which they were much diffatisfied, think- ing they had been greatlyimpofed upon in the barter. ;o CARVER'S TRAVELS. Allowing that their accounts were true, I could not help joining in their opinion. But this dilTatisfac- tion might probably proceed, in a great meafure, from the intrigues of the Canadian traders : for whilft the French were in polTeflion of Michilli- mackinac, having acquired a thorough knowledge of the trade of the north- weft countries, they were employed on that account, after the reduction of Canada, by the Englifri traders there, in the efta- blifhment of this trade with which they were them- felves quite unacquainted. One of the methods they took to withdraw thefe Indians from their attach- ment to the Hudfon's Bay Company, and to engage their good opinion m behalf of their new employers, was by depreciating on all occafions the Company's goods, and magnifying the advantages that would arife to them from trafficing entirely with the Ca- nadian traders. In this they too well fucceeded, and from, this, doubtlefs, did the difTatisfaction the AiTinipoils and Killiftinoes expreffed to me, part- ly proceed. But another reafon augmented it ; and this was the length of their journey to the Hudfon's Bay factories, which, they informed me, took them up three months, during the furnmer heats to go and return, and from the fmallnefs of their canoes they could not carry more than a third of the beavers they killed. So that it is not to be wondered at. that thefe Indians mould wifh to have traders come to refide among them. It is true that the parts they inhabit are within the limits of the Hudfon's Bay ter- ritories ; but the Company muft be under the necef- fity of winking at an encroachment of this kind, as the Indians would without doubt protect the traders when among them. Beiides, the paifports granted to the traders that go from Michiilimackinac give them liberty to trade to the north-weft about Lake Superior ; by which is meant Fort La Reine, Lake Wirmepeek, or any other parts of the waters of the CARVER'S TRAVELS. i\ Bourbon River, where the Couriers de Bois, or Tra- ders, may make it mod convenient to refide. Luc du Bois, as commonly termed by the French in their maps, or in Engiifh the Lake of the Wood, is fo called from the multiplicity of wood growing on its banks ; fuch as oaks, pines, firs, fpruce, &c. This Lake lies ftiil higher upon a branch of the River Bourbon, and nearly eaft from the fouth end of Lake Winnepeek. It is of great depth in fome places. Its length from eaft to weft about feventy miles, and its greateft breadth about forty miles. It has but few iilands, and thefe of no great magnitude. The fifhes, fowls, and quadrupeds that are found near it, vary but little from thofe of the other two lakes. A few of the Killiftinoe In- dians fometimes encamp on the borders of it ttb fifh and hunt. This Lake lies in the communication between Lake Superior, and the Lakes Winnepeek and BGur- bon. Its v/aters are not efteemed quite fo pure as thofe of the other lakes, it having, in many places, a muddy bottom. Lac La Pluye fo called by the French, in Englilli the Rainy Lake, is fuppofed to have acquired this name from the firft travellers, that paffed over it, meeting with an uncommon deal of fain \ or as fome have affirmed, from a mill like rain, occafioned by a perpendicular water-fall that empties itfelf into a river which lies to the fouth -v/ef?"« This Lake appears to be divided by anifthmus,near the middle, into two parts : the weft part is called the Great Rainy Lake, the eaft, the Little Rainy Lake, as being the leaft divifion. It lies a ftw miles further to the eaftward, an the fame branch of the r* CARVER'S TRAVELS Bourbon, than the laft mentioned Lake. It is in general very fhallcw in its depth. The broadeft part of it is not more than twenty miles ; its length, including both about three hundred miles. In the weft part the water is very clear and good ; and fome excellent fiih are taken in it. A great many fowl refort here in the fall of the year. Moofe deer are to be found in great plenty, and likewife the car- riboo j whofe fkin for breeches or gloves exceeds by far any other to be met with in North-America. The land on the borders of this Lake is efteemed, in fome places, very good, but rather too thickly covered with wood. Here refrde a coniiderable band of the Chipeways. Laftward from this Lake lie feveral fmall ones, which extend in a firing to the great carrying place, and from thence into Lake Superior. Between thefe little Lakes are feveral carrying places, which ren- ders the trade to the north-weft difficult to accom- plish, and exceeding tedious, as it takes two years to make one voyage from Michillimackinac to thefe parts. Red Lake is a comparatively fmall lake, at the head of a branch of the Bourbon River, which is called by fome Red River. Its form is nearly round, and about fixty miles in circumference. On one fide of it is a tolerable large ifland, clofe by which a fmall river enters. It bears almoft fouth-eaft both from Lake Winnepeek and from Lake du Bois. The parts adjacent are very little kr.cwn or fre- quented, even by the lavages themfelves. Not far from this Lake, a little to the fouth-weft, is another, called White Bear Lake, which is nearly about the ftze of the laft mentioned. The waters that cornpofe this Lake are the moil northern of CARVER'S TRAVELS. 73 that fupply the Miflifiippi, and may be called with propriety its moft remote fource. It is fed by two or three iinail rivers, or rather large brooks. A few miles from it, to the fouth-eaft, are a great number of fmall lakes, none of which are more than ten miles in circumference, that are called the Thoufand Lakes. In the adjacent country is reck- oned the fined hunting for furs of any on this conti- nent ; the Indians who hunt here, feldom returning without having their canoes loaded as deep as they can fwim. Having jufb before obferved that this Lake is the utmoft northern fource of the MiiTiffippi, I fhall here further remark, that before this river enters the Gulf of Mexico, it has not run lefs, through all its meanderings, than three thoufand miles i or, in a ftraight line from north to fouth, about twenty degrees, which js nearly fourteen hun- dred Englifh miles. Thefe Indians informed me, that to the north- weft of Lake Winnepeek lies another, whofe cir- cumference vaftly exceeded any they had given me an account of. They defcribe it as much larger than Lake Superior. But as it appears to be fo far to the north-weft, I fTiould imagine that it was not a lake, but rather the Archipelago, or broken waters that form the communication between Hud- fon's Bay and the northern parts of the Pacific Ocean. There are an infinite number of fmall lakes, on the more weftern parts of the weftern head-branches of the MiflifTippi, as well between thefe and Lake Winnepeek, but none of them are large enough to K 7 4 CARVER'S TRAVELS. fuppofe either of them to be the lake or waters meant by the Indians. They like wife informed me, that fome of the northern branches of the Mefforie and the fouthern branches of the St. Pierre have a communication with each other, except for a mile; over which they carry their canoes. And by what I could learn from them, this is the road they take when their war parties make their excurfions upon the Pawnees and Pawnawnees, nations inhabiting fome branches of the Mefforie River. In the country belonging to thefe people it is laid, that Mandrakes are frequently found, a fpecies of root refembling human beings of both fexes : and that thefe are more perfect than fuch as are difcovered about the Nile in Nether-Ethiopia, A little to the north- weft of the heads of the Mef- forie and St. Pierre, the Indians further toid me, that there was a nation rather fmaller and whiter than the neighbouring tribes, who cultivate the ground, and (as far as I could gather from their exprefiions) in fome meafure, the arts. To this account they added that fome of the nations who inhabit thofe parts that lie to the weft of the Shining Mountains, have gold fo plenty among them that they make their moft common utenfjls of it. Thefe mountains (which I fhall defcribe more particu- larly hereafter) divide the waters that fall into the South Sea from thofe that run into the At- lantic. The people dwelling near them are fuppofed to be fome of the different tribes that were tributary fo the Mexican kings, and who fled from their na- tive country, to feek anafylum in thefe parts, about CARVER'S TRAVELS. 75 the time of the conqueft of Mexico by the Spaniards, more than two centuries ag-o. o As fome confirmation of this fuppofition, it is remarked, that they have chofen the mod interior parts of their retreat, being ftill prepofleffed with a notion that the fea-coafts have been infefted ever fince with monfters vomiting fire, and hurling about thunder and lightning; from whofe bowels ifiued men, who, with unfeen inftruments, or by the power of magic, killed the harmlefs Indians at an aftonifhing diftance. From fuch as thefe, their fore-fathers (according to a tradition among them that ftill remains unimpaired) fled to the retired abodes they now inhabit. For as they found that: the floating monfters, which had thus terrified them could not approach the land, and that thofe who had defcended from their fides did not care to make excurfions to any considerable diftance from them, they formed a refclution to betake themfelves to fome country, that lay far from the fea-coafts, where only they could be fecure from fuch diabolical enemies. They accordingly fet out with their fami- lies, and after a long peregrination, fettled them- felves near thefe mountains, where they concluded they had found a place of perfect fecurity. The Winnebagoes, dwelling on the Fox River (whom I have already treated of) are likewife fup- pofed to be fome ftrolling band from the Mexican countries. But they are able to give only an im- perfect account of their original refidence. They fay they formerly came a great way from the weft- ward, and were driven by wars to take refuge among the Naudoweflies; but as they are entirely ignorant of the arts, or of the value of gold, it is ra- ther to be fuppofed, that they were driven from their ancient fettlements by the above-mentioned ;6 C A R V E R ' s T R A V ELS. emigrants, as they palled on towards their prcfent habitation. Thefe fuppofmons, however, may want confir- mations for the fmaUer tribes of Indians are fub- iec~t to fuch various alterations in their places of abode, from the wars they are continually engaged in, that it is alrnoft impoffible to afcertain, after half a century, the original fituation of any of them. That range of mountains, of which the Shining Mountains are a part, begins at Mexico, and con- tinuing northward on the back or to the eaft of Ca- lifornia, feparate the waters of thofe numerous rivers that fall either into the Gulf of Mexico, or the Gulf of California. From thence continuing their courfe ilill northward, between the fourcesofthe Mifliffippi and the rivers that run into the South Sea, they appear to end in about forty- feven or forty-eight degrees of north latitude -, where a number of rivers arife, and empty themfelves either into the South Sea, into Hudfon's Bay, or into the waters that communicate between thefe two feas. Among thefe mountains, thofe that lie to the weft of the river St. Pierre, are called the Shin- ing mountains, from an infinite number of chryftal ilones, of an amazing fize with which they are covered, and which, when the fun mines full upon them, fparkle fo as to be feen at a very great dif- tance. This extraordinary range of mountains is calcu- lated to be more than three thoufand miles in length, without any very confiderable intervals, which I believe furpaffes any thing of the kind in the other quarters of the globe. Probably in future ages they may be found to contain more riches in their bowels, TRAVELS. 77 than thofe of Indoftan and Malabar, or that are pro- duced on the golden coaft of Guinea; nor will I except even the Peruvian mines. To the weft of thefe mountains, when explored by future Colum- bufes or Raleighs, may be found other lakes, ri- vers, and countries, full fraught with all the necef- faries or luxuries of life; and where future genera- tions may find an afylum, whether driven from their country by the ravages of lawlefs tyrants, or by religious perfecutions, or reluctantly leaving it to remedy the inconveniencies arifing from a fupera- bundant increafe of inhabitants; whether, I fay> impelled by thefe, or allured by hopes of commer- cial advantages, there is little doubt but their ex- pectations will be fully gratified in thefe rich and unexhaufted climes. But to return to the Aflinipoils and Killiftinoes, whom I left at the Grand Portage, and from whom I received the foregoing account of the lakes that lie to the north-well: of this place. The traders we expected being later this feafon than ufual, and our numbers very confiderable, for there were more than three hundred of us, the ftock of provifions we had brought with us was nearly exhaufted, and we waited with impatience for their arrival. One day, whilft we were all exprelTing ourwifhes for this deferable event, and looking from an emi- nence in hopes of feeing them come over the lake, the chief prieft belonging to the band of the Kil- liftinoes, told us, that he would endeavour to ob- tain a conference with the Great Spirit, and know from him when the traders would arrive. I paid little attention to this declaration, fuppofing that it would be productive of fome juggling trick, juft 7 8 C A R V E R's TRAVELS. iufEciently covered to deceive the ignorant Indi- ans. But the king of that tribe telling me that this was chiefly undertaken by the prieft, to alleviate my anxiety, and at the fame time to convince me how much intereft he had with the Great Spirit, I thought it neceffary to rcftrain my animadverfions on his defign. The following evening was fixed upon for this fpiritcal conference. When every thing had been properly. prepared, the king came to me and led me to a capacious tent, the covering of which was drawn up, fo as to render what was tranfacting within, vifible to thofe who flood without. We found the tent furrounded by a great number of the Indians, but we readily gained admiiTion, and feated ourfelves on ikins laid on the ground for that pur- pofe. In the center I obferved that there was a place of an oblong fhape, which was compofed of flakes fhick in the ground, with intervals between, fo as to form a kind of chefl or coffin, large enough to contain the body of a man. Thefe were of a mid- dle fize, and placed at fuch a diftance from each other, that whatever lay within them was readily to be difcerned. The tent was perfectly illuminated by a great number of torches made of fplinters cut from the pine or birch tree, which the Indians held in their hands. In a few minutes the pried entered; when an amazing large elk's (kin being fpread on the ground juft at my kct, he laid himfelf down upon it, after having flript himfelf of every garment except that which he wore clofe about his middle. Being now proftrate on his back, he firft laid hold of one fide of the (kin, and folded it over him 3 and then the other ; CARVER'S TRAVELS. 79 leaving only his head uncovered. This was no fooner done, than two of the young men who flood by, took about forty yards of ftrong cord, made alio of an elk's hide, and rolled it tight round his body, fo that he was completely fwathed within the fkin. Being thus bound up like an Egyptian Mum- my, one took him by the heels, and the other by the head, and lifted him over the pales into the enclofure. I could alfo -now difcern him as plain. as I had hitherto done, and I took care not to turn my eyes a moment from the object before me, that I might the more readily detect the artifice -, for fuch I doubted not but that it would turn out to be. The prieft had not lain in this fituation more than a few feconds, when he began to mutter. This he continued to do for fome time, and then by degrees grew louder and louder, [till at length he fpoke articulately; however, what he uttered was in fuch a mixed jargon of the Chipeway, Ottawaw, and Killiflinoe languages, that I could underfland but very little of it. Having continued in this tone for a confiderable while, he at laft exerted his voice to its utmofl pitch, fometimes raving, and fometimes praying, till he had worked himfelf into fuch an agi- tation, that he foamed at his mouth. After having remained near three quarters of an hour in the place, and continued his vociferation with unabated vigor, he feemed to be quite ex- haufted, and remained fpeechlefs. But in an inflant he fprung upon his feet, notwithftanding at the time he was put in, it appeared impofiible for him to move either his legs or arms, and (baking off his covering, as quick as if the bands with which it had heen bound were burned afunder, he began to ad- drefs thofe who flood around, in a. firm and audible VDice. ".My brothers/' faid he, u tht Great go CARVER'S TRAVELS. IC Spirit has deigned to hold a Talk with his fervant, , on receiving a promife that the intelligence fhe was about to give him mould not turn to her prejudice., and that if it appeared to be beneficial, flie ihould be rewarded for it, fhe informed him, that at the coun- cil to be held with the Indians the following day, Pontiac and his chiefs intended to murder him; and, after having maffacred the garrifon and inhabitants, to plunder the town. That for this purpofe all the chiefs who were to be admitted into the council-room, had cut their gunsfhort, fo that they could conceal them under their blankets; with which, at a fignal given by their. general, on delivering the belt, they were all to rife up ? and inftantly to fire on him and his attendants. Having effected this, they were, immediately to rufh into the town, where they would find thcmfelves fupported by a great number of their warriors, that were to come into it during the fitting of the council, under pretence of trading, but pri- vately armed in the fame manner. Having gained from the women every neceftary particular relative to the plot, and alfo of the means by which flie ac- quired a knowledge of them, he difmiifed her with injunctions of fecrecy, and a promife of fulfilling on his part with punctuality, the engagements he had entered into. The intelligence the governor had juft received^ gave him great uneafinefs; and he immediately con - Halted the officer who was not next to him in com* mand, on the fubjecr. But that gentleman confi- dering the information as a ftory invented for fome artful purpofes, advifed him to pay no attention to JOO CARVER'S TRAVEL S. it. This conclufion, however, had happily no weight with him. He thought it prudent to conclude it to be true, till he was convinced that it was not fo; and therefore, without revealing his fufpicions to any other perfon, he took every needful precau- tion that the time would admit of. He walked round the fort during the whole night, and law himfelf that every centinel w? w s on duty, and every weapon of defence in proper order. As we traverfed the ramparts, which lay nearefl to the Indian camp, he heard them in high feftivity, and, little imagining that their plot was difcovered, probably pleafing themfelves with the anticipation of their fuccefs. As foon as the morning dawned, he ordered all the garrifon under arms -, and then imparting his apprehenfions to a few of the principal officers, gave themfuch directions as he thought ne- ceflary. At the lame time he fent round to all the traders, to inform them, that as it was expected a great number of Indians would enter the town that day, who might be inclined to plunder, he defired they would have their arms ready, and repel every attempt of that kind. About ten o'clock, Pontiac and his chiefs arrived; and were conducted to the council-chamber, where the governor and his principal officers, each with piftols in their belts, awaited his arrival. As the Indians palled on, they could not help obferving that a greater number of troops than ufual were drawn up on the parade, or marching about. No fooner were they entered, and feated on the fkins prepared for them, than Pontiac afked the governor on what occafion his young men, meaning the fol- diers, were thus drawn up, and parading the ftreets. He received foranfwer, that it was only intended to keep them perfect in their exercife. CARVER'S TRAVELS. i©i The Indian chief-warrior now began his fpeech, which contained the ftrongeft profeffions of friendfhip and good-will towards the Englifh; and when he came to the delivery of the belt of wampum, the particular mode of which, according to the woman's information, was to be the fignal for his chiefs to fire, the governor and all his attendants drew their fwords halfway out of their fcabbards; and the fol- diers at the fame inftant made a clattering with their arms before the doors, which had been purpofely left open. Pontiac, though one of the boldeft of men, immediately turned pale, and trembled ■, and inftead of giving the belt in the manner propofed, delivered it according to the ufual way. His chiefs, who had impatiently expected the fignal, looked at each other with aitonifhment, but continued quiet, waiting the refult. The governor in his turn made a fpeech; but in- ftead of thanking the great warrior for the profeflions of friendfhip he had juft uttered, he accufed him of being a traitor, He told him that the Englifh, who knew every thing, were convinced of his treachery and villainous defigns; and as a proof that they were well acquainted with his moft fecret thoughts and intentions, he Hepped towards the Indian chief that fat neareft to him, and drawing afide his blanket, difcovered the fhortened firelock. This entirely difconcerted the Indians, and frustrated their de- fign. He then continued to tell them, that as he had given his word at the time they defired an audience, that their perfons fhould be fafe, he would hold his promife inviolable, though they fo little defer ved it. However, he advifed them to make the beft of their way out of the fort, left his young men on being I02 C A R V E R's TRAVELS. acquainted with their treacherous purpofes, fhould cut every one of them to pieces. Pontiac endeavoured to contradict the accufation, and to make excufes for his fufpicious conduct; but the governor, fatisfied of the falfityofhis protec- tion, would not liften to him. The Indians imme- diately left the fort, but inftead of being fenlible of the governor's generous behaviour, they threw off the mafk, and the next day made a reguLr attack upon it. Major Gladwyn has not efcaped cenfure for this miftaken lenity; for probably had he kept a few of the principal chiefs prifoners, whilft he had them in his power, he might have been able to have brought the whole confederacy to terms, and have prevented a war. But he atoned for this overfight, by the gal- lant defence he made for more than a year, amidft a variety of difcouragements. During that period fome very fmart fkirmifhes happened between the befiegers and the garrifon, of which the following was the principal and moft bloody : Captain Delzel, a brave officer, prevailed on the governor to give him the command of about two hundred men, and to permit him to attack the enemy's camp. This being complied with, he fallicd from the town before day-break ; but Pontiac, re- ceiving from fome of his fwift-footed warriors, who were conftantly employed in watching the motion of the garrifon, timely intelligence of their defign, Jie collected together the choicer!: of his troops, and met the detachment at fome diftance from his camp, near a place fince called Bloody-Bridge. As the Indians were vaftly fuperior in numbers to captain Delzel's party, he was foon over-powered CARVER'S TRAVELS. 103 and driven back. Being now nearly furrounded, he made a vigorous effort to regain the bridge he had juft croffed, by which alone he could find a retreat; but in doing this he loft his life, and many of his men fell with him. However, major Rogers, the fccond in command^afTifted by Lieutenant Breham, found means to draw off the mattered remains of their lit- tle army, and conducted them into the fort. Thus confiderably reduced, it was with difficulty the major could defend the town; notwithftand- ing which, he held out againft the Indians till he was relieved, as after this they made but few attacks on the place, and only continued to block- ade it. The Gladwyn fchooner (that in which I after- wards took my paffage from Michillimackinac to Detroit, and which I fince learn was loft with all her crew, on Lake Erie, through the obftinacy of the commander, who could not be prevailed upon to take in fufficient ballaft) arrived about this time, near the town, with a reinforcement, and neceffary fupplies. But before this veffel could reach the place of its deftination, it was mod vigoroufly at- tacked by a detachment from Pontiac's army. The Indians furrounded it in their canoes, and made great havoc among the crew. At length the captain of the fchooner, with a confiderable number of his men being killed, and the favages beginning to .climb up the fides from every quarter, the lieutenant (M. Jacobs, who af- terwards commanded, and was loft in it) being de- termined that the (lores mould not fall into the ene- my's hands, and feeing no other alternative, order- ed the gunner to fet fire to the powder-room, and blow the fhip up. This order was on the point of IO+ CARVER'S TRAVELS. being executed, when a chief of the Hurons, who understood the Englifh lauguage, gave out to his friends the intention of the commander. On re- cieving this intelligence, the Indians hurried down the fide of the fhip with the greateft precipitation, and got as far from it as poffibki whilft the com- mander immediately took advantage of their con- ilernation, and arrived without any further obstruc- tion at the town. This feafonable fupply gave the garrifon frefh fpirits i and Pontiac being now convinced that it would not be in his power to reduce the place, pro- pofed an accommodation -, the governor wifhed as much to get rid of fuch troublefome enemies, who obstructed the intercourfe of the traders with the neighbouring nations, listened to his propofals, and having procured advantageous terms, agreed to a peace. The Indians foon after feparated, and re- turned to their different provinces ; nor have they fince thought proper to disturb, at leafl in any great degree, the tranquility of thefe parts. Pontiac henceforward feemed to have laid afide the animofity he had hitherto borne towards the Englijfh, and apparently became thefr zealous friend. To reward this new attachment, and to infure a con • tinuance of it, government allowed him a handfome penfion. But his reftlefs and intriguing Jpirit would not fuffer him to be grateful for this allowance, and his conduct at length grew fufpicious ; fo that going, in the year 1767, to hold a council in the country of the Illinois, a faithful Indian, who was either com- mifTioned by one of the Englifh governors, or in- stigated by the love he bore the Englifh nation, at- tended him as a fpy; and being convinced from the fpeech Pontiac made in the council, that he still re- tained his former prejudices againit thofe for whom he now profeffed a friendfhip, he plunged his knife CARVER'S TRAVELS. i© 5 into his heart, as foon as he had done fpeaking, and kid him d digreffion. kid him dead on the (pot. But to return from this Lake Erie receives the.waters by which it is fup- plied from the three great lakes, through the Straits of Detroit, that lie at its north-weft corner. This lake is fituated betv/een forty-one and forty- three degrees of north latitude, and between feventy-eight and eighty- three degrees of weft longitude. It is near three hundred miles long from eaft to weft, and about forty in its broadeft part : and a remarkable long narrow point lies on its north fide, that projecls for feverai miles into the lake towards the fouth-eaft. There are feverai iflands near the weft end of it fo infefted with rattle-fnakes, that it is very dangerous to land on them. It is impoflible that any place can produce a greater number of all kinds of thefe reptiles than this does, particularly of the water- make. The lake is covered near the banks of the iflands with the large pond-lily; the leaves ofwhichlie on the furface of the water fo thick, as to cover it entirely for many acres|together ; and on each of thefe lay, when I pafled over it, wreaths of water-makes bafking in the fun, which amounted to myriads. The moft remarkable of the different fpecies, that infeft this lake, is the hiffing-fnake, which is of the fmall fpeckled kind, and about eight inches long. When any thing approaches, it flattens itfelf in amo- ment, and its fpots, which are of various dyes be- come vifibly brighter through rage •, at the fame time it blows from its mouth, with great force, a fubtile wind, that is reported to be of a naufeous fmell ; and if drawn in with the breath of the unwary traveller, wall infallibly bring on a decline, that in a few O ig6 C A R V E R ' s T R A V ELS. months mutt prove mortal, there being no remedy yet difcovered which can counteract its baneful in- fluence. The ftones and pebbles on the fliores of this lake lire mole of them tinged, in a greater or lefs degree, :s that refemble brais in their colour, but which are of a more fulphureous nature. Small pieces, about the iize of hazle-nuts, of the fame kinds of ore, are found on the fands that lie on its banks, and under the water. The navigation of this lake is efteemed more dangerous than any of the others, on account of many high lands that lie on the borders of it, and project into the water, in a perpendicular direction for many miles together -, fo that whenever fudden ftorms arife, canoes and boats are frequently loft, as there is no place for them to rind a fhelter. This lake difcharges its waters at the north-eaft ends into the River Niagara, which runs north and fouth, and is about thirty fix miles in length •, from whence it falls into Lake Ontario. At the entrance of this river, on its eaftern more, lies Fort Niagara ; and, about eighteen miles further up, thofe remark- able Falls which are efteemed one of the moft ex- traordinary productions of nature at prefent known. As thefe have been vifited by fo many travellers, and fo frequently defcribed, I fhall omit giving a particular defcription ofthem, and only obferve, that the waters by which they are fupplied, after taking their rife near two thoufand miles to the north- weft, and paffmg through the Lakes Superior,Michi- gah, Huron, and Eire, during which they have been receiving conftant accumulations, at length rufh down a ftupendous precipice of one hundred and CARVER'S TRAVELS. forty feet perpendicular -, and in a ftrong rapid, that extends to the diftance of eight or nine miles below, fall nearly as much more : this river focn after empties itfelf into Lake Ontario. The noife of thefe Falls may be heard an amaz- ing way. I could plainly diftinguifn them in a calm morning more than twenty miles. Others have faid that at particular times, and when the wind fits fair, the found of them reaches fifteen leagues. The land about the Fall is exceedingly hilly and uneven, but the greater! part of that on the Niagara River is very good, efpecially for grafs and pafturage. Fort Niagara (lands nearly at the entrance of the weft end of Lake Ontario, and on the eaft part of the Straits of Niagara. It was taken from the French in the year 1759, ^7 t ^ Le f° rces under the command of Sir William Johnfon, and at pre fen t is defended by a considerable garrifon. Lake Ontario is the next and leaft of the five great lakesof Canada. Its fituation is between forty three and forty-five degrees of latitude, and be- tween feventy- fix and feventy-nine degrees of weft longitude. The form of it is nearly oval, its greateft length being from north-eaft to fouth-weft, and in circumference, about fix hundred miles. Near the fouth-eaft pari: it receives the waters of the Oiwego River,and on the north-eaft difcharges itfelf into the River Cataraqui. Not far from the place where it iffues, Fort Frontenac formerly flood, which was taken from the French during the iaft war, in the year 1758, by a fmall army of Provincials under Col. Bradftreet. ioS CARVER'S TRAVELS. At the entrance of Ofwego River Hands a fort of the fame name, garrifoned only at prefent by ^n in- confiderable party. This fort was taken in the year 1756, by the French, when a great part of the gar- nfon, which confided of the late Shirley's and Pep- peril's regiments, were maiTacred in cold blood by the favages. In Lake Ontario are taken many forts of flfh 3 among which is the Ofwego Bafs, of an excellent flavour, and weighing about three or four pounds. There is alfo a fort called the Cat-head or Pout, which are in general very large, fome of them weighing eight or ten pounds j and they are efteemed a rare dim when properly dreiTed. On the north- weft part of this Lake, and to the fouth-eaft of Lake Huron, is a tribe of Indians called Miiniauges, whofe town is denominated Toronto, from the lake on which it lies ; but they are not very numerous. The country about Lake Ontario, es- pecially the more north and caftern parts, is compofed of good land, and in time may make very flourifh- ing fettlements. The Oniada Lake, fituated near the head of the River Ofwego, receives the waters of Wood-Creek, which takes its rife not far from the Mohawk's River. Thefe two lie fo adjacent to each other, that a junction is effected by fluices at fort Stanwix* about twelve miles from the mouth of the former. This lake is about thirty miles long from eaft to weft, and near fifteen broad. The country around it be- longs to the Oniada Indians. Lake Champlain, the ne*t in fize to Lake On- tario, and which lies nearly eaft from it is about eighty miles in length, north and fouth, and in its CARVER'S TRAVELS. 109 broadeft part fourteen. It is well ftored with fifh, and the lands that lie on all the borders of it, and about its rivers, very good. Lake George, formerly called by the French Lake St. Sacrament, lies to the fouth-weir. of the lafl mentioned lake, and is about thirty-five miles long fromnorth-eaft to fouth-weft, but of no great breadth. The country around it is very mountain- ous, but in the vallies the land is tolerably good. When thefe two lakes were firft difcovered, they were known by no other name than that of the Iro- quois Lakes ; and I believe in the firft plans taken of thofe parts, were fo denominated. The Indians alfo that were then called the Iroquois, are fince known by the name of the Five Mowhawk nations, and the Mowhawks of Canada. In the late war, the former, which confift of the Onondagoes, the Oniadas, the Senecas,the Tufcarories,andIroondocks, fought on the fide of the Englifh : the latter which are called the Cohnawaghans, and St. Francis In- dians, joined the French. A vaft tract of land that lies between the two lafb mentioned lakes and Ontario, was granted in the year 1629, by the Plymouth Company, under a patent they had received from King James I. to Sir Ferdinando Gorges, and to Captain John Ma- fon, the head of that family, afterwards diftinguifhed from others of the fame name, by the Mafons of Connecticut. The countries fpecified in this grant are faid to begin ten miles from the heads of the rivers that run from the eaft and fouth into Lake George and Lake Champlain ; and continuing from thefe in a direct line weftward, extend to the mid- dle of Lake Ontario -, from thence, being bounded by the Cataraqui, or river of the Iroquois, they take no CARVER'S TRAVELS. their courfe to Montreal, as far as Fort Sorrel!, which lies at thejun6tion of this river with the Richlieu ; and from that point are enclofed by the laft men- tioned river till it returns back to the two lakes. This immenfe fpace was granted by the name of the Province ofLaconia, to the aforefaidgentleman, on fpecified conditions, and under certain penalties ■> but none of thefe amounted in cafe of cmifiion in the fulfilment of any part of them, to forfeiture, a fine only could be exacted. On account of the continual wars to which thefe parts have been fubjecT:, from their fituation between the fettlements of the Englifn, the French, and the Indians, this grgnt has been fuffered to lie dormant by the real proprietors. Notwithstanding which, feveral towns have been fettled fince the late war, on the borders of Lake Champlain, and grants made to different people by the governor of New-York,of part of thefe territories, which are now become an- nexed to that province. There are a great number of lakes on the north of Canada, between Labrador, Lake Superior, and Hudfon's Bay, but thefe are comparatively fmalL As they lie out of the track thatlpurfued,! mail only give a fummary account of them. The mod wef- terly of thefe are the Lakes Nipifingand Tamifcam- ing. The firft lies at the head of the French River, and runs into Lake Huron ; the other on the Otta- waw River, which empties itfelfinto the Cartaraqui at Montreal. Thefe lakes are each about one hun- dred miles in circumference. The next is Lake Miftafim, on the head of Ru- pert's River, that falls into James's Bay. This Lake is fo irregular from the large points of land by CARVER'S TRAVELS. m which it is interfered on every fide, that it is diffi- cult either to defcribe its fhape, or to afcertain its fize. It however appears on the whole to be more than two hundred miles in circumference. Lake St. John, which is about eighty miles round, and of a circular form, lies on the Saguenay River, directly north of Quebec, and falls into the St. Lawrence, femewhat north-eaft of that city. Lake Manikouao;one lies near the head of the Black River, which empties itfelf into the St. Lawrence to theeafhvard of the laft mentioned river, near the coaft of Labrador, and is about fixty miles in circumfe- rence, Lake Pertibi, Lake Wincktagan, Lake Et- chelaugon, and Lake Papenouagane, with a num- ber of other fmall lakes; lie near the heads of the Buflard River to the north of the St. Lawrence. Many ethers, which it is unnecefTary to parti- cularize here, are alfo found between the Lakes Huron and Ontario. The whole of thofe I have enumerated, amount- ing to upwards of twenty, are within the limits of Canada; and from this account it might be deduced, that the northern parts of North-America, through thefe numerous inland feas, contain a greater quan- tity of water than any other quarter of the globe. In October 1768 I arrived at Bofton, having been abfent from it on this expedition two years and five months, and during that time travelled near fever* thoufand miles. From thence, as foon as I had pro- perly digefted my Journal and Charts, I fet out for England to communicate the difcoveries I had made, and to render them beneficial to the kingdom. But the profecution of my plans for reaping thefe advan- tages has hitherto been obftructed by the unhappy ii2 CARVE R's TRAVELS. diviiions that have been fomented between Great- Britain and her Colonies by their mutual enemies. Should peace once more be reftored, I doubt not but that the countries I have defcribed will prove a more abundant fource of riches to this nation, than either its Eaft or Weft-Indian fettlements •> and I mail not only pride myfelf, but fincerely rejoice in being the means of pointing out to it fo valuable an acquifition. I cannot conclude che account of my extenfive tra- vels, without expreffing my gratitude to that bene- ficent Being who invifibly protected me through thofe perils which unavoidably attend lb long a tour among fierce and untutored favages. At the fame time let me not be accufed of vanity or prefumption, if I declare that the motives alleged in the introduction of this work, were not the only ones that induced me to engage in this arduous un- O CD dertaking. My views were net folely confined to the advantages that might accrue either to myfelf, or the community to which I belonged; but nobler purpefes contributed principally to urge me on. The confined flate, both v/ith regard to civil and religious improvements, in which fo many of my fellow-creatures remained, aroufed within my bo- fom an irrefiftible inclination to explore the almofl unknown regions which they inhabited ; and as a preparatory flep towards the introduction of more polifhed manners, and more humane fentiments, to gain a knowledge of their language, cuftoms, and principles. I confefs that the little benefit too many of the Indian nations have hitherto received from their Ln- tercourfe with thoie who denominate themfelves CARVER's TRAVELS. ii 3 Chriftians, did not tend to encourage my charitable purpofcsj yet as many, though not the generality, might receive fome benefit from the introduction among them of the polity and religion of the Euro- peans, without retaining only the errors or vices that from the depravity and pervcrfion of their profeffors are unhappily attendant on thefe, I determined to preftverc. Nor could I flatter myfelf that I mould be able to accompliih alone this great defign; however, I was willing to contribute as much as lay in my power towards it. la all public undertakings would every one do this, and furnifh with alacrity his particular fhare towards it, what ftupendous works might nor be completed. It is true that the Indians are not without fome fenfe of religion, and fuch as proves that they wor- ship the Great Creator with a degree of purity un- known to nations who have greater opportunities of improvement; but their religious principles are far from being fo fauitlefs as deicribed by a learned writer, or unmixed with opinions and ceremonies that greatly leffen their excellency in this point. So that could the doctrines of genuine and vital Chris- tianity be introduced among them, pure and un- tainted, as it flowed from the lips of its Divine In- rtitutor, it would certainly tend to clear away that fuperftitious or idolatrous drofs by which the ratio- nality of their religious tenets are obfeured. Its mild and beneficent precepts would like-wife conduce to foften their implacable difpofitions, and to refine their favage manners; an event moft defirable; and happy fhali I efteem myfelf, if this publication mail prove the means of pointing out the path by which P ILi CARVER'S TRAVELS. ialutary inftructions may be conveyed to them, and the converfation, though but of a few, be the con- fequence. Conclusion of the JOURNAL, &c. OF THE ORIGIN, MANNERS, CUSTOMS, RELIGION, and LANGUAGE OF THE INDIANS. CHAPTER. Of their Origin. T H E means by which America received its fir ft inhabitants, have, fince the time of its dif- covery by the Europeans, been the fubject. of num- berlefs difquifitions. Was I to endeavour to collect the different opinions and reafonings of the various writers that have taken up the pen in defence of their conjectures, the enumeration would much exceed the bounds I have preicribed to myfelf, and oblige me to be lefs explicit on points of greater mo- ment. From the obfeurity in which this debate is enve- loped, through the total difufe of letters among every nation of Indians on this extenfive continent, and the uncertainty of oral tradition at the difcance of fo many ages, I fear, that even after the moft minute investigation, we ihall not be able to fettle it with any great degree of certainty. And this apprehen- sion will receive additional force, when it is confi- :: CARVER'S TRAVELS. dered that the diverfity of language, which is appa- rently citlinCt between mod of the Indians, tends to afcertain that this population was not effected from one particular counny, but from feveral nieghbour- ing ones, and completed at different periods. Moil of the the hiftorians or travellers that have treated on the American Aborigines, difagree in their fentiments relative to them. Many of the an- cients are fuppofed to have known that this quarter of the globe hot only exifted, but alfo that it was in- habited. Plato in his Timrcus has aficrted, that beyond the ifland which he calls Atalantis, and which, according to his description, was fituated in the Weflern Ocean, there were a great number of other iflands, and behind thole a vait continent. Oviedo, a celebrated Spanifh author of a much later date, has made no fcruple to affirm that the Antilles are the famous Kefperides fo often menti- oned by the poets ; which are at length rcftored to the kings pi Spain, the defcendants of king Hefpe- rus, who lived upwards of three thouiand years ago, and from whom thefe iflands received their name:, Two other Spaniards, the one, Father Gregorio Garcia, a Dominican, the other, Father Jofeph Be Acofla, a Jefuit, have written on the oiigin of the Americans. The former who had been employed in the milli- ons of P/iexico and Peru, endeavoured to prove from the traditions of the Mexicans, Peruvians, and others, which he received on the {pot, and from the variety of characters, cnfloms, languages, and reli- gion obfervable in the different countries of the New World, that different nations had contributed to the peopling of it. CARVER's TRAVELS. n 7 The latter. Father De Acofla, in his examination of the means by which the firlt Indians of America might have found a paffage to that continent, dif- credits the conclufions of thofe who have fuppofed it to be by fea, becaufe no ancient author has made mention of the compafs: and concludes, that it mult be either by the north of Afia and Europe, which adjoin to each other, or by thofe regions that lie to the fouthward of the Straits of Magellan. He alfo rejects the affertions of fuch as have advanced that it was peopled by the Hebrews. John de Laet, a Flemifh writer, has controverted the opinions of thefe Spanifh fathers, and of many others who ha^e written on the fame lubject. The hypothecs he endeavours to eftablifh, is, that Ame- rica was certainly peopled by the Scythians or Tar- tars: and that the transmigration of thefe people happened foon after the difperfion of Noah's grand- fons. He undertakes to fliow, that the moil nor- thern Americans have a greater refemblance, not only in the features of their countenances, but alfo in their complexion and manner of living, to the Scythians, Tartars, and Samceides, than to any other nations. In anfwer to Grotius, who had afTerted that fome of the Norwegians pafTed into America by way of Greenland, and over a vafr continent, he fays, that it is. well known that Greenland was not difcovered till the year 964; and both Gomera and Herrera in- form us that the Chichimeques were fettled on the Lake of Mexico in 721. He adds, that thefe fava- ges, according to the uniform tradition of the Mex- icans who difpofTelfed them, came from the coun- try fince called New Mexico, and from the neigh- bourhood of California; confequently North-Ame- rica muft have been inhabited many ages before k 1 18 CARVER'S TRAVELS. could receive any inhabitants from Norway by way of Greenland. It is no lefs certain, he obferves, that the real Mexicans founded their empire in 902, after having fubdued the Chichimeques, theOcomias, and other barbarous nations, who had taken poffcffion of the country round the Lake of Mexico, and each of whom fpoke a language peculiar to themfelves. The real Mexicans are likewife fuppofed to come from fome of the countries that lie near California, and that they performed their journey for the moft part by land i ofcourfe they could not come from Norway. De Naet further adds, that though fome of the inhabitants of North-America may have entered ic from the north-weft, yet, as it is related by Pliny, and fome other writers, that on many of the iflands near the weftern coaft of Africa, particularly on the Canaries, fome ancient edirices were feen, it is highly probably from their being now deferted, that the in- habitants may havepaiil:: over to America ; the paf- fage being neither long nor difficult. This migra- tion, according to the calculation of thofe authors, mull" have happened more than two thoufand years ago, at a time when the Spaniards were much trou- bled by the Carthaginians; from whom having ob- tained a knowledge of navigation, and the conduc- tion of fhjps, they might have retired to the Antil- les, by the way of the weftern ides, which were exactly halfway on their voyage. He thinks alio that Great-Britain, Ireland, and the Orcades were extremely proper to admit of a (imilar conjecture. As a proof, he inferts the fol- lowing pailage from the hiftory of Wales, written by Dr. David Pcwel, in the year 1170. CARVER'S TRAVELS. 1 19 This hiftorian fays, that Madoc, one of the fons of Prince Owen Gwynnith, being difgufted at the civil wars which broke out between his brothers, after the death of their father, fitted out feveral vef- fcls, and having provided them with every thing neceffary for a long voyage, went in queft of new lands to the weftward of Ireland j there he difco- vered very fertile countries, but deftitute of inhabi- tants ; when landing part of his people, he returned to Britain, where he raifed new levies, and after- wards tranfported them to his colony. The Fiemifh author then returns to the Scythians, between whom and the Americans be drawn a pa- rallel. He obferves that feveral nations of them to the north of the Cafpian Sea, led a wandering life; which, as well as many other of their cuf- toms, and way of living, agrees in many circum- ftances with the Indians of America. And though the refemblances are not abfolutely perfect, yet the emigrants, even before they left their own country, differed from each other, and went not by the fame name. Their change of abode effected what remained. He further fays, that a fimilar likenefs exifts between feveral American nations, and the Samoei- des who are fettled according to the P^ufiian ac- counts, on the great River Oby. And it is more natural, continues he, to fuppofe that Colonies of their nations palled over to America by eroding the icy fea on their fledges, than for the Norwegians to travel all the way Grotius has marked out for them. This writer makes many other remarks that are equally fenfible, and which appear to be jure ; bu: i2o CARVER'S TRAVELS. he intermixes with thefe, fome that are not fo well founded. Emanuel de Moraez, a Portuguefe, in this hiflo- ry of Brazil, afferts, that America has been wholly- peopled by the Carthaginians and Ifraelites. He brings as a proof of this afifertion, the difcoveries rhe former are known to have made at a great dif- tance beyond the coafl of Africa. The progrefs of which being put a ftop to by the fenate of Carthage, thofe who happened to be them in the newly dif- covered countries, being cut off from all communi- cation with their countrymen, and deftitute of many neeefTaries of life, fell into a ftate of barbarifm. As to the Ifraelites, this author thinks that nothing but circumcifion is wanted in order to conftitute a per- fect refemblance between them and the Brazilians. George De Hwron, a learned Dutchman, has like- wife written on the fubjecl. He fets out with de- claring, that he does not believe it poflible America could have been peopled before the flood, confider- ing the fhort fpace of time which elapfed between the creation of the world and that memorable event. In the next place he lays it down as a principle, that after the deluge, men and other terreftrial animals penetrated into that country both by the fea and by land ; fome through accident, and fome from a form- ed defign. That birds got thither by flight ; which they were enabled to do by reding on the rocks and iflands'that are fcattered about in the Ocean. He further obferves, that wild beafts may have found a free paflage by land; and that if we do not meet with horfes or cattle (to which he might have added elephants, camels, rhinoceros, and beafts of many other kinds) it is becaufe thofe nations that CARVER'S TRAVELS. 121 paired thither, were either not acquainted with their ufe, or had no convenience to fupport them. Having totally excluded many nations that others have admitted as the probable firft fettlers of Ame- rica, for which he gives fubftantial reafons, he fup- pofes that it began to be peopled by the north; and maintains, that the primitive colonies fprcad them- felves by the means of the ifthmus of Panama through the whole extent of the continent. He believes that the firft founders of the Indian Colonies were Scythians. That the Phoenicians and Carthaginians afterwards got footing in America acrofs the Atlantic Ocean, and the Chmefe by way of the Pacific. And that other nations might from time to time have landed there by one or other of theie ways, or might pcflibly have been thrown on the coaft by tempefts : fince, through the whole ex- tent of that Continent, both in its northern and fouthern parts, we meet with undoubted marks of a mixture of the northern nations with thofe who have come from other places. And laftly, that fome Jews and Chriftians might have been carried there by fuch like events, but that this muft have happened at a time when the whole of the New World was already peopled. After all, he acknowleges that great difficulties attend the determination of the queftion. Thefe, he fays, are occafioned in the firft place by the im- perfect knowledge we have of the extremities of the globe, towards the north and fouth pole ; and in the next place to the havoc which the Spaniards, the firft difcoverers of the New World, made among its moft ancient monuments; as witnefs the great double road betwixt: Quito and Cuzco, an under- taking fo ftupendous, that even the moft magnift- 122 CARVER'S TRAVE L S. cent of thofe executed by the Romans, cannot be compared to it. He fuppofes alio another migration of the Phoe- nicians, than thofe already mentioned, to have taken place i and this was during a three years voyage made by the Tyrian fleet in the fervice of King So- lomon. He affcrts on the authority of Jofephus, that the port at which this embarkation was made, :ay in the Mediterranean. The fleet, he adds, went in quell of elephants' teeth and peacocks, to the weftern coaft of Africa, which is Tarfhifhj then to Ophir for gold, which is Haite, or the ifland of Hifpaniola; and in the latter opinion he is fupported by Columbus, who, when he difcovered that ifland, thought he could trace the furnaces in which the gold was refined. To thefe migrations which preceded the Chrif- tian aera, he adds many others of a later date, from different nations, but thefe I have not time to enu- merate. For the fame reafori I am obliged to pafs over numberlefs writers on this fubject; and mail content myfelf with only giving the fentiments of two or three more. The firft of thefe is Pierre De Charlevoix, a Frenchman, who, in his journal of a voyage to North- America, made ib lately as the year 1720, has recapitulated the opinion of a variety of authors on this head, to which he has fubjoined his own con- jectures. But the latter cannot without fome diffi- culty be extracted, as they are fo interwoven with the parTages he has quoted, that it requires much at- tention to difcriminate them.- -- - He feems to allow that America might have re- ceived its firft inhabitants from Tartary and Hyrca- CARVER'S TRAVELS. 125 nia. This he confirms, by obferving that the lion* and tigers which are found in the former, muft have come from thofe countries, and whole paflages ferves for a proof that the two hemifpheres join to the northward of Afia. He then draws a corro- boration of this argument, from a ftory he fays he has often heard related by Father Grollon, a French Jefuit, as an undoubted matter of fact. This father after having laboured fome time in the millions of New France, pafled over to thofe of China. One day as he was travelling in Tartary, he met a Huron woman whom he had formerly known in Canada. He afked her by what adven- ture fhe had been carried into a country fo diftant from her own. She made anfwer, that having been taken in war, fhe had been conducted from nation to nation, till fhe had reached the place at which fhe then was. Monfieur Charlevoix fays further, that he had been afTured another Jefuit, pafling through Nantz,, in his return from China, had related much fuch another affair of a Spanifh woman from Florida. She alfo had been taken by certain Indians, and given to thofe of a more diftant country; and by thefe again to another nation, till having thus been iucceffively pafled from country to country, and tra- velled through regions extremely cold, fhe at laffc found herfelf in Tartary. Here fhe had married a Tartar, who had attended the conquerors in China, where fhe was then fettled. He acknowledges as an allay to the probability of thefe ftories, that thofe who had failed fartheft to the eaftward of Afia, by purfuing the coafl of Jefifo or Kamfchatka, have pretended that they had 124 CARVER'S TRAVELS, perceived the extremity of this continent ; and from thence have concluded that there could not poffibly. be any communication by land. But he adds that Francis Guella, a Spaniard, is faid to have afierted, that this feparation is no more than a ilrait, about one hundred miles over, and that fome late voyages of the Japanefe give ground to think that this ftrait is only a bay, above which there is paiTage over land. He goes on to obferve, that though there are few wild beafts to be met with in North- America > except a kind of tigers without fpots, which are found in the country of the Iroquoife, yet towards the tropics there are lions and real tigers, which, notwithstanding, might have come from Hyrcania and Tartary* for as by advancing gradually fouth- ward they met with climates more agreeable to their natures, they have in time abandoned the northern- countries. He quotes both Solinus and Pliny to prove that the Scythian Anthropophagi once depopulated a great extent of country, as far as the promontory Tabin; and alfo an author of later date, Mark Pol, a Venetian, who, he fays, tells us, that to the north- eaft of China and Tartary there are vaft uninhabited countries, which might be fufficient to confirm any conjectures concerning the retreat of a great number of Scythians into America. To this he adds, that we rind in the ancients the names of fome of thefe nations. Pliny fpeaks of the Tabians; Solinus mentions the Apuleans, who had for neighbours the MafTagetes, whom Pliny fince- allures us to have, entirely difappeared. Am- mianus Marcellinus exprefsly tells us, that the fear of the Anthropophagi obliged feveral of the inhabi- CARVER'S TRAVELS. 125 rants of thofe countries to take refuge elfewhere. From all thefe authorities Monfieur Charlevoix con- cludes, that there is at lealh room to conjecture that more than one nation in America had the Scythian or Tartarian original. He finifhes his remarks on the authors he has quoted, by the following obfervations : It appears to me that this controverfy may be reduced to the two following articles -, firft, how the new world might have been peopled j and fecondly, by whom, and by what means it has been peopled. Nothing, he alferts, may be more eafily anfwered than the firft. America might have been peopled as the three other parts of the world have been. Many difficulties have been formed on this fubject, which have been deemed infolvable, but which are far from being fo. The inhabitants of both hemif- pheres are certainly the defcendants of the fame fa- ther ; the common parent of mankind received an cxprefs command from Heaven to people the whole world, and accordingly it has been peopled. To bring this about it was neceflary to overcome all difficulties that lay in the way, and they have "been got over. Were thefe difficulties greater with refpedt to peopling the extremities of Afia, Africa, and Europe, or the tranfporting men into the iflands which lie at confiderable diftance from thofe con- tinents, than to pafs over into America? certainly not. Navigation, which has arrived at fo great per- fection within thefe three or four centuries, might poflibly have been more perfect in thofe early ages than at this day. Who can believe that Noah and his immediate defcendants knew lefs of this art than we do ? That the builder and pilot of the largeft fhip 126 CARVER's TRAVELS. that ever was, a fhip that was formed to traverfe an unbounded ocean, and had fo many fhoals and quick-fands to guard againft, mould be ignorant of, or mould not have commuicated to thofe of his de- fcendantswho furvived him, and by whofe means he was to execute the order of the Great Creator •, I fay, who can believe he mould not have communicated to them the art of failing upon an ocean, which was notonly more calm and pacific, but at the fame time confined within its ancient limits ? Admitting this, how eafy is it to pafs, exclufive of the paffage already defcribed, by land from the coaft of Africa to Brazil, from the Canaries to the Weftern Iflands, and from them to the Antilles ? From the Britifh Ifles or the coaft of France, to Newfoundland, the paffage is neither long nor diffi- cult i I might fay as much of that from China to Japan -, from Japan, or the Philippines, to the Ifles Mariannes -, and from thence to Mexico. There are iflands at a considerable diftance from the continent of Afia, where we have not been fur- prifed to find inhabitants, why then fhould we won- der to meet with people in America ! Nor can it be imagined thai the grandfons of Noah, when they were obliged to feparate, and fpread themfelves in conformity to the defigns of God, over the whole, earth, mould find it absolutely impoflible to people almoft one half of it. I Tiave been more copious in my extracts from this author than I intended, as his reafons appears to be folid, and many ef his obfervations juft. From this encomium, however, I muft exclude the flories he has introduced of the Huron and Floridan women, which I think I might venture to pronounce fabulous. CARVER'S TRAVELS, 127 I fhall only add, to give my readers a more com- preh^rifive view of Monficur Charlevoix's differ- tation, the method he propofes to come at the truth of what we are in feach of. The only means by which this can be done, he fays is by comparing the language of- the Ameri- cans with the different nations, from whence we might fuppofe they have peregrinated. If we com- pare the former with thofe words that are confidered as primitives, it might poffibly fet us upon fome happy difcovery. And this way of afcending to the original of nations, which is by far the ieaft equivo- cal, is not fo difficult as might be imagined. We have had, and ftill have, travellers and miflionaries who have attained the languages that are fpoken in all the provinces of the new world ; it would only be neceffary to make a collection of their grammars and vocabularies, and to collate them with the dead and living languages of the old world, that pafs for originals, and the fimilarity might eafily be traced. Even the different dialects, in fpite of the alterations they have undergone, ftill retain enough of the mother tongue to furnifh confiderable lights. Any enquiry into the manners, cuftoms, religion, or traditions of the Americans, in order to difcover by that means their origin, he thinks would prove fal- lacious. A difquifition of that kind, he obferves, is only capable of producing a falfe light, more likely to dazzle, and to make us wander from the right path, than to lead us with certainty to the point propofed. Ancient traditions are effaced from the minds of fuch as either have not, or for feveral ages have been without thofe helps that are neceffary to pre- ferve them. And in this fituation is full one half of I2 S CARVER'S TRAVELS. the world. New events, and a new arrangement of things, give rife to new traditions, which efface the former, and are themfelves effaced in turn. Af- ter one or two centuries have parTed, there no longer remains any traces of the firft traditions ; and thus we are involved in a ftate of uncertainty. He concludes with the following remarks, among many others. Unforefeen accidents, tempefts, and fhipwrecks,have certainly contributed to people every habitable part of the world : and ought we to won- der after this, at perceiving certain refemblanccs, both of perfons and manners between nations that are mod remote from each other, v/hen we find fuch a difference between thofe that border on one another ? As we are deflitute of hiftorical monuments, there is nothing, I repeat it, but a knowledge of the primitive languages that is capable of throwing any light upon thefe clouds of impenetrable darknefs. By this enquiry we fhould at leaft be fatisfied,. among that prodigious number of various nations inhabiting America, and differing fo much in lan- guages from each other, which are thofe who make ufe of words totally and entirely different from thofe of the old world, and who confequently mull: be reckoned to have paffed over to America in the earlieft ages, and thofe who from the analogy of their language with fuch as are at prefent ufed in the three other parts of the globe, leave room to judge that their migration has been more recent, and which ought to be attributed to fhipwrecks, or to fome ac- cident fimilar to thofe which have been fpoken of in the courfe of this treatife. I fhall only add the opinion of one author more, before I give my own fentiments on the fubjecl:,and that is of James Adair,Efq. who refided forty years CARVER'S TRAVELS. 129 among the Indians, and publiihed the hiftory of th^flj y}J&c,y$«[ l 2J 2 :. Ip ki s learned and fyftema- ticai hiftory or thole nations, inhabiting the wefxm parts of the moll fouthern of the American colo- nies; this gentleman without he (1 cation pronoun- ces that the American Aborigines are defcended from the Israelites, either whilft they were a ma- ritime power, or foon after their general capti- vity. This defcent he endeavours to prove from their religious rites, their civil and martial cuftoms, their marriages, their funeral ceremonies, their manners, language, traditions, and from a variety of other particulars. And fo complete is his conviction en' this head, that he fancies he finds a perfect and indifputable fimiiitude in each. Through all thefe I have not time to follow 7 him, and mail therefore only give a few extracts to (how on what foundation he builds his' conjectures, and what degree of credit he is entitled to on this point. He begins with obferving, that though fome have fjppofed the Americans to be defcended from the Chinefe, yet neither their religion, laws, nor cuf- toms agree in the lead with thofe of the Chinefe; which fufficiently proves that they are not- of this line. Befides, as our beft mips are now aimofl half a year in failing for China (our author does not here recollect that this is from a high northern latitude, acrofs the Line, and then back again greatly to the northward of it, and not directly athwart the Pacific Ocean, for only one hundred and eleven degrees) or from thence to Europe, it is very unlikely they mould attempt fuch dangerous difecveries, with their fuppofed fmall vefTels, againft rapid currents, and in dark and fickly Monfoons. R , 3 o CARVER'S T R A V SI I: He further remarks, that this is more particularly • j direct, thefr cm rfr China, he fays, is abcyjt eight thgufand milt! dlf= tarit from the American continent, which i§ twtel a§ far as acrbfs the A:hm:.ic Ocean, And Wf are RQi informed by any gftcicnt writer of" their maritime Ikillj or fo much as any inclination thai; way, beude§ : fmall coalling voyages. The winds blow likgl^if^j with little yariatioft from call to weft tyi^hfi] the la- titudes thirty and odd, north and fq\)t]] i gnd §fetrg= fore thefe could not drive them ^on the Aa^fi§aif coaft, it lying directly contrary tg fuel] a gOBffti Neither could perfo'ns, according tg |hJ§ Wfil£? ? § account, fail to America from the ncr^h by Ibi W3^ of Tartar/ or Ancient Scythia : that; from jfe /Ufi*M tion, never having been or can be a maritime power* r-nd it is utteiiy impracticable,- lie fays, fof any %g ■ come to America by tea from that quarter. B#M#§# the remaining traces of their religions, ceremonies? £nd civil and martial cuftoms, are quite Qjrpqfjte %q i\\t like vtMiges of the Old Scythians. Even in the moderate northern dimgfe'5 ih$f$ U tioi to be fcen the leaft trace of any gnQiitit &&t$ly buildings, or of any thick fettle merits, as, aj-g fgfcl to remain in the lefs healthy regions of J*€fU ufid Mexico. And feveral of the Indian fi&tlQffi s5llf£ U.sy t;at ihey croiled the Mi0&pp\ before tky Biadg their prefent northern fcttlements : which, COR* recced with the former ar~um-r:s, he conches will JufTicientiy explode that weak c pinion qHIw Attier'^ can Aborigines being lint ally ^efeencled from dyf Tartars or ancient Scvthians- £ A k V E R ? s TRAVEi, S. n Aaau's reafons for fuppofing that the Ameri- |e.arl§ tit FiVg thejf origin. from the Jews ire, Finr^ be.calife they are divided into tribes a:ia ghiefs ofeHhern as the Ifraeiir.es -had, ; SjEIOfldl^j becaufe, as by a ftrici, permanent, di- yiiie pfectpL ? the Hebrew nation were ordered to ^Qfflifft at JefUfateriij Jehovah the true and living Gad 3 lb dO the Indians filling hini Yohewam The firlcienl: ri^iUheiis, he adds^ it is well known, wcr- friippf^d a^ plurality of gods, but the Indians pay £Heif religions devoirs to the Great, beneficient, fu- pf^fflgj nbly Spirit of Fire, who re fides, as they think, jabrJVc the tldhdt, and on earth alfo with unpolluted p&pfjfei ^ *fr\ey V Z V no adoration to images, or to flgad perfori^ neither to the celeftial luminaries, to f^ll fcirits) nor to any created beings whatever. _ Thirdly beeaufej agreeable to the theocracy or diving grjVgfflnieht of Ifrael, the Indians think the i)dh l tt) ht the immediate head of their itate. Fourthly becaufe, as the Jews believe in the JftifiRtf&l&'ft t)f angels, the Indians alio believe that the higher" regions are inhabited by good fpirits. Fifthly, becaufe, the Indian language and dialects apgtpif lb hiye the very idoms and genius of the H'eb\'-e\v: Their words and ienrences being ex- pffcSUfej rjOP.'ciie 3 emphatical, fonorous, and bold ; arid Gftefij both in letters* and fignifications, arc tyrlrjftymoAis With the Hebrew language. oixthly* beca'ufe, they count their time after the •if iKt Hebrews. I 3 2 CARVER'S TRAVELS. manner of the Jews, they have theirprophets,high- prieib, and ether religious orders. Eighthly, becaufe their feftivals, fails, and reli- gious rites have a great refcmblance to thole of the Hebrews. Ninthly, becaufe the Indians, before they go to •war, have many preparatory ceremonies of purifi- cation and failing, like what is recorded of the Is- raelites, Tenthly, becaufe the fame tafte for ornaments, and the fame kind, are made ufe of by the Indians, as by the Hebrews. Thefe and many other arguments of a fimilar na- ture, Mr. Adair, brings in iupport of his favourite jyftemjbut I mould imagine, that if the Indians are real- ly derived from the Hebrews, among their religious ceremonies, on which he chiefly feems to build his hypothecs, the principal, that of circumcifion, would never have been laid afide, and its very remem- brance obliterated. Thus numerous and diverfe are the opinions of thofe who have hitherto written on the fubject ! I fliall not however, either endeavour to reconcile them, or to point out the errors of each, but proceed to give my own fentiments on the origin of the Americans -, which are founded on conclusions drawn from the moft rational arguments of the writers I have mentioned, and from my own obfervations ; the confiftency of thefe I mail leave to the judgement of my readers, CARVER'S TRAVELS. 133 The better to introduce my conjectures on this head, it is neceffary firft to afcertain the diflances between America and thofe parts of the habitable globe that approach neareft to it. The Continent of America, as far as we can judge from all the refearches that have been made near the poles, appears to be entirely feparated from the other quarters of the world. That part of Europe which approaches neareft to it, is the coaft of Green- land, lying in about feventy degrees of north lati- tude j ana which reaches within twelve degrees of the coaft of Labrador, fituated on the north-eaft bor- ders of this continent. The coaft of Guinea is the neareft part of Africa ; which lies about eighteen hundred and fixty miles north-eaft from the Brazils. The moil eaftern coaft of Afia which extends to the Korean Sea on the north of China projects north- eaft through eaftern Tartar/ and Kamfchatka to Si- beria, in about fixty degrees of north latitude. To- wards which the weftern coaits of America, from California to the Straits of Annian, extend nearly north-weft, and lie in about forty-fix degrees of the fame latitude. "Whether the Continent of America ftretches any farther north than thefe ftraits, and joins to the eaf- tern parts of Afia, agreeable to what has been aiTert- ed by fome of the writers I have quoted, or whether the lands that have been difcovered in the interme- diate parts are only an archipelago of iflands, verging towards the oppofite continent, is not yet ascer- tained. It being, however, certain that there are many confiderable ifiands which lie between the extremities of Afia and America, viz. Japan JefTo or Jedfo, Gama's Land, Behring's Ifie, with many others dif- I|4 eAiiVE^s f RAVf | itcl o 3 > ; Trcaiflkowj and b€i1^§ fhefej $681 ■ - north theft plating §a bt % elufifeef ef ingritis t'ft|t ftd:!i |S far a\i SlBeFifc iE Is pfObgSlJ iP.-irj r^rriitv R) Arii€5-iea, > i| received it? fl them: }1iifl5fi Is the fric. i^l I ani able £g : ph^i fiflee the AMHgihes gbr. {bbf: ■\-g ti pfglent Ufl|e~ ii ipgiifS jtlgnS} 1 improbable that it fiiould lid: Fi-tirT] ftg . ;g lift 8f »h theft pjfly i gQRipafs] It cdhfiot be" lupl ^tfmfti&I --i [8 feaifh of tij Lftt|jij3{f-di or ^celeicmAlIy peopled f ■' [gl - ftfeij gfiVefi by Il^ihg e?. kPiv Winds rvcrbfs the M= 6-tggfS hUil! til hiied fori^r: :■- Trbrh v hc'diict:. it by the giiii . . 6Ut: Ie aijb a£p*a?s aienkift'ai icrrie 5 and ihtde from fliftl . Up : : ihe rnbS: eFitlcSl e~qlrU ii\m& apHBeiittidftj lam §f opiates* Hl&t AflieHH revived; it§ BFtl: inhabitants frbffl fcltf i-?a&j by way 8f the gh. f % A V F T ° ** .... *? *■* ^ i a.u t i-y 3 Cliis^ Japan, qf Kaiincnu:y, j^ inhakiiaBkf pf ifaeft p}£ee§ re--- bling g^h Qefer in gatey^ fe&y% ? arid ftiape* &nd who, befere fefte $ t)i£#i a$pifrs§JHtf a k'dg€ pf the an§ *n4 fctejjfessj ttigfti havi ft) .r-bivs ea£b 6 -;.•<;? la iftefc fi#Rfis*§* J g^f; ihd the TgjtdFs fe$ if? &e m}w$W& £&S6 6f FfM? en$ 30^ tbf BnfisBJferf £&a3F& boN &$**& the Ja:tcr J;r^ eh^?Sy m ftflfe, &nrf r py£ |f$& & fck 6f feffii efeiffl fc^fek && 9fe<>fiQ8Pfti ft — f| j§ i?€?y f H&& fet foap .of ft fisgre &F3? frig *fe fe tibt a vm &mti$ 9F&i i : *7gf3 fc&^-fn^^Tarcai-sandfhe jgfeftjpfe g par: gf the j<)H$b;tanrc c: z: t ~ f&fffigffl prptf ir^ s $ "ore c^i^g kund ffeif $$f i?$g &m?k& kt dW^m4 pstfcty 13& CARVER's TRAVELS. ro all thefe peopla* aitfi.tjbat animo&$& ^hi^exifb between fo many of their tribes. It appears plainly to me that a great fimilarity be- tween the Indians and Chinefe is confpicuous in tha: particular cuftom of (having or plucking off the hair, and leaving only a fmall turf on the crown of the head. This mode is faid to have been enjoined by the Tartarian emperors on their acceflion to the throne of China, and confequently is a farther proof that this cuftom was in the ufe among the Tartars ; to whom as well as the Chinefe, the Americans might be indebted for it. Many words alfo are ufed both by the Chinefe and Indians, which have a refemblance to each other, not only in their found, but their fignihcation. The Chinefe call a flave, fhungo; and the Naudoweflie Indians, whofe language, from their little inter- courfe with the Europeans, is the lead corrupted, term a dog, fhungufh. The former denominate one fpecies of their tea, fhoufong; the latter call their tobacco, fhoufafTau. Many other of the words ufed by the Indians contain the fyllables che, enaw, and chu, after the dialect of the Chinefe. There probably might be found a fimilar connec- tion between the language of the Tartars and the American Aborigines, were we as well acquainted with it as we are, from a commercial intercourfe, with that of the Chinefe. I am confirmed in thefe conjectures, by the ac- counts of Kamfchatka, published a few years ago by order of the Emprefs of Ruilia. The author of which fays, that the fea which divides that peninfula from America is full of iflamfc : and that the diftance between Tfchukotfkoi-Nofs, a promontory which CARVER'S TRAVELS. , 37 lies at the eaftern extremity of that country, and the coaft of America, is not more than two degrees and a half of a great circle. He further fays, that there is the greatciL reafon to fuppofe that Afia and Ame- rica once joined at this place, as the coafts of both continents appear to have been broken into capes and bays, which anfwer each other, more efpeci- ally as the inhabitants of this part of both refem- ble each other in their perfons, habits., cuftoms, and food. Their language, indeed, he obferves, does not appear to be the fame, but then the inha- bitants of each diftricl: in Kamfchatka fpeak a lan- guage as different from each other, as from that fpoken on the oppofite coaft. Thefe observations* to which he adds, the fimiliarity of the boats of the inhabitants of each coaft, and a remark that the na- tives of this part of America are wholly Arrangers to ?vine and tobacco, which he looks upon as a proof that they have as yet had no communication with the natives of Europe, he fays, amount to little lefs than ademonftration that America was peopled from this part of Afia. The limits of my prefent undertaking will not permit me to dwell any longer on this fubjecl, or to enumerate any other proofs in favour of my hypo- thefis. I am, however, id thoroughly convinced of the certainty of it, and fo de (irons have I been to obtain every teftimony which can be procured in its fupport, that I once made an offer to a private fo- ciety of gentlemen, who were curious in fuch re- fearches, and to whom I had communicated my fen- timents on this point, that I would undertake a jour- ney, on receiving fuch fupplies as were needful, through the north- eaft part of Europe and Afia to the interior parts of America, arid from thence to England i making, as J proceeded, fuch obferva- j 3 8 C A R V E R'jf T R A V E L S. tions both on the languages and manners of the people with whom I fhould be converfant, as might tend to iiluftrate the doctrine I have here laid down, and to fatisfy the curiofity of the learned or inquifitive .; but as this propofal was judged rather to require a national than a private fupport, it was not carried into execution. I am happy to find, fince I formed the foregoing conclufions, that they correfpond with the lenti- ments of that great and learned hiftonan, doctor Robertfon; and though with him, I acknowledge that the inveftigatibn, from its nature, is fo obfeure and intricate, that the conjectures I have made can only be confidexed as conjectures, and not indifpu- table conclufions, yet they carry with them a grea- ter degree of probability than the fuppolitions of thofe who after t that this continent was peopled from another quarter. One of the Doctor's quotations from the Jour- nals of Behring and Tfchirikow, who failed from Kamfchatka, about the year 1741, inqueftofthe New World, appears to carry great weight with it, and to afford our conclufions firm fupport: " Thefe f€ commanders having fhaped their courfe towards cc the eaft, difcovered land, which to them appeared :c to be part of the American continent; and ac- fc cording to their obfervations, it feems to be fitu- nx wood. i 5 © CARVERS TRAVELS. Every tribe are nowpcrTefTed of knives, and fteeis to ftrike fire with. Thefe being To efTentiaily need- ful for the common ufes of life, thofe who have not an immediate communication with the European traders, purchafe them of iuch of their neighbours as are fituated nearer the fettlements^and generally give in exchange for them flaves. CARVER'S TRAVELS. *5 CHAPTER III. Of their Manners, Qualifications. &c . VV HEN the Indian women fit down, they place themfelves in a decent attitude, with their knees clofe -together; but from being accuftomed to this pofhire, they walk badly, and appear to be lame. They have no midwives among them, their cli- mate, or fome peculiar happinefs in their conftitu* tions, rendering affiftance at that time unnecefTary. On thefe occafions they are confined but a few hours from their ufual employments, which are common- ly very laborious, as the men who are remarkable indolent, leave to them every kind of drudgery ; even in their hunting parties the former will not deign to bring home the game, but fend their wives for it, though it lies at a very confiderable diftance. The women place their children foon after they are born on boards fluffed with foft mofs, fuch as is found in moraffes or meadows. The child is laid on its back in one of this kind of cradles, and be- ing wrapped in (kins or cloth to keep it warm, is fecured in it by fmall bent pieces of timber. To thefe machines they faften firings, by which they hang them to branches of trees : or if they Find not trees at hand, faften them to a (lump or ftone, whiift they tranfaft any needful bufinefs. In ifz CARVER'S TRAVELS. this pofition are the children kept for fome months, when they are taken out, the boys are fuffered to go naked, and the girls are covered from the neck to the knees with a ihift and a fhort petticoat. The Indian women are remarkably decent during their menftrual illnefs. thofe nations that are movt remote from the European fcttlements, as the Nau- dowt flies, &;c. are more particularly attentive to this point ; though they all without exception adhere in fome degree to the fame cufiom. In every camp or town there is an apartment ap- propriated for their retirement at this time, to which botii iingle and married retreat, and feclude them- felves with the utmoft iiric~tnefs during this period from ail fociety. Afterwards they purify themlelves in running ftreams, and return to tneir different em- ployments. The men on thefe occafions mofc carefully avoid holding any communication with them ; and the NaudowelTies are fo rigid in this obfervance, that they will not fuffer any belonging to them to fetch iuch things as are necefTary, even fire, from thefe female lunar retreats though the want is attended with the greatefl inconvenience. They are alfo fo fuperflitious as to think, if a pipe item cracks, which among them is made of wood, that the poiTeffor has either lighted it at one of zhtic polluted fires, or held fome converfe with a woman during; her retire- ment, which is eileemed by them molt difgracefui and wicked. The Indians are extremely circumfpecl and deli- berate in every word and action ; there is nothing that hurries them into any intemperate warmth, but that inveteracy to their enemies, which is rooted in GARVER's TRAVELS. 153 every Indian heart, and never can be eradicated. In all other infiances they are cool, and remarkably cautious, taking care not to betray on any account whatever, their emotions. If an Indian has difco- vered that a friend is in danger of being intercepted and cut off by one to whom he has rendered himfelf obnoxious ; he docs not inform him in plain and explicit terms of the danger he runs by purfuing the track near which his enemy lies in Wait for him* but he firfl coolly afks him which way he is going that day ; and having received his aniwer, with the fame indifference tells him that he has been informed that a dog lies near the fpot, which might probably- do him a mifchief. This hint proves fuhicient; and his friend avoids the danger with as much caution at if every defign and motion of his enemy had beeri pointed out to him. This apathy often mews itfelf on occafions that would call forth all the fervor of a fufceptible heart. If an Indian has been abfent from his family and friends many months, either on a war or hunting party, when his wife and children meet him at feme diftance from his habitation, inilead of the affec- tionate fenfations that would naturally arife in the bread of more refined beings, and be productive of mutual congratulations, he continues his courfe without paying the lead attention to thofe who fur- round him, till he arrives at his home. He there fits down, and with the fame unconcern as if he had not been abfent a day, frnokes his pipe? thofe of his acquaintance who have followed him, do the fame j and perhaps it is feverai hours before, he relates to them the incidents which have befallen him during his abfence, though perhaps he has left a father, brother* or fon on the field, whofe lofs U 154 CARVER'S f R A V E L S. he ought to have lamented, or has been unfuc- pcfsful in the undertaking that called him from his home. Has an Indian been engaged for feveral days in the chace, or on any other laborious expedition, and by accidenteontinued thus long without food, when he arrives at the hut or tent of a friend where he knows his wants may be immediately fupplied, he takes care not to fhew the lead fymptoms of impa- tience, or to betray the extreme hunger by which he is tortured -, but on being invited in, fits contentedly down, and fmokes his pipe with as much compo- sure as if every appetite was allayed, and he was per- fectly at eafe ; he does the fame if among flrangers. This cuilom is finely adhered to by every tribe, as they efteem it a proof of fortitude, and think the re- yerfe would entitle them to the appellation of old women. If you tell an Indian that his children have greatly fignalized themfelves againft an enemy, have taken many fcalps, and brought home many prifoners, he does not appear to feel any extraordinary pleafufe on the occafion; his aniwer generally is, "It is well,' 5 and he makes very little further enquiry about it, On the contrary, if you inform him that his children are flain or taken prifoners, he makes no complaints, he only replies, " It does not fignify ;" and probably, for fome time at leaft, afks not how it happened. This feeming indifference, however, does not pro- ceed from an entire fuppreflion of natural affections ; for notwithstanding they are efteemed favages, I ne- ver faw among any other people greater proofs of parental or filial tendernefs ; and although they meet t-heir wives after a long abfence with the ftoicai hi- CARVER'S TRAVELS. if c difference juft mentioned, they are not, in general, void of conjugal affection. Another peculiarity is obferyable in their manner of paying their vifits. If an Indian goes to vifit a particular perfon in a family, he mentions to whom his vifit is intended, and the reft of the family imme- diately retiring to the other end of the hut or tent, are careful not to come near enough to interrupt them during the whole of their conyerfation. The fame method is purfued if a man goes to pay his re- fpecls to one of the other fex : but then he mufl: be careful not to let love be the fubject of his difcourfe, whilft the day light remains. The indians difcpver an amazing fagacity, and ac- quire with the greateft readinefs any thing that de- pends upon the attention of the mind. By expe- rience and an acute obfervation, they attain many perfections to which Europeans are ftrangers. For inftance, they willcrofsa foreft or aplain which is two hundred miles in breadth, and reach with great exact - nefs the point at which they intended to arrive, keep- ing during rhe whole of that fpace in a direct line, without any material deviations; and this they will do with the fame eafe, whether the weather be fair or cloudy. With equal acutenefs they will point to that part of the heavens the fun is in, though it be intercepted by clouds or fogs. Befides this, they are able to purfue with incredible facility the traces of man or beaft, either on leaves or grafs ; and on this account it is with great difficulty a flying enemy efcapes dif- covery. They are indebted for thefe talents not only to na< ture, but to an extraordinary command of the Intel* • l5 6 CARVER'S TRAVELS. lectual faculties, which can cnly be acquired by ai> unremitted attention, and by long experience. They are in general very happy in a retentive memory; they can recapitulate every particular that has been trta:ed of in council, and remember the exact time wheo thefe were held. Their belts of wampum preferve the fubifancc of the treaties they have concluded with the neighbouring tribes for ages back, to which they wiii appeal, and refer with as much pcrfpicuicy and readinefs as Europeans can to their written records. Every nation pays great refpect to old age. The advice of a father will feldom meet with any extra- ordinary attention from the young Indians, proba- bly they receive it with only a bare aflcnt -, but they will tremble before a grandfather, and fubmit to his injunction with the utm ft alacrity. The words of the ancient part of their cun.munity are efteemed by the young as oracles. If they take during their hunting parties any game that is reckoned by them uncommonly delicious, it is immediately prefentecj to the cliui of their relations, They never fufTer themfclves to be overburdened with care, but live in a (late of perfect tranquility and contentment. Being naturally indolent, if pro- vifions jufc fufficdent for their fubMence can be procurcd with little trouble, and near at hand, they will not go far, or take any extraordinary pains for it, though by fo doing they might acquire greater piemy, and of a more erTimable kind. Having much leifure time they indulge this in- dolence to which they are fo prone, by eating, drinking, or deeping, and rambling about in their towns or camps. But when neceflity obliges them CARVER'S TRAVELS. l57 to take the field, either to oppofe an enemy, or to procure themfelves food, they are alert and indefatigable. Many inftances of their activity, on thefc occafions, will be given when I treat of their wars. The infatuating fpirit of gaming is not confined to Europe; the Indians alfo feel the bewitching im- pulfe, and often lofe their arms, their apparel, and every thing they are polTeiTed of. In this cafe, however, they do not follow the example of more refined gamefters, for they neither murmur nor re- pine; not a fretful word efcapes them, but they bear the frowns of fortune with a philofophic com- pofure. The greater! blemifh in their character is that favage difpofition which impels them to treat their enemies with a feverity every other nation fhudders at. But if they are thus barbarous to thofe with whom they are at war, they are friendly, hofpi- table, and humane in peace. It may with truth be faid of them, that they are the worfl enemies, and the bell friends, of any people in the whole world. The Indians in general are ftrangers to the paflion of jealoufy; and brand a man with folly that is diftruftful of his wife. Among fome bands the very idea is not known; as the moft abandoned of their young men very rarely attempt the virtue of married women, nor do thefe often put themfelves in the way of felicitation. Yet the Indian women in ge- neral are of an amorous temperature, and before they are married are not the lei 3 e (teemed for the indulgence of their paffions. i 5 3 C A R V E R's T R A V E L S. The Indians in their common (late are flranger$ to all diftindtion of property, except in the articles of dome (lie life, which every one confiders as his own, and increafes as circumflances admit. They are extremely liberal to each other, and fupply the deficiency of their friends with any fuperfiuity of their own. In dangers they readily give pfli (lance to thofe of their ba id, who ft and in need of it, without any expectation of return, except of thofe juft rewards that are always conferred by the Indians on merit. Governed by the plain and equitable laws of nature^ every one is rewarded folely according to his de- ferts; and their equality of condition, manners and privileges, with tha: conflant and fociable familiarity* which prevails throughout every Indian nation, ani- mates them with a pure and truly patriotic fpirit, tha: tends to the general good of the fociety to whicl\ th-y belong. If any of their neighbours are bereaved by death^ or by an enemy of their children, thofe who are poifeiled of the greateft number of (laves, fupply the deficiency; and thefe are adopted by them, and treated in every refpecl as if they really were the children of the perfon to whom they are pre- fen ted. The Indians, except thole who live adjoining to the European colonies, can form to themfelves no idea of the value of money; they confider it x when they are made acquainted with the ufes to which it is applied by other nations, as the fource of innumerable evils. To it they attribute all the mifchiefs that are prevalent among Europeans, fuch as treachery, plundering, devaftatiens, and mur- der. GARVEk's TRAVELS. 159 They efleem it irrational that one man Ihould be pofleifed of a greater quantity than another, and are amazed that any honor ihould be annexed to the pof- feflion of it. But that the want of this ufelefs metal ihould be the caufe cf depriving perfons of their li- berty, and that on account of this partial diftributiori of it, great number mould be immured within the dreary walls of a prifon, cut off from that focicty of which they conftitute a part, exceeds their be- lief. Nor do they fail, on hearing this part of the European fyftem of government related, to charge the inftitutors of it with a total want of humanity, and to brand them with the names of favages and brutes. They fhew almoft an equal degree of indifference for the productions of art. When any of thefe are (hewn them, they fay, fC It is pretty, I like to look at it," but are not inquifitive about the conftrucnon of it, neither can they form proper conceptions of its ufe. But if you tell them of a perfon who is able to run with great agility, that is well fkilled in hunt- ing, can direct with unerring aim a gun, or bend with eafe a bow, tha& can dextroufly work a canoe, underflands the art of war, is acquainted with the fituation of a country, and can make his way with- out a guide, through an immenfe foreft, fubiifting during this on a fmali quantity of provificns, they are in raptures; they liften with great attention t& the pleafing tale, and beflow the hicheit comrafexi- dations on the hero of it. « [6o CARVER'S TRAVELS. CHAPTER IV, their Method of reckoning Time, &c. c ONSIDERING their ignorance of af- tronomy, time is very rationally divided by the Indians. Thole in the interior parts (and of thofc I would generally be underftood to fpeak) count their years by winters -, or, as they exprefs themfelves* by fno ws. Some nations among them reckon their years by moons, and make them confift of twelve fynodicai or lunar months, obferving, when thirty moons have waned, to aid a fupernumerary one, which they term the loft moon; and then begin to count as before. They pay a great regard to the firft ap- pearance of every moon, and on the occafion always repeat lbme joyful founds, ftretching at the fame time their hands towards it. Every month has with them a name expreffive of its feafon; for inftance* they call the month of March (in which their year generally begins at the firft New-Moor! after the vernal Equinox) the Worm Month or Moon; becaufe at f his time the worms quit their retreats in the bark of the trees* wood, 6cC. where they have flickered themfelves during the winter. The month of April is termed by them the month of Plants. May, the month of Flowers. June, CARVER'S TRAVELS. ,6i the Hot Moon. July, the Buck Moon. Their reafon for thus denominating thefe is obvious. Auguftjthe Sturgeon Moon; becaufe in this month they catch great numbers of that' fifh. September, the Corn Moon; becaufe in that month they gather in their Indian corn. October, the Travelling Moon; as they leave at this time their villages, and travel towards the places where they intend to hunt during the winter. November, the Beaver Moon; for in this month the beavers begin to take melter in their houfes, having laid up a fufficient ftore of provifions for the winter feafon. December, the Hunting Moon, becaufe they employ this month in purfuit of their game. January, the Cold Moon, as it generally freezes harder, and the cold is more intenfe in this than in any other month. February, they call the Snow Moon, tjFcaufe more fnow commonly falls during this month, than any other in the winter. * When the moon does not fhine they fay the Moon * is dead; and fome call the three laft days cf it the naked days. The Moon's firft appearance they term its coming* to life a^ain. They make no divifion of weeks; bfit days they count by fleeps; half days by pointing to the fun at noon; arid quarters by the riling and fetting of the X i62 CARVER'S TRAVELS. fun: to exprefs which in their traditions they make ui'e of very figniricant hieroglyphics. The Indians are totally unskilled in geography as well as ail the other fciences, and yet, as I have be- fore hinted, they draw on their birch bark very exact charts or maps of the countries with which they are acquainted. The latitude and longitude is only wanting to make them tolerably complete. Their fole knowledge in aftronomy confifts in being able to point out the the pole-ftar; by which they regulate their courfe w 7 hen they travel in the night. They reckon the diflance of places, not by miles or leagues, but by a day's journey, which, accord- ing to the bell calculations I could make, appears to be about twenty EnghiTi miles. Thefe they alfo di- vide into halves and quarters, and vili demonftnr.te them in their maps with great exaclnefs, by the hie- roglyphics juft mentioned, when they regulate in council their war parties, or their moil diftant hunt- ing excui lions. Tiey have no idea of arithmetic ; and though they are able to count to any number, figures as well as letters appear myflerious to them, and above their comprehenfion. During my abode with the NaudowcfTles, fome of the chiefs cbferving one day a draft of an eclipfe of the mocn, in a bock of allronomy which I held in my hand, j-^ey de fired I would permit them to look at it. Happening to give them the book fhut, they began to count the leaves till they came to the place in which the plate wa-. After they had viewed it, andafked many queilions relative to it, I told thcrn CARVER'S TRAVELS. i6j they need not to have taken fo much pains to find the leaf on which it was drawn, for I could not only tell in an infrant the place, without counting the leaves, but aifo how many preceded it. They feemed greatly amazed at my afTertion, and begge i that I would demonftrate to them the pof- fibili- y of doing it. To this purpefe I defired the chief that held the book, to open it at any particular place, and juft fhewing me the page carefully to conceal the edges of the leaves, fo that I might not be able to count them. This he did with the greatefl caution; notwith- (landing v/hich, by looking at the folio, I told him, to his great furprife, the number of leaves. He counted them regularly over, and difcovered that I was exact. And when, after repeated trials, the Indian:-.- found I could do it with great readinels, and without ever erring in my calculation, they all feemed as much aftonifhed as if I had raifed the dead. The only way they could account for my knowledge, was by concluding that the book was a fpirit, and whifpered me anfwers to whatever I demanded of it. This circumftance, trifling as it might app^r to thofe who are lefs illiterate, contributed to ineieafe my confequence, and to augment the favorable op^ nion they already entertained of me, t 164 C A RVER's TRAVELS, CHAPTER V. Of their Government, &c. JtJjVERY feperate body of Indians is divided into bands or tribes; v/hich band or tribe forms a little community with the nation to which it belongs. As the nation has fome particular fymbol by whick it is diftinguimed from others, fo each tribe has a badge from which it is denominated: as that of the Eagle, the Panther, the Tiger, the Buffalo, &c. ojc. One band of the Nauciowc (Ties is reprefented by a Snake, another a Tortoifr, a third a Squirrel, a fourth a Wolf, and a fifth a Buffalo. Throughout every nation they particularife themfelves in the fame manner, and the meaneft perfon among them will remember his lineal defcent, and diliinguiih himfelf by his refpedive family. Dia not many eircumftane'es tend to confute the fucpojjtion, I fhould be almoft induced to conclude from this diftiriclion of tribes, and the particular hment of the Indians to them, that they derive origin* as fome have afferted, from the Ifrae- -Ides this, every nation diftinguiih themfelves by t ! -.e manner of conftrnctin'g their tents or huts. And fo well verfed are all the Indians in this diftinc- Tion, that though there appears to be no difference on t\\t niceft obfervation made by an European, hey will immediately difcover, from the pofvtion CARVER'S TRAVELS. 165 of a pole left in the ground, what nation has en- camped on the fpot many months before. Every band has a chief who is termed the Great Chief or the chief Warrior ; and who is chofen in confideration of his experience in war, and of his approved valour, to direct their military operations, and to regulate all concerns belonging to that de- partment. But this chief is not confidered as the head of the flate ; befides the great warrior who is elected for his war-like qualifications, there is ano- ther who enjoys a pre-eminence as his hereditary right, and has the more immediate management of their civil affairs. This chief might with greater propriety be denominated the Sachem ; whofe aiTent is neceffary in all conveyances and treaties, to which he affixes the mark of the tribe or nation. Though thefe two are confidered as the heads of the band, and the latter is ufually denominated their king, yet the Indians are fenfible of neither civil or military fubordination. As everyone of them enter- tains a high opinion of his confequence, and is ex- tremely tenacious of his liberty, all injunctions that carry with them the appearance of a pofitive com- mand, are inilantly rejected with fcorn. On this account, it is feldom that their leaders are fo indifcreet as to give out any of their orders in a peremptory ftile; a bare hint from a chief that he thinks fuch a thing neceffary to be done, inftantly aroufes an emulation among the inferior ranks, and it is immediately executed with great alacrity. By this method the difguftful part of the command is evaded, and an authority that falls little fhort of ab- folute fway inftituted in its room. Among the Indians no vifible form of government is eftablilhed ; they allow of no fuch diftinction as ,56 CARVER'S TRAVELS. magiftrate and fubjecl, every one appearing to enjoy an independence that cannot be controlled. The object of government among them is rather foreign than domeftic, for their attention fee ms more to be employed in preferving fuch an union among the members of their tribe as will enable them to watch the motions of their enemies,Ind to a&againfttl with concert and vigour, than to maintain interior order by any public regulations. If a fcheme that appears to be offervice to the community is propof- ed by the chief, every one is at liberty to choofe whether he will affifl: in carrying it on ; for they have no compulfory laws that lay them under any reftric- tions. It violence is committed, or blood is fhed, the right of revenging thefe mifdemeanors is left to the family of the injured : the chiefs affume neither the power of inflicting or moderating the punifh- ment. Some nations, where the dignity is hereditary, limit the fucceiTicn to the female line. On the death of a chief, his filler's fon fometimes fucce j ds him in preference to his own fon ; and if he happens to have no filler, the nearer! female relation aflutnes the dignity. This accounts for a woman being at the head of the Winnebago nation, which, before 1 waB acquainted with their laws, appeared ftrange to me. Each family has a right to appoint one of its chiefs to be an affiftant to the principal cheif, who watches over the intereft of his family, and without whofc confent nothing of a public nature can be carried into execution. Thefe are generally chofen for their ability in fpeaking 5 and fuch only are permitted t& make orations in their councils and general affcai- blies. CARVER's TRAVELS. iC 7 In this body, with the hereditary chief at its head, the fupremc authority appears to be lodged ; as by- its determination every tranfadtion relative to their hunting, to their making war o r peace, and to all their public concerns are regulated. Next to thefe, the body of warriors, which comprehends all that are ttblc to bear arms, hold their rank. This clivifion has f0rnt times atitshead the cheifofthe nation, if he has figna&zed himfelfby any renowned action, if nor, fome chief that has rendered himfelf famous. In their councils, which are held by the foregoing members, every affair of confequence is debate.! > and no enterprize of the lead moment undertaken, linlcfl it there meets with the general approbation of the chiefs. They commonly aiTemble in a hut or tent appropriated to this purpofe, and being feated in a circle on the ground, the eldeft chief riles and makes a fpeech ; when he has concluded, another gets up 3 and thus they all fpeak, if necelTary by turns. On this cccafion their language is nervous, and their manner of exprcilion emphaticaj. Their ftile is adorned with images, companions, and ftrong metaphors, and is equal in allegories to that of any of the eallern nations. In all their fet fpeeches they exprefs themfeives with much vehemence, but in Common difcourfe according to our ulual method of Fpeech. The young men are (offered to be prefent at the councils, though they are not allowed to make a fpeech till they are regularly admitted : they how- ever lifteri with rcat attention, a^d to mow that they both understand, and approve of the refolutionl taken by the arTembled chiefs, thev frequently ex- claim, " That is right/* " That is good." i68 CARVER's TRAVELS. The cuftomary mode among all the ranks of ex- prefling their affent, and which they repeat at the end of almoft every period is by uttering a kind of forcible afpiration, which founds like an union of the letters OAH. CARVE R'i TRAVELS. 169 CHAPTER VI. Of their Feafts ANY of the Indian nations neither make ue of bread, fait, or fpices j and fome of them have never feen or tafted of either. The NaudoweiTies in particular have no bread, nor any fubftitute for it. They eat the wild rice which grows in great quan- tities in different parts of their territories : but they boil it and eat it alone. They alfo eat the flefh of the beafts they kill, without having recourfe to any fari- naceous fubftance to abforb the groiTer particles of it. And even when they confume the fugar which they have extracted from the maple tree, they ufe it not to render fome other foed palatable, but gene- rally eat it by itfeif. Neither have they any idea of the ufe of milk, al- though theymigkt collect great quantities from the buffalo or the elk ; they only confider it as proper for the nutriment of the young of thefe beafts during their tender ftate. I could not perceive that any in- conveniency attended the total difufe of articles efteemed fo neceflary and nutritious by other na- tions, on the contrary, they are in general healthy and vigorous. One dim however, which anfwers nearly the fame purpofe as bread, is in ufe among the Ot- Y C A ft V It R ' 5 T R A V E L & taganmies, the Saukies, and the more eaftern na- tions, where Indian corn grows, which is not only much eftcerned by them, buc ic is reckoned ex- tremely palatable by all the Europeans who enter their dominions. This is compofed of their unripe corn as before defcribed. and beans in the fame ftate, boiled together with bear's flefh, the fat of which moiftens thepuife, and renders it beyond comparifon delicious. They call this food Succatofh. The Indians are far from being Cannibals, as they are faid to be. All their victuals are either roafted or boiled -, and this in the extreme. Their drink is generally the broth in which it has been boiled. Their food con fifts of the flefh of the bear, the buffalo, the elk, the deer, the beaver, and the racoon; which they prepare in the manner juft mentioned. They ufually eat the flefh of the deer which is na- turally dry, with that of the bear which is fat and juicy i and though the latter is extremely rich and lufcious, it is never known to cloy. In the fpring of the year the Naudowef- fies, eat the infide bark of a fhrub, that they gather in fome part of their country -, but I could neither learn the name of it, or difcover from whence they got it. It was of a brittle nature and eafily mafricated. The tafte of it was very agreea- ble, and they faid it was extremely nourishing. In flavour it was not unlike the turnip, and when re- ceived into the mouth refembled that root both in its pulpous and frangible nature. The lower ranks of the Indians are exceedinglv nafty in drefhng their victuals, but fome of the chiefs are very neat -and cleanly in their apparel, tents and food. CARVER's TRAVELS, They commonly eat in large parties,, fo that their ■meals may properly be termed leads , and this they do without being reftricted to any fixed or regular hours, but jud as their appetites require, and con- venience fuits. They ufualiy dance either before or after every meal ; and by this cheerfulnefs probably render the Great Spirit, to whom they confider themfeives as indebted for every good, a more acceptable iacririce than a formal and unanimated thankfgiving. The men and women read apart : and each fex invite by turns their companions, to partake with them of the food they happen to have ; but in their domedic way of living the men and women eat together. No people are more hofpi tabic, kind, and free than the Indians. They will readily fh#re with any of their own tribe the lad part of their provifions, and even with thofe of a different nation, if they chance to come in when they are eating. Though they do not keep one common dock, yet that com- munity of goods which is fo prevalent among them, and their generous difpofition, render it nearly of the fame effect. When the chiefs are convened on any public bu- finefs, they always conclude with a fead, at which their fedivity and cheerfulnefs know no limit. 72 CARVER'S TRAVELS. CHAPTER VII. Of their Bar: cei among Jj j/ANCING is a favourite cxercife the Indians ■> they never meet on any public occa fion, but this makes a part of the entertainment, And when they are not engaged in war or hunting, the youth cf both fexes amufc themfelves,, in this manner every evening. They always dance, as I have juft obferved, at their feafts. In thefe as well as all their other dances,, every man rifes in his turn, and moves about with great freedom and boldnefs ; fincring as he does fo, the exploits of his anceftors. - During this the com- pany, who are feated on the ground in a circle, around the dancer, join with him in making the ca- dence, by an odd tone, which they utter all together, and which founds, " Heh, heh, hen." Thefe notes, if they might be fo termed, are articulated with a harih accent, and (trained out with the utmoft force of their lungs : fo that one would imagine their ftrength mult be foon exhaufted by it ; inftead of which, they repeat it with the fame violence during the whole of their entertainment. CARVER'S TRAVELS. 73 The women, particularly thofe of the weftem na- tions, dance very gracefully. They carry themfelve. erect, and with their arms hanging down clofe to jheir fides, move firfta few yards to the right, and then back again to the left. This movement they perform without taking any fteps as an European would do, but with their feet conjoined, moving by turns their toes and heels. In this manner they glide with great agility to a certain diftance, and then return -, and let thofe who join in the dance be ever ib numerous, they keep time fo exactly with tdch other that no interruption enfues. During this, at ftated periods, they mingle their fhrill voices, with the hoarfer ones of the men, who fit around (for it is to be obferved that the fexes never intermix in the fame dance) which, with the mufic of the drums and chickicoes, make an agreeable harmony. The Indians have feveral kinds of dancer, which, they ufe en different occafions, as the Pipe or Calu- met Dance, the War Dance, the Marriage Dafrce, and the Dance of the Sacrifice. The movements in everyone ofthefe are diffimilar; but it is almofr impofUble to convey any idea of the points in which jhey are unlike. Different nations likewife vary in their manner of dancing. The /Chipeways throw themfelves into a greater variety of attitudes than any other people ; fometimes they held their heads erect, at others they bend them almofl to the ground 3 then recline on on c fide, and immediately after on the other. The Naudowe flies carry themfelves more upright, ftep firmer, and move more gracefully. But they all accompany their dances with the difagreeable ndili juft mentioned. *74 CARVER'S TRAVELS The Pipe Dance is the principal, and the moll: pleafing to a fpeetator of any of them, being the leafc frantic, and the movement of it mod graceful. It is but on particular occafions that it isufed; as when ambarladors from an enemy arrive to treat of peace, or when itrangers of eminence pafs through their territories. The War Dance, which they ufe both before they let out on their war parties, and on their return from them, ftrikes terror into ftrangers. It is per- formed, as the others, amidft a circle of the war- riors; a chief generally begins it who moves from the right to the left, Tinging at the fame time both his own exploits, and thole of his anceftors. When he has concluded his account of any memorable ac- tion, he gives a violent blow with his war-club, againft a pod that is fixed in the ground, near the centre cf the aflembly, for this purpofe. Every one dances in his turn, and recapitulates the wondrous deeds of his family, till they all at laft join in the dance. Then it becomes truly alarming to any ftranger that happens to be among them, as they throw themfelves in every horrible and terrifying pofture that can be imagined, rehearfingat the fame time the parts they expect, to act againft their ene- mies in the field. During this they hold their fharp knives in their hands, with which, as they whirl about,they are every moment in danger ofcuttingeach other's throats i and did they not fhun the threatened mifchiefwith inconceivable dexterity, it could not be avoided. By thefe motions they intend to repre- fent the manner in which they kill, fcalp, and take their prifoners. To heighten the fcene, they fet up the fame hedious yells, cries, and war-whoops they ufe in time of action : fo that it is impoflible to con- CARVER'S TRAVELS. i 7 $ iider them in any other light than as an arTembly of demons. I have frequently joined in this dance with them, but itfoon ceafed to be an amufement to me, as I could not lay afide my apprehenfions of receiving fome dreadful wound, that from the violence of their geftures muft have proved mortal. I found that the nations to the weftward of the Miffiffippi, and on the borders of Lake Superior, ftiil continue to make ufe of the Pawwaw or Black Dance. The people of the colonies tell a thoufand ridiculous ftories of the Devil being raifed in this dance by the Indians. But they allow that this was in former times, and is now nearly extinct among thofe who live adjacent to the European fettlements. However I difcovered that it was flill ufed in the interior parts j and though I did not actually fee the Devil railed by it, I was witnefs to fome fcenes, that could only be performed by fuch as dealt with him, or were very expert and dextrous jugglers. Whilft I was among the Naudoweilies, a dance which they thus termed was performed. Before the dance began, one of the Indians was admitted into a fociety which they denominated Wakon- Kitchewah, that is, the Friendly- Society of the Spirit. This fociety is compofed of perfonsof both fexes, but fuch only can be admitted into it as are of unexceptionable character, and who receive the ap- probation of the whole body. To this admiflion fucceeded the Pawwaw Dance (in which I faw no- thing that could give rife to the reports I had heard) and the whole, according to their ufual cuftom,, con- eluded with a strand feaft. ! 7 6 CARVER'S TRAVELS. The initiation being attended with fome very lin- gular circumftances, which, as I have before ob- served, muft be either the effect of magic, or of amazing dexterity, I mail give a particular account of the whole procedure. It was performed at the time of the new moon, in a place appropriated to the purpofe, near the centre of their camp, that would contain about two hundred people. Being a ft ranger, and of! all occafions treated by them with great civility, I was invited to fee the ceremony, and placed clofe to the rails of the inclofure. About twelve o'clock they began to aifemble; when the fun fhone bright, which they confidered as a good cmen, for they never by choice hold any of their public meetings unlefs the fky be clear and unclouded. A great number of chiefs firft appeared, who were drefied in their beft apparel -, and after them came the head-warrior, clad in a long robe of rich furs, that trailed on the ground, attended by a retinue of fifteen or twenty perfons, painted and drefTed in the gayeft manner. Next followed the wives of fuch as had been already admitted into the fociety; and in the rear a confuted heap of the lower ranks, all contributing as much as lay in their power to make the appearance grand and fhowy. When the ailembly was feated, and file nee pro- claimed, one of the principal chiefs arofe, and in a fhort but mafterly fpeech informed his audience of the occafion of their meeting. He acquainted them that one of their young men wifhed to be admitted into their fociety; and taking him by the hand pre- fented him to their view, afking them, at the fame time, whether they had any objection to his becom- ing one of their community. No objection being made, the young candidate was placed in the centre, and four of the chiefs took C A R V E R ' 5 TRAVELS. l?7 their flations clofe to him; after exhorting him. by turns, not to faint under the operation he was about to go through, but to behave like an Indian and a man, two of them took hold of his arms, and caufed him to kneel -, another placed himfelf behind him, ib as to receive him when he fell, and the lad of the four retired to the diftance of about twelve feet from him exactly in front. This difpofition being completed, the chief that flood before the kneeling candidate, began to fpeak to him with an audible voice. He told him that he himfelf was now agitated by the fame lpirit which he mould in a few moments communicate to him; that it would ftrike him dead, but that he would in- flantly be reftored again to life; to this he added, that the communication however terrifying, was a neceffary introduction to the advantages enjoyed by the community into which he was on the point of be- ing admitted. As he fpoke this, he appeared to be greatly agi- tated, till at laft his emotions became fo violent, that his countenance was diftorted, and his whole frame convulfed. At this juncture he threw fome- thing that appeared both in fhape and colour like a fmall bean, at the young man, which feemed to en- ter his mourn, arid he inftantly -fell as motionlefs as if he had been fho:. The chief that was placed be- hind him received him in his arms, and, by the affiftance of the other two, laid him on the ground to all appearance bereft of life. Having done this, they immediately began to rub his limbs, and to ftri.ke him on the back, giving him fuch blows, as feemed more calculated to ftill the ouick, than to raife the dead. During thefe extra- s r S C A R V E R»5 TRAVELS. ordinary applications, the fpcaker continued his ha- rangue, deli ring the ipeclators not to be furprifed, or to defpair of the young man's recovery, as his pre lent inanimate iituation proceeded only from the forcible operation of the fpirit, on faculties that had hitherto been unufed to inipirations of this kind. The candidate lay feveral minutes without fenfe or motion -, but at length, after receiving many vio- lent blows, he began to difcover fome fymptoms of returning life. Thefe, however, were attended with flrong convulfions, and an apparent obftruction in his throat. But they were foon at an end; for hav- ing difcharged from his mouth the bean, or what- ever it was that the chief had thrown at him, but which on the clofeft inflection I had not perceived to enter it, he foon after appeared to be tolerably recoYeied. This part of the ceremory being happily effected, the officiating chiefs difrobed him of the clothes he had ufually worn, and put on him a fet of apparel entirely new. When he was dreiTed, the fpeaker ence more took him by the hand, and prefented him to the fociety as a regular and thoroughly initia f ed member, exhorting them, at the fame time, to give him fuch necefiary afiiflance, as being a young mem- ber, he might ft and in need of. He then alio charged the newly elected brother to receive with humility, and to follow with punctuality the advice of his elder brethren. Ail thofe who had been admitted within the rails, now formed a circlue around their new brother, and the mufic ftriking up, the great chief fung a fong, celebrating as ufual their martial exploits. CARVER'S TRAVELS. l?9 The only mufic they make ufe of is a drum, which is compofed of a piece of a hollow tree curioufly wrought, and over one end of which is (trained a ikin, this they beat with a fingle flick, and it gives a found that is far from harmonious, but it juft ferves to beat time with. To this they fometimes add the chichicoe, and in their war dances they likewife ufe a kind of fife, formed of a reed, which makes a ill rill harfh noife. The whole affembly were by this time united, and the dance began; feveral fingers afTifted the mufic with their voice, .arid the women joining in the cho- rus at certain intervals, they produced together a not unpleafing but favage harmony. This was one of the mod agreeable entertainments I faw whilit I was among them. I could not help laughing at a lingular childiirt cuftom I obferved they introduced into this dance, and which was the only one that had the lead ap- pearance of conjuration. Mod of the members car- ried in their hands- an otter or marten's fkin, which being taken whole from the body, and filled with wind, on being compreffed made a fqueaking noife through a fmall piece of wood organically formed and fixed in its mouth. When this inftrument was prefented to the face of any of the company, and the found emitted, the perfon receiving it inftantly fell down to appearance dead. Sometimes two or three* both men and women, were on the ground toge- ther; but immediately recovering, they rofe up and joined again in the dance. This feemed to afford, even the chiefs themfelves, infinite diverfion. I afterwards learned that theie were their Dii Penates or Koufehold Gods. ie>o CARVER'S TRAVELS. After forne hours fpent in this manner the feail began; the dimes being brought near me, I per- ceived that they confiited of dog's flefh; and I was informed that at all their public grand feafts they ne- ver made uie of any other kind of food. For this purpofe, at the featt I am now fpeaking of, the new candidate provides fat dogs, if they can be procured, at any price. In this ciiftom of eating dog's fieih on particular occafions, they referable the inhabitants of fome of the countries that lie on the north-eafl borders of Afia. The author of the account of Kamfchatka, publiihed by order of the Emprefs of RurTia (before referred to) informs us, that the people inhabiting Koieka, a country north of Kamfchatka, who wan- der about in hordes like the Arabs, when they pay their worihip to the evil »beings, kill a rein-deer or a dog, the ric£h of which they eat, and leave the head and tongue ftickingon a pole with the front to- wards the earL Alfo that when they are afraid of any infectious difuemper, they kill a dog, and wind- ing the guts about two poles, pafs between them. Thefe cuitoms, in which they are nearly imitated by the Indians, feem to aid ltrength to my fuppo- fition, that America was firft peopled from this quarter. I know not under what clafs of dances to rank that performed by the Indians who came to my tent when Handed near Lake Pepin, on the banks of the MitfhTippi, as related in my Journal. When I look- ed out, as I there mentioned, I faw about twenty naked young Indians, the mo ft perfect in their fhape, and. by far the handibmefr of any I had ever feen, coming towards me, and dancing as they approached, to the mufic of their drums. At every ten or twelve Is they halted, and fet up their yells and cries. CARVER'S TRAVELS. 18: When they reached my tent, I afked them to come in ; which, without deigning to make me any anfwer, they did. As I obferved that they were painted red and black, as they ufually are when they go againft an enemy, and perceived that fome parts of the war- dance were intermixed with their other movements, I doubted not but they were fet on by the inimical chief who had refufed my falutation ; I therefore de- termined to fell my life as dear as poflible. To this purpofe, I received them fitting on my cheft, with my gun and piftols befide me, and ordered my men to keep a watchful eye on them, and to be alfo upon their guard. The Indians being entered, they continued their dance alternately, finging at the fame time of their heroic exploits, and the fuperiority of their race over every other people. To enforce their language, though it was uncommonly nervous and expreflive, and fuch as would of itfelf have carried terrior to the firmeft heart, at the end of every period they ftruck their war-clubs againft the poles of my tent, with fuch violence, that I expected every moment it would have tumbled upon us. As each of them, in danc- ing round, palled by me, they placed their right hands over their eyes, and coming clofe to me, look- ed me fteadily in the face, which I could not con- ftrue into a token of friendfhip. My men gave themfelves up for loft, and I acknowledge, for my own part, that I never found my apprehenfions more tumultuous on anyoccafion. When they had nearly ended their dance, I pre- fented to them the pipe of peace, but they would not receive it. I then, as my lad refource, thought I would try what prefents would do; accordingly I rook from my cheft fome ribands and trinkets, which 1 laid before them. Thefe feemed to ftao-ger their 38* CARVER'S TRA V ELS. refolutions, and to avert in fome degree their anger; for after holding a confutation together, they fat down on the ground, which I confidered as a favor- able omen. Thus it proved, as in a fhort time they received the pipe of peace, and lighting it, fir ft prefented it to me, and then fmoked with it themfelves. Soon after they took up the prefents, which had hitherto lain neglected, and appearing to be greatly pleafed with them, departed in a friendly manner. And never did I receive greater pleafure than at getting rid of fuch formidable guefts. It was not ever in my power to gain a thorough knowledge of the defigns of my vifitors. I had fuf- flcient reafon to conclude that they were hoftile, and that their vifit, at fo late an hour, was made through the inftigation of the Grand Sautorj but I was afterwards informed that it might be intended as a compliment which they ufualiy pay to the chiefs of every other nation who happen to fall in with them, and that the circumftances in their conduct:, which had appeared fo fufpicious to me, were merely the effects of their vanity, and defigned to imprefs on the minds of thofe whom they thus vifited an elevated opinion of their valor and prowefs. In the morning before I continued my route, feveral of their wives brought me a pre fen t of fome fugar, for whom I found a few more ribands. The dance of the facrifice is not fo denominated from their offering up at the fame time a facrifice to any good or evil fpirit, but is a dance to which the Naudowefiles give that title from being ufed when any public fortunate circumftance befals them. Whilft I refided among them, a fine large deer accidentally ftrayed into the middle of their CARVER'S TRAVELS. 183 encampment, which they foon deflroyed. As this happened juft at the new moon, they efteemed it a lucky omen; and having roafted it whole, every one in the camp partook of it. After their feaft, they all joined : n a iance, which they termed, from its being fomewha: of a religious nature, a dance of the facritice. i% C'ARVER's TRAVELS, CHAPTER VIII. Of their Hunting. ofth< H UNTING is the principal occupation ndians they are trained to it from their earliefl youth, and it is an exercife which is adeemed no lefs honorable than neceifary towards their fubfidence. A dexterous and refolute hunter is held nearly in as great edimation by them as a didinguifhed war- rior. Scarcely any device which the ingenuity of man has difcovered for enfnaringor dedroying thofe animals that fupply them with food, or whole fkins are valuable to Europeans, is unknown to them. Whilft they are engaged in this exercife they fhake off the indolence peculiar to their nature, and be- come active, perfevering, and indefatigable. They are equally fagacious in rinding their prey, and in the means they ufe to deftroy it. They difcern the footdeps of the beads they are in purfuit of, al- though they are imperceptible to every other eye, and can follow them with certainty through the path- lefs fored. The beads that the Indians hunt, both for their flefli on which they fubfid, and for their flcins, of which they either make their apparel, or barter with the Europeans for neceiTaries, are the buffalo, the elk, the deer, the moofe, carribboo, the bear, the otter, the marten, &c. I defer" giving CARVER'S TRAVELS. 185 a defcription of thefe crearures here, and fhall only at prefent treat of their manner of hunting them. The route they fhall take for this purpofe, and the parties that fnall go on the different expeditions are fixed in their general councils, which are held fome time in the dimmer, when all the operations for the enfuing winter are concluded on. The chief- war- rior, whofe province it is to regulate their proceed- ings on this occafion, with great folemnity iiTues out an invitation to thole who choofe to attend him 5 for the Indians, as before obferved, acknowledge no fuperiority, nor have they any idea of compuliion ; and every one that accepts it prepares himfelf by fading during feveral days. The Indians do not fad as fome other nations do, on the richefl and mod luxurious food, but they to- tally abftain from every kind either of victuals or drink ; and fuch is their patience and refolution, that the mofl extreme third could not oblige them to tafte a drop of water ; yet amidft this fevere ab- ftinence they appear cheerful and happy. The reafons they give for thus fading, are, that it enables them freely to dream, in which dreams they are informed where they fnall find the greated plenty of game 3 and alfo that it averts the difpleafure of the evil fpirits, and induces them to be propitious. They alfo on thefe occafions blacken thofe parts of their bodies that are uncovered. The fad being ended, and the place of hunting made known, the chief who is to conduct them, gives a grand fead to thofe who are to form the dif- ferent parties ; of which none of them dare to par- take till they have bathed themfelves. At this lead, A a iS6 C A R V E R ' s T R A V E L S. notwithfianding they have faded fo long, they eat with great moderation ; and the chief that prefides employs himfelf in rehearfing the feats of thofe who have been moil fuccefsful in the bufinefs they are about to enter upon. They foon after fet out on the march towards the place appointed, painted or rather bedawbed wich black, amidft the acclama- tions of ail the people. It is impoflible to defcribe their agility or perfeve- rance, whi 111 they are in purfuit of their prey ; neither thickets, ditches, torrents, pools, or rivers flop them; they always go ftraight forward in the mod direct line they pcfnbly can, and there are few of the fa- vage inhabitants of the woods that they cannot over- take. When they hunt for bears, they endeavour to find out their retreats -, for, during the winter, thefe animals conceal themfclves in the hollow trunks of trees, or make themfclves holes in the ground, where they continue without food, whilft the fevere weather lafts. When the Indians think they have arrived at a place where thele creatures uiuaily haunt, they form themfelves into a circle according to their number, and moving onward, endeavour, as they advance to- wards the centre, to difcover the retreats of their prey. By this means, ifanyliein the intermediate fpace, they are fure of aroujQng them, and bringing them down either with their bows or their guns. The bens will take to flight at fight of a man or a dog, and will oniy make refifxance when they are ex- tremely hungry, or after they are wounded. The Indian, method of hunting the buffalo is by fbrming a circle or a iqi:arc, nearly in the fame CARVER'S TRAVELS. i8 7 manner as when they fearch for the bear. Having taken their different ftations, they fet the grafs, which at this time is rank and dry, on fire, and thefe ani- mals, who are extremely fearful of that element, flying with precipitation before it, great numbers are hemmed in a fmall compafs, and fcarcely a fi gle one efcapes. They have different ways of hunting the elk, the deer, and the carribboo. Sometimes they leek them out in the woods, to which they retire during the feverity of the cold, where they are eafily mot from behind the trees. In the more northern climates they take the advantage of the weather to deftroy the elk ; when the fun hasjuft ltrength enough to melt the fnow, and the froft in the night forms a kind of crufl on the furface, this creature being heavy, breaks it with his forked hoofs, and with dif- ficulty extricates himfelf from it : at this time there- fore he is foon overtaken and deftroyed. Some nations have made a method of hunting thefe animals which is more eafily executed, and free from danger. The hunting party divide themfelves into two bands, and choofing a fpot near the bor- ders of fame river, one party embarks on board their canoes, whilft the other forming themfelves in- to a femi-circle on the land, the flanks of which reach the more, let loofe their dogs, and by this means roufe all the game that lies within thefe bounds ; they then drive them towards the river, in- to which they no fooner enter, than the greater!: part of them are immediately difpatched by thofe who remain in the canoes. Both the elk and buffalo are very furious when they are wounded, and will return fiercely on their pur- •uersj and trample them under their feet, if the hua- i38 CARVER'S TRAVELS. ter finds no means to complete their deftruction, or does not feek for fecurity in flight to ibme adjacent tree -, by this method they a.^e frequently avoided, and fo tired with the purfuit, that they voluntarily give it over. But the hunting in which the Indians, particularly thofe who inhabit the northern parts, chiefly employ themfelves, and from which they reap the greateft advantage, is the beaver hunting. The feaibn for this is throughout the whole of the winter, from November to April ; d tiling which time the fur of thefe creatures is in the greateft perfection. A de- fcription of this extraordinary animal, the centime- tion of their huts, and the regulations of their almofl rational community, I fhail give in another place. The hunters make ufe of fcveral methods to de- ftroy them. Thofe gener?lly practifed, are either that of taking them in fnares, cutting through the ice, or opening their caufeways. As the eyes ofthefe animals are very quick, and their hearing exceedingly acute, great precaution is neceffary in approaching their abodes; for as they feldom go far from the water, and their houfes are al- ways built ciofe to the fide of fome large river or lake, or dams cf their own conflructing, upon the le aft alarm they haften to the deepeft part of the water, and dive immediately to the bottom ; as they do this they make a great noife by beating the water #kh their tails, on purpofe to put the whole fraternity on their guard. They take them with fnares in the following manner : though the beavers ufually lay up a fuffi- cient flore of provifion to ferve for their fubfiftence curing the winter,theymake from time to time excur- CARVER'S TRAVELS* 18$ fions to the neighbouring woods to procure further fupplies of food. The hunters having found out their haunts, place a trap in their way, baited with Small pieces of bark, or young fhoots of trees, which the beaver has no fooner laid hold of, than a large log of wood falls upon him, and breaks his back ■, his ene- mies, who are upon the watch, foon appear, and in- ftantly difpatch the helplefs animal. At other tines, when the ice on the rivers and lakes is about half a foot thick, they make an open- ing through it with their hatchets, to which the beavers will foon haflen, on being diilurbed at their houfes, for a fupply of frefn air. As their breath occafions a considerable motion in the water, the hunter has fuiticient notice of their approach, and methods are eafily taken for knocking them on the head the moment they appear above the furface. When the houfe of the beavers happen to be near a rivulet, they are more eafily deftroyed : the hun- ters then cut the ice, and fpreading a net under it, break down the cabins of the beavers, who never fail to make towards the deepeft part, where they are entangled and taken. But they muft not be fufTered to remain there long, as they would foon extricate themfeives with their teeth, which are well known to be exceiTively fharp and firong. The Indians take great care to hinder their dogs from touching the bones of the beavers. The rea^ fons they give for thefe precautions, are, firft, that the bones are fo exceffively hard, that they fpoil the teeth of their dogs : and, fecondly, that they are apprehenfive they fhall fo exafperate the fpirits of the beavers by this permiffion, as to render the next hunting feafon unfuccefsfuh 190 CARVER'S TRAVELS. The fkins of thefe animals the hunters exchange with the Europeans for neceffaries, and as they are more valued by the latter than any other kind of furs, they pay the greatelt attention to this fpecies of hunting. When the Indians deflroy buffaloes, elks, deer, &c. they generally divide the flefh of fueh as they have taken among the tribe to which they belong. But in hunting the beaver a few families ufuaily unite and divide the fpoil between them. Indeed, in the firft inftance they generally pay fome attention in the divifion to their own families : but no jealou- fies or murmurings are ever known to arife on ac- count of any apparent partiality. Among the Naudoweflies, if a perfon fhoots a deer, buffaloe, &x. and it runs to a confiderable diflance before it drops, where a perfon belonging to another tribe, being nearer, firft flicks a knife into it, the game is conndered as the property of the latter, not- withflanding it had been mortally wounded by the former. Though this cuftom appears to be arbitrary and unjufl, yet that people cheerfully fubmit to it. This decifion is, however, very different from that practifed by the Indians on the back of the colonies, where the firft perfon that hits it is entitled to the beft fhare. CARVER'S TRAVELS, 191 CHAPTER IX. Of their manner cf making IVar^ &c. T HE Indians begin to bear arms at the age of fifteen, and lay them afide when they arrive at the age of fixty. Some nations to the fouthward, I have been informed, do not continue their military exer- cifes after they are fifty. ^ »► In every band or nation there is a felect number who are (tiled the wat riors, and who are always rea- dy to acl: either ofFenfively or defenfively, as occafion requires. Thefe are well armed, bearing the wea- pons commonly in ufe among them, which vary ac- cording to the fituation of their countries. Such as have an intercourfe with the Europeans make ufe of tomahawks, knives, and fire-arms ; but thofe whofe dwellings are fituated to the weflward of the Miffiflip- pi, and who have not an opportunity of purchafmg thefe kinds of weapons, ufe bows and arrows, and alfo the Calfe Tete or War-Club. - The Indians that inhabit (till further to the weft- ward, a country which extends to the South Sea, ufe in fight, a warlike inflrument that is very uncom- mon. Having great plenty of horfes they always at- tack their enemies on horfeback, and encumber themfelves with n.o other weapon, than a ftone of a middLing fize, curioufly wrought, which they fallen by a firing, about a yard and a half long, to their right arms, a little above the elbow. Thefe fiones i 9 2 C A R V E R's T R A V E L S. they conveniently carry in their hands, till they reach their enemies, and then fwinging them with great dexterity, as they ride full fpeed, never fail of doing execution. The country which thefe tribes poiTefs, abounding with large extenfive plains, thofe who attack them feldom return ; as the fwiftnefs of the horfes, on which they are mounted, enables them to overtake even the fleeted of their invaders. The Nauaowe flies, who had been at war with this people, informed me, that unlefs they found moraf- fesor thickets to which they could retire, they were fure of being cut off: to prevent this they always took care whenever they made an onfet, to do it ntar fuch retreats as were imp an able for cavalry, they then having a great advantage over their enemies, v/hofe weapons would not there reach them. Some nations make ufe of a javelin, pointed with bone, worked into different forms 5 but their Indian weapons in general are bows and arrows, and the Ihort club already mentioned. The latter is made of a very hard wood, and the head of it fafhioned round like a ball, about three inches and a half dia- meter j in this rotund part is fixed an edge refem- bling that of a tomahawk, either of fteel or flint, whichfoever they can procure. The dagger is peculiar to the Naudow-eflie nation, and of ancient confcruclion, but they can give no ac- count how long it has been in ufe among them. It was originally made of flint or bone, but fince they have had communication with the European traders, they have formed it of fleel. The length of it is about ten inches, and that part clofe to the handle nearly three inches broad". Its edges are keen, and it gradu- ally tapeis towards a point. They wear it in a of-deti'* leather, r.e./fv ornamented CARVER'S TRAVELS. *93 with porcupine quills -, and it is ufually hung by a firing, decorated in the fame manner, which reaches as low only as the bread. This curious weapon is worn by a few of the principal chiefs alone, and confidered both as an ufeful inftrument, and an or- namental badge of fuperiority. I obferved among the Naudo we flies a few targets or fhields made of raw buffalo hides, and in the form of thofe ufed by the ancients. But as the mumber of thefe was fmall, and I could not gain no intelli- gence of the sera in which they rirft were introduced among them. I fuppofe thofe I law had defcended from father to fon for many generations. The reafons the Indians give for making war againft one another, are much the fame as thofe urged by more civilized nations, for difturbingthe tranquillity of their neighbours. The pleas of the former are however in general more rational and juft, than fuch as are brought by Europeans in vin- dication of their proceedings. The extenfion of empire is feldom a motive with thefe people to invade, and to commit depredations on the territories of thofe who happen to dwell near them. To fecure the rights of hunting v/ithin par* ticular limits, to maintain the liberty of parting through their accuftomed tracks, and to guard thofe lands which they confider from a long tenure as their own, againft any infringement, are the general caufes of thofe difieniions that fo often breakout between the Indian nations, and which are carried on with fo much animofity. Though ftrangers to the idea of feparate property yet the moil uncultivated among them are well ac- Bb i 9 4. CARVER's TRAVELS. quainted with the rights of their community to the domains they pofTefs, and oppofe with vigor every encroachment on them. Notwitliftanding it is generally fuppofed that from f territories being fo extenfive, the boundaries of them cannot be afcertained, yet I am well allured that the limits of each nation in the interior parts are laid down in their rude plans with great precifion. By theirs, as I have before obferved, was I enabled ro regulate my own; and after the mod exact ob- servations and inquiries found very few inilances in which they erred. But interefl is not either the mod frequent or molt powerful incentive to their making war on each other. The paflion of revenge, which is the difiinguiming characterifric of thefe people, is the moft general motive. Injuries are felt by them with exquifite fenfibility, and vengeance purfucd with unremitted ardor. To this may be added, that natural excitation which everylndian becomes fenfible of as ibon as he approaches the age of manhood to give proofs of his valour and prowefs. As they are early poiTeiTed with a notion that war ought to be the chief bufmefs of their lives, that there is nothing mere defirous than the reputation of being a great warrior, and that the fcalps of their enemies, or a number of priibners are alone to be efteemed valuable, it is not to be wondered at that the younger Indian j are continually refllefs and un- eaiy if their ardor is repreffed, and they are kept in a ltate of inactivity. Either of thefe propensities, the defire of revenge, or the gratification of an im- pulfe, that by degrees becomes habitual to them, is iiimcient, frequently, to induce them to commit hoflilities on fome of the neighbouring nations. CARVER'S TRAVELS. i 9S When the chiefs find any occafion for making war, they endeavour to aroufe thefe habitudes, and by that means foon excite their warriors to take arms. To this purpofe they make ufe of their mar- tial eloquence, nearly in the following words, which never fails of proving effectual; cc The bones of our Animated by thefe exhortations the warriors fnatch their arms in a tranfport of fury, fing the fong of war, and burn with impatience to imbrue their hands in the blood of their enemies. Sometimes private chiefs affemble fmall parties, and make excurfions againft thofe with whom they are at war, or fuch as have injured them. A fingie warrior, prompted by revenge or a defire to fhow his prowefs, will march unattended for feveral hun- dred miles, to furprife and cut off a ftraggling party. Thefe irregular fallies however, are not always approved of by the elder chiefs, though they are often obliged to connive at them; as in the inftance before given of the NaudowefTie and Chipeway nations. : 9 6 C A R V E R's T R A V E L S. But when a war is national, and undertaken by the cummunity, their deliberations are formal and flow. The elders affemble in council, to which all the head warriors and young men are admitted, where they deliver their opinions in folemn fpeeches, weighing with maturity the nature of the enterprife they are about to engage in, and balancing with great fagacity the advantages or inconveniences that will arile from it. Their priefls are alfq confulted on the fubject, and even, fometimes, the advice of the moil intel- ligent of their women is afked. If the determination be for war, they prepare for it with much ceremony. The chief warrior of a nation does not on all oc« cafions head the war party himfelf, he frequently deputes a warrior of whofe valor and prudence he has a good opinion. The perfon thus fixed on being ftrft bedawbed with black, obferves a fait of feveral days, during which he invokes the Great Spirit, or deprecates the anger of the evil ones, holding whilft it laits no converfe with any of his tribe. He is particularly careful at the fame time to ob- ferve his dreams, for on thefe do they fuppofe their fucecfs will in a great meafure depend > and from the firm perfu'afion every Indian actuated by his own prefumptuous thoughts is impreiTed with, that he fhall march forth to certain victory, thefe are gene- i ally favorable to his wifhes. After he has failed as long as cuitom prefcribes, he affembles the warriors, and holding a belt of wampum in his hand, thus addrefTes them; CARVER'S TRAVELS. lg7 cc Brothers ! by the infpiration of the Great Spi- " rit I now fpeak unto you, and by him am I * c prompted to carry into execution the intentions f c which I am about to difclofe to you. The blood " of our deceafed brothers is not yet wiped away; •" their bodies are not yet covered, and I am going " to perform this duty to them. " Having then made known to them all the motives that induce him to take up arms againft the nation with whom they are to engage, he thus proceeds: cc I have therefore refolved to march through the cc war path to furprife them. "We will eat their ** flefh, and drink their blood; we will take fcalps, cc and make prjfoners; and fhould we perifh in this to bellow. r Their armies are never encumbered with baggage or military (lores. Each warrior, beildes his wea- pons, carries with him only a mat, and whilft at a diflance from the frontiers of the enemy fupports himfelf with the game he kills or the rifh he catches. When they pafs through a country where they have no apprehenfions of meeting with an enemy, they ufe very little precaution: fometimes there are fcarcely a dozen warriors left together, the reft be- ing difperfed in purfuit of their game 3 but though they mould have roved to a very confiderable diflance from the war-parth, they are fure to arrive at the place of rendezvous by the hour appointed. They always pitch their tents long before fun-fet; and being naturally prefumptuous, take very little CARVER'S TRAVELS. 2 or care to guard againft a fnrprife. They place great confidence in their Manitous, or houfehold gods 3 which they always carry wich them; and being per- fuaded that they take upon them the office of cen- tinels, they fleep very fecurely under their pro- tection. Thefe Manitous, as they are called by fome na- tions, but which are termed Wakons, that is, fpi- rits, by the Naudowefiies, are nothing more than the otter and marten fkins I have already defcribed, for which, however, they have a great veneration*. After they have entered the enemy's country, no people can be more cautious and circumfpedt; fires are no longer lighted, no more ihouting is heard, nor the game any longer purfued. They are not even permitted to fpeak; but muft convey whatever they have to impart to each other by figns and motions. They now proceed wholly by ftratagem and am- bufcade. Having difcovered their enemies, they fend to reconnoiire them; and a council is immedi- ately held, during which they fpeak only in whifpers, to confider of the intelligence imparted'by thofe who were Cent out. The attack is generally made juft before day break, at which period they fuppofe their foes to be in their foundeft ileep. Throughout the whole of the preceding night they will lie flat upon their faces, without ftirring; and make their approaches in the fame poflure, creeping upon their hands and feet till they they are got within bowihot of thofe they have deftined to destruction. On a fignal given- by the chief warrior, to which the whole body makes Cc C A R V E R'5 T R A V ELS. anfwer by the mod hideous yells, they all ftart up, and difcharging their arrows in the fame inftant, without giving their adverfaries time to recover from the confuficn into which they are thrown, pour in upon them with their war-clubs or tomahawks. r The Indians think there is little glory to be ac- quired from attacking their enemies openly in the fiejd ; their greateft pride is to furprife and deflroy. They feidom engage without a manifeft appearance of advantage. If they find the enemy on their guard, too nrongly entrenched, or fuperior in numbers, they retire, provided their is an opportunity of doing fo, And they efteem it the greateft qualification of a chief warrior, to be able to manage an attack, fo as to deflroy as many of the enemy as poMIble, at the expence of a few men. Sometimes they iecure themfelves behind trees, hillocks, or ftones, and having given one or two rounds retire before they arc di [covered. Europeans, who are unacquainted with this method of righting too often find to their coll the deftru&iye efficacy of it. General Braddock was one of this unhappy num- ber. Marching in the year 1755, to attack Fort Du Quefne, he was intercepted by a party of French and confederate Indians in their intereft, who by this inficlious method of engaging found means to defeat his army, which confifted of about two thoufand brave and well difciplined troops. So fecurely were the Indians polled, that the Engliin fcarcely knew from whence or whom they were thus annoyed. During the whole of the engagement, the latter had fcarcely a fight of an enemy j and were obliged to retreat witli out the iatisfadion of being able to take the leaf! degree of revenge for the havoc made C A R V E R ' s T R A V E L S. £ cz among them. The General paid for his temei with his life, and was accompanied in his fall by a great number of brave fellows ; v/hilil his invisible .enemies had only two or three of their number wounded. When the Indians fucceed in their filent ap- proaches, and are able to force the camp which they attack, a fcene of horror that exceeds defcription, enfues. The favage fiercenefs of the conquerors, and the defperation of the conquered, who well knew what they have to expect fhouki they fall alive into the hands of their affailants, occafion the meft extraordinary exertions on both fidts. The figure of the combatants all befmeared with black and red paint, and covered with the blood of the fiain, their horrid yells, and ungovernable fury arc: not to be conceived by thofe who have never croffed the Atlantic. I have frequently been a fpecxator of them, and once bore a part in a fimilar fcene. But what ad- ded to the horror of it was, that I had not the con- folation of being able to oppofe their lavage attacks. Every circumftance of the adventure (till dwells on my remembrance, and enables me to cefcribe with greater perfpicuity the brutal fiercenefs of the In- dians when they have furprifed or overpowered an enemy. As a detail of the maffacre at Fort "William Henry in the year 1757, the fcene to which I refer, can- not appear foreign to the defign of this publications, but will ferve to give my readers a juft idea of the ferocity of this people, I ihall take the liberty to in- fert it, apologizing at the fame time for the length of the digrefiion, and thole egotifms M&ich the relation ;rs unavoidable. £o 4 C A R V E R's TRAVEL S. General Webb, who commanded the Englifli army in North-America, which was then encamped at Fort Edward, having intelligence that the French troops under Monf. Montcalm were making fome movements towards Fort William Hen y, he de- tached a corps of about fifteen hundred men, con- futing of Englifn and Provincials, to ftrtngthen the garrilbn. In this party I went as a volunteer among the latter. The apprehenfions of the Englifh General were rict without foundation ; for the day after our arrival we faw Lake George (formerly Lake Sacrament) to which it lies contiguous, covered with an immenfe number of boats -, and in a few hours we found our lines attacked by the French General, who had juft landed with eleven thoufand Regulars and Cana- dians, and two thoufand Indians. Colonel Monro, a brave officer, commanded in the Fort, and had no, more than two thoufand three hundred men with him, our detachment included. With thefe-he made a gallant defence, and pro- bably would have been able at lad to preferve the Fort, had he been properly fupported, and permit- ted to continue his efforts. On every fummons to iurrender lent by the French General, who offered the moft honorable terms, his anfwer repeatedly;was, That he yet found himfelf in a condition to repej the molt vigorous attacks his befiegers were able to make ; and if he thought his prefent force infufri- cient, he could foon be fupplied with a greater num- ber from the adjacent army. But the Colonel having acquainted General Webb wkh his fituation, and dciired he would fend him fome frtfh troops, the General difpatcheda rneffen- ger to him with a letter, wherein he informed h\n\ CARVER's TRAVELS. 205 that it. was not in his power to affift him, and there- fore gave him orders to furrender up the Fort on the beft terms he couid procure. This packet fell into the hands of the French General, who imme- diately fent a Mag of truce, defiring a conference with the governor. They accordingly met, attended only by a fmall guard, in the centre between the lines ; when Monf. Montcalm told the Colonel, that he was come in perfon to demand poffeffion ofthe Fort, as it belqng- jed to the King his mailer. The Colonel replied, that he knew not how that could be, nor mould he furrender it up whilft it was in his power to de- fend it. The French General rejoined, at the fame time delivering the packet into the Colonel's hand, C( By c: this authority do I make the requifition." The brave Governor had no fooner read the contents of it, and was convinced that fuch were the orders of the cammander in chief, and not to be difobeyed, than he hung his head in filence, and relu&antly entered into a negociation. In confideration ofthe gallant defence the garrifon had made, they were to be permitted to march out with all the honors of war, to be allowed covered waggons to tranfport their baggage to Fort Edward, and a guard to protect them from the fury of the fa- The morning after the capitulation was figned, as foon as day broke, the whole garrifon, now con- fiding of about two thoufand men, befides women and children, were drawn up within' the lines, and on the point of marching off, when great numbers ofthe Indians gathered about, and began to plunder. *©6 CARVER's TRAVEL S. We were at fir ft: in hopes that this was their only view, and fuffered them to proceed without oppo- sition. Indeed it was not in our power to make any, had we been fo inclined; for though we were permitted to carry off our arms, yet we were not allowed a Tingle round of ammunition. In thefe hopes however we were difappointed : for prefently fome of them began to attack the fick and wounded, when fuch as were not able to crawl into the ranks, not- withilanding they endeavoured to avert the fury of their enemies by their fhrieks or groans, were foon difpatched. Here we were folly in expectation that the dif- turbance would have concluded ; and our little arm] began to move ; but in a fhort time we faw the front divifion driven back, and difscvered that we were entirely encircled by the favages. We expected every moment that the guard, which the French, by the articles of capitulation, had agreed to allow us, would have arrived, and put an end to our appre- henfions ; but none appeared. The Indians now began to drip every one without exception of their arms and clothes, and thofe who made the leafl: re- finance felt the weight of their tomahawks. I happened to be in the rear divifion, but it wac not long before I fhared the fate of my companions. Three or four of the favages laid hold of me, and whiiit fome held their weapons over my head, the others foon cifrobed me of my coat, waiftcoat, hat and buckles, omitting not to take from me what money I had in my pocket. As this was tranfacled" clofe by the pafTage that led from the lines on to the plain, near which a French centinel waspofted, Iran to him and claimed his protection -, but he only called mean Englifh dog, and thruft me with vio- lence back again into the midft of the Indians. CARVER'S TRAVELS. 207 I now endeavoured to join a body of our troops that were crowded together at fome diftance; but innu- merable were the blows that were made at me with different weapons as I paffed on; luckily however the favages were fo cloie together, that they could not ftrike at me without endangering each other. Notwithstanding which one of them found means to make a thruft at me with a fpear, which grazed my fide, and from another I received a wound, with the fame kind of weapon, in my ankle. At length I gained the fpot where my countrymen flood, and forced myfelfinto the midft of them. But before I got thus far out of the hands of the Indians, the col- lar and wrifibands of my fhirt were all that remained of it, and my flefh was fcratched and torn in many places by their favage gripes. By this time the war whoop was given, and the Indians began to murder thofe that were neareft to them without diftinction. It is not in the power of words to give any tolerable idea of the horrid fcene that now enfued; men, women, and children were difpatched in the mod; wanton and cruel manner, and immediately fcalped. Many of thefe favages drank the blood of their victims, as it flowed warm from the fatal wound. We now perceived, though too late to avail us, that we were to expect no relief from the French; and that, contrary to the agreement they had fo lately figned to allow us a fufricient force to protect us from thefe infults, they tacitly permitted them; for I could plainly perceive the French officers walk- ing about at fome diftance, difcourfing together with apparent unconcern. For the honor of human nature I would hope that this flagrant breach of eve- ry facred law, proceeded rather from the favage dii~ pofuion of the Indians, which I Acknowledge ; . r . tS 20$ CARVER's TRAVELS. fometimes almoft impoffibk to control, and which- might now unexpectedly have arrived to a pitch not eafily to be reftrained, than to any premeditated de- fign in the French commander. An unprejudiced obferver would, however, be apt to conclude, that a body often thoufand chriftian troops, moft enrif- tian troops, had it in their power to prevent the maflacre from becoming fo general. But whatever was the caufe from which it arofe, the confequences of it were dreadful, and not to be paralleled in mo- dern hiftory. As the circle in which I itood inclofed by this time was much thinned, and death feemed to be approaching with hafty ftrides, it was propofed by feme of the moft refolute to make one vigorous effort, and enaeavour to force our way through the favages, the only probable method of preferving our lives that now remained. This, however defperate, was refolved on, and about twenty of us fprung at once into the midft of them. In a moment we were all feparated, and what was the fate of my companions I could not learn till fome months after, when I found that only fix or feven of them effected their defign. Intent oniy on my own hazardous fituation, I endeavoured to make my way through my favage enemies in the bed manner pof- fible. And I havs often been aftonilried fmce, when' I have recollected with what compoiure I took, as I did, every neceffary ftep for my prefervation. Some I overturned, being at that time young and athletic, and others I paffed by, dextroufly avoiding their weapons ; till at lait two very ftout chiefs, of the mof- favage tribes, as I could diftinguifh by their drefs, whofe ftrength I could not refill, laid hold or me by each arm, and began to force me through- the crowd. CARVER'S TRAVELS. jog I now refigned myfelf to my fate, not doubting. but that they intended to difpatch me, and then to fatiate their vengeance with my blood, as I found they were hurrying me towards a retired fwamp that lay at fome diftance. But before we had got many yards, an Englifh gentleman of fome diftinclion, as I could difcover by his breeches, the only covering he had on, which were of fine fcarlet velvet, ruihed clofe by us. One of the Indians inflantly relinquished his hold, and fpringing on this new object, endea- voured to feize him as his prey; but the gentleman being ftrong, threw him on the ground, and would probably have got away, had not he who held my other arm, quitted me to affift his brother. I fcized the opportunity, and haftened away to join another party of Englifh troops that were yet unbroken, and ftood in a body at fome diftance. But before I had taken many fteps, I haftily caft my eye towards the gentleman, and law the Indian's tomahawk gam. into his back, and heard him utter his laft groan; this added both to my fpeed and defperation. I had left this ihocking fcene but a few yards, ■when a fine boy about twelve years of age, that had hitherto efcaped, came up to me, and begged that I would let him lay hold of me, fo that he might Hand fome chance of getting out of the hands of the favages. I told him that I would give him every afliftance in my power, and to this purpofe bid him lay hold; but in a few moments he was torn from my fide, and by his fhrieksljudge was foon demo- lifneci. I could not help forgetting my own cares fona minute, to lament the fate of fo young a fuf- ferer; but it w r as utterly impcflible for me to take any methods to prevent it. I now got once more into the midft of friends, but we were unable to afford each other any fuccour. Dd sio C A R V E R's T R A V E L S. As this was the diviiiop that had advanced the furtheft from the fort, I thought there might be a poiTibiiky (though but a bare one) of my forcing my way through the outer ranks of the Indians, and getting to a neighbouring wood, which I perceived at fome diftance. I was {till encouraged to hope by the almoft miraculous prefervation I had already experienced. Nor were my hopes in vain, or the efforts I made ineffectual. Suffice to fay, that I reached the wood; but by the time I had penetrated a little way into it,, my breath was fo exhaufted that I threw myfelf into a break, and lay for fome minutes apparently at the lad gafp. At length I recovered the power of refpi- ration -, but my apprehenfions returned with all their former force, when I favv feveral favages pafs by, probably in purfuit of me, at no very great diftance. In this fituation I knew not whether it was better to proceed, or endeavour to conceal myfelf where I fay, till night came on ; fearing, however, that they would return the fame way, I thought it moll pru- dent to get further from the dreadful fcene of my diftreffes. Accordingly, ftriking into another part of the wood, I baftened on as fail as the briers and the lofs of one of my fhoes would permit me; and after a flow progrefs of fome hours, gained a hill that overlooked z\\t plain which I had juft left, from whence I could difcern that the bloody florm ftill ra^ed with unabated fury. But not to tire my readers, I fhall only add, that after palling three days without fubfiftence, and en- during the feverity of the cold dews for three nights, I at length reached Fort Edward j where with pro- per care my body foon recovered its wonted ftrength, and my mind, as far as the recollection of the late melancholy events would permit, its ufual compofure. CARVER'S TRAVELS. Hf It was computed that fifteen hundred pcrfons were killed or made priibners by theie fay ages during this fatal day. Many of the latter were carried off by them and never returned. A few, through fa- vorable accidents, found their way back to ; native country, after having experienced a long an. I ievere captivity. The brave Colonel Monro had haflened away, loon after the confufion begin, to the French camp to endeavour to procure the guard agreed by the ill - pulation; but his application proving ineffectual, he remained there till General Webb lent a party of troops to demand and protect him back to Fort Edward. But \thefe unhappy concurrences, which would probably have been prevented, had he bctn left to purfue his own plans, together with the lofs of fo many brave fellows, murdered in cold bleed, to whofe valor he had been fo lately a witnefs, mad? fuch an impreflion on his mind, that he did not long furvive. He died in about three months of a broken heart, and with truth might it be faid, that he was an honor to his country. I mean not to point out the following circum- fiance as the immediate judgment of heaven, and intended as an atonement for this (laughter; but 1 v cannot omit that very few of thofe different tribes of Indians that fhared in it ever lived to return home. The fm all -pox, by means of their communication with the Europeans, found its way among them, and made an equal havoc to what they themfelves had done. The methods they purfued on the firft attack of that malignant diforder, to abate the fever attending it, rendered it fatal. Whilft their blood was in a Hate of fermentation, and nature was driv- ing to throw out the peccant matter, they checked h-er operations by plunging into the water: the con- ziz CARVER'S TRAVELS, fequence was that they died by hundreds. The few thac furvived were transformed by it into hideous objects, and bore with them to the grave deep-in- dcn.ed marks of this much- dreaded difeafe. Monfieur Montcalm fell foon after on the plains of Quebec. That the unprovoked cruelty' of this commander was not approved of by the g< n:rality of his coun- trymen, I have fince been convinced of by many proofs. One only, however, which I received from a perfon who was witnefs to it, mail I at pre- fent give. A Canadian merchant, of fome confi- deration, having hear., of the furrender of the Eng- liih fort, celebrated tne fortunate event with great rejoicings and hoipitality, according to the cuftom of that country -, but no fooner did the news of the mafTacre which enfued reach his ears, than he put an immediate ftop to the feitivity, and exclaimed in the fevered terms againft the inhuman permiffion ; declaring at the fame time that thofe who had con- nived at it, had thereby drawn down, on that part of their king's dominions the vengeance of Heaven. To this he added, that he much feared the total lofs of them would defervedly be the confequence. How truly, this prediction has been verified we well know. But to return — Though the Indians are negligent in guarding agakrft furprifes, they are alert and dextrous in furpriling their enemies. To their caution ancj perfeverance in dealing on the party they defign to attack, they add that admirable talent, or rather inftinctiye qualification. I have already defcribed, of tracing out thofe they are in purfuit of. On the fmootheft grafs, on the harden: earth, and even on the very ftones, will thev difcover the traces of an CARVE R's TRAVELS. 2 \ Z .enemy, and by the fhape of the foot fteps, and the diftance between the prints, diftingui fn not only whether it is a man or a woman who has paiTed that way, but even the nation to which they belong. However incredible this might appear, yet from xht many proofs I received whilft among them of their amazing fagacity in this point, I fee no reafon to difcredit even thele extraordinary exertions of it. When they have overcome an enemy, and vic- tory is no longer doubtful, the conquerors firft dif- patch all fuch as they think they mall not be able to carry oft without great trouble, and then endeavour to take as many prifoners as poflible ■, after this they return to fcalp thofc who are either dead, or too much wounded to be taken with them. At this buf3nefs they are exceedingly expert. They feize the head of the difabled or dead enemy, and placing one of their feet on the neck twift their left hand in the hair ; by this means, having extended the fkin, thai covers the Hop of their head, they draw out their fcalping knives, which are always kept in good order for this cruel purpofe, and with a few dextrous ftrokes take off the part that is termed the fcalp. They are fo expeditious in do- ing this, that the whole time required fcarcely ex- ceeds a minute. Thefe they preferve as monuments of their prowefs, and at the fame time as proofs of the vengeance they have inflicted on their enemies. If two Indians feize in the fame inftant a prifoner, andfeem to have an equal claim, the conteft between them is foon decided; for to put a fpeedy end to any difpute that might arife, the pefon that is ap- prehenfive he mail lofe his expected reward, im- mediately has recourfe to his tomahawk or war-club, 2i 4 CARVER'S TRAVELS. and knocks on the head the unhappy caufe of their contention. Having completed their purpofes, and made as much havoc as poffible, they immediately retire towards thier own country, with the fpoil they have acquired, for fear of being purfued. Should this be the cafe, they make ufe of many ftra- tagems to elude the fearches of their purfuers. They lometimes fcatter leaves, fands, Or duft over the prints of their feet ;fometimes tread in each other's footfleps ; and fometimes lift their feet fo high, and tread fo lightly, as not to make any impreffion on the ground. But if they find all thefe precautions un- availing, and that they are near being overtaken, they firitdifpatch and fcalp their prifoners, and then dividing,each endeavours to regain his native country by a different route. This prevents all further purfuit; for their purfuers now defpairing, either of grati- fying their revenge, ar of releafing thofe of their friends who were made captives, return home. If the fuccefsful party is fo lucky as to make good their retreat unmolefted, they haften with the great- eft expedition to reach a country where they may be perfectly fccure ; and that their wounded companions may not retard their flight, they carry them by turns in litters, or if it is in the winter feafon draw them on Hedges. Their litters are made in a rude manner of the branches of trees. Their fledges confift of two fmall thin boards, about a foot wide when joined, and near fix feet long. The fore -part is turned up, and the fides are bordered wiih fmall bands. The In- dians draw thefe carriages with great eafe, be they ever fo much loaded, by means of a firing which partes round the bread. This collar is called a C A R V E R's TRAVELS. 2l $ Metump, and is inufe throughout America, both in the fettlements and the internal parts. Thofe ufed in the latter are made of leather, and very curioufly wrought. The prifoners during their march are guarded with the greateft care. During the day, if the jour- ney is over land, they are always held byfome of the victorious party ; if by water, they are fattened to the canoe. In the night-time they are ftretched along the ground quite naked, with their legs, arms, and neck fattened to hooks fixed in the ground. Be- fidesthis, cords are tied to their arms or legs, which are held by an Indian, who inftantly awakes at the leaft motion of them. Notwithstanding fuch precautions are ufuaily taken by the Indians, it is recorded in the annals of New- England that one of the weaker fex, almoft alone, and unaflifted found means to elude the vigilance of a party of warriors, and not only to make her efcape from them, but to revenge the caufe of her country- men. Some years ago a fmall band of Canadian Indians,con- fifting of ten warriors attended by two of their wives, made an irruption into the back fettlements of New- England. They lurked for fome time in the vicinity of one the mod exterior towns, and at length, after having killed and fcalped feveral people, found means to take prifoner a woman who had with her a fon of about twelve years of age. Being fatisfiedwith the execution they had done, they retreated towards their native country, which lay at three hundred miles diflance, and carried off with them their two captives. 216 CARVER'S TRAVELS. The fccond night of their retreat, the woman ; whofe name, if I miftake not, was Rowe, formed a refolution worthy of the mod intrepid hero. She thought (he fhould be able to get from her hands the manacles by which they were confined, and de- termined if me did fo to make a defperate effort for the recovery of her freedom. To this purpofe, when fhe concluded that her conquerors were in their founded deep, fhe ftrove to flip the cords from- her hands. In this (he fucceeded •> and cautioning her fon, whom they had fuffered to go unbound, in a whifper, againfl being furprifed at what fhe was about to do, fhe removed to a difiance with great warinefs the defendve weapons of the Indians, which lay by their fides. Having done this, fhe put one of the tomahawks into the hands of the boy, bidding him to follow her example : and taking another herfelf, fell upon the fteeping Indians, feveral of whom fhe inftantly dif- patched. But her attempt was nearly fruftrated by the imbecility of her fon, who wanting both flrength and refolution, made a feeble ftroke at one of them, which only ferved to awaken him 5 fhe however fprungat the rifing warrior, and before he could re- cover his arms, made him fink under the weight of her tomahawk ; and this fhe alternately did to all the reft, except one of the women who awoke in time., and made her cfcape. The heroine then took off the fcalps of her van- quifhed enemies, and feizing alfo thofe they were carrying away with them as proofs of their fuccefs, fhe returned in triumph to the town from whence fhe had fo lately been dragged, to the great aflonifh- ment of her neighbours, who could fcarcely credit their fenfes, or the teftimonies fhe bore of her Ama- zonian intrepidity. CARVER'S TRAVELS. -, 7 During their march they oblige their prifoners to fing their death-fong, which generally confute of theft or fimi&r fentences: cc I am going to die, I cc am about to fuffcr; but I will bear the fevereft cc tortures my enemies can inflict, with becoming fc fortitude. I v/ill die like a brave man, and I fhall tc then go to join the chiefs that have iuffered on the " fame account." Thefe fongs are continued with necefTary intervals, until they reach the village or camp to which they are going. When the warriors are arrived within hearing, they fet up different cries, which communicates to their friends a general hiftory of the fuccefs of the expedition. The number of the death-cries they give, declare how many of their own party are loft; the number of war-whoops, the number of prifoners they have taken. It is difficult to defcribe thefe cries, but the beft ideal can convey of them is, that the former con fifts cf the found Whoo, Whoo, Whoop, which is continued in a long (hrill tone, nearly till the breath Js exhaufted, and then broken off with a fudden elevation of the voice. The latter is a loud cry, of much the fame kind, which is modulated into notes by the hand being placed before the month. Both of them might be heard to a very confidcrable diftance. Whilft thefe are uttering, the perfons to whom they are defigned to convey the intelligence, con- tinue motionlefs and all attention. When this ce- remony is performed, the whole village iffue out to learn the particulars of the relation they have j'uft heard in general terms, and according as the news Ee si8 CARVER's TRAVELS, prove mournful or the contrary, they anfwer by fo many acclamations or cries of lamentation. Being by this time arrived at the village or camp, the women and children arm themfelvts with flicks and blu .Ige ons ; and form themfelves into two ranks, through which the prifoners are obliged to pafs. The treatment they undergo before they reach the extremity cf the line, is very fevere. Sometimes they are fo beaten over the head and face, as to have icarce-ly any remains of life; and happy would it be for them if by this ufage an end was put to their wretched beings. But their tormentors take care that none of the blows they give prove mortal, as they wiih to referve the miferable fufferers for more fevere inflictions. After having undergone this introductory difci- pline, they are bound hand and foot, whilft the chiefs hold a council in which their fate is determined. Thofe who are decreed to be put to death by the ufual torments, are delivered to the chief of the warriors; fuch as are to be fpared, are given into the hands of the chief of the nation : fo that in a fhort time all the prifoners may be alTured of their fate, as the fentence now pronounced is irrevocable. The former they term being configned to the houfe cf death, the latter to the houfe of grace. Such captives as are pretty far advanced in life, and have acquired great honor by their warlike deeds, always atone for the b'ood they have fpilt, by the tortures of fire. Their fuccefs in war is rea- dily known by the blue marks upon their breafts and arms, which are as legible to the Indians as letters are to Europeans. The manner in which tbefe hieroglyphics are made, is by breaking the (kin with the teeth of fifh, CARVER'S TRAVELS. w - or fharpened flints, dipped in a kind of ink made of the foot of pitch pine. Like thofe of the ancient. Picts of Britain thefe are efteemed ornamental; and at the fame time they ferve as regifters of the heroic actions of the warrior, who thus bears about him indelible marks of his valor. The prifoners deftined to death are foon led to the place of execution, which is generally in the centre of the camp or village ; where, being ftript, a.id ever/ part of their bodies blackened, the fkin of a crow or raven is fixed on their heads. They are then bound to a flake, with faggots heaped around them, and obliged, for the laft time, to fing their death-fono-. The warriors, for fuch it is only who commonly fuffer this punifhment, now perform in a more pro- lix manner this fad folemnity. They recount with an audible voice all the brave actions they have per- formed, and pride themfelves in the number of ene- mies they have killed. In this rehearfal they fpare not even their tormentors, but ftrive by every pro- voking tale they can invent, to irritate and infult them. Sometimes this has the deflred effect, and the fufferers are difpatched fooner than they other- wife would have been. There are many other methods which the Indians make ufe of to put their prifoners to death, but thefe are only occafional; that of burning is mod gene- rally u'fed, Whilit I was at the chief town of the Ottagau- mies, an Illinois Indian was brought in, who had been made prifoner by one of their war-parties. I had then an opportunity of feeing the cuftomary cruelties inflicted by thefe people on their captives^ 2 2o CARVE R's TRAVEL S. through the minuted part of their procefs. After the previous fteps necefjary to this condemnation, he was carried, early in the morning, to a little diftance from the town, where he was bound to a tree. This being done, all the boys, who amounted to a great number, as the place was populous, were permitted to amufe themfelves with mooting their arrows at the unhappy victim. As there w r erc: none of them more than twelve years old, and were placed at a considerable diftance, they had not firength to penetrate to the vital parts, fo that the poor wretch flood pierced with arrows, and differ- ing the confequent agonies, for more than two days. During this time he fung his warlike exploits. He recapitulated every ftratagem he had made ufc of to furprife his enemies: he feoafted of the quan- tity of fcalps he poiTcifed, and enumerated the pri- foners he had taken. He then defcribed the different barbarous methods by which he had put the latter to death, and feemed even then to receive incon- ceivable pleafure from tke recital of the horrid tale. But he dwelt more particularly on the cruelties he had praclifed on Cuch of the kindred of his prefent tormentors, as had fallen into his hands; endeavour- ing by thefe aggravated infults. to induce them to increafe his tortures, that he might be able to give greater proofs of fortitude. Even in the lad drug- gies of fife, when he was no longer able to vent in words the indignant provocation his tongue would have uttered, a fmile of mingled (corn and triumph )>ti hi: countenance. CARVER'S TRAVELS. 2 zi This method of tormenting their enemies is con- fidered by the Indians as productive of more than one beneficial confequence. It fatiates, in a greater degree, that diabolical luft of revenge, which is the predominant paflion in the bread of every in- dividual of every tribe, and it gives the growing warriors an early propenfuy to that cruelty and thirft for blood, which is fo neceflary a qualification for fuch as would be thorougiily (killed in their fa- vap;e art of war. I have been informed, that an Indian who was under the hands of his tormentors, had the audacity to tell them, that they were ignorant old women, and did not know how to put brave prifoners to death. He acquainted them that he had heretofore taken fome of their warriors, and inftead of the tri- vial punimments they inflicted on him, he had de- vifed for them the moil excruciating torments; that having bound them to a Hake, he had ftuck their bodies full of fharp fplinters of turpentine wood, to which he then let fire, and dancing around them enjoyed the agonizing pangs of the flaming victim. This bravado, which carried with it a degree of infult, that even the accuftomed ear of an Indian could not liflen to unmoved, threw his tormentors off their guard, and fhortened the duration of his torments; for one of the chiefs ran to him, and rip- ping out his heart, flopped with it the mouth from which had iiiued fuch provoking language. Innumerable are the ftories that may be told of the courage and refclution of the Indians, who hap- pen to be made prifoners by their adversaries, Many that I have heard are fo aftonifhing, that they feem to exceed the utmoft limits of credibility; it is, however, certain that thefe fa v age 5 are polleflfed with ziz CARVER'S TRAVELS. many heroic qualities, and bare every fpecies of misfortune with a degree of fortitude which haj iot been outdone by any of the ancient heroes either of Greece or of Rome. Notwithstanding thefe ach of fe verity exercifed by the Indians towards thoie of their own fpecies, who fall into their hands, lbme tribes of them have been remarked for their moderation to fuch female prifoncrs, belonging to the Englii'h color ies as have happened to be taken by them. Women of great beauty have frequently been carried off by them, and during a march of three or four hundred miles, thro* their retired forefts, have lain by their fides without receiving any infult, and their chafttty has remained inviolate. Inftances have happened where female captives, who have been pregnant at the time of their being taken, have found the pangs of child- birth come upon them in the midft of folitary woods, and favages their only companions ; yet from thefe, favages as they were, have they received every af- fiftance their iituation would admit of, and been treated with a degree of delicacy and humanity they little expected. This forbearance, it mufl be acknowledged, does not proceed altogether from their difpofition, but is only inherent in thofe who have held fome commu- nication with the French miflionaiies. Without in- tending that their natural enemies, the Englifh, fhould enjoy the benefit of their labours, thefe fathers have taken great pains to inculcate on the minds of the Indians the general principles of humanity, which has diffufed itfelf through their manners, and has proved of public utility. Thofe prifoners that are configned to the houfe of grace, and thz^c are commonly the young men, wo- CARVER'S TRAVELS. 225 men, and children, await the difpofal of the chiefs, who, after the execution o( fuch as are condemned to die, hold a council for this purpofc. A herald is fent round the village or camp, to give notice that fuch as. have loft any relations in the late expedition, are defired to attend the diilribution which is about to take place. Thofe women who have loft their fbns or hufbands, are generally fatis- tied in the firft place - y after thefe, fuch as have been deprived of friends of a more remote degree of con- fa nguinity, or who choofe to adopt ibme of the youth. The divifion being made, which is done, as in other cafes, without the leaft difpute, thofe who have received any fhare, lead them to their tents or huts ; and having unbo' nd t!iem, wafh and drefs their woun.ris if they happen to have received 'any -, they then clothe them, and give them the mod comfor- table and rcfrefhing food their ftore will afford. Whilft their new demeftics are feeding, they en- deavour to adminifter confolation to them ; they tell them that as they are redeemed from death, they muft now be cheerful and happy ; and if they ferve them well, without murmuring or repining, nothing fhall be wanting to make them fuch atonement for the lofs of their country and friends as circumftances will allow of. If any men are fpared, they are commonly given to the widows that have loft their hufbands by the hand of the enemy, fhould there be any fuch, to whom, if they happen to prove agreeable, they are focn married. But fhould the dame be otherwife engaged, the life of him who falis to her lot is in great danger; especially if ihe fancies that her late 224 CARVER'S TRAVELS. hufband wants a Have in the country of fpirits, t0_ which he is gone. "When this is the cafe, a number of young men take the devoted captive to fome diftance, and dif- parch him without any ceremony: after he has been ipared by the council, they coniider him of too little ccnfequence to be entitled to the torments allotted to thole who have been judged worthy of them. The women are ufually diftributed to the men, from whom they do not fail of meeting with a fa- vourable reception. The boys and girls are taken into the families of fuch as have need of them, and are confidered as flaves ; and it is not uncommon that they are fold in the fame capacity to the Euro- pean traders who come among them. The Indians have no idea of moderating the rava- ges of war, by fparing their prifoners, and entering into a negociation with the band from whom they have been taken, for an exchange. All that are captivated by both parties, are either put to death, adopted, or made (laves of. And fo particular are every nation in this refpect, that if any of their tribe, even a warrior, fhould be taken prifoner, and by chance be received into the houfe of grace, either a$ an adopted perfon or a flave, and lhculd afterwards make his efcape, they will by no means receive him, or acknowledge him as one of their band. The condition of fuch as are adopted differs not in any one inftance from the children of the nation to which they now belong. They affume all the rights of thofe whofe places they fupply, and fre- quently make no difficulty of going in the war-par- ties againft their own countrymen. Should, how- ever, any of thefe by chance make their efcape, CARVER'S TRAVELS. zz $ and be afterwards retaken, they are efteemed as unnacural children and ungrateful perfons, who liave deferted and made war upon their parents and bene- factors, and are treated with uncommon feverity. That part of the prifoners which are confidered as flaves, are generally diftributed among the chiefs ; who frequently make prefents of fome of them to the European governors of the out-pofts, or to the fuperintendants or commiilaries of Indian affairs. I havebeen informed that it was the Jefuits and French miflionaries that firft occafioned the introduction of thefe unhappy captives into the fettlements, and who by fo doing taught the Indians that thty were va- luable. Their views indeed were laudable, as they ima- gined that by this method they mould not only pre- vent much barbarity and bloodfhed, but find the opportunities of ip reading their religion among them increafed. To this purpofe they encouraged the traders to purchafe fuch fiaves as they met with. The good effects of this mode of proceeding were not however equal to the expectations of thefe pious fathers. Inftead of being the means of preventing cruelty and bloodfhed, it only caufed the dirTentions between the Indian nations to be carried on with a Greater degree of violence, and with unremitted ar~ dor. The prize they fought for being nolonger revenge or fame, but the acquirement of fpirituous liquors,for which their captives were to be exchanged, and of which almoft every nation is immoderately fond, they fought for their enemies with unwonted alacrity, and were conftantly on the watch to furprife and carry them off. Z26 CARVER's TRAVELS. It might ftill be laid that fewer of the captives aFe tormented and put to death, fince thefe expectations of receiving fo valuable a confideration for them have been excited than there ufually had been ; but it does not appear that there accumftomed cruelty to the warriors they take, is in the leaftabated ; their natural defire of vengeance muft be gratified > they now onlv become more affiduous in fecuring a greater number of young prifoners, whilft thofe who are made captive in their defence, are tormented and put to death as before. The mifiionaries finding, that contrary to their wifhes, their zeal had only ferved to increafe the fale of the noxious juices, applied to the governor of Ca- nada, in the year 1693, for a prohibition of this baneful trade. An order was iiTued accordingly, but it could not put a total flop to it -, the French Couriers de Bo'is were hardy enough to carry it on clandeftinely notwithftanding the penalty annexed to a breach of the prohibition was a confiderable fine and imprifcnment. Some* who were detected in the profecution of it, withdrew into the Indian countries, where they intermarried with the natives, and underwent a vo- luntary banifhment. Thefe however, being an aban- doned and debauched fet, their conduct contributed very little either towards reforming the manners of their new relations, or engaging them to entertain a favourable opinion of the religion they profefTed. Thus did thefe indefatigable, religious men, fee their defigns in feme meafure once more frustrated. However, the emigration was productive of an effect which turned out to be beneficial to their na- tion. By the connection of thefe refugees with the Iroquois, Miflifluages, Hurons, Miamies, Powto- CARVER'S TRAVELS. 227 wottomies, Puants, Menomonies, Algonkins, &:c, and the conftant reprefentations thefe various na- tions received from them of the power and grandeur of the French, to the aggrandifement of whofc monarah, notwithstanding their banifhment, they ftill retained their habitual inclination, the Indians became infenfibly prejudiced in favor of that peo- ple, and I am perfuaded will take every opportunity of fhewing their attachment to them. And this even in defpite of the difgraceful efti- mation they muft be held by them, fince they have been driven out of Canada -, for the Indians confider every conquered people as in a ftate of vafTalage to their conquerors . After one nation has finally fub- dued another, and a conditional fubmifllon is agreed on, it is cuflomary for the chiefs of the conquered, when they fit in council with their fubduers, to wear petticoats, as an acknowledgment that they are in a ftate of fubjedtion, and ought to be ranked among the women. Their partiality to the French has however taken too deep root for time itfelf to eradicate it. 22g CARVE R»s TRAVEL S. CHAPTER X. Of iheir Manner vf making Peace, &c. J[_ HE wars that are carried on between the Indian nations are in general hereditary, and con- tinue from age to age with a few interruptions. If a peace becomes necefTary, the principal care of both parties is to avoid the appearance of making thefirft advances. When they treat with an enemy, relative to a fufpenfion of hoftilities, the chiefwho is commifflon- ed to undertake the negeciation, if itis not brought about by the mediation of fome neighbouring band, abates, nothing of his natural haughtinefs : even when the affairs of his country are in the worft fitu- ation, he makes no conceffions, but endeavours to perfuade his adverfaries that it is their intereft to put an end to the war. Accidents fometimes contribute to bring about a peace between nations that ctherwife could not be prevailed on to liften to terms of accommodation. An inflance of this, which I heard of in almaft every nation I palled through, I (hail relate, CARVER'S TRAVELS. 229 About eighty years ago,thcIroquoisandChipcways, two powerful nations, were at war with the Otta- gaumies and Saukies, who were much inferior to their adverfaries both in numbers and ftreogth. One winter near athoufand of the former made an exciir- fion from Lake Ontario, by way of Toronto, to- wards the territories of their enemies. They coafr- ed Lake Huron on its eaft and northern borders, till they arrived at the ifland of St. Jofeph, which is iitu- ated in the Straits of St. Marie. There they croffed thefe Straits upon the ice, about fifteen miles below the falls, and continued their route ftill weftward. As the ground was covered with fnow, to prevent a difcoveryof their numbers, they marched in a fingie file, treading in each others foofteps. Four Chipeway Indians, palling that way, obferv- ed this army, and readily guefTed from the direction of their march, and the precautions they took, both the country to which they were hastening, and their defigns. Notwithftanding the nation to which they belong- ed was at war with the Ottagaumies, and in alliance with their invaders, yet from a principle which can- not be accounted for, they took an in riant refolu- tion to apprife the former of the danger. To this purpofe they haftened away with their ufual celerity, and, taking a circuit to avoid difcovery, arrived at the hunting grounds Gf the Ottagaumies, before fo large a body, moving in fo cautious a manner, could do. There they found a party of about four hun- dred warriors, fome of which were Saukies, whom they informed of the approach of their enemies. The chiefs immediately collected their whole force, and held a council on the fleps that were to be taken for their defence. As they were encumbered 230 -CARVER'S TRAVELS. with their families, it was impoflible that they could retreat in time - y they therefore determined tochoofe the mod advantageous fpot, and to give the Iroquois the bell reception in their power. Not far from the place where they then happened to be, flood two fmall lakes, between which ran a narrow neck of land about a mile in length, and only from twenty to forty yards in breadth. Con- cluding that the Iroquois intended to pafs through this defile, the united bands divided their little party into two bodies of two hundred each. Oneofthefe took poll at the extremity of the pafs that lay neared to their hunting grounds, which they immediately fortified with a brcaft-work formed of palifades ; whilfl the other body took a cotnpafs round one of the lakes, with a defign to hem their enemies in when they had entered the defile. Their flratagem fucceeded ; for no fooner had the whole of the Iroquois entered the pafs, than, being provided with wood for the purpofe, they formed a fimilar breaft-work on the other extremity, and thus enclofed their enemies. The Iroquois foon perceived their fituation, and immediately held a council on the meafures that were necefTary to be purfued to extricate themfelves. Unluckily for them a thaw had juft taken place, which had fo far diffblved the ice as to render it im- paMable, and yet there ftill remained fufficient to pre- vent them from either pafiing over the lakes on rafts, or from fwimming acrofs. In this dilemma it was agreed that they mould endeavour to force one of the breafl- works i but they foon found them too well defended to affecl their purpofe. CARVER'S TRAVELS. 231 Notwithstanding this difappointment, with the ufual compofure and unapprehenfivenefs of Indians, they amufed themfelves three or four days in fifhing. By this time the ice being quite dif- folved, they made themfelves rafts, which they were enabled to do by fome trees that fortunately grew on the fpot, and attempted to crofs one of the lakes. They accordingly fet ofTbefore day-break but the Ottagaumies, who had been watchful of their mo- tions, perceiving their defign, detached one hun- dred and fifty men from each of their parties, to op- pofe their landing. Thefe three hundred marched fo expeditioufly to the other fide of the lake, that they reached it before their opponents had gained the fhore, they being retarded by their poles flicking in the mud. As feon as the confederates arrived, they poured in a very heavy fire, both from their bows and mufquetry, on the Iroquois, which greatly difcon- certed them ; till the latter rinding their fituation defperate, leaped into the water, and fought their way through their enemies. This however they could not do without lofing more than half their men. After the Iroquois had landed, they made good their retreat, but were obliged to leave their ene- mies mafters of the field, and in pofTefiion of all the furs they had taken during their winter's hunt. Thus dearly did they pay for an unprovoked cx- curfion to fuch a diftance from tat route they ought to have purfued, and to which they were cniy im- pelled by a fudden defire of cutting off fome of their ancient enemies. 232 Carve R's travels. But had they known their ftrength, they mighc have deftroyed every man of the party that oppofed them ; which even at the firit cnfet was only incon- ficierable, and, when diminifhed by the action, to- tally, unable to make any (land againfl them. The victorious bands rewarded the Chiffcways, who had been the means of their fuccefs, with a fhare of the fpoils. They prefTed them to take any Quantity they choie of the richeft of the furs, and fent them under an efcort of fifty men, to their own country. The difintereiled Chipeways, as the In- dians in general are ieldom actuated by mercenary motives, for a confide r able time refufed thefe pre- fents, but were at length perfuaded to except of them. The brave and well concerted refinance here made by the Ottagaumies and Saukies, aided by the mediation of the Chipeways, who laying afidc on this occafion the animofity they had fo long borne thofe people, approved of the generous conduce of their four chiefs, were together the means of effect- ing a reconciliation between thefe nations 3 and in procefs of time united them all in the bands of amity. And I believe that all the Indians inhabiting that extenfive country which lies between Quebec, the banks of the Miififllppi north of the Ouifconfm, and the fettiements belonging to the Hudfon's Bay com- pany, are at prefent in a ftate of profound peace. When their reftlefs difpofitions will not fuller them to remain inactive, thefe northern Indians feldom commit hoitilities on each other, but make excurfi-l ons to the fouchward, againfl the Cherokees, Choc- tans, Chickfaws, or Illinois, CARVER'S TRAVELS. 233 Sometimes the Indians grow tired of a war which they have carried on againit f >me neighbouring na- tion for many years with much iuccefs, and in this cafe theyfeek for mediators to begin a negociation. Thefe being obtained, the treaty is thus conducted : A number of their own chiefs, joined by thofe who have accepted the friendly office, fet out toge- ther for the country of their enemies; fuch as are chofen for this purpofe, are chiefs of the moil ex- tenfive abilities, and of the greateft integrity. They bear before them the Pipe of Peace, which I need not inform my readers is of the fame nature as a Flag of Truce among the Europeans, and is treated with the greateft refpecl and veneration, even by the molt barbarous nations. I never heard of an inftance wherein the bearers of this facred badge of friendmip were ever treated difrefpeclfully, or its rights violat- ed. The Indians believe that the Great Spirit ne- ver fuffers an infraction of this kind to go unpu- nifned. The Pipe of Peace which is termed by the French the Calumet, for what reafon I could never learn, is about four feet long. The bowl of it is made of red marble, and the ftem of it of a light wood, curioufly painted with hieroglyphics in various co- lours, and adorned with feathers, of the moft beau- tiful birds i but it is not in my power to convey an idea of the various tints and pleating ornaments of this much efteemed Indian implement. Every nation has a different method of decorating thefe pipes, and they can tell at firft fight to what band it belongs. Is is uied as an introduction to all treaties, and great ceremony attends the ufc of icon thefe otcaiions. 234 CARVER's TRAVELS. The afiiftant or aid-du-camp of the great warrior. when the chiefs are aiTembled and feated, fills it with tobacco mixed with the herbs before mentioned, taking care at the fame time that no part of it touches the ground. When it is filled, he takes a ccal that is thoroughly kindled, from a fire which is ge- nerally kept burning in the midft of the aflembly, and places it on the tobacco. As foon as it is fufficiently lighted, he throws oft the coal. He then turns the item of it towards the heavens, after this towards the earth, and now hold- ing it horizontally, moves himfelf round till he has completed a circle; by the firft action he is fuppofed to prefent it to the Great Spirit, whofe aid is thereby fupplicated; by the fecond, to avert any malicious interpofition of the evil fpirits; and by the third to gain the protection of the fpirits inhabiting the air, the earth, and the waters. Having thus fecured the favor of thofe inviubie agents, in whofe power they fuppofe it is either to forward or obftruct the iiTue of their prefent deliberations, he prefents it to the hereditary chief, who having taken two or three whiffs, blows the fmoke from his mouth firft towards heaven, and then around him upon the ground. It is afterwards put in the fame manner into the mouths of the ambalTadors or ftrangers, who obferve the fame ceremony, then to the chief of the warri- ors, and to all the other chiefs in turn, according to their gradation. During this time the perfon who executes this honorable office holds the pipe (lightly in his hand, as if he feared to prefs the facred in- ftrurnentj nor does any one preiume to touch it but with his lips. When the chiefs who are intrufted with the com- miflion for making peace, rpproached the town or CARVER'S TRAVELS. 235 camp to which they are going, they begin to fing and dance the fongs and dances appropriated co this occafion. By this time the adverfe party are apprifed of tneir arrival, and, at the Tight of the Pip 2 of Peace, diverting themfelves of their wonted en nity invite them to the habitation of the Great Chief, and furnifh them with every conveniency during the negociation. A council is then held; and when the fpeeches and debates are ended, if no obftructions arife to put a flop to the treaty, the painted hatchet is buried in the ground, as a memorial that all animofities between the contending nations have ceafed, and a peace taken place. Among the ruder bands, fuch as have no communication with the Europeans, a war- club, painted red, is buried, iniiead of the hatchet. A belt of wampum is alio given on this occaMon^ which ferves as a ratification of the peace, and re- cords to the late ft pofterity, by the hieroglyphics into which the beads are formed, every ftipulated article in the treaty. Thefe belts are made of {hells found on the coafts ©f New-England and Virginia, which are fawed out inta beads of an oblong form, about a quarter of an inch long, and round like other beads. Being ftrung on leather firings, and feveral of them fewed neatly together with fine finewy threads, they then compoie what is termed a belt of Wampum. The fhells arc generally of two colours, fome white and others violet; but the latter are more highly efteemed than the former. They are held in as much eftimation by the Indians, as gold, filver^ or precious ft ones, are by the Europeans* c 3 5 CARVER'S TRAVELS, The belts are compofed of ten, twelve, or a greater number of firings, according to the impor- tance of the affair in agitation, or the dignity of the perfon to whom it is prefemcd. On more trifling occafions, firings of thefe beads are prefented by the chiefs to each other, and irequ ntly worn by them about their necks, as a valuable ornament. CARVER'S TRAVELS. 237 CHAPTER XI. Of their Games. J\ S I have before cbferved, the Indians are greatly addicted to gaming, and will even flake, and lofe with compofure, all the valuables they are pofTefTed of. They amufe themfelves at feveral forts of games, but the principal and mod efteemed among them is that of the bail, which is not unlike the European game of tennis. The balls they ufe are rather larger than thofe made ufe of at tennis, and are formed of a piece of deer-fkin ; which being moiftened to render it fup- ple, is ftufFed hard with the hair of the fame crea- ture, and fewed with its finews. The ball-fticks are about three feet long, at the end of which there is fixed a kind of racket, refembling the palm of the hand, and fafhioned of thongs cut from a deer-fkin, In theft they catch the ball, and throw it to a great diflance, if they are not prevented by fome of the oppofite party, who fly to intercept it. This game is generally played by large compa- nies, that fometimes confifb of more than three hun- dred; and it is not uncommon for different bands ta play againfl each other. 2 3 S CARVER'S TRAVELS. They begi.i by fixing two poles in the ground at about fix hundred yards apart, and one of thefe goals belong to each party of the combatants. The ball is thrown up high in the centre of the ground, and in a direct line between the goals ; towards which each party endeavours to ftrike it, and whichfoever iide firit caufes it to reach their own goal, reckons towards the game. They are fo exceeding dextrous in this manly ex- ercife, that the ball is ufually kept flying in different directions by the force of the rackets, without touch- ing the ground during the whole contention; for they are not allowed to -catch it with their hands. They run with amazing velocity in purfuit of each other, and when one is on the point of hurling it to a great diftance, an antagonist overtakes him, and by a fudden ftroke dafhes down the ball. They play with fo much vehemence that they frequently wound each other, and fometimes a bone is broken -, but notwithftanding thefe accidents there never appears to be any fpite or wanton exertions of ftrength to effect them, nor do any difputes ever happen between the parties. There is another game alfo in ufe among them worthy of remark, and this is the game of the Bowl or Platter. This game is played between two per- fons only. Each perfon has fix or eight little bones notuniikea peach-Hone either in fize orfhape, except they are quadrangular; two of the fides of which are coloured black, and the others white. Thefe they throw up into the air, from whence they fall into a bowi cr platter placed under-neath, and made to fpin round. According as thefe bones prefent the white or black fide upwards they reckon the game; he that CARVER'S TRAVE 39 happens to have the greateft number turn up of a fimiiar colour, councs five points; and forty is the game. The winning party keeps his place, and the lofer yields his to another who is appointed by one of the umpires; for a whole village is fometimes concerned in the party, and at times one band plays agaipft another. During this play the Indians appear to be greatly agitated, and at every decifive throw fet up a hideous ihout. They make a thoufand contortions, addref- fing themfelves at the fame time to the bones, and loading with imprecations the evil fpirits that affifr their fuccefbful antagonifts. At this game fome will lofe their apparel, all the moveables of their cabins, and fometimes even their liberty; notwithstanding there are no people in the univerfe more jealous of the latter than the Indians are. m z4° C A R V E R's T_R A V E L S. CHAPTER XII. Of their Marriage Ceremonies, i£c. T H E Indians allow of polygamy, and per- sons of every rank indulge themfelves in this point. The chiefs in particular have a feraglio, which con- fills of an uncertain number, ufually from fix to twelve or fourteen. The lower ranks are permitted to take as many as there is a probability of their being able, with the children they may bear, to maintain. It is not uncommon for an Indian to marry two fif- tersj fometimes, if there happen to be more, the whole number -, and notwithstanding this (as it appears to civilized nations) unnatural union, they all live in the greateft harmony. The younger wives are fubmiflive to the elder; and thofe who have no children, do fuch menial offices for thofe who are fertile, as caufes their fitu- ation to differ but little from a ftate of fcrvitude. However they perform every injunction with the greateft cheerfulnefs, in hopes of gaining thereby the affection of their hufband, that they in their turns may have the happinefs of becoming mothers, and be entitled to the refpect attendant oh that ftate. CARVER's TRAVELS. 241 Ic is not uncommon for an Indian, although he takes to himfelf fo many wives, to live in a (late of continence with many of them for feveral years. Such as are not fo fortunate as to gain the favor of their hufband, by their fubmifiive and prudent be- haviour, and by that means to ihare in his embraces, continue in their virgin ftate during the whole of their lives, except they happen to be preferred by him to fome ftranger chief, whole abode among them v. ill not admit of his entering into a more lading connection. In this cafe they fubmit to the injunc- tion of their hufband without murmuring, and are not difpleafed at the temporary union. But if at any time it is known that they take this liberty with- out firft receiving his confent, they are punifned in the fame manner as if they had been guilty of adultery. This cufrom is more prevalent among the nations which lie into the interior parts, than among thoie that are nearer the fettlements, as the manners of the latter are rendered more conformable in feme points to thofe of the Europeans, by the intercourfe they hold with them; The Indian nations differ but little from each other in their marriage ceremonies, andlefs in the manner of their divorces* The tribes that inhabit the bor-* dcrs of Canada, make ufe of the following cuftom. When a young Indian has fixed his inclinations on one of the other fex, he endeavours to gain her confent, and if he fucceeds, it is never known that her parents ever obfcrucl; their union. When every preliminary is agreed on, and the day appointee, the friends and acquaintance of both parties aliemble at the houfe or tent of the oldefc relation of the Hh i |2 CARVER'S TRAVEL S. bridegroom, where a feafr is prepared on the oc- casion. The company who meet to affifl at the feftival are ibmetimes very numerous; they dance, they fing, and enter into every other diverfion ufually made ufe of on any of their public rejoicings. When iht:^ are finifhed, all tbofe who attended merely out of ceremony depart, and the bridegroom and bride are left alone with three or four of the neareft and oldefb relations of either fide; thofe of the bridegroom being men, and thofe of the bride, women. Prefently the bride, attended by thefe few friends, having withdrawn herfelf for the purpofe, appears at one of the doors of the houfe, and is led to the bridgroom, who (lands ready to receive her. Hav- ing now taken their fcation, on a mat placed in the centre of the room, they lay hold of the extremities of a wand, about four feet long, by which they con- tinue feparated, whillt the old men pronounce fome fhort harangues fuitable to the *>ccafion. The married couple afcer this make a public de- claration of the love and regard they entertain for each other, and flill holding tne rod between them, dance and iirig. When they have finifhed this part of the ceremony, they jbfre-ak the rod into as many pieces as there are. wirneifes pre fen t, who each take a piece, and prefcrve it with great care. The bride is then reconducted out of the door at which fhe entered, where her young companions wait to attend her to her father's houfe; there the bridegroom is obliged to f. ek her, and the marriage is confammated, Very ouen tht wife remain CARVER'S TRAVELS, 243 her father's houfe till (he has a child, when flic packs up her apparel, which is ail the fortune Hie is gene* rally pofieHed of, and accompanies her huiband to his habitation. When from any diilike a feparation takes place, for they are feldom known to quarrel, they gene- rally give their friends a few days notice of their in- tentions, and fometimes offer reafons to juftify their conduct. The witneffes who were prefent at the marriage, meet on the day requeited, at the houfe of the couple that are about to feparate, and bringing with them the pieces of rod which they had received at their nuptials, throw them into the fire, in the prefence of all the parties, This is the whole of the ceremony required, and the feparation is carried on without any murmur- ings or ill-will between the couple or their relations j a id after a few months they are at liberty to many again. When a marriage is thus difiTolved, the children which have been produced from it, are equally di- vided between them ; and as children are eiteemed a treafure ISy the Indians, if the number happens eo be odd, the woman is allowed to take the better h|If. Though this cuftom feems to encourage fickle- nefs and frequent feparations, yet there are many of the Indians who have but one wife, and enjoy with her a itate of connubial happinefs not to be exceeded in more refined focieties. There are alfa not a few inftances of women preferving an inviola- ble attachment to their huibands, except in the cafei beforementioned, which are not confidered as ei elation of their chaftity or fidelity. 244 CARVER'S T R A V E L S. Although I have faid that the Indian nations differ verv Utik from each other in their marriage ceremo- niQ5 3 t.vere are fome exceptions. The NaudowefTies have a iinguiar method of celebrating their marri- ages, which ieems to bear no refemblance to thofe made ufe of by any ether nation I paifed through, n one of their young men has fixed on a young v7oinan he approves of, he difcovers his paffion to her parents, who give him an invitation to come and live with them in their tent. He accordingly accepts the offer, and by fo doing :o reiicie in it for a whole year, in the charac- ter or" a menial fervant. During this time he hunts, and brings ail the game he kiils to the family; by which means the father has an opportunity of feeing whether 1 - : * s able to provide for the fupport of his. hterarid the children that might be the conie- quence of their union. This however is only done 1ft they are young men, and for their nrft wife, and not repeated like Jacob's iervitudes. When this period is expired, the marriage is fo- lemnized after the cuftomof the country, in the fol- lowing manner-: Three or four of the oldeft male relations of the bridegroom, and as miny of the bride's, accompany the young couple from their ref- peenve tents, to an open part in the centre of the camp. The chiefs and warriors, being here alTembled to receive them, a party of the latter are drawn up into two ranks on each fide of the bride and bridegroom ediately on their arrival. Their principal fs then acquaints the whole aiTembly with the defiga of their meeting, and tells them that the couple before them, mentioning at the fame time names, are come to avow publicly their in- CARVER'S TRAVELS. 245 rentions of living together as man and wife. He then afks the two young people alternately, whe- ther they defire that the union might take place. Having declared with an audible voice that they do fo, the warriors fix their arrows, and difcharge them over the heads of the married pair; this done, the chief pronounces them man and wife. The bridegroom then turns round, and bending his body, takes his wife on hisback, in which man- ner he carries her amidit the acclamations of the fpeclators to his tent. The ceremony is fucceeded by the mofl plentiful feaft the new married man can afford, and fongs and dances, according to the ufua! euftom, conclude the feftival. Divorces happen fo feldom among the Naudowef- fies, that I had not an opportunity of learning how they are accomplifhed. Adultery is efteemed by them a heinous crime, and punifhed with the greater! rigor. The hufband in thefe cafes bites off the wife's nofe, and a feparation inftantly enfues. I faw an inftance wherein this mode of punifhment v/as inflicted, whilft I remained among them. The children, when this happens, are diflri- buted according to the ufual cuilom obferved by other nations, that is, they are equally divided. Among the Indian as well as European nations, there are manythatdevotethemfelvestopleafure, and notwithstanding the accounts given by fome modern writers of the frigidity of an Indian conltitution, be- come the zealous votaries of Venus. The young warriors that are thus difpofed, feldom want oppor- tunities for gratifying their paffionj and as the mode ufuaiy followed on thefe occafions is rather lingular, I fhail defcribc it. C A R V E R 's T R A V ELS. When one of thefe young debauchees imagines, from the behaviour of the perfon he has chofen for liis mi fire fs, that lie {hall not meet with any great obftrudlion to his fuit from her, he purfues the fol- lowing plan. It has been already obferved, that the Indians acknowledge no fupcriority, nor have they any ideas o/fubordiriation, except in the neceffary regulations of their war or hunting parties; they consequently live nearly in a flate of equality, purfuant to tne firft principles of nature, Tne lover tnerefore is not ap- prehenfive of any check or control in the accom- pliihment of his purpofes, if he can find a conveni- ent opportunity for completing them. As the Indians are alio under no apprchenfion of robbers, or fecret enemies, they leave the doors of their tents or huts unfaflened during the night, as well as in the day. Two or three hours after funfet, the (laves or old people cover over the fire, that is generally burning in the mid ft of their apartment, with afhes, and retire to their repofe. Whilft darknefs thus prevails, and all is quiet, ans of thefe fons o/ pieafure, wrapped up cloftly in his blanket, to prevent his being known, will fome- tim.es enter the apartment of his intended miftrcis. Having firft lighted at the (mothered fire a imall ipiinter of wood, which anfwers the purpofe of a match, he approaches the place where fine repofes > rr.d gently pulling away the covering from the head,, jogs her till (he awakes. If fke then riles up, and Wows out the light, lie needs no further confirma- tion that his company is not difagreeable ; but if, after he has difcorered hrmfelf, me hides her head^ arid takes no notice of him, he might reft alTure4 ^ARVER's TRAVEL S. 247 any further folicitations will prove vain, and that it is neceflary immediately for him to retire, During his (lay he conceals the light as much as ble in the h< How of his hands, and as the tents or 100ms of the Indians are ufually large and capaci- ous, he efcapes without detection. It is faid that the young women who admit their lovers on thefe occa- sions, take great care, by an immediate application to herbs, with the pbtertt efficacy of which they are well acquainted, to prevent the effects of thefe illicit amours from becoming vinble ; for mould the hatu- ral con ie que r. ccs erdue, they muft lor ever remain unmarried. The children of the Indians are always diftin- guifned bv the name of the mother : and if a woman marries feverai huibands, and has iflue by each of them, they are all called after her. The reafen they give for this is, that as their offspring are indebted to the father for their fouls, the invifible part of their efTence, and to the mother for their corporeal and apparent part, it is more rational that they fllould be diitinguifhed by the name of the latter, from whom they indubitably derive their being, than by that of the father, to which a doubt might fometimes ariie whether they are juftly entitled. There are fome ceremonies made ufe of by the Indians at the impofition oi the name, and it is con- fidered by them as a matter of great importance j but what thefe are I could never learn, through the fttrecy obferved on the occaMcn. I only know that it is ufually given when the children have pafTed the Rate of infancy. .thing car exceed the tendernefs fhewn bv them to their offsprings and a per/on cannot recommend 24 S CARVER'S TRAVELS, himfclf to their favour by any method more certairi, than by paying fome attention to the younger bran- ches of their families. I can impute, in fome mea- fure, to the prefents I made to the children of the chiefs of the Naudowt flies, the hofpi table reception I met with when among them. There is fome difficulty attends an explanation of the manner in which the Indians diftinguifh them- telves from each other. Befides the name of the animal by which every nation and tribe is denomi- nated, there are others that are perfonal, and which the children receive from their mother. The chiefs are alfo diftinguifhed by a name that has either fome reference to their abilities, or to the hieroglyphic of their families - 3 and thefe are ac- quired after they arrive at the age of manhood. Such as have fignalized themfelves either in their war or hunting parties, or are pofiefled of fome emi- nent qualification, receive a name that ferves to per- petuate the fame of their actions or to make their abilities confpicuous. Thus the great warrior of the Naudoweffies was named Ottahtongoomliihcah, that is, the Great Fa- ther of Snakes : ottah being in Englifh father, ton- goom great, and lifhcah a fnake. Another chief was called Honahpawjatin, which means a fwift run- ner over the mountains. And when they adopted me a chief among them, they named me Shebaygo, which fignities a writer, or a perfon that is curious in making hieroglyphics, as they law me often wri- ting. CARVER'S TRAVELS. *49 CHAPTER XIII. Of their Religion. j[T is ve?y difficult to attain a per feci: know- ledge of the religious principles of the Indians. Their ceremonies and doctrines have been fo often ridiculed by the Europeans, that they endeavour to conceal them ; and ijf, after the greatefr, intimacy, you defire any of thqn? to explain to you their fyftem of religion, to prevent your ridicule, they intermix with it many of the tenets they have received from the French miffionari.es, fo that it is atlaft rendered an unintelligible jargon and not to be depended upon. Such as I could difcover among the Naudoweffies (for they alfo were very referved in this point) I ihall give my readers, without paying any attention to the accounts of others. As the religion of that peo- ple from their fnuation appears to be totally unadul- terated with the fuperllitions of the church of Rome, we mall be able to gain from their religious cuftoms a more perfect idea of the original tenets and cere- monies of the Indians in general, than from thofe of any nations that approach nearer to the fettlements. It is certain they acknowledge one Supreme Be- ing, or Giver of Life, who prefides over all thingSo I i CARVER'S T R A V ELS. The Chipcways call this Being Maniton, or Kitchi ManitoUj the NaudowefTies, Wakon or Tongo- Wakoni that is, the Great Spirit -, and they look up to him as the fource of good, from whom no evil can proceed. They alio believe in a bad fpirit, to whom they afcribc great power, and fuppofe that through his means all the evils which befal man- kind are inflicted. To him therefore do they pray :n their difrrefTes, begging that he would either avert their troubles, or moderate them when they are no longer avoidable. They fay that the Great Spirit, who is infinitely good neither willies or is able to do any mifchief to mankind ; but on the contrary, that he fhowers down on them all the bleiTings they deferve ; whereas the evil fpirit is continually employed in contriving how he may punilli the human4tace ; and to do which he is not only pofTeiTed of the ft'ill, but of the power. They hold alio that there are good fpirits of a lef- fer degree, who have their particular departments, in which they are conftantly contributing to thehap- pinefs of mortals. Thefe they fuppofe to prefide over all the extraordinary productions of nature, fuch as thofe lakes, rivers, or mountains that are of an un- common magnitude ; and likewife the bcaits, birds, rimes, and even vegetables, or flones that exceed the reft of their fpecies in fize or fingularity. To all of thefe they pay feme kind of adoration. Thus when they arrive on the borders of Lake Superior, on the banks of the MifTiflippi, or any other great body of water, they prefent to the Spirit who refides • lb me kind of offering, as the prince of the ^.ebagoes did when he attended me to the Falls of St. Anthony. CARVER'S TRAVELS. 2 ;i But at the fame time I fancy that the ideas they annex to the word fpiric, are very different from the conceptions more enlightened nations entertain of it. They appear to fafhion to themfelves corpo- real reprefentations of their gods, and believe them to be of a human form, though of a nature more excellent than man. Of the fame kind are their fenciments relative to a futurity. They doubt not but they mail exift in fome future ftate; they however fancy that their employments there will be fimilar to thofe they are engaged in here, without the labor and difficulties annexed to them in this period of their exifience. They confequently expect to be tranflated to a delightful country, where they mail always have a clear unclouded iky, and enjoy a perpetual ipring ; where the forelh will abound with game, and ria£ lakes with fHh, which might be taken without a painful exertion of fkill, or a laborious purfuit •> in fhort, that they fhall live for ever in regions of plenty, and enjoy every gratification they delight in here, in a greater degree. To intellectual pleafures they are ftrangers -, nor are thefe included in their fcheme of happineis. But they expect that even thefe animal pleafures will be proportioned and distributed according to their merit; the fkilful hunter, the bold and fuccefsful warrior, will be entitled to a greater mare than thofe who through indolence or want of fkill cannot boaft of any fuperioity over the common herd. The priefls of the Indians are at the fame time their phyficians, and their conjurers ; whilft they heal their wounds or cure their difeafes, they inter- pret their dreams, give them protective charms> an4 *5 : CARVER'S TRAVELS. fatisfy that defire which is fo prevalent among them, of fearching into futurity. How well they execute the latter part of their profeflional engagements, and the methods they make ufe of on fome of thefe occafions, I have al- ready ihewn in the exertions of the prieft of th$ Xilliilinces, who was fortunate enough to fucceed in his extraordinary attempt near Lake Superior. They frequently are fuccefsful liketvife in adminif- tering the falubrious herbs they have acquired a knowledge of; but that the ceremonies they make ufe of during the adminiftration of them contri- butes to their fuccefs, I mail not take upon me to sffert. When any of the people are ill, the perfon who is invented with this triple character of doctor, prieff 2 and magician, fits by the patient day and night, rat- tling in his ears a gourd- fhell filled with dry beans, called a Chichicoue, and making a difagreeable noife that cannot be well defcribech This uncouth harmony one would imagine mould difturb the fick perfon, and prevent the good effects of the doctor's prefcription; but on the contrary they believe that the method made ufe of contributes to his recovery, by diverting from his malignant purpefes the evil fpirit who has inflicted the difor- der j or at leaft that it will take off his attention, fo that he fball not increafe the malady. This they are credulous enough to imagine he is con- ftantly on the watch to do, and would carry his in- veteracy to a fatal length if they did not thus charm him. I could not difcover that they make ufe of any jnr.hcr religious ceremonies than thofe I have def- CARVER'S TRAVELS. 255 cribedi indeed, on the appearance of the new- moon they dance and fing; but it is not evident that they pay that planet any adoration ; they only feem to rejoice at the return of a luminary that makes the night cheerful, and which ferves to light them on their way when they travel during the abfence of the fun. Notwithfianding Mr. Adair has afTerted that the nations among whom he refided, obferve with very little variation all the rites appointed by the Mofaic Law. I own I could never difcover among thofe tribes that lie but a few degrees to the north-weft, the leaft traces of the Jewifh religion, except it be admitted that one particular female cuftom and their divifion into tribes, carry with them proofs fuflicient to eftablifh this alTertion. The Jefuits and French miffionaries have alio pretended that the Indians had, when they firft tra- velled into America, fomt notions, though thefe were dark and confufed, of the chriftian inititution; that they have been greatly agitated at the fight of a crofs, and given proofs, by the imprtffions made on them, that they were not entirely unacquainted with the facred myfteries of Chriflianity. I need not fay that thefe are too glaring abfurdities to be credited, and could only receive their exiftence from the zeal of t;hofe fathers, who endeavoured at once to give the public a better opinion of the fuccefs of their millions, and to add fupport to the caufe they were engaged in. The Indians appear to be in their religious prin- ciples, rude and uninftrucled. The doctrines they hold are few and fimple, and fuch as have been ge- nerally imprefled on the human mind, by fome 254 CARVER'S TRAVELS. means or other, in the moft ignorant ages. They however have not deviated, as many other uncivi- lized nations, and too many civilized ones have done, into idolatrous modes of worfhip.j they ve- nerate indeed, and make offerings to the wonderful parts of the creation, as I have before obferved; but whether thefe rites are performed on account of the impreflion fuch extraordinary appearances make on them, or whether they confider them as the pecu- Ifar charge, or the uiual places of refidence of the invifible fpirits they acknowledge, I cannot pofi- tively determine. The human mind in its uncultivated flate is apt to afcribe the extraordinary occurrences of nature, fuch as earthquakes, thunder, or hurricanes, to the interpofition of unfeen beings; the troubles and dif- aftcrs alio that are annexed to a favage life, the ap- prehenfions attendant on a precarious fubfiftence and thofe numberlefs inconveniences which man in his improved ftate has found means to remedy, are fuppoled to proceed from the interpofition of evil fpirits -, the favage confequently lives in continual apprehenfions of their unkind attacks, and to avert them has recourfe to charms, to the fantaftic cere- monies of his pried, or the powerful influence of his Manitous. Fear has of courfe a greater fhare in his devotions than gratitude, and he pays more at- tention to deprecating the wrath of the evil than to fecuring the favor of the good beings. The Indians, however, entertain thefe abfurdities in common with thofe of every part of the globe who have not been illumined by that religion which only can difperfe the clouds of fuperftition and ig- norance, and they are as free from error as a people can be that has not been favored with its inftructive doctrines. CARVER'S TRAVELS. 255 CHAPTER XIV, Of their Difeajes, $£c T: HE Indians in general are healthy, and fubjedt but to few difeafes, many of thofe that afflict civilized nations, and are the immediate confe- quences of luxury or fioth, being not known among them; however, the hardfhips and fatigues which they endure in hunting or war, the inclemency of the feafons to which they are continually expofed, but above all the extremes of hunger, and that vora- cioufnefs their long excurfions coniequently fubjecl them to, cannot fail of impairing the constitution, and bringing on diforders. Pains and weakneffes in the ftomach and bread are fometimes the refult of their long fading, and confumptions of the excefiive fatigue and violent exercifes they expofe themfelves to from their in- fancy, before they have fufficient ftrength to fup- port them. But the diforder to which they are moll fubje6t, is the pleurify; for the removal of which, they apply their grand remedy and prefervative againft the generality of their complaints, fweat- ing. z S 6 CARVE R's TRAVEL?- The manner in which they conftruct their ftoves for this purpofe is as follows : They fix feveral fmall poles in the ground, the tops of which they twift together, fo as to form a rotunda: this frame they cover with fkins or blankets; and they lay them on with fo much nicety, that the air is kept from entering through any crevice; a fmall fpace being only left, juft fufficient to creep in at, which is immediately after clofed. In the middle of this confined building they place red hot ftone, on which they pour water till a fleam arifes that produces a great degree of heat. This caufes an inftantaneous perfpiration, which they increafe as they pleafe. Having continued in it for fome time, they immediately haften to the nearefl dream, and plunge into the water; and, after bathing therein for about half a minute, they put on their clothes, fit down and fmoke with great compofure, thoroughly perfuaded that the remedy will prove efficacious. They often make ufe of this iudoriferous method to refrefh themfelves, or to prepare their minds for the management of any bufinefs that requires uncommon deliberation and fagacity. They are likewife afflicted with the dropfy and paralytic complaints, which, however, arebutvery feldom known among them. As a remedy for thefe as well as for fevers they make ufe of lotions and decoctions, compofed of herbs, which the phyficians know perfectly well how to compound and apply. But they never truft to medicines alone; they always have recourfe likewife to fome fuper- flitious ceremonies, without which their patients would not think the phyfical preparations fufficiently powerful. CARVER'S TRAVELS. 2 S7 With equal judgment they make ufe of fimples for the cure of wounds, fractures, or bruifes; and are able to extract by thefe, wichout incifion, fplin- ters, iron, or any other fort of matter by which the wound is caufed. In cures of this kind they are extremely dextrous, and complete them in much lefs time than might be expected from their mode of proceeding. With the fkin of a fnake, which thofe reptiles annually fried, they will alio extract fplinters. It is amazing to fee the fudden efficacy of this application, notwithstanding there does not appear to be the lead moifture remaining in it. It has long been a fubject of difpute, on what continent the venereal difeafe firfl: received its de- ftructive power. This dreadful malady is fuppofed to have originated in America, but the literary con- tend Hill remains undecided; to give lbme elucidation to it I fhall remark, that as I could not difcover the lead traces among the Naudoweflies, with whom I refided fo long, and was alio informed that it was yet unknown among the more weftern nations, I think I may venture to pronounce that it hadr^ot its origin in North-America. Thofe nations that have any communication with the Europeans, or the fouthern tribes, are greatly afflicted with it; but they have all of them acquired a knowledge of fuch certain and expeditious remedies, that the communication is not attended with any dangerous confequences. Soon after I fet out on my travels, one of the tra- ders whom I accompanied, complained of a violent gonorrhoea, with all its alarming fymptoms : this increafed to fuch a degree, that by the time we had reached the town of the Winnebago^s, he was una- Kk CARVER'S TRAVELS. ble to travel. Having made his complaint known to one of the chiefs of that tribe, he told him not to be uneafy, for he would engage that by following his advice, he ihould be able in a few days to purfue his journey, and in a little longer time be entirely free from his dilbrder. The chief had no fooner faid this than he prepared for him a decoction of the bark of the roots of the prickly afh, a tree fcarcely known in England, but which grows in great plenty throughout North- America -, by the ufe of which, in a few days he was greatly recovered, and having received directi- ons how to prepare it, in a fortnight after his de- parture from this place perceived that he was radi- cally cured. If from excefiive exercife, or the extremes of heat or cold, they are affected with pains in their limbs or joints, they fcarify the parts affected. Thofe nati- ons who have no commerce with Europeans do this with a fharp flints and it is furprifing to fee to how fine a point they have the dexterity to bring them; a lancet can fcarcely exceed in fharpnefs the inftru- ments they make of this unmalleable fubftance. They never can be convinced a perfon is ill, whilft he has an appetite -, but when he rejects all kind of nourimment, they confider the difeafe as dangerous, and pay great attention to it; and dur- ing the continuance of the diforder, the phyflcian refufes his patient no fort of food that he is defi- rous of. Their doctors are not only fuppofed to be fkilled in the phyfical treatment of difeafes; but the com- mon people believe that by the ceremony of the Chi* chicoue ufually made ufe of, as before defcribed,, CARVER'S TRAVELS. 259 they are able to gain intelligence from the fpirits, of the caufe of the complaints with which they are afflicted, and are thereby the better enabled to find remedies' for them. They difcover fomething hV pernatural in all their difeafcs, and the phyiic administered mull invariably be aided by thele lli- perllitions. Sometimes a fick perfon fancies that his diforder arifes from witchcraft; in this cafe the phyfician or juggler is confulted, who, after the ufual prepara- tions, gives his opinion on the ftate of the difeafe, and frequently finds fome means for his cure. But notwithflanding the Indian phyficians always annex thefe fuperftitious ceremonies to their prefcriptions, it is very certain, as I have already obferved, that they exercife their art by principles which are founded on the knowledge of fimples, and on experience, which they acquire by an indefatigable attention to their operations. The following (lory, which I received from a perfon of undoubted credit, proves that the Indians are not only able to reafon with great acutenefs on the caufes and fymptoms of many of the diforders which are attendant on human nature, but to apply with equal judgment proper remedies. In Penobfcot, a lettlement in die province of Main, in the north-eaft parts of New-England, the wife of a foldier was taken in labor, and notwith- flanding every neceiTary alYiftance was given her, could not be delivered. In this fituation fhe re- mained for two or three days, the perfons around her expecting that the next pang would put an end to her exiftence. 260 CARVER' s TRAVEL^ An Indian woman, who accidently pafifed by, heard the groans of the unhappy fufferer, and enquired from whence they proceeded. Being made acquainted with the defperate circumtlances attending the cafe, {he told the informant, that if fhe might be permit- ted to fee the perfon, ihe did not doubt but that fhe fbould be of great fervice to her. The furgeon that had attended, and the midwife who was then prefent, having given up every hope of preferving their patient, the Indian woman was allowed to makeufe of any methods Ihe thought pro- per. She accordingly took a handkerchief, and bound it tight over the nofe and mouth of the wo- man: this immediately brought on a fuffocation; and from the ftruggles that confequently enfued, fhe was in a few feconds delivered. The moment this was achieved, and time enough to prevent any fatal effect, the handkerchief was taken off. The long-fuffering patient thus happily relieved from her pains, foon after perfectly recovered, to the aitonifhment of all thofe who had been witnefs to her defperate fituation. The reafon given by the Indian for this hazardous method of proceeding was, that defperate diforders require defperate remedies; that as fhe obferved the exertions of nature were not fufficiently forcible to effect the defired confequence, fhe thought it ne- ceffary to augment their force, which could only be done by fome mode that was violent in the extreme* CARVERS TRAVELS. 261 CHAPTER XV. Of the Marnier in which they treat their Bead, x\N Indian meets death when it approaches him in his hut, with the fame refolution he has often faced him in the field. His indifference relative to this important article, which is the fource of fo many apprehenfions to almoft every other nation, is truly admirable. When his fate is pronounced by the phyfician, and it remains no longer uncertain, he harangues thofe about him with the greater! com- pofure. If he is a chief and has a family, he makes a kind of funeral oration, which he concludes by giving to his children fuch advice for the regulation of their conduct as he thinks necefiary. He then takes leave of his friends, and ifTues out orders for the preparation of a feaft, which is defigned to regale thofe of his tribe that come to pronounce his eu- logium. After the breath is departed, the body is drefTed in the fame attire it ufually wore whilft living, his face is painted, ajid he feated in an erect poflure on a mat or fkin, placed in the middle of the hut, with his weapons by his fide. His relations being feated 26- CARVER's TRAVELS. round, each harangues in turn the deceafed; and if he has been a great warrior, recounts his heroic actions nearly to the following purport, which in the Indian language is extremely poecical and plea- fing: the fears of which I could perceive on thofe of every rank, in a greater or lefs degree ; and the women cut and gafh their legs with fharp broken flints, till the blood flows very plentifully. Whilft I remained amongfl them, a couple whofe tents was adjacent to mine, loft a fon of about four years of age. The parents were fo much affected at the death of their favorite child, that they purfued the ufual teftimonies of grief with fuch uncommon rigor, as through the weight of forrow and lofs of blood, to occafion the death of the father. The woman who had hitherto been inconfolable, no fooner faw her hufband expire, than fhe dried up her tears, and appeared cheerful and refigned. CARVER'S T R A V fe L 2. 265 As I knew not how to account for fo extraordi- nary a tranfition, I took an opportunity to afk her the reafon of it ; telling her at the fame time, that I fhould have imagined the lofs of her hufband would rather have occasioned an increafe of grief, than fuch a fudden diminution of it. She informed me, that as the child was fo young when it died, and unable to fupport itfelf in the country of fpirits, both fhe and her hufband had been apprehenfive that its fituation would be far from happy ; but no fooner did fhe behold its father de- part for the fame place, who not only loved the child with the tendered affection^ but v/as a good hunter* and would be able to provide plentifully for its fupport, than fhe ceafed to mourn. She added, that fhe now faw no reafon to continue her tears, as the child on whom fhe doted, was happy under the .care and protection of a fond father, and fhe had only one wifh that remained ungratified, which was that of being herfelf with them. Expreflions fo replete with unaffected tendernef;; -and fentiments that would have done honour to a Roman matron, made an impreflion on my mind greatly in favor of the people to whom fhe belonged, and tended not a little to counteract the prejudices I had hitherto entertained, in common with every other traveller, of Indian infenfibility and want of parental tendernefs. Her fubfequent conduct confirmed the favorable opinion I hadjuft imbibed 3 and convinced trie, that, notwithftanding this apparent fufpeniion of her grief, fome particles of that reluctance, to be feparated from a beloved relation, which is implanted either by nature or cuftom in every human heart, ftiii L I z66 CARVER'S TRAVELS. lurked in hers, I obferved that fhe went almoft every evening to the foot of the tree, oh a branch of which the bodies of her hulband and child were laid, and after cutting off a lock of her hair, and throwing it on the ground, in a plaintive, melancholy long bemoaned its fate. A recapitulation of the actions he might have performed, had his little life been fpared, appeared to be her favorite theme j and whilit fhe foretold the fame that would have at- tended an imitation of his father's virtues, her grief feemed to be fufpended : — '- — cc If thou hadfi continued with us, my dear Son/* would fhe cry, " how well would the bow have be- rc ccme thy hand, and how fatal would thy arrows * c have proved to the enemies of our bands. Thou 7 3 CHAPTER XVII. €)/ their Language, Hieroglyphics, &c. JL HE principal languages of the natives of North-America may be divided into four claries, as they confift of fuch as are made ufe of by the nations of the Iroquois towards the eaftern parts of it, the Chipeways or Algonkins to the north-weft, the Naudoweflies to the weft, and the Cherokees, Chic- kafaws, &c. to the fouth. One or other of thefe four are ufed by all the Indians who inhabit the parts that lie between the coaft of Labrador north, the Floridas fouth, the Atlantic Ocean eaft, and, as far as we can judge from the difcoveries hitherto made, the Pacific Ocean on the well. But of all thefe, the Chipeway tongue appears to be the moft prevailing; it being held in fuch efteem, that the chiefs of every tribe, dwelling about the great lakes, or to the well ward of thefe on the banks of the Miflrffippi, with thofe as far fouth as the Ohio, and as far north as Hudfon's Bay, con- fiding of more than thirty different tribes, fpeak this language alone in their, councils, notwithttand- ing each has a peculiar one of their own. M m 2-4 CARVER's TRAVEL S. It will probably in time become univerfal among all the Indian nations, as none of them attempt to make excursions to any great diftance, or are con- fide red as qualified to carry on any negotiation with a diftant band, unlefs they have acquired the Chipe- way tongue. At preient, be fides the Chipeways, to whom it is natural, the Ottawaws, Saukies, the Ottagau- mies, the Kiilii : . :; , the Nipegons, the bands about Lake Le Pluye, and the remains of the Al- gonkins, or Gens de Terre, all converie in it, with fome little variation of dialect; but whether it be natural to thofc nations, or acquired, I was not able to difcover. I am however of opinion that the barbarous and uncouth dialect of the Winnebagoes, the Menomonies, and many other tribes, will be- come in time totally extinct, and this be adopted in its (lead. The Chipeway tongue is not encumbered with any unnecerlary tones or accents, neither are there any words in it that are fuperfluous; it is alfo eafy to pronounce, and much more copious than any other Indian language. As the Indians are unacquainted with the polite arts, or with the fciences, and as they are lirangers to ceremony, or compliment, they neither have nor need an infinity of words wherewith to embellifli iheir difcourie. Plain and unpolifhed in their man- ners, they only make ufe of fuch as ferve to deno- minate the necefTaries or conveniences of life, and to exprefs their wants, which in aftate of nature can be but few. I have annexed hereto a fhort vocabulary of the Chipeway language, and another of that of the Nau- CARVER': TRAVELS. i Vj dowefiies, but am not able to reduce them to the rules of grammar. The latter is fpoken in a foft accent, without any guttural founds, fo that it may be learnt with faci- lity, and is not difficult eicher to be pronounced or written. It is nearly as copious and expreifive as the Chipeway tongue, and is the mo it prevailing language of any en the weftern banks of the Mif- fifTippij being in ufe, according to their account among all the nations that lie to the north of the Mefibrie, and extend as far weft as the mores of flic- Pacific Ocean. As the Indians are not acquainted with letters, it is very difficult to convey with precifion the exact found of their words; I have however endeavoured to write them as near to the manner in which they are expreffed, as ftich an uncertain mode will ad- mit of. Although the Indians cannot communicate their ideas by writing, yet they form certain hieroglyphics, which, in fome meafure, ferve to perpetuate any extraordinary tranfaction, or uncommon even:. Thus when they are on their excurfions, and either intend to proceed, or have been on any remarkable enterprife, they peel the bark from the trees which lie in their way, to give intelligence to thofe parties that happen to be at a diilance, of the path they muft purfue to overtake them. The following inftance will convey a more perfect idea of the methods they make ufe of on this occa- fion, than any exprefiions I can frame. "When I left the Mimflippi, and proceeded up the Chipeway River, in my way to Lake Superior, as 2/,o CARVER'S TRAVELS. related in my Journal, my guide, who was a chief of the Chipeways that dwell en the Ottawaw Lake, near the heads of the river we had juft entered, fearing that fome parties of the Naudoweffies, with whom his nation are perpetuaUy at war, might ac- cidentally fall in with us, and before they were ap- prifed of my being in company, do us fome mifchief, he took the following fteps : He peeled the bark from a large tree, near the entrance of a river, and with wood-coal, mixed with bear's greafe, their ufual fubilitute for ink, made in an uncouth, but expreffive manner, the figure of th£ town of the Ottagaunaies. He then formed to the left a man dreiTed in fkins, by which he intended to reprefent a Naudoweffie, with a line drawn from his mouth to that of a deer, the fymbol of the Chi- peways. After this he depictured ftill further to the left a canoe as proceeding up the river, in which he placed a man fitting with a hat on; this figure was defigned to reprefent an Engiifhman, cr rnyfelf, and my Frenchman was drawn with a handkerchief tied round his head, and rowing the canoe ; to thefe he added feveral other fignificant emblems, among which the Pipe of Peace appeared painted on the prow of the canoe. The meaning he intended to convey to the Nau- doweiTies, and which I doubt not appeared perfectly intelligible to them, was, that one of the Chipeway chiefs had received a fpeech from fome NaudoweiTie chiefs, at the town cfthe Ottagaumies, defiring him to conduct the Engiifhman, who had lately been among them, up the Chipeway river; and that they thereby required, that the Chipeway, notwithstand- ing he was an avowed enemy, fhould not be mo- lefted by them on his palTage, as he had the care of a perfon whom they efteemed as one of their nation. CARVER'S TRAVELS. 277 Some authors have pretended that the Indians have armorial bearings, which they blazon with great exactnefs, and which diftinguifTi one nation from another; but I never could obferve any other arms among them than the fymbols already defenbed. w CARVER'S TRAVELS. A fieri Vocabulary of the Chipeway Language. N. B. This people do not make ufe either of the conibnants F, or V* XiLBOVE Abandon Spimink Packitcn Admirable Pilawah Afterwards Mipidach All Kokinum Always Amifs Arrive Kokali Napitch Takouchin Axe Afhes Affift B. Ball Agacwet Pingoe Mawinewah Alewin Bag, or tobacco-pouch Barrel Cafpetawgan Owentowgan Beat Pakhite Bear Mackwah Bear, a young one Beaver Makon Amik Beaver's fkin Be, or to be Apiminique Tapaie CARVER'S TRAVELS. 2 79 Beard Mifchitcn Becaufc Mewinch Believe Tilerimah Belly Mijliemout Black Markaute Blood Mi/kow Body Toe Bottle Shijhego Brother Neconnis Brandy or Rum Scuttawawbah Bread Pabaufhigan Breech Mifcoufah Breeches Kipokitie Koufah Buck Wafketch C. Canoe Cheman Call Tejhenskaw Chief, a Okemaw Carry Teton Child or Children Bobelojhin Coat Capotewian Cold, I am Kekalch Come on Moppa Come to Pemotcha Comrade Neechee Concerned Tallemijfi Corn Melomin Covering, or a Blanket Wawbewion Country Endawlawkeen Courage Tagwawmiffi Cup Olawgan D. Dance Nemeh Dart Shejhikwee So GARVER's TRAVELS. Die, to Nip Difh Mackoan Dog Alim Dead Neepo Devil cr evil Spirit Matcho-ManijQU Dog, a little one Alemon Done, it is done Shiah Do Tojhiton Dcubtlefs Ontclatoubah Drcfs the kettle Poutwah Drink Minikwah Drunken Ouifquiba Duck Chickbip E. Earth Aukwin Eat Owiffine Each Papegik Englifh Sagaunofb Enough Mimilic Equal, or alike TawbifcGiich Efteem Nawpetelimaw Eyes Wifkinkhte F. Faft Waliebic Fall Ponkifin Far off JVatfaw Fat Pimmittee Friend Niconnis Father Noofab Few, or little Maungis Fatigued TaukwiJJi Field fown KittegaumU Fire Scutta CARVER's TRAVELS. 2S1 Fire, to flrike Find Fifh Fork Formerly Fort Forward French Freeze, to Freezes hard Full Fufee or Gun Scutecke NantoMHowaw Kickon Naffawokwot Pirwego Wakaigcn Ncpawink JNechtegooJh Kiffin JCiffin Magat Moujkinet Pajkeffigan God, or the Great Spirit Go by water Girl Give Glafs, a mirror Good Good for nothing Govern General, or Comman- 7 der in Chief 3 Grapes Great Greedy Guts Kitchi Manitcn Pimmifcaw Jeckwaffm Milla-zv Wawberrm Cawlatch Malatal Tibarimaw Kitchi Okimaw Simauganijh Shoamiu Manatou Sawfawkiffi Olazvbijh H Hare Heart Hate Half Nn jVawpocs Michezvah Sbingaurima&> Nozvbal i$2 CARVER's TRAVELS. Hair j human Liffis Hair of beads Pewal Handfome Camginne Have Tandaulaw Head Onfieccuan Heaven Speminkakwiti Herb Mejajk Here Aconda Hidden Kemouch Home Entayent Honor MackawalaW Hot Akejkvtta How Tawne How many- Tawnemilik Hunt Kewajfa Hut, or Houfe Wig IVaum Indians Iron Ifland Immediately Indian Corn Intirely Impoftor It might be fo IJkinawbah Pewawbick yiinis Webatch , hlittawmin Nawp tcb Mawlswtijfit Taiuneendo K Kettle King, or Chief Keep Knife Knife that is crooked Knew Ackikons Okemaw Ganwerimaix, Mockoman CoGtazvgon Thickeremaw C A R V E R's TRAVELS. »»J I Lake Kitchigawmink Laugh Pawpi Lazy Kitttimi Lame Kikekate Leave Pockiton Letter Niazvjlgnaugon Life Nouchirhouin Love Saukie Long fince Shawjhia Land Carriage Cappatawgon Lofe Hackilaugue Lie down fVeepemaw Little F/autejneen M Meat Weas Much NiObilaiv Man Allijfinape March, to go Pimmoujfie Marry Weewin Medicine Maftikic Merchandife Alckccbigon Moon Debicot Mortar to pound in. Pcutawgon Male Nape Miftrefs JSferemoufm N Needle Near Shavjbonkin Pevritch 28 4 CARVER'S TRAVELS. Nation Never Night No Nofe Nothing Not yet Not at all Nought, good for nothin Irinee Cawikkaw Bebicct Kczv Tech Kakego Kaivmi/chi Kfgutch Malatat O Old Otter Other Kau-wefliine Nikkik Coutack Pipe Poagcn Part, what part Tawnapei Play Packeigo Powder, gun, or duft Pingo Peace, to make Pecacotiche Pray Tawlaimia Proper Sawfega Presently Webatch Peninfula Minnijfm Quick CL R Regard Red Refolve Relation Kegotck JVawbomo Mi/cow Tibelindon Towwemaw CARVER'S TRAVELS. RefpecT: Rain Robe River Run, to Tawbawmica Kimmewan Ockolaw Sippim Pitcbebct *i Sad Sail Sack, or Bag Sea, or large Lake Shoes Ship, or large Canoe Sorry Spirit Spoon Star Steal Stockings Strong Sturgeon Sun Sword Surprifing See Since Shirt Slave Sleep Sit down ie v ralimij]ie Pemifcaw Majkimot Agankitchiga-wminh Maukiffin Kitchi Ch>?man Nifcottiffie Manitou Mickwoh Kemautin Mittaus Majhkauwah Lawmack Kiffis Simaugan Etwab, Etwah JVawbemo Mapedoh Papawkwean Wackan Nippee Mintepi?;. Take Teeth That Emaundah Tibbit ■Mazvbab it$ CARVER's TRAVELS, There Watjaudebi This Maundah Truly Kikit Together Mawmawwee Tobacco Scmau Tongue Outcn Tired Tczvkcnjie Too little Ofciummangis Too much OJfaune Thank ycft Megwatch To-morrow JVawbunk To-morrow the day after Qufwa&bUtok W Warriors Semauganaujb Water Nebbi W T ar Nantaubaula?} Way Mickon Well then ! Tauneendab ! What is that ? JVawwewin ? What now ? Quagonic ? Whence Taunippi Where Tab White Waube Who is there r ghiagonie yiaubab Wind Loutin Winter Pepoun Woman Icfcuee Wood yiittic Wolf Mawbingon Y Yefterday Petcbilawgp Yet Mtrmewatcb Young JVifconnekiffi Yellow Wazzo GARVER's TRAVELS. <2f The Numerical Terms of the Chipeways. One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten Eleven Twenty T hirty Forty Fifty Sixty Seventy Eighty Ninety Hundred Thoufapd Pafiik Ninch NiJpM Neau Narad Ningcutw[ffcu Nihthcwajjbu Nifflwajfou Shongaffcu Mittaujcu Mittauffcu Pajhik Nimhtawnaw Niffcu Mittawnaw Neau Mittawnaw Naran Mittawnaw Ningcutwajfcu Mit- 7 tawnaw 3 tNintbcwaffiu Mit- 7 tawnaw 3 Nijjcwajfcu Mit- 7 tawnaw 3 Shongaffcu Mitt aw- 7 naw 3 Mittauffcu Mittaw- 7 na-w 3 Mittauffcw Mitta-1 uffcu Mit tawnaw ) 288 CARVER'S TRAVELS. A fhort Vocabulary of the Naudowefiie Language. Axe Afhpaw B Beaver Buffalo Bad Broach Bear, a Chawbah Tawtongo Sbejah Muzahootco Wahkonjhejah Canoe Cold Child, a Male Child, a Female Come here Waahtoh Wlechuetab Wechoakfeh Whacheekfeb Acccoyouiyare D Dead Deer Dog Negujb Tohinjob Shungujk Eat Ears Ecbawmena-ia Nookab CARVER'S TRAVELS. 289 Eyes Evil EJhtike Shejah F Fire Paahtah Father Otah Frenchman Falls of Water Neehteegujh O-wah Menah Friend Kitchi-wah G Good Give Go away God, or the Great Spirit Wojhtah Accooyeh Accoowah Wakon Gun Muzah JVakon Great Gold Tongo Muzahafn H Hear Horfe Home, or domeftic Nookijhon Shuetongd Shuah Houfe Teebee Heaven I Iron Wojhtah Teebee Muzah I, or me Meoh K King, or Chief Otah Kill Negufhtaugaw Oo 290 CARVER >s TRAVELS. Little Long Lake Love Jeftiu Tongoom Tongo Meneh Ehwahmeah M Much More Moon Mouth Medal Mine Milk Otah Otenmv Oweeh Eeh Muzab Otah yicwah Etfawbob N No Near Heyab Jeeftina* O Oh! Hopiniyabief. Pipe Pipe of Peace Sbanuapaw Sbanuapaw Waken R Rain Ring Round O-wab Meneb Muzamcbupah Cbupab CARVER'S TRAVEL S. ajU Smoke Shaweah Salt Water Mems G)ueaJ? See, to EJhta-w Sleep EJhteemo Snake Omlijhcavj Sun Paabtab Spirit Wakon Spirituous Liquors Wleneh Wakon Snow Sinnee Surprifing Hopiniayare Silver "Muzabam Tobacco Talk Tree There Sbawfajfaw Owebchin Ocba-w Dacbe W Woman Winnokejah Wonderful Hopiniyare Water Wleneb What Tawgo Who is there r Taivgodacbe ? Wicked Heyabatcbta You Young Cbee Hawpawfta-m *g* CAfcVER's TRAVELS. You are good You are a Spirit You are my good friend No good Wajhtah Chee Waken Chee Wajhtah Kitchiwahl Chee J Heyah Wafotah The Numerical Terms of the Naudoweflies, One Wonchaw Two Noompaw Three Yawmonee Four Toboh Five Sarwfruttee Six- Shawcoo Seven Shawcopee Eight Shahindchin Nine Nebochungancng Ten Wegochunganong Eleven Wegochunganong Woncha w Twenty- Wegochunganong Nogmpa-jj Thirty Wegochunganong Ya^monee Forty Wegochunganong Toboh Fifty Wegochunganong Sawbuttee Sixty Wegochungano7tg Sha-wco Seventy Wegochunganong Shawcopee Eighty Wegochunganong Shahindchin Ninety Wegochunganong Nebochungancng Hundred Opchng Thoufand Wegochunganong Opohng To this fhort vocabulary of the Naudoweffie lan- guage I fhall adjoin a fpecimen of the manner in which they unite their words. I have chofen for CARVER'S TRAVELS. 293 this purpofe a fhort fong, which they fing, with fome kind of melody, though not with any appear- ance of pDetical meafure, when they fet out on their hunting expeditions; and have given as near a tranflation as the difference of the idioms will permit. Meoh accocwah ejhta-w paatah negujhtawga-jj fhejah menah. Tongo Wakon meoh -wojhta, paatah accocwah. Hopiniyahie oweeh accooyee mech y wofhta pat ah otah to- hinjch meoh teebee, I will rife before the fun, and afcend yonder hill, to fee the new light chafe away the vapors, and dif- perfe the clouds. Great Spirit, give me fuccefs. And when the fun is gone, lend me, oh moon, light furncient to guide me with fafety back to my rent loaden with deer! *94 CARVER'S TRAVELS. CHAPTER XVIII Of the Beaftsy Birds, Fifhes, Reptiles, and Infecls, -which are found in the interior Parts of North - America. F thefe I mall, in the firft place, give a catalogue, and afterwards a description of men only as are either peculiar to this country, or which differ in feme material point from thofe that are to be met with in other realms. OF THE BEASTS. The Tiger, the Bear, Wolves, Foxes, Dogs, the Cat of the Mountain, the Wild Cat, the Buffalo, the Deer, the Elk, the Moofe, the Carraboo, the Carcajou, the Skunk, the Porcupine, the Hedge- hog, the Woodchuck, the Racoon, the Marten, the Fiflicr, the Mufquafh, Squirrels, Hares, Rab- bins, the Mole, the Weafel, the Moufe, the Dor- moufcj the Beaver, the Otter, the Mink, and Bats. ' CARVER'S TRAVELS, 295 The TIGER. The Tiger of America refembles in ihape thofe of Africa and Afia, but is confide- rably fmaller. Nor does it appear to be fo fierce and revenous as they are. The colour of it is a dark - ifh fallow, and it is entirely free from fpots. I faw one on an ifland in the Chipeway River, of which I had a very good view, as it was at no great diftance from me. It fat up on its hinder parts like a dog ; and did not feem either to be apprehenfive of ourap- proach, or to difcover any ravenous inclinations. It is however very feldom to be met with in this part of the world. The BEAR. Bears are very numerous on this continent, but more particularly fo in the northern parts of it, and contribute to furnifh both food and beds for almoft every Indian nation. Thofe of America differ in many refpects from thofe either of Greenland or RufTia, they being not only fomewhat fmaller, but timorous and inoffenfive, unlefs they are pinched by hunger, or fmarting from a wound. The fight of a man terrifies them $ and a dog will put feveral to flight. They are extremely fond of grapes, and will climb to the top of the higheft trees in quell of them. This kind of food renders their flelh exceffively rich, and finely flavored -, and it is confequently perferred by the Indians and traders to that of any other animal. The fat is very white, and befides being fweet and wholefome, ispofleiTed of one valuable quality, which is, that it never cloys. The inhabitants of thefe parts conftantly anoint themfelves, with it, and to its efficacy they in a great meafure owe their agility. The feafon for hunting the bear is during the winter ; when they take up their abode in hollow trees, or make themfelves dens in the roots of thofe that are blown down, the entrance of which they ftop up with branches of fir that lie fcattered about. From thefe retreats, it is a$6 CAHVER's TRAVELS. faid they itir not whilft the weather continues fevere, and as it is well know n that they do not provide them- felves with food, they are fuppofed to be enabled by nature to fubfift for fome months without, and during this time to continue of the fame bulk. The WOLF. The wolves of North America are much lefs than thofe which are met with mother parrs of the world. They have however, in com- mon with the reft of their fpecies, a wildnefs irt their looks, and a fiercenefs in their eyes -, no-.with- flanding which, they are far from being fo ravenous as the European wolves, nor will they ever attack a man, except they have accidentally fed on the fleih of thofe flam in battle. When they herd together, as they often do in the winter, they make a hideous and terrible noife. In thefe parts there are two kinds ; one of which is of a fallow colour, tiie other of a dun, inclining to a black. The FOX. There are two forts of foxes in North- America, which differ only in their colour, one be- ing of a reddifh brown, the ether of a grey j thofe of the latter kind that are found near the river Miffiflippi, are extremely beautiful, their hair being of a fine filver grey. DOGS. The dogs employed by the Indians in hunting appear to be all of the fame fpecies -, they carry their ears ere£t, and greatly refemble a wolf about the head. They are exceedingly ufeful to them in their hunting excurfions, and will attack the fiercer!: of the game they are in purfuit of. They are alfo remarkable for their fidelity to their matters; but being ill fed by them, are very troublefome in their huts or tents. GARVER's TRAVELS. 297 The CAT of" the Mountain. This creature is in Iliape like a cat, only much larger. The hair or fur refembles alio the fkin of that domeftic animal ; the colour however differs, for the former is of a reddifh or orange carl, but grows lighter near the belly. The whole fkin is beautified with black fpots of different figures, of which thofe on the back are long, and thofe on the lower parts round. On the ears there are black ftripes. This creature is nearly as fierce as a leopard, but will feldom attack a man. The BUFFALO. This beaft, of which there are amazing numbers in thefe parts, is larger than an ox, has ihort black horns, with a large beard under his chin, and his head is fo full of hair, that it falls over his eyes, and gives him a frightful look. There is a bunch on his oack which begins at the haunches* and increafing gradually to the moulders* reaches on to the neck. Both this excrefcence and its whole body are covered with long hair, or ra- ther wool, of a dun or moufe colour, wnich is ex- ceedingly valuable, efpecialiy that on the fore part of the body. Irs head is larger than a bull's, with a very fhort neck -, the bread is broad, and the body decreafes towards the butrocks. Thefe creatures will run away at the fight of a man, and a whole herd will make off when they perceive a lingle dog. The rlefh of the buffalo is excellent food, its hide extremely ufeful, and the hair very proper for the manufacture of various articles. The DEER. There is but one fpecies of deer in Nor'di-America, and thefe are higher and of a dimmer make than t.hofe in Europe. Their fh'ape is nearly the fame as the European, their colour of a deep fallow, and their horns very large and branch* kxgi This beaft is the fwifteft on the American. 2 9 3 C A R V E R's TRAVELS. plains, and they herd together as they do in other countries. The ELX greatly exceeds the deer in fize, being in bulk equal to a horfe. Its body is fhaped like that of a deer, only its tail is remarkably fhort, be- ing not more than three inches long. The colour of its hair, which is grey, and not unlike that of a camel, but of a more reddiSi call, is nearly three inches in length, and as coarfe as that of a horfe. The horns of this creature grow to a prodigious fize, extending fo wide that two or three perfons might fit between them at the fame time. They are not forked like thole of a dttr y but have all their teeth or branches on the outer edge. Nor does the form of thofe of the elk refemble a deer's, the former be- ing flat, and eight or ten inches broad, whereas the latter are round and considerably narrower. They ihed their horns every year in the month of Febru- ary, and by Auguft the new ones are nearly arrived at their full growth. Notwithstanding their fize, and the means of defence nature has furnimed them with, they are as timorous as a deer. Their fkin is very ufefui, and will drefs as well as that of a buck. They feed on grafs in the fummer, and on mofs or buds in the. winter. The MOOSE is nearly about the fize of the elk r and the horns of it are almoft as enormous as that animal's j the ftem of them, however, is not quite fo wide, and they branch on both fides like thofe of a deer ; this creature alio flicds them every year. Though its hinder parts are very broad, its tail is not above an inch long. It has feet and legs like a camel ; its head is about two feet long, its upper lip- much larger than the under, and the noftriis of it are fo wide that a man might thruft his hand into them a confiderable way. The hair of the moofe is TRAVELS. 29-, light grey, mixed With a blackifh red. It is veiy claftiCj for though it be beaten ever fo long, it will retain its original fhape. The flefh is exceeding good food, eafy of digeftion, and very nourifhmg. The nofe, or upper lip, which is large and Icofe from the gums, is efteemed a great delicacy, being of a firm confidence, between marrow arid griftle, and when properly drefTed, affords a rich and luTci- ous difh. Its hide is very proper for leather, being thick and ftrong, yetfjft and pliable. The pace of this creature is always a trot, which is fo expediti- ous, that it \b exceeded in fv/iftnefs but by few of its fellow inhabitants of thefe woods. It is generally found in the fcrefls, where it feeds on mofs and buds. Though this creature is of the deer kind, it never herds as thofe do. Mod authors confound it with the elk, deer, or carraboo, but it is a fpecies totally different, as misfit be difcovered bv attending to the defcription I have given of each. The CARRABOO. This bead is not near fo tall as the moofe, however it is fomething like it in ihape, only rather more heavy, and inclining to the form of the afs. The horns of it are not flat as thole of the elk are, but round like thole of the deer 3 they alfo meet nearer together at the extremities, and bend more over the face than either thofe of the elk or moofe. It partakes of the fwiftnefs of the deer ? and is with difficulty overtaken by its purfuers, The rlefh of it is likewife equally as good, the tongue particularly is in high efteem. The ikin being fmooth and free from veins, is as valuable as fhamoy, The CARCAJOU. The creature, which h of the cat kind, is a terrible enemy to the preceding four fpecies of beads. He either comes upon them from fome concealment unperceived, or climbs up into a tree, and taking his daricr, en fome of the 3 p© C A R V E R ' s T R A V ELS. branches, waits till one of them, driven by an ex- treme of heat or cold, takes fhelter under ic ; when he fallens upon his neck, and opening the jugular vein, foon brings his prey to the ground. This he is enabled to do by his long tail, with which he en- circle the body of his adverfary ; and the only means they have to fhun their fate, is by flying immedi- ately to the water; by this method, as the carcajou has a great diflike to that element, he is fometimes got rid of before he can effect his purpofe. The SKUNK. This is the moil extraordinary animal that the American woods produce. It is ra- ther lefs than a pole- cat, and of the fame fpecies ; it is therefore often miftaken for that creature, but it is very defferent from it in many points, lt^ hair is long and mining, variegated with large black and white fpots, the former moitly on the ihoniders and rump; it tail is very bum v. like that of the fox, part black, and part white like jts body ; it lives chiefly in the woods and hedges ; but its extraordinary powd- ers are only fhewn when it is purfued. As foon as he finds himfelf in danger, he ejects, to a great dif- tance from behind, a fmall dream of water, of fo fubtile a nature, and at the fame time of fo powerful a fmell, that the air is tainted with it for half a mile in circumference 5 and his purfuers, whether men or dogs, being almcfr, fuffocated with the flench, are obliged to give over the purfuit. On this account he is called by the French, Enfant du Diable, the Child of the Devil; or B:te Puante, the Stinking Bead. It is almoit impofiible to defcribe the noi- fome effects of the liquid with which this creature is fupplied by nature for its defence. If a drop of it falls on your clothes, they are rendered fo disagree- able that it is impoffibie ever after to wear them ; or if any of it enters your eyelids, the pain becomes in- tolerable for a long time, and perhaps at la(l lofe CARVER'S TRAVELS. 3 ot your fight. The fmell of the fkunk, though thus to be dreaded, is not like that of a putrid carcafe, but a ftrong foetid effluvia of muik, which difpleafes rather from its penetrating power than from its nau- feoufnefs. It is notwithftanding confidered as con- ducive to clear the head, and to raife the fpirits. This water is fuppofed by nuturalifts to be its urine: but I have diflecled many of them that I have fhot, and have found within their bodies, near the urinal veflcl, a fmall receptacle of water, totally diftinct from the bladder which contained the urine, and from which alone I am fatisMed the horrid flench proceeds. After having taken out with great care the bag wherein this water is lodged, I have fre- quently fed on them, and have found them very fweet and good -, but one drop emitted, taints not only the carcafe, but the whole houfe, and renders every kind of provifions, that are in it, unfit for ufe. With great jullice therefore do the French give it liich a diabolical name. The PORCUPINE. The body of an Ameri- can porcupine is in bulk about the fize of a fmall dog, but it is both fhorter in length, and not fo high from the ground. It varies very much from .thofe of other countries both in its fhape and the length of its quills. The former is like that of a fox, except the head, which is not fo fharp and long, ,but refembles more that of a rabbit. Its body is covered with hair of a dark brown, about four in- ches long, great part of which are the thicknefs of a ftraw, and are termed its quills. Thefe are white, with black points, hollow and very ftrong, efpeci- ally thofe that grow on the back. The quills ferve this creature for ofTenfive and defeniive weapons, which he darts at his enemies, and if they pierce the flefh in the lead degree, they will fink quite into it, and are not to be extracted without incifion. :o2 e A R V E R's TRAVEL S. The Indians ufe them for boring their ears andnofes, to infert their pendants, and aifo by way of orna- ment to their ftockings, hair, thefe birds will place themfelves on the fences, flumps, or ftones that lie near fomc houfe, and re- peat their melancholy notes without any variation till midnight. The Indians, and fome of the inhabit- ants of the back fettlements, think if this bird perches upon any houfe, that it betokens fomfc rnifhap to the inhabitants of it. The FISH HAWK greatly refembles the latter in its fhape, and receives his name from his food, w\ ich is generally fifh ; it fkims over the lakes and rivers and fometimes feems to lie expanded on the water, as he hovers fo ciofe to it, and having by fome attractive power drawn the fifh within its reach; darts fuddenly upon them. The charm it makes ufe of is fuppofed to be an oil contained in a fmail bag in the body, and which nature has by fome means or other fupplied him with the power of ufing for this purpofe ; it is however very certain that any bait touched with a drop of the oil collected from this bird is an irreiiftibl'e lure for all forts of fiih, and infures the angler great fuccefs. The OWL. The only fort of owls that is found on the banks of the Miffiffippi is extremely beauti- ful in its plumage, being of a fine deep yellow or gold colour, plealingly fhaded and fpotted. The CRANE. There is a kind of crane in thefe parts, which is called by Father Hennipin a pelican> that is about the fize of the European crane, of a greyifh colour, and with long legs j but this fpecies differs from all others in its bill, which is about twelve inches long, and one inch and a half broad, of which breadth it continues to the end, where it is blunted, and round like a paddle : irs tongue is ©f the fime length. in CARVEIl's T R A V E L 5 , DUCKS. Among a variety of wild ducks, the different fpecies bf which amount to upwards of twenty, I mall confine my defcription to one iort, that is, the wood duck, or, as the French term it, Canard Branchus. This fowl receives its name from its frequenting the woods, and perching en the branches of trees, which no other kind of water fowl (a characteriiiic that this flill preferves) is known to do. It is nearly of a fize with other ducks ; its plumage is beautifully variegated, and very brilliant. The Mem of it alio, as it feeds but little on fifh, is finely flavored* and much luperior to any ether fort. The TEAL. I have already remarked in my Journal, that the teal found on the Fox River; and the head branches of the Mifllffippi, are per- haps not to be equalled for the fatnefs and delicacy of their flefh by any other in the world. In colour, ihape, and fize they are very little different from thole found in other countries. The LOON is a water fowl, fomewhat lefs than a teal, and is a fpecies of the dobchick. Its wings are iliort, and its legs and feet large in proportion to the body i the colour of it is a dark brown, nearly approaching to black; and as it feeds only on nih, the Beflii of it is very ill flavored. Thefe birds are exceedingly nimble and expert at diving, fo that it is aim oft impofilblc for one per fori to moot them, as they will dextrouHy avoid [he {hot by diving before thev reach them; fo that it requires three perfons to kill one of them, and this can i be done the moment it raifts its head out o[ the wa- ter as it returns to the iurface after diving. It however enly repays the trouble taken to obtain it by the excellenr fnort it affords. CARVER'S TRAVELS. 313 The PARTRIDGE. There are three forts of partridges here, the brown, the red, and the black, the firft of which is mod efteemed. They arc all much larger than the European partridges, being nearly the fize of a hen pheafant; their head and eyes are alfo like that bird, and they have all long tails, which they fpread like a fan, but not erect; but contrary to the cuftom of thofe in other coun- tries, they will perch on the branches of the poplar and black birch, on the buds of which they reed early in the morning and in the twilight of the evening during the winter months, when they are eafiiy mot. The WOOD PIGEON is nearly the fame as ours, and there are fuch prodigious quantities of them on the banks of the MifMippi, that they will fometimes darken the fun for feveral minutes. The WOODPECKER. This is a very beau- tiful bird; there is one fort whofe feathers are a mix- ture of various colours; and another that is brown all over the body, except the head and neck, which are of a fine red. As this bird is fuppofed to make a greater noife than ordinary at particular times^ it is conjectured his cries then denote rain. ^ The BLUE JAY. This bird is fhaped nearly like the European jay, only that its tail is longer. On the top of its head is a creil: of blue feathers, which is railed or let down at pleafure. The lower part of the neck behind, and the back, are of a purplifh colour, and the upper fides of the wings and tail, as well as the lower part of the back and rump, are of a fine blue; the extremities of the wings are blackifh, faintly tinctured with dark blue on the edges, whilfl the other parts of the wing are Rr 3i| C A R V E R ' s T R A V ELS. barred acrofs with black in an el?2;ant manner. Upon the whole this bird can fcarcely be exceeded in beauty by 'any of the winged inhabitants of this or other clima:es. It has the fame jetting motion that jays generally have, and its cry is far more pleafing. The WAKON BIRD, as it is termed by the Indians, appears to be of the fame fpecies as the birds of paradife. The name they have given it is expreiTive of its iuperior excellence, and the vene- ration they have for it; the wakon bird being in their language the bird of the Great Spirit. It is nearly the fize of a fwailow, of a brown colour, fhaded about the neck with a bright green; the wings are of a darker brown than the body; its tail is compofed of four or five feathers, which are three times as long as its body, and which are beautifully fhaded w T ith green and purple. It carries this fine length of plumage in the fame manner as a peacock does, but it is not known whether it ever raifes it into the erect pofition that bird fometimes does. I never faw anv of thefe birds in the colonies, but the Nando wt flic Indians caught feverai of them when I was in their country, and feemed to treat them as if they were of a fuperior rank to any other of the feathered race. The BLACK BIRD. There are three forts of birds in North- America that bear this name; the rirft is the common, or as it there termed, the crow black bird, which is quite black, and of the fame hze and fhape of thofe in Europe, but it has not that melody in its notes which they have. In the month of September this fort fly in large flights, and do great mifchief to the Indian corn, which is at tl a*, time juft ripe. The fecond fort is the red- wing, which is rather fmaller than the firft ipecies, CARVER'S T R A V ELS. 315 but like it is black all over its body, except on the lower rim of the wings, where it is a fine, bright, full fcarlct. It builds its neft, and chiefly reforts anions: the fmall bufhes that stow in meadows and low, fwampy places. It whittles a few notes, but is not equal in its fong te the European black bird. The third fort is of the fame fize as the lat- ter, and is jet-black like that, but all the upper part of the wing, juft below the back, is of a fine, clear white; as if nature intended to diverfify the fpecies, and to atone for the want of a melodious pipe by the beauty of its plumage; for this alio is deficient in its mufical powers. The beaks of every fort are of a full yellow, ar.d the females of each of a rutty black like the European. The RED BIRD is about the fize of a fparrow, but with a long tail, and is all over of a bright vermilion colour. I faw many of them about the Ottawa w Lakes, but I could not learn that they Fung. I alfo obferved in fome other parts, a bird of much the fame make, that was entirely of a fine yellow. The WHETSAW is of the cuckoo kind, being like that, a folitary bird, and fcarcely ever feen. In the fummer months it is heard in the groves, where it makes a noife like the filing of a faw ; from which it receives its name. The KING BIRD is like a fwallow, and feems to be of the fame fpecies as the black marten or fwift. It is called the King Bird becaufe it is able to matter almoft every bird that flies. I have often feen it bring down a hawk. The HUMMING BIRD. This beautiful bird, which is the fmalleft of the feathered inhabitants of the air, is about the third part the fize' of a wren 316 C A R V E R's TRAVELS. and is fhaped extremely like it. Irs legs, which are about an inch long, appear like two fmall needles, and its body is proportionable to them. But its plumage exceeds defcription. On its head it has a fmall tuft of a jetty, ihining black ; the breait of it is red, the belly white, the back, wings, and tail of the fincft pale green ; and fmall fpecks of gold are Scattered with inexpremble grace over the whole : befides this, an almoft imperceptible dcwn foftcns the colours, and produces the mod plealing (hades. With its bill, which is of the fame diminutive fize as the other parts of its body, it extracts from the flowers a moifture which is its nouriihment; over thefe it hovers like a bee, but never lights on them, moving at the fame time its wings with fuch velocity that the motion of them is imperceptible; notwithstanding which they make hur* name, a humming noiie, from whence it receives us Of the FISHES which are found in the Waters of the Mississippi. I have already given a defcription of thofe that are taken in the great lakes. The Sturgeon, the Pout or Cat Fifh, the Pike, the Carp, and the Chub. The STURGEON. The frefh water fturgcon is fhaped in no other rcfpect like thofe taken near the lea, except in the formation of its head and tails which are fafhioned in the fame manner, but the body is net fo angulated, nor are there fo many hcr::y fcales about it as on the latter. Its length is generally about two feet and a half or three feet longi but in circumference not proportionable, be- CARVER'S TRAVELS. 3 i 7 ing a Gender fifh. The fiefh is exceedingly delicate and finely flavored ; I caught fome in the head wa- ters of the river St. Croix that far exceeded trout. The manner of taking them is by watching them as they lie under the banks in a clear ftream, and darting at them with a fifh-fpear; for they will not take a bait. There is alfo in the Miffiffippi, and there only, another fort than the fpecies I have def- cribed, which is fimilar to it in every refpecl, ex- cept that the upper jaw extends fourteen or fifteen inches beyond the under; this extenfive jaw, which is of a griftly fubftance, is three inches and a half broad, and continues of that breadth, fomewhat in the fhape of an oar, to the end, which is flat. The flefh of this fifh, however, is not to be compared •svith the other foit, and is not fo much efleemed even by the Indians. The CAT FISH. This fifh is about eighteen inches long; of a brownifh colour, and without fcales. It has a large round head, from whence it receives its name, on different parts of which grow three or four flrong, fharp horns about two inches long. Its fins are alfo very bony and flrong, and without great care will pierce the hands of thofe who take them. It weighs commonly about five or fix pounds; the flefh of it is exceflively fat and lufcious, and greatly refembles that of an eel in its flavor. The CARP and CHUB are much the fame as thofe in England, and nearly about the fame in fize. OF SERPENTS. The Rattle Snake, the Long Black Snake, the Wall or Houfe Adder, the Striped or Garter Snake, 3 i8 CARVER'S TRAVELS. the Water Snake, the Hiding Snake, the Green Snake, the Thorn-tail Snake, the Speckled Snake, the Ring Snake, the Two-headed Snake. The RATTLE SNAKE. There appears to be two fpecies of this reptile; one of which is com- monly termed the Black, and the other the Yellow; and of thefc the latter is generally confidered as the largeft. At their full growth they are upwards of five feet long, and the middle part of the body, ac which it is of the greateft bulk, meafures about nine inches round. From that part it gradually decrea- fes both towards the head and the tail. The neck is proportionabiy very fmall, and the head broad and dtprefTed. Thefe are of a light brown colour, the iris of the eye red, and all the upper part of the body brown, mixed with a ruddy yellow, and che- quered wich many, regular lines of a deep black, gradually fhading towards a gold colour. In fhort the whole of this dangerous reptile is very beautiful, and could it be viewed with lefs terror, fuch a va- riegated arrangement of colours would be extremely pleafing. But thefe are only to be feen in their higheft perfection at the time this creature is ani- mated by refentment; then every tint rufhes from its fubcutaneous recefs, and gives the furface of the fkin a deeper (lain. The belly is of a palifh blue, which grows fuller as it approaches the fides, and O A A * is at length intermixed with the colour of the upper part. The rattle at its tail, from which it receives its name, is compofed of a firm, dry, calluos, or horny fubftance of a light brown, and confifts of a number of cells which articulate one within another, like joints; and which increafes every year, and make known the age of the creature. Thefe arti- culations being very loofe, the included points ftrike again ft the inner furface of the concave parts or rings into which they are admitted, and CARVER'S TRAVELS. 3*9 as the fnake vibrates, or makes its tail, make a rattling noife. This alarm is always given when it is apprehenfive of danger ; and in an inftant af- ter forms itfelf into a fpiral wreath ; in the cen- tre of which appears the head erect, and breath- ing forth' vengeance again either man cr bead that fhall dare to come near it. In this attitude he awaits the approach of his enemies, rattling his tail as he fees or hears them coming on. By this timely inti- mation, which heaven feems to have provided as a means to counteract the mifchief this venomous rep- tile would otherwife be the perpetrator of, the un- wary traveller is apprized of his danger, and has an opportunity of avoiding it. It is however to be cb- ferved, that it never acts offcnfively ; it neither purfues nor flies from any thing that approaches it, but lies in the pofition described, rattling his tail, as if reluctant to hurt. The teeth with which this ferpent effects his poifonous purpofes are not thofe he makes life of on ordinary occafions, they are only two in number, very fmail and fharp pointed., and fixed in a finewy fubftance that lies near the ex- tremity of the upper jaw, refembling the claws of a cat -, at the root of each of thefe, which might be extended, contracted, or entirely hidden, as need requires, are two fmall bladders which nature has to conftructed, that at the fame inftant an incifion is made by the teeth, a drop of a greenifh, poifonous liquid enters the wound, and taints with its deftruc- tive quality the whole mafs of blood. In a moment the unfortunate victim of its wrath feels a chilly tre- mor run through all his frame -, a fwelling immedi- ately begins on the fpot where the teeth had entered, which fpreads by degrees over the whole body, and produces on every part of the fkin the variegated hue of the fnake. The bite of this reptile is more or lefs venomous, according to the fcafon of the year in which it is given. In the dog- days it often i±o CARVER'S TRAVELS. proves initantly mortal, and efpecially if the wound is made among the finews iituated in the back part of the leg, above the heel -, but in the fpring, in autumn, or during a cool day which might happen in the fummer, its bad effects are to be prevented by the immediate application of proper remedies ; and thefe Providence has bounteoufly fupplied, by caufing the Rattle Snake Plantain, an approved an- tidote to the poifon of this creature, to grow in great prcfufion wherever they are to be met with. There are likewife feveral other remedies befides this, for the venom of its bite. A decoction made of the buds or bark of the white afh, taken internally, pre- vents its pernicious effects. Salt is a newly difco- vered remedy, and if applied immediately to the part, or the wound be warned with brine, a cure might be affured. The fat of the reptile alio rub- bed on it is frequently found to be very efficacious. But though the lives of the perfons who have been bitten might be preferved by thefe, and their health in fome degree rcftored, yet they annually experi- ence a (light return of the dreadful fymptoms about the time they received the inftillation. However remarkable it may appear, it is certain, that though the venom of this creature affects, in a greater or lefs degree, ail animated nature, the hog is an ex- ception to the rule, as that animal will readily de- ftroy them without dreading their poifonous fangs, and fatten on their flefh. It has been often obferved, and I can confirm the obfervation, that the Rattle Snake is charmed with any harmonious founds, whe- ther vocal or inilrumental j I have many times ken them, even when they have been enraged, place themfelves in a liftening pofture, and continue im- movably attentive and fufceptible of delight all the time the mufic has laded. I mould have remarked, that when the Rattle Snake bites, it drops its under jaw, and holding the upper jaw erect, throws itfclf CARVER'S TRAVELS. 3 »i in a curve line, with great force, and as quick as lightning, on the object of its refentment. In a moment after, it returns again to its de fen five pof- ture, having difengaged its teeth from the wound with great celerity, by means of the pofition in which it had placed its head when it made the attack. It never extends itfelf to a greater diftance than half its length will reach, and though it fometimes re- peats the blow two or three times, it as often returns with a fudden rebound to its former date. The Black Rattle Snake differs in no other refpect from the Yellow, than in being rather fmailer, and in the variegation of its colours, which are exactly revered: one is black where the other is yellowy and vice verfa. They are equally venomous. It is not known how thefc creatures engender; I have often found the eggs of feveral other fpecies of the fnake, but notwithstanding no one has taken more pains to ac- quire a per feci: knowledge of every property ofthefe reptiles than myfelf, I never could difcover the manner in which they bring forth their young. I once killed a female that had feventy young ones in its belly, but thefe were perfectly formed, and I faw them juft before retire to the mouth of their mother as a place of fecurity, on my approach. The galls of the ferpent, mixed with chalk, are formed into little balls, and exported from America, for medical purpofes. They are of the nature of Gafcoign's powders, and are an excellent remedy for complaints incident to children. The flefh of the fnake alfo dried, and made into broth, is much more nutritive than that of vipers, and very efficacious againft con- sumptions. ' The LONG BLACK SNAKE thefe are alfo of two forts, both of which are exactly fimilar in fhape and fize, only the belly of one is a light red, the Sf 3«s C A R V E R's T R A V E L S. other a faint blue ; all the upper parts of their bodies are black and fcaly. They are in general from fix to eight feet in length, and carry their heads, as they crawl along, about a foot and a half from the ground. They eafily climb the higheft trees in pur- suit of birds andfquirrels, which are their chief food; and thefe, it is faid, they charm by their looks, and render incapable of efcaping from them. Their ap- pearance carries terror with it to thofe who are un- acquainted with their inability to hurt, but they are perfectly inoffenfive and free from venom. The STRIPED or GARTER SNAKE is exact- ly the fame as that fpecies found in other cli- mates. 'The WATER SNAKE is much like the Rattle Snake in fhape and fize, but is not endowed with the fame venomous powers, being quite harmlefs. The HISSING SNAKE I have already parti- cularly defcribed, when I treated, in my Journal, of Lake Eric. The GREEN SNAKE is about a foot and an half long, and in colour fo near to grafs and herbs, that it cannot be difcovered as it lies on the ground ; happily, however, it is free from venom, otherwife it would do an infinite deal of mifchief, as thofe who pais through the meadows, not being able to per- ceive it, are deprived of the power of avoiding it. The THORN-TAIL SNAKE. This reptile is found in many parts of America, but is very feldom to be (een. It is of a middle fize, and receives its name from a thorn-like dart in its tail, with which it i* faid to inflict a mortal wound. CARVER'S TRAVELS. 323 The SPECKLED SNAKE is an aqueous reptile about two feet and an half in length, but without venom. Its fkin, which is brown and white, with fome fpots of yellow in it, is ufed by the Americans as a cover for the handles of whips, and it renders them very pleafing to the light. The RING SNAKE is about twelve inches long; the body of it is entirely black, except a yellow ring which it has about its neck, and which appears like a narrow piece of riband tied around it. This odd reptile is frequently found in the bark of trees, and among old logs. The TWO-HEADED SNAKE. The only make of this kind that was ever feen in America, was found about the year 1762, near Lake Cham- plain, by Mr. Park, a gentleman of New-England, and made a prefent to Lord Amherft. It was about a foot long, and in fhape like the common make, but it was furnifhed with two heads exactly fimilar, which united at the neck. Whether this was a diilincl fpecies of fnakes, and was able to propagate its likenefs, or whether it was an accidental for- mation, I know not. The TORTOISE or LAND TURTLE. The fhape of this creature is fo well known that it is un- ^lecefTary to defcribe it. There are feven or eight forts of them in America, fome of which are beauti- fully variegated, even beyond difcription. The fhells of many have fpots of red green, and yel- low in them, and the chequer work is compofed of fmall fquares curioufly difpofed. The mod beau- tiful fort of thefe creatures are the fmalleft, and the bite of them is faid to be venomous. ;?4 C A R V E R's T R A V E L S. LIZARDS, &i. Though there are numerous kinds of this clafs of the animal creation, in the country I treat of, I mail only take notice of two of them ; which are termed the Swift and the Slow Lizard. The SWIFT LIZARD is about fix inches long, and has four legs arid a tail. Its body, which is blue, is prettily ttriped with dark lines fhaded with yellow j but the end of the tail is totally blue. It is lb re- markable agile, that in an ihftant it is out of fight, nor can its movement be perceived by the quicker! eye i fo that it might more juftly be faid to vaniih, than to run away. This fpecies are fuppofed to poi- fon thofe they bite, but are not dangerous, as they never attack perfons that approach them, choofing rather to get fuddenly out of their reach. The SLOW LIZARD is of the fame fhape as the Swift, but its colour is brown; it is moreover of an oppofite difpofition, being altogether as flow in its movements as the other is fwift. It is remarkable that thefe lizards are extremely brittle, and will break off near the tail as eafily as an icicle. Among the reptiles of North America, there is a fpecies of the toad, termed the TREE TOAD, which ' is nearly the fame fhape as the common fort, but fmaller and with longer claws. It is ufually found on trees, (licking ciofe to the bark, or lying in the crevices of it -, and fo nearly does it refemble the colour of the tree to which it cleaves, that it is with difficulty diilinguiihed from it. Thefe creatures are only heard during the twilight of the morning and evening, or ittft before and after a fhower of rain, CARVER'S TRAVELS. 325 when they make a croaking noife fomewhat ihriller than that of a frog, which might be heard to a great dif- tance. They infeft the woods in fuch numbers, that their refponfive notes at thefe times make the air refound. It is only a fummer animal and never to be found during the winter. INSECTS, The interior parts of North- America abound with nearly the fame infects as are met with in the fame parallels of latitude ; and the fpecies of them are fo numerous and diversified that even a fuccinct difcrip- tion of the whole of them would fill a volume ; I fhall therefore confine myfelf to a few, which I believe are almoft peculiar to this country ; the Silk Worm, the Tobacco Worm, the Bee, the Lightning Bug, the Water Bug, and the Horned Bug. The SILK WORM is nearly the fame as thofe of France and Italy, but will not produce the fame quan- tity of filk. The TOBACCO WORM is a caterpillar of the fize and figure of a filk worm, it is of a fine fea green colour, on its rump it has a fling or horn near a quar- ter of an inch long. The bees in America principally lodge their honey in the earth, to fecure it from the ravages of the bears, who are remarkably fond of it. The LIGHTNING BUG or FIRE FLY is about the fize of a bee, but it is of the beetle kind, having like that infect two pair of wings, the upper of which are of a firm texture, to defend it from danger. When ? z6 CARVER'S TRAVELS. it flies, and the wings are expanded, there is under thefe a kind of coat, constructed alio like wings, which is luminous ; and as the infect pafTes on, caufes all the hinder part of its body to appear like a bright fiery coal. Having placed one of them on your hand, the under part only fhines, and throws the light on the fpace beneath; but as foon as it fpreads its upper wings to fly away, the whole body which lies behind them appears illuminated all around. The light it gives is not conftanriy of the fame magnitude, even when it flies; but feems to depend on the expanficn or contraction of the luminous coat or wings, and is very different from that emit- ted in a dark night by dry wood or fome kinds of fifh, it having much more the appearance of real fire. They feem to be fenfible ot the power they are pollened of, and to know the moil fuitable time for exerting it, as in a very dark night they are much more numerous than at any other time. They are only fetn during the fummer months of June, July, and Auguft, and then at no other time but in the night. Whether from their colour, which is a dufky brown, they are not then difcernible, or from their retiring to holes and crevices, I know not, but they are never to be difcovered in the day. They chiefly are feen in low, fwampy land, and appear like innumerable tranilent gleams of light. In dark nights when there is much lightning with- out rain, they feem as if they v/iihed either to imi- tate' or afiift the flames ; for during the intervals, they are uncommonly agile, and endeavour to throw out every ray they can collect. Notwithstanding this effulgent appearance, thefe infects are perfectly harmlefs, you may permit them to crawl upon your hand, when five or "fix, if they freely exhibit their glow together, will enable you to read almoft the imalleft print. CARVER'S TRAVELS. 327 The WATER BUG is of a brown colour, about the fize of" a pea, and in fhape nearly oval -, it has many legs, by means of which it pafTes over the furface of the water with fuch incredible fwiftnefs, that it feems to Aide or dart itfelf along. The HORNED BUG, or as it is fometimcs termed the STAG BEETLE, is of a dufky brown colour nearly approaching to black, about an inch and an half long, and half an inch broad. It has two large horns, which grow on each fide of the head, and meet horizontally, and with thefe it pinches very hardj they are branched like thofe of a flag, from whence it receives its name. They fly about in the evening, and prove very trouble fome to thofe who are in the fields at that time. I mull not omit that the LOCUST is a fepten- nial infect, as they arc only feen, a fmall number of ftragglers excepted, every feven years, when they infeft thefe parts and the interior colonies in large fwarms, and do a great deal of mifchief. The years when they thus arrive are denominated the locuft vears. 328 CARVER's TRAVELS, CHAPTER XIX. Of the Trees, Shrubs, Roots, Herbs, Flowers, &c. J[ SHALL here obferve the fame method that I have purfued in the preceding chapter, and having given a lilt of the trees, &c. which are na- tives of the interior parts of North-America, par- ticularize fuch only as differ from the produce of other countries, or, being little known, have not been defcribed. OF TREES The Oak, the Pine Tree, the Maple, the Afh, the Hemlock, the Bafs or White Wood, the Cedar, the Elm, the Birch, the Fir, the Locuft Tree, the Popbr, the Wickopick or Suckwick, the Spruce, the Horn-beam, and the Button Wood Tree. The OAK. There are feveral forts of oaks in thefe parts i the black, the white, the red, the yellow, the grey, the fwamp oak, and the chefnut oak: the five former vary but little in their external •appearance, the fhape of the leaves, and the colour CARVER'S TRAVELS. 3-9 oF the bark being fo much alike, that they are fcarcely diftinguifhablej but the body of the tree when fawed difcovers the variation, which chiefly confifts in the colour of the wood, they being all very hard, and proper for building. The lwamp oak differs materially from the others both in the fhape of the leaf, which is fmaller, and in the bark, which is fmoother; and likewife as it grows oniy in a moift, gravelly foil. It is efteemed the toughen; of all woods, being fo ftrong yet pliable, that it is often made ufe of inftead of whalebone, and is equally ferviceable. The chefnut oak alfo is greatly different from the others, particularly in the maps of the leaf, which much refembles that of the chef- nut-tree, and for this reafon it is fo denominated. It is neither fo ftrong as the former fpeeies, nor fo tough as the latter, but is of a nature proper to be fplit into rails for fences, in which ftate it will endure a confiderable time. The PINE TREE. That fpeeies of the pine tree peculiar to this part of the continent is the white, the quality of which I need not defcribe, 2s the timber of it is fo well known under the name of deals. It grows here in great plenty, to an amazing height and fize, and yields an excellent turpentine, though not in fuch quantities as thofe in the nor- thern parts ofEurope. The MAPLE. Of this tree there are two forts, the hard and the foft, both of which yield a lufcious juice, from which the Indians, by boiling, make very good fugar. The fap of the former is much richer and fweeter than the latter, but the foft pro- duces a greater quantity. The wood of the hard maple is very beautifully veined and curled, and when wrought into cabinets, tables, gunflocks, &c. T t 3$o CARVE R's TRAVELS. is greatly valued. That of the foft fort differs in its texture, wanting the variegated grain of the hard; it alfo grows more ftraight and free from branches, 2nd is more eafily fplit. It like wife may- be diitinguifhed from the hard, as this grows in meadows and low lands, that on the hills and up- lands. The leaves are fhaped alike, but thofe of the foft maple are much the largeft, and of a deeper green. The ASH. There are fever al forts of this tree in thefe parts, but that to which I fhail confine my defcription, is the yellow afh, which is only found near the head branches of the Mifliflippi. This tree grows to an amazing height, and the body of it is fo firm and found, that the French traders who go into that country from Louifiana, to purchafe furs, make of them periaguays; this they do by excavating them by fire, and when they are com- pleted, convey in them the produce of their trade to New-Orleans, where they find a good market both for their velTels and cargoes. The wood of this tree greatly refembles that of the common afh 5 but it might be diftinguifhed from any other tree by its barks the rofs or outfide bark being near eight inches thick, and indented with furrows more than fix inches deep, which make thofe that are arrived to a great bulk appear uncommonly rough; and by this peculiarity they may be readily known. The rind or infide bark is of the fame thicknefs as that of other trees, but its colour is a fine bright yellow, infomuch that if it is but (lightly handled it will leave a ftain on the fingers, which cannot eafily be wafhed away; and if in the fpring you peel off the bark, and touch the fap, which then rifes between that and the body of the tree, it will leave fo deep a. tincture that it will require three or four days to wear it off. Many ufeftil qualities belonging CARVER'S TRAVELS. 231 to this tree I doubt not will be difcovered in time, befides its proving a valuable acquifition to the dyer. The HEMLOCK TREE grows in every part of America, in a greater or lefs degree. It is an ever -green of a very large growth, and has leaves fomewhat like that of the yew; it is however quite ufelefs, and only an incumbrance to the ground, the wood being of a very coarfe grain, and full of wind-makes or cracks. The BASS or WHITE WOOD is a tree of a middling fize, and the whiteft and fofteft wood that grows i when quite dry it fvvims on the water like a cork 5 in the fettlements the turners make of it bowls, trenchers, and dimes, which wear fmooch, and will lad a long time -, but when applied to any other purpofc it is far from durable. The WICKOPICK or SUCKWICK appears to be afpecies of the white wood, and is diftinguiilied from it by a peculiar quality in the bark, which when pounded, and moiftened with a little water, inftantly becomes a matter of the confidence and nature of fize. With this the Indians pay their canoes, and it greatly exceeds pitch, or anv other material ufually appropriated to that pur- pofe; for befides its adhelive quality, it is of fo oily a nature, that the water cannot penerate through it, and its repelling power abates not for a conside- rable time. The BUTTON WOOD is a tree of the largefl fize, and might be diftinguifhed by its bark, which is quite fmooth and prettily mottled. The wood is very proper for the ufe of cabinet-makers. It if covered w T ith fmall hard burs., which fpnng frorr 332 CARVER'S TRAVELS. its branches, that appear not unlike buttons, and from thefe I believe it receives its name. NUT TREES. The Butter or Oil Nut, the Walnut, the Hazel Nut, the Beech Nut, the Pecan Nut, the Chefnut, the Hickory. The BUTTER or OIL NUT. As no men- tion has been made by any authors of this nut, I mall be the more particular in my account of it. The tree grows in meadows where the foil is rich and warm. The body of it feldom exceeds a yard in circumference, is full of branches, the twigs of which are fhort and blunt, and its leaves refemblc thole of the walnut. The nut has a fhell like that fruit, which when ripe is more furrowed, and" more cafily cracked -, it is alfo much longer and larger than a walnut, and contains a greater quantity of kernel, which is very oily, and of a rich, agreeable flavor. I am perfuaded that a much purer oil than that of olives might be extracted from this nut. The inficle bark of this tree dyes a good purple; and it is faid, varies in its made, being either darker or lighter, according to the month in which it is ga- thered. The BEECH NUT. Though this tree grows exactly like that of the fame name in Europe, yet it produces nuts equally as good as chefnuts ; on which bears, martens, fqirrels, partridges, turkeys, and many other beaft and birds feed. The nut is contained, whilft growing, in an outfide cafe, like that of a chefnut, but not lb prickly -, and the coat of the infide fhell is alfo fmooth like that -, only its CARVER'S TRAVELS. 333 form is nearly triangular. Vaft quantities of them lie fcattered about in the woods, and fupply with food great numbers of the creatures juft mentioned. The leaves, which are white, continue on the trees during the whole winter. A decoction made of them is a certain and expeditious cure for wounds which arife from burning or fcalding, as well as a reftorative for thofe members that are nipped by the froft. The PECAN NUT is fomewhat of the walnut kind, but rather fmaller than a walnut, being about the fize of a middling acorn, and of an oval form ; the fhell is eafily cracked, and the kernel fhaped like that of a walnut. This tree grows chiefly near the Illinois River. The HICKORY is alfo of the walnut kind, and bears a fruit nearly like that tree. There are feveral forts of them, which vary only in the colour of the wood. Being of a very tough nature, the wood is generally ufed for the handles of axes, &g. It is alfo very good fire-wood, and as it burns, an excel- lent fugar diltils from it. FRUIT TREES. I need not rxxobferve that thefe are all the fpon- taneous productions of nature, which have never received the advantages of ingrafting, tranfplanting, or manuring. The Vine, the Mulberry Tree, the Crab Apple Tree, the Plum Tree, the Cherry Tree, and the Sweet Gum Tree. 334 CARVER's TRAVELS. The VINE is very common here, and of three kinds ; the firfl fort hardly deferves the name of a grape; the fecorid much reft en bies the Burgundy grape, and if expofed to the fun, a good wine might be ma ie from them. The third ibrt refembles Zarit currants, which are fo frequently ufed in cakes, &c. in England, and if proper care was taken of them, would be equal, if not fuperior, to thofe of that country. The MULBERRY TREE is of two kinds, red and white, and nearly of the fame fize of thofe of France and Italy, and grow in fuch plenty, as to feed any quantity of filk worms. The CRAB APPLE TREE bears a fruit that is much larger and better flavored than thofe of Eu- rope. The PLUM TREE. There are two forts of plums in this country, one a large fort of a purple caft on one fide, and red on the reverfe, the fecond totally green, and much fmailer. Both thefe are of a good flavor, and are greatly efleemed by the Indi- ans, whofe tafte is not refined, but who are fatisfied with the productions of nature in their unimproved ftate. The CHERRY TREE. There are three forts of cherries in this country -, the black, the red, and the fand cherry - s the two latter may with more pro- priety be ranked among the fhrubs, as the bum that bears the fand cherries almofl creeps along the ground, and the other rifes not above eight or ten feet in height ; however I fhall give an account of them all in this place. The black cherries are about the fize of a currant, and hang in clufters like grapes; the trees which bear them being very fruitful, they are generally loaded, but the fruit is not good ta TRAVELS. 335 tat, however they give an agreeable flavor to brandy, and turn it to the colour of claret. The red cherries grow in the greateft profuficn, and hang in bunches, like the black fort juft dtferibed j fo that the bufhes which bear them appear at a diftance like folid bo- dies of red matter. Some people admire this fruit, buL they partake of the nature and tafle of allum, leaving a difagreeable roughnefs in the threat, and being very altringent. As I have already defcribed the land cherries, which greatly exceed the two other forts, both in flavor and fize, I fhall give no further defcription of them. The wood of the black cherry tree is very ufeful, and works well into cabi- net ware. The SWEET GUM TREE or LIQUID AM- BER, (Ccpalm) is not only extremly common, but it affords a balm, the virtues of which are infi- nite. Its bark is black and hard, and its wood fo tender and fupple, that when the tree is felled, you may draw from the middle of it rods of five or fix feet in length. It cannot be employed in building or furniture, as it warps continually. Its leaf is indented with five points, like a ftar. This balm is reckoned by the Indians to be an excellent febrifuge, and ir. cures wounds in two or three days. SHRUBS. The Willow, Shin Wood, Shumack, SafiTafras, the Prickly Afh, Moofe Wood, Spoon Wood,Large El- der, Dwarf Elder, Poifonous Elder, Jimiper, Shrub Oak, Sweet Fern, the Laurel, the Witch Hazle, the Myrtle Wax Tree, Winter Green, the Fever Bufh, the Cranberry Bum, the Goofberry Bufh, 336 CARVER'S TRAVELS. the Current Bum, the Whortle Berry, the Raf berry, the Black Berry, and the Choak Berry. The WILLOW. There are feveral fpecies of the willow, the moft remarkable of which is a fmall fort that grows on the banks of the Mifliflippi, and fome other places adjacent. The bark of this fhrub fupplies the beaver with its winter food; and where the water has warned the foil from its roots, they appear to confift of fibres interwoven together like thread, the colour of which is of an inexpreffibly tine fcarlet; with this the Indians tinge many of the ornamental parts of their drefs. SHIN WOOD. This extraordinary fhrub grows in the forefts, and rifing like a vine, runs near the ground for fix or eight feet, and then takes root again ; in the fame manner taking root, and fpring- ing up fucceffively, one (talk covers a large fpace; this proves very troublefome to the hafty traveller, by ftriking againft his fhins, and entangling his legs; from which it has acquired its name. The SASSAFRAS is a wood well known for its medicinal qualities. It might with equal propriety be termed a tree as a fhrub, as it fometimes grows thirty feet high; but in general it does not reach higher than thofe of the ihrub kind. The leaves, which yield an agreeable fragrance, are large, and nearly feparated into three divifions. It bears a reddifti brown berry, of the fize and fhape of Pi- mento, and which is fometimes ufed in the colonies as a fjbftitute for that fpice. The bark or roots of this tree is infinitely fuperior to the wood for its ufe in medicine, and I am furprifed it is fo feldom to be met with, as its efficacy is fo much greater. CARVER's TRAVELS. ZTJ The PRICKLY ASH is a fnrub that fometimes grows to the height of ten or fifteen feet, and has a leaf exactly refembling that of an afh, but it re- ceives the epithet to its name from the abundance offhort thorns with which every branch is covered, and which renders it very troublefome to thofe who pafs through the (pot where they grow thick. It alfo bears a fcarlet berry, which when ripe, has a fiery taite, like pepper. The bark of this tree, particularly the bark of the roots, is highly ef- teemed by the natives for its medicinal qualities. I have already mentioned one infiance of its efficacy, and there is no doubt but that the decoction of it will expeditioufly and radically remove all impurities of the blood. The MOOSE WOOD grows about four feet high, and is very full of branches 5 but what renders it worth notice is its bark, which is of fo ftrong and pliable a texture, that being peeled oft at any fea- fon, and twilled, makes equally as good cordage as hemp. The SPOON WOOD is a fpecies of the laurel, and the wood when fawed relembles box wood. The ELDER, commonly termed the poifonous el- dcr, nearly refembles the other forts in its leaves and branches, but it grows much itraighter, and is only found in fwamps and moid foils. This (hrub is endowed with a very extraordinary quality, that renders it poifonous to ibme conintutions, which it affects if the perfon only approaches within a few yards of it, whilll others may even chew the leaves or the rind without receiving the leal!" detriment from diem j the pollen however is not mortal, though it operates very violently on the infecttrd perfon, who&" U u 33 S C A R V E R's T R A V E L S. body and head fwell to an amazing iize, and arc red with eruptions, that at their height refem- I x the confluent fmall pox. As it grows alio in many of the provinces, the inhabitants cure its ve- nom by drinking faflron tea, and anointing the external parts with a mixture compofed of cream and rnarfb mallows. The SHRUB OAK is exactly fimilar to the oak tree, both in its wood and leaves, and like that it bears an acorn, but it never riles from the ground above fojjr or five feet, growing crooked and knotty. It is found chiefly on a dry, gravelly foil. The WITCH HAZLE grows very bufhy, about ten fee: high, and is covered early in May with numerous white bloiloms. When this fhrub is in bloom, the Indians efceem it a further indica- tion that the frofr is entirely gene, and that they might low their corn. I: has been faid, that it is poffeiTed of the power of attracting gold and filver, and that twigs of it are made uie of to difcover where the veins of thefe metals lie hid; but I am apprehenfive that this is only a fallacious ftory, and nut to be depended on ; however that fuppofition has given It the name of Witch Hazle. The MYRTLE WAX TREE is a fhrub about four or five feet high, the leaves of wdiich are larger than thofe of the common myrtle, but they fmell exactly alike. It bears its fruit in bunches, like a nofegay, rifing from the fame place in various (talks,, about two inches long: at the end of each of thefe is a little nut containing a kernel, which is wholly covered with a gitiy fubftance, which being boiled in water, fwhns on the furfacecfit, and becomes a kind of green wax; this is more valuable than bees- wax, being of a more brittle naiure, but mixed C A R V E R's TRAVEL S. 339 with it makes a good candle, which, as it burns, fends forth an agreeable fcent, WINTER GREEN. This is an ever green, of the fpecies of the myrtle, and is found on dry heathsj the flowers of it are white, and in the form of a role, but not larger than a iilver penny; in the winter it is full of red berries, about the fize of a floe, which are fmooth and round; thefe are preferved during the fevere feafon by the fnow, and are at that time in the higheft perfection. The Indians eat thefe berries, efteeming them very balfamic, and invigo- rating to the ftornach. The people inhabiting the interior colonies iteep both the fprigs and berries in beer, and ufe it as a diet drink for cleanfmg the blood from fcorbutic dilbrders. The FEVER BUSH grows about Ave or fix feet high; its leaf is like that of a lilach, and it bears a reddiih berry of a fpicy flavor. The fralks of it are exceifively brittle. A decoction of the buds or wood is an excellent febrifuge, and from this valuable property it receives its name. It is an ancient Indian remedy for all inflammatory com- plaints, and likewife much efleemed on the fame account, by the inhabitants of the interior parts of the colonies. The CRANBERRY BUSH. Though the fruit of this bum greatly refemblesin fize and appearance that of the common fort, which grows on a fmall vine, in morafles and bogs, yet the bufh runs to the height of ten or twelve feet-, but it is very rarely to be met with. As the meadow cranberry, being of a local growth, and flouriiTiing only in morafles, cannot be tranfplanted or cultivated, the former, if removed at a proper feafon, would be a 3 ..? CARVER'S TRAVELS. valuable acquifition to the garden, and with proper nurture piove equally as gcoJ, if not better. The CHOAK BERRY. The fcrub thus term- ed by the natives grows about five or fix feet high, ana bears a berry about the fize of a floe, of a jet black, which contains feveral fmall feeds within the pulp. The juice of this fruit, though not of a dif- agreeable flavor, is extremely tart, and leaves a ronghnefs in the mouth and throat when eaten, that has gained it the name of choak berry. ROOTS and P L A N T S. Elecampagne, Spikenard, Angelica, Sarfapa- rilla, Giniang, Ground Nuts, Wijd Potatoes, li- quorice, Snake Root, Gold Thread, Solomon's Seal, Devil's Bite, Blood Root, Onions, Garlick, Wild Parfnips, Mandrakes, Hellebore White and Black. SPIKENARD, vulgarly called in the colonies Petty-Mcricl. This plant appears to be exactly the fame as the Afiatic fpikenard, fo much valued by the ancients. It grows near the fides of brooks, in rocky places, and its item, which is about the fize of a goofe quill, fprings up like that of angelica, reaching about a foot and an half from the ground, It bears bunches of berries in all refpecls like thofe of the elder, only rather larger. Thefe are of fuch a balfamic nature, that when irifufed in fpirits, they make a moff palataLle and reviving cordial. SARSAPARILLA. The root of this plant, -which is the meft tftimable part of it, is about the fize of a goofe quill, and runs in different directions. CARVER'S TRAVELS. 341 j.wined and crooked to a great length in the ground; from the principal ftem of it ipring many fmaller fibres, all of which are tough and flexible. From the root immediately moots a ftalk about a foot and an half long, which at the top branches into three items; each of thefe has three leaves, much of the lhape and fize of a walnut leaf; and from the fork of each of the three Hems grows a bunch of bluifh white flowers, refembling thofe of the fpikenard. The bark of the roots, which alone mould be ufed In medicine, is of a bitterifh flavor, but aromatic. It is defervedly efteemed for its medicinal virtues, being a gentle fudorific, and very powerful in at^ tenuating the blood when impeded by grofs hu- mors. GINSANG is a root that was once fuppofed to grow only in Korea, from whence it was ufuaily exported to Japan, and by that means found its way to Europe: but is has been lately difcovered to be alfo a native of North-America, where it grows to as great perfection, and is equally valua- ble. Its root is like a fmall carrot, but not fo taper at the end; it is fometimes divided into two or more branches, in all other refpecls it refembles farfapa- rilla in its growth. The tafte of the root is bitter- ifh. In the eaftern parts of Afia it bears a great price, being there confidered as a panacea, and is the laft refuge of the inhabitants in all difbrders. When chewed it certainly is a great ftrengthener of phe ftomach, GOLD THREAD. This is a plant of the lmall vine kind, which grows in fwarripy places, and li. on the ground. The roots fpread themfelves juft under the furface of the morafs, and are rally drawn up by handfuls. They refemble a large entangled Jkein of thread, of a fine, bright gold colour; and I 3|2 CARVERS TRAVELS. am perfuaded would yield a beautiful and permanent yellow dye. In is alio greatly efteemed both by the Indians and colonifts, as a remedy for any forenefs in the mouth, but the tafte of iris exquifitely bit- ter. SOLOMON'S SEAL is a plant that grows on the fides of rivers, and in rich meadow land. It rifes in the whole to about three feet high, the (talks be- ing two feet, when the leaves begin to fpread them- selves and reach a foot further. A part in every root has an impreffion upon it about the fize of a fixpence, which appears as if it was made by a feal, and from thefe it receives its name. It is greatly va- lued en account of its being a fine purifier of the blood. DEVIL's BITE is another wild plant, which grows in the fields, and receives its name from a print that feems to be made by teeth in the roots. The Indians fay that this was once an univerfal re- medy fcr every diforder that human nature is inci- dent tos but fome of the evil fpirits envying man- kind the pofTeiiion of fo efficacious a medicine, gave the root a bite, which deprived it of a great part of its virtue. BLOOD ROOT. A fort of plantain that fprings out of the ground in fix or feven long, rough leaves, the viens of which are red -, the root of it is like a fmall carrot, both in colour and appearance ■, when broken, the infide of it is of a deeper colour than the cu:fide, and diftils feveral drops of juice that look like blood. This is a ftrong emetic, but a verv dan- gerous one, CARVER'S TRAVELS. 343 HERBS. Balm, Nettles, Cinque Foil, Eyebright, Sanicle, Plantain, Rattle Snake Plantain, Poor Robin's Plantain, Toad Plantain, Maiden Hair, Wild Dock, Rock Liverwort, Noble Liverwort, BIcodwort, Wild Beans, Ground Ivy, Water CreiTes, Yarrow, May Weed, Gargit, Skunk Cabbage or Poke, Wake Robin, Betony, Scabious, Mullen, Wild Peafe, Moufe Ear, Wild Indigo, Tobacco, and Cat Mint. SANICLE has a root which is thick towards the upper part, and full of fmall fibres below; the leaves of it are broad, roundifh, hard, fmooth, and of a fine mining green; a (talk rifes from thefe two to the height of a foot, which is quite fmooth and free from knots, and on the top of it are feveral fmall flowers of a reddim white, fhaped like a wild role. A tea made of the root is vulnerary and balfamic. RATTLE SNAKE PLANTAIN. This ufe- ful herb is of the plantain kind, and its leaves, which fpread themfelves on the ground, are about one inch and an half wide, and five inches longj from the centre of thefe arifes a fmall flalk, nearly fix inches long, which bears a little white flower; the root is about the fize ofagoofe quill, and much bent and divided into feveral branches. The leaves of this herb are mere efficacious than any other part of it for the bite of the reptile from which it receives its name ; and being chewed and applied immediately to the wound, and feme of the juice fvvallo wed, id- dom fails of averting very dangerous fymptoms. So convinced are the Indians of the power of this in- fallible antidote, that for a trifling bribe of fpiritu* 544 CARVER'S TRAVELS. ous liquor, they will at any time permit a rattle fnake to drive his fangs into their fleih. It is to be remarked that daring thofe months in which the bite of thefe creatures is moil venomous, this remedy for it is in its greanefi perfection/ and molt luxuriant in its growth. POOR ROBIN's PLANTAIN is of the fame fpecies as the lad, but rr. re diminutive, in every re- fpecli it receives its name from its fize, and the poor land on which it grows. Ic is a good medicinal herb, and often admrniitered with fuccefs in fevers and internal wea'knefles. TOAD PLANTAIN refembles the common plan cain, only it grows much ranker, and is thus denominated becaufe toads love to harbor under it ROCK LIVERWORT is a fort of Liverwort that grows on rocks, and is of the nature of kelp or mofs. It is efleemed as an excellent remedy againli declines. GARGIT or SKOKE is a large kind of weed, the leaves of which are about fix inches long, and two inches and an half bread -, they refcmble thofe of fpinage in their colour and texture, but not in fliape. The root is very large, from which fpring different ftalks that run eight or ten fert high, and are full of red berries -, thefe hang in cmfters in the month of September, and are generally called pi- geon berries, as thofe birds then iced on them. When the leaves firft fpring from the ground, after being boiled, they are a nutritious and wholeforne vegetable, but when they are grown nearly to their full fize, they acouire a poifonous quality. The applied to the hands or feet of a perfon articled with a fever, prove a very powerful- abiorbent*. CARVER'S TRAVELS. 3+ - SKUNK CABBAGE or POKE is an herb that grows in moift and fvvampy places. The leaves of it are about a foot long, and fix inches broad, nearly oval, but rather pointed. The roots are compofed of great numbers of fibres, a lotion of which is made ufe of by the people in the colonies for the cure of the itch. There irTues a ftrong mufky fmell from this herb, fomething like the animal o; the fame name, before defcribed^ and on that ac- count it is fo termed. WAKE ROBIN is an herb that grows in fwampy lands ; its root refembles a fmall turnip, and if tafted will greatly inflame the tongue, and imme- diately convert it from its natural fhape into a round hard fubftance ; in which (tare it will continue for fome time, and during this no other part of the mouth will be affected. But when dried, it lofes its aftringent quality, and becomes beneficial to mankind, for if grated into cold water, and taken internally, it is very good for all complaints of the bowels. WILD INDIGO is an herb of the fame fpecies as that from v/hence indigo is made in the fouthem colonies. It grows in one (talk to the height of five or fix inches from the ground, when it divides into many branches, from which iiTue a great number of fmall hard bluifli leaves that fpread to a great breadth, and among thefe it bears a yellow flower; the juice of it has a very difagreeable fcent, CAT MINT has a woody root, divided into feveral branches, and it fends forth a flalk about three feet high; the leaves are like thofe of the net- tle or betony, and they have a ftrong fmell of mint, with a bitinsr acrid tafte; the flowers grow on thj Xx 34 6 CARVER'S TRAVELS. tops of the branches, and are of a faint purple or whitifh colour. It is called cat mint, becaufe it is laid that cats have an antipathy to it, and will not let it grow. It has nearly the virtues of common mint.* FLOWERS. Heart's Eafe, Lillies red and yellow, Pond Lillies, Cowflips, May Flowers, JefTamine, Ho- ncyfuckles, Rock Honeyfuckles, Rofes red and white, Wild Hollyhock, Wild Pinks, Golden Rod. I fhall not enter into a minute defcription of the flowers above recited, but only juft obferve, that they much refemble thofe of the fame name which grow in Europe, and are as beautiful in colour, and as perfect in odor, as they can be fuppofed to be in their wild uncultivated ftate. FARINACEOUS and LEGUMINOUS ROOTS, &c. Maize or Indian Corn, Wild Rice, Beans, the Squafh, &c. MAIZE or INDIAN CORN grows from fix to ten feet high, on a ftalk full of joints, which is ftifF and folid, and when green, abounding with a fweet juice. The leaves are like thofe of the reed, about two feet in length, and three or four inches broad. The flowers which are produced at fome diflance from the fruit on the fame plant, grow like the ears » For an account of Tobacco, fee a treatife I have publifhed on the culture of that plant. CARVER'S TRAVELS. 347 of oats, and are fomctimes white, yellow, or of a purple colour. The feeds are as large as peafe, and like them quite naked and fmooth, but of a roun- difh furface, rather comprefied. One fpike gene- rally confifts of about fix hundred grains, which are placed clofely together in rows to the number of eight or ten, and fometimes twelve. This corn is very wholefome, eafy of digeftion, and yields as good nourifhment as any other fort. After the In- dians have reduced it into meal by pounding it, they make cakes of it, and bake them before the fire. I have already mentioned that fome nations eat it in cakes before it is ripe, in which Hate it is very agreeable to the palate, and extremely, nutritive. WILD RICE. This grain, which grows in the greateft plenty throughout the interior parts of North-America, is the mod valuable of all the fpontaneous productions of that country. Exclufive of its utility as a fupply of food for thofe of the hu- man fpecies, who inhabit this part of the continent, and obtained without any other trouble than that of gathering it in, the fwectnefs and nutritious quality of it attracts an infinite number of wild fowl of every kind, which flock from diftant climes, to enjoy this rare repaft; and by it become inexprefTibly fat and delicious. In future periods it will be of great fer- ricc to the infant colonies, as it will afford them a prefent fupport, until, in the courfe of cultivation, other fupplies may be produced; whereas in thofe realms which are not furnifhed with this bounteous gift of nature, even if the climate is temperate and the foil good, the firft fettlers are often expofed to great hardships from the want cf an immediate re- source for neceflary food. This ufeful grain grows in the water where it is about two feet deep, and where it finds a rich, muddy foil. The ftalks of it, and the branches or ears tha; bear the kcd t rs* 348 CAR VER's TRAVELS. fembie oats both in their appearance and manner of growing. The (talks are full of joints, and rife more than eight feet above the water. The natives gather the grain in the following manner: Nearly about the time that it begins to turn from its milky Hate and to ripen, they run their canoes into the mirift of it, and tying bunches of it together, juft below the ears, with bark, leave it in this fituation three or four weeks longer, till it is perfectly ripe. About the latter end of September they return to the river, when each family having its feparate al- lotment, and being able to diftinguifh their own property by the manner of fattening the fheaves, gather in the portion that belongs to them. This they do by placing their canoes clofe to the bunches of rice, in fuchpofition as to receive the grain when it falls, and then beat it out, with pieces of wood formed for that purpofe. Having done this, they dry it with fmoke, and afterwards tread or rub off the outfide hulk; when it is fit for ufe they put it into the fkins of fawns, or young buffaloes, taken off nearly whole for this purpofe, and fewed into a fort of fack, wherein they preferve it till the return of their harvefl. It has been the fubjec*b of much /peculation, why this fpcntaneous grain is not found in any other regions of America, or in thofe coun- tries fituatcd in the fame parallels of latitude, where the waters are as apparently adapted for its growth as in the climate I treat of. As for inftance, none of the countries that lie to the fouth and eaft of the great lakes, even from the provinces north of the Carolinas, to the extremities of Labradore, produce any of this grain. It is true I found great quantities of it in the watered lands near Detroit, between Lake Huron and Lake Erie, but en inquiry I learned that it never arrived nearer to maturity than juft to blof- fom i after which it appeared blighted, and died aw r ay. This convinces me that the north-well: wind, GARVER's TRAVELS. 549 as I have before hinted, is much more powerful in thefe than in the interior parts; and that it is more inimical to the fruits of the earth, after it has parTed over the lakes, and become united with the wind which joins it from the frozen regions of the north, than it is further to the weftward. BEANS. Thefe are nearly of the fame fhape as the European beans, but are not much larger than the fmalleft fize of them. They are boiled by the Indians, and eaten chiefly with bears fleih. The SQUASH. They have alfo feveral fpecies of the MELON or PUMPKIN, which by fome are called fquaihes, and which ferve many nations partly as a fubftitute for bread. Of thefe there is the round, the crane-neck, the fmall flat, and the large oblong fquafh. The fmaller forts being boiled, are eaten during the fummer as vegetables; and are all of a pleafing flavor. The crane-neck, which greatly excels all the others, are ufually hung up for a win- ter's ftore, and in this manner might be prcferved for feveral moaths. APPENDIX. JL HE countries that lie between the great lakes and River MimfTippi, and from thence fouth- ward to Weft Florida, although in the midft of a large continent, and at a great diftance from the fea, are fo fituated, that a communication between them and other realms might conveniently be opened -, by which means thole empires or colonies that may hereafter be founded or planted therein, will be rendered commercial ones. The great Ri- ver MifTifTippi, which runs through the whole of them, will enable their inhabitants to eftablifh an intercourfe with foreign climes, equally as well as the Euphrates, the Nile, the Danube, or the Wolga do thofe people which dwell on their banks, and who have no other convenience for exporting the produce of their own country, or for importing thofe of others, than boats and vefTcls of light bur- den: notwithftanding which, they have become powerful and opulent flates. The MifmTippi, as I have before obferved, runs from north to fouth, and paiTes through the moft fertile and temperate part of North- America, ex- cluding only the extremities of it, which verge both on the torrid and frigid zones. Thus favorably fituated, when once its banks are covered with in- habitants, they need not long be at a lofs for means to eftablifh an extenfive and profitable commerce. They will find the country towards the fouth almoft fpontaneoufly producing filk, cotton, indigo, and tobacco; and the more northern parts, wine, oil, 35- APPENDIX. beef, tallow, fkins, buffalo-wool, and furs; with lead, copper, iron, coals, lumber, corn, rice, and fruits, befides earth and barks for dying. Thefe articles, with which it abounds even to profufion, may be r.ranfported to the ocean through this river without greater difficulty than that which attends the conveyance of merchandize down fome of thofe I have j uft mentioned. It is true that the Mif- fiffippi being the boundary between the Englifn and Spanifh fettle merits, and the Spaniards in pofTefiion of the mouth of it, they may obftruct the paffage of it, and greatly diihearten thofe who make the flrft attempts; yet when the advantages that will cer- tainly arife to fettlers, are known, multitudes of adventurers, allured by the profpecl; of fuch abun- dant riches, will flock to it, and eftablifh themfelves, though at the expence of rivers of blood. But fhould the nation that happens to be in pof- feflion of New Orleans prove unfriendly to the in- ternal fettlers, they may find a way into the Gulf of Mexico, by the river Iberville, which empties itfelf from the Miffiflippi, after pafling throngh Lake Maurepas, into Lake Ponchartrain, which has a com- munication with the fea within the borders of Weft Florida. The River Iberville branches off from the MiffifTippi about eighty miles above New Orleans, and though it is at prefent choked up in fome parts, it might at an inconfiderable expence be made na- vigable, fo as to anfwer all the purpofes propof- ed. Although the Englifh have acquired fince the laft peace a more extenfive knowlege of the interior parts than were ever obtained before, even by the French, yet many of their productions ftiil remain unknown. And though I was not deficient either in affiduity or APPENDIX. 353 attention during the fhort time I remained in them, yet I muft acknowledge that the intelligence I gained was not fo perfect as I could wifh, and that it requires further refearches to make the world thoroughly ac- quainted with the real value of thefe long hidden realms. The parts of the Miffiflippi of which no furvey has hitherto been taken amount to upwards of eight hundred miles, following the courfe of the ftream, that is, from the Illinois to the Ouifconfin Rivers. Plans of fuch as reach from the former to the Gulph of Mexico, have been delineated by feveral hands and I have the pleafure to find that an actual furvey of the intermediate parts of the Miffiflippi, between the Illinois River and the fea, with the Ohio, Che- rokee, and Ouabache Rivers, taken on the fpot by a very ingenious gentleman,* is now publifhed. I flatter myfelf that the obfervations therein contain- ed, which have been made by one whofe knowledge of the parts therein defcribed was acquired by a per- fonal investigation, aided by a foiid judgment, will confirm the remarks I have made, and promote the plan I am here recommending. I mail alfo here give a concife difcription of each, beginning, according to the rule of geographers, with that which lies moft to the north. It is however neceffary to obferve, that before thefe fettlements can be eftablifhed, grants muft be procured in the manner cuftomary on fuch occafions, and the lands be purchafed of thofe who have ac- quired a right to them by a long poffefTion ; but no * Thomas Hutchins, Efq. Captain in his Majefty's 6oih, or Royal American Regiment of Foot. 354 A P P E N D I greater difficulty will attend the completion of this point, than the original founders of every colony on the continent met with to obftruct their inten- tions ; and the num,ber of Indians who inhabit thefe tracts being greatly inadequate to their extent, it is not to be doubted., but they will readily give up for a reafonable confederation, territories that are of little ufe to them ; or remove for the accommodation of their new neighbors, to lands at a greater dif- tance from the MifliiTippi, the navigation of which is not eflential to the welfare of their communities. No. I. The country within thefe lines, from its fituation, is colder than any of the others ; yet I am convinced that the air is much more temperate than in thofe provinces that lie in the fame degree of la- titude to the eaft of it. The foil is excellent, and there is a great deal of land that is free from woods in the parts adjoining to the Mifliffippi - f whilft on the contrary the north-eaftern bordeis of it are well wooded. Towards the head of the River Saint Croix, rice grows ita great plenty, and there is abundance of copper. Though the falls of Saint Anthony are fituated at the fouth eaft corner of this divifion yet that impediment will not totally obftrucl: the navigation, as the River Saint Croix, which runs through a great part of the fcuthern fide of it, enters the Mifliffippi juft below the Falls, and flows withfo gentle a'cur.rent, that it affords a convenient navigation for boats. This tract is about one hun- dred miks from north-weft to fouth- eaft, and one hundred and twenty miles from north-eaft to fcuth weft. No. II. This tract, as I have already defcribed it in my Journal, exceeds the higheft encomiums I can give it; notwithstanding whichit is entirely un- inhabited, and the profuiion of bit -flings that nature has fhowtred on this heavenly fpot, return unenjoyed APPENDIX. 355 to the lap from whence they fprang. Lake Pepin, as I have termed it after the French, lies within thefe bounds -, but the lake to which that name pro- perly belongs is a little above the river St. Croix ; however, as all the traders call the lower lake by that name, I have fo denominated it, contrary to the information I received from the Indians. This colony lying in unequal angles, the dimenfions of it cannot be exactly given, but it appears to be on an average about one hundred and ten miles long, and eighty broad. No. III. The greatett part of this divifion is fitu- ated on the river Ouifconfin, which is navigable for boats about one hundred and eighty miles, till it reaches the carrying place that divides it from the Fox River. The land which is contained within its limits, is in fome parts mountainous, and in the other confifts of fertile meadows and fine pafturage. It is furniihed alfo with a great deal of good timber, and, as is generally the cafe on the banks of the MiffirTippi and its branches, has much fine, open, clear land, proper for cultivation. To thefe arc- added an inexhauftible fund of riches, in a number of lead mines which lie at a little diftance from the Ouifconfin towards the fouth, and appear to be un- commonly full of ore. Although the Saukies and Ottagaumies inhabit apart of chis # tract; the whole of the lands under their cultivation does not exceed three hundred acres. It is in length from eaft to weft about one hundred and fSty miles* and about eighty from north to fouth. No. IV. This colony confifts of lands of various denominations, fome of which are very good, and others very bad. The beft is fituated on the bor- ders of the Green Bay and the Fox River, where there are innumerable acres covered with fine grafs A 35 6 APPENDIX. moil part of which grows to an aftonifhing height. This river will afford a good navigation for boats throughout the whole of ics courfe, which is about one hundred and eighty miles, except between the "Winnebago Lake, and the Green Bay; where there are feverai carrying-places, in the fpace of thirty miles. The Fox River is rendered remarkable by the abundance of rice that grows on its fhores, and the aimoft infinite numbers of wild fowl that frequent its banks. The land which lies near it appears to be very fertile, and promifes to produce a fufficient fuppiy of all the neceffaries of life for any number of inhabitants. A communication might be opened by thofe who mall fettle here, either through the Green Bay, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Eiie, and Lake Ontario with Canada, or by way of the Ouifconfin into the MifTuTippi. This divifionis about one hundred and fixty miles long from north to fouth, ami one hundred and forty broad. No. V. This is an excellent tracl: of land, and, eonfidering its interior fnuation, has greater advan- tages than could be expected ; for having the Mif- fifTippi en its weitern borders, and the Illinois on its ibuth-eaft, it has as free a navigation as moft of the others. The northern parts of it are fomewhat mountainous, but it contains a great deal of clear land, the foil of which is excellent, with many fine fertile meadows, and not a few rich mines. It is upwards of two hundred miles from north to fouth, and one hundred and fifty from eaft to weft. No. VI. This colony being fituated upon the heads of the Rivers Illinois and Ouabache, the for- mer of which empties itfelf immediately into the Mifi flippi, and the latter into the fame river by means of the Ohio, will readily find a communica- tion with the fea through thefe. Having alfo the APPENDIX. 357 river Miamis palling through it, which runs into Lake Erie, an intercourfe might be eftablifhed with Canada a4fo by way of the lakes, as before pointed out. It contains a great deal of rich fertile land, and though more inland than any of the others, will be as valuable an acquifition as the beft of them. From north to fouth it is about one hundred and fitxy miles, from eaft to weft one hundred and eighty. No. VII. This divifion is not inferior to any of the foregoing. Its northern borders lying adjacent to the Illinois river, and its weftern to the Mifiiffip- pi, the fituation of it for eftablifhing a commercial intercourfe with foreign nations is very commodious. It abounds with all the neceflaries of life, and is about one hundred and fifty miles from north to fouth, and fixty miles from eaft to weft ; but the confines of it being more irregular than the others, I cannot exactly afcertain the dimenflons of it. No. VIII. This colony having the River Oua- bache running through the centre of it, and the Ohio for its fouthern boundary, will enjoy the ad- vantages of a free navigation. It extends about one hundred and forty miles from north to fouth, asd one hundred and thirty from eaft to weft. No. IX. X. and XI. being fimilar in fituation, and furnifhed with nearly the fame conveniences as all the others, I fhall only give their dimenfions. No. IX. is about eighty miles each way, but not ex- actly fquare. No. X. is nearly in the fame form, and about the fame extent. No. XI. is much larger, being at leaft one hundred and fifty miles from north to fouth, and one hundred and forty from eaft to weft, as nearly as from its irregularity it is poflible p calculate. 3 5 3 APPENDIX. After the defcription of this delightful country I have already given, I need not repeat that all the fpots I have thus pointed out are as proper for colo- nization, abound not only with the neceffaries of life, being well ilored with rice, deer, buffaloes, bears, &c. but produce in equal abundance fuch as may be termed luxuries, or at leaft thofe articles of com- merce before recited, which the inhabitants of it will have an opportunity of exchanging for the need- ful productions of ether countries. The difecvery of a north-weft paffage to India has been the fubject of innumerable difquifitions. Many efforts likewife have been made by way of Hudion's Bay, to penetrate into the Pacific Ocean, though without fuccefs. I fhall not therefore trouble myfelf to enumerate the advantages that would re- fult from this much- wifhed- for difcovery, its utility being already too well known to the commercial world to need any elucidation ; I fhall only confine myfelf to the methods that appear mod probable to enfure fuccefs to future adventurers. The many attempts that have hitherto been made for this purpofe, but which have all been rendered abortive, feem to have turned the fpirit of making ufefui refearches into another channel, and this moil interesting one has aimoft been given up as imprac- ticable ; but, in my opinion, their failure rather pro- ceeds from their being begun at an improper place, than from their impracticability. All navigators that have hitherto gone in fearch of this paffage, have firft entered Hudfon's Bay ; the confequence of which has been, that having fpent the feafon during which only thofe feas are na- vigable, in exploring many of the numerous inlets lying therein, and this without difcovering any open- APPENDIX. 359 ing, terrified at the approach of winter, they have haftened back for fear of being frozen up, and con- fequently of being obliged to continue till the return of fummer in thole black and dreary realms. Even fuch as have perceived the coafts to enfold themfelves, and who have of courfc entertained hopes of fcc* ceeding, have been deterred from profecuting their voyage, left the winter fhould fet in before they could reach a more temperate climate. Thefe apprehenfions have difcouraged the bcldeft adventurers from completing the expeditions in which they have engaged, and fruftrated every at- tempt. But as it has been difcovered by fuch as have failed into the northern parts of the Pacific Ocean, chat there are many inlets which verge to- wards Hudfon's Bay, it is not to be doubted but that a palTage might be made out from that quar- ter, if it be fought for at a proper feafon. And fnould thefe expectations be difappointed, the ex- plorers would not be in the fame hazardous fituation with thofe who fet out from Hudfon's Bay, for they will always be fure of a fafe retreat, through an open fea, to warmer regions, even after repeated difap- pointments. And this confidence will enable them to proceed with greater refolution, and probably be the means of effecting what too much circumfpec- tion or timidity has prevented. Thefe reafons for altering the plan of inquiry after this convenient parlage, carry with them fuch conviction, that in the year 1774, Richard Whit- worth, Efq. member of Parliament for Stafford, a gentleman of an extenfive knowledge in geography, of an active, enterprifing difpofition, and whofe benevolent mind is ever ready to promote the hap- pinefs of individuals, or the welfare of the public, from the reprefentations made to him of the txpedi- 360 APPENDIX. ency of it by myfelf and others, intended to travel acrofs the continent of America, that he might attempt to carry a fcheme of this kind into execution. He defigned to have purfued nearly the fame route that I did; and after having built a fort at Lake Pepin, to have proceeded up the River St. Pierre, and from thence up a branch of the River Mcflbrie, till having difcovered the fource of the Oregan or River of the Weft, on the other fide of the fummit of the lands that divide the waters which run into the Gulf of Mexico from thofe that fall into the Pacific Ocean, he would have failed down that river to the place where it is faid to empty itfelf near the Straits of Annian. Having there eftablifhed another fettlement on fome fpot that appeared bed calculated for the fup- port of his people, in the neighbourhood of fome of the inlets which trend towards the north-eaft, he would from thence have begun his refearches. This gentleman was to have been attended in the expedi- tion by Colonel Rogers, myfelf, and others, and to have taken out with him a fufficient number of artificers and mariners for building the forts and veflels necefTary on the occafion, and for navigating the latter; in all not lefs than fifty or fixty men. The grants and other requifites for this purpofe were even nearly completed, when the prefent trou- bles in America began, which put a flop to an en- terprife that promifed to be of inconceivable ad- vantage to the Britifh dominions. FINIS. LIST O F SUBSCRIBERS T O CARVER'S TRAVELS. Abel john Addis John Addis Richard Alberger Adam Allardice Samuel Alexander Samuel Allen Samuel Allibone Thomas Alricks Jacob, Wilming- ton, D. Anderfon John, Anderfbn Charles Anderfon James Anderfon Alexander Andrews John Anderfon James Anthony, jun. Jacob Andrews Robert Apt George Apt Henry Arbegaft John Arbunckle John Archer Samuel Armflrong Archibald Armftrong William, New Caftle, D. Arnell David Arnold John Arnot John Ambridge Jofeph SUBSCRIBER S' NAMfiS. Afhton George Afhtcn William Auld Jacob Aull W illiam, New Caftle, D. B Bags John Bail John, Wilmington, D. Bailey Mofes Baird James Baker A. George Baldwin Jofeph Baldwin Thomas Baley Barney Baley John Ball W. Blackwell Banks William Bantleon George Barber M. John Barber Robert Barnes John Barnet Nathaniel Barr Philip Bartleman Thomas Bafs Aquila Batfon Thomas Burke Michael Bird Ifaiah Bifhop Willam Bartlefon George Bayard A. James, Wil- mington, D. Bayel Samuel ' Bayne Robert Bayne John Bayne Nathaniel Beckley Daniel Beak Henry Beck Henry Bell Jofeph Bell Henry Bell Thomas Bell Peter Bell William, Bender Lewis Bender John Bennett Jofeph Bird Jofeph Birz John, New Caftle, D t Bioren John Bingham A. Bingham Thomas Brooks John Brooks Ifaac SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES. Biven John Black jun. James Blanford John Black jun. James Blair Jofeph Bloomfield Elifha Boland Alexander Bond O. Zacheus Booth James, New Caf- tleB. Both Adam Bourfchett John Bourne Stephen Bowles Wnliam Bowen John Bowman Jofeph Bowers Jofeph Boyd James Boyer James Brady James Branaman Chriftian Bray William Brearly Jofeph Brewer Daniel Briggs Abner Briggs Francis Bremer Lewis Britton Jofeph Broadfoot James § rooks David Brown Abia Brown George Brown John Brown John Brown John, N. L, Brown Matthew Brown Jofeph Brown James Brown Riciiard Brown Samuel Brown William Bruftar John Bryon John, New Caf* tleD. Bryon Thomas Brymer Alexander Buck William Buchanan Alexander Buckley William Burlington Jofeph Bugg A.J. Georgia, Bunting Nicholas Burden Jofeph Burke James Burk John Burnfide William Bufc Sim. Butler James Butler John Byrne Alexander SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES. Cambal Hanfel Cameron David Camp Robert Campbell Jofeph Campbell William Campbell Charles Campbell D. John Carpenter Richard Carpenter James, New Caftle D. Carbarey Daniel Carels Samuel Carr Patrick Carr Robert Carr James Carmalt S. Thomas Carfon James Cafe Jofeph Cather David Cauffman Jacob Caulter Hugh Cecil William Chapman John Chapman R. George Chriftian Peter Chriftine Thomas Chriftie David Chrifty Robert Chriftv Huo-h Cift Charles Claedy Samuel Clark George Clark Daniel Clark W. Thomas, New Cafile D. Clarke Abfalom Claufe Henry Ckyton Henry Clayton Charles Clendenin G. Samuel Clendenings Robert Clinton John Cline Jofeph Clamberg Philip Cooper William Cooper Robert Cooper Tho: & Hugh Cooper Jofeph Cooper John Copeland William Copeland William Cork John Comely James Cornman William Coft Martin Courtney Michael SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES. Coats William, Efq. Coates William Cochran B. Hugh Cohen Jacob Colladay Daniel Colladay Abraham Coles William Colefbery Henry, New Caftle D. Collier William Collino;s Arthur Collings Richard Connor Thomas Conway John, New Caftle D. Cooper George Coats Abraham Coxe Fench Cox John Cowen William Craw John, New- Caftle D. Crawford John Crawford Benjamin Crawford William Crofecope Jofeph Croufdill William Crumpton William Culbertfon William Commings William Cummings James Cummings Jonathan Cuthbert A. Commons Jofeph D. Dallas William Darby James, New Caftle D. Dawfon Tho: Wilming- ton I). Davis Samfon Davis William Davifon Arthur Deal Daniel ^ean George Dean John Dean jun. William Dehaven Jonathan De Haas P. John Decombaz jun. G. 6 Co. Deimling F. G. Dennis John Deflozieries N. Devis John Dick Jacob SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES, Dixcy Thomas Dick Philip Dickenfon Jonathan Dickenfon Jeffe Dickenfon John, Wil- mington D. Dillon James Dilworth James Dixon James Dobbin Thomas Dobbins Thomas Dobelbower J. Henry Dodd Hugh Doig John Donnell Henry Donaldfon T. William Dougan Archibald Dougheruy Thomas Dougherty James Dougharty Richard Doughty Daniel Duffey James Duffy Aaron Duffield John Duffield John Duglafs Richard Dull jun. Chriftopher Duncan Alexander, New Caftle D. Dupuy William Dutilh & \Vachfmuth Dufton Daniel Derbyfhire John Daly Patrick Dreu John Davis William Eafton John EckfeldtAdam E.k ord Walter Edward James, JVil- mingtcn D. Egert George Ehen James Elford John Ellingwood Ebenezer Engliih Jofeph Erringfight David Erringer P. John Erwin George Evans Evan Evans James Evans Jonathan Everhart David Ewing Thomas SUBSCRIBER S' NAMES, Elliott Samuel Ekron James Eyre jiin. Manuel Facundus Jacob Farner Cafper Feagan Nicholas Fee Robert Felty John Fentham G. John Fifher Elifha Fifs John Fitzgerald William Flannaghan John Fleming John, mington D. Flint John Foering Samuel Fogel Jacob Folwell Nathan Wil- Foot John Forrefter Henry Forfyth Ifaac Forfyth David Forfyth William Fotterall Stephen Fox James, Georgia. Fox George Fox George French Thomas Frefhmuth Daniel Fritz Peter Fryberg John Fryberg John Furman jun. Moore Gabel Peter Galbraith Robert Gardner S. John Gardiner Benjamin Gardiner M. Francis, Wilmington D. Gardner James Garman John Gafs George Gafkill Jofiah Gaw Gilbert Gaw Gilbert Gaynor Thomas Gazzam William George Matthew Golelborough Charles SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES. Garrifon Jofhua Garnett Perry Geyer jun. Andrew Gilbert Conrad Gill John Gillefpie Robert Gillafpy Henry Gilmor William Gilpin William, Wil- mington D. Gibion Frederick Gibbs Stephen Gilbert JefTe Glenn John Glaus Simon Glasford Abel, New Caftle D. Gordon John Gore John Gorham Edward Gottfhalkibn Salom Hafline jun. John Hanford Lewis Haga Godfrey Hailer Frederick Hale Matthew Hall John Hall Robert Golden F. Philip. Goff Thomas Grace John Grace Jacob Graff Frederick Grant John GrafTet Daniel, i copies Gray James Gray Joieph Gravenftine Samuel Green William Greer James Greble William Griffin Samuel Griffith J ofeph Grimes John Guillenough Patrick Guilfry Matthew Guir William Gullen John Guy Richard H Hamilton William Hamilton William Hanfell Barnett Hannum L. Wafhington Hancock William, Wil- mington D. SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES. Hall John Hamilton Charles, Wil- mington D. Hanlon Thomas Harbefon Jofeph Harkin Thomas Harrell James Harper Benjamin Harrifonjun. William Hardy T. Karvey Sampfon Harvey Alexander, New Caftie D. Haffinger Chriftopher Hatrick Matthew Hayes John Hawkins William Hazelton Peter Helm John Hemple Chriftian Heming Samuel Henderfon John Henderfon Robert Henry William Henry Andrew Herbert Jofeph Hera John Hefs Nioholas Hefs Adam He (Ion Levi Heyl John Heyl Philip Hill John Hill Jacob Hochner John Hoffman Jacob Hoffman Daniel Hoffner Jacob Holmes William Holmes John Holmes William Holland Benjamin Homes James Hood John Hoops jun. Anthony Hook John Horn Benjamin Horton JefTe Hough Ifaac Houfe Peter Howell M. Wilm'mgUn D. Huber Henry Hudner John Hudfon William Huff John Huff Jacob Husrhes John U B S C R I B £ K S' NAME b\ Humphreys' Ailie ton Huron Laurence Hurley Man rice. Kutchinfon Charles Hutton Thomas Hurts yohn Hutton Nathaniel Hvmer Adam Ing The. Innes John T-nilant Alexander Irving David Ives John j Jackfon John Jackfon B. Richard James John, IVihr.higcn D. James Edward James Roberr, TreniQfi Jamefbn John Janney Thomas January William' Janier John jaquett P. John, Neiv- C*fUei>. ' jaquett jun. Peter, Chrif- iiana Bridge, John Iiaac johnfon Jacob Johnfon Jeremiah' Johnfon Richard Johnfon David Johnfon Jonathan Johnfon Jofeph Johnfon John Jo'hnfton David Johnflon William Joh niton William Johnfton John Jones Gilbert Jones Samuel Jones John, Wthmngto D. Jones John Jones Edward Jones Robert Jones Marfhal) SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES. M Jones Amos, ffcifiningtitn Jor.es jun. Philip D. Joy Ablaloni Jones Jonathan J rj Y ce Thoraasr Kane John Kay Jofeph Kean John Keen John KefFer John Keller George Kelley Thomas Keiley Hugh Kelfey C. John Kellar George Kendall James, Wilming- ton D. Kennedy John Kerlin George, Wihmng- tcn D. Key Michael, JVihihg- t.on D, Keys Abraham Kid Robert Kimber JeiTe Kinfton J. Thomas -KifTelman S. Frederi. ..I: Klein Abraham Knerr Henry Knight Thorns Knight William Kollock John Kuhl jun. Frederick La Combe John Dr, Lakey Marmaduke Lake Richard Laing Benjamin, Wil- mington D. Lamat John Lancafter Thomas Lancafrer John Landers John, Wilming- ton D. Laning James Larer Melchior Lafher Jacob Lauck John M SUBSCRIBERS* NAMES, Lawrance Thomas Lehman Samuel Lee Benjamin Leedom Benjamin Le Breton, Dr, Lees Mar y Leib George Lentz jun. Henry Lefh Peter Lefiie Guftavus Lewis A. John Lewis S. Jofeph Lewis jun. Robert Levy Aaron Lingwood H. L. Linten Jacob Lodor John Loir B. John Longshore Jolly Lotee Jofeph Lorrainjun. John Lownes James Lou rg Peter Lowry Philip Loudon John Ludwig Chriftopher Luke John, Wilmington D. ' Luilial John Lyons Eneas Lyndall Benjamin Lytle Thomas M Macferran Samuel Madan Patrick, Magens Tho : Chrifiiana Ferry. Maddock JeHe Malin John Malvy Charles Mann William Manning William Marfhall Abraham Martin John Marquedant Charles Marfhal Robert Mafon William Mafter William Maybe ny John Mayers Philip M< Allcftcr Mary M' Alpin James M f Arthur Daniel M ( Calla Andrew M c Calla David M f Clain Thomas TV}' Cleay Charle s SUBSCRIBERS 1 NAMES. U M c Clentick William M c Clenaghan Michael M f CoJm John M ( Crea Archibald M c Cutehon James M c Cutehon Samuel M'DonnellLan. M< Donnald Malcolm M f Dowell Hugh M'Feely Edward M< Grath James M'liham Peter M'Intire John M f Ilwham Thomas M c Kay James M< Karaker Daniel M< Kenzie John M c Keever john M f Keever Neal M f Kinley Alexander M< Kiflick John M' Lachlan Donald M f Leod Malcom M c Mahon William M c Neal Jolm M c Neil John W Nulty John M c Phail William Meade John Mearns James ftjee $amue/ MehafFy Robert MefTcnger Simon Meyers Henry Miller Jacob Miller John Miller Martin Miller Jofeph Miller Robert Miller William Miles Thomas Miles jun. Samuel Miles Samuel Miiner L. Mitchell Thomas Moioy M. Chickeley Mollry Adclphus Mooney William Moore William Moore Elifh?, Moore John Moore Alexander Moore Charles MorrellJohn Morris John Morrifon George Morrifcn John Morgan Enoch Mofer Low is Charles Muner Philip Murray Afc/iiba 14 S U B S C R I B E R S 1 NAMES. Murray John, Cbrifiiana Murphy John Ferry, . 4 copies. Murfin William Murphy Henry Murphy Michael Murphy Daniel Nagle Maurice Nagiee David Napier Alexander Napier John Napier Thomas Naylor Benjamin Neilen Andrew Nicholas John Oat Jeffe O'Brien Alexander O'Brien Peter O'Callaus-han Maurice O'Conner Myles Ogden John Ogden Hugh Mufchert John Mufgrave Aaron Myers Laurence Myers Jacob Mynich Jacob N Nixon Henry Norny Andrew Norris James North John North Richard Norton Jonathan Norton George Nowlin Matthew O O'Donnell James Oliver James O'Niel Patrick Orr Hugh Oder Jeremiah Otley Abner, Wilmington D. Palmer Richard Pafcalis Dr. Patterfon Robert Pater ion John S U B S C R I B ' E R S' N A M E S. r$ taaaaa - * 4. i iiilu.u ^. ■-- ,.^ ..■.„! ,.L;.^ir,r^. — ■^^^-■■v-^-^-^-*- '■'.". j..^ — j-;i_j utj-w f ■«-!» *flB» * . ^ Patterfon William Phillips Thomas Paul David Pierce John Peart Thomas Pierce Roberc Peacock Ralph Piffant John Peden Hugh Pitt jun. John Peddle George Piatt William Peck John Plin Jacob Peck William Plum George Pennock George Polock Ifaac Penlove Thomas Potts M. George Penrofe Charles Powell Ifaac Pentland james Powell William Pepper William Prcfton Thomas, Wil- Perine John mington D. Perkinpine David Price William Pete rfon Lylof, Wilming- Prieft Ifaac ton D. Prichett R. William Pfeiffer Jofeph Pritchet j. Phillips William, mi-. Pritchard D. James mington D. Proveft Roderick Phillips Daniel Punton Thomas Phillips Naphtali Purfil Jofeph Phillips John Q> uin James i6 SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES. Rabfon George Radley William Ramfay Alexander Rain John, 8 copies Randies James Ramage John Rarick Godfrey Rawlings Thomas, JVil- mingitm> D. Read George, New Cqfile, D. Read Charles Rehn Georre Rehn John Rees William Rees David Regnaud A. Reid William Reilly James Reilly John Reeve Eliiha Relf William Relfe Richard Rennie George Reynali S. Richard Rhoads Charles Rhoads Philip Rhonds John Richards William Richards JeiTe, WV&ing* ton, D R Richardfon Ifaac Richards Samuel Ricketts John Ricketts James Ridgway David Rievier John Rinot David Rink John Rifing Francis Robins John Roberts George Robbins William Robertfon Alexander Robertfon Charles Robertfon William Robefon James Robinfon Parker Robinfon Richard Robinfon James, 2 co pies. Robinfon William Robinfon Henry Robinett Richard Rogers Thomas Rogers William Rogers Maurice Rogers Robert Rogers Eli Rolet Francois Rofs David Rofs Robert SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES. i; Rowntree James Rowen John Ruddock William Rugdon John I Sands John Sailor Henry- Sailor Zachariah Savidge Reuben Schmidft Frederick Rev. Schneider jun. Cafper Schott John Scott John Scott David Scott William Scot Robert Sears John Seaman William Seckel Henry Sellers John Seyfert Conrad, 1 1 copies Shade George Shaffer Charles Shannon Thomas Sharp James Shaw Alexander Shaw Thomas Shell Henry- Shepherd William Shewelljun. Robert Shoemaker Jofeph Shorten George ShireffWilliam Shreeve John Rum William Rum Benjamin RufTel Edward Shull Frederick Shutz Juftas Sigmond Michael Sikes Henry Siminton George Simonton John Simpfon John Simpibn Thomas Sims John Sims Henry Sink Laurance Sink William Skirm Robert Skinner William Skinrick Adam Slack Daniel Sloan Samuel Smiley William Smith Henry Smith John Smith Jacob Smith Godfrey Smith Matthias Smith John Smith Charles Smith R. Richard Smith Edward Smith Aaron Smith John 18 SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES, Smith jun. William Smith Samuel, Wilming- ton, D. Smith James, Wilming- ton, D. Smith Henry, Wilming- ton, D. Snowden Thomas, Snyder John Snyder John Snyder Thomas Snyder William Sommervill James Souder jun. Charles Sowerwalt Mark Spangler George Speelman John Spence Henry Speirs Thomas Stakley Christian Stancliff John Starr Caleb, Wilmington, Steel John Steel Stephen Steel William Steel Nicholas T Tailman W. Thomas Tage Benjamin Taylor James Taylor William Taylor Robert Taylor Anthony Steen Robert Steintr Melchior Stewart Robert Stewart James Stewart William Stewart Aaron Stiles Edward Stiles Richard Stilwag-o-on Frederick Stimartz William Stirk James Stoaker John Stockton John, Wilming- ton, D Stockard Conolly Stockton Ifrael Stokes T. William Stout P. Jacob Stoy Peter Stroop Jacob Strapp Henry Stuart Ifaac Stuart James Summers Andrew Swegors Eliza Symington Alexander Taylor John, Wilmington Teas Charles Tea Robert Thomas Henry Thomas Stacy Thompfon Thomas 19 SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES. Thompfon John Thompfon John Thompfon Thomas Thompfon Jofeph Thompfjn R. Stephen Thompfon M. K. Tho. Thorburn James Tittermary Robert Tuland Henry Townfend Henry U Uftick W. Thomas Vance Adam Vanderflice George Van Duftn Matthew Van Dyke Nicholas, New Caftk, D. Vandever William, Wil- mington, D. Van Horn Benjamin Van Manierck Anthony Townfend Ifaac Traquair John Trautwine William TrefTe Thomas Trump Daniel Tueiien J. Turnbull Alexander Turner John Tuftin William Tybout R. V Van Leuvinigh William, New Cafile, D. Vanfant Jofeph Vaughn W. Vickars Thomas Vining Henry Vogel Frederick Voight Henry Voight Sebailian Vorter Robert Vanfciver Jacob Wagner George Wagner Jacob Walker John Walker Charles Walker William Walker George Walkinfhan William Wallace james Wallice Charles Wallis William Wallis Samuel, ^Filming. W Walraven Lucas, New Caftle D. Wajft John Ward Patrick Ware John Warner Jofeph Warthman Adam Waiters Philip Watters George W