90 
THE HISTORY OF 
9 - 
19th. From hence we despatched the cart with our baggage under a 
guard, and crossed Meherrin river, which was not thirty yards wide at that 
place. By the help of fresh horses, that had been sent us, we now began to 
mend our pace, which was also quickened by the strong inclinations we had 
to get home. In the distance of five miles we forded Meherrin creek, which 
was very near as broad as the river. About eight miles farther we came to 
Sturgeon creek, so called from the dexterity an Occanechy Indian showed 
there in catching one of those royal fish, which was performed after the fol- 
lowing manner. In the summer time it is no unusual thing for sturgeons to 
sleep on the surface of the water, and one of them having wandered up into 
this creek in the spring, was floating in that drowsy condition. The Indian, 
above-mentioned, ran up to the neck into the creek a little below the place 
where he discovered the fish, expecting the stream would soon bring his 
game down to him. He judged the matter right, and as soon as it came 
within his reach, he whipped a running noose over his jole. This waked the 
sturgeon, which being strong in its own element darted immediately under 
water and dragged the Indian after him. The man made it a point of honour 
to keep his hold, which he did to the apparent danger of being drowned. 
Sometimes both the Indian and the fish disappeared for a quarter of a mi- 
nute, and then rose at some distance from where they dived. Ati this rate 
they continued flouncing about, sometimes above and sometimes under wa- 
ter, for a considerable time, till at last the hero suffocated his adversary, and 
hauled his body ashore in triumph. 
About six miles beyond that, we passed over Wicco-quoi creek, named so 
from the multitude of rocks over which the water tumbles, in a fresh, with a 
bellowing noise. Not far from where we went over, is a rock much higher 
than the rest, that strikes the eye with agreeable horror, and near it a very 
talkative echo, that, like a fluent help-mate, will return her good man seven 
words for one, and after all be sure to have the last. It speaks not only the 
language of men, but also of birds and beasts, and often a single wild goose 
is cheated into the belief that some of his company are not far off, by hear- 
ing his own cry multiplied ; and it is pleasant to see in what a flutter the poor 
bird is, when he finds himself disappointed. On the banks of this creek are 
very broad low-grounds in many places, and abundance of good high-land, 
though a little subject to floods. 
We had but two miles more to captain Embry’s, where we found the 
housekeeping much better than the house. Our bountiful landlady had set 
her oven and all her spits, pots, gridirons and saucepans to work, to diversify 
our entertainment, though after all it proved but a Mahometan feast, there 
being nothing to drink but water. The worst of it was, we had unluckily 
outrode the baggage, and for that reason were obliged to lodge very socia- 
bly in the same apartment with the family, where, reckoning women and 
children, we mustered in all no less than nine persons, who all pigged loving- 
ly together. 
20th. In the morning colonel Bolling, who had been surveying in the 
neighbourhood, and Mr. Walker, who dwelt not far off, came to visit us ; and 
the last of these worthy gentlemen, fearing that our drinking so much water 
might incline us to pleurisies, brought us a kind supply both of wine and 
cider. It was noon before we could disengage ourselves from the courtesies 
of this place, and then the two gentlemen above-mentioned were so good as 
to accompany us that day’s journey, though they could by no means approve 
of our Lithuanian fashion of dismounting now and then, in order to walk 
part of the way on foot. We crossed Nottoway river not far from our land- 
lord’s house, where it seemed to be about twenty-five yards over. This 
river divides the county of Prince George from that of Brunswick. We had 
