144 ExrKDlTlON TO THE 



time, we observed a large tree that had fallen across, 

 and that afforded a safe and commodious bridge for our- 

 selves and baggage, while our horses swam over. The 

 afternoon of that day was consumed in passing through 

 swamps, in which our horses were frequently in danger of 

 being lost. At one place three of the horses with 

 their riders, were near being severely hurt, by the fruit- 

 less efforts of the former to get over a bad hole. We 

 were happy to get through without any more serious injury 

 than that of being smeared with dirt from head to foot, 

 and with the loss merely of a few spurs that stuck to the 

 bottom of the pool. After one of the most trying days that 

 any of us ever recollected having undergone, we encamp- 

 ed, at sunset, in a place so low that we could scarcely get 

 a spot dry enough to spread our blankets ; and before we 

 had partaken of our evening meal, the mosquitoes arose 

 in such numbers around us, that we were deprived of all 

 rest for the night. We had likewise the mortification of 

 finding that our horses were almost as badly off for grass 

 this evening as the last; the distance travelled this day 

 did not exceed twenty miles. Our course had been entirely 

 directed by the compass, and was nearly west. An Indian 

 trail which we observed in a direction north 40° west, was 

 followed for a while, with the hope that it would take us 

 to an Indian village, but it only lead us back to the Elk- 

 heart, which we found as deep and as rapid as at our last 

 encampment. We observed here the remains of a frail 

 canoe which, for a moment, we thought might assist us in 

 crossing the river ; but the weakness of this little vessel, 

 soon convinced us of the impossibility of trusting to it ; it 

 was made of the bark of the linden or elm, procured by 

 cutting through to the wood transversely, first at the foot of 

 the tree, and then again about twelve feet above this. A 



