MY INDIAN COMPANIONS. 99 



and the Ohio, sheltered by an enormous rock with wave- 

 worn base, a company of Cherokee Indians had pitched 

 their tents for the purpose of collecting their winter 

 supply of hickory nuts, and of hunting the bears, deer, 

 and hares attracted to the spot, like the Redskins, by its 

 abundant harvest. 



My companion, who spoke with tolerable ease the 

 Cherokee language, expressed a desire to land near their 

 wigwams ; and I joined in his wish all the more readily 

 that I was very anxious to gain some knowledge of their 

 customs, as well as to share in their swan-catching ex- 

 peditions. An instinctive sympathy rapidly unites per- 

 sons of the same tastes, whatever the nation to which 

 they belong. These Indians, partial, like myself and my 

 friend, to hunting and fishing and adventure, quickly 

 surrounded us ; and by the evening we were one and all 

 the best friends in the world. 



Next morning, at daybreak, I heard a great commotion 

 around our boat, and opening the cabin-door, discovered 

 a dozen Indians, both men and women, launching in the 

 water their large maple -tree canoe, and making it ready 

 for their transit into the State of Indiana. 



My friend and I obtained the favour of accompanying 

 the hunters, and we seated ourselves in the stern of the 

 boat. The women took the oars ; the men, stretched at 

 the bottom, tranquilly finished their interrupted sleep. 



Scarcely had we disembarked on the opposite bank 

 before the women, who had securely moored the canoe, 

 began to seek for nuts ; while the hunters, directing their 

 course towards the lake, forced a passage through the 

 cotton-trees, which rose above our route and delayed our 

 advance. It is impossible for any person who has not 



