cliv 
LIFE OF WILSON. 
day, and towards evening, and found great benefit from this sim- 
ple remedy. I inquired all along the road for fresh eggs, and for 
nearly a week made them almost my sole food, till I completed my 
cure. The water in these cane swanips is little better than poison; 
and under the heat of a burning sun, and the fatigues of travelling, 
it is difficult to repress the urgent calls of thirst. On the Wednes- 
day following, I was assailed by a tremendous storm of rain, wind, 
and lightning, until I and my horse were both blinded by the del- 
uge, and unable to go on. I sought the first most open place, and 
dismounting stood for half an hour under the most profuse heaven- 
ly shower-bath I ever enjoyed. The roaring of the storm w^as ter- 
rible ; several trees around me w ere broken off, and torn up by the 
roots, and those that stood were bent almost to the ground : limbs 
of trees of several hundred weight flew past within a few yards of 
me, and I was astonished how I escaped. I would rather take my 
chance in a field of battle, than in such a tornado again. 
On the fourteenth day of my journey, at noon, I arrived at 
this place, having overcome every obstacle, alone, and without be- 
ing acquainted with the country; and what surprised the boatmen 
more, xvithoiit whisky. On an average I met from forty to sixty 
boatmen every day, returning from this place and Neworleans. 
The Chickasaws are a friendly, inoffensive people, and the Chac- 
taw's, though more reserved, are equally harmless. Both of them 
treated me with civility, though I several times had occasion to 
pass through their camps, where many of them were drunk. 
The paroquet wdiich I carried with me was a continual fund of 
amusement to all ages of these people; and as they crowded around 
to look at it, gave me an opportunity of studying their physiogno- 
mies without breach of good manners. 
In thus hastily running over the particulars of this journey, I 
am obliged to omit much that would amuse and interest you; but 
my present situation, a noisy tavern, crowded in every corner, even 
in the room where I write, with the sons of riot and dissipation, 
