264 Journal of Col. Croghan. 



the whole northward Indians would join in taking revenge for the 

 insult and murder of their people ; this alarmed those savages 

 very much, who began excusing themselves, saying their fathers, 

 the French, had spirited them up, telling them that the Indians 

 were coming with a body of southern Indians to take their country 

 from them, and enslave them ; that it was this that induced them 

 to commit this outrage. After dividing the plunder, (they left 

 great part of the heaviest effects behind, not being able to carry 

 them,) they set off with us to their village at Ouattonon, in a great 

 hurry, being in dread of a pursuit from a large party of Indians 

 they suspected were coming after me. Our course was through 

 a thick woody country, crossing a great many swamps, morasses, 

 and beaver ponds. We travelled this day about forty- two miles. 



9th. An hour before day we set out on our march ; passed 

 through thick woods, some high lands, and small savannahs, badly 

 watered. Travelled this day about thirty miles. 



10th. We set out very early in the morning, and marched 

 through a high country, extremely well timbered, for three hours ; 

 then came to a branch of the Ouabache, which we crossed. The 

 remainder of this day we travelled through fine rich bottoms, 

 overgrown with reeds, which make the best pasture in the world, 

 the young reeds being preferable to sheaf oats. Here is great 

 plenty of wild game of all kinds. Came this day about twenty- 

 eight, or thirty miles. 



11th. At day -break we set off, making our way through a thin 

 woodland, interspersed with savannahs. I suffered extremely by 

 reason of the excessive heat of the weather, and scarcity of wa- 

 ter ; the little springs and runs being dried up. Travelled this 

 day about thirty miles. 



12th. We passed through some large savannahs and clear 

 woods ; in the afternoon we came to the Ouabache ; then marched 

 along it through a prodigious rich bottom, overgrown with reeds 

 and wild hemp ; all this bottom is well watered, and an exceeding 

 fine hunting ground. Came this day about thirty miles. 



13th. About an hour before day we set out ; travelled through 

 such bottoms as of yesterday, and through some large meadows, 

 where no trees, for several miles together, are to be seen. Buf- 

 faloes, deer, and bears are here in great plenty. We travelled 

 about twenty-six miles this day. 



14th. The country we travelled through this day, appears the 



