THE DIVIDING LINE. 69 



the Irvin, (which were swelled since we saw them before,) that we could reach 

 but five miles this whole day. In the evening we pitched our tent near Miry 

 creek, (though an uncomfortable place to lodge in) purely for the advantage 

 of the canes. Our hunters killed a large doe and two bears, which made all 

 other misfortunes easy. Certainly no Tartar ever loved horse-flesh, nor 

 Hottentot guts and garbage, better than woodsmen do bear. The truth of it 

 is, it may be proper food perhaps for such as work or ride it off, but, with our 

 chaplain's leave, who loved it much, I think it not a very proper diet 

 for saints, who do not mortify the flesh by toil. And now, for the good 

 of mankind, and for the better peopling an infant colony, which has no 

 want but that of inhabitants, I will venture to publish a secret of importance, 

 which our Indian disclosed to me. I asked him the reason why few or none 

 of his countrywomen were barren ? To which curious question he answered, 

 with a broad grin upon his face, they had an infallible secret for that. Upon 

 my being importunate to know what the secret might be, he informed me 

 that, if any Indian woman did not prove with child at a decent time after 

 marriage, the husband, to save his reputation with the women, forthwith en- 

 tered into a bear-diet for six weeks, which in that time produces such healthy 

 effect, that it is great odds but his wife becomes a mother in nine months. 

 And thus much I am able to say, besides, for the reputation of the bear 

 diet, that all the married men of our compatiy were joyful fathers within 

 forty weeks after they got home, and most of the single men had children 

 sworn to them within the same time, our chaplain always excepted, who, 

 with much ado, made a shift to cast out that importunate kind of devil, by 

 dint of fasting and prayer. 



November 1st. By the negligence of one of the men in not hobbling his 

 horse, he straggled so far that he could' not be found. This stopped us all 

 the morning long ; yet, because our time should not be entirely lost, we en- 

 deavoured to observe the latitude at twelve o'clock. Though our observa- 

 tion was not perfect, by reason the wind blew a little too fresh, however, by 

 such a one as we could make, we found ourselves in thirty-six degrees twenty 

 minutes only. Notwithstanding our being thus delayed, and the uneveness 

 of the ground, over which we were obliged to walk, (for most of us 

 served now in the infantry,) we travelled no less than six miles, though as 

 merciful as we were to our poor beasts, another of them tired by the way, 

 and Wcis left behind for the wolves and panthers to feast upon. 



As we marched along, we had the fortune to kill a brace of bucks, as many 

 bears, and one wild turkey. But this was carrymg our sport to wanton- 

 ness, because we butchered more than we were able to transport. We 

 ordered the deer to be quartered and divided among the horses for the lighter 

 carriage, and recommended the bears to our daily attendants, the turkey- 

 buzzards. We always chose to carry venison along with us rather than 

 bear, not only because it was less cumbersome, but likewise because the peo- 

 ple could eat it without bread, which was now almost spent. Whereas the 

 other, being richer food, lay too heavy upon the stomach, unless it were light- 

 ened by something farinaceous. This is what I thought proper to remark, 

 for the .service of all those whose business or diversion shall oblige them to 

 live any time in the woods. And because I am persuaded that very useful 

 matters may be found out by searching this great wilderness, especially the 

 upper parts of it, about the mountains, I conceive it will help to engage able 

 men in that good work, if I recommend a wholesome kind of food, of very 

 small weight and very great nourishment, that will secure them fi om starving, 

 in case they should be so unlucky as to meet with no game. The chief dis- 

 couiagement at present from penetrating far into the woods i.«; the trouble of 

 carrying a load of provisions. I must own famine is a frightful monster, and 



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