1763.] PETER COLLINSON. 245 



I did not see any wild animals in all that journey, except two 

 or three deer ; only one tame bear at the Fort ; nor so much as a 

 wolf or fox, to be seen or heard, although I lay six nights in the 

 woods, on the banks of the Ohio and Monongahela, and was two 

 nights very late on the Alleghany Mountains. 



I am much astonished in reading the histories of Europe and 

 Asia, those old, settled, clear countries, that they should abound 

 so much with wild beasts of prey, and others for food, as travellers 

 give relation of, as also much wild water-fowl, and plenty of fish ; 

 all which we had in great plenty sixty years ago, but now very 

 few are to be seen. All our small creeks used to abound with 

 trouts, but I have not seen one catched these three or four years, 

 though travelled more than ever. I did not see one fish catched 

 in all my last journey, but at the Water ee, so many great rivers 

 as I crossed, nor one wild goose, a very few ducks, and but three 

 or four small flocks of turkeys. 



It's very provoking to have so many of thy curious roots stole. 

 That rogue was too greedy to take all ; however, my dear friend, 

 I shall endeavour to furnish thee again, though they are now very 

 scarce with us, as most of the land is cleared where they used to 

 grow, quite to the mountains. What our people will do for fencing 

 and firewood fifty years hence, I can't imagine.* 



* * By my friend Fishek, by whom I wrote largely, I sent 

 the leaves and flower of my pretty Tipitiivitchet. 



I every day expect Colonel Bouquet at my house, Avhen I in- 

 tend to mention the Hickory nuts from Illinois. 



By the Indians' description, I am apt to think the Bonduc 

 \_G-ymnocladus Canadensis, Lam.] grows down the Ohio, towards 

 the Shawnee town. 



I believe the Striped Rose is not a native of Carolina. It is 

 pretty double, and smells like the garden roses. 



The long-leaved Sarracenia is a charming plant grows near two 

 feet high ; but I found one of that kind on the Wateree that grew 

 six inches high was delicately striped with reel and green. I dug 

 up several roots and planted them in a box, with many other 



* The apprehensions felt by John Bartkam of an approaching scarcity of tim- 

 ber, for fuel and fencing, were extensively prevalent in Pennsylvania, within my 

 recollection ; but although more than eighty years have elapsed since the date of 

 this letter, there is nothing like a scarcity of wood yet felt. As it regards fuel, 

 the discovery of our vast coalfields, has for ever dissipated all fear of that want. 



