

cxlii LIFE OF WILSON. 



complaint increased so much that I could scarcely sit on horse- 

 back, and all night my mouth and throat were parched with a 

 burning thirst and fever. On Sunday I bought some raw eggs 

 which I ate. I repeated the dose at mid-day, and towards 

 evening, and found great benefit from this simple remedy. I 

 inquired all along the road for fresh eggs, and for nearly a 

 week made them almost my sole food, till I completed my 

 cure. The water in these cane swamps is little better than 

 poison; and under the heat of a burning sun, and the fatigues 

 of travelling, it is difficult to repress the urgent calls of thirst 

 On the Wednesday following, I was assailed by a tremendous 

 storm of rain, wind, and lightning, until I and my horse were 

 both blinded by the deluge, and unable to go on. I sought the 

 first most open place, and dismounting stood for half an hour 

 under the most profuse heavenly shower-bath I ever enjoyed. 

 The roaring of the storm was terrible; several trees around me 

 were broken off, and torn up by the roots, and those that stood 

 were bent almost to the ground: limbs of trees of several hun- 

 dred weight flew past within a few yards of me, and I was as- 

 tonished how I escaped. I would rather take my chance in a 

 field of battle, than in such a tornado again. 



" On the fourteenth day of my journey, at noon, I arrived 

 at this place, having overcome every obstacle, alone, and with- 

 out being acquainted with the country; and what surprised the 

 boatmen more, without whisky. On an average I met from 

 forty to sixty boatmen every day, returning from this place 

 and New Orleans. The Chickasaws are a friendly, inoffensive 

 people, and the Choctaws, though more reserved, are equally 

 harmless. Both of them treated me with civility, though I 

 several times had occasion to pass through their camps, where 

 many of them were drunk. The paroquet which I carried 

 with me was a continual fund of amusement to all ages of these 

 people; and as they crowded around to look at it, gave me an 

 opportunity of studying their physiognomies, without breach 

 of good manners. 



" In thus hastily running over the particulars of this jour- 



