University of Virginia Library

3. PART III
IN THE WILDERNESS

19. How to grow Indian Corn
BY HENRY SPELMAN (1689)

THE Indians have houses, but few of the greatest towns have more than twenty or thirty of them. Their buildings are made like an oven, with a little hole through which they go out and in. In the midst of the house there is a hole through which the smoke goes out. The king's houses are broader and longer than those of the other people, having many dark windings and turnings.[84]

When the Indians go hunting, the women go to a place assigned beforehand to build wigwams for their husbands to sleep in at night. They carry mats to cover these huts, and as the men go further in their hunting, the women go on ahead, carrying the mats.

By the side of their dwelling-houses the Indians commonly make a place to plant their corn. If there be much wood in that place, they cut down the larger trees, and the smaller trees they burn to the root, pulling most of the bark from them so as to make them die. In these cornfields they used to dig holes with a crooked piece of wood. Since then the English

have brought them shovels and spades. They put into these holes ordinarily four or five kernels of their wheat, and two beans.[85] When the wheat has grown up, having a stalk as big as a cane reed, the beans run up on them, like our hops on poles.

The ear of the wheat is long alla thick, and yet for all its coarseness, the stalk has commonly four or five ears. Their corn is planted and gathered at about the same time as ours, but their manner of harvesting is like our way of gathering apples. First they put the ears in hand baskets, then empty them into larger baskets, made of the bark of trees or of hemp. Then they lay the corn upon thick mats in the sun to dry, and every night they make a great pile of it, covering it with mats to protect it from the dew. When it is safely weathered, they pile it up in their houses, and daily as they want to use some of the corn they rub the kernels off into a great basket, wringing the ears between their hands. A great basket of this takes up the best part of some of their houses. Shelling corn is chiefly women's work, for the men only hunt to get skins in winter and dress them in summer.

But though now it is out of our purpose, we may not forget altogether the planting of the King's corn, for which a day is appointed.[86] On that day a great party of the country people meet and work so hard that the greater part of the King's corn is planted in one day. After the planting is over the King takes the crown which the King of England sent him, and puts it upon his head. This done, the people go backwards and forwards among the corn hills he King following. Their faces are always towards the King, expecting that he will throw some beads among them.[87] It is his custom at such a time to make those

who had been planting corn scramble for the beads. Some of his favorites he calls to him and gives the beads into their own hands. This is the greatest courtesy which he offers to his people. When his corn is ripe the country people come to him again

AN INDIAN DANCE.

[Description: Black and white illustration of people dancing in a circle, holding various objects; three people in the center embrace.]

and gather, dry, and rub out all his corn for him and then store it in the houses abounding for that purpose.[88]

20. Delights of New England
BY REV. FRANCIS HIGGINSON (1630)[89]

THE variety of the soil of New England is to be admired. It appears in the abundance of grass which grows everywhere, very thick and very high

in different places; but it grows very wild with a great stalk and broad wide blade, because it has never been cropped by cattle, nor mown with the scythe, and seldom trampled under foot. It can scarcely be believed how our cows and goats, horses and pigs, do thrive and prosper here in this country.

In our plantation we can already buy a quart of milk for a penny. The abundant increase of grain proves this country to be a wonder. Thirty, forty, and Sixty fold harvests are ordinary here. Our planters hope to have more than a hundred-fold here this year. Our children, by planting corn, may earn more than their own support.

This country abounds with roots of great variety which are good to eat. Our turnips, parsnips, and carrots are both bigger and sweeter than those ordinarily found in England. Barberries grow in plenty, and pennyroyal, sorrel and water-cress, leeks and onions. There also is an abundance of other wild herbs, delightful to smell, whose names we do not know. There is a plenty of single damask roses, very sweet; and two kinds of herbs which bear two kinds of flowers, which they say are as good to make cordage or cloth as our hemp or flax. We have mulberries, plums, raspberries, currants, chestnuts and walnuts, all of which grow in plenty here.

New England has water enough, both salt and fresh, as the Atlantic sea runs all along this coast. We have a number of excellent harbors, such as Cape Ann and Massachusetts Bay and Salem. The abundance of sea-fish is almost beyond believing, and usually I can scarce believe it with my own eyes. I often see a great number of whales, mackerel, and codfish taken in. Then there is a fish called bass, as

sweet and wholesome a fish as ever I did eat. It is altogether as good as our fresh herring. They come in June, and again three months later. Of this fish one may take many hundreds together. Indeed, their nets ordinarily take more than the fishermen are able to haul to land, so that they want for boats and men and often are forced to let many go that they have taken. Besides bass, we took plenty of thornbacks, and an abundance of lobsters, so that the smallest boy in the plantation may both catch and eat as many as he may wish of them.

The air of New England is one special thing that commends this place. Experience shows that there is hardly a more healthful place to be found in the world, or one that agrees better with our English bodies. Many who were weak and sickly in Old England, by coming hither, have been safely healed, and grown healthful and strong. A sup of New England's air is better than a whole draught of Old England's ale.

21. All Sorts of Creatures
BY JOHN JOSSELYN (1663-1672)[90]

THE humming birds, the smallest of all birds, are of changeable colors, and are found in New England They feed upon honey which they suck out of flowers with their long needle-like bills. They sleep all winter and are not to be seen until the spring, at which time they brood in little nests, made of soft, silk-like stuff. Their eggs are no bigger than white peas, and they hatch four or five at a time.

The turkeys are blacker than ours.[91] I have heard several trustworthy persons say that they have seen turkey-cocks that weighed forty, even sixty pounds. Out of my personal experience, I can assure you that I have eaten my share of a turkey that weighed thirty pounds after he was dressed. I have also seen sixty broods of young turkeys on the side of a marsh, sunning themselves early in the morning. The English and the Indians have, by this time, nearly destroyed the breed, so that it is very rare to meet with a wild turkey in the woods. Some of the English people, however, have numbers of them in their yards.

The wild turkeys hatch twice or three times in a year. If you would keep the young alive, you must give them little water, for if they have their fill Or water, they will grow weak, and you will never be able to raise any of them. The squaws weave coats of turkey feathers for their children.[92]

Of pigeons there are millions upon millions. In the spring and in the fall when they return southward I have seen a flight of pigeons four or five miles long. To my thinking, they had neither beginning nor ending. So thick they were that I could see no sun. In one tree might be seen nest after nest. And one tree after another for miles among the pine trees, I have seen, filled with these nests. But they are fewer now.[93]

The owl is the dullest bird there is. Of these there are three sorts, a great grey owl with ears, a little gray owl, and a white owl. Poor, ragged birds they are, and have no glittering, golden feathers.

Of beasts of the earth there are not many kinds here. The wolves have their kennels under thick bushes by great trees, in far-off places in the swamps.

A dog caught a wolf which had got into the sea, and held him there until some one went in and led him out. The dog kept his hold upon the wolf until they had tied its legs. When they brought the wolf into the house, they unbound his legs, and he did not offer to bite. He did not so much as show his teeth. He put his head down, and looked toward the door, as if he would willingly have his liberty But they killed him, as they did other wolves.

The bear at certain seasons is a terrible creature. When hunted with dogs, he goes up a tree, where he is shot. When he is fat, which is in acorn time, and in winter, he makes good food. But then there is no one who dares to kill him but the Indians.

The bear makes his den among thick bushes, pushing in here and there a dot of moss.[94] This moss, being covered with snow, melts in the daytime with the heat of the sun: but in the night it is frozen in a thick coat of ice. The mouth of the den is very narrow. Here they lie single, never two in a den all winter.

The Indian, as soon as he finds them, creeps in upon all fours. With his left hand, he seizes the neck of the sleeping bear, drags him to the mouth of the den, where with a club or small hatchet he kills him, before he can open his eyes. But sometimes the bear is too quick for the Indian, as one of them called Black Robin can tell. He was badly hurt by the bear before he could strike it.

The females among beasts and birds of prey, in size and beauty, surpass the males. So do they especially among fishes.

To speak of fishes I shall begin first with the whale.[95] The whale is a kingly fish as all fishes of

great size are. There was one of them thrown up on the shore about eight miles from where I lived This whale was fifty-five feet long. These sea creatures are of great strength and size.

The herring are very numerous. The people catch them all summer long. We saw them once driven into the harbour by other great fish that feed upon them near the shore. It was at the time of high water. They threw themselves upon the land in such great numbers that we could have gone up to the knee among them for a quarter of a mile.

I have seen a lobster that weighed twenty pounds.[96] They cast off their shell-coats in the spring, and so do crabs. They have, underneath, a thin, red skin which grows thick and hard in a short time, and forms a new shell-coat . The Indians feed much upon the lobster. Some they roast and some they dry.

The starfish has five points like a star. The whole fish is no bigger than the palm of a man's hand. It is of a tough substance, like leather. It is about an inch in thickness, whitish underneath, of the color of a cucumber above and somewhat rough.

When it is warm in one's hand, you may see it make a stiff motion, turning down one of its points and putting up another. The starfish is very common, and is found thrown up on the rocks by the sea-tide.

22. How to raise Tobacco
By Alsop (1666)

THE three main commodities this country affords for trade, are tobacco, furs, and flesh.[97] Furs and skins, as those of beavers, otters, musk-rats, raccoons, wild-cats, and elk or buffalo, with several others, were first sold by the Indians of the country. They were sold to the white people living near, and by them to the merchants who carried them into England and other places where they became salable.

Tobacco is the only regular article of trade of this province. The use of it was first found out by the Indians many ages ago. Its use was brought into the Christian world by that great discoverer of America, Columbus.[98] It is generally made by all the people of this province. Between the months of March and April, they sow the seed, which is much smaller than mustard-seed, in small beds and patches. These patches are dug up and made with care. About May the plants commonly appear green in those beds. In June they are transplanted from their beds, and set in little hillocks in distant rows, dug up for the same purpose.

Twice or thrice they are weeded, and freed from poor leaves that are peeping out from the body of the stalk.[99] They cut off the tops of the several

plants as they find occasion, when they grow too fast. About the middle of September they cut the tobacco down, and carry it into houses, made for that purpose, to bring it to its purity. And after time has brought it to perfection, it is then tied up in bundles, and packed into hogsheads. It is then laid away for trade.

Between November and January there arrive in this province ships to the number of twenty sail and upwards. All are trading vessels loaded with goods to sell or trade. They trade with the planter for silks, hollands, woolens, and broadcloths, and other necessary goods, at such rates as shall be thought fair and lawful for tobacco at so much the pound. Advantage on both sides is considered. The planter has given his work, and the merchant has risked coming; with his goods into a far country. Thus is the trade on both sides made in a fair and honest way.

The people of this province are seldom or never put to the fear of being robbed of their money, nor of dirtying their fingers by counting vast sums. They have more bags to carry corn than coin; but the very product of the dirty ground of this province affords as great a profit to the inhabitants as the gold of Peru does to the Spaniard.

Our shops of Maryland are the merchants' storehouses, where with few words goods are bought and delivered. They are not like those shop-keepers' boys in London that continually cry, "What do ye lack, sir ? What do ye buy ?"

Tobacco is the coin of Maryland, and will purchase goods from the merchant quicker than money. I must confess the New England men that trade into this province, had rather have fat pork for goods, than tobacco or furs.

23. Carolina Beasts
BY THOMAS ASH (1680)[100]

Fireflies.[101]—There are in Carolina great numbers of fireflies, who carry their lanterns in their tails, in dark nights flying through the air, shining like streaks of fire, and lighting it with their golden spangles. I have seen a larger sort at Jamaica. These have two lights upon their eyes and a third in their tails; on dark nights they shine like candles, so that I have often, at a distance, mistaken their sparkle for the lights of some distant plantation. Amongst large orange trees in the night I have seen many of those flies whose lights have appeared like hanging candles or hanging torches which amidst the leaves yielded a sight truly curious. With three of these fireflies secured in a glass bottle in a very dark night I have read very small print.

Turtles.[102]—The tortoises, more commonly called by our Indians the turtles, are of three sorts: the hawksbill, whose shell is that which we call the tortoise shell; the green turtle, whose flesh is good to eat; the third kind is called the loggerhead turtle, and neither its shell nor its flesh is of worth. The kind of creatures who live both on the land and on the sea in the day usually keep in the sea, swimming on the surface. In fair weather they delight to expose themselves to the sun, oftentimes falling asleep, lying there without any motion on the water, until they are disturbed by the approach of some ship. Then, as they are very quick of hearing, they awaken quickly and dive away. In the night they often come on shore to feed, and lay their eggs in the sand, which once

covered they leave for the sun to hatch. The little turtles dig their passage out of the sand, immediately making their way towards the water.

Sea Cow.[103]—There is, farther to the southward of Carolina, a fish called the sea cow, of extraordinary size, sometimes of a thousand pounds. It feeds on the banks on the grassy herbage. She has a head like a cow and is of a green color. Her flesh is said to be sweeter than the tenderest veal. Its skin makes excellent whips for horses, which are very serviceable and lasting.

Alligator or Crocodile.—There are in the mouths of their rivers, or in the lakes near the sea, creatures which are little known in the West Indies and are called alligators or crocodiles. Their backs are scaly and impenetrable, so that a musket ball cannot pierce them.[104] It lives both on land and on water, and is such a greedy creature that it devours everything it sees. Man, however, it dares to take on land only by surprise or when asleep. In the water the crocodile is more dangerous. It sometimes grows to great length, from sixteen to twenty feet, and has a long mouth set with sharp teeth. Its body, when full grown, is as large as that of a horse, growing smaller towards the tail. Nature has given land creatures an instinct to avoid the crocodile, warning them by its strong musky smell, which can be perceived at Considerable distance, so that poor cattle, smelling it in time, can get out of harm's way.

24. The Dangers of the Way
BY MADAM SARAH KNIGHT (1704)

MONDAY, October 2nd, 1704.

About three o'clock afternoon I began my journey from Boston to New Haven, being about two hundred miles.[105] When we had ridden about an hour, we came into a thick swamp, which by reason of a great fog, very much startled me, for it was now very dark.

In about an hour, or something more, after we left the swamp, we came to Billing's tavern, where I was to lodge. My guide dismounted and very complaisantly helped me down, and showed the door, signing to me with his hand to go in; which I gladly did.

But I had not gone many steps into the room ere I was interrogated by a young lady (I understood after. wards she was the elder daughter of the family). These were her words.

"Law for me what in the world brings you here at this time a' night ? I never see a woman on the road so dreadful late in all the days of my versall life.[106] Who are you? Where are you going? I'm scared out of my wits." With much more of the same kind.

I told her she treated me very rudely, and I did not think it my duty to answer her unmannerly questions. But to get rid of them I told her I came there to have the mail carrier's company with me tomorrow on my journey. I begged the Miss to show me where I must lodge.

She conducted me to a parlor in a little back lean to, which was almost filled with the bedstead. It was so high that I was forced to climb on a chair to get up to the wretched bed that lay on it. Having

stretched my tired limbs on it, and laid my head on a sad colored pillow, I began to think on the transactions of the past day.

TUESDAY, October 3rd. About eight in the morning I, with the mail carrier, proceeded forward with out anything remarkable. And about two in the afternoon, we arrived at the carrier's second stage, where the western postman met him with letters.

Here, having called for something to eat, the woman brought a twisted thing like a cable, but a little whiter, which proved to be a loaf of bread. Laying it on the table she tugged for life to bring it into a capacity to spread. Having with great pains accomplished this, she served also a dish of pork and cabbage. I suppose this was the remains of dinner.

The sauce was of a deep purple, as I thought, because it was boiled in her dye pot. The bread was of Indian meal and everything on the table service in keeping. As I was hungry, I got a little down. But my stomach was soon cloyed.

About three in the afternoon I went on with my third guide, who rode very hard. We came to a river which they generally ride through. But I dared not venture. So the mail carrier got a lad and canoe to carry me to the other side, and he rode through and led my horse. The canoe was very small and shallow, so that when we were in it seemed ready to take in water, which greatly terrified me.

This caused me to be very circumspect, sitting with my hands fast on each side, my eyes steady. I did not dare so much as to lodge my tongue a hair's breadth more on one side of my mouth than on the other. I dared not so much as to think of Lot's wife, for a wry thought would have overset our wherry.[107]

But I was soon put out of this pain by feeling the canoe on shore, and I as soon almost saluted the land with my feet.

Rewarding my canoeman, again I mounted and we made the best of our way forward. The road here was very even and the day pleasant, near the sunset. The carrier now told me we had nearly fourteen miles to ride to the next stopping place, where we were to lodge.

I asked him about the rest of the road, forseeing that we must travel in the night. He told me there was a bad river which we were to ride through with a current so very fierce that a horse could hardly stem it; he said it was narrow, and we should soon be over.

I cannot express the concern of mind caused by this account. No thoughts but those of the dangerous river could entertain my imagination. They tormented me with blackest ideas of my approaching fate. Sometimes I saw myself drowning, other times drowned, and at the best like a holy sister just come out of a spiritual bath in dripping garments.

Now was the glorious sun, with his swift courses, arrived at the end of his day's journey, leaving poor me with the rest of this part of the lower world in darkness, with which we were soon surrounded. The only glimmering we now had was from the spangled skies of which imperfect reflections rendered every object formidable.

Each lifeless tree trunk with its shattered limbs, appeared an armed enemy, and every little stump like a ravenous devourer. Nor could I so much as see my guide, when at any distance which added to the terror.

Thus absolutely lost in thought, and dying with the very fear of drowning, I came up with the post man, whom I did not see till I was beside his horse He told me that he was stopping for me; and we rode on very deliberately a few paces when we entered a thicket of trees and shrubs.

I perceived by the horse's gait that we were on the descent of a hill. As we came nearer the bottom it was totally dark, from the trees that surrounded it. But I knew by the going of the horse, we had entered the water, and my guide told me that this was the hazardous river of which he had been talking.

Riding up close to my side he bid me not to fear for we should be over immediately. I now rallied all the courage I was mistress of. I knew I must either venture the fate of drowning or be left like the children in the wood.

So, as the postman bade me. I gave reins to my nag, and sitting as steady as just before in the canoe, in a few minutes got safe to the other side, which was the Narragansett country.

25. Creatures of the Wilderness
BY COLONEL WILLIAM BYRD (1728)[108]

WE came to the banks of a creek called in the Indian language, "Ohimpa-moni," signifying Jumping Creek, from the frequent jumping of fish during the spring season.

Here we encamped, and by the time the horses were hobbled, our hunters brought us no less than a brace and a half of deer, which made great plenty and consequently great content in our quarters.[109] Some of our people had shot a great wild cat which was at the fatal moment making a comfortable meal upon a fox-squirrel.

The wild cat is as big again as any household cat, and much the fiercest inhabitant of the woods. Whenever it is disabled it will tear its own flesh for madness. Although a panther will run away from a man, a wild cat will only make a surly retreat before him. Now and then he will face about if he be not too closely pursued. He will even pursue in his turn, if he observe the least sign of fear or even of caution in those that pretend to follow him. The flesh of this beast, as well as of the panther, is as white as veal, and altogether as sweet and delicious.

One day a great flock of cranes flew over our quarters. They were exceedingly noisy in their flight. They seemed to steer their course toward the south (they are birds of passage) in quest of warmer weather. They only took this country on their way. They are as rarely met with in this part of the world as a highwayman or a beggar.[110] These birds travel generally in flocks. When they roost they place upon the highest

trees sentinels, which constantly stand upon one leg to keep themselves waking.

We forded several runs of excellent water.[111] After wards we crossed a large level of high land full of lofty walnut, poplar, and white oak trees. As we marched along we saw many buffalo tracks, but could not have the pleasure of seeing the animals. They either smelt us out, having that sense of smell very lively, or else they were alarmed at the noise which so many people must necessarily make in marching along. At the sight of a man they will snort and grunt, cock up their ridiculous short tails, and tear up the ground with a fury of fear. These wild cattle hardly ever range alone, but herd together like tame cattle.

We had been so refreshed by a day of rest that we broke camp one morning earlier than usual and passed the several fords of the Hico River. The woods were very thick a great part of this day's journey, so that we were forced to scuffle hard to advance seven miles.

We took up our quarters again on Sugar-tree Creek. A little distance from this creek one of the men had the luck to meet with a young buffalo of two years old. Notwithstanding he was no older he was as big as an ordinary ox. His legs were very thick and very short and his hoofs exceeding broad. His back rose into a kind of bunch a little above the shoulders. This I believe contributes not a little to that creature's enormous strength.

The portly figure of this animal is disgraced by a shabby little tail, not above twelve inches long. This he cocks up on end, whenever he is in a passion; and instead of lowing or bellowing, grunts with no better grace than a hog.

The hair growing on his head and neck is long and shaggy, and so soft that it will spin into thread not unlike mohair. Some people have stockings knit of it, that would have served an Israelite during his forty years' march through the wilderness.

Its horns are short and strong,[112] and the Indians make large spoons out of them, which they say will split and fall to pieces whenever poison is put into them.[113] The color of the buffalo is a dirty brown, and its hide is so thick that it is scarcely penetratable. Buffaloes may be easily tamed when they are taken young.

As thick as this poor beast's hide was, a bullet made shift to enter it and fetch him down. He was found all alone, though buffalo seldom are. The men were so delighted with this new diet, that the grid-iron and the frying pan had

no rest all night. Before we marched this morning, every man took care to pack up some buffalo steaks in his knapsack, besides what he crammed into himself.

Another day we encamped on a pleasant hill, over looking a river which seemed to be deep everywhere except where we forded. The Indian killed a very fat doe, and came across a bear which had been put to death and half devoured by a panther.

The last named of these brutes reigns absolute monarch of the woods. In the keenness of his hunger he will venture to attack a bear; though then it is always by surprise, as beasts of the cat kind come upon their prey.

Their play is to take the poor bears napping. The bears are very drowsy animals. And though they are exceedingly strong, yet their strength is heavy; while the panthers are too nimble and cunning to trust themselves within their hug.

As formidable as the panther is to his fellow brutes, he never has the confidence to venture upon a man. He retires from him with great respect if there be a way open for his escape. However it must be confessed his voice is a little contemptible for a monarch of the forest. It is not a great deal louder or more awful than the mewing of a household cat.

Not far from our quarters one of the men picked up a pair of elk's horns, not very large, and discovered the track of the elk that had shed them. The elk is as big as a horse and of the deer kind. Only the stags have horns and those exceedingly large and spreading.

Their swiftest speed is a fast trot. In that motion they turn their horns back upon their necks, and cock

their noses aloft in the air. Nature has taught them this attitude to save their antlers from being caught in the thickets.

The Indians say if one of the drove happen by some wound to be disabled from making his escape, the rest will forsake their fears to defend their friend. This they will do with great obstinacy till they are killed on the spot, although otherwise they are so alarmed at the sight of a man, that to avoid him they will sometimes throw themselves down very high precipices into the river.

26. Beavers and Bears[114]
BY COLONEL WILLIAM BYRD (1728)

WE had difficulty in passing a water called Yapatsco or Beaver Creek. Those industrious animals, the beavers, had dammed up the water so high that we had much ado to get over. It is hardly credible how much work of this kind they will do in the space of one night.

They bite young saplings into proper lengths with their fore-teeth, which are exceedingly strong and sharp. Afterwards they drag them to the place where they intend to stop the water. Then they know how to join timber and earth together with so much skill that their work is able to resist the most violent flood that can happen.

In this they are qualified to instruct their betters. It is certain their dams will stand firm when the strongest that are made by men will be carried down the stream.

On our return journey we again had difficulty in crossing the Yapatsco. The beavers had dammed up the water much higher than we found it at our going up. So we were obliged to lay a bridge over a part that was shallower than the rest, to facilitate our passage.

Beavers have more of instinct—that half brother of reason—than any other animal, especially in matters of self-preservation. In their houses they always contrive a sally-port,[115] both towards the land and towards the water. This enables them to escape by one, if their retreat should happen to be cut off by the other.

They perform all their works in the dead of night to avoid discovery. They are kept diligently to it by the master beaver which by his age or strength has gained to himself an authority over the rest.

If any of the gang happen to be lazy, or will not exert himself to the utmost in felling of trees, or dragging them to the place where they are to be made use of, this superintendent will not fail to chastise him. This he does with the flat of the tail, with which he is able to give unmerciful strokes.

The beavers lie snug in their houses all day, unless some unneighborly miller chance to disturb their repose, by demolishing their dams to supply his mill with water. It is rare to see one of them. The Indians, for that reason, have hardly any way to take them, except by laying snares near the place where they dam up the water.

Both beavers and wolves, we know, when one of their legs is caught in a trap, will bite it off, that

they may escape with the rest. The fur of the beaver is very valuable, especially in the more northern countries, where it is longer and finer.

BEAVER.

[Description: Black and white illustration of a beaver.]

Our Indian killed a bear that was feasting upon the wild grapes. In the fall, the flesh of this animal has a very high relish, different from that of other creatures; but in its taste it inclines nearest to that of pork. This beast is in truth a very clean feeder, living, while the season lasts, upon acorns, chestnuts and chinquapins, wild honey and wild grapes.[116] About January, when there is nothing to be got in the woods, they retire into some cave or hollow tree. There they sleep away two or three month very comfortably.

One of the young fellows who we sent to bring up the tired horses entertained us in the evening with a remarkable adventure of that day. He had strayed, it seems, from his company in a bog, and made a bear cub a year old betake itself to a tree. While he was new-priming his gun with intent to fetch the cub down, the old gentle-woman appeared. Perceiving her son in distress, she advanced open mouthed to his relief. The man was so intent on his game that she had approached very near before he saw her.

But finding his danger, he faced about upon the enemy. She immediately reared upon her hind legs and put herself in battle array. The man, wondering at the bear's assurance, endeavored to fire upon her. But owing to the dampness of the priming, his gun did not go off.

He cocked it a second time, and had the same misfortune. After missing fire twice he had the folly to punch the beast with the muzzle of his gun. But mother Bruin was on her guard, seized the weapon with her paws, and by main force wrenched it out of the fellow's hands.

The man being thus fairly disarmed, thought himself no longer a match for the enemy. Therefore he retreated as fast as his legs could carry him. The brute naturally grew bolder upon the flight of her adversary, and pursued him with all her heavy speed.

For some time it was doubtful whether fear made one run faster or fury the other. But after an even run, the man had the mishap to stumble over a stump and fell down at his full length. He now would have sold his life a pennyworth.

But the bear fearing there might be some trick in the fall, instantly halted, and looked with much attention on her prostrate foe. In the meanwhile, the man had with great presence of mind resolved to make the bear believe he was dead. So he lay breathless on the ground, in hopes that the beast would be too generous to kill him over again.

To carry on the farce, he lay motionless for some time without daring to raise his head to see how near the monster was to him. But in about two minutes, to his remarkable comfort, he was raised from the dead by the barking of a dog. The

dog belonged to one of his companions who came seasonably to his rescue and drove the bear from pursuing the man to take care of her cub. For she feared it might now fall into a second distress.

27. The Alligator in Georgia
(1735)

THE crocodile, which seems to be the chief of reptiles, abounds in all the rivers of Georgia. They call them alligators. I have seen some of these twelve feet long, I believe.

A number of various errors are commonly reported about these creatures. One is that their scales are musket proof; whereas I have frequently seen them killed with small shot. Nay, I have heard from people of good credit, that when they have found one at a distance from the water, they have killed him with sticks. They did not think him worth a shot.

Mr. Horton has more than once struck one through with a sword. The watermen often knock them on the head with their oars, as the alligators lie sleeping upon the banks. For they are very sluggish and timid; though they can make one or two springs in the water with nimbleness enough.

They can also snap with strength whatever comes within their jaws. They are terrible to look at, stretching open a horrible large mouth, big enough to swallow a man. Theyhave rows of dreadful large sharp teeth.

Their feet are like those of dragons, armed with great claws. They have a long tail which they throw

about with great strength, and which seems to be their best weapon. For their claws are weakly set on; and the stiffness of their necks hinders then from turning nimbly to bite.

When Mr. Oglethorpe was at Savannah for the first time, he tried to make an end of the fear which the people had for the crocodiles. So he wounded and caught one about twelve feet long, and had him brought up to the town. He set the boys to bait him with sticks.[117]

The creature gaped and blew hard, but had no heart to move. It only turned about its tail, and snaps at the sticks.

At our first coming they would stare at the boats, and stay still till they came up close to them; so that Mr. Horton killed five in one day. But after frequent attacks, they grew more shy. They destroy a great many fish, and will seize a hog or a dog if they see him in the water. But their general way of preying is to lie still, with their mouths open and their noses just above water. So they watch till the stream brings something down as prey to them. They swallow anything that comes into their mouths, and upon opening them, knots of lightwood have been found inside of them.[118]

They lay eggs which are smaller than those of a goose. They scrape together a number of leaves, and other trash, of which nature has taught them to choose such as will be warm. Of these they make a hot-bed, in the midst of which they leave their eggs covering them with a sufficient thickness. The heat of the heap, helped by the warmth of the climate, hatches the eggs and the young crocodiles creep out like small lizards.

28. Colonial Pets
BY PETER KALM (1748)

UPON trial it has been found that the following animals and birds which are wild in the woods of North America can be made nearly as tame as domestic animals. The calves of the wild cows,[119] which are found in Carolina, and other provinces to the south of Pennsylvania, can be brought up among tame cattle. When they are grown up they are perfectly tame but at the same time very unruly, so that no enclosure is strong enough to hold them if they try to break through. As they possess great strength in their necks it is easy for them to overthrow the fences with their horns, and to get into the cornfields.

The American deer can likewise be tamed. A farmer in New Jersey had one in his possession, which he caught when it was very young; at present, it is so tame that in the daytime it runs into the woods for its food, and towards night returns home, frequently bringing a wild deer out of the woods, giving its master an opportunity to hunt at his very door.

Beavers have been tamed to such an extent that they have brought home what they caught by fishing to their masters. This is often the case with otters, of which I have seen some that were as tame as dogs, and followed their master wherever he went; if he went out in a boat the otter went with him, jumped into the water and after a while came up with a fish.

The raccoon can in time be made so tame as to

run about the streets like a domestic animal; but it is impossible to make it leave off its habit of stealing In the dark it creeps to the poultry, and kills a whole flock in one night. Sugar and other sweet things must be carefully hidden; for if the chests and boxes are not always locked, it gets into them and eats the sugar with its paw. The ladies, therefore, have some complaint against it every day.

The gray and flying squirrels are so tamed by the boys that they sit on their shoulders and follow them everywhere.

The turkey cocks and hens run about in the woods of this country and differ in no respect from our tame ones, except in their superior size and more palatable flesh. When their eggs are found in the woods and put under tame turkey hens, the young ones become tame; however, when they grow up, it sometimes happens that they fly away; their wings are therefore commonly clipped when they are young.

Wild geese are likewise tamed in the following manner. When the wild geese first come hither in the spring and stop a little while the people try to shoot them on the wing. They then row to the place where the wild goose falls, catch it and keep it for some time at home; by this means many of them have been made so tame that when they were let out in the morning they returned in the evening; but to be more sure of them, their wings are commonly clipped.

Partridges which are here in abundance, can be so far tamed as to run about all day with the poultry, coming along with them to be fed. In the same manner I have seen wild pigeons so tame that they will fly out and return again.

29. Gossip about Bears and Mosquitoes
BY PETER KALM (1748)

BEARS are very numerous higher up in the country, and do much mischief. Mr. Bartram told me, that when a bear catches a cow, he kills her in the following manner. He bites a hole into the hide, and blows with all his power into it, till the animal swells excessively and dies; for the air expands greatly between the flesh and the hide.[120]

An old Swede, called Nils Gustave's son, who was ninety-one years of age, said, that in his youth, the bears had been very frequent hereabouts, but that they had seldom attacked the cattle. Whenever a bear was killed, its flesh was prepared like pork, and it had a very good taste.

The flesh of bears is still prepared like ham, on the river Morris. The environs of Philadelphia, and even the whole province of Pennsylvania in general, contain very few bears, for they have been extirpated by degrees. In Virginia they kill them in several different ways. Their flesh is eaten by both rich and poor, since it is reckoned equal in goodness to pork. In some parts of this province, where no hogs can be kept, on account of the great numbers of bears, the people are used to catch and kill them, and to use them instead of hogs. The American bears, however, are said to be less fierce and dangerous than the European ones.

The gnats, which are very troublesome at night here, are called mosquitoes. They are exactly like

the gnats in Sweden, only somewhat smaller. In daytime or at night they come into the houses and when the people have gone to bed they begin their disagreeable humming, approach nearer to the bed, and at last suck up so much blood that they can hardly fly away. Their bite causes blisters on people with delicate skins.

When the weather has been cool for some days, the mosquitoes disappear. But when it changes again, and especially after a rain, they gather frequently in such quantities about the houses that their numbers are astonishing. The chimneys which have no valves for shutting them out afford the gnats a free entrance into the houses of the English. In sultry evenings the mosquitoes accompany the cattle in great swarms from the woods to the houses, or to town, and when the cattle are driven past the houses the gnats fly in wherever they can.

In the greatest heat of the summer they are so numerous in some places, that the air seems to be quite full of them, especially near swamps and stagnant water, such as the river Morris in New Jersey. The inhabitants therefore make a big fire before the houses to expel these disagreeable guests by the smoke. The old Swedes here say that gnats have formerly been much more numerous; that even at present they swarm in vast quantities on the seashore near the salt water; and that those which troubled us this autumn in Philadelphia were of a more poisonous kind than they commonly used to be. This last quality appeared from the blisters which were formed on the spots where the gnats had made their sting. In Sweden I never felt any other inconvenience from their sting than a little itching while they sucked.

But when they stung me here at night my face was so disfigured by little red spots and blisters that I was almost ashamed to show myself.

30. Bullfrogs[121]
BY PETER KALM (1749)

BULLFROGS are a large species of frogs which I had an opportunity of hearing and seeing to-day. As I was riding out, I heard a roaring before me; and I thought it was a bull in the bushes, on the other side of the dyke, though the sound was rather more hoarse than that of a bull. I was however afraid, that a bad goring bull might be near me, though I did not see him.

I continued to think so till some hours after, when I talked with some Swedes about the bullfrogs, and, by their account, I immediately found that I had heard their voice. The Swedes told me, that there were numbers of them in the dyke. I afterwards hunted for them. Of all the frogs in this country, this is doubtless the greatest.

I am told, that towards autumn, as soon as the air begins to grow a little cool, they hide themselves under the mud, which lies at the bottom of ponds and stagnant waters, and lie there torpid during winter. As soon as the weather grows mild, towards summer, they begin to get out of their holes, and croak.

If the spring, that is, if the mild weather, begins early, they appear about the end of March; but if it happens late, they tarry under water till late in April. Their places of abode are ponds and bogs of stagnant

water; they are never in any flowing water. When many of them croak together, they make an enormous noise.

Their croak exactly resembles the roaring of an ox or bull which is somewhat hoarse. They croak so loud that two people talking by the side of a pond cannot understand each other. They croak all together; then stop a little, and begin again.

It seems as if they had a captain among them: for when he begins to croak, all the others follow; and when he stops, the others are all silent. In day time they seldom make any great noise, unless the sky is covered.

The night is their croaking time; and, when all is calm, you may hear them, though you are near a mile and a half off. When they croak, they commonly are near the surface of the water, under the bushes, and have their heads out of the water. Therefore, by going slowly, one may get close up to then before they go away. As soon as they are quite under water, they think themselves safe, though the water be very shallow.

Sometimes they sit at a good distance from the pond; but as soon as they suspect any danger, they hasten with great leaps into the water. They are very expert at hopping. A full-grown bullfrog talcs near three yards at one hop. I have often been told by the old Swedes the following story, which happened here, at the time when the Indians lived with the Swedes.

It is well known, that the Indians are excellent runners. I have seen them, at Governor Johnson's, equal the best horse in its swiftest course, and almost pass by it. Therefore, in order to try how well the

bullfrogs could leap, some of the Swedes laid a wager with a young Indian, that he could not overtake the frog, provided it had two leaps before hand.

They carried a bullfrog, which they had caught in a pond, upon a field, and burnt his back. The fire, and the Indian, who endeavored to keep close up to the frog, had such an effect upon the animal, that it made its long hops across the field, as fast as it could. The Indian began to pursue the frog with all his might at the proper time

The noise he made in running frightened the poor frog. Probably it was afraid of being tortured with fire again; therefore it redoubled its leaps, and by that means it reached the pond before the Indian could overtake it.

In some years they are more numerous than in others. Nobody could tell, whether the snakes had ever ventured to eat them, though they eat all the lesser kinds of frogs. The women are no friends to these frogs, because they kill and eat young ducklings and goslings.

Sometimes they carry off chickens that come too near the ponds. I have not observed that they bite when they are held in the hands, though they have little teeth. When they are beaten they cry out almost like children. I was told that some eat the thighs of the hind legs, and that they are very palatable.

31. Rattlesnakes
(1756)

I WILL give here an account of that infamous reptile, the rattle-snake, which is considered the most dangerous of any poisonous creature known in this part of the world.[122]

The rattle-snake hardly ever measures out six feet in length. He has a gorgeous skin or coat, that may vie with any rich brocade. His summer haunt is in meadows and swampy grounds among long grass.

During the winter season he harbors in the ground or in the sides of hills where there are craggy stones. They are said to lie together in numbers. Their age may be known by the number of rings upon their tail.

But it is certainly a mistake that the rings grow single, one every year. Were that the case, some that I have seen must have been eight or ten years old. But having had the curiosity to take in pieces one of these rattles, I found the parts which must be of one year's growth, to consist of two rings and a small tip.

The next year there grows such another part under the first, which thrusts it off from the flesh, and it remains like a cap upon it. That protuberance which is next the tip holds it on. In like manner the succeeding growths are made.

This curious member nature has designed for giving persons warning, when they happen unwarily to approach too near the snake.[123] A man has just time to recollect himself, and stop his pace before he comes in immediate danger of a bite; which will be within distance of the snake's length.

For if he lay at his full stretch before, as soon as any one comes near him, he draws himself in. He is then wound up in a close coil, with his tail pointed upward, and his head laid back. And he gives his rattle such a brisk shake, that it sounds like the tremulous motion of a musical chord.

Then if the person does not stop or divert his course, he instantly flings out upon him. The teeth of this snake are curved, exquisitely fine and sharp, two on each side the gum. They are shut up like a cat's claw till when he goes to bite.

Sometimes the mowers happen to stumble over them and receive no hurt; but they always give the signal when they are prepared for mischief.