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T RAVE L S

INIIERIOR PARrp

[«»■

THOtJSANB *|lLg|,.

An Account of. Ae^reat Likes, anj ull thoL^,. ,,^_,.
and Rivers. Cataraite, Mountam., Miicrals/ Soil, and
Veg^e Proiu^icmi of rh« NTortlwWed tegiogi uf th:^.

«irf^.t.r^ tIjcjPahds. that liet,d}a<:e»t4^e, H^^ -

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JOSEPH BANKS, 'tef^;

l^RESIDENT

OF TIfE

UdTAL SOCIEm

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T , -

-f^. 1^ the Public are inform-

Ned tl^at I have long had the Honour
of yotir Acquaintance — that my defign
in publishing the following Work has
Tcceiv^d your San^ion — that the Cona-
ppfition of it has flood the Teft pf yotur
Judgment — and that it is by your Per-
miffion, & Name fo defervedly eminent
% the Litetarj^ World is prefixed to i|^

•'W^

#■'?

''^^w.

!• DEDICATlOir.

I need tiot be apprehenfive of its Sue-

cefs; as your Patronage will unquef«

tionably give them AiTurance of its ,
Merit. .

For this Public Teftimony of your Fa-
vour, in which I pride myfelf, accept, i
Sir, my moft grateful Acknowledgments j
and believe me to be, with gteat Refpcd,

Youf obedient,

Humble Servant^

- %^;?;|*#^?:'v||i?/- ' J* CARVER,^

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A D D R ESS

TO THE

X H£ favourable reception this Work has
tnet vfitht claims the Author^s moft grateful acknow^
ledgments. A laree edition having run off in a few
months, and the me appearing to be (lill unabated^
a new impreffion is become necefTary. On this oc-<
cation, was he to conces^t.^is feelings, and pafs ovier
in fiilence a diftin£tion fo beneficial anid flattering, he
would juftly incur the imputation of ingratitude.

' That he might not do this, he takes the opportunity,
which now prefents itfelf^ of conveying to the Pub-

[- lie (though in terms iaiidequate to the warm eino>«
tions of his heart,) the fenfe he entertains of their
favour ; and thus tranfmits to them his thanks.

In this new edition, care has been taken to reSiiff:

thofe errors which have unavoidably proceeded

from the hurry of the prefs, and likewife any in«

correAnefs in the language that has found its way

.mtoit. ,.;^-;,# ■^.■...^1^ -..;■■.; .< ^^r ,.:,-:, ^.:.:.i;^^^, _^.

■{. \ *the crediblKty of fonie of the incidents related m
the following pages, and fome of the ftorie$ iatrg*

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ADDRESS. .,. .

of Lake Superior, and ThVftlrl f J"? °" ">= ^ankJ-
'"'.rattle fnafce/,i" '''l"°7,.''f '?* I-dian and '
avail himfelf of he L^ ''""''« « "'""ary to ?
«o eradicate <myZpTm^P?J'"""y' ^o '^r.dJoul '
r-'de on the Jnd7onZ,t 'l'^^ ^'^^ been .
■mprobability of th,k rehtion,! ' ^ "" "^P"^"'

Pf^d;°t^r;!^^";e,atedi,iufl3sithap;
^^Sion, (and, L flatter, i^ltlf" ""t *''°'* '""f-
from every trace of fccmi„ kI-' " '''« ''■"<=. free
c^elufiryj he wa° oZuem?v ii?"^ oVnthufiaftic.
orcumftance minutel» »„,) " '^ ' '° '^^'^"''e every .

, 'JonejbutwiruSavS?,'''^- ^'"■"■=''^*
means by which ."'"^^"'■^H lo account for the .

'hepredillion t,' hrrV:" o?'''''*^''-K ^''''^'' '

from which certain confeoulnf ^"°' "•"'"''ations, ; ''

fol ow by the %acio„ ;S""'7«f« expefted ta*.' ,..,
of It merely accidental- «r iv, u^ ""^ completion

endowed with fupX'uraL '•''".''* '»'« "ally V
JO '!'«i'"lgmentK^P^''*::i:j!«"''"»'or le^ f

he Aippofi,. varied accS^'lI*"^ =°"^f"fions, i '•
of each were difnofed "o adi> "'^"'' ''""'"'« ' '
..cannot be accouLed fo. h^'^^J^^, -^^/^^^ -har ;.

byl FrS gLl^nC^^'^f l-eK'hil; f' '
^retheread^rf^^r^bted veracity; a,5 ' -':

«i witli the fagacity i„d ,,m„«°'°"«'''y ^'l""'"-
«b«a„i„„, afhefs. ,heyS''blr°''^f'"«» °f
of thetruih of it. It i, „li, t I ' "''" aflured

which have furvived ,K ,h°7 """ """"^ ''"^''^^^ ■
dents reptiles are iiab e to n. ?!<• 'I]"'*'" ">* 'cci-
woods, at the approach cf iT. """l "■"''« '« <he

curious obferver'^raveVemrrk'dV,^''"'' '=^"' Cas
*« cavity it had occShe tr^, i-* P°'r"=on of ^

«.upiea tfte preceding year. As.

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ADDRESS.

til

foon as the fcafon is propitious, enlivened by the
invigorating rays of the fun, they leave thefe re-
treats, anil make their way to the fame fpot, thouG;h
ever fn didant, on which they had before found fub-
fillence, and the means of propagating their fpecies.
Does it then require any extraordinary exertions of
the mind to believe, that one of thefe regular crea-
tures, after having been kindly treated by its maft'er,
ihnuld return to the box. in which it had ufually beea
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 j nor will the liberal and ingenious
doubt the truth of a (lory fo well authenticated, be-
caufe the circumflances appear extraordinary in a
^country where the lubjedl ot it is fcarcely known.

Thefe explanation* 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 wiftic^ 'to acquire impor-
tance by making his adventi^es favour of the mar<p
svellous. V >'

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CONTENTS.

I ^^r

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NTRODUCTION,

ai

The Author fets out from BoAon on his Travels, 31

Defcription of Fort Michillimackioac,

— Fort La Bay

the Green Bay,

■JtJ& V

»— Lake Michigan,

Arrives at the town of the Winncbagocs,
Excurfion of the Winnebagoes towards the Spa-

nifli Settlements, -

Defcription of the Winnebago Lake,
Inflance of refoiution of an Indian Woman.
Defcription of the Fox River, , *;^I jU

3^

38

40

>3

47
4^
50
ib.

;» ,*»V

Remarkable ftory of a Rattle Snakc^ 4»^%# 't^t
The great Town of the Saukies, Jj^ «^itirT; .
Upper Town of the Ottagaumies, ;« i^^iu.
Defcription of the Ouifconfin River,
Lower Town of the Ottagaumies, or, La Prairie

les Chiens, - - m- 51

An attack by fome Indian Plunderers, "^ -'" ^^ 53
Defcription of the Miififlippi from the mouth of
"' the Ouiiconlin to Lake Pepin, ?r!?V^ ;^5 - 54

Lake Pepin, ■■ ■ ' :iac x-Mi^rml '-^'^'J^ ib.

Remarkable ruins of an ancient Fortification,, s^
The River Bands of the Naudowcffie Indians, $f
Adventure with a party of thefc, and fome of

the Chipeways, - ^iLx ^ ib#

Description of, a i^eraarkable CavCi'^^'^- v ^-4o

■■,.••',"'';-: ' •».■ '- • . ,,'':;-• ■ ,.

S-'.-i-

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Hi^^%^

X

CONTENTS,

Uncommon behaviour of the Prince of the Win-
• nebagoes at the Fells of St Anthony,

Defcription of the Falls,

Extent of the Author's Travels,

Defcription of the River Sr Pierre,

Sources of the four great Rivers of North Ame-
rica, , - -

Reflections' on their Affinity,

The NaudowelTifs of the Plains, with whoiii the

V Author wirttered in the year 1766, "''

The ajutlior returns to the Mouth of the River
St Pierre, ». -

Accfuiit of a violent Thur dtr Srorm, -^-r?-

Spsech made by tl)e Author in a Council held
by the Naudoweflies at the Great Cave,

iVdventure with a Party of Indians ncxir Lake
Pepini .^

Btfcription of the Country adjatent to the River
St Pitrre,- ' .^ - ' - ~

Account of. different Clays found near the M^r-

;- ble River, . . ' '■^^MV'.

Defcription of the Chipeway River,' ^

Extraordinary etfeds of a Hurricane^' ' * -

The Author arrives at the Gr?nd Portage on the
North- weft bord«*r8 of Lake Stj^erior,

Account of the. Lakes lying further to the North-
weft-: Lake Bourbon, Lake Winnepeek,

; J Lake Du.Bois, Lake La Pluye: Red Lakje, f^f;

Account of a nation of Indians fuppofed to have T
. been tributary to the Mexicaii King^,7'7^ 94

. . — the ihining Mountains, '•^^'^ff^^i;^'' 96

A Imgiiriar prediction of the Chief Prieft 6f the ^a

KUUftinoes verified, ' ifi-H ^ '"" ".^''""gi
|>efcription of Lake Superior, '"''^'"'^'''^'^^^licyz
Story of the two QMpeways l9ntling'6ii''^ffi«''

Ifland of Maurepas, - 105

Recount of great quantities of Copper Ore, loj

6%'

4

67

ib.

68

7<i-

73

r4
80

81

84
85

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CONTENTS. ^

Defcnption of the Falls of St Marie, - 109

— — Lake Huron, . - ilo

— Saganaum and Thunder Bays, iii

Extraordinary phcenomenon in the Straits of

Michillimackinac, - - iia

Defcription of Laki St Claire, - 114

. the River, Town and Fort of Detroit, 114

Remarkable rain at Detroit, . 116

Attack of Fort . Detroit by Pontiac, - 117

Defcription of Lake Erie, - 125

— the River and Falls of Niagara, 126

• Lake Ontario and Lake Oneida, 1-27

• ■"- Lake Cha^iplain and Lake George, 128

Account of a trad of land granted to Sir Ferdi-

nando Gorges, and Captain John Mafon, 129
iThe Author's Motives for undertaking his Tra-

CHAPTER L

The origin of the Indians, - ^ 135;

Sentiments of various Writers on this point,, v 136

— i-— Monfieur Charlevoix, - 14a

' '■ James Adair, Efq; - 148

— the Author of this Work, . 152

Corroboration of the latter by Dr Robertfon, 158

■>■« f■"<r'■".■■

.V'>

CHAPTER IL

160

OF the perfons, drefs, &c of the Indians,
An account of thofe whp fea,yg written on this

Subjed, - ' i. ; _ ib^

Defcription of the perfons of the Indians, 162

"——*—^~- their Drefs, , <ft^. 164

''■-Mm ■^vjmmf"'^ ww'

$> t 0 N T E K T S.

- the Drefs of the Ottagaumies, * lo^

— — '• — — thr Drefs of the Naudoweflies, ib*.

The manner in Which they build their tents

and huts, - • . 168

Their domeftic utenlils, - ' , 169!

CHAPTER III.

^M:

■

;. S'lv

Of the Wanncrs, qualifications, &c. of the Indi- ,^

ans, / - , - \ 174';.'^'^

Peculiar cufloms of the women, - iy^ * .

The circumfpe£b and ftoical difpQfition of the ^^ '

raen, - - - ^7 J*

Their amazing fagacity, > *7*t)*

"the liberality of the Indians, and their opipion '':^: <

refpe^ing money, - • • 178^

CHAPTER IV;

Xheir method of reckoning time, &c. - 180
The names by which they diftinguifh the months, ib.
Their idea of the ufe of figures, ^w;-«^^7*v ii8#

C H A P T E R V. ^

4^^- lurjf ;i-f.tli'i.th^^:f-fi'''ji ■

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Of their Government, &c* %^ ^.^: ., j 184 , ^
Their divifion into tribes, 1, - ! S ^ r^ -V 4i^
The Chiefs of their bands, '' ^^'-^^'^^m^-: " _^.
The members that compofe their councils^ iZf

f.i ^.

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CONTENTS.. Kiii

CHAPJTER VI.

Of their feafts, - - 189

Their ufual food, - - ihi.

Their manner of dreffing and eating their visu-
als, '?>.■'■ - 1 90

CHAPTER VII.

Df their dances, - ^

The manner in which they dance,
The pipe or calumet dance,
The war dance,
The Pawwaw dance,

192

194

ib.

^93

An uncommon admiflion into a fociety among

the Naudoweffies, - - ib.

The dance of the Indians on the banks of the

Miffiilippi, referred to in the Journal, 200

The dance of the facrifice, ? 204

CHAPTER VIII,

Of their Hunting, r r 204

Their preparations before they fet out, 205

Their manner of hunting the Bear, - 206

'^ Buffaloe, Deer, &c. ib-

— -I — ■» Beaver, ""''m . 208

. , , . ■'■■■■ ^ ■

CHAPTER IX.

Of their manner of making War, &c.

211

v.;

»lv

CONTENTS.

f ^

The Indian Weapons, - - 212

Their Motives for making War, - 213

Preparations before they take the Field, 215

The manner in which they fulicit other Nations

to become their Auxiliaries, - 218

Their manner of declaring War, - 219

The method of engaging their Epemies, 221

An inftance of the efficacy of it in the Defeat

of General Braddock, - - 222

A detail of the Maflacre at Fort William Henry

in the year 1757, -. - 223

Acutenefs and Alacrity of the Indians in pur-

fuing their Enemies, - " ' - 232

Their manner of Scalping, - -v 233

The manner in which they retreat, and carry

off their Prifoners, - - :?34

A remarkable inftance of heroifm in a Female

Prifoner,
Treatment of thdr Prifoners,
The origin of their felling Slaves,

CHAPTER X.

235

238

■-i^.^SF.:.'^

Of their manner of making Peace, &c. '
Account of an, Engagement between the Iro-
quois and the Ottagauipies and Saukies, 249
Manner in which they conduct a Treaty of Peace, 253
Defcription of t|^e Pipe of Peace, — . ib.
^ ' Beits of Wampumj'^JI^^^; o^^^

*^J5, v*^*; *;?*^'v i(i(*^ -

CHAPTER XI.

'M' ■-

Of their Games,

The Game of the Ball, -

— ■ ■. ■ ■ Bowl or Platter,

^57
ib.

258

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XII. •

Of their Marriage Ceremonies^ - 260
The manner in which the Tribes near Canada

celebrate their Marriages, - - 261

\ The form of Marriage among the Naudoweflies, 264

Their manner of carrying on an Intrigue, 266

Of the Indian Names, - . - - , 268

CHAPTER XIII,

Of their Religion, - -

Their Ideas of a Supreme Being, -
— — — — . Future State,

269
ib.

271
ib.

Of their Priefts, - - -

The fentiments of others on the religious Prin-
ciples of the Indians oppofed, - 273

CHAPTER XIV.

Of their Difeafes, &c. - - - - 275

The Complaints to which they are chiefly fubjeft, ib.

The manner in which they conftrud their Sweat-
ing Stoves, - - - 276
, The methods in which they treat their Difeafes, 277

Ah extraordinary inftance of the judgment of an
Indian Womarij^ in a defperate cafe, 279

CHAPTER XV.

The manner in which they treat their Dead, 281
A fpecimen of their Funeral Harargues, - 282
Their method of burying their Dead, - 183
A fingular irtftance of parental Affedion in a
Naudoweflic Woman, . ? *• ■- a84

eONTEKTS,

CHAPTER XVL

A" concife charafter of the Indians, - 288

Their perfon?! and mental QualificatioDs, - 289
Their public Chara£ler as Members of a Com-
munity, - m - .^ Oigd

CHAPTER XVII.

■*■• ■

295

ib.

Of their Language, Hieroglyphics, &c. . ,-
Of the Chipeway Tongue, - -

Defcriptive Specimen of their Hieroglyphics^,*

&c. - - ' - .- 295"

Vocabulary of the Chipeway Language, 298.

— ' — Naudoweflie Language, ' 3081

if

CHAPTER XVIir.

Of the Beads, Birds, Fiflies, Reptiles; and tn- ^ :^
fefts, which are found in the Interior Pans
of Ndrth-kAmerica^ • *- • 314?

'i:mi B E A S T'S..-

The fPiger. . The Bear. M ^ji ><. -h 315

yheWoif. The Fox. Dogs. TJieCatofthe

Mountiain, - - -. 316

TheBuffalo. The Deer. The Elk^JTMl - 317
TheMoofe. TheCarraboo, ?«nT*,i^V; 318

The Carcajou. The Skunk, - - 319

The Porcupine, - - - - ^^ 321

The Wood-chuck. The Kaeodn. The Marten. ii ^i

The Mofquaft, t If vV - - 322

Squirrels. The Bearer,/ - - 344

J^9 Otter. The Mink* f * 3*^

•i'tfei^J'

m

CONTENT S;)'«ii«x. ^^

B I R D S;

The Eagle, The' Night-Hawk. The Whip-

perwill, - - - 329

the Fifh-Hawk. The Owl. The Crane, 331

Ducks. The Teal. The Loon. The Partridge, 33a
The Wood Pigeon. The Woodpecker. The

Blue Jay. The Wakon Bird; - 333
The Black Bird. The Red Bird. The Whct-

faw, - - ii - 335

the King Bird. The Humming Bird, ib.

*-'«^r

FISH E S.

the Sturgeon, - -

thcCatFifli. The Carp, the Chub,

nfe SERPEN t S.

33^

338

the Rattle Snake, • - - ' ' «

The Long Black Snake. The Striped or Gar

ter Snake, - • , , « ^i

,..^-^e Water Snake. The HKSfag^ake. The '
V;^ Green Snake, - - . ^42

■'^ The Thorn-tail Snake. The Speckled Snafee.
ar TheRingxSnake. The two-headed Snake.
1%:? The Tortbile or Lind Tuhfe, - 3^3

-^U'J/ymi, Mom^ft^ti'^ --^i^^ ^

';«V*(;-

I.^vi.-Z', A •Rrr(>B;'S.^
^^^^4^^ The ^loir l^iaard, The

^^*^ , Tree Toad,

'34*

CONTENTS.

INSECTS.

The Silk Worm. The Tobacco Worm. The

Bee. The Lightning Bug or Fire Fly, 34^
The Water Bug. The horped Bug. Locuft, 347

CHAPTER XIX.

Of the Trees, Shrubs, Roots, Herbs, Flowers,

&c» • - - . •*

,14 *..-«■»-,■ ■

348

TREES. ..

The Oak, - - - - ^ - ib/
The Pine Tree. The Maple. The Afh, 349

The Hemlock Tree. TheBafsor White Wood.

The Wickopickor Suckwick* The Button *^ • '

Wood,

35*?;

N U T T R E E S. '

The Butter or Oil Nut. The Beech Nut.
The Pecan Nut. The Hickory^

;•.■"-■ z'

352
353

.^■:

FRUIT TRE£S.

;^^. -V.

The Vine, 354

The Mullberry Tree. The Crab Apple Tree.
The Plum Tree. The Cherry Tree. The
Sweet Gum Tree, ^ - ib»

Kmi

;s''

K/1

••.(-ii w! '•''

CONTENTS.

I^^rl

SHRUBS.

The Willow. Shin Wood. The Saflafras, 356

grhe Prickly Aflh. The Moofe Wood. Tbc

Spoon Wood. The Elder, - 357

The Shrub Oak. The Witch Hazel. The Myr-
tle Wax Tree. Winter Green, - 358

The Fever Bufh. The Cranberry Bufh. The

Choi^k Berry,' - • 359

ROOTS AND PLANTS.

Spikenard. Sarfaparilla. GingCeng, - 360
Gold Thread. Solomon's Seal. Derirs Bit:

Blood Root, • • - 361

HERBS.

Sanicle. Rattle Snake Plantain, - 363

Poor Robin's Plantain. Toad Plantain. Rock
Liverwort. Gargit or Skoke. Skunk Cab-

bage or Poke. Wake Robin,
Wild Indigo. Cat Mjnt,
FLOWERS, - *

[■ ' i ■ ■ ". .t. A' ,,-.■■■

A!'''

3^4
366

FARINACEOUS and LEGUMINOUS

RO0TS,&c.

Maize or Indian Corn. Wild Rice,
Beans. The SquaOi?

366

contents;

'.'^

APPENDIX.

The Probability of f he interior parts of North-
America becoming Commercial Colonies, 371

The Means by which this might be cffeded, 37a

Tracts of land pointed out, on which Colonies
may be eitablifhed with the greated Ad-
vantage, - - -

Dlflcrtaiion on the Difcovery of the North-
weft Paflijge,

The moft certain way of attainippj it.

Plan propofed by Richard Whit worth Efq;
" for making an Attempt from a Quarter
hitherto unexplored,

The Reafon of its being poftponed^ •

374
lb.

379

.ft.

if"- IT

«. ' -^ . . • ' 'vi- A- ••

■'■'.'■J ■>'■'. :^ "'y

'■«-ti:; ■■

•.^

I 21 3

h-

es, 371
372

h-

j^L^^'^f

er

378
ib.

37^
380

•At-.Ni'-

\ .

■ i'

■^ :f ^:j:

••'"»"■• I'i'

INTRODUCTION.

J\ O foaner was the late war with France
concluded, and peace eflablilbed by the trcaiy of
Ve^/ailles in the year 1763, than J began to conader
(having rendered my country fome fervices during
the war) how I might continue dill ferviceable, and
contribute, as much as lay in my power, to make
that vail acquifition of territory, gained by Gfeat*
Britain in North -Am erica, advantageous to it. It
appeared to me indifpepfibly needful, that Govern-
ment ihould be acquainted, in the firH place, with
the true flate of the dominions they were now be*
come pofleflTed of. To this purpofe, I determined,
as the next proof of my zeal, to explore the mofl:
unknown parrs of them, and to fpare no trouble or
expence in acquiring ^i knowledge that promifed to
be fo yfeful to my countfynien. I knew that many
obftrudlions would arife to my fcheme from the want
of good maps and charts ; for the French, vhilit
they retained their power in North-An^crica, had
taken every artful method to keep all other nations,
particularly the Englifli, in ignorance of the con-
cerns of the interior parts of it : and to accompiifh
this defign with the greater certainty, t^iey had pub-
liftied inaccurate maps ancj fa!f(? accounts; calling
the different nations of the Indians by nicknameis
they had given them, and not by thofe really apper-
taining to them. Whether the inteiition of the
French in doing this, was to prevent thefe nations
from being difcovered and traded with, pr to can-f

ai

INTRODUCTION.

^

^

ceal their difcourfe, when they talked to each othej;
of the Indian concerns, in their prefence, 1 will not
'determine ; but whatfoever was the caufe from which
it arofe, it tended to miflead. .

As^a proof that the Englifh had been greatly de-
ceived by thefe accounts, and that their knowledge
Relative to Canada had ufually been very confin-
ed ; — before the conqueft: of Crown Point in 1759,
it had been edeetned an impregnable fortrefs ; but
no fooncr was it taken, than we were convinced That
it had acquired its greatcft fecurity from falfe re-
ports, given out by its poflefTors, and might have
been battered down with few four pounders. Even
its fituation, which was reprefenled to be fo very
advantageous, Mvas found to owe its advantages to>
the fame fource^ It cannot be denied but that fame
inaps,of thefe countries have been publiihed by the
French with an appearance of accuracy; but thefe
are of fo fmall a fi25e, and drawn on fo minute a fcale.
that they are nearly inexplicable. The fources of
the MiiTiilippi, I can affert from my own experi-
ence, are greatly mifplaced ; for when I had explor-
ed them, and compared their fituation with the:
French charts, I found them very erroneoufiy re-
prefented, and am fatisfied that thefe were only copi-
ed from the rude (ketches of the Indians, / r '\' i/

Even fo lately as their evacuation of Canada, they
continued their fchemcs to deceive, leaving no tra-
ces by which any knowledge might accrue to their
conquerors ; -for though rhey were well acquainted
with all the lakes, particularly with lake Superior,
fiaving conftanily a vefTel of confiderabre burden
thereon, yet their plans of them are very incorreft.
J difcDvered many errors in the defcriptions given
therein of its iflahds and bays, during a progrefs of
eleven hundred miles that I coafted it in canoes.

' 1

INTRODUCTION.

«3

;atly de-
ipwledge
f confin-

'" 1759.
2fs J but

iced that
falfe re-
;ht have
8. Even
fo very
tages to'
lac fume:
I by the
ut thefe
; a fcalei
irces of
experi-
explor-
'ith ihe
ufly re-
ly copi-

da,they
no tra-
to their
uainted
peri or,
burden
:orredl.

They likewife, on giving up the poflefnons of them,
took care to leave the places they had occupied,
in the fame uncultivated ftatethey had found them ;
at the lame tima deltroyinj* all their naval force. I
obferved myfelfpartof the hulk of a very large vef-
fcl, burnt to the water's edge, jull at the opening
from the Straits of St Marie into the Lake.

Thefe difficulties, however, were nbt fuffictent to
deter me from the undertaking, and I made prepa-
rations for fetting out. What I chiefly had in view,
after gaining a knowledge of the manners, cufloms,
languages, foil, and natural produdlionS of the dif-
ferent nations that inhabit the hack of the Mifliflippi,
was t6 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-
gtees northern latitude. Had I been able to acconi-
plilh this, I intended to have propofed to govern-
ment to eftablifli a poft in fome of thofe parts abput
the Straits, of Anhiari, which, having been firft dif-
covered by Sir Ffancfs Drake, of couffe belong
to the E)iigli{h. This I afn convinced would greatly
facilitate the difcovcry of a rtorthwell palfage, or a
communication between Hudfon's Bay and the Pa-
cific Ocean : An event fo defirable, and which has
been fo often fought for, but witbout fucccfs. Be-
fides this important end, a fettlement on that extre-
inity of AUierida would anfwer many good pur-
pofes, and repay every expencc the eftablifhment of
it might occafion. For it would not only difclofe
new fources of trade, and promote many ufeful
difcov6ries, but would open a pafTage for conveying
intelligence to Cffina, and the Engliih iettlenVents
in the Eall Indies, with greater expedition than a
tedious voyage by the Cape of Good Hope, or the
Sifaits of Magellan, will allow of.

24

INTRODUCTION.

:

\

How far the advantages ariiing from iucb an ei^^
^erprize may extend, can only be afoertained by
the favourable concurrence of future events. But
that the completion of the fcherae^ 1 have had the
lionour of fu-O; planning and attempting, will fome
time or other be effeded, I make no doubt. From
the unhappy diviiions that at prefent fubfift between
Great Britain and America, it will probably be fome
years before the attempt is repeated ; but whenever
it is, and the execution of it^ carried oA with pro-
priety, thofe who are fo fortunate as to fuceeed, wilt
tezpi exclulive of the national advantages thatmuft
ifcnfue, emoluments beyond their moft fanguine ex-
pectations. And wbiKl their fpirits are elated by
their fuccefs, perhaps they may beftow fome com-
mendations and bleilings on the perfon who flrfi:^
pointed out to them the way; Thefe, though but
a ihadowy recompence for all my tell, I ihall receive
vfhh pleafure.

To what power or authority this new wbrld will
become dependent, after it has^ rifen frdm its pre.^
jfent uncultivated ilate, time alone can difcover./
But a^thc (bat of emp;.e from time immemorial
lias be^n gradually progrellive towards the vi^efl:,
there is no doubt but that at fome future period,
mighty kingdoms will emerge from thefe ^ilder-
nefles,^ and (lately palaces and folemn temples, witfe
gilded fpires reaching the fides, fupplant the Indian
hutfe, whofe only decorati<Mis are the barbarous iro^
phies of their vanqui(hed enemies.

As ftme of the preceding paflagcs have already
informed the reader, that the plan«J had laid down for
penetrating to the Pacific Ocean proved abortive^
it is necef&ry to add, that this proceeded, not from
its impradicability (for the farther I went, the ttion^
convinced I was that it could certainly be accom-

INTRODUCTION.

45

|>1i{hecl), blit frorn uifffotefeen difappointmcnts^ How-
ever, I proceeded (o far, that I was able to make
fuch difcoveries as vi^iH be ufeful in any future at<^
tempt, and prove a good foundation for fome more
fortunate fucceilbr to buUd upon. Thefe I (hall
diow lay before the public in the following pligefr^
and am fatisfied tha> the greateft part of them have
never been pubii{hed by any perfon chat has hi''
therto treated of the interior nations of the Ind ns ^
particularly, the account I give of the Naudo>yedie8y
and the f::u«::on of the heads of the four great rivers^
that take 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
into Hudfon's Bay; the Waters of Saint Lawrence;
the Miffiflippi, and the River Oregan, or tne River
of the Welt, that falls into the Pacific Ocean, at tht
Straits of Anniun.

The Yinpidiinents that occaHoned my return, be-
lore X had accompliflied my purpofes, were thefe.
On my arrival at Michillimackinac, the. temoteft
Engliih poft, in September 1766, I applied to Mf
RogerSs who was then governor of it^ to furnifli me
with a proper alObrtment of goods, as prefents for
the Indians who inhabit the trad I intended to
purfue. He did this only in part ; but promifed ta
fupply me with fuch as were neceflary, when I'
reached the falls of Saint Anthony. I afterwards
{earned that the governor fuUilled his promife in
ordering the gobds to be delivered to me ; bw thofe'
to whofe care he intrttfted them, inftead of conform^-
ing to his orders, difpofed of them elfewhere.

Difeppornted in my espe6:ations from this quar^^
ter, I thought it neceflary to return to La Prairie
Le Chien ; for it was inipoflrble to proceed any fur*,
ther without prefents to ehfure me a favourable re-

' ".il

I ,Wk,W,ii»^H,(»p«!«iMM»!u, iiiia.n iiijimpigppMPPPP

'WPIPiPF

[■

26

INTRODUCTION.

>--M*saS»75^

ception. This I did in the beginning of the year
1767, and finding my progrefs to tlie weftward thus
retarded, I determined to dired my courfe north-
wards I took this ftcp with a view of finding a
communication from the heads df the Mifliflippi,
into Lake Superior, in order to meet at the grand
Portage on the norlh-weft fide of that lake, the
traders that ufually come, about this feafon, from
Michiiltmackinac. Of thefe I intended to purchaf6
goods, and then to purfue' 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
l^traits of Annian, the termination of my intcndeid
progrefs.

1 -■"""_

I acoomplifhed the former part of my defign, and
reached Lake Superior in proper time ; but unluc-
kily the traders Imct there, ^icquainted me that they
had no goods to fpare J thofe they hajd with them
being barely fufficient to anfwer their own demands
in thefe remote parts. Thus difappointed a fecond
time, I found myftlf obliged to return to the place
fiom whoice I began my expedition, which I did,
after continuing fome months on the north and eaft
borders of Lake Superior, and exploring the bays
and risers that empty themfelves into this large
body of water.

As it may be expected that I fliould lay before
the public the reafons that thefe difcoveries, of fo
much importance to every one who ha^ any con-
i\e^ions with Arneriea, have not been imparted to
them before, notwithfianding they were made up-
._^ards of ten years ago, I will give them to the world
in a plain and candid manner, and without minglir^g
•«rith them any complaints on account of the ill
treatment I have received.

i N T i O D U C T I O N.

»1

On my arrival in England, I prefentcd a petition
to his Majefty in council, praying for a reimburfe-
inent of thofe fums I had expended in the fervice
of Government. This was referred to the lords com-
miflioncrs of trade and plantations. Their lordfhips
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
meflage I obeyed, and underwent a long examina-
tion ; much I believe to the fatisfaftion of every
lord prefent. When it was finiflied, I ^equefted to
know what I Ihould do with my papers ; without
hefitation the iirft lord replied, That I might pub-,
lith them whenever I plcafed. In cqnfequence of
thispermiffion, I difpofed of them to a bookfcllcr :
but when they were nearly ^eady for the prefs, an
order was iflued 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 difcoveries I had made^ Iii order to
obey this command, I was obliged to re-purchafe
them from the bookfeller at a very great expence,
and delivered them up. This frefh difburfement I
endeavoured to get aiinexed to the account I had al-
ready delivered in, but the requeft was denied me,
notwithi^anding I had only a^ed, in the dtfpofal of
my papers, confprmably to the permiflion I had
received from the board of trade. This lofs, which
amounted to a very confiderable fum, I was obliged
to bear, and to reft fatisfied with an indemnifici^tioi^
for my other expences. '■ , .

Thus fituated, my only expeftations arc frdn>
the favour of a generous public ; to whom I (hall now
communicate my plans, journals and obfervations,
of wbich 1 luckily kept copies, when I delivered the
originals into the plantation office. And this I do
fhe more readily, as I hear they are mifiaid j and

9$

I N T R 0 D U C f I O N.

there is no probability of their ever being publifhed.
To thofe who are intereftcd in the concerns of the
imerio» parts of NorthAAmerica, from the conti-
guity of their pofTtiiTionSt or commercial engage-
ments, they will be extremely ufefuJ, and fully re«
pay the fum at which they are purchafed. To thofe,
ivho, from a laudable curiofity, wifli to be acquaint^^
ed with the maniicrs and cuftoms of'every inhabitant
of this globe, the accounts here given of the various
nations that inhabit fo vail a tra^ of It, a coqntry
hitherto almoft unexplored, will furnifh an ant^ple
ftind of amufement, and gratify their molt curious
expedations. And 1 flatter myfelf they will be as
favourably received by the public, as defcriptions of
iilands, which afford no other entertainment than
vhat arifes from their novelty ; and difcoverjes,
that feem to promife very few advantages to thU .
country, though acquired at an immenfe expence*

To make the following work as comprchenfiv^
9nd entertaining as poflible, I fhail firll give my
readers an account of the route I purfued over thisf
knmenfe continent, and as I pafs on, defcribe the
liumber 9f the inhabitants, the (ituation of the rivers
9nd lakes, and the productions of the country.
Having done this, I fhall treat, in di{|in£t chapters,
of the manner&, cuftoms, and languages of the Inr
dians, ^nd to complete the whole, add a vopabulary
of the words moil; in ufe ainon^ tl^em^

And here it is necefTary to befpea^c the candour of
the learned part of my readers in the perufal of it,
98 it is the prcduclion of a perfon qnufed, from op-
porue avocations, to literary purfuits. He therefore
pegs they would not examine it with too critical an
fye ; efpecially when he aflTures them, that his atten-
tion has been more employed in giving a juft de-
f^ription of a country, that promiies, in fome futbre

•' I

•». '..

'■' , '"J .■■■

1 .' •

», ■|'i:"

INTRODUCTION.

29

period, to be an inexhaudible fource of x'uzhes to
that people who (hall be fo fortunate as to poflefs ir^
than on tl;'^ flile or compofition ; and mor« cil^efut
to render his language intelligible and explicit, than
linooth and florid.

""/.y ^t*^ ^-WW^" il,»P*'' ""■'- '"-"^ !»W. .-I'V.TWIWWfW'^u i]i;.|i 'Hf.-i" i i">'j^>w^"i«i*

>;. i

.111.111 lii.iiiM*

!9»

J O U R N A L

OF TBI

TRAVEL S,

WITH A

DESCRIPTION *

OF THE'

COUNTRY, LAKES, &el

Xn June 1766, I fet out from Bofton, and'
^rQceede4 by way of Albany and Niagara, to Mi-
chillimackinac ; a fort fituated between the Lakes
Huron and Michigan, and di(tant from Bbfton 1306
miles. This beitig the Uttermoft of our fadories
towards the north-weft, I confidered it as the moft
convenient place from whence I could begin my in-
tended progrefs, and enter at once into the regions I
dcfigned to explore.

Referring my readers to the publications already
extant for an account of thofe parts of North-Ame-
rica, which, from lying adjacent to the back fettle*
ments, have been frequently defcribed, I (hall con-
fine myfelf to a defcription of the more interior parts

3a

C.ARVER»s TRAVELS.

\ of it, which, having been but feldom vifited, are
gflnfequemty but little kaewa. In doiag thi«, I (hall
in no inflance exceed the bounds of truth, or have
recourfe to thofe ufelefs i^id extravagant exaggera*
tions, too often made ufe of by travellers, to excite
the curipiity ^f the public, or to encrpafe their own
importance. Nor fhall I Infert any obfervations,^
but fuch as I have made myfclf, or, from the credi-
bility of thofe by whom they were related^ am ena-
hk4 to vouch for (heir avithemicity.

■ , I '

m

Michillimackinac, from whence I began my tra-
vels, is a fort compofed of ja ftrong ftockade, and
is uiually defended by a garrifon of one hundred
men. It ccM^t^ifis about thifiy ho^fe?, one of which
belongs to the governor, and another to the com-
milTary. Several tr^^rs alf^ dwell within its for-
tifications, who find it a convenient fituation to
trafHg %vit^ thf nf igh^v^fing nations. MichiUimac-
kinac, in the ' language of the Chipeway Indians,
! (tgnifies a Tortoife ; and the place is fuppofed
to receive its name from an idand, lying about fix>
or feven miles to the north-ea(t, within fight of the
^Jf wliich h^s ^be appe^iriance of cti^t animal. '

Piiripg tHfi, Indii^n w^x that followed iboti after
the Qonqujqft of Ca^ad?, i|t the ye^r 1763, and which
yllH^ carried on by W 4rmy pf confederate ^ation$,
^fftpofi^d of thi Hurpns^ Miaraies, Chipeways,
Gttpwaws, Pontowatiimies, MiiTiif^uges, and fqme
^tjier tribes, under th^ dire^ipn or Pontiac, a ce/»
lebrated Indian warrior, who had ' always been in,
the French intereft, it was taken by furprife in
ibe following mannei'.; Tbfi iRdiaPS having fettled
their plan, dr'evy, i^ jjr >he fort, and began * came
at bsill, a p^itim^.tti^h nfcd among them, and not
V unlike tenuis.; . I^Hhe height of their ganie, at
vM>kh fom^;^f|iie lln^lifti officers, npt lufpeding.

/■:■

CARVEH'i TRAVELS. 33

any deceit, ftood looking- on, they flruck the ball,
as if by accident, over the ftockadc ; this they re.-*
|>cated two or three timtc, to make the deception
more complete ; till ar length, having by tiiis means
lulled every fufpicion of the centry at the fouih gate,
a party rulhed by him ; and the reft foon following,
they took poffeflion of the fort, without meeting
with any oppofition. Having Jictompiilhed their
defign, the Indians had the humanity to fpare the
lives of the greateft part of the garrifon and traders^
but they made them all prifoners, and (Carried them-*
off. However, 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-
glifli at the peace made with Poniiac, by the com^
mander of Detroit the year following.

Having here made the necelTary difpofition'r for
purfying my travels, and obtaining a credit from
Mr Rogers, the governor, on fome Englifh and
Canadian traders, who were going to trade on the
Miffiffipij and received alfo from him a promife of
a freihfuppiy 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. It wa«
agreed that they flioiild furnifh mc with fuch goods
as I might want, for prefents to the 'Indiaii chiefs,
daring my continuance with them, agreeable to the *
governor's orders. 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
ftipply me with. ^

We accordingly fet out together, and on the i8tli
arrived at Fort La Bay. This fort is fituated on thf
fouthern extremity of a bay in Lake Michigan,
termed by the French, the Bay of Puants ; btii
which, iince the English have gained pofTefiionJl^of aU

■5*~

^/■T

S4

CAR.V?R'» TRAVELS.

fhe fettlemients 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 LaBay,no|-
vrithftanding tht paflage has not exceec^ed fourteen
days, covered with the fined verdure, and vegeta-
tion as forward as it could be were it fummer.

This fort is alfo only furrounded by a (lockade,
and being much decayed, is fcarcely defenfible againfl:
fmall arms. It was built by the French for the.
proteftion of their trade, fome time before they
were forced to reliziquifh it ; and when Canada and
its dependencies wefe furrendered to the English, it
was immediately garrifoned with an officer and thirty
men. Thefe were made prifoners by the Menotho-
jiies foon ^fter the furprife of Michillimackinac, an4
the fort has neither been garrifoned nor kept in re-
pair lince.

The'bay isabout ninety miles I6ng, but dilTs^rs'
much in its breadth ; being in fome places only fit"
teen miles, in others froni twenty to thirty. It lies
nearly from north-e?ll: to fouth-weft. At the en-
trance of it from the lake are a firing of iflands,
extending from north to fouth, called the Grand
Traverfe. Thefe are about thirty miles in lengthy
and ferve to facilitate, the pafTage of canoes, as they
ihelter them from the winds, which fometimes
come with vioknce acrofs the *Lake. On the fide
^at lies to the fouth-eafl is the nearefl and befl
i^avigation.

f The iflands of the Grand Traverfe are moflly
imall and rocky. Many of, the rocks are of an'
imazing fize, and appear as if they had been fafhl-

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

3^

6ned by the hands of artifls. On the largeft and
beft of thefe iflands (lands a town of the Ottawa ws,
at which I found one of the mod confiderable
chiefs of that nation, who received me with every
honour he could poffibly (how to a Granger. But
what appeared extremely fmgular to me at the time,
fTnd muil do fo to every perfon unacquainted with
the cuftoms of the Indians, was the reception I met
with oh landing. As our canoes approached the
fhore, and had reached within about threefcore rods
of it, the Indians began a feu-^e-joye ; in which they
itred their pieces loaded with bails ; but at the fame
time they took care to difcharge them in fuch a '
planner as to fly a few yards above our heads : during
this they ran from one tree or (lump to another,
fhouting and behaving as if they were in the heat of
battle. Atfird I was greatly furprifed, and was on
the point of Ordering niy attendants to return their
fire, concluding that their intentions '•vere hoflile ;
but being undec^eived by fome of the traders, who
informed me that this was the ufual method of re-,
ceiving the chiefs of other nations, I confidered it iii
its mie light, and was pleafed with the refpe£l^
thus paid me. ' '

I remained herfe one night. Among the ]!>referit8
I made the chiefs, were fome fpirituous liquors, with
"which they made thsmfelves merry, and all joined
in a dance, that laded the greated part of the .night.
In the morning when I departed, the chief attended
me to the (hore, and, as foon as I had embarked,
offered up in an audible voice, and with great fo-
leninity, a fervent prayer in my behalf. He prayed
" That the great fpirit wouldfavour me with a prof,
perous voyage J that he would give mean unclouded
(ky, and fmooth waters, by day, and that 1 might
lie down, by night, on a beaver blanket, enjoying
vninterrupted deep, and pleafant dreams j and sMo

56 CARVER'TTRAVELS*

that I might find continual protc£iiofi under th«
great pipe of peace." In this manner he continued
his petitions till I could no longer bear them.

I mud here obftu've, that nptwithflapding the
inhabitants of Europe are apt to entertain horrid
idea&of the ferocity of theie favages, as- they pae
termed, I received from every tribe of them in the
interior parts, the nioft hofpitable and courteous
treatment, and am convinced, that till they are
contaminated by the example, and fpiritcus liquors
of their more refined neighbours, they retain this
friendly and inofienfive condu^ towards Grangers;
Their inveteracy and cruelty to their er>emie», I ac-
knowledge to be a gre;v^ abatement of the favou^-
ble opinior^ I would mft\ to entertain of them ; but
this failing is hereditary, and having received the
fandion of immemorial. cuAom» has taken too deep
root in their minds to be eafily extirpated*

Among thefe people I eat of a very uncommon
kind of bread. The Indians, in general, ufe but
little of this nutritious food : whilil their coriAbin-
the milk as they term it, that is, ju(l before it be-
gins to ripen, they llice off the kernels from the
cob to which they grow, atul knead them into 'a
pafte. This they are enabled to do without the ad-
dition of any liquid, by the i^i<lk that fkw^ frdfa
them -f and when it is e0edled, they parcel it out in-
to cakes, and enclofing them in leaves of the balT-
' wood tree, place them in hot embers, where ,ihey
are foon baked. And better flavoured bread I neyei:
eat in any^ country.

This place is only a fmall village, containing
about tweRt«(-five houfes and fixty or feventy warri^
or», I found, nothing there worthy of further re-
mark.

m

CARVERS TRAVELS.

3T

The land on the fbuth-eafl fide of tlic Green Bay
is but viJry indiiferent, being overfpread wich a
heavy growth ^ of hemlock, pine, fpruce, and fir
trees. The communication between hike Michi-
gan and the Green Bay, has been reported by fome ,
to be impra Aicab^e for the pafiage of any veflTeU larger
than canoes or boats, on account of the fhoals that
lie between the iflands in the Grand Traverfe ; but
on founding it, I found fufficient depth for a vcifel
of fixty rons, and the breadth proportionable.

The land adjoining to the bottom of this bay is
Very fertile, the country in general level, and the
perfpeftive View of it pleafmg and extenfive.

^ A few families live in the fort, which lies on the
weft fide of the Fox River, and oppofite to it, oii
the eaft fide of its entrance, are fome French fet-
tlers, who cultivate the land, and appear to \ivi,
very cppifoftably.

The Green Bay or Bay of Puants is one of thofe
place'^ t- which the French, as 1 have mentioned
In the introdiidlioii, haVe given nicknames. It is
termed by the inhabitants of its coafts, the Meno-
m^nie Bay ; but why the Ffench have denominated!
it the Puant or Stinking Bay, I know not. The
reafon they themfelvej gave for it is, that k was not
with a.view to miflead ftr'angers, but that by adopt-
ing this method, they could converfe with each
other concerning the Indians, in thek prefence,
v>itbout being underftood by them. For it was r6-
marked by the perfons who firft traded among them j
that when rhey were fpeaking to each other about
them, and mentioned their proper names, they
inftan'ly grew fufpicious, and concluded that their"
vifitori were either fpeaking ill df them, or plot-

'■ F

.3^

CARVER'S TRAVE.LS.

ting their diftrudion. To remedy this they gav^
thcr bme other name. The only bad cohfeqiience
ajifing fi6m the pfaftice then introduced is, that-
Englilh and French geographers, in their plans of
the interior parts of America, gave different names
to the fame people, and thereby perplex thofe whbj
;hav6 occaTiori to liefer to them. ^_

■LakelWichigari, of'whicH tfie Greeii Bay is a part,
is divided on the noj*th-eaft frorn Lak^ ^uron by
the Straits of Michillimackinac ; and is fituated be-
tween forty-two and forty-lix degrees of latitude,
and between eighty-four and eighty-feveai degrees
of wfeft longitude. Its greateft length is two h\iri-
dred s'td eighty miles, its breadth about forty, and
its circumference nearly fix hundred. There is a
rfemarkabie ftring of frilall iflands, begihning over
agamft Aik'iri*s i^ariii^and running'about thirty miles
fouih-'vvcft into the lake. TKefe are called the
Beaver Iflafids. Threir iituation is. very pleafant,'
but the foil is bare. However, th^y afford abesuiii-
fui profpred. > r^

On tlie north-vveft part of this lake the \iraters
brant-h out into, two bays. That which lies ^owardv%
the north is the bay of Ncquets, and the other f'ae^^
Green Bajfjufl: defcribed.

• • ■ . ■

/ The V/ater« of this a^ welf as tlie other great'
lakes pre clear and wholefome, and of fufficient
depth tor th^ navigation o£ large fhips. Half th^
fpace of tl ^. country that iits tb the eaft, and ex- .
tends no Lake Huron, belongs to the Oitowaw In-
dians. The line that dividet. their teratories from
the Chipeways, /uns nearly north and foiitn, and
reache^s al^pit from the fouthern extremity of tSis
lake, acrofs the high lands, to Michillimackinac^'
through the centte of which it jwITes.^ So that when

,j<»-m.

CAp.VER's TRAVELS.

3^^

.thefe two tribes happen to meet at the fadory, they
;each encamp on their own dominions, at a fewyardi
diftance from the ftockade, .

The country adjacent eirher to the eafl or weft
ijde of this lake, is compofed but of an indifferent
.foil, except -where fmall brooks or riv6rs empty
' thfinifelves into it 5 on the banks of thefe it is ex-
tiemcly^ fertile. Near the borders of the lake grow
a great nmrijiber of fand chenries, T*'feich are not lefs
remarkable for their manner of growth, tlian for
their exquifite flavour. They grow ijpon a fmall
ihrub, not more than four feet high, the boughs
bf which are io loaded that they lie' in clufters on
the fand. As tliey grow only on the fand, the
j»armth 6f which probstbiy contributes , to bring
<hem to futch perfedioii, they are called by the
French, cherries de fa We, or fand chetries. The
lize< of them does not exceed that of a fmall mulket
ball, Lut they are reckoned fuperior to any other
fort for the purpofe of fteeping in fpirits. There
alfo grow around the lake, goofberries, black cur-
rants, and an abundance of juniper, bearing grea';
(juautities of berries of tlie finelt fort,

' Sumack likewife grows here in great plenty f
the leaf of which, gathered at Michaelmas, when* it
turns red, is much efteemed by the natives. They
mix about an equal quantity, of it with their tobac-
co, which caufes it to fmoke pl<^afantly. Near th(?
lake, and indeed about all the great lakes, is found
■^ kind of willow, termed by the French, bois'rouge,
\n Englilh, red wood. . its bark, when only of one
year's growth, is of a fine fcaflet colour,, and appears
very beautiful ; but as it grows older, it changed into
a mixiv:re of grey and r?d. The ftalks of this
Ihrub grow many of them together, and rife to the
licight of li.: or eight feet, the largeft not exceeding

•

40

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

*!

an inch diameter. The bark being fcraped frorq
the iflicks, and dried and powdeired, is alfb mixed
by the Indians with their tobacco, and is held by
them in the higheft eftimaticri for their winter fmok-
ing. A weed that grows near the great lakes, in
TQcky places, they ufe in th; fummer feafbn.. U
is called by the Indians Segockiniac, and creeps
like a vine on the ground, fometimes extending to
eight or ten feet, and bearing a leaf about the fize
of a (liver penny, nearly round,; it is of the fub-
(lance and colour of the laurel, and is, like the tree
it refer^bles, an evergreen. Thefe leaves, dried
and powdered, they Tikewife mix with ' their to-
bacco} and, as faid before, fmoke it only during the
fumraer. By thefe three fuccedaneums, the pipes
oftheIndian$ are, weii iipplied through every fea-
fon of the year j a ' iiey are great fmok^rs,

they are very careful in properly gathering and pre-*
paring them.

On the :;',oth of September 1 left the Green Bay,
aud proceeded up Fox Riyer, (till in , company
with the traders and fome Indians. Oh the 2516
I arrived at the great town of the Winnebagoes,
fituated on a fmall illand, jufl: as you enter the eaft
end of Lake Winnebago. Here the queen who
prefid/d oyer ihis tribe inftead of s b'achem, received
me with great civility, arid ent«''ned rtie in a very
diftinguifhed manner, during ^?^>>i|4iays I conti^,
nued with hett v '^ .

Thaday after my arrival I held a council with
the chitfs, of whom 1 afked permiflion to pafs
through their Country, in my waytoni,.e remot^
nations, on bvuinefs of importance. This was rea-
d'ly granted me, the requeft being elteemed by
them as a great compllmf* paid to their tribe.
The queen fat in the count , » ut pnly afe6d a few

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

4«

qiififtlons, or gave fome tTifling direcSlions in mattery '
relative td the (late ; for women are never allowetjl
to fit in their co"Dcils, except they happen to be
invert cd with the fupreme authority, and then it
is not cuftomary for them to make any formal
fpeeches as the chiefs do. She was a very ancient
woman, fmallin ftatnre, and not much diftinguilh-
ed by her drefs from feyeral young wpihen that fr-
iended her. Thefe her attendants Teemed greatly
pleafed whejiever I ihowed any tokens of refpe^ to
their queen, particularly when I faluted he; , which
I freqtiently did to acquire hei lavour. On tjiefe
bccafiocs the good old lady endeavoured to a0ume
a juvenile gaiety, and by her fmiles, fiiowed fhe
was equally pleafed with the attenifipnl paid her.

The time I refided here, I employed in making
the bed bbfervations poffibie on the country, and
in colleding the moft certain intelligence I could^^
of the origin, language, and cuftoms of this people* ,
From thefe enquiries I have real n to conclude,
that the Winnebagoes originally refided in ferae. of
j[he provinces belonging to New Mexico, and being
driven from their tiative country, either by intefl:ine
divilionsy or by the extenfion of the Spaniih con^
quefts, they took refuge ' in thefe more northern
ps«rt8 about a century ago. . .

My reafons for adopting ithis fuppofition» are^
Fiift, from their unalienable attachment to th^
Naudoweffie Indians (who, they fr^y, gave them the
earlieft fuccours during their emigi'ation,) notwith-
flanding theit prefent refidence is more than fix
hundred miles diilant from that people.

Secondly, that their dialecl totally differs froni
every other Indian nation yet difcovered ; being
a very uncouth, guttural jargon, which none of
their neighbours will attempt to learn. They con-

42

CAP-VER's TRAVELS.

.verfe with other nations in the Chipeway tongue.
\vhich is the prevailing language throughout all
the tribes, from the Mohawks of Canada, to thofe
who inhabit the border^ of the Mifliffippi, and from
the Hurons and Illinois to fijich ^ dwell n . Hudr
Jon's Bay.

Thirdly, from their inveterate hatred to the Spa-
niards. Some of them infornied me that they liad
many excurfions to the fouth-weft, which took up
feveral moons. An elderly chief more particularly
acquainted me, that about forty- fix winters ago,
he marehed at the head of fifty warriors, toward.s
the fouth-^eft, for three moons. That during this*"
expedition, wiiilil they were crofling a plain, they
difcovered a body of men on horfeback, who be-
longed to the Black people; for fo they c'aM the
Spaniards. 'A§ foon as they perceived them, they
proceeded with caution, and concealed themfelveu
till night came on, when they drew fo near as tO
be able to difcern their number and fituation of their
enemies. Finding they were hot able to cope witli
fo great a fuperiority bv day-light, they waited till
• they had retired to reu; when they rufhed upoii
them, and, after* having killed the great^ft part of
the njen, ;ook eighty horfes loaded withj|What they
termed white, ftone. This I fuppofe to nave been
filver, as he told me the hprfes w^re ihpd with it,
and that their bridles were ornamented with th^'
fame. When they had fatiated their revenge, they
carried off their fpoil, -and being got To far as to be
out of the reach of the Spaniards that had efcaped
their fury, they left the ufelefs and ponderous bur-
den, with which the horfes vyere loaded, in the
woods, and mounting themfelves, in this manner
returned to their friends. The party they had thus
defeated, 1 conclude to be the caravan that annually
conveys to Mexico the filver which the* Spaniard^

.^sfc.*^

*;#•

CARVER'8 TRAVELS.

^'

nnd in great quantities on the mountaiAs lying n^ar
the heads of the Coleredo River : and the plains
"where the attack was made, probably, 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 welt of the
Miffiffippi.

The Winnebagocs (Jaii raifc about two hundred
warriors. Their town contains about fifty houfes,
which are (Irongly built with pallifades, and the
iifland on which it is fituated, nearly fifty acres. Ft
lies thirty-five miles, reckoning according to the
courfe of the river, from the Green Bay.

■ ; ." ■ . .'■'.' ■ '■ .■ ' • ■.

': ^ The rfver, 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 pfe^
liged to land our canoes,, and carry them a coii-
fiderable way. Its breadth, in general, from the
Green Bay to the Winnebago Lake, is betweea
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-
caft, corner, a river falls into u that 'takes its rife
hear fome of the northern branches of the Illinois
River. This I called the Crocodile River, in con*
Sequence of a ftory tHat prevails among the Indiansj
of their having deftroyed, in fome part of it, an ani-
mal, which from their defcriptioii muft be a Croco-
dile or an aligator.

Thie land adjacent to the Lj^e^is very fertile,
abounding with grapes, plumbs^ and other ff uiis.

44

Carve^'8 travels.

tvhich grow fpontaneoufly. The Winhebagoes
raife on it a great quantity of Indian corn, beantv
pumpkins, fquafhes, and water melons, with fome
itobaceo. The 'Lake itfeif abounds with fi(h, and in
the fall of thlfe year, with geefe, ducks, and teal.
The latter, which refort to it in great numbers, are
remarkably good and Extremely fat, and are much
better favoured than thofe that are found near the
fea, as they acquire their exceflive fatnefs by feeding
, on the wild rice, which grows fo plentifully in thefe
parts.

Having made fome . acceptable prefents ^o the
good old qiiecn, And received her blefling, I left the
town of the Winnebagoes on the 29th of September,
and about twelve miles frorp it, arrived at the place
where the Fox River enters the Lake on the north'
fide of itj We proceeded up this river, and on the
7th of October reached the great carrying placff^'
which divides if from the Ouifconfiii.

■ . ' ■ " . ■ . ' -■' • . •" '■•

The Fox River, from the Green B^y to the cafr

tying place, is about one hundred and eighty mifes.
From the Winnebago Lake to the carry tng place,
the current is gentle, and the depth of it conlidetable ;'
not with (landing which, it is in fome places with
difficulty khat canoes can pafs through the obflruc-
tions they meet with from the rice ftalks, which are
ifety large and thick, and grow here in great abnn-;
danee. The country around it is very fertile, and'
proper in the highelt degree for cultivation, except-
ing in forhe places near the river, where it is rather
too low. It is in no part very woody, and yet can
fupply fufEcient td anfwer The demands of any num-
ber of inhabitants. This river is the frreateft refort
of wild fowl of every kind, that T met with in the
whole cotirfe of my travels ; frequently the fun would
be obfcured by them for fome miaiites together.

CARVER'S TiRAVELS.

45

About forty miles up this river, from the great
town of the Winnebagoes, (lands a fmalier town
belonging to that nation. • '

Deer arid bears are very numerous in thefe parts,
and a great many beavers and other fiirs are taken
on the flreams that empty themfelves into this river.

The river I' ami treating of, is remarkable for hav-
ing been, about eighty years ago, the refidence of
the united bands of the Ottigaumies and the Saukies,
whom the French had nicknamed, according to
their TJi'onted cuftom, Des Sacs and Des Reynards,
the Sacks and the Ftjxes, of whom the following
anecdote was related to me by an Indian.

About fixty years ago, the Frerich miffiojiaries
and traders having received many infults from thefe
people, a party of French and Indians, under the
command of Captain Mprand, marched to revenge
their wrongs. The Captain fet Out from the Green
JRay in the winter, when they were unfufpicious of
a vifit of thfs kind, and purfuing his route over the
fnow to their villages, which lay about fifty miles
tip the Fox River, came upon them by furprife.
Unprepared as they were, he found them an eafy
conqucfl, and confequently killed or took prifoners
the greateft part of them. On the return of fhe
French to jhe Green Bay, one of the Indian chiefs in
alliance with them, who had a co'nfiderable band of
the prifoners under his care, flopped to dripk at; a
brook J in the mean time his companions went on :
which being obferved by one of the women whom
they had made captive, fhe fuddenly feized him-
with both her hands, whilft he ftooped to drink,
by an exquiiitely fufceptible part, and held him faft
til he expired on the fpot. A§ the chief, from the

■ ; G --:;:...♦•";' ■ -

/ .

a6

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

eJctreme torture he fufFereJ, was unable to call out
to his friendj, or to give any alarm, they paifed oni
without knowing what had happened ; and the wo-
man having cut the band^ of thofe of her fellow-
prifoners wha were in the reaf^ 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 liberty to entail the fame honour
on her defcendants ; an unufual didinftion, and per-
mitted only on extraordinary occafibns.

About twelve miles before 1 reached the carrying
place, I obferved feverai fmall mountains which ex-
tended quite to it. Thefe indeed^ would, only be
*efteemed as molehills, when compared^ with thofe
on the back of the colonies, but afs they were the
iirft I had feen fince my leaving Niagara, a track of
nearly eleven hundred miles, I could not leave them
unnoticed.

The Fox River, v'hrrre it enters the Winnebaga
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, thdugh dill of a coniider-
able depth. I cannot recoiled any thing elfe that is
'remarkable in this 'river, except that it is fo ferpen-
tine for five miles, as only to gain in that place one
ijuarter of a mile.

The carrying place between the Fox and Ouif-
confm Riversy is in breadth not more than a mile
and three quarter^, 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 rupning in different
directions from what they really do^ aikd many

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

AT

1>ranch€S of them, particularly of the MlfliflippI,
omitted. The diftances of places, likewife, arc great-.
)y mifreprefented. Whether this is done by the
French geographers (for the Englifh maps are ail
copied from theirs) through' defign, or for want of a
jiift knowledge of the cguntry, 1 cannot fay ; but t
am fatisfied that travellers who depend upon them in
the parts I vifited, will find themfeives much at a lofs.

Neaf one half of the way, between the rivers, is
a morafs overgrown with a kind of long grafs, the
reft of it a plain with fome few oak and pine trees
growing thereon. 1 obferved here a great number
of rattle-fnakes. Monf. Pinnifance, a French tra-
der, told me a remarkable (lory concerning one 6f
thefe reptiles, of which he faid he was an eye-wit-*
liefs. An Indian, belonging to the Menomonie na-
tion, having taken one of them, found means to
tame it ; and when he had done this, created it as a
!peity, calling it his Great Fath -r, and carrying it
with him, in a box, wherever he 'vent. This the
Indian ha<l done ft*r feveral fummers, when MondT
l^innifance accidentally m^t with him at his carrying
place, juft as he was fetting off for a winter's hunt.
The French gentleman was fuj-prifed, one day, to
fee the Indian place the bqx which contained his god,
on the ground, and opening the door, give him hi^
liberty ; telling him, whilfl: he did it, to be fure and
return by the tii...3 he himfelf fhould come back,
which was to b6 in the month of May following. As
this was but October, Monfieur told the Indian,
whofe fimplicity aftonifhed him, that he fancied he
might wait long enough when May arrived, 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

48

CARVER'8 TRAVELS.

r,? V

week in May following, fixed for the determination
of the wager. At that periou they bcrh met there
again ; when the Indian fet down his box, and called
for his great father, The fnaice heard him not ^[
and the time being now expired, he acknowledged
that he had loft. However, without feeming to be
difcouraged, he offered to double the bet, if his
great father came not within two days more. This
was further agreed on j when behold, on the fecond
day, about one o'clock, the fnake arrived, and, of his
own accord, crawled into the box, which was placed
>eady for him. The French gentleman vouche4
for the truth of this ftory, and from the accounts
I have often received of the docility of thofe crea-
tures, I fee no reafon to doubt of its veracity.

I obferved that the main body of the Fox River
came from the fouth-weft, that of the Ouifconfiii
from the north-eaft ; and alfo that fome of the fmaU
branches of thefe two rivers, in defcending into them,
doubled within a few feet of each other, a little to
the fouth of the carrying place.. That two fuch
fhould take their rife fo neay each other, and aft^
running different courfes, empty themfelves into the
fea, at a diftance fo amazing (for the former hav-
ing pafled through feverai great lakes, and run up-
wards of two thoufand miles, falls into the Gulf of
St Lawrence, and the jther, after joihing the Mif-
liilippi, and having run an equal number of miles,
difembogues itfelf into the Gulf of Mexico), is an
inftance fcarcely to be met with in the eJctenfive conti-
nent of North- America. I nad an opportunity, the
year following', of making the fame obfervations on
the affinity of various head branches of the waters ol'
the ^t Lawrence and the Mifliflippi, to each other;
and now bring them as a proof, that the opinion of
thofe geographers who afTert, that rivers taking their
Jife fo near each other,, mufl'fpring froni the fame.

' (

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

49

fource, is erroneous. For I perceived a vifibly dif-
tin6t reparation in all of them, notwithdanding, it%
fome places, they approached fo near, that I coul4
have (lepped from the one to the other.

On the 8th of Odlober 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 |s the largeft
and bed built Indian town I ever faw. It contains
about liinety houfes, each large enough for feveral
families. Thefe are built of hewn plank, neatly
jointed, and covered with bark fo compaftly as to
keep out the moft penetrating rains. Before the
doors are placed comfortable fheds, in which the in-
habitants -(it when the weather \yill permit, and
fmoke their pipes. The (treets are regular and fpa-
cious ; fo that it appears more like a civilized town,
than the abode of favages. The land near the towa
is, very good. In their plantations, which lie ad-
jacent to tjieir houfes, and which are neatly laid out,
they raifp great quantities of Indian corn, beans, me-
lons, &c. fo that this ptace is efteeraed the beft mar-
ket for traders to furnifli themfelves with provifions,
of any within eight hundred miles of it.

The Saukies can 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 Haves. But thofe people frequent-
ly retaliate, and, in their turn, deftroy many^ of the
Saukies, which I judge to be the reafon that they
increafe no falter.

Whilft Idaid here, I took aview of fome moi^n-

' tains that lie about fifteen miles to the fouthward,

i^nd abound in lead ore. I afcended one of the

ip

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

higheft of thefe, and had an extenfive view of the
/country. For many miles nothing was to be feer^
but lefler mountains, which appeared at a diftance
like haycocks, they being free from trees. Only a
few groves of hickory, and flujited oaks, covered
fome of the vallies. So plentiful is lead here, that
1 faw 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 loth of O£lober we proceeded down the
iriver, and the ne^t day reached this firft town of the
^ pttigaumies. This town contained about fifty houfes,
but We found mofl: of them deferted, on account
of an epidemical diforder that had lately raged
among them, and carried off more than one half of
the inhabitants. The greater part of thofe who fur-
vived, had retired into the woods, to avoid the
contagion,, . :,

On jthe-ijth, we entered that extenfive river the
Mifriflipjji. The Ouifeonfin, from the carrying
plffce to the part where it falls into the Mifliflippi,
flows with a fmooth, but ftrong current; the water
of it is exceedingly clear, artd through it you may
perceive a fine fandy bottom, tolerably free from
yocks. 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-
rali excellent ; but that at a diflance is very full of
mountains, where it is faid there are many lead
mines. - ' , . . .

About five miles from the jun^^ion of the rivers,
lobfervedthe ruins of a large town, in a very
pleafing fituation. On enquiring of the neighbour-
ing Indians, why it was thus deferted, I was informed,
that about thirty yearis ago, the Great Spirit had ap-,
peared on the top of a pyramid of rocks, which laj[

CARVER'S TRAVELS. ^i

it a little diftance from it, towards the wefl, and
warned them to quit their habitations ; for the land
oh which they were built belonged to him, and he
had occafion for it. As a proof that he, . who gave
them thefe orders, was really the Great Spirit, he
further told them, 'that the grafs fiiould immediately
fpring up on thofe very rocks from whence he now
addrefled them, which they knew to be bare and
barren. The Indians obeyed, and foon after dif-
covered that this miraculous alteration had taken
pl^ce. They (hewed nie the fpot, but the growth of
the grafs appeared to be no wile fupernatural. I
apprehend this to have been a ftratagem of the
French or Spaniards, to anfwer fome felfifh view ;
but in what manner they eifefted their purpofe, I
know not.

This peof' :, foon after their removal, built a
town on the bank pf the MiiTifT^ppi, near the mouth
of the Ouifcpnlin, at a place datled by the French La
Prairie les Chien«, which fignifies the Dog Plains i,
it is a large town, and contains about three hundred
families ; the houfes are well built after the Indian
manner, and ple'afantly fituated on a Very rich foil,
^rom which they raife every neccflary of life in great
abundance. I faw many horfes h- " of a good fize
and (hape. This town is the great mart Avhere alt
the adjacent tribes, and even thofe who inhabit the
mod remote branclihes of the MifTiflippi, annually
affemble about the latter end of May, bringing withe
them the 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 mpre conducive to
their intereft, to fell their goods at this place, or ^ai-
ry them on to Louifiana, or Michillimaekinac. Ac-?
c6rding to the decifions of this council, they either
proceed further, or return to their different homes.

-i."-'.-

.r

CARViER's TRAVfiT S.

ke Miffiffippi,,at the entrance of the-OuifconfinJ
neai^ which ftands u mountain of confiderable height,'
h about half a nlile over ; but oppofite to the jaft
mentioned town, it appears to be more than a xtj^
wide, and full of iflands, the foil of which is eJttri-
brdihary rich, and but thinly Wooded.

A Httlie further to the iVefl; on the contrary fide,J
a fmall > river falls into the Mlfliflippi, which the
French call Le Jaune Riviere, or the Yellow Rivef ;
Here the tracers who had accompanied me hither*
to, took up their refidence For the winter. I then
bought a canoe, and with two fervants, one a FrencJi
Canadian, and the other a Mohawk of Canada, oii
the 19th proceeded up the Miififfippj. ^

About ten days after I had parted from the t:;ad4
ers, I landed, as-'Iufually did every evening, and
ftaving pitched my tent, I ordered »my men, when
flight came on, to luy themfelves down to fleep. By
a light that I kept burning, I then fat down to copy
the minutes I had taken in the coiirfe of the pre-
ceding day. About ten o'clock, having juft finifh-
ed m.y memorandums, I ftepped out of my tent to
fee what \/eather it was.. As I cift my eyes to-
wards the bank of the river^ I thought I faw by the
light of the ftars, wh.ich fhone bright, fomething that
had the appearance of ahera of beafts, coming down -
a defcent at fome diftaTicej whilft I was wonder-
ing what they could be, one of the number fuddenly
fprung up, and difcovered to me the form of a man.
In an inltant they were all on their legs, and Icouid
count about ten or twelve of them running towardiJ
me. I immedi ly re-entered the tent, fcnd having
awakened my men, ordered them to take their arms,
and follow me. As my firft apprehenfions ^ere for
my canoe, I ran to the Mrater's iidc, and found a party

CARVERS TRAVELS.

53

' ' it.

J>f Indians, Cfor fuch I ntow clifcovercd them to bo)
on the ppir»t -of plundering it. . Before I reached
them, I comman4ed my men not to fire till I had
l^tven the^Word, b^ing anwilling to begin hoftilities
unlef? pccafipn abfolwtely required. 1 accordingly
advanced with rerolution,clofe to jthe points of theit
fpears ; they had no other weapons, ahd brandi^-
ing my hanger, alked thena with a (!irn yoice, what
they wanted ? They were ftaggered at this, and per-
ceiving they were like to meet with a warm tt-
ception, turjied about and precipitately rerfeafedi
We purfoed them to an adjacent wood, whic^ they
enteTed, and we fatty no more of them. However,
for fear of their rerarri, we watched altemateiy dur-
ing the remainder of the night. The next day my
iervants were under great apprehehfions, and ear-
i^eftly entreated me to return to the traders we had
lately left. But I told them, that if they would not
fee efteemed - \ women, (a term of .the greatrft re-
proach anlong the Indians) they muft follow me ; for
I was dcteirmmed to p6rfue my intended route, as an
pngHihman, when. once engaged in an adventure,'
ixever retrjsatcd. On this they got into the canoe^
and I walked on the fhore to guard theni from any
further attack. The party of Itfdians who had thus
intended to piuti^er tne, I afterwards found to be
fome of tho(e ftraggling bands, that having been
^fiVen from among the different tribes to which they
belonged, for varioaV crimes, now aflbciated thenir
fclv^s together, and, living by plunder, prove very
trpublefome to travellers wlio p?»rs r'lis way ; nor
are even Indians of every tribfc fpared by them. The
traders had before cautipned me to be upon my
guard againfl; them, and I would repjeat the fame
caution to thofe whole bufinefs might call them into
thefe parts.

»;'|'»t- ,'■'■■

S4

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

On the I ft of November I arrived at Lake Pepin^
which is rather an extended part of the river Mif-
iiffippi, that the l?>ench have thus denominated^
but two hundred miles from the Ouifconfin. The
Mifliflippi below this lake flow«( with ^ gentle cur-
tent, but the breadth, of it is very uncertain, in
fome places it being upwards of a mile, in others
not more than a quaner. This river has a range
of mountains on each fide throughout the whole of
the way; which in particular pans approach near
to it, in others lie at a greater diftance. -The land
betwixt the mountains, and on their fidfes, is ge-
nerally covered with gfafs, 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 opppfite
fide of the fame mountajin was covered with the
fineft herbage, which gradually afcended to its
fummit. From thence the moft beautiful and ex-
tenfive profpe^t that imagination can form, open^
to your view. Verdant plains, fruitiul meadows,
nunerous iflands, and all thefe abounding with a va-
riety of trees that yield amazing quantities of fruitj
without care or cultivation ; fuch as the nut-tree ;
the maple which produces fugar, vines loaded with
rich grapes, and plum-trees bending under their
blooming burdens ; but above ail, the fine river flow-
ing gently beneath, and rea:hing as far as the eye
can extend, by turns atlra£t your a,dmiration, and
excite your wonder. •

The Lake is about twenty miles long, and near
fix in breadth j in fome places it is very deep, and
abounds with variouf kinds of fifh. Great nuiti-

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

SS

bers of fowl frequent alfo this Lake and the rivers
adjacent ; fuch as ftorks, fwans, geefe, brants, and
ducks : and in the grov6s are found preat plenty
of turkeys and partridges. On the plains are the
largelt buffaloes of any in America. Here I ob-
ferved the ruins of a French faftory, where it is faid
Captain St Pierre refidbd, and carried on a very
great trade with the NaudowelBes, before the reduc-
tion of Canada.

About ' fixty miles below this Lake is a irjoun-
faih remarkably fituated ; for it ftands by itfelf
exa6:ly'in the middle of the river, and looks as if
it had flidden from the adjacent fhore into the llream. -
It cannot be termed an ifland, as it rifes immedi-
ately from the, brink of the water to a confid'erable
height. Both the Indians and th^ French call it
^he Mountdn in the river.

One day having landed on the fliore of the Mif-
lifiippi, fome miles below Lake Pepin, whiHl my
attendants were preparing my dinner, I walked out
to t?.ke a view of tiie adjacent counti*y. I had not
procetjded far before 1 came ro a fine, level, open
plain, on whi ' perceived, at a little diflance, a par-
tial elevation thu. lul the .ippearanceof n mtrerich-
ment. On a nearer iiiijaeciion,! had greater reafon
to fuppofe that it had re. ly been intended for thi^
many centuries ago. Notwithftandinr it was now
cov£red with grafs, I could pli inly di.oern that it
had once been a breaft-work c about four feet in
height, extending the beft part of a mile, and fufli-"
ciently capacious to cover tive thou! 'nd men. Its
form was fomewhat circular,' and J^^ iianks reached
to the river. Though much dei....wd by time, every
angle was diftinguiiliable, and appeared as regular*
and falhioned -with as much military fkill, as if
planned by Vauban himfelf. The ditch was not

J6

CARVER'* TRAVEj:.S.

vifiblc, but I thought, on examining more curiouil^,
that I could perceive there * qertainly had been one:
From its lltuation alfo, I am (Convinced thai it niu((
have been deiigned for this purpofe. tt fronted iht
couniiy, and the rear was covered by the river ;
nor was there a 'y riflng ground for a confiderabl*
way, that Commanded it; a few ftraggling oaks
were alone to be if^n near it. In many places
fmall trads were worn dcrofs it by the feel ofihd
elks and deer, and from the depth of the bed of
earth by which it was covered, I was aWie t»> Ar^^fi
certain concluiions of -s grc** antiquity, i exa-
Jrtii.ed all the^ngles, and every part with great at-
tention, E(hd have often blametV myfclffince, ♦or
not encamping on the fpct, and drtiwihg an exa£i
plan of it. To (hew that this defcripiion is not the
ofl^spring of a heated imagination, or the chimericLl
tale of a miftaken traveller, I find on enquiry,'fince
my return, that Monf. St Pierre and feveral tra-
ders, have, at different tiftVcs, taken notice of fimi-
lar appearances, on 'which they have formed the
fame conjc<3tures, bt)t without examining them fo
minutely as 1 did. How a work of this kind could
exift in a country that has huhctto {according to the
general received opinion) been the few of war to",
untutored Indians aJone, whofe whole ftock of mili-
tary knowledge tias only, till within two centuries,
amounted to drawing the bow, ard >,vhofe only
bread-work, even at prefent, is th« thicket, I
know not. I have given as exadt jan account as
poffible oi iliis lin^^ular appearance, and I leave to
iuture explorers of thefe diftant, regions, to dilcover
whether it is a produdion of nature or art. *

Perhaps the hints I have here given, might
lead to a more perfed inveftigation of it, and give
Up very different ideas \>f the ancient ftate of realms

i;Jta-;.,j!!'jLfi

jCARVER'. TRAVELS.

57

t^at w^ at pfefent believe to have bsen from th|
eariiett period the only habitation of fiivagi^.

Th^ |^i(C0ippi, as far as the entrance of the
river' St <^roix, thirty miles aboye Lake Pepin,
is very full of inlands ; focne of which are of si con-
fiderable lengths On thefe alio grow great Btrj^
i^ers of ih« maple or fugar tree, and around th'eiiiy
yi^es ioaded* with grfjipes, creeping to their very
tc^s. if rom the lake upwards* few mountains ate
iro be f^n, and thofe but Cmall. Near the river -
$t Groix^ reiide three bands of the Naudpweffie^
Indians, called the Bivef Bands,

This nation is compofcd, at prefeot,- of eleven
|>a<nds. Theiy were originally twelve 5 but the Affi*
iiipoilis, fome years agd, revolting, and Teparating
themfelves from the otherg, ^here rcmfiin only at
fhis tirrie eleven. Thofe I met here are termed the
River Bands, becaul'e they chiefly dwell near the
banks of this riyer : The other eight are generally
diRii^guiihed by the tirle, NaiiupweHTies of the plains,
and inhabit a country that lies more to the weft-
ward. * The names of the former are the Nehoga-
tavv<)nahs, th.e Mawtawbaantowahs, and the S^ah-
fweentowas, and confill: of about four hundred
warriors.

A little before I met with thefe three band*, I
fell* in with a party of the M awtawbauntom ahs,
amounting to forty warriors and their fnmilies, With
thefe l refided a day or two, during whi^h time
five or fix of their number who had been out cm^ an
excurfio:!, returned in great hafte, and acquainred(
their companions, that a large party of the Chipe*
way warriors*, " enough," as they exprefled rhem-
felves, '* to fwallow them all up," were clofe at
iheir heels, qnd on the point of attacking their little

• *'

;■<*

■'■P

~3.i'-"(WJi5^j

59

e A R V E R*8 TRAVELS.

camp. The chiefs applied to me, and defired I
would 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 aft, and never found myfelf in a
greater dilemma. Had I Vefufed to afljfl the Nau-
doweffies, I Ihould have drawn on myfelf their dif-
pleafure ; or had 1 met the Chipeways with hoftile
intentions, I (hould have made that people my foes ; •
and had I been fortunate enough to have efcaped
their arrows at this time, on Tome future occafion I
fliould 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 F might endeavour to
avert their fury. To this they relu^antly aflenied,
being perfuaded, from the inveteracy which had long
prevailed between them, that my remonftrances
would be in vaiti, / '

Taking my Frenchman "^'ith me, who could
(peak their language, I haftened towards the place
where the Chipeways were fuppofed to be. The
Naudoweflies, during this, kept at a diilance behind.
As I approached them with the pipe of peace, a
fmall party of their chiefs, confiftmg of about
eight 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 rancour being by my perfualions in forne
meafure mollified, they agreed to return back, with-
out aciJomplifhing their favage pufpofes. During
pur difcpurfe I could perceive, as they lay fcattered
about, that the party was very numerous, and many
of them armed with mulkets.

- Having happily fucceeded in my undertaking, I
returned without delay to the Kaudoweflies, and"

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

S9

aefired they would inftantly remove their camp to
feme other part of the country, left their enemies
fhould repent of the promifc they had given, and
put their intentions in execution. They accord-
ingly followed my advice, and immediately pre-
pared to ftrike their tents. Wiillft 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'
jfriendly reception I afterwards met with from the
Naudoweffies of the plains, and for the refpedt and
honours I received during my abode among them.
And when I arrived many month's after at the Chi- -
'^eway village, near the Ottowaw lakes, I found that
ray fame had reached that' place before me. The
chief received me with great cordiality, and the
elder part of thv...: ih :\nked me for the mifchief I
had prevented. They informed me, that the waf
between their nation and the Naudoweffies had con-
tinued without interruption for more thai^- forty win*
ters. That they had long wilhed to put an end to ir,
but this was generally prevented by the young war-
riors of either nation, who could not reitrain their
ardour when they met. They faid they fhould be
happy if fome chief, of the fame pacific difpofitior*
as myfelf, and who polTelTed an eqiiardegree of re-
folution and cool nefs, would fettle in the country
between the two nations ; for by the interference of
fuch a perfon, an accommodation, which on their
parts they fmcerely defired, might be brought about.
As I did not meet any of the Naudowelfies after-
wards, I had not an opportunity of forwarding fo
good a work.

About thirty miles below the Fulls of Sj: An-
thony, at which.I arrived the tenth day after I left

Co

tARVER's TRAVEtS.

Lake Pep^'n, is a 'remarkable cave of an amazkv^
depth. The Im^ia^s term it Wakoti-teefce, that isy
the Dwelling of the Great Spirit*^ The entrance
into ft ii about r^/eet wide, the height of it five
feet. The arch wit^i^n tsnear fifteen feet high, ar»4
about thirty feet broad. The bottom of it confifts
of ^ne clear fand^. About^twenty feet from tjie en-
trance beg^s a lake, the vratcr of which is franfpa-
fent, andeiiktends to an unsearchable diftance : ht the
darknefs of the cave prevents all attempts to , ac-,
quire a knowted^ of it. I threvir a fmall pcbbid
iow3i^$ the interior parts of it, with tiij mrnod^
ftrength : 1 could hear that' it feltintothe y^^ter, and
i^xwith (landing it was of fo fmatf a fize, it cat»f^ti
^n allonifi)i»g and horribk; tkolkf that reverberafed'
tbroujgh all thofe gi^oemy regions; I found in rhift
cave man^^ Indidri hterdjglyphid, which appeared'
very ancient, for tinte had nearly covered them with*
niofe, fothat it was with di^^iilty I could trace them.
They were cut in a nide maintiiier, lifpon the infidc
of the walls, which were compoied 6i a flone fo ex-
tremely (oft, that it might eafity be })tnetrated with
d kni^ ; a (Vofie every where to be fbi^nd near the
Miffi0]ppi. The cave is oiily accefitble by afcend*-
htg a XK ow, (lee^ pailage, iha^ liies ikar the brink'
6f the river.

J At a lirtl^ diftance from this dfeary cavern, is the
DUfying-place of feveraf bands of the Naudoweffie
Indians : though thefe people have no fixed reft-
dence, living in tents,, and abiding bat a few months*
6a one fpot, yet they always bring the bones of'
their dead to this place; which they take the op-
portunity of doing, when the chie^ me^t to hold their
(Councils, and to fettle all public a^airs for the Un-
filing fummer. i

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

6t

Ten miies bdlow the FaUi of St Anthony, the
River St Pierre, called by the natives the Wadda-
pawmenefotor, falls into the MnTiflippi from the weft.
It 18 net mentioned by Fuher Hennipin,. although a
large, fair river i this omiiTTon, I conclude, niuft have
proceeded from a fmall iflaud that is fituated exadly
at' its entrance, by which thef'ghtof it is intercepted*
I fhould not have difcovered this river myfelf, h»d
I not taken a view, when 1 was f'sarching for it, from
the high lands oppofite, which rife to a gre'4t
height. ,

!.,.-, • . . ' ' . ■" .

Nearly over againft this river I ^a;^ 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 MilTiflippi (torn the St
Pierre to this place, is rather mo/e rapid than I had
hitherto found it, and without iflands of any conlide^
ration.

Before I kft iny canoe, I overtook a young prinQC-
of the Winnebago Indians, who wa^ going on ail
emba0y to fome f>f the bands of the Naudoweffies*
Finding that 1 intended to take a view of the Fails,
he agreed to accompany me, his 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 phccj under the care of my Mohawk
fervant, antl we proceeded together by land, attend-
ed only by my French man^ to this celebrated pl*ce.
,- ■ - ■ ''^'

We could diftinftly 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 afloni(hing work of nature ; but I was
not long at liberty to indulge thefe emotions, my at-
tention being called olE by' the behaviour of my
companion. u . v' "^

t'.fr

61

CARVER'i TRAVELS;

' The prince had no fooner gained ihe point that'
overlooks this wonderful cafcade, than he began
with an audible voice to addrefs the Great Spirit,
one of whofe places of refidehce he imagined this to
be. He told him, that he had come a long way to^
p?iy his adorations to him, and now would make hint
the bed offering in his power. He accordingly firlt
threw his pipe into the ftream ; then the roll that
contained his tobacco ; after thefe the bracelets he
wore on hrs arms and wrifts ; next an" ornament that
encircled his neck, compofed of beads and wires ;'
and at lad the ear-iings from his ears ; in fhort, he
prefented to his god, every paVt of his drefs 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 adoratidhs, and at
length concluded them with fervent pctitiens-that the
Great Spirit would conftantly afford us his protec-
tion on ogr travels, giving us a bright fun, a blue
Iky, and clear and untroubled waters : nor would he
leave the place tiU we had fmoked together with my
pipe, in honour of the Great Spirit.

I was greatly furprifed at beholding an indance of
fuch elevated devotion in fo young an Indian, and
indead of ridiculing the ceremonies attending it, as
I obferved my catholic fcrvant tacitly did, I looked
on the prince with a greater degree of refpeQ; for
thefe fincere 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 mafikiod, as if they
had been made ^vith greater pomp, or in a confe-
crated place.

Indeed, the whole conduct of this young prince
at once amazed and charmed me. During the few

CARVER* 8 TRAVELS.

6g

days we were together, his attention feemed totally
to be employed in yielding me every afliftance ia
his power ; and even in fo (hort a time, he gave me
innumerable proofs of the mott generous and difin-
terefted friendftiip ; fo that on our return I parted
from him with ^^reat reluctance. Whilft I beheld
the artlefs, yet engaging manner of this unpolifhcd
favage, I could not help drawing a comparifon be-
tween him and fome of the more refined inhabitants
of civilized countries, nofniuch, I cwh, in favour cf
the latter.

The Falls of St Anthony received their name
from Father Louis Hennepin, a French mjflionary^
who travelled into thefe parts about the year. 1680,
?ind was the firft European ever feen by the natives.
This amazing body of waters, which are above 250
yards over, form a moft pleafing cataradl ; they fall
perpendicularly about thirty feet, and the rapids
below, in the fpace of 300 yards more, render thq
defcent confiderably 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 fixry feet ; \)\H he had
made a greater error in calculating the height of the
Falls of Niagara, which he afiTcris to be 60.0 feet ;

• whereas, from later obfervations accurately made, it

• \i well known that they do not exceed 146 feet. But
the good father I fear too often had no other foun-
dation for his accounts, than report, or, at beft, a
flieht inlpedion. •• ",^

In the middle of the Falls (lands a friall idand,
'about forty feet broad, and fomewhat longer, on,
"which grow a few cragged hemlpckand fpruce trees,
and about half way between this iflan^ and the eaft-
ero fhore is a rock, lying at the very edge of the
fall, in an oblique pofition, that appeared to be

'<K

64 C AR V E R's T R A V E L S.

about five or fix feet broad, and thirty or forty lonp.
Thefe Falls vary much from all the others I have
fcen, as you may approach clofe to them, without
finding the lead obltrudion from auy intervening hill
or precipice. -

The country around them is extremely beautiful.
It is not an uninterrupted p^in, where the eye finds
no relief, but compofed of many gentle afcents,
which in the fumnier arc covered with the finelt
verdure, and interfperfed with little groves, thac
give a plealine variety to the profpedl. On the whole,
when the Falls are included, which may be feen at
the diltance of four miles, a mor nleafing and plc^
turefque view cannot, I believe* be foiind through-
out the univfirfe. I could have wilhed that 1 had
happened to enjoy this glorious fight at a more fea-
fonable time of the year, whilft the trees and hillocks
Were clad in nature's gayeft livery, as this malt
have greatly added to the pleafure I received ; how-
fcver, even then it exceeded my warm iil expeftatinns.
I have endeavoured to give the rt ^de as juft an idea
of this enchanting fpot, as pofiible; but all defcrip*
tion, whether of the pencil or the pen, mud fall in-
finitely fliort of the original, . .

At a little didance below the Falls (lands a fmall
ifland, of about an acre and a half, on which grow a
great number of oak trees, every brunch of which,'
able to fUpport the weight, was full of eagles* nefts.
The reafon that .this kind of birds refort in fuch
numbers to this fpot, is, that they are here fecure
from the attack, either of man or beaft, their retreat
being guarded by the rapids, which the Indians
never attempt to pafs. Another reafcn is, that they*
find a conftant fupply of food for themfelves and^
their young, from the aniinals and filh which are'

CARVER'! TI^AVELS.

^]

ijanied to pieces by the Falls, and driven on the ad-
juccftt fliore.

Having fatisfied my curiofityas far as the eye of
man can be fatis6ed, I proceeded on, (till accom-
jpani'wJ by nny young friend, till I had reached the
Jtiiyer St Francis, neajr fixty miles above the Falls.
'I'o this river Father Hennepin gave the name of St
Francis, and this was the extent of his travels, as
well as mine, towards the north.welh As the feafon
was io advanced, and the weather extremely cold, I
was not able to make fo many obfervations on thefe
puns as 1 otherwii'e (hould have dQnCf

• ■ t, ' ■ * '

It might, however, perhaps, be neceflary to ob..
ferve, that in the little tour i made about the Falls,
fafter travelling fourteen miles by the iide of the Mif-
jiflippi, I came ^a a river nearly twenty yards
wide, which ran from the north-eaft, called Rum
Kiver. And on the 20th of November came to
another termed Goofe River, about twelve yards
wide. On the 21 ft I arrived at the St Francis,
which is about thirty yards wide. Here the Mifliffippi
itfclf grows narrow, being not more than ninety
yards over, and appears to be chietly compofed of
i'mall branches. , 'ihe ice prevented me from noti-
' cing the depth of any of thefe three rivers.

The country in fome places is hilly, b|Ut without
large mountains j and the land is tolerably good. I
oblerved here many deer and carriboes, fome elk,
with abundance of beavers, otters, and other furs.
A little above this, to the north-eart, are a jiumber
of fmall lakes, called the Thoufand Lakes ; the parts
about which, though but little freqqented, arc the
beft within many miles for hunting, as the hunter
never fails- of rettirning loaded beyond his expedi-
tions. ■ ■ : '

W^r

''V.

'^h /

6$

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

The Miffiflipp! has never been explored higher
up than the river St Francis, and only by Father.
Hennepin and myfelf thus far. So that we are
obliged folely to the Indians, for all the intelligence
jwe are able to give relative to the more northern
parts. As this river is not navigable from the fei
for veflels of any confiderable burthen, much higher
up than the forks of 'he Ohio, and even that is ac-
compliflied with great .difficulty, owing to the ra-
pidity of the current, and thewiiy^ing of the river ;
ihofe fettlements that may be made on the interior
branches of it, muift be indifputably fecure from the
attacks of any maritime power. But at the fam^
time the fettlers will have the advantage of being
able to <;onvey their produce to the fea-ports with
great facility, the current of the river from its fource!
to its eritrailce into the Gulf of Mexico, being ex-
tremely favourable for dping this in ffnall craft. This
might alfo in time be facilitated by canals or fhorter
cuts ; and a communication pened by water with
New- York, Canada, kc. by way of the lakes. The
forks of the Ohio are about nine hundred miles
from the mouth of the Miffiffippi, following the:
conrfe of the river ; and the Meflbri two hundred
miles above tliefe. From (he latter it is about twenty
miles to the Illinois river, and from that to the Ou-
ifconfin, which I have given an account, of, abou^
eight hundred more, ^

On the 25th I returned to my canoe, which I had
left at the mouth of the river St Pierre; and here
I parted with regret from my young friend, the
Prince of the Wjnnebagoes. This river being clear of
ice, by reafon of its fouthern fituation, i found no-
thing to obitru^t my paflage. Oji the 28th, being
advanced about forty miles, I arrived at a fmall
branch that fell into it from the north ; to which, as
^t had no name that 1 could diftinguifli it by, I gave

i-/^

i'TX

I'iit

CARVER'j TRAVELS.

si"''

«7

. ' ^ ■• ■■.

my own. About forty miles higher up, I came.fo
the Forks of Verd and Red Marble rivers, whicK
join at fome little diftance before they enter the
St Pierre.

. The Rifer St Pierr?, at its jundlion with the
Mifliffippi, is, about a hundred yards brpad, and
continues that breadth nearly all the way I faited
tipon it. It has a great depth of v?ate^, and in fortie
places runs very brifkly. About fifty . miles from
its mouth are forne rapids, and much higher up
there are many others.

■ I proceeded upon this river about two hundred
miles to the country of the NaudowefTies of the
Plains, which lies a little above the forks formed by
the Verd and ,Red Marble rivers, juft mentioned, *
tyhere a branch from the fouth nearly joins the Mef-
fbri ri»er. By the accounts I received from the
-Indians, I have reafon. to believe that the river St
Pierre and the Meflbri, though they enter the Mif-
fidippi twelve hundred miles from each other, take ;j
their rife in the lame neighbourhood j and this with- '-
in the Ipace of a mile. ^ • , .r;*; ,-.

■J i-

■^'

'■ The river St Pierre's northern branch rifes ffom *'

a number of lakes near the fhining mountains \ and

it is from fome of thefe, alfo, that a capital branch

of the river Bourbon^ which runs irtto Hudfon's

JBay, has its iburces. -'Xi:~:'''-<F,\ ■.:■■ •.:r. .;- ■^?;v.- ' ,
'. ■ -/ ■ .'■;" "'j^^' '""■ ' '- '■■■":■ '.

From the intelligence I gained from the Nau-
doweflic Indians, among whom I arrived on the 7th
of December, and whofe language I perfectly ac-.
quired during a refidence of five months ; and alfo
from the accounts I aficrwards obtained from the
Affinipoils, who fpeak the fame tongue, being a re-
volted band of the Naudoweliics j and from the Kil-
^r , •• ■ . ^ ■ , ■ ' " .

■'-sU--- ■ ■ ' .V ' ^. • ^ ■■'■

/•■■ '',

, ^t .

\\ -'^

— \ ii ■ .1

61

'\»i %. * »- .;.: ,4f '"'»' ■ i A*: '■» "(it' -* .» ■'••*

■^•.'.•

Minocs, neighbours of the AflinipoiFs, who fpeak
theChipcway language, and inhabit the heads of the
river Bourboii ; I fay, from thefe nations, together,
with my own obfervations, I hive learnt that the
four mod capital rivers on the Continent of Norta
America, viz. th^ St Lawrence, the MiffiiBppi, the
river Bodrbon, and thcOregan, or the River of the,
"Wefl: (as I hinted in my introdudlion) have theif
fources in the fame neighbourhood. .The VJ^aters of
the three former are withi'x thirty miles of each
other ; the ketef, however, is rather further weft. 1

'*>;•< ■

' i-i <».•/■,

This fhews that thefe parts qre the highefl hnds'
in North-America ; and it is an in^ance not to be
parallelled on the other three cjuarters of the globe,
that fotit rivers of fuch magnitude fliould take theit
rife together, and each, after running feparaie cour-
fes, difcharge their waters into different oceans at
the diilance of two thoufand miles from their fources.;
For in their paflage from. this fpot to the Bay of tit
Lawrence, eaft ; to the Bay of Me*:ico, fouth ; to
Hudfon's Bay, north ) and to the bay at the Straits;
of Annian, weil, each of thefe travcrfe upwards of
two thoufand miles. ■. .-,

- I jfhall here give my readers fuch reflexions as
occurred to me, when I had received this intereft-
ing information, and had by numberlefs enquiries,
afcertained the triith of it ; that is, as far as it was
polUble to arrive at a certainty,, without a perfonai
Inveftigation. v . • , ,

It is well known that the Colonies, particularly
thofe of New-England and Canada, are greatly
affected, about the time their winter fets in, b}' a
north-weft wind, which continues for feveral months,
and renders the cold much more iiitenfe there thaii
it is in the interior parts of America. This I can.

' 1
■ I

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

«?

frdjii rt(y. dtirh khowledge, affert, as 1 found thfe
\^1iitet, that I pair6d to the weft ward of the Mif-
fiffippi, far from fefefe ; and the north-weft wind
blowing^on thofe countries eonfiderably more tcm-
pefate than- 1 haVe often experienced it to be nearer
the cbaft. Aftd that this.did hot arife from an un-
certainty of the feafons, but was annually the cafe,
I conclude, both ff-om the fmall quantity of fUoxir
that iKen fell, and a total difufe of fnow-lhoess,
by tfirsffe Indians, without which none of th6 more
eafterii hatib"n^ fcan poffibly travel HaAag the win-
ter. .^ ^ : . "

. Af^^^mhs dbfefv^, that air refembleS watef
in many vefpeds, particularly by often flowing in a
cbiipaft bcdy • a'hdihat this is generally remarked
to fee witit th6 cijhrent of large ftreams, and feldbrtt
acrofs th(^m, tiay r 6t the ^irtds that fet violently
into the Biiy of Mcxicd about tliW latt6r end of th6
y^a^ take their fcottf fe 6vet the continent in the fattife
dire(5tibn'as the Miflififppi does, till mfcfeting the i\6it\i
w*inds (thit from a fifffllar caufe blow up the Bburbdn
from Hudfon*s Bay), they are forcediacrofs the great
lakes, dowti the current of the waters of the >St.
^r^fente,' and, United, commit thofe ravaged, and
pccafion thdfe feVere winters, experienced in the
befote-mentidiied countries ? Daring their progt-efs
dvet tifre lakes they become expanded, and confe-
quently al^ed agfe'afer tradlof land than they other-
^ife would do.

Accdrding to my fciknty khowledge of narutal
phildfophy, this does not appear improbable;. Whe-
ther it is agreeable to the laws eftablifhed by natu-
nlifts to account for the operations of th^t element,
I know not. HoWever, the defctiprion here given
of the iltuatfbn of thfefe. taft bodies of water, and
their near approach to each other, with niy dWA

70

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

undigeded fuppofitions of their effect on the Windd^
may prove, perhaps, in abler hands, the means of
leading tp many ufeful difcoveriesi

On the 7,th of December, I arrived (as I faid be-
fore) at the urmoft extent of my trs.vels towards the
weft ; where J met with a large party of the Nau-
. doweflle Indians, among whom Irefided feven months;
I'hefe conftituted a part of the eight bands of the
Naudoweffies of the l^lains, and are termed the-Waw^
peentoivahs, the Tintons, the Affahcootans, the
Mawhaws, and the Schian^. The other three bands,
whofe names are, the Schianefe, the Chongoufcc-
toQ, and the Waddapawjeftin^ dwell ))igher up, td
the weft of the river St. Pierre, on plains thatj ac-
cording to their account, are unbounded ; and pro-
bably terminate oh the eoai^ of the Pacific Ocean.^
The Naudowefllv- nation, when united, confifts o^
tnoYc than two thoufand warriors. The Affinipoils^
.\vho revolted from them, amount to about three
hundred ', and leagued with the KiiKftinoes/ live in a
contimial ftate of enmity with the other eleven bands.

^s t proceeded up the rivet St. Pierre, and had
nearly reached the place where thefe people were
encamped, I obTerved two or three canoes coming
down the ftfeam 5 but no fooner had the Indians
that were on 'board ihemj difcovered us, than they
rowe^ toivards the land, and leaping aihore with
precipitation, left their caiioes to fibat as the current
drove them. In a few minutes I perceived fomt
others; who, as foon as they came in fight, fal-
lowed, with equal fpecd, thd example of their coun-
trymen.

I now thought It necenary to proceed with cau-
tion : and therefore kept on the fide of the river
6ppoiite to that on which the Indians had landed.

GARVER'a TRAVELS'..

7t

However, I fUil continued my courfti, fatisBed that
the pipe of peace, whieh was fixed at the head of
jny canoe, and the Englifli colours that were flying
^t the ftern, wouW prove myfecuriry. After rowing
about hj^lf a mile further, in turning a pointy I dif-^
covered a great number of tents, and more than ^
thoufand Indians, at a little dirtance frpm the fhore.
Being now nearly oppofite to them, I ordered my
men to pull direftly over, as I was willing to con-
vince the Indians by fuch a ftep, that I placed fome
confidence in therpj .!., .

As foon as I had reached the land, two of the
chiefs prefenttjd their handis to me, and led me,
amidft the aftonifhed multitude, who had mod of
them never feen a white man before, to a tent.
Into thl^ we entered, and according to the cuftom
that univerfally prevails among eyery Indian nation,
began to fmoke the pipe of pe^ce. «We had not
l^it long^ before the crowd became fo great, both
around, and upon the tent, that we were in danger
of being crufhed by irs fall. On this we returned
to the plain, wher*;, having gratified the curiofity
of the common people, their wonder abated, and
ever after they treated me with great refpe£t*^

Fr6m the chiefs I met with the moft friendly and
hofpitable reception J which induced me, as the
feafon was fo f?ir advanced, to take up my refidence
among them during the -Vinter. To render my
ftay as comfortable as poflible, I firft endeavoured
to Jearn thei^r language. Tlus 1 foop di^, fo as to
make myfelf perfeftly intelligible, haying bcibre
acquired fome flight knowledge of the language of
i^lfofe Indians that live on the back of the ieitlements,,
arid in confequence m.et with every accommQdation
their ma^^ixer of living would afford.' Nor did I
^ant for iuch amufements as tended to make f«i

72

CARVE R'lTRAVELS.

long a period pafs cheerfully a^^'ay. I frequently
hunted with them ; and at other times beheld wjth
pleafure their recreations ftud pailimes, which I ihal)
defcribe hereafter.

Sometimes I fat wkh the rhiefs, and whilft we
fmoHed the friendly pipe, entertained them, in
return for the accounts they gave me of their war$
and excurfions, with a narrative of my own adven-
tures, :^rxd a defcription of all the battles fought Be-
tween the Englifh and French in Ati^erica, in m^ny
of which I had a perfonal fharcv^ They always paid
great attention to my details, and afked many per-
tinent queltions relative to the European methods
of niiaking war. '

I held thefe coriverfations with them in a great
meajfure to procure from them (ome informatioja,
relative to the chief point I bad conftantly in iriew,
that of gaining a knowledge of the fuuation and
produce, both of their own toiintry, andthofe that.
lay to the weft w^rd of them. Nor was I difappoint ed
in my defigns ; fori procured fromtheii> rpuch ufe-
ful intelligence. They likeVvife drew for me plans
of all the countries with which they were acquainted ;
but as- 1 entertained no great opinion of their geo-
graphical knowledge, I placed not much depen-
dence on them, and therefore think it unneceirary
to give them to the public. They draw with a
piece of butnt coal, taken fronx the hearth, upon
^he infide of the birch tree, which is as frnooth
as paper, and anfwers the fqime purpofes, not-
withltanding it is of a yellow caft. Their iketche^
are made in a rude manner, but they feem to give
as juft an idea of a country, although the pl^
is not fo exaft as more experienced dfaughtlmeiV
could do, - >

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

M

I left t)^« habits^Hon of thefe hofpitable Jadiant
the l?ittflr end of April 1767 j but did not p^rt from
them for fev^ral days, as I was a<:cQnipanipd on my
journey by nes^r three hundred of Chem, ^mong whom
Wf re many chiefs, to the mouth of the river St Piet re.
At this feafon, thefe bands apn pally go to the Great
C^e, before ipentioned, to hold a grand council
with. all the other bands ; wherein they fettle their
operaitions for the enfuing year. At the lame tin^p
they carry with them their dead, ' ibr interment,
bound up in buff^aloes (kins* Befides thofe that
accompanied me, others were gone before, and thf
reft were to follow.

Never did I travel teithfo cheerful ?ind happy ^
company. But rheir mirth met with a fudden and
te^nporaty allay from a violent ftorm that overtook
us one day on our paflage. We bad juft landed,
and were preparing tq fet up our tents for the night*
when a heavy cloud overfpread the Iteavetts, anci
the moft dreadful thunder, ilghtntng and rainiiTueil
ifrom it, that fjvcr I beheld,

The Indians were greatly terriSed, and ran to
fi]ch il^etter ^s they could find ; for only a few tenta
were as yet ere€led. Apprehenfive of the? danger
that might enfue from ftanding near ^ny thing
which could ferve as a condud^or, as the cloud
appeared to contain fuch an uncommon quatitity
of ele^rical flytid, I took my ftand as far as pofBble
from any" covering ; cbufing rather to be expofed
to the peliipgs of the ^orm, than receive a fatal
ilroke. At this the Indians were greatly furprifed,
^lid drew conclufions from it not unfavourable to the
opinioiit they already entertained of my refolution.
Yet I acknowledge that I» was never more affedied
\n my life; fp| nothing fcarcely could exceed the
terrific fcene. The peals pf thunder were fo loud

'.■■IT

r*

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

that they fliook the earth ; and the lightning flafliecl
along the ground in dreams of fulphur; fo that the
Indisrn chiefs themfelves, although their courage
in war is ufually invincible, could not help trem-
bling at the horrid combuftion'. As foon as the
ftorm 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 apprehenfive that they
bad highly offended.

When we arrived at the Great Gave, and the In-
dians had depofited the remains of their deceafed
friends in the burial place that {lands adjacent to it,
they held their great council, into which I was ad-
mitted, and at the fame titne had the honour to be
inftalled or adopted a chief of their bands. On this
occafion'I made the following fpeech, which I inferc,
to give my readers a fpecimcn of the language and
manner in which it is neceflary toaddrcfs the Indi-
ans, ib as to engage their attention, and to render
the fpeaker's expreflion confonant to their ide&s^
It was delivered on the firft day oi May 1767.

' •? My brothers, chiefs of the numeroys and pqw-
^* erful "Naudowcfiies ! I rejoice that through my
" long abode with you, lean now fpeak to yoii
V, (though after an imperfect manner) in your owni
1' tongue, like one of your own children. I rejoice
" alfo that I have had an opportunity fo frequently
^^ to inform you of thi glory and power of the great
•* King that reigns over the Englifh and other nati-
f* ons ; who is defcended from a very ancient race
?* o^fovereigns as old as the earth and waters;
t* whofe fept (land oh two great iflands, larger thari^
^"^ any you have everfeen, amidft the grcateft waters
t^ in the world ; whpfe h^ad reaches to the fun, and
t* whofe arms endrcle the whole earth ; the num-
W ber of whofe warriors are equal to the trees ^n the

E;-: ^t

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

tP-

" vallies, the ftalks of rice in yonder marihcs* or
** the blades of grafs in your great plains : who has
** hundreds of canoes of his own, of fuch amazing
'< bignefs, that alji the waters in your country would
** not fufHce for one of them to fwim in -, each of
" which have guns, not fmall like mine, which you
*' fee before you, but of fuch magnitude, ih,M an
*' hundred of your ftouteft young men would with
" difficulty be able to carry one. And thefe are
*' equally furprifing in their operation againlt #the
^* great king's enemies when engaged in battle ; the
*' terror they carry with them, your language wants
" words to exprcfs. You may remember the other
*• day, ^hen we were encamping at Wadawpaw-
*" menefotor, the black clouds, the wind, the fire,
'*, the (lupendous noife, the horrible cracks, and the
•' trembling of the earth, which then alarmed you,
*' and gave you reafon to think your gods were
*' angry with you ; not unlike thefe are the warlike
"implements of the Englifli, when they are.fight»
'^ ing the battles, of their great king.

u
«<

-1'
C(

((

t(
It

«(

u

" Several of the chiefs of your bands have often
told me, in times pafl;, when 1 dwelt with you
in your tents« that they muchwifhed to be counted
among the childreif and allies of the great king
my mailer. You may remember how often you
have deiired me, when I returned again to my
own country, to acquaint the great king of your
good difpQUtion towards him and his fubje£ls, and
that you wiftied for traders from the Englifli to
come among yoii* '

".Being now about, to take my leave of you, and
" to return to my own country, a long way towards
" the rifmg fun, I again alk you to tell me, whether
" you continue of the fame mind as when I fpoke to
'*^ you in council laft winter i and as there are now

mw"

^ CARVER'i TRAVELS.

•• feveta! of your chiefs here, who came from rtc
great plaihs towards the fettJngof thefiin, whom I
have never fpoke with in couneil before, I alk you
to let me know, if you are all willing to atknow-
le<3gc yourfelvcs the children of my great mafter
the King of the Englilh arid other natioris, as I
fhall take the firft opportunity to acquaint him of
your defires and gbod intentions.

•t
«<

M*

^ I charge you not to give heed to btad reports ;
•• for there are wicked birds flying about among the
** neighbouring nations, who may whifper evil
*^ things in your ears againft the Englifli, confrSry
" to what I have told you ; you muft tiot believe
** them, for I have t61d you the truth,

" And as for the chiefs that are about to go to
" Michillimackinac, I fhall take care to make for
em and their fuite, a ftraigiit i^oSd, fmodth waters,
arid a cteat iky J that they riiay go tbete, and
fmoke the pipe of peace, and reft fecure on* a
**" beaver blanket, under the ihade of the great tree
** of peace. Fareiiv'ell !'*

To this fpeech I receited the fbllbwing aiifwer,
"fitDm the iriouth of the principal chief:

•<

«(

«c

** Good brother ! I am now about to fpeak to you
with the mouths ofthefeiny brothers, chiefs of the
eight bands' of the powerful natioti-of the Nau-
dowellies. tVe behete and are welt fatistied in
the truth of every thirig. you haVe told us about
your great nation, and the great fcing, our greateft
father j for -whom we fpread this beaver blanket,
i^at his fatherly proteftion miay ever reft; eafy and
fafe among us his children : your colours arid your
arms agree with the accounts you have given lis
" about your great nation. We ddire, that when you

,4

I/'

i(

««

it
u

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CARVER'S TRAVELS.

11

« return, you wfl! acquaint the great King how
" much the NaudoWeffies wifli to be counted among
** his good children.

«* You may believe us when we tell you, that we
,*• will not open our cars to any who may dare to
** fpeak evil of our great father the king of theEng-
" lifli and other naiions.

'ii

C(

it
((

•* We ihan?t you for what you have done for us
in making peace between the Naudoweflies and
the Chipeways, and hope, when you return to us
again, that you will complete this good workj and
quite difpelling the clouds that intervene, open
the blue (ky of peace, and caufe the bloody hatchet
to be deep buried under the roots of the great tree
of peace. '

Ci

((

«c

<(
/ **

" We wifh you to remember to reprefent to our
great father, how much we defire that traders may
be fent to abide amng us, with fuch things as we
need, that the hearts of our young men, our wives,
and our children may he made glad. And may.
peace fubfift between us, fo long as the fun, the
moon, the earth, and the waters Ihall indure.
Farewell!"

.1 thought it neceffary to caution the Indians againft
giving heed to any bad reports that may reach them
from th^ neighbouring nations, to the difad vantage
of the Englrih,. as I had heard, at different places
through which I paffed, that emiffaries were ftill em-v
ployed by the French to detach thofe who were
friendly to the Englifli from their inter.cft. And I
law, myfelf, fe vera! belts of wampum that had been
delivered for this purpofe to fomeof thq tribes I was
among. On the delivery of each of thefe, a Talk

7t CARVER't TRAVEL&.

was held, wherein the IncHans were told that the £n^<*
lift, who were but a petty people, had flolen that
country from their great father the king of France^
whilfl: he was afleep f hut that he would foon awake,
and take them again under hh protedion. Thefe
I found were fent from Canada, by perfons who ap-
peared to be well afFefted tow&rds the government
under which they lived. * » -

m

Whilft I tarried at th» mouth ^of the River St.
Pierre, with thefe friendly Indians, I endeavoured to
gain intelligence whether any goods had been fent
towards the Falls of Sr. Anthony f(5r my ufe, agree-
able to the promife I had received from the go-
vernor when I left Michillimackinac. But findmg
from fome Indians, yho palTed by in their return
from thofe parts, that this agreement had not been
fulfilled, I was obliged to give up all thoughts. of
proceeding further to the north<-wen: by this route,
according to my original plan. . I therefore returned
.to La Prairie le Chien, where F procured as many
goods from the traders I left there the preceding
year, as they could fpare^

As thefe, however, were hot fufEcient to enable
me to renew *my firft delign, I determined tp endea-
vour to make my way acrofs the country of the
Clhipeways to Lake Superior ; in hopes of meet-
ing at the Grand Portage on the north fide of it,
the traders that annually go from Michillimackinac
. to the n»rth-wefl ; of whom I doubted not.bjjt that
i fhould be able to procure goods enough to anfwer
my purpofe,, and alfo to penetrate through thofe
more northern parts to the Straits of Annian. \

And I the more readily returned to La Prairie le
Chien, as I could by that means the be^tter fulfil the

CARVER'! T.RAVELS.

iTfi

engagement I had made to the party of Naudowcf-
fies mentioned ac the conclufion of my fpeech.

During my abode with this people, wifhing to fe-
curc them entirely in the intereft of the Englifh,.!
had advifed fome of the chiefs to go to Michilli-
mackinac, where they would have an opportunity
^trading, and of hearing the accounts that 1 had en- -
tertained them with of my countrymen, confirmed.
At the fame timf 1 had furniflied them with a, recom-
mendation to the governor, and given them every
direction necefTary for their voyage.

In confequenceofthis, oi)e of the principal chiefs,
^nd twenty-five of an inferior rank, agreed to go
the enfuing fummer. This they took an opportu-
nity of doing when they came with the reft "of their
band to attend the grand council at the mouth of the
River St. Pierre, -^eing obliged, on account of the
difappointment I had juft been informed 'of, to re-
turn fo far down the Miffiffippi, I could from thence
the more eafily fet tfiem on their journey. '

As the intermediate parts of this river are much
frequented by the Chipeways, with whom the Nau-
dowe(fi6s are continually at war, they thought it
' morie prudent, being but a fmall party, to take the
advantage of the night, than to travel with me by
day J accordingly, no fooner was the grand council
broke up, than I took a friendly leave of thefe peo-
ple, from whom I had received innumerable/civili-
ties, and purfued once more my voyage.

I reached the eaftern fide of L^ke Pepin the fame
night, when I went alhore and encamped as ufuaK
The next morning, when I had proceeded fome miles
further, I perceived at a diftance before me, a finoke,
which denoted chat fome Indians were near; and ia

So

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

a fliort time difcovered ten or twelve tents, not far
from the bank of the river. As I was apprehenfive
that this was a party of the rovers I had before met
with, I knew not what courfe to purfue. My atten-
dants perfuaded me>o endeavour to pafs by them oi^
the oppofite fide of the river "; but as 1 had hitherto
JFound that the heft way to enfure a friendly recep-
tion from the Indians, is to. meet them boldly, arid
'•vithout fh?iwing any tokens of fear, I would by no
means confent to this propofal. Inftead of this, l^,
crofled direftly over, and landed in the midfi of
them, for by this time the greateft part of them,werf
flanding on the fliore. ;''.'?'* ^;;^

The firft I accofled were Ohipeways inhabiting
near the Ottowaw Lakes; who received me with
great cordiality, and (hook me by the hand in tokeri
of Iriendfhip. At fonie little diflance behind thefei
flood a '^hief remarkably tall and well made, but of
To ftern an afped, that t^e moll undaunted perfbn
could not behold him without feeling fome degree
of terror. He feemed to have pafTed the meridian of
life, and by the mode in which he was painted jmd
tatowed, I difcovered that he was of high rank. How-
ever, lapproached him in a courteous manner, and
expelled to have met with the fame reception I had
done from the other ; but to my great furprife, he
withheld his hand, and looking fiercely at me, faid,
in the Chipeway tongue, " Cawin nifhifliin faganofh,"
that is, " The Englifh are no good." As he had his
tomahawk in his hand, I expelled that this laconic
fentence would have been followed with a blow ; to
prevent. which, I drew a piftol from my belt, and,
holding it in a carelefs pofition, palTed clofe 6y him,
to ht him fee I was not afraid of him.

m^i:

, 1

I learned foon after from the other Indians, . that
this was a chief, called by the French the Qran4

,V;'-«<*'t '.i'J'*'-!:,

CARVER'3 TRAVELS.

'^#1

Sautor, or the great Chlpeway Chief, for they de-
nominate the Cftipeway, Sautors. They likewife
told me that he bad been always a fteady friend to
ih^t people, and when they delivered up Michilii-
mackinac to the Englifti on their evacuation of Ca-
nada, the Grand Sautpr had fworn that he would
ever remain the avowed enemy of its new poflelTors,
as the territories oil which the fort is built belongc4
to him.

4.

Finding him thus difpofed, I took care to be con* !f
ftantl} m my guard whiiit I (laid j but that he -M
might not fuppole I was driven away 'by his frowns,
I took up my abode there for the night. I pitched
my tent at fome diftance from the Indians, and had
no fooner laid myfelf down to reft, than I was
awakened by my Frenc*" fervant. Having been
alarmed by the found of Indian mufic, he had run
to the outlide of the tent, where he beheld a party of
the young favages dancing towards us in 3.u 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 ,
1 treat of the Indian dances. T.^.^%%:t»

The next morning I continued my vjyage, and
before night reached La Prairie le Chiea ; 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 Michiliimaddnac, he found means,
in conjundion with fome French traders from Loui-
fia«a, to draw from me, about ten of the Naudo«
welfie chiefs, whom he prevailed upon to go towards
t^ofe parts.

>i ' A, ■ ,-("■■'■,3,' .,.; '.'.'• ''r.','';i • ■ ,^.*-:,f'-^

•V:-. T':^^'- ' ■" ;■ ■" "-' "■■ ■ '•: '^^ '■

i.

?^.L«'ri.,.ASK?iii^:-'"

.,,\'_,^.^!

la

CARVER'^ TjElAVELS.

The remainder proceeded, accoirdiiig to my* di-»
tefkions, to the Englifh fort ; from whence I after-
teards heard' that they returned to their own country
without any unfortunate accident befalling them,
and greatly pleafed with the reception they had met
with ; whiHt not more than half of thofe who went
to the fouthward, through the difference of that
foxithern climate from their own, lived to reach their
abode. And fince 1 came to England 1 have been
informed, that the Grand Sautor having rendered
himfelf more and more difgultful to the Englifli,
l)y his inveterate enmity towards them, was at
length dabbed in his tent, as he encamped near Mi-
chillimackinac, by a trader to whom I had related;
the foregoing ftory.

I fliould have rernarked, that whatever Indiana
hiippen 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
?.re at war with each other, yet they are obliged to
reflrain their enmity,- and forbear all hoftile afts
during their ftay there. This regulation has been
long eftabliftied among them for their mutual con-
veniencies, as without it no trade could be carried
on. The fame rule is obferved alfo at the Red
Mountain (aftt;rwards defcribed), from whence they
get the ftone of which they liiake their pipes ; thefe
being indifpenfable to the accommodation oiF every
neighbouring tribe, a iimilar refl;ri£lion becomes
needful, and- is of public utility. 'v: .'

The river St Pierre, which runs, through the
territories of the Naudowefliw, flows ' through a
moil delightful country, abounding with all the ne-
ceffaries of life, that grow fpontaneoufly ; and with
a liitle cultivation, it might be made to produce even
the luxuries of life. Wijd rice gro\ys here in great

■V-;.'---

1/ i-

■".>

J I

.j.:._J.v.i? I ..-rf"...;^' ..-Liit-j.:-. .■.ji^:"!-^'/

cSf. ". ■ .<i.4itti'iii.;il; iili.'iJ. r, , , ■' '^t ,*■, . ■;^;. J

XV

\'.

CARVER'* TRAVELSi

■'-' .'5? '■

«5

abundance ; and every' place 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 ftored 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, fVom whence you have views that cannot
be exceeded, even by the molt beautiful of ihofe I
have already defcribed ; amidft thefe are delightful
groves, and fuch amazing quantities of maples, .that
they would produce fu^ar fuffieiem fox any number
of inhabitaotJ?. v

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 Miffillippi, is compofed entirely of
white ftone, of the fame foft naturt as that I have
before defcribed -, for fuch, indeed, is all the (lone
in this country; But what appears remarkable, is,
that the colour of it is ^s white as the driven fnow.
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
grov; harder by time, and have a very noble efFe£k
in archite(3:ure.

5ft,«**'>>j-.?ii"^V '<;"'^'''-M

••>"•».-

■ .'•^J '

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 ^hefe parts is found a
black;, hard clay, or rather ftone, of which the
Naudoweffies make their family utenfils. Thife
country likewife abounds with a milk-white clay,
of which China ware might be made equal in good-
nefs to the Afiatic ; and alfo with a blue clay that
ferves the Indians for paint j with this laft they con-.

■■■■'%.

■•K ^■

■ if.'.'-

8f

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

r

trive, by mixing it wirh 'the red fton« powdered;
t6 paint theinfelves of difrcrerit colours. Thofe that
can get the blue clay here mei'.:ioned» paint themfelves
Very much with it ; particularly when they are about
to begin their fports and paftimes. It is alfo efteeni-
cd by them i mark of peace, as it has a refembiance
6f a blue Iky, which with thera is a fyraboi of it,
and made ufe of in their fpeeches as a figurative
expreffion to denote peace. When they y^'iih to fhew
that their inclinations are p?icific towards other tribes,
they greatly ornament both themfelves arid their
belts with it.

Having concluded my bufinefs at La Prairie le
Chien, I proceeded once more up th^ Miffiffippi, as
far as the place where the Chipeway River enters ic
a little below Lake Pepin. Here, having engaged
an Indian pilot, I direded him to fteer towards the'
Ottawaw Lakes, which lie near the head of ihi»
tiverv This he did, and I arrived at them the be-
ginning of July.

f ^,

I ,

• ■' ■» I:. ,

The Ghipeway River, at its junftion with the
Miffiffippi, is about eighty yards wide, but is much'
wider as you advance into it. Near thirty miles up it
fcparates into two bran<:hes, and I took my courfe
through that which lies to the eadward.

The country adjoining to the river, for about fixt/s;
Jniles, is very level, and on its banks lie fine mea-
dows, where larger droves of buffaloes and elks were
feeding, than I obferved in any other . rts of my, .
travels. The trad between the two Lnjiches or
this river is termed the Road ofW?r between th«
Chipeway and Naudoweflic Ind-' ,nf^.

The country to the Falls is almoft without any
timber, and above that very uneven ^d rugged^*H:

.i.^^-^*i..^..u.

■ T i <■,''■'■."■'!"■

CARVER'* TRAVELS.

85

and clofely wooded with pines, beach, maple, and
birch. Here a mod remarkable and afloniOiing
light prefented iifelf to my view. Ii> a wood, on
the eaft of the river, which was about three quarters
of a mils in lengthj and in depth farther than my
eye coiild 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 fonie extraor-
dinary hurricane, that came from the well foma
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 nieafure this havock, as only a few trees were
s blown down. .■;,""•"■! ■"/^■''.' ■' • -. ..•>'> ':,■•• .• .':

, Near the heads of this rfver, is a town of the Chu
peways, from whence it lakes its name. It is fituated
on each fide of therlVer (which at this place is of no
coniiderablebreadth) and lies adjacent to the banks of
a fraall lake. This town contains about forty houfes,
and can fend out upwards of one hundred warriors,
many of whom were fine ftoiit young men. The
houfes of it are buiit after the Indian manner, and
have neat plantations behind them y but the inhabi-
tants, in general,' feemed to \>& the naftieft people
I had ever been among. I obferved that the women
and childrpn indulged themfelves in a cuftom, which,
though common, in fome degree, throughout every
Indian nation, appears to be, according to our ideas,
of the moft naufeous and indelicate nature ; that of
learching each other's heads, and eating the prey
caught therein. ...

In July I left this town, and having crofled a
number of fmall lakes and carrying places that inter*

M

,V'-

96

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

Vi

■■ .A

vened, I came to a head branch of the river St
, Croix. This branch I defcended to a fork, and
.then afcended 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 other
~ country. '^^ W-tf' i\':^ '■^■Srmw^H^-^)^0x^^^^^^

. •• >:^ '^ ■-;■'■'■ ■ ; .^''v'i-H *fi'- '■''^■- '''i-^fii^^ '^Mi'_ '^'^'•''i''M'-t ■:•''.,

^ Here t came to a fmall broolc, which my guide
thought might be joined at feme diftance by ftreams

^ that would at length render it navigable. The
water at firfl: was fo fcanty, that my canoe would
by no meani fwim in it ; but having (topped up
feverar old beaver, dams, which had been broken
down by the hunters, I was enabled to proceed for
fome miles, till by the junction of a few brooks,

r thefe aids became no longer neceflary. In a fhort
time the water increafed to a moft rapid river, which
we defcerided till it entered into Lake Superior.
This liver 1 nam6d after a gentleman that defired
to accompany me from the town of the Ottagau-
mies to the carrying place on Lake Superior, Gbd-

; dard's 'River/ -^Uv--^:; ■!' ' 'l ■;'i^v?; -a::'^.;'^ > '^ ' ■.•• !■..

;:'r^*'

^' i.:jl"

To the weft of this is another fraall river, which
'\ alfo empties itfelf into the Lake. This I termed
' Strawberry River, from the great number of ftraw-

beriies of a good fize and flavour that grew. on its

banks.

'■ The Country from the Ottowaw Lakes, to Lake
Superior, is in general very uneven and thickly
. covered with <»woods. ,Thfe foil in fome places is
tolerably good, in others but. indifferent. In the
heads of the St Croix and the Chipeway Rivers, are
exceeding fine fturgeon. All the wildernefs be-
tween the Miffiflippi and Lake Superior is called
by the Indians, the Mofchettoe Country, and I
thouglit it moft juftly named j for, it being then

.■.■.:■,'....■. :-.ri,:

; '.

CARVER'S TPv A V ELS.

B7

their feafon, I never favv or felt fo many of ihofe
infedts in my life.

,-.H,-y.. . •■. ? rr.,,,

•TJ-, ,-'>f,.'7,'T

The latter end of July I arrived, after having
coafted through Weft Bay, at the Grand Portage,
which lies on the north-weil borders of Lake Su-
perior. Here .thofe who go to 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 ef fome of which defcend into Lake Superior,
and others into the river Bourl^pn. 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, where it was tolerably
, jevel^. V ,

%kA-f- i-i/.A;'*'*^*

At the grand Portage is a fmall bay, before the
fsntrance of which lies an illand, that intercepts the
^reary and uninterrupted view over the Lake,
which otherwife would have prefented itfelf, and
makes the bay ferene and pleafant. Here 1 met a
large party of the Killiftinoe and Aflinipoil Indians,
with their refpe(5tive kings and their families. They
were come to this place in order to meet the traders
from MichillimackinaG, 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^ ; < . . : ;• p/ • ■'

. . • * ^ ' ■' . *■ ', ■:■''..• ^- ■,'■''■'* ' ' : ■' -^ N

.La5:« Bourbon, the moft northern of thofe yet
difcovercd, received its name from the French tra-
ders who accompanied a party of Indians to Hud-
I'oh's Bay fome years ago ; and was thus denomi-
nated by them in honour of the royal family of France.
It is compofed of the waters of the Bourbon river,
which, as I have before obferved, rifes a great way

« .* ■

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I. --^''■.■'

ei

. CARVER'S TRAVELS.

1-1..-

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to the fouthward, not far from tiie northern hcKJs
.of the Miififlippi. \ -l ■", . ■ •< if .•. Jjj • -S V^^' ^r'|?|;,^^v'(^ ' ^

?J 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 eallern fide is
very good ; and to the fouth-weft there are fome
mountains ; in many other parts there are barren
plains, bogs, and moraffes. 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 Otnalion the weather there is extremely
; cold, only a few animals are- to be found in the
country that bordcBS upon it. They gave me but an
indifferent account either of the beafts, birds, of
fifties. There bre indeed fOme buffaloes of a fmall
. fize, which are fat and good about the latter end of
fummer, with a few mot)fe and carriboo deer : how-
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,
. cedar, fpruce, and fome maple. . - - ^ >

^ Lake Winnepeek, or, as the French write itj Lac
Ouinipique, which lies neareft to the foregoirig, is
compofed of the fame waters. It is in length about
two hundred miles north and fouth ; its "breadth has
never been properly afcertained, but is fuppofed to
be about one hundred miles in its tvideft 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 not di^inguiihed

' by any names. The waters are ftored with fifl^i,
fuch as trout and fturgeon, and alfo with others of
a fmaller kind peculiar to thefe lakes. i-\ri^lP'<ii^X' '-

The land en the fouth-weft part of it is very

<, good, efpecialiy.at the entrance of a large branch

,pf the river Bourbon, which flowsfrom the fouth-

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>

> 1

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

h

Vi-ii'

Wcf!. Oh this river there is a faftory'that was built
by the French, called Fort la Reine, to which the
traders from Michillimackinac refort to trade with
the Afiinipoils and KillKtinoes. To this place the
Mahahs, who inhabit a country two hundred and
fifty miles foiiih-weft, come alfo to trade with them ;
and bring great quantities of Indian corn, to ex->
ichange for knives, tomahawks, and other articles.
Thofe people are fuppofed to dwell on fome of the
branches of the river of the Weft. ,

;V> ''

Lake Winnepeek has on the north-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 ap, amazing quantity of
rice, which proves that grain will liourilh in thefe
northern climates as well as in warmer. Buffaloes,
carriboo, ^nd 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; jufl as the black
cattle of the northern parts of Great Britain differ
from Englifh- oxen, '.'■•■■. -.

».' .'^*^4

On the waters f hat fall into this la£e, the neigh-
bouring nations take great numbers of excellent furs.
Some of thefe they carry to the fadories and fettle-
ments belonging to the Hudfon's Bay Company,
fituated above the entrance of the Bourbon River j
but this they do with, reludance, on feveral accounts ;
for fome of the Affmipoils and Killiftinoes, who
ufuaily traded with the Company's fervants, told
me, thatif they could be fure of a conftant fupply of
goods from Michillimackinac, they would not trade
any where elfe. They ftiewed 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 greatly impofed upon in the barter.

.^'M

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<J0

CARVER'i TRAVELS.

i':

, "»

Allpwinpj that their accounts were true, I could not
help joining in their opinion. But this diflatisfac-
tion might probably proceed, in a great meafure,
from the intrigues of the Canadian traders: for
''whiifl: the French were in pofleflion of Michilli-
mackinac, having acquired a thorough knowledge
of the trade of the north- wefk countries, they were
employed on that account^ after the redudion of
Canada, by the Englifti 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 thofc Indians from their attach-
ment to theHudfcn's Bay Company, and to engage
their good opinion in behalf of their new employers;
was by depreciating on all occafions the Company's
goodsj and magnifying; the advantages that would
arife to them from trafficking entirely \fith the Ca-
nadian traders. In this they too well fucceeded,
and frdm this, doubtlefn, did the diiratisfaclion the
' jAflinipoils and Killiitinoes exprelFed to me,- part-
ly proceed. But another reafon augmented it y and
this was the length of their journey to the Hudlbj[3,'s
Bay factories, which, they informed me," took them
up three months, during the fummer 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 ihould 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 mufl: be under thenecef-
fity of winking at an encroachment of this kind, as
the Indians would without doubt proted fhe traders
when among them. Befides, the paflTports granted
to the traders that go from Michillimackinac, givt
, them liberty to trade to the north-wefl about Lake
. Superior; by which is meant Fort La Reine, Lake
;^inneDsek, or any other parts of the waters of the

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. • * •

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C A R V £ R*s TRAVELS.

W

Bourbon River, where the Couriers de Bois, or Tra-
ders, may make it moll convenient to refidc. ':i/

Lac du Bois, as commonly termed by the
• French in their maps, or in Englifh the Lake of the
,. Wood, is (o called from the multiplicity of wood
growing on its banks ; fuch as oaks, pines, firs,
jTpruce, &c. This lake lies (UU higher upon a
branch of the river Bourbon, and nearly ealt from
the fouth end of Lake Winnepeek. It is of great
depth in fome places. Its length from eaft to we(t
about feventy miles, and its greateft breadth about
forty miles. It has but few illands, and thefe of no
great magnitucle. The filhes, 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 to fifh
and hunt.';.^K , :;.':V -':,, v',-:' /M,^ ■■.;*??^>,, -■Vy^'>^,;'
- ;,- ..I- ■'.:•.• '^ * ..'•■"■'"■'' '"'-} ■' : *■ ' :.^ .»-'>"^^'.
This lake lies, in the communication between
Lake Superior, and the Lakes Winnepeek and Bour-
bon. Its waters ar« not efteemed quite fo pure as
thofe of the other lakes, it having, in many places, a
muddy ,botiom.

,--. r- r' ■ ■ ■ . ^ ■ ■■ -■ -."^

\ Lac la Pluye, fo called by the Frefich, in Englifh,
the Rainy Lake, is fuppofed to have acquired this
name from the firfl: travellers *that palled over it
meeting with an uncommon deal of rain; or, as fome
have affirnied, from .a mid like rain, cccafioned by
a perpendiculai: water-fall that empties itfelf inio a
river which lies to the fouih-w<;lt.

This lake appears to be divided by an ifthmus, near
the middle, into two parts : the weft part is called
the Great Rainy Lake, the eaft, the Little P^ainy
Lake, as being the leaft divifion. It lies il few miles
further to the eall\yard, on, the fame branch of the

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Bourbon» than the lafl mentioned I^ake. It is in
general very flialiow in its depth. The broadeft
part of it is no more than twenty miles ; its length
including both about three hundred miles.. In the
well part the water is very clear and good ; and Tome
excellent filh are taken in it. A great many fv^wl
refort here in the fall of the year. Moofe deer are
to bis found in great plenty, and likewife the car-
riboo, whofe ikin 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 elleemed^'
in fome places, very good, but rathei^ too thickly,!
covered with wood. Here refide a confiderabli
band of the Chipeways.
1 ■ ■ ■ . , • ■' ■ ■■''<■ I .,' ■'■

• 'Eaftward from this lake lie feveral fmall ones,*
which extend in a firing to the great carrying place/
and, from thence iijto Lake Superior. Between thefc
littlie takes are • feveral carrying places, which ren-
der the trad6 to the north- Weil difficult to accohi-
plifli, and exceeding tedious, as it takes two year$ to
make one voyage from Michillimackinac to thefc
parts. V

, ■■■■.",'. i' I

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 iixty miles in circumference. On one
iide of it is a tolerable large iiland, clofe by which a
fmall river enters. It bears alihoil fouth-ead both
from Lake Winnepeek and from Lake du Bois.
The parts adjacent are very little known pr fre-
quented, even by the favages themfelves. 5

Not far from this lake, a Ijttlc to the fouth- weft, is
another, called, White Bear Lake, which is nearly
about the fize of the laft mentioned. The waters
that compofe this lake are the mod northern of any

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CARVER»« TRAVELS.

93

that fupply the Miffiffippi, and may be called with
propriety its mofl remote fource. It is fed by two
or ihree fftiall river$, or rather latge brooks.

A few miles from it, to .he fouth-eafl, 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
tan fwim.

Having juft before obferved that this lake Is
the utmoft northern fource of the Miffiffippi, I
J fhall here further remark, that before this river
i enters the Gulf of Mexico, it. has not run left,
through all its meanderings, than three thoufand
miles; or, in a* flraight line from north to fouth,
About twenty degrees, \<^hich is nearly fourteen hun-
dred Englim miles.

Thefe Indians informred 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 fliould imagine that it was not
A lake, but rather the Archipelago, or broken
waters that form the jommunication between Hud-
fbn's Bay and the horthern parts of the Pacific
Ocean.

, There ard ati infinite "number of fmall lakes on
the more weftern parts of the weftern head-branches,
of the Miffiflippi, as well as between "ihefe and Lake
"Winnepeek, but none of them arc large enough tc

N

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' ■ X

- ^•-

#♦

CARVER*! TltAVELS.

fuppofe eittrer of them to be the lake or water?
:hieanc by the Indiani.

They likewifc informed me, that fome of the
northern brancbei of the Meflbrie and the fouthern
branches of the St. Pierre have a communication
^ith each other, except for a mile, over which
they carry their eanosf. And by what I could
learn from them, thii is the*road they take when
their war parties make their excurfions upon the
^Pawnees and Pawnawnees, nations inhabiting fome
branches oi the Mcflbric river. In the country
belonging to thefe people, it is faid, that mandrakes
are frequently found, a fpecics of root refembling
human beings of both fexes : and that thefe are more
perfed than fuch as arc difcovered about the Nile.
in Nether Ethiopia.

A little to the florth-weft of the heads of the Mcf-
forie and St. Pterret the Indians further told me,
that there was a nation rather fmaller and whiter
than the neighbouring tribes, who cultivate tlie
ground, and (M far as I could gather from their
expreflions) in fom« mcafure, the arts. To this
account theV added, that fome of the nations who
inhabit thole parts that lie to the weft of the Shining
Mountains, have gold fo plenty among them, that
they make their moft common utenfils of it. Thefe
mouiitains (which 1 fliall 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
to the Mexican Kings, and who fled from their na-
tive country, to feek an afyium in thefe parts, about

r'\:^.m^:-.^

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

55

the time of the conqueft of Mexico by the Spaniardj^
more than two centuries ago.

As fome confirmation of this fuppofition, it is
xemarkcd, that they have chofen the molt interior
parts for their retreat, being ft III prepoflefled with a
notion that the fea-coafts have been infefled ever
fmce with mopfters vomiting fire, and hurling about
thunder and Jightning ; from whdfe bowels iftued
men, who, with unfeen inftruraents, or by the
power of magic, killed the harmless Indians at an
aftonifliing 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 thu5 terrified them,
<:ould not approach the land, and that thofe who had
deCcended from their fides did not care to make
cxcurfions to any confiderable diftance from them,
they formed a refolution to betake themfelves to
fome country, that lay far from the fea-coafts,
where only they could be fecure from fuch diaboli>
cal enemies. They accordingly fet out with their
families, and, after a long peregrination, fettled
themfelves near thefe mountains, where they con-
cluded they had found a place of perfed fecariiy. .

* The Winnebagoes, dwelling on the Fox River
(whom I have already treated of,) are likevife fup-
pofed to be fome ftrolling band from the Mexican
countries. But they are able to give only an im-
perfed account of their origiiial -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 tlrey 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

:Ai?fa-*.*'-. ; --'fc'/'v-; ."..■.5<;'>;^: *

9*5

CA RVER*s ^RAVELS.

emigrants, as they pafled on towards their prefent
habitation.

Thefe fuppofitions, however, may want confir-
nnation; for the Smaller tribes of Indians are fub-
jeft to fuch various alterations in their places of
abode, from the wars they are continually engaged
in, that it. is aimoft impofllble to afcertain, after
half a century, the original f.tuation of any of them.

T^hat range of mountains, of which the Shining
■ iVTountains are a part, begins at Mexico, and con-
tinuing northward, op 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 Guff
of California. From thence continuing their courfe
ftili northward, between the fources of the Mifiiflippi
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 Souiiij
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
ftohes, of an amazing fize, with which they are
covered, and which, w.hen the fun lhine& full
upon them, fparkle fo as to be feen^t a very great
diftance. . '

. This extraordinary range of mouptains is calcu^
lated to be more than three thoufand miles in length,
without any very confiderable intervals, which I
. believe furpaffesany thing of the kind in the other
quarters of the globe. Probatily in future ages, they
may be found to contain more riches in their bowels.

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

sr

Ihan thofe of Indoftan and Malabar, or that aref pro«
duced on the golden coaft of Guinea; nor will I
(except even the Peruvian mines. Tb the weft of
thefe mpuivtains, when explored by future Cdlumr
bufes or Raleighs, may be found other lakes, r|ii
yers, and countries, fraught with all the necef-
faries or luxuries of life ; and where future genera-*
tions may find ap afylum, whether driven from their
country by the ravages of lawlefs tyrants, or by
religious perfecutions, or reludantly leaving it to
remedy the incohveniencies arifrng from a fupera-
bundant increafe of inhabitants; whether, I fay,
impelled by thefe, or allured by hope* of commer-
cial advantages, there is little doubt but their ex-
pedations will be fully gratified in thefe rich and
Unexhaufted climes.

•

But to return to the Aflinipoils and Killiftinoes,
>vhom I left at the Grand Portage, and from whom
I received the foregoing Account of the lakes that
lie to the north- wfefl of this place. ' '

The traders we expefted 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
firrival.

One day, whilft we -were exprefling our wKhes
for this defirable event, and looking from an emi-
nence in hopes of feeing them come over the lal e,
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 -tc this declaration, fuppoling that
\t would b^ produdive of fome juggling trick, juil

*

^, . C CARVE R's TRAVELS. ' ' ' -

fuiHciently covered to deceive the ignorant Indf«
ans. But the king of that tribe telling me that this
^as undertaken by the prieft chiefly to alleviate
my anxiety, and at the fame time to convince me
tJOw much interefl: he had with the Great Spirit, I
thought it neceiTary to reftrain my animadverfions
po his defign.

The following evening was fixed upon for this
fpiritual conference. When every thing had been
properly prepared, the king came to me and led
me to a capacious tent, the covering of which wa§
drawn up, fo as to render what was tranfadling
withki, vilible to thofe who flood without. We
found the tent furrounded by a great number of the
Indians, but we readily gained admiflion, 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 (takes;
ftuck in the,ground, with intervals between, fo as
to foj-m a kind of cheil or cofHn, large enough tq
contain tlie body of a man. Thefe were of a mid-
dle iize, and placed at fuch a diflance froni each
other, that whatever lay between them was readily
to be difcerned. The tent was perfedly 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 minuter the pried entered ; when an
amazing large elk's (kin being fpread on the ground
juft.at my feet, he laid himfelf down upon it, after
having ftript himfelfaf every garment, except that
which he wore clofe about the middle. Being now
proftrate on his back, he firft laid hold of one fide of
the fkin and folded it over him, and then the other ^

tr

'I

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

9f

Jeavidg only his head uncovered. This was no
fooner done, than one of the young men who ftood
by, took about forty yards of ftrong cord, made
alfo of an elk's hid«, and roiled it tight round his
body, To 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 behold him as plain
as I had hitherto done, and I took care not to ti rn
my eyes a moment from the objedt before me, that
I might the more readily deteft the artifice j for
fuch I doubted not it would turn out to be.

The pried 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
Killifljnoe languages, that I could underhand but
Very little of it. Having continued in this tone for
a confiderable while, he at lad exerted his voice to
its utmoft pitch, fometimes raving, and fomctimes
praying, till he had worked himfelf into fuch an agi-
tation, that he foamed at the mouth.

"-f-

After having remiained near three quarters of an
hour in the place, and continued his vociferation
with unabated vigour, he feemed to be quite ex-
haufted, and remained fpcechlefs. But in an tnflatit
he fptung upon his feet, notwithftanding at the time
he was put in, it appeared impoflible for him to
move either his legs or arms, and fhaking off his
Covering, as quick as if the bands with which it had
bf^ja bound were binned afunder, he began to ad-
drefs thofe who ftood around, in a firm and audible
#oice. " My brothers," faid he, ♦* the Great

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CARVER'S TRAVELS.

** Spirit has deigned to hpldaTalkwith his fe^vant/
** at my earneft requeft. He has not, indeed, told
" mc; when "the perl'ons we exped will be here ; but
" to morrow, foon after the fun has reached his
** highelt point in the heavens, a canoe will arrive,
•• whofe people will inform us when the traders
"willcome," . • '

•4:

./

iA*.;'5!f;'

Having faid this,' lie ftepped out ot the inclofurc^
and, after he had put on his robes, difnlilFed the affem-
bly. 1 own I was grtatly aftonifhed at what 1 had
feen ; but as 1 obferved that every eye in the comw
pany was fixed on me with a view to difcover roy
fentiments, 1 carefully concealed every emotion, r^

.f/i

If ' *

The next day the fun (hone bright, and long be-'
fore noon all the Indians were gathered together on
the eninence that overlooked the lake. The old
king came to me, and alked me whether I had fo
much confidence in what the priefl had foretold, as
to join h't pie on the hill, and wait for the com-
pletioaof u . told him, I was at a lofs what opinion
to form of the predidion, but that I would readily,
attend him. On this we walked together to the
place where the others were aflembled. Every eye
"was again fixed by tur^ns on me. and on the lake ;
U'henjufl as the fun had reached his zenith, agreeable
to what the prieft had foretold, a canoe came round
2 point of land about a league diflant. The Indians
no fooner beheld it, than they fet up an univerfal
Ihout, and by their looks feenied to triumph in the
intereft their prieft thus evidently had with the^
Great Spirit.- ,-U:'^.:.^.^,^. ■ .V

'•/'-■i'

III lefs than an hour the canoe reached the fhore,
livhen I attended the king and chiefs to receive thofe
vho were on board. As foon as the men were
landed} wq walked all together to the king's te^t^'

^■Pl

CARVER'! TRAVELS.

IOC

when according to their invariable cuflom, we began
to fmoke ; and this we did, notwithdanding our im-
patience to know the tidings they brought, without
aflcing any queflions ; for. the Indians are the ftio(l
deliberate people in the world. However, after
fo^ne trivial conve^fation, the king enquired of them,
whether they had feen any thing of the tradei;^ ?
The men replied, that they had parted from them a
few days before, and that they propofed being here
the (econd day from the prefent. They according-
ly arrived at that time, greatly to our fatisfa(^ion,
but more particularly fo to that of the Indians, who
found by this event the importance both of their
prieil and of their nation greatly augmented in the
fight of a ftranger.

This ftory I acknowledge appears to carry with tt
marks of great credulity in the relater* But no one
is Ufs tindured with that weaknefs than myfelf.
The circpmdances of it, I own, are of a very extra-
ordinary nature; however, as I can vouch for their
being free from either eqcaggeration or mifreprefen-
tation, being myfelf a cool and difpalTionate obferver
of thetn all, 1 thought it neceffary to give them tp
the public. And this I do without wiihing to, mif-
tead the judgment of my readers, or to make any
fuperditious impre^iions on their minds, but leaving
them to draw from it what conclufions they pleafe.

It-

, J.'

i have already obferved that the Affinipoils, with
a party of whom I met here, are a revolted band of
the Naudowenies ; who on account 6f fome real or
imagined grievances, for the Indians in general are
Very tenacious of their liberty, had feparated thera-
felves from their countrymen, and fought for free-
dom at jhe expence of their eafe. For the country ■
they now inhabit about the borders of Lake Winne- i

.0 '/,,■:-■ ■ -A

<,

1r t. , ^j ,-

..:.■*■ ■

Ids

GARVER'i TRAVEL d.

peek, being much farther north, is not near fo fertlfe
or agreeable as that they have relinquiftied. They
flilt retain the language and manners ot their former
aflbciates.-

The Killiftinoes, now rhe neighbours and allies of
ttie Affinipoils, for they alfo dwell near the fame
lake, and on the wafers of the river Bourb(.h, ap-
pear to have been originally a tribe of the Chipe-
•Vvays, as they fpeak their language, though in a dif-
ferent dialcft. Their nation conlills of about three
or four hundred, warriors, and thty feem to be a
hardy, brave people. 1 have already giveti an ac-
count of their coujitry when F rreated of Lake Win-
nepeek. As they refide within tlie limits of Hud*-
fon's ^ay, they generally trade at the fadories which
belong ro that company, but, for the reafons itien-
tioned before, th<^y frequently come to the place
where 1 happened to join them, in order to meet the
traders from MichilUmackiRac.

The anxiety Ihad telt on account of the traders'
delay, was not much alleviated by their arrival. I
again found my expedations difappointed, for I was
not able to procure the goods I wanted from any of
them. I Was therefore obliged to give over my de-
signs, and return to the place from whence I Brit be-
gan itiy exteiifive circuit. 1' accordingly took leave
of the old king of the KilliHinoes, with the chiefs of
both bands, and departed. This prince was up-
wards of fixty years of age, tall and flightly made,
but he carried himfeif very eredl. He was of a
courteous, affable dlfpofition, and treated me, as did
all the chiefs, with great civility.

I obferved that this people flill continued a cuf-
tom, that appeared to have been univerfal before
any of them became acquainted with the manners
of the Europeans, that of complimenting ftrangers

MM

■M

«l

CARVER'i TRAVELS.

'•I

jwrifh the comnany of their ^vives ; aid this 's not
on'y pr.iAifcd by the lower r- ik^, but the chiefa
ihcniielves wh > efteem it the greatelt proof of
courtefy they can give a ftrangcr.

The b'^glnning of Oftober, after having coafled
round the north an i eaft borders of Lake Superior,
I arrived at Cadot's Fort, which adjoins to the FalU
^f St iMarie, and is iltuated near the foui]i-we(l
-corner of it.

Lake Superior, formerly termed the Upper Lake,
from its northern iituation, is fo called on account
of its being fuperior in map[intude to any of the
Lakes on that vaft continent. It might juftly be
termed the Cafpian of America, and is fuppofed to
]be the largelt body of freflr water on the globe. Its
circumference, according to the French charts, is
about fifteen hundred milps ; but I believe, that
if it was coalttd round, and the utmoft extent of
every bay taken, it would exceed fixteen hundred.

After I fi'ft entered it from Goddard's Riv«r on the
weft Bay, I coafted near twelve hundred miles of the
north and eaft (hores of it^ and obferved that the
geateit part of that extenfive traft was bounded by
r^cks and uneven ground. *The water in general
ap|K-ared to lie on a bed of rocks. When it was
calm, and the fun (hone bright, I could fit in^my
Ccinoe, where the depth was upwards of fix fathoms,
and pi<tinly fee huge piles of ftone at the bottom,' of
diftercMt (hapes, fome of which appeared as if they
were hewn.^ The water at this time was as pure and
trahfparent as air ; and my canoe feemed as if it
hung fufpende." in that el'ement. It was' impoflible
to lopk attentively through this limpid medium at
the rocks below, without finding, before many rni-
fiutes were elapfed, my head fwim, and my eyes no
longer able to behold the dazzling fcene.

/

>. «<;:

104

CA^VER»s TRAVELS.

: I difcovered alfo by accident another extraor-

'idinary propeiiy in the waters of this lake. Though

it was in the month of July that I paffed over it, and

the furface of the water, from the heat of the fu-

perambient air, impregnated with nofmall degree of

ivarmth, yet on letting down a cup to the depth of

: 'labour a fathom, the water drawn from thence was

^>,.^ifo exceffively cold, that it had th6 fame effeft When

^ .-■received into the mouth as ice. * ^'; y - h: '

The fituation of this lake is varioufly laid down j
but from the molt exaft obfervations I could make.
It lies between forty-fix and fifty degrees of north
latitude, and between eighty-four and ninety-three
degrees of weft longitude, from the meridian of
London, .li-c,- o 7; .-^ s'':^-':"?*-!-'" ■>..'': '•:1': i;'->'''v:.''-"i •' '

.<•■'* •

\:S< . .. '

'Tii^tfe arfe ttidhj iflands in this lake, Iwd of which
are very large ; and if the land of them is proper for
tuhivation, there appears to be fufHcient to form on
each a confiderable province ; efpecially on Ifle
Royal, which cannot be lefs thdn an hundred miles
long, and in many places forty broad. But there is
no way- at prefent of afcertaining the exa6i length 01
breadth of either. Even the French, who always
kept a fmall fchooner on this lake, whilft they were
in poflTeflion of Canada, by which they could have
made this difcovery, have only acquired a flight
knoiyledge of the external parts of thefe iflands ; at
leaft they have never publiflied any account cf the
ihternal parts of them, thciti could get intelligence of.

Nor was I able to difcover from any of she conver-
fations which I held with the neighbouring Indians,
that they had ever made any fettlements on them, or
even landed there in their hunting excurfions. From
what \ could gather by their difcourfe, they fuppofe
them to have been, from the firft formation, the

I

•14.

CARVEl^^ TRAVELS.

»04»

rjeficfence of the Great Spirit : and relate maiiy ticli-
culous (lories of enchantitient and itiagical tricks,
that had been experienced by fuch as were obliged
through ftrefs of weather to take inelter on them.

One of the Chipeway chiefs told me, that fotne of
' jlheir people being once driven on the ifland of Mau-
rcpas, which lies to the north eaft part of the lake,
found on it large quantities of heavy, (hining, yel-
jow fand, thit from their defcription muft have
be6n gold duft. Being ftruck with the beautiful ap-
pearaftte of it, in the morning, when they re-entered
their canoe, they attempted to bring fome away ;
but a fpirit of amazing fi2e, according to their ac-
count, fixty feet in height, ftrode in the water af-
ter them, and commanded them to deliver back
what they had taken away. Terrified at his gigantic
itature, and feeing that he had nearly overtaken them,
they Were glad to reftore their fhinihg treafuie ; on
which they were fuffered to depart without further
inoleHation. Since this incident, no Indian that has
ever heard of it, will venture near the fame haunted
coaft. Befides this, they recounted td me many
*' other ftoties of thefe iflands, equally fabulous. ^ % •

, The country on the north and eaft parts of Lake
^ Superior is very mountaiiious qnd barren. The
;; weather being intenfely cold in the winter, and the
fun having but little poWer in the fummer, vegeta-
tion there is very flow ; and confequently but little
fruit is to be found on its ftiore. It however pro-
duces fome few fpacies in great abundance. Whortle-
berries of an uncommon fize and fine flavour, grow
on the mountains near the lake in amazing quan-
tities; as do black currants and goofl^erries in the

httiQ luxuriant manner. 4^r ;^^ •

/.■'i -^ ^ ; ■, .. ', ; \ .:\_ •• : ■ ^. • • .-.-.M^- A

But the fruit which exceeds all the others, is a
berry refembling a raflierry in its manner of growth,

^f\-

iq6'

CARVER'S T5.AyEL3.

but of a lighter red, and much larger ; its taK^e i;
far more delicious than the fruit I have compared
it to, notM^ithftanding that it is fo highly efteemtd in
Europe : it grows on a (hrub of the nature of a vine^
with leaves fimilar to thofe of the grape ; and I am
perfuaded that, was it tranfplanted into a warmer
and more kindly climate, it wou' J prove a molt rare
and delicious fruit.

i¥

Two very large rivers empty themfelves into this
lake, on the north and north eaft fide ; one is called
the Nipegon River, or, as iheFreijch pronounce it,
Allanipeg9n, which 'eads to a band of the Cbipeways,
inhabiting a lajte of the fame name, and the other is
terrfied the Michipicooton River, the fourc^ of
which is fjtuated towards James's B^y, from whtr'ce
there is but a Ihort carriage to another river, which
empties itfelf into that bay, at a fort belonging to
the Company- It was by this paflage that a party of
French, from Michillimackinac invaded the fettle-
ments of that fociety in the reign pf l^ieen Anne,
Having taken and deftroyed their forts, they broughj:
the cannon which they found in them to the fortrefe
from whence they had iflued ; thefe were fmall brafs
pieces, and remain there to the prefent time ; hav-
ing, through the ufual revolutions of fortune, re-
turned to the pofleflion of their former mailers.

'I:'-* .

Not far from the Njpegpn |s a fmall river, that,
juft before it enters the lake, has a perpendicular fall
from the top of a mountain, of more than fix hun-
dred feet. Being very narrow, it appears at, a dif-
tance li]s:e a white garter fufpended in the air. '

A few Indiatis inhabit round the eaftern borders
.of this lake, fuppofed to be the remains of the Al-
gonkins, who ii)rmerly poffeffed ^ this country, but
who have been nearly extirpd:ted by the Iroquois o(

;y « ■•'■■'« ■»

.•■wi. ^ .•:

^" W :,/»■'- •^'

^U-w.'

mmmm

CARVER'S tRAVELS.

/07

h

Canada. Lake Superior has. near forty rivers that
fall into it, fomc of which are of confiderable fize*
On the fouth fide of it is a remarkable point or cape,
of about fixty miles in length, called Point Chego-
Inegaii. It might as properly be termed a peninfula,
as" it is nearly feparated from the continent, on the
caft fide, by a narrow bay that extends from eaft to
weft. Canoes have but a Ihort portage acrofs the
ifthmu^, whereas, if they coaft it round, the voyage
is more than an huodi'ed miles.

About that diftance to the weft of the cape juft:
defcribed, a confiderable river falls into the lake,
^he head of which is compofed of a great aflemblag'e
of fmall ftreams. This river is remarkable for the
abundance of virgin copper that is found on and near

' its banks : A metal which is met with alfo in feveral
other places on this coaft. I obferved that many of
the fmall iflands, particularly thofe on the eaft em

"ftores, were covered with copper ore. They ap-
peared Kfce beds of copperas, of which many tons
lay in a Imall plate. . - . ^ ,

'A company of adventurers from England begaii,
toon, after the conqueft of Canada, io bring away
fome of this metal, but the diftra£ted fituation of

, affairs iir America,- has obliged them to relinquifh
t'heir fcheme. It might in future times b^ made a
very advantageous trade, as the metal, which cofts
nothing on the fpot, and requires but little expenCe
to get it oil board, could be conveyed in boats or
canoes through the Falls of St. Marie, to the IHe of
St. Jofeph, which lies at the bottom of the Straits
hear the entrance into Lake Huron ; from thence it
might be put on board larger veifels, and in them

- tranfported acrofs that lake to the Falls of Niagara ;

: then being carried by land acrofs the Portage, it

f jhight be conveyed without much more obftrudion

<'X,y

rV ■

n

ift«

-,- ./

CARVER.** TRAVELS.

■\«-

/t-JT.*

to Quebec. Tbe cheapnefs ^d eafe with which
;any quantity of it may be procured, will m^ke up'
for the length of way that is neceffary to tranfport it
before it reachei the fea coaft, and eqable the pro-
prietors to fend it to foreign n^arkets on as good
ternns as it can be ejcported from otbei; countries. , ,^

Lake Superior abounds with a variety of fifli, the
jprindpzi and beft are the trout and fturgeon, v/hicli
may be caught ui aimoft any feafon in the greateft
abundance. Tbe trouti in general weigh about
twelve pounds, but fome are caught that exceed fifty.
Befides thefe, a fpecies qS white tifh is taken in great
quantities here, that refemble a (had in their fhape,
but they are rather thicker, and lefs bony; they
weigh about foitr pounds each, and are of a delicious
tade. The bed way of catching thefe fifh is with $
net ; but the trout might be taken at all times with '
the hook. There are likewife many forts of fmalter
fifh in great plenty here, and * which may be taken
with eafe ; a nong thefe is a fort refembling a herring,'
that are generally made ufeof as a bait for the trout.
Very fmall crabs, hot larger than a half crown
piece, are found both in this and Lake Michigan. '

This lake is as much affe£led by florms as the'
Atlantic Ocean ; tbe waves run as high, and are
equally as dangerous to (hips. It difcharges its wa-
ters from the iouth-eaft corner, through the Straits
of St. Marie. At the upper end of thefe Straits
(lands a fort that receives its name from them, com-
nianded by Monf. Cadot, a French Canadian, who
.being proprietor of the foil, is dill permitted to
keep pofleflion of it. Near this fort is a very ftrong
rapid river, againft which, though it is impoiTible
for canoes to alcend, yet when condu£ted by careful
pilots, they may pafi down without danger, j .^,

• •>' i>!"^* ' ■ - ■ <• * ". •■.* i» <Vj- * . ■< I „i ■><> '- ' ...('..I-.,. » .' '..i'*"? ;' . ,
-.-.-■x'^-vr. .■,.•_- ■<"■'■ '■ •",' "I, ' < -^ " • , ■ , ''•'-

,•'■..■. ■ > ."

• I

;:. ^]>v: p^-. F'.

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

109

''Though Lake Superior, as I have before obferved,
IS fiipplied by near fatty rivers, many of which are
conliJerable ones ; yet it does not appear that one
tenth part of the waters which are conveyed into it
by thefe rivers, are carried. off at this evacuation.
How fuch a fuperabundance of waters can be drfpo-
fed of, as it muft certainly be by fome means or
other, without which the circumference of the lake
would be continually enlarging, I know not : that it
does not empty itfelf, as the Mediterranean fea is
fuppofed to do, by an under current, which per-
petually counterafts that near the furface, is cer-
tain ; for the llream that pafles over the rock is not
more than five or fix feet in depth, and the whole of
it palTes on through the ftraits into the adjacent
lake ; nor is it probable that fo great a quantity can
be a' forbed by exhalations ; confequently they mud*
find a paflTage through fome fubterranean cavities,
deep, unfathomable, and never to be explored.

The Falls of St Marie do not defcend perpendi-
cularly, as thofe of Niagara or St. Anthony do, but
confift of 'a rapid which continues near three quar*
ters of a mile, over which canoes well piloted might
pafs. .;^

At the bottom of thefe Falls, Nature has formed
a moft commodious flat ion for catching the fiih
which are to be found there in immenfe quantities,
Perfons ftanding on the rocks that lie adjacent to it
may take, v "h dipping nets^ about the months of
September and Oftober, the white fiih before men-
tioned J at that Hafon, together with feveral other
fpecies, they crowd up to this fpot in fuch amazing
fhoals, that enough may be taken to fupply, when
properly cured^ thoufands of inhabitants throughout
the year.

m

■ ,*«:,;'■-■"■■ .H7>^-;.'« ' ;i':

IIO

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

4-

The Straits of St Marie are about forty miles
long, bearing fouth-eaft, but varying much in their
breadth. Tiie current between the Falls and Lake
Huron is not fo rapid as might be expeded, nor do
they prevent the naviga;ion of fhips or burden as far
up as the ifland of St Jofeph.

It has been obferved by travellers that the entrance
into Lake Suprior, from thefe Straits, affords one of
the molt pleafing profp.e^s in the world. The
place in which this might be viewed to the greateft
advantage, is juft at the onening of the lake, from
whence may be feen on the left, piany beautiful lit"
tie illands, that extend a confiderable way before
you ; and on the right, an agreeable fucceffion of
i'mall points of land, that projeft a little way into
the water, and contribute, with the fmall iflands, to
render this delightful bafon (as it might be termed)
calm and fecure from the ravages of thofe tempef-
tuous winds by which the adjoining lake is fre-
quently troubled. • - .■.?'"■ v. ^' ;. , t -.-.It--^^ ■%.;:-; .y v- ■-
_. . ■ v>-:.j;-<\/;-_^.''-.-:f. ,- "'--J ■-;■ '.^ 3--^-."'. ■-•/•^ .■--'■'. "v;n.."'-

Lake Huron, into whicli you now enter from the
Straits of St Marie, is the next in magnitude to Lake
Superior. It lies bettveen forty-two and forty-fix
degrees of north latitude, and feventy-nine and eigh-
ty-five degrees of weft longitude. Its Ihape is
nearly triarigular, and its circumference about one
thoufand miles.

On the north fide of it lies an ifland^ that is re-
markable for being near an hundred miles in length,
and no more than eight miles broad. This ifland
is known by the name of Manataulin, which figni-
fies a Place of Spirits, and is confidered by the In-
. dians asfacred as thofe already mentioned in Lake
Superior.

•^'

"T'.v (*'"«'"

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

■»»<

About the middle of the fouth-wefl: fide of this
Jake is Saganaum Bay. The capes that feparate
ihis bay from the lake are eighteen miles diltant
from each other ; near the middle of the intermediate
fpace (lands two iflancjs, which greatly tend to faci-
litate the paflage of canoes and fmall veffels, by
affording them Ihelter, as without this fecurity it
would not be prudent to. venture acrofs fo wide a
fea ; and the coafting round the bay would make the
voyage long and tedious. This bay is about eighty
jniles in length, and in general about eighteen or '
twenty miles broad.

. Nearly half way between Saganaum Bay and the
north-weft corner of the lake, lies another, which
is termed Thunder Bay. The Indians, who have
frequented thefe parts from time immemorial, and
every European traveller that had pafled through it,
have unanimoully agreed to call it by thjs name, on
account of the continual thunder they have always
obferved here. The bay is about nine miles broad,
and the fame in length ; and whilft I was paffmg over
it, which took me up near twenty-four hours, it;
thundered and lightened during the greateft part of
the time to an exceffive degree.

There appeared to be no vifible reafon for this,
that I could difcover, nor is the country in general
fubjedt to thunder ; the hills that ftood around were
not of a remarkable height, neither did the external
parfs of them, feem to be covered with any fiiphurous
fubllance. Byt as this phcenomenon mult originate
from fome natural caufe, I conjeclure that the Ihores
of the bay, i)r the adjacent mountains', are either im-
pregnated with an uncommon quantity of fulphurous
matter, or contain fome metal or mineral apt to at-
tract in a great degree the eledlrical particles that
are hourly hcrne over them by the palling clouds.

*< '■ -, ■ ,•

xu

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

But the folution of this, and thofe other philbfophlcat
remarks which csfually occur throughout thefe pages,
I leave to the difcuifion of abler heads. .

:^t

The fifh in Lake Huron are much the fame as
thofe in Lake Superior. Some of the land on its
banks is very fertile, and proper for cultivation, but
in other parts it is fandy and barren. The promon-
tory that feparates this lake from Lake Michigan, is
compofed of a vaft plain, upwards of one hundred
miles long, but varying in its breadth, being from
ten to fifteen miles broad. This trad, as I have
before obferved, is divided into almofl: an equal por-
tion between the Ottawaw and Chipcway Indians;
At the north-ead corner this lake has a communi-^
catioii with Lake Michigan, by the Straits of Michii-
Jimackinac already dcfcribed. . t^;

*r ■ ■

I had like to have omitted a very extraordinary
circumftance, relative to thefe Straits. According
to obfervatic i made by the Frenph, whilft they were
in pbffeHion of the fort, although there is no diur-
nal flood or ebb to be perceived in thefe waters, yet,
from an exad| attention to their ftate, a periodical
alteration in them has been difcovered. It was ob-
ferved that they rofe by gradual, but almoft imper-

' ceptible degrees, till they had reached the height of
about three feet. This was accomplifhed in feven
years and a half, and in the fame fpace they as gen-
tly decreafed, till they had reached their former fitua-
tion ; fo that in fifteen years they had completed this
inexplicable revolution. M:-0i^H''^' ^ v^^-'-ot

:i'i\^: ' ■ ' • •■'■■.• ■'•'-:m^^ ■ ^■)^'

At the time I was there,"the truth o^' thefe obfer-
vations could not be confirmed by the Englifli, as
they had then been only a few years in poiTeflion of
the fort, but they all agreed that fome alteration ir\
j^e limits pf the Straits was apparent AH the^,

'4v.;N"'.iti';^' - • -' ' ^' vv'^iN^.;-;',. '.r ... . -.. .v. ;■■;•■ ;•; . ..•:■.<■.:;

*r'.,'Urw^'; .■' . ..•.'-■■, ■ • ' ■, •■■ -.^r- ■ ' ' . .-. ■'

,--"Vl'

leHP*''

)* '*•-

CARVER'S TRAVEJLS,

i#»

lakes are fo affeded by the winds, as' fometimes to
have the appearance of a tide, according as they
happen to blow; but this is only temporary and
partial*

'■?^:

Mi..-

^■■fcf.

• !* A j^eat number of the Chipeway Indians live
fcattered around this lake, particularly near Saga*-'
naum Bay. On its banks are found, an amazing
quantity of the fand cherries, and in th« adjacent
country nearly the fame fruit, as thofe that grow
ibout the other lakes. -

* From the Falls of St Marie I leifurety proceeded
back to Michillimackinac, and arrived there the
beginning of November 1767, having been fouteen
months oii this extenlive tour, travelling near four
thoufand pailes, and vifited twelre nations of- In-
dians, lyin^ to the weHt and north of this place.
The winter ietting in foon after my arrival, I was
obliged to tarry there till June following, the navi^
gation over Lake Huron for large veflels not be#?
ing open, on account of the ice, till that time^ '
Meeting here with fociable campany, I paflfed thefe
months very agreeably, and without finding the
nours tedious* v>i«i(c;>-*;w.iji:i.."it-'.;j,. «5j>*jv'. '-,vv<T'.f^^''-\-v^it'ri''t' ■

i ' ' * ' ■ •

One of my chief amufements was that of fifliing
for trouts. Though the Straits were covered with
ice, we found means to nr^ake holes through it, and
letting down ftrong lines of fifteen yards in length,
to which were fixed three or four hooks baited with
the fmall fifli before defcribed, we frequently caught
two at a time of forty pounds weight each ; but the
common fize is from ten to twenty pounds. Thefe
are moft delicious food. The method of prefervjng
them during the three months the winter generally
|afts, is by hanging them up in the air y and in one

.T

^:M^i'^'

. S:

'¥:.'.;" .f^'

.•.Vi « ^

\'/.

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11^ 1

"i t

CARVER'S TRAVELS,

night they will be frozen fo hard that they will keep'
as well as if they were cured with fait.

I have only pointed out in the plan of my travels
tlie circuit I made from my leaving Michillimacki-
nac till I arrived again at that fort. Thofe countries
that lie nearer to the co'onies have been fo often and
fo minutely defcribed, that any further account
of them would be ufelefs. I (hall therefore only
give my readers, in the remainder of my journal, as
1 at firlt propoied, a defcription of the other great
lakes of Canada, many ot which I have navigated
over, and relate at the fame time a few particular
incidents, that I truil will not be found inapplicable
or unentertaining. y-;,^,jir[ \'.. rv,^'j<5fVc>:y^ '.■■ '^':.^ i^-^ J

■*'''■" , ( ,

In Jiirie 1768 I left Michiliimackinac, and re-
turned in the Gladwyn Scli»ioner, a vefl'el of about
eighty tons burthen, over Lake Huron to Lake St
^. Clair, where we left the (hip, and proceeded in
boats to Detroit. This lake is aboujt ninety miles
in circumference, and by the way of Huron River,
which runs from the fouth corner of Lake Huron,-
receives the waters of the three great lakes, Supe-
rior, Michigan, and Huron. Its form is rather
round, and in fome places it is deep enough for the
navigation of large veflels, but towards the middle
of it there is a bar of fand, which prevents thofe
that are loaded from pafling over it. Such as are in
ballaft only may find water fufficient to carry them
quite through ; the cargoes, however, of fuch as are
freighted mufl be taken out, and after being tranf-
ported acrofs the bar in JDoats, re-ihipped again. <

The river that runs from Lake St Clair to Lake
Erie (or rather the Strair, for thus it might be
termed from its name) is called Detroit, which is ija
French, the Strait, it runs nearly fouth, has a gen-

'//

^

J^ "■

iiti^innr.iiMii

:SrtBi**i)

X

x

CARVER*! TRAVEL'S;

'^

tie current, and depth of water fufficient for fhipg
of confiderable burthen. The town of Detroit is
fituated on the weltern banks of this river, about
nine miles below Lake St. Ciair. . . "i^fr' ::

Almoft oppofite, on the eaftern (hore, is the vil-
lage of the ancient Hurons : a tribe of Indians which
have been treated of by fo many writers, that ad-
hering to the reftridions I have laid myfelf under
of only defcribing places and people little known,
or incidents that have pafled unnotrced by others,
I fhall omit giving a defcription of them. A
miflionary of the order of Carrhufian Friars, by
permiflioa of the Biihop of Canada, reiides among
them. , . ...... ■ ,.

"The banks of the rivfir t)etroit, both above and
below thefe towns, are covered with fettlements
that extend more than twenty miles ; the country
being exceedingly fruitful, and proper for the culti-
vation of wheat, Indian corn, oats,, and peafe. It
has alfo many fpots of fine padurage ; but as the
inhabitants, who are chiefly French that fubmitted
to the Englifti government, after the conqueft of
thefe parts by General Amherfl", are more attentive
to the Indian irade than to farming, it is but badly
cultivated. •

'i^';

•_;i^»v, »*■• ■»'■

c The town of Detroit contains upwards of one
hundred houfes. The ftreets are fomevvhat regular,
and have a range of very convenient and handfome
barracks, with a fpacious parade at the fouth end.
On the weft fide lies the king's garden, belonging
to the governor, which is very well laid out, and
kept in good order. The fortifications of the town
(ionfift of a ftrong ftockade, made of round piles
fixed firmly in the ground, and Ymtd. with pah*,
fadeSi Thefe are defended by foine Imall baftion*^^

r ,

«■'■-,.

u$,

'tARVER's TRAVELS.

.( ,s

I . . ' ■ '

on which tire moiinted a few indifferent cannon tf
an inconfiderahle fize, jufl fufTicient for irs defence
againft the Indians, or an enemy not provided with

artillery.

■,•;■. '•• '■■':V'^;/v^^r#t ,,-•-;, ....-t: :,'/■.•' -^:i»^» ,. ' , ,

The garrifon, in time of peace, conftfts of two
hundred men, commanded by a field officer, who
adls as chief ma^^iftraie under the governor of Ca-
nada. Mr Turnbuil, captain of the 6oth regiment,
or Royal Americans, was commandant when I hap-
pened to be thdre. This gentleman was defer vedly
cdeemed and refpedled, both by the inhabitants and
traders, for the propriety of his condudl ; and I am
happy to have an opportunity of thus publicly male-,
ing my acknowledgments to him for the civilities I
received ^trom him during my ftay.

In the year iy6iy in the month of July, it rained
on this town and the parts adjacent, a fulphureous
water of the colour and confiftcnce of ink ; fome of
which being collected into bottles and wrote with,,
appeared perfectly intelligible on the paper, and
anfwered every purpofe of that ufeful liquid. Soon
after, the Indian wars already fpoken of, broke out
in thefe parts. I mean not to fay that this incident
was ominous of them, notwithflanding it is well
known that innumerable wfll atteded ini^ances of
extraordinary phaenomena happening before extraor-
dinary events^ have been recorded in almcfl every
age by hiilorians of veracity ; I only relate the cir-
cumflance as a faft, of which I was informed by
many perfons of undoubted probity, and leave my
readers, as I have hitherto done, to draw their own
concluiions from it. . . , > w . ,

Pontiac, 'under whom the party that furprifed
Fort Mlchillimackinac, as related in the former parr
of this work, aded, was an enterprifmg chief or

^f,;^v -.1

-'<*.

CARVER*. TRAVELS.

n?

head warrior of the Miamie^. During the late wjir
between the EngiiOi and tl/e French, he had been
a fteady friend to the latter, and continued hia inve-
teracy to tl»e former even after peace had been
concluded between thofe two nations. Unwilling
to put an end to the deprecations he had been fo
long engaged in, he colledled an army of confede-
rate Indian^, .confilUng of the nations, before enu-
merated, with an intention to renew the war. How-
ever, inilead of ^openly attacking the JGngliih f«ttle-
in^nts, he laid a fchepie for taking by furpi^ife ihofe
forts on the extremities which they had lately gained
pofleflion of.

; IiIovV veil the party he detached to take Fort^
Michillimackinac fucceeded, the reader already ^
knovvs. To get into his hands Detroit, a place of
l^reater confequence, and much better guarded, rc-
qviit^cd greater refolution, and. mote confuiTvmate
art. Jjc of cpurfe took the management of this
expedition on himfelf, and drew near it with the
principal body of his troops. He was, however,
prevented from carrying his defigns iiito, execution,
by an apparently trivial and unforefeen circumf^ance*
Onfuch.does the fa'e of mighty empires frequently
depend ! ; . ^ . ":.

... ' ' '

- • . ^ . . ■ ■ . \ ■ ■ .*:

Xhe ftowriiof Detroit, when Pontiac formed hisV
plari, was garrifqned by about three hundred men, *
commanded by M^jor Gladwyn, a gallant officer*
j^ at that time ey^ry pppearance of war was at ait-^
end, and thelndians feeimed to be on a friendly foot-
ing, .l^oniiac approached the fort, without exciting
any fufpicions in the breaft of the governor or the
inliabitahts. He encamped at a little didance from
it, and fent to let theconimandant know tliat he was
come to trj^de j and being defirous of brightening

Mf^

v'-f

. !■

^tn

CARVER'S T RAVEL 1

U

I

the chain of peace between the Englifh and his ha-"
tion, defii'ed that he and bis chiefs might be admit-
ted to hold a courtcil with him. The governor ftilB
tinfufpicioiis, and not in the leaft doubting the fin-
cerity of the Indians, granted their general's requefb,
arid fixed on the neit morning for their reception.

The evening of thiat day, an fndiafti Woman, who
fiad been employed by Major Gladwyn, to make
him a- pair of Indian fliiioes, out of a furious e)k-ft:in,
brought thvm home* The major was fo pleafed
■with them, that, rhiemding thei'e aiS a prefeilt for a
' friend, he ordered her to take the remainder back»
and make it into ethers for himfelf. He then di-
reded his' fervant to pay her for fht)fe fhe had done,
and difttiiiTed her. The woman went to the door
that led to the llreet, biit no further ; (fee there loi-
tered about, as if fhe had not finiflied the buifinefs
on which (he came. A f-^rvant at length obfervrd
her, apd alked her why (he flard there j. (he gave
him, however, no anfweiHf

Some (hort time after, the governor iiimfelf faw
her, and enquired of his fervant what occifionedher
flay. ' Not being able to get a fatisfactory anfwer,
he ordered th« woman to be called in. When (he
came into hisprefence, he defired to know what was
ifhe reafon of her loitering about, and not haftening,
home before the gates were fhut, that fhe might
complete in due time the Work he had given her
to db. She told him, after much heiitatton, that as
he had always behaved with great goodnels towards
her, (he >fras unwilli.g to take away the remainder
of the (kin, becaafe he pt»t fo great a value upon it ;
and yet had not been able to prevait upon herfelf to
tell him fo. He then aiked her, why (he was more
^v reludlant to do fo now, than (he had been when (he
* made the former pair. With increafed rel usance

h-

•_*»=•

m

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

119

^*."

^e '^nrwered, that'lhe never would be -abl;^ cp }?rinj|r
ihewi back. ■^^V' , ^ . , , .f- •

:i--'^„

His curiofity being now excited, he Infiftcd oil
her difclofing to him the fecret that feemed to be
ftruggling in lier bofom for utterance. At laft, oa
receiving a pronpiCe that the intelligence the was
about to give him fhould not turn to her prejudice,
and (hat if it appeared to be beneficial, flie (hould be
rewarded for it, (he informed him, that at the council
to be held with the Indians the following day>
Pontiac and his chiefs intended to murder him j and,
after having malTacred 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 guns (hort, fo that they could conceal
them under their blankets ; with which, at a fignal
given by their ger>eral, on delivering the belt, they
were all to "a up, and inftantly to fire on him and
^is attendants. Having efFefted this, they were
immediately to rufhinto th*^ town, where they would
find themfelves fupported by a great number of their
warriors^ that were to ^ome into it during the fitting
of the coi^ncil, under pretence of trading, but pri-
vately armed in the fame manner. Having gained
from the w^man ever;/ necefiary particular relative
to the plot, and alfo of the means by which llie ac-
quired a knowledge of them, he difmiflTed her with
injunctions of fecrefy, and a promife of fulfilling on
his part with pun^luality the engagements he had
entered into.

■ ■ ■" " .

The intelligence the governor had jufl received
gave hira great uneafinefs ; and he immediately con-
fulted the officer who was next to him in command,
on the fubjeft. But that gentleman confidering the
Information as a ftory invented for fome artful pur^-
pofes, advifed him to pay no attention to it. Thi§

5

V-

ISO

CARVER»s TRAVELS.

conclufioti, 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 fui'picion's to any
ether perfon, he took every needful precaution that
the tinne would admit of. He walked round the fort
during the whole night, and faw himfelf that every
centinel was on duty, and every weapon of defence
ip proper order. - -

As he traverfed the ramparts, which lay nearcfl:
to the Indian camp, he heard ihem'in high feftivity,
and, little imagining that their plot was difcovered,
probably plealing themfelves with the anticipation of
their fuccefs. As foon as the morning dawned, he
ordered all the garrifon under arms ; and then im-
parting his apprehenfions to a few of the principal
officers, gave them fuch direftions as he thought ne-
ceffary. At the fame time he fent roufid to all the
traders, to inform them, that as it was expeft^ed a
great number of Indians would enter the towh that
day, who 'might be inclined to plunder, he delired
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 paiTed on, they could not help obferving
that a greater number of troops than ufual were
drawn up on the parade, or marching al30ut. No
fooner were they entered, and feated on the fi^iiis
prepared for them, than Pontiac cfked the governof
on what cccafion his your.g men, meaning rhe fol-
diers, were thus drawn up and parading the ftreets.
He received for anfwer, that it was only intended to
keep them pcrfedl in their exercife.

;-■€

»

/><!

CARVER»s TRAVELS.

Uit

-''U-\^%.

The Indian chief warrior now bepjan his fpeecft^
which contained the (trongeft profeflions of friendlhip
and good-will towards the Englifh j 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 boldefl of
men, immediately turned pale and trembled ; and,
inftead of giving the belt in the manner propofed,
delivered it according to the iifual way. His chiefs,
who had impatiently expeded the fignal, looked at
each other with altonifhment. but continued quiet,
waiting the refult. , - v . ^ ; ^ .

The governor in his turn made a fpeech ; but in-
fteiid 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 ftepped towards the Indian chief that
fat nearefl: to him, and drawing afide his blanket,
difcovered the fhortened firelock. This entirely
difconcerted the Indians, and frullrated their de-
fign. ' ■ '■ --' ^ ■ ->'_ ' •■

He then continued to tell them, that as he had
giverx his word at the time they defired an audience,
that their perfons fiiould be fafe, he would hold his
promife inviolable, though they fo little deferved it.
However, he advifed them to make the befl: of
their way out of the fort, left his young men, on being

■ifT/-;

.■,?■;

>«
■*

CARVER'i travels:

■•,■'•5

lt% CARVBR'i TRAVELS.

acquainted with liii treacherous purpofes,
cut every one of them to pieces. : ^ v

Ihould

Pontiac endeavoured to contradiA the accufation,

.and to make exciifef for hig fufpicious condu£^ ; but

.the governor, fatii^ed of the falfity of his protefta-

tions, would not Hden to him. The Indians imme-

/^diately left the fort, but hiftead of being fenfible of

ythe governor*! generous behaviour, they threw off

the mafk, and tne ne)(t d^y made f regular attack

vpon it. ,

Major Gjadwyn hai not cfcaped cenfure for this
miftaken ler>ity ; ior probably, had he kept a few of
the principal chiefi prifoners, whild he had them in
Jiis power, he might have been able to have brought
'the whole confederacy to terms, and hayq prevented
a war. But he atoned for this overfight, by the gal-
i. lant defence he made for more than a year, aipidft s^
variety of 4ifco^rag^tnentl,

Puring ihat period fome very fmart Ikirmiflieai
happened between the beflegers and the garrifon, of

' which the following wai the principal and moft
bloody : Captain Dalzell, a brave officer, prevailed
on the governor to give hini the command of about
' two hundred men, and to permit him to attack the
enemy's can>p, Thif being complied with, he fallied
from the town before djiy- break ; but Pontiac, re-
ceiving from fome of bit fwift-footed warriors, who
were cpnftantly employed in watching the motions of
the garrifon, timely intelligence of their defign, he
coUeded together tne choiceft of his troops, and met
the detachment at fome didance from his camp,

; pear a place fince called Bloody-Bridge.

'"^ As the Indiani were vaflly fuperior in numbers to
' Captain Dabciri party^ he was foon overpowered

•■> 4i

■.*,*«,;' ..T'

. -tv'^ii-*.:' ..v».

,/

D.'

CARVEfe»s tft.Av£L3. ^

123

and driven back. Being now nearly furrounded, he
made a vigorous effort to regain the bridge he had
jufl: crofTed, by which alone he could Hnd a retrdat ;
but in doing this he loft his life, and many of his
men fell with him. However, Major Rogers, the fe-
cond in command, affifted by Lieutenant Breham,
found means to draw off the (battered remains of their
little army, and dondudted them into the fort.

Thus confiderably reduced, it was with difficulty
the major cou!d defend the town ; notwithdand-
ing which, he held out againlt the Indians t'dl
he was relieved, as after this they made but few
attacks on the place^ and only continued to block-
ade it.

't.:f

The Gladwyn fchtfonef (that jln which I after-
wards took my pafTage from Michillimackinac to
Detroit, and which I fmce learn was lofl with all her
crew, on Lake Erie, through the obftinacy of the
commander, who cotild not be prevailed upon (o
take in fufficient ballad) arrived about this time,
iiear the town, with a reinforcement, and neceflary
fupplies. But before this veffel: could reach the
place of its deilrhation, it was moft vigoroufly at-
tacked by a detachment from Pontiac's army. The
Indians furrounded it in their canoed, and made
great havock among the crew. < r .

i

At length the c'aptain of the fchooner, with a
tonfiderable 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 loll in it) being de-
termined that the ftores fliould 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 up the (hip. This order was on the point of

■'^.

',•01

■ivi'-iir, -f; 'i'*' ^. i**

''".■■!.^ .1'.

»44

<SAR

AVPi($.

tieiQg fix^€f>teii> wVo. a cbj«f lof t^e Hurpt^s, jwhd

uhdcrilooiji die i^ugU^ language, gave oiu to lijs

ftaejids i\^ iinl^atioB of ihe cOniinj»fid<ftr.,.. Ob re-

. ieiviflg ihis jirtclllgenGe, the Indiai»3 hu;rf]fed^do\v:n

ihciidfeof the fl»ip with the grie^tell j^recipitfttion,

^^dgQt us for iVe^it as ppiTtble; whilft the com-

i imander iuMnediately took ad va wage of 'their con-

• ild-nation, andskTrived wHlK^»».t«9y lather obftruc-

tion at the town.

- VllbiS feafonable fupply gav« the garfifGR fiefh'
> Xpirits ; untl Pontiac b«ng noiu/ convi need that it
wbuld not fac i« his power to rei^uce the place^ pro-
poled an aQC0ni»H)»l»tmn ; th^ governor wifbed as
much. to get i-id of fuch troublefome enemies, who
.obftru^ed the intercourfe of the. traders with th6
> iidghbcmring asliipft^, i^fteae^^ Jvf |>rbtpofaI$, and
chaijing procatfed -adyaniageoi^, fer^iw, .agi^ed. to a
iifeaioe< The lodians foo» a^t^r ffepjkrate^j an^i re-
tiurdcd to t^dr (iilfet«nt provinct^ ; ^r hav^ th?y
' fittce thoiJ^ht proper to difturb, at kaft iii agy
/ great. dcgiSe, the wanquiltity pf t4efe pafts/' : :

;, Fontiad! henceiforward feemed to -havejaidaftcle
the aawnofity hn- had hitherto feorjie towat^s the

• JjigUfii^-astd appafeijtiy b^caiHc thdi- zealous' friend.

'^preM'sa'dthiiBCw attachment, and to inlurre a^cop-
tjnuance of it, govetninent aU owed him a handj^p^e
penfion* - But his reftlefs and. intriguing fpirit woiild

r^^l ftiifer him' to be gratefal fof thi$ allowance/, and
tas £ondu(S^ UfCiiength grew fufpicious ; fo that going,

r lit the yeaf 17%;, to hold a council in the co\|lfttry of

-il^IMiRois, a faithful Indian, who was either com-
iSarffionedby one of t4e; iEnglifh govetnors, <3r ip^
fli^ated by the love he bore the EngUft) nation, at-

. teiiied him as a fpy |^|jiBdb©fig convinced feom the

^ :h Pontiac made fclhi .council, that he ftill re-
tained hi« former P^f\^k^ agairift thofe for whpm
^e now profefied a frieiialm]^, he plunged his knif6

V

■■•V"'^

C^Jk'RyERVa T«A'yEM>

*#

^ftto his heart, as fpon jis he had dbne fpeaking, and
laid him^^ad on the (pot* But to return from thiat
digreifion.

LiKe Erie receives the water a by which It is fap-
{)lied fr^ the three great lakes, through the Straits
of Pctrd^, that lie at its W)rth-weft. corner. Thia
lake is fituated between forty-one and forty-three
degrees of north latitude, and between feventy-eight
;^nd eighty-three degrees of weft longitude* It is
near three hundred miles long from eaft to weft, and
about forly in its broadeft part : and a remarkable
Ijxag narrow point lies on its north fide, that projefts
farl&verai miles into the lake towards the fouth-eaftr.

•'■ '\ " . , . . : t .■.%'' ■-'

i There are feveral iflands on the weft end of it fo
f Jiifefted w|th rattle-fnakes, that it. is very datigeroul,
to land on thej^v.I*^ '^ impoffible that any plac0
can produce a greater numbe'r of all kinds of thele
reptiles than this does, particularly of the water-
fnake.' The lake i« covered near the banks of the
iflandf with the large pondHly j the leaves of which
lie qn the furface of the water fo thick, as to cover it
entirelyior many acres together j and on each of thefe
iay, when 1 pafled over it, wreaths of water^fnal^e§
balking ill the fon, which amounted to myriads.

. The mod remarkable of the diiferent fpecies, that
infeft this lake, is the hifling-fnake, which is of the
finall fpeckled kind, and about eight inches long*
X tyhen any thing approaches, it flattens itfelf in a
.feoment, and its fpots, which are of various dyes,
l^econftej^itibly brighter through rage ; at the fame
4fQe; it. blows from its mouth, with great force, >
fiifetile wind, that is reported to be of a naufeoua
(mell 5 and if drawn in by the breath of the unwary
traveller, will infallibly bring on a decline, that in

*■ ,

' ■■'^Si

,if«*

!>■

<> •

ih6

CARVER'S TRAVELI^;

a few months rilUft prove tti6«&l, there being no f'tf-
rtiedy yet difcovered which can cbunteraft its bane-
full influence. "

The ftones and pebbles on the fliOrifiS of this Jake
ire mol\ of thenl tinged, In a greater or lefs degree,
with fpots that refemble brafs in their colour, but
which are of a more^fillphureous nature. Small
pieces, about the fize of hazie'^nuts, of the fame
kinds of ore, are found oa the fands that ti<e on its
bjHiks, and undei; the water. • . .^

• The navigation of this lake is efteemed more dan-
j^etous than any of the others, on account of many
high lands that lie on the borders of it^ ;and projeft
into the water, in a perpendicular direftion, foe many
•tiiles together; fo - that whenever fudden ftorms
arife, canoes and boats are frequently loft,' aS there
is no place for them to find a fhelter.

This lake difcharges its mttri Sf the riofth-eaft
ends into the River Niagara,' which runs north and
fouth, and h about thirty-fix miles in length, from
>^hencB it falls into' lake Ontario. At the entrance
of this river, on its eaftern fhore, lies Fort Niagara ;
and, about eighteen miles farther up, thdfe remark-
able Falls, which are efteemed one of the mod ex-
traordinary produdions of nature at prefcnt known.

As thefe have been vifited by fo many travellers,
^ftd io frecjuently defcribtd, I {hall omit giving a
particular tiefctipiion of them, and only obferve, tl^at
the waters by which they are fupplied, after taking
their rife near two thoufand miles to the north-wefb,
and pafling through the takes Superior, Michigan,
Huron, and Erie, during which they have been
receiving conftant accumulations, at length ru(h
down a fiupendous precipice of one hundred and.

*,

;.-v •

<l

5 •■: r »

;^ CAREER'S TRAVELS. ^,; uy

* forty feet perpei*di<:ular ; and in a ftroog rapid, that
-extends to the distance gf eight or nine miles below,
fall nearly as much more ; this river (oon aft^f
empties iifelf into Lake Optario, .V^ - 'f' vV-v ',

^ , r The nolfe of thefe FalFs may be heard 3n amaz-
ing way. I could plainly diftinguifli them in 2^ calm
morning more than twenty miles. Others have
faid, that at particular times, and wh^n the wind fits
. fair^ tl^ IquaJI of ih W reaches fifteen fcj»g wes. . . ; -.

• -v . -?■ V ';■"':' --^K'-'V,' y-jt-': '^'' ■.':' ■• '.• ■ ■■fr-'' '^}'-\'' l'V-.'Vv H
,r ■• • • ■ . - ..■•/.■

The land about the Fall is exceedingly hilly ftnd

, , uneven, but the greateft part of tjiat on the Niagara

River is very good, efpecially for grafs ^nd

pafturage. ,.. •.,-..,., ,,..^,..,.^ ;,::i.., ,.-....

f- Fort Niagara {land? nearly at the entrance of the
weft end of Lak;e Ontario, and on the ealt part of
the Straits of Niagara. It was taken from the French
in the year 1759, by the forces under the command
of Sir William Johrifon, and at prefent is defended

by a ponfiderable garrilbn^; :;;r«ia vi ■,>:.- . -. .-

i, . ■■-■"■■■.. -.=•••

Lake Ontario is the next and- leaft of the five
great lakes of Canada. Its fitiiation is between forty-
three and forty five degrees of latitude, and be-
tween feventy-fix and feventy-nine. degrees pf weft
longitude. The form of it is nearly oval, it§ greateft
length being from north-eaft to fouch-weft, and in
circumference, about fix hundred miles. Near the
fourheaft part it receives the waters of the Ofwego .
■river, and on the north-eaft difcharges itfelf into the
^'ijver Cataraqui. Not far from the place where it
ijjaes, Fort Frontenac formerly ftood, which was
tallen from the French during the laft war, in the
year 1758, by a fmall army of Provincials under
(Colonel Br^d(\reet. ;, , ' .V, . .;'. ^V:.:^ ?

„»?

,. i«i-.li:ii.Li'u,;.--i

..:j.-'- /"ft

4:

t'

t2f

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

. At the entrance of Ofwego Rivor (lands a fort of
the fame name, garrifoned at prefent only by an in-
coniiderable party. The fort was taken in the year
1756, by the French, when a great part of the gar-
rifon, which confifted of the late Shirley's and Pep^
peril's regiments, were maHacred in cold blood by
the favages.

"'- In Lake Ontario are taken many forts of fifli,
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 Pouf^
which are in general very large, fome of theni
weighing eight or ten pounds, and they are eileemed
a rare difh when properly drefled. i'; J? .^ ,'<**■'

Oh the horth-wefl pairt of this Lake, and to the
fouth-eafl: of Lake Huron, is a tribe of Indians called
Miilifauges, whofe town is denominated Toronto,
from the lake on which it lies j but they are not very*
numerous. The country about Lake Ontario, ef-
pecially the more north and eadern parts, is com-
pofed of good land, and in time may make very
flourilhing lettlements. ' > i^f m^ ^^^ ^^^^* ;-^";^: '} '':--'■ '^

The Onaida Lake,s fituated near the head of the
River Ofwego^ receives the waters of Wood-Creek,
which takes its rife not far from the Mohawks
River. Thefe two lie fo adjacent to each other,
that a junction is effeifled 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 Onaida Indian*:, ..,,/" .. - » -

Lake Champlain, the next in (ize to Lake On-
tario, and which lies nearly eaft from it, is about
eighty miles iq. length, north and fouth, and in its

' **i

-:m

.*^.

•i\

€ARVER'i TRAVELS.

4

ts9

^roadeft part fourteen. It is well (lored 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-weft of the
lail mentioned lake, and is about thirty-five miles
long from north-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. \]

■<'j'

-^.u

■ ■>"

When thefe two lakes were firft difcovered, they
>vere known by no other name than that of the Iro-
quois Lakes ; and I believe in the firft plan taken
of thofe parts, were fo denominated. The Indians
alfo that were then called the Iroquois, are fmce
known by the name of the Fivie Mowhawk nations,
and the Mowhawks of Canada. In the late war, the
former, which ccnfifted of the Onondagoes, the
Onaidas, the Senecas, the Tufcarories, and Iroon-
docks,, fought on the fide of ^he Englifh : The latter,
which are called the Cohnawaghans, and St Francis
Indians, joined the French. . . . '

A vaft tra£t of land that lies between the two laft
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 diitinguifhed
from others of the fame name, by the Maibns of
Ccnnefticut, 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 dired line weft ward, extend to the mid-
dle of Lake Ontario : from thence, being bounded
by the Gataraqui, or river of the Iroquois, they t«ike

.;.-»

^y

*^

,CAR,VER's TRAVELS.

■';*

^ y their courfe to Montreal, as far as Fort Sorrel, which
lies at the jvindion of this river with the Richelieu j
and from that point are enclofed by the laft men-

::%., jtioned river (ill it returns back to the two lakes.

. '■ • :■•.<■

' 'This immenfe fpace w&s granted by the name of

the Province of Liiconia, to tht aforefaid gentleman,

^ ". on fpecihed conditions> and under certain penalties j

/•■' but i>one of thcfe amounted, in cafe of omiHion in

ih^ fulfilment of any part of then), ip forfeiture j a

' fine only could be exaitSled.s.T-'' < ■/ - rt-..

On account of the continual wars to which thefc
parts have been fubjtft, from their fituation between
the fettlements of the Englifh, the French, and the

. ' Indians, this grant has been fullered to lie dormant
by the real proprietors. Notwithilanding which,
'feveral towns have been fettle i fince the late war,
on the borders of Lake Champlain, and graniit made
to different people by the governor of New- York,
of part of thefe territories, whicji are now beconi€

\ annexed to that province. .,,,,,

,;'' There are a great number of lakes on the north

of C^ada, between Labrador, Lake Superior, and

Hudfon's Bay, but thefe are comparatively fn>all.

4; As they lie out of the traft that 1 purfued, I fhall only

. give a fummary account of thtm. The moft wef-
^ • terly of thefe are the Lakes NipilVig and Tamifcam-

•' jng. The fiift lies at the head of tbe French River,

^ 5i«d runs into Lake Huron j the other on the Otta-
waw River, whiah empties itfelf into the Cataraqui
at Montreal. Thefe lakes arc eaph ^bput one hun-
dred nxiles iu citcunxference. ' .;• • ^ . - > , y,

.^'■-ki

.J'

' The niext' is Lake Mift^iifin, on the head of Ru-
pert's River, that falls into James's Bay. This lake
is fo irregular froni the large points of land by

X"'

S.r

CARVER'* TRAVELS.

»J«

^hich It U ihterfedlea oh emy ficle, that it is diffi-
cult cither to defcfibe its fhape, or to afceriain itJ
lize. It however appears on the whole to be moft
than two hundred miles in citcumference.

Lake St John, which' is about eighty miles
round, and of a circular form, lies on the Saguenay
River, dire£tly north of Quebec, and falls into the
Sr Lawrence, fomewhat north-eaft of that eity.
Lake Manikouagone lies near the head of the Black
River, which empties itfelf into the St Lawrence to
the eaftward of the laft mentioned river, near the
coafl: of Labrador, and h abothl fixty miles in cir-
cumference. Lake Pertibi, Lake Wincktagan, Lake
Etchelaugon, and Lake iPapenouagane, with a num-
ber of other fmall lakes, lie neat the heads^ of the
Buftard River to the north of the St Lawrence. ,

"\

Many 6thers, which k is finneceflary to parti-
cularize here, are alfo found between the Lakes
Huron and Ontario.

The \x^hole of thofe I have enumerated, amount-
ing to upwards of twenty, are within the li'ni 3 of
Canada ; and from this account it might be deduced,
that the northern parts of North America, thrpugh
fhefe numerous inland feas, contain a greater quan-
tity of Water than any other quarter of the globe.

In Oftober 1768 I arrived at Boftori, having been
abfent froni it on this expedition two years, and five
months, and during that time travelled near feven
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 profccution of my plans for reaping thsfc udyiwi-

:?;-j;iv^;.«vv>»^3^^;^,.,.:^

'32

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

1. t

tages has hitherto been obftrufred by the unhappy
divifions that huve be^n fomented between Great
Britptn and her ColonievS 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 Eafl or Wed Indian fettlements ; and t
fhall not only pride myfelf, but fincerely rejoice in
^being the meang of pointing out to it fo valuable an
acquifition.

^- :■■':•'

?*•

I catinot conclude the account oi my extenfive tra-
vels, without expreffing my gratitude to' that ber,e-
ficent Being, who invifibly protefted me through
thofe perils which unavoidably attend fo long a tour
among fierce and untutored faVagei.

At the fame time, let me not be accufed of vanity
pr prefumption, if I declare that the motives alledged
in the introdudion of this work, were not the only
ones that induced me to engage in this arduous un-
dertaking. My views were not folely confined to
the advantages that might aqcrue either to myfelf,"
or the community to which 1 belonged ; but Loblef
purpQ(«6 contributed princijpally to urge me on.

The confined flate, both with regard to civil and
religious improvements, in which fo many of my
fellow creatures remained, aroufed within my bo-
fom an irreliftible inclination to explore the aimoft
unknown regions which they inhabited ; and as a
preparatory ftep towards the introduftion of more
polifhed manners, and more humane ieiitiments, to
gain a knowledge of their language, cudoms, and
principles.- * ■:iA ^y ;-,'^' » mv -fv .; '''—'.'''•'•

I confefs t' at the little benefit too many of the
Indian nations have hith^to received from their in-

■■.1 ^^'.

■Hi, ■ ..

■t-'v . ■:■■ •/ ■ •'■

•»-.v.-" %.

. eAaVER'p TRAVELS;

m

tercourjre !w.it-h tiiofe wl\o denominate themfelvyep
Ckriftians, did not tend ;to ^qourage roy charitabile
ptiipoXes ; yet as n^a^y, ibough jjiot tb^ generality,
might receive fonie benefit from the introdu<$lio^
among them of the polity and religion of the Euro-
peans, without retaining only the errors or vices ihat
from the depravity and perverfion of their prcfeffors
are unhappily attendant on thefe, I determined to
perfevere. '^:

.: ■ ', .... " ' '■ ' • ' , ,.' '\ • . r ■ ■ ' . • * •'";

Not could I flatter myfelf that I fhould be able
to accomplifh alone this great defign ) however, I
was willing to contribute as much as lay in my power
towards it. In all public undertakings would every
one do fhis, and furnifh with alacrity his particular
fiiare towards it, what iftupendojs works might not
be completed. , ;■ ,• _ ] [ '' ' '.> ;

•< ■

It is triie that the Indians are riot without feme
fenfe of religion, and fuch as proves that they wor-
fliip the Great Creator with a degree of purity un-
known to nations who have greater dpportunities
of improvement ; but their reiigious principles are
far from being fo faoltlefs as defcribed by a learned
writer, or un mixed ^with -oi anions and ceremonies
that greatly leflen their excellency in this point. So
tha: could the doftrines of genuine and vital Chrif-
tianity be introducdid among them, pure and un-
tainted, as it flowed from the mouth r^its Divine In-
ftituto.-, it would certainly tend to clear away tha£
fuperftitious or idolauous drofs by which the ratio-
nality of^ their religious tenets are obfcured. Its
nild and beneficent precepts would likewiTe conduce
to fnftnn their implacable difpofitions, and to refine
their favnjre manners ; an event molt dcfireable ; and
happv fhal! I erteem myfelf, if this publication ihall
- ' S

r

¥?■':

■^ii4iiit'ii,:mm''\'

XJ^:

'■-T*'

It'

■y^ V* /:: ••■' ■

134

CA.^V£R'8 TRAVELS".

prove the means of pointing out the path by which*
ialutary inflrudlions may be conveyed to them, and
the converfioD, though but of a few, be the con-'
fequence. ^/ •"*.;- _^^ ^■../i'-,;-'^./..- -_- ■^u-'^} ^^i- •

V/^^'jv' '.

./,

-." *.♦.■ *

r\

"■*?-,>,■■<■ ■ ■- -

.,'%-'

■^ . ' ''■■■.■',. '■'"'

i^V,-'.-. 'f!^ -■':::

"^'p:-:: . ■■'■■: ■'■■

. ■ '' .

:i,^,r.^ Conclusion oi^ the JOURNAL, &<;;• .

- •«■

..•'''■■..'■■■*-,

« ' - >..■)'

' . , ^

■■" ♦

■j^,.

.^..* '-ijtV-t-'' -

- , *^''5^ '■T??Ky., .v:i^^'; - ^.^' •'v:.'-f "? ' ' ■ .1'

*jt

-^.^^'r;.',i'^:'-f>\

v.

'"'^:

^v, ...

^

\"-''''

•■•, .i '■ ■ ■ \ = . :* V -, "- " . ' ,f ■ ■ if.. •• ..•

■'!-. S

ft* ^

•.,>,-..••

i!» ^ ^

V>;'.

j.'ifc'.'^ -.

6,1

'M

..■'»♦■:» , .

jftBiKf

^ OF THE" .

ORIGIN, MANNERS, CUSTOMS,
RELIGION, AND LANGUAGE

■■■/ r

.f ,

PF THE

; i I .-

I

H D I A N S.

• ' CHAPTER T,

' , • "'■■ '•' ■ ■ ■ p\'-'/^'- ■ 'm- ■-■• ■;■..;

: 'f ".'•■'.' Of their Origin. ^'-''^'^^^■':;':\^y^ '-,

HE means .by which America received
Its firfl: inhabitants, have, fince the time of its dif-
covery by the Europeans, been the fubjedt 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 c^ni^ftures, the enumeration would much ex-
ceed . "oi.nds yiave prefcribed to myfelt, and ob-
lige T. w I.', lefs explicit on points of greater mo-
ment.

From the obfcurity in which this debate is enve-
loped, through ' : total difufe of letters among every
nation of Indians on this extenfive continent, and
the uncertainty of oral tradition at thediftance of fo
many ages, I fear, that even after the moft minute
ii:, ligation, we fhall not be able to fettle it with
an; , rsa" degree of certainty. And this apprehen-
fion will receive additional force, when it is confi-'

m

*• ;':

'II

s

m^-

136

CARVER'i TRAVELS.

dercd that the diverfity of language, which is appa-
rently diftin^k between mod of the Indians, tends
to afcertain that this population was not eifcdtd
from one particular country, but from fcveral neigh-
bouring one», and cotnpleted at different periods, r-

Mort of the htftanan'j or travelUrs tliat have
treated on the Americdti Aborigines, diiagree in
their (entiments relative to thtni. Many of the a)i-

' cients are fuppofcd to have known that this quarter
of the globe not only exifled, but alfo that it was in-
habited. Plstto in nil 'liniceus has alTefted, that
beyond the Iflam* which he calls Ataiantis, and

..-vhich, according*; ' kfciiption, was fituated in
the Weftern Ocean, j e were a great* number of

: other iflandt, and behind thofe a vad continent.

Oviedo, a celebrated Spanifh author of a much
later date, hai made ho fcruple to afHrm that the

"Antilles are the fatnoun Hefperides fo often menti-
6ned by the pottiy Which are at length reftored io

* the kings of Hpairi, the defcendants of king litfpe-
rus, who lived upward* of three thoufand years
ago, and from whom thefe iilands received their
ftames.

Two orhcr Spaniards, the one, Father Gregorio
Garcia, a Dominican, the other,^ather Jofeph De
Acofta, a Jefuit, have written on the origin of the
Americans.

V»-'A-(;

■<V

The former who hU3 1been' empto'yed in the mlfii-
ons of Mexico and Peru, endeavoured to prove
from the tradition! of the Mexicans, Peruvians^ and V'
others, which be received on. the fpot, and from the .
variety of chara^terit, cuftoms, languages, and reli-
gion obfervable in ihcdiiFercnt countries of the New ,,
World, that dilTcrent nations had contributed to the ;
ling of it. ■'•;.• . .:.v:-.•'y«r■^/■^,v.,v

j' ., ' ^ ' ' ' . ■ •■' ' ■•■ \'i. ^■''''.:

peopli

V^:

■»,•--

%

CARVER'* TRAVELS.

»37

The latrer. Father De Acofta, in his exam'mafloa
of the means by which the firit Intlians 'of Americz
might have found a palTage to that continent, dif-
• credits the conclufions of thofe who have fuppofed
It to be by fea, beca d no ancient author has made
petition of the compafs : and concludes, that it muft
be either by the north of Afia and Europe, which
adjoin to tich other, or by thofe regions that He to
the fouthward of the ftraits of Magellan. He alfo
rejeds the aflertion of fuch as have advanced that it
,wa9 peopled ty the Hebrews.

■- John de Laet, a Flemifh Writer, has coniraverted
the> opinion of thcfe Spanifh fathers, and of many
others who have written on the fame fubjed. The
hypothefis he endeavours to eftabliih, is, that Ame-
rica was certainly peopled by the Scythians or Tar<»
tars : atid that the tranfmigtation of thefe people
happened fojie after the difperfion of Noah*s grand*
foils. He utidertakes to (how, that the moft nor*
thetil Americans have a greater refemblance, not
only in the features of their countenances, but alfo
in their corttplexion and manner of living, to the
Scythians, Tartars, and Samoeides, than to any
other nations. ,,. . .^^

•5r

^.y.

'M

^\ s>

f:-'

yi

>f'

" In anfwer to Grotius, who had aflerted that fome
of the Norwegiaiis palTed into America by the way
of Greenland^ and over a vaft continent, he fays,
that It is well known that Greenland was not difco-.
veted till the year 964 ; and both Gomera and Her-
rera informs us, that the Chichimiques were fettled
on the Lake of Mexico in 72 1 . He adds, that thefe
favages, according to the uniform tradifion of the
Mexicans who difpodefled them, came from the
country fmce called New Mexico, and from the
neighbourhood of California ; confequently North-
America muft have been inhubited many ages before

-. . »'■

>f^

/ ;.

■,>■■'::

i.3«

CARVER'8 TRAVELS,

k coutd receive any fnhdbitatits from Norway hy
way of Greenland* n..-,

T.; •:r-

It IS no lefs certain, he obferves, that the real

Mexicans founded their empire in 962, after having

fubdued the Chichimeques, the Otomias, and other

barbarous nations, who had taken polTeffion of the

' country around 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 y of pourfe they coyld no| come front

Norway, f-^t.^^,-

'mW^H'^iSi'^^W^i-^ htfii:;.

:>ffii-

J . De Laet further adds, tKat though fbme of the
inhabitants of North- America, may have entered it
■ .V 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 edifices were feen, it is high-

ly probable, from their- being now deferted, that the
;f ' ;f inhabitants may have pafled over to America ; the
Is paflage being neithe; long nor difficult. This mi-

gration, according to the calculation of thofe authors,
^ .^ ; inuft 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 conflruc-
tion of fliips, they might have retired to the Antil-
les, by the way of the weftern ifles, wliich were ex-
adly halfway on their voyage. C;,:^, , .., ^

He thinks alio that Creat-Britain, Ireland, ^and
the Orcades were extremely proper to admit of a
limilar conjecture. As a proof, he aflerts the foi-
lowing palTage fiom the hillory of Wales, v/ritJen bv
pr Payid Powel, in the year 1170. j.^^ - ^^^'M' ,

,»',■■'

''C-

...'-• ■'-

*«•.-■•

.* •».

TVi-f!

'i

14 -fe,-' .

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

'59

iThis hiftorian fay8, that Madoc, one of the fons
6f 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-
fels, aad having provided them with every thing
neceffary for a long voyage, went in queft of new
lands to the weftward of Ireland ; there he difco-
vered very fertile countries, but deftitute of inhabi-
tants ; when landing part of his people, he returned
to Britaian, where he raifed new levies, and after-
ivards tranfported theni to his colony.

*..A)

The Flemifh author then returns to the Scythians,
between whom and the Americans he draws 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 perfeft, yet
the emigrants, even before they left their own
country, diflFered from each other, and went not
by the fame name. Their change of abode eflfeded
what remained. ■ : v. ,,-- -^ .

' He further fays, that a fimilar likenefs exifts
between feveral American nations, and the Samoei-
des who are fettled, according to the RuiTian ac-
counts, on the great River Qby. And it is more
natural, continues he, to fuppofe that colonies of
their natiohs^ pafled 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
aqually fenfible, and which appeared o be juft j but

. .'.'■■.■'.
■ r ■>^'

■''Wi

f4o

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

/: be intermiiccs with tbefc, fojjie that are not fo (vvelt
■ founded. -i;-^'^}-^':'' '. i<^j s^^.H.<'f ^- »; ^ --'^v: "^ V ♦;^-^,?;i ■■ M. ifi;*

£manu£l de Morazc, a Poirtutguefe, in this hiiflo-
ry of Brazil, aflferts, that America has been whdl.Iy
peopled by the Car.thaginiaiis and Ifraelites. He
brings as a proof of this aflertion^ »the dilcoveries
the former are kno»;n t.o have mad^ at .a 'p,reait dif-
tance beyond the coaft of Africa. The progrefs lof
which being put .a fto^ to by the Jenate ci" Gartihage,
thofe who happened, to be them in the «e.wly di-f-
covered countries, being cut of from all communi-
cation with itheir countrymen, arnd d^tli'Cute of many
neceflaries of life, fell into a ftate of rbarbarifra. A«
to the Ifraelites, this author thinks that nothing ibut
circumci^on is wanted ir order to conftiiutc a per-
fe&, tefemblanee between them and the ^Bra^ili^ns;

. ' ■ ' ' ■ • ...?■■■'

George De Huron, a leainsd Dutchman, has like-

•\wfe written on the fubjeft. .He fets out with .de-
claring, thatjhe^dofls not believe it pcflible Ame«ica-
could have been peopled :befoM the .flood, .confidec-
ing the ihort fpace of time which .elapfed ibetween
the creation of tb« world and that memorable event.
In the next place, heJays it down as a principle, that
after che:deluge, men, and other terrefltal. animals,
penetrated into that country iboth by th^fea: and fhy
land ; fome through accident, and'fome-ftrom a.'fofm-
cd delign. That birds. got thither by ^flight; which
they were enabled to do by refting on the rpcks and
ifiands that aice Jfeatlered about iniihe Qcean^ si^dt -^

■' >^-'d.'y^

r, )'(;.!

■ qMi x'

He further ubferves, 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 bet^ufe thpfe nations itb»t

n

0t:

■:-m.:

,/ ' •

,(/.'•-

''':,'' 'i''

CARVER»s TRAVELS.

Ht

palTed thifher, were cither not acquainted with their
ufe, or had no convenience to fuppoft them.

Having totally excluded many nations that others
have admitted as the probable ^rft fettlers of Ame-
rica, for which he gives fubflantial reafons, he fup-
pofes that it began to be peopled in the north ; and
maintains, that the pirimitive colonies fpread them-
feives by the means of the iflhmus of Panama through
the whole extent of the continent. - > . :

, He believes that the firft founders of the Indian
Colonies were Scythians : That th^ Phoenicians
and Carthaginians afterwards got footing in America
^crofs the Atlantic Ocean, and the Chinefe by way
of the Pacific : And that other nations might from
time to time have landed there by one or other of
thefe ways, or might po^bly have been thrown on
thecoafl 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 fomfe Jews
arid Chriftians might have been carried there by fuch
like eveiits, but that this mud have happened at a
time when the whole of the New World was already
|)eopled.

*;i*;:^,'

X -W-

. . rAfter all, he acknowledges 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 havock which the, Spaniards,
the firft difcoverers of the New World, made amoncr
its moft ancient monuments ; as witnefs the great
double road betwixt Quito and Cuzco» an under-
taking fo ftupendous, that even the moft ma^ift- ,

■,«■

A-'

■'^

I • , *'.

■<*

- • -« ■ •

Zi)*Z

CARVER'S TRAVELS

', ,>,

cent of thofe executed by the Romans cannot be*
compared to it. .

He fuppofes alfo another migration of the Phoe-
nicians, than thofe already mentioned, to have taken
place ; and this was during a three years voyage
made by the Tyrian fleet in the fervice of King So-
lomon. He alTerts on the authority of Jofephus,
that the port at which this embarkation was made,
lay in the Mediterranean. The fleet, he adds, went
in queft of elephants' teeth and peacocks, to the
weftem coafl: of Africa, which is Tarfliilh ; then to
bphir 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,
tbought he could trace the furnaces in which the
gold was refined.

To thefe migrations which preceded the Chrif-
tian asra, he adds many others of a later date, from
di6Ferent nations, but thefe I have not time to enu-
merated For the fame reafon I am obliged to pafs
pver numberlefs writers on this fubjed ; 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 fo' 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-
jedures. But the latter cannot without fome diflS-
culty be extracted, as they are fo interwoven with
the paflages he has quoted, that it requires much
attention to difcriminate them.

. He feems to allow that America might have re-
ceived its firH: ihhabitanis from Tartary and Hyrca-

,,pm:t:'m'''^^.mt

'> ■ ■" " '■■■> ,'■■ ■- ■ ■ ' V..- ■■' ' ' '^T

■■"laaa

» f

«>'•'

*:. . .V

CARVER'sTRAVELS.

MS

Ilia. This he confirms, by obferving that the lions
rnd tygers, which are found in the former, mud
hiive come from .^hofe countries, and whofe paffagcg
ferve* for a proof that the two hemifpheres join to
the northward of Afia. lie 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 fad.

This father, after havings laboured feme lime in
the miflions of New France,^ paiTed 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 ifked her by what adven-
ture fhe had been carried into a country fo difl^nt
from her own. She made anfwer, that having been
taken in war, (he had been conduced from nation
to nation, till (he had reached the place at which Ihe
then was. •

Monfieur Charlevoix fays further, that he had
been aflured another Jefuit, pafling through Naniz,
in his return from China, had related much fuch
another affair of a Spanifli woman from Florida.
She alfo had been taken by certain Indians, and
given to thofe of a more diltant country ; and by
thefe agiiin to another nation, till having thus been
fuccefiively pafled from country to country,^and tra-
velled through regions extremely cold, flie at laft
found herfelf in Tartary. Here (lie had married a
Tariar, who had attended the conquerors in China,
where ilie was then Settled. •^^?i-v;^^vivif*;4V^ 1. ii^

^ . ^ ■ .1^ ■-. ^ . '<^ ■•,■-.-. , t.

He acknowledges, as an ally to the probability
of thefe ftories, that tHofe who had failed fartheft
to the eaftward of Afia, by purfuing the coaft of
jeflb or Kamfchatl^i, have pretended that they had

.' .'"■:■•' ,•••.■-■'. y '-■• • .' ■ . ' ■•..''.'■" ■■•:^'" ■.'■>■>' ••-»,'

' ■ . ■•

*'■;■'. ^" , -

•*■. . - I*

»44i

i'j

CARVER'i TRAVELS.

perceived the extremity of i\m continent ; and from
thence have concluded that there could not poflibly
he any communication. by land. But he adds, that
Francis Guelia, a Spaniard, is faid to have al]*rted,
that this feparation is no more than a Arait, about
one hundred mile,^ over, and that fome late voyages
^ of the Japanefe give ground to think that this ilrait
" is only a bay, above which there is a paffage over
land. :

He goes on to obferve, that thdugh there are
few wild beafts to be met with in Norih- America,
except a kind of lygers without fpots, which are
found in the country of the Iroquoife, yet towards
the tropics there are lions and real tygers,, which,
notwithftandirig, might have come from Hyrcania
and Tartary ; for as by advancing gradually fouth-
\yard they met with climates more agreeable to their
natures, they have in time abandoned 'the northern
countries. • ' . . . .,,u

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
cpuntries, which might be fufficient to confirm any
^%i^ conje£lures concerning the retreat of a great number
of Scythians into America, i;:. ,^,, ,;,.., .„- ,._

^ To this he adds, that we find in the ancients the
mames of fome of thefe nations. Pliny fpeaks of
the Tabians ; Solinus mentions the Apuleans, who

, had for neighbours the Maflagetes, whom Pliny
fince affures us to have entirely difappeared. Am-
mianus Marcellinus expref&ly tells us, that the fear
pf th^ Anthropophagi obliged feVcral of the inhabi-

CARVERS TRAVELS.

in'

tants oF thofe countries to take refuge elfewhere.
Vrom uli thefe authorities, Monfieur Charlevoix con-
cludes, that there is at lead room to conjecture that
more than one nation in America had the Scythian
or Tartarian original. tr^n '•■ vt'^c z'"^'!^ ar ■

He finiflies his remarkii 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 ; firH, how the new world might
have been peopled ; and fecondly, by whom, and

by what means it has been peopled. ^^^v' :

\*» *

Nothing, he aflerts, may be more cafily anfwered
than the firft. America might have been peopled
a« the thred other parts of the world have been.
Many difficulties have been formed on this fubjed,
which have been deemed infolvable, but which are
far from being fo. The inhabitants of both hemif-
f'heres are certainly the defcendanrs of the fame fa-
r ; the common parent of mankind received an

^.efs command from heaven, to people the whole
World, and accordingly it has been peopled. ,

To bring this about, it was neceffary to overcome
all difficulties that lay in the way, and they have been
got over. Were thefe difficulties greater with re-
fyei\ to peopling the extremities of Afia, Africa, and
Europe, or the tranfporting men into the iilands
which lie at confiderable difUnce from thole conti>
nents, than to pafs over into America ? certainly not.

Navigation, which has arrived at fo great per-
feftion within thefe three or four centuries, might
poffibly have been more perfeft in thofS early ages
than at this day. Who can believe that Noah and
his immediate defendants knew lefs of that art than
we do ? That the builder and pilot of the largely Ihip

,;

-J ". '

^,t^j*. y^- ■■■ »'■■■ ■ ■- /■■

1^0

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

.;»:■

that i6v^*was, a flitp that was formed to traverfe ar|

unbounded ocean, and had fo many rtioals and quick*

fands to guard agayift, fhould be ignorant of, or

fliould not have communicated to thofe of his de-

fcendantp who furvived him, a^id by whofe means he

ivas to execute the order of the Great Creator ; I

■ ::^ay, who can believe he fliould not have communi-

.'^v^cated to them the art of failing upon an ocean, which

' ;/'<ivas not only more calm and pacific, but at the fame

"^ ' ?lime confined within its ancient limits ?

Admitting this, h**w eafy is it to pafs, exclufivc
' of the palfage already dcfcribed, by land ft-om the
*'^ _: coaft of Africa to' Brazil, from the Canaries to the
\ iWefttrn 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-
tult ; I might fay as much of that from China to Ja-
pan; from Japan, or the Philippines, to the ifles of
Maria'ines ; and from thence to Mexico.

-r> There are iflands at a confiderable diftance from
the continent ^f Afia, where we have not been fur-
prifed to find inhabitants ; why then fliould we won-
der to rneet with people in America I Nor can it be
imagined that the grandfons of Noah, when they
' "'were obliged to feparate, and fpread tnemfelves in
conformity to the defigns of God over the whole
earth, fliould find it abfolutely impoflible to people
v. almoll one half of it.

lf<^%ljf ■ *Ti^^">W f^- - /■■

I have been more copious in my extrafts from this
author than 1 intended, is his reafons appear to be
folid, and many, of his obfervatlons juft. From u
encomium, however, I mufl: exclude the (lories iie
has introduced of the Huron and Floridan wo-
men, which 1 think 1 might venture to pronoimcq;

■Jf -

C AR V E R ' 3 T.R A V E L S;

»47

I (hall only add, to give my readers a more coiti-
prehenfive view of Monfieur Charlevoix's difler-
tation, the method he propofes to come at the
truth of what we are now in fearch 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 poflibi/ 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 fi ill have, travellers and miflionaries
who have attained the languages that are fpoken in
all the provinces of the new world ; it would only
be neceflary to mak j a colle£lion of their grammars
and vocabularies, and to collate them with the dead
and living languages of the old world; that pafs for
originals, jnd the fimilarity might eafily be traced.
Even the different dialeds, in fpite of the aherations
they have undergone, ftill retain enough of the
mother tongue to furnifli conliderable 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
fallacious. A difquifition of that kind, he obferves,
is only capable of producing a falfe light, more like-^
iy to dazzle, and to make us wander from the right,
path, than to lead us with certainty .to the poin":
propoied. ' ■ . :n^:mm^i0mst-M^'

Ancient tradrtions are effaced from tne minds of
fuch as either have not, or for fevera! ages have
been v;ithout .hofe helps that are neceflary to pre-
ferve thein,^ ^. And la this fituaiion is full one half of :

■«•■.■■

>• , I':

•*<•;

i^

CARVER'S TRAVtti

'i-'-i'..

^<he world. New cvcnis, and anew arrangement
of things, give rife to new traditions, which eiJa re
the former, and are themfelves effaced in turn. Af-
ter one or two centurie's have paffed, there no,
longer remain any traces of the firit traditions ; and
thus/«^e are involved in a ilate of uncertainty.

5-

' He concludes with the followiiig remarks, aiiiong
many others. Unforefeen accidents,^ tempefts, and
fhipwrecks, have certainly contributed to people
every habitable part of the world ; and ought we to
wonder after this, at perceiving Certain refemblances,
bothof perfc^s and maniiers, between nations that are
mod remote from each other, when we find fuch a
difference between thofe that border on one another ?
As we arc deltitute ofhiftorical monuments, there is
nothing, I rei^eat it, but a knowledge of the primitive,
languages that is capable of throwing any light
upon theffr clodds of impenetrable darknefs.

By this enquiry we ihould at leaft he fatisfied,
among that prodigious number of various nations
inhabiting America,' and differing fo much in lan-
guages from each other, which are thofe \^ho make
ufe of words totally and entirely different from thofe
of the old world, and who confequently muff be
reckoned to have paiTed over to America in the
earlieft ages, and thofe who fromthe analpgy of
their language with fuch as are at prefent ufed in the
^hree other parts of the globe, leave room to judge
that their migration has been more recent, and which
ought to be attributeo to ihipwrecks, or fome ac-
cident fimilar to thofe which have been fpoken of iii
the courfe of this treat ife. ' \^

I ihali only add the opinion of one author morei*
before I give my own fentiments on the fubjecl, and
that is of James -fidair, Efqj who refided forty years

;.,-^''...'

I 1 ci ■'

CAILVER'* TRAVELS.

«49

among (the Indians, and publifhed the hiftory of
them m the year iyy2. In his learned and fyftema-
tical hiilory crfihofe nations, inhabiting the weftern
parts of the moft fouthera of the American colo-
nies, this gentleman without hefitation pronoun-
ces that the American Aborigines are defcended
from the Ifraelites, either whilft they were a ma-
Titi-me powei', or- foon after their general capti*

r This defcent be endeavours to prove from theii?
religious rites, their civil and martial cuftoms, their
marriages, their funeral cercmor)ies, their manners,
languag-e, traditions, and from a variety of other
particulars. And fo complete is his conviction on
this head, that he fancies he finds a perfe£t and
indifpi*tal>l€ fimilitude in each. Through all thefe ,
I have not time to follow him, and fhall therefore
only give a few €Xira£ls to fhow on what foundation
he builds his conjeftures, and what degree of credit
he is entitled to on this point. j: v

- .. '^'i';-h •:'-,; ^^■tv■'', ^■^^•. ■■4 ;^>-'"' ''3' >' '•')■ •' .«: ■. -■•• - - — *
f Ke b ?gins wkh obfervijg, that though fome have
fuppofeu the Americans to be defcended from the
Chinefe, yet neither their religion, laws, noi uf-
toms agree in the lead with thofe of the Chinefe ;
which fufScientiy proves that they are not of this
line, r Befides, as our beft fhips are now almoil half
a year in failing for China (our author does not here
recoiled 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)
ox from thence to Europe, it is very unlikely they
ihouid attempt fuch dangerous difco varies, ^yith
their fuppofed fmall veflels, againft rapid currents,
and in dark and fickly Monfoons. .; vj

■■ ' • TT .... ...

/^i

2;«

CARVER'S TRAVfeLSTj

He further remarks, that this is more particularly
improbable, ai there is reafon to believe that this
nation was unacquainted ^ith the ufe of the load^
flone to direct (h«ir courfe.

China, he fayif u about eight thoufand miles dif-
tant from the American continent, which is twice as
far as acroHi the Atlantic Ocean. And we are not
informed by atty ancient writer of their maritime
ikill,or io muth ai any inclination that way, befides
fmall coiiUng voyages. The winds blow likewife,
with little variation, from eafl to weft v/lrhin the la^
titudcis thirty and odd, north and fouth, und there-
fore thefe could not drive them on he American
coait it lying dire^ly contrary to fuch a courfe.

i:\-i:m,-_ ,, ' ,, .... , ',

■^^ Neltnet could perfonj, according t6 this writer's
account, fiiil to America from the north by the way
of Tartary or ancien' Scyihia : that, from its fitua-
tion, never having been, or can be a maritime power ;
and it is utterly impraflicable, he fays, for any to
•come to America by Tea from that quarter. Befides,
the remaining traces of their religious ceremonies,
and civil and martial cuftcms, are quite oppofite to
the like veiiigeg of the old Scythians.

Even in the moderate northern climates there is
not to be fccn the leaft trace of any ancient ftately
buildings, or of any thick fettiements, as are faid
to remain in the lefs healthy rerions of Peru and
Mexico, And (cveral of the Indiai nations ai' are us,
that they croifed th6 Miflillippi before they made
their prclent northern fettlemenis : which, con-
nei^ed with the former arguments, he concludes
will fufficiently explode that weak opinion of the
American Aborigines being lineally deicendcd from
the Tartan or ancient bcythians.- -, ^^ "J: ';■

■<.-'•>

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

•i^i

Mr Adair's reafons for fiippofing that the Ameri-
icans derive their origin from the jews are*

Firft, becaufe they are illvided into tribes, and
ichiefs over them, as the Ifraeiites had.

Secondly, becaufe, as by a ftrid, permanent, di-
vine precept, the Hebrew nation were ordered to
worfliip, at Jerufalem, Jehovah the true and living
God, fo do the Indians, ftiling him Yohewah. The
ancient Heathens, h? adds, it is well known, wdr-
/hippe i a phiraHty ot gods ; but the Indians pay
their religious devotions to the great, beneficent, fu-
preme, holy Spirit of Fire, who refides, as they think,
^'uovethe clouds, and on earth alfo with unpoHuted
people. They pay no adoration to images, or to -
dead perfons, neither to the celeftial luminaries, to
evil fpirits, nor to any created beings whatever.

Thirdly, becaufe, agreeable to the theocracy or
divine government of Ifrael, the Indians think the
Deity to be the immediate head of their ftate. ^^^

Fourthly, becaufe, as the Jews believe in the
miniflration of angels, the Indians alfo believe that
the higher regions are inhabited by good fpirits.

Fifthly, becaufe, the Indi'an language and dialefts
appear to have the very idioms and genius of the
Hebrew. Thi'jr words and fentences being ex- ■
preffive, qoncife, emphatical, fonorous, and bold;
and often, boih in letters and fignifications, are fy-
nonymous'with the Hebrew language.

Sixthly, becaufe tliey count their time after the
manner of the Hebrew^.

'" i

■■•-.-■'■■if -

•■:»k

»5*

C A R V E R's T R A V E L S.

Seventhly, becaufe, in conformity to, or after the
manner of the Jews, they have their prophets, high^
priefts, and other religious orders. .

Eighthly, becaufe their feftivals, fafts, and reli-
gious rites have a great refembiancs to thofe of the
Hejbrevifs.

- [' . ^ - ■ ' ■ \

Ninthly, becaufe the Indians, before they go to
^'-[f war, have many preparatory ceremonies of purifij
cation and falling, like what is recorded of the If-
raelites.

Tenthly, becaufe the fame tafte for ornaments,
and the fame kind, are made ufe of by the Indians^
as by the Hebrewd. - >

Thefe,.and many other arguments of a fimilar na-
ture, Mr Adair brings in fupport of his favourite
fyftem ; but 1 fhould imagine, that if the Indians are
really derived from the Hebrews, among their reli-
gious ceremonies, on which he feems chiefly to build
His hypothefis, the principal, that of circumcifion,
would never have been laid afide, and its very re-
membrance obliterated. : ,

•>' • ,,•.' ■;

. Thus numerous and diverfe are the opinions of
thofe who have hitherto Written onthcfubjed! I
(hall 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 conclufions drawn
from the moft rational arguments of tho writers I
have mentioned, and from my own obfervations ^
the coniiftency of thefe 1 (hall leave to the judgment
of my readers. ,>^a.v- , vi^^^

■ %'''~jf-*

■ f i s-V* ■

A-"i'--

-r:--^

■/

CARVER'- TRAVELS.

'5?

The better to introdtice my conjedlures on this
head, it is neceffary iirft to afcertain the diflances
between America and thofe parts of the habitable
globe that approach nearefl; to it.

The Continent of America, as far as tve can judge
from all the refearches that have been made neaiT the
poles, appears to be entirely feparated from the
other quarters of the world. That part of Europe
which approaches neared to it, is the co&ft of Green-
land, lying in about feventy degrees of north lati-
tude, and which reaches within twelve degrees of
the coafl 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
hutid^ed and fixty miles north-eaH: from the Brazils.^
The moil eaftern coaft of Afia, wh'^h extends to
the Korean Sea on the north of China, proje£ts north-
eaft through eaftern Tartafy and Kamfchatka to Si-
beria, in about fixty degrees of north latitude. To-,
wards which, the weftern coafts of America, from
California to the Straits of Annian, extend nearly
north-weft, and lie in about forty-fix degrees of the

ijime latitude. ' \f r f

j -

Whether the Continent of America ftretches any
farther notth than thefe Itraits, and joins to the eaf-
tern parts of Afia, agreeable to what has been affert-
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, verger
ing towards the oppofite continent, is not yet afcer-.
tained. - ,,■ ^ ., .^ ,

n '

' »■

It being, however, certain that there- are many
confiderable iflands which lie between the extremities
of Afia and' America, viz. Japan, Jeffo, or Jedfo,
Gama's Land, Behring's Ifle, with many others difr

'■■*'■}- ^.'.X^. ...a*,\a;.-

"54

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

covered by Tfchirikow, and befides thefe, from
fifty degrees north there appearing to be a duller of
iflands that reach as far as Siberia, it is probable,
from their proximity to America, that it received its
firft inhabitants'from them.

This conclufion is the moft rational I am able to
ijraw, fuppofing that fince the Aborigines got foot-
. ing on this continent, no extraordinary or fudden
change in the pofition or furface of it has taken
place, frorfv inundations, earthquakes, or any re-
volutions of the earth that we are at prefent unac<
quainted with. ^ ' ;;

To me it appears highly improbable that itihould
. have been peopled from different ,quarters, acrofs
the Ocean, as others have afferted. From the
fize of the fhips made ufe of in thofe early ages,
and the want of the compafs, it cannot be fuppofeit
that any maritime nation would by choice venture
over the unfathomable ocean, in fearch of diftant
' continents. Had this however been attempted, or
, had America been firft accidentally peopled from
fliips freighted with paflengers of both fey^s, which
' were driven by a ftrong eafterly wind acrois the At-
lantic, thefe fettlers muft hav^ retained fome traces
of the language of the country from whence they
migrated ; and fince thedifcovery of it by the Eu-
ropeans muft have been made out. It alfo appears
extrordinary that feveral of thefe accidantal migra-
tions, as allowed by fome, and thefe from different
parts, fhould have taken place.

Upon the whole, after the moft critical enqui-
ries, and the matureft deliberation, 1 am of opinion,
that America received its firft inhabitants from the
north-eaft by the way of the great archipelago juft
mentioned, and from ihefe. alone. But this might

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

^53

tiavc been efFedted at diflferent times, and from va-
rious parts : from Tartary, China, Japan, or Kamf-
chatka, the inhabitants of thefe places refembhng
each other in colour, features, and fhape, and who,
before fomc of them acquired a knowledge of the
arts and fciencesr might have likewife refembled
each other in their manners, cufloms, religion, and
language. _. ! • .

. - *'

The only difference between the Chinefe nation
iand the Tartars, lies in the cultivated ftate of the
one, and the unpolifhed fituation of the other. The
former have become a commercial people, and
dwell in houfes formed into regular towns and cities ;
the latter live chiefly in tents, and rove about in dif-
ferent hordes, without any fixed abode. Nor can
the long and bloody wars thefe two nations have
been engaged in, exterminate their hereditary fimi-
litude. The prefent family of the Chinefe emperors
is df Tartarian extradion ; and if they were not fen* ' -
fible of fome claim befides that of conqueft, fo nu-
merous a people would fcarcely fit quiet under the
dominion of ftrangers*

It is very evident, that fome of the manners and
cultoras of the American Indians refemble thofe of
the Tartars ; and I make no doubt but that in fome
future aera, and that not a very diftant one, it will
be reduced to a certainty, that during fome of the
wars between the Tartars and the Chinefe, a part of
the inhabitants of the northern provinces wer,e driv-
en from their native country, and took refuge in
fome of the ifles before-mentioned, and from thence
found their way, into America^ At different periods
each nation- might prove vidorious, and the conquers :
ed by turns fly before their conquerors \ and from
hence might rife the fimilitude of the Indians to all

rtr-

". ('

156

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

thefe people, and that animofity which exi(ls between
fo many of ihcir tribes.

, It appears plain to me, that a great fimilarity be-;
tween the Indians and Chinefie is coiifpi<:uou8 in that
particular cuftom of fhaving or plucking off the hair^
and leaving only a fmail tuft 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 as a farther proof
that this pullom was in ufe among the 'i arrays ; to
whom, as well as the Chinefe^ the Americans might
be indebted for it.

. Many words alfoare ufed both by the Chinefe and
Indians, which have a refemblance to each other, not
. pnly in their found, but their fignification- The
Chinefe call & flave, fhungo ^ and the Naudoweffie
Indians, whofe language, from their little intercourfe
with the Europeans, is the lead corrupted, terih a
dog, (hungulh. The former denominate one fpecies
of their tea, ihoufong } the latter call their tobacco,
fhoufaiTau. Many other of the words ufed by the
Indians contain the fyllables che, ei]|aw, and chu, af-
ter the dialedt of the Chinefe.

There might poffibly be found a fimilar conn«c*
tioa between the language of the Tartars and the
American Aborigines, were we as well acquainted
with it as we are, from a commercial intercoufe^'^
with that of the Chinefe. '^ ,•

■; . . • • ■; ■ ■ • • ; ^. -^' ;v

I am confirmed in thefe conjedures, by the ac-,
counts of Kamfchatka, publifhed a few years ago
by order of the Emprefs of Rufiia. T^e author of
which fays, that the fea which divides that peninfula
from America is full of iilands, and that the diftancc^
between Tfchukotlkoi-Nofs, a promontory which

#-■■- ''-'"

CARVER'» TRAVELS,

, »57

lies at the eaflern extremities 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 grcateft reafon to fuppofe that Afia and Ame-
rica once joined at this place, as the coafls 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 di(lri6t in Kamfchatka fpeak a lan-
guage as different from each other, as from that
Spoken on the oppofite coaft. Thefe obfervations,
to which he adds the fimilarity of the boats of the
inhabitants of.each coart, and a remark that the na-
tives of this part of America are wholly ftrangers tp .
wine and tobacco, which he looks upon as a proof '
that they have as yet no communication with the
natives of Europe, he fays, amount to little lefs than
a demonflration 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 fubjeft, or to
enumerate any other proofs in favour of my hypo-
thefis. I am, however, fo thoroughly convinced
of the certainty of it, and fo defirous 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-ead part of Europe and Afia to
the interior parts of America, and from thence to
England j making, as 1 proceeded, fuch obferva*
..■■'. ,■.. X .^ .■ : ■• - •• '

• /

ijS

CA RVER's TRAVELS.

tions both on the languages and manners of the peo-
ple wi(h whom I fliould be converfant, as might tend
to illoftrnfe the dodtrine I have here laid down, and
to fatisfy the cnriof:!y of the learned or inquilitive ;
but as this propofai was judged rather to require a
national thiin a private I'upport, it was not carried
into execution.

' I am happy to find, fince I formed the fore^^oing
donclufions, that they coirefpond with the fenti-
ments of that great and learned hiftorian, Dr
Robertfon ; and though with him, I acknowledge
that the inveftigation, from its nature, is fo obfcure
and intricate, that the conjedurcs I have made can
only be confidered as conjeftures, and not indifpu-
table conclufions, yer they carry with them a grea-
ter degree of probability than the fuppolitions of
thofe who affert that this continent was peopled from
another quarter.

^ One of the Doctor's quotations from the' Journals'
of Behringand Tfchirikow, who failed from Kamf-
chatka, about the year 1741, in quefl of the New
World, appears to carry great weight; with it, and to
ifford our conclufions firm fupport : " Thefe com-
" manders having fhaped their courfe towards the
" eaft, difcovered land, which to them appeared to
** be part of the American continent ; and accor-
" ding to their obfervations, it feems to be filuated
*' within a few degrees of the North-weft coaft of
*' California. I'hey had there fome intercoufe with
" the inhabitants, who feemed to them to refcmble
" the North-Americans ; as they reprefented to the
" Ruffians the Calumet or iPipe of Peace, which is
** a fymbol of friendfhip univerfal among the people
'* of North- America, and an ufage of arbitrary in-
" ftitution peculiar to them." . • ,v -

"n "^'

• !■' »

',Vk-'.*:

.. ^y.:* ■■;■ ■ .• '

.&:-. .

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

>59

One of this incomparable writer's own arguments
in fupport of his hypothefis, is alfo urged with great
judgment, and appe.irs to be nearly concluTive. He
fays, " We may lay it down as a certain principle
*' In this enquiry, that America was not peo-
'* pled by any nation of the ancient continent, which
" had made confiderable progrefs in civilization.
,*• The inhabitants of the New World were in a
" flat., of fociety fo extremely rude, as to be un-
** acquainted with thofe arts which are the firft ef-
** fays of human ingenuity in its advance towarxls
*• improvement. Even the moft cultivated nations
" of America were ftrangers to many of thofe fira-
** pie inventions, which were almoft coeval with
" ibciety a other parts of the world, and were
*' known in the earlieft periods of human life. From
** this it is manifeft that the tribes which originally
ii;** emigrated to America, came off from nations
** which muft have been no lefs barbarous than their
pofteriiy, at the time when they were firft dif-
covered by che Europeans. If ever the ufe of
iron httJ been known to the favages of America,
or to ih.ir progenitors, if ever they had employed
a plough, a loom, or a forge, the utility of thefe
inventions would have preferved them, and it is
impoffible that they fliould have been abandoned
. {* or forgotten."

C(

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CARVE R's -TRAVELS.

, •1'.

'^A

v> (■.' . ' ,f>,'' , ■-■■,

CHAPTER II,

■ it' *■*

0/ their Per/ons, Dre/s, ^c.

■n-

Jb ROM the firft fettlement of the French
in Canada, to the conqiiefl of it by the Englifh in
1750, feveral of that nation, who had travelled into
the interior parts of North-America, either to trade
with the Indians, or to endeavour to njake converts
of them, have'publifhed accounts of their cufloms,
manners, &c. ; ' • v'3*\'^ v; • =

^ The principal of thefe ar*" Father Louis Henni-
pin, Monf. Charlevoix, and the baron Le Honton.

The firft, many years ago, publiflied fome very
judicious remarks, which he was the belter enabled
to do by the afliltance he received from the maps
and diaries of the unfortunate M. de la Salle, who
was aflaflinated, whilft he was on his travels, by fome
of his own party. That gentleman's journals falling
into Father Hennipin's hands, he was enabletj by
|hem to publifh many jnterefting particulars relative
to the Indians. But in fome refpeds he fell very
Ihort of that knowledge which it was in his power
to have attained from his long relidence among then-..
Nor was he always (as has already been obferved)
exatl: in his calculations, or juil in the intelligence
he has given us. ' ' ' ' - ^ • ; ' ' V'-

' The accounts publiflied by the other two, parti-
cularly thofe of Charlevoix, are very erroneous in

f '

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

i6i

the geographical parts, and many of the flories told
by the Baron are mere delufions.

\,*5

'"jrT'i^f:

Some of the Jefuits, who heretofore travelled into
thefe parts, have alfo written on this fubjed : but
, as few, if anv, of their works have been tranflated in-
to the I^nglifti language, the generality of readers are
not benc^red by them j. and, indeed, had this been
done, they would have reaped but few advantages
from them, ^ they have chiefly confined their ob-
fervations to the religious principles of the favages,
and the fteps taken for their converfion. - : ^

Since the conqueft of Canada, fome of our own
countrymen, who have lived among the Indians,
, and learned their language, have pifbliftied their
f obfervations ; however, as their travels have not
extended to any of the interior parts I eat of,
but have only been made among the nations that
' border on our fettlements, a knowledge of the,
genuine and uncontaminated«cuftoms and man-
ners of the Indians could not have been acquired
by them.

The fouthern tribes, and thofe that have held a
conftant intercourfe with the French or Englifh, can**
iiot have preferved their manners or their cuftoms
in their original purity. They cou'd not avoid ac-
quiring the vices with the language of thofe, they
converfed with ; and the frequent intoxications' they
experienced through the baneful juices introduced
among them by the Europeans, have compleated a
total alteration in their characters.

In fuch as thefe, a couf'ifed medley of principles
or ufages are only to be obferved j their real and
unpolluted cuftoms could be feen among thefe na-
tions alone that have held but little communication

,*,.v*..:,^.

i6?

,CARVER»s TRAVELS.

f l.-\^ri.K*t'fi\.

with the provinces. Thefe I found in tne north-
v/efl parts, and therefore flatter myfelf that I am
■ able to give a more juft account of the cuftoms and
manners of the Indians, in their ancient purity, than
any that has been hitherto publifhed. I have made
obfervations on thirty nations, and though mofl of
thefe have differed in their languages, there has ap-
peared a great fimilarity in their manners, and from
thefe have I endeavoured to extract the following
remarks. ~, , ;.

■■'^•';j;.r

As I do not propofe to give a regular and connec-
ted fyfiem of Indian concerns, but only to relate
. fuch particulars of their manners, cuftoms, &c. as I
; thought mofl: worthy of notice, and which interfere
^ as little as poffible with the accounts given by other
writers, I muft beg my readers to excufe their not
being arranged fyft:ematically, or treated of in a nj^orq
copious manner,. ,^ ^ , . . . . „ ' :/

. 'The Indian nation.^ do not appear to me to differ.

- ' & widely in their make, colour, or conftituiion from
each other, as reprefented by fome writers. They
are in general flight mad^, rather tall and fl:raight,
and you feldom fee any among them deformed ;
their fldn is of a reddifli or copper colour ; their
eyes are large and black, and their hair of the fame
hue, but very rarely is it curled j they have good
teeth, and their breath is as fweet as the air they
draw 'n ; their chetk- bones rather raifed, but more
, 'o in the women than the men j and the former are
' not quite fo tall as the European women ; however

' y^ you frequently meet with good faces and agreeable
perfons among them, although they are more inclin-
ed to be fat than the other fex. " . . .;

I fliall not enter into a particular enquiry whether
the Indians are indebted to nature, art, or the tern-

• :f ,.

.7'

•,:t'

' /CARVER'S TRAVELS.

163

perature of the climate for the colour of their fkin,
nor fhall I quote any of the contradidtory accounts I
have read pn this fubjeft ; I fliall only fay that it ap-
pears to me to be the tincture they received origi-
nally from the hands of their creator ; but at what
period the variation which is at prcfent viiible, both
in the complexion and features of many nations took
place, at "what time the European whitenefs, the
jetty hue of the African, or the copper cafl: of the
American were given them ; which was the original
colour of the firfl inhabitants of the earth, or which
might be efteemed the mofl perfedt, I will not pre-
tend to determine. ^.v»- •-•;.>^; ^ ^^v* /^.tsi^

\ ■,-"■■.■■ .-. I ^' '■ ■*"•■, ».,'■., .fl .,

• ?'. . . • , ■ -■■■■■/. -C: '■■• ■ ■ • .. •*.: ■■f'"?"':^""

;*'' Many writers have afferted, (hat the In lians,
iven at the matured period of their e\iftence, are
only furnifiied with hair on their heads ; and that
notwithftanding the.profullon with whicH thai pait
is covered, thefe parts which among the inhabitants
of other climates are ufuaUy the feat of this excref-
cence, remain entirely free from it. Even Do<5lor
Robertfon, through their mifreprefentations, hns
Contributed to propagate the error ; and fuppofing
the remark juftly founded, has drawn feveral con-
cluiions from it relative to the ha^ii and tempera-
ture of their bodies, which are confequently inva-
lid. But from minute enquiries, and a curious in-
I'peftion, I am able to declare (however rcfpcLlable
I may hold the authority of thefe hiftorians in other
points) that their aiTertions are erroneous, and pro-
ceeded from the want of a thorough knowledge of
the cuftoms of the Indians.

\

:^

After the age of puberty, their bodies, in their
natural (late, are covered in the fame manner as
thofe of the Europeans. The men, indeed, efteeni
a beard very unbecoming, and take great pains to
get rid of it j nor is there any ever to bs perceived

'^

CARVERS TRAVELS.

on their faces, except when they grow old, and
become iniiCteotive to their appearance. Every
crinofe eOtorefcence on the other parts of tlt;e body
is held unfcemiy by them, and both foies employ
much lime in their extirpationr^., .. ,„ - ,, _ , ,, ,

The Naudowefljes, and the remote nations, phick
them our with bent pieces of hard wood, formed
into a kind of nippers j whilft thofe who have com-

' munication with I'yUropeans procure from them wire,
which they Iwill into a fcrew or worm; applying

. this to the part,, they prefs the rings together, and
with a fudden twitch draw out all the hairs that are
inclofed between them*

V 'The men of every nation differ in thei* drefs very
little from each other, except thofe who trade with
the European! j tbefc exchange their furs for blan-
kets, (hirts, and other apparel, which they wear as
much for ornatncut m neceffity. The latter fallen
by a girdle around their waifts about half a yard of
broad cloth, which covers the middle parts of their
• bodies. Thofe who wear fliirts never make them
faft either at the wrift or collar j this would be a
moft infufferable confinement to them. They throw
their blanket bofc upon their (houlders, and hold-
ing the upper fide oi it by the two corners, with a
knife in one hand, and a tobacco pouch, pipe, &c.
in the other ; thm accoutred, they walk about in
their villages or camps, but in their dances they
feldom wear this covering. ;> ^ *

Thofe among the men who wlfti to appear gayer
than the reft, pluck from their, heads all the hair,
except from a fpot on the top of it, about the fizeof
a crown piece, where it is permitted to grow tp a
confiderable length ; on this are faftened plumes of
feathers of various colours, with filver or ivory

■■ 1

•>.' f

'liMy :'Ai^

CARVER'S TRAVELS. 1§

quills, 'tbe manner of cutting and ornamenting
this part of the head diftinguifhes different uations '
from each others ';.r. .....;,...; .. . v i^-^r^- •■ •*-:^"*.j *

They paint their faces red and black, which they
efteem a$ greatly ornamental. They alfo paint
themfelves when they go to war ; but the method
they make ufe of on this occafion differs from that
wherein they ufe it merely as a decoration.

The young Indians, who are defirbus of excellin'g
their companions in finery, flit the outward rim
of both their ears ; at the fame time they take,
cafe not to feparate them entirely, but leave the ,
fiefli thus cut flill untouched at both e^vtremities ^
around this fpongy fubftance, from the upper to the
lower part, they twifl brafs wire, till the weight
draws the amputated rim into a bow of five or ftiz .
inches diameter, and drags it almoft down to the T
fhoulder. This decoration is eileemed to be excef«
fively gay and becoming

Hs-:-!^'^

X

It fs aifo a common cuftoni among them to bore
their nofes, and wear in them pendants of diflferent
forts. I obferved that fea fllelis were much worn by
thofe of the interioi* parts, and reckoned very orna-
mental ; but how they procure them I could np^t
learn; probably by their traffic with other nations
nearer the fea.

%^.

They go without any covering for the thigh, ex-
cept that before fpoken of, round the middle, which
reaches down half way the thighs ; but they make
for their legs a fort of flocking, either of fkins or
cloth ; thefe are fewed as hear to the fhape of the leg
as poflible, i'o as to adroit of being drawn on and q£
The edges of the AufTof which they are con»j[>of€4

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CARVER'S TRAVELS;

are left annexi^d to the feam, and hang loofe for
about the breadth of i hand ; and this part, which is
placed on the outiide of the leg, is generally orna-
mented by thofe who have any communication with
Europeans, if of cloth with ribband or lace, if of
iTeatherj ^ith embroidery and porcupine quills, co-
rioufly coloured. Strangers who hunt among the
Indians, in the parts where there is a great deal of
fnow, find thefe ftod^ings much more convenient
than any others.

//

V ;!>"-::

•■(■J

their ftioes are made of the fliin of the deer, clfc,

, or buffalo: thefe, after being fometimes drelTed

^according to the Etiropean manner, at others with

. ; the hair Remaining dn them, are cut \tiio (hdes, and

:l fafhioned fo' as to be eafy to the feet, and convenient

for walking. The edg^s round the ancle are de-

: corated with pieces of brafs or tin fixed around lea*

fher firing^, about an inch long, which being placed

.^ very thick, make a cheerful tinkling noife either

i when they walk or dancer ;,^;-^i'^ffi^:>^;f^.:^ ^;:-,

W

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ra.'V ,Sv'.,

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w*

The ^vohien \^ear ai cb^efing of wm^ kind or
other from the neck to the knees. Thofe whd
trade with the Europeans wear a linen garment, tht
fame as that ufed by the men.; the flaps of which
hang over their petticoat. Such as dfefs after their
ancient manner tnake a kind of fiiift with leather,
which covers the body but not the arms. Their
petticoats are made either of leather or cloth, and
teach from the waift to the knee. On their legs
they wear (lockings and fhoes, made and ornaniented
as thofe of the men. , . .

•< r.

^i^'' They differ from each other in the mode of dref-
fing their heads, each following the cuftom of the
natioB or band to ^hieh they belong, and adhering

■d'

.M

f'

•'''■'"iK'

fi^- <.iu'

•/

GARVER»« TRAVELS.

tfil

ti) the form made ufe of by their anceftors from time
immemorial, '^•'■'r,;,.-'-:: ■''^:^.^'^' / 'u-fly::x^r\:-.u-At:>ji,, .

f.

I remarl^ed that moft of the females, who dwell
on the eafl: fide of the Mifliffipi, decorate their
heads by inclofing their hair either in ribbands, or in
plates of fiiver ; the latter is only made ufe of by the
higher ranks, as it is a coftly ornament. The lilver
they ufe' on this occafion, is forpiejl into thin plates
of about four inches broad, jn feveral of which they
confine their hair. The plate which is neareft the
head is of a confiderable width ; the next narrower,
and made io as to pafs a little way under the other,
and ii> this manner they fafien into each other, and
gradually tapering, defcend to the waift. The hair
of the Indian women being in general very long, thi?
proves an expenfive method.

But the women that live to the weft of the Miflif.
fippi, viz. the Naudoweffies, the Aflinijx)ils, &c." di-
vide their hair in the middle of their head, and form
it into two rolls, one againft each ear. Thefe rolls
are about three inches long* and as large as their
wrifts. They hang in a perpendicular attitude at
the front of eaph ear, an4 defcend as f^r as the iQWer
part of it, ': '■■'■ / '-^ ,'■ '■'','■" ^^■■- :,-"■ :^- ;■:-■.- ='

The women of every nation generally place a fpot
of paint, about the fize of a crown-piece, againft
each ear ; fome of them put paint on their hair, and
fometimes a fmall fpot in the middle of the forehead.

. The Indians, in general, pay a greater attention to
their drefs, and to the ornaments with which they
decorate their perfons, than to the accommodation
of their huts or tents* They conftruft the latter ia
the following fimple and expeditious manner.

'1

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Vi.,

m

CARVER'j TRAVELS.

.".v.,

;i Being provided with poJes df a ptoptr length,
they faden two of them acrofs, hear their endS) with
bands made of bark. Having done this, they raife
thein up, and extend the bottom of each as wide as
they propofe to make the area of iflie tent : they then
ereft others of an equal height, and fix them fo as
to fupport the two principal ones. On the whole
: they lay (kins of the elk or deer, fewed together, in
quantity fufficient to cover the poles, and by lap-
ping over to form the door. A great number of
Ikins are fometimes required for this purpofe, as
fome of their tents are very capacious. That of the
chief warrior of the Naudowcfiies was at leaft forty
feet in (:ircumfer8nce, aiid very commodious.

'^ They obferve no regularity in fixjng their tents
when they encamp, but place them as it fuits their
conveniency. ■ 'r;^ •:' ^; ■■-,."/•.;■ :;''.^ /■..■«^'.'' ,."^.;^ .

The hut alfo, which thofe who ufe not tents
creft when they travel, for very few tribes have fix-
ed abodes, or regular towns, or villages, are equally
iimple, and almoft as fbon conftru£led. ■'ilf^ I'tl gj^

':i They fix fmall pliable poles in the gjoqnd, and
bending them till they meet at the top and form a
femi- circle, then lalh them together, Thefe they
cover with mats made of rufhes plaited, or with
bir(ih bark, which they carry with them in their

, canoes for that purpofe, •

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Thefe cabins have neither chlmnies nor windows ;
there is only a fmall aperture left in the^middle of
the roof, through which' the fmoke is difcharged,
but as this is obliged to be flopped up when it rains
or fnows violently, the fmoke then proves exceed-
ingly troublefbme. • • . V

.'■-■t- ■'.-•-• ■V.»f;

f... V

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'^, ■■■-y-

' .CARVER'i TRAVELS.

109

r' They He on Ikins, gencTally thofe 6f the bear,
which are placed in rows on the ground j and if the
floor is not iarge enough to contain beds fufHcient
for the accommodation of the Mvhole family, a frame
is ereded about foiir or five feet from the ground, in
which the younger part of it ileep. 'i vOv^^i?^ ;r;*<ivs«;? »

, ' ■ ■ . ■ • : ' ' I ""

As the habitations of the Indians are thus rude,
their domeftic utenfils are few in number, and plain
in their formation; The tools wherewith they faihion
them are fo aukward and defedive, that it is not only -
impcflible to form them with any degree of neatnefs
or elegance, but the jii'^'e required in theexecutioh
is fo confiderable, as to deter them from engaging in
the manufadure of fuch as are not abfolutely necef-
fary,' ■ . '■.■.,:;■ /'. ; . ." •. ' ■ " ■■ L ..■,,' .

The Naudoweflies make the pots in which they
boil their victuals of the black clay or ftone mention-
ed in my journal : which refills the effeds of fire,
nearly as well as iron. When they roaft, if it is a
large joint, or a wholie animal, fuch as' a beaver, they
fix it as Europeans do, on a fpit made of hard wood,
and placing the ends on two forked props, now and
then turn it. If the piece is fmdller, they fplit it a$
before, apd fixing the fpit in an ered but flaming
pofiiion, with the meat inclining towards the fire,
frequently change the fides, till every part is fuf-
Jiicently roafted, •• ,-.' -v, '!;*'.' ;..'
■:,■•■ : ' . ■ ' . ' '\ ^ \

They make th'eir diflies in which they ferve up
their meat, and their bowls and pans, out of the
knotty excrefcences of the maple-tree, or any other
wood. They fafhion their fpoons with a tolerable
degree of neatnefs (as thefe require much lefs trouble
than large utenfils) from a wood that is termed in
America Spoon Wood, and which greatly refembles
box-wood. . ; . * ■ .

^•l■

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.>*

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iyo CARVER'S TRAVELS. I '

Every tribe are now pofTeiTed of knives and fleels
to ftrike fire with. Thefe being fo elTentially need-
ful for the common ufes of life, thofe who have not
an immediate communication with the European
:^- / traders, purchafe them of fuch of their neighbours
:/,;f as are fituated nearer the fettlemen^s, ^nd generally
'- give in exchange for th^m (lave?,

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CARVER'S TRAVELS.

•■,■!■ j'iit -•■■■♦■ '*■' .'.'> ' ^■■■■>

.4ti«^

Hi

■ i»^

CHAPTER lUi

■i.

;t.,

,> .■■■•■•■' • ■' • ■ ^ ■ , ;

, 0/ their Manners y ^aiijirationst ^c.

w

HEN the Indian women fit down^ they place
themfelves in a decent attitude, with their knees
clofe together ; but from being accuftomed to this,
pofture, they walk badly^ and appear to bi, lame.

*'.■-'-/"■ • '■» . • ■*• ■ '

They have no midwives among them, their cli-
mate, or fome peculiar happinefs in their conftitu-
tions, rendering ailiilance at that time unneceflary.
On thefe occalions they are confined but a few hours
from their ufual employments, which are common-
ly very laborious, as the inenj who are remarkable
indolent, leave to them every kind of drudgery;
even in their hunting parti'es the former will not
deign to bring home the game, but fend their wives
for it, though it lies at a very confiderable difiance.

The women place their children foon after they
are born on boards (luffed with foft mofs, fuch as is
found in morafies or meadows. The child is laid
on its back in one of this kind of cradles, and be-
ing wrapped iii ikins or cloth to keep it warm, is
fecured in it by fmall bent pieces of timber, '.^ry

w

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:■$.
%

.'■■■*-..

To thefe machines they faiften firings, by wnicH
they hang them to branches of t^ees; or if they
find not trees at hand, faden them to a iluvnp or
Itone, while they tranfad any needful bufinefs. In

i^r-5*.,iM

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*7«

CAiviK's TRAVELS.

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this pbfition are the children kept for fome months,
when they are taken out, the boys are fuffere«! to
go naked, and the girls are covered from the neck
to the knees with a fhift and a (hort petticoat.

The Indian women afe remarKaDly decent durinfj
iheir menftrual iilnefs. Thofe nations that are moft
remote from the European fettlements, as the Nau-
doweffies, &c. are more particularly attentive to
this point ; though they all without exception ad-
here in fome degree to the fame euftoni* '. i nj?, f

In every camp or town therfc is ari apartment api-
J)ropTiated for their retirement at this time, to which
both fingle and married retreat, and feclude themi-
felves with the utmod (Iri^nefs during this period
from all fociety. Afterwards they purify themfelves
in running flream^, and return to their di^erent em-
ployments. ')4\fk''\}ii::'''} W; ^i)J-';U{3if'»>}t^'a:^5Jt r^:;.-
' ':/^''}^'-^;*' '^■J^'''i'r'':i*'^, ,^-'V'r..i/r-. ^fUlV; [iC'^'-p^^'Mi'^^X'

. The men oh thefe otcafions moft carefully avoid
folding any communication with them ; and the
Naudoweffies are fo rigid in this obfervance, that
they will not fuffer any belonging to them to fetch
iuch things as are neceflary, even fire, from thefe
female lunar retreats, though the want is attended
with the greated inconvenience. They are alfo fo
fuperftitious as to think, if a pipe ftem cracks, which
among them is made of wood, that the poiTeflbr has
either lighted it at one of thefe polluted fires, or
held fome converfe with a woman during her retire-
ment> which is elleemed by them moft difgraceful
ind wicked.

•Ct*:.!.

The Indians are extremely circumfpe£t and deli
berate in every word and aSiion ; there is nothing
that hurries them into any intemperate warmth, but
that inveteracy to their enemies, which is rooted in

■.V

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CARVER'i TR4VELSi

ni

every Indian heart, and never can be eradicated.
In all other infUnces they are cool, and remarkably
cautious, t'aking care not to betray, on any account
whatever, thdr 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 him-
felf obnoxious, he does not inform him in plain
and explicit terms of the' danger he runs by purfu-
ing the tra^:, near which his enemy lies in wait for
him, but he fird coolly a(ks him which way he is
going that day ; and having received his anfwer,
with the fame indifference tells him, that he has been
informed that a dog lies near the fpot, which might
probably do him a raifchief. This hint proves fuf-
iicient ; and his friend avoids the danger with as
much caution as if every defign and motion of his
enemy had been pointed out to him.

This apathy often fhews itfelf on occafions th^t
would call forth all the fervour of afufceptible heart.
If an Indian has been abfent from his family and
friends many months, either on a war or hunting
party, when his wife or children meet him at fome
didance from his habitaition, inflead of the alFe^lion-
ate fenfations that would naturally arife in the breafl
of more refined beings, and be productive of mutual
congratulations, he continues his courfe without pay-
ing the lead attention to thofe who furround him|)
till he arrives at his home. -^ ^- -

)■■

t

r*

1;'

He there fits down, and with the fame unconcern
as if he had not been abfent a day, fmokes his pipe ;
thofe of his acquaintance who have followed him,
do the fame ; and perhaps it is feveral 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 she field, whofe lofs

M

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'■(5' ■' J ■' ''^'^'^■

y'Y,.*.,

X74

CARVER'i TRAVELS.

*'«'♦•

he ought to have lamented, or has been unfuc-
cefsful in the undertaking ^hat called hifti from his
home./

'..-»v.' • ■: /f-f'" ' , ' ■ ■■ ' ;" ^

Has an Itidiaft \itit. eti/yaged foffeVefal days in
the chace, or on any other laborious expedition, and
by accident continued 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 fhow the lead fymptoms of impa-
tience, or to betray the extreme hunger by which
he is tortured ; but on being invited iij, fits conten-
tedly down, and fmokes his pip? ".'iih as much com-
pofure as if every appetite wss allayed, and he was
perfedlly at eafe ; he does the fame if among Gran-
gers. This cuftom is ftritflly adhered to by each
tribe, as they efteem it a proof of fortitude, and
think the reverfe woiil^ entitle them to the appella-
tion of old women. , <. .^ .;w:

,1
If you tell an Indian that his children have greatly
iignalized themfelves againfl an eiiemy, have taken
many fcalps, and brought home many prifoners, he
does not appear to feel any e'xtraordinary pleafure on
the occafion ; his anfwer generally is, " it is well,"
and he makes very little further enquiry about it.
On the contrary, if you inform him that his children
areflain or taken prifoners, he makes no complaints;
he only replies, ** It does not fignify," and probably,
for fome time at lealt, alks not how it happened.

This feeniing indifferenge, ho\''ever, does not pro-
ceed from an intire fuppreffion of natural affedions j
for notwithftanding they are efteemed favages, I ne-
ver faw among any other people greater proofs of
parental or filial tcndernefs ; and although they meet
their w* s after a long abfence with the ftoical in-

'i.'»r - • ^.■7 "

«^.

CARVER'S T,^AVELS..

«7J

^ifferen^e juft meiuioned, they are npt, in general,
void of conjugal affedion, :- '• • ; j* ^ .,; vi

Another peculiarity is obfervable in their manner
pf paying their vifits. If an Indian goes ro 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 th£ hut or tent,
are careful not to come near enough to interrupt
them during the whole of iheir converfation. The
fame method ;s purfued if a man goes to pa ■ -lis re-
fpeds to one of the other fex : but then he muft be
careful not to let lov6 be the fubject.of his difcourfe,
ijvbilft the day light remains.

The Indians difcover 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
perfedious to which Europeans are ftrangers. For
inftance, they will crofs'a foreit or a plain which is two
hundred miles in breadth, and reach with great ex-
atlnefs the point at which they intended to arrive,
jieeping during tlie wh61e 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 intercept-
ed by clouds or fogs. Befides this, they are able to
purfue with incredible facility the traces of man or
heart, either on leaves or grafs ; and on this account
it is is with great difficulty a flying eneitiy efcapes
difcovery. -' . • '■••'•• ' . '' .

They are indebted for thefe talents not only to na-
ture, bu^ to an extraordinary command of the intel-

/

•■?v/ '7^

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

■ Wv-

leftual faculties, which can only be 'acquired by ^n
unremitted attention and by long experience.

' ^They are in general very happy in a. retentive
memory j they can recapitulate every particular that
has been treated of in council, and remember the
'exafl; time when thefe were held. Their belts of
■wampum preferve the fubftance of the treaties they
have concluded with the neighbouring tribes for
ages back, to which chey will appeal, and refer with
as much perfpicuity and readinefs as Europeans can
to their written records. .. ; -^ - i >• ;-

Every nation pays great refpe^l to old age. The
advice of a father w'll feldom meet with any extra-
ordinary attention from the young Indians, proba-
bly they receive it with only a bare aflent ; bu: they
•will tremble' before a grandfather, and fubrait to
his injundions with the utmoll alacrity. The words
of the ancient part of the community are efteemcd
by the young as oracles. If they take during their
hunting parties any game that is reckoned by them
uncommonly delicious, it is immediately -prefenied
,to the elded of their relations, ,.

They never fuffer themfelves to be overburdentd
•with care, but, live in a'ftaie of perfeft* tranquility
and contentment. Being naturally indolent, if pro-
vifions jufl: fufficient for their fubfiftence can be
procured 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
plenty, and of a more eltimable kind.

■r ■ . • ■■'.••■■ ■'■ ' ■'' '• -'-/: ■ . .

Having much leifure time, they, indulge this in-
dolence to which they are fo prone, by eating,
drinking, or lleeping, and rambling about in their
towns or camps. But when necefTity obliges them

'■•r'\^"<:^ :»?';,

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

•,i»Vi.

tW

to hke the field, either to oppofe' aff enemy, or
to procure themfelves food, they are alert and
indefatigable. Many inftances of their adivity,
on thefe occafions, will be given when I treat of
their wars. ;:l:\,_ '■r■'':;^^/^ % ''^ ' • 'X-'^'^'^^d: ^

The infatuating fpirit of gaming is not confined
to Eu.'ope.; the Indians alfo feel the bewitching im-
pulfe, and often lofe their arms, their apparel, and ,
every thing they are pofi*eired of. In this cafe,
however, they do not follow the example 6f more;,
r^ifined gamefters, for they neither murmur nor tc-
pine ; not a fretful word efcapes them, but they
bear the frowns of fortune with a philofophic com-
polure. :',:_•'••■}:, :'-■■/ -^ ,■' ' •.':*'^ •"-■'',*; ■■„.,

I'h6 greateft blepiifli in their charader 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-
rable, and humane in peace. It may with truth
be faid of them, that they are the worft enemies,
and the beft friends, of ^any people in the whole
world. ...

The Intiians 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 folicitation. Yet the Indian women in ge-
neral are of an amorous temperature, and before
they are married, are not the lefs efteemed for the
indulgence of their paffions.

'Id

CAtVtHU TRAVELS,

I

The Indian! in their common Aate are (Irangers
to all diftindion of property, except in the articles
of dumedic ufe, wmch every one confiders as his
own, and increafe* at circumftances admit. They
are extremely liberal to each other., and fupply the
deficiency of their friends with any fuperfluity of
their own.

In danger! they readily give affiftance to thofe of
their band who ftand in need oi* it, without any
cxpcftation of return, except of thofe jufl: rewards
that arc alway» conferred by the Indians on merit.
Governed by the plain and equitable laws of nature,
every one i» rewarded folely according to his de-
ferts ; and their equality of condition, manners and
privilege?, with that conftant and fociable familiarity
which prevaili throughput every Indian nation, ani-
mates them with a pure and truly patri9tic fpirit,
that tends to the general good of the fociety to which
they belong.

If any of their neighbours are bereaved by death,
or by an enemy, of their children, thofe who are
poffefled of the i^^rcMcfi. number of flaves, fupply
the deficiency } and fhcfe are adopted by them, and
treated in every refpcdt as if they really were the
children of the pcrfon to whom they are pre-
fented.

The Indian!, except thofe who live adjoining
to the European colonies, can form to themfelves
no idea of the value of money ; they confider it,
when they are made acquainted with the ufes to > .
which it is applied by other nations, as the fource
of inumerable evil!. To it they attribute all the
mifchiefs that arc prevalent among Europeans, fuch
a& treachery, plundering, devadations, and murder.

3'

'U^"i

CARVER** TRAVELS. 15^9

They efteem it irrational that one man fhould be
pofff.fled of a greater quantity than, another, and are
am'4zed that any honour (hould be annexed to the
poiTefTion of it.> But that the want of this* ufelefs
metal (hould be the caufe of depriving perfons of
their liberty, and that oil account of this partial dif-
ttibution of it, great numbers (hould be immured
within the dreary v;alls of a prifon, cut off from that
fociety of which they conflitute a part, exceeds their
belief. Nor do they fail, on hearing this part of the
Ktijopean fyftem ot government related, to charge
the inditutors of it with a total wajt of humanity,
and to brand them with the names of favage$ and
brutes.

They (hew almbft an equal degree of indifFeren'^e
for the productions of art. When any of thefe are
(hewn them, they fay, " It is pretty, I like to look
at it," but are not inquifitive about the con{lru6:ion
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 (killed in hunt-
ing, can diredl: with unerring aim a gun, or bend
with eafe a bow, that can dextroufly work a canoe,
underdands 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, fubfifting
during this on a fraall quaintity of provifions, they
are in raptures ; they liften with great attention to
the pleafmg tale, and beftow the higheft commen-
dations on~ the hero of it.

^miT

■■■'- ' ■'•'*%' •.■fl*! ''

.*i

■ ■'-ly'.- *'■-!'■>•

■mffP'"-''^

i^

CARVE R»» T R A V E L S*,

CHAPTER IV.

Their Method of Reckoning Time, ^c.

ONSIBERING their ignorance of af-
tronomy, time, is very rationally divided by the
Indians. Thofe in the interior parts (and of thofe I
Would generally be underftood to fpeak) cpunt their
years by ' winters j or, as they exprefs themfelves,
by fnows. >

^ ■- ■ ,1 * - - ■
:' . • ■,.;.■■"-.•■ '.-i ■

Some natioAs among therh' recll^on their yeprs by
moons, and make them confift of twelve fynodical
cr lunar months, obferving, when thirty moons have
waned, to add a fuperrtumerary one, which • they
term the loft moon ; and then begin to count as
before. They pay a great regard to the fir ft ap-
pearance of every moon, and on the occafion always
repeat fome joyful founds, ftretcning at the fame
time their hands towards it.

■^ ■
Every month has with them a name expreffive oL ,,. :
Its feafon ; for inftance, they call the month of
March (in which their year generally begins at the i-
firft New-Moon after the vernal equinox) the Worm
Month or Moon ; becaufe at this time the worms
quit their retreats in the bark of the trees, wood,
&c. where they have fheltered themfelves during th» y
■winter.

- The month of April is termed by them the month J
of Plants. May, the month of Flowersi June, ,

"'■J

rv;»

r ;,•■- 'iii;

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

i8r

the Hot Moon. July* the Buck Moon. Their
reafon for thus^denominaiing thefe is obvious.

Aupjuft, the Sturgeon* Moon ; becaufe in this
month they catch great numbers of that fiih. .

•If ■

September, the Corn Moon ; becaufe in that
month they gather in their Indian com.

Oftober, the .Travelling Moon; as they leave. at
this time their villages, and travel towards the
pidces where they intend to hunt during the winter,

November, the Beaver Moon ; for in this month
the beavers begin to take ,lhelter in their houfes,
having laid up a fufficient (tore of provilions for the
i^ winter feafon.

4

December, the Hunting Moon ; becaufe they emr
ploy this month in purfuit of their game.

January, the Cold Moon ; as it generally freezes
harder, and the cold is more intenfe in this thaii in
any other month. ,

February, they call the Snow' Moon ; becaufe
more fnow commonly fails during this moiith, than
any other in the winter.

When the moon does not fliine, they fay the moon
is dead ; and fome call the three laft days of it the
naked days. The moon's firft appearance "hey term
its coming to life again.

•■>-,ti

v*"

They itia^e no divifion of weeks j Sut days they
count by fleeps ; half days by pointing to the fun at
noon !» and quarters by the rifing and fitting of th?

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CARVER'j TRAVELS.

fun : to exprefs which in their traditions they make
life of very fignificant hieroglyphics.^

' The Indians are totally unfkilled in geography as
well as all the other fciences, and yet,.^s 1 haVe be-
fore hinted, they draw on'their birch bark very exad:
charts^or maps of the countries with which they are
acquainted. The latiiude and longitude is only
warning to make them tolerably complete. v ,

Their fole knowfedge in aftronomy confifts in
being ,able to point out the pole-ftar, by which
. they regulate their courfe when they travel in the
. night. , - - . .... ; .. ■

They reckoh the diftance of places, not by miles
or leagues, but by a day's journey, which, accord-
ing to the beft calculations I could make, appears to
be about twenty Engliih miles. Thefe they alfo di-
vide into halves and <}uarters, and will demonftrate
them in their maps with great exaftnefs, by the hie-
roglyphics juft mentioned, when they regulate in
council their war parties, or their moft diftant hunt-
ing cxcurfions. ; ' , _, .

They have rio idea of arithmetic ; and though they
are able to coiint to any number, figures as well as
letters appear myftetious to them, -and above their
comprehenfion. ' , .^

During my abode with the Naudowt-ffies, fome
of the chiefs obferving one day a draft of an eclipfe
of the moon, inabook ot adronomy which I held in
my hand, they djiired I would permit them to look
at if. Happening to give them the book flrut, they
began to count the leaves till they came to the place
in which the plate was. After they had viewed it,
^rid aiked many queftions relative to it, I told them

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CARVER'S TRAVELS.

«83

they need not to have taken fo much pains to find i
the leaf on which it was drawn, for I coqld not only
tell in aft inflant the place, without counting the
leaves, but alfo how many preceded it.

-They feemed greatly amazed at my aifertion, and
begged that I would dcmonflrate to them the pof-
fibility of doing it. To this purpofe 1 defired the
chief that held the book, to open itat'any particular
place, and juft (hewing 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 gfeateft caution ; notwith-
ftanding which, by looking at the folio, I told him,,
to his great farprife, the number of leaves. He
counted them regularly over, and difcovei;ed that I
was exaft. And when, after repeated trials, the
Indians found I could do it with great readinefs, and
without ever erring in my calculation, they all feem-
ed as much aftoniflied as if I had raiijed .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 appear to
thofe who are lefs illiterate, contributed to increafe
my confequcnce, and to augment the favourable
opinion they already entertained of me.

^ ^^^M^ r'i ' " * '** ■'* * ■

A,;

184

CARVER»sTllAVELS'.

CHAPTER V,

Cf their Qovernmcnt, i!fc,-

E

I VERY feparate bot;Fy of Indians is dividied^
into bands or tribes j which band or tribe forms a
little community with the nation to which it belongs.
As the nation has fome particular fymbol by which
it is diilinguifhed 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.
&c. One band of the Naudoweffies is rcprefented
by a Snake, another a Tortoife, a third a Squirrel,
a fourth a Wolf» and a fifth a Buffalo. Throughout
every nation thty particularife themfelves in the fame
manner, and the meaneft perfon among them will
remember his lineal defceni, and diftinguiflj himfelf
by his rijipe^ive family.:^ s'.f^Tv: ; . >f^:?t,'

. Did not many circuniflances tend to confute the
fuppcfition, I fiiould be almoll induced to conclude
from this diltindion of tribes, and the particular
attachment of the Indians to them, that they derive
their ^origin as fome have alTcrted from the Ifrael-

ites.

Befides this, every nation diffinguifh themfelv'es
by the manner of conltruding their tents or huts.
And fo well vcrfed are aK the Indians in this diftinc-
tion, that though there appears to be no dilJI^rence
on the niceft obfervation made by an European,
yet they will immediately difcover, from the pofiiibn

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CARVER'i TRAVAILS.

w

of a pole left in the ground, what nation has eft-
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 direft their military operations,
and to regulate all concerns belonging to that de-
partment. But this chief is not conlidered as the
head of the ftate ; befides the great warrior who is .
clewed for bis warlike 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 great pro-
priety be denominated the Sachem ; whofe affent
is neceflary in all conveyances and treaties, to which
ke affixes the mark of the tribe or nation.

.... Though thefe two are conlidered 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 every one of them enter-
tains a high opinion of his eonfequence, and is ex-
tremely tenacious of his liberty, all injunctions that
carry with them the appearance of a pofuive com-
mand, are inftantly rejeded with Icorn.^^" M'^^

On this account, it is feldom that their leaders
are fo indifcreet as to give out any of their orders m
a peremptory ftile ; a bare hint from a chief that he
thinks fueh a thing neceflary to bs done, inftantly
aroufes an emulation among the inferior ranks, and
it is immediately executed with great alacrity. By
this method the difyjuftful part of the command is
evaded, and an authoiky that falls little (hort of ab
ibiute fway inftitutcc in ir?; rpom. ^<:<ii^* r

Among the Indians u -y v'ifible form of government
is eftabliflied j they allow of no fuch diitin(?tioii as

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CARVER'b /TRAVELS.

;j^.$igiArate and fubje£l, every onp appearing to enjoy
jn independence that cannot be controlled. The
obje£l of government among them is rather foreign
than domedic, for their attention feems more to be
employed in prefervlng fuch an union among the
members of their'tribe as will enable them to watch
the motions of their enemies, and to adV againft them
with concert and vigour, than to maintain interior
order by any public regulations. If a^ fcheme that
Sjtppears to be of fervice to thfc community is propof-
ed by the chief, every one. is .'at, liberty to choofe
whdther he willaflifk in carrying it on j for they have
no compulfory laws that lay them, under any redricr
tions. If violence is committed, or blood is flied,
the right of revengipg thefe mifdemeanors is left to
the famiily'of the injured : The chiefs affume neither
the power of iniiidling or moderating the puni(li>
ment. ■

*•>'"

Some nations, where the dignity is hereditary/
limit the fucceffion to the female line. On the death
of a chief, !Js fifter's fpn fometimes fucceeds him in
preference to his own fon ; and if he happens to
have no iifter, thcneareft female relation afluipes the
dignity. This accounts for a woman being at the
head of the Wjnnebago.nation, which, before I was
acquainted with their laws, appeared flrange to me.

Each family has a right to appoint one of its chiefs
to be an aiTidant to the principal chief, who watches^
over the intereft of his family, and without whofe
confent nothing ,of a public nature can be parried in-
to execuuon. Thefe are generally qhofen for their
ability in fpeaking ; and fuch only are permitted to
xrtake oratioiU in their counctTs and general aifem-
'blies: I , "

HP

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

m

In th'xy body, with the hereditary chief at its head,
the fupreme authority appears to be lodged ; as by
Its determination every tranfa£tion relative to their
hunting, to their making war or peace, and to all
their" public concerns, is regulated. Next to thefe,
the body of warriors, which comprehends all that
are able to bear arms, hold th iir rank. ' This diyi-
lion has formetimes at its head the chief of the nation,
if he has fignalized himfelf \>y any renowned action,
if not, fome chief that has rendered himfelf famous.

In their <;ouncils, which are held by the foregoing
members, every affair of confequencc is debated ;
and no enterprife-of the jeaft moment undertaken,
Unlefs it there meets with the general apprpbatidn
of the chiefs. -They commonly afTemblp in a hut
or tent appropriated to this purpofe, and being feat-
ed in-a circle on the ground, the eldeft chief rifes
and makes a fpeech ; when he has concluded, ano-
ther gets up I and thus they all fpeak, if neceffary,
by turns.

Gn this occafion their language is nervous, and
their manner of eipreflion emphatical. Their, ftile
is adorned with images, comparifons, and ftrong
metaphors, and is equal in allegories to that of any
of the ealtern nations. In al» their fer fpeeches they
exprcis themfelves with much vehemence, but in
common difcourfe according to our ufual method of
fpeech. -

The young men are fuffered to be prefent at the
councils, though they are not allowed to make a
fpeech till they are regularly admitted ; .they how-
ever liften with great attention, and to fhow that
they both underftand, and approve of therefolutio'^
taken. by the affembled chiefs, they frequently ex-
clfiim, •' That is right," '* That is good." -• ^ -i^ ■ -^

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.CARVER'S TRAVELS/

The cuftomary mode aroone all the ranks of ex-
prefling their affent, and which they repeat at the
end or armed every period, is by uttering a kind of
forcible afpiratipn, which founds like an union of
the letters OAH.

,i

.CARVER'8 TRAVELS]

V'

*§-

CHAPTER VI.

Of their Feajis, I

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ANY ofthe Indian nations neither make
ufe of bread, fait, or fpices ; and fome of them have
never feen or tafted of either. The Naudoweflies in
particular have no bread, nor any fubftitute for it*
They eat the wild rice which grows in great quan«.
titles in different parts of tl Ir territories : but thttf-
boil it and eat it alone. They alfo eat the flefli (Jfthft
beads they kill, without having recoorfe to anyfari-
naceou^ fubftance to abforb the grofler particles of
ir. And even when they confume the fugar which
they have extradcd from the maple tree, they ufe it
not to reader fome other food palatable, but gene^
rally eat it by itfelf«

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\

Neither have they any idea of the ufe^of milk, al-
though they might colled great cjuantities from the
buffalo or the elk; they only confider it as proper
for the nutrinient of the young of thefe beads during
their tender Hate, I could ^ot perceive that any in-
conyeniency atteiided the total difufe of articU«
edeemed fo neceffary and nutritious by other na-
tions, on the contrary, they are in general heahhy
and vigorous.

One, difli however, which anfwers i\early the
fame purpofe as bread, is in ufe among the Ot-

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190

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

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tagaumies, thjs Saukies, and the more eaftern na-
tions, where Indian corn grows, which is not only
much efteemed by them, but it 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 Ibte,
boiled together with' bear's flcfli, the fat of which
moiflens the pulfe, and renders it beyond compari-
, , ion delicious. They call this fcod buccatofli.

'' -, . • * '

The Indians are far from being cannibals, as they

are faid to be. All their vidtuals are either roaftcd

or boiled ; and this in the extrjeme. Their drink is

generally the broth in .which it has been boiled.

Their food confifts of the flefli of ttie bear, thje
buffalo, the elk, the deer,'the beaver, and the racoon,
which they prepare in the manner juft mentioned.
They ufually eat the flefli of the deer, which is na-
turally dry, with that of the bear, which is fat and
juicy ; and though the latter is extremely rich and
Jufcious, it is never known to cloy. \, \^

In the fpring of the year, the Naudoweflies eat
the inlide bark of a ihrub, that they gather in fome
part of the country ; but I could neither learn the
name of it, or difcover from whence they got it.
It was of a brittle nature janid eafily madicated.
The tafte of it was very agreejible, &nd they faid it
was extrem'eJy nourifiiing. In flavour^ it was not
unlike the turnip, and when received into the mouth,
refembled that root both in its pulpy and frangi-
ble nature. . - ,

' The lower ranks of the Indians arc exceedingly
naftyin drelling their victuals, but fome of thexhieis
are very neat and cleaply in their apparel, tenrs and

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They commonly eat in large parties, fo that their
meals may properly be termed feafts ; and this they
do without being reftrided to any fixed or regular
hours, but juft as their appetites require, and con-
venience Aiits. ?yj 3>v.^ ■ / .

They ufually dance either before or after every
meal ; and by this cheerfulnefs probably render the •
Great Spirit, to whom they confider themfelves as'
indebted for every good, a more acceptable facrifice
than a/ormal and unainimated thankfgiving. The
men and women feaft 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 hofpitable, kind, and fre«|;''
than the Indians. They will readily (hare with any .
of their own tribe the laft part of tHeir provifions^
and even with thofe of a different nation, if they in
chance tb come in when they are eating. Though '^"
they do not keep one common (lock, yet that com-^ i :i
munity of goods which is fo prevalent among them^ V
and their generous difpofuion, render it nearly of :^
the,fan?ie e^Seft.^ . , , . ..trit-

W^en the chiefs are convened on any public buw : r
fmefs, they always conclude with a feaft, at which
their (eftiviiy and cheerfulnefs know no limit.

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JL/ANCING IS a favourite cxercife among'
the. Indians ; they never itieet on any publtc 6cc2-
lion, but this makes a' part of the entertainment.
And when t^iey are not engaged ifi war or bunting,
the- youth of both fexei atnufe themfelves in this
manner every evening.

■S.'^^A-ha^.'fj.tCg'

: Thcf aFways dance, as I have juft obftrved, at
their feafts. In thefe, as we(^ as all their other dances,
ffvery man rifes in his turn, and moves about with
igreftt freedom am! boWnefs; finging all the while,
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-
lience, by an odd tone, which they utter all together,
and which fownds, •' Heh, heh, heh." Thefe notes,
if they might be fo termed, are articulated with a
harfli accent, and drained out with the utmoft. force
of their lungs: fo that one would imagine their
ilrength mud be foon exhauded by it ; iiidead of
which, they repeat it with the fame violence during
the whole of the entertainment* . . •.

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CAKVtKU TRAVELS.

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The women, particularly thofe of the weflern na-
tions, dance very gracefully. They carry thenifelves
ere&f and with their arms hanging down cbfe to
their iides, move firil a few yards to the right, and
then back again to the (eft. This movement the^r
perform without taki^ng any fteps as an Europeans
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 didance, and then
return ; and let thofe who join in the dance be ever
fo numerous, they keep time fo exadly with eacb
other that no interruption enfues. During this, aC
Aated periods, they mingle their (hrill voices with
the hoarfer ones of the men, who fit round (for it
is to be obferved that the fexes never intermix in the
fame dance) which, with the mufic of the drums and
chikicoes, make an agreeable hermony. /!?»"* i

■;> . ■m'

• The Indians have feveral kinds of danqes, which
they yfe on diflferent occafions, as the Pipe or Calu-
met Dance, the War Dance, the Marriage Dance,
and the Dance of the Sacrifice. The movements in
every one of thefe are diilimilar ; but it is almofl:
ImpofTible to convey any idea of the points in which
they ar« unlike.

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Different nations Hkewife vary in their manner of
dancing. The Chipeways throw themfelves into a
greater variety of attitudes than any other people ;
fometimes they hold their heads erett, at others they
bend them almoft to the ground ; then recline on
one fide, and immediately after on the other. The
NaudowefTies carry themfelves more upright, ftcp
firmer, and move more gracefully. But they all
accompany their dances with the difa^reeable noifc

juft Ti'icntioncd;

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^f4

CARVER»j TRAVELS.

The Pipe Dance is the principal, and the rrrnft
pleating to a fpeftator of any of them, being the leaft
frantic, and the movement of it more graceful. It
i^ but on . particular occafions that it is ufed ; as
when ambafladorc from ah enemy arrive, to treat of
peace, or when ftrangers of eminence p^fs through
their territories.

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The War Dance, which they ufeboth before they
fet out on their war parties, and on their return from
them, ftrikes terror into ftrangers. It is perforrhed,
as the others, amidft apircle of the warriors ; a chief
generally begins it, who moves from the right to the
left, finging at the fame time both his own exploits^
and thofe of his anceftors. When he bas concluded
his account. of any memorable adion, he gives a vio-
lent'blow with his war-club, againft a poft^that is
fixed in the ground, near the centre of the alTembly,
for this purpofe.

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Every one da m his turn, and recapitulates the
wondrous deeds ot his family, till they all ^t laft joii\
in the dance. Then it becomes truly alarming to
any ftranger that happens to be among thgm, ai
they throw themfelves in every horribly and terrifying
pofture that can be imagined, rehearfing at the fame
time the part they exped to dft againft their ene-
mies in the field.. During this they hold thtir Iharp
knives in their hanSs, with which, as they whirl
about, they are every momerit in danger of .cutting
each bther's throats ; and did they not ihun the threa-
tened mifchief with inconceivable dexterity, it could
not be avoided. By thefe motions they mean to re-
prefent the manner in which they kill, fcalp, and take
their prifoners. To heighten the feene, they fet up
the fame hideous yells, cries, and war-whoops they
ufe in timeof aQion : fo that it is impoffibie to con-

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CARVER'i TRAVELS.

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flier them In any other light than as an aflembly of
demoni* '^. ,

I haVc frequently joined in this dance, with them,
but it foon ceafed to be an amiifenient to me, as I
could not lay afidc my apprehenfions of receiving
fome drciiduil wound, that from the violence of
their gcrtufcf muft have proved mortal. ',

I found that tha nations to the wfeflward of thV
Mifliilippi, and in the borders of Lake Superior, ftill
continue to make ufe of the Pavi^waw or Black
Dance. The people of the^ colonies tell a thoufand
ridiculous (lories of the Devil being raifed in this
dance by the Indians. But they allow that this was
in former times, and is now nearly extind among
thofe who live adjacent to the European fettlements.
However, I difcovered that it was (lili ufed in the
interior parts ; and though 1 did not actually fee the
Devil raired by it, I was witnefs to fome fcenes, that
could only be performed by fuch as dealt wiih.liini^
or were yery expert and de^ctrous jugglers.-
Whilft I was among the Naudoweffies, a dance
which they thus termed, was performed. Before
the dance began, one of the Indians was admitted
into a foclety which they denominated Wakon-
Kiichewah, that is, the Friendly Society of the
Spirit, This fociety is eompofed of perfons of both
fexcs, but fuch only can be admitted into it as are of
unexceptionable character, and' who receive the ap-
probation of tbe whole body. To this admiflioa
i'uccccded the Pawwaw Dance (iii which I faw no-
thing that could give rife to the reports I had heard)
and the whole, according to their ufual cuftom, con-
cluded with a grand fcaft.

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CARVER •• TRAVELS,

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The initiation being attended with fome very fm.
gular circumflances, which, as I have before ob-
ifcrvcd» niuft be either the efFeft of magic, or of
amazing dexterity, I Ihall 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 center of their camp, that
would contain about two hundred people. Being a
Aranger, and on all occalions 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 aiTemble ;
when the fun (hone bright, which' they cpnfidered
as a good omen, for they never by choice hold any
of their public meetings unlefs the Iky be clear and
unclouded. A great number of chiefs firil appeared,
who were drcfled in their bed apparel ; and; after
them came the head-warrior, clad in a long robe of
rich furs, that traiJcd on the ground, attended by a
retinue of fifteen or twenty perfons, painted and
drefled in the gayed manner. Next followed the
wives of fuch as had been already admitted into the
focicty ; and in the rear a confufed heap of the lower
ranks, all contributed as much as lay in their po^e^
to make the appearance grand and (howy. *•'■■;

When the aflembly was feated, and filence pro-
claimed, one of the principal chiefs arofe, and in a
ihort but mafterly fpeech, informed his audience of
the occafion of theirmeeting. He acquainted them
that one of their young men wiflied to be admitted
into their fociety ; and taking him by the hand, pre-
(emed him to their view, aiking them, at the iame
time, whether they had any obje^ion to his becom<i
ing one of their community.

,:,■;■ ,.;.''V •;", ■ ■■■-■i-. ■

*No objedion being made, the young candidate
^as placed in the centre, and four of the chiefs took

I f

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

197

their flations clofe to him ; after exhrtrting him by
turns, nor \ck f^iini under the operation he was about '
to go through, but to behave l,ike an Indian and a
man, two of them took hold of his arms, and caufed
iiim to kneel ; another placed himfelf behind him,
fo as to receive him when he fell, and the lad of the
four retired to The dillance of about twelve feet frora
him exadly in front.

This difpofition being cempleted, 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 fpirit which
he fhould in a few moments communicate to him ;
that it would (Irike 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 conimunity into which he was on the point of
being admitted. . .

As he fpoke thus, he appeared to be greatly agi-
tated, till at lad his emotions became fo violent,
that his countenance v/as diftorted, and his whole
frame convulfed. At this junffure he threw fome-*
thing that appeared both in Ihape and colour like 9
fmall bean, at the young man, which feemed to en-
ter his mouth, and he inflantly,fell as motionlefs as
if he had been Ihot. The chief that wjis placed be-
hind him received him in his arms, and, by the
afliftance 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 ft. ike him on the back, giving hint
fuch blows, as feemed more calculated to ftill the
quick, than raife the dead. During thefe extrar

Co

198

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

4'

ordinary applications, the fpeaker continued his ha-
rangue, defiring the fpedlators not to be furprifed,
or to defpair of the young man's recovery, as his
prefent inanimate lituation proceeded only from the
forcible operation of the fpirit, on faculties that had
hitherto been unufed to infpirations 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 hfe. Thefe, however, were attended with
llrong convulfions, and an apparent obllruftion in
his throat. But they were foon at an end j 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 infpeflion I had not perceived
to enter it, he foon after appeared to be tolerably
recovered. ' : " ; '

This part of the ceremony being happily effeded,
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 drefled, the fpeaker
once more took him by the nand, and prefentedhim
to the fociety as a regular and thoroughly initiated
member, exhorting them, at the fame time, to give
him fuch necelFary affiftance, as being a young mem-
ber, he might (land in need of. He then alfo charg-
ed the newly eledted brother to receive with humili-
ty, and to follow with punduality, the advice of his
elder brethren.

All thofe who ha been admitted within the rails,
now formed a circle around their new brother, and
the mufic ftriking up, the great chief fung a fong,
celebrating as ufual their martiiil exploits.

Pi:

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CARVER'S TRAVELS.

199

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 drained a
ikin ; this they beat with a fingle flick, and it gives
a found that is far from being harmonious, but it
jufl ferves to beat time with. To this they fome-
times add the.chichicoe, and in their war dances they
likewife ufe a kind of fife, formed of a reed, which
makes a flirill harlh noife.

The whole aflembly were by this time united, and
the dance began ; feveral fingers affifted the mufic
with their voice, and the women joining in the cho-
rus at certain intervals, they produced together a
not unpleafing, but favage harmony. This was one
of the moft agreeable entertainments I faw whilft I
was among them. . j . : ; , .^

I could not help laughing at a fingular childifti
cuftom I obferved they introduced into this dance,
and which was the only one that had the lead ap-
pearance of conjuration. Moft of the members car-
ried in their hands an otter or marten's (kin, which
being taken whole from the body, and 'filkd with
wind, on being comprefled, made a fqueaking hoife
through >a fmall piece of wood organically formed
and fixed in its mouth. When this inftniment was
prefented to the face of any of the company, and the
found emitted, the perfon receiving it inliantly fell
down to appearance dead. Sometimes two or three,
both men and women, were on the ground together ;
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 thefe were their Dii Penates or Houfe-
hold Gods.

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' After Tome hours fpent in this manner, the feaf!
began ; the diflics being brought near me, I per-
ceived they confifted of dog's flcfti ; and I was in-
formed that at all their public grand feafts they ne-
ver made ule of any other kind of food. For this
purpofe, at the fealt-l am now fpeaking of, the new
candidate provides fat dogs, if the]' Can be procured
at any price.

• In this curtom of eating dog's flefh on particular
cccafions, they refemble the inhabitants of fome of
the countries that lie on the north-eaft borders of
Afia. The author of the account of Kamfchatka,
publifhed by order of the Emprefs of RulTia, (before
referred to) informs ^8, that the people inhabiting
Koreka, a country north of Kamfchatka, who wan-
der about in hordes, like the Arabs, when they pay
their v/orfliip to the evil beings, kill a rein-deer or
a dog, the flefli of which they eat, and leave the
head and tongue sticking on a pole with the front
towards the eafl. Alfo that when they are afraid
of any infedUous diftemper, they kill a dog, and
winding the guts about two poles, pafs between
them. Thcfe ciiftoms, in which they are nearly imi-
tated by the Indians, feem to add llrength to my
Xuppofition, that America was firll peopled from
this quarter.' • '

•;v; -T . ■. ' ^- ' ' ^ ■

1 know not under what clafs of dances to rank
that performed by the Indians who came to my tent
when I landed neai' Lake Pepin, on the banks of the
Miliiflippi, as related in my Journal. When I look-,
ed our, as I there mentiohed, I faw about twenty
naked young Indians, the moft perfet'l in their fhape,
and by far the handTomeft of any 1 had ever feen,
coming towards me, and dancing as they approached,
to the mufic of their drumj;. At every ten or twelve
yards they halted, and fet up their yells and cries.

• A

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CARVER'S TRAVELS.

m

When tHey reached my tent, I afked them to come
in ; which, without deigning to make me anyanfwer»
they did. As I obferved that they wefe pfiinted red
and black, as they ul'ually are when they go a^ainft
an enemy, and perceived that fome parts of the war-
dance were intermixed with their other movettJents,
I doubted not but they were fet on by the immical
chief who had refufed my falutation : I therefore de-
termined to fell my life as dear as poffible. To this
purpofe, I received them fitting on my cheft, with
my gun and piftols befidc me, and ordered my nreft
to keep a watchful eye On them, and to be alfo upon
their, guard.

The Indians being entered, they continued their
dance alternately, fmgin^ at the fame time of their
heroic exploits, and the fuperiority of their race over
every other people. To enforce theif laiiguage,
though it was uncommonly nervous and expreffive,
and fuch as wouldofitfelf have carried terror to the
firmed heart, at the end of every period'they ftruck,
their war-clubs againft the poles of my tetit, with
fuch violence, that 1 6xpe£led every moment it would
have tumbled upon us. As each of them, in danc-
ing round, pafled by me, they plat:ed their tight
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 friendihip. My men gave
thcmfelves up for loft, and I acknowledge, for ray
own part, that I never found my apprehcnlions more
tumultuous on any occafion.

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 laft refource, thought
1 would try what prefents would do ; accordingly I
took from my cheft fome ribbands and trinkets, which
1 laid before them. Thefe feemed to ftagger their

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CARVER'S TRAVELS.

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tefolution, and to avert in fome degree their anger j
for, after holding a confultation together, they fat
down on the ground, which I confidered as a favour-
able omen, ^^^.'^a^^*.-

Thus It proved, as m a Ihort time they received
the pipe of peace, and lighting it, hril prefented it
to me, and then fmoaked with it themfelveSr Soon
after they took up the prefents, which had hitherto
lain negledled, 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^i,^ , ' ^.rtx^^fm^.-:^^?*'-.

It was not ever in my power to gain a thorough
[knowledge of the defigns of my vifitors. I had luf-
ficient reafon to conclude that they were hoftile,
and that their vifit, at fo late an hour, was made
through the infligation of the Grand Sautor ; but I
vas afterwards informed that it might be intended as
a compliment which they ufually pay to the chiefs
of every other nation who happen to fall in with
them, land that the circiimdances in their condu(n:,
"which had appeared fo fufpicious to me,; were merely
the cffe£ls of their vanity, and defigned to imprefs
on the minds of thofe whom they thus vilited, an
elevated opinion of their valour and prowefs. In
the morning before I continued my route, feveral of
their wives brought me a prefent of fome fugar, for
ttrhom I found a few more ribbands.

v.j,5;»->n,.

The dance of the facrlfice 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 Naudoweffies give that title from being ufed
when any public fortunate circumftance befais
them. Whilft I refided among th^m, a fine large
deer accidentally flrayed into the middle of their

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CARVER'S TRAVELS,

M0%

encampment, >vhich they foon deftroyed. As thif
happened ju(l at the new moon, they elleemed it a
lucky omen ; and having roafted it whole, every
one in the camp partook of it. After their feaft,
they all joined in a dance, which they ;ermed, froni
its being fomewhat of a religious nature, a dance oJF
the facrificei .

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CHAPTER VIII.

Of their Hunting.

■ I

' I.

JtIuNTING is the principal occupation of '
the Indians ; they are trained to it fronirheir earlieft
youth, and it is an exercife which is efleemed no lefs
honourable than neceflciry towards their fubfiilence.
A dextrous and refolute hunter is held nearly in
as great eftimation by them as a dillinguiflied war-
rior. Scarcely any device which the ingenuity of
miin has difcovered for enfnsiKng or dcitroying thofe
animals, that fupply theih with food, or whole ikins
are valuable to Europeans, is unknown to them.

"Whilfl they are engaged in this exercife, they (hake
off the indolence peculiar to their nature, and be-
come adive, perfevering, and indefatigable. They
are equally fagacious in finding their prey, and in
the means they ufe to deftroy it. They difcern the
footfteps of the hearts they ^re in purfuit of, al-
though they are imperceptible to every other eye,
and can fojlow them with certainty through the path-
lefs foreft.

The beafts that the Indians hunt, both for their
flefh, on which they fubfift, and for their ikins, of
which they either make their apparel, or barter with
the Europeans for neceffaries, are the buffalo, the
elk, the deer, the moofe, carribboo, the bear, the
{weaver, the otter^ the marten, &c. I defer giving

'CARVER'9 TRAVELS.

205

t defoription of thefe crfeatiires here, and flidll only
at prefent treat of their manner of hunting them.

The route they (hall take for this purpofc* and the
parties that fliall go on the different expeditions, are
fixed in their general councils, which are held fome
time in the fwmmer, when all the operations for the
enfuing winter are concluded on. The chief war-
ripr, whofe province is to regulate their proceed-
ings on this occafion, with great folemnity iffues out
an invitation to thofe who choofe to attend him ;
for the Indians, as before obferved, acknowledge no
fuperiority, nor have they any idea of compulfion |;r
and eveiry one tfiat accepts ic prepares himfelf hy
fading during fey eiral days.

I ' ■■♦if

The Indians do not faft, as fome other nations do,
from the richeft and mofl: luxurious food, but they to-
tally abflain from every kind either of viduals or
driqk ; and fuch is their patience and refolution« that
the raoft extreme thirft could not oblige them, to
taile a drop of water; yet amidfl: this fevere ab-
■ftinence they appear cheerful and happy.

The reafons they give for thus fafting are, that it
enables them freely to dream, in which dreams they
are informed where they fiiall find the greateft plenty
of game; and alfo, that it averts the difpleafureof the
evil fpirits, and induces them to be propitious. They
alfo on thefe occafions blacken thofe parts of their
bodies that are uncovered. .,•,.....

The faft being ended, and the place of huntii.g
made known, the chief who k to condud them,
gives a grand feaft to thofe who are to form the dif-^
ferent par:ies ; of which none of them dare to par-
take [ill they have bathed themfelves. At this feaf^t

Dd '

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CARVER'S TRAVELS. '

notwithftanding they have fafted fo long, they eat
With great moderation ; and the chief that^ prefides
employs himfelf in rehearling the feats of thofe who
have b^en mod fuccefsfiil in ihe bufinefs they are
about to enter upon. They fbon after fet out on
the march towards the place' appointed, painted, or
rather bedawbed, with black, amidll the acclama-
tions of all the people. •*;'.;•-

i/

'" * > . It is impoflible to defcribe their ggility or perfeve-

rance, whilft they are in purfuit cf their prey ; neither

. thirkets, ditches, torrents, pools, of rivers ftop them ;

they always go ftraight forward in the mod direct

line they poffibly can, and there are few of the fa-

vage inhabitants of the,WQod8 that they' cannot over-
take. ■•■••-■■■■■ • ■ ' !^Vv;;;v\,'j1i^'r>rV;V.^*''^'-;V-?'-''r<-:;

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When they hunt for bears, they endeavour to
-find out their retreats ; for, during the winter, thefe
animals copceal ihemfelves in the hollow trunks of
trees, or m'4ke ^hemfelves holes in the ground, where
they continue without food, whilft the fever e wea-
ther lafls.

•' '-J .

' tjjit-Vi

"When the Indians think they have arrived at a
place where thefe creatures ufually haunt, they form
ihemfelves into a circle, according to their number,
and moving onward, endeavour, as they advance to-
wards the centre, to difcover the retreats of iheir
prey. By this means, if any lie in the intermediate
fpace, they are fure of aroufing them, and bringing
them down either with their bows or their guns. The
bears will take to flight at fight of a man or a dog,
and will only make refiftarice. when they are exiren\e-
Jy hungry, or after they are wounded. • |»'!-Y

,':'Wf>f-*-

The Indian method of hunting the buffalo is by
forming a circle or a fquare, nearly in the fame

;■ ' > i

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CARVER^a TRAVELS/

J07

niannfir as ^hen they fearch for the bear. Having
taken their different ftations, they fet the grafs, which r'..
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'aro ',
hemmed in a fmall compafs, and fcarcely a finglo ' >-
oneefcapes*

They have different ways of hunting the elk, the
deer, and the caribboo. Sometimes they feek them
out in the woods, to vhich they retire during the
feverity of the cold, where they are e^lily (h©t frorai^
behind the trees. In the more northern cUmateS' ,.
they take the advantage of the weather to deftroy.-;; ^
the elk j when the fun has juft flrepgth enough to ;•
melt, the fno>y,aiKi the froft in the night forms a^y
kind of crufl: on the furface,* this creature being ;y
heavy, breaks it with his forked hoofs, and with dif^* "
ficulty extricates himfelf from it ; at this time there-*
fore, he is fooh overtaken and deftroyed.

■■ I: ■*

Some nations have a method of hunting theftf'^
animal's, which is more eafily executed, and free
frem danger. The hunting party divide themfelyes
into two bands, and choofing a fpot near the bor-?
ders of the fame river, one party emjjarks on board
their canoes, whilft the others forming themfelves in»
to a f«mi-circle on the land, the flanks of which
reach the Ihore, 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 greateft
part of them are immediately difpatched by thofe
who remain in the canoes.

■ ,Kl

"^1

Both the elk ?ind buffalo are very furious when they
are wounded, and will turn fiercely on their pur-
fuers, and trample them under their feet, if the hun-

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CAKVER»s TltAViLS.'

ter finds no means to complete their de(lru6llon, or
does not feek for f^curity in flight to fome adjacent
Wee; by' ihi» method they are 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
therafelves, and from which they reap the greateft
»d vantage, is the beaver hunting. The feafon for
this is throughout the whole cf the winter, from
November to April ; during which time the fur of
thefe creatures is in the gveateft perfedion. A de-
Itription of this extraordinary animal, the conflruc-
tion of their huts, and the regulations of their almofi
rational community, I fbalt give in another place.

The hunters make ufe of fev«ra( methods to de-
ftroy them. Thofe generally pradlifed, are either
that of taking them in fhares, cutting threUgh the
ice, or opening their caufeways. :' f.

Asr the eyes of thefe animal* are v«ry quick, and
their hearing exceedingly acute, gfeat precaution is
neceilary in approaching their abodes ; for as they
feldom go far from the water, and tbetr houfes are
a^lwaysMbuilt clofe to the fide of fome large river or
lake, or dams of their. own conftra6ting, upon the
leafl alarm they haften to the deepefb part of the
water, and dive immediately to the bottom ; as they
do this, they m^ke a great noife by beiating the wa-
ter with their tails, on purpofe to put the whole fra-
teriiity on their guard, * j- .i ^^ .

They take them with fnares in the following
titanner i though the beavers ufually lay vip a fufH-
cient ftore of provifion*to fferve forjheir fubfiflence
during the winter, they make from tiqie to time excur-

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CARVER'i TRAVELSrf^

to^

ifont ^0 the neighbouring woods to procure further
hpp\f it of food. The hunters having found out
their hauntf, place a trap in their way, baited with
ftnalt piecef ol bark, or young fhoots of trees, which
the beaver hai no fooner laid hold of, than a brge
log of wood fallf upon him and breaks his back, his
cnemieiy who are upon the watc^, foon appear and
inftaiuty difpatch the he^plefs animaU ■

At other rimci, when the fee on the rivers and
hk^f if about half a foot thick, they make an open-
ing throuffh it with their hatchets, to which the
beaver will foon haftcn, on being difturbcd at their
houfef, for a fupply of frefli air. As their breath
occaftoni a confiderable motion in the water, the
hunter hai fufficient notice of their approach, and
methods are eaHly taken (or knocking them on the
head the moment they appear above the furface. ,

When the houfe of the beaver happens to be near
a rivulet, they are more eafily deftroyed :- the hun-
ters then cut the ice, and fpreading a net under if,
break down the cabins of the beavers, who never
^11 to make towards the deepedr part, .where they
are etitangted and taken. But they muft not be Of-
fered to remain there long, as they would foon ex-
tricate themfeVves with their teeth, which ai^e wefi
known to be cxceflively fharp and flrong* .,;,,.

The Indians take great care to hinder their dogs
from touching the bones of the beavers. The rca-
fons ihey give for thefe precautions, are, firft, that
the bones are fo exceffively hard, that they fpotl the
teeth of their dogs : and; fecondly, that they ^re
apprehenftve they (hall fo exafperate the fpirits of
the beavers by this permiillon, as to render the next
hunting fcalbu unluccelsful. ,.,.,,,, ^^#f^h;v#«^>

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CARVERS. TRAVELS^

The fkins of thcfe animals, the hunters exchanpns
with the Europeans fur neceflaries, and as they are
more valued by the latter than any other kincj of
furs, they pay the greatest attention to this fpecies
of hunting.

• *

When the Indians deftroy buffaloes, elks, deer,
&c. they generally divide the flefh of fuch as they
have taken afnong the tribe to which they belong.
But in hunting the beaver, a few families ufually
unite and divide the fpoil between them. Indeed, in
the firfl inilahce 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. ^ y .,

I, --*■■■

. Among theNaudowefliesi if a perfon fiipots a deer,
buffalo, ScCf and it runs to a confiderable didance
before' it drops, where a perfon belonging to another'
tribe being' nearer, firft (licks a knife into it^ the
game is confidered as the property of the latter, not-
wlthdanding it had been mortally woundeid by the
former. Though this ctiftom appears to be arbitrary
and unjuft, yet that people cheerfully fubnilt to it.
This decifion is, however, very, different from that
pradifedby the Indians on the back of the colonies,
where the firft perfon that hits it is entitled to the
belt (hare.

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.(.. IM . : .« ;i , ....f; '•

CHAPTER IX.'

, Of their manner of making War^ fsfc.

X, 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 foiuhward, I
have been informed, do not continue thisir military
exercises after they are fifty. -

In every band or nation there is a feleft number
who are (tiled the warriors, and who are always rea-
dy to adl eithej- offenlively or defenfively, as occaiion
requires. Thefe are well armed, bearing the wear
pons commonly in ufe among them, which vary ac-
cording to the fjtuaiion of their countries. Such as
have an iutercourfe with the Europeans make ufe of
tomahawks, knives, and fire-arms ; but thqie whofe
dvvellings are fituated to the weftward of th|^ffiflip-
pi, ajid who have not an opportunity of ptircha^g
thefe kinds of vfeapons, ufe bows and arrows, and
alfo the CalTe Tete or War-Club, V

.!-V

The Indians that inhabit ftill further to the weft-
ward, a country which extends to the South Sea, ufe
in fight, a warlike inftrument that is very uncommon.
Having great plenty of horfes, they always attack
their enemies on horfeback, and encumber themfelves
with no other weapon,' thaii a ftone of a middle fize,
curioufly wrought, which they fallen by a ftring,
about a yard and a ha|f long, to their right arms, a
Uttle above the elbow. Thefe fton.es they cojiveni-

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CARVER'* TRAVELS.

1-^

cntly carry in their hands, till they reach theif ene-
mies, and then Twinging them with great dexterity,
^ as they ride full fpeed, never fail of doing execution.
The country which thefe tribes pofTeis, abounding
with large extenrive plains, thofe who attack theni
feldom return ; as the fwiftnefs of the horfe , on
which tbey are mounted, enables them to overtake
even the fleeteft of ihcir invaders,

t'/- T^'he Naudoweflies, who had been 'at war with this

. people, informed me, that unlefs they found moraf-
•, -fes or thickets to which they could, retire, they were

^ fure of being cut off: to prevent 'his, they always
took care, whenever they made an onfet, to do it near
fuch retreats as were impaflabl« to cav?Jry; they
theri having a great advantage over their enemies,

; .- whofe weapons could not there reach them,

* ■ ■

Some nations make ofe of a javelin, pointed with
bone, worked into different forms ; but their Indian
weapons in general are bows and arrows, and the
fcort club already mentioned. The latte/is made
of a very hard wood, and the head o^ it fafhioned
.round like a ball, about three inches and a hulf dia-
;^ineter ; in this rotund part is fixed an edge refem-
bling that of a tomahawk, either of fteej or flint,
whichfoever they can procure.

The dagger is peculiar to the Naudoweffie nation,
and of ancient conftrudion, 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 ftc^J. The leigth o| it is
about tejT inches, and that part clofc to the handle near-
ly three inches broad. Its edges are keen, and it gra-
dually tapers towards :i point. They vvear it in a
fheath made of deer's leather, neatly onia,mente4

i]M

.'■' ^••'■■^v.'- •:'■■: 'V''

CARVER'S TRAVELS,

213

► '1-'* ■:>* **'■

wkh porctipine cjuills', and it is ufuaily nung by a
' firing, decorated in the fame manner^ which reaches
as low only as the breaft. This curious weapon is
worn by a few of the principal chiefs alone, and
confidered both as an ufeful indrument, and- an or-
namental badge of Superiority. ,.:\_

yn^^

♦•>» ■ H..

U ■^'■:

. I obferved among the Naudbweflies. a few targets
or fliields made of faw buffalo hides, and in4he form
of thbfe ufed by the ancients. But as the number,
of thefe was fmall, and as I could not gain any intel-
ligence of the aera in which they'were firft introduced
among them, I fappofe thofe I faw had defcende^
from father to Ion for many generations. -] '; ;

- . -^ -■ ' ' ■ ' ' , ■ • • ■'. • .:■ ' .■' f ' .

•'■■■ *\ ■ •■; * , * 'i t^ ■ . i V ■■.■-«.■••;

The- reafohs the Indians give for making war
againft one another, are much the fame as thofe
urged by more civilized nations, for difturbing the
tranquility of their neighbours. The pleas of the
former are howevf' in general more rational" and
juft, than fuch as are brought by Europeans in vin-
dication of iheW. proceedings. .^^: .;v.,.^ 1, ir ;>.:•-; !r

The extenfTv/n of empire is feliiom a motive witR
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 within par-
ticular limits, to maintain the liberty of palling
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 dilTentions that lo often break out between
the Indian nations, and which are carried on with fo
much animofity. . , ^^ V

Though llrangers to the idea of feparate property,
yet theniofl uncultivated among them are well ac-

■ E e - "^'^ "^- ' ^ ■. "

^■i

*t'f

'>:,

, •

3»4'

♦ ■■>.■■

CAlt\^ER'8 TRAv^ifLS.

^atnt«d with the rij^h^i df (htb; eomittiirtirif^ to t!i<^
domam's they pof^ih] ind* oppofe ^i^h vigoiit every

' Notvl'thftantfirtfc: U U j^ettei^ally faf)pbfed Jhat from
their territories being fA ejitdnfiVe, the houn'darres of
them cannot be afcerlained, yet I am well jaffured
fhat the liihrts of ea'Ch naiibn ih the irtteriof parts are
laid down m theii* ftide plari^ with great precifion.
By theirs, as 1 have before ohiervedj was I enabled
f o regiilate niy own ; and aftet the ittoft exad ob-
fervatlotiS aftd enquiries found very few inftailces in
ifrhich thi^y erred.

^t

^r^ ■

But interefl is not either the mbft frequent or
iiibft poweJ'fuI incentive to theit" making war on
each dthefi The paflloh bf revenge, whidh is the
diftingiiilhihg charadefiftic of theft peo^l^, i^ the
tiioli genetal thotive. Ifljuf lb are felt- by them
with exquifite fenfibiiity, dild Vehgednce purfued
v^ith unremitted ^ifdout. Tb this rtiay be added,
that natural excitation wWtH evety Iridiatt bet'bnies
fenfible of as foon as he approaches the age of
manbdod to ^ve proofs of his valout and ptowefs.

As they ate early pbflfeffed With t notion that war
dught to be the chief bufirief^ orf theit lives, that
ihete is nothing Inore defitbus ihiiii the reputation
of beifig a great wal-tior, antl thai the fcalps of their
fciiemies, ot i number o? pflfdrters are idone to bfe
efteemed valuable, (t is iittt t6 be Wondered at that
the ybUnger IlidianS are contihusklly relUefs and un-
fcafy if their ardbur is re^tefi*^d, ahd they are kept in
a (late of inactivity. Either of thefe jstopenlities,
the defire of.revcnge, or the gratification of an im-
pUlfe, that by degrees becoliies habitual to iheni, is
fuflScient, frequently, to induce them to commit
hoflilities on fome of the neighbouring nations.

5f.

■^ . f

.'■ *'

» ;

CA|iypR'« travels;

«5

When the (;hief"s fioxj any occadon for piaking
war, they endeavour to ar<?ii{e tliofe habhuJes, i^ni
by that means foot;! excite their \yarriors to take
arms. To this porpofe ihcy make vife of their mar-
tial eloquence, nearly in jthe following words, which
never fails of proving effeftual : '* The .bones of our
4eceufed countrymen lie uncovered, they c^Il out
to us to revenge their :wrongs, and we muft fa-
tisfy their requef^. Their fpirits cry out agaiftft
us. They muft be appeafed. The genii, who;"
are the guardians of our hojipjur, infpir.e yis with
" a reiblutiofl to feek the enemies of our murdered
" brothers. Let us go and devour thofe by whom
they were (lain. Sit therefore no longer inadive,
give way to the iyipulfe of your natural valour,
anoint your hair, paint your faces, fill your qvti- *
versi caufe the forefts to refound with' your fongs^
confole the fpirus of ihe ^e^icl^ ,ap^ ^isU tbera they
fhall be revenged."

Anim^ited by thefe exhortations, the war.Tlors"*
fnatch their arms in a tranfport of fury, fing thefong
of war, and burn with impavience ^pimjjjue theitir

((

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hands in the blood of their eneijiies.

A*J+iii&5Sj;(^"

Sometimes private chiefs afTemble fmall pa ties,
and make exccrfipns a^ainlt thoie with whom they
are at war, or fuch as hav,e injured them. A fingle
warrior, prompted by revenge, or a defire to Ihow
his prowpfs, will march unattended for feveral hun-
(d|-ed ^}ikh tc> fumrjfe.and <?ut qff a (Irag^lijl^

Thefe irregular fallies, howevei:, 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 Naudovvqflie and- Chipeway

nations. .

' v; ;•;

,i>

'-; ; :.-,--■ -,..'■- ••4'...

'k':

CARVER'S TRAVEtS.

But when a war js national, and undertaken by
the community, their deliberations ard formal and
iTow. The elders aflemlsle in council, to which all
the head warriors arid. young men are admitted,
where they deliver their opinions in folemn fpcechcs,
weighing with maturity the nature of the enterprile
they are about to engage ih, and baimcing with
great fagacity the advantages or inconveniences that
will arife from it. '■-. : • " ^' '•>''• . ■ ^ ;^>«}*' ,

'- • •■.■•■'-■■': •■"■■''■'';,-.',''">;''"•..''■"; 1.^! '• '-y

, ■.»^.:^'.,^.-. .•_■.■■ .\^: .'X. .-'; ,-..i-.'.; •. . V ■' ■%■-.

Their priefts are alfo confulted on the fubjefl,
and even, fometimes, the advicfe of the molt intelli-
gent of their women i? alked.

If the deteruTination be for war, theyprcpare 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 valour and prudence he hac
a good opinion. The perfon thus fixed on being
firit bedawdexl with black, obferves a faft of fevaml
(days, during which he invokes the Great Spirit, or
deprecates the anger of the evil ones, holding whiHl
it lafts 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
fuccefs will in a great meafure depend ; and from the
firm perfuafion every Indian actuated by his own
prefumptuous thoughts is imprefled with, that he
ihall march forth to certain vidlory, thefe are gene-
rally favourable to his wifhes. > " '

- After he has faded as long as cuftom prefcrlbes,
he aflembles the warriors, and holding a belt of
wampum in his hand, thus addreiresthem :

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

»«7

by

ind

K

all

ti

ed.

Jes,

((

rife

(I

'ith

(<

hat

iWl

((

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it

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« BrotlTtfs'T by the infpifatioil''of the Great Spi-
rit, I now fpeak unto you, and by- "him am I
prompted to carry into execution the intentions
which I amabout to tiifclofe to you. The blood
of our deceafed brothers is not yet wiped away j
their bodies are not yet covered, and 1 am going
to perform this duty to them.*^ •- - »-■-<..•.-»; .." '.,

Having then niade knowh to them all the motives
that induce him to take up arms againft the nation
with whom they are to engage, be thus proceeds :
*' I have therefore refolved to march through the
" war-path to furprife them. We will eat their
" flefh, and drink their blood ; we will take, fcaips,
and make prifoners ; and (hould we perifli in this
glorious enterprife, we fhall not be for ever hid
ill the duft, for this belt fhall be a recompenfe to
him who buries the dead." Having faid this,
he lays the belt on the ground^ and he who takes it
up declares himfelf his lieutenant, and is confidered
as the fecond in command ; this, however, is only
done by fome diftingiiilhed warrior who has a tight,
by the number of his fcalps, to the poft/

Though the Indians thus aflert that they will eat
the flelh and drink the blood of tb?ir enemies, the
threat is only to be confidered as a figurative expref-
iion. Notwithftanding they fometimes devour the
liearts of'thofe ihey flay, and drink their blood, by
way of bravado, or to gratify in a more complete
manner their revenge, yet they are not naturally
anthropophagi, nor ever feed on the flefh of men.

The chief is now wafhed from his fable covering,
anointed with bear's fat, and painted with their red
paint, in fuch figures as will make him appear mod
terrible to his enemies. He then fings the war fong,
.^nd enumerates his warlike adions. Having doiie

f-.

/•-?,

^^

CARVE RV, T I^A^' E L «;

>».

thU, he fixes his eyes on the fun, and pays his adora-
tions to the Great jSpirit, in which be is accompa^
nied'by all tbje warriprs. yi^-^nt^Msh

,-,.i,/ ....

V. This, ceremony is followed with dances, fuch as I
liave before defcribed ; and the whole concludes with

. a feaft, which ufually confift? ;Qf, dog's JUfli.

y This feaft is held in the .hut or tent of the chief
warrior, to which all thofe who intend to accom-
pany him in his expedition fend their difhe* to be
filled ; and during, the feaft, notwithftanding he has
£afted fo long, 'he fits compofedly with his pipe in
his mouth,; ^^4 l^^^|^-:5.l>f K^Qf^^' deeds ^f his

'■ff_ As the hopes of having their wounds, (hould they
receive any, properly treated, and expedltioufly
.cured, muft be Ibme additional inducement to the
•warriors to expofe themfelves more freely to danger,
•the priefts, who are ^Ifo their dodors, prepare fuch
medicines as will prove efficacious, With great ce-
remony they, carry various roots and plants, ^"d pre-
tend that, they impart to them the power of healing.

J-* .' ■ ■ ) ^-, . . .r , ■ » fg . . .^ - .1 , ^

5i. Notwithftanding this fuperftitious method of pro-
ceeding, it is very certain they have acquired a
.knowledge of many. plants and herbs that are of a
•inedicinal quality, and which they know how to ufp
*;with great ikill.

■ From the time the refolution of engaging in a
war is taken, to the departure of the warriors, the
nights are fpent in feftivity, and their days in mak-
ing the needful preparations.

/ .7

Hi

If i<- *^ thought necefTary by the nation goiilg to
war, 10 folicit the alliance of any neighbouring

'• J.

> tl«V-

. ' CARVER'S TRAVELS. 41^

frft^^ft^^fx* upon Srfe 6f tTi^i' tfMfr ^ijo ll^wks
(he lartguage of that people well; and who is a good
orator, and fend to them by him a belt of wampam,
on which' is fpecified the purport of the embafiy, in
figures that every nation is well acquainted with.
At the fame time he carries with him a hatchet
painted red.

•,,<»^

• f, 4 •ff\i^.^ K

^%>

■ -S V'/

;\>3

^^^^Jis io'Oii a^ fie riathe^'tfi'e <*amp ot Vijflage to whicfr
ne is deftined, he acquaints the chief of the tribe
with the general tenor of his commiffion, who rm-r
mediately ailembfes a council, to which th^ ambafr
fador is invited. There having laid the hatchet orl
the ground^ he holds the belt in his hand, and enters
more minutely into the occafion of his embafly..
In hi$ fpeech he invites them to take up the hatchet,
and as loon as he has finilhed fpeaking delivers the

"'" If his hearers are inclined to become auxiliaries to
his nation, a chief ileps forward, and takes up the
hatchet, and they immediately cfpoufe with fpirit
the caufe they have thus engaged to fiipport. But
if on this application neither the belt or hatchet are
accepted, the emifTary concludes that the people
whole affiftance he folicifs, have already entered in-
to an alliance with the foes of his nation, and re-
turns with fpeed to inform his countrymen of his iU
lucceft. ' '.^^ '''-^^'- ' '''^ ''''''

" The manner in which the Indians declare war
againft each other, is by fending a flave with a hat-
chet, the handle of which is painted red, to the na-
tion which they intend to break with ; and the mef-
fenger, notwithftandihg the danger to which he is*
cxpofed from the fudden fury of thofe whom he thus
fets at defiance, executes his commiffion with great,
fidelity, '''-^'- ' ' ^-••\ ■ ' ' ^V ■--■'■ ---

1

;.,<*> ^--V I

« ■ X'

:-^'\..^.-:-

■'.!ii.-,iljit'.. .■.■,%■.•»■.■'

■ .n^-i^i^' . . J A ■;. ■J^,!A^

'itk»

CARVER'a TRAVELS.

Soxnetimes this token of defiance has fuck, ai) in-
.^iantaneous effed^oh thofe to whom it is prcfented,
that in the firft transport of their fury, a fmall party
will iffuc forth, without waiting for the permiffion
of the elder ^hiefs, and flaying the firft of the offend-
ing nation they meet, cut open the body, and ftick
a hatchet of the fame kind as that they have jiift re-;
ceived, into the heart of their llaugh'tered foe;
Among the more remote, tribes^ this is^ done with an
arrow or fpear, the end of which is painted red.
And the more to, exafperate, they difmeinber the
body, to fliow that they efteeih them not as men
but as old women.'

The Kndiansieldom take the field in Targe bodies,
as fuch nunibe»"s woiild require a greater degree of
induftry to provide for their fubfiftence, during their
' tedious- marches through dreary forefts, or Ions
Voyages over lakes and rivers, than they would care
lo beftow.

Their armies are never encumbered with baggage
or inihtary ftorqs. Each warrior, befides his wea-
pons, carries \yith him only a mat, and whrlit at. a
diftance from the frontiers of the enemy, fupports
himfelf with the game he^ills or the fifli 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 -lilfperfed in purfuit of their game ; but though
tliey'fliould have.roved to a very confiderable diftance
froi.i the war-path, they are fure to arrive at the
place of riendezvous by the hour appointed.

They aivvays pitch their tents long before fun^fet ;
and being naturally prefumptuous, take very little

•Vlv

CARVfiR'i TRAVELS.

sii

citet to ge!ard agtinft a furprife. They plsrc^ grett
cohfidlence m their Manitous, or hOufehoM godsy
vfbkb they always carry with them; and being per-
suaded that they talfe upon them the office of cen-
tinel», they fleey» very tecftrely tmder their protec-
tion.

Thefe Manitous, afs they are eiHed by fom« na-
tions, but which are termed Wakons, that is fpirits,
by the Natidoweflies, are nothing more than the ot-
ter and marten ikms I hare already deferibed," for
whicfar^ however, they have a; great ▼eneiatton.

After they haVe entered the enemy's country,
no people can be more cat^ious and circumfpe^fc ;
fires are no longer lighted, no more (hoitting is
heard, nor the game any longer purfued. /Hiey
are not even permitted to fpeak ; but mud convey
whatever they hiave to impart to eaich other by fign^
and mbtionsV \

They now proceed wholly by ftratagem and am-
buscade. Having difeovered their enemies, they
fend to reconnoitre them ; and a council is intenedi-
ately held, during which they fp^ak only in whifpers,
to con6der of the hiteltigence imparted' by thofe who
were fend out.

The attack is generally made jufi before day-
break, at which period they fuppofe their foes to be '
in their foundeft fleep. Throughout the whole of
the preceding Jiight they will lie flat upon their ,
faces, without ftirring ; and make th.eir approaches
in the fame poftare, creeping upon their hands an4
feet, tin they are got within DowihSt of thofe they
have deftined to ;deftru£tion. On a fignal given
by the chief warrior, to which the whole body make* ;.;

■^

■■.rr..."

»«a

CARVE:R8» TRAVELS*

anlwer by the ,nioft hideous yells, they all, Hart up^
and difcharging their arrows in the fame inftanr,
without giving their adverfaries time to recovfer from
the confufion into which they are thrown, pour in
upon them with their war^clubs or tomahawks.

The Indians think there is little glory to be ac*
quired from attacking their- enemies openly iii the
field ; their greatefl: pride is to furprife and deflroy.
They feldom engage without a manifeij: appearance
of advantage. Ifthey find the ehemyon their guard,
, too Arongiy entrenched, or fuperior in nuflibers, they
retire, provided there is an opportunity of doing fo.
And they eAeem it the greatefl qualification of a
chief warrior, to be able to manage an attack, fo as
to dfefiroy as many of the enemy as pofTible, a** the
expence of a few men,,

Sometimes they fecure themfelves behind tr^esj
hillocks, or flones, and having given one or two
rounds, retire before they are difcovered. Euro-
peans, who are unacquainted with this method of
fighting, too often find to their cofl the deflrudive
efficacy of it..' j(^.,.iji.tji-^-ta|.^;. , -.uT.ty^ij:-..

General Braddock was one! of this unhapjjy ^nlim*

ber^ Marching, in the year 1755, to attack Fort

Du Quefhe, he was intercepted by a party of French

• and confederate Indians in their interet^, who by this

infidious 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 pofled^ that the Englifh fcarcely knew

froni whence cfr by whom they were thus annoyed.

During the whde of the ergagement, the lat er had-

fcarcely a fight of an enemy ; and were obliged to

' retreat, without the fatisfa6lion of being able to take

']the lead degree of revenge for the havock made

■i1\'

€ARVER'i TRAVELS.

lA)

among them. The General pnid for His temerity
with hii life, and wag accompanied in his fall by a
great number of brave fellows ; whiift his' invifible
enemic^ had only two or three of their nutnber
wounded. .

, i,t

Hi ti

When the Indians fflccecd in their filent ap-
proacbei, 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 dtfyeration of the conquered, who well
know what they hav^ to expedl ihouM they fall
alive into the hands of the airailani?, occafion the ^
moil extraordinary exertions on both fides. The
figure of the combatants, tfll befraeared with black
and r^d paint, and covered'with the blood of the. •
flain, their horrid yells, and ungovernable fury, are
not to be conceived by ihofe who have never croiTed
the Atlantic. -.'K

I have frequently beer, n fpedlator of them, and
once l)ore a part in a fimilar fc^^ne. But what ad-^
ded to the horror of it was, that J had not the con- '
folation of being able to oppofe their favage attacks.
Every circumftance of the adventure ftill dwells on"
my remembrance, and enables me to defcribe with
greater perfpicuity the brutal fiercenefs of the In- v^
diang, when they have furprifed'or overpowered an,^'.
enemy. '^^^r^' "** '»'< f'l^'Wffp !^r%;ti^ . ^:^>^^m.:s'^ ^''«w:t

A« a detail of the mafficre at Fort William Henry
in the year 1757, the fcene to which I refer, can^
not appear foreign to the defign of this publication,
but will fcrve to give my readers a juft idea of the
ferocity of this peopie, 1 ihall take the liberty to in--
fcrt if, apologizing at the fame time for the length of
the digreiHon, and thofe egotifnis which the relatioi^
renderi unavoidable. i}^'¥\it<^*j\i^i*i'*i*^^:i^'-i^-y jw; ■

m

(

'.■■L-.

s>4

CARVER't TRAVEJ.S.

General Webb, who commanded the Enj^lifli
army in North America, which was then encamped
ttTort Edward, having inleliigeiice that the i;«>ei^ch
troops under Monf. Montcalm were making lome
inovements towards Fort William Henry, he de-
tached a corps of about fifteen hundred men, con-
fiding^ of EngliOi and Provincials, to Orengthen the
garrifun. In this party I went as a volunteer among
the latter.

r.

t<

The appreheniions of the Englifti General were
not without foundation ; for the day after our arrival
we faw Lake George (formerly Lake Sacraraenij 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 ju(l
landed with eleven thoufand Regulats 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* ' ' ' ••>v'3^r\

With thefe he inade a gallant defence, and pro-
bably would have been able at laft to preferve »he
Fort, had he been properly fupported, and permit-
ted to contimie his efforts. On every fummons to
furrender fent by the French General, who offered
the irtoft honourable terms, his anfwer repeatedly
was, that he yet found himfelf in a condition to re-
pel the moft vigorous attacks his befiegers were able
to make; and if bethought his prei'eri force infuffi-
a^nt, he could Toon be fupplied with a greater num-
ber from the adjacent army. , :.» «*i*UM>r

But the Colonel having acquainted General Webb
with hit iituation, and defired he would fend him
fome frcfh troop*, the General difpatched a meflen-
ger to him with a letter, wherein he informed him

- - rr--r.- .f

■<■'

.CARVER'i TRAvEte.

ns

that it was not in his power to aflifl hinn, and there-
fore gave him orders to furrender up the Fort on
the bed terms he could procure. This packet fell
into the hands of. the French General, who imme-
diately fent a Bag of truce, detuing 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 ia
perfon to demand poiTeilion of the Fort, as it belong-
ed to the king his mafter. The Colonel repli-.*d,
that he knew not how that could be, nor (hould he
furrender it up whihi ic was in his power to de-
fend it.

The French General rejoined, at the fame time
delivering the packet into the Colonel's hand, " By
" this authority do J make the requifition." The
brave Governor had no fooner read the contents of
it, and was convinced that fuch was the orders of
the comrtiander in chief, and not to be difobeyed,
than he hung his head in iilence, and reluctantly en-
tered into a negociation. "

In confideration of the gallant defence the garri-
fon had made, they were to be permitted to march
out with all the honours of war, to be allowed co-
vered waggons to transport their baggage to F<3rt
Edward, and a guard to protect them froin the fciry
of the favages. .,,>./>.

The morning after the capitulation was ligned,
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 nomberf
of the Indians gathered about^ and began to plunders

1

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K:f' - ' ' •. l,\y.

. > . It ' ; , .<<:

^■'iV.

''J&f^:'

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CARVER'S TRAVELS.

We were at firft in hopes that ihis was their only
view, and fufFered them to proceed without oppo-
fition. Indeed it was not in c/ur power to make
any, had we been fo mclircd ; for though we were
permitted to carry off our arms, yet we were not
allowed a fingle round of ammunition. In ihefe
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,
notwithfbanding they endeavoured to avert the iury
of their enemies by their ihrieks or groans, were
fooii difpatched. . ' .. . ... ^....- ^ :

Here we were fully in expe£laticn that the dif-
f lUbance would'have concluded ; and our little atmy
began to move ; but in a (hort time we faw the front
divifion driven backy and difcovered th^t we were
entirely encircl«jd with the favages. We expe6ied
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 appr;i-
henfions ; but none appeared. ■ The Indiaps liow
i?egan to ftrip every ohe without exception of their
arms and clothes, and thofe who madfe tlie leaft re.
iiftance felt the weight of their tomahawks. .
■ • '-J . • ■'■■.■ •> . *'- :

I happened to be in the rear divTiop, but it was
po: long before J (liared the fate of my c.>m'panions.
Three or four of the favages laid hold of me, and
whilfl fome held their weapons ovr my head, the,
others foon difrobed me of my coat, waiftcoat, hat,
.and buckles, ('mitting not to take from me what
money I had in my pocket. As this was tranfaded
clofe by the paflage that led from the lines on to the
plain, near which a French centinel was polled, I raii
to him and claimed his protection ; but he only
called me an Englifh dcrg, and thruft me with vio-
lence back again into the midft of the Indians-

...K'^V.

.■.^M-**:" 'i-;A,'*-.»-V,

CARVEl^V TRAVELS. > . , -wr

I now endeavoured to join a body of our iroopai
that were crowded together at fome diftance j burin-
nuraerable were the blows that were made at me with
different weapons as I palfed oa ; luckily, however,
the favages were fo clofe together, that they- could
not ftrike at me without endangering -each other.
Notwithftanding which, one of them found rieans to
make a thruft at me with a fpear, which grazed my
fide, and from another 1 received a wound, with the
fame kind of weapon, in my ankle. At length I
gained the fpot where my countrymen flood, and
forced myfelf into the midft of them. But before I
got thus hr out of the hands of the Indians, the col-
lar and wriflbands of myfhirt were all that remained
of it, and my fleih was fcratched and toin in many
places by their favage gripes-. ', . . ; .' ^

By this lime the war whoop wis given, and the
Indians began to murder thofe that were neareft to
them without diilin6iion. It is not in the power Of
words to give any tolerable idea of the horrid fcene
that now enfued ; men, woitien,* and children were
difpatched in the moft wanton and cruel manner,,
and inunediately fcalped. Many of thefe favagea
drank the blood of their vidims, as it flowed wanu
from the fatal wound.

./i'i V7'i,--i~'''"

■,fr'A-

rK> lU •. ■ v.

We now perceived, though foo late ta avail us,
that we were to exped no relief from the French ;
and that, contrary to the agreement they had fo
lately figned to allow, us a fufficient force to proied
b„ froin }\t(e infults, they tacitly permitted them j
for I could plaifvly perceive the French officers wa!k«
ing aboLt at fome d'it:\nce, difcourfing together
with apparent unconcern. For the honour'of human
nature, I would hope that this'flagrant br(^ach of eve-
ry facred law, proceeded rather from the favage dif--
pollution of the Indians, which I acknowledge it 13

,■#-

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Hi CARVER'* TRAVELS.

^■" ■

fometitn«8 almoft impffible to controuT, amJ^bich
might now unexpedtedl) have arrived to a pitch not
eafiiy to be retrained, than to any premeditated de-
fign in the i^rench fommander. An unprejudiced
obferver Would, however, be apt to conclude, ihat
d body, of ten thoufaod chriftian troops, moft chrif-
tian troops, had it in their power to prevent the
HiaiTacre from becoming fo general. B»t whatever
was the caufe from which it arofe, the coufecfuences
of it were dreadful, and not to be paralleled in mo.
dcrn hiftory.

At} the circle in which ! flood inclofed by this
time was much thinned, and death feerr^d to be
approaching with haity ftrides, it was proposed by
fome of the moit refolute to make one vigo rovs effort,
and endeavour to force oar way through the favages,
the only probable r/iethod of preferving o;\r hves
that now remained. This, however defperate, was
refolved on, and aboot twenty of us fprunfg at once
r ^0 the midd of them;

In a moment we were all feparateV and what was
(he fate of my companions I could not learn till fonie
months after, when I found that only fix or feven of
them effedcd their defign. Intent only on my own
hazardous fituarion, I endeavoured to make my way
through my favage enemies !n the be(! manner pof-
fible. And I have often been ailoniflied iince, when
I have recclledled with' what compofure I took, as
I did, every neceflfary ftep for my prefervation,
Som'e i overturned, being at that time young and
athletic, and others I paiTed by, dextf^oufly avoiding
their weapons ; till at lad two very flout chiefs, of
the mofl favage tribes, ai. I could difllnguifh by their
drsfs, whofe ftrength I could not refiU, laid hold
of me by each arm, and began to fo.ce me through
the crowd.

4-"'.- ft '*■- ftV*'.: :

...AM*'-.. . '/.

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

22<)

I iitJw refigned rtiyfelf to iriy fdte/'nor "Jouwfrrg
but that they intended to difpatch me, and then lo
fatiate their vengeance with my blood, as I found
they were hurjyingme towards a retired fwampthat
lay at fome diftance. But before we had got many
yards, an Englilh gentleman of fome diftindtion, as
I could difcover by his breeches, the only covering'
he had on, which were of fine fcarlet velvet, rufhed
clofe by us. One of the Indians inltantly relinquiflied
his hold, and fpringing on this new objeifl, endea-
voured to feize hini as his prey ; but the gentleman
being Itrong, threw him on the ground,, and would
probably have got away, had not he who held my
other arm quitted me to aflill his brother. I feized
the opportunity, and haftened away to join another
party of Englifh troops that were yet unbroken,
and "oi in a body at fome didance. But before I
had i >k7,a many fteps, I haftily cafl my eye towards
the gentleman, and faw the Indians tomahawk gafh
into his back, and heard him utter his lafl: groan ^
this addtid both to ray fpeed and defperation. rp

i"

,'• -p. ■ ^<i4

>M:;:

I had left this fliocking fcene but a few yards,
wheji 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 m6, fo that he might
Hand fome chance of getting out of the hands of the
favages. I told (lirn that I would give him everv
afliftance in m p; v/er, and to this purpofe bid him
lay hold j bur ^r few moments he was torn from
my fide, and by ''i- ^rieks I judge was foon put to
death. I could noi 'lelp forgetting my own cares
for a minute, to lament the fate of fo young a fuf-
ferer; but it was utterlv impoffibie for me ip tak;e
any methods lo prevem ii.

■ ' ' ' •

I now got once more into the rnidfl of friends, but
we werci; ble to afford each other any. fuccout^t

^ .; G CT'

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•■■»■■■ ,'' ■

230

C A R V E R' s T R A V E L S,

As this was the divifion that had advanced tha
fartheft from the fort, I thought there might be a
poflibiiity f 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 diflance. I was fliil encouraged to hope by
the almoft miraculous prefervation I had already
experienced.

Nor were my hopes in vain, or the efforts I piade
ineffedlual. Suffice it 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 1 threw myfelf into
at break, and lay fo hme minutes apparently at the
laft gafp. At length / vered the power of refpi-
ration ; but my apprehe.. ns returned with all their
former force, when I faw feveral favages pafs by,
probably in purfuit of me, at no very great diftance.
-In this ^tuation I knew not whether it was better
to pjoceed, or endeavour to conceal myfelf where I
lay, till night came on ; fearing, however, that they
would return the fame way, 1 thought it mod pru-
dent to get further from the dreadful fcene of my
diflrelTes. Accordingly, (Iriking into another part
of the wood, I hadened on as fait as the briers and
the lofs of one of my Hioes would permit, ine ; and
after a flow progrefs of fome hours, gained a hill
that overlooked the- plain which I had jull left, from
whence I could difcern that the bloody florm dill
raged with unabated fury.

But riot to tire my readers, I (hall only add, that
after paffing three days without fubiiftence, and en-
during the feverity of the cold dews for three nights,
I at length reached Fort Edward ; where with pro-
per care my body foon recovered its wonted ftrengih,
and my mind, as far as the recolledion of the late
melancholy events would perniit, its ufual compofure.

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

sji

It was computed that fifteen hundred perfons were
filled or made prifoners by thefe favages during this
fatal day. Many of the latter were carried off by
them and never returned. A few, jthrough favour-
able accidents, found their way back to their native
country, after hav?ng exp^ ienced a long and fevere
captivity. ,, ,'

The brave Colonel Munro had haftened away,
foon after the confufion began, to the French camp,
to endeavour to procure the guard agreed by the m-
pulation ; but his application proving ineffe(flual, he
remained there till General Webb fent a party of
troops to demand and protect him back to Fort
Edward. But thefe unhappy occurrences, which
would probably have been prevented;!, had he beea
left to purfue his own plans, together with the lofs
' of fo many brave fellows, murd)ered in cold blood,
to whofe valour he had been fo lately a witnefs, made
fuch an impreffion on his mind, that he did not long
furvive. He died in about three months of a bro-
ken heart, and of truth might be faid, that he was
an honour to his country.

I mean noi*to point out the following circumdance
as the immediate judgment of heaven, and intended
as an atonement for this flaughter; but I cannot
omit that yery few of thofe different tribes of Indians
that fhared in it ever lived to return horn*?. The
fmall-pox, by means of their communication with
the Europeansr, found its way among them, and
made an equal havock to what they themfelves had
done. The methods they purfued on the firft attack
of that malignant diforder, to abate the fever atten-
ding if, rendered it fatai. Whilfl their blood was
in a ftate of fermentation, and nature was flriving to
throw out the peccant natter, they checked her ope-
rations by plunging into the water : the confequcncc

»3*

CARVER'i TRAVELS.

was that they died by hundreds. The few that fur^
Vived were transfornicci by it into hideous objedls^
and bore with them to the grave deep-indented*
marks of this much-dreaded difealc.

Monfieur Montcalm fell foon after or the plain*,
of Quebec.

That the unprovoked cruelty of this commander
,^as not approved of by the generality of his coun-
trymen, 1 have fmce been convinced of by many
proofs. One only, however, which I received from
a perfon who was a witnefs to it, (hall I at prefent
give. A Canadian merchant, of fome conlideration^
having heard of the furrender of the Englifh forr^
celebrated the fortunate event with great rejoic-
ings and hofpitality, according to the cudom of
that country ; but no foonef did the news of the
maffacre which enfued reach his ears, than he put
an immediate (lop to the feftivity, and exclaimed in
the feverefl terms againd the inhuman permiflion ;
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 vengeapce of Heaven.
To this he added, that he much feared the total lofs
of them would defervedly \j^ the confeauence. How
truly this prediction has, been' verined, we well
knpw. . ,

But to return— Though the Indians are negligent
in guarding againd furprifes, they are alert and dex-
trous in furprifing their enemies. To their caution
and perfeverance in flealing on the party they defign
to attack, they add that admirable talent, or rather
indindive qualification I have already defcribed,. ,
of tracing out thofe they are in purfuit of. On the
fmoothell:' grafs, on the hardeft earth, and even on
the very ilonesy will they difcover the traces of an

If
and
then
any
prel
ine^

CARVER'S TRAVEL Si

»33'

eflertiy, and by the fhape of the footfteps, and the
diftance between the prints, diftinguifti not only
whether it is a man or a woman who has pafled that
way, but even the nation to which they belong.
However incredible this might appear, yet from
the many proofs I received whiMl among them of
their amazing fagacity in this point, I fee no reafon
to difcredit 6ven thefe extraordinary exertions of
it* ♦ •

When they have overcome an enemy, and vic-
tory is no longer doubtful, the conquerors firft dif-
jpatch all fueh as they think they fhall not be able to
carry off without great trouble, and then endeavour
to take as many prifoners as poflible ; after this they
return to fcalp thofe who are either dead, or too
much wounded to be taken with them.

t

' At this bufinefs 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 that covers the top of the head, they
draw out their fcalping knives, which are always
kept in good order for this cruel purpofe^ and with
a icw dextrous ftrokes take off the 'part that is
termed the fcalp. They are fo ejipeditious in do-
ing this, that the whole time required fcarcely ex-
ceeds a minute. Thefe t;hey preferve as monuments
of their prowefs, ' and likewife as proofs of the ven-
geance they have inflifted on their enemies.

If two Indians feize in the fame inftant a prifoner,.
and feem 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 perfon that is ap-
prehenfive he fhall lofe his expected reward, im-
mediately has recourfe to his tomahawk or war.club.

^4

CARVER'S TRAVELSr:

and knocks on the head the unhappy caufe of their
contention.

Having completed their purpbfes, and made as*
much havock as poffible, they immediatefy retire
towards their own country, with the fpoil they have
acquired, for fear of being purfued.

Should this be the cafe, they makeufeof many ftra-
tagems t6 elude the fearches of their purfuers. They
fometimes fcattef leav«?, fand, 6r duft over the
prints of their feet ; fometimes trezRl in each othetV
footfteps ; and fometimes lift theit. feet fo high, and
tread fo lightly^ as not to make any impfeflion on the
ground. But if they find all thefe precautions un-
availing, and that they are near being overtaken,
they firfl difpatch and fcalp their prifoners, and then
dividing, each endeavours to regain his native coun-
try by a diflFerent route. This prevents all further pur-
fuit ; for their pwrfuers now defpairing, either of gra-
tifying their revenge, or of releafing thofc of their
friends who were made captives, return home.

If the fuccelsful party is fo lucky a^ to makegdod
their retreat unmoleiled, they haflen with the great-
d!t expedition to reach a country where they may be
perfedly Jlecure ; and that their wounded companions
may not retard their flight, they carry thertiby turns
in litters, or if it is in the winter fealbn, draw them
on fledges.

' 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, arid
the fides are bordered with fmall bands. The In-
dians draw thefe carriages with great eafe, be they
ever fo much loaded, by means of a fkring which

-CARVERU TRAVELS.

»J5

paffes round the breaft. This collar is caHed a
Metump, and is in uft throughout America, both in
the fettiements and the internal parts. Thofe ufed
in the latter are made of leather, and very curiouHy
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 by fome of the
vidorious party ; if by water, they are fastened tp
the canoe. In the nigh|: time they are fhetched
along the grouisl quite naked, with their legs, arms,
and neck fattened to books fixed in the ground.
Befides this, cords are tied to their arms or legs,
which are held by an Indian, ^ho inilantly awake$
at the leal): motion of them,

Notwithftanding fuch precautions are ufually ta-
ken by the Indians, it is recorded in the annals of
New-England, that one of the weaker fex, almoft
alone, and unaffifted, found means to elude the vigi-
lance of a party of warriors, and not only to maKc
h^i cicape from them, but to revenge the caufe of
her countrynicn.

Some years ago a fmall band of Canadian Indians,
confiding of ten warriors, attended by two of their
wives, made an irruption into the back fettiements of
New-England. They lurked fur fome time in the
vicinity of one of the molt exterior towns, and at
length, after having killed and fcalped feveral peo-
ple, found means to take prifoner a woman who had
with her a fon of at>out twelve years of age. Being
fatisfied with the execution they had done, they' re-
treated towards their native country, which lay at
three hundred miles diktance, aiid carried off witl^
them their two captives. /

?s^

CARVER'S TRAVELS,

The fecond night of their retreat, the woman,
whofe name, if I miftake not, was Rowe, formed a
refolution worthy of u\e moft intrepid hero. She
thought flie (hould be able to get from her handg
the manacles by which they were confined,' and de-
termined if file did io to make a defperate effort for
the recovery of her freedom. To' this purpofe, when
(he concluded that her conquerors were in their
founded fleep, (he (Irove to fiip the cords from her
hands. In this flie fi^cceeded ; and cautioning her
fon, whom they had fuffered to go unbound, in a
whifpei*, figainil being furprifed at what ihe was
about. to do, fjie removed to a diftance, with great
varinefs, the defenfive weapons of ^he Indians^
which lay by their fide?.

Having done this, fiie put one of the tomahawks
into the hands of the boy, bidding him to follow her
exJimple : and taking another herfelf, fell upon the
ileeping Indians, feyeral of whom Ihe inflantly dif.
patched. But her attempt was nearly frullrated by
the imbecility of her fon, who wanting both ftrength
and refolution, n^ade a feeble (Iroke at one of them,
which only ferved to awaken biro ; ihe however
fprung at the riling warrior, and before he could re-
cover his arms, made him fink under the weight of
htr tomahawk; and this fhe alternately did to all
the reflj except one of the women whp awoke ia
time, and made her efcape.

The heroine then took off the fcalps of her van-
quifhed enemies, ^nd fei^ing alfo thofe they were
carrying away with them as proofs cf their fuccefs,
flie returned in triumph to the town from whence
file had fo lately been dragged, to the great allonifhr
ment of her ^jejebbpursj who coilld fcarceiy credit
tteir fenfes, or tne teftimonie$ Oie bore of her Ama-
j^onian intrepidity.

CARVER'f TRAVELS.

237

Durinj^ their march they oblige their prifoners to
fing their deiith-fong, which generally coniifls of
fhefc or fnyitlar fentences : *' I am going to die, I
" am about to faffcr ; but I will bear the fevereft tor-
" turei mv e :emiei can inflift vith becoming forti-
" tude. I will die like a brave man, and I (hall then
" go to join the chiefs that have fuftered on the fame
^' account/' Thefe fonp;8 are continued with necef-
fary intervals, until (hey reach the viilsige or camp to
which they are going.

When the warriors are arrived within hearing,
they fet up different cries, which rommunicate to
their frtendi a general hidory of the fuccefs of the
exp^ditiop, The number of the death-cries they
giY*i, declare jiow many of their own party are loft;
the number of war-whoops, the numl)er of prifoners
they have taken.

It is difficult to dcfcribe thefe cries, but the bed
idea I can give of them is, that the former confifts
of the found Whoo, Whoo, Whoop, which is
continued in a long fhrii tone, nearly till the breath,
it exhauded, and then broken off with a fudden
elevation of the voice. The latter is a loud cry,
of miieh the fame kind, which is modulated into
notei by the hand being placed before the mouth*
Both of them might be heard to a coniiderable dif*
fynce.

Whilft thefe are uttering, the perfons to whom
they aredefigned to convey the intelligence, continue
ntotionlefi and all attention. When this ceremony
ii performed, the whole village iiTue out to learn the
particular* of the relation they have juft heard in ge-
neral terms, and according as the news proves mourn«

H h

^3»

CARVER»a TRAVELS.

ful or the contrary, they anfwer by fo many acda-
mations or cries of lamentation.

Being by this time arrived at the village or camp,
the women and children arm themfelvcs with flicks
and bludgeons, and form themfelves into two ranks,
through whicb the prifoners are obliged to pafs.
The treatment they undergo before they reach the
extremity of the line, is very fevere. Sometimes
they are fo beaten over the head and face, as to
have fcarcely 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, aa
they wifli to referve the miserable fuflFerers for more
fevere inflidions.

After having, undergone this introductory difci-
pline, they lire 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 war-
riors ; 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 fentente now pronounced is irrevocable. The
former they term being configned to the houfe of
death, the latter to the houfe of grace.

Such captives as iare pretty far advanced in life,
and, have acquired great honour by their warlike
<?:ed8, always atone for the blobd they have fpilt,
by the tortures of fire. Their fuccefs in war is rea-
dily known by the blue marks upon their breafls
and arms, which are as legible to the, Indians as let-
ters are to Europeans.

The manner in which thefe hieroglyphics are
Itiade, is by breaking t^e fkin with the teeth of fiih.

CARVER »i TRAVELS.

^39

or fliarpened flints, dipped in a kind of ink made of
the foot of pitch pine. Like thofe of the ancient
Pids of Britain, thefc are efteemed ornamental ; and
at the fame time they ferve as regifters of the heroic
anions of the warrior who thus bears about him
indelible fnarks of his valour.

The prifoners deflined to death are foon led to
the place of execution, which is generally in .the
centre of the camp or village ; where, being flri|!>t,
and every part of their bodies blackened, the Ikin
of a crow or raven is fixed On their heads. They
are then bound to a ftake, with faggots heaped
around them, and obliged, for the iaft time, to fing
their death fong.

The warriors, for fuch it is only who comtnonly
fuffer this punifhment. now performed in a more pro-
lix manner this fad folemnity. They recount with
an aud' " ; voice all the brave actions they have per-
forme d pride themfelves in the nuhiber 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 defired effeft, and
the fufferers are difpatched foor^er th?in they othe^r-
wif€ would have been.

There are many other methods which the Indians
make ufe ofto^ut their prifoners to death, but thefe
are only occaiional ; that of burning is mofl gene-
rally ufed.

Whilft 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 feeipg the cuftpmary
cruelties inflifted by thefc people on tjieir captives,

':%¥>

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

through ihc minuteft part of their procefs. After
the previous fteps neceflary to this condemnation,
he was carried, early in the morning, to a little
diflance from the town^ where he was bound to a
tree.

^',

m-

• s?

''■^■■:'!7-

This being done, all the boys, r^^^o amounted to
a great number, as the place was populous, were
permitted to amufe themfelves with fhooting their
arrows at the unhappy viftim. As there were none
of them more than twelve years old, and were plac-
ed at a confiderable diltance, they had not flrength
to penetrate to the vital parts, fo that the poor wretch
ftood pierced with arrows, and fuffering the conit-
quent agonies, for more than two days. , ,

During this time he fung his warlike exploits.
He recapitulated every flratagern he had made ufe
of to furprife his enemies : He boafted of the quan-
tity of f<;alps he pofTifled, and enumerated the pri-
foners he had taken. He then defcribed the diffe-
rent barbarous methods by which he had put the lat-
ter to death, and feemed even then to receive incon-
ceivable pleafu'"'* fiom the recital of *he horrid
tale*

"?*? But he dwelt more particularly on the cruehies he
had practiced on fuch of the kindred of ^lis prefent
tormentors, as had fallen into his hands ; endeavour-
ing by theie aggravated infults to induce them to
increafe his tortures, that he might be -able to give
greater proofs of fortitude. Evpn. in the lad ftrug-
gles of life, when he was no longer able to vetit
, in words the indignant provocation his ton|3;ue
irfjivould have uttered, a fmile of mingled fcor-n a: ■
^ -J* triumph lat ot\ his countenance. . ' -^t* ;

Vi

^

- »■->

■•■%:

\ ■*•

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

htv*ti

This method of tormenting their enemks is con-
fidered by the Vidians as produftive of more than
one beneficial confequence. It fatiates, in a greater
degree, that diabolical iuft of reve;)ge, which is
the predominant paffion in the breaft of every in-
dividual of every tribe, and it gives the growing
warriors an early propenfity to that cruelty and
third for blood, which is fo necelTary a qualiticatioii
for fuch as would be thoro,ughly (killed in theiir fa-
vage art of war.

I have been informed, that an Indian, who waf
•jnder the hands of his tormentors, had the audacity
to tell them, that they were ignoraint old women,
and did not know how to put brave prifqners to
death. He acquainted them that he had heretofore
taken fome of their warriors, and inftead of the tri-,
vial punilhments they inflide*' on him, he had de-
vifed for them the mod excruciating torments ; that
having bound them to a (take, he had ftuck their
bodies full of Iharp fplinters of turpentine wood, to
which he then fet fircj and dancing around them^
enjoyed the agonising pangs of the flaming vidims.

This bravado, which carried with It a degree, of
infuit, that even the accuftomed ear of an Irtdian
could not liften to unmoved, threw his tormentors
ofF their guard, and (hortened 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 ifTued fuch provoking language,;^',;^^??';?

Innumerable are the ftories that may be told of
the courage and reiolution of the Indians, who hap-
pen to be made prifoners by their adverfaries. Mar.y
that I have heard are fo altonifhing, that they feem
to exceed the utmoft limits of credibility ; it is,
however, certaia that thefe lavages are poiTe^ed with

^1 .

I.:

. . • "^

,''■

H9

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

''..'a^ ^ . .

«

many heroic qualities, and bear every fpecies of
jnislortune with a degree of toi'ltude which has not
been outdone by any of the ?ncient heroes either of
Greece or of Rome.

■ ■ . : • ■ // ' ' , - _ '

Notwithflanding thefe a£ls of feyerity. exerqifed
by the Indians towards tholje of their own fpeeies,
who fall into their hands, fotne tribes of them have
been remarked for thpir moderation to fuch female
prifoners, belonging to the Englifli colonies,. as have
"happened to be taken by them. Women of great
beauty have frequently been carried off by them, and
during a march of thVee or foar hundred miles, thro^
their retired foreftfi, have lain by their fides without
receiving any infulf, and their chaftity has remained
inviolate. Inflai'ces 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 ravages their only companions ; yet from thefe,
favages as they were, iiave they received every af-
fiftance their iituaiion Would admit of, and been
treated with a degree of delicacy and humanity they
little expefted. , ' ,i J.

This forbearance, it mufl: be acknowledged, doeg
not proceed altogether from their difpofition, but is
bnlyinherent in tjjofe who have held fome commu-
nication with the French miffionaries. Without in-
tending that their natural enemies, the Englifh, fliould
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 configred to the houfe of
grace, and thefe are co.nmcnly the young men, wo-

'/•^V:

/ '■

•*■

U

CARVER' 8 TRAVELS

20

■^.

men, and children, await the difpofal of the chiefs,
who, after the execution of fuch as are condemned
to die, hold a council for this purpofe. v

A herald is fent round the village or camp, to give
notice thai fuch as have loft any relations in the late
expedition, are defired to attend the dillribution
which is about to take place. Thofe women who
have loft their (oris or huft)ands, aife generally fatis-
fied in the fir ft place ; aftaj: thefe", fuch as have been
deprived of friends of a more remote degree of con-
fanguinity, or who chobfe to adopt fome of the
youth.'

■ :-.* ■■■, / *

The divifion being made, wliich is done, as in
other cafes, without theleaft difpute, thofe who have
received any fliare,lead them to their tents or huts ;
and having unbound them, wafti and drefs their
wounds, if they happen to have received any j they
then clothe them, and, give them the moft comfor-
table and refrefhing food their ftore wilK afford. ; --i:

Whilft their new domeftics 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, wnhout murmuring or repining, nothii
jfhail be wanting to make them fuch atonement for
the lofs of their country and friends as circumftances
vill allow of. ■ • >r^:?^- V i\:4;/lM . ?.?

If

■^i ■in

I

If any men are fpared, they are commonly given
vo the widows that have loft th^ir hulbands by the
hand of the enemy» ihould there be any fiich, to
whom, if they happen to prove agreeable, they are
foon married. But (liould the dame be otherwife
engaged, the life of him who falls to her lot is in
great danger j efpecially if ihe fancies that her late

\^^!^\: ■^^':". ■'",■, -^ ■.•-.. -
:^--'^ ■-■■•'■■ . ■• . . ■ . ■.• •

-■v

gAl^i^^jk^^^\

*44

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

v/T^--

v; .

hufband wants a flave In the country of fpiriis, to
which he is gone.

When this is the cafe, a number of young men
take the devoted captive to fome diftance, and dif-
patch him without any ceremony ; after he has been
fpared by the council, they confider him of too little
confequence to be entitled to the torments alloted to
thofe who have "been judged worthy oi them.

*

The women are ufually diftributed to the men,
from whom they do not fail of meedng with a fa-
vourable Tveception. The boys and girls are taken
into the famili'es 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 that come among them.
vv. .• • • _ ■■ ■■

^^^i The Indians have no idea of moderating the ra-
vages of war, by fparing their prifoners, and entering
into a negociation with the bsnd from whom they
have been taken for an exchange. All that are
captivated by both parties, are either put to death,
adopted, or made flaves of. And fo partictilar arc
every nation in this refped, that if any of their tribe,
even a warrior, (hould be taken prifoner, and by
chance be received into the houfe of grace, either as
an adopted perfon or a flave, and fliould 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 aflume all the
rights of thofe whofe places they fupply, and fre-^
quently make no difficulty of going in the war par-
ties againff: their own countrymen. Should, how-
ever, any of thefe by chance make their efcape,

i.-' ..:'' .: .'■ •■ ■■■■?•'.■.■'■...,■■-. ' -.' ' ■ :■

.• ■ ■ , is' .■■ ■ ' . ■ • / • . . -<^- ^ ■

y,^f^'

M^

.CARVER'S TRAVELS,

3«

and be afterwards retaken, they are efteemed as
unnatural children and ungraceful perfons, who have
deferted and made war upon theit parents and bene-
hdoxs, and ^e t^reated w^th uncommon feverity.

That part of the prkbners which are confidered at
Iwes, are generally di^ributed among the chiefs;
who freqaentiy make prefents of ibme of them '.o
the Europeaii governors of the outpofts, or to the
fuperinteqdants or commifiTaries of Indian affairs, t
have been informed that it was the Jefuits and French
miifionaries that firfl occafioned the introduction of
thefe '-'Tihappy captives iiitot ?<' fettiements, and ^ko
hy fo doing ta;]ghc the In^;ians that they were \^
luable. '

Their views indeed wcr$ laud^ye, a« they ima-
gined that by thi^ method they {hould not only prer
vent much barbarity and bloqd(hed« but find the op-
portunities of fpreading their leligipn among them
increafed. To this purpofe they encouraged the
traders to purchafe fuch ilave$ a§ they met lyith*

The goGkd eS^&s of this mode of proceeding v/erc
not however equal to the expe<^ation8 of thefe pious
fathers. Indead of being the means of preventing
^Tuelty and bipodflied; ii only caufed the diiVentions
hnween the Indian nation§ to be carried on with a
greater degree of t iolence, and with unremitted ar-
dour. The prizt they fought for being no longer
revenge or fame, but the acquirement of fpiritous
liquors, for which their captives wer,e to be exchang-
ed, and of which almpd every nation is immode-
rately fond, they fought for- their enemies with un-
wonved alacrity, and were conflantly on the watch
to furprife arid carry them off. ; vi*:^ ;

-^v-

I

:>.■ \

f
■ V

I ■ .,

■ *■ ■

■■ ■?;■■

%,.•:. .-,

1^6

CARVER'. TRAVEJ.8.

I •

* ^

It might ftill be faid that fewer of the captives are
tormented and put to death, (ince thefe espedatlons
of receiving fo valuable a confideration for them
have been excfted, than there ufually had been ; but
it does not appear that their accuftomed cruelty to
-th^ warriors they take, is in the lead abated ; their
natural defire of vengeaiicc mtift be gratified ; they
now only become more aflidudus in fecuring i
' greater huitaberof young prifoner'8, whilft thofe who
are mad^ captive in their defence, are tormented

and put to death as before. ^ ;

A. ' ...:■,...

■fbe miffionarie* finding, that, contrary to their
wimes, their zeal had only ferved to iiifreafe the fale
bf the noxious juices, applied to the governor of
Canada, in the year 1693, for a prohibition of this
baneful trade. An ordei: was ilfued accordingly,
but it coiild not put a total ftop to it; the French
Couriers de Bbis were hardy enough to carry it on
clandeflinely, ndtwithfianding the penalty annexed
to a breach of the prohibition was a confiderable
fine and imprifonment. > ; • •

Some who were dete£led in the profccution of It,
withdrew into the Indian countries, where they in-
termarried with the natives, and underwent a volun-
tary banifhment. Thefe, however, being an aban-
doned and debauched fet, their conduA contributed
very little either 'towards reforming the manners of
their new relationis,; or engaging them to entertain
a favourable opinion of the rehgibn they profefled.
Thus- did thefe indefatigable religious men fee their
defigns in fome meafure once more frufirated. |

t > ■ ■■■■■.■■.'■ ■ ' ■

However, the emigration wa» produdVive of an
efFed which turned out to be beneficial to their na-
tion. By the corfftedion of thefe refugees with the
Ipquois, Miffiflauges, Hurons, Miamies;, Powtg-

.*:*'•'

wif

"»..*'^V

CARVER'! TRAVELS.

247

wottomies, Puants, Mendmonies, Algonkins, &c.
and the condant reprefentations thefe various na-
tions received from tnem of the power and grandeur
of the French., to the aggrandifement of whofe
monarch, notwithftanding their banilhment, they
fiill retained their habitual inclinations, the Indians
became infenfibly prejudiced in favour of that peo-
ple, and I am perfuaded will take every opportunity
of (hewing their attachment to them.

And this even in defpite of the difgraceful epi-
lation they mud be held by them, fince they have
been driven out of Canada ; for the Indians confider
every -conquered people as in a ftate of vaflalage to
I their conquerors. After one nation has finally fub-
dued another,' and d conditional fubmiffion is agreed
on, it is cuftomary for the chiefs of the conoueffed,
iu^hen they lit in council ^'nh their fubduers, to wear
petticoats, as an acknowledgment thai they are in
a ftate 6f fubjeftion, and ought to be ranked among
the .women. Their partiality to the Frencli has
howevei-.takeii too deep root for time itfelf to era-
dicate It. <

^■r'

.iRi^fitJ-felV

■■^^

..%;

-7H

i. ,

T' '' '^ ' ■ •■■■'■;■•',;'■'■■■

M

CAlttEll*$ TRAVELS.

CHAPTER X,

tij their mantier of making Fease^ ^c.

X HE wars tRat arc carried on between the
Ihdian niitions are in general hereditary, and con-
tinue from age to age with a few interi^ptioBs. If
t peacp becomes neceifary^the principal care ef both
parties is to avoid the appearance of making the
iirft advances.

When tftey treat with aii eherny, refative to a (iif-
penfion of hofltilities, the chief who is comr Tion-
ed to undertake the negociatioii, if it is not brought
about by the mediation of fome neighbouring ba'nd^
abates nothing of bis natural haughtinefS': even
when the affairs of his country are in the worft fitu-
a'tion, he makes no conceifions, but endeavours t6
perfuade his adverfaries that it is their intereft to put
an end to the war. *

Accidents fometimed contribute to bring about a
peace between nations that otherwife could not \be
prevailed on to liften to terms of accommodation.
An inftance of this, which I heard of in almolt eve<i
ry nation I paiTed through, I ihall relate.

/■'

CAtiVER'i TRAVELS.

449

Aboiit eiglity ytzr$ dgo, th€ Iroquois and Ghipe-
ways, two powerful nations, were at war si'itUx the
Ottagaamies and Saukies, who were much mferior
to their adverfarieB both in numbers and jlreagth.'
One winter near a thoufand of the former made an
excuriion from Lake Ontarb, by way of Toronto,-
towards the territories of their enemidS. They coaft-,
ed Lake Huron on its eaft and northern borders, till
they arrived atthe iH^nd of St Jofepih, which is fitu-
ated in the- Straits of St Marie. There they croflcd
thefe Strajts upon the ice; about fifteen miles below
the foils, and cominued their route fttti westward.
^s the ground was co^^ered with fnow, to prevent a
difcovery of their numbers, they marched iti aiingle
file, treading in each others foottteps.

• ■ , ■ •

Four Chipeway Indians, pafHng that way, obferv-
ed this army, and readily guefied from the dire^ton
of their march, and the precautions they topk, both
the country ta whtch they were hadening and their
defigris.

Notwithflanding the nation to which tliey belong-
ed was at war with the Ottagaumies, and in allislnce
with their invaders, yet from a principle "which can-
not be accounted for, they took an inftant refolu-
tion to apprife the former of their danger. To this
purpofe they haftened away with their ufual celerity,
and^ taking a« circuit to aVoid difcovery, aitiVed at
tTie hunting grounds of 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, fomis of whom were Saukies, whom
they informed of the approach of their enemies. ,

The chiefs immediately colledled their whok
force, and held a counqil on the fteps that were to be
taken for their defence. As they were encumbered

1 1

I^SP

CARVER*5 TRAVELS.

^ith their families, it Was impoflible that they could
retreat in time ; thay therefore determined to choofe
the mod advantageous fpot, and to give the Ire
quols the belt reception in their power.

Not'far Jtom the place where they then happened
to be, ftood 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. C^on-
cluding that the Iroquois iiitended topafs through
this defile, the united bands divided their, little party
into two bodies of two hundred' each. Qne of thef^
took poll at the extremity of the pafs that lay nearefl:
to their hunting grounds, which they immediately
fortified with a breaft-^work JFormeq* of palifades i
whilil the other body took a compafs round one of
the lakes, with a defign to hem their enemies in
when they had entered ihe defile.

Their, ftratagem fuceeedcd ; for lio fooner had the
whole of the Iroquois enteted.the pafs, than, being
provided With wood for the purpofe, they formed a
iimilar breafl-work on thie other exiremity, and thus
enclofed their enemies.

The Iroquois foon perceived their fitualion, and
immediately held a council on the meafures that were
neceflary to be purfued to extricate themfelves.
Unluckily for them, a thaw had juft taken place,
which had fo far diflblved the ice as to render it im-
paifable, and yet there flill remained fufficient to pre-
vent them from either paffing over the lake on raftSj,
or from fwimming acrofs. In this dilemma it was
agreed that they ihouid eid^avout to fprce one of
the breaft-works ; but' they foon found theni too ,
Well defended to effc(Sl their purpofe. ,

CARVER'jTRAVELS.

»p

Notwithftanding this difappointment, with the
ufuat compofure and unapprehenfivenefs of Indians,
ihey'imufedthenifelves three or four days in fifliing.
By thii time the ice being quite dilTolved, they made
theihrelveii rafti, vhich they were enabled to do by
fome treei that fortunately grew on the fpot, and at-
tempted to pafs one of the lakes.'

They sccordingly fet oJBF before day-break ; but the
Ottagaymiei, ^h6 had beeii watchful of their mo-
tioni, perceiyi^lg their defign, detached one hundred
and fifty meti irom each of 'their parties, to oppofe
thefr landing. Thefe three. hundred marched fo
expedttibufly to > the other fide of the lake, that;
^hey reach<id it before their opponents had gained
. the Hiore, they being retarded by their poles (licking
in the mud.

1 At foon as the confederates arrived, they poured

ma very heavy fire, both from their bows and

mufqueti^, on the Iroquois* .which gricatly difcon-

certed them ^ till the latter finding their fituatioa

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 pofTeffion df all the
furs they had taken during' their winter's hunt.
Thug dearly did they pay for an unprovoked ex-
curiion to fuch a diflance from the rtmt they ought
to bavd purfued, and to which they were only im-
pelled by a fudden deii're of cutting off fome of their
ancient enemies. v

Ȥi

CARV£|l»f TRAVELS.

But had they known their ftrength, they might
have' deftroyed every man of the party that oppofed
them ; which even at the firfl onfet was only iocon-
iiderabie, und when iliminiOied by the adion, total-
ly unable to mAe acy (land j&gainft them.

The vidorious bands rewarded the Chipeways,
who had been the means ot* their fiiccefs, with a
ihare of the fpoils. They pruffed them to take any
quantity they chofe of the richei^ of the furs, and
lent them under an efcorc of fifty men to their own
country. The difmterefted Chipcways, a$ the In-
dians in general are feldom actuated by mercenary
motives, 'for a confiderable while refufed thefe pre-
fents, but were at length' perfua^ed to accept of
them. ■ .-.-.....

The braye and well concerted refifVance here made
by the Ottagaumieb and Saukies, aided by the medi^
ation of the Chipeways, who laying afide on this oc-
caiion the animofity they had fo long borne thofe peo-
ple, approved of the genero\is condud of their four
chiefs, were together the meanis of effe^ing a recon-
ciliation between thefe nations, and in procefs of
time united them all in the bands of amity.

And I believe that all the Indians inhabiting that
exfenijve cotmtry which lies between Quebec, the
banks of ;the Mlffiilippi north of the Ouifconfm, and
the fettlements belonging to the Hudfon's Bay com-
pany, are at prefent ma ftate of profound peace.
Wbfll theii* reftiefs difpdiitidns will not fufFer theni
to remain ina^ive, thefe northern Indians feldomi
commit hollilities on each other, but make excur-
iions to the fouthward, againft the Cherokees, Choc-
tabs, Chickfaws, or Illinois.

CARVER'i TRAVELS.

«53

Sometimes the Indians grow tired of a war which
they have carried on againft feme neighbouring na^
tion for many years with much fuccefs, and in thit
cafe they feek for mediatori to begin a negociation.
Thefe being obtained, the treaty it thus conduced :

A number of rtieir own chiefs, joined by thof*
who ha ve\ accepted the friendly office, fet out toge-
ther for the country of their enemies ; fuch as are
chofen for ihis purpofe, are chiefs of the moft ex- .
tcniite 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 greated refpeft and veneration, even by the
moft barbarouii nations. I never heard of an in-
ftance wherein the bearers of this facred badge of
friendfhip were ever treated difrefpedfully, or its
rights viol^ited. The Indians believe that the Great
Spirit never fuffers an infra^ion of this kind to go
unpunifhedV

The Fipe of i.*?.acc, which is termed by the French
the Calumet, i^ r 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, curiouf-
ly painted with hieroglyphics in various colours, ,
and adorned with feathers of the moll beautiful
birds ; but it is tiot in my power to convey an idea
of the various' tints and pleafmg ornaments of thift
much efteemed Indian implement.

Every nation has a different method of decorating
thefe pipe?, and they can tell at firft light to what
band it belongs. It is ufed as an introduflion to all
treaties, and great ceremony attends the ufe of it on
thefe occafions. (Jf<'M^-^\iTk'.i^'ii'^/,^^^^

T^:-;/-

-«.J

:.4..

ay4

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

■» ■

*:,.-.

■^:

The affiftant or aid-de-camp of the great warrior^
when the chiefs are afTembled and feated, fills it
with tobacco mixed with the herbs before mentioned,
taking^ care at the fame time rhat no part of it touches
the ground. When it is filled, he takes a coal that
is thoroughly kindled, from a fire which is general-
ly kept burning in the midft of the afTembly, and
places it on the tobacco.

As foon as it is flifBciently lighted, he throws off
the coal. He then turns the ftem 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 j>refent it to the Great Spirit, whofe aid is thereby
fupplic.ted; by the fecond, to avert any malicious
interpofition of the evil fpirits ; and by the third, to
gain the protedion of the fpirits inhabiting the air,
the earth, and the waters. Having thus fecured the
favour of thofe invifible agents, in whofe power they
fuppofe it is either to forward or obflrud the iflue
of their prefent deliberations, he prefents it to the
hereditary chief, who having taken two or three
whiffs, blows the finoke from his mouth firft: to-
wards heaven, and then around him upon the ground.

It IS afterwards put in the fame manner into the
mouths of the ambaffadors 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 honourable office holds the pipe ilightly
in his hand, as if he feared to prefs the facred in-
jlrument ; nor dees any one prefume to touch it but
with his lips.

"When the chiefs who are intruded with the com-
iQiiUon for making peace, approach the town or

'*'" \

' - >*;. ■■

' f

> ■ 1,-. >"»e^^* "iH'-'-.

'A; ,;•■ .

. . . » .

CARVER'S TRAVELS. )

^S$

.'£;•

camp to which they are going, they begin to fing
aird dance the fongs and dances appropriated to this ,
occafion.- By this time theadverfe party are apprifed
of their arrival, and, at the fight of the Pipe of
Peace, diverting thenifelves of their wonted enmity,
invite them to the habitation of the Great Chief,
and furnifli them'with every convepiency during the
negociaiion.

A council is then held ; and when the fpeeches k
and debates are ended, if no obftruflipns arife to
put a ftop to the treaty, the painted hatchet is buried
in the ground, as a memorial that all an" nolities
between the contending nations have ceafed, and a
peace taken place. Among the ruder bands, fuch
as have no comn 'mication with the Europeans, a .v
war-club, painted red, is buried, inftead of th^
hatchet. - :^-.

A belt of warnpum is alfp given oh this occafian, •
which ferves as a ratification of the peace, and re-
cords to the latert pofterity, by the, hieroglyphics
into which the beads are for^ied, every ftipulate4 .
article in the treaty. ^ - '\- '< ' ,;

Thefe belts are made of fliells found on the coafts ■:
of New-England.and Virginia, which are fawed out -/-
into beads of an oblong form, about a quarter of an. '
inch long, and round like other beads* Being ilrung
on leather firings, and Teyeral of them fewed neatly-
together with fine finewy threads, they then fomppla ■
what^ is ternied a belt of wampum. . r :',,,,•
-■■■'■ ' V ' '•'■ . " ■ ' . _"■ ,. . • •■ ■- ■' .. ■ ' '.i>

The fliells are generally of two polours, fome
white and others violet ; but the latter -are more
highly efteemed than the former. They are held
in as much ellimation by the Inaians, as gold, filver,
or precious ftones, are by the Europeans.

v:-

■n-

\.:-

m.

1S6

CARVER*. TRAVELS.

The belts are compofed of ten, twelve, or a
greater number of Arings, according to the impor-
tance of the affair in agitation, or the dignity of the
perfon to whom it is prefented. Oh more trifling
occafions, (Irings of thefe beads are prefented by the
chiefs to each other, and frequently worn by them
about their necks, as a valuable ornament. .W£:

■ ■■■' f<-i (. i •

■■'* !■''>■■

■ '■•!, i <Jt -

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..:• .-'

M. „ . -If -

. CARVER'S TRAVELS.

*S1^

CHAPTER XI.

Of their Games,

jr^l, I have before obferved, the Indians are
greatly addifted to gaming, and will ev^n ftak?,
and lofe with compofure, all the valuables they aro;
poffefled of. They amufe themfelves at feverat
ibrts of games, but the principal and moft eftcem<;4
amotig them is that of the ball, which is not unlike
the European game of tennis.

r,i.ifSi'

Tfie'' balls they ufe are ratheVlarger than thofe
made ufe of at tennis, and are formed of a piece of
deer-lkin j which being moiftened to render it fup-
ple, is fluffed hard with the hair of th- Tame crea-
ture, and fewed with its firiews. 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-ikin.
In thefe they catch the ball, and throw it to a great
diftance, if they are not prevented by fomc oi the
oppofite party, who fly to intercept it.

'This game is generally played by large compa-
nies, that fomctimes confifl of more thin three hun-
dred ; and it is not uncommon for different band$
to play againft each other. ;

'■rvr

^Si'^

.••'

H^

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

**.

They begin by fixing two poles in the ground, ai
about fix hundred yards apart, and one ct ihefe
goals belong to each party of the combitants. The
ball is thrown up jiigh in the centre of the ground,
and in a dired line between the goals ; towards which
each party endeavours to flrike it, and whitfhfoever
fide firft caufes it to reach their own goal, reckons
Htowards the game.

They are fo exceeding dextrous in this manly ex-
ercife, that the ball is ufirally kept flying in different
diredions by the force of the rackets, without touch-
ing the ground during the whole coi^tention ; for
they are not allowed to catch it with their handsj
They run with amazing velocity in purfuit of eacl>
other, and when one is on the point of hurlihg it to
a great diftance, an antagonift overtakes him, and
by a fudden ftroke dalhcs down the ball. ''-f

, They play with fo much vehemence that they
frequently wound each other, and foraetimes a bohe
is broken j but notwithftanding thefe accidents, there
never appears to be any fpite or wanton exertions
of ftrength to effed them, nor do any difjputes ever
happen between the parties* ^

v"t~^r::

t.,''it

There is another game aifo in ufe among them
worthy of remar^c, 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 litde bones,
not unlike a peach-flone either in fize or Ihape, ex-
cept 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 bowl or platter placed undernsath, and madg
to fpin round. '^%^''tfiH^ ' ' ,.*"?%:;x.'

' ' \i' :. . ■ *• ... .. .

According as thefe bones prefent the white or
black fide upwards, they reckon the game ; he that

CARVER*s TRAVELS.

*59

happens to have the greateft number turn up of a
fimilar colour, counts five points ; and forty is the
game.

The winning party keeps his plape, and the lofer
yields his to another who is appointed by one of the
umpires ; for a whole village is fometimes concerned
ill the party, and at times one band plays againft
another.

During this play, the Indians appear to be greatly
agitated, and at every decifive throw fet up a hideous
(hout. They make a thoufand contortions, addref-
fmg themfelves at the fame time to the bones, and
loading with imprecations the evil fpirits that aiiiifc
their fuccefsful ahtagonifls.

At this game fome will lofe their apparel, all the
moveables of their cabins, and fometimes even their
liberty ; notwithftanding there are no people in the
univerfe more jealous of the latter than the Indiaiift
are.

m

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m

'WS(^

tkk-tl. k ♦« ^ikAV EX J.D

.CHAPTEK Xir.

>

;'«4'

T ...... ■ ,.- . , 44 '*■' -'4

tit Indians allow of polyganty, and pe^#^
fot^s of every rank indulge themfelves^ in this point.
^e tl^« in pirttcular!have ^fei^agHo, which ton-
1!^ of ;an YMkertain. niimber^ ufually from fix to
twehe 6r fcwtettta Tbe lower ranks are p^mitted
4o 4ak^ a»ili)ai^y a^ibeii^ is a probability of theic being
sible, with the children they may bear, to maintain.
It is not uncommon fbr an Indian to marry two fif-
t^n f {qmet^S) if there happen to be more, the
ibie ntmiber; and notwhhitandingrthis (as it ap-
tr» to civilized lations) 'lirinatoral union, they all
MB^^ greateil harmony.

unger wivr atCtiubmiiTive to the elder ;

have no ^iidren, do fuch menial

le who are fei^tile, as caufe^ their fitu-

l>ttiC: little ffosn a (late of fervitud^.

nttttiirery injuii^<>n with the

of gaining thereby ^he

f^t they in their tur&s

'" mathers, antl

ton that ilatei^

tBowever,
Jlreateft dbeer:
ai0e<5^i«n of tl;
my have^the ha;
' be<li#:ll<^ to th4^^^

.^,,:it;::-ia.

i^

•>■* f»t

c A K iBUt m ri/>.T K A v EX «;p

sii^d'^

It i»f(lD^ncarTnnGa fiir.anllndian, aUbough he J
t^kes to hlmfeJf fo miiig^ itives, to live a. Hate. o£V

A:ontinence wjfh many of them, for fevera! years.
Such as.;are not fo f^rf unace af?- ro gain rfae fai'cur^r
their hliMnd, by their ftsbtntinve and»tpfrtidenr»^bfeV
haviour, and-by tha* meJiflii to (haie in hisJEm^t^eii,''
continue in tl^ir. virgin ftate daring the wltole <ifc •

•their lives, except they ivappen to he pref6nte<l, l>y,,
him to fomc ftraBgef chief, whoTe abod e atrioiii; t h enj
will noti^ailmit bf his. ;entering into a intfre'Iatiingi
(XJlMiedion. In. this cafe, ti^ey fubmit to the injuac;.;
tion of their hufband without murmuwngy and sire c.
not difpleafcd with the teinporary unron. BuHfiitt,
any time itis kflown that they take this liberty is ith^
out firft receiving Ms confettt, they are pmntw«d j)| -,
thd fara6 manner' as H theyrhadrbeeii giiiity of adtiV !
^tery,- ' :::.', ''y-l '■■ ; . :.•■ /■ ■ |:

•t^ ■-.'.•■- ■■ ■ : ■ ■ • ^^•/■■'■■■-•^ ■■.i'- ■■-"/■''

: This cwftbnt i»" wo^ p«val5Mit:ttmabgjdt»p:*ni^^^^^
which lie into theuiiterior |^rtSv>thati>3t|^K^^
that ai*ii«arCT.the feft]emiCTfe,;a^*the^matift^e^^
latter ^r& .r^mieired.morexe&ifflt%ablqfiti?fc&B
tatbofe of the.EA|jopea!&Sji h^r^ymtfke^xn^
hold with them,. .:Tu;ti5.: ;* ■:

The Indian nations j£|fer bujt Ut^ltffjSlii^aeh' offiet
in their marriage cerenionies, ansd itls-rri ts^mkinflb
of tfeeiT dworfcesi T^e tribof^fhStJ^iteihit the boT^»
ders- of Gaiaadal make ufe dfrtiie\:fc^a\ving^ coftt^m. -

Wheir iJi 9?lmng Ijidian liat • fi^tcfd tiii^^ihcliDatipis/
on ond' i!i)£'t6«'ipther fex,:life^ endeavours to i^pitt! fii&fc
conient, ai^c^ if he/fucceeds^^ it is nev^f kno^rdhat
her .paf:erus . etV^ip^ 11 r u 6: t heii^ ti rtiari, ' W heh'^^e>y
preKtniijary is agreed, on, and/ tl^iey dajfj a^pot^ted^
thefriends and aequaifttance of both p^iie&affitmbie,' :
at the hoijfi tor ;t|5nt^ of ^; oldeft reliit«>ri qf the! '

■to-

2^9

CARVER»i TRAVELS.

'bridegroom, where a feaft is prepared on the occa-
fion. ,'■■'■ •. ■ '■■■■•■■.• ■?;_•'-

The company wjio meet to affifl at the feflival are
ibirietimes very numerous ^ they dance, they fing,
and enter into every other diverfion ufually made ule
of on any of their, public rejoicings.

'i*j

When thefe are finifhed, all thofe who attended
merely out of ceremony depart, and the bridegroom
iind bride are left alonei, with three or four of the
neareft and oldeft relations of either fide ; thofe of
the bridegroom being men, and thofe of the bride,
Women.
'• .• • - ■ ■ ^^--'

Prefently the bride, attepded by thefe few friends,
having withdrawn herfelf for the purpofe, appears
£it one of the doors of the houfe, and is led to the
bridegroom, who (lands ready to receive her. Hav-
ing now taken their ftation, on a mat placed oil the
centre of the room, they lay hold bf the extremities of
a wand, about three feet long, by which they conti-
nue feparated, whilft the old men pronounce fome
ihort harangues fuitable to the occaiidn* -

The married couple after this triake a public de-
claration of the love and regard they entertain for
each other, and ftill holding the rod b^etween them
dance and fing. When they have finifhed this part
of the ceremony, they break th6 rod into as many
pieces as there are witnefles prefent, who each take
^ piece, and preferve it with great care.

The bride is then reconducted oiitof 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 feek her, and the marriage
is confummated. Very often tffe wife remains at

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

a^3

her father's houfe till (he has a child, when (he packs
up her apparel, which is all the fortune (he is gene-
rally poiTelTed of^ and accompanies her hufband to
his habitation: :^,ri ^ ; . -^ ^, _ . ^^

When from any diflike a feparation takes place,
for they are feldoni known to quarrel, they gene-
rally give their friends a few days notice of their in*
tentions, and fometimes offer reafons to juflify their
conduft. The witneffes who were prefent at the
marriage, meet on the day requeded, at the houfe
of the couple that are aboiit to feparate, and bringing
with them the pieces of rod which they had receiv-
ed at their nuptials, throw th^m 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 niurmuni
ings or ill-will between the couple or their relatioii9|
and after a few rtioriths they are at liberty to marry
again, vt^ .-;,■.>•'•■ •.-■•a: • ^ ., ' . •

When a marriage is thus diffolved, the ehildren,
which have been produced from it, are equally di-
vided between them ; and as children are efleemed
a treafure by the Indians, if the number happens to
be odd, the womaA is allowed to lake the better
half;

■t>^?-

%■

r-.^'\

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 date of connubial happinefs not to be
exceeded in more refined focieties. There are alfo
not a few inftances of women prefervrng an inviola-
ble attachment to their hufbands, except in the cafeS'
before-mentioned, which are not confidered as either
a violation of their chaftity or fidelity. .

■ ^:4

364

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

Although I have faid that the Indian nation^ differ
very little from each other in their marriage ceremo-
nies, there are fome exceptions. The Naudoweffies
have a lingular method of celebrating their marri.
ages, which fefems to bear no refemblance to thofe
made ufe of by any other nation I pafled through.
When one of their young ipen has fixed on a young
■woman he approves of, he difcovers his paflion to
her parents, who give him an invitation to come
and, live with them in their tent. . '.,

■:t^M->

He accordingly accepts the offer, and by fo doing
engages to refide in it for a a\ hole year, in the charac-
ter ot a menial fervant. During this time he hunts,
and brings all the game he kills to the family ; by
which means the father has an opportunity of feeing
whether he is able to provide for the fupport of his
daughter and the children that might be the confe-
ifuence of their, union. This however i. ly done
whilfl: they are young men, and for their af(t wife,
and not repeated like Jacob's fervitudes* ^ ,/ '

yf{:i.

-■ r:H.

t>( When this period is expired, the marriage is fo-
lemnized after the cuftom of the country, in thefol«
lowing manner : Three or four of the oldeft male
relations of the bridegroom, and as many of the
bride's, accompany the young couple from their rei-
. peftive tents, to an open part in the centre of the
/ camp. " !

■ ■*.'. ' ■ ">-H^...." -*;.r-. ■■•^ 't.** 'r\ai .' *ft-^ 'v; i .' ' \

. A The chiefs and warriors, being he^e^ai^embled to
receive them, a party of the latter are drawn up into

' two ranks on each iide of the bride and bridegroom
immediately on their arrival. Their principal

■ chiefs then acquaint the whole aflembly with tlie

' defign cxf their meeting, and tells them that the
couple befoie them, mentioning at the fame time
their names, are come to avow publicly their iii->

..ir-'

-«V '■

">iA>

>£•

'^,

, ( .*t '

CAfeVER's TRAVELS.

i^S

tentioni of living together as man and wife. He
then aikf the two young people alternately, whe-
ther they delire 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 dune, the
chief pronounces them man and wife. ^

The bridegroom then turns round, and bending
hit body« takes his wife on his back, in which man-
ner he carries her amldlt the acclamations of" the
fpedatori to his tent. The ceremony is fucceeded by
the moft plentiful fealt the new^ married man can
jiflbrd, and fongs and dances, according to the ufual
cultom, conclude the fedival. . ._

Divorces happen fo feldom among the Naudowef-
fies, that I had not an opportunity of learning how
they are accomplifhed. m^^

;,v «

■ •».r;)S-

Adultery is efteemed by them a heinous crime, and
punilhcd with the greateft rigour. The hufband in
thefc cafes bites off the wife's nofe, and a feparation
inftantly enfues. I faw an inftance wherein this mode
of punifhment was inflicted, whiKl I remained among
ihtm. The children, when this happens, are diftri-
buted according to the ufual cuftom obferved by
other nations, that is, they are equally divided.

Among the Indian as well as European nations,
there are many that devote themfelves to pleafure,
and notwithftanding the accounts given by feme mo-
dern writers, of the frigidity of an Indian conftitu-
tion, become the zealous votaries of Venus. The
young warriors that are thus difpofed, feldom want
opportunities for gratifying their paffion' ; and as the
mode ufually followed on thefe cccaficns is. rather
lingular, 1 ihall delcribe it. - :^%^

wC6

CAitVEits travels;

f.

WhiJn one of thefe young debauchees imagine*,
frorti the behaviour of the perfon he has chofen for
his niiflrefs, that he fhall not meet with any great
bbrtrudion to his fuit from her, he purfues the fol-
lowing plan. ' -

It has been already obferved, that the Indians
acknowledge no fuperiority, nor have they any ideas
of fubordination, except in -the neceflary regulations
of their war or hunting parties ; they cbnfequently
live nearly in a ftate of equality, purfuant to the firlt
principles of nature. The lover therefore is not ap-
prehenlive of any check or controul in the accom-
plifhment of his purpofes, if he can find a conveni-
ent opportunity for compleating theni.

As the Indians are alfo under no apprehenfion of
robbers, or fecret enemies, they leave the doors of
their tents or huts unfaftened during the night, as
well as in the day. Two or three hours after funfer,
the flaves or old people cover over the fire, that is
generally burning m the midil of their apartment,
with aflies, and retire to their repofe.

Whilfl: darknefs thus prevails, and all is quiet,
one of thefe fons of pleafure, wrapped up clofely in
his blanket, to prevent his being known, will fome-
times enter the apartment of his intended miftrefs.
Haviiig fijft lighted at the fmothered fire a fmall
fplinter of wood, which anfwerS the purpofe of a
match, he approaches the place where fhe repofes,
and gently pulling away the covering from the head,
jogs her till fhe awakes. If fhe then rifes up, and
blows out the light, he needs no further confirma-
tion that his company is not difagreeable ; but if,
after he has difcovered himfelf, fhe hides her head,
and takes no notice of him, he might relt alTured

--,1 .1

;.;r ^,':,..v.^

.' > -S - ' .-> V » .A.

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

»67

jthat any further folicitations will prove vain, and
that it is necefTary immediately for him to retire.

During this ftay he conceals the lip;ht as much as
pofTible in the hollow of his hand, and as the tents
or rooms 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 thefeocca-
lions, take great care, by an inlmediate .application
to herbs, with the potent efficacy of which they arc
well acquainted, to prevent the effeOs of thefe illicit
aiTjours from becoming vifible ; for fhould the natu-
ral confequences enfue, they muft forever remain
pnmarried. • • ' - ' . i ; 'r. V.^; .'

»- » .

The children of the Indians are always diftin-
guifhed by the name of the mother : and if a woman
marries feveral hufbands, and has iffue by each of
them, they are all called after her. The reafon they
give for this is, that as their offspring are indebted
to the father for their fouls, the invilible part of
their elSence, and to the mother for their corporeal
and apparent part, it is more rational that they
fhould be diftinguiflied 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 arife \yhether they are jultly entitled.

There are fome ceremonies made ufe of by the
Indians at the impofition of the name, and it is con-
fidered by them as a matter of great importance ;
but what thefe are I could never learn, through the
lecrecy obferved on the occaHon. I only know that
it is ufually given when the children have palFed the
Tiate of infancy.

Nothing can exceed the tendernefs (hewn by thein
to their offspring ; and a perfon cannot recommend

*te

'V

.'■f

. f

268

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

himfdf to theii" favour by any method mare certain,
than by p'*ying fome aftemion to the younger bran-
ches of their families. 1 can impute, in fomemea-
fure, to the prcfeiits I made to the children of the
chiefs of the Nau.loweffies, the hofpitable reception
I met with when among them.

There is fome difficuhy attends an explanation of
the manner in which ihe Indians diilingaifh th'-m-
felves from each other. Befides the, name of the
animal by which every nation and tribe is denomi-
nated, there are othfs ihr-t are perfonal, and which
the children receive troiu their muther.

The chiefs are alfo diflinguiflied by ^ name that
lias either fome reftre«}ce to their abilities, or to the
hieroglyphic of their families ; and chefe 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 p^flt;ircJ of fome emi-
nent qualification, receive a name that ferves to per-
petuate the fame of their adions, or to make their
abilities confpi^uous.

Thus the great warrior' of the Naudoweflies was
named Ottahtongoomliihcah, that is, the Great Fa-
ti.er of Snakes,: ottah being in Englifli father, ton-
gonm great, and lifhcah a fnake. Another chief
was called Honahpawjatin, which means afwift run-
ner over the mountains. And when they adopted
me a chief among them, they named me Shebaygo,
which fignifies a writer, or a perfon that is curious
in making hieroglyphics, as they faw me often wri-
ting.

CARVER.»s TRAVELS.

«<*

CHAPTER XIIL

Of their Religion,

I

T is very difficult to attain a perfeft know-
ledge of the religious principles of the Indiar*.
Their ceremonies and dodrines have been fo often
ridiculed by the Europeans, that they endeavour to
conceal them ; and if, ^Yter the great^ft intimacy,
you defire any of them to explain to you their fyftem
of'feligion, to prevent your, ridicule, they intermix
with it mciny of the tenets they have received from
the French miffionaries, fo that it is at laft rendered
an unint-elligible jargon, aod not to be depended
upon.

Such as I could difcover among theNaudoweffies
{for they alfo were very referved in this point,} I (hall
, give my readers, without paying any attention to
the accounts of others. As the religion of that peo-
ple, from their fituation, appears to be totally unadul-
terated with the fuperftidons of thecjhur<;h of Rome,
we (hail be able to gain from their religious cuftoms
a more perfeSl idea of the original tenets and cere-
monies of the Indians in general, than from thofe of
any nations that approach nearer to the feitlements.

It is Qertain they acknowledge one Supreme Be-
ing, or Giver of Life, who prelides over all things.

Mm .,...-. .-

%:■

"V^X'T"""

270

CARVER'S TRAVELS.-

The Chipeways call this being Manitou, or Kiicht
Manitou ; the Naudoweflies, Wakon or Tongo-
Wakon, that is, the Great Spirit ; and they look
up to him as the fource of good, from whom no
evil can proceed. They alfo believe in a bad fpirit,
to whom they afcribe great power, and fuppofe
that through his means all the evils which befal
mankind are inflicted. To him, therefore, do they
pray in their diilrefles, begging that he would either
avert their troubles, or moderate them when they
are no longer avoidable.

■•^rS-

Thef fay that the Great Spirit, who is infinitely
good, neither wifhes nor is able to do any mifchief to
mankind ; but on the contrary, that he fhowers
down on them all the blefiin^s they deferve ; whereas
the evil fpirit is continually employed in contriving
how he may punifh the human race ; and to do which,
he is not only poflefled of the will, but of the power.

They hold alfo that there are good fpirits of a h{-
fer degree, who have, their particular departments,
in which they are conftantly contributing to the hap-
piiiefs of mortals. Thefe they fuppofe to prefide
over all the extraordinary produdions of nature,
fuch as thofe lakes, rivers, or mountains that are of
an uncommon magnitude ; and likcwife the beafts,
birds, fifhes, and even vegetables, or ftones that
. exceed the reft of their fpecies in fize or fingularity.
To all of thefe they pay fome kind of adoration.
Thus, when they arrive at the borders of Lake Su-
perior, on the banks of the Mifliffippi, or any other
great body of water, they prefcnt to the Spirit who
refidcs there fome kind of offering, as the prince of
the Winnebagoes did when he attended nie to the
Falls of St Anthony. ' ' *

props
rit
rior,
who

ri)'l-

t '■•

, *

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

ayi

Biit at the fame time I fancy that the ideas they
amie:c to the word fpirit, are very different from the
conceptions more enlightened nations entertain of it.
They appear to falhion to themfeives corporeal re-
prefentaiions of their gods, and believe them to be '
of a human form, though of a nature more excel-
lent than man.

Of the fame kind are their fentiments relative to
a futurity. 1 hey doubt not but they ihall exift in .
fome future ftate ; they however fancy that their
employments there will be fimilar to thofe they are ;
engaged in here, without the labour and difficulties
annexed to ihem in this period of their exiftence.'j^

They confequently expeft to be tranflated to a de-
lightful country, where they fhall always have a clear
unclouded (ky, and enjoy a perpetual fpring ; where
trie forelts will abound with game, and the lakes with ':■
fifh, which might be taken without a painful exer-
tion of fkiil, or a laborious purfuit ; in Ihort, that .
they (hall live for ever in regions of plenty, and en-
joy every gratification they delight in here, in a
greate' degree.

To intelledual pleafures they are ftiangers ; nor -
are thefe included in their fcheme of happinefs. But
they exped that even thefe animal pleafures v/ill be
proportioned and diftributed according to their me-
rit ; the {kilful hunter, the bold and fuccefsful war-
rior, will bz entitled to a greater (hare than thofe
who through ignorance or want of Ikill cannot boa(t
of any fuperiority over the common Herd.

The priefts of the Indians are at the fame time
their phyficians, and their conjurers ; \vhilft they
heal their wounds or cure their dileafcs, they inter-
pret their dreams, give them protedive charms, and

H

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C A R V E R's T R A V E L d;

^^'-y^-.

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fatisfy that defire that is fo prevalent among thetn,"
of fearching into futurity.

How well thfiy execute the latter part of their
profcffional engagements, and the methods they make
life of on fome of thefe occafions, I have already
Ihewn in the exertion of the prieft of the Killifti-
noes, who was fortunate enough to fucceed in his
extraordinary attempt near Lake Superior. They
frequently are fuccefsful likewife in adminiftering
the falubrious herbs they have acquired a knowledge
of;, but that the ceremonies they niake ufe of during
the adminiftration of them contributes to their fuc-
cefs, I (hall not take upon me to aileEt.

:"fl».Mi;

When any of the people are ill, the perfon who
is in veiled with this triple charafter of doctor, prieft,
and magician, fits by the patient 4^y and night, rat-
tling in h's ears a gourd Ihell filled with dry beans,
called a ChicHicoue, and making a difagreeable.noife
that cannot be well defcribed. • w ,

This uncouth harmony one would imagine (hould
difturb the fick perfon, and prevent the good eff'eds
of the dodor's prefcription ; but on ihe contrary,
they believe that the method made ufe of contributes
to his recovery, by diverting from his malignant
purpofes the evil fpirit who has infli6led the difor-
der; or at lead: that it will take off his attention,
fo that he Ihall not in^reafe the malady. This
they are credulous enough to imagine he is con-
Hantly on the watch to do, and would carry his in-
veteracy to a fatal length if they did not thus charm

I could not difcover that they make ufe of any
other religious ceremonies than thofe I have de-

if V '

.. , li

k,, ■(.;»)•*■:'

■ • ■ . ^

CARVER'S TftAVEti' :

'■%

icribed ; indeed, on the appearance of the new
moon, they dance and fmg ; but it is not evident that
they pay that planet any adoration ; "they only fee m
to rejoicf; at the return of a luminary that makes the
night cheerful, and which ferves Id light 4hem on
their way when they travel during the abfcnce of
the fu».

-/ ■>-■

Nof with landing Mr Adair has afTerted that the
nations among whom he refided, obferve vf'nh (,
very little variation all the rites appointed by
the Mofaic Law, 1 own I could never difcovcr
among thofe tribes that lie but a few degrees to the
north-weft, the Jealt traces of the Jewtth religion,
except it be admitted that one particular female '
cuftoin and their divifion into tribes, carry with
them proofs fufficient to eftabliflj this aflertioc. ?

The Jefuks and French miflionaries have alfo
pretended that the Indians had, when they fird tra-
velled into America, feme notions, though thefe
were dark and confufed, of the chriilian iniiitqtion ^
that they have been greatly agitated at the fight of a
crofs, and given proofs, by the impreflions made
on thein, that they were not entirely unacquainted
with the facred myfteries of chriftianity, I need
not fay that thefe are too glaring abfurdities to be ,
credited, and could only receive their exigence from
the zeal of thofe fathers, who endeavoured at once
to give the public a better opinion of the fuccefs of
their miiTions, and to add fupport to the caufe they
were engaged in. f ' ^31,\/'''

The Indians ; -ipear to be, in their religious prin-'
ciples, »-ude and uninftruded. The dodrines they
hold are hw and fimple, and fuch as have been ge-
nerally iinpreffed on the human mind, by fome

*: 'f

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a74

CARVfiR'^8 TRAVELS.

• t

>v

means or 'Other, in the mod 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; theyvt-
herate indeed, and make ofFeriogs to the wonderful
parts of the treation, as I have before obfervcd j but.
whether thefe rites are performed on account of the
impreflion fuch extraordinary appearances make on
them. Or whether they conlider them as the pecu-
liar charge, or the ufual places of rcfidence of the
^nvifible fpirits they acknowledge, 1 cannot pofi-
tively determine. v, ' 'Htr^*r"'" >

<{%r

The human mind in its uncultivated ' ftate is apt
V to afcribe. the extraordinary occurrences of nature,
Vfuch as earthquakes, thunder or hurricanes, to the
interpofition of unfeen beings ; the troubles and dif-
aflers alfo that are annexed to a favage life, the ap-
prehenfions attendant on a precarious fubfiltence,
and thofe liumberlefs inconveniencies which man in
.his improved ftaie has found means to remedy, are
'fuppofed 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 prleft, or the po\Verful influence of
his manitous. Fear has cf courfe a greater (hare in
-his devotions than gratitude, and he pays more at-
' tention to deprecating the wrath of the evil, than to
. /ecuring the favour of the good beings.-

The Indians, however, entertain thefe abfurdities
in common with thofe of ,evcry part of the globe,
who have not been illuminated by that religion which
6nly can difperfe the clouds of fuperllition and ig-
norance, and they are as free from error as a people
tVBi be that has not beco favoured with its inifruc-
" rive dudrine.

'ii

I . y.:

'-■•^

''-: / ' / ,

L/awiiJ

.CAayPR'f TRAVELS.

?7|

"i' . ,'"s'.~

CHAPTER XIV.

ii!-j

r-

>.-L''

Of their Difeafes, £fJV.

y^^y

T

I'' ^v-.)..,?^-^

'*V'.'

f '

HE Indians In general are healthy, and
j'ubjeft but to few difeafes, many of thofe that afllidt
civilized nations, and are the immediate cbnfe-
quences of luxury or floth, being not known among
them; however, the hardfliips and fatigues v/hich '
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 confequehtly fubjedl
them to, cannot fail of imparing the cpnftitution,
and bringing on diforders, - *h,

' Pains and weakneflfes in the flomach and breaft:
are fometimes the refult of their long fading, and
confumptions of the exceflive 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
moft fubje£l, is the pleurify ; for the removal of
which, they apply their grand remedy and ^refer-
vative againft the generality of their compiaiots,
fsveating. /- ' -V %

-m^

2']6

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

dit^

The manner in which they conftrudl their Aoven
for this purpofe is as follows : They fi* feveral fmalj
poles in the ground, the tops of which they twi(t to-
gether fo as to form a rotunda : this frame they co-
ver with fkins or blankets; and they lay them on
with fo much nicety, that the air is kept from enter^
ing through any crevice } a fmall fpace being only
left, jud fufHcitnt to creep m ^t, which is immedi*
ately after clofed. In the middle of this confined
building they place a red hot flone, on which they
pour water till a fleam ari(es that produces a great
degree of heat. »

; This caufes an inflantaneous perfpiration, whicfai
they increafe as they pleafe. Having continued in
it for fome jime, they immediately halleii to the
neareft flream, and plunge into the water ; and,
after bathing therein for' about half a minute, they
put on their clothes, At down and fmoke with great
compofure, thoroughly perfuaded that the remedy
will prove efficacious. They often make ufe of this
fudoriferous method to refrefh themfelves, or to
prepare their minds for the managenient of any
buiinefs that requires uncommon deliberation and
fagacity.

They are likewife afHi£ted with the dropfy and
paralytic coinplaints, which, however, are but very
feldom, known among them. As a reinedy for
thefe as well as for fevers, they make ufe of lotions
aiid decoftions, compofed of herbs, which the
phylicians know perfedly well how to compound
and apply. But they never truft to medicines
alone ; they always have recourfe likewife td fome
fuperflitious ceremonies, without which their pa-
tients would not think the phyfical preparations fuf-
ficientiy powerful.

:s/v,'-

!, -^',

,vT>; \ ■'„■=-

tkkVEk^s TRAVELS.

it7

With equal judgment they tti^ke ufti of fimples
for the cure of wounds, fraftures, ot* bruiles ; and
are able to extraft by thefe, t^ithout incHion, fp!iii«
ters, iron, or any other fott of matter by which the
wound is caufed. In cures of this kind they are
extremely dextrous, and cortiplete them in much
lefs time than might be expeded from their mode
,of proceeding. ,

" »L;*;

* With the (k\n of a fnake, which thofe reptiles an-
nually Ihed, they will alfo extradl rplinters. It is
amazing to fee the fudden efficacy of tirfs applica-
tion, notwithftanding there does not appear to be
the lead moifture remaining in it*

It has long been a fubjed of dlfpute, ori what con-
tinent the venereal difeafe firft received its deflruc-
tive power. 'I his dreadful malady is fuppofed to
have originated in America, but the literairj^ cotitel^
ftill remains undecidfed. To give foine 6>ucidatioh to
it, I ihall remark, that as I cotild not difcover the'
leaft traces among the Naudoweflles, with whom I
refided fo long, and was alfo informed that it was
yet unknown among the more weftetrt nations, I
think 1 may venture to pronounce that it had not its
origin in North-Araerica. Thofe nations that have
any communication with the Europeans, of the fou-
thern tribes, are greatly inflicled with it; but they
have all of them acquired a knowledge of fuch cer--
tain and expeditious remedies, that the communica-
tion is not attended with any dangetoui confequences.

Soon after I fet out on rny travels, one of the tra-
derSj'Xvhom I accompanied, complained of a violent
gonorrhoea, with all its alarming fymptoms ; this
increafed to fuch a degree, thzt by the tigie we haci
reached the town of the Winnebagoes, he was una-

Nn

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A44^^4

S78

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

?i:

|,S»

■ /

ble to travel. Having made his complaint known

^*L*o one of the chiefs of that tribe, he told him not

;. ^^to be uheafy, for he Would engage that by following

':^ his advice, he fhould be able in a few days to purfue

"his journey, and in a little longer iime be entirely

. I free! from his diforder. *;».

.t^'^niiisi: !.»s».vjiJ i.iil^ijGig:-.:

KjklT,

The chief had no foonerfaid this, than he prepar-
ed for him a decoftion of the bark of the roots of
,,; the prickly afh, a tree fcarccly known in England,
, 'but which grows in great plenty throughout North-
•^ America j by the ufe of which, in a few days he was
greatly recovered, and having received diredlions
how to prepare it, in a fortnight after his departure
from this place, he perceived that he was radically
cured. ^ '

■\iit;:^^-

' hk^j'-iif. ,

If from exceffive exercife, or the extremes of heat
'or cold, they arc affedted with jjains in thein limbs or
joints, they fcarify the parts affeded. Thofe nations
-who have no commerce with Europeans do this
with a (harp flint ; 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 indru-
iiients they make of thjs unmalleable fubdance.

They never can be convinced a perfon is ill
whilfl: he has an appetite; but when ne rejeds all
kind of nourifhment, they confider the difeafe as
dangerous, and pay great attention to it ; and dur-
ing the continuance of the diforder, the phyfician re-
fufes his patient no fort of food that he is defircus
of.

Their dodqrs are not only fuppofed to be (killed
in the phyfical treatment of difeafes, but the com-
mon people believe, that by the ceremony of the Cht •
ihicoiie ufualiy riiade ufe of, as before defcribed,

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:i^^-'i'^''^:.''^'iM'I^Xt'i!-'^'

,:?;fti.i'.

' CARVER'i TRAVELS.

«79

they are able to gain intelligence from the fpiritSj of
the caufe of the consplaints with which they are
afllided, and are thereby the better enabled to find
reniediei for them. They difcover fomcthing fu-
pernarurai in all their difeafes, and the phyfic ad-
minidered mud invariably be aided by thefe fuper-
ftitioni.

Sometimes a Tick perfon fancies that his diforder
arifci from witchcraft ; in this cafe the phylician or
juggler is confulted, who, after the ufual prepara-^
tioni, gives \a$ opinion on the (^ate of the difeafe,
and frequently finds fome means for his curei But
notwithltanding the Indian phyficians always annex
thefe fuperflitious ceremonies to their prefcriptions,
it il very certain, as I have already obferved, that
they exercife their art by principles ^hich are found-
ed on the knowledge of iimples, and on experience,
which they acquire by an indefatigable attention to
their operations. -.; ..:2 :t":f * •• . .. :-. ...

The following f^ory, 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. \i,;. ,

In Pctiobfcot, a fettlenierit in the province of
Main, in the ^orth-eaft parts of New-England, the
wife of a foldier was taken in labour, and notwith-
flanding every neceflary alTiftance was given her,
could not be delivered. In this fituatibn fhe re- '
niained for two or three days, the perfons around
her cxpedling . that the next pang would put an end
to her exigence. , \ ':.,:.

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An Indian wopaan* v4i,a accidjemaUy paSdl feyi
heard the groans;^ o^ ti^e m>]bappy i^^erer, aiui en^
4uired f^oai wh^n,^9i thjey p^rocet^d^d;. Being majde
ai9(juainted: w^uh, tb0> defpei^ajte cii;cum(Uiw:e^ attend-
ing the cafc^ flie told the. iaformant^ i)ha|; i€^(he
might Idc permitted to fee, the perjj^p,, flji? di4 i)Qt
doubt but that (he (hould be of great fervice to hen^

Ti^ furgeon. th3,t, bfld. attended.* and the. midwife
1»ho was then prefent* h^yin^ given up every hiope
of preferving their pati-ent, tjje Ii)4iaii woman \ii»$
allowed* to ipake ufe of an^ methods (he thought
proper. She accordingly took a baii3Her,cbiei^ an4
bound it tight over the npfe ^nd, roouili of the wof
man: this immcK^iately brpugbt pn a ii)JSbcauon» ;.
an^ fiiom the (lrugglc.& that cp9feau|ently;enfu<ed,,{he
V^as ii) a few fsqo^d?. d^Uv,ere>dp. Tbi? momenc tliis
"Was ^tchieved, and tiroc; enough, to. prevent apy
fttal efFe^,, the h^ndker;cbief, w^$; uksn off. The
long-fudering patient thus happily relieved, frozn
her pains, foOn after perfedly recovered, to the
aftonifl^ment of aU th^qfie. wi)Q ba4 been, \ivtnefr tO;
her defper,^te ^t.ua^ifiQ.^ *"

The reafor) giycin by,-the Ind|»n,for thif basi^rdous
xpethod of proceeding was, thpt d^fp^ta^te difor^eriS
require defperate renj^dies.;, that as (he obfery^d this
exertions of nature were not fufficiently forcible to
effect the defired c.onfequence, fhe thought it neaef-
fary to augment their, fprcp,, which could only be
dp^e by fome i\\Qd,*, thaj wa^^^ violent in i the exttente^

CARVER'S TRAVEt».

s^

CHAPTER XV.

'1

Of the mctnner in ivbtch- they treat their Dead^.

Ai

,N Indian meets, death when it approaches
liini in his. hut,, with: the fame refolnuon he has often
faced him in, the field:^ His. indifference relative: to
this, important atticle^ whichs is the fource o£ i^
many appveheniions to almoft ev^ery other nation, is
truly admirable. When his f^te is. pronounced. by
the phy.iician, and it remains no longer uncsrtainv
he harangues thefs aboiit him« with the greatefi com-
pofurew . '

If he h a chief and has a family,, he makses a kind
of funeral oration, which he concludes by giving
to his children iuch advice for the reg.ulatioh of their
conduct as he thinks necefTary. He then takes
leave of his friends, and iifues out orders for the
preparation of a feaft, wh cli is defigned to regale
thofe of his tribe thjU; come to pronounce, his eu«>
logium.

* ' ■

After the breath is departed, the body U. drefled
in the fame attire it ufually wore whilft living, hi^
face is painted, and he feated in an erect poAureon
a mat or. fkin, placed, in the middle of the hut, with
his weapons by his fide. His relations being feated

Ml

eARVEk's T^AVtL^.

round, each harangues in turn the deceafed; and if
he has been a great warrior, tecounrs his heroic
aflions nearly to the following purport, which in
the Indian language is extretnely poetical and plea*
fing:

cc

«<

cc

c<

cc
<(
cc

cc

cc

You ftill lit arflohg iis^ Brother ; your perfori
*^ retains its ufual refemblance, and continues fimi-
*' lar to ours, without any vifible deficiency, except
** that it has loft the power of adlion. But whether
i^ thjtt brdath flown, which a few hours ago' fent
up finoke to the Great Spirit ? Why are thofe lips
iilent, that lately delivered to us exprefTive aqd
pleafing language? why are thofe feet mdtionlefs,
that a fhort time ago were fleeter than ^he deer on
yonder mountain's ? why ufelefs hang thofe arms
** that could climb the talleft tr^6, or draw the
tougheft bow? Alas ! every part of that frame
^hkh we lately beheld with admiration and won-
^' der, is now become as inanimate as it was three
** hundred winters iigo. We will not, however,
** bemoan thee as if thou waft for ever 16ft to us,
or that thy name would be buried in oblivion j
thy foul yet lives in the great Country of Spirits,
with tjiofe of thy nation that are gone before thee;
snd though we are left behind to perpetuate thy
fame, we (hall one day join thee. Aduated by
the refpe^t we bore thee whilU living, we now
*' conie to render to thee the laft a£l ol kindnefs it
is in otir power to beftow : that the body might
not li^ negleded on the plain, and become a prey
** to the b^afts of the field, or the fowls of the air,
** we will take care to lay it with thofe* of thy pre-
•* deceffors who are gone before the6 ; hoping at the
fame time, that thy fpirit will feed with their
fpirits, and be ready to receive ours, when we
alfo fliall arrive at the great Country 6f Souls."

4C
CC
•C
CC
<C
CC

«(

«c

cc

cc

<c

;.?^- ^"^:;:f

CARVER'S TRAVELS,

»8|

In ihort fpeeches fomewhat iimilar to this does
every chief fpeak the praifes of his departed friend.
Wh^n they have fo done, if they happen to be at a
great diilance from the place of interment, appro-
priated to their tribe, and theperfon dies during the
winter feafon, they wrap the body in (kins, and lay
it on a high (lage built for this purpofe, or on the
branches of a large tree, till the fpring arrives. They
then, after the manner defcribed in my journal, carry
it, together with all thofe belpnging to the fame
nation^ to the general burial-place, where it is in-
ferred with fome other cereiponies that I could not
difcover. .......

When the Naudoweffies brought- their dead fo?
inret-ment to the great cavLj, I attempted to get an
inOght into, the reiiiaining burial rites ; but whether
it Was on account of the ftench^which arofe from fo
many bodies, the weather being then hot, or whe-
ther they chofe to keep this part of their culloma
fecret from me, I could not difcover ; I found, how-
ever, that they confidered my curiof^ty as ill*timed,
and therefore, I withdrew. < »

> ■ ". "■'..' ■ , i^

After the interment, the,bai>d to which the perfon
belongs, take care to fix near the place fuch hiero-
glyphics as ihall (he\^ to future ages his merit and '
accomplifhments. If any of thefe people die in the
fummer, at a di fiance from the . burying-ground,
and they find it impofTibJe to remove the body bc-^
fore it putrefies, they burn the flefh from the bones,
and preferving the latter, bury them in the manner
defcribed* " . ; ■ - '^.' k^;:-sii^.^;lsiff^'^'; S

>»4-.

As the Indians believe that the foulsof the deceaf*
ed employ themfelves in the fame manner in the
country of fpirits, as they did on earth, that they
acquire their food by hunting, andbaye there, alfa,

.-'i.**'-'

^•»v^^

-,*;■

»34

CARVER'i TRAVELS.

enemies to contend ^ith, they take care that they
do hot enter thoie regions defenoelefs and unprovi.
ded : tbey confequently'bury with them their boi^«,
then: arrows, and all the other weapons uled either
in hunting or war. A« they doubt not but they will
iikewife h^ive occaiion both fgrtheneceflariesoflife,
and thofti things they etieem as ornaments, they
ufually deport in their tombv iuch ikins or fiufs as
they commonly make their gar nents of, domeilic
utenlils, and paint foe ornamenting their perfons.

. * ' . ' ■ . ■ ■ ■ .

The near relations of the deceafed lament his lofs
with an appearance of great forrow and anguifh ;
they weep and howl, and make ufe of many contor-
tiohs^^as they fit in the hut or tent aroimd the body,
when the intervals bet weeii the praifes of the chiefs
will permit.

';t One formality in mourning for the dead ampn^
the NaudowefOes^ is very diflfereat from any mode I
obferved in- the other nations through ^h\<*h I paii-
ed. The men, to (hew how great their Mrjfow is,
pierce the flefh of their arms, above the elbo^ws, with
arrows ; the fears of which I could perceive on thofe
of every rank, in a greater or leffer degree ; and
the women cut and ga(h their legs with ^arp bro-
ken flints, till the blood £lows very plentifnlly.

• ■ '•' . ■■ "/' ' ! ■ -y '■ '■'

,: Whilft I remained among them/ a couple, ifrhof^
tent was adjacent to mine, loft a fon of about four
years of age. The parents were fo much aiifecled at
the death of their favourite chUd, that they^purfued
the ufual teftinionies of grief with fuch un<»)m^nK)n
rigour, as, through the weight of forrow and lofs of
blood, to occ^fio*! the death of the, father. The
woman, who had been hitherto iAConfplable, no
fooner faw bcr hufband expire, than ihe dried up
her teafs, and appeared cheerful and refigned.

'■■v.;. y. J :ly''J^-.. . •. • -• •^. ._"

-A-^'4t'

. V^. ^.^v^.L

-^m^i^- ■ . :.

|SAiLVER»» TRAVELS;

M5

As I knew not hcfw to account for fo tsxttztr^-
iitry a tru^tbn, I took an opportiHAty to aik k^f
the mfon of it s telUng her, at the fame time, that!'
fliOul4 have imagined the lofs of her hufband would
rather have occaiionad an increafe of grief, tbai]L
fiicb a f^4^en diininution of it.

^e ittfornied me, that as the child was fo young
when it died, and unable to fupport itfelf in the
country of fpirits, both (he and her hufband bad
been apprehenfive that its iituatioi) wot}ld be far
from happy ; but no fooner did (he behold the father
depart for the fame place, who not only loved the
child with the- tendered afiied^ion, but was a good
hunter, and would be able to provide plentifully for
its fupport, than (he ceafed to mourn. She added,
that ihe now faw no reafon to continue her tears, as
the child on v/hom (he doted w^s happy under the
care aiid prote^Jtion of a fond father, and (he had
only one wi(h that remained ungratiEed^ which wa^
that of being herfelf with them.

£xpre(fion8 fo replete with unaiFe^ed tendernefs,
and fentiments that would have done honour to a
Roman matron, made an impreflion on n.y mifid
greatly in favour of the people to whom (he belonged,
and tended not a little to countera£^ the prejudices
I had hitherto entertained, in common with every
other .raveller, of Indian' infenfibility and want of
parental tendernefs.

Her fubfcquent conduft confirmed the favourable
opinion I had jult imbibed ; and convinced me that,
notwithftanding this apparent fufpenfion of her grief,
fome particles of that reluctance, to be feparatcd
from a beloved relation, which is implanted either
by nature or cultom in every huraaa heart, (till

Oo

.*' ^

a^;,

s86

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

lurked in hers. Ipbferved that (he wept armoft
everv evening to the foot of the tree, on a branch
of Wnich the bodies of her huiband and child vere
laid, and after cutting off a lock of her hair, and
throwing it on the ground, in a piaihrive, melahcho-
ly fong bemoaned its fate. A recapitulation of the
actions he might have performed, had his little life
been fpared, appeared to be h^r favourite theme ;
and whilfl: fhe foretold the fame that would have at.
tended an imitation of his father's virtues, her grief
feemed to be fufpended : — -^ . , '

cc

If thQU hadft continued With us, my dear fon,"
would fhe cry, " how well would the bow have be-
*' come thy hi^nd, and how fatal would thy arrows
" have proved to thi enemies of our bands. Thou
*^ would ft dften have drank their blood, and eaten
*^ their fle0i, and numerous flav^s would have re.
*« warded thy toils. With, a nervous arm wouldft
** thou have feized the Wounded btiff^lo, or have
•' combated the fury of the enraged bear. Thou
*' wouldft have overtaken the flying elk. and have
Vr** kept pace on the nibuntain's brow with the fleet-
n** eft deer. What feats might^ft thou not haveper-
** formed, hadft thou ftaid lamong tls till age had
" given thee ftrength, and thy father had inftruded
*' thee in every Indian acc6m{>Iiihment !^* In terrtjs
like thefe did this untutoted favage bewale the lofs
of her fon, and frequently would ftiepafs the greated
part of the night in the affectionate employ.

The Indians in general are very' ftrid in the obr
fervance of their laws rdaiive to mourning for their
dead. In fome nations they cut off their hair, blacken
their faces, and fit in an ered: pofture^ with their
heads'clofely Covered, and depriving themfelves of
every pleafure. This feverity is continued for fe-
yeral months, and with fome relaxations theappear-

r^.v

CARVER'i TRAVELS.

187

ance is fometimes kept up for feveral years. I was
told that when the Naudoweflies recolleded any in-
cidents of the lives of their deceafed relations, even
after an interval of ten years, they would howl fo as
to be heard at a. great diftance. They would fome-
times continue this proof of refpeft and aifedtion for
feveral hoUrs ; and if it happened that the th6ught
occurred, and the noife was begun towards the even-
ing, thoie of their tribe who are at hand would join
with them.

JiSt

CAHVEll's TRAVt;l».

CHAPTEX XVI.

A <onc'^e Chtxra^er of the Indians,

Ti

HE chara£ter of the li^dians, like that of
ether uncivilized nations, is compofed of a mixture
of ferocity and gentlenef^. They are at once guided
by paflions and appetites, which they hold in com-
inon with the fietceA beafls that inhabit their wood^,
and are pofTefled of virtues which do honour to hu-
man naturcf

In the folic . eftimate,! fhall ehdieavour to forget
on the one h... ^ the prejudices of Europeans, who
ufilaHy annex to the word Indian, epithets that are
difgraeeful to h«fflfifl««rore, «nd vrho view them in
no other light than as favages and cannibals ; whilH
with equal care I avoid any partiality towards them,
as fome. muft iiaturally arife from the favoqrablie re-
ception I met with during my Aafy among them.

At the farhe rime I fhall confine my remarks to tb-
nations inhabiting only the weilern regions, fuch aj
the Naudoweffies, the Ottaugaumies, the Cbipeways.,
the Winnebagoes, and the Satikies ; for as throughout
that diverfity of climates the exteniive continent of
America ' is cottipofed of, there are people of diiFe-

CARVEH*! TRAVELS. ^

^ent d^fpofitioni and various chara6ieri, ic would be
incompatible with my prcfent undertaking to treat
of all thefe, and to give a general view of them at s
conjunftive body.

That the Indians are of a cruel, revengeful, inex-
orable difpoHtion, that they will watch wiiole days
unmindful of the calls of nature, and make their
way through pachleis, and almoft unbounded woods,
fubfifting only on the fcanty produce of themj to
purfue and revenge tbemfelves of an enemy ; that
they hear unmoved the piercing cries of fuch as un-
happily fall into their hands, and receive a diaboli-
cal pleafure from the tortures they inflidi oil their
prifoners, I readily grant ; but let os look on the re-
verft of thiB terrifying pidure, and we fliall find them
temperate both in their diet and potations {It muft
be remembered that I fpeak of thofe tribes who have
little commutrication with Europeans,) that they with-
ftand, with unexampfed patience, the attacks of hun-
ger, or the inclemency of the fieafons, and efteem
^e gratitotion of their appetites but as a feconda-
ry Gonfideration.

"We (hajl likewife fee them focial and humane to
tb<yfe whom they conlider as their friends, and even
to their adopted enemies ; and ready to partake
with them of the IsSt inorfel, or to tiQs. thdr lives

in their defence.

-■...'♦. ■.,,.■

In contradidion to the report of many other tra-
vellers, all of whom have been tin^ured with pre-
judice, I can affert, that ^otwithftandiog the appa-
rent indifference with which an Indian meets his
wife and children aft«r a long ab(ence,'an indiffe-
rence proceeding from c«ftom Tather than infenfibi-
lity, he is not unmindful of the claims either of con-
nubial or parental tendernefs j the little ftory I have

i90

CA"!tV£R»l

TRAVELS.

introduced in the preceding chapter, of the Naudo«>.
iveilie ivoman lamenting her child, and the immature
death of the father,- will elucidate this point, and
enforce the affertion much better than the moil fta-
died arguments I can make'ufe of.

Accuflonied from their youth to innumerable
hardfliips, they foon become ifuperior to a fenfe of
.danger, or the dread of death ; and their fortitude,
implanted by nature, and nurtured by example, by
precept and accident, n^ver experiences a moment's
allay^

Though flothful and inadiv6 while their (lore of
provilions remain unexhaufted, and their foes arQ at
a diAance, they are indefatigable and ' psrfevering
in purfuic of their game, or m' circumventing their
enemies.

If they are iirtful and deUf "^ing, ^nd reaidy to take
every advantage, if they are cool and deliberate in
their councils, and cautious in the extreme, either of
difcovering their fentiments, or of revealing i. fecret,
they might at the fame time boaft of poiiefling qua-
Itiications of a more animated nature, o£ the faga-
city of a hound, the penetrating fight of a lynx,
the cunning of a fox^ the agility of a bounding roe,
and the unconquerable fiercenefs of a tiger.

In their public charaAers, as forming p^rt of a
community, they polTefs an attachment for that band
to which they belong, unknown to the inhabitants
of any other country. They combine, as if they '
were aduatied only by one foul, againil the enen^ies
of their nation> and banilh from their minds every
Confideratioa oppofed to this.

V ^

CARVER't TRAVELS.

«9«

*They confiilt without unneceflary oppofltio/i, or
without giving way to the excitein«*nts of envy or
'ambition, on' the meafures neceilLry to be purfued
for the deftrudion of thofe who have drawn on them-
felves their Uifpleafufe. No fclfifh views ever in-
fluence their advice, or obflrudt their confultations.
Nor 18 it in the power of bribes of threats to dlmi-
ni(h the love tljejr bear to their country.*

The honour of their fribe, and the welfare of their
nation, is the f^^^ and mod predominant emotion
of their lyearts ; apd from thence proceed in a great
niepfure all ^heir virtues and their vices. Actuated
by this, they brave every danger, endure the moft
exqyitite torments, and expire triumphant in their
fortitude, fio( as a perfopal qualification, bi^t as ^
national chara^eriftic.

From thefe alfo flo«v that infati^ble revenge to-
wards thofe with whom they are at war, and all the
confequent horrors that difgraqe their name. Their
uncultivated mi rid being incapable of judging of
the propriety of an a6tion, in oppofition 'to their
pafllons, which are totally infenfible to the controuls
of reafon or humanity, fhey know not how to Jceep
their fury within any bounds, and confeqiiently that
courage and refolution, which would otherwife do
them honour, degenerates into a lavage ferocity.

But this fliort diflertation rnuft fuffice : the 'imits
of my work will not permit me to treat the fubjedt
more copioufly, or to purfue it with a logical regu-,
larity. The obfervations already made by my rea-
ders, on the preceding pages, will, I trufl:, render it
unneceiTary ; as by them they will be eriabled to form
a tolerably juft \de^ of the people I have been de-
' fcribing. Experience teaches, that anecdotes, and
relations of particular events, however trifling they

•■f. :«:*.'.

511

f9»

CARyEil»^s TRAVELS.

Blight appear, enable us to form a truer judgmei^t
of the raanners ^nd cuftoms of a people, and are
much more declaratr.;/ of their real (late, than the
moft iludi^ and elaborate difgaiGtion^ withoqt thde
aids. '"■'"'

i -

CARVER»« TRAVELS.

«9I

CHAPTER XVII.

Of their Language, Hiercglyphics,^^c,

X HE principal languages of the natives of
North- America may be divided into four clafles, as
they confifl of fuch as are made ufe of by the nations
of the Iroqudis towards the eailern parts of it, the
Chipewayi^ or. Algonkins to the north -weft, the
Naudowefiies to thb weft, and theltlherokees, Chic-
kafaws, &c. to the fouth. One or other of thefe
four are ufed by all the Indians \vho 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 wefl.

But of all thefe, the Chipeway tongue appears
to be the mod prevailing; it being held in fuch .
efteem, that the chiefs of every tribei^ dwelling about '
the great lakes, or to the weftward of thefe on the
banks of the Mifliffippi, with thofe as far fouth as
thfrOhio, and as farnorvh as Hudfon's Bay, con-
fiding of more than thirty different tribes, fpeak
this language alone in thdr councils, notwithdand-
' ing each has a peculiar oi^ 5 of their own.

894^

CAtVttLU TRAVELS,

It will probably in time become univerfal among!
all the Indian nations, as hone of them attempt to
Hiake exciirfions to any great didance, o^ are con-
ildered as qualified to carry on any negociation with
a diflant band, uhkfs they have acquired the Chipe-
vKty tongue.^

\ At prefent, befides the Cl^ijiew' /s, to whom it
/ ' h' natural the Ottawaws, Saukies, the Ottagau-
jnies, the Killiftinoes;, 4he Nipegons, the bands
about Lake Le Fluye, ^d, the remains. of the AI-
gbnkins, or Gens de T^rre, all converfe iu it, with
' . fome little variation of dialed y but whether it be
natural to thofe nations, or ae^ired, I was not
able to di^over. I am however of opinion that the
barbarous and uncouth diale<St of the Winnebagoes,
tbe Meifbmonies, and jnany other tribes, ^ill be-
come in tihie totally extind,. aiid thi« be adopted
in its fteadl

. . - ■ ■ .; ■ X , ■ ■ ■ *

The ChijseW^yr tongue is nof encumbered with
any unneceilary tones or accent^, neither are there
any words in it that are'fuperfluous ; it israifo eafy
to pronounce, and much .more copious than any
other Indian lazigua^. .

As the Indians are unaequainted with the polite
arts, or with the fciences, and as they are ftrangers
■ ,.- to ceremony, or compliifaeiit, they neither have nor
xieed an innnity of words wherewith to embellifh
, . ^ their difcourfe. Plain and uhpolifhed in their man-
ners, they only make ufe of fuch as ferve to deno-
minate the neceffaries or conveniences of life, and
to exprefs their wants, which in a (late of nature can
be but few. \ ■

» • - ■ > / ' • . ■

: '/ ,

I have annexed heretd a fhort vocabuhry of the
Chipeway language, and another of that of the Natu-

.•■X'-l

■ H i:

:'-:^-^

'£»■'-■

€ARV£]t*« TIIAVELS,^

*9$

^pweflles, but am notable to rectuce them to the
xules olF grammar.

The Matter is Iporken in a foft accent, without any
guttural founds, fo that it may be learnt with faci-
lity, and is not difficult either to be pronounced o^r •
written. It is neaiiy as copious and exprefliye ai
the Ghipeway tongue, and is the moft prevailing-
language of any on the we^^i^ banks .of the Mifr
fiifippi; being in ,uie^ according to their account^
^mong all the nations that lie to the north of the
JVIeflbrjie« and extend afr f^r well as the {hore3 of the
Pacific Ocean. ,

As the Indians are not acquainted with letters,
^t is very difficult to convey with precifipn the exa£t:
Jtound ef their words ; I have however ei)d,eavoured
to write theon as near to tbe manner in which they
are expre0ed^ as fdch an tuiicertain mode will ad*
jnit.of. .

Althougih the Indians cannot commutitcate their
ideas by writing, yet they form certain hierogiyphics,
which, in Come meafure, ferve to per-petuate any
extraordinary tranfadion, or uncommon event.
Thus, when they axe on t|ieir excur0on&, and either
intend to proceed, or ha^ 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 diflance, of the path they,
mud purfue to overtake ihem.

The following inflance will convey a mor€ perfedk
idea -of the methods they make ufe of on this occa-
fion, than any exprefiion I can- frame. /

When I left the MiHidippi, and proceeded up the
jChipeway River, in my way to Lake Superior, ag

•

.'■,-*-'v:;:''

^ .1 ■

ft96

CARVER?p TRAVEL?.

#

related in my Jpufnal, my guide, who was a chi^f
of the Chipeways that dwell on the Ottawaw Lake,
ficar the heads of the river we Had juft entered,
fearing that fome parties of the Naudpweffie^, with
whom this nation is perpetually 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 Heps. .

He peeled the bark froip a large tree, near the
entrance of a river, and with wood.coal, mixed with
bear's greafe, the ufiial fubfiitute for ink, made in
an uncouth, but expreflive manner, the figure oF
th6 town of the Ottagauinies. He then formed to
the left a inan dreffed in (kins, by which he iiitended
to reprcfenit a Naudoweffie, with a line drawn from
ifcis mouth to that of a deer, the fymbol of the Chi-
Speways. After this he depi^ed ftill further to the
left a canoe as proceeding up the riyer, in which he
placed a man fitting with a hat on ; this figure was
defigned tp reprefent an Engiiftiman, or myfelf;
and my Frenchman w^s drawn with 9i handkerchief
tied roQnd his bead, and rowing the cailoe ; \6
thefe he added feveral other fignificant ^ emblems,
among which the Pipe of Peace appeared pointed
on the proV/ cf the capoe^

'■■',#

The meaning he intended to co(i\rey to the i^au-
doweHies, and which I doubt not appeared perfedly
intelligible to them^ was, that one of the Chipetiiray
chiefs had received a fpeech from fome Naudoweffie
chiefs, at the town of the Ottagaumies, defiring him
to .condu<d the Englifhtnan, who had lately been
among them, up the Chipeway river ; and that they
thereby required, that the Chipeway, notwithftand^
ing he was an avowed enemy, fliould not be mo-
lefted by them on' his paflage, as he had the care of
f perfon whom they elleemed as one of their nation*

CARVER?* TRAVELS.

«97

Some authors have pretended that the Indians
have armorial bearings, which they blazon y^itU great
exa^lnefis, and which di(lingui(h one nation from
another ; but I never could dbferve any other arms,
among them than the fymbols already defcribed.

\ . li»'M .VIFI

■

^pa ' ■ ^-jt' ;>i-i.;^.4^(M;-

■ ■'^J^.;^.. ■ . '

• ■^^■4;|;i^-.af!^4^W.'

'

'.V^«^^"'- '". ' : .

■^:^L

C^^si^jh'^

,;-4|:,%-'^'%:^^- ■■, . ■ , \

■\

1

'■>>,>--""■■-■', ''v^sri/'*' 'J-«-V'>-''«''- "'v'.S , ' ' >

' \ . "-■■ ;*■'»-■- V- .A.,', it?:-

^1

CARVER't TRAVELS.

A Jbori YoGABULARY (f the Chipeway
Language,

ff, B, This pjeople do not make ufe fitber of the
copfonants jr. or F.

Above; ■

Spimink^

Abandon

^ackiton

Admirable

Pilawak

■ '*\ •* -' fc ..

Afterwards .

Mipidack -M^

All ;/

fCokinum ,

Always

Kokqli

' *

' Amifs

Napitcb

'

Arrive . •

Xakouchin

\

Axe -

Agacwet

Aflies

Pingoe

Affift;

M^wimwak

■ -

'

B :

Ball

Alevoir^

Bag, 0r tobacco-poucK

Ga/petawgan

<

Barrel, ,

Oweniowgar^ , ,

.

Beat

Pakhtte

Bear - .

Mackwab

■ ■

Bear, a young one

Makon

Beaver

Amik

heaver's (kin '

Afiminique
tapaie

^ '

* Pe, or to be

,

v,-, ■..>

-.Tr-.

■>?:':

CARVER»i TRAV^Ll

ih

Beard
Becaufe
Believe
Belly
Blatk
Blood
Body

Bottle ,

Brothct

' Brandy or Rum
Bread
Breech-
Breeches
Buck ^ ^A

Mifcbiton

Mewinch

Ttlerima

Mijhemout

Markaute

MifioW

foe

Sbi/hego

Neconnis

Scuttawawbab

Fabaujhigan

Mifcmfah

Kipokitie Koufab

Wajkeicb

t|

Canoe — -^

Call - '

Chief, a

Carry

Child or Children

Coat

Cold, I am

Come on . ,

Come to :

Comrade

Concerned .

Corn

Covering, or a Blanket

Country

Courage

Cup

Dance
Dart

' Cf>eman
Tejhenekaw
Okemaw

^ Psion
Bobelojbin
Gapotewairi

. Kekalcb
Moppa
Pemoteba
Neechee
Tallemift
Melomin-
WaiUbewion
Endawlawkeeii

> Tagwawmyji
Olawgan

Nemeh
Sbejhikwee

<-»-.

^

«

«a»

CARVER'8 TRAVELS

Die, to

Nip

Pifli .

Mackoari

Dog

j4Um

Dead

heepo

Devil, or evil Spirit

Matcho' ManiUii

Dog, a little one '

Alemott

Done, it is done

Sbiab

Do

ToJhitoH

Doubtlefs

Ontdatoubab

Drefs the kettfc

Poutwah .

Drink ,

Minikwah

Drynken/

Ouifquiba

Duck

Cbickhip

E ■

Earth'

Aukwiri

Eat

Owijffine

£ach

Papggik

Englirfe

Sa^aunojh

Enough

Mimilic

Equal, or alike

fawbifcouch

Eiteem

Nawpetellmaw

Eyc^

' Wijkinkhie

■

Tarf

Waliebic

Fall

1 •

Ponkifin

Far off

Wqtfaw

Fat

Pimmiiiee

Friend

Niconnis

Father

Noofah

Few, or little

Maungis

:i^atiglied

Taukwi/Jt

Field fown

Kittegaum'tc

Fire

Scutta

fh*'

CARVERU TRAVELS.

301

■•

Flte, to fttike

. Find

Fifli

Fork

Formerly *

}

Fort

Forward

' French '

Freeze, to^

Freezes hard

Fail

?r-"--

Fufee or Gun,

;■. 'V.-,';.

God, or the Great Spirit

•^'v

Go by water
j GirlV .

■ . -:-:\ :

: 1,-Give

Glafs, a mirror

»

Good

[ J

Good for nothing

' ■.■ * ,

Govern

General, or Command 1
der ill Chief i_

Crapes

.■

6rcat , • ;,;^;, '-;.''

Greedy ',

«,.. •■ . .■ ■

Guts'" . ,*y ■

G

Scutecke

Nantounawaw

■Kickon

^ajfawokwot

Pirwego

Wakaigon

Nopaivink ^

NecbtegQoJh

Kijfm

Kiffin Magat

Moujkinet

Pajkejfigan

Kitchi Manilou
Pimmi/caw >
JeckwaJJln
Millaw '.-„..,-
Wawhemo
Cawlatch
Malatal
Tibarimaw
Kitchi Okiniaw
SimauganiJJ}
Shoamin
Manatou .,
' Saw/aii)kiji
Olawbijh-

\-

H

Hare *' '

Heart - ; ;

Hate ■ '■mC'.'' ■

Half •'

Wawpoos
Michewab
Shingauninaw
Nowbal ' '- '-

•."V ■, . ."f

Q.i

I r*'

f

V

«

sot' ' ' <*AR^VER'

8 TRAVELS^

Hair, human./ <

Lifts

Hair of bea(!«'

Pewal

Handfom^e

Canoginne '

Have

Tandaulaw

Head

Oujiecouan

Heaven

V Speminkakwtn

Herb

Mejajk

Here

^c»nda

Hidden '

Kemouch

Home

Entayent

Honour

Mackawa^aw

Hot

Ake/hotta

J^ow

-Tawne

How many

Tawnemilik

Hunt

Kewajfa

Hut, or houCa

Wig Waum'

\

p' • .

Indians

IJhinawbaB

Iron

Pewawbick

Ifland ^

Minis

Immediately

Webatch

Indian Corn

Miitawmin

Intirely

IJaivpitch

Impoftor

Mc^wlawfiJJie

It might be ib

■ Tawneendo

•

K

Kettle

Jickikons

King, or Chief

Okemaw '

Keep

Ganwerimaw

Knife

Mockoman

Knife, that Is crooked

Cootawgon

Know

Thickeremaw-

■1^?i*frf-

'.^-%

•CARVER'i TRAVELS.

J9S

Lake
Lnugh
Lazy
Lame

Kitchigawmink
Pawpi
Kitttmi
Kikekate

Leave

Pockitan

Letter
Life

Mawfignaugon
Nouchimowin

Love

Saukie

Long fince
Lofe

Shawjhia
Hackilaugue

Land Carrisjge .
Lie down
LitUe

Cappatawgon

Weepemaw

Waubq/been

' '■

M

Meat ^

'Weas

Much . '

Nibbilaw

Man
March, to gQ

j4llijftnape
Pimmoujjie

Marry ,*
Medicine
Merchandife
Moon

Wee win
Majkikic .
jilokochigon
pebicot

Mortar, to pound in

Male

Miftrefs

pQutawgon

Nape

Neremoujin

,-

«

Needle

Shawbonkiit'

Near

Pewitch

♦ .

' , »

..v.... ■-''%>

304

C A R V E R'8 T R A V E L S.

Nation Jrinee

. ■ Refpea

Never Cawikkaw

' ■ Rain

Night > Dehicot ;

; ■ Robe

No' » Kaw

H ftiver

Nofe , 7och

■ Rvm, t

Nothing ; Kakego

■

Not yet Kawmifchi

^^^H

Not at all Xqgutch *

Nought, good for nothing; Malatat ^

■ Sad
;• ■ Sail

0

■ Sack, (

. ■ Sea, or

Old KauweJJyme

1 .Shoes

Oiter . " Ntkktk '

I Ship, 0

Other , . Coutack ' •

I Sorry

■ - t .' .

B Spirit

P

■ <, Spoon

* ,-.1.

— ' 1 ; Star

Pipe ^ • Poagan-

I Steal

Part, what part Tawnapee

I Stockin

Play Packeigo •

I Strong
■ Sturgec

^m Sun

Powder, Gun, or dud P/w^o
Peace, to make . Pecacotiche

Pray . Tawlaimia

^^m O U t#

H Sword

Proper Sniv/ega .
Prefefttly Webatch . ' :

I Surprif]

Peninfula ' " Minnijftn

■ Since

' ' '■, '-'^ ■/ ■; '■

■ Shirt

■ Slave

Quick ' Kegotck

I Sleep
I Sit d6\

■ .R

' 1

Regard • Waivbomo
lied * . Mifcow .

) 1 Take

Kefolve ^ ^ Tibelindon

■ Teetl^

■jlelation Towwemaiv

■ That^

CARVERS TRAVELS.

S^5

Rcfpea
Rain
Robe
River
Run, to

Sad

Sail

Sack, or Bag

Sea, or large Lake
< Shoes

Ship, or large '^anoe

Sorry

Spirit
^ Spoon
1 Star

Steal

Stockings

Strong

Sturgeon

Sun

Sword

Surprifingl

See,

Since

Shirt

Slave

Sleep

Sit down

Take

Teeth

Thar

Tawbawmica

Kimmewatt

Ockolaw

Sippim

Pitchebot

I

s.

Taiimijie •

Fem'tfcaw • _ <

Majkimot

Agankitchigawr^ink ,

Maukijfm

Kitchi Cheman

Nifcottifte

Manitou

Mickwon , ' ' '%

Alank

Kemautin

Mittaus

Majhkauwah(

Lawmack

Kifts

Simaugan '

Eiwah, Etavair

, Wawbertw y.

Mapedoch ,( i

Papawkwearf > ' : 'T

Wacian /* *

Nippee

filintepin

Emaundab
TMit

jS.'>M-";v,S: ■■ • ,

■.,jt:^;v^^-...V:

3«^

CARVER*. TRAVELS.

'•'.^"^; J'

~V-

Maundah

K^kit

Mawmawwee

Semau

Outon
. J'diukonfie
. Ofaufnmangis '-^.i^M'C''

Ofaune ■ JP^'^ $!#--

__^. „,. Ji^W(^i////& ^••^!:Sv;'^#^|,

To-morrow, the day after Oufwav^unk /'£^'f?*,>^n'>^

Semauganaitjh

-. '..■ .iji*. ■ ^aataubaulauf
Mickon
Y'X^i'^m: ^auneendah !
:.4^\\il Waw'jjewin ?
" ^agonte ?

Taunippi

Waube ^|

^agonie MaubMf f Si '

Loutin ' ' ;¥-'■? J^r,:'.

■ '"l^J Ickwee _■,; " ^- ■■ ' • ■

There ,
This
Truly
Together
Tobacco
Tongue
Tired
Too little
Too much
'y Thank you
jTo- morrow

"Warriors
Water
# War

Way -v;:
Well then !
What is that \
What now ?
Whence r
y^here
White V- ■
Who ii there.?
Wind

■■■■ •s^^^i

?ia--it ■ '

'■•.-■ ,/ J .,-,'.i-.vJ

Winte? '

Woman

Wood

Wolf

■„-'■.', ««^/? 4

l^iayjbingon

' '■>■' ;.'.' ).:.

• ,■■('

.11

f^'^sr.

4 <.

' p ,■

yefierday
Yet
Young
Yellow

•V Pstchilawgo '■
A^ijnncwatch -
, , WiJconnehjlJi

■''< .,

»'. ■ .j^

, A ■*■■

r- f

•■'/-■- V-

.•* ;:' ' <

■ « '■' ^ii: •^'

CARVER'8 TRAVELS. 507

The Numerical Terms of the ChipewayS.

■ One Pajhik ' j^H

':■: y

H Two hinch ^^^^1

lA.'

■ Three , ' ■ mjou ^H

H ' Four Neau ^^H

■

■ , Fr^fe Naran I^H

■ Six hlingoutwafou J^^l

i-

B Seven Kmchowaffou ^^H

Eight 'Nifowafou V jH

1 ^

Nine Shongaufjou ■HI

'■ . , .

Ten Mittauffou ^^H

. t

Eleven MittafiJJou Pajkik l^H

' ' ,

Twenty NmchtaT)naiv ^^^1

>'-

Thirty Niffbu Mittawnaw ^If l^^l

■.,

, Forty Neau Mittawnaiu l^^l

Fifty 'Naran Mittawfiaiu^ ^^H

' j

, Sixty "Ningotftivaffbu Mit-7 l^l
1 tawna y ^^^1

. ■ - r

1

• Seventy J^inchowajfou Mii-7 l^^l

.^ ■->

Eighty J^JifowafouMittatV'^ *IH|

naw y 1^1

♦■ ■*

K '-L ' '■

Ninety Shongafou Mitiaw-y ^^|

S,;V ■

'!" .

Hundred Mittaujfou Mittaw'7 ^^H

naw 5 ^^|H

/

Thoufand MittaiiffbwMittauf.y ^H|

>

*

'-'.•■•^j, ^BbMH

•■ '■ '>^'' ■' ■■-•V • v-''-'^^V- ■ ^^HB

■•»

•

'■'V',

5o8

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

A flioft Vocabulary of the Naudowpffi^ Lan-
guage.

Axflf

Beaver
Buffalo
Bad .
Broach
Bear, a

Canoe

Cold

Child, a Male

Child, a Female '

Gome here

!beai
Beer •
Dog

Eat
£ara^

«

B

AJhpaijj ';

* . ., ,■■'"'.■■■■

•

Chawbab

Tawtongo

Sbejah

Muzahooioo

Wahkonjhejdti

■■ >■ ■' ' ''

•6

.♦' it V

'

Waahtoh - .

Mechuetah

Wechoakfeh

Whacheekfeh

Accooyouiyare

t>

• • .

/

¥■

Negujh
Tohinjoh
Shangujh ■ '

E

<•

s - X

Echawmenato
i^9okab

w

■■•V t.M-''-*''^' ■^-"

Eyeai )

Evil^■:•:0■■...::

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

EJhtike

%'r^-. ''-'Shejab '^■'

3«9

■i-iV:'z:

Fire \"V;:.:>i^M-¥ ■ Paabtah .^^v./^'C'^' •■S*! ''■' ' ^
Father '-■^'^■^. ■'^i;,,Sl . Otah ' ■ .:-^-}^-, '.i^.^^S ■ ■ i
Frenchman / '^■■r^'^j^Neehteegu/h ^"'jv:,.' .^ .' •

Falls of Watef y-f-^'^Owah Menah • -• iv ■\"' -.■
Friend ^^ {,.y^ ■,,?'• v Kitcbiwab - -v "

Good , : ,■ " :? ; :^ ; •"?,,; JFo/5?>/ay&
Give J'''y,"i^-^'\.."-^[^ccooyeb * ,'
Go away Accowab

God, or the Great Spirit Wakon
Gun . , ,, . ; Muzab Wakon

Great > 7o»^o

Gold A MuTiaham

Hear \,i:-Nooktjhon

Horfe : 4 :.^■; ' Shuetongo ' K

Home, or doraeftic ; Sbaab
Houfe ^;^-' \ --'^Teebee ^^^

Heaven 0'< ''■'\'\'^'f^':^-^ Wofhtab Teebss

. ,*

,t^'^■^■:?1^;^■

>'i

( I

•■ /^^.*v.^:v, •■■ v-: ' -'

■;■.«., •• ■ , ,■• ' - '

IrOH'^.^^' ./;;, ' ■■■- ' --^

■ Muzab

.1, or me ^^ :• .;"

';f iV^oZi '

K

King, or Chief -v •;

.,.Otab

Kill , V . .' ;. ,: :

'■■'■■ ','Ne2ufhia\

Rr' •

•■••;,',N;f

i -, ■•

3«

CARVER»s TRAVELS^

1 -^f:

X'.l

Little

-^-ft-..

f Long

•'f Lake .,•

•'■ '■

LovC' /

V'' "■•"•.■ •'.,

Tongoom
Tongo Menelj'
Ehwahmeah

>

;-, 'rV:.

:/;^•■

- ' ' . •'■■

%

if- ■ ..<

Much'
More
' Moon
Mouth
Medal
Mine

', Milk; ,

-; . , /J"' ^' ■. V \ ."

% No
Near ^

■*,<':-U

•i\ ^tv

...J- rv'-

t >

V ) ■'<?./ ,*-i.

,''

Oiah
Otenah
Oweeh v .

Eeh ''■^::^'fi'y-y
Muzah Otah'
Mewah
Etfawboh ^ .J

■■■■ J ^. '■'■>■ ,'^-

. "■*'■'■'' ■ '

^t- , ' .V ,1 ,/•■

't- -i -iv.

•'■'• ■' '■'.:■■ . .*

N

-J^.;0

Ghr

'Jeejiinaw

-?'3ih

'^7 -':

, '-^-M^m-.

Sopiniyachle t fc'^^ c^Jg

I ■

»

Pipe

Pipe of Peace

\: rr.

Shanuapaiv
Shanuapaw Wakon

k

Rain . , . Owah Meneh

Ring ■ '^^W^^ ^%5v Muzamohupah
Round . " Chupab

-v.,,

■> •?

^ CARVER'S TRAVELS.

|tf

••>>.>■ f

Smoke ^'^■•^y>f»:^

Saltwater :>^. ^.

See, to .-^1-^^-'

Sleep : '-■■"J-:-..

Snake ■•' " '

Sun •-,';•;'.•'-.'■.'

Spirit

Spirituous Liquors

Snow

Surpriling - ■:

Silver

* ;i^ Shaweab ■-"■
•^^*'^ Menis ^eah

Efhtaiv
EJhteemo
Omlijhcav)
Paahtah • '.;-
Wakon

Meneh Wakon
Sinnee
Hopiniayare
Muzabam

.:■*-

', ■ ■ ■»-■■■ •*.

f>v};

V-T-

^> ■' .

i Tobacco -^'^'-^
I Talk

Tree ^>.^tM; '
There

%:,■'■,•

. '! ■ "ii'iV-i^'A <

- «'-■■--(*> ■,- J- ■ ■ V*''. ■

Womaii
Wonderful
Water ,.: ; "
What • .'

Who is there ?
Wicked

Y

Shavifaffaio
Owehchin
Ochaw ;
Dache

Winnokejah
Hopiniyare
Meneh
^awgo
Taivzodache ?

rr / t *

Meyahatcbia -f

',-,._,■. :>^h

r„^ ■'■;.' ■ *
:■'■:. -■ 'VV

»<

II'

W.iUf

i*^

.tr:

.;■/

You
Young

Chee
MawpawrUiw

■■,.T>

- . -^

•m'. ■-'.;,•' V

in

CARVER'S TRAVELS, ' '^^^^V

Wajhtab Chee
Wakon Chee

,!■ s A.";.\

You are good
You are a fpkit

You are my good friend ^^•.fl^''^^^} ■'!^%.

No good ^i.'^:;;.- HeyahWaJhtah -M--&:

^'S'

The Numerical Terms of the Naudoweflles. ;^.'V

€

■;^-.

One

Two

Three

Four

rive

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twenty '

Thirty ■

Eorty

Fifty '■-'-'

Sixty ^

Seventy

Eighty •

Ninety .

Hundred

Thoufand

■"- '• '. »i .■'■

VS.

:^3^i*;

4..^

' ^ "

'.'■.S

U;

fHti

.Wonchaw \ >• **
Taiumonee ^ ■' .
Sawbultee'f:.^',.

. . ^V, ;:i 'ShaWCOO A>ir..

Mf' Shahindoh'm.
" ■ : Nebochunganong
: Wegochunganong ^.^ -7;^ ^

Wegochunganong Wonchait^ ^'
Wegochwigdnong Noompaw " , : ;
\ Wegochunganong Tawmonee .'-,'
■ Wegochunganong Tobohy;
\ i Wegochunganong Sawbutiee '. J
V / Wegochunganong Shaivcoo ^jq,:'
Wegochunganong Shaivcopee :, •
sv Wegochunganong Shahindohin
'> V Wegochunganong Nebochunganong
'., Opohng
Wegochunganong Opohng m<- '

•■*-.

f ,.ir

ISLO:;

i' To this lliort vocabulary of the Naudoweflie lan-
guage I (hall adjoin a fpecimen of the manner in
lyhich they unite their . words, I have chofen fol*

- V

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

I«J

this purpofe a (hort fong, which they fing, with
fome kind of melody, though not without any ap-
pearance of poetical meafure, when they fet out
on their hunting expeditions; and have given as
rear a tranflation as the difference of the idioms
will permit. '; ^ ■ r .

;,

♦■ • •

Meoh accowah ejhtaiv paatah negujhtawgawjhejah ,
vienah. Tongo Wakon meoh wojhta^ paatah accoowah, ,
Hopiniyahi^ oweehaccooyee meoh, wojhta patah otab [I
iohinjoh meoh teebee.

I v'-M^*'

, ' , ' I will rife before the fun, and afcend yonder hill, •
to fee the new light chafe away the vapours and dif- .';..J

V* perfe the clouds. Great Spirit, give me fuccefs. -' .
And when the fun is gone, lend me, oh moon, '■■
light fufficient to guide me with fafety back to my. ^ ;^
tent laden with deer I * i'.*^r. j 7>:^o:^.': ,^;

,' - ..' ,,;,-* . , ,-1,' Jgi-

•it. ;^4.

rn

,1? ' ■<■>'

■r,^-:^i^-'V\'-'-: .-•3(5 -...-■•';,, .-i. ■-■ ■ .r ^•

-,...< • •■£■ «(j;i.

'-*;.;

-^ -I /' ■ '■ ..•.>■■■• ■ ■. V ■

.■:,.3,^-v,*v.'-.^',;'

''^'.- •/'■-■ •*»: - • !'^ *

:^'«;;h;^-^'

1 1 ,->, ,

:iv.

•■ V

■.J**'

f -••■,..,-.-..v.Ai.r ■

,U

.•■i-«»;,'.^-..

■*^

''"}**•

^ ■■*#

ilr/ttA

.■■;•"

J'f

CARVER'S TRAVEL?.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Of ihe Beajisi Birds, Fijhes, Reptiles^ and Infers,
which are found in the Interior Parts of North-
America*

vJF thefe I fhall, in the firfl: place, give a
catalogue, and afterwards a defcription of fuch 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 Carrabbo, the
Carcajou, the Skunk, the porcupine, the Hedge-
Hog, the Woodchuck, the Racoon, the Marten,
the Fifher, 'ihe Mufqualh, Squirrels, Hares, Rab-
bits, the Mole, the Weafel, the Moufe, the Dor-
Moufe, 4he Beaver, the Otter, the Mink, and
Bats. ' ■ .4-

-fr}f'

CARVER'i TRAVELS.

i^S

The TIGER. The Tiger of America refembl«s
in (bapc thofc of Africa and Afia, but is confider-
ably fmall^r. Nor does it appear to be fo fierce
and ravenous as they are. The colour of it is a dark.<
ifh fallow, and it is entirely free from fpots. I faw
one on an illand in the Chipeway River, of whicn I
bad 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 our
approach, or to difcover any ravenous inclinations^.
It is however very feldom to be met with in this
part of the world.

Tfie BEAR. Bears are very numerous on this *

continent, but more particularly fo in the northern

part& of Hi and contribute to furnifb both food and

beds for almoft every Indian nation. ^ThoTe of

America differ in many refpe^» from thole either oi

'Greenland or Ruiria, they being not only fomewhat

fmaller, but tirhofous 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 wiil climb to the top o^ the higheft tree»

in qued: of them. This kind of food renders their

ilefh exceflively rich, and finely flavoured ; and it is

confequently preferred by the Indians and traders to

that of any other animal. The fat is very white,

aad befides being fweet and wholefome, is poflTeii^d of

oae valuable quality, which is, that it never cloys.

The icdiabitants of thefe pacts conflantly anoi»c

therafelves with it, and to m efficacy they in a great

meafure owfi their agility. The feafon for hixniing

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 blowh down, the

entrance of which they flop up with branches of fir

that lie fcattered about. From thefe retreats it is

>'•, \

4

k

.it . .

.'.t: . /.'

i\6

CARV£R»s TRAVELS.

faid they ftir not while the weather continues fevere,
and as it is well known that they do not provide
themfeives with food, they are fuppofed to be enab-
led by nature to fubfift for fome months without it^
and during this time to continue of the fame bulk.

The WOLF. The Wolvds of North-America
are much lefs than thofe which are met with in other
parts of the world. They have, however, in com-
mon^ with the reft of their fpecies, a wildnefs in
their looks, and a fiercenefs In their eyes ; noiwith-
(landing 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 flefti
of thofe flain 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, the other
of a dun, inclining to a black-

The FOX. There are two fort of foxes in North-
America, which differ only in their colour, one be-
ing of a reddilh brown, the other of a grey ; thofe
of the latter kind that are found near th« river
Mifliilippi, 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 eredt, and greaily refemble a wolf
about the head. They are exceedingly ufeful to
them in their hunting excurfions, and will attack the
: fierceft of the game they are in purfuit of. They are
alfo remarkable for their fidelity to their matters j
but being ill fed by them, are very troublefome in
their huts or tents* Ki^, jVi

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CARVER'S TRAVELS.

317

The CAT of the Mountain. This creature is in
fhape like a car, only much .larger. The hair or fur
refembles alfo the (kin of that domeflick animal ; the
colour however differs, for the former is of a red-
difti or orange calt, but grows lighter near the belly.
The whole ikin is beautified with black fpots of dif-
ferent figures, of which thofe on the back are long, ,
and thofe on the lower parts round. On the ears
there are black (Iripcs. 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 thofe parts,' is larger than an ox,
has (hort 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 oh his back which begins at the haunches,
and increafing gradually to the fhoulders, reaches on
to the neck. Both this excrefcence and its whole
body are covered with long hair, or rather wool, of
a dun or moufe colour, vhich is exceedingly valu-
able, efpecially that oii the fore part of the body.
His head is larger than a bull's, vith a very fhorc
neck; the breaft is broad, and the body dccreafes
towards the buttocks. .Thefe creata» *is will run
away at the fight of a man, and a whole herd will
make off when they perceive a fingle dog. The
ilefh of the buffalo is excellent food, its hide ex-
.tremely ufeful, and the hair very proper for the
manufadure of various articles. :' "«, ^ ;■

The DEER. There is but qnt fpecies of deer
in North-A;-ierica, and thefe are higher and of a
Himnler make than thofe in Europe. Their fhape
is nearly the fame as the European, their, colour of
a deep fallow, and their horns very large and branch-
ing. This beaft is the fwifteft on the American

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CARVER'S travels:

plains, and they herd together as they do in otfie/
countries.

The ELK greatly exceeds the deer in fize, bein}»
in bulk equal to a horfe. Its body is fliaped like
that of a deer, only its tail is remarkably fhort, be-
ipg not more than three inches long. The colour
of its hair, which is grey, and not unlike that of a
earned, but of a more reddifh caft, is nearly three
inches in length, and as coarfe as that of a horfcr
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 thofe of a deer, but have all their teeth
or branches on the outer edge. Nor does the form
of thofe of the Elk refembl« a deer's, the former be-
ing flat, and eight or ten inches broad, whereas the
latter are round and confiderably narrower. They
Ihed their horns every year in the nionth of Febru-
ary, and by Auguft their new ones are nearly arrived
at. their full growth. Notwitliftanding their fize,
and the means of defence nature has furnifhed them
with, 'they are as timorous^ as a deer. Their fldn is
very ufeful, and will drefs as well as that of a buck.
They feed on grafs in the fummer, and on mofs or
buds in thef winter. i

V^,

^^-^ ,*■'•

•The MOOSE is nearly about the fizse of the elk,
and the horns of it are almofl as enormous as that
animal's; the ftem of tliem, however is not quite
fo wide, and they branch on both fides like thofe of
a deer j this creature alfo fheds thern every year.
Though its hinder parts are very bro^id, its tail is
not above an inch long. It has feet and legs like a
camel; its head k about two feet long, its upper
lip much larger than the under, and the'noftrils of
Jt are fo wide that a man inight thruft his hand into
them a conliderable way.. The hair of the mool'e is

i. ■

-'■V- .

CARV-ER's TRAVELS,

VV

lighf gT€y, mixed with a blackifh red. It is very
eladic, for thcnii»h it be beaten ever fo long, it will
retain its original dupe. The fleih is exceeding
good food, cafy of digeftion, and very nouriftiing.
The nofe, or upper lip, which is large and loofe .
from the gums, is efteemed a great delicacy, being
of a firm confidence, between marrow and griftle,
and when properly drefled, affords a rich and lufci-
OU8 difh. Its hide is very proper for leather^ being*
thick and ftrong, yet foft and pliable. The pace of
this creature is always a trot, which is fo expediti- *
ous, that it is exceeded in fwiftnels but by few of its
fellow inhabitants of thePe woods. It is generally
found in the forefts, where it feeds on mofs and buds.
Though this creature is of the deer kind, it never
herds as thofe do. Molt authors confound it with
the elk, deer, or carraboo, Ijut it is a fpecies totally
different, as might be difcovered by attending to the
defcription I have given of each. • ^

The CARRABOO. This beaft is not rear fo
tall as the moofe ; however, it is fomething like it in
fhape, only rather more heavy, and inclining to the
iorm of the afs. The horns of it are not flat, as thofe
of the elk are, but round like thofe of the deer ; tht.y
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
fleih of it is likewife equally as good, the tongue
particularly is in high elleem. The (kin being fmooth
and free from veins, is as valuable as (hamoy..

The CARCAJOU. This creature, which is of
the cat kind, is a terrible enemy to the preceding
four fpecies of beafls. He either comes upon them
from fome concealment unperceived, or climbs, up
into a tree, and taking his flation on fome of the

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320

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

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branches, waits till one of them, driven by an ex-
.- treme of heat or cold, Jakes fhelter under it ; when
he fadens upon his neck, and opening the jugular
vein, foon brings hif prey to the ground. This he
is enabled to do by his iong tail, with which he en-
circles the body of hisadverfary ; and the only ^leans
" fthey have to (hun 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 etFed his pijirpofe. { :

ij The SKUNK. This is the molt 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 millaken for that creature, but
it is very different from it in many points. Its hair
is long and Ihining, variegated ,with large black and
white fpots, the former moftly on the (boulders and
Tump J its tail is very bufhy, like that of the fox, part
black, and part white like its body j it liAres chiefly
in the woods and hedges ; but its extraordinary pov/-
ers are only Ihewn when it is purfued. As foon as
he finds himfelf in danger, he ejeds to a great dif-
tance from behind, a fmall ftream of wrter, 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; and his purfuers, whether men or
dogs, being alniofl: fuffocated with the ftench, 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 Bete Puatite, the Stinking
Beaft. It is alraoft impoflible 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 difagrae-
able that it is impoflible ever after to wear thepi ; or
if any of it enters your eyelids, the pain becomes in-
tolerable for a long time, and perhaps at lafl lofe

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CARVER'S TRAVELS.

your ftght. The fmell of the fkunk, though thus
to be dreadefd, is. not like that of a putrid carcafe, "
but a ftrortg foetid effluvia of mu(k, 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 fiippofed by naturalids to bt its urine:
but I have diffeOed many of them that I have fhot,
and have found within their bodies, near the urinal
velfel, a fmail receptacle of water, totally diftinft
ft^m the bladder which contained the urine, and
from whicli alone I atn fatisfied the horrid flench
proceeds. Aftei having taken out with great care
the bag wherein this water is lodged, I have fre-
quently fed on them, atid have found them very
fweet and good ; but one drop emitted, taints not
only the carcafe, but the whole houfe, and Tendersj-
111*' <^very kind of provilions, that are in it, unfit for
If ufe. With great juftice therefore do the French
give it luch a diabdlical name* * < ;:.;*^. : .;',^. .,.

' The PORCUPINE, The body of Ift Afrteri- '
can porcupine is in bt:ik about the fize of a fmall
dog, but it is both fhorter in length, and not fo
high from the grqund. It varies very much ffotli
thoffe of other countries both hi its fhape and thk
length of its quills. The forme r is like that of a fox,
except tht head, which is not fo (harp and long,
but r^fenibles more that of a rabbit. Its body is
covered with hair of a dark brown, about four iu"-
ches long, great part cf which are the thlcknefs of a
>| iiraw, Uii are termed its quills. Thefe are white,
'' ' with black points, ho'Iow and very ftrong, efpeci-
ally thole that grow on the back. The quills ferve
- ;, this creature for offeiifive and defenfive weapons,
which he darts at his enemies, and' if they pierce
the flefli in the leafl: degree, they will fink quite intc
it, and are r»ot to be extrafted \^ithout incifion.v

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CARVER'S TRAVELS.

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*.'

The Indians ufe them for boring their ears and nofes,
' to infert their pendants, r.nd alfo by way of orna-
ment to their ftockings, hair, &c. befides which
they greatly efteem the flefh. ' , -,-.;

The WOOD-CHUCK is a ground animal of
the fur kind, about the fize of a marten, being
nearly fifteen inches long ; its body however is roun-
der, and its legs fhorter ; the fore-paws vi it are
broad, and conft rutted for the purpofe of digging
holes in the ground, where it burrows like a rabbit;
its fur is of a grey colour, on the reddifh caft, and
its flefl) tolerable food. ,• , . .: ^ ^t*^ >•

The RACOON is fomewhat lefs in fize than a
beaver, and its feet and legs are like thof 2 of that
creature, but fliort in proportion to its body, which
•refembles that of a badger. The fhape of its head
is much like a fox's, only the ears are (hotter,
more round and naked ; and its hair is alfo limilar
to t^^t animal's, being thick, long, foft, arid black
at the ends. On its face there is a broad ftripe
that runs acrofs it, and includes the 2yes, which
are large. Its muzzle is black, and j^t the end
roundifh like that of a dog ; the" tieeth are alfo
-fimilar to thofe of a dog in number ?ind fhape ; the
tail is long and round, with annular ftripes on it
like thofe of a cat ; the feet "have five long flen-
der toes, armed with fharp claws, by which it is
enabled to climb up trees like a monkey, and to
run to the very extremities of the boughs. It makes
ufe of its fore-feet, in the manner of hands, and
feeds itfelf'with them. The flefh of this creature
is very good in the months of September and Oc-
tober, when fruit and nuts, on which it likes to feed.,,
sre plentyr ' ' ' ' ' "

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-V.--,, ■^•■- V

CARVER'S. TRAVELS.

3«5

'Tlie MARTEN is rather larger than a fq'ulrrel,
and fomewhat of the fain^ make ; its legs and claws,
however, are confiderably fhorter. Its ears are^
fhort, broad, and roUndifli, and its eyes (hine in
the night like thofe of a cat. The whole body i^ '
covered with fur of a brovvnifti fallow colour, and
there are fotne in the more northern parts which
are black ; the Ikins of the latter are of much grea-
ter value ihan the other. The lail is covered with
long hair, which makes it appear thicker than it '
really is. Its fielh is fonietimes eaten, but is not in '
any great efteem.

''■ The MUSQUASH, or MUSK-RAT, is io
termed for the exquifite mufk which it affords. It
aj'^ei to be a diminutive of the beaver, being . •
ej: y,..a with all the properties of that lagacioufi ?^^
animal, and wants nothing but fize and ftrength^J '
being not much bigger than a large rat of the Nor-
way breed, to rival the creature it fo much rcfem-
bles. Was it not for its tail, which is exaftly the
fame as that of an European rat, the llrudure of
theii bodies is fo much alike, efpecially the head,
that it might be taken for a fmall beaver. Like
that creature it builds itfelf a cabin, but of a lefs
perfeft conftrtifliion, and takes up its abode near
the fide of fome piece of water. In the fprmg
they leave l^;; retreats, and in pairs fubfift on
le,aves and ./; till the fummer' comes on, when
they feed u... ftawberrieSi ralberries, and fuch
other fruits as the) can reach. At the approach of
winter they feparate, when each takes up its lodging
apart by itfelf in fom'» hollow of a tree, where they
remain quite unprovuied with food, and there is
the greatefl reafon to. believe, fubfill "without any \
till the return of fprlng. . __,_^

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324

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

\i

•■>" ■/■",

■^:, SQUIRRELS. There'afc five forts of fqmrfels
in America ; the red,, the grey, the black, the va-
riegated, and the flying. The two former are
^xaiftly the fame as thofe of JEurope ; the" black are
ibraewhat larger, and differ from them only iri
colour ; the variegated alfo refembl6 them in fhape
and figure, but are very beautiful, being finely
dripped , vrith white or grey, and fometimes with
red and black. . The American flying fquirrei is
much tefs than the European, being not abrve five
inches long, and 6f a ruflet gt6y or afli-colour
on the back, and white on the under parts. It
has black prominent ey^s, like thofe of the moufe,
with a long, flat, broad ' By a membrane on
each fide, which reaches 1, » its fore to its hind
legs, this creature is enabled to leap from one tree
to another, even if they (land a confiderable diliance
9part ; this loofe (kin, which it is enabled to, firetch
out like a fail, and by which it is buoyed up, is
about two inche<; broad, and is covered with a fine
hair or down. It feeds upon the fame provifions as
the others, and is eafily, tamed. " ' "

, i-y

The BEAVER. This creattire his been fo often
treated of, and his uncommon abilities fo minutely
. defcribed, that any further account of it will appear
unneceflary ; however, for the benefit of thofe of my
readers who are not {o welt acquainted with the
form and properties of this fagacious and ufeful
animal, I fhaii give a concife defcription of it. The
beaver is an amphibious quadruped, which cannot
live for any long time in the water, and it is faid
is even able to exift entirely without it, provided
it has the convenience of fometimes bathing itfelf.
The largefl beavers are nearly four feet in length,
and about fourteen br fifteen inches in breadth over
the haunches ; they weigh about fixty pounds. Its
head is like that of the otter, but larger 5 its fnout

•■w

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'<■. ■.

.ifeU;

■ Ste. ■ ■.

CARVER'S] TRAVELS.

3»f

is pretty long, the eyes fmall, the ears fliort, round,
hairy on the outfide, and fmooth within, and its
teeth very long ; the under teeth ftand out of their
mouths about the breadth of three fingers, and
the upper half a finger, all of which are broad,
crooked, ftrong and ft. p; bcfides ihofe teeth
called the incifors, which grow: double, afe fet
very deep in their jaws, and bend like the edge of
an axe, they have fixteen grinders, eight on each
fide, four above and four below, dire^ly oppofite
to each other. With the former they are able to
cut down trees of a confiderable fize, with the latter
to break the jiardeft fubftances. Its legs are fliorr,
particularly the fore-legs, which are only four or
five inches long, and not unlike thofe of a badger j]
the toes of the fore-feet are feparate, the nails placed
obliquefy, and are hollow like quills ;■ but the hind
feet are quit different, and furnifhed with mem-
branes between the toes. By this means it can
walk, though but flowly, and is able to fwim with
as much eafe as any other aquatic animal. The |
tail has fomewhaC in it that refembles a fifil, and %,
feems to have no manner of relation to the reft of
the body, except the hind fett, all the other parts
being fimilar to thofe of land animals. The tail is
covered with a fl?:in furnifhed with fcales, that
are joined together by a pcUrcIe ; the fcales are '
about the thicknefs of"^ parchment, nearly a line and
a half in length, and generally of a hexagonical
figure, having fix corners ; it is about eleven or
twelve inches in length, and broader in the middle,
where it Us four inches over, than cither at the root
or the extremity, It is about two inches thick near
the body, where it is almoft round, and grows gra- ,•
dually thinner and flatter to the end. The colour
of the beaver is difterent accx)rding to the different
climatei in which it is found. In the moil norihcrn

•--••;: .: T t .■ .-■ ■■ ' .

^d

CARVER'S TRAVEL'S.

■!«lft.'v-

parts they are generally quite black ; in more tem-
perate, brown j their colour becoming lighter and
lighter as they approach towards the fouth. The
f^r is of two forts all over the body, except at the
feet, where it is very fliort j that which is the longed
is generally in length about an inch, but on the back
it fometimes extends to two inches, gradually di-
miniihing towards the head and tail. This part of
the fur is harfb, coarfe, and fliining, and of little
ufe 'y the other part confifts of a very thick dnd fine,
down, fo foft that it feels almoft like filk, about
three quarters of an inch in length, and is what is
commonly manufaOured. Cattor, which is ufeful
in medicine, is produced froin the body pf this
creature j it was formerly believed to be its tcfticles,
but later difcoveries have fhown that it is contained
in four bags^, fituated in the loWer belly. Two of
which, that are called the fuperior, from their being
more elevated than the others, are filled with a foft,
reiinous, adhefive matter, mixed with fmall fibres^
greyilh without, and yellow within, of a ftrong,
difagreeable and penetrating fcent, and very in-
jiammable» This is* the true cafloreum: it hardens
in the air, and becomes brown, brittle, and friable.
The inferior bags contain an unduous liquor like
honey t the colour of which is a pale yellow, and
its odour fomewhat different from the other, being
rather weaker and more' difagreeable ; it however
thickens as it grows older, and at length becomes
about the confiltence of tallow. This has alfo its
particular ufe in medicine , but it is not fo valuable
is the true caftoreum. *

The ingenuity of thefe creatures in building their
cabins, and in providing for their fubfiftence, is truly
wonderful. When they are about to choofe thefei-
felves a habitation, they affemble in companies
lometifncs of twc or three hundred, and after mature

ii

■' ;•?,:--

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

3*7

•deliberation, fix on a place where plenty of pro-
vifions and all neceffaries are to be found. Their
Jioufes are always fituated in the water, and when
they can fiml neither lake nor pond adjacent, they
endeavour to fupply the defed by ftopping the cur-
rent of ^ome brook or finall river by means of a
caufeway or dam. For this purpofe they fet about
felling of trees, and they take care to choofe out
thofe that grow about the place where they intend
to build, that they may fwira down with the current.
Having fixed upon thofe thac are proper, three or
four beavers placing themfelves round a large one,
find mearis t;ith their ftrong teeth to bring it down*
They ajfo prudently contrive that it (liall fall towards
the water, that they may have the iefs way to carry
it. After they have by a continuance of the fame
•labour and induftry, cut it into proper lengths, they
foil thefc into the water, and navigate them towards
Ihe place where they are to be employed. Withoirt
icntering more minutely into the nieafures they pur-
fue in the conftrucSrion of their dams, I fhall only
remark, that having prepared a kind of mortar with
their feet, and laid it on with their tails, which they
had before made ufe of to tranfport it to the place
'•'here it is requifite, they conflrufl: them with as
much folidity and regularity Jis the moft experien-
ced workmen cpuld do.* The formation of their
cabins is no Iefs amazing. Thefe are either built
on piles in the middle of the fmali lakes they have
thus formed, on the bank of a river, or at the ex-
tremity of fome point of land that advances into a
lake. The figure of them is round or oval, and
they are fafhioned with an ingenuity equal to their
dams., Two thirds of the edifice (land above the
water, and ihi part is fufficifr»tly a-paeious to con-
tain eight or ten inhabitants. Kach beaver has his
place affigned him, the floor of wliich he curioully

3»6

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

ilrews with leaves, or fmall branches of the pine tree,
fo as to render it clean and comfortable ; and their
' cabins are all fituated fo contiguous to each other,
as to allow of an eafy communication. The win-
ter never furprifes thefe animals before their bufmefii
is completed ; fo^ by the latter end of September
their houfes are finifhed, and their flock of ptovi-
iions is generally laid in. Thefe coniiil of fmall
pieces of wood, whofe texture is foft, fi^h^as .he
poplar, the afpin, or willow, &c. which they lay up
in piles, and difpofe in fuch a manner as to preferve
their moifture. Was I to ehumerate every indance
of fagacity that Is to be difcovered in thefe animals,
they Would 611 a volume, and prove not only enter-
taining but iaflru£tiTe.

The OTTER. This creature alfo is amphibi-
ous, and greatly refen>bles a braver, but is very
different from it in many refpe<5l9. Its body is near-
ly as long as a beaver's, but confiderably lefs in all
its parts. The muzzle, eyejs, and the form of the
head, are nearly the faiiie, but the teeth are very
unlike, for the otter wants the large incifors or nip-
pers that the beaver has ; inftead of thefe^ all his
teeth, without any diftin<Siion, ate {haped like
thofe of a dog or wolf. The hair alfo of the
former is rot half fo long as that belonging to
the laner, nor is the colour of it exadlly the fame,
for the hair of an otter, under the neck, ftoihach,
and belly, is more greyifli than that of a beaver,,
and in many other rcfped^ it likewife varies.
This animal, which is met with in moll parts of
the world, but in much greater numbers in North-
America, is very mifchievous, at^d when he is
clofely purfued, will not only attack dogs b\\i
men.

ip

CARVER'S TRAVELS*

')

iH

It generally feeds upon fifh, eipecially in the
fummer, but in the winter is contented with the
bark of trees, or. the produce of the fields. Its
fleih both tades and fmells of fi(h, and is not whole-
fome food, though it is fometimcs eaten through
neceffity*

The MINK is of the otter kind, and fubfifts in
the fame manner. In (hape and (ize, it refembles a
pole-cat, being equally long and (lender. Its flcin
is blacker than that of an otter, or almoft any other
creature; ** as black as a mink," being a pro-
verbial expreilion in America ; it is not, however,
fo valuable, though this greatly 4epends on the
feafon in which it is taken. Its tail is round like
that of a fnake, but growing flatti(h towards the
end, and is entirely without hair. An agreeable
mufky fcent exhales from its body ; and it is met
with near the fources of fivers, on whofe banks it
chiefly lives. ^

OF THE BIRDS.

The Eagle, the Hawk, the Night Hawk, the
Fifh Haw^, the Whipperwill, the Raven, the Crow,
the Owl, Parrots, the Pelican, the Crane, theStork^
the Cormorant, the Heron, the Swan, the Goofc,
Ducks, Teal, the Loon, the Water-Hen, the Tur-
key, the Heath Cock, the Partridge, the Quail, Pi-
geons, the Snipe, Larks, the Woodpecker, the Cuc-
koo, the Blue Jay, the Swallow, the Wakon Bird,
the Black Bird, the Red Bird, the Thriifti, the Whet-
faw, the Nightingale, the King Bird, the Robin,
the Wren, and the Humming Bird.

330

CARVER'i TRAVELS.

The EAGLE. There are only two forts of ea-
gles in thefe parts, the bald and the grey, which are
much the fame in iize, and fimiiar to the (hape of
thofe of other countries.

The NIGHT HAWK. This bird is of the
hawk fpecies, its bill being crooked, its wings
formed for fwiitnefs, and its (hape nearly like that of

• the common hawk, but in fize it is confiderably .lefs,
and in colour rather darker. It i§ fcarcely ever feen,
but in the evening, .when, at the approach of twi-
Ijght, it Hies about, and darrs itfelf in wanton gam-
bols at the head of the belated traveller. " Before a
thunder- fhower, thefe birds are feen at an amazing
height in the air, afiembled together in great num-
bers, as fwallows are obfervcd to do on the fame

, occafion. .'

" The WHIPPERWILL, or, as it is termed by
the Indians, the Muckawifs. This extraordinary
bird is fomewhat like the lait mentioned in its (hape
and colour, only it h^s fome whitift} ilripes acrofs the
wings, and like that is fe}dom ever feen till after
fun-fet. It alfo is never met with but during the
ipring" and fummer months. As foon as the Indi-
ans are informed by its notes of its return, they con-
cliide that the froft is entirely gone, in which they
are feldoni deceived, and on receiving this aflurance
of milder weather, begin to fow their corn. It ac-
quires ^ts name by the noife it makes, which to the

• people of the colonies founds like the name they give
It, Whippetwill ; to an Indian ear Muck-a-wifs.

• The words, it is true, are not unlike, but in this man-
ner they (Irike the imagination of both ; and the
circumltance is a proof that the fame founds, if they
are not rendered certain by being reduced to the
jmUs of orthography, might convey diSerent id$^

.=v •,

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

33«

to different people. As foon as night conies on,
thefe birds will range ihemfclvcs on the fences, '
flumps, or (tones that He near fome houfe, and re-
peat their melancitoly notes without any variation till
midnight The Indians, and fome of the inhabi-
tants of the back fettlements, think, if this bird
perches upon any ho'ufe, that it betokens fowe
miihap to the inhabitants of it.

'. The FISHHAWK greatly refembles the latter
in its ihape, and receives his name from his food,
which is generally fifh ; it Ikims ovtr the lakes and
rivers, and fometimes fcems to li j expanded on the
water, as he hovers fo clofe to it, and having by
fome attra£live power drawn the fifh within its reach,
darts fuddenly up6n them. The charm it makes
ufe of is fuppofed to be an oil contained in a fmall
bag in the body, and which. nature has by fome
means or other fiipplied him with the power of u(ing

ifor this purpofe ; it is however very certain that anw
bait touched with a drop o'f the oil colleded fromi
this bird is an irrefUlible lure for all forts of fiih, an^
infures the angler great fuccefs4

The OWL. The only fort of owls that is found
on the bunks of the MilTidippi is extremely beauti-
ful in its plumage, being of a fine deep yellow or
gold colour, pleaiingly ihaded and fpottcd. .

The CRANE. There is a kind of crane in thefe
parts, which is called by Father Hennipin, a pelican,
that is about the fizeof the European crane, of a
greyifh colour, and with long legs j but this fpecies
di6Fers from all others in its billj 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 pac^dle : its tongue is of
the fame length.

■■f

w»

CARVER*! TRAVELf.

DUCKS. Among a variety of wiW duck^,
.the different fpecies of which amount tq upwarcf^
of twenty, I /hall confine tny defcription to one
Ibrt, that is, the wood duck, or, as the French
term it. Canard Branchus. This fowl receives its
name from its fretjuenling !he woods, and perching
on the branches of trees, which no other kind of
water fowl (a chara£^erifttc that this (till preferves)
is known to do. It is nearly of a fize with other
ducks ; its plumage is beautifully variegated, and
very brilliant. The ikfh of it alfo, as it feeds but
little on filh, is finely flavoured, and much fiiperior
to any other fort. •

The TEAL. I have already remarked in my
Journal, that the teal found on the Fox River,
and the head braiKihes of the MifTiflippi, are per-
haps not to be equalled for the fatnefs and delicacy
of their flefti by any other in the world. Iii colour,
fhape, and fize they are very little different from
thofe found tn other countries.

/

The LOON h a water fowJ, fomewhat lefs than
a teal, and is a fpecies of the dobchick. Its wings
are ihort, and its legs and feet large in proportion
to the body; the colour of it is si dark brown,
nearly approaching to black ; and as it feeds only
on fifli, the fleih of it is very ilf flavoured. Thcfe
birds are ',;xC;eedingly nimble and expert at diving,
§0 that it is almoil impofiible for one perfon to fhoot
them, as they will dextrouily. avoid the fhot by
diving before they reach thisth ; fo thit it requires
three perfons to krlLone of them, and this can only
be done the moment it raifes its head out of the wa-
ter, as it returns to the furface after diving. It
however only repays the trouble taken to obtain if,
by the excellent fport it affords.

i %

C>AR\i:.li*i TRAVELS. <

335-

The PARTRIDGE. There are three forts of
partridges here, the brown, the red, and the black,
the firft of which 18 njoft efteemed. They are all
much Jarger than the European partridges^ being
nearly the (iTe 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 ereft ;
but contrary tb the cuftbm of thofe in other coun-
tries, they will perch on the branches of the poplar
and bJack birch, on. the buds of which they feed,
early in the morning, and in the twilight of the
evening, during the winter months, when they are
eafily fhot.

The WOOD PIGEON is nearly the fame as
ours, and there are fuch prodigious quantitfes of
them on the banks of the Mifliffippi, that they will
fometimes darken the fun for feveral minutes, ,

The WOODPECKER. This is a very beau-
tiful ' I ; there is one fqrt whofe feathers are a mix-
ture jirious colours ; and another that is browa
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, ic
is conjedured his cries (hen denote rain. '! ' f

•>■*■

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 creft of blue feathers,
which is raifed or let down at pleafure. The lower
part of the neck behind, and the back, are of a
purplifh colbur, and the upper (ides 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 tlndured with dark blue
on the edges, whilft the other parts of the wing arc^

Uu ,:.-'

*.*

134

GAB.VE'R»8 TRAVELI,

|>arred acrofs with black in ^n elegant manner.
Upon the whole, this bird can fcarcely be exceeded
in beauty by any of the winged inhabitants ot thii
or other climates. It has the fume jetting motion
that jays generally have, and its cry is lar more
jilcafmg.

The WAKON BIRD, as it is temci by the
Indians, appears to be of the fame fpecies aa the
birds of paradife. The name they have givert it is
expreiTive of its fuperior 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 fwallow, of a brown colour,
fliaded about the neck with a bright green; the
^ings are of a darker brown than the body ; its tail
is cbmpofed. of four or five feathers, which are three
times as long as its body, and which are beaiuifully
^aded with 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 ered pofition that bird fometimes does.
1 never faw any of thefe birds in the coronfies, but
the Naudoweffie Indians caught feveral of them
■when I was in their country, and feemed .o treat
them as if they were of a fuperiar rank to any oiher
of the feathered race.

. The BLACKBIRD. There are three forts of
birds in North-America that bear this name ; the
firft is the common, or, as it is there termed, the crow
black "bird, which*is qiiite black, and of the fame
fize and ihape of thole in Europe, but it has not
that melody in its notes which they have. In the
month of September this fort fly in larg*e flights,
and do great mifchief to *the Indian corn, which is
»t that time juft ripe. The fecond fort is the red-
Vf'ni^, which is rather fmaller than the firft fper'ss,

'■%■

mmmmmmmmimmmm

gArv Eft's tRAv:^ia

m

bat like it is b^>ck alt 6Ver fts body, except on the
Ife^r rim of the wings", where it is a ^ne, l)right,
full fcaflef. It builds kfi n^ft, and chiefly reforts
atnong the fmall' bufhes that grbw^^ in meadows
»i\d low, fwampy placfes. it whillkfs a lew noteSr ,
bat h not equal in its fotig to the Eurc^an black-
bird. The third fort h of the fame fize as the lat-
ter, and is jet bl«ck like that, but p11 the np^r
part of the wing, juft below the back, is of a fine,
clear whi^e ; as , it nature intended to diverfify thfe
fpecies, and to ati^^iie for the wpnt of a melodious
pipe by the beauty of it* plumage j for this alfo is
deficient in itsmufical powers. The beaks of every
fort are of a full yellow, zlnd th6 females of each ot
a rufty black fifce the Eui-opeaw.

I A ,

• I ■ ' -

Thel^ED BIRD is about t je fize of a fparrow/
but with a Icfrg tail, afnd is all ov*r of a bright
vermilion colour. I faw many of them about the
Ottawaw Lakes, but I fcould hot 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 WHETS AW vL of the Cuckoo kind, b^ing,
like that, a folitary bird, and fcarcely ever feen^-
In the fumraer months it is heard in the groves,
where it makes a noife like the filing of a faw j from
which it receives its name.

. The KING BIRD is like a fwallow, and feems
to be of (he fame fpc^es as tlie black marten or
fwift. It is called the K.ing Bird, becaufe it is able
to mafter aimoft every bird that flies. 1 have often
fsen it bring down a hawk, '

The HUMMING BIRD. This beautiful bird,
which is the fmalleO; of the feathered inhabitants of

■*i

ii^

CARVER'S TRAVELS:

the air, is about the third pare the fize of a wren^'
and is fhaped extremely likd it. Its legs which are
^bout an inch ^long, appear like two fmall needles,,
^ud its body is proportionable to them. But its

glumage exceeds defcription. On its head it has a
nail tuft of a jetty,* fhining black ; the bread of it
is red, the belly white, the back, wings, *nd tail of
the finefl pale green ; and fmall fpecks of gold are
fcattered with inexpreffible grace over the whole :
betides this, an almofl imperceptible down ibftens
the colours, and produces the mod pleating ihades^,
With its bill, whi^h i^ of th>? fame diminutive tize
as the other parts of its body, it e:stra£ls from the
iflowers a moidure which is its nourifhment j over
thefe it hovers like a bee, but never lights on them,
moving at the fame time its wings with fuch velo- -
city, that the motion of them Is imperceptible j not*
withflanding which, they make a humming npife^
from whence it receives, its name.

f*b-

^f the TISHES ivhich are fourid in the waters bf

the Miffijftppu ,

• I have already given a defcription of thofe that
are taken in the great lakes. ^

The Sturgeon, the ?oiit or Cat Fifhi the Pike,
the Carp, and the Chub. ' '^y^^^^k •

The STURGEON. The frcfti water durgeon
is fhaped in no other refpea: 4ike thofe taken near
the fea, except in the formation of it^ head and
tail, which are faihioned in the fame manner, but
the body is not fo angulated, nor are there fo many
horny fcales about it as on the htter. Its length
is generally about two feet and a half or three feet
long, but in circumferccvce not proportionable, be-

'\^

,* .'

, ....

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

387

ihg a flender fifli. The flefli is exceedingly dclicare
and finely flavoured ; I caup;ht fome in the head wa«
ters of the river St Croix that fat exceeded trout.
The manner of taking thtm is by watching theni
as they iye under the banksr in a, clear dream, and
darting at them with a fiOifpear ; for they wi!^ tk>c
take a bait. ^'Ihere is alfo in fhe Mifliflippi, and
there onlyt another fort than the fpeCies I have def-
tribed, which is limilar to it in every refpeft, ex-
cept that the upper jaw extends fourteen or fifteen
inches beyond the under ; this exteniive jaw, which
is of a gridly fubdance, is three inches Jind a half
broad, and continues of that breadth, fomewhat in
the (hape of an oar, to the end, which is flat. The
fleih of this fifh, however, is not to be compared
with the other fort, and is not fo much efleemed
even by the Indians.

the CAT FISH. .Thi« 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 ftrong, iharp h jrns about twq inqhes
^long. Its fins are alfo very bony an(f flrong, an^^
without great care will pierce the hands of the
who take them. It weighs commonly about five
or fix pdtinds ; the flefh of it is exceedingly fat and
lufcious, and greatly refembles that of an eel in its
flavour. i

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, ttie
Wall or Hfjufe Adder, the Striped or .Garter Snake,

■I. '

Miii

35*

CARVlER's TRAVELS.

*h€ Water Snake, the Hiffing Snake, the Green
Sntke, the Thorn-talt Sijake, the Speckled Snake,
the Ring Snake» the Two-headed S!?ake.

T^ie Battle snake. There appears to
be two'fpecics of this reptile ; one of ^hich is com-
mtmlf termed the felack, and the other the Yetlow y
and ci thefe the latter is generally confid^ired as the
largeft. At thelf full growth they are upwards of
live feet long, and the middle part of the body, at
whicK it is of th? greateft bulk, meafurcs about nine
inches round. From that part it gradually decrei-
fes both towards the head and the tail. The neck
18 proportioAably very fmall, and the head broad
and depreffed. Thd'e 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 y^ellow, and chfe-
quered with many regular' lines of a deep black,
gradually (hading towards a gold colour. In ihort,
the whole of this dangerous reptile rs very beautiful,
and cottld it be viewed with lefs terror, fiich a va-
riegated arrangement of colours would be extremely
pleafing. . But thefe are only to be feeifi in itieir
highfifH perffeion at the time this creature is ani-
mated by refentraent ; then every tint ruihes from
its fubcutaneous recefs, and gives the furface of the
Ikin a deeper tiain. The belly is of a pHifli blue,
which grows fuller as it approaches the fides, and
is at length intermixed with the colour of the upper
part. The rattle at its tail, from .which t receives
its name, is competed of a firm, dry, callous, or
horny fubftance, of a light brown, and confifls- of a
number of cells which articulate one within another,
like joints ; , and which increafe every year, and
make known- the age of the creature; Thefe arti-
culations bdng very loofe, the included points
ftrike againfl the inner furface of the concave
parts or rings into which they are admitted, and

.C A it V E R's T R A V E L S.

m

as the fnake vibrates, or Qidkes ils tail, xn^es ^
rattitns; noife. This alarm is always given when it
is appreheoiive of danger; and in an inflanc af-^
ter forms itfelf into a fpiral wreath; in the cen-
tre of which appears the head ered, and breath-
ing forth vengeance againft either man or l^afl:
that (hall dare to come near it. In this attitude h«
awaits the approach of his enemies, rattling hif tail
as he fees or hears them coming on. By this t'me-
ly intimation, which heaven feems to have provivied'
as a means to counteratT the n.ifchief this venomous
rc^^ile Wi^uld otherwif;. be the perpetrator of, the
unwary traveller is apprifed of his danger, and haf
an opportunity of avoiding \t. It is however to be
obffctved, thijt it never ad>8 ofFenfiveJy ; it neithet
purfues nor Hies from any thing that approaches it,
but lies in the poiition defcribed, rattling his t%il, as
if relu^lant to hurt. The teeth liirith which this
ferpent efFeds his poifpnous purpofes, are nof thole
he makes Ofe of on ordinary bccafions ; they are only
two in number, very fmall and (harp pointed, and
fixed in a fmewy fubflance that lies near t|ie ex-
tremity cf the uppdr jaw, refembling the clawtg of a
cat ; at the root of each of thefe, which might be
extended, contracted- oi- entirely hidden, as need
requires, are two fmall bladders, which nature has
fo conftruded, that at the fame inftant an incifion
is made- by the teeth, a drop of a greenifh, poifo-
nous liquid eiiicrs the wound, and taints with its
deftruftive quality the whole mafs of blood. In ^
moment the unfortunate vidim of its wrath feels a
chilly tremor run through all his frame ; a fwelling
immediately Ixgins on the fpot where the teeth had
entered, which fpreads by degrees over the whole
body, and produces on every part of the Ikin the
variegated hue of the fnake. The bite of this rep^
tile is more or lefs venomous, according to the fea<^
fon of the ye^r in which It is given. In the dog-

•fe.

34«>

jCARVER's TRAVELS.

days it often proves inftanfly monal, and efpecially
.if the wound is made among the linews fituated in
the back part of the leg, above the heel ;^ but in the
fprifig, in autumn, or during a cool day, which
xiiight happen in the fummer, its bad e£re<^s are to
be prevented by the immediate application of proper
remedies ; and thefe Providence has bouhteoufly fup-
plied, by cauling the Rattle Snake Plantain, an ap-
proved antidote to the poifch of this .creature, to
grow in great profufion wherevet they are to be met
•with. There are likewife fevers 1 other remedies be-
sides this, for the venoih of its bite. A decodion
. inade of the buds or bark of ;he white afti, taken in-
ternal ly , prey i^rs its pernicious effects. Salt is a new-
ly difcovfcred remedy, and if applied immediately :to
4he part, or the wound be wa(hed with brine, a cure
iniglw be alTured; The fat of the reptile alfo rub-
bed on it, is frequently* found to be very efficacious,
put though the lives of the perfons who have been
bittferi might be preferved by thefe, and their health
in fome degree reitored, yet they annually experi-
ence ^ iHgbt return of the dreadful fymptoms about
the thne they received the ipdiljation: However
remarkablei it may appear, it is certain, that though
the venom of this creature affefts, in ^ greater or
]efs degree, all animated nature, the hog is aii ex^
ception to the rule, as that animal will "readily de-
itroy them, without dreading their poifonous fangs,
- Jand fatten on their flefii. It. has beert^ofteh obferved,
9nd 1 can afBrm the observation, that the Rattle
6nake is charmed with any harmonious founds, whe-
ther vocal' or inftruniCntal ; I have many times feen
them, even when they hive; been enraged, place
themfelves in a liftening pofture, and continue im-
jnoveablv attentive jand fufccptible of delight all the
time the mufic has laded. 1 (hbuld have remarked,
that whea the Rattle Snake biles, it drops its under
j^w, and holding the upper jaw ercft, throws itfeif

t<,.

i-." CARVE R»s TRAVELS.^

3^'

in a curve line, with great force, and as quick as'
lightning, on the objed of its refentment. In a'
moment after, it returns again to its defenfive pof-'
tare, havingdifcngaged its teeth from the wound'
with great celerity, hy 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, arid though it fometimes re-
peats the bloyir two or three time^, it as often returns ,
with a fudden rebound to its former ftate. The'
Black Rattle Snake differs in no other refped fromi
the Yellow, than in being rather fmaller, and in the
variation, of its colours, which are exadly reverfed :
one is black where the other is yellow, and vice
verfa. They are equally venomous. It is not known
how thefe creatures engender j 1 have of.cn found
the eggs of feveral other fpecies of the ihak6, but
notwithftanding no one has taken more pains to acr'
quire a perfed knowledge of ^very property of thefe-
reptiles than myfelf, I never could difcover the
manner in which they bring forth their young. I
orice killed a female that had feventy young ones in
its belly, but thefe were perfedly formed, and I faw
them juft before retire to the mouth of their mother,
as a place of fecurity, on my approach. The galls
ofthe ferpent, mixed with chalk, are formed into
little balls, and exported from America, for medical
purpofes. They are of the nature of Gafcolgn's
powders, and are an excellent remedy for complaihts
incident to children. The flefti of the fnake alfo
dried, and made into broth j is much more nutritive
than that of vipers, and very efficacious againrt con?
fumpiipns. ' •' '

■ ^t',*? ■'■.'•/.''''/f.'';.'

. The LONG BLACIC SNAKE, thtffe are alfo of
two forts, both of which is exai^ly fimilar in Ihape
and fize, only the belly of the one is a light red, the

y- >*■

v.

'h.

.-iv

■m^

' Z'^Vi^A

%

s^

CARVER»s TRAVELS.

other a faint blue ; all the upper parts of their bo- ]
dies are black and fcaly. They are in general from '
fiii 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-
fuit of birds and fquirrels, which are their chief food ;
and thefe, it is faid, they charm by their looks, and
render incapable of efcaping from them. Their ap-
piearance 'Carries terror with it to ihofe who are un-
acquainted with their inability to hurt, but they iare
perfedly inoffenfive and free from venom.

The STRIPED or GARTER SNAKE is exa£V-
]y the fame as the fpecies found in other cli-
mates.

The WATER SNAKE is much like the Rattle
^nake in fhape and fize, but is not endowed with
tJtic fame venomous powers, being quite harmlefs, •"

The HISSING ,SNAKE I have already parti-
ciilarly defcribed, when I treated, in my journal, of
Lake Erie.

The GREEN SNAKE is ajjout a foot and an
half lon^, and in colour fo near to grafs apd 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, ds thofe who
pafs 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 Amiericai but is very feldom
to be feen. h is of a middle lize, and receives its
name from a thorn-like dart in its tail, with which
H is faid to inflidt a mortal wound.

.. -J • ■ \,'..- . ■ f , •

:■<.•■'-, •:«

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CARVER'3 TRAVELS.

3+5

titilJ. .

^ The SPECKLED SNAKE is an aqueous reptile,
al>out two feet and a half in length, but without
venom. Its ikin, which is brown and white, with
fome fpots of yellow in it, is ufed by tlie Americans
as a cover for the handles of whips, and it renders
them very pleafmg to the fight.

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 ribband tied round it. This odd
reptile is frequently found in the bark of trees, and
among old logs. ^

TheTWO.'HEADED SNAKE. The only fnake
of this kind that was ever feen in America, was
found about the year 1762, near Lake Champlain,
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 fnake, but
it was fumilhed with two heads exa^Wy fimilar,
which united at the neck. Whether this was a dif-
tind fpecies of fnaljes, and was able to propagate its
likeneis, or whether it was an accidental formation,
I know not. ,

,.1.^,,-r

. ^:•■%■^

The TORTOISE or LAND TURTLE. The
ihape of this creature is fo well kno\Vn that it is un-
neceifary to defcribe it. There are feven or eight
forts of them in America, fome of which are beau-
tifully variegated, even beyond defcription. Tht
(hells of many have fpots of red, green, and yellow
in them, and the chequer work is compofed of fmall
fquares curioufly difpofed. The mod beautiful fort
ofthefe creatures are the fmalleft, and the bite of
them is faid to be venomous.

4,) t'.*,^*! ■(

• ■•>. '

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CARVER'S Travels.

LIZARDS, S5f<:.

Though there are numerous kinds of this clafs of
the animal creation, in the country I treat of, I ihail
only take notice of two of them ; which are termed
.the Swift and the Slow Lizard.

\f

; The SWIFT LIZARD is about fix inches long,
and has four legs and a tail. Its body, which is
blue, is prettily flriped with dark lines fhaded with
-yellow ; but the end of the tail is totally blue. It is
io remarkable agile, that jp an inflant it is out of
light, nor can its movements be perceived by the
quickefl eye j fo that it might more juftly be faid to
vanifti, than to run away. This fpecies are fuppofed
to poifon thofe they bite, but are not dangerous, as
they never attack perfons that approach them, chocf-
ing rather to get fuddenly out of their reach.

. . «:■■■■

#

The SLOW LIZARD is of the fame fhape as
the Swift, but its colour is brown j it is moreover
of an oppofire difpofuion, being altogether as flow in
its movements as the other is fwift. It is remarka-
ble that thefe lizards are extremely brittle, and will
bre^k 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 fliape as the common fort, but
fmaller and with longer claws. It is ufually found
on trees, flicking clofe 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 dift'nguilhed from it. Thefe creatures are
only heard during the twilight of the ^morning and
evening, or juft before and after a fliower of rain>

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CARVER'S TRAVELS.

141

vifhtn they make a croaking noife fome\that fhriller
than that of a frog, which might be heard to« great
diflance. 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* j. ??.;^

>. >v

INSECTS.

HV'^."^

vr

^4v The interior parts of North- America abound with
nearly the fame infers as are met with in the fame
parallels of latitude ; and the fpecies of them are fo
numerous and diverfified, that even a fuccin£t defcrip-
tioA of the whole of them would 611 a volume ; Khali
therefore confine myfelf to a few, which I believe are
almod peculiar to this country ; the Silk Worm, the
Tobacco Worm, the Bee, the Lightning Rugi the
Water Bug, and the Horned Bug.

The SILK WORM is nearly the fame as thdfeoir
France and Italy, but will not produce the fame
quantity 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 sl (ling or horn near a
quarter of an inch long, 4-,. %^; -:v:^^-'^-m^:'^wip<0^^

f •.■j'„

:4r:

^J.;

The Bees in America principally lodge their
honey in the earth, to fecure it from the ravages of
the i^ears, who are remarkably fond, of it.

. The LIGHTNING BUG or FIRE FLY is about
the fisse of a bee, but it is of the beetle kind, having
like that infeft two pair of wings, the upper of which
Are of a firm texture, to defend it from danger. When

■1 .;,/•

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CARVER'S TRAVELS.

|t fliedy and the wings are expanded, there is under
thefe a kind of coat, conftrudted aifo like wings,
"which is luminous ; and as the infeft pafles 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 par( only ihines, and throws the
light ^n 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 conftantly of the lame
xnagiiltude, even when it flies; but feems to depend
6n the ex'panfion or contradion 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
fiih, it having much nlore the appearance of real
fire. They feem to be fenfible of the power they
are poflefled of, and to know the mofl; fuitable
tim^ for exertiiig it, as in a very dark night they
are pioch more numerous than at any other time.
Thqy are only feen during the fummer months 6i
Jun0, July, and Augult, and then at no other time
but is the night. Whether from their coFour, which
is a dufky brown, fhey 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
Tippear like innumerable tranflent gleams of light.
In dark nights, when there is much lightning with-
' out rain, they feem as if.they wiflied either to imi-
tate or aflifl: the flafhes ; for during the intervals,
they are uncommonly agile, and endeavour to throw
t)ut every ray they can colle6t. Notwithftanding
this eflFulgent appearance, thefe infeds are perfedly
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 almoll the
finalleft' print. ^ Ji0v '■■''■'' v .'-f.'^

^'

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-CARyERn TRAVELS,

34J

The WATER BUG is of a brown colour, about
^he fize of a pea, and in fhape nearly oval ; it has
many legs, by means of which, it paflesovtJr the
furface of the water with fuch incredible fwiftnefs,
that it feeins to Hide or d$irt itfelf along. . |.

The HORNED BUG, or, as it is fometimes ,
termed, the ^TAG BEETLE, is of a dufky JDrowiv .
colour, nearly approachin;^ to black, about an incHi
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 hat-d ; they are branched like thofe of a flag,
frbm whenc* it receives its name. They fly about -
in the evening, and^ prove very troublefome to thofe
who ire in the fields at that time. ' :.'[" ;!* Y;

I muft not omit that the LOCUSTT is a lepten- .
nial infe£l, as they are only feen, a fmall number
of ftragglers excepted, every feven years, when '
they inf^it thefe parts ai)d the interior colonies in
large fwarms, .md do a great deal of mifchief. The
years when il.ey thus arrive are denominated* the ^ "

focuft years.;'i : Y ■ ^'-'^^'^ '"''

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CARVER'S TRAVELS.

CHAPTER XIX.

(.

■ . t

ty M^ Trees, Shrubs^ Roots, Herbs, Flowers y hfc.

'y\

X SHALL here obfeive the fame method
that I have purfued in the preceding chapter, and
having igivvii a liil of the trees, he. which are na-
tives of the interior parts of North- America, par-
ticularize fnch only as differ from the produce of
other countries, or, being little known, have not
been defcribed.

■ ^^

OF TREES.

< .

vv .■

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 Poplar, the Wickopick or Suckwicfc,
the Spruce, the Horn-beam, and the Button Wood
Tree.

The OAK. There are feveral forts 6i oaks in
thefe parts ; the black, the white, the red, tbo,
yellow, the grey, the fwanip oak, and the chefnyt
oak ; the five former vary but little in their external
appearance, the fhape of the leaves, and the colour

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tfA^VtVL^s TiiVELS.

349

6f th« bark being fo much alike, that they are
fcarceiy di(lingui(hable ; but the body of the tree
wheii fawed difcovers the variation, which chiefly
confifts in the colour of the wood, ihey being all
very hard, and proper for buildrng. The fwamp
oak differs materially from the others, both in the
fhape of the leaf, which is frtialler, and m the bark,
which is fmoother ; and likewife as it grows only in
a rrioift, gravelly foil. It is efteemed the tougheft
of all woods, being fo flrong yet pliable, that it is
often made ufe of inftead of whalebone, and is
equally ferviceable. The chefnut oak aifo h greatly
different fVom the fathers, particularly in the (hape
of the leaf, which much refembles that of the chef-
nut-tree, and for this reafon it is fo denominated.
It is neither fo (Long as the former fpecies, nor fa
tough as the latter, but is of a nature proper to be
fplit into rails for fences, in which ftate it will en-
dure a coniiderable time. > ' <^ ^

The PINE TREE. That fpecies of the pine
tree peculiar to this part of the continent is the
white, the quality of which I need not defcribe, as
the timber of it is fo well known under the name of
deals. It growi here in great plenty, to an amazing
height and iize, and yields an excellent turpeajtine,
though not in fuch quantities, as thofe in the nor-
thern pans of Europe. , V? : ii.

The MAPLE. Of this tree ihert are two fort»;'
the hard and the foft,-both of which yield a lufcious
juice, from which the Indians, by boiP.ng, make
very good fugar. The fap of the former is much
richer and fweeter than th<? latter, but the foft pro-
duces a greater quantity. 1 he wood ,of the hard
maple is very beautifully veined and curled, and
when wrought into cabinets, tables, gunftocks, &c.

■>.r;,>-. ^ ;

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CARVER'S TRAVELS.

IS greatly valued. Tliat of the foft fort differs }ti
its texture, wanting the variegated grain of the
hard ; it alfo grows more ftraight and i*ree' from
branches, and is more eaiily fplit. It likewife may
be didinguifhed from the hard, as this grows ia
meadows and low- lands, that on the hills and up-
lands. The leaves are (haped alike, but thofe of
the foft maple are much the largeft, and of a deep-
er green.

, The ASH. THere are feveral forts of this tree
in ihefe parts, but, that to which I fhall confine my
defcription, is the yellow afh, which is only found
near the head branches of the MiiTiflippi. This
tree grows to an amazing height, and the body of

'' it is fo firm and found, th?t the French traders- who
gc into that country from Louifiana, to purchafe
furs, make oif them periaguays ; this they do by
excavating them by fire, and when they are com-
pleted, convey in them the produce of their ;rade
to New- Orleans, where they find a good market
both for their -veflTels and cargoes. The wood of
this tree greatly refembles that of the common afh ;
but it might be diflinguiihed fioih any other tree
by its bark ; the rofs or out-fide bark being near
eighr inches thick, and indented witH furrows more
than fiz inches deep, which make thofe that are
arrived to a great bulk appear unco.mmonly rough ;
and by this peculiarity they may be readily known. "
The rind or infide barH is of the fame thicknefs as
that of other trees, biit its colour is a fine bright
yellov , infomuch that if it is but ilightly handled,
it \»ill leave a fiaiin 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 arifes
between that and the body of the tree, it will leave
ib deep a tindure that it will require three or four
days to wear it off. Many ufeful qualities belong-

ip

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CARVERS TRAVELS.

3H

kig to this tree I doubt not will be difcovered in
time, befidesits proving a valuable acquiiition to the
dyer. •

The HEMLOCK TREE grows in every part of
America, in a greater or lefs degree. It is an ever-
green qf a very large growth, and has leaves fome-
w hat like that of yew ; it is hdwever quite ufclefs,
and only an incumbrance to the ground, the "wooa
being of a very courfe grain, and full of wind-fhakes'
or cracks.

The BASS or WHITE WOOD Is a tree of a
middling fize, and the whJteft and fofteft wood th&t
grows ; when quite dry, it fwhns on the w.\ter like
a cork; in the fettlements the turners make of it
it>owls» trenchers, and diflies, which wear fmcoth,
and will lafl a long time ; but when applied to any
other purpofe, it is far ftom durable. '*'

The WICKOPICK or SUCKWIGK- appears to
be a fpecies of the white wood, and is diftingui(he4
from it by a peculiar quality in the bark, which
when pounded, and moiftened with a !'':'e water,
inftantly becomes a- matter of the confiftence and
nature of fize. -With thifs the Indians pay their
canoes, and it greatly exceeds pitch, or .a.ny
other material ufuaily appropriated to that pur-
pofe > for befides its adhefive quality, it is of fo
oily a nature, that the water cannot penetrate through
it, and its repelling power abates not for a confide-
rable time.

«

The BUTTON WOOD is a tree of the largeft
lize, and might be diftinguifhed by its bark, which
is quite fmooth and prettily rnottled. The wood is
very proper for the ufe of cabinet makers. It is
covered with fmall hard burs, which fpring from

$5*

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

<» I

, .1 V .. ■•

' i

its branches, that appear not unlike buttons^ 9n4
from tbefe 1 belkve ic receives its name.

NUT TREES.

'0J-'

The Butter or Oil Nut, the Walnut, the Hazle
Nut, the Beech Nut, the Pecan Nut, the Chdhut,
the Hickory. v:'- ■^^^«^'.' .

The BUTTER or OIL NUT. As no mention
Ifias been made by any authors of this nut, 1 (hall
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 l yard
in circumference, is full of branches, the twigs of
which are ihort and blunt, and its leaves refemble
thofe of the walnut. The nut has a ihell like that
JFruit, which when ripe is more furrowed, and more
eafily cracked ; it is alfp much longer and larger
than a walnut, and contains a greater quantity of
kernel, which is very oily, and of a rich agreeable
flavour. I am perfuaded that a much purer oil than
that of olives, might be extra€^ed from this nut.
The infide bark of this tree dyes a good purple ; and
it is faid, varies in its ihade, being either darker or
lighter, according to the month in which it is ga-
thered. ■ ■, . '".X---' '• ■ ■ y-:-:,r ^.J.

The BEECH NUT. Though this tree grows
exaftly like that of the fame name in Europe, yet
it produces nuts equally as good as chefntits ; on
which bears, martens, fquirrels, partridges, turkeys,
and many other beafts and birds feed. The nut is
contained, whilO: growing, in an outHde cafe, like
. ihat of a chefnut, but not fo prickly ; and the coat
of the infide ihell is alfo fmooth like, that ^- only its

t:

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CARVERks TRAVELS.

353

form is nearly triangular. Vaft quantities of th?m
lie fcattered about in the woods, and tvipf^y with
food great numbers of the creatures juft mentioned.
The leaves, which are white, continue on the trees
during the whole winter. A deco^ion made of them
is a certain and expeditious cure for wounds which
arife from burping or fcalding, as well as a reftora^
tive.for thofe members that are nipped by the froii.

.pfA'<V*j'

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 Ihell is eafily cracked, and the kernel fbaped like
that of a walnut. This tree grqws ^hiefly near the
Illinois River.

J I The HICKORY is alfo of the walnut iund^ 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, &c. It is
alfo very good fire-wood, and as it burns, aa excel*
I^Qt fug^r (^Qils from it.

' ^•^UcXf^^mp^Mf^ R U.I T T R E E S, ■ • ' ... ■ . .y

^^■v, •:. "^T^i-^^^'-mi-^'i

'4'^k

'r^-m^' ^^M"^'- «s- :?> » ■

I need not obferve that .thefe are all the fpon-
taneous produdions of nature, which have never
received the advantages of ingrafting, tranfplanting, ,
or manuring. ■.^^^'^^.^^^^^ ; .' 2':

The Vine, the Mulberry Tree, the Crab Appl^
Tree, the Plum Tree, the Cherry Tree, and thq .
Sweet Gum Tree. . .;.,,.

< \

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354

CARVER'S TfjLAVELSr

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The VINE is very common here, and of three
kihds ; thif firfl: ibrt hardly deferves the name of a
grape; the fecond much refembles the Burgundy
grape, and if expofed to the fun, a good wine might
be made from them. The third fort refembles Zante
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.' •".>7,.<»'#vr,.^^

* The MULBERRY TREE fs -of two kinds,^
red and white, and nearly of the fame iize of thofe
bf France and Italy, and grow in fuch Plenty, as tp
feed- any quantity of filk worms^-' :'^ i-^M: ;t I' ^^^^

■[:■ The CRAB APPLE TREE.'bears a fruit that is
inueh larger and better flavoured than thole of Eu-

fppe- • •.„-:■' "'"' ■■■- ■ '-m

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 fmaller. Both thefe are of
a good flavour, and are greatly efteemed by the In-
dians, whofetafte is not refined, but who are fatis-
fied with the pi-odudions of nature in' their unim-
proved ftate. ' .■ '-l'^:'^--:.: -\--'-:. '::■■•■'' -^^ '.■:,■

The CHERRY TREL. There are three forts
of cherries in this country ; the black, the red, and
• the fand cherry ; the two latter may with more pro-
priety be ranked among the flirubs, as the bufh that
bears the fand cherries almoft creeps along the
ground, and the other rife§ not above eight or^ ten
reet 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 clufiers like grapes ;
t}ie trees which be?ir them being very fruitful, they

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CARVEIt's TRAVELS.

35i

are generally loaded, but the fruit is not good fo eat';
however, they give an agreeable flavour tobrandy>
and turn it to the colour of claret. The red cherries
grow in the greateft profufion, and hang in bunches,
like the black fort juft defcribed ; fo that the bufhes
>vhich bear them appear at a dillance like folid bo*>
dies of red matter. Some people admire this fruit,
but they partake of the nature and talU of allum,
leaving a difagreeable roughnefs in the throat, and
being very aftringent. As I have already defcribed
the fand cherries, which greatly exceed the two
other forts, both in flavour and lize, I ftiall give no
further defcription of them. The wood of the black
cherry tree is very ufeful, and wprks well into cabi-
net ware. ,. , i^ ^>.

The SWEET GUM TREE, or LIQUID AM-
BER, (Cop?lm) is not only extremely common,
but it afords 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 in-
dented with five points, like a itar. This balm is
reckoned by the Indians to be an excellent febrifuge,
and it cures wounds in two or three days.

%-'::n^:S-^;>^i'f':%.it^ SHRUBS* ii»f/v4■^^:.' - :'

The Willow^ Shin "Wood, Shumack, Saflafras, the
Prickly Afti, Moofe Wood, Spoon Wood, Large El-
der, Dwarf Elder, Poifonous Elder, Juniper, Shrub
Oak, Sweet Fern, the Laurel, ihe- Witch Hazic^
the Myrtle Wax Tree, Winter Green, the Fever
Bufli, the Cranberry Bufh, the Goolberry Bufli,

>s. •• „ ,

'¥'

$ii

CAHVEk'. TRAVl^LS.

the Current Bufli, the Whortlc Btrty, the Raf.
berry^ the Black Berry, and the Ghoak Berry.

The WILLOW. There are. feveral fpecies of
the'wilbw, the mofl remarkable of which is a fmall
fort that grows on the banks of the MifGffippi, and
fon)e other places adjacent. The bark of this (hrub
fupplies the beaver with its winter food; and where
the water has Waflied the foil from its roots, they
appear to confiil of fibres interwoven together like
thread, the colour df which is of an inexprefTibly
fine fcarlet ; with this the Indians tinge many of the
ornamental parts of their drefs. iX

SHIN W00l>. This extraordinary fhrob grows
in the foreds, and rifing like a vine, rpns near the
ground for fix or eight feet^ and tnen takes root
again ; in the fame manner taking root and fpring-
ing up fucceffiveiy, one Halk covers a large fpace ;
this proves very troublefome to the hafty traveller,
by uriking againft his (hins, and entangling hit
legs ; from which it has acquired its name.

The SASSAFRAS is a word well known for its
medicinal qualities. It might with equal propr /
be termed a' tree as a ihrub, as it fpmettmes grow^
thirty feet high ; but in general it does not reach
higher than thofe of the fhrub kind. The leaves,
which yield an agreeable fragrance, are large, and
nearly feparated into three diviiions. It bears a
reddifh brown berry, of the fize and fhape of Pi-
mento, and which is fometimes ufed in the colonies
as a fubftitQte for that fpice. The bark or roots
of this tr^e is infinitely fuperipr to the wood for its
ufe in reedicine, and I am furprifed it is fo feldon^r
to be met with, as its efficacy is fo much greater.

y^

I -*.»»-

'i?'-.

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CARVER*. TRAVELS.

357

The PRICKLY ASH is a (hrub that fometimes
grows to the height of ten or fifteen feet, and has
a leaf exaftly refembling that of an a(h, but it re-
ceives the epithet to its name from the abundance
of Ihort thorns with which every branch is covered,
and which renders it very troublefome to thofe who
pafs through the fpot where they grow thick. It
alfo bears a fcarlet berry» which, when ripef has a
fiery tafte, Ifke pepper. The bark of this tiee,
particularly the bark of the roots, is highly ef«
teenied by the natives for its medicinal qualities. I
have already mentioned one inftance of its efficacy, ?
and there is no doubt but that the decodlion of it willf
expeditioufiy and radically remove all impurities of
the blood.

The MOOSE WOOD grow« about four feet high; T
and is very full of branches j but what renders it .
worth notice is its bark, ]ivhich is of fo ftrong andi
pliable a texture, that being peeled off at arty fea4v%
ion, and twiiled, 9iakes equally as good cordagef
as hemp. . '^

■ >,>;-.

The SPOON WOOD is a fpecies of the laurelj
and the wood wh«n fawed refembles the box wood*'

The ELDER, commonly termed the poifonous' .
elder, nearly refembles the other forts in its leaves c
and branches, but it grows much (Iraighter, and is
only found in fwamps and liioift foils. This (hrub
is endowed with a very extraordinary quality, that
renders it poifonous to fome conftitutions, which
it affeds if the perfon only approaches within a few .
yards of it, whiirt others may even chew the leaves-'
or the rind, without receiving the leaft detriment frortV^,
them ; the poifon however is not mortal, though it'
operates very violently on the infe(n:ed perfon whofei.
• Z z .... •-.

.iris's*;. .•*.■'• . ■ ..

,?:»

358

CARVER'a TRAVELS..

1 ;.

body and head fwell to an amazing fize, and are
covered with eruptions, that at their height refeni-.
ble the confluent fmall pox. As it grows alio in
many of the provinces, the inhabitants cure its ve^ »
nom by drinking fafFron tea, and anointing the
external parts with a mixture cpmpofed of cream
and marih mallows.

The SHRUB OAK is exaaiy fimilar to the oak
tree, both in its wood and leaves, and like that,
bears an acorn, but it never rifes from the ground
above four or five feet, growing crooked and knotty.
It is found chiefly on a dry, grivelly foil.

The WITCH HAZLE * grows very bufliy,'
about ten feet high, and is covered early in May
with numerous white blofToms. When this fhrub
is in bloom, the Indians efteem it a further ' idica-
tion that the froft is entirely gone, and th they
might fow their corn. It has been faid, that it is
poHeired of the power of attra£ling gold and iilver,
and that twigs of it are made ufe of to difcover
where the veins of thefe metals lie hid ; but I am
apprchenfive that this is only a fallacious ftory, and
hot to be depended on ; however, that fuppoliiion Iies
given it the name of Witch Hazle. V f^'-r^n^

V The MYRTLE WAX TREE Is' a fetltout

%four or five feet high, the leaves of which are larger

than thofe of the common myrtle, but they fmell

cxa^Sly alike. It bears its fruit in bunches, fike a

nofegay, riling 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

<;overed with a gluey fubftance, which being boiled

in water, fwims on the furface of it, and becomes a

kind ofgreen wax ; this is more valuable than bees

WAX, ^being of a more brittle nature, but mixed

(;.:;;,•-.•.

i*,..

M^-

A- -

)m

CARVER'S TRAVELS,

359

with it makes a good candle, which, as it burns,
fends forth an agreeable fcent.

WINTER GREEN. This is an eVergreftn, of
the fpecies of the myrtle, and is found on dry heaths ;
the flowers of it are white, and in the form of a rofe,
but not larger than a filver penny ; in the winter it
is full of red berries, abou'^ 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 hlgheft pcrfedlon. The Indians eat thefe
berries, efteeming them very balfamic, and invigo-
^ rating to the (lomach. The people inhabiting thfe
inferior colonies fteep both the fprigs and berries
in beer, and ufe it as a diet drink for cleanfing the
bipod from ftorbutic diforders.,

Il' The FEVER BUSH grows about five or fix

feet high ; its leaf is like that of a Hlach, and it
bears a reddifh berry of a fpicy flavour. The flalks
of it are exceffively brittle. A decoQion 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, ^nd likewife much efleemed on the fame
account, by the inhabitants of the interior parts* of
ihe colonies.

.^^ The CRANBERRY BUSH. Though the fruit
of this bufh greatly refembles in fize and appearance
that of the common fort, which grows on a fmall
vine, in morafTes 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 flourifliing only in
morafTes, cannot be tranfplanted or cultivated, the
former, if removed at a proper feafon, would be a

■" VV^.Vv

^^ ^ CARVER'S TRAVELS.

valuable acqiiifuton to the garden, and with pr^eK
nurture prove equally as good, if not better.

The CHOAK BERRY. The ihriib thus term-
ed by the natives grows about five or fix feet high,
and bears a berry about the fizeof 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 flavour. Is extremely tart, and leaves a
roughnefs in the mouth and throat when eaten, that
has gained ft the name of choajk berry.

ROOTS AND PLANTS.

Elecampagne, Spikenard, Angelica, Sarfapal^'
rilla, Ginfeng, Gfound Nuts, Wild Potatoes, Li-
Guofice, Snake Root, Gold Thread, Solomon's
Sear, Devil's Bite, Blood Root, Onipns, Garlick,
WJd Parfnip, Mandrakes, liellebore White and
B'ack.

SPIKENARD, vulgarly calfed in the colonies
Petty-Morrel. This plant appeats to be exadiy
•the fame as the Afiatic fpikehard, fo much, valued
by the tmcients. It grows near the fides of brooks,
in rocky places, ai^d its fiem, 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 refpefls like thofe
of the elder, only rather larger. Thefe are of fuch
a balfamic nature, that when infufed in fpirits, they
make a moil palatable and reviving cordiaK

; SARSAPARILLA. The root of this plant^
which is the mod eftimable part of it, is about the
fize of a goofe quill, and runs in different directions.

•'H

*T*

•- « ■ ■■ ■■■ ■■ . .■ ■ ■/ '.' ■^r-.if '* ,

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

On

ttvlned and crooked to a great length in the ground ;
from the principal ftem of it fpring many fmaller
fibres, all of which are tough and flexible. From
the roots immediately (hoots a ftalk about a foot and
an half long, which at the top branches into three
ftems ; each of thefe has three leaves, much of the
fhape and fize of a walnut leaf , and from the fork
of each of the three ftcms grows a bunch of bluifli
white flowers, refembling thofe of the fpikenard.
The bark of the roots, which alone fliould be ufed
in medicine, is of a bitterifli flavour, but aromatic,
being a gentle fudorific, and very powerful in at-
tenuating the blood when impeded by grofs hu-
mours.

•

GINSENG is a root that was once fuppofed to
grow only in Korea, from whence it was ufualiy
exported to Japan, and by that means found its
■way into Europe j but it has been lately difcovered
to be alfo a native of North-America, where it
grows to as great perfettion, and is equally valua-
ble. Its root is like a fmall carrot, but not fo taper
at the end j it is fometimes divided into two or more
branches ; in all other refpedls it refembles farfapa-
rillu in it? growth. The fade of the root is bitter-
ifli. In the eaftem parts of Afia it bears a great
price, being there confidered as a panacea, and is
the laft refuge of the inhabitants in all disorders ;
•when chewed, it certainly is a great ftrengthener of
the ftomach. 'k

GOLD THREAD. This is a plant of the fmall
vine kind, which grows in the fwampy places, and lie?
on ths ground. The roots fpread themfelvcji juft:
under the furface of the morafs, and are eafily drawn
up by handlulls. They refemblfe a large entangled
fkein of thread, of a fine bright gold colour : and I

- -' (»..•: ;. ■■

j<^

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

am perfuaded would yield a beautiful and permanent
yellow dye. It is alfo greatly efteemed both by the
Indians and calonifts, as a remedy for any forenefs
in the mouth, but the tafte of it is er:quifitely bit-
ter.

I

i^ ,■•■<*

.»».'■

SOLOMON'S SEAL is a plant that grows on the
fides of rivers, and in ^ich meadow land. I^ rifes'
in the whole to about three feet high, the" Jtalks bc-
:ng two feet, when the leaves begin to fpread them-
felves, and reach a foot farther. A part in every
root has an impreflion upon it about the iize of a-
iixpence, which appears as if it were made by a feal,
and from thefe it receives its name. It is greatly va-
lued on account of its being a fine purifici of the
blood. „

J.'

DEVIU» BITE is another wild plant, which
grows in the fields, and receives its name from a
print that feems to be made by the teeth in the roots.
The Indians fay that this was once an univerfal re-
medy for every diforder that human nature is Inci-
dent to ; but fome of the evilYpirits envying man-
kind the poffeffion of fo efficacious a medicine, gave
the root a bite, which deprived it of a great part of

Its

f-.f

virtue.

^^•\:rr

'■^^^< '

■y'-'-- '^^ .'--v.^ - "'

^LOOD ROOT. A tori of^p^ntam th^t fprfiigs
out of the giound in fix or feven long rough leaves,
ihe veins of which are red ; therootof itis like a
fmall carrot, both in colour and appearance ; when
broken, the infide of it is of a deeper colour than the
nutfide, and diftils feveral drops of juice that look
like blood. This is a llrong emetic, but a very dan-

gerous one.

'W,.tVl •

/•'

■ /

.■•.;■ V

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

^i

HERBS.:

Saltn, Nettles,* Cinque Foil, Eyebright, Sanicle,
Plantain, Rattle ^nake Plantain, Poor Robin's
Plantain, Toad Plantain, Maiden Hair, Wild Dock,
Rock Liverwort, Noble ^ Liverwort,, Bloodwort,
Wild Beans, Ground Ivy, Water CreiTes, Yarrow,
M^y Weed, Gargit, Skunk Cabbage or Poke,
Wake Robin, Betony, Scabious Mullen, Wild
Peafe, Moufe Ear, Wild Indigo, Tobacco, and
Cat Mint. • •

i^ SANICLE has a root which is thick towards the
upper part, and full of finall fibres below ; the
leaves of it are broad, roundilh, hard, fmooth,
and of a fine fliining green ; a ftalk 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 reddilh white, ihaped like a
wild rofe. A tea made of the root is vulne|:ary and
baliamic. ' ^m':- ■ ^-^^H-:" ' -?'

-'•ry

V-:'-

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, ^d five inches long ;
from the centre of thefe arifes a fmall Italk, nearly
fix inches long, which bears a little white flower ;
the root is about the fize of a goofe quill, and much
bent and divided into feveral branches. The leaves
o» this herb are more efficacious than any other part
of it for the bite of the reptile from which it receives
its name ; and being chewed and applied immediatelv
to the wound, and fome of the juice fwallowed, fe,l-;
dom fails of averting very dangerous fymptoms. Sa
convinced are the Indians of ihe power of this in- *
fallible antidote, that for a trifling bribe of fpiritu-

8^4

C4,f.ypR»s TRAVEJ^S.

ous liquor, they will at anytime permit a ratr!«-
fnake to drive its fangs in^o their fiefh. It is to be
remarked, that during thofe months in which the
biteof thefe creatures is nioft vepomous, this re-
medy is in its greated parfedlion, and mod luxuri-
ant in its growth,

POOR ROBIN'S PLANTAIN is of the fame
fpecies as the; laft, but more diminutive in every re-
ipecSl ; it receives its name from its f^ze, and the
poor land on which it grpws. It is a good medict?
nal herb, and often adminiftered with fuccefs in fen
vers and internal weaknefles.

TOAD PLANTAIN rcfemhles the common
plantain, only it grow^ muqh ranker, and is thus
denominated becaufe toads love to harbour under it.

ROCK LIVERWORT is a fort of Liverwort
that grows on rocks, and is of the nature of kelp
or mofs. It is efteemed as an exceUenc remedy
agaiilfl: declines.

GARGIT or SICOKE is a large kind of weed,
the leaves of which are about fix inches long, and
twp inches and a half broad ; they refemble thofe
pffpinagein their, colour and texture, but not in
fhape. The root is very large, from which fpring
ditFe.rent ftalks that run eight or ten feet high, and
are full of red berries ; thefe hang ip clulters in the
month of September, and are generally called pi-
geon berries, as thofe birds tnen feed on them.
When the leaves firft fpring frpm the ground, -after
being boiled., they are a nutritious and wholefome
vegetable, but when they are grown nearly to their ^
full lize, they acquire a poifonous quality. The
roots appHed to the hands and feet of a perfon af-
|iifted with a fever, prove a very powerful abforbejiU

,i..

CARVER'S TRAVELS

m

SKUNK CABBAGE or POKE is an herb that
gt-ows in moiil aad fwampy places. The leaves o£
it are about a foot long, and hx inches broad, near<*
iy oval, but rather pointed. The roots are cosmpo-
led of great numbers of fibres, a lotion of whiich ii
made ufe of by the people of the colonies for the
cure of the itch. There iflues a ftrong ttiulky fmell
from this herb, foinething like the animal of the
fame name, before defcribed, and on that account it
is fo termed. •'

WAKE ROBIN is an herb that grows in fwam-
py lands ; its root refembles a fmall turnip, and if
taikd \f/i\\ greatly iifflame the tongue, and imme-
diately convert it from its natural Ihape into a round
hard fubitance ; in which ilate it will continue for
fome time, and during this no other part of the
mouth will be aifeded. But when dried, it lofcs
its adringent quality, and becomes beneficial to
mankind, for if grated into cold water, and ta?reii
internally, it is very good for all complaints of the
bowels.

WILD INDIGO is an Kerb of the fame fpecies
as ♦hat from whence indigo is made in the fouthern
colonies. It grows on oneftalkto the height of five
or fix inches from the ground, when it divides into
many branches, from which ilTue a great number
of fmall bard bluifh leave$ that fpread to a great
breadth, ai.d among thofe it bears a yellow flower ;
the juice of it has a very dilagreeable fcent.

CAT MINT has a yvoody rooC, divided into fe-
veral branches, and it lends forth a ftalk about three
feet high j the leaves are like thofe of the nettle or
betony, and they have a ftrong fmeil ofmint, whli
a biring acrid talle j the flowers grow oa the tops

366

CARVER'8 TRAVELSl

of the branches, and are of a faint purple or wRrtidV
colour, hr is called cat mint, becaufe it is faid
that cats have an antipathy to it, and will not
let it grow. It has hardly the virtues of- common
mint. *•

■%..

IT

- ; ■

FLOWERS.

;■♦.;-

I^eart's Eafe, Llllies red and yellow. Pond Lillies,
Cowflips, May Flowers, Jeflamine, Honeyfuckles,
Rock Honeyfuckles, Rofes red arid white, Wild
Hollyhock, Wild Pinks, Golden Rod.

I ftall not enter into a minute defcription of the
. flowers above recited, but only juft obferve, that
they much referable thofe of the fame name which
grow in Europe, and are as beautiful in colour, and
as perftdt in odour, as they can be fuppofed to be in
their wild uncultivated ftate. r,-^..

FARINACEOUS and LEGUMITsTOUS

V/|,:h:: r- ^^^^ '.^•^; ROOTS, &c. 'i^'^-^; ^. :;^A--i-

Maize or Indian Corn, Wild Rice, Beans, the
.: Squafh, &c. . -i'- c^-*- ^i^^^.^.vv.

%■■:

MAIZE or INDIAN CORN grows from fi;c to
ten feet high, on a llalk 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 feme diftanc6
from the fruit on the fame plant, grow like the ears

• For an account of Tobacco,' fee a trcatife I havefiublilhed
on the culture of that plaut. . ,

.■■?

- }

.*'' V

-V '

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

.1^7

^g,i

of ©at-8, and are fometimes white, yellow, or of a pur-
|)le colour. The feeds are as large as peafe, and like
ihiim quite naked and fmooth, but of a roundifli
iiirface, rather compreffed. One fpike generally
coniiits 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 hzke them before the fire.
I have already mentioned that fome nations eat it in
.cakes before it is ripe, in which ftite it is very
agreeable to the palate, and extremely nutritive.

'■At Ui .H. ''' .' Vt-

Wild rice. This grain, which grows in the
greatert plenty throughout the interior parts of
North-America, is the moil valuable of all . the
■fpontaneous produdions 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 fweetnefs and nutritious quality
of it attract an infinite number of wild fowl of every
kind, which flock from dillant climes, to enjoy this
rare repaft ; and by it become inexpreifibly fat and
delicious. In future periods it will be of great fer-
vice 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, »he fifft fettlers are often expofed to
great hardlhips from the want of an immediate re-
fource for neceiTary food. This ufeful grain grows
in th „ water where it is about t\Vo feet deep, and
wheiw it finds a rich, muddy foil. The ftaiks of
it, and the branches or ears that bear the feed, re-

M:

f]7_ ■ - "it

f<-

#'■-"

•fPv

CARVER'S TRAVELS.

femble oats both in their appearance and manner
of growing. The ftalks 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
ftate and to ripen, they run their canoes into the
midft of it, and tying bunches of it together, jufl
below the ears, with bark, leave it in this iituation
three or four weeks longer till it is perfedlly ripe.
About the latter end of September they return to
the river, when each family having its feparate al-
lotment, and being able to diftinguifli their own
property by the manper of faftening the fheaves,
gather in, the portion that belongs to them. This
they do by placing their canoes clofe to the buncHes
of rice, in fuch polition as to receive the gr^in when
it falls, and then beat it out with pieces of wood
formed for that purpofe. Having dbne thisj 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 ikins of fawns, or .young buffaloes, taken
off nearly whole for this purpofe, and fewed into a
fortoffack, wherein they preferve it till the return
of their harvefl. It has been the fubjecl of much
fpeculation, why this fpontaneous grain is not found
in any other regions of America, or in thofe coun-
tries fituated in the fame parallels of latitude, where
the waters are :,s apparently adapted for i(s growth
as in the climate I treat of. As for inflance, none
of the countries that lie to the fouth and eaft of the
great lakes, even from the provinces north of the
Carolina?, to the extremities of Labradore, produce
any of this grain. It is true I found great quantifies
of it in the watered lands near Detroit, between Lr.K'c
Htjron and Lake Erie, but on enquiry I learned thr.t
it never arrived nearer to maturity than juft to blof-
iom J after which it appeared blighted, and died
iway. This convinces me that the north-weft wind,

^■^'

.-*■<;

CARVER'S TRAVELS. ^^9

as I have before hinted, is much more powerful in ,
thefe than in the interior parts ; and that it is mors
inimical to the fruits of the earth, after it has palled
over the lakes, and become united with the wind
which joins it from the frozen regions of the north,
jhan it is further 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 fle(h.

The SQUASH. They have alfo feveral fpecies

«)bf the MELON or PUMKIN, which by fome arc

f called fquafhes, and which ferve many. nations partly

fas a fubititute for bread. Of thefe there is the

round, the crane neck, ihe fmall flat, and the large

oblong fquafii. The finaller forts being boiled, are

eaten during the fummer as vegetables ; and are all

,;f^f a pleafing flavour. The crane-neck, which greatly

i?exce1s all the others, are ufually hung up for a win-

/ ter's flore, and in this manner might be preferved

for feveral months.

=fr*i

t

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*SU.

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t

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^^-.«^:

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(^j*'> '■■* ^h-t '

£i'. •■

— -i»

APPENDIX.

X HE countries that lie between the great

lakes and River MifliiTippi, and from thence fouth-

/ ward to Well Florida, although in the midft of a

large continent, and at a great didance from the

fea, are fo fituated, that a communication between

r. them and other realms might conveniently be

', opened; by which means thofe empires or colonies

4 that may hereafter be founded or planted therein,

I will be rendered commercial ones. The great Ri-

' ver Mifliflippi, 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 veflels of light bur-

, den : notwithftanding which, they have becopic

f powerful and opulent ftates. iV^y?^

*?.,

i The Mifliflippi, as I have before obferved, runs
Yrom north to fouth, and paffes through the moft
fertile and temperate pare of North- America, ex-
cluding only the extremities of it, which verge both
on the torrid and frigid zones. Thus favourably
fituated, when once its banks are covered with in-
habitants, they need not long be at a lofs for means
to eftabliih an extenfive and profitable commerce.
They will Bnd the country towards the fouth almoft
fpontaneoufly producing iilk, cotton, indigo, and
tobacco ^ and the more northern parts^ wine, oil,

■ f

■■^ \,

■#:•

''^''.

■^li^'sm

W-^k

■

1 Ml

%1^

A P I» E N D 1 X.

bee/, eaHow, fkins, baflFalo-wool, and furs ; , with
lead, copper, iron, coals, lumber, corn, rice, iintf
e fruits, beiides eanh and b^rks ioj dying.

ITicfe articles, with which it abounds even to
profufion, may be tranfported to the ocean through
this river, without greater difficuhy than that which
attends the conveyance of merchandize diown fome
of thofe I have juft mentioned. It is true that tht;
Mifliffippi being the boundary between the Englifh
and Spaniih fetiiements, and the Spaniards in pollef-
iion of the mouth of it, they may obftruft the paflTage
of it, and greatly difhearten thofe who make the
firft attempts; yet when the advantages that will
certainly arife to fettlers, are known*, multitudes of
adventurers, allured by the profpedl of fuch abun-
dant riches, will flock to it, and eilablilh themfelves^
though at the expence of rivers of blood.

But (hould the nation that happens to be in pof-
felHoR of New Orleans prove unfriendly to the in-
ternal fettlers, tliey may find a way into the Gulf of
Mexico, by the river Iberville, which empties itfelf
from the Mifliffippi, after paffing through Lake
Maurepas,into LakePontchartrain, which has a com-
munication with the fea within the borders of Welt
Florida. The rivcr^ lbei;ville branches off from the
Miiliilippi about eighty miles above New Orleans,
ai)d though it is at prefent choaked up in fome parts,
it might at an inconliderable expence be made na-
vigable, fo as to anfwcr all the purpofes propof-
ed.

Although the Englifh have acquired fince the bit
peace a more exienfive knowledge-of the interior parts
than were ever obtained before, even by the French,
yet many of their productions ftill remain unknown*
And though I was not deficient either in afiiduity or

1 1

appendix:.

373

attinfion during the (hort time I remained in them,
yet I mud acknowledge that the intelligence I gained
was not fo perfed av I could wifh, and that it re-
quires further refcarches to make the world tho-
roughly acquainted with the real value of thofe long
hidden reainis.

• ' ' . ■ ■ '

. The parts of tne Mifliffippi of which no farvey
has hitherto been taken, amount to upwards of eight
hundred miles, following the courfe of the ilream,
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, .
aud I have the pleafure to find that an adual furvey
of the intermediate parts of the Mifliffippi, between
the Illinois River and the fea, with the Ohio, Che-
I'okee, and Ouabache Rivers, taken on the fpoc 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 inveftigatioii, aided by a folid judgment, will
confirm the reoiarks I have made, and promote the
plan I am here recommending.

I Ihall alfo here give a concife defer! ption of each,
beginning, according to the rule of geographers,
with that which lies niofl: to the north.

It is however neceflary to' 6bferve, that' before
thefe fettlements caii be eftablifliedf grants mufl: be
procured in the manner cuftomary on fuch occaflons,
and the lands be purchafed of thofe who have ac-
quired a right to them by a long pofl*eflion j but no

♦ Thomas Hutchins,' Efqj Capta'ij in his Mitjefty's 6oth, or
Royal American Regiment of \'iH)t,

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greater difficulty will attend the completion of tfi^
point, than the original founders or every colony
on the continent met with to obitru^ their inten-
tions } and the number of Indianf who inhabit thefe
t,ra<5ls being greatly inadequate to their extent, it h'
not to be doubted, but they will readily give up, for
a reafonable confideration, territoriei that arc of^
little ufe to them j or remove, for the accommodatioa
0f their new neighbour!, to landi at a greater dif-^
tance from the Mifliflippi, the navigation of which.^ v W
is not effential to the welfare of their communities.

No. I. The country within tbcfe Hnei, from it«^.
fttuation, is colder than any of the others ; yet lamvj/^
convinced that the air is much more temperate thaa-jl 1
in thofe provinces that lie in the fanve degree of la- 4^: -
titude to the ead of it* The £oil ff excellent, and^/v^ I
there is a great deal of land that is free from woods ''^
in the parts adjoining to the MiiTilBppi ; whilft en
ihe contrary, the north-eadern borders of it are welln^
wooded. Towards the Head of the River St Croix^i^ V
rice grc^s in great plenty, and there is abundance^' :
^f copper. Though the- falls of 8*tnt Anthony are-
fituated ar the fouth eafl: corner ci this divifion, yet
that impediment will not totally obftru^t the navi-
gation, as the Rivjer St Croix, which runs through
a great part of the fouthern fide of it, enters the
Mffliflippi jufl below the Fails, and flows with foc:
gentle a current, that it affords a convenient navi-;:
gation for boats. This tra£t is about one hundred'
miles from north-weft to fouth-eaft, and one hun-
dred and twenty miles from north'eaft to fouth-weft.

No. II. This trad, as 1 have already defcribed
k in my Jouvnal, exceeds the higheft encomiums I
can give it ; notwithftanding which, it is entirely un-
inhabited, and the profufion of bleflfngs that nature
hsis ihowered on this heavenly fpot, return unenjoyed

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A P;i» ^ N D IX.

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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 ;|
howevor, as all the tr»)ders call the lOwer lake bm
that n;)me, I bave fo deiiominated it, contrary taf *
the infc»rmatioft I re( eived from ihe Indians. This
colony 'ying in unequal angles, the dimenfions of it %^
ccmnot be exactly given, but it appears to be on art
average about one hundred and ten niiles long, and
eighty broad.

No. III. The greateft part of this divifion is fitu-
ated on the river Ouifconfm, which is navigable for
boats about one hundred and eighty miles, till it
reache? the carrying place that divides it from the
3Fox Riverr The, Ji^nd which is contained within its
Jimits, is in fome parts mountainous, and in the

^ other confids of fertile meadows and fine pafturage.
It is furnifhed alfo with a great deal of good timber,
and, as is generally the cafe on the banks of the
Miflinippi and its branches, has much fine, opei>,

jtcl^ar land, proper for cultivation. To thefe are
added an inexhauHibte fund of r^hes, in a number
^f lead mines which lie at a little diHance from the
Oulfconfin towards the fouth, and appear to-be UD-
coramonly full of ore. Although the SaL^stcjrtnd
Ottagaumies inhabit a part of this traS, the wholtf' -
of the lands under iheir cultivation does not cXcce(^,,^i.
three hundred aces. Tt is in length from eaft to
wefl about one hundred and fifty miles, and about

- i^ighty from north to fouth.

. No. IV. This colony confifls of knds of various
denominations, fome of which are very good, and
others very bad. The. bgft is fituated ou the bor-
ders of the Green Bay and the Fos River, vfh^
ihere are innumerable acres WYcrcd with fine graff

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AFP END I X.

moftpart of which grows to an aflonlfliing height.

This riyer will atFord a good navigation for boats

^throughout the whole of it^ courfe, which is about

\ I -one hundred and eighty ipiles, except between the

I Winnebago Lake and the Green Bay ; where there

Vr fiire feveral ..^prying-places, in the fpace of thirty

V iniles. The%ik River is rendered remarkable by

, ^ the abundance office that grows on its fliores, and

the almoft infinite numbers of wild fowl that frequent

'its banks. The land which lies near it appears to

be very fertile, and proroifes to produce a fufficieht

fupply of all the neceffaries of life for any number

of inhabitants. A communication might be opened

by thofe who fliall fettle here, either through the

Green ^ Bay, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake

Erie, and Lake Ontario, with Canada, or by way of

the Ouifconfin into the Miflilfippi. This divifion is

. r >kbout one hundred and fixty miles long from north

to fouth, and one hundred and forty broad.-, fTftii^*

No. V. This is an excellent traft o( land, and",
conHdering its interior fituation, has greater advan-
tages than could be expe&ed ; for having the Mif-
fifiippi on its weftern borders, and the Illinois on its
ibuth-eafl:. it has as free a navigation as moil of the
.bthfrs.; The northern parts of it are fomcwhat
ntGfrrttitnoiis, but it contains a great deal of clear
land, the foil of which is excellent, with many fine
tertile meadows, and not a few rich mines. It is
iipwards of two hundred miles from north to fouth,
ftnd one hundred alnd fifty from eall to weft. ., ;,

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^ 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
•MifHiiippi, and the latter into the fame river by
IS;of the Ohio, will readily find a communica<h
^& t^k fisa thrdiigh thcfe. Having alfo the

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APPENDIX-

reiver Miamis paffing through it, which runs into
'Lake Erie, an intercourfe might be eftabliihed vrith

Canada alfo 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 acquiiition as the bell of them.

From north to fouth it is about one hundred and
. iixty miles, from eaft to weft one hundred and

eighty.

V No. VII. This divifion js not inferidr to any of

; jthe foregoing. Its northern borders lying adjacent
to the Illinois River, and its weftern to the MifTif-

... fippi, the fituation of it foj; e^ablifliing a conimer-
cial intercourfe Vuii fdrS^ nations is very commo-
dious. It abounds with^all the necelTaries of life,

7 and is about one huimfid 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,
X cannot exadly afcertain the dimeniions of it.

■ tiNo. VIII. This colony having the Itiver Ou*. -
bache running through the centre of it, and the Ohio
for its fouthern boundary, will enjoy the advantages
of a free navigation. It extends about 91^ hundred

" and forty miles from north to fout^, Iw^one huri-^

■ drtd and thirty froip eaft to wefti ^ /t^''

if No. IX. X. and XI. being lim^r W' fituation,
"and furnifhed with nearly the fan^cjA conveniences as -
. all the others, I fhall only giv^ theit dltnenlions.

No. IX. is about eighty miles each way, but not ex-
:; aclly fquare. No. X. is nearly in the fame form,
\ and about the fame extent. No. XI. is inuch larger,

being at leaft one hundred an^ fifty miles h-om north

to fouth, and one hundred and forty from eiilk to,
; weft, as nearly as from its irregularity it i$ ]

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378

APPENDIX.

u

Afwr the defcription of this delightful coun4ry C
hitve- already given, I need not repeat that all the
fpot$ 1 have thus pointed out are as proper for colo^
nization, abound not only with the neceflaries of life,
being well ftored with rice, deer, buffaloes, bears,
,&c. but produce in equal abundance luch as may
be termed Joxuries, or at leaft thofe articles of com-
merce before recited, which the inhabitants of k
■will have an opportunity of exchanging lor the need-
ful produdions of other countries.

7 The difcovery of a north-wefl: paflage to India
bas been the fubjeft of injiumerable difquiiitions.
M<)ny efforts have likewife^becn made by way of
Hudfon's Bay, to penetra^iif^ the Pacific Ocean^ '
though without fuccefs^ Jiihall not therefore trouble
myfelf to enumerate the aiS^-aa^a^es that would rer
fult from this much-wifhed-for difcovery, its utility
being already too well known to the commerci^
^orld to need any eliicidation ; 1 fhall only confine
myfelf to the methods that appear moft probable to
0n(nTC {iicc'f" to future adventurers, vi;-; • • ^^ ...^ ■■

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The many attempts that have hitherto been made
for this pb/pofe, but which all have been rendered
abortive, feem to have turned the fpirit of making
vifeful refd^ches into another channel, and this molt
intereftin^U^I? has almoft been given up as imprac-
ticable,; btj^, i^my opinion, their failure rather pro-
ceeds froit) thdi being begun at an improper place, ,
than Iroim'ibcif impraiticability^^t^ i^/:; im:^) - : ; '.

All navigators that have hitherto gone in fearch
©f this paliage, have firlt entered Hudfon's Bay ; '
(the conftquence of which has been, that having
^f^Q}^^hQ I'eafon during which only thofe feas are >
nav^il^ in exploring many of the numerous inlets
lying therein, and this without difcovering any open- -.

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m^, terrified at the approach of winter, they have
haftened back for fear of being frozen up, and con-
Itquently of being obliged to continue till the return
of fummer in thafe black and dreary realms. Even
fuch as have perceived the coafts to enfold themfelves,
and who have of courfe entertained hopes of fuc-
ceeding, have been deterred from profecuting thchr
voyage, Idl the winter fiiould fet in before they
Could reach a more temperate climate.

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j : Thefe apprehenfions have difcouraged the boldcft'
a^dventurers from completing the expeditions in
which they have engaged, and fruftrated every at-
tempt. But as it has been difcovered by fuch a»
have failed into the northern parts of the Pacific
Ocean, that there are many inlets which verge to-
^^' wards Hud fon's Bay, it is not to be doubted but
; *!that a paffage n>ight be made out from that quarter,-
if it be fought for at a proper feafon. And (hould
thefe expedations be difap|tointed, the explorer^
would not be in the fame hazardous fituation
thofe who fet out from Hudfon's Bay, for they
always be fure of a fafe retreat, through an ope
tQ warmer regions, even alter repeated difapj
tnents. And this confi^dence will enable th
■ proceed with greater refolution, and probably he^thcf
-^ means of effeding what tco much circumfpeftre^?*'
:©r timidity has prevented.

« ' Tliefe reafons for ahering tite
' , after this convenient palfage, cartr/ irJfh th<^ Mch

\ih ol

rJfh th^

conviction, that in the year 1774, Riehar*. Wjiit-

; worth Efq; Member of Parliament- for'gtaflbrfl, a"

, gentleman of an extenftve kncwtedge ift gjbgraphy,

4 of an adive, enterprifing difpofiiion, and whofe

,?^* benevolent mind is ever ready to promote the hap-

f^* pinefs of individuals, or the welfare of the,, public^

from the reiprefi^niations made lo him of tl^ expedi-

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