University of Virginia Library

Sept. 7th. Friday —

a verry Cold morning wind S. E. Set out at day light we
landed after proceeding 5 1/2 Miles, near the foot of a round
Mounting, which I saw yesterday, resembling a dome.[21] Cap.
Lewis & Myself walked up to the top which forms a Cone and
is about 70 feet higher than the high lands around it, the Base
is about 300 foot in decending this Cupola, discovered a Village
of Small animals that burrow in the grown (those animals
are Called by the french Petite Chien) Killed one and Caught
one a live by poreing a great quantity of Water in his hole[22]
we attempted to dig to the beds of one of those animals, after

diging 6 feet, found by running a pole down that we were not
half way to his Lodge, we found 2 frogs in the hole, and
Killed a Dark rattle Snake near with a Ground rat (or prairie
dog) in him, (those rats are numerous) the Village of those
animals Covd. about 4 acres of Ground on a gradual decent of
a hill and Contains great numbers of holes on the top of which
those little animals Set erect make a Whistleing noise and whin
allarmed Step into their hole, we por'd into one of the holes
5 barrels of Water without filling it. Those Animals are about
the Size of a Small Squ[ir]rel Shorter (or longer) & thicker, the
head much resembling a Squirel in every respect, except the
ears which is Shorter, his tail like a ground squirel which they
shake & whistle when allarmd. the toe nails long, they have
fine fur & the longer hairs is gray[23] , it is Said that a kind of
Lizard also a Snake reside with those animals. (did not find
this correct.) Camped.

Course Destance & refferrences.—8th. Septr.

     

N. 35. W.	7	Mls. to a pt. on L. S. opsd. the house of Mr. Troodo where he wintered in 96 & Seven Called the Pania hos. in a woo[d] to the S. S. (1)
N. 88° W.	10	Mls. to a pt. of woods S. S. one mile above the commencement of this Course the Lowr pt. of a Willow Isld. this Isld. is 1 1/4 Mls. in length, in the middle of the R. a Small Sand Isd. at its upper extremity.
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