JOURNAL 



increasing, and promises to be a town of considerable tnde. It 

 is situated at a spot which seems likely to become a port for 

 shipping to Princeton and a pretty large district of Indiana. I 

 find that the land speculators have made entry of the most eligible 

 tracts of land, which will impede the partial, though not the final 

 progress of population and improvement in this part of the state. 



902. On our way to Princeton, we see large flocks of fine wild 

 turkeys, and whole herds of pigs, apparently very fat. The pigs 

 are wild also, but have become so from neglect. Some of the 

 inhabitants, who prefer sport to work, live by shooting these wild 

 turkeys and pigs, and, indeed, sometimes, I understand, they 

 shoot and carry off those of their neighbours before they are 

 wild. 



903. June 25th. Arrived at Princeton, Indiana, about 20 miles 

 from the river. I was sorry to see very little doing in this town. 

 They cannot all keep stores and taverns ! One of the store 

 keepers told me he does not sell more than ten thousand dollars 

 value per annum : he ought, then, to manufacture something 

 and not spend nine tenths of his time in lolling with a segar in his 

 mouth. 



904. June z6th. At Princeton, endeavouring to purchase 

 horses, as we had now gone far enough down the Ohio. While 

 waiting in our tavern, two men called in armed with rifles, and 

 made enquiries for some horses they suspected to be stolen. 

 They told us they had been almost all the way from Albany, to 

 Shawnee town after them, a distance of about 150 miles. I 

 asked them how they would be able to secure the thieves, if they 

 overtook them, in these wild woods ; &quot; O &quot; said they, &quot; shoot 

 them off the horses.&quot; This is a summary mode of executing 

 justice, thought I, though probably the most effectual, and, indeed, 

 only one in this state of society. A thief very rarely escapes here ; 

 not nearly so often as in more populous districts. The fact was, 

 in this case, however, we discovered afterwards, that the horses 

 had strayed away, and had returned home by this time. But, 

 if they had been stolen, the stealers would not have escaped. 

 When the loser is tired, another will take up the pursuit, and the 

 whole country is up in arms till he is found. 



905. June 2jth. Still at Princeton. At last we get suited with 

 horses. Mine costs me only 135 dollars with the bridle and 

 saddle, and that I am told is 18 dollars too much. 



906. June 28th. Left Princeton, and set out to see Mr. Birk- 

 beck s settlement, in Illinois, about 35 miles from Princeton. 

 Before we got to the Wabash we had to cross a swamp of half a 

 mile wide ; we were obliged to lead our horses, and walk up to 

 the knees in mud and water. Before we got half across we began 

 to think of going back ; but, there is a sound bottom under it 

 all, and we waded through it as well as we could. It is, in fact, 

 nothing but a bed of very soft and rich land, and only wants 

 draining to be made productive. We soon after came to the 



