Between Albany and Saratoga. 283 



Our laft night's lodging was about ten 

 Englifh miles from Albany. During the 

 laft war, which was juft now ended, the in- 

 habitants had all retreated from thence to 

 Albany, becaufe the French Indians had 

 taken or killed all the people they met with, 

 fet the houfes on fire, and cut down the 

 frees. Therefore, when the inhabitants re- 

 turned, they found no houfes, and were 

 forced to ly under a few boards which were 

 huddled together. 



Th-e river was almoft a mufket-fhot 

 broad, and the ground on both fides culti- 

 vated. The hills near the river were fleep, 

 and the earth of a pale colour. 



The American Elder fSambucus occidenta- 

 lism) grows in incredible quantities along 

 thofe hills, which appear quite white, from 

 the abundance of flowers on the Elder. 



All this day along, we had one current" 

 after another, full of Hones, which were 

 great obftacles to our getting forward . The 

 water in the river was very clear, and gene- 

 rally mallow, being only from two to four 

 feet deep, running very violently againft us 

 in moft. places. The more v/as covered 

 with pebbles, and a grey fand. The hills 

 confifted of earth, were high, and flood per- 

 pendicular towards the river, which was 



near 



* Sainbucus Canadfnjis Linn. 



