xxxviii 



LIFE OF WILSON. 



gress of the traveller, which require all his resolution and activity 

 to overcome. Added to which, he had a severe attack of the dy- 

 sentery, when far remote from any situation which could be pro- 

 ductive of either comfort or relief ; and he was under the painful 

 necessity of trudging on, debilitated and dispirited with a disease, 

 which threatened to put a period to his existence. An Indian hav- 

 ing been made acquainted with his situation, recommended the 

 eating of strawberries, which were then fully ripe and in great 

 abundance. On this delightful fruit and newly laid eggs, taken 

 raw, he wholly lived for several days ; and he attributed his res- 

 toration to health to these simple remedies. 



Previously to entering the wilderness, Mr. Wilson had the 

 melancholy satisfaction of shedding tears of sorrow at the grave 

 of his friend, the amiable and intrepid Governor Lewis; who, dis- 

 tracted by base imputations and cruel neglect, closed his honorable 

 and useful life by an inglorious act of suicide, in the cabin of a 

 settler, named Grinder; and was buried close by the common 

 path, with nothing but a few loose rails thrown over his grave. ^ 



On the sixth of June our traveller reached Neworleans, dis- 

 tant from Natchez two hundred and fifty-two miles. As the sickly 

 season was fast approaching, it was deemed advisable not to tarry 

 long in this place ; and his afiairs being despatched, he took pas- 

 sage in a ship bound to Newyork, at which place he arrived the 

 thirtieth of July ; and soon reached Philadelphia, enriched with a 

 copious stock of materials for his work, including several beautiful 

 and hitherto unknown birds. 



In the newly settled country through which Mr. Wilson had 

 to pass, in his last journey, it was reasonable not to expect much 

 encouragement in the way of subscriptions. Yet he was honored 

 with the names of many respectable individuals ; and received 

 not only civilities, but also kind treatment. From his journal 



* For an interesting account of the death of Captain Lewis, hy Mr. Wilson, see the Port Folio^ 

 new series, vol. vii, page 36. 



