90 THE HISTORY Of 



19lh. From hence we despatched the cart with our baggage under a 

 guard, and crossed Meherrin river, which was not thirty yards wide at that 

 place. By tlie help of fresh liorses, that had been sent us, we now began to 

 mend our pace, which was also quickened by the strong inclinations we had 

 to get home. In tlie distance of five miles we forded Meherrin creek, which 

 was very near as broad as the river. About eight miles farther we came to 

 Sturgeon creek, so called from the dexterity an Occanechy Indian showed 

 there in catching one of those royal fish, which was performed after the fol- 

 lowing manner. In tlie summer time it is no unusual thing for sturgeons to 

 sleep on the surface of the water, and one of them having wandered up into 

 this creek in the spring, was floating in that drowsy condition. The Indian, 

 above-mentioned, ran up to the neck into the creek a little below the place 

 where he discovered the fish, expecting the stream would soon bring his 

 game down to him. He judged the matter right, and as soon as it came 

 within his reach, he whipped a running noose over his jole. This waked the 

 sturgeon, which being strong in its own element darted immediately under 

 water and dragged the Indian after him. The man made it a point of honour 

 to keep his hold, which he did to the apparent danger of being drowned. 

 Sometimes both the Indian and the fish disappeared for a quarter of a mi- 

 nute, and then rose at some distance from where they dived. At this rate 

 they continued flouncing about, sometimes above and sometimes under wa- 

 ter, for a considerable time, till at last the hero suffocated his adversary, and 

 hauled his body ashore in triumph. 



About six miles beyond that, we passed over Wicco-quoi creek, named so 

 from the multitude of rocks over which the water tumbles, in a fresh, with a 

 bellowing noise. Not far from where we went over, is a rock much higher 

 than the rest, that strikes the eye with agreeable horror, and near it a very 

 talkative echo, that, like a fluent help-mate, will return her good man seven 

 words for one, and after all be sure to have the last. It speaks not only the 

 language of men, but also of birds and beasts, and often a single wild goose 

 is cheated into the belief that some of his company are not far off", by hear- 

 ing his own cry multiplied ; audit is pleasant to see in what a flutter the poor 

 bird is, when he finds himself disappointed. On the banks of this creek are 

 ^'ery broad low-grounds in many places, and abundance of good high-land, 

 though a little subject to floods. 



We had but two miles more to captain Embry's, where we found the 

 housekeeping much better than the house. Our bountiful landlady had set 

 her oven and all her spits, pots, gridirons and saucepans to work, to diversify 

 our entertainment, though afl:er all it proved but a Mahometan feast, there 

 being nothing to drink but water. The worst of it was, we had unluckily 

 outrode the baggage, and for that reason were obliged to lodge very socia- 

 bly in the same apartment with the family, where, reckoning women and 

 children, we mustered in all no less than nine persons, who all pigged loving- 

 ly together. 



20th. In the morning colonel Boiling, who had been surveying in the 

 neighbourhood, and Mr. Walker, who dwelt not far off", came to visit us; and 

 the last of these worthy gentlemen, fearing that our drinking so much water 

 might incline us to pleurisies, brought us a kind supply both of wine and 

 cider. It was noon before we could disengage ourselves from the courtesies 

 of this place, and then the two gentlemen above-mentioned were so good as 

 to accompany us that day's journey, though they could by no means approve 

 of our Lithuanian fashion of dismounting now and then, in order to walk 

 part of the way on foot. We crossed Nottoway river not far from our land- 

 lord's house, where it seemed to be about twenty-five yards over. This 

 river divides the county of Prince George from that of Brunswick. We had 



