Sass 
Be) 
1772. his followers, joined us from the Eaftward. This _ 
\—.— leader prefented Matonabbee and myfelf witha 
February. ; 
foot of tobacco each, and a two-quart keg of | 
A JOURNEY TO-THE 
brandy, which he intended asa prefent for the’ 
Southern, Indians; but being informed by my | 
companions, that there was not the leaft proba- | 
bility of meeting any, he did not think it worth | 
any farther carriage. The tobacco was indeed ve~ | 
ry acceptable, as our ftock of that article had been | 
expended fome time. . Having been fo long with-" 
out tafting {pirituous liquors, ] would not partake’ | 
of the brandy, but left it entirely to the Indians, 
to whom, as they were numerous, it was fearce* | 
ly a tafte for each. Few of the Northern Indians’ | 
are fond of {pirits, efpecially thofe who keep at a | 
diftance from the Fort : fome who are near, and’ . 
who ufually fhoot geefe for us in the Spring, will’ 
drink it at free coft as faft as the Southern Indi- — 
ans, but few of them are ever fo imprudent as to’ 
buy it. ‘ 
The little river lately mentioned, as well as the’ | 
adjacent lakes and ponds, being well-(tocked with) 
beaver, and the land abounding with moofe and? 
buffalo, we were induced to make but flow pro- | 
grefs in our journey. Many days were {pent in 
hunting, feafting, and drying a large quantity of 
flefh to take with us, particularly that of the buf 
falo; for my companions knew by experience, 
that a few days walk to the Eaftward of our pre= 
fent fituation would bring us to a part where we > 
fhould not fee any of thofe animals. 
The | 
