TRAVELS IN 
436 
place, I could not help obferving the fhlemnity 
of the town, the filence and the retirednefs of the 
red inhabitants ; but a very few of them were to 
be feen, the doors of their dwellings fhut, and if 
a child chanced to ftray out, it was quickly drawn 
in doors again. I afked the meaning of this, and 
was immediately anfwered, that it being the white 
people’s beloved day or Sabbath, the Indians 
kept it religioufty facred to the Great Spirit. 
Laft night was clear and cold, wind North 
Weft, and this morning, January 2d, 1788, the 
face of the earth was perfectly white with a 
beautiful fparkling fro It. Sat off for Augufta 
with a company of traders, four men with about 
thirty horfes, twenty of which were loaded with 
leather and furs, each pack or load fuppofed to 
weigh one hundred and fifty pounds upon ar* 
average. In three days we arrived at the Apa- 
lachucla or Chata Uche river ; eroded at the point 
towns Chehaw and Uffeta : thefe towns almoft; 
join each other, yet fpeak two languages, as ra- 
dically different perhaps as the Mufcogulge’s and 
Chinefe, After leaving the river we met with 
nothing material, or worth particular obferva- 
tion, until our arrival at Oakmulge, towards e- 
vening, where we encamped in expanfive ancient 
Indian fields, in view of the foaming flood of the 
river, now raging over its banks. Here were two 
companies of traders from Augufta, bound to the 
Nation, confifting of fifteen or twenty men, with 
feventv or eighty horfes, moft of which had their 
loads of merchandize : they crofted the river this 
morning and loft fix horfes in the attempt ; they 
were drowned, being entangled in the vines un- 
der water at landing. But the river now falling 
again, we were in hopes that by next morning 
