SPOTTSWOOD'S EXPEDITION OF 1716 
267 
Fontaine, “ where we dined and drank a bowl of punch.” And 
again, ‘‘ We made large fires, pitched our tents, and cut boughs 
to lie on, had good liquor, and at ten we went to sleep.” 
And 3^et our convivial geographers did not shrink from liard 
riding and hard work. Their journey followed the course of the 
Ra])pahannock to its fork, and thence pursued the Rapidau to 
its sources, whence, passing into the valley of the headwaters of 
the James, they crossed the Blue Ridge at Swift Run gap, de- 
scended the western flank, forded the Shenandoah, “ drank some 
healths,” as by invariable custom, on the other side, ascended 
the Massanutten, and there celebrated the completion of their 
journey with joyous salvos and flowing goblets. The route was 
no eas}’’ one, as it wound its way through those primeval forests, 
untrodden save by the wild bea.st and the wilder Indian. An 
average day’s journey was less than ten miles. “ We had a 
rugged way,” writes Fontaine, on the 2d of September. “We 
passed over a great many small runs of water, some of which 
were ver\^ deep and others very iniiy. Several of our com})any 
were dismounted, some were down with their horses, and some 
thrown off.” On September 3 they “ came to a thicket so tightly 
laced together that we had a great deal of trouble to get through. 
Our baggage was injured, our clothes torn all to rags, and the 
saddles and holsters also torn.” The axmen were constantly in 
request, clearing away the vines and briars to make a bridle- 
path. But cheerful sjjirits and brave hearts carried them through 
every danger. Each night they would make large fires, pitch 
tlieir tents, and after hearty feasting and cheerful talk fall asleep 
on their rough couches of green boughs, keeping always a sentry 
at the governor’s door. All their troubles were lightl\' taken. 
“ This was some hindrance,” says Fontaine of one of them, “ and 
did a little damage, but afforded a great deal of diversion.” 
Game and fish were naturally plentiful, and sport Avas thus 
added t(> the ideasures of their journe}^ From the beginning 
they had venison in abundance, which they roasted before their 
camj) fires on wooden forks and washed down with generous 
draughts of wine. Bears were killed almost daih' — often three 
in one day. On the western sloi)e of the Blue Ridge the}' saw 
“ the footing of elk and buffaloes and their beds.” 'I'nrkeys 
abounded all along their way. ^^’hen they chanced upon neither 
deer nor turkeys the}' “ ate part of one of the bears, which tasted 
very well and would be go«>d and might pass for veal if one did 
not know what it was.” While they camped on the banks of 
