TOWN OF BUFFALO. 91 



CHAPTER XIII. 



Baffled in reaching the Western States Buffalo 4th of July 

 Oncida Indians Fort Erie Early Marriages David- 

 Baxter Petersburyh Separate from Companions Musquit- 

 toes Settlers around Dunville Earing of Wheat Dunville 

 Face of the Country Notices of Nature Breaking Fruit- 

 trees Bar-room Group Junction with Companions Visit 

 a New Settler Politicians Hamilton York. 



As it was my intention to visit the Western States of the 

 Union, my friends agreed to accompany me round the north 

 side of Lake Erie, and cross over to Cleveland, proceeding 

 down the Ohio canal and river, passing north, through Illi 

 nois and Michigan, east by Upper and Lower Canada, and to 

 Britain by the St Lawrence. We could not get information 

 regarding roads or conveyances at the Pavilion, which we left 

 in a stage for Buffalo on the morning of the 3d July, to push 

 our way in the best manner we could, having forwarded our 

 heavy luggage to York. The day being fine, the drive was 

 delightful up the banks of the Niagara ; here a broad smooth 

 flowing stream, divided by islands, and a few feet below the 

 surrounding country. The river does not at any time over 

 flow its banks, seldom varying ten inches in depth, a peculi 

 arity arising from the lakes, through which the waters flow, 

 acting as reservoirs. The soil is clay of good quality, badly 

 fenced, without indication of recent improvements, and ap 

 pearances did not bespeak wealth or industry in the inhabi 

 tants. At the village of Waterloo, we crossed the river in a 

 four-horse ferry-boat, and after passing through a country of 

 recently cleared and inferior soil, reached the Eagle tavern at 

 Buffalo in time for dinner, served in a well-lighted room, 93 

 feet long, and crowded with company. 



Buffalo is situated in the extremity of Lake Erie, at the 

 mouth of the Erie canal, and is the depot of commerce pass 



