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Title: Travels into North America, Volume 2 (of 3)
Author: Johann Reinhold Forster
Pehr Kalm
Release date: November 12, 2023 [eBook #72103]
Language: English
Original publication: Warrington / London: William Eyres, 1770
Credits: Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net/ for Project Gutenberg (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TRAVELS INTO NORTH AMERICA, VOLUME 2 (OF 3) ***
TRAVELS
INTO
NORTH AMERICA;
CONTAINING
Its Natural History, and
A circumstantial Account of its
Plantations and Agriculture in general,
WITH THE
CIVIL, ECCLESIASTICAL AND
COMMERCIAL STATE OF THE COUNTRY,
The MANNERS of the INHABITANTS, and several
curious and IMPORTANT REMARKS on various Subjects.
By PETER KALM,
Professor of Oeconomy in the University of Aobo in Swedish
Finland, and Member of the Swedish Royal Academy of Sciences.
TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH
By JOHN REINHOLD FORSTER, F.A.S.
Enriched with a Map, several Cuts for the Illustration of Natural
History, and some additional Notes.
VOL. II.
LONDON:
Printed for the EDITOR;
And Sold by T. Lowndes, in Fleet-street,
MDCCLXXI.
PETER KALM’s TRAVELS.
New Jersey, Raccoon.
December the seventh, 1748.
In the morning I undertook again a little journey, to Raccoon, in New
Jersey.
It does not seem difficult to find out the reasons, why the people
multiply more here than in Europe. As soon as a person is old enough,
he may marry in these provinces, without any fear of poverty; for there
is such a tract of good ground yet uncultivated, that a new-married man
can, without difficulty, get a spot of ground, where he may
sufficiently subsist with his wife and children. The taxes are very
low, and he need not be under any concern on their account. The
liberties he enjoys are so great, that he considers himself as a prince
in his possessions. I shall here demonstrate by some plain examples,
what effect such a constitution is capable of.
Maons Keen, one of the Swedes in Raccoon, was now near seventy years
old: he had many children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren; so
that, of those who were yet alive, he could muster up forty-five
persons. Besides them, several of his children and grandchildren died
young, and some in a mature age. He was, therefore, uncommonly blessed.
Yet his happiness is not comparable to that which is to be seen in the
following examples, and which I have extracted from the Philadelphia
gazette.
In the year 1732, January the 24th, died at Ipswich, in New England,
Mrs. Sarah Tuthil, a widow, aged eighty-six years. She had brought
sixteen children into the world; and from seven of them only, she had
seen one hundred and seventy-seven grandchildren and
great-grandchildren.
In the year 1739, May the 30th, the children, grand and
great-grandchildren, of Mr. Richard Buttington, in the parish of
Chester, in Pensylvania, were assembled in his house; and they made
together one hundred and fifteen persons. The parent of these children,
Richard Buttington, who was born in England, was then entering into his
eighty-fifth year: and was at that time quite fresh, active, and
sensible. His eldest son, then sixty years old, was the first
Englishman born in Pensylvania.
In the year 1742, on the 8th of January, died at Trenton, in New
Jersey, Mrs. Sarah Furman, a widow, aged ninety-seven years. She was
born in New England; and left five children, sixty-one grandchildren,
one hundred and eighty-two great-grandchildren, and twelve
great-great-grandchildren, who were all alive when she died.
In the year 1739, on the 28th of January, died at South Kingston, in
New England, Mrs. Maria Hazard, a widow, in the hundredth year of her
age. She was born in Rhode Island, and was a grandmother of the then
vice-governor of that island, Mr. George Hazard. She could count
altogether five hundred children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren,
and great-great-grandchildren. When she died, two hundred and five
persons of them were alive; a grand-daughter of hers had already been
grandmother near fifteen years.
In this manner, the usual wish or blessing in our liturgy, that the
new-married couple may see their grandchildren, till the third and
fourth generation, has been literally fulfilled in regard to some of
these persons [1].
December the 9th. In every country, we commonly meet with a number of
insects; of which many, though they be ever so small and contemptible,
can do considerable damage to the inhabitants. Of these dangerous
insects, there are likewise some in North America: some are peculiar to
that country, others are common to Europe likewise.
I have already, in the preceding volume, mentioned the Mosquitoes, as a
kind of disagreeable gnats; and another noxious insect, the Bruchus
Pisi, which destroys whole fields with pease. I shall here add some
more.
There are a kind of Locusts which about every seventeenth year come
hither in incredible numbers. They come out of the ground in the middle
of May, and make, for six weeks together, such a noise in the trees and
woods, that two persons who meet in such places, cannot understand each
other, unless they speak louder than the locusts can chirp. During that
time, they make, with the sting in their tail, holes into the soft bark
of the little branches on the trees, by which means these branches are
ruined. They do no other harm to the trees or other plants. In the
interval between the years when they are so numerous, they are only
seen or heard single in the woods.
There is likewise a kind of Caterpillars in these provinces, which eat
the leaves from the trees. They are also innumerable in some years. In
the intervals there are but few of them: but when they come, they strip
the trees so entirely of their leaves, that the woods in the middle of
summer are as naked as in winter. They eat all kinds of leaves, and
very few trees are left untouched by them; as, about that time of the
year the heat is most excessive. The stripping the trees of their
leaves has this fatal consequence, that they cannot withstand the heat,
but dry up entirely. In this manner, great forests are sometimes
entirely ruined. The Swedes who live here shewed me, here and there,
great tracts in the woods, where young trees were now growing, instead
of the old ones, which, some years ago, had been destroyed by the
caterpillars. These caterpillars afterwards change into moths, or
phalænæ, which shall be described in the sequel, in their proper
places.
In other years the Grass-worms do a great deal of damage in several
places, both in the meadows and corn-fields. For the fields are at
certain times over-run with great armies of these worms, as with the
other insects; yet it is very happy that these many plagues do not come
all together. For in those years when the locusts are numerous, the
caterpillars and grass-worms are not very considerable, and it happens
so with the latter kinds, so that only one of the three kinds comes at
a time. Then there are several years when they are very scarce. The
grass-worms have been observed to settle chiefly in a fat soil; but as
soon as careful husbandmen discover them, they draw narrow channels
with almost perpendicular sides quite round the field in which the
worms are settled; then by creeping further they all fall into the
ditch, and cannot get out again. I was assured by many persons that
these three sorts of insects followed each other pretty closely; and
that the locusts came in the first year, the caterpillars in the
second, and the grass-worms in the last: I have likewise found by my
own experience that this is partly true.
Moths, or Tineæ, which eat the clothes, are likewise abundant here. I
have seen cloth, worsted gloves, and other woollen stuffs, which had
hung all the summer locked up in a shrine, and had not been taken care
of, quite cut through by these worms, so that whole pieces fell out:
Sometimes they were so spoiled that they could not be mended again.
Furs which had been kept in the garret were frequently so ruined by
worms, that the hair went off by handfuls. I am however not certain
whether these worms were originally in the country, or whether they
were brought over from Europe.
Fleas are likewise to be found in this part of the world. Many
thousands were undoubtedly brought over from other countries; yet
immense numbers of them have certainly been here since time immemorial.
I have seen them on the grey squirrels, and on the hares which have
been killed in such desart parts of this country, where no human
creature ever lived. As I afterwards came further up into the country,
and was obliged to lie at night in the huts and beds of the Indians, I
was so plagued by immense quantities of fleas, that I imagined I was
put to the torture. They drove me from the bed, and I was very glad to
sleep on the benches below the roof of the huts. But it is easy to
conceive that the many dogs which the Indians keep, breed fleas without
end. Dogs and men lie promiscuously in the huts; and a stranger can
hardly lie down and shut his eyes, but he is in danger of being either
squezed to death, or stifled by a dozen or more dogs, which lie round
him, and upon him, in order to have a good resting place. For I imagine
they do not expect that strangers will venture to beat them or throw
them off, as their masters and mistresses commonly do.
The noisy Crickets (Gryllus domesticus) which are sometimes to be met
with in the houses in Sweden, I have not perceived in any part of
Pensylvania or New Jersey, and other people whom I have asked, could
not say that they had ever seen any. In summer there are a kind of
black Crickets [2] in the fields, which make exactly the same chirping
noise as our house crickets. But they keep only to the fields, and were
silent as soon as winter or the cold weather came on. They say it
sometimes happens that these field crickets take refuge in houses, and
chirp continually there, whilst it is warm weather, or whilst the rooms
are warm; but as soon as it grows cold they are silent. In some parts
of the province of New York, and in Canada, every farm-house and most
of the houses in the towns, swarm with so many, that no farm-house in
our country can be better stocked with them. They continue their music
there throughout the whole winter.
Bugs (Cimex lectularius) are very plentiful here. I have been
sufficiently tormented by them, in many places in Canada: But I do not
remember having seen any with the Indians, during my stay at Fort
Frederic. The commander there, Mr. de Lousignan, told me, that none of
the Illinois and other Indians of the western parts of North America
knew any thing of these vermin. And he added, that he could with
certainty say this from his own experience, having been among them for
a great while. Yet I cannot determine whether bugs were first brought
over by the Europeans, or whether they have originally been in the
country. Many people looked upon them as natives of this country, and
as a proof of it said, that under the wings of bats the people had
often found bugs, which had eaten very deep into the flesh. It was
therefore believed that the bats had got them in some hollow tree, and
had afterwards brought them into the houses, as they commonly fix
themselves close to the walls, and creep into the little chinks which
they meet with. But as I have never seen any bugs upon bats, I cannot
say any thing upon that subject. Perhaps a louse or a tick (Acarus) has
been taken for a bug. Or, if a real bug has been found upon a bat’s
wing, it is very easy to conceive that it fixed on the bat, whilst the
latter was sitting in the chinks of a house stocked with European bugs.
As the people here could not bear the inconvenience of these vermin,
any more than we can in Sweden, they endeavoured to expel them by
different means. I have already remarked in the preceding volume, that
the beds to that purpose were made of Sassafras wood, but that they
were only temporary remedies. Some persons assured me that they had
found from their own experience, and by repeated trials, that no remedy
was more effectual towards the expulsion of bugs, than the injecting of
boiling water into all the cracks where they are settled, and washing
all the wood of the beds with it; this being twice or thrice repeated,
the bugs are wholly destroyed. But if there are bugs in neighbouring
houses, they will fasten to one’s clothes, and thus be brought over
into other houses.
I cannot say whether these remedies are good or no, as I have not tried
them; but by repeated trials I have been convinced that sulphur, if it
be properly employed, entirely destroys bugs and their eggs in beds and
walls, though they were ten times more numerous than the ants in an
ant-hill [3].
The Mill-beetles, or Cock-roaches, are likewise a plague of North
America, and are settled in many of its provinces. The learned Dr.
Colden was of opinion that these insects were properly natives of the
West Indies, and that those that were found in North America were
brought over from those islands. To confirm his opinion, he said, that
it was yet daily seen how the ships coming with goods from the West
Indies to North America brought mill-beetles with them in great
numbers. But from the observations which I have made in this country, I
have reason to believe that these insects have been on the continent of
North America since time immemorial. Yet notwithstanding this I do not
deny their being brought over from the West Indies. They are in almost
every house in the city of New York; and those are undoubtedly come
over with ships. But how can that be said of those mill-beetles, which
are found in the midst of the woods and desarts?
The English likewise call the Mill-beetles, Cock-roaches, and the Dutch
give them the name of Kackerlack. The Swedes in this country call them
Brodoetare, or Bread-eaters, on account of the damage they do to the
bread, which I am going to describe. Dr. Linnæus calls them Blatta
Orientalis. Many of the Swedes call them likewise Kackerlack. They are
not only observed in the houses, but in the summer they appear often in
the woods, and run about the trees, which are cut down. On bringing in
all sorts of old rotten blocks of wood for fewel, in February, I
discovered several cock-roaches settled in them; they were at first
quite torpid, or as it were dead; but after lying in the room for a
while, they recovered, became very lively, and began to run about. I
afterwards found very often, that when old rotten wood was brought home
in winter, and cut in pieces for fewel, the cock-roaches were got into
it in numbers, and lay in it in a torpid state. In the same winter, a
fellow cut down a great dry tree, and was about to split it. I then
observed in a crack, some fathoms above the ground, several
cock-roaches together with the common ants. They were, it seems, crept
up a great way, in order to find a secure place of abode against
winter. On travelling in the middle of October 1749, through the
uninhabited country between the English and French colonies, and making
a fire at night near a thick half rotten tree, on the shore of lake
Champlain, numbers of cock-roaches came out of the wood, being wakened
by the smoke and the fire, which had driven them out of their holes.
The Frenchmen, who were then in my company, did not know them, and
could not give them any name. In Canada the French did not remember
seeing any in the houses. In Pensylvania, I am told, they run in
immense numbers about the sheaves of corn, during the harvest. At other
times they live commonly in the houses in the English settlements, and
lie in the crevices, especially in the cracks of those beams which
support the ceiling, and are nearest to the chimney.
They do a deal of damage by eating the soft parts of the bread. If they
have once made a hole into a loaf, they will in a little time eat all
the soft part in it, so that on cutting the loaf, nothing but the crust
is left. I am told they likewise eat other victuals. Sometimes they
bite people’s noses or feet, whilst they are asleep. An old Swede,
called Sven Laock, a grandson of the Rev. Mr. Laockenius, one of the
first Swedish clergymen that came to Pensylvania, told me, that he had
in his younger years been once very much frightened on account of a
cock-roach, which crept into his ear whilst he was asleep. He waked
suddenly, jumped out of bed, and felt that the insect, probably out of
fear, was endeavouring with all its strength to get deeper. These
attempts of the cock-roach were so painful to him, that he imagined his
head was bursting, and he was almost senseless; however he hastened to
the well, and bringing up a bucket full of water, threw some into his
ear. As soon as the cock-roach found itself in danger of being drowned,
it endeavoured to save itself, and pushed backwards out of the ear,
with its hind feet, and thus happily delivered the poor man from his
fears.
The Wood-lice are disagreeable insects, which in a manner are worse
than the preceding; but as I have already described them in a peculiar
memoir, which is printed among the memoirs of the Royal Academy of
Sciences for the year 1754, I refer my readers to that account.
December the 11th. This morning I made a little excursion to Penn’s
Neck, and further over the Delaware to Wilmington. The country round
Penn’s Neck has the same qualities as that about other places in this
part of New Jersey. For the ground consists chiefly of sand, with a
thin stratum of black soil. It is not very hilly, but chiefly flat, and
in most places covered with open woods of such trees as have annual
leaves, especially oak. Now and then you see a single farm, and a
little corn field round it. Between them are here and there little
marshes or swamps, and sometimes a brook with water, which has a very
slow motion.
The woods of these parts consist of all sorts of trees, but chiefly of
oak and hiccory. These woods have certainly never been cut down, and
have always grown without hindrance. It might therefore be expected
that there are trees of an uncommon great age to be found in them; but
it happens otherwise, and there are very few trees three hundred years
old. Most of them are only two hundred years old; and this convinced me
that trees have the same quality as animals, and die after they are
arrived at a certain age. Thus we find great woods here, but when the
trees in them have stood an hundred and fifty or an hundred and eighty
years, they are either rotting within, or losing their crown, or their
wood becomes quite soft, or their roots are no longer able to draw in
sufficient nourishment, or they die from some other cause. Therefore
when storms blow, which sometimes happens here, the trees are broke off
either just above the root, or in the middle, or at the summit. Several
trees are likewise torn out with their roots by the power of the winds.
The storms thus cause great devastations in these forests. Every where
you see trees thrown down by the winds, after they are too much
weakened by one or the other of the above mentioned causes to be able
to resist their fury. Fire likewise breaks out often in the woods, and
burns the trees half way from the root, so that a violent gust of wind
easily throws them down.
On travelling through these woods, I purposely tried to find out, by
the position of the trees which were fallen down, which winds are the
strongest hereabouts. But I could not conclude any thing with
certainty, for the trees fell on all sides, and lay towards all the
points of the compass. I therefore judged, that any wind which blows
from that side where the roots of the tree are weakest and shortest,
and where it can make the least resistance, must root it up and throw
it down. In this manner the old trees die away continually, and are
succeeded by a young generation. Those which are thrown down lay on the
ground and putrify, sooner or later, and by that means encrease the
black soil, into which the leaves are likewise finally changed, which
drop abundantly in autumn, are blown about by the winds for some time,
but are heaped up, and lie on both sides of the trees, which are fallen
down. It requires several years before a tree is intirely reduced to
dust. When the winds tear up a tree with the roots, a quantity of loose
soil commonly comes out with and sticks to them for some time, but at
last it drops off, and forms a little hillock, which is afterwards
augmented by the leaves, which commonly gather about the roots. Thus
several inequalities are formed in the woods, such as little holes land
hills; and by this means the upper soil must likewise be heaped up in
such places.
Some trees are more inclined to putrify than others. The tupelo-tree
(Nyssa), the tulip-tree (Liriodendron), and the sweet gum-tree
(Liquidambar), became rotten in a short time. The hiccory did not take
much time, and the black oak fell sooner to pieces than the white oak;
but this was owing to circumstances. If the bark remained on the wood,
it was for the greatest part rotten, and entirely eaten by worms
within, in the space of six, eight, or ten years, so that nothing was
to be found but a reddish brown dust. But if the bark was taken off,
they would often lie twenty years before they were entirely rotten. The
suddenness of a tree’s growth, the bigness of its pores, and the
frequent changes of heat and wet in summer, cause it to rot sooner. To
this it must be added, that all sorts of insects make holes into the
stems of the fallen trees, and by that means the moisture and the air
get into the tree, which must of course forward putrefaction. Most of
the trees here have deciduous or annual leaves. Many of them begin to
rot whilst they are yet standing and blooming. This forms the hollow
trees, in which many animals make their nests and places of refuge.
The breadth of the Delaware directly opposite Wilmington is reckoned an
English mile and a half; yet to look at it, it did not seem to be so
great. The depth of the river, in the middle, is said to be from four
to six fathoms here.
December the 12th. The Joiners say, that among the trees of this
country they chiefly use the black walnut-trees, the wild cherry-trees,
and the curled maple. Of the black walnut-trees (Juglans nigra) there
is yet a sufficient quantity. However careless people take pains enough
to destroy them, and some peasants even use them as fewel. The wood of
the wild cherry-trees (Prunus Virginiana) is very good, and looks
exceedingly well; it has a yellow colour, and the older the furniture
is, which is made of it, the better it looks. But it is already
difficult to get at it, for they cut it every where, and plant it no
where. The curled maple (Acer rubrum) is a species of the common red
maple, but likewise very difficult to be got. You may cut down many
trees without finding the wood which you want. The wood of the sweet
gum-tree (Liquidambar) is merely employed in joiner’s work, such as
tables, and other furniture. But it must not be brought near the fire,
because it warps. The firs and the white cedars (Cupressus thyoides)
are likewise made use of by the joiners for different sorts of work.
The millers who attended the mill which stood here, said, that the
axle-trees of the wheels of the mill were made of white oak, and that
they continued good three or four years, but that the fir-wood does not
keep so well. The cogs of the mill-wheel, and the pullies, are made of
the wood of the white walnut-tree, because it is the hardest which can
be got here. The wood of mulberry-trees is of all others reckoned the
most excellent for pegs and plugs in ships and boats.
At night I went over the river Delaware, from Willmington, to the
ferrying-place, on the New Jersey side.
December the 13th. In the morning I returned to Raccoon.
On many trees in the woods of this country, either on one of the sides,
or in the middle of a branch, or round a branch, are greater or lesser
knobs or excrescences. Sometimes there is only a single one in a tree.
In the size there is a considerable difference, for some of these knobs
are as big and bigger than a man’s head, others are only small. They
project above the surface of the tree, like a tumor. Sometimes a tree
was quite covered with them. They do not ly on one side only, but often
form a circle round a branch, and even round the stem itself. The trees
which have these knobs are not always great ones, but some not above a
fathom high. The knobs commonly consist of the same parts as the wood
itself, and look within like curled wood. Some of them are hollow. When
a knob on a little tree is cut open, we commonly find a number of
little worms in it, which are sometimes also common in the greater
knobs. This shews the origin of the knobs in general. The tree is stung
by insects, which lay their eggs under the bark, and from the eggs
worms are afterwards hatched. They occasion an extravasation of the
sap, which gradually condenses into a knob. Only the trees with annual
deciduous leaves have these knobs, and among them chiefly the oak, of
which again the black and Spanish oak have the greatest abundance of
knobs. The ash trees, (Fraxinus excelsior) and the red maple (Acer
rubrum) likewise have enough of them. Formerly the Swedes, and more
especially the Finlanders, who are settled here, made dishes, bowls,
&c. of the knobs which were on the ash-trees. These vessels, I am told,
were very pretty, and looked as if they were made of curled wood. The
oak-knobs cannot be employed in this manner, as they are commonly
worm-eaten and rotten within. At present the Swedes no longer make use
of such bowls and dishes, but make use of earthen ware, or vessels made
of other wood. Some knobs are of an uncommon size, and make a tree have
a monstrous appearance. Trees with knobs are very common in the woods
of this country [4].
The roads are good or bad according to the difference of the ground. In
a sandy soil the roads are dry and good; but in a clayey one they are
bad. The people here are likewise very careless in mending them. If a
rivulet be not very great, they do not make a bridge over it; and
travellers may do as well as they can to get over: Therefore many
people are in danger of being drowned in such places, where the water
is risen by a heavy rain. When a tree falls across the road, it is
seldom cut off, to keep the road clear, but the people go round it.
This they can easily do, since the ground is very even, and without
stones; has no underwood or shrubs, and the trees on it stand much
asunder. Hence the roads here have so many bendings.
The farms are most of them single, and you seldom meet with even two
together, except in towns, or places which are intended for towns;
therefore there are but few villages. Each farm has its corn-fields,
its woods, its pastures and meadows. This may perhaps have contributed
something towards the extirpation of wolves, that they every where met
with houses, and people who fired at them. Two or three farm-houses
have generally a pasture or a wood in common, and there are seldom more
together; but most of them have their own grounds divided from the
others.
December the 18th. All persons who intend to be married, must either
have their banns published three times from the pulpit, or get a
licence from the governor. The banns of the poorer sort of people only
are published, and all those who are a little above them get a licence
from the governor. In that licence he declares that he has examined the
affair, and found no obstacles to hinder the marriage, and therefore he
allows it. The licence is signed by the governor; but, before he
delivers it, the bridegroom must come to him in company with two
creditable and well known men, who answer for him, that there really is
no lawful obstacle to his marriage. These men must subscribe a
certificate, in which they make themselves answerable for, and engage
to bear all the damages of, any complaints made by the relations of the
persons who intend to be married, by their guardians, their masters, or
by those to whom they may have been promised before. For all these
circumstances the governor cannot possibly know. They further certify
that nothing hinders the intended marriage, and that nothing is to be
feared on that account. For a licence they pay five and twenty
shillings in Pensylvanian money, at Philadelphia. The governor keeps
twenty shillings, or one pound, and the remaining five shillings belong
to his secretary. The licence is directed only to protestant clergymen.
The quakers have a peculiar licence to their marriages. But as it would
be very troublesome, especially for those who live far from the
governor’s residence to come up to town for every licence, and to bring
the men with them who are to answer for them, the clergymen in the
country commonly take a sufficient number of licences and certificates,
which are ready printed, with blanks left for the names; they give them
occasionally, and get the common money, one pound, five shillings, for
each of them, besides something for their trouble. The money that they
have collected, they deliver to the governor as soon as they come to
town, together with the certificates, which are signed by two men, as
above-mentioned; they then take again as many licences as they think
sufficient: from hence we may conceive that the governors in the
English North American colonies, besides their salaries, have very
considerable revenues [5].
There is a great mixture of people of all sorts in these colonies,
partly of such as are lately come over from Europe, and partly of such
as have not yet any settled place of abode. Hence it frequently happens
that when a clergyman has married such a couple, the bridegroom says he
has no money at present, but would pay the fee at the first
opportunity: however he goes off with his wife, and the clergyman never
gets his due. This proceeding has given occasion to a custom which is
now common in Maryland. When the clergyman marries a very poor couple,
he breaks off in the middle of the Liturgy, and cries out Where is my
fee? The man must then give the money, and the clergyman proceeds; but
if the bridegroom has no money, the clergyman defers the marriage till
another time, when the man is better provided. People of fortune, of
whom the clergyman is sure to get his due, need not fear this
disagreeable question, when they are married.
However, though the parson has got licences to marry a couple, yet if
he be not very careful, he may get into very disagreeable
circumstances; for in many parts of the country there is a law made,
which, notwithstanding the governor’s licence, greatly limits a
clergyman in some cases. He is not allowed to marry a couple who are
not yet of age, unless he be certain of the consent of their parents.
He cannot marry such strangers as have bound themselves to serve a
certain number of years, in order to pay off their passage from Europe,
without the consent of their masters; if he acts without their consent,
or in opposition to it, he must pay a penalty of fifty pounds,
Pensylvania currency, though he has the licence, and the certificate of
the two men who are to answer for any objection. But parents or masters
give themselves no concern about these men, but take hold of the
clergyman, who is at liberty to prosecute those who gave him the
certificate, and to get his damages repaid. With the consent of the
parents and masters he may marry people without danger to himself. No
clergyman is allowed to marry a negro with one of European extraction,
or he must pay a penalty of one hundred pounds, according to the laws
of Pensylvania.
There is a very peculiar diverting custom here, in regard to marrying.
When a man dies, and leaves his widow in great poverty, or so that she
cannot pay all the debts with what little she has left, and that,
notwithstanding all that, there is a person who will marry her, she
must be married in no other habit than her shift. By that means, she
leaves to the creditors of her deceased husband her cloaths, and every
thing which they find in the house. But she is not obliged to pay them
any thing more, because she has left them all she was worth, even her
cloaths, keeping only a shift to cover her, which the laws of the
country cannot refuse her. As soon as she is married, and no longer
belongs to the deceased husband, she puts on the cloaths which the
second has given her. The Swedish clergymen here have often been
obliged to marry a woman in a dress which is so little expensive, and
so light. This appears from the registers kept in the churches, and
from the accounts given by the clergymen themselves. I have likewise
often seen accounts of such marriages in the English gazettes; which
are printed in these colonies; and I particularly remember the
following relation: A woman went, with no other dress than her shift,
out of the house of her deceased husband to that of her bridegroom, who
met her half way with fine new cloaths, and said, before all who were
present, that he lent them his bride; and put them on her with his own
hands. It seems, he said that he lent the cloaths, lest, if he had said
he gave them, the creditors of the first husband should come, and take
them from her; pretending, that she was looked upon as the relict of
her first husband, before she was married to the second.
December the 21st. It seems very probable, from the following
observations, that long before the arrival of the Swedes, there have
been Europeans in this province; and, in the sequel, we shall give more
confirmations of this opinion. The same old Maons Keen, whom I have
already mentioned before, told me repeatedly, that on the arrival of
the Swedes in the last century, and on their making a settlement,
called Helsingburg, on the banks of the Delaware, somewhat below the
place where Salem is now situated; they found, at the depth of twenty
feet, some wells, inclosed with walls. This could not be a work of the
native Americans, or Indians, as bricks were entirely unknown to them
when the Europeans first settled here, at the end of the fifteenth
century; and they still less knew how to make use of them. The wells
were, at that time, on the land; but in such a place, on the banks of
the Delaware, as is sometimes under water, and sometimes dry. But
since, the ground has been so washed away, that the wells are entirely
covered by the river, and the water is seldom low enough to shew the
wells. As the Swedes afterwards made new wells for themselves, at some
distance from the former, they discovered, in the ground, some broken
earthen vessels, and some entire good bricks; and they have often got
them out of the ground by ploughing.
From these marks, it seems, we may conclude, that in times of yore,
either Europeans or other people of the then civilized parts of the
world, have been carried hither by storms, or other accidents, settled
here, on the banks of the river, burnt bricks, and made a colony here;
but that they afterwards mixed with the Indians, or were killed by
them. They may gradually, by conversing with the Indians, have learnt
their manners, and turn of thinking. The Swedes themselves are accused,
that they were already half Indians, when the English arrived in the
year 1682. And we still see, that the French, English, Germans, Dutch,
and other Europeans, who have lived for several years together in
distant provinces, near and among the Indians, grow so like them, in
their behaviour and thoughts, that they can only be distinguished by
the difference of their colour. But history, together with the
tradition among the Indians, assures us, that the above-mentioned wells
and bricks cannot have been made at the time of Columbus’s expedition,
nor soon after; as the traditions of the Indians say, that those wells
were made long before that epocha. This account of the wells, which had
been inclosed with bricks, and of such bricks as have been found in
several places in the ground, I have afterwards heard repeated by many
other old Swedes.
December the 22nd. An old farmer foretold a change of the weather,
because the air was very warm this day at noon, though the morning had
been very cold. This he likewise concluded, from having observed the
clouds gathering about the sun. The meteorological observations annexed
to the end of this volume will prove that his observation was just.
December the 31st. The remedies against the tooth-ach are almost as
numerous as days in a year. There is hardly an old woman but can tell
you three or four score of them, of which she is perfectly certain that
they are as infallible and speedy in giving relief, as a month’s
fasting, by bread and water, is to a burthensome paunch. Yet it happens
often, nay too frequently, that this painful disease eludes all this
formidable army of remedies. However, I cannot forbear observing the
following remedies, which have sometimes, in this country, been found
effectual against the tooth-ach.
When the pains come from the hollowness of the teeth, the following
remedy is said to have had a good effect: A little cotton is put at the
bottom of a tobacco-pipe; the tobacco is put in upon it, and lighted;
and you smoke till it is almost burnt up. By smoking, the oil of the
tobacco gets into the cotton, which is then taken out, and applied to
the tooth as hot as it can be suffered.
The chief remedy of the Iroquois, or Iroquese, against the tooth-ach
occasioned by hollow teeth, I heard of Captain Lindsey’s lady, at
Oswego; and she assured me, that she knew, from her own experience,
that the remedy was effectual. They take the seed capsules of the
Virginian Anemone, as soon as the seed is ripe, and rub them in pieces.
It will then be rough, and look like cotton. This cotton-like substance
is dipped into strong brandy, and then put into the hollow tooth, which
commonly ceases to ache soon after. The brandy is biting or sharp, and
the seeds of the anemone, as most seeds of the Polyandria Polygynia
class of plants (or such as have many Stamina, or male flowers, and
many Pistilla, or female flowers) have likewise an acrimony. They
therefore, both together, help to assuage the pain; and this remedy is
much of the same kind with the former. Besides that, we have many seeds
which have the same qualities with the American anemone.
The following remedy was much in vogue against the tooth-ach which is
attended with a swelling: They boil gruel, of flour of maize, and milk;
to this they add, whilst it is yet over the fire, some of the fat of
hogs, or other suet, and stir it well, that every thing may mix
equally. A handkerchief is then spread over the gruel, and applied as
hot as possible to the swelled cheek, where it is kept till it is gone
cool again. I have found, that this remedy has been very efficacious
against a swelling as it lessens the pain, abates the swelling, opens a
gathering, if there be any, and procures a good discharge of the Pus.
I have seen the Iroquese boil the inner bark of the Sambucus
Canadensis, or Canada Elder, and put it on that part of the cheek in
which the pain was most violent. This, I am told, often diminishes the
pain.
Among the Iroquese, or Five Nations, upon the river Mohawk, I saw a
young Indian woman, who, by frequent drinking of tea, had got a violent
tooth-ach. To cure it, she boiled the Myrica asplenii folia, and tied
it, as hot as she could bear it, on the whole cheek. She said, that
remedy had often cured the tooth-ach before.
January the 2nd, 1749. Before the Europeans under the direction of
Columbus, came to the West Indies, the savages or Indians (who lived
there since times immemorial) were entirely unacquainted with iron,
which appears very strange to us, as North America, almost in every
part of it, contains a number of iron mines. They were therefore
obliged to supply this want with sharp stones, shells, claws of birds
and wild beasts, pieces of bones, and other things of that kind,
whenever they intended to make hatchets, knives, and such like
instruments. From hence it appears, that they must have led a very
wretched life. The old Swedes who lived here, and had had an
intercourse with the Indians when they were young, and at a time when
they were yet very numerous in these parts, could tell a great many
things concerning their manner of living. At this time the people find
accidentally, by ploughing and digging in the ground, several of the
instruments which the Indians employed, before the Swedes and other
Europeans had provided them with iron tools. For it is observable that
the Indians at present make use of no other tools, than such as are
made of iron and other metals, and which they always get from the
Europeans: Of this I shall be more particular, in its proper place. But
having had an opportunity of seeing, and partly collecting a great many
of the ancient Indian tools, I shall here describe them.
Their hatchets were made of stone. Their shape is similar to that of
the wedges with which we cleave our wood, about half a foot long, and
broad in proportion; they are made like a wedge, sharp at one end, but
rather blunter than our wedges. As this hatchet must be fixed on a
handle, there was a notch made all round the thick-end. To fasten it,
they split a stick at one end, and put the stone between it, so that
the two halves of the stick come into the notches of the stone; then
they tied the two split ends together with a rope or something like it,
almost in the same way as smiths fasten the instrument with which they
cut off iron, to a split stick. Some of these stone-hatchets were not
notched or furrowed at the upper end, and it seems they only held those
in their hands in order to hew or strike with them, and did not make
handles to them. Most of the hatchets which I have seen, consisted of a
hard rock-stone: but some were made of a fine, hard, black, apyrous
stone. When the Indians intended to fell a thick strong tree, they
could not make use of their hatchets, but for want of proper
instruments employed fire. They set fire to a great quantity of wood at
the roots of the tree, and made it fall by that means. But that the
fire might not reach higher than they would have it, they fastened some
rags to a pole, dipped them into water, and kept continually washing
the tree, a little above the fire. Whenever they intended to hollow out
a thick tree for a canoe, they laid dry branches all along the stem of
the tree, as far as it must be hollowed out. They then put fire to
those dry branches, and as soon as they were burnt, they were replaced
by others. Whilst these branches were burning, the Indians were very
busy with wet rags, and pouring water upon the tree, to prevent the
fire from spreading too far on the sides and at the ends. The tree
being burnt hollow as far as they found it sufficient, or as far as it
could without damaging the canoe, they took the above described
stone-hatchets, or sharp flints, and quartzes, or sharp shells, and
scraped off the burnt part of the wood, and smoothened the boats
within. By this means they likewise gave it what shape they pleased.
Instead of cutting with a hatchet such a piece of wood as was necessary
for making a canoe, they likewise employed fire. A canoe was commonly
between thirty and forty feet long. The chief use of their hatchets
was, according to the unanimous accounts of all the Swedes, to make
good fields for maize-plantations; for if the ground where they
intended to make a maize-field was covered with trees, they cut off the
bark all round the trees with their hatchets, especially at the time
when they lose their sap. By that means the tree became dry, and could
not take any more nourishment, and the leaves could no longer obstruct
the rays of the sun from passing. The smaller trees were then pulled
out by main force, and the ground was a little turned up with crooked
or sharp branches.
Instead of knives they were satisfied with little sharp pieces of flint
or quartz, or else some other hard kind of a stone, or with a sharp
shell, or with a piece of a bone which they had sharpened.
At the end of their arrows they fastened narrow angulated pieces of
stone; they made use of them, having no iron to make them sharp again,
or a wood of sufficient hardness: these points were commonly flints or
quartzes, but sometimes likewise another kind of a stone. Some employed
the bones of animals, or the claws of birds and beasts. Some of these
ancient harpoons are very blunt, and it seems that the Indians might
kill birds and small quadrupeds with them; but whether they could enter
deep into the body of a great beast or of a man, by the velocity which
they get from the bow, I cannot ascertain; yet some have been found
very sharp and well made.
They had stone pestles, about a foot long, and as thick as a man’s arm.
They consist chiefly of a black sort of a stone, and were formerly
employed, by the Indians, for pounding maize, which has, since times
immemorial, been their chief and almost their only corn. They had
neither wind-mills, water-mills, nor hand-mills, to grind it, and did
not so much as know a mill, before the Europeans came into the country.
I have spoken with old Frenchmen, in Canada, who told me, that the
Indians had been astonished beyond expression, when the French set up
the first wind-mill. They came in numbers, even from the most distant
parts, to view this wonder, and were not tired with sitting near it for
several days together, in order to observe it; they were long of
opinion that it was not driven by the wind, but by the spirits who
lived within it. They were partly under the same astonishment when the
first water-mill was built. They formerly pounded all their corn or
maize in hollow trees, with the above-mentioned pestles, made of stone.
Many Indians had only wooden pestles. The blackish stone, of which the
hatchets and pestles are sometimes made, is very good for a grindstone,
and therefore both the English and the Swedes employ the hatchets and
pestles chiefly as grindstones, at present, when they can get them.
The old boilers or kettles of the Indians, were either made of clay, or
of different kinds of pot-stone, (Lapis ollaris). The former consisted
of a dark clay, mixt with grains of white sand or quartz, and burnt in
the fire. Many of these kettles have two holes in the upper margin, on
each side one, through which the Indians put a stick, and held the
kettle over the fire, as long as it was to boil. Most of the kettles
have no feet. It is remarkable that no pots of this kind have been
found glazed, either on the outside or the inside. A few of the oldest
Swedes could yet remember seeing the Indians boil their meat in these
pots. They are very thin, and of different sizes; they are made
sometimes of a greenish, and sometimes of a grey pot-stone, and some
are made of another species of apyrous stone; the bottom and the margin
are frequently above an inch thick. The Indians, notwithstanding their
being unacquainted with iron, steel, and other metals, have learnt to
hollow out very ingeniously these pots or kettles of pot-stone.
The old tobacco-pipes of the Indians are likewise made of clay, or
pot-stone, or serpentine-stone. The first sort are shaped like our
tobacco-pipes, though much coarser and not so well made. The tube is
thick and short, hardly an inch long, but sometimes as long as a
finger; their colour comes nearest to that of our tobacco-pipes which
have been long used. Their tobacco-pipes of pot-stone are made of the
same stone as their kettles. Some of them are pretty well made, though
they had neither iron nor steel. But besides these kinds of
tobacco-pipes, we find another sort of pipes, which are made with great
ingenuity, of a very fine, red pot-stone, or a kind of serpentine
marble. They are very scarce, and seldom made use of by any other than
the Indian Sachems, or elders. The fine red stone, of which these pipes
are made, is likewise very scarce, and is found only in the country of
those Indians who are called Ingouez, and who, according to father
Charlevoix, live on the other side of the river Missisippi [6]. The
Indians themselves commonly value a pipe of this kind as much as a
piece of silver of the same size, and sometimes they make it still
dearer. Of the same kind of stone commonly consists their pipe of
peace, which the French call calumet de paix, and which they make use
of in their treaties of peace, and alliances. Most authors who have
wrote of these nations mention this instrument, and I intend to speak
of it when an opportunity offers.
The Indians employ hooks made of bone, or bird’s claws, instead of
fishing-hooks. Some of the oldest Swedes here told me, that when they
were young, a great number of Indians had been in this part of the
country, which was then called New Sweden, and had caught fishes in the
river Delaware, with these hooks.
They made fire by rubbing one end of a hard piece of wood continually
against another dry one, till the wood began to smoke, and afterwards
to burn.
Such were the tools of the antient Indians, and the use which they made
of them, before the Europeans invaded this country, and before they
(the Indians) were acquainted with the advantages of iron. North
America abounds in iron-mines, and the Indians lived all about the
country before the arrival of the Europeans, so that several places can
be shewn in this country, where at present there are iron-mines, and
where, not a hundred years ago, stood great towns or villages of the
Indians. It is therefore very remarkable that the Indians did not know
how to make use of a metal or ore which was always under their eyes,
and on which they could not avoid treading every day. They even lived
upon the very spots where iron ores were afterwards found, and yet they
often went many miles in order to get a wretched hatchet, knife, or the
like, as above described. They were forced to employ several days in
order to sharpen their tools, by rubbing them against a rock, or other
stones, though the advantage was far from being equal to the labour.
For they could never cut down a thick tree with their hatchets, and
with difficulty they felled a small one. They could not hollow out a
tree with their hatchets, or do a hundredth part of the work which we
can perform with ease, by the help of our iron hatchets. Thus we see
how disadvantageous the ignorance and inconsiderate contempt of useful
arts is. Happy is the country which knows their full value!
January the 5th. Christmas-day was celebrated this day by the Swedes
and English, for they kept then to the old stile.
January the 6th. There are a great number of hares in this country, but
they differ from our Swedish ones in their size, which is very small,
and but little bigger than that of a rabbit; they keep almost the same
grey colour both in summer and winter, which our Northern hares have in
summer only; the tip of their ears is always grey, and not black; the
tail is likewise grey on the upper side, at all seasons; they breed
several times a year: in spring they lodge their young ones in hollow
trees, and in summer, in the months of June and July, they breed in the
grass. When they are surprised they commonly take refuge in hollow
trees, out of which they are taken by means of a crooked stick, or by
cutting a hole into the tree, opposite to the place where they lie; or
by smoke, which is occasioned by making a fire on the outside of the
tree. On all these occasions the greyhounds must be at hand. These
hares never bite, and can be touched without any danger. In day-time
they usually lie in hollow trees, and hardly ever stir from thence,
unless they be disturbed by men or dogs; but in the night they come
out, and seek their food. In bad weather, or when it snows, they lie
close for a day or two, and do not venture to leave their retreats.
They do a great deal of mischief in the cabbage-fields; but apple-trees
suffer infinitely more from them, for they peel off all the bark next
to the ground. The people here agreed that the hares are fatter in a
cold and severe winter, than in a mild and wet one, of which they could
give me several reasons, from their own conjectures. The skin is
useless, because it is so loose, that it can be drawn off; for when you
would separate it from the flesh, you need only pull at the fur, and
the skin follows: these hares cannot be tamed. They were at all times,
even in the midst of winter, plagued with a number of common fleas [7].
January the 16th. The common mice were in great abundance in the towns
and in the country; they do as much mischief as in the old countries.
Oldmixon in his book, the British Empire in America, vol. i. p. 444,
writes, that North America had neither rats nor mice before European
ships brought them over. How far this is true I know not. It is
undoubted, that in several desart places, where no man ever lived, I
have seen and killed the common mice, in crevices of stones or
mountains; and is it probable that all such mice as are spread in this
manner, throughout the inland parts of the country, derive their origin
from those which were brought over from Europe?
Rats likewise may be ranked among those animals which do great damage
in this country. They live both in the cities and in the country, and
destroy the provisions. Their size is the same with that of our rats,
but their colour differs; for they are grey, or blue-grey. I enquired
of the Swedes, Whether these rats had been here prior to the arrival of
the Europeans, or whether they came over in the ships? But I could not
get an answer which I might depend upon. All agreed, that a number of
these dangerous and mischievous animals were every year brought to
America, by ships from Europe and other countries. But Mr. Bartram
maintained, that before the Europeans settled here, rats had been in
the country; for he saw a great number of them on the high mountains,
which are commonly called the Blue Mountains, where they lived among
stones, and in the subterraneous grottoes which are in those mountains.
They always lie very close in the day-time, and you hardly ever see one
out; but at night they come out, and make a terrible noise. When the
cold was very violent, they seemed quite torpid; for during the
continuance of the cold weather, one could not hear the least noise, or
shrieking, occasioned by them. It is to be observed, that neither the
Swedes nor the English have any dark windows in their houses here.
There is hardly a dormer-window in the garret; but only loose boards.
The walls in the wooden houses are frequently not closed, even with
moss; so that the rooms, though they have fires in them, are no warmer
than the outside apartment, or hall. The rooms where the servants sleep
have never any fire in them, though the winter is pretty severe
sometimes. The rats have, therefore, little or no warmth in winter; but
as soon as a milder season makes its appearance, they come out again.
We observed several times this winter, that the rats were very active,
and made an unusual noise all night, just before a severe cold. It
seems, they had some sensation of cold weather being at hand; and that
they therefore eat sufficiently, or stored up provisions. In mild
weather, they were used to carry away apples, and other provisions:
therefore, we could always conclude, with certainty, when the rats made
an uncommon noise at night, or were extremely greedy, that a severe
cold would ensue. I have already observed in the preceding volume, p.
312, that the grey squirrels in this country have the same quality.
When these, and the common mice, eat maize, they do not consume the
whole grains, but only the loose, sweet and soft kernel, and leave the
rest.
January the 21st. The cold now equalled that of Sweden, though this
country is so much more southerly. The Celsian or Swedish thermometer
was twenty-two degrees below the freezing point, in the morning. As the
rooms are without any shutters here, the cracks in the walls not closed
with moss, and sometimes no fire-place or chimney in the room, the
winters here must be very disagreeable to one who is used to our
Swedish warm winter-rooms. But the greatest comfort here is, that the
cold is of a very short duration. Some days of this month, the room
which I lodged in was such, that I could not write two lines before the
ink would freeze in my pen. When I did not write, I could not leave the
ink-stand on the table; but was forced to put it upon the hearth, or
into my pocket. Yet, notwithstanding it was so cold, as appears from
the meteorological observations at the end of this volume, and though
it snowed sometimes for several days and nights together, and the snow
lay near six inches high upon the ground, yet all the cattle are
obliged to stay, day and night, in the fields, during the whole winter.
For neither the English nor the Swedes had any stables; but the Germans
and Dutch had preserved the custom of their country, and generally kept
their cattle in stables during winter. Almost all the old Swedes say,
that on their first arrival in this country, they made stables for
their cattle, as is usual in Sweden; but as the English came, and
settled among them, and left their cattle in the fields all winter, as
is customary in England, they left off their former custom, and adopted
the English one. They owned, however, that the cattle suffered greatly
in winter, when it was very cold, especially when it froze after a
rain, and that some cattle were killed by it in several places, in the
long winter of the year 1741. About noon, the cattle went out into the
woods, where there were yet some leaves on the young oak; but they did
not eat the leaves, and only bit off the extremities of the branches,
and the tops of the youngest oaks. The horses went into the maize
fields, and ate the dry leaves on the few stalks which remained. The
sheep ran about the woods, and on the corn fields. The chickens perched
on the trees of the gardens, at night; for they had no particular
habitations. The hogs were likewise exposed to the roughness of the
weather, within a small inclosure.
A small kind of birds, which the Swedes call Snow-bird, and the English
Chuck-bird, came into the houses about this time. At other times, they
sought their food along the roads. They are seldom seen, but when it
snows. Catesby, in his Natural History of Carolina, calls it Passer
nivalis; and Dr. Linnæus, in his Systema Naturæ, calls it Emberiza
hyemalis.
The river Delaware was now covered with ice opposite Philadelphia, and
even somewhat lower, and the people could walk over it; but nobody
ventured to ride over on horseback.
January the 22d. There are partridges in this country; but they are not
of the same kind with ours. The Swedes called them sometimes rapphons
(partridges), and sometimes aekkerhoens (quails). Some of the English
likewise called them partridges, others quails. Their shape is almost
the same with that of the European partridges, and their nature and
qualities the same: I mean, they run and hide themselves, when pursued.
But they are smaller, and entirely different in colour. In this work I
cannot insert, at large, the descriptions which I have made of birds,
insects, quadrupeds, and plants; because it would swell my volume too
much. I only observe, that the feet are naked, and not hairy; the back
is spotted with brown, black, and white; the breast is dark yellow; and
the belly whitish, with black edges on the tips of the feathers. The
size is nearly that of a hazel-hen, or tetrao bonasia. Above each eye
is a narrow stroke of whitish yellow. These birds are numerous in New
Sweden, i. e. this part of the country. On going but a little way, you
meet with great coveys of them. However, they keep at a great distance
from towns; being either extirpated, or frightened there by the
frequent shooting. They are always in lesser or greater coveys, do not
fly very much, but run in the fields, and keep under the bushes and
near the inclosures, where they seek their food. They are reckoned very
delicious food; and the people here prepare them in different ways. For
that purpose they are caught, and shot in great numbers. They are
caught by putting up a sieve, or a square open box, made of boards, in
the places they frequent. The people strew some oats under the sieve,
and lift it up on one side by a little stick; and as soon as the
partridges are got under the sieve, in order to pick up the oats, it
falls, and they are caught alive. Sometimes they get several partridges
at once. When they run in the bushes, you can come very near them,
without starting them. When they sleep at night, they come together in
an heap. They scratch in the bushes and upon the field, like common
chickens. In spring they make their nests, either under a bush or in
the maize fields, or on the hills in the open air: they scratch some
hay together, into which they lay about thirteen white eggs. They eat
several sorts of corn, and seeds of grass. They have likewise been seen
eating the berries of sumach, or rhus glabra. Some people have taken
them young, and kept them in a cage till they were tame: then they let
them go; and they followed the chickens, and never left the
court-yards.
The inclosures made use of in Pensylvania and New Jersey, but
especially in New York, are those, which on account of their serpentine
form resembling worms, are called worm-fences in English. The poles
which compose this fence are taken from different trees; but they are
not all of equal duration: the red cedar is reckoned the most durable
of any, for it holds out above thirty years; but it is very scarce, and
grows only in a single place hereabouts, so that no fences can be made
of it. It is true, the fences about Philadelphia (which however are
different from the worm-fences) are all made of red cedar; but it has
been brought by water from Egg-harbour, where it grows in abundance.
The supports on which the poles lie are made of the white cedar, or
Cupressus thyoides, and the poles which are laid between them of the
red cedar or Juniperus Virginiana. Next to the cedar-wood, oak and
chesnut are reckoned best. Chesnut is commonly preferred, but it is not
every where so plentiful as to be made into fences; in its stead they
make use of several sorts of oak. In order to make inclosures, the
people do not cut down the young trees, as is common with us, but they
fell here and there thick trees, cut them in several places, leaving
the pieces as long as it is necessary, and split them into poles of the
usual thickness; a single tree affords a multitude of poles. Several
old men in this country told me, that the Swedes on their arrival here,
made such inclosures as are usual in Sweden, but they were forced to
leave off in a few years time, because they could not get posts enough;
for they had found by experience that a post being put into the ground
would not last above four or six years before the part under ground was
entirely rotten; but the chief thing was, that they could not get any
switches for to tie them together; they made some of hiccory, which is
one of the toughest trees in this country, and of the white oak; but in
the space of a year or two the switches were rotten, and the fence fell
in pieces of itself, therefore they were forced to give over making
such inclosures. Several of the new comers again attempted, but with
the same bad success, to make fences with posts and switches. The
Swedish way of inclosing therefore will not succeed here. Thus the
worm-fences are one of the most useful sorts of inclosures, especially
as they cannot get any post, made of the woods of this country, to stay
above six or eight years in the ground without rotting. The poles in
this country are very heavy, and the posts cannot bear them well,
especially when it blows a storm; but the worm-fences are easily put up
again, when they are thrown down. Experience has shewn that an
inclosure made of chesnut or white oak seldom holds out above ten or
twelve years, before the poles and posts are thoroughly rotten: when
the poles are made of other wood, the fences hardly stand six or eight
years. Considering how much more wood the worm-fences require, (since
they run in bendings) than other inclosures which go in strait lines,
and that they are so soon useless, one may imagine how the forests will
be consumed, and what sort of an appearance the country will have forty
or fifty years hence, in case no alteration is made; especially as wood
is really squandered away in immense quantities, day and night all the
winter, or nearly one half of the year, for fewel.
February the 8th. The Musk-rats, so called by the English in this
country, on account of their scent, are pretty common in North America;
they always live near the water, especially on the banks of lakes,
rivers, and brooks. On travelling to places where they are, you see the
holes which they have dug in the ground just at the water’s edge, or a
little above its surface. In these holes they have their nests, and
there they continue whenever they are not in the water in pursuit of
food. The Swedes call them Désmans Rattor [8], and the French, Rats
musqués. Linnæus calls this animal Castor Zibethicus. Their food is
chiefly the muscles which ly at the bottom of lakes and rivers; you see
a number of such shells near the entrance of their holes. I am told
they likewise eat several kinds of roots and plants. They differ from
the European Musk-rat, or Linnæus’s Castor Moschatus. The teeth are the
same in both; the tail of the American is compressed on the sides so,
that one sharp edge goes upwards and the other downwards: the hind feet
are not palmated, or joined by a moveable skin, but are peculiar for
having on both sides of the feet, long, white, close, pectinated,
off-standing hair, besides the short hair with which the feet are quite
covered. Such hairs are on both sides of the toes, and do the same
service in swimming as a web. Their size is that of a little cat, or to
be more accurate, the length of the body is about ten inches, and the
tail of the same length: the colour of the head, neck, back, sides, and
of the outside of the thighs, is blackish brown; the hairs are soft and
shining; under the neck, on the breasts, and on the inside of the
thighs, they are grey. They make their nests in the dykes that are
erected along the banks of rivers to keep off the water from the
adjoining meadows; but they often do a great deal of damage, by
spoiling the dykes with digging, and opening passages for the water to
come into the meadows; whereas Beavers stop up all the holes in a dyke
or bank. They make their nests of twigs and such like things
externally, and carry soft stuff into them for their young ones to ly
upon. The Swedes asserted that they could never observe a diminution in
their number, but believed that they were as numerous at present as
formerly. As they damage the banks so considerably, the people are
endeavouring to extirpate them, when they can find out their nests; the
skin is paid for, and this is an encouragement towards catching the
animal. A skin of a Musk-rat formerly cost but three-pence, but at
present they gave from six-pence to nine-pence. The skins are chiefly
employed by hatters, who make hats of the hair, which are said to be
nearly as good as Beaver hats. The Musk-rats are commonly caught in
traps, with apples as baits. In the country of the Iroquese, I saw
those Indians following the holes of the Musk-rats by digging till they
came to their nests, where they killed them all. Nobody here eats their
flesh; I do not know whether the Indians eat it, for they are commonly
not over nice in the choice of meat. The musk-bag is put between the
cloaths in order to preserve them against worms. It is very difficult
to extirpate these Rats when they are once settled in a bank. A Swede,
however, told me, that he had freed his bank, or piece of dyke along
the river, from them in the following manner: He sought for all their
holes, stopped them all up with earth, excepting one, on that side from
whence the wind came. He put a quantity of sulphur into the open
entrance, set fire to it, and then closed the hole, leaving but a small
one for the wind to pass through. The smoke of the sulphur then entered
their most remote nests, and stifled all the animals. As soon as the
sulphur was burnt, he was obliged to dig up part of the ground in the
bank, where they had their nests; and he found them lie dead by heaps.
He sold the skins, and they paid his trouble, not to mention the
advantage he got by clearing his bank of the Musk-rats.
Beavers were formerly abundant in New Sweden, as all the old Swedes
here told me. At that time they saw one bank after another raised in
the rivers by beavers. But after the Europeans came over in great
number, and cultivated the country better, the beavers have been partly
killed, and partly extirpated, and partly are removed higher into the
country, where the people are not so numerous. Therefore there is but a
single place in Pensylvania where beavers are to be met with; their
chief food is the bark of the beaver-tree, or Magnolia glauca, which
they prefer to any other. The Swedes therefore put branches of this
tree near the beaver-dykes, into traps, which they laid for the
beavers, whilst they were yet plentiful; and they could almost be
certain of good success. Some persons in Philadelphia have tamed
beavers, so that they go a fishing with them, and they always come back
to their masters. Major Roderfert, in New York, related that he had a
tame beaver above half a year in his house, where he went about quite
loose, like a dog. The major gave him bread, and sometimes fish, which
he was very greedy of. He got as much water in a bowl as he wanted. All
the rags and soft things he could meet with he dragged into a corner,
where he was used to sleep, and made a bed of them. The cat in the
house, having kittens, took possession of his bed, and he did not
hinder her. When the cat went out, the beaver often took the kitten
between his fore paws and held it to his breast to warm it, and doated
upon it; as soon as the cat returned he gave her the kitten again.
Sometimes he grumbled, but never did any hurt, or attempted to bite.
The English and the Swedes gave the name of Mink to an animal of this
country, which likewise lives either in the water, or very near it. I
have never had an opportunity to see any more than the skin of this
animal. But the shape of the skin, and the unanimous accounts I have
heard of it, make me conclude with much certainty, that it belonged to
the genus of weasels or mustelæ. The greatest skin I ever saw, was one
foot, eight inches long, a lesser one was about ten inches long, and
about three inches, one third broad, before it was cut; the colour was
dark brown, and sometimes almost black; the tail was bushy, as that of
a marten; the hair was very close; and the ears short, with short hair.
The length of the feet belonging to the lesser skin was about two
inches long. I am told this animal is so similar to the American
polecat, or Viverra putorius, that they are hardly distinguishable [9].
I have had the following accounts given me of its way of living; it
seldom appears in day-time, but at night it comes out of the hollow
trees, on the banks of rivers. Sometimes it lives in the docks and
bridges, at Philadelphia, where it is a cruel enemy to the rats.
Sometimes it gets into the court-yards at night, and creeps into the
chicken-house, through a small hole, where it kills all the poultry,
and sucks their blood, but seldom eats one. If it meets with geese,
fowls, ducks, or other birds on the road, it kills and devours them. It
lives upon fish and birds. When a brook is near the houses, it is not
easy to keep ducks and geese, for the mink, which lives near rivers,
kills the young ones. It first kills as many as it can come at, and
then it carries them off, and feasts upon them. In banks and dykes near
the water, it likewise does mischief, with digging. To catch it the
people put up traps, into which they put heads of birds, fishes, or
other meat. The skin is sold in the towns, and at Philadelphia; they
give twenty-pence and even two shillings a-piece for them, according to
their size. Some of the ladies get muffs made of these skins; but for
the greatest part they are sent over to England, from whence they are
distributed to other countries. The old Swedes told me that the Indians
formerly used to eat all kinds of flesh, except that of the mink.
I have already mentioned something of the Raccoon; I shall here add
more of the nature of this animal, in a place which is properly its
native country [10]. The English call it every where by the name of
Raccoon, which name they have undoubtedly taken from one of the Indian
nations; the Dutch call it Hespan, the Swedes, Espan, and the Iroquese,
Attigbro. It commonly lodges in hollow trees, lies close in the
day-time, never going out but on a dark, cloudy day; but at night it
rambles and seeks its food. I have been told by several people, that in
bad weather, especially when it snows and blows a storm, the Raccoon
lies in its hole for a week together without coming out once; during
that time it lives by sucking and licking its paws. Its food are
several sorts of fruit, such as maize, whilst the ears are soft. In
gardens it often does a great deal of damage among the apples,
chesnuts, plumbs, and wild grapes, which are what it likes best; among
the poultry it is very cruel. When it finds the hens on their eggs, it
first kills them, and then eats the eggs. It is caught by dogs, which
trace it back to its nest, in hollow trees, or by snares and traps, in
which a chicken, some other bird, or a fish, is put as a bait. Some
people eat its flesh. It leaps with all its feet at once; on account of
this and of several other qualities, many people here reckoned it to
the genus of bears. The skin sold for eighteen-pence, at Philadelphia.
I was told that the Raccoons were not near so numerous as they were
formerly; yet in the more inland parts they were abundant. I have
mentioned the use which the hatters make of their furs; as likewise
that they are easily tamed, that they are very greedy of sweet-meats,
&c. in the preceding volume. Of all the North American wild quadrupeds
none can be tamed to such a degree as this.
February the 10th. In the morning I went to Philadelphia, where I
arrived towards night. On my arrival at the ferry upon the river
Delaware, I found the river quite covered with drifts of ice, which at
first prevented our crossing the water. After waiting about an hour,
and making an opening near the ferry, I, together with many more
passengers, got over, before any more shoals came on. As it began to
freeze very hard soon after the twelfth of January (or New Year,
according to the old style) the river Delaware was covered with ice,
which by the intenseness of the frost grew so strong, that the people
crossed the river with horses at Philadelphia. The ice continued till
the eighth of February, when it began to get loose, and the violent
hurricane, which happened that night, broke it, and it was driven down
so fast, that on the twelfth of February not a single shoal came down,
excepting a piece or two near the shore.
Crows flew in great numbers together to-day, and settled on the tops of
trees. During the whole winter we hardly observed one, though they are
said to winter there. During all this spring they commonly used to sit
at the tops of trees in the morning; yet not all together, but in
several trees. They belong to the noxious birds in this part of the
world, for they chiefly live upon corn. After the maize is planted or
sown, they scratch the grains out of the ground and eat them. When the
maize begins to ripen, they peck a hole into the involucrum which
surrounds the ear, by which means the maize is spoiled, as the rain
passes through the hole which they have made, and occasions the
putrefaction of the corn. Besides eating corn, they likewise steal
chickens. They are very fond of dead carcasses. Some years ago the
government of Pensylvania had given three-pence, and that of New Jersey
four-pence premium for every head of a Crow, but this law has now been
repealed, as the expences are too great. I have seen the young Crows of
this kind in several places playing with tame ones whose wings were
cut. The latter hopped about the fields, near the farm-houses where
they belonged to, but always returned again, without endeavouring to
escape on any occasion. These American Crows are only a variety of the
Royston Crow, or Linnæus’s Corvus Cornix.
February the 12th. In the afternoon I returned to Raccoon from
Philadelphia.
On my journey to Raccoon, I attentively observed the trees which had
yet any leaves left. The leaves were pale and dried up, but not all
dropt from the following trees:
The Beach-tree, (Fagus sylvatica) whether great or small; it always
kept a considerable part of its leaves during the whole winter even
till spring. The greater trees kept the lowermost leaves.
The white oak (Quercus alba). Most of the young trees which were not
above a quarter of a yard in diameter, had the greatest part of their
leaves still on them, but the old trees had lost most of theirs, except
in some places where they have got new shoots. The colour of the dry
leaves was much paler in the white oak than in the black one.
The black oak (as it is commonly called here). Dr. Linnæus calls it the
red oak, Quercus rubra. Most of the young trees still preserved their
dried leaves. Their colour was reddish brown, and darker than that of
the white oak.
The Spanish oak, which is a mere variety of the black oak. The young
trees of this kind likewise keep their leaves.
A scarce species of oak which is known by its leaves having a
triangular apex or top, whose angles terminate in a short bristle; the
leaves are smooth below, but woolly above [11]. The young oaks of this
species had still their leaves.
When I came into any wood where the above kinds of oaks were only
twenty years, and even not so old, I always found the leaves on them.
It seems that Providence has, besides other views, aimed to protect
several sorts of birds, it being very cold and stormy about this time,
by preserving even the dry leaves on these trees. I have this winter at
several times seen birds hiding in the trees covered with old leaves
during a severe cold or storm.
February the 13th. As I began to dig a hole to-day, I found several
insects which were crept deep into the ground in order to pass the
winter. As soon as they came to the air, they moved their limbs a
little, but had not strength sufficient for creeping, except the black
ants, which crept a little, though slowly.
Formica nigra, or the black ant, were pretty numerous, and somewhat
lively. They lay about ten inches below the surface.
Carabus latus. Some of these lay at the same depth with the ants. This
is a very common insect in all North America.
Scarabæus; chesnut-coloured, with a hairy thorax; the elytræ shorter
than the abdomen, with several longitudinal lines, beset with hair. It
is something similar to the cock-chaffer, but differs in many respects.
I found it very abundant in the ground.
Gryllus campestris, or the field-cricket: They lay ten inches deep;
they were quite torpid, but as soon as they came into a warm place they
revived and were quite lively. In summer I have found these crickets in
great plenty in all parts of North America where I have been. They
leaped about on the fields, and made a noise like that of our common
house-crickets, so that it would be difficult to distinguish them by
their chirping. They sometimes make so great a noise, that it causes
pain in the ears, and even two people cannot understand each other. In
such places where the rattle-snakes live, the field-crickets are very
disagreeable, and in a manner dangerous, for their violent chirping
prevents the warning, which that horrid snake gives with its rattle,
from reaching the ear, and thus deprives one of the means of avoiding
it. I have already mentioned that they likewise winter sometimes in
chimnies [12]. Here they ly all winter in the ground, but at the
beginning of March, as the air was grown warm, they came out of their
holes, and began their music, though at first it was but very faint and
rarely heard. When we were forced on our travels to sleep in
uninhabited places, the crickets had got into the folds of our clothes,
so that we were obliged to stop an hour every morning in examining our
clothes, before we could get rid of them.
The red ants (Formica rufa) which in Sweden make the great ant-hills, I
likewise found to-day and the following day; they were not in the
ground, for when my servant Yungstroem cut down old dry trees, he met
with a number of them in the cracks of the tree. These cracks were at
the height of many yards in the tree, and the ants were crept so high,
in order to find their winter habitation: As soon as they came into a
warm place, they began to stir about very briskly.
February the 14th. The Swedes and the English gave the name of blue
bird to a very pretty little bird, which was of a fine blue colour.
Linnæus calls it Motacilla Sialis. Catesby has drawn it in his Natural
history of Carolina, vol. I. pl. 47, and described it by the name of
Rubecula Americana cærulea; and Edwards has represented it in his
Natural history of birds, plate and page 24. In my own journal I called
it Motacilla cærulea nitida, pectore rufo, ventre albo. In Catesby’s
plate I must observe, that the colour of the breast ought to be dirty
red or ferruginous; the tibiæ and feet black as jet; the bill too
should be quite black; the blue colour in general ought to be much
deeper, more lively and shining; no bird in Sweden has so shining and
deep a blue colour as this: The jay has perhaps a plumage like it. The
food of the blue bird is not merely insects, he likewise feeds upon
plants; therefore in winter, when no insects are to be met with, they
come to the farm-houses in order to subsist on the seeds of hay, and
other small grains.
Red-bird is another species of small bird. Catesby has likewise figured
it [13]. Dr. Linnæus calls it, Loxia Cardinalis. It belongs to that
class of birds which are enemies to bees, lying in wait for them and
eating them. I fed a cock for five months together in a cage; it eat
both maize and buck-wheat, for I gave it nothing else. By its song it
attracted others of its species to the court-yard, and after we had put
some maize on the ground under the window where I had it, the others
came there every day to get their food; it was then easy to catch them
by means of traps. Some of them, especially old ones, both cocks and
hens, would die with grief on being put into cages. Those on the other
hand which were grown tame, began to sing exceedingly sweet. Their note
very nearly resembles that of our European nightingale, and on account
of their agreeable song, they are sent abundantly to London, in cages.
They have such strength in their bill that when you hold your hand to
them they pinch it so hard as to cause the blood to issue forth. In
spring they sit warbling on the tops of the highest trees in the woods,
in the morning. But in cages they sit quite still for an hour; the next
hour they hop up and down, singing; and so they go on alternately all
day.
February the 17th. Cranes (Ardea Canadensis) were sometimes seen flying
in the day-time, to the northward. They commonly stop here early in
spring, for a short time, but they do not make their nests here, for
they proceed on more to the north. Certain old Swedes told me, that in
their younger years, as the country was not yet much cultivated, an
incredible number of cranes were here every spring; but at present they
are not so numerous. Several people who have settled here, eat their
flesh, when they can shoot them. They are said to do no harm to corn,
or the like.
February the 23d. This morning I went down to Penn’s Neck, and returned
in the evening.
Snow lay yet in several parts of the woods, especially where the trees
stood very thick, and the sun could not make its way: however it was
not above four inches deep. All along the roads was ice, especially in
the woods, and therefore it was very difficult to ride horses, which
were not sharp shoed. The people who are settled here know little of
sledges, but ride on horseback to church in winter, though the snow is
sometimes near a foot deep. It lays seldom above a week before it
melts, and then some fresh snow falls.
A species of birds, called by the Swedes, maize-thieves, do the
greatest mischief in this country. They have given them that name,
because they eat maize, both publicly and secretly, just after it is
sown and covered with the ground, and when it is ripe. The English call
them blackbirds. There are two species of them, both described and
drawn by Catesby [14]. Though they are very different in species, yet
there is so great a friendship between them, that they frequently
accompany each other in mixed flocks. However, in Pensylvania, the
first sort are more obvious, and often fly together, without any of the
red-winged stares. The first sort, or the purple daws, bear, in many
points, so great a likeness to the daw, the stare, and the thrush, that
it is difficult to determine to which genus they are to be reckoned,
but seem to come nearest to the stare; for the bill is exactly the same
with that of the thrush, but the tongue, the flight, their sitting on
the trees, their song and shape, make it entirely a stare; at a
distance they look almost black, but close by they have a very blue or
purple cast, but not so much as Catesby’s print: their size is that of
a stare; the bill is conic, almost subulated, strait, convex, naked at
the base, black, with almost equal mandibles, the upper being only a
very little longer than the lower; the nostrils are oblong, yet a
little angulated, so as to form almost squares; they are placed
obliquely at the base of the bill, and have no hair; there is a little
horny knob, or a small prominence on the upper side of them; the tongue
is sharp and bifid at the point; the iris of the eyes is pale; the
forehead, the crown, the nucha, the upper part and the sides of the
neck are of an obscure blue and green shining colour; the sides of the
head under the eyes are obscurely blue; all the back and coverts of the
wings are purple; the upper coverts of the tail are not of so
conspicuous a purple colour, but as it were blackened with soot; the
nine primary quill-feathers are black; the other secundary ones are
likewise black, but their outward margin is purple; the twelve tail
feathers have a blackish purple colour, and their tips are round; those
on the outside are the shortest, and the middle extremely long. When
the tail is spread, it looks round towards the extremity. The throat is
blueish green, and shining; the breast is likewise black or shining
green, according as you turn it to the light; the belly is blackish,
and the vent feathers are obscurely purple-coloured; the parts of the
breast and belly which are covered by the wings, are purple-coloured;
the wings are black below, or rather sooty; and the thighs have
blackish feathers; the legs (tibiæ), and the toes are of a shining
black. It has four toes, as most birds have. The claws are black, and
that on the back toe is longer than the rest. Dr. Linnæus calls this
bird Gracula Quiscula.
A few of these birds are said to winter in swamps, which are quite
overgrown with thick woods; and they only appear in mild weather. But
the greatest number go to the south at the approach of winter. To-day I
saw them, for the first time this year. They flew in great flocks
already. Their chief and most agreeable food is maize. They come in
great swarms in spring, soon after the maize is put under ground. They
scratch up the grains of maize, and eat them. As soon as the leaf comes
out, they take hold of it with their bills, and pluck it up, together
with the corn or grain; and thus they give a great deal of trouble to
the country people, even so early in spring. To lessen their greediness
of maize, some people dip the grains of that plant in a decoct of the
root of the veratrum album, or white hellebore, (of which I shall speak
in the sequel) and plant them afterwards. When the maize-thief eats a
grain or two, which are so prepared, his head is disordered, and he
falls down: this frightens his companions, and they dare not venture to
the place again. But they repay themselves amply towards autumn, when
the maize grows ripe; for at that time, they are continually feasting.
They assemble by thousands in the maize-fields, and live at discretion.
They are very bold; for when they are disturbed, they only go and
settle in another part of the field. In that manner, they always go
from one end of the field to the other, and do not leave it till they
are quite satisfied. They fly in incredible swarms in autumn; and it
can hardly be conceived whence such immense numbers of them should
come. When they rise in the air they darken the sky, and make it look
quite black. They are then in such great numbers, and so close
together, that it is surprising how they find room to move their wings.
I have known a person shoot a great number of them on one side of a
maize-field, which was far from frightening the rest; for they only
just took flight, and dropped at about the distance of a musket-shot in
another part of the field, and always changed their place when their
enemy approached. They tired the sportsman, before he could drive them
from off the maize, though he killed a great many of them at every
shot. They likewise eat the seeds of the aquatic tare-grass (Zizania
aquatica) commonly late in autumn, after the maize is got in. I am
told, they likewise eat buck-wheat, and oats. Some people say, that
they even eat wheat, barley, and rye, when pressed by hunger; yet, from
the best information I could obtain, they have not been found to do any
damage to these species of corn. In spring, they sit in numbers on the
trees, near the farms; and their note is pretty agreeable. As they are
so destructive to maize, the odium of the inhabitants against them is
carried so far, that the laws of Pensylvania and New Jersey have
settled a premium of three-pence a dozen for dead maize-thieves. In New
England, the people are still greater enemies to them; for Dr. Franklin
told me, in the spring of the year 1750, that, by means of the premiums
which have been settled for killing them in New England, they have been
so extirpated, that they are very rarely seen, and in a few places
only. But as, in the summer of the year 1749, an immense quantity of
worms appeared on the meadows, which devoured the grass, and did great
damage, the people have abated their enmity against the maize-thieves;
for they thought they had observed, that those birds lived chiefly on
these worms before the maize is ripe, and consequently extirpated them,
or at least prevented their spreading too much. They seem therefore to
be entitled, as it were, to a reward for their trouble. But after these
enemies and destroyers of the worms (the maize-thieves) were
extirpated, the worms were more at liberty to multiply; and therefore
they grew so numerous, that they did more mischief now than the birds
did before. In the summer 1749, the worms left so little hay in New
England, that the inhabitants were forced to get hay from Pensylvania,
and even from Old England. The maize-thieves have enemies besides the
human species. A species of little hawks live upon them, and upon other
little birds. I saw some of these hawks driving up the maize-thieves,
which were in the greatest security, and catching them in the air.
Nobody eats the flesh of the purple maize-thieves or daws (Gracula
quiscula); but that of the red-winged maize-thieves, or stares (Oriolus
Phœniceus) is sometimes eaten. Some old people have told me, that this
part of America, formerly called New Sweden, still contained as many
maize-thieves as it did formerly. The cause of this they derive from
the maize, which is now sown in much greater quantity than formerly;
and they think that the birds can get their food with more ease at
present.
The American whortleberry, or the Vaccinium hispidulum, is extremely
abundant over all North America, and grows in such places where we
commonly find our whortle-berries in Sweden. The American ones are
bigger, but in most things so like the Swedish ones, that many people
would take them to be mere varieties. The English call them
Cranberries, the Swedes Tranbær, and the French in Canada Atopa, which
is a name they have borrowed from the Indians. They are brought to
market every Wednesday and Saturday at Philadelphia, late in autumn.
They are boiled and prepared in the same manner as we do our red
whortle-berries, or Vaccinium vitis idæa; and they are made use of
during winter, and part of summer, in tarts and other kinds of pastry.
But as they are very sour, they require a deal of sugar; but that is
not very dear, in a country where the sugar-plantations are not far
off. Quantities of these berries are sent over, preserved, to Europe,
and to the West Indies.
March the 2d. Mytilus anatinus, a kind of muscle-shells, was found
abundantly in little furrows, which crossed the meadows. The shells
were frequently covered on the outside, with a thin crust of particles
of iron, when the water in the furrows came from an iron mine. The
Englishmen and Swedes settled here seldom made any use of these shells;
but the Indians who formerly lived here broiled them and ate the flesh.
Some of the Europeans eat them sometimes.
The snow still remained in some parts of the wood, where it was very
shady, but the fields were quite free from it. The cows, horses, sheep,
and hogs, went into the woods, and sought their food, which was as yet
very trifling.
March the 3d. The Swedes call a species of little birds, Snofogel, and
the English call it Snow-bird. This is Dr. Linnæus’s Emberiza hyemalis.
The reason why it is called snow-bird is because it never appears in
summer, but only in winter, when the fields are covered with snow. In
some winters they come in as great numbers as the maize-thieves, fly
about the houses and barns, into the gardens, and eat the corn, and the
seeds of grass, which they find scattered on the hills.
At eight o’clock at night we observed a meteor, commonly called
snow-fire [15]. I have described this meteor in the memoirs of the
Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, see the volume for the year 1752,
page 154, 155.
Wild Pigeons, (Columba migratoria [16]), flew in the woods, in numbers
beyond conception, and I was assured that they were more plentiful than
they had been for several years past. They came this week, and
continued here for about a fortnight, after which they all disappeared,
or advanced further into the country, from whence they came. I shall
speak of them more particularly in another place.
March the 7th. Several people told me, that it was a certain sign of
bad weather here when a thunder-storm arose in the south or south west,
if it spread to the east and afterwards to the north: but that on the
contrary, when it did not spread at all, or when it spread both east
and west, though it should rise in south or south west, yet it would
prognosticate fair weather. To-day it was heard in south west, but it
did not spread at all. See the meteorological observations, at the end
of this volume.
Till now the frost had continued in the ground, so that if any one had
a mind to dig a hole he was forced to cut it through with a pick-ax.
However it had not penetrated above four inches deep. But to-day it was
quite gone out. This made the soil so soft, that on riding, even in the
woods, the horse sunk in very deep.
I often enquired among the old Englishmen and Swedes, whether they had
found that any trees were killed in very severe winters, or had
received much hurt. I was answered, that young hiccory trees are
commonly killed in very cold weather; and the young black oaks likewise
suffer in the same manner. Nay sometimes black oaks, five inches in
diameter, were killed by the frost in a severe winter, and sometimes,
though very seldom, a single mulberry-tree was killed. Peach-trees very
frequently die in a cold winter, and often all the peach-trees in a
whole district are killed by a severe frost. It has been found
repeatedly, with regard to these trees, that they can stand the frost
much better on hills, than in vallies; insomuch, that when the trees in
a valley were killed by frost, those on a hill were not hurt at all.
They assured me that they had never observed that the black
walnut-tree, the sassafras, and other trees, had been hurt in winter.
In regard to a frost in spring, they had observed at different times,
that a cold night or two happened often after the trees were furnished
with pretty large leaves, and that by this most of the leaves were
killed. But the leaves thus killed have always been supplied by fresh
ones. It is remarkable that in such cold nights the frost acts chiefly
upon the more delicate trees, and in such a manner, that all the
leaves, to the height of seven and even of ten feet from the ground,
were killed by the frost, and all the top remained unhurt. Several old
Swedes and Englishmen assured me they had made this observation, and
the attentive engineer, Mr. Lewis Evans, has shewn it me among his
notes. Such a cold night happened here, in the year 1746, in the night
between the 14th and 15th of June, new style, attended with the same
effect, as appears from Mr. Evans’s observations. The trees which were
then in blossom, had lost both their leaves and their flowers in these
parts which were nearest the ground; sometime after they got fresh
leaves, but no new flowers. Further it is observable, that the cold
nights which happen in spring and summer never do any hurt to high
grounds, damaging only the low and moist ones. They are likewise very
perceptible in such places where limestone is to be met with, and
though all the other parts of the country be not visited by such cold
nights in a summer, yet those where limestone lies have commonly one or
two every summer. Frequently the places where the limestone lies are
situated on a high ground; but they suffer notwithstanding their
situation; whilst a little way off in a lower ground, where no
limestone is to be found, the effects of the cold nights are not felt.
Mr. Evans was the first who made this observation, and I have had
occasion at different times to see the truth of it, on my travels, as I
shall mention in the sequel. The young hiccory-trees have their leaves
killed sooner than other trees, in such a cold night, and the young
oaks next; this has been observed by other people, and I have found it
to be true, in the years 1749 and 1750.
March the 11th. Of the genus of Wood-peckers, we find here all those,
which Catesby in his first volume of the Natural History of Carolina,
has drawn and described. I shall only enumerate them, and add one or
two of their qualities; but their description at large I defer for
another occasion.
Picus principalis, the King of the Wood-peckers, is found here, though
very seldom, and only at a certain season.
Picus pileatus, the crested Wood-pecker; this I have already mentioned.
Picus auratus, the gold-winged Wood-pecker: This species is plentiful
here, and the Swedes call it Hittock, and Piut; both these names have a
relation to its note; it is almost continually on the ground, and is
not observed to pick in the trees; it lives chiefly on insects, but
sometimes becomes the prey of hawks; it is commonly very fat, and its
flesh is very palatable. As it stays all the year, and cannot easily
get insects in winter, it must doubtless eat some kinds of grass or
plants in the fields. Its form, and some of its qualities, make it
resemble a cuckow.
Picus Carolinus, the Carolina Wood-pecker. It lives here likewise, and
the colour of its head is of a deeper and more shining red than Catesby
has represented it, vol. i. p. 19. t. 19.
Picus villosus, the spotted, hairy, middle-sized Wood-pecker is
abundant here; it destroys the apple-trees by pecking holes into them.
Picus erythrocephalus, the red-headed Wood-pecker. This bird was
frequent in the country, and the Swedes called it merely Hackspick, or
Wood pecker. They give the same name to all the birds which I now
enumerate, the gold-winged wood-pecker excepted. This species is
destructive to maize-fields and orchards, for it pecks through the ears
of maize, and eats apples. In some years they are very numerous,
especially where sweet apples grow, which they eat so far, that nothing
but the mere peels remain. Some years ago there was a premium of two
pence per head, paid from the public funds, in order to extirpate this
pernicious bird, but this law has been repealed. They are likewise very
fond of acorns. At the approach of winter they travel to the southward.
But when they stay in numbers in the woods, at the beginning of winter,
the people look upon it as a sign of a pretty mild winter.
Picus varius, the lesser, spotted, yellow-bellied Wood-pecker. These
birds are much more numerous than many people wished; for this, as well
as the preceding and succeeding species, are very hurtful to
apple-trees.
Picus pubescens, or the least spotted Wood-pecker. This species abounds
here. Of all the wood-peckers it is the most dangerous to orchards,
because it is the most daring. As soon as it has pecked a hole into the
tree, it makes another close to the first, in a horizontal direction,
proceeding till it has pecked a circle of holes round the tree.
Therefore the apple-trees in the orchards here have several rings round
their stems, which lie very close above each other, frequently only an
inch distant from each other. Sometimes these wood-peckers peck the
holes so close, that the tree dries up. This bird, as Catesby remarks,
is so like the lesser spotted wood-pecker, in regard to its colour and
other qualities, that they would be taken for the same bird, were not
the former (the Picus pubescens) a great deal less. They agree in the
bad quality, which they both possess, of pecking holes into the
apple-trees.
Rana ocellata are a kind of frogs here, which the Swedes call,
Sill-hoppetosser, i. e. Herring-hoppers, and which now began to quack
in the evening, and at night, in swamps, pools, and ponds. The name
which the Swedes give them is derived from their beginning to make
their noise in spring, at the same time when the people here go
catching what are called herrings, which however differ greatly from
the true European herrings. These frogs have a peculiar note, which is
not like that of our European frogs, but rather corresponds with the
chirping of some large birds, and can nearly be expressed by picet.
With this noise they continued throughout a great part of spring,
beginning their noise soon after sun-setting, and finishing it just
before sun-rising. The sound was sharp, but yet so loud that it could
be heard at a great distance. When they expected rain they cried much
worse than commonly, and began in the middle of the day, or when it
grew cloudy, and the rain came usually six hours after. As it snowed on
the 16th of the next month, and blew very violently all day, there was
not the least sign of them at night, and during the whole time that it
was cold, and whilst the snow lay on the fields, the frost had so
silenced them, that we could not hear one; but as soon as the mild
weather returned, they began their noise again. They were very
timorous, and it was difficult to catch them; for as soon as a person
approached the place where they lived, they are quite silent, and none
of them appeared. It seems that they hide themselves entirely under
water, except the tip of the snout, when they cry. For when I stepped
to the pond where they were in, I could not observe a single one
hopping into the water. I could not see any of them before I had
emptied a whole pool, where they lodged in. Their colour is a dirty
green, variegated with spots of brown. When they are touched they make
a noise and moan; they then sometimes assume a form, as if they had
blown up the hind part of the back, so that it makes a high elevation;
and then they do not stir, though touched. When they are put alive into
spirits of wine, they die within a minute.
March the 12th. The bird which the English and Swedes in this country
call Robin-red-breast [17], is found here all the year round. It is a
very different bird from that which in England bears the same name. It
is Linnæus’s Turdus migratorius. It sings very melodiously, is not very
shy, but hops on the ground, quite close to the houses.
The Hazels (Corylus avellana) were now opening their blossoms. They
succeeded best in a rich mould, and the Swedes reckoned it a sign of a
good soil where they found them growing.
March the 13th. The alder (Betula Alnus) was just blossoming.
The Dracontium foetidum grew plentifully in the marshes and began to
flower. Among the stinking plants, this is the most fœtid; its nauseous
scent was so strong, that I could hardly examine the flower; and when I
smelled a little too long at it, my head ached. The Swedes call it
Byorn-blad (bear’s-leaf) or Byorn-retter (bear’s-root.) The English
call it Polecat-root, because its effluvia are as nauseous and fœtid,
as those of the polecat, which I have mentioned before. The flowers are
purple-coloured; when they are in full flower, the leaves begin to come
out of the ground; in summer the cattle do not touch it. Dr. Colden
told me, that he had employed the root in all cases where the root of
the arum is made use of, especially against the scurvy, &c. The Swedish
name it got, because the bears, when they leave their winter
habitations, are fond of it in spring: It is a common plant in all
North America.
The Draba verna was abundant here, and now appeared in flower.
The Veratrum album was very common in the marshes, and in low places
over all North America. The Swedes here call it Dack, Dackor or
Dackretter, that is puppet-root, because the children make puppets of
its stalks and leaves. The English call it Itch-reed or Ellebore. It is
a poisonous plant, and therefore the cattle never touch it; however it
sometimes happens that the cattle are deceived in the beginning of
spring, when the pastures are bare, and eat of the fine broad green
leaves of this plant, which come up very early; but such a meal
frequently proves fatal to them. Sheep and geese have likewise often
been killed with it. By means of its root, the maize is preserved from
the greediness of voracious birds, in the following manner: The roots
are boiled in water, into which the maize is put as soon as the water
is quite cool; the maize must ly all night in it, and is then planted
as usual. When the maize-thieves, crows, or other birds, pick up or
pluck out the grains of maize, their heads grow delirious, and they
fall, which so frightens the rest that they never venture on the field
again; when those which have tasted the grains recover, they leave the
field, and are no more tempted to visit it again. By thus preparing
maize, one must be very careful that no other creatures touch it; for
when ducks or fowls eat a grain or two of the maize which is thus
steeped, they become very sick; but if they swallow a considerable
quantity they die. When the root is thrown away raw, no animal eats it;
but when it is put out boiled, its sweet taste tempts the beasts to eat
it. Dogs have been seen to eat a little of it, and have been very sick
after it; however they have recovered after a vomit, for when animals
cannot free themselves of it by this means, they often die. Some people
boil the root, and wash the scorbutic parts with the water or decoct.
This is said to cause some pain, and even a plentiful discharge of
urine, but it re-establishes the patient. When the children here are
plagued with vermin, the women boil this root, put the comb into the
decoction, and comb the head with it, and this kills them most
effectually.
March the 17th. At the first arrival of the Swedes in this country, and
long after that time, it was filled with Indians. But as the Europeans
proceeded to cultivate the land, the Indians sold their land, and went
further into the country. But in reality few of the Indians really left
the country in this manner; most of them ended their days before,
either by wars among themselves, or by the small-pox, a disease which
the Indians were unacquainted with before their commerce with the
Europeans, and which since that time has killed incredible numbers of
them. For though they can heal wounds and other external hurts, yet
they know not how to proceed with fevers, or in general with internal
diseases. One can imagine, how ill they would succeed with the cure of
the small-pox, when as soon as the pustules appeared, they leaped naked
into the cold water of the rivers, lakes, or fountains, and either
dived over head into it, or poured it over their body in great
abundance, in order to cool the heat of the fever. In the same manner
they carry their children, when they have the small-pox, into the water
and duck them [18]. But brandy has killed most of the Indians. This
liquor was likewise entirely unknown to them, before the Europeans came
hither; but after they had tasted it, they could never get enough of
it. A man can hardly have a greater desire of a thing, than the Indians
have of brandy. I have heard them say, that to die by drinking brandy,
was a desirable and an honourable death; and indeed ’tis no very
uncommon thing to kill themselves by drinking this liquor to excess.
The food of these Indians was very different from that of the
inhabitants of the other parts of the world. Wheat, rye, barley, oats,
and rice-groats, were quite unknown in America. In the same manner it
is with regard to the fruits and herbs which are eaten in the old
countries. The maize, some kinds of beans, and melons, made almost the
whole of the Indian agriculture and gardening; and dogs were the only
domestic animals in North America. But as their agriculture and their
gardening were very trifling, and they could hardly live two months in
a year upon their produce, they were forced to apply to hunting and
fishing, which at that time, and even at present, are their chief
subsistence, and to seek some of the wild plants and trees here. Some
of the old Swedes were yet alive, who in their younger years had an
intercourse with the Indians, and had seen the minutiæ of their
œconomy. I was therefore desirous of knowing which of the spontaneous
herbs they made use of for food at that time; and all the old men
agreed that the following plants were what they chiefly consumed:
Hopniss or Hapniss was the Indian name of a wild plant, which they ate
at that time. The Swedes still call it by that name, and it grows in
the meadows in a good soil. The roots resemble potatoes, and were
boiled by the Indians, who eat them instead of bread. Some of the
Swedes at that time likewise ate this root for want of bread. Some of
the English still eat them instead of potatoes. Mr. Bartram told me,
that the Indians who live farther in the country do not only eat these
roots, which are equal in goodness to potatoes, but likewise take the
pease which ly in the pods of this plant, and prepare them like common
pease. Dr. Linnæus calls the plant Glycine Apios.
Katniss is another Indian name of a plant, the root of which they were
likewise accustomed to eat, when they lived here. The Swedes still
preserve this name. It grows in low, muddy and very wet ground. The
root is oblong, commonly an inch and an half long, and one inch and a
quarter broad in the middle; but some of the roots have been as big as
a man’s fists. The Indians either boiled this root or roasted it in hot
ashes. Some of the Swedes likewise eat them with much appetite, at the
time when the Indians were so near the coast; but at present none of
them make any use of the roots. A man of ninety-one years of age,
called Nils Gustafson, told me, that he had often eaten these roots
when he was a boy, and that he liked them very well at that time. He
added that the Indians, especially their women, travelled to the
islands, dug out the roots, and brought them home; and whilst they had
them, they desired no other food. They said that the hogs, which are
amazingly greedy of them, have made them very scarce. The cattle are
very fond of its leaves. I afterwards got fond of these roots roasted,
and in my opinion they tasted well, though they were rather dry: The
taste was nearly the same with that of the potatoes. When the Indians
come down to the coast and see the turneps of the Europeans, they
likewise give them the name of katniss. Their katniss is an arrow-head
or Sagittaria, and is only a variety of the Swedish arrow-head or
Sagittaria sagittifolia, for the plant above the ground is entirely the
same, but the root under ground is much greater in the American than in
the European. Mr. Osbeck in his voyage to China, vol. i. p. 334, of the
English edition, mentions, that the Chinese plant a Sagittaria, and eat
its roots. This seems undoubtedly to be a variety of this katniss.
Further in the north of this part of America, I met with the other
species of Sagittaria which we have in Sweden.
Taw-ho and Taw-him was the Indian name of another plant, the root of
which they eat. Some of them likewise call it Tuckah; but most of the
Swedes still knew it by the name of Taw-ho. It grows in moist ground
and swamps. Hogs are very greedy of the roots, and grow very fat by
feeding on them. Therefore, they often visit the places where these
roots grow; and they are frequently seen rooting up the mud, and
falling with their whole body into the water, so that only a little of
the back part was out of the water. It is therefore very plain, that
these roots must have been extirpated in places which are frequented by
hogs. The roots often grow to the thickness of a man’s thigh. When they
are fresh, they have a pungent taste, and are reckoned a poison in that
fresh taste. Nor did the Indians ever venture to eat them raw, but
prepared them in the following manner: They gathered a great heap of
these roots, dug a great long hole, sometimes two or three fathoms and
upwards in length, into which they put the roots, and covered them with
the earth that had been taken out of the hole; they made a great fire
above it, which burnt till they thought proper to remove it; and then
they dug up the roots, and consumed them with great avidity. These
roots, when prepared in this manner, I am told, taste like potatoes.
The Indians never dry and preserve them; but always take them fresh out
of the marshes, when they want them. This Taw-ho is the Arum
Virginicum, or Virginian Wake-robin. It is remarkable, that the Arums,
with the plants next akin to them, are eaten by men in different parts
of the world, though their roots, when raw, have a fiery pungent taste,
and are almost poisonous in that state. How can men have learnt, that
plants so extremely opposite to our nature were eatable; and that their
poison, which burns on the tongue, can be conquered by fire. Thus the
root of the Calla palustris, which grows in the north of Europe, is
sometimes used instead of bread on an exigency. The North American
Indians consume this species of Arum. Those of South America, and of
the West Indies, eat other species of Arums. The Hottentots, at the
Cape of Good Hope, in Africa, prepare bread from a species of Arum or
Wake-robin, which is as burning and poisonous as the other species of
this plant. In the same manner, they employ the roots of some kinds of
Arum as a food, in Egypt and Asia. Probably, that severe but sometimes
useful mistress, necessity, has first taught men to find out a food,
which the first taste would have rejected as useless. This Taw-ho seems
to be the same with what the Indians in Carolina call Tuckahoo; and of
which see Vol. I. p. 287.
Taw-kee is another plant, so called by the Indians who eat it. Some of
them call it Taw-kim, and others Tackvim. The Swedes call it always by
the name of Taw-kee. The plant grows in marshes, near moist and low
grounds, and is very plentiful in North America. The cattle, hogs and
stags, are very fond of the leaves in spring; for they are some of the
earliest. The leaves are broad, like those of the Convallaria, or Lilly
of the Valley, green on the upper side, and covered with very minute
hair, so that they looked like a fine velvet. The Indians pluck the
seeds, and keep them for eating. They cannot be eaten fresh or raw, but
must be dried. The Indians were forced to boil them repeatedly in
water, before they were fit for use; and then they ate them like pease.
When the Swedes gave them butter or milk, they boiled or broiled the
seeds in it. Sometimes they employ these seeds instead of bread; and
they taste like pease. Some of the Swedes likewise ate them; and the
old men among them told me, they liked this food better than any of the
other plants which the Indians formerly made use of. This Taw-kee was
the Orontium aquaticum.
Bilberries were likewise a very common dish among the Indians. They are
called Huckleberries by the English here, and belong to several species
of Vaccinium, which are all of them different from our Swedish
Bilberry-bush, though their berries, in regard to colour, shape, and
taste, are so similar to the Swedish bilberry, that they are
distinguished from each other with difficulty. The American ones grow
on shrubs, which are from two to four feet high; and there are some
species which are above seven feet in height. The Indians formerly
plucked them in abundance every year, dried them either in the
sun-shine or by the fire-side, and afterwards prepared them for eating,
in different manners, These huckleberries are still a dainty dish among
the Indians. On my travels through the country of the Iroquese, they
offered me, whenever they designed to treat me well, fresh maize-bread,
baked in an oblong shape, mixed with dried Huckleberries, which lay as
close in it as the raisins in a plumb-pudding. I shall write more at
large about it in the sequel. The Europeans are likewise used to
collect a quantity of these berries, to dry them in ovens, to bake them
in tarts, and to employ them in several other ways. Some preserve them
with treacle. They are likewise eaten raw, either quite alone or with
fresh milk.
I shall, on the 27th of March, find occasion to mention another dish,
which the Indians ate formerly, and still eat, on formal ceremonies.
March the 18th. Almost during the whole of this spring, the weather and
the winds were always calm in the morning at sun-rising. At eight
o’clock the wind began to blow pretty hard, and continued so all day,
till sun-setting; when it ceased, and all the night was calm. This was
the regular course of the weather; but sometimes the winds raged,
without intermission, for two or three days together. At noon it was
commonly most violent. But in the ordinary way, the wind decreased and
increased as follows: At six in the morning, a calm; at seven, a very
gentle western breeze, which grew stronger at eight; at eleven it was
much stronger; but at four in the afternoon, it is no stronger than it
was at eight o’clock in the morning; and thus it goes on decreasing
till it is quite a calm, just before sun-set. The winds this spring
blew generally west, as appears from the observations at the end of
this volume.
I was told, that it was a very certain prognostic of bad weather, that
when you see clouds in the horizon in the south-west, about
sun-setting, and when those clouds sink below the horizon, in an hour’s
time, it will rain the next day, though all the forenoon be fair and
clear. But if some clouds be seen in the south-west, in the horizon, at
sun-set, and they rise some time after, you may expect fair weather the
next day.
March the 20th. An old Swede prognosticated a change in the weather,
because it was calm to-day; for when there has been wind for some days
together, and a calm follows, they say, rain or snow, or some other
change in the weather, will happen. I was likewise told, that some
people here were of that false opinion, that the weather commonly
alters on Friday; so that, in case it had rained or blown hard all the
week, and a change was to happen, it would commonly fall on Friday. How
far the former prognostic has been true, appears from my own
observations of the weather, to which I refer.
March the 21st. The red maple (Acer rubrum) and the American elm (Ulmus
Americana) began to flower at present; and some of the latter kind were
already in full blossom.
March the 24th. I walked pretty far to-day, in order to see whether I
could find any plants in flower. But the cloudy weather, and the great
rains which had lately fallen, had allowed little or nothing to grow
up. The leaves now began to grow pretty green. The plants which I have
just before mentioned, were now in full blossom.
The noble Liverwort, or Anemone hepatica, was now every where in
flower. It was abundant; and the Swedes called it Blablomster, or
Blue-flower. They did not know any use of it.
Near all the corn-fields on which I walked to-day, I did not see a
single ditch, though many of them wanted it. But the people generally
followed the English way of making no ditches along the fields, without
considering whether the corn-fields wanted them or not. The consequence
was, that the late rain had in many places washed away great pieces of
the grounds, sown with wheat and rye. There were no ridges left between
the fields, except a very narrow one near the fence, which was entirely
over-grown with the Sumach, or Rhus glabra, and with black-berry
bushes, so that there the cattle could find very little or no food. The
corn fields were broad-cast, or divided into pieces, which were near
seventeen feet broad, and separated from each other only by means of
furrows. These pieces were uniform, and not elevated in the middle.
Meloe majalis a species of oil-beetle, crept about on the hills.
Papilio Antiopa, or willow butterfly, flew in the woods to-day, and was
the first butterfly which I saw this year.
Papilio Euphrosyne, or the April butterfly, was one of the scarce
species. The other American insect, which I described this day and the
following days, I shall mention on some other occasion. In the sequel I
shall only mention those which were remarkable for some peculiar
qualities.
The hay-stacks were commonly made here after the Swedish manner, that
is, in the shape of a thick and short cone, without any cover over it.
When the people wanted any hay, they cut some of it loose, by a
peculiar sort of a knife. However, many people, especially in the
environs of Philadelphia, had hay-stacks with roofs which could be
moved up and down. Near the surface of the ground were some poles laid,
on which the hay was put, that the air may pass freely through it. I
have mentioned before, that the cattle have no stables in winter or
summer, but must go in the open air, during the whole year. However, in
Philadelphia, and in a few other places, I have seen that those people
who made use of the latter kind of hay-stacks, viz. that with moveable
roofs, commonly had built them so, that the hay was put a fathom or two
above the ground, on a floor of boards, under which the cattle could
stand in winter, when the weather was very bad. Under this floor of
boards were partitions of boards on all the sides, which however stood
far enough from each other, to afford the air a free passage.
March the 27th. In the morning I went in order to speak with the old
Swede, Nils Gustafson, who was ninety-one years of age. I intended to
get an account of the former state of New Sweden. The country which I
now passed through was the same with that which I had found in those
parts of North America I had hitherto seen. It was diversified with a
variety of little hills and vallies: the former consisted of a very
pale brick-coloured earth, composed, for the greatest part, of a fine
sand, mixed with some mould. I saw no mountains, and no stones, except
some little stones, not above the size of a pigeon’s or hen’s egg,
lying on the hills, and commonly consisting of white quartz, which was
generally smooth and polished on the outside. At the bottom, along the
vallies, ran sometimes rivulets of crystalline water, the bottom of
which was covered with such white pebbles as I have just described. Now
and then I met with a swamp in the vallies. Sometimes there appeared,
though at considerable distances from each other, some farms,
frequently surrounded on all sides by corn-fields. Almost on every
corn-field there yet remained the stumps of trees, which had been cut
down; a proof that this country has not been long cultivated, being
overgrown with trees forty or fifty years ago. The farms did not ly
together in villages, or so that several of them were near each other,
in one place; but they were all separated from one another. Each
countryman lived by himself, had his own ground about his house,
separated from the property of his neighbour. The greatest part of the
land, between these farms so distant from each other, was over-grown
with woods, confiding of tall trees. However, there was a fine space
between the trees, so that one could ride on horseback without
inconvenience in the woods, and even with a cart in most places; and
the ground was very plain and uniform at the same time. Here and there
appeared some fallen trees, thrown down by the wind; some were torn up
by the roots; others broken quite across the stem. In some parts of the
country the trees were thick and tall, but in others I found large
tracts covered with young trees, only twenty, thirty, or forty years
old: these tracts, I am told, the Indians formerly had their little
plantations in. I did not yet see any marks of the leaves coming out,
and I did not meet with a flower in the woods: for the cold winds,
which had blown for several days together successively, had hindered
this. The woods consisted chiefly of several species of oak, and of
hiccory. The swamps were filled with red maple, which was all now in
flower, and made these places look quite red at a distance.
The old Swede, whom I came to visit, seemed to be still pretty hearty
and fresh, and could walk by the help of a stick; but he complained of
having felt in these latter years, some pains in his back, and limbs,
and that he could keep his feet warm in winter only by sitting near the
fire. He said he could very well remember the state of this country, at
the time when the Dutch possessed it, and in what circumstances it was
in before the arrival of the English. He added, that he had brought a
great deal of timber to Philadelphia, at the time that it was built. He
still remembered to have seen a great forest on the spot where
Philadelphia now stands. The father of this old man had been one of the
Swedes who were sent over from Sweden, in order to cultivate and
inhabit this country. He returned me the following answers to the
questions I asked him.
Quere, Whence did the Swedes, who first came hither, get their cattle?
The old man answered, that when he was a boy, his father and other
people had told him, that the Swedes brought their horses, cows, and
oxen, sheep, hogs, geese, and ducks, over with them. There were but few
of a kind at first, but they multiplied greatly here afterwards. He
said, that Maryland, New York, New England, and Virginia, had been
sooner inhabited by Europeans than this part of the country; but he did
not know whether the Swedes ever got cattle of any kind, from any of
these provinces, except from New York. Whilst he was yet very young,
the Swedes, as well as he could remember, had already a sufficient
stock of all these animals. The hogs had propagated so much at that
time, there being so great a plenty of food for them, that they ran
about wild in the woods, and that the people were obliged to shoot
them, when they intended to make use of them. The old man likewise
recollected, that horses ran wild in the woods, in some places; but he
could not tell whether any other kind of cattle turned wild. He thought
that the cattle grow as big at present as they did when he was a boy,
supposing they get as much food as they want. For in his younger years,
food for all kinds of cattle was so plentiful, and even so superfluous,
that the cattle were extremely well fed by it. A cow at that time gave
more milk, than three or four do at present; but she got more and
better food at that time, than three or four get now; and, as the old
man said, the scanty allowance of grass, which the cattle get in
summer, is really very pitiful. The causes of this scarcity of grass
have already been mentioned.
Quere, Whence did the English in Pensylvania and New Jersey get their
cattle? They bought them chiefly from the Swedes and Dutch, who lived
here; and a small number were brought over from Old England. The form
of the cattle, and the unanimous accounts of the English here,
confirmed what the old man had said.
Quere, Whence did the Swedes here settled get their several sorts of
corn, and likewise their fruit-trees and kitchen-herbs? The old man
told me that he had frequently heard, when he was young, that the
Swedes had brought all kinds of corn, and fruits, and herbs, or seeds
of them, with them. For, as far as he could recollect, the Swedes here
were plentifully provided with wheat, rye, barley, and oats. The
Swedes, at that time, brewed all their beer of malt made of barley, and
likewise made good strong beer. They had already got distilling
vessels, and made good brandy. Every one among them had not a
distilling vessel, but when they intended to distil, they lent their
apparatus to one another. At first they were forced to buy maize of the
Indians, both for sowing and eating. But after continuing for some
years in this country, they extended their maize-plantations so much
that the Indians were obliged some time after to buy maize of the
Swedes. The old man likewise assured me, that the Indians formerly, and
about the time of the first settling of the Swedes, were more
industrious and laborious in every branch of business, than they are
now. Whilst he was young, the Swedes had a great quantity of very good
white cabbage. Winter cabbage, or Cale, which was left on the ground
during winter, was likewise abundant. They were likewise well provided
with turnips. In winter they kept them in holes under ground. But the
old man did not like that method; for when they had lain too long in
these holes, in winter, they became spungy. He preferred that method of
keeping them which is now commonly adopted, and which consists in the
following particulars. After the turnips have been taken out of the
ground in autumn, and exposed to the air for a while, they are put in a
heap upon the field, covered with straw at the top, and on the sides,
and with earth over the straw. By this means they stand the winter very
well here, and do not become spungy. The Indians were very fond of
turneps, and called them sometimes Hopniss, sometimes Katniss. The
Swedes likewise cultivated carrots, in the old man’s younger years.
Among the fruit-trees were Apple-trees. They were not numerous, and
only some of the Swedes had little orchards of them, whilst others had
not a single tree. None of the Swedes made cyder, for it is come into
use but lately. The Swedes brewed strong beer and small beer, and it
was their common liquor. But at present there are very few who brew
beer, for they commonly prepare cyder. Cherry-trees were abundant when
Nils Gustafson was yet a boy. Peach-trees were at that time more
numerous than at present, and the Swedes brewed beer of the fruit. The
old man could not tell from whence the Swedes first of all got the
peach-trees.
During the younger years of this old man the Indians were every where
spread in the country; they lived among the Swedes, and were scattered
every where. The old man mentioned Swedes who had been killed by the
Indians; and he mentioned two of his countrymen who had been scalped by
them. They stole children from the Swedes, and carried them off, and
they were never heard of again. Once they came and killed some Swedes,
and took the upper part of their sculls with them; on that occasion
they scalped a little girl, and would have killed her, if they had not
perceived a boat full of Swedes, making towards them, which obliged
them to fly; the girl was afterwards healed, but never got any hair on
her head again; she was married, had many children, and lived to a
considerable age. At another time, the Indians attempted to kill the
mother of this old man, but she vigorously resisted them, and in the
mean while a number of Swedes came up, who frightened the Indians, and
made them run away. Nobody could ever find out to what nation of
Indians these owe their origin; for in general they lived very
peaceably with the Swedes.
The Indians had their little plantations of maize in many places;
before the Swedes came into this country, the Indians had no other than
their hatchets made of stone; in order to make maize plantations they
cut out the trees and prepared the ground in the manner I have before
mentioned [19]. They planted but little maize, for they lived chiefly
upon hunting; and throughout the greatest part of summer, their Hopniss
or the roots of the Glycine Apios, their Katniss, or the roots of the
Sagittaria Sagittifolia, their Taw-ho or the roots of the Arum
Virginicum, their Taw-kee or Orontium aquaticum, and whortle-berries,
were their chief food. They had no horses or other cattle which could
be subservient to them in their agriculture, and therefore did all the
work with their own hands. After they had reaped the maize, they kept
it in holes under ground, during winter; they dug these holes seldom
deeper than a fathom, and often not so deep; at the bottom and on the
sides they put broad pieces of bark. The Andropogon bicorne, a grass
which grows in great plenty here, and which the English call Indian
Grass, and the Swedes Wilskt Grass [20], supplies the want of bark; the
ears of maize are then thrown into the hole and covered to a
considerable thickness with the same grass; and the whole is again
covered by a sufficient quantity of earth: the maize kept extremely
well in those holes, and each Indian had several such subterraneous
stores, where his corn lay safe, though he travelled far from it. After
the Swedes had settled here and planted apple-trees and peach-trees,
the Indians, and especially their women, sometimes stole the fruit in
great quantity; but when the Swedes caught them, they gave them a
severe drubbing, took the fruit from them, and often their clothes too.
In the same manner it happened sometimes that as the Swedes had a great
encrease of hogs, and they ran about in the woods, the Indians killed
some of them privately and feasted upon them: but there were likewise
some Indians who bought hogs of the Swedes and fed them; they taught
them to run after them like dogs, and whenever they removed from one
place to another, their hogs always followed them. Some of those
Indians got such numbers of these animals, that they afterwards gave
them to the Swedes for a mere trifle. When the Swedes arrived in
America, the Indians had no domestic animals, except a species of
little dogs. The Indians were extremely fond of milk, and ate it with
pleasure when the Swedes gave it them. They likewise prepared a kind of
liquor like milk in the following manner: they gathered a great number
of hiccory nuts and walnuts from the black walnut-trees, dried and
crushed them; then they took out the kernels, pounded them so fine as
flour, and mixed this flour with water, which took a milky hue from
them, and was as sweet as milk. They had tobacco-pipes of clay,
manufactured by themselves, at the time that the Swedes arrived here;
they did not always smoke true tobacco, but made use of another plant
instead of it, which was unknown to the old Swedes, but of which he
assured me that it was not the common mullein, or Verbascum Thapsus,
which is generally called Indian Tobacco here [21].
As to their religion, the old man thought it very trifling, and even
believed that they had none at all; when they heard loud claps of
thunder, they said that the evil spirit was angry; some of them said
that they believed in a God, who lives in heaven. The old Swede once
walked with an Indian, and they met with a red-spotted snake on the
road: the old man therefore went to seek a stick in order to kill the
snake; but the Indian begged he would not touch it, because he adored
it: perhaps the Swede would not have killed it, but on hearing that it
was the Indian’s deity, he took a stick and killed it, in the presence
of the Indian, saying: Because thou believest in it, I think myself
obliged to kill it. Sometimes the Indians came into the Swedish
churches, looked at them, heard them, and went away again, after a
while. One day as this old Swede was at church, and did not sing,
because he had no Psalm-book by him, one of the Indians, who was well
acquainted with him, tapped him on the shoulder, and said: Why dost
thou not sing with the others, Tantanta! Tantanta! Tantanta? On another
occasion, as a sermon was preached in the Swedish church, at Raccoon,
an Indian came in, looked about him; and, after hearkening a while to
the preacher, he said: Here is a great deal of prattle and nonsense,
but neither brandy nor cyder; and went out again. For it is to be
observed, that when an Indian makes a speech to his companions, in
order to encourage them to war, or to any thing else, they all drink
immoderately on those occasions.
At the time when the Swedes arrived, they bought land at a very
inconsiderable price. For a piece of baize, or a pot full of brandy, or
the like, they could get a piece of ground, which at present would be
worth more than four hundred pounds, Pensylvania currency. When they
sold a piece of land, they commonly signed an agreement; and though
they could neither read nor write, yet they scribbled their marks, or
signatures, at the bottom of it. The father of old Nils Gustafson
bought a piece of ground from the Indians in New Jersey. As soon as the
agreement was drawn up, and the Indians should sign it, one of them,
whose name signified a beaver, drew a beaver, another of them drew a
bow and arrow, and a third a mountain, instead of their names. Their
canoes they made of thick trees; which they hollowed out by fire, and
made them smooth again with their hatchets, as has been before
mentioned.
The following account the old man gave me, in answer to my questions
with regard to the weather and its changes: It was his opinion, that
the weather had always been pretty uniform ever since his childhood;
that there happen as great storms at present as formerly; that the
summers now are sometimes hotter, sometimes colder, than they were at
that time; that the winters were often as cold and as long as formerly;
and that still there often falls as great a quantity of snow as in
former times. However, he thought that no cold winter came up to that
which happened in the year 1697; and which is often mentioned in the
almanacks of this country; and I have mentioned it in the preceding
volume. For in that winter the river Delaware was so strongly covered
with ice, that the old man brought many waggons full of hay over it,
near Christina; and that it was passable in sledges even lower. No
cattle, as far as he could recollect, were starved to death in cold
winters; except, in later years, such cattle as were lean, and had no
stables to retire into. It commonly does not rain, neither more nor
less, in summer than it did formerly; excepting that, during the last
years, the summers have been more dry. Nor could the old Swede find a
diminution of water in brooks, rivers, and swamps. He allowed, as a
very common and certain fact, that wherever you dig wells, you meet
with oyster-shells in the ground.
The old Gustafson was of opinion, that intermitting fevers were as
frequent and violent formerly as they are now; but that they seemed
more uncommon, because there were fewer people at that time here. When
he got this fever, he was not yet full grown. He got it in summer, and
had it till the ensuing spring, which is almost a year; but it did not
hinder him from doing his work, either within or out of doors. Pleurisy
likewise attacked one or two of the Swedes formerly; but it was not
near so common as it is now. The people in general were very healthy at
that time.
Some years ago, the old Swede’s eyes were so much weakened that he was
forced to make use of a pair of spectacles. He then got a fever; which
was so violent, that it was feared he would not recover. However, he
became quite well again, and at the same time got new strength in his
eyes; so that he has been able to read without spectacles since that
time.
The houses which the Swedes built when they first settled here, were
very bad. The whole house consisted of one little room, the door of
which was so low, that one was obliged to stoop in order to get in. As
they had brought no glass with them, they were obliged to be content
with little holes, before which a moveable board was fastened. They
found no moss, or at least none which could have been serviceable in
stopping up holes or cracks in the walls. They were therefore forced to
close them, both without and within, with clay. The chimnies were made
in a corner, either of grey sand, a stone, or (in places where no stone
was to be got) of mere clay, which they laid very thick in one corner
of the house. The ovens for baking were likewise in the rooms. Formerly
the Swedes had proper stables for the cattle; but after the English
came hither, and made no peculiar buildings for their cattle, the
Swedes likewise left off making stables.
Before the English came to settle here, the Swedes could not get as
many cloaths as they wanted; and were therefore obliged to make shift
as well as they could. The men wore waistcoats and breeches of skins.
Hats were not in fashion; and they made little caps, provided with
flaps before. They had worsted stockings. Their shoes were of their own
making. Some of them had learnt to prepare leather, and to make common
shoes, with heels; but those who were not shoemakers by profession,
took the length of their feet, and sewed the leather together
accordingly; taking a piece for the sole, one for the hind-quarters,
and one more for the upper-leather. At that time, they likewise sowed
flax here, and wove linen cloth. Hemp was not to be got; and they made
use of flaxen ropes and fishing tackle. The women were dressed in
jackets and petticoats of skins. Their beds, excepting the sheets, were
skins of several animals; such as bears, wolves, &c.
Tea, coffee, and chocolate, which are at present universally in use
here, were then [22] wholly unknown. Bread and butter, and other
substantial food, was what they breakfasted upon; and the
above-mentioned superfluities have only been lately introduced,
according to the account of the old Swede. Sugar and treacle they had
in abundance, as far as he could remember; and rum formerly bore a more
moderate price.
From the accounts of this old Swede I concluded, that before the
English settled here, they followed wholly the customs of Old Sweden;
but after the English had been in the country for some time, the Swedes
began gradually to follow their customs. When this Swede was but a boy,
there were two Swedish smiths here, who made hatchets, knives, and
scythes, exactly like the Swedish ones, and made them sharper than they
can be got now. The hatchets now in use are in the English way, with a
broad edge; and their handles are very narrow, Almost all the Swedes
made use of baths; and they commonly bathed every Saturday. They
celebrated Christmas with several sorts of games, and with several
peculiar dishes, as is usual in Sweden; all which is now, for the
greatest part, left off. In the younger years of this Swede, they made
a peculiar kind of carts here. They sawed thick pieces of liquid-amber
trees, and made use of two of them for the foremost wheels, and of two
more for the hindmost. With those carts they brought home their wood.
Their sledges were at that time made almost in the same manner as they
are now, or about as broad again as the true Swedish ones. Timber and
great beams of wood were carried upon a dray. They baked great loaves,
such as they do now. They had never any biscuit, though the clergymen,
who came from Sweden, commonly got some baked.
The English on their arrival here bought large tracts of land of the
Swedes, at a very inconsiderable price. The father of the old Swede
sold an estate to the English, which at this time would be reckoned
worth three hundred pounds, for which he got a cow, a sow, and a
hundred gourds.
With regard to the decrease of birds, the number of them and fish, he
was wholly of that opinion which I have already mentioned [23]. This
was the account which the old man gave me of the former state of the
Swedes in this country. I shall speak more particularly of it in the
sequel.
Hurricanes are sometimes very violent here, and often tear up great
trees. They sometimes proceed as it were in peculiar tracts, or lines.
In some places, especially in the hurricane’s tract, all the trees are
struck down, and it looks as if the woods were cut down designedly; but
close to the tract the trees receive no hurt. Such is the place which
was shewn to me to-day. It is dangerous to go into the woods where the
hurricanes blow; for the trees fall before one has time to guard
himself, or make the least provision for his security.
The Pensylvanian Asp was now in full blossom. But neither this tree,
nor those near a-kin to it, shewed their leaves.
An old countryman asserted that he commonly sowed a bushel of rye, on
an acre of ground, and got twenty bushels in return; but from a bushel
of barley he got thirty bushels. However in that case the ground must
be well prepared. Wheat returns about as much as rye. The soil was a
clay mixed with sand and mould.
In the evening I returned [24].
March the 28th. I found a black beetle [25] (Scarabæus) with a
pentagonal oval Clypeus or shield, on the head a short blunt horn, and
a gibbous, or hump-backed Thorax, or Corselet. This beetle is one of
the bigger sort here. I found here and there holes on the hills, which
were so wide that I could put my finger into them. On digging them up I
always found these beetles lying at the bottom, about five inches under
ground. Sometimes there were short whitish worms, about as thick as
one’s finger, which lay with the beetles; and perhaps they were related
to them. There were likewise other insects in such holes, as, a black
cricket (Gryllus campestris)? spiders, earth-beetles (Carabi), and
others. This beetle had a scent exactly like the Trifolium melilotus
cærulea, or the blue melilot. It was entirely covered with oblong pale
ticks (Acari). Its feet were as strong as those of the common
Dung-chaffer (Scarabæus stercorarius).
April the 4th. A Cicindela, or shining beetle, with a gold-green head,
thorax, and feet, and a blue green abdomen or belly, flew every where
about the fields, and was hunting other insects. It is very common in
North America, and seems to be a mere variety of the Cicindela
campestris.
Cimex lacustris, a kind of Water-bugs, hopped in numbers on the surface
of waters which had a slow course.
Dytiscus piceus, or, the great Water-beetle, swam sometimes in the
water.
About sixty years ago, the greatest part of this country was covered
with tall and thick trees, and the swamps were full of water. But it
has undergone so great a change, as few other places have undergone, in
so short a time. At present the forests are cut down in most places,
the swamps drained by ditches, the country cultivated, and changed into
corn-fields, meadows, and pastures. Therefore, it seems very reasonable
to suppose, that so sudden a change has likewise had some effect upon
the weather. I was therefore desirous of hearing from the old Swedes,
who have lived the longest in this country, and have been inhabitants
of this place during the whole time of the change mentioned, whether
the present state of the weather was in some particulars remarkably
different from that which they felt in their younger years? The
following is an account which they all unanimously gave me in answer to
this question.
The winter came sooner formerly than it does now. Mr. Isaac Norris, a
wealthy merchant, who has a considerable share in the government of
Pensylvania, confirmed this by a particular account. His father, one of
the first English merchants in this country, observed, that in his
younger years, the river Delaware was commonly covered with ice, about
the middle of November, old style, so that the merchants were obliged
to bring down their ships in great haste before that time, for fear of
their being obliged to ly all winter. On the contrary, this river
seldom freezes over at present, before the middle of December, old
stile.
It snowed much more in winter, formerly, than it does now; but the
weather in general was likewise more constant and uniform; and when the
cold set in, it continued to the end of February, or till March, old
style, when it commonly began to grow warm. At present, it is warm,
even the very next day after a severe cold; and sometimes the weather
changes several times a day.
Most of the old people here were of opinion, that spring came much
later at present, than formerly, and that it was now much colder in the
latter end of February, and the whole month of May, than when they were
young. Formerly the fields were as green, and the air as warm, towards
the end of February, as it is now in March, or in the beginning of
April, old stile. The Swedes at that time made use of this phrase: Pask
bitida, Pask sent, altid Gras, that is, we have always grass at Easter,
whether it be soon or late in the year. But perhaps we can account as
follows, for the opinion which the people here have, that vegetation
appeared formerly more forward than it does now. Formerly the cattle
were not so numerous as now; however, the woods were full of grass and
herbs, which, according to the testimony of all the old people here,
grew to the height of a man. At present a great part of the annual
grasses and plants have been entirely extirpated by the continual
grazing of numbers of cattle. These annual grasses were probably green
very early in spring, and (being extirpated) might lead the people to
believe, that every thing came on sooner formerly, than it does at
present.
It used to rain more abundantly than it does now, during the harvest
especially, the rains fell in such plenty, that it was very difficult
to bring home the hay and corn. Some of the last years had been
extremely dry. However, a few people were of opinion that it rained as
plentifully at present, as formerly.
All the people agreed, that the weather was not by far so inconstant,
when they were young, as it is now. For at present it happens at all
times of the year, that when a day has been warm, the next is very
cold, and vice versa. It frequently happens that the weather alters
several times in one day; so that when it has been a pretty warm
morning, the wind blows from N. W. about ten o’clock, and brings a cold
air with it; yet a little after noon it may be warm again. My
meteorological observations sufficiently confirm the reality of these
sudden changes of weather, which are said to cause in a great measure
the people to be more unhealthy at present, than they were formerly.
I likewise found every body agree in asserting, that the winter,
betwixt the autumn of the year 1697, and the spring of the year 1698,
was the coldest and the severest which they had ever felt.
April the 6th. Sanguinaria Canadensis, which is here called Blood-root,
because the root is great and red, and, when cut, looks like the root
of red beet, and the Epigæa repens, which some call the creeping ground
Laurel, were both beginning to flower. The former grew in a rich mould,
the other in a poorer soil.
The Laurus æstivalis, which some people call Spice-wood, likewise began
to blossom about this time; its leaves were not yet broke out; it liked
a moist soil in the woods.
April the 9th. Apocynum Cannabinum was by the Swedes called Hemp of the
Indians; [26] and grew plentifully in old corn-grounds, in woods, on
hills, and in high glades. The Swedes have given it the name of Indian
hemp, because the Indians formerly, and even now, apply it to the same
purposes as the Europeans do hemp; for the stalk may be divided into
filaments, and is easily prepared. When the Indians were yet settled
among the Swedes, in Pensylvania and New Jersey, they made ropes of
this Apocynum, which the Swedes bought, and employed them as bridles,
and for nets. These ropes were stronger, and kept longer in water, than
such as were made of common hemp. The Swedes commonly got fourteen
yards of these ropes for one piece of bread. Many of the Europeans
still buy such ropes, because they last so well. The Indians likewise
make several other stuffs of their hemp. On my journey through the
country of the Iroquese, I saw the women employed in manufacturing this
hemp. They made use neither of spinning-wheels nor distaffs, but rolled
the filaments upon their bare thighs, and made thread and strings of
them, which they dyed red, yellow, black, &c. and afterwards worked
them into stuffs, with a great deal of ingenuity. The plant is
perennial, which renders the annual planting of it altogether
unnecessary. Out of the root and stalk of this plant, when it is fresh,
comes a white milky juice, which is somewhat poisonous. Sometimes the
fishing tackle of the Indians consists entirely of this hemp. The
Europeans make no use of it, that I know of.
Flax and Cat-tail, were names given to a plant which grows in bays,
rivers, and in deep whirlpools, and which is known to botanists by the
name of Typha latifolia. Its leaves are here twisted together, and
formed into great oblong rings, which are put upon the horse’s neck,
between the mane and the collar, in order to prevent the horse’s neck
from being hurt by the collar. The bottoms of chairs were frequently
made of these leaves, twisted together. Formerly the Swedes employed
the wool or cotton which surrounds its seeds, and put it into their
beds, instead of feathers; but as it coalesces into lumps after the
beds have been used for some time, they have left off making use of
them. I omit the use of this plant in physic, it being the peculiar
province of the physicians.
A species of Leek [27], very like that which appears only in woods on
hills in Sweden, grows at present on almost all corn-fields mixed with
sand. The English here called it Garlick. On some fields it grew in
great abundance. When the cattle grazed on such fields, and ate the
garlick, their milk, and the butter which was made of it, tasted so
strongly of it, that they were scarce eatable. Sometimes they sold
butter in the Philadelphia markets, which tasted so strongly of garlick
that it was entirely useless. On this account, they do not suffer
milking cows to graze on fields where garlick abounds: this they
reserve for other species of cattle. When the cattle eat much of this
garlick in summer, their flesh has likewise such a strong flavour, that
it is unfit for eating. This kind of garlick appears early in spring;
and the horses always passed by it, without ever touching it.
It would take too much room in my Journal, and render it too prolix,
were I to mark down the time when every wild plant in this country was
in blossom, when it got ripe seeds, what soil was peculiar to it,
besides other circumstances. Some of my readers would be but little
amused with such a botanical digression. I intend therefore to reserve
all this for another work, which will give a particular account of all
the plants of North America; and I shall only mention such trees and
plants here, which deserve to be made known for some peculiar quality.
April the 12th. This morning I went to Philadelphia and the places
adjacent, in order to know whether there were more plants lately sprung
up, than at Raccoon, and in New Jersey in general. The wet weather
which had happened the preceding days, had made the roads very bad in
low and clayey places.
The leaves which dropt last autumn had covered the ground, in depth
three or four inches. As this seems to hinder the growth of the grass,
it was customary to burn it in March or at the end of that month,
(according to the old stile) in order to give the grass the liberty of
growing up. I found several spots burnt in this manner to-day; but if
it be useful one way, it does a great deal of damage in another; all
the young shoots of several trees were burnt with the dead leaves,
which diminishes the woods considerably; and in such places where the
dead leaves had been burnt for several years together, the old trees
only were left, which being cut down, there remains nothing but a great
field, without any wood. At the same time all sorts of trees and plants
are consumed by the fire, or at least deprived of their power of
budding; a great number of the plants, and most of the grasses here,
are annual; their seeds fall between the leaves, and by that means are
burnt: This is another cause of universal complaint, that grass is much
scarcer at present in the woods than it was formerly; a great number of
dry and hollow trees are burnt at the same time, though they could
serve as fewel in the houses, and by that means spare part of the
forests. The upper mould likewise burns away in part by that means, not
to mention several other inconveniences with which this burning of the
dead leaves is attended. To this purpose the government of Pensylvania
have lately published an edict, which prohibits this burning;
nevertheless every one did as he pleased, and this prohibition met with
a general censure.
There were vast numbers of Woodlice in the woods about this time; they
are a very disagreeable insect, for as soon as a person sits down on an
old stump of a tree, or on a tree which is cut down, or on the ground
itself, a whole army of Woodlice creep upon his clothes, and insensibly
come upon the naked body. I have given a full account of their bad
qualities, and of other circumstances relating to them, in the Memoirs
of the Swedish Royal Academy of Sciences. See the Volume for the year
1754, page 19.
I had a piece of petrified wood given me to-day, which was found deep
in the ground at Raccoon. In this wood the fibres and inward rings
appeared very plainly; it seemed to be a piece of hiccory; for it was
as like it, in every respect, as if it had but just been cut from a
hiccory-tree.
I likewise got some shells to-day which the English commonly call
Clams, and whereof the Indians make their ornaments and money, which I
shall take an opportunity of speaking of in the sequel. These Clams
were not fresh, but such as are every where found in New Jersey, on
digging deep into the ground; the live shells of this kind are only
found in salt water, and on the sea coasts. But these Clams were found
at Raccoon, about eight or nine English miles from the river Delaware,
and near a hundred from the nearest sea-shore.
At night I went to Mr Bartram’s seat.
April the 13th. I employed this day in several observations relative to
Botany.
Two nests of wasps hung in a high maple-tree, over a brook. Their form
was wholly the same with that of our wasp-nests, but they exceeded them
in size. Each nest was ten inches in diameter; in each nest were three
cakes, above one another, of which the lowermost was the biggest, and
the two uppermost decreased in proportion: there were some eggs of
wasps in them. The diameter of the lowest cake was about six inches,
and one quarter, and that of the uppermost, three inches, and three
quarters. The cells in which the eggs or the young ones were deposited
were hexagonal, and the colour of the nest grey. I was told, that the
wasps make this kind of nests out of the grey splints, which stick to
old pales and walls. A dark brown bee, with black antennæ, and two
black rings on the belly, and purple wings, flew about the trees, and
might perhaps be an inhabitant of these nests.
Another kind of wasps, which are larger than these, make their nests
quite open. It consists merely of one cake, which has no covering, and
is made of the boughs of trees. The cells are horizontal, and when the
eggs or the young larvæ ly in them, they have lids or coverings, that
the rain may not come into them. But whither the old wasps retreat
during storms, is a mystery to me, except they creep into the crevices
of rocks. That side of the cake which is uppermost is covered with some
oily particles, so that the rain cannot penetrate. The cells are
hexagonal, from five to seven lines deep, and two lines in diameter.
Mr. Bartram observed, that these nests are built of two sorts of
materials, viz. the splints which are found upon old pales, or fences,
and which the wind separates from them; for the wasps have often been
observed to sit on such old wood, and to gnaw away these splints; the
sides and the lid or cover of the cells are made of an animal
substance, or glutinous matter, thrown up by the wasps, or prepared in
their mouths; for when this substance is thrown into the fire, it does
not burn, but is only singed, like hair or horn. But the bottom of the
nest being put into the fire, burns like linen or half-rotten wood, and
leaves a smell of burnt wood. The wasps, whose nests I have now
described, have three elevated black shining points on the forehead
[28], and a pentagonal black spot on the thorax. Towards the end of
autumn these wasps creep into the cavities of mountains, where they ly
torpid during winter. In spring, when the sun begins to operate, they
come out during day-time, but return towards night, when it grows cold.
I saw them early in spring during sunshine, in and about some cavities
in the mountains. I was told of another species of wasps, which make
their nests under ground.
Gyrinus natator (Americanus), or the Whirl-beetles. These were found
dancing in great numbers on the surface of the waters.
April the 14th. This morning I went down to Chester: in several places
on the road are saw-mills, but those which I saw to-day had no more
than one saw. I likewise perceived that the woods and forests of these
parts had been very roughly treated. It is customary here, when they
erect saw-mills, wind-mills, or iron works, to lead the water a good
way lower, in case the ground near a fall in the river is not
convenient for building upon.
April the 16th. This morning I returned to Raccoon. This country has
several kinds of swallows, viz. such as live in barns, in chimneys, and
under ground; there are likewise martens.
The Barn Swallows, or House Swallows are those with a furcated tail.
They are Linnæus’s Hirundo rustica. I found them in all the parts of
North America which I travelled over. They correspond very nearly to
the European House Swallow in regard to their colour, however there
seems to be a small difference in the note. I took no notice this year
when they arrived: but the following year, 1750, I observed them for
the first time on the 10th of April (new style); the next day in the
morning, I saw great numbers of them sitting on posts and planks, and
they were as wet as if they had been just come out of the sea [29].
They build their nests in houses, and under the roofs on the outside; I
likewise found their nests built on mountains and rocks whose top
projected beyond the bottom; they build too under the corners of
perpendicular rocks; and this shews where the Swallows made their
nests, before the Europeans settled and built houses here; for it is
well known that the huts of the Indians could not serve the purpose of
the Swallows. A very creditable lady and her children told me the
following story, assuring me that they were eye-witnesses to it: A
couple of Swallows built their nest in the stable belonging to the
lady; the female Swallow sat upon the nest, laid eggs in it, and was
about to brood them; some days after, the people saw the female still
sitting on the eggs: but the male flying about the nest and sometimes
settling on a nail, was heard to utter a very plaintive note, which
betrayed his uneasiness: on a nearer examination the female was found
dead in the nest, and the people flung her away. The male then went to
sit upon the eggs, but after being about two hours on them, and
thinking the business too troublesome for him, he went out, and
returned in the afternoon with another female, which sat upon the eggs,
and afterwards fed the young ones, till they were able to provide for
themselves. The people differed here in their opinions about the abode
of Swallows in winter: most of the Swedes thought that they lay at the
bottom of the sea; some, with the English and the French in Canada,
thought that they migrate to the southward in autumn, and return in
spring. I have likewise been credibly informed in Albany, that they
have been found sleeping in deep holes and clefts of rocks, during
winter.
The Chimney Swallows are the second species, and they derive their name
from building their nests in chimneys, which are not made use of in
summer: sometimes when the fire is not very great, they do not mind the
smoke, and remain in the chimney. I did not see them this year till
late in May, but in the ensuing year, 1750, they arrived on the 3d of
May, for they appear much later than the other Swallows. It is
remarkable that each feather in their tail ends in a stiff sharp point,
like the end of an awl; they apply the tail to the side of the wall in
the chimneys, hold themselves with their feet, and the stiff tail
serves to keep them up: they make a great thundering noise all the day
long, by flying up and down in the chimneys; and as they build their
nests in chimneys only; and it is well known that the Indians have not
so much as a hearth made of masonry, much less a chimney, but make
their fires on the ground in their huts, it is an obvious question,
Where did these Swallows build their nests before the Europeans came,
and made houses with chimneys? It is probable that they formerly made
them in great hollow trees; This opinion was adopted by Mr. Bartram,
and many others here, Catesby has described the Chimney Swallow and
figured it [30], and Dr. Linnæus calls it Hirundo Pelasgia.
The Ground Swallows or Sand Martins, (Linnæus’s Hirundo riparia) are to
be met with every where in America; they make their nests in the ground
on the steep shores of rivers and lakes.
The Purple Martins have likewise been described and drawn in their
natural colours by Catesby [31]. Dr. Linnæus likewise calls them
Hirundo purpurea. They are less common here than the former species; I
have seen in several places little houses made of boards, and fixed on
the outside of the walls, on purpose that these Martins may make their
nests in them; for the people are very desirous of having them near
their houses, because they both drive away hawks and crows as soon as
they see them, and alarm the poultry by their anxious note, of the
approach of their enemies. The chickens are likewise used to run under
shelter, as soon as they are warned by the Martins.
April the 17th. The Dirca palustris, or Mouse-wood, is a little shrub
which grows on hills, towards swamps and marshes, and was now in full
blossom. The English in Albany call it Leather-wood, because its bark
is as tough as leather. The French in Canada call it Bois de Plomb, or
Leaden-wood, because the wood itself is as soft and as tough as lead.
The bark of this shrub was made use of for ropes, baskets, &c. by the
Indians, whilst they lived among the Swedes. And it is really very fit
for that purpose, on account of its remarkable strength and toughness,
which is equal to that of the Lime-tree bark. The English and the Dutch
in many parts of North America, and the French in Canada, employ this
bark in all cases, where we make use of Lime-tree bark in Europe. The
tree itself is very tough, and you cannot easily separate its branches
without the help of a knife: some people employ the twigs for rods.
April the 20th. This day I found the Strawberries in flower, for the
first time, this year: the fruit is commonly larger than that in
Sweden; but it seems to be less sweet and agreeable.
The annual harvest, I am told, is always of such a nature, that it
affords plenty of bread for the inhabitants, though it turns out to
greater advantage in some years than it does in others. A venerable
septuagenary Swede, called Aoke Helm, assured me, that in his time no
absolutely barren crop had been met with, but that the people had
always had pretty plentiful crops. It is likewise to be observed, that
the people eat their bread of maize, rye, or wheat, quite pure and free
from the inferior kinds of corn, and clear of husks, stalks, or other
impurities. Many aged Swedes and Englishmen confirmed this account, and
said, that they could not remember any crop so bad as to make the
people suffer in the least, much less that any body was starved to
death, whilst they here in America. Sometimes the price of corn rose
higher in one year than in another, on account of a great drought or
bad weather, but still there was always corn sufficient for the
consumption of the inhabitants. Nor is it likely that any great famine
can happen in this country, unless it please God to afflict it with
extraordinary punishments. The weather is well known, from more than
sixty years experience. Here are no cold nights which hurt the germ.
The wet is of short continuance, and the drought is seldom or never of
long duration. But the chief thing is the great variety of corn. The
people sow the different kinds, at different times and seasons, and
though one crop turn out bad, yet another succeeds. The summer is so
long, that of some species of corn they may get three crops. There is
hardly a month from May to October or November, inclusive, in which the
people do not reap some kind of corn, or gather some sort of fruit. It
would indeed be a very great misfortune if a bad crop should happen;
for here, as in many other places, they lay up no stores, and are
contented that there is plenty of food for the present exigencies.
The Peach-trees were now every where in blossom; their leaves were not
yet come out of the buds, and therefore the flowers shewed to greater
advantage; their beautiful pale red colour had a very fine effect; and
they sat so close that the branches were entirely clad with them. The
other fruit-trees were not yet in flower; however the apple-blossoms
began to appear.
The English and the Swedes of America give the name of Currants [32] to
a shrub which grows in wet ground, and near swamps, and which was now
in blossom; its flowers are white, have a very agreeable fragrancy, and
grow in oblong bunches; the fruit is very good eating, when it is ripe;
the Style (Stylus) is thread-shaped (filiformis), and shorter than the
Stamina; it is divided in the middle, into five parts, or Stigmata. Dr.
Linnæus calls it Cratægus [33], and Dr. Gronovius calls it a Mespilus
[34].
April the 22d. The Swedes give the name of Whipperiwill, and the
English that of Whip-poor-will, to a kind of nocturnal bird, whose
voice is heard in North America, almost throughout the whole night.
Catesby and Edwards both have described and figured it [35]. Dr.
Linnæus calls it a variety of the Caprimulgus Europæus, or Goat-sucker:
its shape, colour, size, and other qualities, make it difficult to
distinguish them from each other. But the peculiar note of the American
one distinguishes it from the European one, and from all other birds:
it is not found here during winter, but returns with the beginning of
summer. I heard it to-day, for the first time, and many other people
said, that they had not heard it before this summer; its English and
Swedish name is taken from its note; but, accurately speaking, it does
not call Whipperiwill, nor Whip-poor-will, but rather Whipperiwhip so
that the first and last syllables are accented, and the intermediate
ones but slightly pronounced. The English change the call of this bird
into Whip-poor-will, that it may have some kind of signification: it is
neither heard nor seen in day-time; but soon after sun-set it begins to
call, and continues for a good while, as the cuckow does in Europe.
After it has continued calling in a place for some time, it removes to
another, and begins again: it commonly comes several times in a night,
and settles close to the houses; I have seen it coming late in the
evening, and settling on the steps of the house, in order to sing its
song; it is very shy, and when a person stood still, it would settle
close by him, and begin to call. It came to the houses in order to get
its food, which consists of insects; and those always abound near the
houses at night; when it sat and called its whipperiwhip, and saw an
insect passing, it flew up and caught it, and settled again. Sometimes
you hear four or five, or more, near each other, calling as it were for
a wager, and raising a great noise in the woods. They were seldom heard
in towns, being either extirpated there, or frightened away, by
frequent shooting. They do not like to sit on trees, but are commonly
on the ground, or very low in bushes, or on the lower poles of the
enclosures. They always fly near the ground: they continue their
calling at night till it grows quite dark; they are silent till the
dawn of day comes on, and then they call till the sun rises. The sun
seems to stop their mouths, or dazzle their eyes, so as to make them
sit still. I have never heard them call in the midst of night, though I
hearkened very attentively, on purpose to hear it; and many others have
done the same. I am told they make no nest, but lay two eggs in the
open fields. My servant shot at one which sat on a bush near the house,
and though he did not hit it, yet it fell down through fear, and lay
for some time quite dead; but recovered afterwards. It never attempted
to bite when it was held in the hands, only endeavouring to get loose
by stirring itself about. Above, and close under the eyes, were several
black, long, and stiff bristles, as in other nocturnal birds. The
Europeans eat it. Mr. Catesby says, the Indians affirm, that they never
saw these birds, or heard of them, before a certain great battle, in
which the Europeans killed a great number of Indians. Therefore, they
suppose that these birds, which are restless, and utter their plaintive
note at night, are the souls of their ancestors who died in battle.
April the 24th. To-day the Cherry-trees began to shew their blossom;
they had already pretty large leaves.
The Apple-trees likewise began to blossom; however the Cherry-trees
were more forward: They likewise got a greenish hue from their leaves.
The Mulberry-trees [36] were yet quite naked; and I was sorry to find
that this tree is one of the latest in getting leaves, and one of the
first which gets fruit.
April the 26th. This morning I travelled to Penn’s Neck. The
Tulip-trees, especially the tall ones, looked quite green, being
covered with their leaves; this tree is therefore one of the earliest
which get leaves.
To-day I saw the flowers of the Sassafras-tree, (Laurus Sassafras). The
leaves were not yet come out. The flowers have a fine smell.
The Lupinus perennis is abundant in the woods, and grows equally in
good soil and in poor. I often found it thriving on very poor sandy
fields, and on heaths, where no other plants will grow. Its flowers,
which commonly appear in the middle of May, make a fine shew by their
purple hue. I was told, that the cattle eat these flowers very
greedily; but I was sorry to find very often that they were not so fond
of it, as it is represented, especially when they had any thing else to
eat; and they seldom touched it notwithstanding its fine green colour,
and its softness: The horses eat the flowers, but leave the stalks and
leaves. If the cattle eat this plant in spring, necessity and hunger
give it a relish. This country does not afford any green pastures like
the Swedish ones; the woods are the places where the cattle must
collect their food. The ground in the woods is chiefly flat, or with
very little risings. The trees stand far asunder; but the ground
between them is not covered with green sods; for there are but few
kinds of grasses in the woods, and they stand single and scattered. The
soil is very loose, partly owing to the dead leaves which cover the
ground during a great part of the year. Thus the cattle find very
little grass in the woods, and are forced to be satisfied with all
kinds of plants which come in their way, whether they be good or bad
food. I saw for some time this spring, that the cattle bit off the tops
and shoots of young trees, and fed upon them; for no plants were yet
come up, and they stand in general but very thin, and scattered here
and there, as I have just mentioned. Hence you may easily imagine that
hunger compels the cattle to eat plants, which they would not touch,
were they better provided for. However, I am of opinion, that it would
be worth while to make use of this Lupine to mend dry sandy heaths,
and, I believe, it would not be absolutely impossible to find out the
means of making it agreeable to the cattle.
The Oaks here have similar qualities with the European ones. They keep
their dead leaves almost during the whole winter, and are very backward
in getting fresh ones; they had no leaves as yet, and were but just
beginning to shew a few.
The Humming-bird, which the Swedes call Kings-bird [37], and which I
have mentioned in a former volume, appeared hereabouts to-day, for the
first time this spring.
Numbers of Oil beetles, (Meloë Proscarabœus) sat on the leaves of white
Hellebore, (Veratrum album) and feasted on them. I considered them a
great while, and they devoured a leaf in a few minutes. Some of them
had already eaten so much that they could hardly creep. Thus this
plant, which is almost certain death to other animals, is their dainty
food.
The fire-flies appeared at night, for the first time this year, and
flew about between the trees, in the woods. It seemed, in the dark, as
if sparks of fire flew up and down. I will give a more particular
account of them in another place.
Towards night I went to Raccoon.
May the 1st. The last night was so cold that the ground at sun-rising
was as white as snow, from the hoary frost. The Swedish thermometer was
a degree and a half below the freezing point. We observed no ice in the
rivers or waters of any depth; but upon such only as were about three
inches deep, the ice lay to the thickness of one third part of a line
[38]. The evening before, the wind was south, but the night was calm.
The apple-trees and cherry-trees were in full blossom. The peach-trees
were almost out of flower. Most of the forest-trees had already got new
and tender leaves, and most of them were in flower, as almost all kinds
of oaks, the dog-wood, (Cornus Florida), hiccory, wild prunes,
sassafras, horn-beam, beeches, &c.
The plants which were found damaged by the frost, were the following.
1. The Hiccory. Most of the young trees of this kind had their leaves
killed by the frost, so that they looked quite black in the afternoon;
the leaves were consumed by frost every where in the fields, near the
marshes, and in the woods. 2. The black Oak. Several of these trees had
their leaves damaged by the frost. 3. The white Oak. Some very young
trees of this kind had lost their leaves by the frost. 4. The blossoms
of the Cherry-trees were hurt in several places. 5. The flowers of the
English Walnut-tree were entirely spoiled by the frost. 6. The Rhus
glabra. Some of these trees had already got leaves, and they were
killed by the cold. 7. The Rhus radicans; the tender young trees of
this kind suffered from the frost, and had their leaves partly killed.
8. The Thalictra, or Meadow Rues, had both their flowers and leaves
hurt by the frost. 9. The Podophyllum peltatum. Of this plant there was
not above one in five hundred hurt by the frost. 10. The Ferns. A
number of them, which were lately come up, were destroyed. I must add
several plants which were likewise hurt, but which I could not
distinguish, on account of their smallness.
I went to several places this day.
The Bartsia coccinea grew in great abundance on several low meadows.
Its flower-buds were already tinged with their precious scarlet, and
adorned the meadows. It is not yet applied to any use, but that of
delighting the sight.
One of the Swedes here had planted an English walnut-tree (Juglans
regia) in his garden, and it was now about three yards high; it was in
full blossom, and had already great leaves, whereas the black
walnut-trees, which grow spontaneously in every part of this country,
had not yet any leaves, or flowers. The last night’s frost had killed
all the leaves of the European kind. Dr. Franklin told me afterwards,
that there had been some English walnut-trees in Philadelphia, which
came on very well; but that they were killed by the frost.
I looked about me for the trees which had not yet got fresh leaves, and
I found the following ones:
Juglans nigra, or the Black Walnut-tree.
Fraxinus excelsior, or the Ash.
Acer Negundo, called the White-ash here.
Nyssa aquatica, the Tupelo-tree.
Diospyros Virginiana, or the Persimon.
Vitis Labrusca, or the Fox-grapes; and
Rhus glabra, or the Sumach.
The trees whose leaves were coming out, were the following:
Morus rubra, the Mulberry-tree.
Fagus Castanea, the Chesnut-tree.
Platanus occidentalis, or the Water-beach.
Laurus Sassafras, the Sassafras-tree.
Juglans alba, the Hiccory. Some trees of this kind had already large
leaves, but others had none at all; the same difference, I believe,
exists likewise among the other species of hiccory.
The Virginian Cherry-tree grows here and there, in the woods and
glades: its leaves were already pretty large; but the flowers were not
yet entirely open.
The Sassafras-tree was now every where in flower; but its leaves were
not yet quite disclosed.
The Liquidambar Styraciflua or Sweet Gum-tree, grows in the woods,
especially in wet soil, in and near purling rivulets: its leaves were
now already sprouting out at its summit. This tree grows to a great
thickness, and its height rivals that of the tallest firs and oaks; as
it grows higher, the lower branches die and drop, and leave the stem at
last quite smooth and strait, with a great crown at the very summit;
the seeds are contained in round, dentated cones, which drop in autumn;
and as the tree is very tall, so the high winds carry the seeds away to
a great distance. I have already given an account of the use of this
tree in the first volume, to which I must add the following account.
The wood can be made very smooth, because its veins are extremely fine:
but it is not hard; you can carve letters on it with a knife, which
will seem to be engraved. Mr. Lewis Evans told me, from his own
experience, that no wood in this country was more fit for making moulds
for casting brass in, than this. I enquired of Mr. Bartram, “Whether he
had found the rosin on this tree, which is so much praised in physic.”
He told me, “That a very odoriferous rosin always flows out of any cut
or wound, which is made in the tree; but that the quantity here was too
inconsiderable to recompense the labour of collecting it.” This
odoriferous rosin or gum first gave rise to the English name. The
further you go to the South, the greater quantity of gum does the tree
yield, so that it is easy to collect it. Mr. Bartram was of opinion,
that this tree was properly calculated for the climate of Carolina, and
that it was brought by several ways so far North as New York. In the
southern countries the heat of the Sun fills the tree with gum, but in
the northern ones it does not.
May the 2d. This morning I travelled down to Salem, in order to see the
country.
The Sassafras-tree stood single in the woods, and along the fences,
round the fields: it was now distinguishable at a distance for its fine
flowers, which being now quite open, made it look quite yellow. The
leaves were not yet come out.
In some meadows the grass was already grown up pretty high: but it is
to be observed, that these meadows were marshy, and that no cattle had
been on them this year. These meadows are mown twice a year, viz. in
May, and the end of August, or beginning of August, old style. I saw
some meadows of this kind to-day, in which I saw grass which was now
almost fit to be mown; and many meadows in Sweden have not such grass
at the proper time of mowing, as these had now; these meadows lay in
marshes and vallies, where the Sun had very great power: the grass
consisted merely of Cyperus-grass or Carex.
The wild Prune-trees were now every where in flower; they grow here and
there in the woods, but commonly near marshes and in wet ground; they
are distinguishable by their white flowers: the fruit when ripe is
eatable.
The Cornus Florida, or Dogwood, grows in the forests, on hills, on
plains, in vallies, in marshes, and near rivulets. I cannot therefore
say, which is its native soil; however, it seems that in a low but not
a wet soil it succeeds best; it was now adorned with its great snowy
Involucra, which render it conspicuous even at a distance. At this time
it is a pleasure to travel through the woods, so much are they
beautified by the blossoms of this tree. The flowers which are within
the Involucra began to open to-day. The tree does not grow to any
considerable height or thickness, but is about the size of our Mountain
Ash (Sorbus aucuparia). There are three species of this tree in the
woods; one with great white Involucra, another with small white ones,
and a third with reddish ones.
The woods were now full of birds: I saw the lesser species every where
hopping on the ground, or creeping in bushes, without any great degree
of shiness; it is therefore very easy for all kinds of snakes to
approach and bite them. I believe that the rattlesnake has nothing to
do but to ly still, and without waiting long, some little bird or other
will pass by or run directly upon her, giving her an opportunity of
catching it, without any enchantment.
Salem is a little trading town, situated at some distance from the
river Delaware. The houses do not stand far asunder, and are partly
stone, and partly wood. A rivulet passes by the town, and falls into
the Delaware. The inhabitants live by their several trades, as well as
they can. In the neighbourhood of Salem are some very low and swampy
meadows; and therefore it is reckoned a very unwholesome place.
Experience has shewn, that those who came hither from other places to
settle, got a very pale and sickly look, though they arrived in perfect
health, and with a very lively colour. The town is very easily
distinguished about this time, by the disagreeable stench which arises
from the swamps. The vapours of the putrid water are carried to those
inhabitants which live next to the marshes; and enter the body along
with the air, and through the pores, and thus are hurtful to health. At
the end of every summer, the intermitting fevers are very frequent. I
knew a young couple, who came along with me from England to America:
soon after their arrival at Philadelphia, they went to Salem, in
perfect health; but a few weeks after they fell sick, and before the
winter was half over they were both dead.
Many of the inhabitants plant Saffron; but it is not so good and so
strong as the English and French Saffron. Perhaps it grows better by
being laid up for some years, as tobacco does.
The Gossypium herbaceum, or Cotton plant, is an annual plant; and
several of the inhabitants of Salem had began to sow it. Some had the
seeds from Carolina, where they have great plantations of cotton; but
others got it out of some cotton which they had bought. They said, it
was difficult, at first, to get ripe seeds from the plants which were
sown here; for the summer in Carolina, from whence their first seed
came, is both longer and hotter than it is here. But after the plants
have been more used to the climate, and hastened more than they were
formerly, the seeds are ripe in due time.
At night I returned to Raccoon.
May the 4th. Crab-trees are a species of wild apple trees, which grow
in the woods and glades, but especially on little hillocks, near rivers
[39]. In New Jersey the tree is rather scarce; but in Pensylvania it is
plentiful. Some people had planted a single tree of this kind near
their farms, on account of the fine smells which its flowers afford. It
had begun to open some of its flowers about a day or two ago; however,
most of them were not yet open. They are exactly like the blossoms of
the common apple-trees, except that the colour is a little more reddish
in the Crab-trees; though some kinds of the cultivated trees have
flowers which are very near as red: but the smell distinguishes them
plainly; for the wild trees have a very pleasant smell, somewhat like
the rasp-berry. The apples, or crabs, are small, sour, and unfit for
any thing but to make vinegar of. They ly under the trees all the
winter, and acquire a yellow colour. They seldom begin to rot before
spring comes on.
I cannot omit an observation here. The Crab-trees opened their flowers
only yesterday and to-day; whereas, the cultivated apple-trees, which
are brought from Europe, had already lost their flowers. The wild
cherry-trees did not flower before the 12th of May; on the other hand,
the cultivated or European ones, had already opened their blossoms on
the 24th of April. The black walnut-trees of this country had neither
leaves nor flowers, when the European kind has large leaves and
blossoms. From hence it appears, that trees brought over from Europe,
of the same kind with the wild trees of America, flower much sooner
than the latter. I cannot say what is the reason of this forwardness of
the European trees in this country, unless they bring forth their
blossoms as soon as they get a certain degree of warmth, which they
have in their native country. It seems, the European trees do not
expect, after a considerable degree of warmth, any such cold nights as
will kill their flowers; for, in the cold countries, there seldom
happen any hot days succeeded by such cold nights as will hurt the
flowers considerably. On the contrary, the wild trees in this country
are directed by experience, (if I may so speak) not to trust to the
first warmth; but they wait for a greater heat, when they are already
safe from cold nights. Therefore, it happens often, that the flowers of
the European trees are killed by the frosts here; but the native trees
are seldom hurt, though they be of the same kind with the European
ones. This is a manifest proof of the wisdom of the Creator.
May the 5th. Early this morning I went to Rapaapo, which is a great
village, whose farms ly all scattered. It was inhabited merely by
Swedes, and not a single Englishman, or people of any other nation,
lived in it: therefore they have preserved their native Swedish tongue,
and mixed but few English words with it. The intention of my journey
was partly to see the place, and to collect plants; and other natural
curiosities there; and partly to find the places where the White Cedar,
or Cupressus thyoides, grows.
The Mayflowers, as the Swedes call them, were plentiful in the woods
where-ever I went to-day; especially on a dry soil, or one that is
somewhat moist. The Swedes have given them this name, because they are
in full blossom in May. Some of the Swedes and the Dutch call them
Pinxterbloem, (Whitsunday flowers), as they really are in blossom about
Whitsuntide. The English call them Wild Honeysuckles; and at a distance
they have some similarity to the Honeysuckle, or Lonicera. Dr. Linnæus,
and other botanists, call it an Azalea [40]. Its flowers were now open,
and added a new ornament to the woods, being little inferior to the
flowers of the honeysuckle and Hedysarum. They sit in a circle round
the stem’s extremity, and have either a dark red or a lively red
colour; but, by standing for some time, the sun bleaches them, and at
last they get a whitish hue. I know not why Colden calls them yellow
[41]. The height of the bush is not always alike. Some were as tall as
a full grown man, and taller, others were but low, and some were not
above a palm from the ground; yet they were all full of flowers. The
people have not yet found that this plant may be applied to any use;
they only gather the flowers, and put them in pots, because they are
very shewy. They have some smell; but I cannot say it is very pleasant.
However, the beauty of the colour entitles them to a place in every
flower-garden.
To-day I saw the first ear of this year’s rye. In Sweden, rye begins to
shew its ears about Ericmas, that is, about the 18th of May, old stile
[42]. But in New Sweden, the people said, they always saw the ears of
rye in April, old stile; whether the spring begins late or early.
However, in some years the ears come early, and in others late, in
April. This spring was reckoned one of the late ones.
Bullfrogs [43] 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; and 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; for
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 ly 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, old stile; but if it happens late, they tarry under water
till late in April. Their places of abode are ponds, and bogs with
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. When this captain gives the signal for stopping, you
hear a note like poop coming from him. In day-time they seldom make any
great noise, unless the sky is covered. But 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 them 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 takes near three
yards at one hop. I have often been told the following story by the old
Swedes, 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 bull-frogs 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 bull-frog, which they had caught in a
pond, upon a field, and burnt his back-side; the fire, and the Indian,
who endeavoured to be closely up with 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, and therefore
it redoubled its leaps, and by that means it reached the pond before
the Indian could over-take 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.
A tree which grows in the swamps here, and in other parts of America,
goes by the name of White Juniper-tree. Its stem indeed looks like one
of our old tall and strait juniper-trees in Sweden: but the leaves are
different, and the wood is white. The English call it White Cedar,
because the boards which are made of the wood, are like those made of
cedar. But neither of these names are just, for the tree is of the
cypress kind [44]. It always grows in wet ground or swamps: it is
therefore difficult to come to them, because the ground between the
little hillocks is full of water. The trees stand both on the hillocks
and in the water: they grow very close together, and have strait,
thick, and tall stems; but they were greatly reduced in number to what
they have been before. In such places where they are left to grow up,
they grow as tall and as thick as the tallest fir-trees; they preserve
their green leaves both in winter and summer; the tall ones have no
branches on the lower part of the stem.
The marshes where these trees grow are called Cedar Swamps. These cedar
swamps are numerous in New Jersey, and likewise in some parts of
Pensylvania and New York. The most northerly place, where it has been
hitherto found, is near Goshen in New York, under forty-one degrees and
twenty-live minutes of north latitude, as I am informed by Dr. Colden.
For to the North of Goshen, it has not been found in the woods. The
white cedar is one of the trees, which resist the most to putrefaction;
and when it is put above ground, it will last longer than under ground:
therefore it is employed for many purposes; it makes good fences, and
posts which are to be put into the ground; but in this point, the red
cedar is still preferable to the white; it likewise makes good canoes.
The young trees are employed for hoops, round barrels, tuns, &c.
because they are thin and pliable; the thick and tall trees afford
timber, and wood for cooper’s work. The houses which are built of it,
surpass in duration, those which are built of American oak. Many of the
houses in Rapaapo were made of this white cedar wood; but the chief
thing which the white cedar affords is the best kind of shingles. The
white cedar shingles are preferred to all others for several reasons;
first, they are more durable than any others made of American wood, the
red cedar shingles excepted; secondly, they are very light, so that no
strong beams are requisite to support the roof. For the same reason it
is unnecessary to build thick walls, because they are not pressed by
heavy roofs. When fires break out, it is less dangerous to go under or
along the roofs, because the shingles being very light can do little
hurt by falling; they suck the water, being somewhat spungy, so that
the roofs can easily be wetted in case of a fire: however, their
fatness occasions that the water does not hurt them, but evaporates
easily. When they burn and are carried about by the wind, they have
commonly what is called a dead coal, which does not easily set fire
where it alights. The roofs made of these shingles can easily be cut
through, if required, because they are thin, and not very hard; for
these qualities the people in the country, and in the towns, are very
desirous of having their houses covered with white cedar shingles, if
the wood can be got. Therefore all churches, and the houses of the more
substantial inhabitants of the towns, have shingle roofs. In many parts
of New York province, where the white cedar does not grow, the people,
however, have their houses roofed with cedar shingles, which they get
from other parts. To that purpose great quantities of shingles are
annually exported from Eggharbour and other parts of New Jersey, to the
town of New York, from whence they are distributed throughout the
province. A quantity of white cedar wood is likewise exported every
year to the West Indies, for shingles, pipe staves, &c. Thus the
inhabitants are very busy here, not only to lessen the number of these
trees, but even to extirpate them entirely. They are here (and in many
other places) in regard to wood, bent only upon their own present
advantage, utterly regardless of posterity. By this means many cedar
swamps are already quite destitute of cedars, having only young shoots
left; and I plainly observed, by counting the circles round the stem,
that they do not grow up very quickly, but require a great deal of time
before they can be cut for timber. It is well known that a tree gets
only one circle every year; a stem, eighteen inches in diameter, had
one hundred and eight circles round the thicker end; another, seventeen
inches in diameter, had a hundred and sixteen; and another, two feet in
diameter, had one hundred and forty-two circles upon it. Thus near
eighty years growth is required, before a White cedar raised from seed
can be used for timber. Among the advantages which the white cedar
shingles have over others, the people reckon their lightness. But this
good and useful quality may in future times turn out very
disadvantageous to Philadelphia, and other places where the houses are
rooted with cedar shingles; for as the roofs made of these shingles are
very light, and bear but a trifling weight on the walls, so the people
have made the walls but very thin. I measured the thickness of the
walls of several houses here, of three stories high (cellar and garret
not included), and found most of them nine inches and a half, and some
ten inches thick; therefore it is by no means surprising, that violent
hurricanes sometimes make the brick gable-ends to vibrate apparently,
especially on such houses as have a very open situation. And since the
cedar-trees will soon be wanting in this country, and the present roofs
when rotten must be supplied with heavier ones, of tiles, or of other
wood, it is more than probable, that the thin walls will not be able to
bear such an additional weight, and will either break, or require to be
supported by props: or else the whole house must be pulled down and
rebuilt with thicker walls. This observation has already been made by
others. Some of the people here make use of the chips of white cedar
instead of tea, alluring me that they preferred it in regard to its
wholesomeness to all foreign tea. All the inhabitants here were of
opinion, that the water in the cedar swamps is wholesomer than any
other drink: it creates a great appetite, which they endeavoured to
prove by several examples. They ascribed this quality to the water
itself, which is filled with the rosin of the trees, and to the
exhalations which came from the trees, and can easily be smelled. The
people likewise thought that the yellowish colour of the water, which
stands between the cedar trees, was owing to the rosin, which comes out
of the roots of these trees. They likewise all agreed, that this water
is always very cold in the hottest season, which may be partly owing to
the continual shade it is in. I knew several people who were resolved
to go to these cedar swamps, and use the waters for the recovery of
their appetite. Mr. Bartram planted a white cedar in a dry soil, but it
could not succeed there: he then put it into a swampy ground, where it
got as it were new life, and came on very well; and though it was not
taller than a man, yet it was full of cones. Another thing is very
remarkable, with regard to the propagation of this tree: Mr. Bartram
cut its branches in spring two years successively, and put them into
the swampy soil, where they struck roots, and succeeded very well. I
have seen them myself.
The red Juniper-tree is another tree which I have mentioned very
frequently in the course of my account. The Swedes have given it the
name of red Juniper, because the wood is very red and fine within. The
English call it red Cedar, and the French Cedre rouge. However, the
Swedish name is the most proper, as the tree belongs to the Junipers
[45]. At its first growth it has a deal of similarity to the Swedish
Juniper [46], but after it is grown up it gets quite different leaves.
The berry exactly resembles that of the Swedish Juniper, in regard to
its colour and shape; however, they are not so big, though the red
Cedar grows very tall. At Raccoon these trees stood single, and were
not very tall. But at other places I have seen them standing together
in clusters; they like the same ground as the common Swedish Juniper,
especially on the rising banks of rivers, and on other rising grounds,
in a dry, and frequently in a poor soil. I have seen them growing in
abundance, as thick and tall as the tallest fir-trees, on poor dry and
sandy heaths. Towards Canada, or in the most northerly places, where I
have seen them, they commonly choose the steep sides of the mountains,
and there they grow promiscuously with the common Juniper. The most
northerly places where I have found them wild in the woods, is in
Canada, eighteen French miles to the southward of the Fort Saint Jean,
or St. John, in about 44° 35′ North Latitude. I have likewise seen it
growing very well in a garden, on the island of Magdalene [47],
belonging to the then governor of Montreal, Monsieur le Baron de
Longueuil. But it had been got at more southerly places, and was
transplanted here. Of all the woods in this country, this is without
exception the most durable, and withstands putrefaction longer than any
other; it is therefore employed in all such cases where it is most
liable to rot, especially for all kinds of posts which are to be put
into the ground. Some people say, that if an iron be put into the
ground along with a pole of cedar, the iron would be half corroded by
rust in the same time that the wood would be rotten. In many places
both the fences, and the posts belonging to them, are made of red
cedar. The best canoes, consisting of a single piece of wood, are made
of red cedar; for they last longer than any others, and are very light.
In New York I have seen pretty large yachts build of red cedar. Several
yachts which go from New York to Albany, up the river Hudson, are built
in a different manner, as I have mentioned in the first volume [48]. In
Philadelphia they cannot make any yachts or other boats of red cedar,
because the quantity and the size of the trees will not allow of it.
For the same reason they do not roof their houses with red cedar
shingles; but in such places where it is plentiful, it makes excellent
good roofs. The heart of this cedar is of a fine red colour, and
whatever is made of it looks very fine, and has a very agreeable and
wholesome smell. But the colour fades by degrees, or else the wood
would be exceedingly proper for cabinet work. I saw a parlour in the
country seat of Mr. Norris, one of the Members of the Pensylvanian
House of Assembly, wainscotted many years ago with boards of red cedar.
Mr. Norris assured me that the cedar looked exceedingly well in the
beginning, but it was quite faded when I saw it, and the boards looked
very shabby, especially the boards near the window had entirely lost
their colour; so that Mr. Norris had been obliged to put mahogany in
their stead: however, I was told, that the wood will keep its colour if
a thin varnish is put upon it whilst it is fresh, and just after it has
been planed, and if care is taken that the wood is not afterwards
rubbed or hurt. At least it makes the wood keep its colour much longer
than commonly. Since it has a very pleasant smell, when fresh, some
people put the shavings and chips of it among their linen to secure it
against being worm-eaten. Some likewise get bureaus, &c. made of red
cedar, with the same view. But it is only useful for this purpose as
long as it is fresh, for it loses its smell after some time, and is
then no longer good for keeping off insects. It is sometimes sent to
England, as timber, and sells very well. In many places round
Philadelphia, in the seats of the gentry, there was commonly an avenue,
with a row of these trees planted on both sides, leading from the high
road to the house. The lower branches were cut, and only a fine crown
left. In winter, when most other trees have lost their leaves, this
looks very fine. This tree has likewise a very slow growth; for a stem,
thirteen inches and a quarter in diameter, had one hundred and
eighty-eight rings, or annual circles and another, eighteen inches in
diameter, had at least two hundred and fifty, for a great number of the
rings were so fine that they could not be counted. This tree is
propagated in the same manner as the common Juniper-tree is in Sweden,
viz. chiefly by birds, which eat the berries and emit the seeds entire.
To encourage the planting of this useful tree, a description of the
method of doing it, written by Mr. Bartram, was inserted in a
Pensylvania almanack, called Poor Richard Improved, for the year 1749.
In it was explained the manner of planting and augmenting the number of
these trees, and mention is made of some of the purposes to which they
may be employed.
In the evening I returned to Raccoon.
May the 6th. The Mulberry-trees (Morus rubra) about this time began to
blossom, but their leaves were yet very small. The people divided them
into male and female trees or flowers; and said that those which never
bore any fruit were males, and those which did, females.
Smilax laurifolia was superabundant in all the swamps near this place.
Its leaves were now beginning to come out, for it sheds them all every
winter; it climbs up along trees and shrubs, and runs across from one
tree or bush to another: by this means it shuts up the passage between
the trees, fastening itself every where with its cirrhi or tendrils,
and even on people, so that it is with the utmost difficulty one must
force a passage in the swamps and woods, where it is plentiful; the
stalk towards the bottom is full of long spines, which are as strong as
the spines of a rose-bush, and catch hold of the clothes, and tear
them: this troublesome plant may sometimes bring you into imminent
danger, when botanizing or going into the woods, for, not to mention
that the cloaths must be absolutely ruined by its numberless spines, it
occasions a deep shade in the woods, by crossing from tree to tree so
often; this forces you to stoop, and even to creep on all fours through
the little passages which are left close to the ground, and then you
cannot be careful enough to prevent a snake (of which there are numbers
here) from darting into your face. The stalk of the plant has the same
colour as the young rose-bushes. It is quite green and smooth between
the spines, so that a stranger would take it to be a kind of
thorn-bush, in winter, when it is destitute of leaves.
May the 8th. The trees hereabouts were now stocked with innumerable
Caterpillars; one kind especially was observable, which is worse than
all the others. They immediately formed great white webs, between the
branches of the trees, so that they were perceptible, even at a
distance; in each of these webs were thousands of Caterpillars, which
crept out of them afterwards, and spread chiefly upon the apple-trees.
They consumed the leaves, and often left not one on a whole branch. I
was told, that some years ago they did so much damage, that the
apple-trees and peach-trees hardly bore any fruit at all; because they
had consumed all the leaves, and exposed the naked trees to the intense
heat of the sun, by which means several of the trees died. The people
took the following method of killing these Caterpillars: They fixed
some straw or flax on a pole, set it on fire, and held it under the
webs or nests; by which a part was burnt, and a part fell to the
ground. However, numbers of the Caterpillars crept up the trees again,
which could have been prevented, if they had been trod upon, or killed
any other way. I called chickens to such places where they crept on the
ground in numbers; but they would not eat them. Nor did the wild birds
like them; for the trees were full of these webs, though whole flights
of little birds had their nests in the gardens and orchards.
May the 18th. Though it was already pretty late in May, yet the nights
were very dark here. About an hour after sun-set, it was so dark, that
it was impossible to read in a book, though the type was ever so large.
About ten o’clock, on a clear night, the dark was so much increased,
that it looked like one of the darkest star-light nights in autumn, in
Sweden. It likewise seemed to me, that though the nights were clear,
yet the stars did not give so great a light as they do in Sweden. And
as, about this time, the nights are commonly dark, and the sky covered
with clouds; so I would compare them only to dark and cloudy Swedish
winter nights. It was therefore, at this time of the year, very
difficult to travel in such cloudy nights; for neither man nor horse
could find their way. The nights, in general, seem very disagreeable to
me, in comparison to the light and glorious, summer nights of Sweden.
Ignorance sometimes makes us think slightly of our country. If other
countries have their advantages, Sweden is not destitute of matter to
boast of on this head: it likewise has its peculiar advantages; and
upon weighing the advantages and inconveniencies of different places,
Sweden will be found to be not inferior to any of them.
I will briefly mention in what points I think Sweden is preferable to
this part of America; and why I prefer Old Sweden to New Sweden.
The nights are very dark here all the summer; and in winter, they are
quite as dark, if not darker, than the winter nights in Sweden; for
here is no kind of Aurora Borealis, and the stars give a very faint
light. It is very remarkable if an Aurora Borealis appears once or
twice a year. The winters here bring no snow, to make the nights clear,
and to make travelling more safe and easy. The cold is, however,
frequently as intense as in Old Sweden. The snow which falls lies only
a few days, and always goes off with a great deal of wet. The
Rattle-snakes, Horned-snakes, red-bellied, green, and other poisonous
Snakes, against whose bite there is frequently no remedy, are in great
plenty here. To these I must add the wood-lice, with which the forests
are so pestered, that it is impossible to pass through a bush without
having a whole army of them on your cloaths, or to sit down, though the
place be ever so pleasant. The inconvenience and trouble they cause,
both to man and beast, I have described in the Memoirs of the Royal
Swedish Academy of Sciences. The weather is so inconstant here, that
when a day is most excessively hot, the next is often sensibly cold.
This sudden change often happens in one day; and few people can suffer
these changes, without impairing their health. The heat in summer is
excessive, and the cold in winter often very piercing. However, one can
always secure one’s self against the cold; but when the great heat is
of any duration, there is hardly any remedy against it. It tires one
so, that one does not know which way to turn. It has frequently
happened, that people who walked into the fields, dropped down dead, on
account of the violence of the heat. Several distempers prevail here;
and they increase every year. Nobody is left unattacked by the
intermitting fever; and many people are forced to suffer it every year,
together with other diseases. Pease cannot be sown, on account of the
insects which consume them [49]. There are worms in the grains of rye,
and numbers of them are in the cherry-trees. The caterpillars often eat
all the leaves from the trees, so that they cannot bear fruit in that
year; and numbers die every year, both of fruit-trees and forest-trees.
The grass in the meadows is likewise consumed by a kind of worms, and
another species cause the plumbs to drop, before they are half ripe.
The oak here affords not near so good timber as the European oak. The
fences cannot stand above eighteen years. The houses are of no long
duration. The meadows are poor, and what grass they have is bad. The
pasture for cattle in the forests, consists of such plants as they do
not like, and which they are compelled to eat by necessity; for it is
difficult to find a single grass in great forests, where the trees
stand far asunder, and where the soil is excellent. For this reason,
the cattle are forced, during almost the whole winter and part of the
summer, to live upon the young shoots and branches of trees, which
sometimes have no leaves: therefore, the cows give very little milk,
and decrease in size every generation. The houses are extremely unfit
for winter habitations. Hurricanes are frequent, which overthrow trees,
carry away roofs, and sometimes houses, and do a great deal of damage.
Some of these inconveniencies might be remedied by art; but others will
either admit of no alteration, or they will at least cost vast trouble.
Thus every country has its advantages, and its defects: happy is he who
can content himself with his own.
The rye grows very ill in most of the fields, which is chiefly owing to
the carelessness in agriculture, and to the poorness of the fields,
which are seldom or never manured. After the inhabitants have converted
a tract of land into fields, which had been a forest for many centuries
together, and which consequently had a very fine soil, they use it as
such, as long as it will bear any corn; and when it ceases to bear any,
they turn it into pastures for the cattle, and take new corn fields in
another place, where a fine soil can be met with, and where it has
never been made use of for this purpose. This kind of agriculture will
do for some time; but it will afterwards have bad consequences, as
every one may clearly see. A few of the inhabitants, however, treated
their fields a little better: the English in general have carried
agriculture to a higher degree of perfection than any other nation. But
the depth and richness of the soil, which those found here who came
over from England, (as they were preparing land for ploughing which had
been covered with woods from times immemorial) misled them, and made
them careless husbandmen. It is well known, that the Indians lived in
this country for several centuries before the Europeans came into it;
but it is likewise known, that they lived chiefly by hunting and
fishing, and had hardly any fields. They planted maize, and some
species of beans and gourds; and at the same time it is certain, that a
plantation of such vegetables as serve an Indian family during one
year, take up no more ground than a farmer in our country takes to
plant cabbage for his family upon; at least, a farmer’s cabbage and
turnep ground, taken together, is always as extensive, if not more so,
than the corn-fields and kitchen-gardens of an Indian family.
Therefore, the Indians could hardly subsist for one month upon the
produce of their gardens and fields. Commonly, the little villages of
Indians are about twelve or eighteen miles distant from each other.
From hence one may judge, how little ground was formerly employed for
corn-fields; and the rest was overgrown with thick and tall trees. And
though they cleared (as is yet usual) new ground, as soon as the old
one had quite lost its fertility; yet such little pieces as they made
use of were very inconsiderable, when compared to the vast forests
which remained. Thus the upper fertile soil increased considerably, for
centuries together; and the Europeans coming to America found a rich
and fine soil before them, lying as loose between the trees as the best
bed in a garden. They had nothing to do but to cut down the wood, put
it up in heaps, and to clear the dead leaves away. They could then
immediately proceed to ploughing, which in such loose ground is very
easy; and having sown their corn, they got a most plentiful harvest.
This easy method of getting a rich crop has spoiled the English and
other European inhabitants, and induced them to adopt the same method
of agriculture which the Indians make use of; that is, to sow
uncultivated grounds, as long as they will produce a crop without
manuring, but to turn them into pastures as soon as they can bear no
more, and to take in hand new spots of ground, covered since time
immemorial with woods, which have been spared by the fire or the
hatchet ever since the creation. This is likewise the reason why
agriculture, and the knowledge of this useful branch, is so imperfect
here, that one can learn nothing on a great tract of land, neither of
the English, nor of the Swedes, Germans, Dutch, and French; except
that, from their gross mistakes and carelessness for futurity, one
finds opportunities every day of making all sorts of observations, and
of growing wise at the expence of other people. In a word, the
corn-fields, the meadows, the forests, the cattle, &c. are treated with
equal carelessness; and the English nation, so well skilled in these
branches of husbandry, is with difficulty found out here. We can hardly
be more lavish of our woods in Sweden and Finland than they are here:
their eyes are fixed upon the present gain, and they are blind to
futurity. Every day their cattle are harassed by labour, and each
generation decreases in goodness and size, by being kept short of food,
as I have before mentioned. On my travels in this country I observed
several plants, which the horses and cows preferred to all others. They
were wild in this country, and likewise grew well on the driest and
poorest ground, where no other plants would succeed. But the
inhabitants did not know how to turn this to their advantage; owing to
the little account made of Natural History, that science being here (as
in other parts of the world) looked upon as a mere trifle, and the
pastime of fools. I am certain, and my certainty is founded upon
experience, that by means of these plants, in the space of a few years,
I have been able to turn the poorest ground, which would hardly afford
food for a cow, into the richest and most fertile meadow, where great
flocks of cattle have found superfluous food, and are grown fat upon. I
own, that these useful plants were not to be found on the grounds of
every planter: but with a small share of natural knowledge, a man would
easily collect them in the places where they were to be got. I was
astonished, when I heard the country people complaining of the badness
of the pastures; but I likewise perceived their negligence, and often
saw excellent plants growing on their own grounds, which only required
a little more attention and assistance from their unexperienced owners.
I found every where the wisdom and goodness of the Creator; but too
seldom saw any acknowledgment, or adequate estimation of it, among men.
O fortunatos nimium sua si bona norint,
Agricolas!
Virg. Georgic.
I have been led to these reflections, which may perhaps seem foreign to
my purpose, by the bad and neglected state of agriculture in every part
of this continent. I likewise intended to shew the reason why this
journal is so thinly stocked with œconomical advantages in the several
branches of husbandry. I do not however deny, that I have sometimes
found one or two skilful œconomists, but they were very scarce.
Birds of prey which pursue the poultry are found in abundance here, and
if possible more plentiful than in Sweden. They enjoy great liberty
here, as there are still great forests in many places, from whence they
can come unawares upon chickens and ducks. To the birds of prey it is
quite indifferent whether the woods consist of good or bad trees,
provided they are in shade. At night the owls, which are very numerous,
endanger the safety of the tame fowls. They live chiefly in marshes,
give a disagreeable shriek at night, and attack the chickens, which
commonly roost at night in the apple-trees, peach-trees, and
cherry-trees, in the garden. But since they are very busy in clearing
this country of woods, as we are in Sweden and Finland, it may be of
use for exposing the birds of prey, more than they are now, and for
depriving them of the opportunities of doing mischief with so much
ease.
The thick forests of America contain numbers of stags; they do not seem
to be a different species from the European stags. An Englishman was
possessed of a tame hind. It is observable that though these creatures
are very shy when wild in the woods and the cedar swamps, which are
very much frequented by them, yet they can be tamed to such a degree,
if taken young, that they will come of their own accord to people, and
even to strangers: This hind was caught when it was but very little;
the colour of the whole body was a dirty reddish brown, the belly and
the under side of the tail excepted, which were white; the ears were
grey; the head, towards the snout, was very narrow, but upon the whole
the creature looked very fine. The hair lay close together, and was
quite short; the tail reached almost to the bend of the knee, near
which, on the inside of each hind-foot, was a knob or callus. The
possessor of the hind said, that he had tamed several stags, by
catching them whilst they were very young. It was now big with young
ones. It had a little bell hung about its neck, that by walking in the
woods, the people might know it to be tame, and take care not to shoot
it. It was at liberty to go where it pleased, and to keep it confined
would have been a pretty hard task, as it could leap over the highest
enclosures. Sometimes it went far into the woods, and frequently staid
away a night or two, but afterwards returned home like other cattle.
When it went into the woods, it was often accompanied by wild stags,
and decoyed them even into the very houses, especially in rutting time,
giving its master numerous opportunities of shooting the wild stags,
almost at his door. Its scent was excellent, and when it was turned
towards the wind, I often saw it rising and looking towards that part,
though I did not see any people on the road, but they commonly appeared
about an hour after. As soon as the wild stags have the scent of a man,
they make off. In winter the man fed the hind with corn and hay; but in
summer it went out into the woods and meadows, seeking its own food,
eating both grass and other plants: it was now kept in a meadow; it did
chiefly eat clover, the leaves of hiccory, of the Andromeda paniculata,
and the Geranium maculatum. It was likewise contented with the leaves
of the common plantane, or Plantaga, grasses, and several other plants.
The possessor of this hind sold stags to people in Philadelphia, who
sent them as curiosities to other places. He got twenty-five, thirty,
and forty shillings a-piece for them. The food of the wild stags in
summer is grass and several plants; but in winter, when they are not to
be got, they eat the shoots and young sprigs of branches. I have
already mentioned [50] that they eat without any danger the spoon-tree,
or Kalmia latifolia, which is poison to other animals. In the long and
severe winter, which commenced here upon the tenth of December, 1740,
and continued to the thirteenth of March, old stile, during the course
of which there fell a great quantity of snow, the stags were found dead
in the snow, but chiefly higher up the country, where the snow was
deeper. Nobody could determine whether their death was the consequence
of the great quantity and depth of snow, which hindered their getting
out, or whether the frost had been too severe, and of too long
duration, or whether they were short of food. The old people likewise
relate, that vast numbers of stags came down in the year 1705, when
there was a heavy fall of snow, near a yard deep, and that they were
afterwards found dead in the woods, in great numbers, because the snow
was deeper than they could pass through. Numbers of birds were likewise
found dead at that time. In that same winter, a stag came to Matsong
into the stables, and ate hay together with the cattle. It was so
pinched by hunger, that it grew tame immediately, and did not run away
from people. It afterwards continued in the house, as another tame
creature. All aged persons asserted, that formerly this country
abounded more with stags than it does at present. It was formerly not
uncommon to see thirty or forty of them in a flock together. The reason
of their decrease is chiefly owing to the increase of population, the
destruction of the woods, and the number of people who kill and
frighten the stags at present. However, high up in the country, in
great forests and desarts, there are yet great numbers of them. Among
their enemies is the Lynx of this country, which is the same with the
Swedish one [51]. They climb up the trees, and when the stags pass by,
they dart down upon him, get fast hold, bite, and suck the blood, and
never give over till they have killed it.
I saw several holes in the ground, both on hills and on fields, and
fallow grounds; they were round, and commonly about an inch wide; they
went almost perpendicularly into the earth, and were made by
dung-beetles, or by great worms, which are made use of for angling. The
dung-beetles had dug very deep into the ground, thro’ horse-dung, tho’
it lay on the hardest road, so that a great heap of earth lay near it.
These holes were afterwards occupied by other insects, especially
grasshoppers, (Grylli) and Cicadæ; for by digging these holes up, I
commonly found one or more young ones of these insects, which had not
yet got their perfect size.
May the 19th. This morning I left Raccoon, a parish in the country
called New Sweden, and which is yet chiefly inhabited by Swedes, in
order to proceed in my travels to the North. I first intended to set
out with the beginning of April, but for several reasons this was not
adviseble. No leaves were come out at that time, and hardly any flowers
appeared. I did not know what flowers grew here in spring; for the
autumnal plants are different from the vernal ones. The Swedes had this
winter told me the œconomical and medical uses of many plants, to which
they gave names unknown to me: they could not then shew me those plants
on account of the season, and by their deficient and erroneous
descriptions, I was not able to guess what plants they meant. By going
away so early as the beginning of April, I would have remained in
uncertainty in regard to these things. It was therefore fit, that I
should spend a part of the spring at Raccoon, especially as I had still
time enough left for my tour to the North.
On the road we saw a Black Snake, which we killed, and found just five
foot long. Catesby has described it and its qualities, and also drawn
it [52]. The full-grown Black Snakes are commonly about five feet long,
but very slender; the thickest I ever saw was in the broadest part
hardly three inches thick; the back is black, shining, and smooth; the
chin white and smooth; the belly whitish turning into blue, shining,
and very smooth; I believe there are some varieties of this snake. One
which was nineteen inches long, had a hundred and eighty-six scales on
the belly, (Scuta Abdominalia) and ninety-two half scales on the tail
(Squamæ subcaudales), which I found to be true, by a repeated counting
of the scales. Another, which was seventeen inches and a half in
length, had a hundred and eighty-four scales on the belly, and only
sixty-four half scales on the tail; this I likewise assured myself of,
by counting the scales over again. It is possible that the end of this
last snake’s tail was cut off, and the wound healed up again [53].
The country abounds with Black Snakes. They are among the first that
come out in spring, and often appear very early if warm weather
happens; but if it grows cold again after that, they are quite frozen,
and lie stiff and torpid on the ground or on the ice; when taken in
this state and put before a fire, they revive in less than an hour’s
time. It has sometimes happened, when the beginning of January is very
warm, that they come out of their winter habitations. They commonly
appear about the end of March, old style.
This is the swiftest of all the snakes which are to be found here, for
it moves so quick, that a dog can hardly catch it. It is therefore
almost impossible for a man to escape it if pursued: but happily its
bite is neither poisonous nor any way dangerous; many people have been
bit by it in the woods, and have scarce felt any more inconvenience
than if they had been wounded by a knife; the wounded place only
remains painful for some time. The Black Snakes seldom do any harm,
except in spring, when they copulate; but if any body comes in their
way at that time, they are so much vexed, as to pursue him as fast as
they can. If they meet with a person who is afraid of them, he is in
great distress. I am acquainted with several people, who have on such
an occasion run so hard as to be quite out of breath, in endeavouring
to escape the snake, which moved with the swiftness of an arrow after
them. If a person thus pursued can muster up courage enough to oppose
the snake with a stick or any thing else, when it is either passed by
him, or when he steps aside to avoid it, it will turn back again, and
seek a refuge in its swiftness. It is, however, sometimes bold enough
to run directly upon a man, and not to depart before it has received a
good stroke. I have been assured by several, that when it overtakes a
person, who has tried to escape it, and who has not courage enough to
oppose it, it winds round his feet, so as to make him fall down; it
then bites him several times in the leg, or whatever part it can get
hold of, and goes off again. I shall mention two circumstances, which
confirm what I have said. During my stay in New York, Dr. Colden told
me, that in the spring, 1748, he had several workmen at his country
seat, and among them one lately arrived from Europe, who of course knew
very little of the qualities of the Black Snake. The other workmen
seeing a great Black Snake copulating with its female, engaged the new
comer to go and kill it, which he intended to do with a little stick.
But on approaching the place where the snakes lay, they perceived him,
and the male in great wrath leaves his pleasure to pursue the fellow
with amazing swiftness; he little expected such courage in the snake,
and flinging away his stick, began to run as fast as he was able. The
snake pursued him, overtook him, and twisting several times round his
feet, threw him down, and frightened him almost out of his senses; he
could not get rid of the snake, till he took a knife and cut it through
in two of three places. The other Workmen were rejoiced at this sight,
and laughed at it, without offering to help their companion. Many
people at Albany told me of an accident which happened to a young lady,
who went out of town in summer, together with many other girls,
attended by her negro. She sat down in the wood, in a place where the
others were running about, and before she was aware, a Black Snake
being disturbed in its amours, ran under her petticoats, and twisted
round her waist, so that she fell backwards in a swoon occasioned by
her fright, or by the compression which the snake caused. The negro
came up to her, and suspecting that a Black Snake might have hurt her,
on making use of a remedy to bring his lady to herself again, he lifted
up her cloaths, and really found the snake wound about her body as
close as possible; the negro was not able to tear it away, and
therefore cut it, and the girl came to herself again; but she conceived
so great an aversion to the negro, that she could not bear the sight of
him afterwards, and died of a consumption. At other times of the year
this snake is more apt to run away, than to attack people. However I
have heard it asserted frequently, that even in summer when its time of
copulation is past, it pursues people, especially children, if it finds
that they are afraid and run from her. Several people likewise assured
me from their own experience, that it may be provoked to pursue people,
if they throw at it, and then run away. I cannot well doubt of this, as
I have heard it said by numbers of creditable people; but I could never
succeed in provoking them. I ran always away on perceiving it, or flung
something at it, and then took to my heels, but I could never bring the
snakes to pursue me: I know not for what reason they shunned me, unless
they took me for an artful seducer.
Most of the people in this country ascribed to this snake a power of
fascinating birds and squirrels, as I have described in several parts
of my Journal [54]. When the snake lies under a tree, and has fixed his
eyes on a bird or squirrel above; it obliges them to come down, and to
go directly into its mouth. I cannot account for this, for I never saw
it done. However, I have a list of more than twenty persons, among
which are some of the most creditable people, who have all unanimously,
though living far distant from each other, asserted the same thing;
they allured me upon their honor, that they have seen (at several
times) these Black Snakes fascinating squirrels and birds which sat on
the tops of trees, the snake lying at the foot of the tree, with its
eyes fixed upon the bird or squirrel, which sits above it, and utters a
doleful note; from which it is easy to conclude with certainty that it
is about to be fascinated, though you cannot see it. The bird or
squirrel runs up and down along the tree continuing its plaintive song,
and always comes nearer the snake, whose eyes are unalterably fixed
upon it. It should seem as if these poor creatures endeavoured to
escape the snake, by hopping or running up the tree; but there appears
to be a power which withholds them: they are forced downwards, and each
time that they turn back, they approach nearer their enemy, till they
are at last forced to leap into its mouth, which stands wide open for
that purpose. Numbers of squirrels and birds are continually running
and hopping fearless in the woods on the ground, where the snakes ly in
wait for them, and can easily give these poor creatures a mortal bite.
Therefore it seems that this fascination might be thus interpreted,
that the creature has first got a mortal wound from the snake, which is
sure of her bite, and lies quiet, being assured that the wounded
creature has been poisoned with the bite, or at least feels pain from
the violence of the bite, and that it will at last be obliged to come
down into its mouth. The plaintive note is perhaps occasioned by the
acuteness of the pain which the wound gives the creature. But to this
it may be objected, that the bite of the Black Snake is not poisonous;
it may further be objected, that if the snake could come near enough to
a bird or squirrel to give it a mortal bite, it might as easily keep
hold of it, or, as it sometimes does with poultry, twist round and
strangle or stifle it. But the chief objection which lies against this
interpretation, is the following account, which I received from the
most creditable people, who have assured me of it. The squirrel being
upon the point of running into the snake’s mouth, the spectators have
not been able to let it come to that pitch, but killed the snake, and
as soon as it had got a mortal blow, the squirrel or bird destined for
destruction, flew away, and left off their moanful note, as if they had
broke loose from a net. Some say, that if they only touched the snake,
so as to draw off its attention from the squirrel, it went off quickly,
not stopping till it had got to a great distance. Why do the squirrels
or birds go away so suddenly, and why no sooner? If they had been
poisoned or bitten by the snake before, so as not to be able to get
from the tree, and to be forced to approach the snake always more and
more, they could however not get new strength by the snake being killed
or diverted. Therefore, it seems that they are only enchanted, whilst
the snake has its eyes fixed on them. However, this looks odd and
unaccountable, though many of the worthiest and most reputable people
have related it, and though it is so universally believed here, that to
doubt it would be to expose one’s self to general laughter.
The black snakes kill the smaller species of frogs, and eat them. If
they get at eggs of poultry, or of other birds, they make holes in
them, and suck the contents. When the hens are sitting on the eggs,
they creep into the nest, wind round the birds, stifle them, and suck
the eggs. Mr. Bartram asserted, that he had often seen this snake creep
up into the tallest trees, after bird’s eggs, or young birds, always
with the head foremost, when descending. A Swede told me, that a black
snake had once got the head of one of his hens in its mouth, and was
wound several times round the body, when he came and killed the snake.
The hen was afterwards as well as ever.
This snake is very greedy of milk, and it is difficult to keep it out,
when it is once used to go into a cellar where milk is kept. It has
been seen eating milk out of the same dish with children, without
biting them, though they often gave it blows with the spoon upon the
head, when it was overgreedy. I never heard it hissing. It can raise
more than one half of its body from the ground, in order to look about
her. It skins every year; and its skin is said to be a remedy against
the cramp, if continually worn about the body.
The rye was now beginning to flower.
I have often observed with astonishment, on my travels, the great
difference between the plants and the soil, on the two opposite banks
of brooks. Sometimes a brook, which one can stride over, has plants on
one bank widely different from those on the opposite bank. Therefore,
whenever I came to a great brook or a river, I expected to find plants
which I had not met with before. Their seeds are carried down with the
stream from distant parts. The soil is likewise very often different on
the different sides of a rivulet, being rich and fertile on the one,
and dry, barren, and sandy on the other. But a great river can make
still greater differences. Thus we see the great disparity between the
province of Pensylvania, and New Jersey, which are only divided by the
river Delaware. In Pensylvania the soil consists of a mould mixed with
sand and clay, and is very rich and fertile: and in the woods which are
higher in the country, the ground is mountainous and stony. On the
other hand, in the province of New Jersey, the soil is poor and dry,
and not very fertile, some parts excepted. You can hardly find a stone
in New Jersey, and much less mountains. In Pensylvania you scarce ever
see a fir-tree, and in New Jersey are whole woods of it.
This evening I arrived at Philadelphia.
May the 22d. The locusts began to creep out of their holes in the
ground last night, and continued to do so to-day. As soon as their
wings were dry, they began their song, which is almost sufficient to
make one deaf, when travelling through the woods. This year there was
an immense number of them. I have given a minute account of them, of
their food, qualities, &c. in the Memoirs of the Swedish Royal Academy
of Sciences [55]; it is therefore needless to repeat it here, and I
refer the reader to the quoted place.
May the 25th. The tulip-tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) was now in full
blossom. The flowers have a resemblance to tulips, and look very fine,
and though they have not a very agreeable smell, yet the eye is pleased
to see trees as tall as full-grown oaks, covered with tulip-like
flowers.
On the flowers of the tulip-tree was an olive-coloured Chafer
(Scarabæus) without horns (muticus), the future and borders of his
wing-shells (Elytræ) were black, and his thighs brown. I cannot with
certainty say whether they collected the pollen of the flower, or
whether they coupled. Later in summer, I saw the same kind of beetles
make deep holes into the ripe mulberries, either to eat them, or to lay
their eggs in them. I likewise found them abundant in the leaves of the
Magnolia glauca, or beaver-tree.
The strawberries were now ripe on the hills.
The country people already brought ripe cherries up to town; but they
were only a few to satisfy curiosity, yet we may form a judgment of the
climate from hence.
May the 26th. A peculiar kind of storm called a Travat, or Travado,
happened to-day. In the evening about ten o’clock, when the sky was
quite clear, a thick, black cloud came rushing from the south-west,
with a wind. The air was quite calm, and we could not feel any breeze.
But the approach of this cloud was perceived from the strong rushing
noise in the woods to the south-west, and which encreased in proportion
as the cloud came nearer. As soon as it was come up to us, it was
attended by a violent gust of wind, which in its course threw down the
weaker enclosures, carried them a good way along with it, and broke
down several trees. It was then followed by a hard shower of rain,
which put an end to the storm, and every thing was calm as before.
These travadoes are frequent in summer, and have the quality of cooling
the air. However, they often do a deal of damage. They are commonly
attended by thunder and lightning; as soon as they are passed over, the
sky is as clear as it was before.
May the 28th. The Magnolia glauca was now in full bloom. Its flowers
have a very pleasant fragrancy, which refreshes the travellers in the
woods, especially towards the evening. The flowers of the wild vine
afterwards supplied the place of those of the Magnolia. Several other
flowers contribute likewise towards perfuming the ambient air.
The Kalmia angustifolia was now every where in flower. It grows chiefly
on sandy heaths, or on dry poor grounds, which few other plants will
agree with; it is common in Pensylvania, but particularly in New
Jersey, and the province of New York, it is scarce in Canada; its
leaves stay the winter; the flowers are a real ornament to the woods;
they grow in bunches like crowns, and are of a fine lively purple
colour; at the bottom is a circle of deep purple, and within it a
greyish or whitish colour. The flowers grow as aforesaid, in bunches,
round the extremity of the stalk, and make it look like a decorated
pyramid. The English at New York call this plant the Dwarf Laurel. Its
qualities are the same with those of the Kalmia latifolia, viz. that it
kills sheep and other lesser animals, when they eat plentifully of it.
I do not know whether it is noxious to the greater cattle. It is not of
any known use, and only serves to attract the eye whilst in flower.
The Kalmia latifolia was likewise in full blossom at present. It rivals
the preceding one, in the beauty of its colour; yet though they are
conspicuous in regard to the colours and shape of their flowers, they
are no ways remarkable for smell, such as the Magnolia is; for they
have little or no smell at all. So equally and justly does nature
distribute her gifts; no part of the creation has them all, each has
its own, and none is absolutely without a share of them.
May the 30th. The Moravian Brethren, who arrived in great numbers from
Europe, at New York, in May, brought two converted Greenlanders with
them. The Moravians who were already settled in America, immediately
sent some of their brethren from Philadelphia to the new comers, in
order to welcome them. Among these deputies were two North American
Indians, who had been converted to their doctrine, and likewise two
South American Indians, from Surinam. These three kinds of converted
Indians accordingly met at New York. I had no opportunity of seeing
them; but all those who had seen them, and whom I conversed with,
thought that they had plainly perceived a similarity in their features
and shape, the Greenlanders being only somewhat smaller. They concluded
from hence, that all these three kinds of Americans were the posterity
of one and the same descendant of Noah, or that they were perhaps yet
more nearly related. How far their guesses are to be relied upon, I
cannot determine.
Ripe cherries were now already pretty common, and consequently cheap.
Yams are a species of roots, which are cultivated in the hottest parts
of America, for eating, as we do potatoes. It has not yet been
attempted to plant them here, and they are brought from the West Indies
in ships; therefore they are reckoned a rarity here, and as such I ate
them at Dr. Franklin’s to-day. They are white, and taste like common
potatoes, but not quite so agreeable; and I think it would not be worth
while to plant them in Sweden, though they might bear the climate. The
plant these roots belong to is the Dioscorea alata.
The inhabitants make plenty of cheese. They are not reckoned so good as
English cheese: however, some take them to be full as good when old;
and so they seemed to me. A man from Boston in New-England told me,
that they made very good cheese there: but they take care to keep the
cattle from salt water, especially those who live near the sea-coasts;
for it has been found, that the cheese will not become so good when the
cows graze near salt water, as it will when they have fresh water.
This, however, wants nearer examination, in my opinion.
May the 31st. About noon I left Philadelphia, and went on board a small
yacht, which sails continually up and down upon the river Delaware,
between Trenton and Philadelphia. We sailed up the river with fair wind
and weather. Sturgeons leaped often a fathom into the air. We saw them
continuing this exercise all day, till we came to Trenton. The banks on
the Pensylvanian side were low; and those on the New Jersey side steep
and sandy, but not very high. On both sides we perceived forests of
tall trees, with deciduous leaves.
During the course of this month, the forenoon was always calm; but
immediately after noon it began to blow gently, and sometimes pretty
strongly. This morning was likewise fair; and in the afternoon it was
cloudy, but did not rain.
The banks of the river were sometimes high, and sometimes low. We saw
some small houses near the shore, in the woods; and, now and then, a
good house built of stone. The river now decreased visibly in breadth.
About three o’clock this afternoon we passed Burlington.
Burlington, the chief town in the province of New Jersey, and the
residence of the governor, is but a small town, about twenty miles from
Philadelphia, on the eastern side of the Delaware. The houses were
chiefly built of stone, though they stood far distant from each other.
The town has a good situation, since ships of considerable burden can
sail close up to it: but Philadelphia prevents its carrying on an
extensive trade; for the proprietors of that place [56] have granted it
great immunities, by which it is increased so as to swallow all the
trade of the adjacent towns. The house of the governor at Burlington is
but a small one: it is built of stone, close by the river side, and is
the first building in the town as you come from Philadelphia. It is
observed, that about the full moons, when the tides are highest, and
the high water at Cape Hinlopen comes at nine o’clock in the morning,
it will be at Chester, on the river Delaware, about ten minutes after
one o’clock; at Philadelphia, about ten minutes after two o’clock; and
at Burlington, about ten minutes after three o’clock; for the tide in
the river Delaware comes quite up to Trenton. These observations were
communicated to me by Mr. Lewis Evans.
The banks of the river were now chiefly high and steep on the side of
New Jersey, consisting of a pale brick-coloured soil. On the
Pensylvanian side, they were gently sloping, and consisted of a
blackish rich mould, mixed with particles of Glimmer (Mica). On the New
Jersey side appeared some firs; but seldom on the other, except in a
few places where they were accidentally brought over from New Jersey.
Towards night, after the tide had begun to ebb and the wind was quite
subsided, we could not proceed, but dropped our anchor about seven
miles from Trenton, and passed the night there. The woods were full of
Fireflies, (Lampyris) which flew like sparks of fire between the trees,
and sometimes across the river. In the marshes, the Bullfrogs now and
then began their hideous roaring; and more than a hundred of them
roared together. The Whip-poor-will, or Goatsucker, was likewise heard
every where.
June the 1st. We continued our voyage this morning, after the rain was
over. The river Delaware was very narrow here, and the banks the same
as we found them yesterday, after we had passed Burlington. About eight
o’clock in the morning we arrived at Trenton [57].
June the 2d. This morning we left Trenton, and proceeded towards New
York. The country I have described before [58]. The fields were sown
with wheat, rye, maize, oats, hemp, and flax. In several places, we saw
very large pieces of ground with hemp.
We saw abundance of chesnut-trees in the woods. They often stood in
excessive poor ground, which was neither too dry nor too wet.
Tulip-trees did not appear on the road; but the people said there were
some in the woods.
The Beaver-tree (Magnolia glauca) grows in the swamps. It was now in
flower, and the fragrancy of its blossoms had so perfumed the air, that
one could enjoy it before one approached the swamps; and this fine
smell likewise shewed that a beaver-tree was near us, though we often
happened not to see it.
The Phlox Glaberrima grows abundantly in the woods, and cuts a fine
figure with its red flowers. It grows in such soil here as in Europe is
occupied by the Lychnis viscaria and Lychnis dioica, or red Catchfly
and Campion. The Phlox maculata grows abundantly in wet ground, and has
fine red and odoriferous flowers. It grows on low meadows, where in
Europe the Meadow-pinks, or Lychnis flos cuculi, would be met with. By
adding to these flowers the Bartsia coccinea, the Lobelia cardinalis,
and the Monarda didyma, which grow wild in this country, they are
undoubtedly altogether adorned with the finest red imaginable.
The Sassafras-tree was abundant in the woods, and near the inclosures.
The houses which we passed by were most of them wooden. In one place, I
saw the people building a house with walls of mere clay, which is
likewise employed in making ovens for baking.
Buckwheat was already coming up in several places. We saw single plants
of it all day in the woods, and in the fields, but always by the side
of the road; from whence it may be concluded, that they spring up from
lost and scattered seeds.
Late this evening we arrived at New Brunswick [59].
June the 3d. At noon we went on board a yacht bound for New York, and
sailed down the river, which had at first pretty high and steep banks,
of red sandstone, on each side, which I have mentioned before. [60] Now
and then, there was a farm-house on the high shore. As we came lower
down, we saw on both sides great fields and meadows, close up to the
water. We could not sail at random with the yacht; for the river was
often shallow in some places, and sometimes in the very middle. For
that purpose, the course which we were to take was marked out by
branches with leaves on them. At last we got into the sea, which
bounded our prospect on the south; but on the other side, we were
continually in sight of land at some distance. On coming to the mouth
of the river, we had a choice of two roads to New York; viz. either
within the Staten Island, or without it. The inhabitants are determined
in their choice by the weather; for when it is stormy and cloudy, or
dark, they do not venture to sail without, where the sea itself
communicates. We took that course now, it being very pleasant weather;
and though we struck on the sands once or twice, yet we got loose
again, and arrived at New York about nine o’clock. Of this town I have
given an account in the preceding volume [61].
June the 4th. I found vines in several gardens, got from the old
countries. They bear annually a quantity of excellent grapes. When the
winters are very severe, they are killed by the frost, and die quite to
the ground; but the next spring new shoots spring up from the root.
Strawberries were now sold in abundance about the town every day. An
Englishman from Jamaica asserted, that in that island there were no
strawberries. The snakes are very fond of strawberries. Those which
they had here were not so good as the Swedish and Finland ones.
Red Clover was sown in several places on the hills without the town.
The country people were now employed in mowing the meadows. Some were
already mown; and the dry clover was put under cover, in order to be
carried away the first opportunity.
Cherry-trees were planted in great quantities before the farm-houses,
and along the high-roads, from Philadelphia to New Brunswick; but
behind that place they became more scarce. On coming to Staten Island,
in the province of New York, I found them very common again, near the
gardens. Here are not so many varieties of cherries as there are in
Pensylvania. I seldom saw any of the black sweet cherries [62] at New
York; but commonly the sour red ones. All travellers are allowed to
pluck ripe fruit in any garden which they pass by; and not even the
most covetous farmer can hinder them from so doing. Between New
Brunswick and Staten Island, are a few cherry-gardens; but
proportionably more orchards, with apple-trees.
June the 6th. Several gentlemen and merchants, between fifty and sixty
years of age, asserted, that during their life they had plainly found
several kinds of fish decrease in number every year; and that they
could not get near so many fish now as they could formerly.
Rum, a brandy prepared from the sugar-canes, and in great use with all
the English North American colonies, is reckoned much wholesomer than
brandy, made from wine or corn [63]. In confirmation of this opinion,
they say, that if you put a piece of fresh meat into rum, and another
into brandy, and leave them there for some months; that in the rum will
keep as it was, but that in the brandy will be quite eaten, and full of
holes. But this experiment does not seem a very accurate one to me.
Major Roderfort told me, that being upon the Canada expedition, he had
observed, that such of his men as drank brandy for some time died of
it; but those who drank rum were not hurt, though they got drunk with
it every day, and oftener than the others.
Long-Island is the name of an island opposite the town of New York, in
the sea. The northern part of the island is much more fertile than the
southern. Formerly there lived a number of Indians on this island; and
there are yet some, which however decrease in number every year,
because they leave the island. The soil of the southern part of the
island is very poor; but this deficiency is made up by a vast quantity
of oysters, lobsters, crabs, several kinds of fish, and numbers of
water fowl, all which are there far more abundant than on the northern
shores of the Island. Therefore the Indians formerly chose the southern
part to live in, because they subsisted on oysters, and other
productions of the sea. When the tide is out, it is very easy to fill a
whole cart with oysters, which have been driven on shore by one flood.
The Island is strewed with oystershells and other shells, which the
Indians left there; these shells serve now for good manure for the
fields. The southern part of the Island is turned into meadows, and the
northern part into fields. The winter is more constant on the northern
part, and the snow in spring lies longer there than on the southern
part. The people are very fertile here, and commonly tall and strong.
June the 10th. At noon we left New York, and sailed up the river
Hudson, in a yacht bound for Albany. All this afternoon we saw a whole
fleet of little boats returning from New York, whither they had brought
provisions and other goods for sale, which on account of the extensive
commerce of this town, and the great number of its inhabitants, go off
very well. The river Hudson runs from North to South here, except some
high pieces of land which sometimes project far into it, and alter its
direction; its breadth at the mouth is reckoned about a mile and a
quarter. Some porpesses played and tumbled in the river. The eastern
shore, or the New York side, was at first very steep and high; but the
western was very sloping and covered with woods. There appeared
farm-houses on both sides, surrounded with corn-fields. The ground of
which the steep shores consisted was of a pale brick colour, and some
little rocks of a grey sand-stone were seen here and there. About ten
or twelve miles from New York, the western shore appears quite
different from what it was before; it consists of steep mountains with
perpendicular sides towards the river, and they are exactly like the
steep sides of the mountains of Hall and Hunnebarg in West Gothland.
Sometimes a rock projects like the salliant angle of a bastion: the
tops of these mountains are covered with oaks, and other wood; a number
of stones of all sizes lay along the shore, having rolled down from the
mountains.
These high and steep mountains continue for some English miles on the
western shore; but on the eastern side the land is high, and sometimes
diversified with hills and valleys, which are commonly covered with
deciduous trees, amongst which there appears a farm now and then in a
glade. The hills are covered with stones in some places. About twelve
miles from New York we saw Sturgeons [64] (Acipenser Sturio), leaping
up out of the water, and on the whole passage we met with porpesses in
the river. As we proceeded we found the eastern banks of the river very
much cultivated; and a number of pretty farms surrounded with orchards
and fine corn-fields, presented themselves to our view. About
twenty-two miles from New York, the high mountains which I have before
mentioned left us, and made as it were a high ridge here from east to
west quite across the country. This altered the face of the country on
the western shore of the river: from mountainous, it became
interspersed with little vallies and round hillocks, which were scarce
inhabited at all; but the eastern shore continued to afford us a
delightful prospect. After sailing a little while in the night, we cast
our anchor and lay here till the morning, especially as the tide was
ebbing with great force.
June the 11th. This morning we continued our voyage up the river, with
the tide and a faint breeze. We now passed the Highland mountains,
which were to the East of us; they consist of a grey sandstone, are
very high and pretty steep, and covered with deciduous trees, and
likewise with firs and red cedars. The western shore was full of rocks,
which however did not come up to the height of the mountains on the
opposite shore; the tops of these eastern mountains were cut off from
our sight by a thick fog which surrounded them. The country was unfit
for cultivation, being so full of rocks, and accordingly we saw no
farms. The distance from these mountains to New York is computed at
thirty-six English miles.
A thick fog now rose up from the high mountains. For the space of some
English miles, we had hills and rocks on the western banks of the
river; and a change of lesser and greater mountains and vallies covered
with young firs, red cedars, and oaks, on the eastern side. The hills
close to the river side are commonly low, but their height increases as
they are further from the river. Afterwards we saw, for some miles
together, nothing but high round mountains and valleys, both covered
with woods; the valleys are in reality nothing but low rocks, and stand
perpendicular towards the river in many places. The breadth of the
river is sometimes two or three musket shot, but commonly not above
one; every now and then we saw several kinds of fish leaping out of the
water. The wind vanished away about ten o’clock in the morning, and
forced us to get forwards with our oars, the tide being almost spent.
In one place on the western shore we saw a wooden house painted red,
and we were told, that there was a saw-mill further up; but besides
this we did not perceive one farm or any cultivated grounds all this
forenoon.
The water in the river has here no more a brackish taste; yet I was
told that the tide, especially when the wind is South, sometimes
carries the salt water up higher with it. The colour of the water was
likewise altered, for it appeared darker here than before. To account
for the first origin of rivers is very difficult, if not wholly
impossible; some rivers may have come from a great reservoir of water,
which being considerably encreased by heavy falls of rain or other
circumstances, passed its old bounds and flowed to the lower countries,
through the places where it met with the least opposition. This is
perhaps the reason why some rivers run in so many bendings equally
through fields of soft earth, as likewise there, where mountains,
rocks, and stones, divert their passage. However it seems that some
rivers derive their first origin from the creation itself, and that
Providence then pointed out their course; for their existence can, in
all probability, not be owing to the accidental eruption of water
alone. Among these rivers we may rank the river Hudson: I was surprised
on seeing its course, and the variety of its shores. It takes its rise
a good way above Albany, and descends to New York, in a direct line
from North to South, which is a distance of about a hundred and sixty
English miles, and perhaps more; for the little bendings which it makes
are of no signification. In many places between New York and Albany,
are ridges of high mountains running West and East. But it is
remarkable that they go on undisturbed till they come to the river
Hudson, which cuts directly across them, and frequently their sides
stand perpendicular towards the river. There is an opening left in the
chain of mountains, as broad as the river commonly is, for it to pass
through, and the mountains go on as before, on the other side, in the
same direction. It is likewise remarkable, that the river in such
places where it passes through the mountains is as deep, and often
deeper than in the other places. The perpendicular rocks on the sides
of the river are surprising, and it appears that if no passages had
been opened by Providence, for the river to pass through, the mountains
in the upper part of the country would have been inundated, since these
mountains, like so many dykes, would have hindered the water from going
on. Quere, Why does this river go on in a direct line for so
considerable a distance? Why do the many passages, through which the
river flows across the mountains, ly under the same meridian? Why are
water-falls near some of these passages, or at least shallow water with
a rocky ground?
We now perceived excessive high and steep mountains on both sides of
the river, which echoed back each sound we uttered. Yet notwithstanding
they were so high and steep, they were covered with small trees.
The Blue Mountains, which reared their towering tops above all the
other mountains, were now seen before us, towards North, but at a great
distance.
The country began here to look more cultivated, and less mountainous.
The last of the high western mountains is called Butterhill, after
which the country between the mountains grows more spacious. The farms
became very numerous, and we had a prospect of many corn-fields,
between the hills: before we passed these hills we had the wind in our
face, and we could only get forward by tacking, which went very slow,
as the river was hardly a musket-shot in breadth. Afterwards we cast
anchor, because we had both wind and tide against us.
Whilst we waited for the return of tide and the change of wind, we went
on shore.
The Sassafras-tree (Laurus Sassafras) and the chesnut-tree grows here
in great abundance. I found the tulip-tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) in
some parts of the wood, as likewise the Kalmia latifolia, which was now
in full blossom; though the flowers were already withering.
Some time after noon the wind arose from South-west, which being a fair
wind, we weighed anchor, and continued our voyage. The place where we
lay at anchor, was just the end of those steep and amazing high
mountains: their height is very amazing; they consist of grey rock
stone, and close to them, on the shore, lay a vast number of little
stones. As soon as we had passed these mountains, the country became
clearer of mountains, and higher. The river likewise encreased in
breadth, so as to be near an English mile broad. After sailing for some
time, we found no more mountains along the river; but on the eastern
side goes a high chain of mountains to the north-east, whose sides are
covered with woods, up to one half of their height. The summits however
are quite barren; for I suppose that nothing would grow there, on
account of the great degree of heat [65], dryness, and the violence of
the wind, to which that part is exposed. The eastern side of the river
is much more cultivated than the western, where we seldom saw a house,
the land being covered with woods, though it is in general very level.
About fifty-six English miles from New York the country is not very
high; yet it is every where covered with woods, except some new farms
which were scattered here and there. The high mountains which we left
in the afternoon, now appeared above the woods and the country. These
mountains, which were called the Highlands, did not project more North
than the other, in the place where we anchored. Their sides (not those
towards the river) were seldom perpendicular, but sloping, so that one
could climb up to the top, though not without difficulty.
On several high grounds near the river, the people burnt lime. The
master of the yacht told me, that they break a fine blueish grey
limestone in the high grounds, along both sides of the river, for the
space of some English miles, and burn lime of it. But at some miles
distance there is no more limestone, and they find also none on the
banks till they come to Albany.
We passed by a little neck of land, which projected on the western side
in the river, and was called Dance. The name of this place is said to
derive its origin from a festival which the Dutch celebrated here in
former times, and at which they danced and diverted themselves; but
once there came a number of Indians, who killed them all.
We cast anchor late at night, because the wind ceased and the tide was
ebbing. The depth of the river is twelve fathoms here.
The fire-flies passed the river in numbers, at night, and sometimes
settled upon the rigging.
June the 12th. This morning we proceeded with the tide, but against the
wind. The river was here a musket-shot broad. The country in general is
low on both sides, consisting of low rocks, and stony fields, which are
however covered with woods. It is so rocky, stony, and poor, that
nobody can settle in it, or inhabit it, there being no spot of ground
fit for a corn-field. The country continued to have the same appearance
for the space of some miles, and we never perceived one settlement. At
eleven o’clock this morning we came to a little island, which lies in
the middle of the river, and is said to be half-way between New York
and Albany. The shores are still low, stony, and rocky, as before. But
at a greater distance we saw high mountains, covered with woods,
chiefly on the western shore, raising their tops above the rest of the
country; and still further off, the Blue Mountains rose up above them.
Towards noon it was quite calm, and we went on very slow. Here, the
land is well cultivated, especially on the eastern shore, and full of
great corn-fields; yet the soil seemed sandy. Several villages lay on
the eastern side, and one of them, called Strasburg, was inhabited by a
number of Germans. To the West we saw several cultivated places. The
Blue Mountains are very plainly to be seen here. They appear through
the clouds, and tower above all other mountains. The river is full an
English mile broad opposite Strasburg.
They make use of a yellow Agaricus, or mushroom, which grows on
maple-trees, for tinder; that which is found on the red-flowering maple
(Acer rubrum) is reckoned the best, and next in goodness is that of the
Sugar-maple (Acer saccarinum), which is sometimes reckoned as good as
the former.
Rhinbeck is a place at some distance from Strasburg, further off from
the river. It is inhabited by many Germans, who have a church there.
Their clergyman at present was the Rev. Mr. Hartwig, who knew some
Swedish, having been at Gothenburg for some time. This little town is
not visible from the river-side.
At two in the afternoon it began again to blow from the south, which
enabled us to proceed. The country on the eastern side is high, and
consists of a well cultivated soil. We had fine corn-fields, pretty
farms, and good orchards, in view. The western shore is likewise
somewhat high, but still covered with woods, and we now and then,
though seldom, saw one or two little settlements. The river is above an
English mile broad in most places, and comes in a strait line from the
North, so that we could not sometimes follow it with our eye.
June the 13th. The wind favoured our voyage during the whole night, so
that I had no opportunity of observing the nature of the country. This
morning at five o’clock we were but nine English miles from Albany. The
country on both sides the river is low, and covered with woods,
excepting a few little scattered settlements. Under the higher shores
of the river are wet meadows, covered with sword-grass (Carex), and
they formed several little islands. We saw no mountains; and hastened
towards Albany. The land on both sides of the river is chiefly low, and
more carefully cultivated as we came nearer to Albany.
As to the houses, which we saw, some were of wood, others of stone. The
river is seldom above a musket-shot broad, and in several parts of it
are sands, which require great experience for governing the yachts. At
eight o’clock in the morning we arrived at Albany.
All the yachts which ply between Albany and New York, belong to Albany.
They go up and down the river Hudson, as long as it is open and free
from ice. They bring from Albany boards or planks, and all sorts of
timber, flour, pease, and furs, which they get from the Indians, or
which are smuggled from the French. They come home almost empty, and
only bring a few merchandizes with them, among which rum is the chief.
This last is absolutely necessary to the inhabitants of Albany; they
cheat the Indians in the fur trade with it; for when the Indians are
drunk, they will leave it to the Albanians to fix the price of the
furs. The yachts are pretty large, and have a good cabbin, in which the
passengers can be very commodiously lodged. They are commonly built of
red Cedar, or of white Oak. Frequently, the bottom consists of white
oak, and the sides of red cedar, because the latter withstands
putrefaction much longer than the former. The red cedar is likewise apt
to split, when it hits against any thing, and the river Hudson is in
many parts full of sands and rocks, against which the keel of the yacht
sometimes hits; therefore they choose white oak for the bottom, as
being the softer wood, and not splitting so easily: and the bottom
being continually under water, is not so much exposed to putrefaction,
and holds out longer.
The Canoes which the yachts have along with them, are made of a single
piece of wood, hollowed out; they are sharp on both ends, frequently
three or four fathoms long, and as broad as the thickness of the wood
will allow. The people in it do not row sitting, but commonly a fellow
stands at each end, with a short oar in his hand, with which he governs
and brings the canoe forwards. Those which are made here at Albany, are
commonly of the white Pine; they can do service for eight or twelve
years, especially if they be tarred and painted. At Albany they make
them of the white pine, since there is no other wood fit for them; at
New York they are made of the tulip-tree, and in other parts they are
made of red or white cedars: but both these trees are so small, in the
neighbourhood of Albany, that they are unfit for canoes; there are no
seats in the canoes, for if they had any, they would be more liable to
be overset, as one could not keep the equilibrium so well.
Battoes [66] are another kind of boats, which are much in use in
Albany: they are made of boards of white pine; the bottom is flat, that
they may row the better in shallow water; they are sharp at both ends,
and somewhat higher towards the end than in the middle. They have seats
in them, and are rowed as common boats. They are long, yet not all
alike, commonly three, and sometimes four fathoms long. The height from
the bottom to the top of the board (for the sides stand almost
perpendicular) is from twenty inches to two feet, and the breadth in
the middle about a yard and six inches. They are chiefly made use of
for carrying goods, by means of the rivers, to the Indians; that is,
when those rivers are open enough for the battoes to pass through, and
when they need not be carried by land a great way. The boats made of
the bark of trees, break easily by knocking against a stone, and the
canoes cannot carry a great cargo, and are easily overset; the battoes
are therefore preferable to them both. I saw no boats here like those
in Sweden, and other parts of Europe.
The frost does frequently a great deal of damage at Albany. There is
hardly a month in summer during which a frost does not happen. The
spring comes very late, and in April and May are numerous cold nights,
which frequently kill the flowers of trees and kitchen-herbs. It was
feared that the blossoms of the apple-trees had been so severely
damaged by the frost, last May, that next autumn there would be but
very few apples. The oak-blossoms are very often killed by the frost in
the woods. The autumn here is of long continuance, with warm days and
nights. However, the cold nights commonly commence towards the end of
September, and are frequent in October. The people are forced to keep
their cattle in stables, from the middle of November, till March or
April, and must find them hay during that time [67].
During summer, the wind blows commonly from the South, and brings a
great drought along with it. Sometimes it rains a little, and as soon
as it has rained the wind veers to North West, blowing for several days
from that point, and then returning to the South. I have had frequent
opportunities of seeing this change of wind happen very exactly, both
this year and the following.
June the 15th. The enclosures were made of boards of fir-wood, of which
there is abundance in the extensive woods, and many saw-mills to cut it
into boards.
The several sorts of apple-trees grow very well here, and bear as fine
fruit as in any other part of North America. Each farm has a large
orchard. They have some apples here, which are very large, and very
palatable; they are sent to New York, and other places as a rarity.
They make excellent cyder, in autumn, in the country round Albany.
All the kinds of cherry-trees, which have been planted here, succeed
very well.
Pear-trees do not succeed here. This was complained of in many other
parts of North America. But I fear that they do not take sufficient
care in the management and planting of them; for I have seen fine pears
in several parts of North America.
Peach-trees have often been planted here, and never would succeed well.
This was attributed to a worm which lives in the ground, and eats
through the root, so that the tree dies. Perhaps the severity of the
winter contributes much to it.
They plant no other fruit-trees at Albany besides these I have
mentioned.
They sow as much hemp and flax here, as they want for home consumption.
They sow maize in great abundance: A loose soil is reckoned the best
for this purpose; for it will not grow in clay. From half a bushel they
reap a hundred bushels. They reckon maize a very good kind of corn,
because the shoot recovers after being hurt by the frost. They have had
examples here of the shoots dying twice in spring, to the very ground,
and yet they shot up again afterwards, and afforded an excellent crop.
Maize has likewise the advantage of standing much longer against a
drought, than wheat. The larger sort of maize which is commonly sown
here, ripens in September.
They sow wheat in the neighbourhood of Albany, with great advantage.
From one bushel they get twelve sometimes; if the soil be good, they
get twenty bushels. If their crop amounts only to ten bushels from one,
they think it very trifling. The inhabitants of the country round
Albany, are Dutch and Germans. The Germans live in several great
villages, and sow great quantities of wheat, which is brought to
Albany; and from thence they send many yachts laden with flour to New
York. The wheat-flour from Albany is reckoned the best in all North
America, except that from Sopus or King’s Town, a place between Albany
and New York. All the bread in Albany is made of wheat. At New York
they pay the Albany flour with several Shillings more per hundred
weight, than that from other places.
Rye is likewise sown here, but not so generally as wheat.
They do not sow much barley here, because they do not reckon the
profits very great. Wheat is so plentiful that they make malt of it. In
the neighbourhood of New York, I saw great fields sown with barley.
They do not sow more oats than are necessary for their horses.
The Dutch and Germans who live hereabouts, sow pease in great
abundance; they succeed very well, and are annually carried to New
York, in great quantities. They have been free from insects for a
considerable time. But of late years the same beetles which destroy the
pease in Pensylvania, New Jersey, and the lower parts of the province
of New York [68], have likewise appeared abundant among the pease here.
It is a real loss to this town, and to the other parts of North
America, which used to get pease from hence for their own consumption,
and that of their sailors. It had been found that if they procured good
pease from Albany, and sowed them near King’s Town, or the lower part
of the province of New York, they succeeded very well the first year,
but were so full of worms the second, and following years, that nobody
could or would eat them. Some people put ashes into the pot, among the
pease, when they will not boil, or soften well; but whether this is
wholesome and agreeable to the palate, I do not know.
Potatoes are generally planted. Some people preferred ashes to sand for
keeping them in during winter.
The Bermuda Potatoes (Convolvulus Batatas) have likewise been planted
here, and succeed pretty well. The greatest difficulty is to keep them
during winter; for they generally rot in that season.
The Humming-bird (Trochilus Colubris) comes to this place sometimes;
but is rather a scarce bird.
The shingles with which the houses are covered are made of the White
Pine, which is reckoned as good and as durable, and sometimes better,
than the White Cedar (Cupressus thyoides). The White Pine is found
abundant here, in such places where common pines grow in Europe, I have
never seen them in the lower parts of the province of New York, nor in
New Jersey and Pensylvania. They saw a vast quantity of deal from the
White Pine on this side of Albany, which are brought down to New York,
and from thence exported.
The woods abound with vines, which likewise grow on the steep banks of
the river in surprising quantities. They climbed to the tops of trees
on the bank, and bent them by their weight. But where they found no
trees, they hung down along the steep shores, and covered them
entirely. The grapes are eaten after the frost has attacked them; for
they are too sour before. They are not much used any other way.
The vast woods and uninhabited grounds, between Albany and Canada,
contain immense swarms of gnats, which annoy the travellers. To be in
some measure secured against these insects, some besmear their face
with butter or grease; for the gnats do not like to settle on greasy
places. The great heat makes boots very uneasy; but to prevent the
gnats from stinging the legs, they wrap some paper round them, under
the stockings. Some travellers wear caps which cover the whole face,
and have some gauze before the eyes. At night they lie in tents, if
they can carry any with them; and make a great fire at the entrance, by
the smoke of which the gnats are driven away.
The porpesses seldom go higher up the river Hudson than the salt water
goes; after that, the sturgeons fill their place. It has however
sometimes happened, that porpesses have gone quite up to Albany.
There is a report, that a whale once came up the river quite to this
town.
The Fireflies (Lampyris) which are the same that are so common in
Pensylvania during summer, are seen here in abundance every night. They
fly up and down in the streets of this town. They come into, the
houses, if the doors and windows are open.
Several of the Pensylvanian trees are not to be met with in these
woods; viz.
Magnolia glauca, the Beaver-tree.
Nyssa aquatica, the Tupelo-tree.
Liquidambar styraciflua, the Sweet-gum tree.
Diospyros Virginiana, the Persimon.
Liriodendron tulipifera, the Tulip-tree.
Juglans nigra, the black Walnut-tree.
Quercus ——, the Swamp Oak.
Cercis Canadensis, the Sallad-tree.
Robinia pseudacacia, the Locust-tree.
Gleditsia triacanthos, the Honey-locust tree.
Annona muricata, the Papaw-tree.
Celtis occidentalis, the Nettle-tree. And a number of shrubs, which are
never found here.
The more northerly situation of the place, the height of the Blue
Mountains, and the course of the rivers, which flow here southward into
the sea, and accordingly carry the seeds of plants from north to south,
and not the contrary way, are chiefly the causes that several plants
which grow in Pensylvania cannot be found here.
This afternoon I went to see an island which lies in the middle of the
river, about a mile below the town. This island is an English mile
long, and not above a quarter of a mile broad. It is almost entirely
turned into corn-fields; and is inhabited by a single planter, who,
besides possessing this island, is the owner of two more. Here we saw
no woods, except a few trees which were left round the island on the
shore, and formed as it were a tall and great hedge. The Red Maple
(Acer rubrum) grows in abundance in several places. Its leaves are
white or silvery on the under sides, and, when agitated by the wind,
they make the tree appear as if it was full of white flowers. The
Water-beech (Platanus occidentalis) grows to a great height, and is one
of the most shady trees here. The Water-poplar [69] is the most common
tree hereabouts, grows exceedingly well on the shores of the river, and
is as tall as the tallest of our asps. In summer it affords the best
shade for men and cattle against the scorching heat. On the banks of
rivers and lakes it is one of the most useful trees, because it holds
the soil by its extensive branched roots, and prevents the water from
washing it away. The Water-beech and the Elm-tree (Ulmus) serve the
same purpose. The wild Prune-trees were plentiful here, and were full
of unripe fruit. Its wood is not made use of; but its fruit is eaten.
Sumach (Rhus glabra) is plentiful here; as also the wild vines, which
climb up the trees, and creep along the high shores of the river. I was
told, that the grapes ripen very late, though they were already pretty
large.
The American Elm-tree (Ulmus Americana) formed several high hedges. The
soil of this island is a rich mould, mixed with sand, which is chiefly
employed in maize plantations. There were likewise large fields of
potatoes. The whole island was leased for one hundred pounds of New
York currency. The person who had taken the lease, again let some
greater and some smaller lots of ground, to the inhabitants of Albany,
for making kitchen-gardens of; and by that means reimbursed himself.
Portulack (Portulaca oleracea) grows spontaneously here in great
abundance, and looks very well.
June the 20th. The tide in the river Hudson goes about eight or ten
English miles above Albany, and consequently runs one hundred and
fifty-six English miles from the sea. In spring, when the snow melts,
there is hardly any flowing near this town; for the great quantity of
water which comes from the mountains during that season, occasions a
continual ebbing. This likewise happens after heavy rains.
The cold is generally reckoned very severe here. The ice in the river
Hudson is commonly three or four feet thick. On the 3d of April some of
the inhabitants crossed the river with six pair of horses. The ice
commonly dissolves about the end of March, or beginning of April. Great
pieces of ice come down about that time, which sometimes carry with
them the houses that stand close to the shore. The water is very high
at that time in the river, because the ice stops sometimes, and sticks
in places where the river is narrow. The water has been often observed
to rise three fathom higher than it commonly is in summer. The ground
is frozen here in winter to the depth of three, four, or five feet. On
the 16th of November the yachts are put up, and about the beginning or
middle of April they are in motion again. They are unacquainted with
stoves; and their chimnies are so wide that one could drive through
them with a cart and horses.
The water of several wells in this town was very cool about this time;
but had a kind of acid taste, which was not very agreeable. On a nearer
examination, I found an abundance of little insects in it, which were
probably Monoculi. Their length was different; some were a geometrical
line and an half, others two, and others four lines long. They were
very narrow, and of a pale colour. The head was blacker and thicker
than the other parts of the body, and about the size of a pin’s head.
The tail was divided into two branches, and each branch terminated in a
little black globule. When these insects swim, they proceed in crooked
or undulated lines, almost like Tadpoles. I poured some of this water
into a bowl, and put near a fourth part of rum to it. The Monoculi,
instead of being affected with it, swam about as briskly as they had
done in the water. This shews, that if one makes punch with this water,
it must be very strong to kill the Monoculi. I think this water is not
very wholesome for people who are not used to it, though the
inhabitants of Albany, who drink it every day, say, they do not feel
the least inconvenience from it. I have been several times obliged to
drink water here, in which I have plainly seen Monoculi swimming; but I
generally felt the next day somewhat like a pea in my throat, or as if
I had a swelling there; and this continued for above a week. I felt
such swellings this year, both at Albany and in other parts. My
servant, Yungstroem, likewise got a great pain in his breast, and a
sensation as from a swelling, after drinking water with Monoculi in it:
but whether these insects occasioned it, or whether it came from some
other cause, I cannot ascertain. However, I have always endeavoured, as
much as possible, to do without such water as had Monoculi in it. I
have found Monoculi in very cold water, taken from the deepest wells,
in different parts of this country. Perhaps many of our diseases arise
from waters of this kind, which we do not sufficiently examine. I have
frequently observed abundance of minute insects in water, which has
been remarkable for its clearness. Almost each house in Albany has its
well, the water of which is applied to common use; but for tea,
brewing, and washing, they commonly take the water of the river Hudson,
which flows close by the town. This water is generally quite muddy, and
very warm in summer; and, on that account, it is kept in cellars, in
order that the slime may subside, and that the water may cool a little.
We lodged with a gunsmith, who told us, that the best charcoals for the
forge were made of the Black Pine. The next in goodness, in his
opinion, were charcoals, made of the Beech-tree.
The best and dearest stocks for his muskets were made of the wood of
the wild Cherry-tree; and next to these he valued those of the Red
Maple most. They scarce make use of any other wood for this purpose.
The black Walnut-tree affords excellent wood for stocks; but it does
not grow in the neighbourhood of Albany.
June the 21st. Next to the town of New York, Albany is the principal
town, or at least the most wealthy, in the province of New York. It is
situated on the declivity of a hill, close to the western shore of the
river Hudson, about one hundred and forty-six English miles from New
York. The town extends along the river, which flows here from N. N. E.
to S. S. W. The high mountains in the west, above the town, bound the
prospect on that side. There are two churches in Albany, an English one
and a Dutch one. The Dutch church stands at some distance from the
river, on the east side of the market. It is built of stone; and in the
middle it has a small steeple, with a bell. It has but one minister,
who preaches twice every Sunday. The English church is situated on the
hill, at the west end of the market, directly under the fort. It is
likewise built of stone, but has no steeple. There was no service at
this church at this time, because they had no minister; and all the
people understood Dutch, the garrison excepted. The minister of this
church has a settled income of one hundred pounds sterling, which he
gets from England. The town-hall lies to the southward of the Dutch
church, close by the river side. It is a fine building of stone, three
stories high. It has a small tower or steeple, with a bell, and a gilt
ball and vane at the top of it.
The houses in this town are very neat, and partly built with stones
covered with shingles of the White Pine. Some are slated with tiles
from Holland, because the clay of this neighbourhood is not reckoned
fit for tiles. Most of the houses are built in the old way, with the
gable-end towards the street; a few excepted, which were lately built
in the manner now used. A great number of houses were built like those
of New Brunswick, which I have described [70]; the gable-end being
built, towards the street, of bricks, and all the other walls of
planks. The outside of the houses is never covered with lime or mortar,
nor have I seen it practiced in any North-American towns which I have
visited; and the walls do not seem to be damaged by the air. The
gutters on the roofs reach almost to the middle of the street. This
preserves the walls from being damaged by the rain; but is extremely
disagreeable in rainy weather for the people in the streets, there
being hardly any means of avoiding the water from the gutters. The
street-doors are generally in the middle of the houses; and on both
sides are seats, on which, during fair weather, the people spend almost
the whole day, especially on those which are in the shadow of the
houses. In the evening these seats are covered with people of both
sexes; but this is rather troublesome, as those who pass by are obliged
to greet every body, unless they will shock the politeness of the
inhabitants of this town. The streets are broad, and some of them are
paved; in some parts they are lined with trees; the long streets are
almost parallel to the river, and the others intersect them at right
angles. The street which goes between the two churches, is five times
broader than the others, and serves as a market-place. The streets upon
the whole are very dirty, because the people leave their cattle in
them, during the summer nights. There are two market-places in the
town, to which the country people resort twice a week.
The fort lies higher than any other building, on a high steep hill on
the West side of the town. It is a great building of stone, surrounded
with high and thick walls; its situation is very bad, as it can only
serve to keep off plundering parties, without being able to sustain a
siege. There are numerous high hills to the west of the fort, which
command it, and from whence one may see all that is done within it.
There is commonly an officer and a number of soldiers quartered in it.
They say the fort contains a spring of water.
The situation of Albany is very advantageous in regard to trade. The
river Hudson, which flows close by it, is from twelve to twenty feet
deep. There is not yet any quay made for the better lading of the
yachts, because the people feared it would suffer greatly, or be
entirely carried away in spring by the ice, which then comes down the
river; the vessels which are in use here, may come pretty near the
shore in order to be laden, and heavy goods are brought to them upon
canoes tied together. Albany carries on a considerable commerce with
New York, chiefly in furs, boards, wheat, flour, pease, several kinds
of timber, &c. There is not a place in all the British colonies, the
Hudson’s Bay settlements excepted, where such quantities of furs and
skins are bought of the Indians, as at Albany. Most of the merchants in
this town send a clerk or agent to Oswego, an English trading town upon
the lake Ontario, to which the Indians resort with their furs. I intend
to give a more minute account of this place in my Journal for the year
1750. The merchants from Albany spend the whole summer at Oswego, and
trade with many tribes of Indians who come to them with their goods.
Many people have assured me, that the Indians are frequently cheated in
disposing of their goods, especially when they are in liquor, and that
sometimes they do not get one half or even one tenth of the value of
their goods. I have been a witness to several transactions of this
kind. The merchants of Albany glory in these tricks, and are highly
pleased when they have given a poor Indian a greater portion of brandy
than he can bear, and when they can after that get all his goods for
mere trifles. The Indians often find when they are sober again, that
they have been cheated, they grumble somewhat, but are soon satisfied
when they reflect that they have for once drank as much as they are
able, of a liquor which they value beyond any thing else in the whole
world, and they are quite insensible to their loss, if they again get a
draught of this nectar. Besides this trade at Oswego, a number of
Indians come to Albany from several parts, especially from Canada; but
from this latter place, they hardly bring any thing but beaver-skins.
There is a great penalty in Canada for carrying furs to the English,
that trade belonging to the French West India Company; notwithstanding
which the French merchants in Canada carry on a considerable smuggling
trade. They send their furs, by means of the Indians, to their
correspondents at Albany, who purchase it at the price which they have
fixed upon with the French merchants. The Indians take in return
several kinds of cloth, and other goods, which may be got here at a
lower rate than those which are sent to Canada from France.
The greater part of the merchants at Albany have extensive estates in
the country, and a great deal of wood. If their estates have a little
brook, they do not fail to erect a saw-mill upon it for sawing boards
and planks, with which commodity many yachts go during the whole summer
to New York, having scarce any other lading than boards.
Many people at Albany make the wampum of the Indians, which is their
ornament and their money, by grinding some kinds of shells and muscles;
this is a considerable profit to the inhabitants. I shall speak of this
kind of money in the sequel. The extensive trade which the inhabitants
of Albany carry on, and their sparing manner of life, in the Dutch way,
contribute to the considerable wealth which many of them acquire.
The inhabitants of Albany and its environs are almost all Dutchmen.
They speak Dutch, have Dutch preachers, and divine service is performed
in that language: their manners are likewise quite Dutch; their dress
is however like that of the English. It is well known that the first
Europeans who settled in the province of New York were Dutchmen. During
the time that they were the masters of this province, they possessed
themselves of New Sweden [71], of which they were jealous. However the
pleasure of possessing this conquered land and their own, was but of
short duration; for towards the end of 1664, Sir Robert Carre, by order
of King Charles the second, went to New York, then New Amsterdam, and
took it. Soon after Colonel Nichols went to Albany, which then bore the
name of Fort Orange, and upon taking it, named it Albany, from the Duke
of York’s Scotch title. The Dutch inhabitants were allowed either to
continue where they were, and, under the protection of the English, to
enjoy all their former privileges, or to leave the country. The greater
part of them chose to stay, and from them the Dutchmen are descended,
who now live in the province of New York, and who possess the greatest
and best estates in that province.
The avarice and selfishness of the inhabitants of Albany are very well
known throughout all North America, by the English, by the French, and
even by the Dutch, in the lower part of New York province. If a Jew,
who understands the art of getting forward perfectly well, should
settle amongst them, they would not fail to ruin him. For this reason
nobody comes to this place without the most pressing necessity; and
therefore I was asked in several places, what induced me to go to it,
two years one after another. I likewise found that the judgment, which
people formed of them, was not without foundation. For though they
seldom see any strangers, (except those who go from the British
colonies to Canada and back again) and one might therefore expect to
find victuals and accommodation for travellers cheaper than in places,
where travellers always resort to; yet I experienced the contrary. I
was here obliged to pay for every thing twice, thrice, and four times
as dear as in any part of North America which I have passed through. If
I wanted their assistance, I was obliged to pay them very well for it,
and when I wanted to purchase any thing, or to be helped in some case
or other, I could presently see what kind of blood ran in their veins;
for they either fixed exorbitant prices for their services, or were
very backward to assist me. Such was this people in general. However,
there were some amongst them who equalled any in North America, or any
where else, in politeness, equity, goodness, and readiness to serve and
to oblige; but their number fell far short of that of the former. If I
may be allowed to declare my conjectures, the origin of the inhabitants
of Albany and its neighbourhood seems to me to be as follows. Whilst
the Dutch possessed this country, and intended to people it, the
government took up a pack of vagabonds, of which they intended to clear
the country, and sent them along with a number of other settlers to
this province. The vagabonds were sent far from the other colonists,
upon the borders towards the Indians and other enemies, and a few
honest families were persuaded to go with them, in order to keep them
in bounds. I cannot any other way account for the difference between
the inhabitants of Albany, and the other descendants of so respectable
a nation as the Dutch, who are settled in the lower part of New York
province. The latter are civil, obliging, just in the prices, and
sincere; and though they are not ceremonious, yet they are well meaning
and honest, and their promises are to be relied on.
The behaviour of the inhabitants of Albany, during the war between
England and France, which was ended with the peace of Aix la Chapelle,
has, among several other causes, contributed to make them the object of
hatred in all the British colonies, but more especially in New England.
For at the beginning of that war, when the Indians of both parties had
received orders to commence hostilities, the French engaged theirs to
attack the inhabitants of New England; which they faithfully executed,
killing every body they met with, and carrying off whatever they found.
During this time the people of Albany remained neutral, and carried on
a great trade with the very Indians who murdered the inhabitants of New
England. The plate, such as silver spoons, bowls, cups, &c. of which
the Indians robbed the houses in New England, was carried to Albany,
for sale. The people of that town bought up these silver vessels,
though the names of the owners were graved on many of them, and
encouraged the Indians to get more of them, promising to pay them well,
and whatever they would demand. This was afterwards interpreted by the
inhabitants of New England, as if the Albanians encouraged the Indians
to kill more of the people, who were in a manner their brothers, and
who were subjects of the same crown. Upon the first news of this
behaviour, which the Indians themselves spread in New England, the
inhabitants of the latter province were greatly incensed, and
threatened, that the first step they would take in another war, would
be to burn Albany, and the adjacent parts. In the present war it will
sufficiently appear how backward the other British provinces in America
are in assisting Albany, and the neighbouring places, in case of an
attack from the French or Indians [72]. The hatred which the English
bear against the people, at Albany, is very great, but that of the
Albanians against the English is carried to a ten times higher degree.
This hatred has subsisted ever since the time when the English
conquered this country, and is not yet extinguished, though they could
never have got such advantages under the Dutch government, as they have
obtained under that of the English. For in a manner, their privileges
are greater than those of Englishmen.
The inhabitants of Albany are much more sparing than the English. The
meat which is served up is often insufficient to satisfy the stomach,
and the bowl does not circulate so freely as amongst the English. The
women are perfectly well acquainted with œconomy; they rise early, go
to sleep very late, and are almost over nice and cleanly, in regard to
the floor, which is frequently scoured several times in the week. The
servants in the town are chiefly negroes. Some of the inhabitants wear
their own hair, but it is very short, without a bag or queue, which are
looked upon as the characteristics of Frenchmen; and as I wore my hair
in a bag the first day I came here from Canada, I was surrounded with
children, who called me Frenchman, and some of the boldest offered to
pull at my French dress.
Their meat, and manner of dressing it, is very different from that of
the English. Their breakfast is tea, commonly without milk. About
thirty or forty years ago, tea was unknown to them, and they
breakfasted either upon bread and butter, or bread and milk. They never
put sugar into the cup, but take a small bit of it into their mouths
whilst they drink. Along with the tea they eat bread and butter, with
slices of hung beef. Coffee is not usual here; they breakfast generally
about seven. Their dinner is butter-milk, and bread, to which they
sometimes add sugar, then it is a delicious dish for them; or fresh
milk and bread; or boiled or roasted flesh. They sometimes make use of
butter-milk instead of fresh milk, to boil a thin kind of porridge
with, which tastes very sour, but not disagreeable in hot weather. To
each dinner they have a great sallad, prepared with abundance of
vinegar, and very little or no oil. They frequently eat butter-milk,
bread, and sallad, one mouthful after another. Their supper is
generally bread and butter, and milk and bread. They sometimes eat
cheese at breakfast, and at dinner; it is not in slices, but scraped or
rasped, so as to resemble coarse flour, which they pretend adds to the
good taste of cheese. They commonly drink very small beer, or pure
water.
The governor of New York often confers at Albany, with the Indians of
the Five Nations, or the Iroquese, (Mohawks, Senekas, Cayugaws,
Onondagoes, and Onidoes) especially when they intend either to make war
upon, or to continue a war against the French. Sometimes their
deliberations likewise turn upon their conversion to the christian
religion, and it appears by the answer of one of the Indian chiefs, or
Sachems, to governor Hunter, at a conference in this town, that the
English do not pay so much attention to a work of so much consequence,
as the French do, and that they do not send such able men to instruct
the Indians, as they ought to do [73]. For after governor Hunter had
presented these Indians, by order of Queen Anne, with many clothes, and
other presents, of which they were fond, he intended to convince them
still more of her Majesty’s good-will, and care for them, by adding,
that their good mother, the Queen, had not only generously provided
them with fine clothes for their bodies, but likewise intended to adorn
their souls, by the preaching of the gospel; and that to this purpose
some ministers should be sent to them, to instruct them. The governor
had scarce ended, when one of the oldest Sachems got up, and answered,
that in the name of all the Indians, he thanked their gracious good
queen and mother for the fine clothes she had sent them; but that in
regard to the ministers, they had already had some among them, (whom he
likewise named) who instead of preaching the holy gospel to them, had
taught them to drink to excess, to cheat, and to quarrel among
themselves. He then entreated the governor to take from them these
preachers, and a number of Europeans who resided amongst them; for
before they were come among them, the Indians had been an honest,
sober, and innocent people, but most of them became rogues now. That
they had formerly had the fear of God, but that they hardly believed
his existence at present. That if he (the governor) would do them any
favour, he should send two or three blacksmiths amongst them, to teach
them to forge iron, in which they were unexperienced. The governor
could not forbear laughing at this extraordinary speech. I think the
words of St. Paul not wholly unapplicable on this occasion: For the
name of God is blasphemed amongst the Gentiles, through you [74].
June the 21st. About five o’clock in the afternoon we left Albany, and
proceeded towards Canada. We had two men with us, who were to accompany
us to the first French place, which is Fort St. Frederick, or, as the
English call it, Crown Point. For this service each of them was to
receive five pounds of New York currency, besides which I was to
provide them with victuals. This is the common price here, and he that
does not choose to conform to it, is obliged to travel alone. We were
forced to take up with a canoe [75], as we could get neither battoes,
nor boats of bark; and as there was a good road along the west side of
the river Hudson, we left the men to row forwards, in the canoe, and we
went along it on the shore, that we might be better able to examine it,
and its curiosities, with greater accuracy. It is very incommodious to
row in these canoes; for one stands at each end and pushes the boat
forwards. They commonly keep close to the shore, that they may be able
to reach the ground easily. Thus the rowers are forced to stand
upright, whilst they row in a canoe. We kept along the shore all the
evening, towards the river, it consisted of great hills, and next to
the water grew the trees, which I have above mentioned [76], and which
likewise are to be met with on the shores of the isle, in the river,
situate below Albany. The easterly shore of the river is uncultivated,
woody, and hilly; but the western is flat, cultivated, and chiefly
turned into corn-fields, which had no drains, though they wanted them
in some places. It appeared very plainly here, that the river had
formerly been broader. For there is a sloping bank on the corn-fields,
at about thirty yards distance from the river, with which it always
runs parallel. From this it sufficiently appears, that the rising
ground formerly was the shore of the river, and the corn-fields its
bed. As a further proof, it may be added, that the same shells which
abound on the present shore of the river, and are not applied to any
use by the inhabitants, ly plentifully scattered on these fields. I
cannot say whether this change was occasioned by the diminishing of the
water in the river, or by its washing some earth down the river, and
carrying it to its sides, or by the river’s cutting deeper in on the
sides.
All the grounds were ploughed very even, as is usual in the Swedish
province of Upland. Some were sown with yellow, and others with white
Wheat. Now and then we saw great fields of flax, which was now
beginning to flower. In some parts it grows very well, and in others it
was but indifferent. The excessive drought which had continued
throughout this spring, had parched all the grass and plants on hills
and high grounds, leaving no other green, plant than the common Mullein
(Verbascum Thapsus Linn.) which I saw in several places, on the driest
and highest hills, growing in spite of the parching heat of the sun,
and though the pastures and meadows were excessively poor, and afforded
scarce any food at all, yet the cattle never touched the Mullein. Now
and then I found fields with pease, but the Charlock, (Sinapis arvensis
Linn.) kept them quite under. The soil in most of these fields is a
fine mould, which goes pretty deep.
The wild vines cover all the hills along the rivers, on which no other
plants grow, and on those which are covered with trees, they climb to
the tops of them, and wholly cover them, making them bend down with
their weight. They had already large grapes; we saw them abundant all
this day, and during all the time that we kept to the river Hudson, on
the hills, along the shores, and on some little islands in the river.
The white-backed Maize-thieves appeared now and then, flying amongst
the bushes: their note is fine, and they are not so large as the black
maize-thieves, (Oriolus Phœniceus). We saw them near New York, for the
first time.
We found a Water-beech tree (Platanus occidentalis) cut down near the
road, measuring about five feet in diameter.
This day, and for some days afterwards, we met with islands in the
river. The larger ones were cultivated, and turned into corn-fields and
meadows.
We walked about five English miles along the river to-day, and found
the ground, during that time, very uniform, and consisting of pure
earth. I did not meet with a single stone on the fields. The Red Maple,
the Water-beech, the Water-asp, the wild Prune-tree, the Sumach, the
Elm, the wild Vines, and some species of Willows, were the trees which
we met with on the rising shores of the river, where some Asparagus
(Asparagus officinalis) grew wild.
We passed the night about six miles from Albany, in a countryman’s
cottage. On the west side of the river we saw several houses, one after
another, inhabited by the descendants of the first Dutch settlers, who
lived by cultivating their grounds. About half an English mile beyond
our lodgings, was the place where the tide stops in the river Hudson,
there being only small and shallow streams above it. At that place they
catch a good many sorts of fish in the river.
The barns were generally built in the Dutch way, as I have before
described them [77]; for in the middle was the threshing-floor, above
it a place for the hay and straw, and on each side stables for horses,
cows, and other animals. The barn itself was very large. Sometimes the
buildings in the court-yard consist only of a room, and a garret above
it, together with a barn upon the above plan.
June the 22d. This morning I followed one of our guides to the
water-fall near Cohoes, in the river Mohawk, before it falls into the
river Hudson. This fall is about three English miles from the place
where I passed the night. The country till the fall is a plain, and
only hilly about the fall itself. The wood is cleared in most places,
and the ground cultivated, and interspersed with farm-houses.
The Cohoes Fall is one of the greatest in North America. It is in the
river Mohawk, before it unites with the river Hudson. Above and below
the fall, the sides and the bottom of the river consist of hard rock.
The river is three hundred yards broad here. At the fall there is a
rock crossways in the river, running every where equally high, and
crossing in a strait line with the side which forms the fall. It
represents, as it were, a wall towards the lower side, which is not
quite perpendicular, wanting about four yards. The height of this wall,
over which the water rolls, appeared to me about twenty or twenty-four
yards. I had marked this height in my pocket-book; and afterwards found
it agreed pretty well with the account which that ingenious engineer,
Mr. Lewis Evans, communicated to me at Philadelphia. He said, that he
had geometrically measured the breadth and height of the fall, and
found it nine hundred English feet broad, and seventy-five feet high.
The representation of this fall, which is here joined, has been made by
Mr. Evans. There was very little water in the river at present, and it
only ran over the fall in a few places. In such places where the water
had rolled down before, it had cut deep holes below into the rock,
sometimes to the depth of two or three fathoms. The bed of the river,
below the fall, was of rock, and quite dry, there being only a channel
in the middle fourteen feet broad, and a fathom or somewhat more deep,
through which the water passed which came over the fall. We saw a
number of holes in the rock, below the fall, which bore a perfect
resemblance to those in Sweden which we call Giants Pots, or Mountain
Kettles. They differed in size; there being large deep ones, and small
shallow ones. We had clear uninterrupted sun-shine, not a cloud above
the horizon, and no wind at all. However, close to this fall, where the
water was in such a small quantity, there was a continual drizzling
rain, occasioned by the vapours which rose from the water during its
fall, and were carried about by the wind. Therefore, in coming within a
musket-shot of the fall, against the wind, our cloaths were wetted at
once, as from a rain. The whirlpools, which were in the water below the
fall, contained several kinds of fish; and they were caught by some
people, who amused themselves with angling. The rocks hereabouts
consist of the same black stone which forms the hills about Albany.
When exposed to the air, it is apt to shiver into horizontal flakes, as
slate does.
At noon we continued our journey to Canada in the canoe, which was
pretty long, and made out of a white pine. Somewhat beyond the farm
where we lay at night, the river became so shallow that the men could
reach the ground every where with their oars; it being in some parts
not above two feet, and sometimes but one foot deep. The shore and bed
of the river consisted of sand and pebbles. The river was very rapid,
and against us; so that our rowers found it hard work to get forward
against the stream. The hills along the shore consisted merely of soil;
and were very high and steep in some parts. The breadth of the river
was generally near two musket-shot.
Sturgeons abound in the river Hudson. We saw them for several days
together leap high up into the air, especially in the evening; our
guides, and the people who lived hereabouts, asserted that they never
see any sturgeons in winter time, because these fish go into the sea
late in autumn, but come up again in spring and stay in the river all
the summer. They are said to prefer the shallowest places in the river,
which agreed pretty well with our observations; for we never saw them
leap out of the water but in shallows. Their food is said to be several
kinds of confervæ, which grow in plenty in some places at the bottom of
the river; for these weeds are found in their bellies when they are
opened. The Dutch who are settled here, and the Indians, fish for
sturgeons, and every night of our voyage upon this river, we observed
several boats with people who struck them with harpoons. The torches
which they employed were made of that kind of pine, which they call the
black pine here. The nights were exceedingly dark, though they were now
shortest, and though we were in a country so much to the South of
Sweden. The shores of the river lay covered with dead sturgeons, which
had been wounded with the harpoon, but escaped, and died afterwards;
they occasioned an insupportable stench during the excessive heat of
the weather.
As we went further up the river we saw an Indian woman and her boy
sitting in a boat of bark, and an Indian wading through the river, with
a great cap of bark on his head. Near them was an island on which there
were a number of Indians at present, on account of the sturgeon
fishery. We went to their huts to try if we could get one of them to
accompany us to Fort St. Frederic. On our arrival we found that all the
men were gone into the woods a hunting this morning, and we were forced
to engage their boys to go and look for them. They demanded bread for
payment, and we gave them twenty little round loaves; for as they found
that it was of great importance to us to speak with the Indians, they
raised difficulties, and would not go till we gave them what they
wanted. The island belonged to the Dutch, who had turned it into
corn-fields. But at present they had leased it to the Indians, who
planted their maize and several kinds of melons on it. They built their
huts or wigwams on this island, on a very simple plan. Four posts were
put into the ground perpendicularly, over which they had placed poles,
and made a roof of bark upon them. They had either no walls at all, or
they consisted of branches with leaves, which were fixed to the poles.
Their beds consisted of deer-skins which were spread on the ground.
Their utensils were a couple of small kettles, and two ladles, and a
bucket or two of bark, made so close as to keep water. The sturgeons
were cut into long slices, and hung up in the sunshine to dry, and to
be ready against winter. The Indian women were sitting at their work on
the hill, upon deer-skins. They never make use of chairs, but sit on
the ground: however, they do not sit cross-legged, as the Turks do, but
between their feet, which, though they be turned backwards, are not
crossed, but bent outwards. The women wear no head-dress, and have
black hair. They have a short blue petticoat, which reaches to their
knees, and the brim of which is bordered with red or other ribbands.
They wear their shifts over their petticoats. They have large
ear-rings: and their hair is tied behind, and wrapped in ribbands.
Their Wampum, or Pearls, and their money, which is made of shells, are
tied round the neck, and hang down on the breast. This is their whole
dress. They were now making several kinds of work of skins, to which
they sowed the quills of the American Porcupines, having dyed them
black or red, or left them in their original colour.
Towards evening, we went from hence to a farm close to the river, where
we found only one man, looking after the maize and the fields; the
inhabitants being not yet returned since the end of the war.
The little brooks here contain Crawfish, which are exactly the same
with ours [78], with this difference only, that they are somewhat less;
however, the Dutch inhabitants will not eat them.
June the 23d. We waited a good while for the Indians, who had promised
to come home, in order to shew us the way to Fort St. Ann, and to
assist us in making a boat of bark, to continue our voyage. About eight
o’clock three of the men arrived. Their hair was black, and cut short;
they wore rough pieces of woollen cloth, of a bright green colour, on
their shoulders, a shirt which covers their thighs, and pieces of
cloth, or skins, which they wrap round the legs and part of the thighs.
They had neither hats, caps, nor breeches. Two of them had painted the
upper part of their foreheads, and their cheeks, with vermilion. Round
their neck was a ribband, from which hung a bag down to the breast,
containing their knives. They promised to accompany us for thirty
shillings; but soon after changed their minds, and went with an
Englishman, who gave them more. Thus we were obliged to make this
journey quite alone. The Indians, however, were honest enough to return
us fifteen shillings, which we had paid them before-hand.
Our last night’s lodging was about ten English miles from Albany.
During the last war, which was just now ended, the inhabitants had all
retreated from thence to Albany, because the French Indians had taken
or killed all the people they met with, set the houses on fire, and cut
down the trees. Therefore, when the inhabitants returned, they found no
houses, and were forced to ly under a few boards which were huddled
together.
The river was almost a musket-shot broad, and the ground on both sides
cultivated. The hills near the river were steep, and the earth of a
pale colour.
The American Elder (Sambucus occidentalis [79]) grows in incredible
quantities along those hills, which appear quite white, from the
abundance of flowers on the Elder.
All this day along, we had one current after another, full of stones,
which were great obstacles to our getting forward. The water in the
river was very clear, and generally shallow, being only from two to
four feet deep, running very violently against us in most places. The
shore was covered with pebbles, and a grey sand. The hills consisted of
earth, were high, and stood perpendicular towards the river, which was
near two musket-shot broad. Sometimes the land was cultivated, and
sometimes it was covered with woods.
The hills near the river abound with red and white clover. We found
both these kinds plentiful in the woods. It is therefore difficult to
determine whether they were brought over by the Europeans, as some
people think; or whether they were originally in America, which the
Indians deny.
We found Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) growing plentifully in a sandy
soil. In gardens it was one of the worst weeds.
We found people returning every where to their habitations, which they
had been forced to leave during the war.
The farms were commonly built close to the river, on the hills. Each
house has a little kitchen-garden, and a still lesser orchard. Some
farms, however, had large gardens. The kitchen-gardens afford several
kinds of gourds, water-melons, and kidney-beans. The orchards are full
of apple-trees. This year the trees had few or no apples, on account of
the frosty nights which had happened in May, and the drought which had
continued throughout this summer.
The houses hereabouts are generally built of beams of wood, and of
unburnt bricks dried by the sun and the air. The beams are first
erected, and upon them a gable with two walls, and the spars. The wall
on the gable is made of boards. The roof is covered with shingles of
fir. They make the walls of unburnt bricks, between the beams, to keep
the rooms warmer; and that they might not easily be destroyed by rain
and air, they are covered with boards on the outside. The cellar is
below the house.
The farms are either built close to the river-side, or on the high
grounds; and around them are large fields with maize.
We saw great numbers of Musk-Rats (Castor Zibethicus Linn.) on the
shores of the river, where they had many holes, some on a level with
the surface of the water. These holes were large enough to admit a
kitten. Before and in the entrance to the holes, lay a quantity of
empty shells, the animals of which had been eaten by the Musk-Rats
[80]. They are caught in traps placed along the water-side, and baited
with some maize or apples.
The Sassafras-trees abound here, but never grow to any considerable
height.
Chestnut-trees appear now and then.
The Cockspur Hawthorn (Cratægus Crus Galli Linn.) grows in the poorest
soil, and has very long spines; which shews, that it may be very
advantageously planted in hedges, especially in a poor soil.
This night we lodged with a farmer, who had returned to his farm after
the war was over. All his buildings, except the great barn, were burnt.
June the 24th. The farm where we passed the night was the last in the
province of New York, towards Canada, which had been left standing, and
which was now inhabited. Further on, we met still with inhabitants: but
they had no houses, and lived in huts of boards; the houses being burnt
during the war.
As we continued our journey, we observed the country on both sides of
the river to be generally flat, but sometimes hilly; and large trails
of it are covered with woods of fir-trees. Now and then we found some
parts turned into corn-fields and meadows; however, the greater part
was covered with woods. Ever since we left Albany, almost half-way to
Saratoga, the river runs very rapid; and it cost us a deal of pains to
get upwards. But afterwards it becomes very deep, for the space of
several miles; and the water moves very slowly. The shores are very
steep, though they are not very high. The river is two musket-shot
broad. In the afternoon it changed its direction; for hitherto its
direction was from North to South, but now it came from N. N. E. to S.
S. W. and sometimes from N. E. to S. W.
Anthills are very scarce in America; and I do not remember seeing a
single one before I came to the Cohoes Fall. We observed a few in the
woods to-day. The Ants were the same with our common red ones (Formica
rufa Linn.) The Ant-hills consist chiefly of the slate-like mouldered
stone which abounds here, there being nothing else for them.
Chestnut-trees grew scattered in the woods. We were told, that
Mulberry-trees (Morus rubra Linn.) likewise grow wild here, but rather
scarce; and this is the most northerly place where they grow in
America; at least, they have not been observed further to the north. We
met with wild parsneps every day; but commonly in such places where the
land was or had been cultivated. Hemp grows spontaneously, and in great
abundance, near old plantations.
The woods abound with Woodlice, which were extremely troublesome to us.
The Thuya occidentalis Linn. appeared along the shores of the river. I
had not seen it there before.
The trees which grow along the shores, and on the adjacent hills,
within our sight to-day, are elms, birches, white firs, alders,
dog-trees, lime-trees, red willows, and chestnut-trees. The American
Elder, (Sambucus Canadensis Linn.) and the wild vines, only appear in
places where the ground has been somewhat cultivated, as if they were
desirous of being the companions of men. The lime-trees and white
walnut-trees are the most numerous. The horn-beams, with inflated
cones, (Carpinus Ostrya Linn.) appeared now and then; but the
water-beech and water-poplar never came within sight any more.
We frequently saw ground-squirrels and black squirrels in the woods.
At a little distance from Saratoga, we met two Indians in their boats
of bark, which could scarce contain more than one person.
Near Saratoga the river becomes shallow and rapid again. The ground is
here turned into corn-fields and meadows, but on account of the war, it
was not made use of.
Saratoga has been a fort built of wood by the English, to stop the
attacks of the French Indians upon the English inhabitants in these
parts, and to serve as a rampart to Albany. It is situated on a hill,
on the east-side of the river Hudson, and is built of thick posts
driven in to the ground, close to each other, in the manner of
palisades, forming a square, the length of whose sides was within the
reach of a musket-shot. At each corner are the houses of the officers,
and within the palisades are the barracks, all of timber. This fort has
been kept in order and was garrisoned till the last war, when the
English themselves in 1747 set fire to it, not being able to defend
themselves in it against the attacks of the French and their Indians;
for as soon as a party of them went out of the fort, some of these
enemies lay concealed, and either took them all prisoners, or shot
them.
I shall only mention one, out of many artful tricks which were played
here, and which both the English and French who were present here at
that time, told me repeatedly. A party of French, with their Indians,
concealed themselves one night in a thicket near the fort. In the
morning some of their Indians, as they had previously resolved, went to
have a nearer view of the fort. The English fired upon them, as soon as
they saw them at a distance; the Indians pretended to be wounded, fell
down, got up again, ran a little way, and dropped again. Above half the
garrison rushed out to take them prisoners; but as soon as they were
come up with them, the French and the remaining Indians came out of the
bushes, betwixt the fortress and the English, surrounded them, and took
them prisoners. Those who remained in the fort had hardly time to shut
the gates, nor could they fire upon the enemy, because they equally
exposed their countrymen to danger, and they were vexed to see their
enemies take and carry them off in their fight and under their cannon.
Such French artifices as these made the English weary of their
ill-planned fort. We saw some of the palisades still in the ground.
There was an island in the river, near Saratoga, much better situated
for a fortification. The country is flat on both sides of the river
near Saratoga, and its soil good. The wood round about was generally
cut down. The shores of the river are high, steep, and consist of
earth. We saw some hills in the north, beyond the distant forests. The
inhabitants are Dutch, and bear an inveterate hatred to all Englishmen.
We lay over night in a little hut of boards erected by the people who
were come to live here.
June the 25th. Several saw-mills were built here before the war, which
were very profitable to the inhabitants, on account of the abundance of
wood which grows here.
The boards were easily brought to Albany, and from thence to New York,
in rafts every spring with the high water; but all the mills were burnt
at present.
This morning we proceeded up the river, but after we had advanced about
an English mile, we fell in with a water-fall, which cost us a deal of
pains before we could get our canoe over it. The water was very deep
just below the fall, owing to its hollowing the rock out by the fall.
In every place where we met with rocks in the river, we found the water
very deep, from two to four fathoms and upwards; because by finding a
resistance it had worked a deeper channel into the ground. Above the
fall, the river is very deep again, the water glides along silently,
and increases suddenly near the shores. On both sides till you come to
Fort Nicholson, the shore is covered with tall trees. After rowing
several miles, we passed another water-fall, which is longer and more
dangerous than the preceding one.
Giants-pots [81], which I have described in the memoirs of the Royal
Swedish Academy of Sciences, are abundant near the fall of the rock
which extends across the river. The rock was almost dry at present, the
river containing very little water at this season of the year. Some of
the giants-pots were round, but in general they were oblong. At the
bottom of most of them lay either stones or grit, in abundance. Some
were fifteen inches in diameter, but some were less. Their depth was
likewise different, and some that I observed were above two foot deep.
It is plain that they owed their origin to the whirling of the water
round a pebble, which by that means was put in motion, together with
the sand.
We intended to have gone quite up to Fort Nicholson in the canoe, which
would have been a great convenience to us; but we found it impossible
to get over the upper fall, the canoe being heavy, and scarce any water
in the river, except in one place where it flowed over the rock, and
where it was impossible to get up, on account of the steepness, and the
violence of the fall. We were accordingly obliged to leave our canoe
here, and to carry our baggage through unfrequented woods to Fort Anne,
on the river Woodcreek which is a space from forty-three to fifty
English miles, during which we were quite spent, through the excess of
heat. Sometimes we had no other way of crossing deep rivers, than by
cutting down tall trees, which stood on their banks, and throwing them
across the water. All the land we passed over this afternoon was almost
level, without hills and stones, and entirely covered with a tall and
thick forest, in which we continually met with trees which were fallen
down, because no one made the least use of the woods. We passed the
next night in the midst of the forest, plagued with muskitoes, gnats,
and wood-lice, and in fear of all kinds of snakes,
June the 26th. Early this morning we continued our journey through the
wood, along the river Hudson. There was an old path leading to Fort
Nicholson, but it was so overgrown with grass, that we discovered it
with great difficulty. In some places we found plenty of raspberries,
some of which were already ripe.
Fort Nicholson is the place on the eastern shore of the river Hudson,
where a wooden fortification formerly stood. We arrived here some time
before noon, and rested a while. Colonel Lydius resided here till the
beginning of the last war, chiefly with a view of carrying on a greater
trade with the French Indians; but during the war, they burnt his
house, and took his son prisoner. The fort was situated on a plain, but
at present the place is all overgrown with a thicket. It was built in
the year 1709, during the war which Queen Anne carried on against the
French, and it was named after the brave English general Nicholson. It
was not so much a fort, as a magazine to Fort Anne. In the year 1711,
when the English naval attempt upon Canada miscarried, the English
themselves set fire to this place. The soil hereabouts seems to be
pretty fertile. The river Hudson passed close by here.
Some time in the afternoon, we continued our journey. We had hitherto
followed the eastern shore of the river Hudson, and gone almost due
North; but now we left it, and went E. N. E. or N. E. across the woods,
in order to come to the upper end of the river Woodcreek, which flows
to Fort St. Frederic, where we might go in a boat from the former
place. The ground we passed over this afternoon was generally flat, and
somewhat low. Now and then we met with rivulets, which were generally
dried up during this season. Sometimes we saw a little hill, but
neither mountains nor stones, and the country was every where covered
with tall and thick forests. The trees stood close, and afforded a fine
shade; but the pleasure which we enjoyed from it was lessened by the
incredible quantity of gnats which fill the woods. We found several
plants here, but they were far from each other, (as in our woods where
the cattle have destroyed them,) though no cattle ever came here. The
ground was every where thick covered with leaves of the last autumn. In
some places we found the ground over-grown with great quantities of
moss. The soil was generally very good, consisting of a deep mould, in
which the plants thrive very well. Therefore it seems that it would
answer very well if it were cultivated: however, flowing waters were
very scarce hereabouts; and if the woods were cleared, how great would
be the effects of the parching heat of the sun, which might then act
with its full force!
We lodged this night near a brook, in order to be sufficiently supplied
with water, which was not every where at hand during this season. The
muskitoes, punchins or gnats, and the woodlice, were very troublesome.
Our fear of snakes, and of the Indians rendered this night’s rest very
precarious and unsecure.
Punchins, as the Dutch call them, are the little gnats (Culex pulicaris
Linn.) which abound here. They are very minute, and their wings grey,
with black spots. They are ten times worse than the larger ones, (Culex
pipiens Linn.) or muskitoes; for their size renders them next to
imperceptible; they are every where careless of their lives, suck their
fill of blood, and cause a burning pain.
We heard several great trees fall of themselves in the night, though it
was so calm, that not a leaf stirred. They made a dreadful cracking.
June the 27th. We continued our journey in the morning. We found the
country like that which we passed over yesterday, except meeting with a
few hills. Early this morning we plainly heard a fall in the river
Hudson.
In every part of the forest we found trees thrown down either by
storms, or age; but none were cut down, there being no inhabitants; and
though the wood is very fine, yet nobody makes use of it. We found it
very difficult to get over such trees, because they had stopped up
almost all the passages, and close to them was the chief residence of
rattle-snakes, during the intenseness of the heat.
About two o’clock this afternoon we arrived at Fort Anne. It lies upon
the river Woodcreek, which is here at its origin no bigger than a
little brook. We stayed here all this day, and next, in order to make a
new boat of bark, because there was no possibility to go down the river
to Fort St. Frederic, without it. We arrived in time, for one of our
guides fell ill this morning, and could not have gone any further with
his burthen. If he had been worse, we should have been obliged to stop
on his account, which would have put us under great difficulties, as
our provisions would soon have been exhausted, and from the desart
place where we were, we could not have arrived at any inhabited place
in less than three or four days. Happily we reached the wish’d-for
place, and the sick man had time to rest and recover.
About Fort Anne we found a number of mice, of the common kind. They
were probably the offspring of those which were brought to the fort in
the soldier’s provisions, at the time when it was kept in a state of
defence.
We met with some apple and plumb-trees, which were certainly planted
when the fort was in a good condition,
June the 28th. The American Elm, (Ulmus Americana Linn.) grows in
abundance, in the forests hereabouts. There are two kinds of it. One
was called the White Elm, on account of the inside of the tree being
white. It was more plentiful than the other species, which was called
the Red Elm, because the colour of the wood was reddish. Of the bark of
the former the boats made use of here are commonly made, it being
tougher than the bark of any other tree. With the bark of hiccory,
which is employed as bast, they sow the elm-bark together, and with the
bark of the red elm they join the ends of the boat so close as to keep
the water out. They beat the bark between two stones; or for want of
them, between two pieces of wood.
The making of the boat took up half yesterday, and all this day. To
make such a boat, they pick out a thick tall elm, with a smooth bark,
and with as few branches as possible. This tree is cut down, and great
care is taken to prevent the bark from being hurt by falling against
other trees, or against the ground. With this view some people do not
fell the trees, but climb to the top of them, split the bark, and strip
it off, which was the method our carpenter took. The bark is split on
one side, in a strait line along the tree, as long as the boat is
intended to be; at the same time, the bark is carefully cut from the
stem a little way on both sides of the slit, that it may more easily
separate; the bark is then peeled off very carefully, and particular
care is taken not to make any holes into it; this is easy when the sap
is in the trees, and at other seasons the tree is heated by the fire,
for that purpose. The bark thus stript off is spread on the ground, in
a smooth place, turning the inside downwards, and the rough outside
upwards, and to stretch it better, some logs of wood or stones are
carefully put on it, which press it down. Then the sides of the bark
are gently bent upwards, in order to form the sides of the boat; some
sticks are then fixed into the ground, at the distance of three or four
feet from each other, in the curve line, in which the sides of the boat
are intended to be, supporting the bark intended for the sides; the
sides of the bark are then bent in the form which the boat is to have,
and according to that the sticks are either put nearer or further off.
The ribs of the boat are made of thick branches of hiccory, they being
tough and pliable. They are cut into several flat pieces, about an inch
thick, and bent into the form which the ribs require, according to
their places in the broader or narrower part of the boat. Being thus
bent, they are put across the boat, upon the back, or its bottom,
pretty close, about a span, or ten inches from each other. The upper
edge on each side of the boat is made of two thin poles, of the length
of the boat, which are put close together, on the side of the boat,
being flat, where they are to be joined. The edge of the bark is put
between these two poles, and sewed up with threads of bast, of the
mouse-wood, or other tough bark, or with roots. But before it is thus
sewed up, the ends of the ribs are likewise put between the two poles
on each side, taking care to keep them at some distance from each
other. After that is done, the poles are sewed together, and being bent
properly, both their ends join at each end of the boat, where they are
tied together with ropes. To prevent the widening of the boat at the
top, three or four transverse bands are put across it, from one edge to
the other, at the distance of thirty or forty inches from each other.
These bands are commonly made of hiccory, on account of its toughness
and flexibility, and have a good length. Their extremities are put
through the bark on both sides, just below the poles, which make the
edges; they are bent up above those poles, and twisted round the middle
part of the bands, where they are carefully tied by ropes. As the bark
at the two ends of the boat cannot be put so close together as to keep
the water out, the crevices are stopped up with the crushed or pounded
bark of the red elm, which in that state looks like oakum. Some pieces
of bark are put upon the ribs in the boat, without which the foot would
easily pierce the thin and weak bark below, which forms the bottom of
the boat, for the better security of which, some thin boards are
commonly laid at the bottom, which may be trod upon with more safety.
The side of the bark which has been upon the wood, thus becomes the
outside of the boat, because it is smooth and slippy, and cuts the
water with less difficulty than the other. The building of these boats
is not always quick; for sometimes it happens that after peeling the
bark off an elm, and carefully examining it, it is found pierced with
holes and splits, or it is too thin to venture one’s life in. In such a
case another elm must be looked out; and it sometimes happens that
several elms must be stripped of their bark, before one is found fit
for a boat. That which we made was big enough to bear four persons,
with our baggage, which weighed somewhat more than a man.
All possible precautions must be taken in rowing on the rivers and
lakes of these parts with a boat of bark. For as the rivers, and even
the lakes, contain numbers of broken trees, which are commonly hidden
under the water, the boat may easily run against a sharp branch, which
would tear half the boat away, if one rowed on very fast, exposing the
people in it to great danger, where the water is very deep, especially
if such a branch held the boat.
To get into such a dangerous vessel, must be done with great care, and
for the greater safety, without shoes. For with the shoes on, and still
more with a sudden leap into the boat, the heels may easily pierce
through the bottom of the boat, which might sometimes be attended with
very disagreeable circumstances, especially when the boat is so near a
rock, and close to that a sudden depth of water; and such places are
common in the lakes and rivers here.
I never saw the muskitoes (Culex pipiens) more plentiful in any part of
America than they are here. They were so eager for our blood, that we
could not rest all the night, though we had surrounded ourselves with
fire.
Wood-lice (Acarus Americanus Linn.) abound here, and are more plentiful
than on any part of the journey. Scarcely any one of us sat down but a
whole army of them crept upon his clothes. They caused us as much
inconvenience as the gnats, during the last night, and the short time
we stayed here. Their bite is very disagreeable, and they would prove
very dangerous, if any one of them should creep into a man’s ear, from
whence it is difficult to extract them. There are examples of people
whose ears were swelled to the size of the fist, on account of one of
these insects creeping into them, and biting them. More is said about
them in the description which I have given to the Royal Swedish Academy
of Sciences [82].
The Whipperiwill or Whip-poor-Will cried all night on every side. The
Fireflies flew in numbers through the woods at night.
Fort Anne derives its name from Queen Anne; for in her time it served
as a fortification against the French. It lies on the Western side of
the river Woodcreek, which is here as inconsiderable as a brook, of a
fathom’s breadth, and may be waded through in any part, during this
season. The fort is built in the same manner as the forts Saratoga and
Nicholson, that is to say, of palisades, within which the soldiers were
quartered, and at the corners of which were the lodgings of the
officers. The whole consisted of wood, because it was erected only with
a view to resist irregular troops. It is built on a little rising
ground which runs obliquely to the river Woodcreek. The country round
about it is partly flat, partly hilly, and partly marshy, but it
consists merely of earth, and no stones are to be met with, though ever
so carefully sought for. General Nicholson built this fort in the year
1709; but at the conclusion of the war, then carrying on against the
French, it shared the same fate with Saratoga and Fort Nicholson, being
burnt by the English in 1711. This happened with the following
circumstance: In 1711 the English resolved to attack Canada, by land
and by sea, at the same time. A powerful English fleet sailed up the
river St. Lawrence to besiege Quebec, and General Nicholson, who was
the greatest promoter of this expedition, headed a numerous army to
this place by land, to attack Montreal, at the same time from hence;
but a great part of the English fleet was shipwrecked in the river St.
Lawrence, and obliged to return to New England. The news of this
misfortune was immediately communicated to General Nicholson, who was
advised to retreat. Captain Butler who commanded Fort Mohawk, during my
stay in America, told me that he had been at Fort Anne in 1711, and
that General Nicholson was about to leave it, and go down the river
Woodcreek, in boats ready for that purpose, when he received the
accounts of the disaster which befel the fleet. He was so enraged, that
he endeavoured to tear his wig, but it being too strong for him, he
flung it to the ground, and trampled on it, crying out Roguery,
treachery. He then set fire to the fort, and returned. We saw the
remains of the burnt palisades in the ground; and I asked my guides,
Why the English had been at so great an expence in erecting the fort,
and why they afterwards burnt it without any previous consideration?
They replied, that it was done to get money from the government once
more, for the rebuilding of the fort, which money coming into some
people’s hands, they would appropriate a great part of it to
themselves, and erect again a wretched, inconsiderable fort. They
further told me, that some of the richest people in Albany had promoted
their poor relations to the places for supplying the army with bread,
&c. with a view to patch up their broken fortunes; and that they had
acquired such fortunes as rendered them equal to the richest
inhabitants of Albany.
The heat was excessive to-day, especially in the afternoon, when it was
quite calm. We were on the very spot where Fort Anne formerly stood; it
was a little place free from trees, but surrounded with them on every
side, where the sun had full liberty to heat the air. After noon it
grew as warm as in a hot bath [83], and I never felt a greater heat. I
found a difficulty of breathing, and it seemed to me as if my lungs
could not draw in a sufficient quantity of air. I was more eased when I
went down into the vallies, and especially along the Woodcreek. I
tried to fan the air to me with my hat, but it only encreased the
difficulty of breathing, and I received the greatest relief when I went
to the water, and in a shady place frequently sprinkled some water in
the air. My companions were all very much weakened, but they did not
find such difficulty in breathing, as I had done; however towards
evening the air became somewhat cooler.
June the 29th. Having compleated our boat, after a great deal of
trouble, we continued our journey this morning. Our provisions, which
were much diminished, obliged us to make great haste; for by being
obliged to carry every thing on our backs, through the woods to Fort
Anne, we could not take a great quantity of provisions with us, having
several other very necessary things with us; and we did always eat very
heartily. As there was very little water in the river, and several
trees were fallen across it, which frequently stopped the boat, I left
the men in the boat, and went along the shore with Yungstroem. The
ground on both sides of the river was so low, that it must be under
water in spring and autumn. The shores were covered with several sorts
of trees, which stood at moderate distances from each other, and a
great deal of grass grew between them. The trees afforded a fine shade,
very necessary and agreeable in this hot season; but the pleasure it
gave was considerably lessened by the numbers of gnats which we met
with. The soil was extremely rich.
As we came lower down the river, the dykes, which the beavers had made
in it, produced new difficulties. These laborious animals had carried
together all sorts of boughs and branches, and placed them across the
river, putting mud and clay in betwixt them, to stop the water. They
had bit off the ends of the branches as neatly as if they had been
chopped off with a hatchet. The grass about these places was trod down
by them, and in the neighbourhood of the dykes we sometimes met with
paths in the grass, where the beavers probably carried trees along. We
found a row of dykes before us, which stopped us a considerable while,
as we could not get forwards with the boat, till we had cut through
them.
As soon as the river was more open, we got into the boat again, and
continued our journey in it. The breadth of the river, however, did not
exceed eight or nine yards, and frequently it was not above three or
four yards broad, and generally so shallow, that our boat got on with
difficulty. Sometimes it acquired such a sudden depth, that we could
not reach the ground with sticks of seven feet length. The stream was
very rapid in some places, and very slow in others. The shores were low
at first, but afterwards remarkably high and steep, and now and then a
rock projected into the water, which always caused a great depth in
such places. The rocks consisted here of a grey quartz, mixed with a
grey limestone, lying in strata. The water in the river was very clear
and transparent, and we saw several little paths leading to it from the
woods, said to be made by beavers, and other animals, which resorted
here to drink. After going a little more than three English miles, we
came to a place, where a fire was yet burning, and then we little
thought that we had narrowly escaped death last night, as we heard this
evening. Now and then we met with several trees lying across the river,
and some dykes of beavers, which were troublesome to us.
Towards night we met with a French serjeant, and six French soldiers,
who were sent by the commander of Fort St. Frederic, to accompany three
Englishmen to Saratoga, and to defend them in case of necessity,
against six French Indians, who were gone to be revenged on the
English, for killing the brother of one of them in the last war. The
peace was already concluded at that time, but as it had not yet been
proclaimed in Canada, the Indians thought they could take this step;
therefore they silently got away, contrary to the order of the Governor
of Montreal, and went towards the English plantations. We here had
occasion to admire the care of Providence for us, in escaping these
barbarians. We found the grass trod down all day along, but had no
thoughts of danger, as we believed that every thing was quiet and
peaceable. We were afterwards informed, that these Indians had trod the
grass down, and passed the last night in the place where we found the
burning brands in the morning. The usual road which they were to take,
was by Fort Anne, but to shorten their journey they had gone an
unfrequented road. If they had gone on towards Fort Anne, they would
have met us without doubt, and looking upon us all as Englishmen, for
whose blood they were gone out, they could easily have surprised and
shot us all, and by that means have been rid of the trouble of going
any further to satisfy their cruelty. We were greatly struck when the
Frenchmen told us how near death we had been to-day. We passed the
night here, and though the French repeatedly advised and desired me not
to venture any further with my company, but to follow them to the first
English settlement, and then back to Fort St. Frederic, yet I resolved,
with the protection of the Almighty, to continue my journey the next
day.
We saw immense numbers of those wild pigeons flying in the woods, which
sometimes come in incredible flocks to the southern English colonies,
most of the inhabitants not knowing where they come from. They have
their nests in the trees here; and almost all the night make a great
noise and cooing in the trees, where they roost. The Frenchmen shot a
great number of them, and gave us some, in which we found a great
quantity of the seeds of the elm, which evidently demonstrated the care
of Providence in supplying them with food; for in May the seeds of the
red maple, which abounds here, are ripe, and drop from the trees, and
are eaten by the pigeons during that time: afterwards, the seeds of the
elm ripen, which then become their food, till other seeds ripen for
them. Their flesh is the most palatable of any bird’s flesh I ever
tasted.
Almost every night, we heard some trees crack and fall, whilst we lay
here in the wood, though the air was so calm that not a leaf stirred.
The reason of this breaking I am totally unacquainted with. Perhaps the
dew loosens the roots of trees at night; or, perhaps there are too many
branches on one side of the tree. It may be, that the above-mentioned
wild pigeons settle in such quantities on one tree as to weigh it down;
or perhaps the tree begins to bend more and more to one side, from its
center of gravity, making the weight always greater for the roots to
support, till it comes to the point, when it can no longer be kept
upright, which may as well happen in the midst of a calm night as at
any other time. When the wind blows hard, it is reckoned very dangerous
to sleep or walk in the woods, on account of the many trees which fall
in them; and even when it is very calm, there is some danger in passing
under very great and old trees. I was told, in several parts of
America, that the storms or hurricanes sometimes only pass over a small
part of the woods, and tear down the trees in it; and I have had
opportunities of confirming the truth of this observation, by finding
places in the forests, where almost all the trees were thrown down, and
lay all in one direction.
Tea is differently esteemed by different people; and I think we would
be as well, and our purses much better, if we were both without tea and
coffee. However, I must be impartial, and mention in praise of tea,
that if it be useful, it must certainly be so in summer, on such
journeys as mine, through a desart country, where one cannot carry wine
or other liquors, and where the water is generally unfit for use, as
being full of insects. In such cases, it is very relishing when boiled,
and tea is drunk with it; and I cannot sufficiently describe the fine
taste it has in such circumstances. It relieves a weary traveller more
than can be imagined, as I have myself experienced, together with a
great many others who have travelled through the desart forests of
America; on such journeys, tea is found to be almost as necessary as
victuals [84].
June the 30th. This morning we left our boat to the Frenchmen, who made
use of it to carry their provisions; for we could not make any further
use of it, on account, of the number of trees which the French had
thrown across the river during the last war, to prevent the attacks of
the English upon Canada. The Frenchmen gave us leave to make use of one
of their boats, which they had left behind them, about six miles from
the place where we passed the last night. Thus we continued our journey
on foot, along the river; and found the country flat, with some little
vales here and there. It was every where covered with tall trees, of
the deciduous kind; among which the beech, the elm, the American
lime-tree, and the sugar-maple, were the most numerous. The trees stand
at some distance from each other; and the soil in which they grow is
extremely rich.
After we had walked about a Swedish mile, or six English miles, we came
to the place where the six Frenchmen had left their bark boats, of
which we took one, and rowed down the river, which was now between
nineteen and twenty yards broad. The. ground on both sides was very
smooth, and not very high. Sometimes we found a hill consisting of grey
quartz, mixed with small fine grains of grey spar. We likewise observed
black stripes in it; but they were small, that I could not determine
whether they were of glimmer, or of another kind of stone. The hills
were frequently divided into strata, lying one above another, of the
thickness of five inches. The strata went from north to south; and were
not quite horizontal, but dipping to the north. As we went further on,
we saw high and steep hills on the river-side, partly covered with
trees; but in other parts, the banks consist of a swampy turf ground,
which gave way when it was walked upon, and had some similarity to the
sides of our marshes, which my countrymen are now about to drain. In
those parts where the ground was low and flat, we did not see any
stones either on the ground, or on the softer shore; and both sides of
the river when they were not hilly, were covered with tall elms,
American lime-trees, sugar-maples, beeches, hiccory-trees, some
water-beeches, and white walnut-trees.
On our left we saw an old fortification of stones laid above one
another; but nobody could tell me whether the Indians or the Europeans
had built it.
We had rowed very fast all the afternoon, in order to get forward; and
we thought that we were upon the true road, but found ourselves greatly
mistaken: for towards night we observed, that the reeds in the river
bent towards us, which was a mark that the river likewise flowed
towards us; whereas, if we had been on the true river, it should have
gone with us. We likewise observed, from the trees which lay across the
river, that nobody had lately passed that way, though we should have
seen the steps of the Frenchmen in the grass along the shore, when they
brought their boat over these trees. At last, we plainly saw that the
river flowed against us, by several pieces of wood which floated slowly
towards us; and we were convinced, that we had gone twelve English
miles, and upwards, upon a wrong river, which obliged us to return, and
to row till very late at night. We sometimes thought, through fear,
that the Indians, who were gone to murder some English, would
unavoidably meet with us. Though we rowed very fast, yet we were not
able to-day to get half-way back to the place where we first left the
true river.
The most odoriferous effluvia sometimes came from the banks of the
river, towards night, but we could not determine what flowers diffused
them. However, we supposed they chiefly arose from the Asclepias
Syriaca, and the Apocynum androsæmifolium.
The Musk-Rats could likewise be smelled at night. They had many holes
in the shores, even with the surface of the water.
We passed the night in an island, where we could not sleep on account
of the gnats. We did not venture to make a fire, for fear the Indians
should find us out, and kill us. We heard several of their dogs barking
in the woods, at a great distance from us, which added to our
uneasiness.
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS.
ADVERTISEMENT.
In the first column of these tables, the Reader will find the days of
the month; in the second, the time or hour of the day, when the
observations were made; in the third, the rising and falling of the
thermometer; in the fourth, the wind; and in the fifth, the weather in
general, such as rainy, fair, cloudy, &c.
The thermometer which I have made use of is that of Mr. Celsius, or the
Swedish thermometer so called, as I have already pointed out in the
preface. To distinguish the degrees above freezing-point from those
below it, I have expressed the freezing-point itself by 00, and
prefixed 0 to every degree below it. The numbers therefore which have
no 0 before them, signify the upper degrees. Some examples will make
this still more intelligible. On the 17th of December it is remarked,
that the thermometer, at eight o’clock in the morning, was at 02.5. It
was therefore at 2 degrees and 5⁄10, or half a degree, below the
freezing-point; but at two in the afternoon, it was at 00.0, or exactly
upon the freezing-point. If it had been 00.3, it would have signified
that the thermometer was fallen 3⁄10 of a degree below the
freezing-point; but 0.3 would signify, that it was risen 3⁄10 of a
degree above the freezing-point. Thus likewise 03.0. is three degrees
below the freezing-point; and 4.0. four degrees above it.
The numbers in the columns of the winds signify as follows: 0, is a
calm; 1, a gentle breeze; 2, a fresh gale; 3, a strong gale; and 4, a
violent storm or hurricane. When, in some of the last tables, the winds
are only marked once a day, it signifies that they have not changed
that day. Thus, on the 21st of December, stands N. 0 fair. This shews
that the weather-cocks have turned to the north all day; but that no
wind has been felt, and the sky has been clear all the day long.
Before I went to Canada in summer 1749, I desired Mr. John Bartram to
make some meteorological observations in Pensylvania, during my
absence, in order to ascertain the summer-heat of that province. For
that purpose, I left him a thermometer, and instructed him in the
proper use of it; and he was so kind as to write down his observations
at his farm, about four English miles to the south of Philadelphia. He
is very excusable for not putting down the hour, the degree of wind,
&c. for being employed in business of greater consequence, that of
cultivating his grounds, he could not allow much time for this. What he
has done, is however sufficient to give an idea of the Pensylvanian
summer.
August 1748.
===================================================================
D. | H. | Ther. | Wind. | The Weather in general.
----+-------+-------+------------+---------------------------------
1 | 5 m | 20.0 | E S E 2 | Fair
| 2 a | 24.5 | E 2 |
2 | 5 m | 22.0 | E 2 |
| 2 a | 24.5 | E 2 |
3 | 5 m | 22.0 | E 1 |
| 2 a | 25.5 | S S W 1 | Cloudy with some rain.
4 | 5 m | 22.0 | S 1 | Alternately fair, cloudy and
| 1 a | 21.0 | S 1 | rainy all day.
5 | 5 m | 17.0 | S S W 1 | Chiefly rainy.
6 | 7 m | 17.0 | S 2 | Cloudy.
| 2 a | 19.0 | S 2 | Somewhat cloudy, but chiefly
| | | | fair.
7 | 5 m | 15.5 | S S W 2 | Alternately fair and cloudy.
8 | 5 m | 18.0 | S S W 0 | Fair all day.
| 3 a | 19.0 | S S W 0 |
9 | 6 m | 17.5 | W N W 0 |
| 4 a | 21.0 | W N W 1 |
10 | 6 m | 18.5 | E 1 | Fair.
| 3 a | 20.5 | E 1 |
11 | 6 m | 47.0 | E N E 1 | Somewhat cloudy.
| ½ a | 18.5 | S W 1 | Fair.
| 4 | 22.0 | S W 1 |
| 6 | 22.0 | W 3 |
12 | 6 m | 16.0 | N W 1 | Cloudy with some drizzl. rain at
| | | | ten.
| 4 a | 19.0 | N W 1 | Cloudy, fair, some drizzl. rain
| | | | altern.
13 | 6 m | 17.0 | W N W 2 | Cloudy with some rain; foggy,
| 2 a | 18.5 | W N W 2 | sometimes fair.
14 | 5 m | 18.0 | W S W 0 | Somewhat cloudy, fair from 11 m.
| | | | to 3 a.
| 4 a | 20.0 | W S W 0 | Cloudy
15 | 5 m | 18.0 | W S W 0 | Cloudy; sometimes fair; at ten
| 2 a | 19.5 | N E 2 | o’clock fell a thin fog.
16 | 6 m | 18.3 | N N E 2 | Somewhat cloudy; sometime fair.
| 2 a | 18.5 | | Dark; rainy at night.
17 | 6 m | 18.5 | E N E 2 | Dark, with some drizzling rain.
| 2 a | 19.5 | | Drizzling rain all the
| | | | afternoon.
18 | 6 m | 19.0 | E 2 | Drizzling rain all the day.
| 2 a | 20.5 | |
19 | 6 m | 19.5 | | Cloudy
| 2 a | 20.0 | | Scattered clouds.
20 | 6 m | 19.5 | | Fair.
| 2 a | 21.5 | | Scattered clouds: sometimes
| | | | rain.
21 | 6 m | 20.8 | E 1 | Somewhat cloudy, fair at nine
| 2 a | 21.3 | | Thin clouds.
22 | 5 m | 21.0 | | Fair; about twelve it became
| | | | cloudy.
| 1 a | 23.5 | E S E 1 | Cloudy.
23 | 5 m | 22.2 | | Scattered clouds.
| 7 | | S E 2 |
| 2 a | 24.2 | | Scattered clouds, dark towards
| | | | eve.
24 | 5 m | 23.5 | W S W 2 | Violent rain.
| 6 | | W 2 |
| 7 | | W N W 1 | About seven it cleared up.
| 9 | | N W 1 |
| 2 a | | | Scattered clouds.
25 | 6 m | 24.5 | W 1 | Scattered clouds.
| 10 | | W N W 3 |
| 2 a | 23.5 | |
26 | 6 m | 24.0 | W 2 | Fair. At night a great halo
| | | | appeared round the sun.
| 2 a | 24.5 | S W 2 | Dark. A strong redness at
| | | | sun-setting.
| | | W S W 1 | Cloudy. At ten it began to rain,
| | | | and it rained all day.
27 | 6 m | 24.5 | S E 2 |
| 11 | | E 3 |
| 1 a | | N E 4 | Rain.
| 4 | 21.5 | N 1 | Scattered clouds.
28 | 7 m | 23.0 | |
| 2 a | 23.5 | S W 1 |
29 | 6 m | | S W 3 | Towards evening drizzl. rain and
| | | | lightning.
| 2 a | 25.5 | N W 2 | Scattered clouds; air very cool.
30 | 6 m | 23.5 | | Fair: in the morning it began to
| 2 a | 21.5 | S W 1 | grow cloudy; at night lightning,
| | | | hard rain, and some thunder.
31 | 6 m | 22.2 | |
===================================================================
September 1748.
===================================================================
D. | H. | Ther. | Wind. | The Weather in general.
----+-------+-------+------------+---------------------------------
1 | 7 m | 20.0 | N W 2 | Scattered clouds.
| 2 a | 21.5 | | Clouds passing by. Rain and
| | | | strong winds all the afternoon.
2 | 6 m | 19.0 | N W 1 | Scattered clouds all day.
| 2 a | 20.5 | N W 0 | At night a great halo round the
| | | | moon.
3 | 6 m | 21.5 | W S W 0 | Scattered clouds.
| 2 a | 23.0 | S 1 | It became more cloudy. In the
| | | | evening appeared a great halo
| | | | round the sun.
4 | 6 m | 23.3 | E 1 | Scattered clouds.
| 12 n | 27.5 | E S E 1 |
| 2 a | 24.0 | |
5 | 6 m | 24.5 | S E 3 | Scattered clouds.
| 12 n | 26.5 | |
6 | 6 m | 27.0 | S E 2 | Scattered clouds,
| 1 a | 28.5 | | At night a great halo round the
| | | | moon, and the sky very red.
7 | 6 m | 27.5 | E 3 | Dark sometimes. The sun shone
| | | | through the clouds.
8 | 12 n | 28.5 | N E 2 | Scattered clouds.
8 | 6 m | 26.0 | N N E 2 | Scattered clouds all day.
| 1 a | 26.5 | |
9 | 6 m | 24.5 | N 1 | Scattered clouds all day.
| 1 a | 24.5 | |
10 | 5 m | 24.0 | N N W 1 | Fair.
| 1 a | 24.5 | |
11 | 6 m | 23.2 | W N W 1 | Fair.
| 2 a | 25.0 | | At night a halo round the moon.
12 | 6 m | 24.0 | A Calm. | Fair, and very hot.
| ½ a | 26.0 | |
13 | 5 m | 25.5 | S E 1 | Fair.
| 1 a | 26.5 | |
14 | 6 m | 25.5 | S E 1 | Fair; but a cool wind all the
| 1 a | 26.5 | | morning.
15 | 5 m | 23.0 | S E 1 | Scattered clouds.
| 1 a | 27.5 | | It grew more cloudy. In the
| | | | evening and ensuing night,
| | | | violent rain and winds.
16 | 5 m | 21.5 | N N E 1 | It rained hard all day.
| 2 a | 21.5 | |
17 | 5 m | 25.5 | N W 1 | Cloudy.
| 1 a | 21.0 | | Scattered clouds.
18 | 6 m | 13.0 | Calm. | Fair.
19 | 1 a | 24.5 | N N E 1 | Fair all day.
20 | 6 m | 14.0 | N E 1 | Scattered clouds.
21 | 6 m | 11.0 | N E 0 | Scattered clouds.
| 1 a | 23.0 | |
22 | 7 m | 10.5 | N E 1 | Fair.
| 1 a | 25.0 | |
23 | 6 m | 11.0 | N N E 1 | Fair.
| 2 a | 28.0 | |
24 | 6 m | 14.0 | N E 1 | Fair.
| 2 a | 28.0 | | It grew dark. At night came
| | | | rain, which continued late.
25 | 6 m | 18.0 | N W 1 | Dark. At 8, scattered clouds.
| 2 a | 28.0 | N E 1 | Scattered clouds.
26 | 6 m | 15.5 | N N E 1 | Fair.
| 2 a | 27.5 | |
27 | 6 m | 17.0 | N E 1 | Cloudy. Fair at 8, and all the
| | | | morning.
| 2 a | 27.0 | | Cloudy.
28 | 6 m | 14.0 | N E 1 | Fair and cloudy alternately.
| 2 a | 20.0 | |
29 | 7 m | 15.5 | N E 1 | Cloudy.
| 2 a | 20.5 | | Fine drizzling rain.
30 | 7 m | 16.0 | N E 0 | Alternately fair and cloudy.
===================================================================
October 1748.
===================================================================
D. | H. | Ther. | Wind. | The Weather in general.
----+-------+-------+------------+---------------------------------
1 | 6 m | 19.0 | S 1 | Fair. Scattered clouds at 8.
| 2 a | 18.5 | | Scattered clouds. Dark towards
| | | | night.
2 | 6 m | 18.5 | S W 0 | Cloudy.
3 | 6 m | 15.0 | N W 1 | Cloudy.
| 1 a | 18.0 | | Scattered clouds. Late at night
| | | | a great halo round the moon.
4 | 7 m | 6.0 | N W 1 | Fair.
| 1 a | 16.0 | |
5 | 7 m | 2.0 | N 1 | Fair.
6 | 7 m | 2.0 | N E 1 | Fair.
| 1 a | 18.0 | | At night a great halo round the
| | | | moon.
7 | 6 m | 7.0 | E N E 1 | Cloudy. Fair at 9, and all day.
8 | 6 m | 14.0 | E N E 1 | Cloudy. Scattered clouds at 8.
9 | 6 m | 18.0 | S S E 1 | Rain all the morning.
| 3 a | 23.0 | | Cloudy.
10 | 6 m | 20.0 | S W 0 | Fog, and a drizzling rain.
| 2 a | 23.0 | | Fair.
11 | 7 m | 20.0 | S W 1 | Fog, which fell down. Fair at 8.
| 2 a | 26.0 | | Fair.
12 | 6 m | 8.0 | W N W 1 | Fair all day.
| 8 | | W 1 |
| 2 a | 20.0 | W S W 1 |
13 | 6 m | 2.0 | W N W 1 | In the morning, hoary frost on
| | | | the plants.
| 2 a | 17.0 | W S W 0 | Fair all day.
14 | 6 m | 5.0 | S S W 0 | Fair.
| 2 a | 21.0 | |
15 | 6 m | 4.5 | S S E 0 | Fair.
| 2 a | 24.0 | |
16 | 6 m | 11.0 | E N E 0 | Cloudy.
17 | 6 m | 8.0 | N E 1 | Cloudy.
| 2 a | 18.0 | | Cloudy. Violent rain all night.
18 | 6 m | 12.0 | N W 0 | Cloudy.
| 5 a | 4.0 | S W 0 |
19 | 6 m | 00.0 | W S W 1 | Scattered clouds.
| 2 a | 9.0 | |
20 | 5 m | 01.0 | W N W 1 | Fair.
| 2 a | 9.0 | |
21 | 7 m | 00.0 | W 0 | In the morning ice on standing
| | | | water, white hoary frost on the
| 1 a | 15.0 | | ground; fair all day.
22 | 6 m | 00.0 | W 0 | Fair.
23 | 6 m | 4.5 | N N E 1 | Fair.
| 1 a | 16.0 | |
24 | 6 m | 4.5 | N 0 | Fair.
| 2 a | 18.0 | |
25 | 6 m | 4.5 | S W 1 | Fair. Air very much condensed in
| | | | the afternoon.
26 | 6 m | 4.0 | S W 0 | Fair.
| 3 a | 19.0 | |
27 | 6 m | 1.0 | S W 0 | Fair.
| 3 a | 17.0 | |
28 | 6 m | 9.0 | E 2 | Heavy rain all day.
29 | 6 m | 14.0 | W 1 | Fair.
| 1 a | 20.0 | | At night I saw a meteor,
| | | | commonly called the shooting of
| | | | a star, going far from N. W. to
| | | | S. E.
30 | 6 m | 3.0 | N W 1 | Fair.
31 | 7 m | 4.0 | W 1 | Fair.
| 1 a | 18.0 | |
===================================================================
November 1748.
===================================================================
D. | H. | Ther. | Wind. | The Weather in general.
----+-------+-------+------------+---------------------------------
1 | 7 m | 3.0 | S 1 | Fair.
2 | 6 m | 4.0 | N 0 | Fair.
| 3 a | 18.0 | |
3 | 7 m | 7.0 | N W 1 | Fair.
| 1 a | 14.0 | S E 0 |
4 | 7 m | 1.0 | S W 0 | In the morning the fields were
| | | | covered with white frost.
| 12 n | 19.0 | | A fair day.
5 | 7 m | 4.0 | S W 1 | Fair.
| 1 a | 17.0 | |
6 | 7 m | 4.5 | N E 1 | Fair.
| 1 a | 12.0 | | Towards evening somewhat cloudy.
7 | 7 m | 7.0 | E N E 1 | Cloudy.
| 4 a | 11.5 | |
8 | 7 m | 11.5 | E N E 2 | Drizzling rain.
| ½ a | 18.0 | E S E 3 | Heavy rain.
9 | 7 m | 17.0 | S E 1 | Drizzling rain.
| 9 m | 15.0 | S S W 1 | At eight it cleared up.
| 1 a | 17.0 | | Scattered clouds.
10 | 7 m | 6.0 | S S W 2 | Fair.
| ½ a | 13.0 | W N W 2 |
11 | 7 m | 4.0 | W S W 1 | Cloudy.
| ½ a | 12.0 | | Scattered clouds.
12 | 6 m | 03.0 | S W 1 | Fair.
| 2 a | 11.5 | N W 2 | Cloudy.
| 4 | 5.0 | |
13 | 7 m | 00.0 | N N E 1 | This morning ice on the water.
| 2 a | 5.5 | | Fair.
14 | 7 m | 0.5 | N 3 | Fair.
| 1 a | 8.0 | N 2 |
15 | 7 m | 3.0 | S 2 | A strong red aurora.
| 1 a | 8.0 | | Cloudy, and continual drizzling
| | | | rain.
16 | 7 m | 4.5 | W 1 | Fair.
17 | 7 m | 01.0 | W 1 | Fair and cloudy alternately.
| 1 a | 8.0 | | Sometimes drizzling rain.
18 | 7 m | 4.0 | S 1 | Fair.
| 3 a | 6.5 | N W 2 |
19 | 7 m | 03.0 | W 0 | Fair.
| 2 a | 11.5 | |
20 | 7 m | 01.0 | N N E 1 | Fair.
| 2 a | | S 1 |
21 | 7 m | 15.0 | S W 2 | Fair.
| 1 a | 19.0 | |
22 | 7 m | 20.0 | E 1 | Rain all day.
| 2 a | 10.0 | |
23 | 8 m | 16.0 | S 1 | Cloudy, foggy, and rain now and
| | | | then.
| 8 a | | S W 4 |
24 | 7 m | 00.0 | W N W 3 | Fair.
25 | 7 m | | N W 0 | It was very cold last night, and
| | | | fair to-day.
26 | | | N W 0 | Alternately fair and somewhat
| | | | cloudy, and always pretty cold.
27 | | | | Fair; scattered clouds: pretty
| | | | warm in the air.
28 | | | | Cloudy, foggy, and quite calm.
29 | | | | Somewhat cloudy.
30 | | | N 1 | Fair, and a little cold.
===================================================================
December 1748.
===================================================================
D. | H. | Ther. | Wind. | The Weather in general.
----+-------+-------+------------+---------------------------------
1 | | | N 1 | Fair.
2 | | | W S W 1 | Fair, and cold; a great halo
| | | | round the moon at night.
3 | | | W S W 1 | A pretty red aurora, however a
| | | | fair day.
4 | 7 m | 6.0 | S S W 0 | Fair.
| 3 a | 18.0 | |
5 | 7 m | 5.5 | N N E 1 |
| 4 a | 9.5 | |
6 | 7 m | 6.5 | S S W 1 | Cloudy.
| 3 a | 14.0 | | Somewhat fairer: hard rain in
| | | | the next night.
7 | 7 m | 13.5 | S W 1 | Cloudy.
| 2 a | 19.0 | | Fair.
8 | 7 m | 5.0 | S 1 | Cloudy.
| 2 a | 13.5 | | Rain and wind next night; thick,
| | | | but
9 | 7 m | 12.0 | S W 2 | scattered clouds.
| 2 a | 10.0 | W N W 2 |
10 | | | W N W 2 | Scattered clouds.
11 | 7 m | 2.0 | S S W 1 | Fair.
| 2 a | 12.5 | |
12 | 7 m | 0.5 | N E 1 | Cloudy, rain, and fog all day
| 2 a | 10.5 | | from nine o’clock.
13 | 8 m | 7.5 | S W 0 | Foggy, and cloudy.
| 2 a | 10.0 | | Next night a strong N. W. wind.
14 | 8 m | 1.0 | N W 2 | Scattered clouds.
| 2 a | 2.0 | |
15 | 8 m | 07.0 | W N W 1 | Fair and cloudy alternately.
| 2 a | 01.0 | |
16 | 8 m | 01.0 | W 1 | Fair.
| 2 a | 1.5 | |
17 | 8 m | 02.5 | N W 1 | Cloudy, some snow, the first
| 2 a | 00.0 | | this winter.
18 | 8 m | 03.0 | W 1 | Fair.
| 2 a | 4.0 | |
19 | 8 m | 1.0 | W 1 | Cloudy.
| 2 a | 8.0 | | Fair.
20 | 8 m | 01.5 | W S W 2 | Scattered clouds: about six at
| | | | night were quite red stripes on
| 2 a | 7.5 | W S W 1 | the sky, to the North.
21 | 8 m | 07.0 | N 0 | Fair.
| 2 a | 2.0 | |
22 | 8 m | 04.5 | S E 0 | Fair.
| 2 a | 13.0 | | It grew cloudy in the afternoon.
23 | 8 m | 13.0 | S S W 0 | Heavy rain.
| 2 a | 18.0 | | Foggy and cloudy.
24 | 8 m | 13.0 | W S W 0 | Thick fog.
| 2 a | 17.0 | S W 1 | Fair; but late in the evening a
| | | | hard shower of rain.
25 | 8 m | 18.0 | S 3 | Last night was a storm, rain,
| | | | thunder, and lightning.
| 2 a | 18.5 | S S E 2 | Heavy rain all day.
2 | 8 m | 3.0 | W 3 | Last night a violent storm from
| | | | W. and S. and heavy rain. The
| | | | morning was cloudy, and some
| | | | snow fell.
| 2 a | 3.5 | W N W 3 | Clears up.
27 | 8 m | 04.0 | W N W 3 | Fair.
28 | 8 m | 07.0 | W 0 | Fair.
| 2 a | 8.0 | |
29 | 8 m | 3.0 | N N E 1 | Somewhat cloudy, and
| 2 a | 13.0 | — 0 | intermittent showers.
30 | 8 m | 8.0 | N N E 1 | Cloudy and foggy all day.
| 2 a | 10.0 | — 0 |
31 | 8 m | 6.0 | W 3 | Fair.
| 2 a | 4.0 | N W 1 | At night a halo round the moon.
===================================================================
January 1749.
===================================================================
D. | H. | Ther. | Wind. | The Weather in general.
----+-------+-------+------------+---------------------------------
1 | 7½ m | 07.0 | N W 0 | Fair.
| 2 a | 4.0 | — 0 |
2 | 7½ m | 04.5 | W N W 1 | Alternately fair and cloudy.
| 2 a | 5.5 | — 1 |
3 | 7½ m | 2.0 | N W 1 | Cloudy.
| 2 a | 2.0 | — 1 |
4 | 7½ | 02.0 | W 1 | Fair.
| 2 a | 11.0 | — 1 |
5 | 7½ m | 03.0 | W 0 | Fair.
6 | 7½ m | 03.0 | W 0 | Fair, but darkened towards
| 2 a | 14.5 | — 0 | night, with some snow.
| 5 a | 14.5 | N W 3 |
7 | 7½ m | 01.0 | W N W 1 | Somewhat cloudy.
| 2 a | 3.0 | — 1 |
8 | 7½ m | 04.0 | W N W 1 | Fair.
| 2 a | 8.0 | — 1 |
9 | 7½ m | 03.0 | W N W 1 | Aurora, cloudy, heavy rains at
| 2 a | 8.0 | — 1 | night.
10 | 7½ m | 15.0 | S 2 | Cloudy, and showers, some snow
| | | | at night; at 9 morn. W. S. W. 3;
| 2 a | 2.0 | W 4 | at 11. m. S. W. 4; at 2 aft. W.
| 4 a | | | 4
11 | 7½ m | 03.0 | W N W 3 | Cloudy.
| 2 a | 04.0 | — 3 |
12 | 7¼ m | 04.0 | W N W 3 | Fair.
| 2 a | 01.5 | N N W 2 |
13 | 7¼ m | 07.5 | W N W 2 | Fair.
| 1 a | 03.0 | — 2 | Cloudy.
14 | 7¼ m | 05.5 | W N W 1 | Cloudy, and snows all day; it
| | | | lay above two inches thick.
| 1 a | 02.0 | — 1 |
15 | 7 m | 07.0 | W N W 0 | Fair.
| 2 a | 3.0 | — 0 |
16 | 7 m | 08.9 | N W 3 | All the last night W N W 4.
| 8 m | 09.0 | | Fair all day.
| 2 a | 08.0 | — 1 |
17 | 7 m | 011.0 | N N E 0 | Cloudy; snows all day, and the
| | | | ensuing night.
| 7 a | 09.0 | — 0 |
18 | 7 m | 012.0 | N W 1 | Cloudy, and snows in the
| | | | morning, fair all the afternoon,
| | | | and the ther. at 011.0: snow lay
| 10 m | 011.0 | — 1 | five inches deep.
19 | 7 m | 015.5 | W 1 | Fair.
| 1 a | 010.5 | — 1 |
20 | 7 m | 012.5 | W 1 | Fair.
| 2 a | 07.0 | |
21 | 7 m | 022.0 | W N W 0 | Fair.
| 2 a | 03.0 | W 1 |
22 | 7 m | 05.0 | W 1 | Fair.
| 2 a | 01.0 | W 1 | Cloudy.
23 | 7 m | 010.0 | W N W 1 | Fair; a great halo round the
| 7 a | 3.0 | — 1 | moon at night.
24 | 7 m | 01.0 | N N E 0 | Cloudy, snows all day.
| 2 a | 4.0 | N E 0 |
25 | 7 m | 00.0 | W N W 0 | Fair.
| 2 a | 4.0 | W 0 |
26 | 7 m | 013.0 | W N W 1 | Fair.
| 2 a | 1.0 | — 1 | Cloudy; at three in the
| | | | afternoon began to snow.
27 | 7 m | 07.0 | W 1 | Fair; halo round the moon at
| 2 a | 00.0 | — 1 | night.
28 | 7 m | 01.0 | W N W 1 | Cloudy; snows almost all day.
| 3 a | 4.0 | — 1 |
29 | 7 m | 05.0 | N N E 1 | Fair.
| 3 a | 03.0 | — 1 |
30 | 7 m | 013.0 | W N W 1 | Fair; halo round the moon at
| 3 a | 4.0 | — 1 | night.
31 | 7 m | 04.0 | W N W 1 | Fair; halo round the moon at
| 3 a | 8.0 | — 1 | night.
===================================================================
February 1749.
===================================================================
D. | H. | Ther. | Wind. | The Weather in general.
----+-------+-------+------------+---------------------------------
1 | 7 m | 03.0 | W N W 1 | Fair; a halo round the moon at
| 1 a | 11.0 | W 1 | night.
2 | 7 m | 5.0 | W N W 0 | Fair.
| 2 a | 6.0 | W 0 |
3 | 7 m | 00.0 | W 0 | Fair.
| 2 a | 19.5 | — 0 |
4 | 7 m | 5.5 | W 0 | Cloudy; at ten at night wind N N
| 2 a | 11.0 | 4 a.N N E 2| E 3, snow.
5 | 7 m | 06.0 | N N W 2 | Fair.
| 1 a | 03.0 | N W 2 |
6 | 7 m | 010.5 | N W 0 | A cracking noise was heard in
| | | | all houses the night before.
| | | | Aurora.—Fair all day,—at 7 in
| | | | the morn. N W 0—at 9, W N W 1—at
| | | | 11, W 1—at 2 in the afternoon, W
| 2 a | 3.0 | W S W 1 | S W 1.
7 | 7 m | 01.0 | N N E 1 | Cloudy—fair—at 7 in the morn. N
| | | | N E 1—at 9, N 1 .—at 10, W N W
| 2 a | 1.0 | N W 1 | 1—at 12, N W 1.
8 | 7 m | 09.0 | N W 0 | Fair.
| 2 a | 7.0 | W 1 |
9 | 7 m | 03.0 | W 1 | Fair.
| 3 a | 16.0 | — 1 |
10 | 7 m | 7.0 | W 1 | Pretty clear; a violent storm
| 1 a | 11.0 | S S W 4 | with rain all the ensuing night.
11 | 7 m | 9.0 | S S W 2 | Fair; rain towards night; at
| | | | night a light similar to an
| 1 a | 11.0 | | Aurora Borealis in S. W.
12 | 7 m | 4.0 | S S W 3 | Fair; about nine at night a
| 1 a | 10.0 | | faint Aurora Borealis in S W.
13 | 7 m | 2.0 | W N W 2 | Cloudy.
| 3 a | 5.0 | N W 2 | Fair.
14 | 7 m | 06.0 | N W 1 | Fair.
| 3 a | 02.5 | W N W 2 | Flying clouds.
15 | 6¾ m | 010.5 | N W 1 | Fair; at eight in the evening an
| 2 a | 03.0 | W N W 0 | Aurora Borealis.
16 | 6¾ m | 013.0 | W N W 0 | Fair.
| 2 a | 00.0 | N W 1 |
17 | 6½ m | 02.0 | W N W 1 | Cloudy and snow; wind all the
| 2 a | 00.0 | W 1 | afternoon long.
18 | 6½ m | 2.0 | W N W 1 | Cloudy.
| 2 a | 00.0 | |
19 | 6½ m | 03.0 | N N E 2 | Cloudy; rain all day, mixed with
| 2 a | 01.0 | | snow and hail.
20 | 6½ m | 1.5 | N W 1 | Cloudy.
| 2 a | 4.5 | |
21 | 6½ m | 00.8 | N W 0 | Cloudy; at 5 in the morn, we
| | | | heard a waterfall near a mill,
| | | | about a mile S S of us making a
| | | | stronger noise than common, tho’
| | | | the air was very calm—at 10
| | | | began a rain which continued the
| 4 a | 4.0 | N N E 1 | whole day.
22 | 6½ m | 3.0 | W N W 2 | Fair.
| 2 a | 3.5 | |
23 | 6½ m | 06.0 | W 2 | Fair.
| 4 a | 4.0 | | Some clouds gathered round the
| | | | sun.
24 | 6½ m | 4.0 | S S W 1 | Cloudy.
| 3 a | 10.0 | W 1 |
25 | 6 m | 3.0 | W N W 0 | Alternately fair and cloudy.
| 2 a | 1 | |
26 | 6 m | 012.0 | N N W 1 | Fair; cloudy at night; at eight
| | | | in the evening was a halo round
| | | | the moon, and the clouds in S.
| 3 a | 02.0 | | quite red.
27 | 6 m | 04.0 | N 2 | Cloudy, and snow in the morning;
| 3 a | 01.0 | | but fair at 4 in the afternoon.
28 | 6 m | 04.5 | N W 4 | Flying clouds.
| 3 a | 03.5 | W N W 4 |
===================================================================
March 1749.
===================================================================
D. | H. | Ther. | Wind. | The Weather in general.
----+-------+-------+------------+---------------------------------
1 | 6 m | 09.0 | W N W 2 | Fair. A great halo round the
| 3 a | 01.5 | | moon at night.
2 | 6 m | 06.0 | N W 2 | Fair. A faint halo round the
| 4 a | 2.5 | | moon at night.
3 | 6 m | 04.0 | N W 1 | Fair. Cloudy afternoon. About 8
| | | | at night the clouds in S. W.
| | | | were quite red. At 9 it began to
| 2 a | 6.5 | S 1 | snow.
4 | 6 m | 0.5 | E S E 1 | Cloudy. Heavy rain at night.
| 2 a | 7.0 | S 1 |
5 | 6 m | 4.0 | W 1 | Alternately fair and cloudy. The
| 2 a | 11.0 | W 3 | next night calm.
6 | 6 m | 4.0 | W 2 | Fair.
7 | 6 m | 00.0 | W S W 1 | Alternately fair and cloudy in
| | | | the morning. In the afternoon
| | | | cloudy, with intermittent rain
| 2 a | 8.0 | | and thunder.
8 | 6 m | 2.0 | W N W 0 | Fair. About 8 at night we saw
| | | | what is called a snowfire to the
| 3 a | 20.0 | W S W 2 | S. W.—See Vol. II. p. 81.
9 | 6 m | 5.0 | N 1 | Fair.
| 3 a | 13.5 | | Cloudy. Snowfire in S. W. about
| | | | 8 at night.
10 | 6½ m | 5.0 | S S E 1 | Cloudy. Snow and rain all day,
| 2 a | 6.5 | S E 1 | and next night.
11 | 6 m | 9.0 | S S E 1 | Cloudy and heavy rain in the
| | | | morning. Clears up in the
| 3 a | 14.0 | W 1 | afternoon.
12 | 6 m | 9.0 | N N W 0 | Cloudy in the morning. Clears up
| | | | at 10. Towards night cloudy,
| 3 a | 15.0 | E N E 0 | with rain.
13 | 6 m | 9.5 | N N E 2 | Cloudy, with heavy rain. Fair at
| 2 a | 8.0 | 10 m. N 3 | 4 in the afternoon.
14 | 6 m | 4.0 | W N W 2 | Fair.
| 2 a | 10.0 | |
15 | 3 m | 00.0 | W S W 0 | Fair. Cloudy towards night.
| 3 a | 13.0 | W 2 |
16 | 6 m | 2.5 | N N E 3 | Snow violently blown about all
| 3 a | 01.0 | | day.
17 | 6 m | 01.0 | N W 2 | Cloudy. Clears up at 8 in the
| 3 a | 5.0 | | morning.
18 | 6 m | 02.0 | W S W 0 | Fair. The fields were now
| 3 a | 4.0 | W 2 | covered with snow.
19 | 6 m | 02.0 | W N W 1 | Fair.
| 3 a | 6.0 | N W 2 |
20 | 6 m | 05.5 | W 0 | Fair. Cloudy towards night.
| 3 a | 11.5 | S W 1 | Cloudy.
21 | 6½ m | 2.0 | S S E 0 | Cloudy. Intermittent showers.
| 3 a | 14.5 | |
22 | 6 m | 10.0 | S S E 0 | Cloudy.
| 3 a | 19.5 | |
23 | 6 m | 15.0 | S S E 1 | Heavy rain.
| 3 a | 19.0 | |
24 | 6 m | 8.0 | S W 1 | Fair.
| 3 a | 15.0 | |
25 | 6¼ m | 6.5 | W N W 3 | Fair.
| 3 a | 11.0 | | Flying clouds.
26 | 6 m | 00.0 | W N W 2 | Fair.
| 5 a | 11.0 | S W 2 | Flying clouds. About 8 at night
| | | | a snowfire on the horizon in S.
| | | | W.
27 | 6 m | 3.0 | W N W 1 | Fair.
| 3 a | 9.0 | |
28 | 6½ m | 3.0 | S 1 | Rain all the day, and the next
| | | | night.
| 3 a | 12.0 | 11 a.NNW3 |
29 | 6 m | 1.0 | N N W 2 | Fair.
| 2 a | 6.0 | |
30 | 6 m | 03.0 | E 1 | Fair. Cloudy at noon: begins to
| | | | snow, which continues till
| 2 a | 4.0 | S E 1 | night, when it turned into rain.
31 | 6¼ m | 5.0 | N 1 | Cloudy.
| 3 a | 14.0 | |
===================================================================
April 1749.
===================================================================
D. | H. | Ther. | Wind. | The Weather in general.
----+-------+-------+------------+---------------------------------
1 | 6 m | 5.5 | N N E 1 | Rain in the
| | | | morning,—afternoon,—and in the
| | | | night.
| 3 a | 3.5 | E 1 | Snow, with much thunder and
| | | | lightning.
2 | 6 m | 0.5 | N N E 1 | Snow almost the whole day.
| 3 a | 0.5 | |
3 | 6 m | 02.0 | N W 1 | Fair.
| 3 a | 9.0 | |
4 | 6 m | 02.0 | W 1 | Fair.
| 3 a | 16.0 | |
5 | 6 m | 00.5 | N 1 | Fair.
| 3 a | 19.0 | S W 1 | Sun very red at setting.
6 | 6 m | 4.0 | S W 1 | Fair.
| 3 a | 23.0 | |
7 | 6 m | 13.0 | S 2 | Fair. Cloudy afternoon.
| 3 a | 24.0 | | About 7 in the evening it began
| | | | to rain, and continued till late
| | | | at night.
8 | 7 m | 9.0 | N W 3 | Flying clouds.
| 3 a | 13.0 | |
9 | 6 m | 1.0 | N 1 | Alternately fair and cloudy.
| | | | Snows in the evening, and at
| 3 a | 7.0 | | night.
10 | 7 m | 2.5 | N E 1 | Cloudy. Began to rain at ten,
| | | | and continued all day till
| 3 a | 6.5 | | night.
11 | 6 m | 5.0 | N E 1 | Rain almost the whole day.
| 3 a | 9.0 | |
12 | 6 m | 2.0 | W N W 2 | Fair. Afternoon cloudy, with
| 2 a | 13.0 | | hail and rain.
13 | 6 m | | N W 2 | Fair.
| 2 a | | S W 1 | Cloudy.
14 | 6 m | | E 1 | Cloudy; fair at eight. Cloudy
| 2 a | | | towards night.
15 | 6 m | | E 1 | Almost quite fair.
| 2 a | | |
16 | 6 m | 6.5 | W N W 2 | Fair.
| 2 a | 13.5 | — 1 |
17 | 6 m | 7.0 | S 1 | Alternately fair and cloudy.
| 3 a | 16.0 | S W 1 | Rain.
18 | 7 m | 6.0 | N 0 | Fair.
| 3 a | 18.0 | N W 3 |
19 | 5½ m | 2.0 | N N W 0 | Fair.
| 3 a | 20.0 | W 2 |
20 | 6 m | 2.0 | S W 0 | A hoar frost this morning, fair
| 3 a | | | and very hot all day.
21 | | | S W 1 | Fair; with hot vapours raised by
| | | | the sun.
22 | 5 m | 13.0 | S 0 | Almost fair.
| 3 a | 23.0 | |
23 | 5½ m | 11.0 | W 1 | Fair.
| 3 a | 25.5 | |
24 | 6 m | 12.0 | S 1 | Cloudy, intermittent drizzl.
| 3 a | 22.0 | | showers.
25 | 6 m | 18.0 | S 0 | Rain the preceding night, and
| | | | now and then this day. At night
| 3 a | 24.0 | | thunder and lightning.
26 | 6 m | 28.0 | W 1 | Fair.
| 3 a | 30.0 | |
27 | 6 m | 17.0 | W 2 | Fair.
| 3 a | 25.0 | |
28 | 6 m | 7.0 | W 0 | Fair.
| 3 a | 24.0 | |
29 | 6 m | 7.0 | N 2 | Fair.
| 3 a | 17.0 | E 2 |
30 | 5 m | 3.0 | E 1 | Flying clouds.
| 3 a | 15.5 | S 1 |
===================================================================
May 1749.
===================================================================
D. | H. | Ther. | Wind. | The Weather in general.
----+-------+-------+------------+---------------------------------
1 | 4 m | 01.5 | S 0 | Hoar frost this morning,—fair.
| 3 a | 18.5 | S W 1 |
2 | 5 m | 1.0 | W 1 | Fair.
| 3 a | 23.0 | |
3 | 5½ m | 4.0 | W 1 | Fair.
| 3 a | 27.5 | |
4 | 5 m | 16.0 | W 1 | Fair.
5 | 5 m | 13.0 | S 3 | Flying clouds.
| 3 a | 27.0 | |
6 | 5 m | 14.5 | N 0 | Fair.
7 | 5 m | 13.0 | N 0 | Somewhat cloudy.
8 | 5 m | 4.0 | N 0 | Fair.
9 | 6 m | 14.0 | S 1 | Rain almost the whole day.
| 3 a | 14.0 | |
10 | 6 m | 13.0 | S S W 0 | Intermittent showers.
| 3 a | 16.0 | |
11 | 6 m | 12.0 | W S W 0 | Fair.
| 3 a | 28.0 | |
12 | 6 m | 13.0 | W N W 2 | Fair.
| 3 a | 20.0 | |
13 | 5 m | 9.0 | N W 1 | Fair.
| 3 a | 18.5 | |
14 | 5 m | 00.5 | N W 0 | Fair.
15 | 5 m | 9.0 | S S W 2 | Cloudy.
| 3 a | 20.0 | | Rain.
16 | 5 m | 17.0 | | Cloudy.
| 4 a | 23.0 | |
17 | 5 m | 20.0 | S 1 | Rains intermittently all day;
| 3 a | 24.0 | | and lightens very much at night.
18 | 5 m | 13.0 | | Fair.
19 | 5 m | 17.0 | W 2 | Fair.
20 | 5 m | 19.0 | W 1 | Fair.
| 3 m | 24.0 | |
21 | 6 m | 20.0 | | Fair.
22 | | | S W 1 | Fair. Very hot.
23 | 5 m | 17.0 | S W 1 | Fair.
| 3 a | 33.5 | |
24 | 12 m | 32.0 | SW 1 | Fair.
25 | 8 m | 23.0 | S W 1 | Fair, and very warm.
| 2 a | 28.0 | |
26 | 8 m | 21.0 | W N W 2 | Flying clouds; at night thick
| 3 a | 25.0 | | clouds, with storm and rain.
27 | 7 m | 17.0 | W 2 | Thick, scattered clouds.
| 2 a | 25.0 | | Pretty cool.
28 | 7 m | 15.0 | W 1 | Flying clouds.
| 2 a | 25.0 | |
29 | 7 m | 16.0 | W 2 | Flying clouds.
| 2 a | 25.0 | |
30 | 5 m | 13.0 | W N W 1 | Fair.
| — a | 25.0 | W 1 | Cloudy.
31 | 5 m | 13.0 | S W 1 | Somewhat cloudy.
| 1 a | 27.0 | | Fair.
===================================================================
June 1749.
===================================================================
D. | H. | Ther. | Wind. | The Weather in general.
----+-------+-------+------------+---------------------------------
1 | 5 m | 23.0 | S W 1 | Rain the preceding night.
2 | | | S E 1 | Morning cloudy,—clears up at
| | | | ten,—flying clouds.
3 | 7 m | 24.0 | S W 1 | Flying clouds; afternoon,
| | | | thunder-clouds, with rain from
| | | | the N W.
4 | 3 a | 26.0 | N W 1 | Flying clouds.
5 | 5½ m | 15.5 | S 1 | Fair.
| 3 a | 22.0 | |
6 | 5 m | 18.5 | S W 1 | Alternately fair and cloudy.
| 3 a | 23.0 | |
7 | All d | 20.0 | | Cloudy and rainy.
8 | 6 m | 15.5 | N W 0 | Cloudy.
| 3 a | 23.0 | — 1 | Flying clouds.
9 | 5 m | 13.0 | | Fair.
10 | 5 m | 11.0 | S W 1 | Fair.
| 3 a | 22.5 | |
11 | 7 m | 20.0 | N 1 | Flying clouds.
| 2 a | 33.0 | S W 1 | Thunder-storm, with rain.
12 | 6 m | 23.0 | N 0 | Fair.
| 3 a | 32.0 | S 2 | Somewhat cloudy.
13 | 5 m | 19.0 | S E 2 | Almost fair.
| 3 a | 27.0 | |
14 | 6 m | 26.0 | S 1 | Fair.
| 3 a | 25.0 | | Thunder-clouds, with rain.
15 | 6 m | 18.0 | N 0 | Fair.
| 3 a | 26.5 | |
16 | 6 m | 20.0 | N N E 1 | Fair.
| 2 a | 28.0 | |
17 | 5½ m | 18.0 | N 0 | Fair.
| 3 a | 27.5 | |
18 | 5 m | 21.0 | E S E 1 | Fair.
| 3 a | 32.0 | N E 1 | Thunder, with heavy showers.
19 | 6 m | 20.0 | N N W 1 | Fair.
| 3 a | 27.0 | |
20 | 5 m | 18.0 | S 1 | Fair.
| 3 a | 26.0 | | Cloudy.
21 | 5 m | 23.0 | S W 0 | Cloudy, with some showers.
22 | 5 m | 9.0 | W 1 | Fair.
23 | 6 m | 17.0 | S 1 | Fair.
| — a | | N W 1 | Cloudy.
24 | 6 m | 20.5 | S 1 | Cloudy, afterwards fair.
| — a | | S W 1 | Thunder and rain.
25 | 5 m | 23.0 | S 1 | Fair.
| 2 a | 32.0 | |
26 | 5 m | 14.0 | N 1 | Fair.
27 | 6 m | 15.0 | | Fair.
28 | 6 m | 18.0 | S 1 | Fair.
| 1 a | 35.0 | |
29 | 7 m | 26.0 | | Fair.
30 | 5 m | 11.0 | S 1 | Fair.
| 3 a | 31.0 | W 1 |
===================================================================
July 1749.
===================================================================
D. | H. | Ther. | Wind. | The Weather in general.
----+-------+-------+------------+---------------------------------
1 | | | N 3 | Flying clouds.
2 | 5 m | 7.5 | N 2 | Fair.
3 | 8 m | 26.0 | N 1 | Fair.
| 2 a | 28.0 | — 1 | Thunder-storm, and rain at
| | | | night.
4 | 6 m | 20.0 | S 1 | Cloudy; intermittent showers in
| — a | | N 2 | the afternoon.
5 | | | W 1 | Fair.
| 4 a | 26.0 | — 1 | Cloudy; rain at night.
6 | 5½ m | 18.0 | S W 1 | Rain all the preceding night;
| | | | fair in day-time.
7 | 4½ m | 17.0 | N W 0 | Fair.
8 | 6 m | 16.0 | N 0 | Alternately fair and cloudy. A
| | | | halo round the sun, in the
| | | | forenoon.
9 | 7 m | 21.0 | S W 0 | Rain the preceding night. In
| | | | day-time, cloudy, with some
| 3 a | 22.0 | | showers.
10 | 4¾ m | 18.0 | S W 0 | Fair; sometimes flying clouds
| 3 a | 24.5 | — 1 | and showers.
11 | 5 m | 17.0 | S S E 1 | Fair.
| 2 a | 26.0 | — 1 |
12 | 5 m | 22.0 | W 1 | Fair.
13 | 6 m | 20.0 | S S W 1 | Fair.
| 3 a | 33.0 | — 1 |
14 | 5 m | 21.0 | W S W 1 | Fair.
| 2 a | 28.0 | — 1 |
15 | 5 m | 26.0 | N N E 1 | Fair.
| 3 a | 28.0 | — 1 |
16 | 5 m | 14.0 | S 0 | Fair; sometimes cloudy.
| 10 m | | S S E 1 |
17 | 5 m | 19.0 | S 1 | Fair.
| 3 a | 24.0 | — 1 | Cloudy.
18 | 5 m | 15.0 | N N E 0 | Fair.
| 2 a | 25.0 | — 0 |
19 | 5 m | 19.0 | S S W 1 | Cloudy; rain.
| — a | | | Pretty fair.
20 | 5 m | 19.0 | S 1 | Fair.
| 3 a | 24.0 | — 1 | Flying clouds.
21 | | | S 0 | Fair.
| 3 a | 27.0 | — 0 | Flying clouds.
22 | 5 m | 16.0 | S W 2 | Fair.
| 3 a | 27.0 | S W 2 |
23 | 6 m | 19.0 | S S W 1 | Alternatively fair and cloudy.
| 3 a | 28.5 | — 1 |
24 | 6 m | 20.0 | S W 1 | Fair.
| 3 a | 29.0 | — 1 |
25 | 5 m | 20.0 | W S W 0 | Fair.
| 3 a | 29.5 | — 0 |
26 | 5 m | 21.0 | S 0 | Fair.
| 3 a | 30.0 | — 1 |
27 | 5 m | 22.0 | W 1 | Cloudy; intermittent showers.
| 3 a | 21.5 | — 1 |
28 | 6 m | 17.0 | W 1 | Fair.
| 3 a | 27.0 | — 1 |
29 | 6 m | 16.0 | N W ½ | Fair; flying clouds at night,
| 2 a | 24.0 | — 1 | and showers.
30 | 6 m | 14.0 | W N W 1 | Fair.
| 2 a | 26.0 | — 1 |
31 | 6 m | 16.0 | E 1 | Cloudy; rain almost all day.
| 3 a | 22.0 | — 1 |
===================================================================
August 1749.
===================================================================
D. | H. | Ther. | Wind. | The Weather in general.
----+-------+-------+------------+---------------------------------
1 | 6 m | 22.0 | N E 1 | Cloudy. Some showers.
| 3 a | 28.0 | — 1 |
2 | 4½ m | 16.0 | N E 1 | Fair.
| a | | S E 1 | Cloudy. Fair towards night.
3 | 5 m | 13.0 | S W 2 | Fair.
4 | m | | N E 2 | Cloudy. Some showers.
| 2 a | 21.0 | — 2 |
5 | m | | N E 1 | Fair.
| a | | S W 1 |
6 | 5 m | 16.0 | N E 3 | Heavy rain all day.
| 3 a | 16.0 | — 3 | Some thunder.
7 | 6 m | 13.0 | E S E 1 | Cloudy. Frequent showers.
| 3 a | 16.0 | — 1 |
8 | 6 m | 16.0 | S W 1 | Cloudy. Some showers.
| 3 a | 27.0 | — 1 |
9 | 6 m | 14.0 | S W 1 | Flying clouds.
| 1 a | 20.0 | — 1 | Rain at night.
10 | 6 m | 14.0 | S W 1 | Flying clouds.
| 3 a | 24.0 | — 1 |
11 | 6 m | 15.5 | W 1 | Cloudy.
12 | 6 m | 14.0 | W 1 | Flying clouds.
| 2 a | 25.0 | — 1 |
13 | 7 m | 15.5 | N W 1 | Fair.
| 2 a | 30.0 | — 1 |
14 | 6 m | 16.0 | N E 2 | Fair.
| 2 a | 26.0 | — 2 |
15 | 6 m | 14.0 | N E 1 | Fair.
| 2 a | 28.0 | — 1 |
16 | 5 m | 14.0 | S E 1 | Fair. At night thunder and rain.
| 3 a | 26.0 | — 1 |
17 | 5 m | 14.5 | S 0 | Flying clouds.
| 3 a | 27.0 | — 0 |
18 | 5 m | 16.0 | W 1 | Thunder and rain in the morning.
| | | | At ten in the morning flying
| 3 a | 29.0 | — 1 | clouds.
19 | 6 m | 17.0 | W 1 | Fair.
| 3 a | 30.0 | — 1 |
20 | 5 m | 16.5 | S W 0 | Fair.
| 3 a | 28.0 | — 0 |
21 | 5 m | 17.0 | S W 1 | Fair.
| 2 a | 29.0 | — 1 |
| 5 a | 27.0 | — 1 |
22 | 5 m | 19.0 | N E 2 | Rain all day.
| 3 a | 17.5 | |
23 | 5 m | 16.5 | S W 3 | Rain early in the morning. At 10
| 2 a | 22.5 | — 3 | m. flying clouds.
24 | 6 m | 13.5 | S W 2 | Flying clouds.
| 2 a | 22.0 | — 2 |
25 | 5 m | 7.0 | S W 2 | Fair.
| 4 a | 20.5 | — 2 |
26 | 5 m | 13.0 | N E 1 | Alternately fair and cloudy.
| 3 a | 18.0 | — 1 | Much rain this afternoon.
27 | 5 m | 10.5 | S W 1 | Flying clouds.
| 2 a | 23.0 | — 1 |
28 | 5 m | 10.0 | S W 1 | Fair.
| 2 a | 20.0 | — 1 |
29 | 5 m | 13.0 | N E 2 | Fair.
30 | 5½ m | 11.0 | N E 2 | Fair.
31 | 6 m | 13.6 | S 1 | Pair and cloudy alternately.
| 3 a | 18.5 | — 1 | Intermittent showers.
===================================================================
September 1749.
===================================================================
D. | H. | Ther. | Wind. | The Weather in general.
----+-------+-------+------------+---------------------------------
1 | 5½ m | 14.5 | N N W 1 | Fair.
| 3 a | 30.0 | — 1 |
2 | 5½ m | 9.0 | N 1 | Fair.
| 2 a | 18.0 | S S W 1 |
3 | 5½ m | 7.5 | S 1 | Somewhat cloudy. Now and then
| 2 a | 20.0 | — 1 | fair.
4 | 6 m | 14.0 | S 1 | Now and then a shower; and in
| 2 a | 17.5 | — 1 | the intervals fair.
5 | 6 m | 14.0 | N E 2 | Fog. Rain all day. Now and then
| | | | thund.
6 | 10½ m | 15.0 | N E 2 | Fog, and drizzling rain all day.
| 10½ a | 15.0 | — 2 |
7 | 7 m | 17.0 | S W 1 | Fog and rain.
| 3 a | 22.0 | — 1 | Fair.
8 | 5½ m | 15.0 | S S W 1 | Fair.
| 4 a | 28.0 | — 1 |
9 | 5 m | 17.5 | E N E 2 | Fair.
| 3 a | 25.0 | — 2 |
10 | 5½ m | 16.0 | N E 2 | Fair.
| 3 a | 26.0 | — 2 |
11 | 5½ m | 15.0 | E N E 0 | Fair.
| 3 a | 25.0 | — 0 |
12 | 7 m | 14.5 | N N E 1 | Fair.
| a | | S W 1 |
13 | 5½ m | 14.0 | N E 1 | Fair.
| 1½ a | 24.5 | — 1 |
14 | 5 m | 15.0 | N E 2 | Fair.
| 1 a | 22.5 | — 2 |
15 | 5½ m | 16.0 | N N E 3 | Fair. Forenoon, a halo round the
| 2 a | 19.0 | — 3 | sun.
16 | 5½ m | 8.5 | N N E 1 | Fair.
| 3 a | 20.5 | — 1 |
17 | 5 m | 12.0 | S W 0 | Fair.
18 | 6 m | 17.0 | S W 1 | Fair.
| 3 a | 27.0 | — 1 |
19 | 6 m | 14.0 | S W 1 | Fair.
| 3 a | 26.0 | — 1 |
20 | 6 m | 19.0 | S W 1 | Fair.
| 3 a | 26.0 | — 1 | Cloudy. Rain towards night.
21 | 6 m | 15.0 | | Fair.
| 3 a | 19.5 | |
22 | 6 m | 13.0 | E 0 | Somewhat cloudy.
| 3 a | 22.0 | — 0 |
23 | 6 m | 14.0 | S W 0 | Fair.
24 | 6 m | 18.0 | S W 2 | Fair. Rain at noon.
| 2 a | 26.0 | — 2 | Flying clouds in the afternoon.
25 | 7 m | 16.0 | W 1 | Alternately clear and cloudy.
| 2 a | 17.0 | — 1 |
26 | 8 m | 12.5 | N E 1 | Fair.
| 3 a | 11.5 | — 1 | Cloudy and rainy
27 | 6 m | 9.3 | N 1 | Rain all day.
| 3 a | 14.0 | — 1 |
28 | 6 m | 8.0 | S W 1 | Heavy rain all day.
| 3 a | 14.0 | — 1 |
29 | 6 m | 8.0 | S 1 | Fog.
| 1 a | 13.0 | — 1 | Flying clouds
30 | 8 m | 14.0 | S W 2 | Drizzling rain.
| 2 a | 18.0 | — 2 | Somewhat clear.
===================================================================
October 1749.
===================================================================
D. | H. | Ther. | Wind. | The Weather in general.
----+-------+-------+------------+---------------------------------
1 | 7½ m | 9.0 | N W 1 | Rain.
| n | | — 1 | Somewhat fairer.
2 | 7 m | 2.0 | W 1 | Hoarfrost this morning. Fair all
| | | | day.
3 | 6 m | 3.5 | S W 1 | Fair.
| 1 a | 12.0 | — 1 |
4 | 6 m | 11.0 | S 1 | Rain.
5 | 6 m | 10.5 | N E 1 | Cloudy.
| a | 11.0 | — 1 |
6 | 6½ m | 10.0 | E N E 1 | Rain all day.
| 3 a | 12.0 | — 1 |
7 | 6½ m | 10.0 | E N E 1 | Flying clouds.
| 2 a | 14.0 | |
8 | 6½ m | 7.0 | S 1 | Fair.
| 3 a | 18.0 | S 1 |
===================================================================
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS,
Made by Mr. John Bartram, near Philadelphia, During my Absence, in the Summer of the Year 1749.
June 1749.
===================================================================
D. | Ther. | Ther. | Wind. | The Weather in general.
| Morn. | Aft. | |
----+-------+-------+------------+---------------------------------
1 | 22 | 25 | W | Cloudy.
2 | 20 | 27 | W | Cloudy.
3 | 23 | 28 | W | Showers.
4 | 22 | 28 | W | Fair.
5 | 18 | 25 | W | Fair.
6 | 18 | 25 | W | Cloudy.
7 | 22 | 22 | N E | Cloudy.
8 | | 21 | N E |
9 | | 21 | N |
10 | 14 | 22 | E |
11 | 22 | 23 | E |
12 | 25 | 25 | E |
13 | 23 | 25 | E |
14 | 25 | 27 | E 3 |
15 | 24 | 28 | E | Fair.
16 | 22 | 26 | E |
17 | 23 | 27 | E |
18 | 25 | 27 | E |
19 | 23 | 24 | N W |
20 | 17 | 26 | W |
21 | 24 | 26 | W |
22 | 18 | 27 | W |
23 | 15 | 29 | W |
24 | 22 | 30 | W |
25 | 22 | 31 | W |
26 | 23 | 30 | N |
27 | 19 | 32 | W |
28 | 24 | 36 | W |
29 | 25 | 37 | W |
30 | 25 | 36 | N |
===================================================================
July 1749.
===================================================================
D. | Ther. | Ther. | Wind. | The Weather in general.
| Morn. | Aft. | |
----+-------+-------+------------+---------------------------------
1 | 21 | 30 | W |
2 | 18 | 27 | N W |
3 | 26 | 25 | S W | Heavy showers.
4 | 24 | 36 | N W |
5 | 22 | 32 | W |
6 | 22 | 34 | N W | Rain.
7 | 20 | 35 | W | Hard showers.
8 | 20 | 35 | N E | Rain.
9 | 20 | 29 | N | Fair.
10 | 16 | 29 | N | Fair.
11 | 17 | 33 | N W | Fair.
12 | 20 | 35 | W | Fair. Rain at night.
13 | 22 | 33 | W | Fair.
14 | 26 | 30 | W | Hard showers.
15 | 20 | 29 | N | Fair.
16 | 21 | 30 | E | Rain.
17 | 29 | 29 | N E | Cloudy.
18 | 18 | 19 | N E | Rain.
19 | 18 | 33 | W | Fair.
20 | 19 | 33 | W | Fair.
21 | 22 | 31 | W | Fair.
22 | 23 | 23 | W | Heavy showers.
23 | 23 | 25 | W | Heavy showers.
24 | 20 | 36 | W | Fair.
25 | 27 | 36 | W |
26 | 28 | 32 | W |
27 | 24 | 30 | W | Fair.
28 | 19 | 27 | W | Fair.
29 | 23 | 30 | W | Rain.
30 | 30 | 34 | |
31 | 21 | 34 | |
===================================================================
August 1749.
===================================================================
D. | Ther. | Ther. | Wind. | The Weather in general.
| Morn. | Aft. | |
----+-------+-------+------------+---------------------------------
1 | | | |
2 | 18 | 32 | |
3 | 17 | 30 | |
4 | 18 | 33 | |
5 | 22 | 39 | W |
6 | 18 | 37 | N 2 |
7 | 17 | 27 | W |
8 | 14 | 25 | N W |
9 | 12 | 24 | N W |
10 | 13 | 24 | N W |
11 | 11 | 25 | N W |
12 | 14½ | 30 | N W |
13 | 18 | 31 | N W |
14 | 18 | 30 | W |
15 | 15 | 30 | W | Rain.
16 | 23 | 33 | N |
17 | 14 | 34 | N W |
18 | 18 | 37 | W |
19 | 18 | 25 | S W |
20 | 20 | 26 | N E | Rain.
21 | 20 | 25 | N W |
22 | 23 | 34 | N W |
23 | 17 | 34 | W |
24 | 18 | 30 | W |
25 | 20 | 32 | NW by W |
26 | 10 | 24 | N W | Fair.
27 | 12 | 20 | N W | Fair.
28 | 13 | 23 | N W | Fair.
29 | 22 | 24 | W | Fair.
30 | 17 | 25 | E |
31 | 20 | 29 | E |
===================================================================
September 1749.
===================================================================
D. | Ther. | Ther. | Wind. | The Weather in general.
| Morn. | Aft. | |
----+-------+-------+------------+---------------------------------
1 | 19 | 30 | E | Hard showers.
2 | 18 | 20 | E | Rain.
3 | 19 | 25 | E | Rain.
4 | 20 | 25 | E | Foggy.
5 | 23 | 21 | N E | Cloudy.
6 | 23 | 37 | N E | Cloudy.
7 | 24 | 34 | N E | Cloudy.
8 | 24 | 32 | N E | Cloudy.
9 | 23 | 33 | N E | Rain.
10 | 23 | 32 | W | Rain.
11 | 19 | 25 | N E |
12 | 13 | 25 | N E |
13 | 12 | 20 | N E |
14 | 12 | 33 | N E |
15 | 13 | 27 | N E |
16 | 20 | 26 | N E |
17 | 17 | 27 | E |
18 | 16 | 34 | S E |
19 | 12 | 30 | S W |
20 | 17 | 26 | |
21 | 17 | 25 | W |
22 | 15 | 30 | E |
23 | 20 | 29 | E |
24 | 21 | 29 | W |
25 | 23 | 28 | W 3 |
26 | 20 | 15 | E by N | Thunder-storm.
27 | 15 | 19 | N W |
28 | 10 | 20 | N W |
29 | | | |
30 | 6 | 26 | W |
===================================================================
October 1749.
===================================================================
D. | Ther. | Ther. | Wind. |
| M. | Aft. | |
----+-------+-------+------------+---------------------------------
1 | 13 | 25 | W |
2 | 14 | 29 | N W |
3 | 8 | 15 | N |
4 | 13 | 29 | W |
5 | 17 | 30 | E |
6 | 18 | 30 | E |
7 | 16 | 21 | N W |
8 | 11 | 22 | N W |
===================================================================
End of Vol. II.
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NOTES
[1] Mr. Kalm speaks here of the Swedish Liturgy.
[2] Perhaps it is the Gryllus campestris, or common black field cricket
of Europe, of which Rocsel in his work on insects, vol. 2, Gryll. f.
13. has given a fine drawing. F.
[3] A still more infallible remedy, is to wash all the furniture,
infected with that vermin, with a solution of arsenic. F.
[4] In Siberia, and in the province of Wiatka, in the government of
Cazan, in Russia, the inhabitants make use of the knobs, which are
pretty frequently found in birches, to make bowls and other domestic
utensils thereof. They are turned, made pretty thin, and covered with a
kind of varnish, which gives them a pretty appearance; for the utensil
looks yellow, and is marbled quite in a picturesque manner, with brown
veins. The best kind of these vessels are made so thin that they are
semi-diaphanous, and when put into hot water they grow quite pliant,
and may be formed by main force, quite flat, but when again left to
themselves, and grown cold, they return to their original shape. This
kind of wood is called, in Russia, Kap, and the vessels made of it,
kappowie Tchashki, and are pretty high in price, when they are of the
best kind, and well varnished. F.
[5] Though it is very desirable, that the members of the church of
England may enjoy the same religious liberty in America as the rest of
their fellow-subjects and have every part of their religious
establishment among themselves, and that therefore bishops might be
introduced in America, it is however to be feared this will prove one
of the obstacles to the introducing of English bishops in that part of
the world.
[6] See his Journal historique d’un voyage de l’Amerique. Tome v. p. m.
311, and the 13th letter.
[7] This account sufficiently proves, that these hares are a species
distinct from our European reddish grey kind, and also of that species
or variety only, which in the northern parts of Europe and Asia is
white in winter, with black tipped ears, and has a grey coat in summer.
Upon a closer examination naturalists will perhaps find more characters
to distinguish them more accurately. F.
[8] Desm signifies musk in the Swedish, and in some provincial dialects
of the German language; consequently Désman rat is nothing but
Musk-rat, and from hence Mr. de Buffon has formed his Desman or Russian
Musk-rat. F.
[9] The Mink, or Minx, is a kind of small otter, which is called by Dr.
Linnæus, Mustela lutreola, in his system. i. p. 66. F.
[10] The village of Raccoon.
[11] This seems to be nothing but a variety of the Quercus rubra. Linn.
F.
[12] See page 10.
[13] See Catesby’s Natural history, vol. I. pl. 38. Coccothraustes
rubra.
[14] See Catesby’s nat. hist. of Carolina, vol. i. tab. 12. The purple
daw, and tab. 13. the red-winged starling: but as both these drawings
are in a very expensive work, we have, from specimens lately brought
over from America, made a new drawing, which represents them both, and
it is engraved here, tab. I. F.
[15] Probably nothing but an Aurora borealis.
[16] Of this Pigeon of Passage we have given here a plate, tab. ii.
taken from a parcel of birds, lately brought from America, of which we
were favoured with a fine specimen. F.
[17] Of this bird we have given a figure in plate 3, where likewise the
Mocking bird is represented; both drawn after specimens lately brought
from America, and which we were favoured with. F.
[18] Professor Kalm wrote this, when the truly laudable method of
treating the small-pox with a cold regimen, was not yet adopted; and he
thought therefore, the way in which the Americans treated this disease,
was the cause of its being so deleterious. But when the Khalmucks, in
the Russian dominions, get the small-pox, it has been observed, that
very few escape. Of this I believe no other reason can be alledged,
than that the small-pox is always dangerous, either when the open pores
of the human skin are too numerous, which is caused by opening them in
a warm water bath; or when they are too much closed, which is the case
with all the nations, that are dirty and greasy. All the American
Indians rub their body with oils, the Khalmucks never wash themselves,
and rub their bodies and their fur coats with grease; the Hottentots
are I believe known to be patterns of filthiness, their bodies being
richly anointed with their ornamental greasy sheep guts; this shuts up
all the pores; hinders perspiration entirely, and makes the small-pox
always lethal among these nations; to which we may yet add the too
frequent use of spirituous inflammatory liquors, since their
acquaintance with the Europeans. F.
[19] In page 39 of this Volume.
[20] Grass of the savages.
[21] In the Swedish language Wilskt Toback.
[22] Before the English settled here.
[23] See vol. I. page 289.
[24] From Nils Gustafson, the old Swede.
[25] The beetle here described, seems to be the Scarabæus Carolinus,
Linn. Syst. Nat. p. 545, and of Drury Illustrations of Nat. Hist. tab.
35. f. 2. It is common in New York, New Jersey, Pensylvania, Maryland,
and Carolina. F.
[26] Wilskt Hampa.
[27] Allium arvense; odore gravi, capitulis bulbosis rubentibus. See
Gronov. Flora Virginica, 37. This Leek seems to be Dr. Linnæus’s Allium
Canadense, scapo nudo tereti, foliis linearibus, capitulo bulbifero.
Spec. plant. I. p. 431. F.
[28] These three points are common to most insects, and ought therefore
not to be made characteristics of any particular species. They are
called Stemmata, and are a kind of eyes which serve the insects for
looking at distant objects, as the compound eyes do for objects near at
hand. F.
[29] It has been a subject of contest among naturalists, to determine
the winter-retreat of Swallows. Some think, they go to warmer climates
when they disappear in the Northern countries: others say, they creep
into hollow trees, and holes in clefts of rocks, and ly there all the
winter in a torpid state: and others affirm, that they take their
retreat into water, and revive again in spring. The two first opinions
have been proved, and it seems have found credit; the last has been
treated as ridiculous, and almost as an old woman’s tale. Natural
history, as all the other histories, depends not always upon the
intrinsic degree of probability, but upon facts founded on the
testimony of people of noted veracity.—Swallows are seldom seen sinking
down into the water, Swallows have not such organs as frogs or lizards,
which are torpid during winter, ergo, Swallows live not, and cannot
live, under water.—This way of arguing, I believe, would carry us, in a
great many cases, too far; for tho’ it is not clear to every one, it
may however be true: and lizards and frogs are animals of a class
widely different from that of birds, and must therefore of course have
a different structure; hence it is they are classed separately. The
bear and the marmot are in winter in a torpid state, and have however
not such organs as lizards and frogs; and no body doubts of their
being, during some time, in the most rigid climates in a torpid state:
for the Alpine Nations hunt the marmots frequently, by digging their
holes up, and find them so torpid, that they cut their throats, without
their reviving or giving the least sign of life during the operation;
but when the torpid marmot is brought into a warm room and placed
before the fire, it revives from its lethargy. The question must
therefore be decided by fact; nor are they wanting here: Dr. Wallerius,
the celebrated Swedish Chemist, wrote in 1748, September the 6th O. S.
to the late Mr. Klein, Secretary of the City of Dantzick: “That he has
seen more than once Swallows assembling on a reed, till they were all
immersed and went to the bottom; this being preceded by a dirge of a
quarter of an hour’s length. He attests likewise, that he had seen a
Swallow caught during winter out of a lake with a net, drawn, as is
common in Northern countries, under the ice: this bird was brought into
a warm room, revived, fluttered about, and soon after died.”
Mr. Klein applied to many Fermiers generaux of the King of Prussia’s
domains, who had great lakes in their districts, the fishery in them
being a part of the revenue; in winter the fishery thereon is the most
considerable under the ice, with nets spreading more than 200 or 300
fathoms, and they are often wound by screws and engines, on account of
their weight. All the people questioned made affidavits upon oath
before the magistrates. First, The mother of the Countess Lehndorf
said, that she had seen a bundle of Swallows brought from the Frish
Haff (a lake communicating with the Baltic at Pillau) which when
brought into a moderately warm room, revived and fluttered about.
Secondly, Count Schlieben gave an instrument on stamped paper,
importing, that by fishing on the lake belonging to his estate of
Gerdauen in winter, he saw several Swallows caught in the net, one of
which he took up with his hand, brought it into a warm room, where it
lay about an hour, when it began to stir, and half an hour after it
flew about in the room. Thirdly, Fermier general (Amtman) Witkowski
made affidavit, that in the year 1740, three Swallows were brought up
with the net in the great pond at Didlacken; in the year 1741, he got
two Swallows from another part of the pond, and took them home, (they
all being caught in his presence); after an hour’s space they revived
all in a warm room, fluttered about, and died three hours after. 4thly,
Amtman Bönke says, that having had the estate Kleskow in farm, he had
seen nine Swallows brought up in the net from under the ice, all which
he took into a warm room, where he distinctly observed how they
gradually revived; but a few hours after they all died. Another time
his people got likewise some Swallows in a net, but he ordered them
again to be thrown into the water, 5thly, Andrew Rutta, a master
fisherman, at Oletsko, made affidavit, 1747, that 22 years ago, two
Swallows were taken up, by him, in a net, under the ice, and being
brought into a warm room, they flew about. 6thly, Jacob Kosiulo, a
master fisherman, at Stradauen, made affidavit, that in 1736, he
brought up in winter, in a net, from under the ice of the lake at
Raski, a seemingly dead Swallow, which revived in half an hour’s time,
in a warm room, and he saw, a quarter of an hour after, the bird grow
weaker, and soon after dying. 7thly, I can reckon myself among the
eye-witnesses of this paradoxon of natural history. In the year 1735,
being a little boy, I saw several Swallows brought in winter by
fishermen, from the river Vistula, to my father’s house, where two of
them were brought into a warm room, revived, and flew about. I saw them
several times settling on the warm stove, (which the Northern nations
have in their rooms) and I recollect well that the same forenoon they
died, and I had them, when dead, in my hand.
In the year 1754, after the death of my uncle Godefroy Wolf, captain in
the Polish regiment of foot guards; being myself one of his heirs, I
administered for my co-heirs, several estates called the Starosty, of
Dirschau, in Polish Prussia, which my late uncle farmed under the king.
In January the lake of Lybshau, belonging to these estates, being
covered with ice, I ordered the fishermen to fish therein, and in my
presence several Swallows were taken; which the fishermen threw in
again; but one I took up myself, brought it home, which was five miles
from thence, and it revived, but died about an hour after its reviving.
These are facts, attested by people of the highest quality, by some in
public offices, and by others, who, tho’ of a low rank, however made
these affidavits upon oath. It is impossible to suppose
indiscriminately that they were prompted by views of interest, to
assert as a fact, a thing which had no truth in it. It is therefore
highly probable, or rather incontestably true, that Swallows retire in
the Northern countries during winter, into the water, and stay there in
a torpid state, till the return of warmth revives them again in spring.
The question therefore I believe ought for the future to be thus
stated: The swallows in Spain, Italy, France, and perhaps some from
England, remove to warmer climates; some English ones, and some in
Germany and other mild countries, retire into clefts and holes in
rocks, and remain there in a torpid state. In the colder northern
countries the Swallows immerse in the sea, in lakes, and rivers, and
remain in a torpid state, under ice, during winter. There are still
some objections to this latter assertion, which we must remove. It is
said, Why do not rapacious fish, and aquatic quadrupeds and birds,
devour these Swallows? The answer is obvious. Swallows chuse only such
places in the water for their winter retreat, as are near reeds and
rushes; so that sinking down there between them and their roots, they
are by them secured against the rapaciousness of their enemies. But
others object, Why are not these birds caught in such waters as are
continually harrassed by nets? I believe the same answer which has been
made to the first objection, will serve for this likewise. Fishermen
take care to keep off with their nets from places filled with reeds and
rushes, for fear of entangling and tearing their nets; and thus the
situation of Swallows under water, is the reason that they are seldom
disturbed in their silent winter-retreats. What confirms this opinion
still more is, that Swallows were never caught in Prussia, according to
the above-mentioned affidavits, but with those parts of the net which
passed near to the reeds and rushes; and sometimes the Swallows were
yet fastened with their feet to a reed, when they were drawn up by the
net. As to the argument taken from their being so long under water
without corruption, I believe, there is a real difference between
animals suffocated in water, and animals being torpid therein. We have
examples of things being a long time under water; to which we may add
the intense cold of these northern regions, which preserves them. Who
would have thought it, that snails and polypes may be dissected, and
could reproduce the parts severed from their body; if it was not a
fact? Natural history ought to be studied as a collection of facts; not
as the history of our guesses or opinions. Nature varies in an infinite
manner; and Providence has diversified the instinct of animals, and
their œconomy, and adapted it to the various seasons and climates. This
long digression I thought necessary and excusable; and the more so, as
the ingenious great friends to the cause of Natural History, the late
Mr. Collinson, and Mr. Pennant, have both asserted the impossibility
and improbability of this immersion. I revere the memory and the ashes
of the one, and think the friendship of the other an honour to me: but
am assured, that both prefer truth to their private opinion; and can
bear a modest opposition, when it is proposed with candour, with a view
to promote truth, and with sentiments of respect and gratitude, as it
is done by me, in the present case. F.
[30] Hirundo, caudâ aculeatâ, Americana. Catesb. Carol. vol. iii. t. 8.
[31] Hirundo purpurea. Nat. Hist. of Carol. vol. i. t. 51.
[32] It must be carefully distinguished from what is called Currants,
in England, which is the Ribes rubrum. F.
[33] Cratægus tomentosa, Linn. Spec. Pl. p. 682.
[34] Mespilus inermis, foliis ovato-oblongis, serratis, subtus
tomentosis. Gronov. Fl. Virgin. 55.
[35] Caprimulgus minor Americanus. Catesb. Nat. Hist. of Carolina, Vol.
iii. t. 16. Edwards’s Nat. Hist. of Birds, t. 63.
[36] Morus rubra.
[37] Kungsfogel.
[38] The tenth part of an inch.
[39] Pyrus coronaria. Linn. Sp. Plant, p. Malus sylvestris, floribus
odoratis. Gronov. Fl. Virginica. 55.
[40] Azalea nudiflora. Linn. Spec. Plant. p. 214. Azalea ramis infra
flores nudis. Gron. Virg. 21.
[41] Azalea erecta, foliis ovatis, integris, alternis, flore luteo,
piloso, præcoci. Cold. Ebor. 25.
[42] Accordingly about the 29th of May, new stile.
[43] Rana boans. Linn. Syst. I. p. 358. Rana maxima, Americana,
aquatica. Catesb. Carol. II. 72.
[44] Cupressus thyoides. Linn. Spec. pl. p. 1422. Cypressus Americana,
fructu minimo. Miller’s Gard. Dictionary.
[45] Juniperus Virginiana. Linn. Spec. pl. p. 114.
[46] Juniperus communis. Linn. Spec. pl. p. 1470.
[47] An island in the river St. Lawrence, close by the town of
Montreal, in Canada.
[48] See vol. I. page 115. The lower part of the yachts, which is
continually under water, is made of black oak; the upper part is built
of red cedar, because it is sometimes above and sometimes in the water.
[49] Bruchus Pisi.
[50] See vol. i. page 338.
[51] Warglo; Felis Lynx. Linn. The Swedes mention two kinds of lynx,
the one is called the Warglo, or wolf-lynx, and the other the Kattlo,
or cat-lynx. The Germans make the same distinction, and call the former
Wolf-luchs, and the latter Katz-luchs: the former is the biggest, of a
brownish red, mixed with grey and white, on its back, and white towards
the belly, with brownish spots; the latter is smaller, and has a coat
which is more white, and with more spots. F.
[52] Anguis niger. See Catesby’s Nat. Hist. of Carol. ii. t. 48.
[53] It has been found by repeated experience, that the specific
character employed by Dr. Linnæus, for the distinction of the species
of snakes, taken from their Scuta abdominalia & caudalia, or their
Squamæ subcaudales, varies greatly in snakes of the same species, so
that often the difference amounts to ten or more: the whole number of
the scuta sometimes helps to find out the species; care ought however
to be taken, that the snake may not by any accident have lost its tail,
and that it be growing again; in which case, it is impossible to make
use of this character. The character is not quite so good and decisive,
as may be wished, but neither are the marks taken from colours, spots,
stripes, &c. quite constant; and so it is better to make use of an
imperfect character, than none at all. Time, and greater acquaintance
with this class of animals, may perhaps clear up their natural
characters. F.
[54] See vol. i. p. 319.
[55] See the volume for the year 1756, page 10, of the Swedish edition.
[56] William Pen, Esq; and his heirs after him.
[57] See Vol. I. p. 220.
[58] Ibid, p. 224–237.
[59] See an account of that place in Vol. I. p. 228.
[60] See Vol. I. p. 230.
[61] See Vol. I. p. 247, &c.
[62] Commonly called Black-heart Cherries.
[63] That rum is among the spirituous liquors less noxious than any one
of the rest, is chiefly owing to the balsamic quality it gets from the
sugar, which corrects the styptic quality all kinds of brandy and
spirituous liquors have. The older the rum is, and the longer it has
been kept in a great cask, the more is its stypticity corrected. All
which has been lately proved by the clearest experiments, explained and
deducted from the most indisputable principles of chymistry, in a
pamphlet written by that able chymist Mr. Dossie. F.
[64] The New-York Sturgeons which I saw this year brought over, had
short blunt noses, in which particular they are different from the
English ones, which have long noses. F.
[65] Mr. Kalm was certainly mistaken, by thinking the summits of these
mountains without wood, on account of the great degree of heat: for it
is a general notion, founded on experience, that the sun operates not
so much on the tops of mountains, as in plains or vallies, and the cold
often hinders the increase of wood on the summits of high mountains. F.
[66] From the French Bateaux (Boats).
[67] The reader must reckon all this according to the old stile.
[68] I have mentioned them before. See vol. i. p. 176, 177.
[69] Populus glandulis variis basi foliorum adnexis, foliis
cordato-deltoidibus, acuminatis, serrato-angulosis, utrinque
glabris.——An Populus heterophylla Linnæi?
[70] See Vol. I. p. 228, &c.
[71] New Jersey and part of Pensylvania were formerly comprized under
this name.
[72] Mr. Kalm published his third volume just during the time of the
last war. F.
[73] Mr. Kalm is, I believe, not right informed. The French
ecclesiastics have allured some few wretched Indians to their religion
and interest, and settled them in small villages; but by the accounts
of their behaviour, in the several wars of the French and English, they
were always guilty of the greatest cruelties and brutalities; and more
so than their heathen countrymen; and therefore it seems that they have
been rather perverted than converted. On the other hand, the English
have translated the bible into the language of the Virginian Indians,
and converted many of them to the true knowledge of God; and at this
present time, the Indian charity schools, and missions, conducted by
the Rev. Mr. Eleazar Wheelock, have brought numbers of the Indians to
the knowledge of the true God. The society for propagating the gospel
in foreign parts, sends every year many missionaries, at their own
expence, among the Indians. And the Moravian Brethren are also very
active in the conversion of Gentiles; so that if Mr. Kalm had
considered all these circumstances, he would have judged otherwise of
the zeal of the British nation, in propagating the gospel among the
Indians. F.
[74] Romans ii. 24.
[75] See the description of it, p. 241.
[76] See page 251.
[77] See in the first Volume, p. 223, 224.
[78] Cancer Astacus Linn.
[79] Sambucus Canadensis Linn.
[80] This appears to be a new observation, as Linnæus, De Buffon, and
Sarrasin pretend, they only feed on the Acorus, or Reeds, and other
roots. F.
[81] This is the literal meaning of the Swedish word jætte grytor. See
the memoirs of the Swed. Acad. of Sciences for the year 1743, p. 122.
and Kalm’s vol. 1. p. 121.
[82] See the Memoirs of the Royal Academy for the year 1754, page 19,
&c.
[83] In Sweden and in Russia it is usual for people of all ranks to
bathe every week at least one time; this is done in a stove heated by
an oven, to a surprising degree, and which is enough to stifle people
who are not used to it: for commonly the heat is encreased by the hot
steam, caused by throwing red hot stones into water. In these baths, in
Russia, the lower sort of people, men and women, bathe promiscuously,
as the Romans did, and from whom, as Plutarch observes, in his Life of
Cato, the Greeks adopted this indelicate and indecent custom, and which
spread so much, that the Emperor Adrian, and Marcus Antoninus were
obliged to make laws against it, but neither were they long observed,
for we find soon the Council of Laodicea obliged to prescribe a canon
against this brutal custom, and notwithstanding this we find soon after
that not only persons of all ranks, but even clergymen and monks bathed
promiscuously with women, in the same baths; and from thence, it is
probable, this custom passed among the Russians, when christianity took
place among them. Near the bath, in Russia, is commonly a pond, where
the people plunge in, when quite hot, and in winter they welter in the
snow; and Saturdays it is common to see before the bath naked men and
women, each having a bundle of rods in their hand, with which they
gently beat one another, when in the bath. F.
[84] On my travels through the desart plains, beyond the river Volga, I
have had several opportunities of making the same observations on Tea;
and every traveller, in the same circumstances, will readily allow them
to be very just. F.
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