3 L 12 TRAVELS IN THE UNITED STATES: 
were about ten miles off, they procured the 
assistance of two men, who after having built 
for them the bark hut in which we found them, 
left them with a promise of returning in a short 
time to erect a log house. They had not, 
however, been punctual to their word, and un¬ 
able to wield an axe, or to do any one thing 
for themselves, these unfortunate wretches sat 
moping in their hut, supporting themselves on 
some salt provisions they had brought with 
them, but which were now nearly exhausted. 
The people in the settlements, whom, on ar¬ 
riving there, we asked some few questions re¬ 
specting these poor creatures, turned them into 
the greatest ridicule imaginable for being so 
helpless; and indeed they did present a most 
* 
striking picture of the folly of any man’s at¬ 
tempting to settle in America without being 
well acquainted with the country previously, 
and competent to do every sort of country work 
for himself. 
It was not without very great vexation that 
we perceived, shortly after leaving this hut 
evident symptoms of drunkenness in one of the 
Indians, and on examining our brandy cask it 
was but too plain that it had been pillaged 
During the preceding part of our journey we 
had kept a watchful eye upon it, but drawing 
towards the end of our expedition, and having 
had every reason to he satisfied with the con- 
