114 TRAVELS THROUGH NORTH AMERICA: 
measure, to both ; certain it is however, that 
their mode of living is most wretched. 
The taverns throughout this part of the 
country are kept by farmers, and they are all 
very indifferent. If the traveller can procure 
a few eggs with a little bacon, he ought to 
rest satisfied ; it is twenty to one that a bit of 
fresh meat is to be had, or any salted meat 
except pork. Vegetables seem also to be very 
scarce; and when you do get any, they ge¬ 
nerally consist of turnips, or turnip tops boiled 
by way of greens. The bread is heavy and 
sour, though they have as fine flour as any in 
the world: this is owing to their method of 
making it; they raise it with what they call 
sots —hops and water boiled together. No 
dependance is to be placed upon getting a 
man at these taverns to rub down your horse, 
or even to give him his food; frequently there¬ 
fore you will have to do every thing of the 
kind for yourself, if you do not travel with a 
servant; and indeed, even where men are kept 
for the purpose of attending to travellers, 
which at some of the taverns is the case, 
they are so sullen and disobliging that you fee} 
inclined to do every thing with your own 
hands, rather than be indebted to them for their 
assistance: they always appear doubtful whe¬ 
ther they should do any thing for you or not. 
