On the supposed Welch- Indians. 81 



These hints, however, are thrown out rather to 

 excite inquiry, than by way of advancing any decided 

 opinion on the subject. Having never met with any 

 of the persons who had seen these white Americans, 

 nor even received their testimony near the source, I 

 have always entertained considerable doubts about 

 the fact. Last evening, however, Mr. John Childs, 

 of Jessamine-county, a gentleman with whom I have 

 been long acquainted, and who is well known to be 

 a man of veracity, communicated a relation to me, 

 which, at all events, appears to merit serious atten- 

 tion. 



After he had related it in conversation, I requested 

 him to repeat it, and committed it to writing. It has 

 certainly some internal marks of authenticity. The 

 country which is described was altogether unknown, 

 in Virginia, when the relation was given, and was 

 probably very little known to the Shawnees-Indians. 

 Yet the account of it agrees, very remarkably, with 

 later discoveries. On the other hand, the story of 

 the large animal, though by no means incredible, has 

 something of the air of fable ; and it does not satis- 

 factorily appear, how the long period which the party 

 were absent was spent : though Indians are, however, 

 so much accustomed to loiter away their time, that 

 many weeks, and even months, may probably have 

 been spent in indolent repose. 



Without detaining you any more with preliminary 

 remarks, I will proceed to the narration, as I received 

 it from Mr. Childs. 



VOL. I. PAKT II. L 



