117 



nate for him that lie did not go to France ; for, I 

 am persuaded he could not have lived more 

 happily and at ease, in any part of the world, than 

 in this independent country, which is abundantly 

 supplied with all of the necessaries, and many of 

 the luxuries of life. 



Saturday, 10. In the middle of an extensive 

 plain. Early in the morning, accompanied by my 

 young guide, I left our last night's lodgings, to go 

 to the place where I expect to find my people, 

 which is about two days' march further into the 

 great plain, than where I separated from my inter- 

 preter, on the 6th inst. After walking all day, 

 without finding either wood or water, at eight 

 o'clock at night, we have concluded to lay our- 

 selves down, in order if possible, to get a little rest. 

 In the day time, the snow melted a little ; but in 

 the evening it has frozen hard, and our feet and 

 our legs, as high as our knees, are so much cover- 

 ed w T ith ice, that we cannot take of our shoes ; and 

 having nothing with which to make a fire, in order 

 to thaw them, we must pass the night with them 

 on. A more serious evil is, the risk me must run 

 of being killed by wild beasts. 



Sunday, 11. Ca-ta-buy-se-pu, or the River that 

 calls. This stream is so named by the supersti- 

 tious Natives, who imagine that a spirit is constant- 

 ly going up or down it ; and they say that they 



