232 OAK PLAINS TRAVELLERS. 



and the latter with a bow, perfectly naked, with exception 

 of a piece of blue cloth round their loins, and a few quills 

 twisted into their hair, approached me, and whom I saluted 

 with a nod of the head. They spoke in a language which I did 

 not comprehend ; they seemed equally unsuccessful with me ; 

 and we parted, smiling at the fruitlessness of our attempts. 

 When nearly across the prairie, after passing the river, a 

 waggon overtook me, in which were two young men, who 

 offered me a seat, which I readily accepted. On learning the 

 route I had travelled, they particularly enquired about the 

 waggons I had passed between Detroit and Chicago, as they 

 expected their parents to be then moving from New England 

 to join them in Illinois, and were anxiously looking for their 

 arrival. After riding about a mile we came to a tavern called 

 the Doctor s, inhabited by a practitioner of medicine, getting 

 the appellation of Doctor, although in all probability not 

 holding a diploma. 



The Doctor, on our arrival, was drawing water from a well 

 built with stones, which is uncommon in this part of the 

 country, few people taking so much pains to keep their water 

 free of mud. The travellers acted as their own ostler. 

 On entering the house, which was a small log hut of one 

 apartment, I found a wife, four or five children of different 

 ages, and two travellers, one of whom was called squire, 

 which is, I believe, synonymous with judge, and corresponds 

 with justice of the peace in Britain. For some time I was 

 puzzled to conceive where we were all to sleep, and at length 

 four of us were shown up a ladder into a garret, or cock-loft, 

 in which there were two beds. I took possession of one in 

 partnership with the squire, who told me, before going to 

 sleep, that he had lately suffered much from fever, and find 

 ing himself unwell, he had stopt here for the night, instead of 

 proceeding to Chicago. On rising at daybreak, I found 

 two travellers sleeping on the floor at the foot of the ladder. 

 The Doctor, his wife, and two children, lying in bed in the 

 ordinary way, and other two children lying across their feet. 

 After seeing the exertions made by this family to accommo 

 date strangers, and the consequent uncomfortableness of their 

 own situation, I felt thankful for the poor half bed allotted me. 



