154 SETTLER FROM PERTHSHIRE. 



the object of my search resided, and which I reached at two 

 P.M. After resting the horse some time, I returned up the 

 river, and in two hours got over a distance which in the early 

 part of the day occupied seven hours. Many adventures are 

 related throughout Canada of people having lost themselves 

 in the woods ; and there is so much danger in a bush excur 

 sion, that people unaccustomed to follow tracks in the wilder 

 ness, ought never to incur the hazard. A stubbornness of 

 disposition led me to make an attempt to regain the river 

 without a compass. Guiding my course by the sun, my suc 

 cess was complete, but had clouds arisen to obscure it, my 

 situation would have been unpleasant. 



On introducing myself to Mr B , he said he had heard 



of my arrival in the country, and welcomed me kindly. He 

 had only been settled a few days, and was engaged in im 

 proving his house, with the assistance of an Indian, who 

 understood cabinet-making. The Indian was preparing a 

 duck for dinner, of which I partook, sitting on a chest, and 

 having another for a table. The duck might be a canvass- 

 back, but I made no enquiry on the subject, and it was with 

 out feathers, by which alone I could have determined the 

 species. No food could be more grateful to my palate, and 



I rejoiced at so opportune an arrival. Mr B , with the 



understanding of Government, purchased the Indian im 

 provements, that is, paid them for the house and cleared land ; 

 and was to pay afterwards the ordinary price of land to Go 

 vernment. He was said to have farmed in Perthshire, Scot 

 land, and resided some time in the state of New York before 

 coming to Canada. Mentioning to him that I had been told 

 of his leaving the States in disgust with the people, he as 

 sured me such was not the case, as he felt ashamed of having 

 left his acquaintance there, who had shown him the utmost 

 kindness, and whom he respected and loved. 



On my return to the Nellis Settlement, I passed one or 

 two habitations of white men on the river side, and seldom 

 enjoyed a more agreeable ride. The sun was low in the 

 horizon, and gilded every object with a rich and soothing 

 hue, so different from the fierce rays of summer noonday, that 

 an admirer of nature seldom loses an opportunity of viewing 



